Youth Corner

A Message For You --

The New Creation (Part 1)

In the last article we spoke of how holy and how special our church is, and we should talk more about this. But since we have just recently celebrated the feast of the Coptic New Year (the Nayrouz), let's speak briefly about something from the readings from the first day of Tute.

The words in the Pauline epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13) stand out for me:

“Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We have spoken of how holy and special our church is, but before anyone can understand what our church truly is, he or she must first understand the Lord and what He is calling us to.

 What is this new creation that St. Paul speaks of? In the name of Jesus Christ, what is Paul talking about?

We hear this in church also:

“Take off the old man and put on the new.” (Ephesians 2:14-18)

But what does this really mean today?  How do we do this and what does it look like?

Well, Paul gives us a clue when he says at another place in this reading:

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

This is very important towards understanding what the new creation – the new man – really is and what we should look like in that new creation, that new man, even in our modern world.

Do we love Jesus Christ?

Does our love for Jesus control us?

Think about what you do and what you say. Are you truly controlled by love of Jesus?

Jesus commands us to love one another. Do you love other people?

Jesus commands us to love our enemies. Do you love the people who don't like you or who are are difficult to love?

Jesus commands us to speak nicely to others. Do you speak nicely?

Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. Do you try to make peace with your family and friends and with other people?

Jesus commands us to obey father and mother and other people in authority. Do you obey your parents, your teachers, your elders?

Jesus commands us to give to the poor. Do you share what you have and give to others?

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30). Do you love and worship the Lord in all ways, in church, at home, and everywhere?

In part two of this article we will talk more about this and see what else St. Paul has to say about it.



A Quiz To Do --

Since the message above is about the new creation in Jesus Christ, why don't we do a quiz from the Gospel of St. John and look at Chapter 4, which is about the woman from Samaria who discovered that our Lord Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ).

Please note: The text for this quiz is taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Your Bible may be a different version and so the wording may be a little different from what is used here.

This quiz is maybe a little bit tougher and so, Mom and Dad, please feel free to help the younger kids:


1. Where was Jesus going to when He had to pass through Samar'ia?

2. At which city of Samar'ia did Jesus stop to rest?

3. What was the name of the well beside which Jesus sat down to rest?

4. What did Jesus say to the woman of Samar'ia who came to the well to draw water?

5. Where had Jesus' disciples gone?

6. Why was the woman surprised that Jesus, a Jew, asked her, a woman of Samar'ia, for a drink?

7. What did Jesus say He would give the woman when He said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him"?

8. In verses 11 and 12, what did the woman say to Jesus about drawing water from the well?

9. And how, in verses 13 and 14, did Jesus answer the woman's question concerning the water?

10. What then did the woman ask Jesus for in verse 15?

11. And what did Jesus ask the woman to do?

12. How many husbands had the woman had?

13. In verse 19, what did the woman perceive Jesus to be?

14. How did Jesus say the true worshippers would worship the Father when He said, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father..."

15. What did the woman say to Jesus concerning the Messiah?

16. And, in verse 26, what did Jesus say to the woman concerning Himself?

17. In verse 29, what did the woman say to the people of the city concerning Jesus?

18. What did Jesus say to His disciples when they asked Him to eat?

19. How many days did Jesus stay with the people of the city?

20. In verse 42, what did the people of the city say to the woman concerning Jesus?

(Here's a hint: Again, the answers to all these questions are in the Bible in the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 4.)


Answers to the Quiz



And Some Useful Links --

Coptic Kid Corner (Stories, quizzes, word search, puzzles, games, Coptic language lessons, Sunday school lessons, and more)
http://www.coptickid.com