Week Two
Subject: CRS
Class: Primary Five
Week of the Third Term: 2nd Week
Topic: The Influence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives
Subtopic: God’s work on us through the Holy Spirit
Instructional Objectives
At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Explain how the Holy Spirit influences a believer’s life using scriptural examples.
- Identify ways the Holy Spirit helps believers grow in faith and love.
- Demonstrate understanding by sharing a personal story or role play on how the Holy Spirit can guide their decisions.
Entry Behaviour
Pupils should already understand the role of the Holy Spirit as a teacher and comforter from the previous lesson.
Instructional Materials
- Holy Bible
- Visual aids showing the fruits of the Spirit (e.g., love, peace, patience)
- Flashcards with examples of the Holy Spirit’s work
Reference Materials
- Kusimo, T. (2022). Christian Religious Studies for Primary School Book 5. Lagos: Metropolitan Publishers.
- Ogunniyi, D., M.cOliver, O.J.E., & Ekwukoma, V. (2022). Christian Religious Studies for Primary School Book 5. Lagos: Spectrum Book Limited.
Content
God’s Work on us Through the Holy Spirit
How the Holy Spirit Influences a Believer’s Life
The Holy Spirit has a significant role in the life of every believer. He works within us to transform our hearts, guide our decisions, empower us for service, and help us live in a way that pleases God.
- Guidance in life: The Holy Spirit helps believers make decisions and guides them in their daily lives. In John 16:13, Jesus says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” The Holy Spirit helps believers understand God’s will and live according to His truth.
- Conviction of sin: The Holy Spirit convicts believers when they sin and helps them to repent. John 16:8 says, “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Holy Spirit helps believers recognize their mistakes and encourages them to turn back to God.
- Empowerment for service: The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do God’s work on earth. He gives spiritual gifts to Christians to help them serve others and spread the gospel. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit equips believers for ministry and strengthens them to share the message of Jesus.
- Comfort and peace: The Holy Spirit comforts believers, especially in times of trouble or sadness. John 14:26-27 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things… Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” The Holy Spirit brings peace and comfort during difficult times and assures believers of God’s presence with them.
Ways the Holy Spirit Helps Believers Grow in Faith and Love
The Holy Spirit plays a central role in helping believers grow in their faith and love for God and others. The Spirit works in various ways to nurture and build a strong relationship with God, as well as to increase a believer’s love for others:
- Strengthens faith: The Holy Spirit helps believers grow in faith by reminding them of God’s promises and empowering them to trust in Him. In Romans 8:16, the Bible says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” This assurance from the Holy Spirit strengthens the believer’s faith and confidence in their relationship with God.
- Teaches and reveals truth: The Holy Spirit teaches believers God’s Word and helps them to understand it more deeply. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, it says, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” The Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truths to believers, helping them grow in their understanding of God’s will.
- Gives love: The Holy Spirit fills believers with God’s love, both for God and for others. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” As the Holy Spirit works in a believer’s life, they are able to love others in a way that reflects God’s love for them.
- Empowers believers to love others: The Holy Spirit helps believers show love to others, even those who may be difficult to love. In Galatians 5:22, love is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. As believers yield to the Holy Spirit, they grow in love and develop a Christ-like character that seeks the good of others, even in challenging circumstances.
- Encourages prayer: The Holy Spirit helps believers pray, especially when they don’t know what to pray for. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” The Holy Spirit encourages and strengthens believers’ prayer lives, helping them stay connected to God and grow in their faith.
- Convicts believers to live righteously: The Holy Spirit convicts believers when they are not living in a way that pleases God. This conviction helps believers grow in holiness and righteousness. In John 16:8, Jesus says, “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” This conviction leads to repentance and helps believers to turn toward God in love and obedience.
Lesson Presentation (Step-by-Step Procedure)
Step 1: Introduction
Begin by asking, “Has anyone felt guided to make the right decision before? How did it happen?” Use this to introduce how the Holy Spirit works in our lives.
Step 2: Explanation
Discuss how the Holy Spirit helps believers grow in faith, love, and other virtues, referencing Galatians 5:22–23. Use examples of people from the Bible who were transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Step 3: Demonstration
Show a visual aid of the fruits of the Spirit and connect them to real-life examples, such as being kind to someone in need or staying patient in difficult situations.
Step 4: Guided Practice
Guide pupils in identifying fruits of the Spirit in their own lives or examples they’ve seen in others. Discuss how the Holy Spirit enables these virtues.
Step 5: Independent Practice
Ask pupils to write down one way they think the Holy Spirit has worked in their lives and one way they want the Holy Spirit to help them.
Step 6: Feedback
Review the pupils’ responses, address their misconceptions, and reinforce how God works through the Holy Spirit in everyone’s life.
Evaluation
Formative Assessment
- Ask questions during the lesson to ensure understanding, such as:
- Name three fruits of the Spirit.
- How does the Holy Spirit help us pray?
Summative Assessment
- At the end of the lesson, ask pupils to:
- List two works of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
- Explain one way the Holy Spirit influences prayer.
- Share a personal example of God’s work through the Holy Spirit.
Summary/Conclusion
Summarize that the Holy Spirit works in believers’ lives by guiding them, helping them grow in faith, and enabling them to show the fruits of the Spirit.
Assignment
Read Galatians 5:22–23 and write down two fruits of the Spirit you see in yourself and two you want to grow in.