Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 3 - Paul's imprisonment in Philippi

TERM: 2^ND TERM

WEEK: 9

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 3

AGE: 14 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Paul’s imprisonment in Philippi

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

1.) Narrate the story of Paul’s encounter with the slave girl at Phillipi

2.) Discuss the moral lessons from the above story

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

PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT IN PHILLIPI

Paul’s Encounter with the Slave Girl at Philippi (Acts 16:16-18)

While Paul and his companions, including Silas, were in Philippi, they encountered a slave girl who had a spirit of divination, which allowed her to predict the future. She followed Paul and his companions, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Although she was speaking the truth, her actions were disruptive and aligned with a spirit of fortune-telling rather than a true declaration of God’s message.

This went on for many days, and eventually, Paul became greatly annoyed by the constant shouting. He turned to her and, in the name of Jesus Christ, commanded the spirit to come out of her. Immediately, the spirit left her.

The slave girl’s owners, who had profited from her ability to tell fortunes, were furious when they realized that their source of income was gone. They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the city officials. They accused them of advocating unlawful customs, as they had publicly disrupted the girl’s ability to tell fortunes. Paul and Silas were then beaten with rods and thrown into prison, which eventually led to their miraculous release following the earthquake.

Moral Lessons from the Story of Paul’s Encounter with the Slave Girl

1. Discernment in Spiritual Matters:
   • Even though the slave girl was speaking the truth about Paul and his companions, Paul discerned that her actions were not motivated by the Holy Spirit but by an evil spirit. This shows that not everything that appears to be truthful or righteous is aligned with God's will. Christians are called to use discernment to recognize the true source of teachings and actions, even if they appear to be beneficial on the surface.
2. Power of Jesus’ Name:
   • Paul’s command to the spirit in the name of Jesus highlights the authority that Christians have through Christ. The story illustrates the power of Jesus’ name over all spiritual forces, even those that control people’s lives. It reinforces the belief that in Jesus, believers can overcome demonic oppression and spiritual bondage.
3. The Cost of Standing for Righteousness:
   • Paul and Silas faced severe consequences for doing what was right—casting out the demon from the girl. They were beaten and imprisoned because of the actions that resulted in the girl’s freedom. This reminds believers that standing up for righteousness may lead to suffering or opposition. However, the ultimate reward for faithfulness is in God's hands, as evidenced by their eventual miraculous release.
4. The Exploitation of Vulnerable People:
   • The slave girl was being exploited for profit by her owners, who took advantage of her ability to tell fortunes. This serves as a lesson about the exploitation of vulnerable people for selfish gain. The story encourages believers to stand against any form of exploitation and to advocate for the dignity and freedom of others, especially those who cannot defend themselves.
5. God’s Intervention in the Face of Injustice:
   • Despite being wrongfully imprisoned, Paul and Silas trusted God, and He intervened in a miraculous way. This teaches that even in unjust situations, God is aware of our circumstances and can bring about deliverance, sometimes in ways that we do not expect. This is a reminder to trust God’s timing and His ability to work through adversity.

EVALUATION:

1. What does Paul’s discernment of the slave girl's actions teach us about the importance of spiritual discernment in distinguishing between truth and deception?
2. How does the power of Jesus’ name, as demonstrated in this story, impact our understanding of spiritual authority and deliverance from oppression?
3. In what ways does the suffering and imprisonment of Paul and Silas highlight the cost of standing up for righteousness, and how can this inspire Christians facing opposition today?
4. What moral implications arise from the exploitation of the slave girl for financial gain, and how should Christians respond to injustice and the abuse of vulnerable individuals?
5. How can the miraculous intervention of God, as seen in Paul and Silas’ imprisonment and subsequent release, encourage believers to trust God’s timing and intervention in situations of injustice?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively