**Lesson Plan for Christian Religious Studies - Senior Secondary 1**
**Topic: New Life in Christ (Romans 6:1-14)**
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Objectives:**
1. **Cognitive**: Students will understand the key concepts and themes in Romans 6:1-14.
2. **Affective**: Students will appreciate the significance of a new life in Christ and how it can transform their lives.
3. **Behavioral**: Students will reflect on their personal lives and identify practices that align with living a new life in Christ.
**Materials Needed:**
- Bibles (preferably in a modern translation for easier understanding)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Handouts with key verses and discussion questions
- Projector and laptop (optional for visual aids)
- Notebooks and pens for students
**Lesson Outline:**
**1. Introduction (10 minutes)**
- Greet the students and open with a short prayer.
- Briefly review the previous lesson.
- Introduce the topic by asking students about their understanding of what it means to have a "new life." Write their responses on the whiteboard.
- Explain that today's lesson will explore what the Apostle Paul teaches about new life in Christ in Romans 6:1-14.
**2. Reading the Scripture (10 minutes)**
- Distribute Bibles to students or ask them to pull out their own.
- Read Romans 6:1-14 aloud. You may assign different students to read different sections to engage the class.
- Ask students to pay attention to key themes and words as the passage is read.
**3. Group Discussion (15 minutes)**
- Divide the class into small groups and distribute the handouts with key verses and discussion questions such as:
- What does it mean to be "dead to sin" and "alive to God in Christ Jesus"?
- How does baptism symbolize the new life in Christ?
- What practical changes might one see in someone who is living a new life in Christ?
- Allow groups to discuss amongst themselves and write down their thoughts.
**4. Group Presentations (10 minutes)**
- Have each group present their findings to the class.
- Facilitate discussion by asking follow-up questions and encouraging other groups to add their perspectives.
**5. Explanation and Teaching (10 minutes)**
- Summarize the main points from the group discussions.
- Provide deeper insight into Paul's message in Romans 6:1-14:
- The call to avoid continuing in sin because of grace.
- The significance of being united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
- The concept of offering ourselves as instruments of righteousness.
- Use the whiteboard to highlight key terms and their meanings.
**6. Personal Reflection (10 minutes)**
- Ask students to spend a few moments in quiet reflection, considering their own lives in light of the passage.
- Provide prompts such as:
- Are there areas in your life that need transformation?
- How can you practically live out the new life in Christ starting today?
- Encourage students to jot down their reflections in their notebooks.
**Conclusion and Prayer (5 minutes)**
- Recap the lesson's key points.
- Emphasize the importance of living a life that reflects the transformative power of Christ's resurrection.
- Invite students to share any final thoughts or questions.
- Close the lesson with a prayer, asking for strength and guidance to live out the new life in Christ.
**Homework:**
- Assign students to read Romans 6:15-23 and prepare to discuss how being "slaves to righteousness" contrasts with being "slaves to sin" in the next lesson.
**Assessment:**
- Informal assessment through participation in group discussions and presentations.
- Reflection notes in notebooks will be reviewed to gauge understanding and personal application.
**Note:**
- Adapt the lesson plan based on the class size and specific needs of your students.