The Holy Spirit, Honesty and Fellowship in the Early Church for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Curriculum Theme: Not applicable
Previous Lesson: Togetherness and Fellowship in the Early Church
Topic: Fellowship IN THE EARLY CHURCH
Subject Matter: a) The Holy Spirit searches the heart: Acts 5:1-11 b) Murmuring in the early church Acts 6:1-2 Acts 6:1-7 (equitable distribution)

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the event where the Holy Spirit searches the heart as recorded in Acts 5:1-11.
• Explain the circumstances and causes of murmuring in the early church as described in Acts 6:1-2.
• Outline the solution implemented by the apostles to address the murmuring and ensure equitable distribution, referencing Acts 6:1-7.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of honesty and truthfulness in Christian fellowship.
• Value the principle of equitable distribution and fair treatment among believers.
• Learn from the challenges faced by the early church and apply lessons to contemporary Christian living.

Psychomotor Domain

• Read and interpret the biblical passages from Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 6:1-7.

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 (New International Version or King James Version)
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A Bible
• Pictures depicting scenes from the early church (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles and deacons)
• A chart summarizing the events in Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 6:1-7

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand the foundational principles of honesty and fairness within the Christian community, as exemplified by the early church. It highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in upholding truth and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully and justly. Learning these lessons provides guidance for students in their personal conduct and interactions within their own communities.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of the early Christian church, the role of the apostles, and the concept of the Holy Spirit.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Fellowship in the Early Church

The Holy Spirit Searches the Heart (Acts 5:1-11)

The early church was characterized by communal living and sharing of possessions. Believers would sell their property and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution among those in need. This practice was voluntary and driven by love and unity.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates the Holy Spirit’s role in discerning truth and falsehood within the community:

1. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property.
2. They secretly kept back part of the money for themselves while pretending to give the full amount to the apostles.
3. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronted Ananias, revealing his lie to the Holy Spirit.
4. Ananias immediately fell down and died.
5. Three hours later, Sapphira came in, unaware of what had happened. She also lied about the amount of money received from the sale.
6. Peter confronted her, and she too fell down and died.
7. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

This event demonstrated that God, through the Holy Spirit, knows the intentions of the heart and demands honesty and integrity from His followers. It also showed the seriousness of lying to God and the community.

Murmuring in the Early Church (Acts 6:1-7)

As the number of disciples grew, a problem arose within the early church community:

1. The Hellenistic Jews (Greek-speaking Jews) complained against the Hebraic Jews (Aramaic-speaking Jews).
2. The complaint was that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
3. This murmuring threatened the unity and fellowship of the church.
4. The twelve apostles recognized that they could not neglect their primary duty of prayer and ministry of the word to serve tables.
5. They proposed that the believers choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to take charge of this daily distribution.
6. The proposal pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas.
7. These men were presented to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
8. As a result, the word of God spread, the number of disciples increased significantly, and many priests became obedient to the faith.

This event highlights the importance of addressing internal conflicts fairly and equitably, delegating responsibilities, and maintaining focus on spiritual leadership, which led to continued growth and unity in the church.

Bible Reading

Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 6:1-7

Memory Verse

“But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?” (Acts 5:3)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

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 characteristics of the early church from previous lessons. The teacher then introduces the topic of fellowship in the early church, highlighting that even in such a devout community, challenges arose.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions about the early church and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Early church characteristics

Step 2: The Holy Spirit and Honesty

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Storytelling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the story of Ananias and Sapphira by asking about the importance of honesty. The teacher then reads Acts 5:1-11 or narrates the story, emphasizing their deceit and Peter’s confrontation through the Holy Spirit.

Pupils’ Activity: Students discuss honesty and listen to the Bible story, following along in their Bibles if available.

Learning Point: Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit

Step 3: Consequences of Dishonesty

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussing/Analyzing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the consequences of Ananias and Sapphira’s actions, explaining that lying to the community was seen as lying to the Holy Spirit. The teacher emphasizes the seriousness of integrity in the eyes of God.

Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the discussion, sharing their thoughts on the consequences of dishonesty.

Learning Point: Lying to the Holy Spirit

Step 4: Introduction to Murmuring

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher transitions to the second part of the lesson by asking if students have ever experienced unfair treatment. The teacher then reads Acts 6:1-2 and explains the problem of murmuring among the Hellenistic Jews regarding food distribution.

Pupils’ Activity: Students share experiences and listen to the new Bible passage, identifying the problem.

Learning Point: Murmuring over distribution

Step 5: Resolution and Equitable Distribution

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Illustrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reads Acts 6:3-7, explaining how the apostles addressed the issue by proposing the selection of seven men (deacons) to oversee the daily distribution. The teacher highlights the wisdom in delegating tasks and ensuring fair treatment.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and discuss the apostles’ solution, understanding the concept of equitable distribution and delegation.

Learning Point: Appointment of deacons

Step 6: Lessons from Early Church Challenges

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Applying

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the moral lessons from both stories: the importance of honesty before God and men, and the need for fair and peaceful resolution of conflicts within any community.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute to the summary and reflect on how these lessons apply to their lives.

Learning Point: Honesty and fairness lessons

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 were Ananias and Sapphira, and what did they do wrong?
2. What was the consequence of their dishonesty?
3. What caused the murmuring in the early church?
4. How did the apostles resolve the issue of murmuring?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding early church challenges

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 into their notebooks, focusing on the events of Ananias and Sapphira and the murmuring in the early church.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson summaries

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher reminds students that honesty and fairness are crucial for healthy fellowship and that the Holy Spirit is always present to guide and reveal truth. The teacher encourages them to live by these principles.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the final words of encouragement.

Learning Point: Importance of integrity

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In your own words, explain why Ananias and Sapphira died.
2. Discuss two moral lessons you have learned from the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
3. How can the solution to the murmuring problem in Acts 6 be applied to resolving conflicts in your school or community today?

Lesson Keywords

• Fellowship – A friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests.
• Holy Spirit – The third person of the Trinity, believed to inspire, guide, and sanctify believers.
• Honesty – The quality of being truthful and upright.
• Deceit – The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
• Murmuring – A low, continuous sound, often expressing discontent or complaint.
• Equitable Distribution – Fair and impartial sharing or allocation of resources or responsibilities.
• Deacons – Appointed ministers in the early church, typically assisting the apostles in practical service.

Differentiation

For students who may struggle, the teacher can provide simplified summaries of the Bible passages and use visual aids more extensively. For advanced learners, encourage them to research other instances of conflict resolution or honesty in the Bible and present their findings to the class.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search on YouTube for:
Ananias and Sapphira story JSS3 CRS
Murmuring in the early church Acts 6 JSS3 CRS