Christian Religious Studies Syllabus

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓define the term ‘sovereignty’
• ✓analyse God’s process of creation
• ✓interpret the sequence of creation
• ✓identify man’s role in advancing God’s purpose in creation
• ✓recognize the sovereignty of God in the affairs of man and nations

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓explain the concept of covenant
• ✓examine the importance and implication of the covenants
• ✓distinguish between God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham and Israel
• ✓distinguish between the old and the new covenants

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓examine the circumstances that gave rise to the leadership of Joseph, Moses, Joshua and the Judges
• ✓identify the major talents of these leaders
• ✓assess God’s role in the works of these leaders
• ✓analyse the achievements of these leaders

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the different ways by which God guided and protected the people of Israel
• ✓specify how God provided for His people
• ✓identify the different occasions when God provided for Israel
• ✓recognize that God still provides for people today

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine the extent to which Eli, Samuel and David were responsible for the short-comings of their children
• ✓describe how Asa pleased God

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine why Abraham, the Three Hebrew Youths and David obeyed God
• ✓identify the rewards for obedience
• ✓compare the disobedience of Adam, the people of Israel, Moses and Saul
• ✓indicate the reasons for their disobedience
• ✓identify the consequences of disobedience

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify David’s anointing experience
• ✓specify how David submitted to the will of God
• ✓examine the situations that led to David’s sin and repentance
• ✓identify the consequences of David’s sin
• ✓identify why God forgave David

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the source of Solomon’s wisdom
• ✓compare the different ways used by Saul and Solomon in making decisions
• ✓analyse the decisions made by Saul, Solomon and Rehoboam
• ✓assess the consequences of Solomon and Rehoboam’s unwise decisions

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓deduce the meaning of greed
• ✓distinguish between Ahab and Gehazi’s greed
• ✓analyse the consequences of Ahab and Gehazi’s greed

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓assess the religious situation in Israel at the time of Elijah and Ahab
• ✓identify the characters involved in the contest on Mount Carmel
• ✓differentiate between God’s power and that of Baal

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse Josiah’s religious reforms
• ✓determine the reasons for the renewal of the covenant
• ✓assess the significance of the reforms

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the reasons for the fall of Jerusalem
• ✓examine the condition of Judah during the exile
• ✓analyse the people’s response to the call of Nehemiah and Ezra to rebuild Jerusalem
• ✓distinguish between Nehemiah and Ezra’s responses to the opposition of their enemies

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel
• ✓determine the occasions in which the four men demonstrated faith
• ✓analyse the effects of the faith of the four men on the Babylonians
• ✓identify the qualities of faith by four men worthy of emulation

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the story of Jonah’s call
• ✓describe the consequences of Jonah’s disobedience
• ✓assess the effect of Jonah’s message on the Ninevites
• ✓emulate the example of the Ninevites

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine what true religion is
• ✓identify the ills that led to the call for social justice in Amos’ time
• ✓identify the punishment meted for evil deeds
• ✓examine the condition in Israel during Hosea’s time
• ✓analyse Hosea’s portrayal of divine love and human response

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyze the vision of Isaiah on God’s holiness
• ✓distinguish the calls of Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah
• ✓compare the assignments given to these prophets
• ✓determine the need for God’s people to be holy

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓describe the situations that led to the punishment of Israel
• ✓identify the conditions for hope
• ✓determine the benefits of restoration

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓compare the stories of the births of John and Jesus
• ✓assess the importance of John as the forerunner of Jesus
• ✓describe the boyhood of Jesus

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine the meaning and purpose of the baptism of Jesus
• ✓enumerate the temptations of Jesus
• ✓examine the significance of the temptations of Jesus
• ✓describe how Jesus overcame the temptations

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the first disciples to be called by Jesus
• ✓determine the demands of discipleship

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓classify the different miracles of Jesus
• ✓indicate the occasion of each of the miracles
• ✓examine the significance of each of the miracles

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓define a parable
• ✓classify the different parables of Jesus
• ✓identify the occasion of each parable
• ✓interpret the meaning of each parable
• ✓give reasons why Jesus taught in parables

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the teachings on the Mount
• ✓identify the demands of the Kingdom
• ✓determine the consequences of placing worldly possessions above heavenly treasures
• ✓associate the rewards for obedience with the Sermon on the Mount

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓distinguish between the mission of the twelve and the seventy
• ✓specify the instructions to the disciples
• ✓assess the outcomes of the missions

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the confession by Peter
• ✓identify the occasion of the Great Confession
• ✓examine the significance of the Great Confession

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓trace the events leading to the Transfiguration
• ✓identify the personalities involved in the Transfiguration account
• ✓determine the significance of the Transfiguration to the disciples

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓recount the Triumphal Entry and the cleansing of the Temple
• ✓determine the significance of the Triumphal Entry and the cleansing of the Temple
• ✓examine how the cleansing of the Temple caused hostility towards Jesus

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓trace the story of the Last Supper
• ✓evaluate the significance of the Last Supper

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the different trials of Jesus
• ✓describe the crucifixion and burial of Jesus
• ✓deduce the lessons of the death of Jesus
• ✓recount the statements of Jesus on the cross

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓trace the stories of the resurrection, appearances and ascension of Jesus
• ✓compare the personalities involved in the stories
• ✓analyse the relevance of the resurrection, appearances and ascension of Jesus

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse the different teachings of Jesus about Himself
• ✓deduce the reasons for Jesus’ teachings about Himself
• ✓interpret the meanings of the symbols used by Jesus about Himself

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓describe God’s love for man
• ✓identify various types of love
• ✓specify the ways they can love one another
• ✓evaluate the significance of love

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the reasons for communal living in the Early Church
• ✓identify the problems of communal living and their solutions
• ✓examine how communal living helped the growth of the Early Church

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓trace the story of the Pentecost
• ✓identify the signs associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit
• ✓examine the significance of the Pentecost experience
• ✓analyse the mission of the Church

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓trace the story of the arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John
• ✓trace the events that led to the martyrdom of Stephen
• ✓describe the role of Saul in the persecution of the Church
• ✓evaluate the importance of persecution to the growth of the Church
• ✓account for the persecution of Paul

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓compare the conversions of Saul and Cornelius
• ✓analyse the commissioning and mission of Paul
• ✓examine the main decisions at the Council of Jerusalem
• ✓identify the personalities involved at the Council of Jerusalem
• ✓examine the relevance of the main decisions at the Council of Jerusalem
• ✓assess Paul’s role in the mission to the Gentiles

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓interpret the phrase ‘justification by faith’
• ✓identify the basic conditions for justification
• ✓determine the fruits of justification

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓examine the purpose and significance of the law and grace
• ✓identify the place of the Law among the Jews

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓describe the characteristics of the old life
• ✓analyse the new life in Christ
• ✓identify the conditions of the new life
• ✓examine the benefits of the new life

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓describe how Christians are joint heirs with Christ
• ✓recognize that males and females are all children of God
• ✓indicate the benefits of being joint heirs with Christ

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine the meaning of humility
• ✓identify the requirements of humility
• ✓identify the rewards of humility

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓analyse Paul’s teaching on forgiveness
• ✓assess the benefits of forgiveness
• ✓recognize the need to forgive others

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the different spiritual gifts
• ✓analyse the benefits of spiritual gifts to the individual and the church
• ✓differentiate between spiritual gifts and talents

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓interpret the concept of Christian giving
• ✓relate the teachings of Paul on Christian giving
• ✓identify the importance of Christian giving

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the need for obedience to authority
• ✓specify the requirements of good citizenship

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓interpret the concept of dignity of labour
• ✓analyse the benefits of labour
• ✓recognize that no particular kind of work leads to loss of respect for personal dignity

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the signs of the Second Coming of Christ
• ✓specify the preparations for His coming
• ✓indicate what will happen during His Second Coming
• ✓examine the importance of His coming

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓interpret the concept of impartiality
• ✓identify causes of partiality
• ✓examine the consequences of partiality

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify the requirements of effective prayer
• ✓distinguish between effective and ineffective prayer
• ✓identify the importance of prayer
• ✓identify types of prayer

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓determine interpersonal relationships among Christians
• ✓analyse Christian living among non-Christians
• ✓relate Christian attitude to persecution
• ✓determine the relationship in the Christian family
• ✓examine the importance of maintaining good relationships

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓define the term corruption
• ✓identify the causes of corruption
• ✓determine the effects and consequences of corruption
• ✓identify ways of curbing corruption

Objectives — candidates should be able to:

• ✓identify what constitute sexual immorality
• ✓determine the causes of sexual immorality
• ✓examine the effects and consequences of sexual immorality
• ✓identify ways of curbing sexual immorality