Peter and Simon the Magician for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Early Church History
Previous Lesson: Peter’s Arrest by Herod and Miraculous Release
Topic: THE Ministry OF PETER
Subject Matter: Peter and Simon the magician Acts 8:14; 25

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the background of Simon the Magician in Samaria.
• Narrate the encounter between Peter and Simon the Magician as recorded in Acts 8:14-24.
• Explain Peter’s rebuke to Simon’s attempt to buy spiritual power.
• State the moral lessons derived from the story of Peter and Simon the Magician.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the sacredness of spiritual gifts and power.
• Condemn the practice of attempting to buy or sell spiritual blessings.
• Desire to use spiritual gifts for God’s glory, not personal gain.

Psychomotor Domain

• Locate Acts 8:14-25 in their Bibles.

Social Domain

• Develop an understanding of ethical conduct within the Christian faith regarding spiritual matters.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version or New International Version)
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• The Holy Bible
• Pictures or charts depicting Peter and Simon the Magician
• Whiteboard/Blackboard and markers/chalk

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for students to understand the sanctity of spiritual gifts and the dangers of misusing divine power for personal gain. It provides a clear biblical example of genuine spiritual authority versus a desire to commercialize God’s blessings. Students will learn the importance of humility and pure motives in Christian service.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of the early church, the apostles, and the ministry of Philip in Samaria.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

THE Ministry OF PETER

Introduction to Simon the Magician

Simon was a sorcerer in Samaria who had gained a significant following by performing magic. The people of Samaria were greatly impressed by his magical powers and considered him to be a great man, even calling him “the Great Power of God.” However, when Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, Simon believed and was baptised, along with many others.

The Arrival of Peter and John in Samaria

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Upon their arrival, Peter and John prayed for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then the apostles laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Simon’s Attempt to Buy Spiritual Power (Acts 8:18-19)

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. He said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Simon wished to acquire this spiritual power for himself, possibly to enhance his own reputation or for financial gain, treating it as a commodity that could be bought.

Peter’s Rebuke to Simon (Acts 8:20-23)

Peter strongly rebuked Simon, saying, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Peter’s words highlighted that spiritual gifts are not for sale and cannot be acquired through worldly means, but are given by God’s grace.

Simon’s Response and Peter and John’s Return (Acts 8:24-25)

Simon, feeling the weight of Peter’s words, pleaded with Peter and John, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages along the way.

Moral Lessons from the Encounter

1. Spiritual gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit are divine endowments from God and cannot be bought or sold with money.
2. Attempting to commercialize spiritual blessings or positions is a serious sin, often referred to as “simony.”
3. One’s heart must be pure and motives right before God when seeking spiritual things.
4. Covetousness and the desire for personal glory can lead to spiritual error.
5. Genuine repentance is essential when one has sinned against God, especially in spiritual matters.

Memory Verse

Acts 8:20: “But Peter said to him, ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!'”

Bible Reading

Acts 8:14-25

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Bible Reading, Storytelling

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Engaging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to recall some of the ministries of the apostles they have learned about. The teacher then introduces the topic: “The Ministry of Peter: Peter and Simon the Magician.”

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions about previous lessons and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Early apostles’ ministries

Step 2: Introduction to Simon the Magician

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Narrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains who Simon was, his background as a sorcerer in Samaria, and how he believed in Christ after Philip’s preaching, as recorded in Acts 8.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions for clarification about Simon’s background.

Learning Point: Simon’s background and conversion

Step 3: The Arrival of Peter and John

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Acts 8:14-17, explaining why Peter and John were sent to Samaria and how the Holy Spirit was imparted through the laying on of hands.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the specified Bible passage and discuss the purpose of Peter and John’s visit.

Learning Point: Apostles’ mission to Samaria

Step 4: Simon’s Attempt to Buy Spiritual Power

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains Simon’s observation and his subsequent offer of money to the apostles, asking students what they think about Simon’s actions and motives from Acts 8:18-19.

Pupils’ Activity: Students discuss Simon’s actions and motives, sharing their opinions.

Learning Point: Simon’s desire for power

Step 5: Peter’s Rebuke

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Analyzing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reads Acts 8:20-23 and explains Peter’s strong rebuke to Simon, highlighting the concept of “simony” (the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges) and the call for repentance.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to Peter’s rebuke and understand its implications, identifying the sin of simony.

Learning Point: Peter’s condemnation of simony

Step 6: Moral Lessons from the Encounter

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Applying

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to identify and discuss the moral lessons from the story, such as the sacredness of spiritual gifts, the danger of covetousness, and the importance of pure motives.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute to identifying the moral lessons and discuss their relevance to Christian living.

Learning Point: Lessons on spiritual integrity

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. Who was Simon the Magician before he became a believer?
2. Why did Peter and John go to Samaria?
3. What did Simon the Magician offer Peter and John?
4. What was Peter’s response to Simon’s offer?
5. State two moral lessons from the story of Peter and Simon the Magician.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding Peter and Simon

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on Peter and Simon the Magician into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson content

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reinforces the main idea that spiritual gifts are from God and cannot be bought or sold, encouraging students to seek God’s gifts with a pure heart.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson’s conclusion.

Learning Point: Gifts from God’s grace

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In your own words, describe the encounter between Peter and Simon the Magician.
2. Explain what “simony” means and why it is considered wrong.
3. How can Christians today apply the lessons from Peter’s encounter with Simon in their daily lives?

Lesson Keywords

• Peter – One of Jesus’ twelve apostles, a leader in the early church.
• Simon – A sorcerer from Samaria who believed in Christ but tried to buy spiritual power.
• Magician – A person who practices magic or sorcery.
• Holy Spirit – The third person of the Trinity, given to believers to empower them.
• Samaria – A region in ancient Israel, inhabited by Samaritans.
• Simony – The act of buying or selling spiritual things, such as church offices or sacraments.

Differentiation

For students who may struggle, the teacher will provide simplified explanations of the biblical narrative and use visual aids. Advanced learners will be encouraged to research other biblical examples of misuse of spiritual power or gifts and present their findings to the class.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search for “Peter and Simon the Magician Acts 8” on YouTube.