Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 1 - Living in a community under God's law

Living in a community under God's law

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TERM: 3RD TERM

WEEK: 10

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 1

AGE: 12 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Living in a community under God’s law

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) Discuss the law of love as Jesus explained in Luke 10:25-28

2.) Explain love as the new commandment of Jesus Christ John 13:33, 

1 Cor.13:4-13

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 1

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

PUPIL’S ACTIVITY

STEP 1

Review

The teacher revises the previous lesson

Learners pay attention

STEP 2

Introduction

She then introduces the new topic by discussing the law of love as Jesus explained in the new testament

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 3

Explanation

She further gives an explanation on love as the new commandment of Jesus Christ

Learners pay attention and participate

STEP 4

NOTE TAKING

The teacher writes a short note on the board for the learners to copy

The learners copy the note from the board

NOTE

LIVING IN A COMMUNITY UNDER GOD’S LAW
The Law of Love in Luke 10:25-28

In this passage, a lawyer approaches Jesus to test Him by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by asking the lawyer what is written in the Law. The lawyer correctly answers that one must love the Lord God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love one’s neighbor as oneself (a summary of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18).

  • The Primacy of Love: Jesus emphasizes that love is central to the commandments. To love God fully and to love one’s neighbor reflects the essence of the Law. This prioritization of love illustrates that obedience to God and care for others are interconnected.
  • Holistic Love: The command to love God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind indicates that love should encompass all aspects of a person's being, highlighting the holistic nature of love that engages emotions, spirit, actions, and intellect.
  • Responsibility to Others: The command to love one’s neighbor as oneself extends the law beyond personal piety to social ethics. It emphasizes the importance of actively caring for and valuing others, making love a practical expression in everyday relationships.
  • Eternal Life Connection: Jesus indicates that this law of love is integral to eternal life, suggesting that true faith is demonstrated through love for God and others.

 

Love as the New Commandment in John 13:33 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

In John 13:33, Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved them. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, Paul elaborates on what this love looks like in practice.

  • New Commandment of Love (John 13:33):
    • Jesus’ Example: The command to love as Jesus loved demonstrates a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love. Jesus’ love is the ultimate model, characterized by service and sacrifice, culminating in His crucifixion for humanity's sake.
    • Community and Witness: This command is meant to define the Christian community. By loving one another, believers bear witness to the world about Christ's love, indicating that love is the hallmark of true discipleship.
  • Description of Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-13):
    • Characteristics of Love: Paul describes love in a series of actions and attitudes: it is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, and does not dishonor others. Love is also forgiving, protective, trusting, hopeful, and persevering. This comprehensive description provides a practical guide for how love should manifest in relationships.
    • Temporal vs. Eternal: Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts, asserting that while gifts may fade, love remains eternal. This underscores the supreme value of love, positioning it as the foundation of all Christian conduct and community life.
    • The Greatest Virtue: The passage concludes by affirming that faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love. This prioritization emphasizes that love is the ultimate expression of a believer’s faith and relationship with God and others.

 

EVALUATION:   

  1. Jesus emphasizes loving God and one’s neighbor. How does this dual command illustrate the relationship between personal faith and social ethics within a community?
  2. Discuss how the command to love God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind in Luke 10 reflects a holistic understanding of love. How can this approach influence an individual’s interactions within a community?
  3. How does this example of selfless and sacrificial love serve as a model for Christian relationships in a community?
  4. Choose three characteristics mentioned by Paul and explain how they can be practically applied in community living.
  5. Discuss the significance of love as the greatest virtue in a believer’s life. How does prioritizing love over other spiritual practices shape a Christian community?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively