Here is a comprehensive, well-detailed, and thorough BALANCED class note for Nursery Three on "Who Is A Christian (Bible steps to become a Christian)?" under Christian Religious Studies, designed for a Nigerian hybrid curriculum.

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CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES: NURSERY THREE

TOPIC: Who Is A Christian? (Bible Steps to Become a Christian)

Hello, my wonderful little friends! Today, we are going to learn about a very special person – a Christian! Have you ever heard that word before? We will discover what it means to be a Christian and how we can become one, just like Jesus wants us to be.

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I. Comprehensive Core Concepts: Who Is A Christian & Bible Steps

What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?

A Christian is someone who loves Jesus very, very much and wants to be like Him. Imagine you have a best friend. You love spending time with your friend, you listen to your friend, and you try to be kind to your friend, right? Being a Christian is like having Jesus as your best friend forever!

• A Christian Believes in Jesus: A Christian believes that Jesus is the Son of God. God sent Jesus to earth because He loves us so much. They believe Jesus came to teach us how to be kind, how to love, and how to live in a way that makes God happy. It's like believing in a wonderful story that is true!

• A Christian Loves Jesus: Because Jesus loves us so much, Christians love Him back. How do we show love to Jesus? We show love by trying our best to be good children, by sharing our toys, by being kind to our friends, and by listening to our mummy and daddy and teachers. When we do these things, we are showing our love for Jesus.

• A Christian Follows Jesus's Example: Jesus was always kind, loving, and helpful. He always obeyed God. A Christian tries to do the same! They try to be good helpers at home, good friends at school, and always try to choose good things to do. It's like trying to walk in Jesus's footsteps, doing the good things He would do.

• A Christian Talks to Jesus (Prays): Just like you talk to your mummy or daddy, a Christian talks to Jesus. This is called prayer. We can talk to Jesus about anything – when we are happy, when we are sad, when we need help, or when we want to say "thank you." Jesus is always listening!

So, in simple words, a Christian is a special friend of Jesus who believes in Him, loves Him, tries to be like Him, and talks to Him every day.

Why Do We Want to Be Christians?

Becoming a Christian is the best thing ever because:

• Jesus Loves Us So Much: Jesus loves you more than you can ever imagine! He wants to be your friend and helper always.
• He Gives Us Joy and Peace: When we are Christians, Jesus helps us feel happy and peaceful inside, even when things are tough.
• He Helps Us Be Good: Jesus helps us make good choices and be kind, loving children.
• He Wants Us to Live with Him Forever: When we are Christians, Jesus promises that we will live with Him in heaven one day, which is a wonderful place!

The Bible Steps to Become a Christian (Simplified for Nursery Three)

The Bible is God's special book, and it tells us exactly how to become a Christian. It's like a special map! Here are the simple steps:

1. Step 1: Know that God loves you very much!

   • God made the whole world, the sun, the moon, the stars, and you! He made you special and unique. The Bible says in John 3:16 (a very famous Bible verse!) that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus." This means God loves every single person, including you, with a big, big love! He wants to be your best friend.

2. Step 2: Know that sometimes we do naughty things (these are called "sins").

   • Even though God loves us, sometimes we don't do what is right. Maybe we don't share our toys, or we don't listen to mummy or daddy, or we say unkind words. These naughty things are called "sins." The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned." When we do sins, it makes God a little sad, and it separates us from His perfect love. It's like building a little wall between us and God.

3. Step 3: Believe that Jesus died for our sins and came alive again!

   • Because God loves us so much, He didn't want us to be separated from Him because of our sins. So, He sent Jesus! Jesus, who never did any naughty thing, came to earth. He died on a cross to take away all our sins, and then, after three days, He came alive again! This means He won over sin and death! The Bible says in Romans 5:8 that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus did this because He loves you and wants to take away your naughty things.

4. Step 4: Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart.

   • This is the most important step! You can talk to Jesus right now. Tell Him you are sorry for the naughty things you have done. Tell Him you believe He died for you and came alive again. Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your heart to be your special friend and helper forever. When Jesus comes into your heart, He helps you to be good and to always choose what is right. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 that if you believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved.

5. Step 5: Live for Jesus every day!

   • Once you have asked Jesus into your heart, you are a Christian! Now, your job is to try your best to live like Jesus every day. This means:
     • Praying to Jesus every day (talking to Him).
     • Reading your children's Bible (listening to Him talk to you).
     • Obeying your mummy, daddy, and teachers.
     • Being kind to everyone.
     • Sharing your things.
     • Forgiving others when they make mistakes.
     • Telling others about Jesus's love!
   • The Bible says in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." This means if we love Jesus, we will try to do what He tells us to do.

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II. Real-World Examples

Let's see how being a Christian looks in real life for children like you!

• Scenario 1: Sharing with a Friend

  • Example: Imagine you have a yummy biscuit, and your friend doesn't have any. A Christian child remembers Jesus loves sharing, so they would break their biscuit in half and share it happily with their friend. They wouldn't keep it all to themselves.
  • Why it's Christian: This shows love and kindness, just like Jesus taught us.

• Scenario 2: Obeying Mummy and Daddy

  • Example: Mummy tells you, "Please put your toys away before you play outside." A Christian child would quickly put their toys away without grumbling because they know obeying their parents makes God happy and shows respect.
  • Why it's Christian: Jesus always obeyed God, and He wants us to obey our parents and teachers.

• Scenario 3: Being Kind to Everyone

  • Example: You see a new child in class who looks a bit shy and lonely. A Christian child would go up to them, smile, and say, "Hello! Do you want to play with me?" They wouldn't ignore the new child or make them feel bad.
  • Why it's Christian: Jesus taught us to love our neighbours and be kind to everyone, no matter who they are.

• Scenario 4: Forgiving a Friend

  • Example: Your friend accidentally knocks over your block tower, and it breaks into pieces. You feel sad and a little angry. A Christian child would take a deep breath, remember that Jesus forgives us, and say, "It's okay, let's build it again together." They wouldn't stay angry or refuse to play with their friend.
  • Why it's Christian: Jesus taught us to forgive others, just as God forgives us.

• Scenario 5: Praying for Others

  • Example: Your grandmother is not feeling well. A Christian child would fold their hands, close their eyes, and talk to Jesus, asking Him to make Grandma feel better.
  • Why it's Christian: Christians talk to Jesus about everything, including asking Him to help people we love.

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III. Practical Applications: How Can You Be Like Jesus Today?

You can start living like a Christian right now! Here are some practical things you can do:

• How to Pray (Talk to Jesus):

  1. Find a quiet time: You can pray anywhere, but sometimes it's nice to find a quiet place, like your bed before sleeping or sitting at the table before eating.
  2. Fold your hands and close your eyes: This helps you focus on talking to Jesus.
  3. Talk from your heart: You don't need fancy words. Just talk to Jesus like He's your best friend.
     • You can say: "Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for my mummy and daddy. Please help me to be a good child today. Please help my friend who is sad. Amen."
  4. Practice daily: Try to pray every morning, before meals, and before you sleep.

• How to Show Love and Kindness:

  1. Use kind words: Say "please," "thank you," "I'm sorry," and "I love you."
  2. Help others: Help mummy carry something light, help your friend pick up their crayons, help your teacher tidy up.
  3. Share your things: Offer your toys or snacks to your friends and siblings.
  4. Give hugs: Give a warm hug to your family members.

• How to Obey:

  1. Listen carefully: When mummy, daddy, or your teacher speaks, stop what you are doing and listen with your ears and your heart.
  2. Do it right away: Don't wait or grumble. When asked to do something, try to do it quickly and happily.
  3. Ask questions if you don't understand: If you're not sure what to do, politely ask, "Mummy, what do you mean?"

• How to Forgive:

  1. Say "It's okay": When someone accidentally hurts you or breaks something, try to say, "It's okay."
  2. Let go of anger: Don't hold onto angry feelings in your heart. Ask Jesus to help you let them go.
  3. Don't hold grudges: This means don't keep being angry at someone for a long time. Play with them again and be friends.

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IV. Suggested Home Projects

These projects will help you remember what we learned and put it into practice!

1. Project 1: My "Jesus Loves Me" Heart

   • Materials Needed:
     • A piece of paper (any colour)
     • Crayons, markers, or paint
     • Glue (optional)
     • Glitter, small beads, or colourful paper scraps (optional, for decoration)
   • Procedure:
     1. Ask an adult to help you draw a big heart shape on your paper.
     2. Carefully cut out the heart shape.
     3. On one side of the heart, write (or ask an adult to write for you) "Jesus Loves Me!"
     4. On the other side, draw a picture of yourself, your family, or something you love that God made (like a flower or an animal).
     5. Decorate your heart with crayons, markers, glitter, or paper scraps to make it beautiful.
   • Expected Outcome: A colourful heart that reminds you every day of Jesus's great love for you. You can hang it in your room!

2. Project 2: My Prayer Hands

   • Materials Needed:
     • Two pieces of paper
     • A pencil
     • Scissors (ask an adult to help you with this!)
     • Glue or tape
     • Crayons or markers
   • Procedure:
     1. Place one hand on a piece of paper and ask an adult to trace around it with a pencil. Do this for both hands on separate pieces of paper.
     2. Carefully cut out your two hand shapes.
     3. On the inside of one hand, write (or ask an adult to write) "Thank you, Jesus, for..." and draw pictures of things you are thankful for (e.g., family, food, toys).
     4. On the inside of the other hand, write "Dear Jesus, please help..." and draw pictures of people you want to pray for (e.g., mummy, daddy, sick friend).
     5. Glue or tape the "wrists" of the two paper hands together so they look like they are folded in prayer.
   • Expected Outcome: A pair of paper hands that you can open to see your prayers and thanksgivings. This helps you remember to pray every day.

3. Project 3: My "Sharing is Caring" Box

   • Materials Needed:
     • A small empty shoe box or any small carton
     • Wrapping paper, colourful paper, or paint
     • Glue or tape
     • Crayons or markers
     • A few old toys or books you no longer use but are still good.
   • Procedure:
     1. Decorate your box! Cover it with wrapping paper, paint it, or draw colourful pictures all over it.
     2. On the side of the box, write (or ask an adult to write) "Sharing is Caring!"
     3. Gather a few toys, books, or even clothes that you don't play with anymore but are still in good condition.
     4. Put these items into your "Sharing is Caring" box.
     5. Talk with your family about who you can share these items with – maybe a younger cousin, a neighbour, or a children's home.
   • Expected Outcome: A decorated box filled with items you are ready to share. This helps you practice being generous and kind, just like Jesus.

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V. Life Skills Integration

Being a Christian is not just about going to church; it's about how we live our lives every single day! It helps us learn important life skills that make us good people in our homes, schools, and communities.

• Kindness and Empathy:

  • Connection: When we follow Jesus, we learn to be kind to everyone, even those who are different from us. We learn to feel what others feel (empathy) and want to help them.
  • Real-World: This means sharing your snacks with a hungry friend, comforting someone who is crying, or saying nice words instead of mean ones. These skills help you make good friends and be a loving person.

• Obedience and Respect:

  • Connection: Jesus always obeyed God, and He wants us to obey our parents and teachers. This teaches us to respect authority and follow rules.
  • Real-World: Listening when your teacher tells you to sit down, or doing what Mummy asks you to do without arguing. These skills are super important for school, for home, and even when you grow up and have a job – you will need to listen to your boss!

• Forgiveness:

  • Connection: Jesus taught us to forgive others when they make mistakes, just as God forgives us.
  • Real-World: If a friend accidentally bumps into you, instead of getting angry, you can forgive them and continue playing. This helps you to have happy friendships and not hold onto sadness or anger. It's a big skill for a peaceful heart!

• Responsibility:

  • Connection: When we choose to follow Jesus, we are responsible for trying our best to live like Him. This includes taking care of our things and helping others.
  • Real-World: Putting your toys away after playing, helping with small chores at home, or taking care of your school bag. These small tasks teach you to be responsible, which is a very important skill for growing up and being a successful adult.

• Community and Service:

  • Connection: Christians are called to love their neighbours and serve others. This helps us understand we are part of a bigger community.
  • Real-World: Sharing your "Sharing is Caring" box items with others, helping your neighbour carry their groceries (with an adult), or being a good friend at school. These actions help build a strong, loving community around you.

• Career Connections (Simplified for N3):

  • Even though you are very young, the qualities of a Christian are important for any job you might have when you grow up!
  • A doctor needs to be kind and caring (like Jesus).
  • A teacher needs to be patient and loving (like Jesus).
  • A police officer needs to be fair and helpful (like Jesus).
  • A farmer needs to be responsible and hardworking (like Jesus).
  • Being a Christian helps you grow up to be a person with a good heart, who can do any job well and make the world a better place!

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VI. Student Reflection Questions

Let's think about what we've learned today! Answer these questions in your heart or share them with your mummy, daddy, or teacher.

1. What is one special thing about someone who is a Christian?
2. Can you name one naughty thing (sin) that makes God sad?
3. What did Jesus do to take away our naughty things?
4. What is one thing you can do today to show Jesus you love Him?
5. What will you pray about tonight before you sleep?
6. How can you use your "Sharing is Caring" box to be kind to someone?

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