Saul’s Persecution of the Early Church for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 7
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: The Early Church
Previous Lesson: Arrest and Martyrdom of Stephen
Topic: Persecution OF THE EARLY Believers
Subject Matter: Persecution of the church by Saul: Acts 8:1-3; 9:1 Martyrdom of James, Acts 12:1-3

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the persecution of the church by Saul as recorded in Acts 8:1-3.
• Explain Saul’s continued threats against believers as stated in Acts 9:1.
• Describe the martyrdom of James as recorded in Acts 12:1-3.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the steadfastness of early believers in the face of persecution.
• Identify moral lessons from the persecution of the early church.

Social Domain

• Discuss how the early church responded to persecution.

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 (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1, 12:1-3)
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A copy of the Holy Bible
• Charts depicting scenes of early Christian persecution
• Pictures illustrating Saul’s activities before his conversion

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it introduces students to the challenges faced by the early church and the unwavering faith of believers. Understanding these historical events helps students appreciate the foundations of Christianity and draw inspiration for facing difficulties in their own Christian walk. It also highlights God’s sovereignty even amidst adversity.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of the establishment of the early church and the spread of the Gospel after Pentecost.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Persecution of the Early Believers

Bible Reading

Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1, Acts 12:1-3

Memory Verse

Matthew 5:10 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Persecution of the Church by Saul

Saul, a zealous Pharisee, was a major persecutor of the early Christian church before his conversion. His actions are described in the Book of Acts:

1. Acts 8:1-3: After the martyrdom of Stephen, a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem. Saul actively participated in this persecution. He made havoc of the church, entering every house, dragging off men and women, and committing them to prison. This led to the scattering of believers throughout Judea and Samaria.
2. Acts 9:1: Even after the initial wave of persecution, Saul continued his relentless campaign against the disciples of the Lord. He was still breathing threats and murder against them, seeking to arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem for trial.

Saul’s persecution was severe, causing many believers to flee Jerusalem, but it inadvertently helped spread the Gospel to other regions.

Martyrdom of James

The persecution of the early church was not limited to Saul’s actions. Other figures also suffered for their faith:

1. Acts 12:1-3: King Herod Agrippa I began to persecute some members of the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword. This act pleased the Jews, so Herod proceeded to arrest Peter as well, intending to bring him to public trial after the Passover.

James was the first apostle to be martyred, demonstrating the extreme dangers faced by the leaders of the early church.

Lessons from the Persecution of the Early Church

The persecution faced by the early believers teaches us several important lessons:

1. Steadfast Faith: Believers remained committed to Christ despite suffering and death.
2. Spread of the Gospel: Persecution, though difficult, often led to the wider spread of the Christian message as believers fled and preached elsewhere.
3. God’s Sovereignty: God can use even negative events to achieve His purposes.
4. Power of Prayer: The church prayed earnestly for those persecuted, as seen in Peter’s imprisonment.
5. Courage and Endurance: Christians are called to be courageous and endure hardship for their faith.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the lesson by asking students if they know what “persecution” means and if they have heard of anyone suffering for their beliefs. The teacher then explains that the early Christians faced severe persecution.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions and listen attentively.

Learning Point: Meaning of persecution

Step 2: Persecution by Saul (Acts 8:1-3)

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Acts 8:1-3 from their Bibles. The teacher then explains how Saul actively persecuted the church, entering homes and imprisoning believers, leading to their scattering.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the Bible passage and listen to the explanation.

Learning Point: Saul’s initial persecution

Step 3: Saul’s Continued Threats (Acts 9:1)

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher directs students to Acts 9:1 and explains that Saul’s persecution was relentless, as he continued to breathe threats and murder against the disciples before his conversion.

Pupils’ Activity: Students locate and read Acts 9:1, participating in a brief discussion.

Learning Point: Saul’s relentless threats

Step 4: Martyrdom of James (Acts 12:1-3)

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading/Storytelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Acts 12:1-3, explaining how King Herod Agrippa I killed James, the brother of John, with a sword, making him the first apostle to be martyred.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the passage and listen to the teacher’s explanation of James’ martyrdom.

Learning Point: James’ martyrdom

Step 5: Lessons from Persecution

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the lessons derived from the persecution of the early church, such as steadfast faith, the spread of the Gospel, and God’s sovereignty.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute to the discussion, identifying and explaining the lessons learned.

Learning Point: Moral lessons learned

Step 6: Memory Verse Recitation

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recitation/Memorization

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the memory verse (Matthew 5:10) and leads students in reciting it.

Pupils’ Activity: Students recite the memory verse after the teacher.

Learning Point: Memory verse recitation

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. Describe Saul’s persecution of the church as recorded in Acts 8:1-3.
2. What was Saul still doing according to Acts 9:1 before his conversion?
3. Who was the first apostle to be martyred, and by whom, according to Acts 12:1-3?
4. Mention two lessons we can learn from the persecution of the early church.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding early persecution

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the persecution of the early believers into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher concludes the lesson by reminding students that despite persecution, the early church grew stronger and the Gospel spread. They are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith.

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

Learning Point: Steadfastness in faith

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In your own words, describe the impact of Saul’s persecution on the early church.
2. How did the martyrdom of James affect the early Christian community?
3. Identify two ways in which Christians today can apply the lessons from the early church’s persecution to their lives.

Lesson Keywords

• Persecution – Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.
• Martyrdom – The death or suffering of a martyr (a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs).
• Saul – A Jewish Pharisee who persecuted Christians before his conversion to Paul.
• James – One of the twelve apostles, brother of John, who was martyred by Herod.
• Steadfastness – The quality of being loyal and resolute.

Differentiation

For students who need extra support, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the biblical passages and focus on key events. Advanced learners can research other instances of early Christian persecution or discuss the theological implications of suffering for faith.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for: “Saul persecutes the early church JSS 3 CRS” or “Martyrdom of James Acts 12”