Abraham’s Obedience: A Test of Faith Christian Religious Studies JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Lesson Plan

Subject: Christian Religious Studies

Class: JSS 1

Term: First Term

Week: 6

Age: 11–12 years

Topic: Call to Obedience: Abraham’s Obedience to God’s Call (Genesis 12:1–20)

Sub-topic: Abraham’s Response to God’s Call and the Attempt to Sacrifice Isaac

Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Define what is meant by a call to obedience.
2. Narrate the story of Abraham’s response to God’s call, including his attempt to sacrifice Isaac.
3. Understand the significance of Abraham’s obedience in the context of his faith.

Keywords:

• Obedience
• Sacrifice
• Faith
• Abraham
• Call

Set Induction:

Begin with a discussion on what it means to follow instructions and obey calls in everyday life. Ask students if they have ever had to obey important instructions and how it felt.

Entry Behaviour:

Students should have a basic understanding of obedience and faith from previous lessons. They are familiar with stories of biblical figures.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Bible
• Storybooks about Abraham
• Visual aids (pictures of Abraham and Isaac)
• Chalkboard and marker

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students have previously learned about the concept of obedience and have heard stories of significant biblical figures. This lesson will build on that knowledge by focusing on Abraham’s obedience to God’s call.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Faithfulness
• Trust
• Obedience

Learning Materials:

• Bible passages (Genesis 12:1–20)
• Storybooks about Abraham
• Visual aids (pictures)

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Christian Religious Studies JSS 1

Instructional Materials:

• Bible
• Storybooks
• Visual aids

Content

Definition of Call to Obedience:

1. Call to Obedience: A call to obedience is an instruction or command from God that requires a person to act in faith and follow God’s guidance, even when it involves significant personal sacrifice or change.

Narration of Abraham’s Response to God’s Call (Genesis 12:1–20):

1. God’s Call to Abraham: God called Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household to go to a land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1). God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and bless him (Genesis 12:2–3).
2. Abraham’s Obedience: Abraham obeyed God’s call and left his homeland, taking his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him (Genesis 12:4–5).
3. Journey to Egypt: During a famine, Abraham and his family went to Egypt. To protect himself, Abraham asked Sarai to say she was his sister (Genesis 12:10–13).
4. Attempt to Sacrifice Isaac: In a later test of faith, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, whom he loved dearly. Abraham prepared to obey, but God intervened and provided a ram as a substitute (Genesis 22:1–14). This act demonstrated Abraham’s deep faith and obedience.
5. Abraham’s Faith Rewarded: God praised Abraham for his faithfulness and promised to bless him and make his descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 22:15–18).

Evaluation:

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:

1. A call to obedience involves following God’s _______ even when it is difficult.
   a. Request
   b. Command
   c. Suggestion
   d. Wish
2. God told Abraham to leave his _______ and go to a new land.
   a. Friends
   b. Country
   c. Work
   d. School
3. Abraham was promised by God that he would become a _______ nation.
   a. Small
   b. New
   c. Great
   d. Weak
4. To protect himself in Egypt, Abraham asked Sarai to say she was his _______.
   a. Wife
   b. Sister
   c. Friend
   d. Mother
5. God asked Abraham to _______ his son Isaac as a test of faith.
   a. Bless
   b. Ignore
   c. Sacrifice
   d. Teach
6. In the story, God provided a _______ as a substitute for Isaac.
   a. Goat
   b. Cow
   c. Lamb
   d. Ram
7. Abraham’s obedience demonstrated his deep _______ in God.
   a. Doubt
   b. Fear
   c. Faith
   d. Anger
8. God’s call required Abraham to leave his _______ and start a new life.
   a. Job
   b. Land
   c. Car
   d. House
9. The promise to Abraham included making his descendants as numerous as the _______.
   a. Leaves
   b. Stars
   c. Rivers
   d. Clouds
10. What was Abraham’s reaction to God’s call to sacrifice Isaac?
    a. He refused
    b. He agreed to do it
    c. He was confused
    d. He ignored it
11. How did God test Abraham’s faith?
    a. By asking him to move to a new land
    b. By telling him to build an altar
    c. By asking him to sacrifice his son
    d. By giving him a dream
12. What did Abraham’s obedience lead to?
    a. Disappointment
    b. Conflict
    c. Blessings
    d. Confusion
13. What did God say to Abraham after he showed his obedience?
    a. “You will be punished”
    b. “You will be given wealth”
    c. “I will bless you”
    d. “You must leave”
14. Abraham’s story is an example of _______ and trust in God.
    a. Rebellion
    b. Doubt
    c. Obedience
    d. Indifference
15. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac showed his _______ to God’s command.
    a. Disregard
    b. Uncertainty
    c. Faithfulness
    d. Anger

Class Activity Discussion:

15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What does “call to obedience” mean?
   Answer: It means following God’s instructions even when it is challenging.
2. What did God ask Abraham to do in Genesis 12?
   Answer: To leave his homeland and go to a new land that God would show him.
3. Why did Abraham ask Sarai to say she was his sister in Egypt?
   Answer: To protect himself from being harmed by those who might desire Sarai.
4. What was the significance of Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice Isaac?
   Answer: It was a test of Abraham’s faith and obedience to God.
5. How did Abraham demonstrate his obedience to God’s call?
   Answer: By leaving his homeland and preparing to sacrifice Isaac.
6. What did God provide as a substitute for Isaac?
   Answer: A ram.
7. Why was Abraham’s faith important to God?
   Answer: It showed his trust and obedience, which were crucial for fulfilling God’s promises.
8. What was the outcome of Abraham’s obedience?
   Answer: God blessed Abraham and promised to make his descendants numerous.
9. How did Abraham’s obedience impact his relationship with God?
   Answer: It strengthened their relationship and led to God’s blessings.
10. What lessons can we learn from Abraham’s story?
    Answer: The importance of faith, obedience, and trust in God.
11. What did God promise Abraham if he obeyed?
    Answer: That he would become a great nation and be blessed.
12. How did Abraham prepare for the sacrifice of Isaac?
    Answer: By gathering materials for the altar and preparing to follow God’s command.
13. What was Abraham’s reaction to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac?
    Answer: He prepared to obey, showing his deep faith and trust.
14. How does Abraham’s story illustrate the concept of faith?
    Answer: By demonstrating trust in God’s plan despite personal challenges.
15. What role did faith play in Abraham’s obedience?
    Answer: Faith was the foundation for his obedience, allowing him to trust and follow God’s commands.

Presentation:

Step 1:

The teacher revises the previous topic, which was The Call of Joshua to Service.

Step 2:

The teacher introduces the new topic by defining “call to obedience” and narrating the story of Abraham’s obedience, including his attempt to sacrifice Isaac.

Step 3:

The teacher allows students to discuss the significance of Abraham’s obedience and the lessons learned, correcting them where necessary.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Define “call to obedience.”
• Narrate the story of Abraham’s obedience.
• Facilitate discussion and answer questions.
• Provide feedback and corrections as needed.

Learners’ Activities:

• Listen to the narration.
• Participate in discussions.
• Answer questions and provide examples.

Assessment:

Evaluation Questions: Include 10 short answer questions related to the topic of Abraham’s obedience.

Conclusion:

The teacher goes around to mark students’ answers, provides feedback, and ensures that students understand the significance of Abraham’s obedience to God’s call.

More Useful Links

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