"Then I, John, say the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.... And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb..." (Revelation 21:2, 22:1-2)

The spiritual foundation of this month's website.

Teaching the Concept

CharitySPIRITUAL CONCEPTS ABOUT THE CHURCH
relating to NEW CHURCH DAY


A sampling of ideas to share
with children of various ages

These ideas are accommodated to
the state of the child
and are coordinated with the
religion curriculum of the General Church.

The concepts for each age level include those for previous levels.

Preschool (ages 2-5)

1. We have church so that people who want to be good can gather together.
Primary Level (ages 5-9)

1. The Church is the Lord's heaven on earth.
2. The Lord invites everyone to belong to His new church.
3. People become part of the church when they obey and live what they have learned from the Word.
4. Only the Lord can make His church grow. (Except the Lord build the house...)
5. The Word brings the church and heaven together.
6. The visions described in the book of Revelation are prophecies of the New Church.
7. The woman clothed with the sun symbolizes the Lord's New Church.
8. The baby boy that was born represents the teachings for the New Church.
9. The dragon is like the evil spirits who want to destroy the truth of the New Church. 10. June 19th is the birthday of the New Church.
11. The New Church comes to earth when we read the Word and use the Lord's truth to live a good life and help other people.
12. The gates of the Holy City are always open, because the Lord welcomes us all into His Church.
 Intermediate Level (ages 9-12)

1. The church is our spiritual mother because it takes care of our spiritual needs.
2. The whole purpose of the church is to teach its people how to be good and loving.
3. If we don't choose to be good we are not in the church, no matter how much we know.
4. The role of the priesthood is to teach the truth and to use the truth to lead people to good.
5. The two uses of the church (Arcana Coelestia 9925) are worship and preaching the gospel (education and evangelization).
6. All are saved who worship one God and lead the life of religion.
7. We can serve all people by helping them find the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem.
Upper Level (ages 12-14)
1. The three essentials of the church that should be known and acknowledged are: the Lord's Divinity, the holiness of the Word and the life of charity.
2. The church on earth is a foundation for heaven (mutual interdependence).
3. Among the many churches on earth, the Lord provides that there is one church where He is known and loved.
High School (ages 14-18)

1. The Church is only with people who rightly understand the Word (Sacred Scripture 79).
2. The Church consists of those only who from the heart acknowledge the Divine of the Lord, and who learn truths from the Lord by the Word and do them (Apocalypse Explained 388).
3. In the New Church there will be spiritual peace, glory, and internal blessedness of life (see Coronis 0).