PHONICS HANDBOOK FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Basically in English language, we have forty four (44) sounds. Each represented by a phonetic symbol. The forty four (44) sounds are divided into twenty (20) vowels and twenty four (24)consonants. We will be considering each of these sounds with examples:

Vowel Sounds
Monophthongs: These are vowel sounds that are produced by only one sound. They are also referred to as single-vowel sound. They are distinct and produce their own sound. They are twelve in number.

1. /æ/ as in – apple, cat, plait
Apple – /æ p ə l/ cat – /k æ t/
Plait – /p l æ t/

2. /a:/ – as in – farm, clerk, aunt
farm – /f a: m/ clerk – /k l a: k/
Aunt – /a: n t/

3. /i/ – as in – ink, build, women, pocket, exist
ink – / i n k/ build – /b i l d/
women – /w i m i n/ exist – /i g z i t/

4. /i:/ as in meat, machine, key, peel, piece
meat – /m i: t/ machine /m ə ∫ i: n/
key – /k i:/ peel – /p i:l/
piece – /p i: s/

5. /e/ as in egg, head, pleasant, said, says, bed
egg – /e g/ head – /h e d/
pleasant – /p l e s n t/ said – /s e d/
says – /s e z/

6. / ɜ:/ as in firm, purse, earth, turn
firm – /f ɜ:m/ purse – /p ɜ: s/
earth – / ɜ: t h/ turn – /t ɜ: n/

7. /ʊ/ as in book, put, could, wood
book, – /b ʊ k/ put – /p ʊ t/
could – /k ʊ d/ wood – / w ʊ d/

8. /u:/ as in blue, true, soon, moon, you
blue – / b l u: / true – /t r u: /
Soon, – / s u: n / moon – / m u: n /
You – /j u: /

9. /ɔ:/ as in – sport, law, water, caught
sport – /s p ɔ: t / law – /l ɔ:/
Water – / w ɔ: t ə/ caught – /k ɔ: t/

10. /ɒ/ as in – orange, office, got, dog
orange – / ɒ r I n ( / office – /ɒ f i s/
Got – / g ɒ t / dog – /d ɒ g /

11. /ə/ as in water, father, again, colour
water – /w ɔ: t ə r / father, – / f a: ð ə r/
again – / ə g e I n/ colour – /k л l ə /

12. /л/ as in money, sun, colour, wonder
money – / m л n I / sun – /s л n /
colour – /k л l ə / wonder – /w л n d ə /

5, Asekun Owo-Iya Street,
Lawanson Bus Stop
Off Badore Road
Ajah, Lagos.

19th March, 2019
The Chairman,
Eti-Osa Local Government Area,
Lekki Epe Expressway,
Igbo Efon,
Lekki, Lagos

Dear Sir,

EFFECT OF THE PUBLIC DUMP SITE LOCATED NEAR OUR SCHOOL

I, Lawal Olajide hereby write on behalf of the management and student of Awesome Heights International School, Ajah about the effect of the dump site that is located near our school building at 35, Idowu Taylor Street, Off Victoria Courtyard, Lagos.

We have discovered that the members of the community has turned the vacant land besides our school to a public refuse dump and this usually gives out offensive odour mostly during the day when students are in the class. The odour is sometimes too strong that the students and teachers find it very difficult to concentrate in class. The has negatively affected learning in the school. We cannot cover our syllabus bus we are forced out of the classroom when this odour becomes unbearable. If we continue this way, our students will be highly disadvantaged especially when we are writing our finally examination.

Another negative effect this dump site has on us is that it has defaced the school environment. Our school no longer looks attractive to passers-by. Now, people cover their noses whenever they are passing by our school. What is a school, if it is not attractive? We are not happy because the presence of the dump site is an eye-sore and does not be fit the image our school has built from time immemorial.

Thirdly, we have so many students who have some health challenges and their health situation becomes worse with the presence of the dump site. Some of the asthmatic patients over have serious attacks in class these days. We have to rush many of them to a place where they could get fresh air. If this situation is not arrested immediately, we may lose some of the students and this will have a negative effect on the school and the local government area. Prevention they say is better than cure.

We have also discovered that the presence of these dumpsite has attractive some dangerous organisms in the area. We now experience the presence of scorpions, dangerous breeds of mosquitoes, infected houseflies, rats and so on. This will made the environment to be unsafe for little children and it will discourage a lot of parents from bringing their children to school. We want our children to be educated and it will not be nice if we discourage them from coming to school.

We would be glad if you intervene in the plight of the students of the school to avert all negative consequences of locating a dumpsite near the school premises. Thank you Sir.

Yours sincerely,

Dkl

Lawal Olajide A.

5, Asekun Owo-Iya Street,
Lawanson Bus Stop
Off Badore Road
Ajah, Lagos.

19th March, 2019
Dear Janet,

I was so happy when your sister told me you have just got admission into secondary school. I can’t believe how time flies. You’re a very lucky girl to have got admission into the prestigious Higherground Academy. I am so happy for you. However, there are things I want you to take note of before you resume your new school.

Secondary school is not like primary schools. They are bigger and have more population than the primary schools. In secondary school, you are no longer called pupils. You are now a student and you will no longer be treated like children or pupils in primary schools. You will meet a lot of new people who will like to be your friends while some will discriminate against you, making you feel you don’t belong to their class. Don’t bother yourself. Just be yourself.

Another thing you will notice is that you will no longer be taught by one teacher. Each subject in the secondary school has its own teacher. Each teacher has a period of forty or forty five minutes each. However some subjects like Mathematics and English are given double periods. You have to pay attention to each lesson and make sure you complete their notes. Most teachers don’t like it if students don’t copy their notes. When they come to check your notes, they must always find it complete or else, you will be punished.

Thirdly, you need to be careful of he friends you keep in secondary school. Some children are not well brought up and they will want to corrupt you. In secondary school, you will see the good, the bad and the ugly. Please don’t let your friends choose you. You are the one that will choose your friends. I will advise you only to move with friends who are serious with their studies, those who are well behaved and are worthy of emulation. Remember the wise saying, ‘show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.’ Please o, don’t friends mislead you in secondary school. A lot of students learn to smoke, steal and do some bad things in secondary school. You have to remember the child of whom you are.

Another interesting about secondary school is that you will be introduced to some practical classes. You know we have different laboratories in secondary schools. We have the Science lab, which include Physics lab, Chemistry lab and Biology lab. You won’t get to enter these labs until you are in Senior Secondary. However you may do practicals in Home Economics lab, Intro Tech labs and the Art Studio. The teachers will invite you into the lab to carry out the practical classes. I use to enjoy those practical classes a lot. Not to forget, we also have a Music Lab where you also get to learn how to play some musical instruments.

You know what? You are a big girl now and secondary school is only for six years. So, do all you have to do now and learn all you need to learn so that you can pass your WAEC and JAMB once and gain admission into the university of your choice without delay. Extend my greetings to everyone. I hope I will see you before you resume school. Take care of yourself. Bye for now and enjoy yourself well before you resume.

Yours affectionately,
Olajide

WEEK SIX:

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH II

i. Faith in Jesus as condition for Justification (Romans 1:16-17, Romans 4:1-15)
Jesus has lived a perfect example for everyone of us. He stated in John 15:15 that everything He had learned from the Father, He has shown us. So this means that we should live our lives the way He lived His. In Romans 1:16-17, the Bible states that the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of those who have faith. It is only those who are righteous by faith that shall live.

Also in Romans 4:1-15, Paul examined the life and relationship of Abraham with God. He made us to discover that God called Abraham even before he was circumcised. People used to think that it was circumcision that made a man righteous before God. However this is not true. Abraham was circumcised after he had believed God and the circumcision was just a seal or a sign of the righteousness he had already acquired by faith. In Romans 4:15, the Bible says the “For law brings wrath and where there is no law, there is no sin.” That is why Romans 4:13, states that the promise that Abraham received was not by law but was by his righteousness by faith.

ii. Fruits of Justification (Galatians 2:19-21, Colossians 3:5-7)
Faith makes us children of God and true followers of Jesus Christ. We must not allow the law to regulate our behaviours. If we live by the law, then we are not followers of Christ. Because if there is no law, then we would behave the way we like and then, we will not reflect the light and life of Christ. But if we live as followers of Christ, the life of Jesus will be reflected in us and we will be ambassadors of Jesus. We will not be under the law, but we will be justified by the faith we have in Christ Jesus.
In Colossians 3:5-7, Paul advised Christians to “put to death the earthly passion which are fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry because the wrath of God is coming on these acts which we were once found in.” This will make us acceptable to God through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Faith in Christ Jesus make us true Christians and followers of the gospel of Christ Jesus as we reflect the true life and light of Jesus.

WEEK FIVE

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
i. Meaning and need for Justification Romans 3:23, Galatians 3:19-21
Justification means a good reason why something exists or is done. As Christians, there is a good reason why we exist and are living. In Romans 3:23, the Bible states that “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. There must be a good reason why God still spares us and is still interested in us. The Bible in Galatians 3:19-21 states that law was given by angels, through an intermediary, Moses and this law was given because of transgressions of the people. God doesn’t want us to be regulated by law else righteousness would only be possible by law.

ii. Works and law do not justify anybody (Romans 4:1-5, Galatians 2:16-21)
Works are the things we exert our energy on. It involves our energy and skills while law is the set of rules and principles that guides how people behave in a society. In Romans 4:1-5, the Bible states that Abraham would have had something to boast about if he was justified by his works. In verse 3, the Bible says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”If it is by works, then it is not a gift. But we discovered that all that we receive from God were gifts and not dues or entitlement.

Also in Galatians 2:16-21, the Paul explained that the death of Christ would be in vain if law justifies us. But because we live our lives as Christ lived, then it is Christ that lives in us. This is because we reflect Christ. Then we are justified by our faith in Christ Jesus. Law presupposes punishment so because people don’t want to be punished they tend to pretend and behave in a certain way. But people who have faith in Christ need not to be guided by law because every good work they do, they do because they have faith in Christ.

In Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen.” If we have not seen God and we believe that He is, then we will be justified. In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible states “And without faith, it is impossible to please God…..” Thus it is the faith we have in God that justifies us.

WEEK FOUR

LEADERSHIP
MOSES AS A LEADER
i. THE EARLY LIFE AND CALL OF MOSES. Exodus 1, 2 and 3
Several years after the death of Joseph, there was a new king who didn’t know Joseph. He became concern about the population of the Israelites and treated them harshly turning them to slaves. As much as they made the Israelites work harder, they grew stronger and more populous. The Pharaoh instructed the midwives to kill them at birth but the midwives declined and allowed the babies to live because they feared God. They told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were stronger than the Egyptian women because they give birth before the midwives arrive. This made God bless them with families.

There was a man from the tribe of Levi called Amram who married Jochebed. They had two sons Aaron and Moses. Moses was born when Pharaoh made a law that every male child born to the Israelites must be drowned at the Nile. So his mother hid him for three months. When she couldn’t hide him any longer, she put him in a basket made of bulrushes coated with bitumen and pitch(tar) and left him afloat on the river where Pharaoh’s daughter normally had her bath. His sister Miriam stayed to see what would happen to him.

When Pharaoh’s daughter came to take her bath, she heard the baby crying and she took him and had pity on him. Quickly his sister rushed out and offered to call a nurse from the Hebrew women who would take care of him. The request was granted and she quickly ran to call his mother. So Pharaoh’s daughter paid her to take care of the baby until he grew into a boy. She presented him to Pharaoh’s daughter and she named him, Moses meaning “I drew him out of water.”

Moses grew up in the palace until he was a man. One day as he was going about in the field, he saw anEgyptian beating a Hebrew man. When he was sure there was no one around, he killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. When he went out the following day, he saw two Israelites fighting and he intervened. The one at fault challenged him saying, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was shocked. When Pharaoh heard, he wanted to kill Moses. So Moses ran away to Midian and married one of Jethro’s daughter, Zipporah.

ii. GOD EQUIPS AND SENDS MOSES TO LEAD THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT. Exodus 4:17 Exodus 5:1-5, 22-23, Exodus 6:28-30 Exodus 7:1-7
While Moses was in Midian tending the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, he saw a burning bush but was surprise that the bush was not consumed. When he thought of having a clearer look, he heard the voice of God speaking from the fire not to move closer because where he stood was a holy land. God told him that he was ready to save the Israelites from the land of bondage because He had heard their cries and have seen their troubles. God prepared Moses for the task and in Exodus 4:17, He instructed him to take the staff in his hands so that he can perform miracles with it. In Exodus 5:1 – 5, the Bible records the encounter Moses and Aaron had with Pharaoh. Moses’ demand of the Israelites to be released to worship God met with Pharaoh’s scornful disapproval. In Exodus 5:22-23, Moses complained to God that ever since he went to meet Pharaoh to let the people go, he has increased the troubles and sufferings of the Israelites.
In Exodus 6:28-30, Moses doubted his abilities to convince Pharaoh and make him give in to the demand. But in Exodus 7:1-7, God gave Moses the assurance that even though Pharaoh would be stubborn and wouldn’t want the Israelites to go, He would do a lot of signs and wonders that would marvel the whole earth. At this time, Moses was eighty years while Aaron was eighty three years.

iii. MOSES LEADS HIS PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT. Exodus 14:1-31, Exodus 32:1-14, Numbers 13:1-33, Numbers 14:1-19
After God had performed the ten plagues He inflicted on the Egyptians, Pharaoh reluctantly allow the Israelites to go. The Israelites had already borrowed a lot of treasures from the Egyptians and so they plundered them and left. While they were on their way, God instructed Moses to turn back and lead the Israelites through Pihahiroth between Migdol and the sea in front of Baalzephon. This would made Pharaoh think that they are trapped and would want to take advantage of that. When Pharaoh heard that the Israelites have gone, he changed his mind and went after them with over six hundred chariots.

When Pharaoh got near, the people became afraid and they murmured against Moses saying,
“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Then Moses answered and said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” Moses cried out to the Lord and the Lord instructed him to tell the people of Israel to go forward. God told Moses to lift up his rod, and stretch it out over the sea.

Then the angel of God that was moving ahead and leading the Israelites in form of a pillar of cloud went behind them. The pillar of cloud stood between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel in form of thick cloud and darkness. Throughout the night, the Egyptians could not reach the Israelites neither could the Israelites reach out to the Egyptians. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord sent a strong east wind all night, divided the sea creating a wall of sea to the right and to the left while there was a road at the middle. Then the Israelites began to walk on dry ground in the middle of the sea.

When the Egyptians saw this, they pursued after the Israelites into the midst of the sea, with all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then in the morning watch, the Lord clogged the chariot wheels ofthe Egyptians and they were so discomfited. They drove with so much difficulty and they said among themselves, “Let us flee from before Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

When the Israelities got to the other side of the sea, the Lord said to Moses to stretch forth his hands over the sea and immediately he did that the sea returned to its wonted flow by morning. The Egyptians tried to flee but as the waters returned, it covered the chariots, the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. When the Israelites saw the Egyptian dead bodies at the seashore, Tue fearer the Lord and believed in His servant, Moses.

THE GOLDEN CALF – Genesis 32:1-14
In Genesis 32:1 – 14, the Bible recorded the incident that happened when Moses went up to Mount Sinai to get the laws that would guide the people, that is the Ten Commandments. He didn’t return early. The people became tired of waiting. So they gathered themselves and prevailed upon Aaron to make a carved image for them to worship as their god since they don’t know what has happened to Moses. So Aaron ordered that they take off their rings of gold from their ears, hands and legs and they carved out a golden calf. The people started making feast proclaiming that the image was the image of the gods who brought them out of Egypt.

God became angry and told Moses all that is happening at the camp of the Israelites. He told Moses that He was going to destroy them all in His wrath and raise a new nation from the family of Moses. Moses interceded on their behalf saying in verses 11-13 that God should not allow the Egyptians to say God brought them out of Egypt only to kill all them in the mountains. He begged God to remember the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would multiply them like the stars of the heaven and take them to the land He has promised them. It was then that God changed His mind from destroying them.

SPIES SENT TO CANAAN – Numbers 13:1-33
The Lord instructed Moses to send spies to the land of Canaan, that they might survey the land and bring back reports on their findings. So Moses according to God’s instructions, appointed a man each from the twelve tribes of Israel, chosen by each tribe to go and survey the land. The men appointed were as follows: Shammua from the tribe of Reuben, Shaphat from the tribe of Simeaon, Caleb from the tribe of Judah, Igal from the tribe of Issachar, Hoshea (Joshua) from the tribe of Ephraim, Palti from the tribe of Benjamin, Gaddiel from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddi from the tribe of Mannaseh, Ammiel from the tribe of Dan, Sethur from the tribe of Asher, Nahbi from the tribe of Naphtali and Geuel from the tribe of Gad. So, Moses sent them to Negev to survey the land and bring back fruits as evidence of the situation of the land.

They survey the land thoroughly and discovered that Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak are the occupiers of the land. When they got to Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes and carried it on a pole. They also took some pomegranates and figs.

THE REPORTS OF THE SPIES – Numbers 13:25-33
At the end of forty days, the twelve spies returned to the camp of the Israelites and gave reports to Moses in the presence of the whole people of Israel. They confirmed that the land was good, flowing with milk and honey showing the fruits of the land; the grapes, pomegranates and the figs. But the people who dwell in the land are very strong and the cities are fortified. However Caleb encouraged the people that they should muster up their armies to go and take over the land. But the other spies countered him and said the Israelites cannot conquer the land because the descendants of Anak and stronger than they were. The descendants of Anak are giants and the Israelites were like grasshoppers before them.

This report made the people to cry aloud and wept all through the night. They rebelled against Moses, saying is it not better to die in Egypt than to die in the wilderness or die by sword?”. They said among themselves, “Let us appoint leaders among ourselves and go back to Egypt.” Moses and Aaron became extremely sad and disappointed. Joshua (Hoshea) and Caleb also tore their clothes. They told the Israelites that the land is extremely good and if God delights in them, they would conquer and inherit the land. They persuaded the people not to rebel against the Lord and His servants, Moses. In their words, Joshua and Caleb said, “Do not fear these people, they are bread for us because their protection has been taken away from them.” While Joshua was talking, the Israelites almost stoned them.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of the meeting and again the Lord spoke in His wrath that how long will the Israelites despise Him and not believe Him in spite of all the signs they had seen. Again the Lord wanted to destroy them with pestilence and reject them so that He can raise another generation through Moses but Moses again interceded on their behalf so that the Egyptians will not mock the name of the Lord. Moses cashed in on the fact that God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He forgives those who seek Him but visit the sins of the father on the generation of the ungodly up to the third and fourth generation. Again, the Lord pardoned the foolishness of the people.

Moral Lessons
1. Moses was a selfless leader
2. Moses has compassion over the Israelites especially when they go through pains
3. Moses is a strategic leader. He does not just act on impulse.
4. Moses, as a leader was a good intercessor
5. Moses was logical in His reasoning
6. Moses is not an opportunist. He had the opportunity to father a new nation, but still interceded for the Israelites.
7. Moses loves and fears the Lord
8. Moses was a democratic leader, always listening to the people and acts in such a way that he shows great concern about the welfare of the Israelites

LOVE
GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN AND MAN’S LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
John 4: 7-8, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 1 John 3:17-19

Love has a lot of meaning. It can be referred to as “a profound and caring affection towards someone.”. God loves man and He also encourages man to love one another. Jesus when analyzing the ten commandments classified the laws into two major ones. When Jesus was asked about the laws in Mark 12:29-31, Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Everything God does or gives us is as a result of the love He has for us and He expects us to reciprocate and replicate this love.

In John 4:7-8, a woman from Samar’ia came to Jacob’s well to fetch water. Jesus, with the view to teach her to care for fellow persons, asked her to give Him some water. Jesus did that not because He was thirsty, but it was to prove that man must extend the hands of love towards one another.

Also in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul teaching about love states that anything done without the right motive is valueless. In his words, he says in “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” This underscores that people can be nice with a wrong motive. He urges everyone to be driven by love even in everything one does.

Also John taught in 1John 3:17-19 that, “But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him.” In his words, he states that love is practical. It is evident in actions and not in words alone. Love must be sincerely done without expecting any gratification whatsoever.

In conclusion, love is the greatest of all things. All the commandments are predicated on love. If love reigns in our hearts and world, the society will dwell in peace and our world will be a better place.

Note: Learners should give examples of how they can show love.

WEEK THREE:
JESUS AS THE LIVING BREAD AND WATER: John 15:1-11, 1John 1:5-7, John 6:25-40, John 4:7-15

Bread is food that quenches hunger while water satisfies or quenches thirst. Jesus referred Himself to bread and water. In John 6:35, He said, “I am the bread of life”. While in John 4:14, He said “…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”Jesus is not referring to physical food or water neither was He referring to physical hunger or thirst. Anyone who comes to Jesus will be spiritually fed and satisfied eternal.

i. JOHN 15:1-11
Jesus referred to Himself as the true vine, while God is the vinedresser and we are the branches. According to this passage, if we are connected to Jesus, we will bear fruits because all the nutrients we need will be provided in Him. He stated in John 15:4-5 that, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”This underscores the fact that without Jesus, we can live a meaningful and fruitful life. To achieve anything meaningful in life, we must be in Christ.

In John 6:25-40, the people were looking for Jesus and when they found Him, Jesus said they were looking for him because of the miracles they see and the benefit they derive. Jesus then urged the people not to focus physical food or benefit which are temporal. He stated that we should not seek God for food and material things but we should seek Him for everlasting treasures, the food which last forever. In John 6:27, Jesus said “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” To achieve this, one must believe in God and follow His commands, then we shall have life abundant.

Also in 1 John 1:5-7, the Bible states that God is light and we must walk in light to be in fellowship with him. Also in John 4:7-15, the Bible relates the story of a Samaritan woman by the well. The woman was surprise when Jesus asked her for water. But due to the strained relationship between the Samaritan and the Jews, she hesitated. Then Jesus said to her in John 4:10 that, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman was surprise at what He said. Then Jesus said in verse 13 and 14 that, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

So, Jesus is the living bread and water. If we are connected to Him, we will live a better life and be more fruitful in life.

WEEK THREE:
LEADERSHIP

i. JOSEPH’S EARLY LIFE AND ARRIVAL IN EGYPT – (Genesis 37:1-28)
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after he had a contest with an angel. Jacob’s twelve sons became the twelve tribe of Israel. Joseph was also the first son of Rachael, the woman whom Jacob loved before he was deceived into marrying Leah first before working another seven years to earn Rachel. This made Jacob loved him more than he loved any of his twelve sons.

Jacob maid a coat of many colours for Joseph because he was his favourite. Joseph one day had a dream which states that his brothers’ sheaves move round his own sheaf and bowed to it while they were working on the farm. This made his brothers hated him more. He also had another dream which states that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed to him. Here, his father rebuked him saying does he mean his mother and father along with his brothers would bow to him? However, he kept the dream in his heart.

One day, when Joseph was seventeen years old, Jacob sent him to take food to his brothers who were shepherding the flocks at Shechem. When he got there, they had left. So someone told him that they headed to Dothan. So Joseph went there to meet them. While he was afar off, the brothers conspired to kill him. But Reuben said they should not kill him but throw him in a dry pit and they would decide what to do with him later. He said that because he intended to save him secretly. When he got there, they stripped off his garment and cast him into a dry pit. While they were eating, Judah saw the traders from Ishmael and suggested they sold him. This they did and sold him for twenty shekels of silver. When Reuben got there, he was sad. So they killed a goat, tore his coat of many colours and dip it in the blood to deceive their father.

ii. JOSEPH, THE GOVERNOR IN EGYPT (Genesis 41:1-57)
When Joseph was sold to the Ishamelites, they sold him to Portiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. He put Joseph in charge of all things in the house except his wife. However he wife lust after Joseph and wanted him to sleep with her but Joseph refused. In other to cover up, she lied that Joseph wanted to rape her. This made Joseph to be committed to prison.

While in prison, the chief butler and the chief baker offended Pharaoh, king of Egypt and they were also committed to prison where Joseph was. The guard made Joseph to wait on them. One day, they both had a dream and were downcast because they didn’t understand their dreams. When Joseph got there, he noticed their sad faces and asked what the problem was. They told him and he by the grace of God was able to interpret their dreams which later came to pass. The butler was restored while the baker was beheaded within three days. While henwas interpreting the butler’s dream, he begged him to mention him to pharaoh but the butler forgot about him.

After two years, Pharaoh has two dreams and no one could interpret them. It was then the butler remembered Joseph and mentioned him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh ordered that he be brought and related the dreams. The first dream was that seven healthy cows feeding on the reeds by the Nile were eaten up by seven unhealthy cows. He was terrified and when he slept again, he had a second dream where seven healthy ears of grain were eaten up by seven thin ears of grain which were blighted by the east wind. Joseph on hearing these told Pharaoh that the two dreams meant the same. There will be seven years of plenty and will be follwoee by seven years of famine. He also advised that Egypt should store up food during the year of plenty to guard against hunger in the year of famine.

This made pharaoh promoted Joseph and made him the greatest and the most powerful officer in Egypt who made economic decisions in Egypt. Joseph married Pharaoh’s daughter as a gift to him and he had two sons who he named Manasseh, which means, God has made me forget all and my hardship and the second Ephraim meaning God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. During the years of plenty, Egypt stored up grains and when famine came hard on the land, the people had enough to eat.

iii. JOSEPH RECONCILED WITH HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 45:1-15)
The famine was everywhere on the earth. Jacob and his others sons also experienced the famine. People from other nations far and near came to Egypt to buy food and so also the brothers of Joseph. When they came, Joseph recognized them but they didn’t. They bowed to him and requested to buy food. Joseph took special interest in them and questioned them about their family. From their conversation, he told them to come along with their youngest brother, Benjamin.

When they came again to buy food, they brought Benjamin and Joseph ordered that a gold cup be hidden in their bag which they did. While they were going, he alarmed his soldiers to bring them back and threatened to detain Benjamin for stealing his gold cup. Judah begged and offered to be detained in place of Benjamin. It was at that point Joseph wept and revealed himself to his brothers and they all wept.

However, he told them not to be sad, that God sent him ahead of time to Egypt to preserve life. So he ordered his brothers to go back and bring his father down to Egypt to see him and requested they all move with their families to Egypt where they would stay in the land of Goshen. This pleased Pharaoh and that was how Israel moved with all his families to Egypt.

MORAL LESSONS:
1. God sees the future and He prepares us for the future
2. We must run from temptation that would distract our lives of purpose
3. You must live and be relevant to your world: build capacity
4. You must be faithful and dedicated to service with keen loyalty
5. You must not pay evil with evil. Learn to forgive
6. Parents should learn not to display preference of one child over the other
7. No competition is big enough to make us claim lives of others especially our own relations
8. Stay humble.

A noun is a naming word. It connotes the names of persons, animals, places, things, events, feelings and so on.
Examples of nouns are:
Jide
Tiger
Onosa
Ruler
Christmas
Pain

The functions of a noun:

1. It serves as the subject of the verb. This means that it performs the verb in the sentence.

Jide bought the book.

Jide is the subject of the verb, ‘bought‘. He is the one performing the action

2. It serves as the object of the verb. It receives the action in the sentence.

Jide bought the book.

The book is the object. It is receiving the action, ‘bought‘.

3. Indirect object. Here, it serves as an object indirectly. It is not receiving the action directly but indirectly.

Jide bought the book for his son

The son is the indirect object of the verb bought.

My father gave Tobi the money.

My father is the subject
Money is the direct object that received the action give
Tobi is the indirect object who receives the money.

4. It serves as an apposition. It plays the role of an adjective, given more information about the subject or object of the sentence.

Tunde, the teacher arrived at the scene.

Tunde is the subject
The teacher is the apposition, giving us more information about Tunde

Types of Noun

There are basically about seven types of noun. They may be more than but for basic knowledge.

1. Concrete noun: These are nouns you can see and touch. Examples are book, cup, stone, boy, lorry and so on

2. Abstract noun: These are nouns that you cannot see and touch. They can either be felt or imagined as an idea. Examples are joy, music, ecstasy, pride, ego, humility and so on

3. Countable nouns: These are nouns that can be counted. Examples pencils, books, cars, beads, rulers and so on.

4. Uncountable nouns: These are nouns that cannot be counted. Examples are sand, oil, water, sugar, salt, juice and so on.

5. Proper nouns: These are nouns that are attached to a specific entity whether a person, place or an idea. Their first letter comes in upper case. Examples are names of a person, place or religion. John, Ajah, Islam, Easter and so on.

6. Common Nouns: These are general names of an object. Examples are boy, girl, book, number, table and so on.

The striking difference between a proper noun and common noun are:
a. Proper noun starts with a capital letter while common nouns do not
b. There are books but their is one English book. Common noun refer to all while proper noun is specific

7. Collective Nouns: These are nouns that refer to a class of nouns. It refers to a group name. Examples are:
A pride of lions
A swarm of bees
A galaxy of stars
A bouquet of flowers
A gang of robbers
A party of ladies
A pack of cards
A pack of wolves
A school of whales and so on

Forms of Noun.

Noun can come as a word, a phrase or a clause. They all perform the same function.

A word is the smallest unit of any language that has a particular meaning and can be expressed by itself.

Examples are:

Book
Man

A phrase is a group of words that has no verb and does not make a complete sense and cannot stand on its own.

Examples:

The book on the table
The tall handsome man

A clause is a group of words that has a finite verb and makes a complete sense. A clause may be classified into:
a. Main clause
b. Subordinate clause

Main clause makes a complete sense.

Examples:

The book is on the table
The man bought the house

Subordinate clause needs another clause to make sense

Example

When the book was bought…..
As soon as the man bought the house…

Example:

The boy travelled to London

Grammatical name:Noun
Function: Subject of the verb travelled

The tall handsome boy travelled to London

Grammatical name: – noun phrase
Function: It is the subject of the verb, travelled.

The boy whose father died last year travelled to London

Grammatical name: Noun clause
Function: it is the subject of the verb travelled

She bought the bag

Grammatical name: noun
Function: it is the object of the verb, ‘bought’

She bought the expensive leather bag

Grammatical name: noun phrase
Function: it is the object of the verb, ‘bought’

She bought the bag that was advertised on the platform

Grammatical name: noun clause
Function: it is the object of the verb, ‘bought’