Christian Religious Studies (CRS) is a subject taught in Junior secondary schools where students learn about Christianity. It is the study of what Christians believe, how they worship, and how Christianity has affected society. It teaches several Bible stories, Christian traditions, and what is right and wrong according to Christian teachings.
The main aim of teaching CRS in Junior secondary schools is to help students understand the most important beliefs of Christianity and how they relate to different parts of life.
Christian Religious Studies is taught in Junior Secondary schools to give students a full understanding of Christianity as a religion, including its cultural, historical, and social aspects. It also teaches students to value tolerance, respect, and empathy for people from different religious backgrounds.
The crowning event for Jss3 and the Junior Secondary school as a whole is the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which is taken mid-third term. The assessment methods for Christian Religious studies include written examinations, which may consist of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and essay-type questions. These exams are conducted in a controlled environment to ensure fairness and integrity.
Furthermore, continuous assessment, which involves periodic tests, assignments, and projects conducted throughout the academic session, also contributes to the overall BECE assessment. This allows for an all-around evaluation of students’ performance and progress over time.
| LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION: UNIFIED SCHEMES OF WORK FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL | ||
| Christian Religious Studies Scheme of Work for Junior Secondary School 3(JSS3) | ||
| Class | J.S.S 3 | |
| Subject | Christian Religious Studies | |
| Term | First Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Acts. 1:6 – 11 and John 14:15 – 26 | I. Describe the Ascension of Jesus Christ II. State the Need for the Promise of the Holy Spirit III. Outline the Significance of the Promise of the Holy Spirit |
| 2 | THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE PENTECOST Acts 2:1 – 39 | I. Definition of Pentecost II. Narrate the Story of the Coming of the Holy Spirit III. State the Roles Played by the Holy Spirit in the Propagation of the Gospel |
| 3 | THE EFFECT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE EARLY DISCIPLES Acts 3:10 – 11, 6: 4 – 15 | I. The Healing at the Beautiful Gate II. The Appointment of the Seven Deacons III. Narrate the Effects of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples IV. Outline the Moral Lessons of the Effects of the Holy Spirit on the Early Disciples. |
| 4 | FELLOWSHIPPING IN THE EARLY CHURCH Acts 1:15 – 26, 2:41- 47 and 4:32 – 37 | I. Narrate Peter’s Speech on the Pentecost Day II. Describe the Social and Religious Life in the Early Church |
| 5 | EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH – SHARING THINGS IN COMMON | I. Outline the History of the Early Church II. Narrate the Story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 – 11) III. List the Names of the Seven Deacons and their Functions |
| 6 | PERSECUTION 1 Peter 1:3 – 17 and 4:2 – 19 | I. Definition of Persecution II. List the Reasons for Persecution of Christians III. State Ways to Curb Persecution |
| 7 | THE CHURCH IN SAMARIA | I. Narrate the Encounter of Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26 – 32) II. Highlight the Activities of the Disciples at Lydia and Joppa (Acts 9:36 – 43) |
| 8 | THE CHURCH IN CAESAREA Acts 10 : 1 – 48 | I. Narrate the story of the conversion of Cornelius • Cornelius calls for Peter • Peter’s Vision • Peter at Cornelius’ House II. State the Significance of Cornelius Conversion |
| 9 | PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVERS | I. Arrest of Peter and John (Acts 4:1 – 31) II. Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:8 and 7:1 – 60) III. State the Reasons for the Arrest of the Early Apostles IV. Narrate the Story of Stephen |
| 10 | PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVERS (Continuation) | I. Persecution of the Church by Saul (Acts 8:1 – 3 and 9:1 – 30) II. The killing of James. Acts 12 : 1 – 8 III. Narrate the Story of Persecution in the Early Church IV. Highlight the Various Persecution of the Early Apostles V. State the Moral Lessons of Apostles Persecution |
| 11 | REVISION | |
| 12 | EXAMINATION | |
| Term | Second Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL OUTSIDE PALESTINE – THE ROMAN EMPIRE Matthew 28:18 – 20 | I. Describe the Roman Empire II. List the Factors that Added the Spread of the Gospel in the Roman Empire |
| 2 | THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY JOURNEY Acts. 13:1 – 12 | I. Setting Apart of Barnabas and Saul II. Paul at Paphos III. Narrate the Story of How Paul and Barnabas were sent on the First Missionary IV. Narrate Paul’s Encounter with Elymas of Paphos |
| 3 | THE JOURNEY FROM ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA TO DERBE | I. Narrate the Missionary Activities of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium And Lystra • Paul at Iconium (Acts 14:1 – 7) • Paul and Barnabas at Lystra (Acts 14:8 – 20) • Paul and Barnabas to Antioch in Syria (Acts 14:21 – 28) II. State the Importance of the First Missionary Journey |
| 4 | CONTROVERSIES AMONG THE EARLY CHRISTIANS Acts 15:1 – 5 | I. Definition of Controversy II. State Reasons for Controversies in the Early Church III. Narrate the Story of the Controversy in Antioch |
| 5 | EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH – SHARING THINGS IN COMMON | I. Outline the History of the Early Church II. Narrate the Story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 – 11) III. List the Names of the Seven Deacons and their Functions |
| 6 | PERSECUTION | I. Definition of Persecution II. List the Reasons for Persecution of Christians III. State Ways to Curb Persecution |
| 7 | THE CHURCH IN SAMARIA | I. Narrate the Encounter of Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26 – 32) II. Highlight the Activities of the Disciples at Lydia and Joppa (Acts 9:36 – 43) |
| 8 | THE CHURCH IN CAESAREA Acts 10 : 1 – 48 | I. Narrate the story of the conversion of Cornelius • Cornelius calls for Peter • Peter’s Vision • Peter at Cornelius’ House II. State the Significance of Cornelius Conversion |
| 9 | PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVERS | I. Arrest of Peter and John (Acts 4:1 – 31) II. Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:8 and 7:1 – 60) III. State the Reasons for the Arrest of the Early Apostles IV. Narrate the Story of Stephen |
| 10 | PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVERS (Continuation) | I. Persecution of the Church by Saul (Acts 8:1 – 3 and 9:1 – 30) II. The killing of James. Acts 12 : 1 – 8 III. Narrate the Story of Persecution in the Early Church IV. Highlight the Various Persecution of the Early Apostles V. State the Moral Lessons of Apostles Persecution |
| 11 | REVISION | |
| 12 | EXAMINATION |
| Term | Third Term | |
| Week | Topic | Breakdown |
| 1 | PAUL AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES – PAUL BEFORE FELIX Acts 24:1 – 23 | I. Narrate Paul’s Encounter with Governor Felix II. State Paul’s Defense before Felix. III. List Lessons from the Encounter of Paul with Felix |
| 2 | PAUL BEFORE FESTUS Acts 25:1 – 20 | I. Narrate the Trial of Paul before Festus II. State Moral Lessons from Paul’s Trial before Festus III. List Rights of a Citizen of a Country |
| 3 | PAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA Acts 25:22 – 32 | I. Narrate the Trial of Paul before King Agrippa II. State Paul’s Defense before Agrippa |
| 4 | THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TODAY | I. Give an Account of First Attempt to Establish Christianity in Nigeria II. Narrate How the Issue of Slave Trade was used to Establish Christianity in Nigeria |
| 5-12 | REVISION AND EXAMINATION |
The following textbooks are recommended for Christian Religious Studies in J.S.S.3.
