Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Primary 3

WEEK 7

Subject: Christian Religious Studies

Class: Primary 3

Term: 3^rd Term

Topic: Showing desire for peaceful coexistence

Performance objectives: At the end of this lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Explain the term ‘peaceful coexistence’.

2. List instances of people desiring peaceful coexistence in the Bible.

3. Identify reasons for peaceful coexistence.

4. Explain various ways of creating changes for peaceful coexistence.

Guide to Bible passages (Matthew 5: 21-25; Genesis 26: 2-29; 31: 1-11; and Philemon 1:8)

Building Background connection to prior knowledge:  pupils are familiar with the topic in their previous classes.

CONTENT

The meaning of peaceful coexistence

Peaceful coexistence simply means to live with other people without causing trouble. It also means to be at peace with our fellow human beings in the society. We live together with our neigbours at home and our classmates in school without quarrelling or keeping malice, irrespective of their colour, tribe, age and religion. This is because Jesus our master is the prince of peace. We should follow his example by living at peace with every member of our society. This does not mean that there will not be occasions for quarrel or misunderstanding. When it happens, we should forgive one another. Jesus wants us to be at peace with everybody.

Instances of people desiring peaceful co-existence in the Bible

Abraham and Lot

The Bible is written to help us live a godly and peaceful ways of life. When God called Abraham, Abraham took along with him Lot his nephew. After sometime God blessed both of them with cattle, silver and gold. There was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot. And Abraham made peace with Lot, by suggesting to him to separate from him and move to any portion of the land that he (Lot) chose. Lot agreed and chose to move to the most fertile area of land. Abraham accepted Lot’s choice. However, God blessed Abraham much better after Lot had separated from him.

Esau and Jacob

Esau and Jacob were sons of Isaac and Rebecca. One day, Esau came from the farm, very tired. He asked Jacob his younger brother to give him porridge. Jacob asked Esau if he gave him his porridge he would let him be the elder brother. Esau agreed. That was how Jacob cunningly robbed Esau of his birthright. At another time, Isaac was to bless Esau in his old age. Jacob deceived Isaac and received Esau’s blessing. This caused Jacob to run away from the house for many years. He was afraid Esau might kill him. Many years later, Jacob decided to come back home. He made peace with Esau his brother, by sending his messengers with gifts before getting to him, Jacob asked for forgiveness, Esau forgave him, and they kissed each other.

Isaac

Also in those days, Isaac lived in Gerar. Abimelech was the king of the Philistines in that land. There was famine in the land. Isaac decided to leave the land for Egypt but God warned him not to. He obeyed and so God blessed him. The people of Gerar became jealous of him and quarreled with him over a well that he dug. He did not quarrel but simply went away to another place and dug another well. But the people still quarrelled with Isaac. Isaac then had to dig a well for a third time. There was no water because the people were not happy with Jacob. Esau and Jacob reconciled with each other

The people of Gerar also would have taken Rebecca for a wife. Rebecca was a very beautiful woman Isaac did not tell them Rebecca was his wife. Abimelech made peace between the people of Gerar and Isaac. Isaac was left alone

2. When Isaac dug the first two wells, the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled

with his herdsmen because they said the water was theirs.

3. Isaac had to build wells three times before the quarrelsome herdsmen

of Gerar left him in peace.

4. Isaac was a patient and peaceful man. Because Isaac refused to

quarrel, God blessed him in Gerar.

5. God is a God of peace. He does not like us to be quarrelsome.

6. When we choose to be patient and peaceful towards others, God is

pleased and so he rewards us.

Philemon and Onesimus

Onesimus had a master whose was Philemon, who lived in a town called Colosse. Onesimus ran away from his master because he committed an offence. After sometime, he met Apostle Paul who preached the Good News to hm. He became a Christian. Paul later wrote a letter to Philemon to accept Onesimus back. Philemon forgave him and accepted him back.

Reasons for peaceful coexistence

1. God tells us in his word to be at peace with everybody.

2. As children of God, we must not quarrel or fight with people.

3. To demonstrate that we are children of God, we must make friends with people around us.

4. If anyone offends us ‘we must forgive them’ so that God will forgive us and hear our prayers.

5. If two friends are fighting in class, we should separate them.

6. To have peace of mind, we should live at peace in order to see God at the end of our life.

7. We should live at peace with everybody in our environment.

Ways of creating peaceful coexistence

Jesus teaches, ‘Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God’. We should forgive others when they offend us. We can call them and tell them how they have offended us. We should not pay evil back to our offenders. We should help them in times of need.

Moral lessons

1. There is a reward for forgiveness.

2. When we forgive, we have peace of mind.

3. Anywhere we are, we should try to live at peace with everybody.

Remember

In both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, different people have shown us how to make peace with others. Abraham and Lot, Esau and Jacob, Isaac and Abimelech, Onesimus and Philemon, are some examples of people who made peace i the Bible.

Strategies and activities

Step1: Teacher revises the previous topic

Step 2: Teacher introduces the new I

Step 3:  Teacher explains the new topic

Step 4: Teacher welcomes pupils questions

Step 5:  Teacher evaluates the pupils

Assessment and evaluation

1. Explain the term ‘peaceful coexistence’.

2. List instances of people desiring peaceful coexistence in the Bible.

3. Identify reasons for peaceful coexistence.

4. Explain various ways of creating changes for peaceful coexistence.

Wrap up (conclusion): Teacher goes over the topic once again to enhance better understanding.

Exercise

1. Give two reasons why we need to live at peace with people.

2. How did Abraham show peaceful existence with Lot?

Fill in the gaps below with correct answers.

3. Onesimus was the servant of __________.

4. Jacob ran away from the family because _________.

5. Jacob asked forgiveness from Esau his brother by sending him ___________ ahead of their meeting.