The holy spirit keeps us faithful- stephen's faithfulness (Acts 6:8-15)

Subject: Christian Religious Studies (CRS)
Class: Grade 5
Topic: The Holy Spirit Keeps Us Faithful – Stephen’s Faithfulness (Acts 6:8-15)

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Lesson Note

Introduction

Faithfulness means being loyal, trustworthy, and standing firm in our love for God, even when things are difficult. As Christians, we cannot remain faithful by our own strength. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Helper who gives us the courage, wisdom, and strength to obey God and stand up for the truth at all times.

Who was Stephen?

In the early Church, the apostles needed helpers to distribute food to widows and care for the needy. Stephen was one of the seven deacons chosen for this important task. He was described as a man full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. Stephen did not just share food; he also preached the gospel and performed great wonders and miracles among the people because God’s grace was upon him.

The Opposition Against Stephen (Acts 6:8-15)

Because Stephen was preaching the truth, some Jewish men from a synagogue called the "Freedmen" became unhappy. They began to argue with Stephen. However, they could not match the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

Out of jealousy, these men plotted against Stephen. They secretly paid some people to lie about him. These false witnesses claimed that Stephen was speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

Stephen was arrested and brought before the Jewish high council (the Sanhedrin). The false witnesses repeated their lies, accusing him of speaking against the holy Temple and the Law of Moses. Despite these scary accusations and the threat of death, Stephen remained calm, brave, and faithful. He did not deny Jesus. The Bible says that as the members of the council looked closely at Stephen, his face shone like the face of an angel. The Holy Spirit filled him with God's peace and glory.

How the Holy Spirit Helps Us Today

Just like Stephen, we may face difficult situations where people lie about us, mock us, or pressure us to do wrong things. The Holy Spirit helps us in the following ways:

1. He gives us the courage to speak the truth when others are lying.
2. He gives us the wisdom to make the right choices.
3. He fills our hearts with peace even when we face trouble, bullying, or peer pressure.

By relying on the Holy Spirit, we can stay faithful to God at home, in school, and in our community, showing God’s light to everyone around us.

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Summary

• Faithfulness is staying loyal to God even when we face trials.
• Stephen was one of the seven deacons, full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
• Enemies lied about Stephen because they could not defeat his Holy Spirit-inspired wisdom.
• Even when arrested, Stephen’s face shone like an angel’s because of the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit helps us stand strong for God today.

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Classwork

A. Fill in the Blanks:

1. Stephen was one of the ________ chosen to help the apostles share food.
2. The Jewish men could not argue with Stephen because of the ________ and Spirit with which he spoke.
3. The enemies hired ________ witnesses to lie against Stephen.
4. When Stephen stood before the council, his face looked like the face of an ________.

B. Short Answer Questions: 5. Define faithfulness in your own words.
6. State two ways the Holy Spirit helps us to be faithful today.