Paul’s Conversion: Meaning of Conversion, Reasons for Paul’s Mission, and His Experience on the Way to Damascus | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 2 Christian Religious Studies

PAUL’S CONVERSION: MEANING OF CONVERSION, REASONS FOR PAUL’S MISSION AND HIS EXPERIENCE ON THE WAY TO DAMASCUS 

CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (CRS)

PRIMARY 6 – FIRST TERM – WEEK 2

THEME – NATIONAL RELIGIOUS STUDIES 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Paul’s Early Life: Paul’s Parentage and Education, and His Anti-Christian Activities | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 1 Christian Religious Studies

TOPIC – PAUL’S CONVERSION 

LEARNING AREA 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning of Conversion and Paul’s Experience on the Way to Damascus

3. Paul’s Conversion and Response to Jesus

4. Reasons for Paul’s Mission

5. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion

6. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

7. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

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

1. Explain the meaning of conversion.

2. Describe Paul’s experience on the way to Damascus.

3. Explain how Paul was converted.

4. State reasons for Paul’s mission.

5. State lessons from Paul’s conversion.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have learned about Paul’s early life, education and anti-Christian activities.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by introducing pupils to Paul’s conversion and his new life as a follower and missionary of Jesus Christ.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Holy Bible and story illustrations

2. Pictures of Paul

3. Map showing Jerusalem and Damascus

4. Charts

5. Flashcards

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum

3. CRS Course Book

4. Holy Bible – Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:6–16; Acts 26:12–18

5. Relevant teaching materials

6. Online information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Paul was originally called Saul. Before his conversion, he strongly opposed Christians and tried to stop the spread of Christianity.

Paul was travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians when he had a remarkable encounter with Jesus Christ. This experience changed his life completely. He became a follower and missionary of Jesus Christ.

LESSON 1 – MEANING OF CONVERSION

Conversion means a change from one way of life, belief or behaviour to another.

In Christianity, conversion means turning away from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Paul’s conversion was a great change in his life. He changed from a persecutor of Christians to a follower, preacher and missionary of Jesus Christ.

PAUL’S EXPERIENCE ON THE WAY TO DAMASCUS

Paul was travelling to Damascus with authority to arrest Christians and take them to Jerusalem.

As he came near Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly shone around him. Paul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Paul asked who was speaking. The voice replied that it was Jesus whom Paul was persecuting.

Jesus told Paul to enter Damascus, where he would be told what to do.

Paul got up from the ground but discovered that he could not see. His companions led him by the hand into Damascus.

Paul remained blind for three days. During this period, he neither ate nor drank.

LESSON 2 – PAUL’S CONVERSION AND RESPONSE TO JESUS

God sent a disciple named Ananias to Paul in Damascus. Ananias prayed for him, and Paul regained his sight.

Paul was then baptised and began his new life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

After his conversion, Paul no longer persecuted Christians. Instead, he began preaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Saviour.

His conversion became a turning point in his life.

LESSON 3 – REASONS FOR PAUL’S MISSION

After his conversion, Paul became a missionary of Jesus Christ. His mission was to:

1. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Tell people about salvation through Jesus Christ.

3. Teach Jews and Gentiles about Christ.

4. Encourage Christians to remain faithful.

5. Establish and strengthen Christian communities.

6. Help people turn away from sin and follow God.

7. Spread the message of Jesus Christ to many places.

LESSONS FROM PAUL’S CONVERSION

Paul’s conversion teaches us that:

1. People can change from bad behaviour to good behaviour.

2. God can give a person a new purpose in life.

3. We should obey God when He calls us to do what is right.

4. We should not persecute or hate others.

5. We should seek the truth before judging others.

6. Our education and abilities should be used for good purposes.

7. We should be willing to serve God and help others.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does conversion mean?

A. Becoming a soldier

B. Travelling to another city

C. Learning a new language

D. Changing from one way of life to another

2. Where was Paul travelling when Jesus appeared to him?

A. Bethlehem

B. Damascus

C. Nazareth

D. Jericho

3. What appeared around Paul on the way to Damascus?

A. A bright light from heaven

B. A heavy rain

C. A large fire

D. A dark cloud

4. Who spoke to Paul on the way to Damascus?

A. Peter

B. Gamaliel

C. Jesus Christ

D. Stephen

5. What did Paul do after his conversion?

A. He continued persecuting Christians

B. He stopped believing in God

C. He became a missionary of Jesus Christ

D. He became a Roman soldier

B. Fill in the Gaps

6. Paul was travelling to ______ when Jesus appeared to him.

7. A bright ______ from heaven shone around Paul.

8. Paul remained blind for ______ days.

9. ______ was sent to Paul in Damascus.

10. Paul was later ______ as a follower of Jesus Christ.

C. True or False

11. Jesus was travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians.

12. Paul heard the voice of David on the way to Jerusalem.

13. Paul continued persecuting Christians before his conversion.

14. Ananias helped Paul regain his sight.

15. Jesus became a preacher of Paul after his conversion.

D. Matching

16. Conversion — A. Helped Paul regain his sight

17. Damascus — B. Paul’s missionary work

18. Jesus Christ — C. Change of life or belief

19. Ananias — D. Place Paul was travelling to

20. Paul’s mission — E. Spoke to Paul on the road

ANSWER KEY

1. D 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. C

6. Damascus. 7. light 8. three 9. Ananias 10. baptised

11. False 12. Fasle 13. True 14. True 15. Fasle

16. C 17. D 18. E 19. A 20. B

SUMMARY

Pupils learned that conversion means a change from one way of life, belief or behaviour to another. Paul experienced a remarkable conversion when Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus.

Pupils also learned that Paul changed from a persecutor of Christians to a follower and missionary of Jesus Christ. He preached the Gospel, taught people about Jesus and helped spread Christianity.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

The teacher asks pupils:

• What did Paul do to Christians before his conversion?

• Can a person change from doing wrong to doing good?

• What do you think happened to Paul on his way to Damascus?

The teacher explains that Paul experienced a great change in his life when he encountered Jesus Christ.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions and share what they know about Paul.

Step 2: Meaning of Conversion

The teacher explains that conversion means a change from one way of life, belief or behaviour to another. The teacher also explains that Paul changed from a persecutor of Christians to a follower and preacher of Jesus Christ.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils listen and explain the meaning of conversion in their own words.

Step 3: Paul’s Experience on the Way to Damascus

The teacher explains that Paul was travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians. A bright light from heaven appeared around him, and he fell to the ground and heard the voice of Jesus.

The teacher also uses a map to show the journey towards Damascus.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils observe the map, listen to the story and mention what happened to Paul.

Step 4: Paul’s Conversion

The teacher explains that Paul became blind after the encounter with Jesus and was led into Damascus. The teacher explains how Ananias was sent to Paul, prayed for him and helped him regain his sight.

The teacher also explains that Paul was baptised and began a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils describe how Paul’s life changed after his encounter with Jesus.

Step 5: Reasons for Paul’s Mission

The teacher explains that after his conversion, Paul became a missionary of Jesus Christ. He preached the Gospel, taught Jews and Gentiles, encouraged Christians and helped spread Christianity.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention some reasons for Paul’s mission.

Step 6: Lessons from Paul’s Conversion

The teacher explains that Paul’s conversion teaches us that people can change, God can give people a new purpose, and our abilities should be used for good.

The teacher also explains that Christians should avoid persecuting others and should be willing to serve God.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils state lessons they have learned from Paul’s conversion.

Step 7: Group Activity

The teacher divides pupils into four groups:

• Group 1: Explain the meaning of conversion and give one example.

• Group 2: Mention five things that happened to Paul on the way to Damascus.

• Group 3: Mention five reasons for Paul’s mission after his conversion.

• Group 4: State four lessons from Paul’s conversion.

The teacher guides the groups and allows each group to present its answers.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss, write and present their answers to the class.

Step 8: Lesson Summary and Evaluation

The teacher reviews the meaning of conversion, Paul’s experience on the way to Damascus, his conversion and reasons for his mission. The teacher gives pupils a different set of 20 questions to assess their understanding of the lesson.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions individually or in groups and summarise what they have learned.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Israel in Bondage: Meaning and Suffering of Bondage, Israel’s Bondage in Egypt, and the Birth of Moses | Primary 6 (Basic 6) First Term Week 3 Christian Religious Studies

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What is conversion?

2. What happened to Paul on the way to Damascus?

3. Who helped Paul regain his sight?

4. Mention four reasons for Paul’s mission.

5. State four lessons from Paul’s conversion.