Christian Religious Studies SS 3 Second Term Lesson Notes – Week 5

Opposition to the Gospel Message (II)

Lesson Details

• Subject: Christian Religious Studies
• Class: SS 3
• Term: Second Term
• Week: 5
• Age: 15 – 18 years
• Topic: Opposition to the Gospel Message (II)
• Sub-topics:
  1. Saul’s Opposition to the Gospel – Acts 9:1-3
  2. Herod’s Opposition to the Gospel – Acts 12:1-24
  3. How the Church Prevailed Over Opposition
• Duration: 40 Minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Explain how Saul opposed the gospel before his conversion.
2. Describe King Herod’s persecution of the church.
3. Discuss how the early church overcame opposition.
4. Draw lessons from how God defended His people.

Keywords

• Opposition – Resistance against something.
• Persecution – Harsh treatment due to religious beliefs.
• Conversion – A complete change of belief.
• Martyrdom – Dying for one’s faith.
• Deliverance – Rescue from danger.

Set Induction

The teacher asks students:

• Have you ever faced challenges because of your faith?
• How do you react when people criticize Christianity?

The teacher explains that throughout history, believers have faced opposition, yet the gospel has continued to spread.

Entry Behaviour

Students have previously learned about the persecution of the apostles and Stephen. This lesson builds on that knowledge by focusing on how individuals and rulers tried to stop the gospel.

Learning Resources and Materials

1. The Holy Bible (Acts 9:1-3, Acts 12:1-24)
2. Chart showing persecution of Christians
3. Flashcards with discussion questions

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have learned about Peter and Stephen’s opposition. This lesson examines how Saul and Herod opposed the gospel but failed.

Embedded Core Skills

• Critical Thinking: Understanding the impact of persecution.
• Communication: Discussing how the church overcame opposition.
• Collaboration: Group discussions on overcoming challenges in faith.

Reference Books

1. The Holy Bible (Acts 9:1-3, Acts 12:1-24)
2. Lagos State Scheme of Work
3. Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3 by Martins I. Amaechi

Instructional Materials

• Bible
• Chart on Christian persecution
• Flashcards with key terms

Lesson Content

1. Saul’s Opposition to the Gospel (Acts 9:1-3)

1. Saul’s Background and Hatred for Christians
   • Saul was a Pharisee and a strong opponent of Christianity.
   • He saw Christians as a threat to Judaism.
   • He approved of Stephen’s death (Acts 7:58).
2. Saul’s Mission to Persecute Christians
   • He received authority from the high priest to arrest Christians.
   • He planned to go to Damascus to capture believers (Acts 9:1-2).
   • On his way, he had a divine encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:3).

Lessons from Saul’s Opposition

• Religious zeal can be misguided.
• God can transform anyone.
• Persecution does not stop God’s plan.

2. Herod’s Opposition to the Gospel (Acts 12:1-24)

1. Herod’s Persecution of the Church
   • King Herod Agrippa I attacked the church.
   • He killed James, the brother of John (Acts 12:1-2).
   • He saw that killing Christians pleased the Jews.
2. Herod’s Arrest of Peter
   • He arrested Peter and planned to execute him (Acts 12:3-5).
   • The church prayed earnestly for Peter.
   • An angel of God rescued Peter from prison (Acts 12:6-11).
3. Herod’s Death
   • Herod accepted praise from people, calling him a god.
   • God struck him down, and he was eaten by worms (Acts 12:21-23).

Lessons from Herod’s Opposition

• No ruler can stop God’s work.
• Prayer is powerful.
• Pride leads to destruction.

3. How the Church Prevailed Over Opposition

1. Faithfulness in Persecution – Despite persecution, the apostles remained faithful.
2. Prayer as a Weapon – The early Christians prayed for Peter, and God delivered him.
3. God’s Intervention – He rescued Peter and punished Herod.
4. The Gospel Continued to Spread – Persecution could not stop Christianity (Acts 12:24).

Evaluation

Fill in the blanks (choose a, b, c, or d):

1. Saul received permission to arrest Christians from ______.
   a) Peter
   b) Jesus
   c) The high priest
   d) The governor
2. Saul was on his way to ______ when he encountered Jesus.
   a) Jerusalem
   b) Damascus
   c) Rome
   d) Antioch
3. King Herod killed ______, the brother of John.
   a) James
   b) Peter
   c) Paul
   d) Barnabas
4. Peter was rescued from prison by ______.
   a) The soldiers
   b) An angel
   c) John
   d) The high priest
5. Herod was struck down by God because he ______.
   a) Killed Peter
   b) Claimed to be a god
   c) Denied Jesus
   d) Fled from battle

Class Activity Discussion – FAQs

1. Who was Saul, and why did he oppose the gospel?
   • Saul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, thinking he was defending Judaism.
2. What happened to Saul on the way to Damascus?
   • He encountered Jesus and later became a Christian.
3. How did Herod oppose the gospel?
   • He killed James and arrested Peter.
4. Why did Herod kill James?
   • To gain favor with the Jews.
5. How was Peter saved from prison?
   • An angel rescued him.
6. What happened to Herod?
   • God struck him down, and he was eaten by worms.
7. What lesson do we learn from Herod’s fate?
   • Pride leads to destruction.
8. Why did the church pray for Peter?
   • They believed in God’s power to save him.
9. What happened to the gospel despite persecution?
   • It continued to spread.
10. How can Christians overcome opposition today?

• Through faith, prayer, and trust in God.

Conclusion

Saul and Herod both tried to stop the gospel, but God proved that no one can hinder His work. Saul later became Paul, a great missionary, while Herod faced divine punishment. The church prevailed through prayer and faith.

Opposition to the Gospel Message – Persecution of the Apostles and Stephen