St. Stephen
STEPHEN
Objectives:
- Know that Stephen was the first martyr.
- Know that a martyr is someone who dies for his belief in Jesus.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Read the story in the CBR pp. 269-271 or the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 466-467. Review here the definition of martyr and have each child say the word.
- True/False Questions:
True False
Stephen was the first martyr. Peter was the first martyr.
Stephen died by stoning. Stephen was crucified like Jesus.
A martyr is someone who dies for Jesus. A martyr doesn’t believe in Jesus.
- Stephen was one of the first deacons. Peter and the other apostles chose seven men to help them in caring for the early Church. Say the word “deacon”. Talk about a deacon: He is a priest’s helper. He helps in the Divine Liturgy and helps the priest by visiting the sick, praying for people, etc. Do we have a deacon?
5. Make a Come-Alive Mural: Take a HUGE piece of bulletin board or brown wrapping paper. Stephen will be on his knees on one side, a group of figures throwing stones in the middle, Saul holding the coats on the other side. Have the students take turns lying down on the paper and draw around them for the figures. Add clothing and color. Cut out faces. Hold the paper near a wall. The students can stand behind their figure with their faces in the picture. When everyone’s had a chance and pictures are taken, put the mural up on the classroom wall, or cut apart and let each child take home his figure.
6. Close with prayer: Lord help me to love you so much that, like Stephen, I would be
willing to die for you.