Christian Religious Studies (CRS) JSS 1 – Second Term Lesson Notes

Week 3: Joseph Responded to the Call to Service

Lesson Details

• Subject: Christian Religious Studies
• Class: JSS 1
• Term: Second Term
• Week: 3
• Age: 10 – 12 years
• Topic: Joseph Responded to the Call to Service
• Sub-topics:
  1. Joseph’s Journey from Slave to Prime Minister
  2. Ways of Maintaining a Good Relationship with God
  3. Moral Lessons from Joseph’s Service in Egypt
• Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Narrate the story of Joseph’s call to service.
2. Explain how Joseph remained faithful in every situation.
3. Identify ways to maintain a good relationship with God.
4. Discuss moral lessons from Joseph’s life.

Keywords

• Faithfulness
• Loyalty
• Temptation
• Responsibility
• Forgiveness

Set Induction

The teacher asks students:

• Have you ever faced a difficult situation but chose to do the right thing?
• How did you feel when you helped someone in need?
• What do you think would happen if someone used their talents to serve others?

These questions introduce the story of Joseph’s call to service.

Entry Behaviour

Students are familiar with the story of Joseph from Bible studies or Sunday School.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Bible
• Pictures of Joseph’s life (e.g., being sold by his brothers, interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, and becoming prime minister)
• Flashcards with moral lessons from Joseph’s story

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds students of the importance of serving God and people with honesty and integrity.

Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking
• Decision-making
• Leadership

Lesson Content

1. Joseph’s Journey from Slave to Prime Minister (Genesis 37:1-36; 41:1-57)

Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons and was loved more than his brothers. His journey to service can be summarized in these key events:

1. Joseph Sold into Slavery

   • His brothers became jealous because their father loved him more.
   • They sold him to Midianite traders, who took him to Egypt.

2. Joseph in Potiphar’s House

   • He was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
   • Because of his honesty and wisdom, Potiphar made him head of his household.

3. Joseph Resists Temptation

   • Potiphar’s wife tried to make him sin, but Joseph refused.
   • She falsely accused him, and he was thrown into prison.

4. Joseph in Prison

   • Even in prison, Joseph remained faithful to God.
   • He interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker.

5. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream

   • Pharaoh had a troubling dream about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
   • Joseph interpreted the dream and advised Pharaoh on how to prepare.
   • Pharaoh made him prime minister of Egypt.

6. Joseph’s Service in Egypt

   • He organized the planting and storing of food for the famine years.
   • He supervised the building of barns and managed the food distribution.
   • When the famine came, people from all over came to Egypt for food.

2. Ways of Maintaining a Good Relationship with God

Joseph remained faithful to God even in difficult situations. To maintain a good relationship with God, we should:

1. Pray and live a holy life.
2. Worship God and do good to others.
3. Love one another.
4. Forgive those who offend us.
5. Read the Bible daily.

3. Moral Lessons from Joseph’s Service in Egypt

1. Flee from sin.

   • Just as Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife, we should avoid sin and temptation.

2. Faithfulness leads to rewards.

   • Joseph was faithful in every situation, and God rewarded him.

3. Use your talents to serve others.

   • Joseph used his wisdom to help Egypt and surrounding nations.

4. Forgiveness is important.

   • Joseph forgave his brothers despite their betrayal.

5. Hard work brings success.

   • Joseph worked diligently and managed Egypt’s food supply effectively.

Evaluation

Students will answer the following questions:

1. Who sold Joseph into slavery?
   a) Egyptians
   b) His brothers
   c) Pharaoh
   d) Potiphar

2. What was Joseph’s position in Egypt?
   a) Governor
   b) Prime Minister
   c) King
   d) Slave

3. Why was Joseph put in prison?
   a) He stole from Pharaoh
   b) He refused to sin with Potiphar’s wife
   c) He ran away from Egypt
   d) He disobeyed God

4. How did Joseph help Pharaoh?
   a) He fought a war
   b) He interpreted Pharaoh’s dream
   c) He built temples
   d) He became Pharaoh’s personal guard

5. What lesson can we learn from Joseph’s service?
   a) Faithfulness brings reward
   b) Lying is good
   c) Cheating leads to success
   d) Laziness is important

Class Activity Discussion

1. Why did Joseph’s brothers sell him?

   • Answer: They were jealous because their father loved him more.

2. How did Joseph serve in Potiphar’s house?

   • Answer: He managed all of Potiphar’s affairs with honesty.

3. What did Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife tempted him?

   • Answer: He refused and fled from sin.

4. What happened after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream?

   • Answer: He was made prime minister of Egypt.

5. What was Joseph’s responsibility in Egypt?

   • Answer: He managed the food supply and stored grain for the famine.

6. What does Joseph’s story teach us about forgiveness?

   • Answer: We should forgive others, just as Joseph forgave his brothers.

7. How did Joseph help the people during the famine?

   • Answer: He distributed food wisely and made sure everyone had enough.

8. What are some ways we can serve God today?

   • Answer: By helping others, being honest, and using our talents for good.

9. How can we avoid sin in our daily lives?

   • Answer: By praying, reading the Bible, and staying away from bad influences.

10. What reward did Joseph receive for his faithfulness?

• Answer: He became the prime minister of Egypt.

Presentation Steps

1. The teacher revises the previous lesson. Call to Service Christian Religious Studies JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes
2. The teacher tells the story of Joseph’s call to service.
3. Students discuss how Joseph remained faithful.
4. The teacher guides students in identifying moral lessons.

Teacher’s and Learners’ Activities

• Teacher: Explains the story, asks questions, and encourages discussion.
• Learners: Listen, answer questions, and participate in discussions.

Evaluation Questions

1. Who sold Joseph into slavery?
2. What position did Joseph hold in Egypt?
3. How did Joseph avoid sin with Potiphar’s wife?
4. Name one lesson we can learn from Joseph’s story.
5. What was Joseph’s responsibility as prime minister?

Conclusion

The teacher summarizes the lesson and encourages students to be faithful in serving God and others.