God's Grace in the Law

This quarter, Middle Elementary students will study the Ten Commandments in greater depth using a topical approach, and be introduced to the requirements and prohibitions of each commandment through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Most of our attention this quarter will be directed toward the third use of the law—its special use for believers. Our aim is to show covenant children, to whom God has made promises of salvation, how God wants them to live. They will discover that the law is not the enemy but the friend of those who are redeemed by Christ and united to him by faith. Toward the end of the quarter, we will turn to the second use of the law to show those who lack faith that they need Christ for salvation from the penalty for breaking the law. The last lesson will remind those who have faith that they must continue to rely upon the work of Christ, not their own works, for their acceptance with God.

The first unit, Learning to Love and Worship God, covers the first four commandments. It shows God reminded Israel he was the Lord their God who had redeemed them from slavery, then gave the Ten Commandments to show them how to live as his people. Students learn God has redeemed us from sin through Christ and calls us to trust and obey him.

The second unit, Learning to Love and Value Others, studies the last six commandments, which show how to love and value other people. These commands are a revelation of God’s own character, and God’s desire is that his people become more and more like him in character and conduct.

The third unit, Learning to Depend on Jesus, shows how the law convicts sinners of their sin and points them to Christ as the Savior. But the Ten Commandments not only point the unsaved to the Savior, they show forgiven Christians how Jesus wants them to live in gratitude for such a great salvation.

Download the Middle Elementary Master Plan PDF