### Lesson Plan: Christian Religious Studies
**Grade:** Senior Secondary 2 (SS2)
**Topic:** True Religion - Based on Amos 5:12-24
**Duration:** 80 minutes
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#### **Objectives:**
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Understand the context and message of Amos 5:12-24.
2. Discuss key themes including justice, righteousness, and true worship.
3. Reflect on the relevance of Amos’s message for contemporary Christian practice.
4. Apply the teachings of the passage to their personal lives and community.
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#### **Materials Needed:**
- Holy Bible (preferably in the New International Version for uniformity)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Notebooks and pens
- Projector (if available for visual aids)
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#### **Lesson Outline:**
**1. Introduction (10 minutes):**
- **Greetings and Prayer:** Begin with a short prayer to invite the presence of God and bless the learning session.
- **Icebreaker Activity:** Start with a quick activity where students mention a current issue in society they think is unjust. This will help to set the stage for discussing justice in Amos.
**2. Contextual Background (10 minutes):**
- Briefly introduce the book of Amos focusing on its historical and cultural context:
- Amos, a shepherd and farmer, was called by God to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
- Explain the unjust practices and superficial worship during Amos’s time which differed from God's expectations.
**3. Scripture Reading (10 minutes):**
- Read Amos 5:12-24 aloud in class. Ensure different students participate in reading sections of the passage.
- After reading, provide a summary to reinforce understanding of the text.
**4. Group Discussion (20 minutes):**
- Divide students into small groups and assign discussion questions:
- What sins does God accuse Israel of in this passage?
- What does God desire from His people according to Amos 5:12-24?
- How does this passage define "true religion"?
- Have each group present their key points after the discussion.
**5. Interactive Teaching (20 minutes):**
- Lead a discussion on the themes of justice, righteousness, and authentic worship:
- **Justice and Righteousness:** Illustrate how God values actions of fairness and justice over rituals.
- **False vs. True Worship:** Differentiate between merely following religious rituals and living a life of true devotion and ethical behavior.
- Use the whiteboard to list examples of unjust actions and what righteous behavior looks like in modern contexts (e.g., caring for the poor, honesty, integrity).
**6. Personal Reflection (5 minutes):**
- Allow students to take a few minutes to reflect individually on how they can embody true religion in their daily lives. Have them write down a personal commitment or action they can take.
**7. Application Activity (5 minutes):**
- Introduce a mini-project: Each student will create a poster or essay talking about an aspect of modern-day justice (or injustice) and how Christians are called to respond according to the teachings of Amos 5:12-24.
**8. Conclusion (10 minutes):**
- Summarize the key points of the lesson.
- Recap the definitions of justice, righteousness, and true worship according to the Bible.
- End with a group prayer asking for God's guidance in living out true religion.
### **Evaluation:**
- Observe participation during group discussions.
- Review the reflection writings and proposed actions.
- Assess the mini-projects to check understanding and application of the lesson.
### **Homework:**
- Read Matthew 23:23-24 and compare it to Amos 5:12-24. Write a one-page reflection on how Jesus’s teaching relates to Amos’s prophecy.
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### **Reflection:**
After the lesson, spend a few minutes to self-evaluate or gather student feedback on the effectiveness of the activities and discussions. Adjust future lessons based on this reflection.
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This lesson plan aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prophetic message in Amos 5:12-24, encouraging students to internalize and apply biblical principles in their lives.