Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE

CLASS:  SS 1

DATE:

TERM: 3rd TERM

REFERENCES

1.  Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1-3 by Martins I Amaechi
2.  Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1-3 by Edmond Ugochukwu
3.  RSV Bible (compulsory)
4.  WAEC Pack

 
WEEK ONE

TOPIC: REVISION/ EFFECTIVE PRAYER

CONTENT

• Meaning of prayers
• Types of prayer

MEANING OF PRAYER

Prayer is a personal and intimate communion with God so intimate that it requires mental concentration and rapt attention. Prayer as communion with God involves that we put all our will on God. Jesus enjoins that all prayers be said in his name. James teaches as follows:

‘’Count it all joy,my brethren, when you meet various trials for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effects, that you may be perfect, and complete lacking nothing. If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without  reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith without  doubt: for he who  doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from God.A double –minded man is unstable in all his ways.’’ James 1;2-8

EVALUATION

1.  Define prayer 
2.  Explain James teaching on Prayer

TYPES OF PRAYERS

James mentions situations that call for prayer, as well as types of prayer:

‘’ Is anyone among you suffering let him pray, is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,  the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature like ourselves and he prayed fervently, that it might not and rain and for three years and six months, it did not rain on the earth, then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit.’’ James 5;13-18

In the above passage, all the types of prayer are mentioned, the prayer of adoration is mentioned, Is anyone cheerful let him sing praise ‘’(James5;13) prayer of petition and intercession are also mentioned .Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church,  let them pray over him ...’’(James 5;14), again the prayer of confession is mentioned as well:’’ Therefore confess your sins to one another ‘’ (James 5;16)

Other types of prayer not mentioned in the above passage are:

1.  Prayer of dedication – this refers to promise to remain truly God’s own.
2.  Prayer of thanksgiving - thanking God for his goodness, favour and grace.
3.  Prayer of confession of sins with determination to forsake them.

EVALUATION

1.  List four types of prayer 
2.  Explain two out of the one listed

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Define prayer?
2. List the types of prayer you know.
3. Explain James’s teaching on prayer.
4. When and how should Christians pray?

READING ASSIGNMENT

Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1-3 by Martins I Amaechi pages 276-278

RSV Bible read James 1;2-8

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1.According to James a man who doubts while praying is like (a) a ship in the sea tossed up and 

down by waves (b) a dry leaf blown about by waves  (c) a wave  of the sea driven about by wind. (d) an eagle

2. In James 5;16-17,Elijah is mentioned in connection with the prayer of the  --  (a) humble  (b) righteous  (c) holy (d) faithfulness
3. James advices anyone sick in the church to (a) call the elders for prayer (b) pray without ceasing (c) fast with all his might (d) meet the pastor

4.What could be the greatest hindrance to prayer (a) sin (b) lack of fasting (c) doubt (d) Ignorance

5. Who among these is mentioned in connection with effectiveness of prayer in James chapter 5

Peter (b) Paul (c) Elijah (d) Elisha

THEORY

1. What is the role of church elders in prayer?
2. Outline the role of faithin prayer?