Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Notes JSS2 Second Term

Notes on Christian Religious Studies (CRS) JSS2 Second Term – Edudelight.com

2ND TERM SCHEME OF WORK C.R.K J.S. S 2 Basic 8

1. Jesus Parable.

Identify parable types, reasons for using parables

• Types of parable

Parable of the kingdom

Parable Illustrating Gods love

Parable Illustrating concern for one another

• Parable of the Kingdom

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the wheat and tares

• Parable Illustrating God’s Love

Parable of the lost sheep.

The prodigal Son.

• Parable Illustrating concern for one another.

Parable of the good Samaritan.

• Maturity and responsibility

The talents, The virgins, The unforgiving servant (Math 28:21-33)

• Jesus Christ and the law

Civil and Religious law Jesus pay tax. Lk 2:22-24 .

• Jesus Christ and the laws

The observance of the Sabbath.

• Jesus Christ improves upon the law.

Mathew 5:21-48

Murder: Mathew 5:21-26

Adultery Mathew 5:27-30

Swearing Mathew 5:33-37

Retaliation Mathew 5:38-42

Love of enemies Mathew 5:43-46

• Revision of terms work
• Revision
• Examination.

WEEK ONE

TOPIC: JESUS PARABLE.

CONTENT

IDENTIFY PARABLE, TYPES AND REASONS FOR USING PARABLE

A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning. It is a picture story which teaches us spiritual truth about God and His kingdom and the right attitude toward life.

When these spiritual truths are put in the form of a story, they are easy to understand and to follow. Therefore Jesus taught in parables, so that we might understand his teaching more clearly and obey them.\

There are basically four types of  parables which Jesus Christ used to communicate to the multitudes and his disciples .

The parable are;

1. The parable of the kingdom
2. The parables illustrating concern for one another.
3. Parables illustrating God’s love.
4. Parable of maturity and responsibility.

1. Parable Illustrating Gods Kingdom: –
2. The Parable of the sower (Mathew 13:1-9, 15-25)
3. The wheat and tares (Mathew 13:24-30, 36-43).

• Parable about maturity and responsibility
•  The Talents Mathew 25-14-30
• Parable of the ten virgins
• The parable of the unforgiving servants

C.  Parables illustrating concern for one another:

1. parable of the good Samaritan and

2.  parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

D. Parables illustrating God’s love:

1.  parable of the lost sheep.

2.  parable of the lost coin and

3.  parable of the prodigal son.

REASONS FOR USING PARABLES

Reasons why we use parables include;

1.       Parables help the hearers to have a better understanding of what the speaker intends.

2.       Jesus taught with parables because his audience needed explanation with physical things. i.e things common with them for their attention to be drawn to Jesus and his words.

Assignment:

1. In your own understanding explain parable?
2. List the four types of parables Jesus taught.
3. What are the reasons for using parables?

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: TYPES OF PARABLES

CONTENT

1. Parable of the kingdom
2. Parable illustrating Gods love
3. Parable illustrating concern for one another
4. Parable about maturity and responsibility

1. The parable of the kingdom:  these are parables that Jesus used to give illustration on the demands of the kingdom and they consist of three parables and they are; parable of the sower, parable of the mustard seed and parable of the wheat and tares.

2. Parables illustrating concern for one another: These are parables that tell us how to be compassionate to others, they consist of  two parables which are; parable of the good Samaritan and parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

3. Parables illustrating God’s love: These are parables Jesus Christ used to give illustration on the father’s love and concern for sinners. They include; parable of the lost sheep, parable of the lost coin and parable of the prodigal son.

4. Parable maturity and responsibility: These are parables Jesus used to illustrate maturity and responsibility of true Christians especially as regards kingdom attitudes and our lives responsibility e.g parable of the talent, parable of the ten virgin, parable of the unforgiving servant.

Assignment:

1. Explain the four types of parables Jesus used to communicate to the people.

WEEK THREE

TOPIC: PARABLE OF THE KINGDOM

CONTENT

THE PARABLE OF THE KINGDOM

PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Jesus gave this parable that a farmer was sowing grain in his field and he scattered the seed across the ground. Some fell beside the path, immediately the farmer left, the birds came and ate them up, and some fell on rocky soil where there was little soil it germinated but very soon it died up. Some fell on among thorns and those thorns chocked them. But some fell on good soil and they produced thirty, sixty and even hundred times as much as he had planted.

The meaning of the parables the disciples went to Jesus to tell them the meaning of the parable. He told them that word of God is the seed. When the word is spoken and people hear and do not understand. The evil one takes it away. These are the seeds that fell on the rocky ground are the people who hear and receive it with joy. It endures with them for a while during tribulation or persecution because of the word they fall away.

Those ones that fell away thorns are the people that hear the word but the cares of the world and anxiety to have riches choke it and it cannot bear fruits. But those one that fall on the good ground are the people that hear the word and understand it and they do not allow anything to hinder the word in their heart.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARABLE

The parable is given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. And the disciples were well include to the knowledge of gospel mysteries and those parables would teach them to search which would result to more intimate acquaintance with those mysteries but the carnal hearers would rest in bare hearing would not bother nor be at any pain to look further the meaning of the parables.

Great is the mystery of godliness, Christ’s incantation, intercession, our justification by union with Christ and the whole work of redemption are mysteries. The hearer of the word is the doer.

Lesson II: Parable of the wheat and tares Mathew 13:24-30, 36-43.

Jesus told them this parable that the kingdom of God is like farmer who sowed good seed in his field. But in the night as he had gone to sleep, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat the two germinated and started to grow. The farmer’s men came and told him their observation, then asked him what might have responsible for this he simply told them that the enemy had done it. They asked him whether he would permit them to go and destroy the tares. He told them not to do that, in the process of doing that they might destroy the good seeds along. He told them to allow the two to grow together. But the separation would take place on the harvesting day. He would tell the reapers to gather the tares for burning while the seed would go to the barn or store.

Meaning of the parable. The disciples were eager to know the meaning of the parable. Jesus told them that he was the farmer who sowed the seed. The field is the world of the kingdom. The thistles or tares are the people of Satan. The reapers are the angels while the people of Satan will go to hell at the end of the age.

INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARES

Jesus Christ is the farmer who planted the good seed, the field is the world and the good seeds are the children of God while the tares are the sinners. The enemy is sowed the tares is the devil, the reapers are the angels, the harvest is the judgment day when sinners will be put in hell and the children of God in heaven.

Assignment:

1.       Narrate the parable of the wheat and tares according to Matt 13 24-30 and its interpretation.

2.       What is the significant of the parable of the sower?

WEEK FOUR

TOPIC: Parable Illustrating God’s Love

CONTENT

THE LOST SHEEP (LUKE 15;1-7)

There was a shepherded who had a hundred sheep. He lost one of them in wilderness. He left ninety-nine in the wilderness and went in search of the Lost one. He searched and searched till he found it. He put the sheep on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he returned home with all the sheep, he called his friends and his neighbors and said to them “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over a sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

THE LOST COIN LUKE 15;-8-10

A woman had ten silver coins and lost one of them, she lit a lamp and searched the whole place carefully till she found it. She then called her friends and neighbours saying.

“Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost. Jesus ended the story by saying There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

THE PRODIGAL SON

LUKE 15;11-32]

The prodigal son asked  for his  share of his father inheritance and went to a far country where he squandered all his wealth till he become broke.

He could not even get some of the food for the pigs he was employed to look after in the food for the pigs he was employed to look after.in the end he was employed . In the end he regretted his selfish action and decided to return home and apologize to his father. The prodigal son said he would now say to his father “father I have sinned against heaven and before you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your Son, treat me as one of your hired servant. The prodigal son left his father’s house” ever since the prodigal son left his father had not been happy every day, he would sit on the balcony of the house waiting for the return of the prodigal son.

When at last the father saw the son, approaching, he ran out of the house to go and meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and wouldn’t even listen to his confession of sins. He had his clothes changed and the fattest calf slaughtered to celebrate his home-coming.

When the elder brother complained about the attention given to the prodigal son. The father explained “Son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

It was fitting to make mercy and be glad for this your brother was dead, and is alive he was lost and is found.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THREE PARABLE OF THE LOST

In the three parable of the lost Jesus is teaching us something about Gods relationship with us.

God is our father who loves us very much and cares for us. He want us to be good children always. When we do wrong and become bad children, God our father is not happy. He will leave the good children and search for us till the good relationship of love is restored between us.

So therefore, we see that God is a loving and caring father who will never give up however bad we are. He knows we can repent and become good children again and when we do that there is great joy for God and our parents, teacher and elders.

Parable of the Lost Sheep: – Luke15:1-7.

The Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10

The prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32

MORAL LESSONS OF THE PARABLES ILLUSTRATING GOD’S LOVE

1. God never relents in his search for sinners until they are found.

2. we  should not be ashamed to confess our sins to God.

3. We should not be unhappy when our friends and neighbours receive favour from God, we should rejoice with them.

4. God readily forgives any sinner who repents.

5. God’s love is for both sinners and the righteous.

Assignment:

1.        State the moral lessons illustrating God’s love for sinners.

WEEK FIVE:

TOPIC: Parable Illustrating Concern for one another

CONTENT

Parable of the good Samaritan

A man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him up and left, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; when he saw him he passed on the other side, also a levite, when  he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where the wounded man was, and when he saw him he had compassion on him. He bound up his wound, poured oil and wine on it; then set him on his own ass and took him a hospital where he was being treated and made some deposits and told the inn keepers to take care of him that at his return whatever charged more to the man’s bill he will repay when he returns.

             Moral lessons of the parable illustrating concern for one another.

1. God does nor discriminate in his love. He loves everyone.

2. we should lend a helping hand to those in need despite where they come from.

3. a neighbor is not necessarily one living very close to us but anyone who needs our help.

4. wealth is not a sin but failure to assist others with it.

Assignment: Narrate the parable of  Lazarus and the rich man according to Lk 16:19-31

WEEK SIX

TOPIC: PARABLE ABOUT MATURITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

In any society people grow from one stage to another. When one gets to the stage of adulthood he is said to be matured and responsible. At this stage they have some moral qualities. They have talents or gift that can be used for the community. They can help to do some work for the church of God. They can used their talent or gifts for the progress of the community and families. Jesus Christ Thought these important values of mature and responsible people in the community. They are:- the parable of talents the ten virgins, the unforgiving servant, and the sheep and goat.

                           THE TALENTS [MATTEW25;14-30]

One day certain wealthy man wants to travel and he called all his servants and gave them talents to trade with according to their ability. The first servant was given five talents the second was giving two talents, and the third was giving one talent and the man left them and traveled. The first traded with his own and make profit of another five making ten talents, the second traded with his two talents, but the third servants did not do anything with his own, instead he buried it in the ground. After their master came from journey, he called the three servant to account for the talent given to them.

The first one came and reported that he traded with his five talents and made profit five talents. The second did the same thing and said he made two more talents. Their master was happy about the reports of the two servants.

“Well done, good and faithful servants you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much enter into the joy of your master (Mathew 25;21).

It was the turn of the third servants to report he came forward and gave offensive report say “ Master I know you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow.

So I was afraid and I went and hid your talents in the ground. Here you have what is yours Mathew 25:24-25.

Then the master answered him saying, “you knew that I reap where I have not winnow. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers and at my coming I should have received what was my own interest, so take the talents from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given and he would have abundance but what he was will be taken away’’ Mathew 25:26-29). After that the master ordered the unprofitable servant to be taken and thrown into darkness where people will weep and gnash their teeth.     

The meaning of the parable.

The first two servants were hard working, then third one was wicked, lazy not willing to be held responsible for anything he was unloyal servant. If our country is to behave like the other two good servants, Randers sincere service to our country and productive, insincerity and self-centeredness will not move the country to anywhere.

THE TEN VIRGINS (MATHEW 25:1-13)

There were ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom. It was the bridegroom who would take them to the marriage feast. Five of them were wise, five were foolish. All the ten virgin took the lamps while coming out of their houses. But the foolish ones did not bother. They thought the bridegroom would come but he delayed. He came in the mid night the people shouted the bridegroom has come. The wise virgins who took the additional oil and put in the lamps and got it save, the foolish ones were begging for oil.

‘’And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil our lamps are group out. But the wise answered them saying, no lest there should not be enough for us and you. But the wise saying, but go rather to those who sells and buy for yourselves (Mathew 25:8-9).

The foolish ones were to  go and buy their own oil before they could come back the bridegroom had taker the people together with the marriage feast and locked the door. Saying. “Lord open to us, but he answered and said, assuredly I say to you I do not know you (Mathew 25:11-12).

The meaning of the parable, the five wise virgins are the journey anything worthy doing is worthy doing well. They fully prepared for the journey by taking additional oil.

The foolish five virgins were in matured. They were irresponsible and they were not serious they were not serious .it showed in their preparation; they did worry about additional oils, and it is due to carelessness, they were just like some students, who would not prepare for their examination. The time they supposed to read they will be roaming about and at dying minute they would start to beg for expose and at the end the door of success will lock against them.

Assignment: 

Narrate the parable of the unforgiving servant according to Matt 18:21- 33

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC; JESUS CHRIST AND LAW

CONTENT

SUBJECT HIMSELF TO THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LAWS

What is law? Law is a set of rules and regulation that government the country or society. The law of religion is set out to safe guide  that religion. If there is no law, there is there is going to be confusion, lawlessness, disorderliness,

Laws are made to bring justice peace, harmony, protection of life and property progress and development. The nation of Israel had their own law directly from God. He gave them law to build their relationship with him and their fellow brothers. The law were to guide their behaviors toward the frowner as well. Jesus did not despise the law he obeyed both the civic and religious laws.

Jesus told the disciples that he has not  come to cancel the laws but to obey them. Do not think that I came to destroy but to fulfill. [mattew5:17] Jesus parents obeyed the law on his behalf luke2;22-24.

According to the law of Jewish religion, every child must be taken to the temple forty days after birth. Jesus was not left out his parent took him to the temple, for dedication. The law said every first male that opened the womb Belong to God, He was therefore brought to the temple in obedience to the religious law. He was brought to be sacrifice to God. But the law stated that such babies could be redeemed by giving five shekels. So Jesus parents presented him to the Lord in the temple and then redeemed him.

Jesus grew up and became obedient and respecter of the Law. The parents took him along to Jerusalem for annual Passover Celebration.

JESUS OBEYED THE LAW DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY Mathew 22:15-22, 17:24-27, 19:((6-12).

When Jesus started his earthly ministry, he was not only keeping the Law, he was encouraging, others to keeps the law as well, he demonstrated that during the healing, when he healed a leprous he told him to go and offer a sacrifice, according to the Law of Moses. All the lepers he healed were asked to go and perform their purification rites. But if you will enter life, keep the commandments Mathew 19:17.

Jesus also instructed his disciples to be keeping laws guiding religious and keep rules & regulation and obligation of religions which stated that they should give alms, fasting, praying, giving gift offering, observation of Sabbath day. He also taught his disciples the importance of obeying the civil laws. One of such was the payment of tax. Jesus advised his disciples to pay their taxes. He said “ Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar and to God the things that are God’’(Mathew 22:21). He told them to respect both the civil and religious law. By doing that they would have peace with God and man.

Assignment:

1. List some code of conduct in your school and community.
2. Mention one important law written in the constitution of your country.
3. Who are the law enforcement agencies in your country?

WEEK EIGHT

TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST AND THE LAW.

 THE OBSERVANT OF THE SABATH

CONTENT

 MARK 2:23-25, 3:1-6)

It is true that Sabbath day was in the Ten Commandments there should be no work on the Sabbath day.

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) But many things that were not connected to work like healing, taking care of the sick, and body caught twice on the same offence would be stone to death. The intention of God when he gave the commandment was to stop people from working on the farms or trading on the Sabbath day. God did not mean it to cause suffering and hardship for people.

One day Jesus was going from one place to another. Preaching healing and setting people from their bondage. As there were working grain field on the Sabbath day the disciples were hungry they plucked some of the grain to eat. Pharisees and scribes accused the disciples of doing work on Sabbath day. But Jesus replied to them, the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath’’ Mark 2:27).

Healing was regarded as work and therefore people should not be healed on the Sabbath day. One day Jesus entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and a man with a withered right hand was present the pharisees and Scribes whether right hand was present, he would heal on the Sabbath day, Jesus called the sick man out and then asked the people whether it was good to heal on the Sabbath day or not they all kept quiet. Which showed that they did not want their fellow brother to receive the miracles of healing on the Sabbath day. Jesus healed the man. It showed the works of kindness, mercy, deliverance can be done on Sabbath day.

Assignment:

Explain Jesus reaction to opposition of his healing miracles on the Sabbath day.

WEEK NINE

TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST IMPROVE UPON THE LAW. Mathew 5:21-48.

Jesus Christ said continually that he had not come to consider the law. But to improve upon it. Jesus Christ came to give the true meaning of the law. He did the deeper interpretation of the Law. He went beyond what the people knew about the law. It is when the people know what law is all about they can their stop breaking it and be obedient to it. To make the explanation simple for them to understand He selected some examples from the commandment law to show them how this could be possible.

1. THE LAW OF MURDER (Mathew 5:21-26)

This law states that thou shall not kill (Exodus 20:13).

Anybody who kills the law says he should be killed also the questions is that did the Law finally stop people from killing? And the simple answer is no. one of the law in our nation states that any confirmed armed robber should be killed by firing square. Has that punishment stopped armed robbery operation in our country? The answer is no. Jesus told them that the reasons for killing one another are anger and insult when people are offended they become angry and they are abused, they fell the insult. What happened next when they cannot control their anger? They attack one another they may end up in anger can be controlled, attacking or killing one another may not happen.

Quarreling and misunderstanding can be settled. Without setting quarrel with our brother our worship cannot be acceptable. Do not be annoyed with your neighbor but settle thing out in the spirit of love and forgiveness.

• THE LAW OF ADULTERY

The law of adultery says “You shall not commit adultery” and the punishment for the people who commit adultery is very server. The woman caught in the act of committing adultery must be stoned to death. People still commit adultery. It is easy to commit the sin because of the way some men look at the women. Jesus says when one looks at woman lustfully he has already committer the sin of adultery.

So men were asked to look at woman respectfully and not lustfully.

3.       THE LAW OF SWEARING MATHEW 5:22-37)

This states that “you shall not swear by name falsely nor shall you profane the name of your God Thee Lord” Leviticus (9:12) The law permits people to swear but what then say must be the truth and nothing else. The aim of the law is to compel people to say the truth and make people to be honest and sincere.

But unfortunately, people swear and tell us lies instead of the truth. The answer to this is honesty. And honesty is from inside and it can only come out from generated heart. Once our heart is cleared and cleared our yes can never be no and no be yes.

4.       THE LAW OF RETALIATION AND REVENGE (MATHEW 5:38-12)

‘an eye for eye and  tooth for a tooth” Exodus 21:24) what the law is saying themselves harm through hitting in order to retaliate and still no peace.

Jesus says peace will come if only we can stop retaliating. Jesus gave the deeper law if someone strikes us on the right check turn to him the order also” Mathew 5:39). Jesus was emphasizing on the fact that we should not retaliate. Whatever bad thing is done to us we should try as much as possible to avoid retaliation. Because retaliation makes people to harm themselves more. It does not bring solution to problem but add to injury.

5.       LOVE OF ENEMIES: The law of Moses love of enemies (Mathew 5:43)

The law peace, because if only those who love us we are dealing with and neglect the people who hates us, there will be peace. Therefor nothing will be cause quarrel between us and them. But Jesus said, this would not bring peace either because more people will hate them. The more they hate us and them again we cannot be like our father in heaven who love the righteousness and unrighteous. The good and the wicked the holy ones and they unholy ones.

God wants us to be perfect by loving people all people even our enemies. By so doing we will become the tries children of our father in heaven.

Assignment:

1.   Explain Jesus teaching on the law of retaliation and revenge

2.   What should be our attitude to enemies according to the bible.

10^th week: Revision for the term

11^th week: Revision

12^th Week: Examination