The Christian Church Today JSS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH MATT 28:19-20

The main mission of the Church is to spread the good news of salvation to all nations of the world. The early church started from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the whole parts of the world. Jesus does not want any part of the world to be in ignorance of the salvation provided by God through Christ. The early church preached the gospel of Christ to the Jews and foreigners in the Roman Empire. Europeans who had received the gospel later took over as missionaries in propagating the gospel. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they were able to spread the gospel to many other continents like Africa, South and North America, Asia, etc. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively, witnessed its greatest expansion in all the continents of the world.

 EVALUATION

Who are missionaries?  

THE COMING OF CHRISTIANITY TO NIGERIA

The first attempt to bring Christianity to Nigeria was made by European Catholic missionaries in the fifteenth century. They came in the company of some Europeans who were mainly traders. The missionaries visited so many places in Nigeria to preach the gospel but the people preferred to listen to the traders instead of the missionaries. Also, the climatic conditions were not favourable to the missionaries. Likewise, there was a language barrier. The traders were able to make transactions with the people because it was based on “barter”, that is exchange of goods. Therefore, the missionaries were unable to establish any church. They visited places like Warri, Benin, Port Harcourt, and other towns near the sea, but there was no single convert.

After the abolition of the slave trade, the slaves were released to go home. Those taken from Nigeria came back home. It must be noted that Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a former slave, translated the English Bible into the Yoruba language. Most of them have become traders. They visited places like Lagos, Badagry, and Abeokuta. Some of the foreign/orthodox churches that later settled in Nigeria are as follows:

1. The Anglican Church.
2. The Methodist Church.
3. The Baptist Church.
4. The Presbyterian Church.
5.  Foursquare Church.
6. The Catholic Church.
7. Seventh-day Adventist.

EVALUATION

Mention four of the Orthodox churches.         

CHURCHES IN NIGERIA

All churches in Nigeria belonged to European and American churches initially. However, some people started their own. They were called Indigenous or Independent African Churches. Some of those churches were The Church of the Lord, Aladura, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Celestial Church of Christ, Cherubim, and Seraphim to mention just a few. They were able to convert so many people both in villages and towns, both the educated and the illiterate. They were also able to meet the needs of the people in terms of healing, deliverances, and so on.

 SOME REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THESE CHURCHES

• The method of worship is simple for the people to understand.
• They compose their songs themselves and they translate the foreign ones into their languages.
• Africans believe that they can know their future and that their misfortunes can be dealt with immediately.

 Later, new churches emerge due to some factors. They were called Pentecostals. Their emphasis is based on the power of the Holy Spirit. Some of them are as follows:

1. The Redeemed Christian Church of God.
2. Living Faith Church.
3. Deeper Christian Life Ministry.
4. The Redeemed Evangelical Mission.
5. Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry.
6. Believers’ Love world.

 GENERAL EVALUATION/ REVISION QUESTIONS

1. State three factors/reasons the first missionaries did not succeed.
2. Mention four Pentecostal churches.
3. How did Jesus address the issue of love?
4. Describe Abraham’s response to God’s call.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Christian Religious knowledge for JSS. BK 2,by T.N.O Quarcoopome eta’l.Page:107,111-112,119-129

Christian Religious knowledge for JSS. BK 1-3 by A.F Bello.Page:193,199.

Fundamentals of Christian Religious Knowledge for JSS. BK 2, by Adeyinka et al 24-25.

Ilesanmi Christian Religion Studies for JssBk 2 ByTundeErumol et al.

Revised Standard Version Bible (Compulsory) 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. ____ started the Christian church. (a) The Apostles (b) Jesus (c) The Catholic Church (d) The missionaries
2.  These were the places the missionaries visited at the first attempt to bring the gospel to Nigeria except____. (a)Benin (b) Ibadan (c) Warri (d)Port Harcourt
3. All are regarded as the Indigenous Churches except_____. (a)Living Faith Church (b) The Church of the Lord (c) Celestial Church of Christ (d) Christ Apostolic Church
4.  The following are regarded as Orthodox churches except____. (a) Anglican (b) Baptist (c) Believers’ Love world (d) Methodist
5. The people who spread the gospel outside their country are known as____. (a) trekkers (b) spreaders (c) propagators (d) missionaries

THEORY

1. Mention two indigenous churches in Nigeria.
2. State three Pentecostals.