Lesson Note on Parental Responsibility: Eli, Samuel and God’s Judgement for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Ethical Living
Previous Lesson: Provisions: God’s Provision and Obedience.
Topic: Parental Responsibility
Subject Matter: Meaning of parental responsibility (parents guiding, correcting and training children), irresponsible behaviour of Eli and his sons (I Samuel 2:12-25), irresponsible behaviour of Samuel’s sons (I Samuel 8:1-9), God’s pronouncement of judgement on Eli and his sons (I Samuel 2:27-36, I Samuel 3:1-18), fulfilment of God’s judgement on Eli and his family (I Samuel 4:10-22)

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

• Define parental responsibility.
• Identify examples of irresponsible parenting from the Bible.
• State God’s pronouncement of judgment on Eli and his family.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the importance of parental guidance and discipline.
• Desire to live righteously as children and future parents.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Outline the consequences of parental irresponsibility.
• Apply the lessons learned to their own lives and families.

Social Domain:

• Discuss the role of responsible parenting in building a godly society.
• Promote responsible family values among peers.

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 (Revised Standard Version)
• https://education.gov.ng/
• https://www.waecdirect.org/

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 family roles and consequences of actions

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the significant role parents play in guiding and training their children according to God’s will. It enables pupils to learn from biblical examples the importance of responsible parenting and the consequences of neglecting parental duties, which is essential for building strong families and a moral society.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of family structures, roles of parents and children, and some knowledge of Old Testament Bible stories.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Parental Responsibility

Meaning of Parental Responsibility

Parental responsibility refers to the duty of parents to guide, correct, train, and nurture their children physically, morally, and spiritually. It involves setting good examples, providing instruction, discipline, and ensuring the well-being and proper upbringing of children according to God’s standards.

Irresponsible Behaviour of Eli and His Sons (I Samuel 2:12-25)

Eli was a high priest in Israel. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests who behaved wickedly. They showed contempt for the Lord’s sacrifice by taking the best portions for themselves and committed immorality with women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Eli rebuked them, but his rebuke was weak and he did not restrain them effectively.

Irresponsible Behaviour of Samuel’s Sons (I Samuel 8:1-9)

When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, as judges over Israel. However, his sons did not follow his example. They turned aside after dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. This led the elders of Israel to demand a king, rejecting God’s direct rule over them.

God’s Pronouncement of Judgement on Eli and His Sons (I Samuel 2:27-36, I Samuel 3:1-18)

God sent a man of God to Eli to pronounce judgment because Eli honored his sons more than God. God declared that Eli’s family would lose the priesthood, and all his descendants would die young. Later, God revealed to young Samuel that He would carry out His judgment against Eli’s house because his sons blasphemed God and Eli failed to restrain them.

Fulfilment of God’s Judgement on Eli and His Family (I Samuel 4:10-22)

The judgment was fulfilled when the Philistines defeated Israel, captured the Ark of God, and killed Hophni and Phinehas. Upon hearing the news, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died. Phinehas’ wife also died after giving birth, naming her son Ichabod, meaning “the glory has departed from Israel.” This marked the end of Eli’s priestly line as God had foretold.

Memory Verse

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Bible Reading

• I Samuel 2:12-25
• I Samuel 2:27-36
• I Samuel 3:1-18
• I Samuel 4:10-22
• I Samuel 8:1-9
• Proverbs 22:6

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 asks them to mention some duties of parents in a family.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning duties like providing food, shelter, education, and training.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of parental duties.

Step 2: Explanation of Parental Responsibility

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of parental responsibility, emphasizing guiding, correcting, and training children, and the importance of discipline and good example.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the full scope of parental responsibility.

Step 3: Irresponsible Behaviour of Eli and His Sons

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to read I Samuel 2:12-25 and discuss the irresponsible behaviour of Eli’s sons and Eli’s failure to restrain them effectively.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the passage and discuss the misbehaviour and Eli’s actions.
Learning Point: Pupils identify specific examples of irresponsible behaviour and its immediate context.

Step 4: Irresponsible Behaviour of Samuel’s Sons

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to read I Samuel 8:1-9 and discuss the irresponsible behaviour of Samuel’s sons and its consequences for Israel.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the passage and discuss how Samuel’s sons perverted justice.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about another instance of parental irresponsibility and its broader impact.

Step 5: God’s Pronouncement and Fulfilment of Judgement

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explication/Connecting
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains God’s pronouncement of judgment on Eli and his sons from I Samuel 2:27-36 and I Samuel 3:1-18, and its fulfilment in I Samuel 4:10-22, highlighting lessons for families today.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and understand the divine consequences of irresponsibility.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp that God holds parents accountable for their children’s upbringing.

Step 6: Memory Verse and Bible Reading

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recitation/Reading
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads pupils in reciting the memory verse (Proverbs 22:6) and encourages them to read the relevant Bible passages later.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recite the memory verse and note down the Bible readings.
Learning Point: Pupils internalize a key scripture on child training.

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 parental responsibility?
2. Mention two examples of irresponsible behaviour displayed by Eli’s sons.
3. How did Samuel’s sons behave irresponsibly?
4. State one aspect of God’s judgment on Eli’s family.

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 lesson, reiterating the importance of responsible parenting and God’s expectation for parents to train their children in His ways. The teacher assigns homework: Ask your parents or guardians about their responsibilities towards you and how they fulfill them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further reflection.

Lesson Keywords

• Parental – Relating to a parent or parents.
• Responsibility – The state of being accountable or to blame for something.
• Eli – A high priest in the Bible whose sons behaved wickedly.
• Samuel – A prophet and judge whose sons also behaved irresponsibly.
• Judgement – The divine punishment for wrongdoing.
• Discipline – The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research other biblical examples of parental responsibility or irresponsibility (e.g., Abraham, David). For pupils needing more support, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the Bible stories and focus on key definitions and consequences, using visual aids more frequently.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure the classroom atmosphere encourages open discussion while maintaining respect for biblical narratives. Emphasize that the lesson is not to blame parents but to understand the principles of godly upbringing and its importance for individuals and society. Encourage pupils to reflect on their roles as children and future parents. Use the Bible extensively during the lesson for direct references.