Romans: Obey Civil Authorities

Romans 13:1 – Obey the Civil Authorities

 

Scripture verse: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

 

Objectives:

              1.     Students should be able to identify our country and its flag; older students could discuss the government of Rome in the days of Paul and the type of government we have today.

              2.     Students should be able to say that we should obey the laws of our country; older students should be able to recite the verse.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

 

1.  Begin with prayer.

 

2.  Discuss our flag, preferably with a flag to look at, the meaning of the stars and stripes. The story of Betsy Ross would fit in well here, especially since she was a woman with basically one skill, sewing, who put it to use when needed. You could also show a map or pictures of the places of our government (from the library) -- the Capitol, White House, etc.

 

3.  Discuss the Ten Commandments (Romans 13:9) (How did Moses get them? It’s in your Children’s Bible Reader) and the laws of our country -- many similarities.

 

4.  Sing a patriotic song like "America the Beautiful":

 

Oh, beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesty

Above the fruited plain

America, America, God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

 

5.  Make a patriotic wind-sock: Cut a strip of blue poster board

     or construction paper about 6 inches wide and 18 inches long.

     Staple, glue, or tape this into a ring and decorate with white

     stars, either stickers or cut from construction paper.  Staple

     or glue streamers of red and white crepe paper from the ring

     and staple a string for hanging across the top.

 

6. Close with prayer. Pray especially for our President and all civil authorities.