Definition of Beatitudes and List of the Beatitudes with Their Rewards Christian Religious Studies JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 8

Lesson Plan for Christian Religious Studies – JSS 2

Subject: Christian Religious Studies
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 12-13 years
Topic: The Beatitudes
Sub-topic: Definition of Beatitudes and List of the Beatitudes with Their Rewards
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

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

1. Define the term “Beatitudes.”
2. List the Beatitudes as found in Matthew 5:1-12.
3. Explain the rewards attached to each Beatitude.

Keywords:

• Beatitudes
• Blessed
• Humility
• Righteousness
• Mercy
• Reward

Set Induction:

Ask students what makes them happy and how they feel when they help others. Lead the discussion towards the concept of being “blessed” as taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes.

Entry Behaviour:

Students should already be familiar with the teachings of Jesus, especially his focus on love, humility, and kindness.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Bible (Matthew 5:1-12)
• Poster of the Beatitudes
• Flashcards showing the rewards of each Beatitude

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students have previously learned about Jesus’ teachings on love and forgiveness. The Beatitudes expand on the characteristics Jesus expects from his followers.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Moral reasoning
• Collaboration
• Active listening

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Bible passage (Matthew 5:1-12)
• Flashcards with Beatitudes and rewards

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Christian Religious Studies
• Bible (Matthew 5:1-12)

Instructional Materials:

• Charts showing the Beatitudes and their meanings
• Flashcards with examples of each Beatitude in action

Content:

I. Definition of Beatitudes:

1. The Beatitudes are blessings that Jesus gave during the Sermon on the Mount.
2. They describe the attitudes and qualities that Jesus values in his followers.
3. The word “Beatitude” comes from the Latin word “beatus,” meaning blessed or happy.
4. The Beatitudes teach us how to live a life pleasing to God and the rewards for doing so.

II. List of Beatitudes and Their Rewards (Matthew 5:1-12):

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you for Jesus’ sake, for great is your reward in heaven.

Examples of Living the Beatitudes:

1. Helping the poor and being kind to others even when no one is watching.
2. Comforting a friend who is sad or going through a difficult time.
3. Showing humility and not seeking attention or praise for doing good.
4. Standing up for what is right, even when it’s hard.
5. Forgiving others when they wrong us.

Evaluation:

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options:

1. The Beatitudes are part of Jesus’ ________ (a. Parables, b. Sermon on the Mount, c. Miracles).
2. The first Beatitude is “Blessed are the ________” (a. meek, b. pure in heart, c. poor in spirit).
3. Those who mourn will be ________ (a. rewarded, b. punished, c. comforted).
4. The meek will inherit the ________ (a. earth, b. heaven, c. sea).
5. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be ________ (a. filled, b. ignored, c. persecuted).
6. The merciful shall obtain ________ (a. wealth, b. power, c. mercy).
7. The pure in heart will ________ (a. see God, b. inherit the earth, c. be blessed).
8. Peacemakers shall be called the ________ of God (a. servants, b. children, c. rulers).
9. Those persecuted for righteousness’ sake will receive ________ (a. comfort, b. the kingdom of heaven, c. nothing).
10. The Beatitudes teach us how to live a ________ life (a. sinful, b. blessed, c. ordinary).
11. The word “Beatitude” means ________ (a. angry, b. blessed, c. powerful).
12. Jesus gave the Beatitudes during the ________ (a. Feeding of the 5,000, b. Sermon on the Mount, c. Wedding at Cana).
13. The reward for being poor in spirit is the ________ (a. earth, b. sea, c. kingdom of heaven).
14. Jesus promises comfort to those who ________ (a. mourn, b. laugh, c. fight).
15. Those who make peace are called ________ (a. warriors, b. children of God, c. teachers).

Class Activity Discussion:

15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with Answers:

1. What are the Beatitudes?
   • They are blessings Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount.
2. Where can we find the Beatitudes in the Bible?
   • In Matthew 5:1-12.
3. What does “poor in spirit” mean?
   • It means to be humble and recognize our need for God.
4. Who are the meek?
   • They are gentle and humble people.
5. What does it mean to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”?
   • To desire to live a good and just life that pleases God.
6. What reward is given to the merciful?
   • They will receive mercy from God.
7. Who are the pure in heart?
   • People who have a clean heart and mind, seeking to please God.
8. What reward is promised to the peacemakers?
   • They will be called the children of God.
9. What does it mean to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake?
   • To suffer because of doing what is right and following Jesus.
10. How are those who mourn comforted?
    • God will give them peace and strength during difficult times.
11. Why are the Beatitudes important?
    • They teach us how to live a blessed life that pleases God.
12. What does Jesus mean by “Blessed are you when people insult you”?
    • That we should remain joyful even when people treat us badly for following Jesus.
13. What does it mean to be “blessed”?
    • To receive God’s favor and happiness.
14. Why is being pure in heart important?
    • Because those with a pure heart will see God.
15. How can we apply the Beatitudes in our lives?
    • By being humble, merciful, and striving to do what is right.

Presentation:

1. Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, “Jesus Meets Sinners.”
2. Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic: “The Beatitudes.”
3. Step 3: The teacher lists the Beatitudes one by one, explaining the rewards for each.
4. Step 4: Students contribute by discussing what it means to be “blessed” in their daily lives. The teacher corrects where necessary.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Explain the meaning of Beatitudes.
• Read out and explain each Beatitude and its reward.
• Encourage students to think of examples from their lives.
• The Beatitudes are a set of eight principles that Jesus taught his followers. They are found in the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

  The Beatitudes can be summarized as follows:

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

  2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

  3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

  4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

  5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

  6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

  7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

  8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  These principles can guide our lives as we strive to follow Jesus Christ. As we live according to these truths, we can find joy and peace, even in the midst of trials and challenges.

  Evaluation

  1. What are the beatitudes?
  2. What do they mean?
  3. How can we apply them to our lives?
  4. Which one is your favorite?
  5. Why?

   

Learners’ Activities:

• Listen and read along with the Bible passage.
• Share their understanding of the rewards attached to each Beatitude.
• Answer questions during class discussions.

Evaluation Questions (Short Answer):

1. What are the Beatitudes?
2. Where did Jesus give the Beatitudes?
3. What is the reward for being poor in spirit?
4. Who will be comforted according to the Beatitudes?
5. What will the meek inherit?
6. What does it mean to hunger for righteousness?
7. What is promised to the merciful?
8. Who are called the children of God?
9. What will the pure in heart see?
10. What reward is given to those persecuted for righteousness?

Conclusion:

The teacher goes around to mark students’ work and provides feedback. The teacher highlights that living by the Beatitudes leads to rewards from God both on earth and in heaven.