Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 3 - Fellowship in the early church

TERM: 1^ST TERM

WEEK: 5

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 3

AGE: 14 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Fellowship in the early church

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

1.) Give an account of the murmuring that took place in the early church

2.) Discuss the moral lessons from the account

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

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 3

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

NOTE

FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH: MURMURING IN THE EARLY CHURCH (Acts 6:1-2)

In Acts 6:1-2, a situation arose in the early church that led to murmuring or complaints. The early Christian community had been growing rapidly, and as a result, there were practical issues that needed to be addressed. Specifically, the Hellenistic Jewish widows (those who spoke Greek) were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and aid, while the Hebrew Jewish widows were being taken care of. This caused dissatisfaction and murmuring among the Greek-speaking believers.

In response to this issue, the apostles recognized the need to address the complaints fairly and efficiently. They called together the whole congregation of believers and stated that it would not be right for them to stop preaching the Word of God in order to serve tables. Instead, they instructed the church to choose seven men from among them, known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to take responsibility for the daily distribution of food. This allowed the apostles to continue focusing on prayer and the ministry of the Word.

The church agreed to this proposal, and they selected seven men, including Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. The apostles prayed for them and laid hands on them, commissioning them to their service. This solution addressed the murmuring and allowed the church to continue growing while ensuring that all members were cared for fairly.

Moral Lessons from the Account

1. Addressing Complaints Constructively – The apostles did not ignore the murmuring but recognized the issue and took immediate, practical steps to resolve it. This teaches the importance of addressing complaints in a constructive and timely manner.
2. Fairness and Equality – The account highlights the importance of ensuring that all members of the community are treated fairly and equitably. The church made sure that the needs of all groups, including the marginalized, were met.
3. Delegation and Leadership – The apostles recognized the importance of focusing on their primary calling—prayer and the ministry of the Word—while delegating the responsibility of food distribution to others. This teaches the value of delegation and trusting others with leadership roles in the church.
4. Wisdom in Decision Making – The apostles chose men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to handle the responsibility. This emphasizes the importance of spiritual wisdom and discernment when making decisions in leadership.
5. Community Involvement and Unity – The church was involved in the solution, selecting the seven men together, which helped foster unity and a sense of shared responsibility. This teaches the importance of active participation and collective responsibility within the community.
6. The Role of Service in the Church – The appointment of deacons to serve practical needs showed that serving others is a vital aspect of the church's ministry, not less important than preaching or teaching. Every role in the church is important for maintaining a healthy community.

EVALUATION:

1. How did the apostles respond to the murmuring among the believers, and what does their response teach us about handling complaints in a community?
2. What actions were taken to ensure fairness and equality in the early church, and why was it important to address the needs of all members?
3. How does the apostles’ decision to delegate responsibilities to others reflect the importance of delegation and leadership in the church?
4. What criteria did the apostles use when choosing individuals to handle the distribution of food, and what lesson does this teach about decision-making in leadership?
5. How did the appointment of deacons for practical service contribute to the unity and effectiveness of the early church, and what does this teach about the role of service in the church community?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively