Lesson Note on Guidance: God’s Guidance Then and Now for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: God’s Guidance and Human Decisions
Previous Lesson: Joshua and Deborah as Leaders: Courage, Succession and Victory.
Topic: Guidance
Subject Matter: Meaning of guidance (God leading people to make right choices), God guided the people of Israel (Exodus 13:17-22, Joshua 8:1-22), God guides His people today through the teaching of Jesus Christ in the Bible (Hebrews 1:1, Matthew 11:27-30)

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define guidance in the context of God leading people.
• Recall biblical examples of how God guided the people of Israel.
• Explain how God guides believers today through Jesus Christ and the Bible.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the importance of seeking God’s direction in their lives.
• Desire to apply biblical principles to their daily decision-making.

Psychomotor Domain:

• List various factors that aid in making right decisions.
• Identify specific Bible passages that illustrate God’s guidance.

Social Domain:

• Discuss with peers the benefits of following God’s guidance.
• Share personal insights on how God’s guidance impacts choices.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Christian Religious Studies for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 2.
• The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version).

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• The Holy Bible
• Christian Religious Studies textbook for SS2
• Charts illustrating biblical accounts of guidance

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand that God offers direction for making good choices in life. It enables them to recognize how God has guided people in the past and how He continues to guide them today, empowering them to make decisions that lead to positive outcomes.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of God as their Creator and have some knowledge of biblical stories and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Guidance

Meaning of Guidance

Guidance refers to God leading people to make right choices and decisions in their lives. It involves divine direction that helps individuals navigate challenges, understand His will, and live according to His purpose.

Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Bible Reading

• Exodus 13:17-22
• Joshua 8:1-22
• Hebrews 1:1
• Matthew 11:27-30

God’s Guidance to the People of Israel

God guided the people of Israel in various ways:

• Through a Pillar of Cloud and Fire: During their exodus from Egypt, God led them by day with a pillar of cloud and by night with a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:17-22). This showed them the way and protected them.
• Through Specific Instructions in Battle: God gave Joshua clear instructions on how to conquer cities like Ai, ensuring their victory (Joshua 8:1-22).
• Through Prophets and Priests: God also spoke to Israel through His chosen messengers, providing laws and directions for their lives.

God’s Guidance through Jesus Christ Today

God guides His people today primarily through the teaching of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1) and through His words, we find truth and direction.

• Jesus’ Teachings: Jesus’ teachings offer wisdom, moral principles, and a path to eternal life (Matthew 11:27-30). By studying His life and words, believers learn how to live righteously and make decisions that honour God.
• The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit helps believers understand and apply the teachings of the Bible to their daily lives.

Factors for Making Right Decisions

When seeking guidance for decisions, believers should consider:

• Prayer: Seeking God’s will through communication with Him.
• Counsel: Seeking advice from wise and godly individuals.
• Scripture: Consulting the Bible for principles and direct commands.
• Consequences: Considering the potential outcomes of different choices.
• The Holy Spirit: Listening to the inner prompting and peace from the Holy Spirit.
• Wisdom: Applying sound judgment and understanding.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils, reviews the previous lesson, and then introduces the new topic, “Guidance,” by asking pupils about times they needed help making a choice.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s greeting, briefly recall the previous lesson, and share instances of needing guidance.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the new lesson and connect it to their experiences.

Step 2: Meaning of Guidance

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of guidance as God leading people to make right choices and discusses why people need God’s direction, focusing on choices and consequences.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask questions for clarification on the definition and importance of guidance.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what guidance means and its relevance to their lives.

Step 3: God’s Guidance to Israel

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses how God guided Israel, using Exodus 13:17-22 (pillar of cloud and fire) and Joshua 8:1-22 (instructions in battle) as examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the biblical accounts and identify the specific ways God guided His people in the past.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about biblical examples of God’s direct guidance.

Step 4: God’s Guidance Today

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Connection
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how Jesus’ teachings guide believers today, referring to Hebrews 1:1 and Matthew 11:27-30, and connects this to daily decisions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and discuss how the teachings of Jesus and the Bible can help them in their daily choices.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that God continues to guide His people through Jesus and the Bible.

Step 5: Factors for Right Decisions

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides learners to list factors that help in decision-making, such as prayer, counsel, scripture, and considering consequences.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by listing and discussing various factors that contribute to making right decisions.
Learning Point: Pupils identify practical steps for seeking guidance in decision-making.

Step 6: Memory Verse and Bible Reading

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recitation/Reading
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the memory verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 and ensures pupils locate and read the specified Bible passages.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recite the memory verse and read the relevant Bible passages.
Learning Point: Pupils internalize key biblical texts related to guidance.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is guidance in the Christian context?
2. Mention two ways God guided the people of Israel.
3. How does God guide His people today?
4. List at least three factors that help in making right decisions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: Remaining minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson on guidance and gives pupils an assignment to find another biblical example of God’s guidance.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: The lesson is reinforced, and pupils are encouraged to continue their learning.

Lesson Keywords

• Guidance – God leading people to make right choices.
• Decision Making – The process of choosing between options.
• Israel – The ancient people chosen by God.
• Jesus Christ – The Son of God, through whom God reveals His will.
• Bible – The Holy Scripture, a source of God’s guidance.
• Proverbs – A book of wisdom in the Old Testament.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to research and present on a contemporary issue requiring guidance. For pupils needing more support, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of biblical stories and pair them with more capable pupils for discussion and note-taking.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to share personal experiences (if comfortable) where they sought or received guidance. Emphasize that guidance is an ongoing process and that God is always available to direct their paths. Use visual aids like maps of the Exodus journey to make the historical accounts more engaging.