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 TEN

TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

CONTENT

1. a) Preparation for His Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
2. b) The Signs of His Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18, 1 Thessalonians.2: 1:12)

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is the expectation of many christians based on the teaching of Jesus Christ that after his resurrection and his ascension, he would go and prepare a place or spiritual home for the children of God and he would later return and rapture them.

PREPARATION FOR HIS COMING I THESSALONIANS 5:11

Against the background of the enthusiasm with which the Thessalonians Christian received the event of the second coming, one expects them to be excited and anxious about how to prepare and be  ready for it or how the event will work. Paul warns them not to be over-anxious or be over-excited but to prepare and be ready as the event will happen unexpectedly.

Any Christian who is truly in Christ does not need to know the season or time when Jesus Christ will come. Paul explains the issue of readiness, by comparing it with the thief at night. Thus when people think they are secures that is the time the thief strikes, leaving behind terrible destruction. In the same vain whosoever does not anticipate the second coming or is not fully conscious of it, will certainly be caught unawares. The bottom line therefore is that for any true Christian dead or alive, there is hope of salvation. All one needs to do is to be prepared, believing with faith that Christ died for us. Anxiety may not be the answer.

EVALUATION

1. Describe the second coming of the Lord according to Paul’s teaching. 
2. What does this teach us as Christians?

THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18 

St. Paul in his epistle to the Thessalonians described the signs of the second coming of Jesus and showed how it would involve the living and the dead.

Paul started by first of all giving warning to the Thessalonians that they should not be deceived by word or letter purported to have come from him, for the second coming would not come unless the rebellion comes first and the men of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so called god or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Paul made it clear to them that as long as one is in Christ, death cannot separate the person from him. As Jesus resurrected from death, so will they be raised up again.

Paul went further to outline the signs of the second coming as:

1. Christ will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the arch angel’s call and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
2. ii. The dead in Christ will rise first those who are alive shall be with them in the clouds (in their spiritual bodies) to meet the Lord and remain with Christ forever.There will be certain destruction for the unwary
3. He finally told the Thessalonians to comfort one another with these words.

EVALUATION

1. Describe the second coming of the Lord according to Paul’s teaching.
2. What does this teach us as Christians?

SIGNIFICANCE/LESSON TO LEARN

1. Christians should live in readiness knowing fully well that the second coming of Jesus is a reality.
2. Christians should watch and pray study their Bible always and observe their fasting.
3. They should live obedient and righteous life.
4. Christians should engage in evangelism and preach to others about the reality of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
5. Christians should not grieve more about their brethren who die for they would rise again on the resurrection day.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. What are the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ?
2. Outline four ways a Christian can prepare for the second coming.
3. Using Paul’s epistle to the Thessalonians; describe the second coming of Christ and show how this would involve the living and the dead.
4. Describe Paul’s reaction to the gifts which he received from the Philippians.
5. Suggest four situations where a Christian should give.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Comprehensive Christian religious knowledge for SS 1-3 by Martins I Amaechi page 259 -263 

Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1 – 3 By Edmond Okoli Page 213 -215

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. The comparison of the second coming with a thief shows that (a) Jesus will come in the midnight (b) Jesus will come at siesta time (c) Jesus will come unexpectedly (d) Jesus will come with boldness like a thief
2. What is the hope of all those dead in Christ at the second coming? (a) They will rise first  (b) They will rise last (c) They will not rise again (d) They will rise but remain in purgatory
3. Jesus will appear in the cloud accompanied by (a) God his father (b) Arch angels (c) holy spirit the comforter (d) The saints in heaven.
4. About the second coming, Paul advises Christians to (a) prevail on one another to repent (b) preach to one another on the need to be ready (c) comfort, encourage one another (d) stay away from sinful brethren
5. “Those who have fallen asleep” in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 represents (a) the living (b) The weak in faith (c) The drunk (d) The dead.

THEORY

1. Write short notes on the following concepts: i. Resurrection (ii) Second coming (iii) How to prepare for the second coming
2. What relationship exist between resurrection and second coming