TOTAL CHILD SCHOOL, PORT HARCOURT} NOTE ON WEEK 2
Subject÷ Christian religious studies
Topic ÷The call of the disciples
Class ÷JSS 2
Average age -12+
Duration÷40 minutes
Date÷January 2026
Bible reference÷ (RSV),
Evans Christian Religious Studies for junior secondary.
Specific objective÷ by the end of the lesson, the student should be able to
(i) Explain the call of the twelve disciples.
(ii) State the Demands of disciples.
Instructional materials: pictures, Holy Bible and charts.
Previous knowledge÷ students have been taught about the call of the disciples in their previous class.
Biblical objectives÷ students would be aware of the demands in discipleship.
Biblical Truth÷To be a disciple has its own
Text÷ Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 3: 13- 19.
Introduction:
Step :
Jesus selects His disciples Matt 4: 18-22; 9: 9, Mark 3: 13-19
Jesus chose twelve disciples to be with him and to assist him in preaching the gospel. He called them one by one and told them that he would make them fishers of men. They immediately left their jobs and followed him. Some of them were fishermen, while some were tax collectors. Four of them were referred to as members of the inner circle. This is because they were especially close to him. They were Simon Peter, Matthew, James, and John sons of Zebedee. When Jesus was on a mountain, he called the men of his choice after healing some people in Galilee. Out of these men, he selected twelve as his immediate companions and friends. These he wanted to send out to proclaim his message, the gospel, with the authority to drive out demons and heal all kinds of diseases. These twelve are as follows:
These twelve are as follows: 1. Simon Peter
2. James
3. John
4. Simon the Canaanites
5. Andrew
6. Philip
7. Bartholomew
8. Thomas
9. Thaddeus
10. Matthew
11. James the son of Alphaeus
12. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
They all willingly responded to the call of the master without excuse, the most important qualification Jesus sought was willingness and self-denial. We learn a lesson here to be obedient to the call of God. These twelve were to be his messengers, who would carry the message of Christ to all parts of the world and all people. In the Acts of the Apostles, these disciples were referred to as apostles. After the death of Judas, following his betrayal of Jesus, Matthias was elected as the twelfth apostle.
THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP ( MTT 8: 18-27; LK 9: 57-63; 14: 25-33
To be a disciple of Jesus has its demands and of obligations. Jesus' encounter with three would-be disciples shows the cost of being a disciple.
Discipleship is about two things. The first is to be a true believer in Jesus. The second is to be
a devoted follower of Jesus. Jesus taught the disciples about the demands of discipleship.
Jesus taught that to be a true believer and a devoted follower, one has to:
1. Insecurity in discipleship
2. God first in discipleship
3. Total commitment in discipleship
4. Self- denial in discipleship
5. Sacrificing the interest of family and self to discipleship