WAEC Christian Religious Studies 2008 past questions and answers

God hallowed the seventh day "because on it God rested from all his work" (Genesis 2:3).

Moses said, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice" (Exodus 4:1).

By day the Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21).

When Moses delayed, the people had Aaron make a golden calf and worshipped it (Exodus 32:1-6).

"The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him" (1 Samuel 16:14).

David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head (1 Samuel 26:12).

Right after the Gibeon dream, Solomon judged the case of the two harlots (1 Kings 3:16-28).

Josiah first had the vessels made for Baal and Asherah removed from the temple and burnt (2 Kings 23:4).

God spared Gentile Nineveh when it repented, showing His care for all nations (Jonah 3:10; 4:11).

In Ahab's days Hiel rebuilt Jericho at the cost of his sons, as Joshua's curse had said (1 Kings 16:34; Joshua 6:26).

God wanted justice and righteousness instead of their feasts (Amos 5:21-24).

"Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (Ezekiel 1:28).

"Return, faithless Israel… I will not be angry for ever" (Jeremiah 3:12-14).

"Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him" (Matthew 3:13).

The curtain tore, the earth shook and tombs opened at once (Matthew 27:51-52); Joseph came later, in the evening (27:57).

"Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans" (Matthew 10:5).

Walking on water shows power over nature (Matthew 14:25).

Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom on the day of judgement than for that town (Matthew 10:15; Mark 16:16).

"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" Having said this he breathed his last (Luke 23:46).

Jesus called Peter and Andrew, then James and John, and next Levi the tax collector (Mark 1:16-20; 2:14).

Through Cornelius Peter learnt that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35).

The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, were annoyed at the apostles' preaching (Acts 4:1-2; 23:8).

"Earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church" (Acts 12:5).

The signs were written "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ" (John 20:31).

John calls them signs (John 2:11; 20:30).

"Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God" (Romans 5:1).

Buried with Christ in baptism, we "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

"Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions" (Romans 6:12).

"Because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Corinthians 15:9).

"No one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus be cursed!'" (1 Corinthians 12:2-3).

"In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26).

Christ emptied Himself, "taking the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7).

"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

"Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11).

"Where there is no law there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15).

Paul says faith and grace do not overthrow the law: "we uphold the law" (Romans 3:31).

"The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" (Romans 3:22).

Forgiveness restores relationships and brings peace (Philemon 15-17); it has nothing to do with wealth.

"Before faith came, we were confined under the law" (Galatians 3:23).

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

"If any one will not work, let him not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

(a) Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat cows eaten by seven thin cows, and seven full ears swallowed by seven thin ears (Genesis 41:1-7).
No magician or wise man could interpret them (Genesis 41:8).
The chief butler remembered Joseph, who had interpreted his dream in prison (Genesis 41:9-13).
Pharaoh sent for Joseph; he shaved, changed his clothes and came (Genesis 41:14).
Joseph said, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer" (Genesis 41:16).
He explained both dreams as one: seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:25-32).
He advised appointing a discreet and wise man and officers to store a fifth of the produce in the good years (Genesis 41:33-36).
Pharaoh said, "Can we find such a man, in whom is the Spirit of God?" and set Joseph over all Egypt (Genesis 41:37-41).
He gave him his signet ring, fine linen, a gold chain, his second chariot, the name Zaphenath-paneah and Asenath as wife (Genesis 41:42-45).
(b) Any three: wisdom and discernment; humility (giving credit to God); the Spirit of God in him; honesty and boldness in giving bad news; good planning and administrative skill; confidence.

Narrate Genesis 41:1-45, then three qualities.

(a) David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah killed in battle; then he married her and she bore a son (2 Samuel 11).
God sent Nathan, who told the parable of the rich man who took the poor man's lamb; David condemned the rich man, and Nathan said, "You are the man" (2 Samuel 12:1-7).
Nathan announced that the sword would not depart from David's house (2 Samuel 12:10-12).
David confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord"; Nathan said God had put away his sin and he would not die, but the child would die (2 Samuel 12:13-14).
The Lord struck the child and it became very sick (2 Samuel 12:15).
David fasted, prayed and lay all night on the ground; he refused to eat (2 Samuel 12:16-17).
On the seventh day the child died (2 Samuel 12:18).
David rose, washed, changed his clothes, worshipped and ate; he said he would go to the child but it would not return (2 Samuel 12:20-23).
He comforted Bathsheba, who bore Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24).
(b) Any three: sin has painful consequences; no sin is hidden from God; confess sin promptly; God forgives the repentant; pray earnestly in trouble; accept God's will.

Narrate 2 Samuel 12:1-24, then three lessons.

(a) The Philistines gathered at Shunem and Israel at Gilboa; Saul was afraid (1 Samuel 28:4-5).
God did not answer him by dreams, Urim or prophets, so he consulted the medium at Endor, who brought up Samuel (1 Samuel 28:6-14).
Samuel said the Lord would give Israel to the Philistines and Saul and his sons would die the next day (1 Samuel 28:19).
The Philistines fought Israel; the men of Israel fled and many fell on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1).
They killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, Saul's sons (1 Samuel 31:2).
Saul was badly wounded by archers (1 Samuel 31:3).
His armour-bearer refused to kill him, so Saul fell on his own sword; the armour-bearer did the same (1 Samuel 31:4-5).
The Philistines cut off his head, put his armour in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan (1 Samuel 31:8-10).
The men of Jabesh-gilead took the bodies, burnt them and buried the bones (1 Samuel 31:11-13).
(b) Any two: his disobedience in sparing Amalek (1 Samuel 28:18); consulting a medium against God's law (1 Chronicles 10:13-14); his offering sacrifice unlawfully at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:13); God had departed from him; fear and loss of confidence.

Narrate 1 Samuel 28 and 31, then two reasons.

(a) God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and cry against it (Jonah 1:1-2).
He fled to Joppa and boarded a ship to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3).
The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea; the ship was about to break up (Jonah 1:4).
The sailors cried to their gods and threw the cargo overboard; Jonah slept below (Jonah 1:5).
The captain woke him to call on his God (Jonah 1:6).
They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah; he confessed he feared the Lord and was fleeing from Him (Jonah 1:7-10).
He told them to throw him into the sea; they tried to row back, then prayed and threw him in; the sea became calm (Jonah 1:11-15).
The sailors feared the Lord and offered sacrifices (Jonah 1:16).
A great fish swallowed him; after three days and nights it vomited him onto dry land (Jonah 1:17; 2:10).
(b) Any two: no one can hide from God; disobedience brings trouble to oneself and others; God corrects His servants; we should obey God's call; confess wrong and accept responsibility; God hears prayer in distress.

Narrate Jonah 1–2, then two lessons.

(a) Jesus arrived in the country of the Gerasenes, opposite Galilee (Luke 8:26).
A man with demons met Him; for a long time he had worn no clothes and lived among the tombs (Luke 8:27).
He fell down and cried, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Do not torment me" (Luke 8:28).
The spirit had often seized him; he broke chains and was driven into the desert (Luke 8:29).
Jesus asked his name; he said "Legion", for many demons had entered him (Luke 8:30).
They begged not to be sent into the abyss but into a large herd of swine; Jesus allowed it (Luke 8:31-32).
The swine rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned (Luke 8:33).
The people found the man clothed and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus' feet; they were afraid and asked Jesus to leave (Luke 8:35-37).
The man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him home to declare what God had done (Luke 8:38-39).
(b) Any two: the demons requested it; to prove the demons had left the man; to show the destructive nature of evil spirits; to show a human being is worth more than animals; to keep the demons from troubling others.

Narrate Luke 8:26-39, then two reasons.

(a) Tax collectors and sinners drew near; the Pharisees and scribes grumbled that Jesus received sinners (Luke 15:1-2).
Lost sheep: a man with a hundred sheep who loses one leaves the ninety-nine and seeks the lost one until he finds it (Luke 15:4).
He lays it on his shoulders rejoicing, calls friends and neighbours to rejoice with him (Luke 15:5-6).
So there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance (Luke 15:7).
Lost coin: a woman with ten silver coins who loses one lights a lamp, sweeps the house and seeks diligently until she finds it (Luke 15:8).
She calls her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her (Luke 15:9).
There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).
(b) Any two: God loves and seeks the lost; every person is valuable to God; heaven rejoices over repentance; Christians should seek and welcome sinners; do not despise sinners like the Pharisees.

Outline Luke 15:1-10, then two points.

(a) Those who seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where scribes and elders had gathered (Matthew 26:57).
The chief priests and council sought false testimony to put Him to death but found none, though many came (Matthew 26:59-60).
Two said He claimed He could destroy the temple and build it in three days (Matthew 26:61).
Jesus was silent (Matthew 26:62-63).
The high priest said, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God" (Matthew 26:63).
Jesus said, "You have said so… hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power" (Matthew 26:64).
The high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy" (Matthew 26:65).
They answered, "He deserves death", spat in His face, struck Him and mocked Him (Matthew 26:66-68).
(b) Peter followed at a distance to the high priest's courtyard and sat with the guards to see the end (Matthew 26:58).
A maid said he was with Jesus; he denied it before all (Matthew 26:69-70).
Another maid said the same; he denied with an oath, "I do not know the man" (Matthew 26:71-72).
Bystanders said his accent betrayed him; he cursed and swore he did not know Him (Matthew 26:73-74).
The cock crowed; Peter remembered Jesus' words, went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74-75).

Narrate Matthew 26:57-75 for both parts.

(a) Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, fell ill; the sisters sent word to Jesus (John 11:1-3).
Jesus said the illness was for the glory of God, and stayed two more days (John 11:4-6).
He told the disciples Lazarus was dead and went to Judea (John 11:14-16).
Lazarus had been in the tomb four days (John 11:17).
Martha met Him; Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life" and she confessed Him as the Christ (John 11:20-27).
Mary came weeping; Jesus wept (John 11:32-35).
At the tomb Jesus ordered the stone removed; Martha objected that there would be an odour (John 11:38-39).
Jesus prayed, thanking the Father for hearing Him (John 11:41-42).
He cried, "Lazarus, come out"; the dead man came out bound, and Jesus said, "Unbind him, and let him go" (John 11:43-44).
Many Jews believed; the chief priests plotted to kill Jesus (John 11:45-53).
(b) Any two: Jesus has power over death; believers will rise; faith in Jesus brings life; Jesus sympathises with our sorrow; God's timing is best; prayer with thanksgiving.

Narrate John 11, then two lessons.

(a) Paul told them to have the mind of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).
Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6).
He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7).
He was born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).
Being found in human form, He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8).
He became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:9).
At His name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
(b) Any two: counting others better than oneself (Philippians 2:3); serving others willingly; not boasting; looking to others' interests (2:4); accepting correction; obeying those in authority.

Explain Philippians 2:5-11, then two ways.

No one speaking by the Spirit says "Jesus be cursed", and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
There are varieties of gifts, service and working, but the same Spirit, Lord and God (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
Each receives a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
The gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues and interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
The Spirit gives them to each as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).
The church is one body with many members, all baptised by one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
No member can say it does not belong or that others are not needed; weaker parts are indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:15-25).
If one suffers, all suffer; if one is honoured, all rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26).
God appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators and speakers in tongues; not all have every gift (1 Corinthians 12:28-30).
Earnestly desire the higher gifts, but love is the more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1-13).

Outline 1 Corinthians 12 with references.

(a) Faith without works cannot save (James 2:14).
Telling a hungry, ill-clad brother "Go in peace" without helping him is useless (James 2:15-16).
So faith by itself, without works, is dead (James 2:17).
"Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith" (James 2:18).
Even demons believe that God is one and shudder (James 2:19).
Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac; faith was completed by works (James 2:21-22).
Rahab was justified by works when she received the messengers (James 2:25).
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead (James 2:26).
(b) Any two: visiting orphans and widows (James 1:27); feeding and clothing the needy; caring for the sick; showing hospitality; honest dealing; forgiving others.

Use James 2:14-26, then two deeds.

(a) If anyone lacks wisdom, ask God who gives generously (James 1:5).
Ask in faith, without doubting; the double-minded will receive nothing (James 1:6-8).
You do not have because you do not ask; you ask wrongly to spend on your passions (James 4:2-3).
Anyone suffering should pray; anyone cheerful should sing praise (James 5:13).
The sick should call the elders to pray and anoint with oil; the prayer of faith saves the sick (James 5:14-15).
Confess sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16).
The prayer of a righteous man has great power, as Elijah's prayers stopped and brought rain (James 5:16-18).
(b) Any four: doubt/lack of faith; wrong motives; unconfessed sin; unforgiveness; pride; disobedience; quarrels and wrong relationships (1 Peter 3:7); not praying according to God's will.

Summarise James on prayer, then four causes.