Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: Second Term
Week: 9
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: The Supremacy of God
Previous Lesson: The Effect of Greed: Ahab and Gehazi.
Topic: The supremacy of God
Subject Matter: Meaning of supremacy (highest authority and power), situations that led to pronouncement of drought (I Kings 16:29-34, I Kings 17:1-7, I Kings 18:1-19), Elijah pronounces the period of drought (I Kings 19:1-18), Obadiah protected the prophets of God

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define the supremacy of God.
Summarize the situations that led to the pronouncement of drought.
Explain Elijah’s message regarding the drought.
Describe Obadiah’s actions in protecting God’s prophets.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the power and authority of God.
Value courage in standing up for God’s truth.
Identify with the need for peaceful responses to religious tensions.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss the courage demonstrated by Elijah and Obadiah.
Identify areas of religious tension in Nigeria.

Discuss peaceful and constructive responses to religious tensions in their communities.

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 2
The Holy Bible (King James Version/New International Version)
https://www.biblestudytools.com
https://www.biblegateway.com

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A copy of the Holy Bible
Christian Religious Studies textbook for SS2
Charts illustrating key events from the lesson

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand God’s ultimate power and authority over all creation and human affairs. It teaches them about faith and courage through the examples of Elijah and Obadiah, showing how individuals can stand firm in their beliefs even in difficult times.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of biblical stories and the general concept of God’s power from previous Christian Religious Studies lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Supremacy of God

Meaning of Supremacy

Supremacy means having the highest authority, power, or rank. The supremacy of God refers to His absolute and unrivaled power, control, and authority over all things in heaven and on earth. It means God is sovereign and nothing can challenge His will or power.

Situations Leading to the Pronouncement of Drought

During the reign of King Ahab in Israel, there was widespread idolatry and disobedience to God. Ahab married Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, who introduced the worship of Baal and Asherah. They built temples and altars for these foreign gods, persecuting the prophets of the Lord. This provoked God’s anger, leading to a period of severe drought as a judgment.

Elijah Pronounces the Period of Drought

Elijah, a prophet of God, confronted King Ahab and declared that there would be no dew or rain for several years, except at his word. This was a direct challenge to Baal, who was believed to be the god of rain and fertility. After this pronouncement, God commanded Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, where he was fed by ravens.

Obadiah Protects the Prophets of God

During the severe drought, King Ahab’s palace administrator was a man named Obadiah, who greatly feared the Lord. Despite the persecution of prophets by Jezebel, Obadiah courageously hid one hundred prophets of God in two caves, fifty in each, and provided them with bread and water at his own expense. This showed his unwavering loyalty and faith in God amidst widespread apostasy.

Memory Verse

Psalm 115:3: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Bible Reading

1 Kings 16:29-34
1 Kings 17:1-7
1 Kings 18:1-19

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 and introduces the topic by asking pupils about examples of powerful rulers or authorities they know. The teacher then links this to the concept of God’s ultimate power.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning powerful figures and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and understand the context of God’s power.

Step 2: Meaning of Supremacy

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines “supremacy” and explains what the “supremacy of God” means in the context of His power and authority over all creation.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and offer their own understanding of God’s supremacy.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the core concept of God’s absolute power.

Step 3: Situations Leading to the Pronouncement of Drought

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narrative/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils through 1 Kings 16:29-34, explaining King Ahab’s wickedness, Jezebel’s influence, and the widespread worship of Baal that angered God.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the scripture passages and discuss how Ahab’s actions led to God’s judgment.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the historical and spiritual context for the drought.

Step 4: Elijah Pronounces the Period of Drought

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Narrative/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of Elijah confronting King Ahab and declaring the drought as recorded in 1 Kings 17:1-7, emphasizing Elijah’s faith and God’s command.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the narration and summarize the key points of Elijah’s pronouncement and subsequent hiding.
Learning Point: Pupils understand Elijah’s role as God’s prophet and the immediate consequence of the pronouncement.

Step 5: Obadiah Protects the Prophets of God

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Character Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses Obadiah’s character and his courageous act of hiding one hundred prophets of God, despite the danger from Jezebel, as found in 1 Kings 18:1-19.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss Obadiah’s actions and identify the qualities of courage and faithfulness he displayed.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about Obadiah’s faithfulness and courage in protecting God’s servants.

Step 6: Religious Tension and Peaceful Responses

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on how the events in the lesson relate to contemporary issues of religious tension in Nigeria and guides pupils to suggest peaceful responses.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify areas of religious tension and propose ways to promote peace and understanding.
Learning Point: Pupils connect biblical lessons to modern-day challenges and consider peaceful solutions.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

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

What does the supremacy of God mean?
Mention two actions of King Ahab and Jezebel that provoked God’s anger.
Who was the prophet that pronounced the drought in Israel?
How did Obadiah demonstrate his courage and fear of the Lord?

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

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, reiterating God’s supremacy and the importance of faith and courage. The teacher then assigns homework for pupils to read 1 Kings 18:20-40.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for future lessons.

Lesson Keywords

Supremacy – Highest authority or power.
Drought – A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.
Elijah – A prophet of God who challenged Baal worship.
Obadiah – An official in King Ahab’s court who feared the Lord and protected prophets.
Baal – A pagan god worshipped by the Canaanites and introduced to Israel by Jezebel.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research other instances of God’s supremacy in the Bible. For those who need more support, the teacher will use simplified language and provide additional examples, ensuring core concepts are understood through visual aids and repeated explanations.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to actively participate in discussions and share their insights. Emphasize the practical application of courage and standing for truth in their daily lives. Ensure pupils understand the historical context of the events to fully grasp the significance of God’s actions and the characters’ responses.