Chronicles of Narnia Lesson Two

Week Two: Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
Assigned Reading: Chapters 5-8

Defending the truth despite disbelief and ridicule – Chapter 5
A. Edmund’s Betrayal of Lucy
1. Read first two pages until Peter talks
2. Allow kids to discuss and dissect these passages
3. Reasons and Consequences of Edmunds choice, personal parallels.

B. The Professor with Susan and Peter - Trillema
1. Read page 50-52 until professor says we need to assume it is true
2. Allow kid discussion
3. Point out the liar, lunatic or truth parallel with Mere Christianity
4. “This sentence is an abbreviated version of a famous argument C. S. Lewis makes in his classic work of apologetics where Lewis defends the Christian belief in the divinity of Christ. He notes that most people dismiss Jesus as a "good moral teacher," but ignore all the places in the Scripture where Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Lewis then posits that there are only three logical possibilities; Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. These three options, in summary are: 1. Jesus was telling falsehoods and knew it, and so he was a liar. 2. Jesus was telling falsehoods but believed he was telling the truth, and so he was insane. 3. Jesus was telling the truth and truly was the Son of God. “(trilemma)


C. Telling the Truth Despite the Consequences
1. Lucy chose to sticks to her story, and does not falter for a second. She knows the truth and will not back down no matter how much she is persecuted or teased by her siblings, even in the face of Edmunds betrayal.
2. Let kids share a time in their lives when they were right about something, and stuck to it even though others did not believe them? How did you feel? How did you finally convince the others to believe you?
3. Play movie clip from Contact and discuss the similarities
4. Parallels as Christians in a secular world Discuss the challenges and importance of standing firm in the truth even when others are in disbelief or tell you that you are wrong.
5. Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
6. Suggest writing a journal entry on their own about what Lucy was feeling and did and a parallel in their own faith or personal experiences.


Repentance – Chapter 6
A. Peter’s Repentance
1. Read p60 – peter’s apology
2. read p62 – Edmund’s admittance of being in Narnia
3. contrast their response to Lucy
a. While Edmund is busy plotting his revenge, and sinking further into bitterness, Peter immediately recognizes his error and apologizes to Lucy. In doing so, Peter shows a good understanding of the biblical concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation.
b. Colossians 3:12-14:As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
c. Ephesians 4:32: and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
d. Can you think of a time when you behaved like Peter? How about a time when you acted more like Edmund, staying angry and bitter instead of recognizing you were wrong? How easy it is to fall into stubbornness (especially when it comes to our own mistakes) instead of recognizing we were wrong and asking for forgiveness! We all have a lesson to learn from Peter.


Religious Parellels – Chapter 7
A. Aslan on the move
a. Read pg 74 description of Aslan on the move
b. Compare that to hearing the name of Christ
c. Bible description of awe at Christ and all knees bending
d. Personal reactions to Christ
B. Daughters of Eve and Sons of Adam
C. Hint of Something to come – prophecy
a. Read pg 78 – “so you’ve come at last , To think that I ever should see this day!”
b. Luke 2:21-40 story of Simeon, a righteous old man to whom the Holy Spirit revealed a telling prophecy: that he would not die before the coming of the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Christ to the temple in Jerusalem, Simeon greeted them and praised God.


Prophecy – Chapter 8
A. Prophecy - in a broad sense, is the prediction of future events. But prophecy often implies the involvement of supernatural phenomena. It is also used as a general term for the revelation of divine will.
1. Kids brainstorm examples of prophecy from bible
2. Discuss the prophecies from the book
a. The end of winter prophecy p85:
Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.
b. Children’s prophecy p87
When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone
Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,
The evil time will be over and done.
c. Witch’s prophecy p89
down at Cair Paravel there are four thrones and it's a saying in Narnia time out of mind that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sit in those four thrones, then it will be the end not only of the White Witch's reign but of her life
3. Compare and contrast that to biblical prophecy – how important is it?
4. Does this offer support for Narnia being an allegory or extended metaphor or is it just a coincidence?


Classical Mythology All Chapters

Read and discuss different mythology references.
Utilize glossary for more detail.