Getting Started
God is God of order. I Corinthians 14:33 (New International Version, 1978/2011) states,
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints.
This order even reaches into how the alphabet is written and used in the Bible.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
Determine how God’s orderliness with the alphabet in the Bible applies to teaching the alphabet to elementary students.
Background Information
Psalm 119 (new tab)
is written using an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet. These
alphabetically ordered verses begin with each letter of the Hebrew
alphabet in order. Eight verses are written for each Hebrew consonant.
It is interesting to note that Jesus said in Matthew 5:18 (new tab),
For do not think that I came to destroy the Law of the Prophets. I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you
till heaven and earth pass away one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
This verse mentions the smallest of Hebrew letters, which is called a
jot. If you were to read Psalm 119 in Hebrew, you would see a jot
before verse 73. In addition, a small stroke of a writing utensil used
in the Bible is even smaller than a jot; it’s called a tittle. You would
see a tittle in Psalm 119:25 if it were written in Hebrew.
It is evident that God in His infinite wisdom and creativity cares
about how graphic words and letters are used in the Bible, including the
use of jots, tittles, and acrostics.
Prayer
God, you are known for your order and attention to detail in your
creation. Help me to be grateful for the way you created me in minute
detail. May I be orderly and diligent to teach the building blocks to
set the foundation for reading.
Instructions
Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
Read the devotional and Bible passages above and review the file, Norms for Discussions. (PDF document)
Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to two (2) of
the following prompts. Each response to each question you choose for
your initial post should not exceed 150 words.
How does knowing God’s orderly fashion of creation affect your attitude about how He has created you?
In what way do “jot” and “tittle” help me understand the minuteness
of each individual difference in the written English language?
How can a teacher model God’s orderliness in teaching elementary students?
Rubric:
-All posts (initial & replies) relate to the prompt/topic (following
all directions); are supported with specific ideas and examples from personal schema and including insight or a question to promote further discussion; responds to classmates’ questions with clarifying statements evidencing critical thinking.
-0-1 errors in grammar & conventions.
Consistent use of academic writing style (APA, when necessary) and educational terminology.
