Christian Religious Studies JSS 3 Curriculum Guides – Fellowship in the Early Church, The Promise of Holy Spirit and Persecution of the Early Believer

THEME – THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH 

TOPIC 1 – FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. The Holy Bible

2. Word cards containing the names of the deacons.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe the social and religious life of the early church.

2. discuss how the church dealt with cases of lying and murmuring.

3. mention the qualities of a deacon.

4. describe how Christians deal with cases of fraud in the church today.

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Togetherness in the early church. Acts 2:41-47.

2. Fraud in the church. Acts 5:1-11.

3. Murmuring in the early church. Acts 6:1-2.

4. Selection of deacons, Acts 6:1-7 – equitable distribution

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. guides students to read the bible passages.

2. leads discussion on the social and religious life of the early church.

3. guides students in identifying name and qualities of the deacons.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. listen and participate in reading Bible.

2. write names of the deacons in their notes.

3. copy board summary on the qualities of the deacons.

LESSON EVALUATION

Students to,

1. state three activities which the early church did together.

2. state two reasons why the widows of Hallenist murmured.

3. name the seven (7) deacons.

4. list three (3) qualities of a deacon.

THEME – THE BEGINNING OF CHURCH 

TOPIC 2 – THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. The Holy Bible

2. Charts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. discuss the importance of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples.

2. narrate the story of the fulfillment of the promise.

3. give account of Peter’s speech on the Pentecost day and its effects.

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. The promise of the Holy Spirit. John 14; 16:5-16; Acts 1:3-8.

2. The coming of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-13.

3. Peter’s first speech and its effect. Acts 2:14-41.

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. guides students to read the bible passages.

2. leads in the discussion and summarizes Peter’s speech.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. read bible passages.

2. participate in class discussion.

3. copy summary into their notes.

LESSON EVALUATION

Students to,

1. explain why Jesus promised the holy spirit to the disciples.

2. mention the visible and audible signs of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

3. state the reactions of the on lookers.

4. mention how many persons were converted as a result of Peter’s speech on the Pentecost day.

THEME – THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH 

TOPIC 3 – PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY BELIEVERS

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Pictures/Almanac showing martyrdom of saints

2. Students as learning resources

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. give reasons for the arrest of the apostles.

2. summarize Stephen’s defence.

3. give examples of persecution of christians in their churches and communities.

4. sing songs on Peter’s miraculous release from prison.

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

FOCUS LESSONS 

1. Arrest of Peter and John. Acts 4:1-31.

2. Arrest and Martyrdom of Stephen. Acts 6:8; 7:1-60.

3. Persecution of the church by Saul. Acts 8:1-3; 9:1.

4. Martyrdom of James. Acts 12:1-3.

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. guides students to read the Bible passages.

2. guides students in identifying reasons for the arrest of Stephen, Peter and John.

3. writes out key issues in Stephen’s defense.

4. asks students to sing song of victory.

 

 

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. listen and participate in class discussion.

2. read the bible passages.

3. role-play.

4. sing songs of victory.

LESSON EVALUATION

Students to,

1. give three reasons for the arrest of Peter and John.

2. mention what stephen said in his defence about the following:

• the temple.

• the law.

3. give two (2) examples of acts of persecution in their different churches and communities.