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RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 29 September 2024 TOPIC — My Enemy: “The Flesh”

OPENING PRAYER: Oh Lord, please expose the secrets of “the flesh” to me in Jesus’ name.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.

MEMORY VERSE: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Romans 8:8 (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 7:18-22 (KJV)

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

LESSON INTRODUCTION: ‘The world’ is our external enemy, but we have another enemy which is an internal enemy called, “the flesh.” Our enemy, the Devil, has “a stronghold” inside of us that cooperates with him in his battle against us (Matthew 13:25, 39a). This stronghold is our sinful nature which the Bible calls “the flesh.” The one controlled by the flesh is also referred to as natural man, carnal man, or old man.

LESSON AIM: To teach the students about man’s internal enemy called ‘The Flesh.’

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

Understand the enemies confronting mankind.
Know what the flesh entails.
Recognise when flesh is at work.
Know the way out of fleshly propensity.
TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should:

a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to the discussion, and do class activities and assignments.

b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, and mark attendance and assignments.

c. Teach the lesson outline, summarize, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignments.

TEXT REVIEW: Romans 7:18-22.

A. The Apostle Paul made the following revelation about the flesh.

i. There is nothing good about the sinful nature of the flesh ……………………..V18.

ii. He does not do the good thing he wants to do but keeps on doing the …………………..V19.

iii. ………………..but sin that dwells in me V20.

iv. ………………………………………………………V21.

v. ………………………………………………………..V22.

LESSON OUTLINES:

THE “FLESH” DESCRIBED
VICTORY THROUGH GOD

Read the full Sunday School Manual here: https://www.myreligion.com.ng/2024/09/rccg-sunday-school-teacher-manual-for_27.html

7 Steps to Take When You Are Hurt by a Church

One of the most difficult things to face in life is when the church hurts you. Part of the reason it is so challenging is that you expect church to be a safe haven. It’s one thing when people who don’t profess to know Jesus hurt you. It’s an entirely different scenario when those who know Jesus do the same thing. In boxing, there is a saying that the punch that hurts the worst is the one you don’t see coming. For many of us, this is exactly how church hurt feels. It’s the punch you don’t see coming or even expect and that is the one that does the most damage.

If you stay in church long enough, then at some point, you may get hurt. Not because people are trying to hurt you, but because people are human. In their human nature, even though they are Christians, they have the capacity to hurt you. However, this means the same potential lives in you, too. The reality is if you are in church long enough, you could hurt someone, too. So, what do you do when you are the one who has been hurt? The steps you take in the aftermath and how you immediately respond are critical. If you don’t respond correctly, this can set off a chain of reactions that can be difficult to overcome.



1 - Acknowledge It

When you get hurt by a church, sometimes you stop and ask in wonder, did that really happen? I remember being in a situation where someone made accusations about me that were not only untrue, but completely far from the truth. My initial response was shock, as I could not believe what had just happened. After the initial shock wore off and I recognized that what had happened was real, my shock turned to tears. My tears were my way of acknowledging the situation and not living in denial. This is a crucial step because you cannot begin the healing process without acknowledging the truth of what just occurred.

In these moments, it is okay to be upset, hurt, angry, or whatever other emotions you may feel. Emotions are natural and part of who we are, so it is okay to feel how you feel. I am not telling you to act on those feelings but simply recognize how you feel in that moment. This is where your healing journey will begin.

 2 - Pray for Healing and Wisdom

The next critical step is to pray. You might say prayer should be first. If you pray first, there is nothing wrong with that. However, sometimes the moment of hurt is so intense, it becomes challenging to pray. It’s like a boxer who get hits and is a little woozy. Before he can continue to defend himself or fight back, he must first gather himself. Once you have gathered yourself, then you can pray. Here are some things you need to accomplish in prayer.

Get your feelings out
Allow God to begin the healing process
Seek wisdom on how to deal with the situation

The reason these things are critical is that even though you are hurt, you don’t want to stay hurt. Some people get hurt by the church and they never recover from it. That’s why your initial responses are vital because getting them wrong can have devastating long-term consequences.

3 - Get Your Feelings Out… Don’t Keep Them In

After you have gotten your feeling and emotions out to God in prayer, then it is time to get them out to someone else. I am not saying you turn on your camera and go blasting on social media. Not only is that unwise, but it will not allow you to heal. It is best to speak with a trusted friend or counselor and let them know how you feel. The one you choose should be someone who can listen and not one who is going to respond emotionally. If you know that person is emotionally charged and their initial response is to get back, then choose someone else to talk to.

The point here is to first put the focus on you and how you are dealing with the situation. Not on those who hurt you. It is important for you to settle your emotions properly so that you can know how to move forward. That’s why when someone has hurt you, before you deal with anyone else, the first person you must deal with is you. When you are hurt, it is possible that a seed of bitterness has been planted in your heart. If you don’t recognize it, you will give room for that seed to grow and establish a root in your heart. This is where things can go from bad to worse.

Read the full Details here: https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/08/the-7-steps-to-take-when-you-are-hurt-by-a-church/

7 Steps to Take When You Are Hurt by a Church

One of the most difficult things to face in life is when the church hurts you. Part of the reason it is so challenging is that you expect church to be a safe haven. It’s one thing when people who don’t profess to know Jesus hurt you. It’s an entirely different scenario when those who know Jesus do the same thing. In boxing, there is a saying that the punch that hurts the worst is the one you don’t see coming. For many of us, this is exactly how church hurt feels. It’s the punch you don’t see coming or even expect and that is the one that does the most damage.

If you stay in church long enough, then at some point, you may get hurt. Not because people are trying to hurt you, but because people are human. In their human nature, even though they are Christians, they have the capacity to hurt you. However, this means the same potential lives in you, too. The reality is if you are in church long enough, you could hurt someone, too. So, what do you do when you are the one who has been hurt? The steps you take in the aftermath and how you immediately respond are critical. If you don’t respond correctly, this can set off a chain of reactions that can be difficult to overcome.

Read the full Details here: https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/08/the-7-steps-to-take-when-you-are-hurt-by-a-church/

1 - Acknowledge It

When you get hurt by a church, sometimes you stop and ask in wonder, did that really happen? I remember being in a situation where someone made accusations about me that were not only untrue, but completely far from the truth. My initial response was shock, as I could not believe what had just happened. After the initial shock wore off and I recognized that what had happened was real, my shock turned to tears. My tears were my way of acknowledging the situation and not living in denial. This is a crucial step because you cannot begin the healing process without acknowledging the truth of what just occurred.

In these moments, it is okay to be upset, hurt, angry, or whatever other emotions you may feel. Emotions are natural and part of who we are, so it is okay to feel how you feel. I am not telling you to act on those feelings but simply recognize how you feel in that moment. This is where your healing journey will begin.

 2 - Pray for Healing and Wisdom

The next critical step is to pray. You might say prayer should be first. If you pray first, there is nothing wrong with that. However, sometimes the moment of hurt is so intense, it becomes challenging to pray. It’s like a boxer who get hits and is a little woozy. Before he can continue to defend himself or fight back, he must first gather himself. Once you have gathered yourself, then you can pray. Here are some things you need to accomplish in prayer.

Get your feelings out
Allow God to begin the healing process
Seek wisdom on how to deal with the situation

The reason these things are critical is that even though you are hurt, you don’t want to stay hurt. Some people get hurt by the church and they never recover from it. That’s why your initial responses are vital because getting them wrong can have devastating long-term consequences.

3 - Get Your Feelings Out… Don’t Keep Them In

After you have gotten your feeling and emotions out to God in prayer, then it is time to get them out to someone else. I am not saying you turn on your camera and go blasting on social media. Not only is that unwise, but it will not allow you to heal. It is best to speak with a trusted friend or counselor and let them know how you feel. The one you choose should be someone who can listen and not one who is going to respond emotionally. If you know that person is emotionally charged and their initial response is to get back, then choose someone else to talk to.

The point here is to first put the focus on you and how you are dealing with the situation. Not on those who hurt you. It is important for you to settle your emotions properly so that you can know how to move forward. That’s why when someone has hurt you, before you deal with anyone else, the first person you must deal with is you. When you are hurt, it is possible that a seed of bitterness has been planted in your heart. If you don’t recognize it, you will give room for that seed to grow and establish a root in your heart. This is where things can go from bad to worse.

The 10 Unrealistic Expectations that Can Destroy Marriages

This year will mark 30 years of marriage for my husband and I. Where does the time go? When we said our vows at the altar on that overcast morning all those years ago, we were young, happy and idealistic. We meant every word we said, but we had no clue how those words would play out over the years. We went through premarital counseling and had the necessary conversations. We even spoke to our pastors periodically for additional insight. As we continued to evolve yet stick to each other through thick and thin, it became apparent how the rose-colored glasses of unrealistic expressions could drain a marriage.

Having expectations is not bad, but choosing to make your expectations your reality without ever considering your reality becomes detrimental. In your mind, your expectations are valid, fair and even reasonable. But you neglect to consider that they don’t only involve you but others around you, in particular, your spouse. Unrealistic expectations won’t destroy your marriage unless you let them, but they can have a damaging impact on your marriage especially if you become a prisoner to your expectations. Through the freedom in Christ, give your expectations over to him and let God mold them, along with you, into what is realistic for your marriage. Our expectations are cares that we can willingly cast on Him (1 Peter 5:7). As you turn over your expectations to the one who’s always realistic in ways you can’t imagine, He’ll work on you and provide the clarity and wisdom for each expectation. Wisdom has taught me that the antidote for any unreasonable expectation is prayer, communication, and compromise. Here are 10 expectations that, if not checked, can frustrate your marriage.

1. Your spouse is your everything
We’ve heard this sentiment expressed as “my husband completes me,” or, “my wife completes me.” By placing your spouse on this pedestal, you may have forgotten that they are a person just like you with their own needs, making it impossible for them to fulfill all of your needs. At some point, your spouse won’t be able to live up to all you’ve placed on them.

Although you are married, no single person can be everything to another; we’re not wired this way. If you’re leaning on your spouse more heavily than you are on God, you are setting yourself up for a world of trouble. Change your focus – look up so that you can see what’s around you.

2. Your spouse will make you happy
Your spouse can make you happy and will at various points in time, but your long-term happiness is not found in your spouse. Because your spouse, like you, can have a bad day or say the wrong thing, there are moments you won’t be happy with your spouse. I love the way Ann Voskamp expresses this sentiment: “Pursuing an unchangeable state of happiness will lead you to a stagnant state of despair.” Instead, choose to grow in your relationship and know that the unhappy times are bumps in the road to your maturity and love.

3. Your spouse can read your mind
You went out and expected to have dinner prepared when you came home. But as you walk through the door, your stomach growling, there’s no hint of a cooked meal. Now you’re hungry and angry. It is cute when your spouse reads your mind, especially when it is something that’s agreeable to both of you, but in most cases, this becomes an issue because your spouse does not think like you. Assume the best in your spouse and communicate your expectations for a given situation.

4. Your spouse will be the spiritual leader
Priscilla and Aquila were a couple who studied God’s Word together while building the church at Corinth. In essence, they were co-leaders in their home. They were both so knowledgeable that they were able to teach Apollos, a man eloquent in the scriptures and in the way of the Lord (Acts 18:24-26). Know your spouse, know yourself and know God. Your knowledge does not take away from his covering over your marriage; God is the cover.

5. You will automatically, naturally pray together
If you’re both believers, you may expect that you will automatically always pray together. Though we are one flesh, each of us is individually responsible for our salvation. So we may grow at different paces, and may not always pray together, but it’s good that the desire is there. As your communication grows, this area can grow also. Praying together is a form of intimacy which may be more intimate than physically coming together. Allow this area to develop at its own pace, while making yourself vulnerable. Pray individually and pray for each other until you can pray together.

6. You will do everything together
I like drinking tea; my husband’s favorite hobby is soccer. These two activities never intersect. We’ve learned that when the other is doing something they enjoy it makes our marriage better. There’s opportunity to learn and grow. We never felt compelled to attend and participate in every activity together. Once we realized that pursuing our interests made us better together, we checked in with each other and enjoyed the things that made us happy.

See the full list here: https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/07/the-10-unrealistic-expectations-that-can-destroy-marriages/

The Secret: The 10 Things Christians Shouldn't Say When Someone Dies


1. Heaven Is a Better Place Now That They're in It

When we say that Heaven is a better place because our loved one is in it, we have good intentions.
What we mean is that our loved one was extremely special and that any place would be made better by their presence.

While that statement might have been true here on earth, it simply won’t be true in Heaven. When we say this, we’re implying that Heaven isn’t perfect and that even though we’ll be in the presence of our Lord and Savior, it will be even better because of the presence of our loved one.

The implications of this statement not only increase the significance of your loved one, but also decrease the significance of God by implying that being in His presence isn’t enough.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has refrained from sharing specifics about Heaven with us. But what we can be certain of is that Heaven will be perfect. Heaven will be perfect because God is flawless, as is His dwelling place. God has allowed His children to abide in Him and to reside with Him in Heaven. Nothing, not even the presence of our loved ones, could make that better.

2. If My Tears Could Build a Stairway, I Would Climb to Heaven and Bring You Home

The thought behind this is truly lovely; it implies that you loved someone so much and miss them so tremendously that if you collected all the tears you’ve cried, you could use them to build a stairway to Heaven. That’s a lot of tears!
This statement also implies that you would do anything to see your loved one again. This sounds like the most loving proclamation we could possibly make about someone. But in this statement we’re also proclaiming how extremely selfish and self-serving we are.

If our loved one is in Heaven, in the presence of God, the most unloving thing we could possibly do is remove them from Paradise and bring them back to our broken earth. I guarantee that if using your tears to build a stairway to Heaven was possible, your loved one wouldn’t want to come back with you. That wouldn’t be a reflection of how they feel about you, but rather a reflection of how they feel about God.

3. They've Earned Their Wings

This is another statement meant to communicate how special our loved one was; that they were so spiritual here on earth, they will certainly be honored in Heaven. While this sounds nice, and certainly paints a saintly picture of the deceased, nowhere in scripture does it say that we earn wings. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.”
Even if we were given wings in Heaven, they would not be something we earned -- they would be a gift. One might argue that saying someone has earned their wings is simply a figure of speech. Even so, we should strive to represent God accurately and think about the conclusions that might be drawn by an unbeliever. Instead of saying our loved one has earned their wings, perhaps we should say our loved one is now laying their treasures at Jesus’ feet.

4. We've Gained a Guardian Angel

What do we know about angels? In Hebrews 1:14 the Bible calls angels “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” That sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want to think about their loved one becoming an angel and being a personal messenger of God? Who wouldn’t want to picture their loved one following them around, guarding them on behalf of the Lord? All of that sounds amazing, and certainly expresses the love and adoration we have for our loved one. Additionally, this thought helps us feel close to our loved one as we live out the rest of our days.
The good news is that the Bible does mention angels helping humans, like when an angel of the Lord helped Peter escape prison in Acts 12. Psalm 34 says the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. Psalm 91 declares, “God will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”.

So while there are arguments to be made for guardian angels, the truth is that nowhere in scripture does it claim we become guardian angels after we die. Calling the deceased a guardian angel is a statement we need to put to rest.

5. This Gives Us Something to Look Forward to

Because children of God have the assurance of seeing one another again, we can certainly look forward to the great reunion in Heaven. But we need to be careful not to put our loved ones on the pedestal that only God deserves to be on. If you’re only looking forward to Heaven because you’ll see your loved ones again, you should question your understanding of God and of the home He has prepared for you.
This is another statement that can be quite damaging to non-believers or those young in their faith. On one hand, they hear us speaking of our awe for God the Father and of the glory that awaits us in Heaven. But then, upon the death of a loved one, we take the focus of Heaven away from our Lord and instead turn it to our loved one. We should be so anxious to bow at the foot of the throne that the death and damnation of everyone we love would not diminish our anticipation for Heaven.

6. I've Lost the Best Part of Me

Most of us have someone in our life that challenges us and pushes us to be better. We love this person for who they are and for who they’ve shaped us to be. When we lose that person, it’s easy to think that we’ve lost the best part of ourselves. This statement is intended to communicate the deep bond we had with this person and that we, as individuals, simply won’t be as good at this life without them. What a testament to the character of your loved one!

While this statement is harmless in and of itself, it wouldn’t hurt us to remember a very important truth found in Psalm 16:2: “I say to the LORD ‘You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.’” If you are a child of God, it is Christ in you that makes you good. In other words, Christ and Christ alone is the best part of you. Praise God that we can never lose Him!

7. Gone Too Soon

This is a common sentiment when a child, teen, or young adult dies. Whether the death is caused by an illness or an accident, it’s terribly difficult to say goodbye to someone who hasn’t lived a long life. These situations are hard to understand, and they remind us how broken and frail our earthly bodies are.

The most common statement made during these times is that the person has gone too soon, but we must stop and think about what we’re really implying with such a statement.

What we must remember is that God has numbered our days. Job 14:5 says, “A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Psalm 139:16 reads, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

When we declare that someone has died too soon, we are either ignoring the fact that God numbers our days or we are suggesting that God has made a mistake. Thankfully we know that God, His timing, and His will are perfect and that there is no such thing as an “untimely” death.

8. If Love Alone Could Have Spared You, You Would Have Lived Forever

When someone we love dies, we desperately want those around us to understand the depth of our love. We want everyone to know, without a doubt, that our love was as strong as humanly possible. What better way to express that love than to say that, if possible, your love would not only have spared their life, but would have kept them alive forever?

The problem with this statement is that we love with a human love, which is no match for the love of our Heavenly Father. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This is the quintessence of love, and yet God has still limited our days here on earth. He doesn’t spare us from death. 1 John 3:1 declares, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Children of God will live forever in Heaven, and it is because of God’s perfect love, not ours.

Read the full message here : https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/07/the-secret-the-10-things-christians-shouldnt-say-when-someone-dies/

Source: http://myreligion.com.ng/

The Secret: The 10 Things Christians Shouldn't Say When Someone Dies

1. Heaven Is a Better Place Now That They're in It

When we say that Heaven is a better place because our loved one is in it, we have good intentions.
What we mean is that our loved one was extremely special and that any place would be made better by their presence.

While that statement might have been true here on earth, it simply won’t be true in Heaven. When we say this, we’re implying that Heaven isn’t perfect and that even though we’ll be in the presence of our Lord and Savior, it will be even better because of the presence of our loved one.

The implications of this statement not only increase the significance of your loved one, but also decrease the significance of God by implying that being in His presence isn’t enough.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has refrained from sharing specifics about Heaven with us. But what we can be certain of is that Heaven will be perfect. Heaven will be perfect because God is flawless, as is His dwelling place. God has allowed His children to abide in Him and to reside with Him in Heaven. Nothing, not even the presence of our loved ones, could make that better.

2. If My Tears Could Build a Stairway, I Would Climb to Heaven and Bring You Home

The thought behind this is truly lovely; it implies that you loved someone so much and miss them so tremendously that if you collected all the tears you’ve cried, you could use them to build a stairway to Heaven. That’s a lot of tears!
This statement also implies that you would do anything to see your loved one again. This sounds like the most loving proclamation we could possibly make about someone. But in this statement we’re also proclaiming how extremely selfish and self-serving we are.

If our loved one is in Heaven, in the presence of God, the most unloving thing we could possibly do is remove them from Paradise and bring them back to our broken earth. I guarantee that if using your tears to build a stairway to Heaven was possible, your loved one wouldn’t want to come back with you. That wouldn’t be a reflection of how they feel about you, but rather a reflection of how they feel about God.

3. They've Earned Their Wings

This is another statement meant to communicate how special our loved one was; that they were so spiritual here on earth, they will certainly be honored in Heaven. While this sounds nice, and certainly paints a saintly picture of the deceased, nowhere in scripture does it say that we earn wings. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.”
Even if we were given wings in Heaven, they would not be something we earned -- they would be a gift. One might argue that saying someone has earned their wings is simply a figure of speech. Even so, we should strive to represent God accurately and think about the conclusions that might be drawn by an unbeliever. Instead of saying our loved one has earned their wings, perhaps we should say our loved one is now laying their treasures at Jesus’ feet.

4. We've Gained a Guardian Angel

What do we know about angels? In Hebrews 1:14 the Bible calls angels “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” That sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want to think about their loved one becoming an angel and being a personal messenger of God? Who wouldn’t want to picture their loved one following them around, guarding them on behalf of the Lord? All of that sounds amazing, and certainly expresses the love and adoration we have for our loved one. Additionally, this thought helps us feel close to our loved one as we live out the rest of our days.
The good news is that the Bible does mention angels helping humans, like when an angel of the Lord helped Peter escape prison in Acts 12. Psalm 34 says the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. Psalm 91 declares, “God will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”.

So while there are arguments to be made for guardian angels, the truth is that nowhere in scripture does it claim we become guardian angels after we die. Calling the deceased a guardian angel is a statement we need to put to rest.

5. This Gives Us Something to Look Forward to

Because children of God have the assurance of seeing one another again, we can certainly look forward to the great reunion in Heaven. But we need to be careful not to put our loved ones on the pedestal that only God deserves to be on. If you’re only looking forward to Heaven because you’ll see your loved ones again, you should question your understanding of God and of the home He has prepared for you.
This is another statement that can be quite damaging to non-believers or those young in their faith. On one hand, they hear us speaking of our awe for God the Father and of the glory that awaits us in Heaven. But then, upon the death of a loved one, we take the focus of Heaven away from our Lord and instead turn it to our loved one. We should be so anxious to bow at the foot of the throne that the death and damnation of everyone we love would not diminish our anticipation for Heaven.

6. I've Lost the Best Part of Me

Most of us have someone in our life that challenges us and pushes us to be better. We love this person for who they are and for who they’ve shaped us to be. When we lose that person, it’s easy to think that we’ve lost the best part of ourselves. This statement is intended to communicate the deep bond we had with this person and that we, as individuals, simply won’t be as good at this life without them. What a testament to the character of your loved one!

While this statement is harmless in and of itself, it wouldn’t hurt us to remember a very important truth found in Psalm 16:2: “I say to the LORD ‘You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.’” If you are a child of God, it is Christ in you that makes you good. In other words, Christ and Christ alone is the best part of you. Praise God that we can never lose Him!

7. Gone Too Soon

This is a common sentiment when a child, teen, or young adult dies. Whether the death is caused by an illness or an accident, it’s terribly difficult to say goodbye to someone who hasn’t lived a long life. These situations are hard to understand, and they remind us how broken and frail our earthly bodies are.

The most common statement made during these times is that the person has gone too soon, but we must stop and think about what we’re really implying with such a statement.

What we must remember is that God has numbered our days. Job 14:5 says, “A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Psalm 139:16 reads, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

When we declare that someone has died too soon, we are either ignoring the fact that God numbers our days or we are suggesting that God has made a mistake. Thankfully we know that God, His timing, and His will are perfect and that there is no such thing as an “untimely” death.

8. If Love Alone Could Have Spared You, You Would Have Lived Forever

When someone we love dies, we desperately want those around us to understand the depth of our love. We want everyone to know, without a doubt, that our love was as strong as humanly possible. What better way to express that love than to say that, if possible, your love would not only have spared their life, but would have kept them alive forever?

The problem with this statement is that we love with a human love, which is no match for the love of our Heavenly Father. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This is the quintessence of love, and yet God has still limited our days here on earth. He doesn’t spare us from death. 1 John 3:1 declares, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Children of God will live forever in Heaven, and it is because of God’s perfect love, not ours.

Read the full Message here: https://www.muyilight.com/2024/07/the-secret-6-ways-for-beginners-guide.html

Source: https://www.muyilight.com/

The Secret: The 5 Bible Verses to Fill Your Soul with Hope

As we are approaching different seasons of life, we often are short on hope. Our life can wear us out to the point that we feel hopeless, unseen, and hurt. The Lord can come to our side when we feel far from hopeful. He is just a prayer away from each of us. If you are not already in the habit of praying, try to start praying to Jesus every morning and ask Him to fill your heart with hope. With time, you can work up to praying more throughout the day.

In order to start the process of regular praying, we have to start small. Simple prayers, such as, “Jesus, give me hope for the day,” can go a long way. With time, you will feel more comfortable opening up to God and trusting Him with your feelings. If you are having a hard time opening up to God because people in your life have hurt you when you trusted them with a deep feeling, know that God will never be mean to you for sharing your feelings. Rather, He will graciously hold your feelings and help them process them.

As you are practicing bringing your prayers to the feet of Jesus, continue to pray for hope. God can bring hope into your heart and give you lasting peace. Combine your practice of prayer with Bible reading and you will be able to start cultivating your relationship with Him. The more you cultivate your relationship with Him, the more you will feel hopeful. The Lord loves you and He will fill your heart with hope.

A key way Jesus can fill our heart with hope is by reading Bible verses. The Bible is God’s main way of communicating to us, which is why we need to be actively reading His Word every day. We talk to God through prayer and He speaks back to us through the Bible. Whenever our hearts are in need of hope, we can reflect on certain passages. Here are five Bible verses to fill your heart with hope today.

1. Psalm 62:5-6
Slide 1 of 5

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:5-6).

Psalm 62:5-6 petitions us to find rest in God. Our souls can take rest in God because our hope is found in Him. Similar to how David rested in the peace of knowing God was his rock, salvation, and fortress, we can too. We will not be shaken because our hope is found in the sure promises of God. He is the fortress we can run to when we are feeling hopeless. In Him, there is never-ending hope.

Our souls become weary when we are facing an absence of hope. By turning to God, we can have lasting rest and peace. The world wants to make us feel as though we are without hope, yet we can rely on what we know. The Bible tells us plainly in this passage that our hope will never be shaken when we are trusting in God. Bring your worrisome heart to the Lord and allow Him to fill your heart with hope.

2. Psalm 130:5
Slide 2 of 5

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Psalm 130 is part of the song ascents and it is a psalm that can point our hearts into the direction of hope. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 130:5 that he waits on the Lord. Going further, he says his entire being waits and he places his hope in the Lord’s word. This is something that we must do in our lives in order to ensure hope remains. Even when the days look cold and miserable, we need to wait on the Lord and find our hope in Him.

Waiting can be hard, yet it is something we all must do. We have to wait for the Lord and continue to have faith in Him even when things seem to be stagnant. Jesus is always working and we never have to fear being made to wait longer than what is necessary. As we are going through this season of waiting, we need to rest in the promise that our hope is in Him. In His Word—the Bible—we can have lasting hope.

3. Romans 15:13
Slide 3 of 5

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

These words were spoken by the Apostle Paul to the Roman church. As part of his discussion to the Romans, he wanted to encourage them. Through the passage of Romans 15:13, we see Paul informing the Roman believers that the God of all hope would fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in Him. This in turn, would cause them to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we look at this passage, we see hope mentioned twice.

The first instance of the word “hope” is when Paul says God is the “God of hope.” From this very truth, we can be assured that God is the One who can fill us with hope. Since He is the God of hope, we will never be lacking in hope when we are focusing on Him.

The second instance of Paul using the word “hope” in this passage is when he says, “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Through trusting in God, we will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow this truth to give you comfort, encouragement, and most importantly, hope. Whenever you are longing for hope, remember the truth that God is the God of hope and as you continue to trust in Him, hope will overflow into your heart.

4. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Slide 4 of 5

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Within 2 Corinthians, we see Paul once again speaking to the church at Corinth. While these words were spoken to the Corinthians a long time ago, they are still relevant to us today. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that we need to fix our eyes on what is unseen because what is unseen is eternal. What we see is only temporary and will fade away.

Through this passage, Paul is urging us to focus on what is eternal. Even though it may be unseeable, it is present and it will endure for all eternity. A few of these unseeable things include salvation, our hope in the Lord, the love of the Lord, and the future day when we will be with Him. Although we cannot see any of these things with our physical eyes, we can take solace in them. This is exactly what we must do in order to cultivate hope in our souls.

Focus on the Lord rather than what is going on around you. There are probably many terrible things happening right now in your life, but find your hope in the Lord. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and all of the unseeable promises we have been given because of His great sacrifice. Bring your soul comfort today by reminding you of your future eternal home with the Lord.

5. 1 Timothy 4:10
Slide 5 of 5

“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).

Unfortunately, many of us continue to live in a state of hopelessness because of problems going on in the world, in our own personal life, and in our loved ones lives. Even at these times, we must find hope in the Lord. Lasting and eternal hope can be found in nobody else. As Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 4:10, we have put our hope in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially for us as believers.

We can work, labor, and strive because we know our hope is in God. God is the Savior of all people and this can fill our hearts with hope. There are many people who will never choose to place faith in Jesus, but it doesn’t mean He isn’t the Savior of all people. In fact, He is the Savior of all people; however, every person has to make the personal decision to place faith in Him.

As believers, we know Jesus is our Savior. He is the One who died for our sins and through whom we have been blessed with forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Through the Lord, we can find hope. Since we have hope in the Lord for our salvation, there is no reason for us to be lacking in hope in other areas of our life. Just as we trust Him with salvation, we can trust Him with every other part of our life.

Our hope is found in God. Both on the good days and the bad days, we can continue to have hope. Hope isn’t far away from any of us because we already have it in our hearts. Allow the Lord to open your heart to hope and reflect on these passages whenever hopelessness arises in your heart.

Click here to read: https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/07/the-secret-the-5-bible-verses-to-fill-your-soul-with-hope/

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Open Heaven Daily Devotional For July 22, 2024 : Topic - CONTENT VS CONTAINER

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY JULY 22ND JULY

THEME: CONTENT VS CONTAINER

MEMORISE: Having form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5

READ: Titus 1:15-16
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

MESSAGE : We live in a world where people have learnt how to 'package' themselves to look a certain way, whereas they are not who they package themselves to be. Many years ago, when The Redeemed Christian Church of God was not as big as it is now, my mother-in-law said that it was difficult to differentiate between the pastor who was a mechanic and the one who was a lecturer in the university because they all looked alike in their suits on Sundays. However, the secret comes out on Mondays when everyone goes to their places of work. Some people know how to dress like Christians and even speak and pray like fervent Christians, but deep within them, they are unbelievers. Being in this world is like their Sunday; no one can tell the difference now. However, Monday is coming at rapture; then, the difference will be clear. Believe me, it does not matter if everyone in the world thinks that a fellow is the closest person to Jesus Christ. If he or she is not truly born-again, Jesus will deny the fellow on the last day.

Jesus Christ said in Luke 5:37-38 that if you put new wine in an old wineskin, both the content and the container will be lost forever.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

You cannot call Jesus 'Lord' and keep on obeying the devil. If you do so, you are trying to put new wine (the Holy Spirit) into an old wineskin (your sinful heart), which will only result in destruction at the end of the day.

Some people can deceive the whole world with their container, but that will only put them in more trouble because it will become more difficult for them to get on the right track with God. Many pastors have gone to hell because when they realized that they should genuinely give their lives to Christ, they were too ashamed to come out for an altar call or make restitution for the things they had done while they were pretending. Don't pretend to be a Christian; genuinely give your life to Christ if you haven't done so and live a holy life henceforth.

KEY POINT
Make your inside clean first, and then the outside will be clean as well. It is not the other way around.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 32-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Source: https://myreligion.com.ng/

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Our Daily Bread Devotional For July 22, 2024 : Topic - Instruments for Good

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year :

Psalms 31-32
Acts 23:16-35

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:17

Today's Scripture : Ephesians 2:4-10

Insight

Paul has just outlined his prayer for the readers of his letter (Ephesians 1:15-23). When he prays, he asks God on their behalf that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you” (v. 18). But who, exactly, is he praying for? The letter to the Ephesians may have been intended to be “circular,” that is, for circulation among other churches. Specifically, however, these first readers were gentile Christians in the port city of Ephesus. Having prayed for them, Paul then gives guidance on how to fulfill God’s purpose. God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (2:5). He “raised us up with Christ” (v. 6) to “show the incomparable riches of his grace” (v. 7). This is why we “do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (v. 10).

By: Tim Gustafson

Message : The criminal had been apprehended, and the detective asked the perpetrator why he had brazenly attacked someone with so many witnesses present. The response was startling: “I knew they wouldn’t do anything; people never do.” That comment pictures what is called “guilty knowledge”—choosing to ignore a crime even though you know it is being committed.

The apostle James addressed a similar kind of guilty knowledge, saying, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17).

Through His great salvation of us, God has designed us to be agents of good in the world. Ephesians 2:10 affirms, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” These good works aren’t the cause of our salvation; rather, they’re the result of our hearts being changed by God’s Holy Spirit taking up residence in our lives. The Spirit even gives us spiritual gifts to equip us to accomplish those things for which God has recreated us (see 1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

As God’s workmanship, let’s yield to His purposes and the empowering of His Spirit so that we can be His instruments for good in a world that desperately needs Him.

By:  Bill Crowder

Reflect & Pray

Review 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and read about the spiritual gifts. What gifts has the Spirit given you? How can you exercise them?

Loving God, thank You for the salvation You’ve provided as a free gift of grace. Please give me the courage and wisdom to know how best to serve You and others.

Discover your God-given calling here.

Source: https://myreligion.com.ng/

Rccg and Baptist Manuals for July 28, 2024 coming soon

But below is

The CAC Sunday School Manuals For July 28, 2024

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas
2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

UNIT 4: GOD GIVES POWER AND REVELATION GIFTS*
THEME: SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST

LESSON Twenty-Seven
28th July, 2024

TOPIC: HEALING AND DELIVERANCE GIFTS

*MEMORY SCRIPTURE*
To another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9)
Jesus perfectly demonstrated the gifts of healing and deliverance. He still gives the gifts to His people today.

*BRIEF COMMENT*
In the passage, Paul stresses that the Holy Spirit bestows various gifts upon people, some receiving the gift of healing and others the gift of faith. He stresses the divine origin of these gifts-all come from the same Source, God Himself. While every believer possesses faith in Christ and trust in God’s Word, the spiritual gift of faith pertains to a unique ability to trust God with a level of confidence and assurance that goes beyond what most other Christians experience. Some scholars proposed that this gift is closely related to other gifts mentioned in the list, particularly the gift of healing.

The possession of the gift of healing enables the believer to supernaturally restore health, or even prevent death. This is different from the practice of medical arts or sciences, as the Holy Spirit grants those with the gifts of healing and deliverance the ability to instantaneously and miraculously heal specific conditions that might have defy medical interpretation and solution.

*DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS*
*Mon. 22:* Jesus’ Stripes Heal And Deliver (Isa. 53:4-5)
*Tue, 23:* Jesus, The Word, Heals And Delivers (Psa. 107:20)
*Wed. 24:* Jacob’s Spiritual Health Shall Be Restored (Jer. 30:10-16)
*Thur. 25:* Jesus’ Name Heals and Delivers (Acts 3:1-.
*Fri. 26:* Jesus’ Power In Peter Wrought Deliverance (Acts 5:14-16)
*Sat. 27:* Joy Unprecedented Follows True Deliverance (Acts 8:4-

*DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS*
1. Gifts of healing and deliverance are extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit that showcase God’s power in His Church.
2. God is always the subject, and His people are always the object of healing and deliverance.

*BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Obadiah 17; Jeremiah 33:6
*AIM AND OBJECTIVES*

*AIM:* To show that the gifts of healing and deliverance are real and are still operative in the body of Christ.

*OBJECTIVES:* At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
*i.* explain how God has kindly given His Church the ability to heal and deliver people in order to continue displaying His ability to do so;
*ii*. show that the gift of healing and deliverance cannot be found elsewhere, expect in Jesus; and
*iii.* differentiate between fake and original healing and deliverance.

INTRODUCTION
*TEXTUAL SOURCE: MARK 16:17-18; ACTS 10:38; 16:16-18; 19:11- 17; ROMANS 12:3-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:9; JAMES 5:14-16*
We thank God for the previous week’s lesson. God really imparted us more than ever before, in His undying Word. May His name be forever praised. Amen.


To have access to the full manual, click the link below

https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/07/c-a-c-sunday-school-manual-for-july-28-2024-lesson-27-topic-healing-and-deliverance-gifts/

Have access to the CAC Sunday School Manuals

For July 28, 2024

Click the link below to get access to the full content of the manual

https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/07/c-a-c-sunday-school-manual-for-july-28-2024-lesson-27-topic-healing-and-deliverance-gifts/

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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL FOR JULY 22, 2018 LESSON 47 : TOPIC — DESCRIPTION OF RAPTURE


TOPIC: DESCRIPTION OF RAPTURE

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,” – 1 Corinthians 15:51 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 22ND JULY, 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 22, 2018)

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

INTRODUCTION:

The second coming of Christ prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7:13 is a sound biblical fact. This return shall be in two stages. The first, ‘’being like a thief in the night’’ to receive unto Himself His Church. This is popularly called the rapture. The second stage is His return with the Saints to reign on earth. Our focus in today’s lesson is the rapture.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. What and when is the rapture?
2. What will happen at the rapture and how?

WHAT AND WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?

The word, rapture, is not found anywhere in the Bible although it is used to describe this great upcoming and memorable event. The rapture is the sudden catching up or sudden disappearance of holy and faithful saints from the earth to meet with our Lord and Saviour in the air. It is also referred to as the translation or translocation of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Examples of such translation in the Old Testament are; Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). It shall be as sudden as the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The exact timing of the occurrence of the rapture is not known (Matthew 24:42, 44; Matthew 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). However, Jesus Christ mentioned some of the signs and events that will herald His coming in Matthew chapter 24. ‘So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors’, (Matthew 24:33). We also know that it shall precede the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:12).

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE RAPTURE AND HOW?

The following are to be expected at the rapture:
1. The trumpet of God shall sound (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
2. The dead in Christ shall rise first (John 5:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:23).
3. Saints which are alive shall be ‘’caught up’’ to meet our Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:51).
4. The dead in Christ and saints who are alive shall have glorified or immortal bodies and live forever (1 Corinthians 15:52-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2).
5. There shall be extraordinary chaos on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Matthew 24:40-41).
Rapture shall happen suddenly (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Matthew 24:36-41). The power of God shall make all saints’ bodies immortal (Philemon 3:21). The sudden ‘’vacancies’’ produced by such disappearance shall give birth to the chaos.

CONCLUSION

The greatest calamity that could befall anyone who claims to be a believer is to be on earth a second after the rapture. The one who is coming back for His own ‘’suddenly’’, warned us to be prepared, at least six times in different parables. Are you alert and ready? (Mark 13:32-37).

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the rapture?
2. Mention five things that will happen at the rapture.

Click To Read Previous Rccg Sunday School Manuals Here www.muyilight.com

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

OPEN HEAVENS 21 JULY 2018 SATURDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR ADEBOYE — THE LABOURERS ARE FEW!

TOPIC: THE LABORERS ARE FEW!

Memorise: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

Read: Luke 10:1-9 (KJV)
1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Bible in One Year: Ezra 1-3, Matthew 5:21-42

MESSAGE:

Prophet Isaiah had the rare privilege of having a vision where he witnessed what was going on in the palace of the Almighty God (Isaiah 6:1-. The setting he observed was a kind of conference with the hosts of heaven in attendance. God threw a simple question to the multitudes present, which should ordinarily not be much of a challenge to them. The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The seemingly little hesitation that followed God’s question before Isaiah responded was not an act of rebellion by angels or the host of heaven; rather, there was hesitation because this question was not meant for them. If angel were supposed to take up the assignment, it would have come as a command instead of a question.

The privilege of disseminating the good news of the kingdom and propagating the gospel has been expressly assigned to human beings by God. The term ‘evangelism’ therefore refers to spreading the gospel, and the one doing this work is called an ‘evangelist’. The duty of an evangelist is to function as spokesperson for the Church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Just as God was searching for someone to take up the assignment in today’s memory verse, He is still searching for faithful people who will relentlessly participate in spreading the gospel today. Will you say yes to Him?
The need for evangelists today is further amplified by these words of the Lord in Luke 10:2b:
“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”

The gospel is needed more than ever before in this world of sin, where immorality pervades everywhere and the pursuit of worldly pleasures is taking over the Church of God. God expects us to walk worthy of our calling and election as children of God (Ephesians 4:1-12). He has endowed each individual in the body of Christ with gifts to function in at least one of several offices, as apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. Therefore, it is not only pastors and altar ministers that are called to work in God’s vineyard. Everyone who is genuinely born again is called to do the work of an evangelist by spreading the good news of the gospel all over the world (2 Timothy 4:5). Understanding this fact is very necessary if we desire to please God, fulfill our purpose on earth and receive the best from God. Winning lost souls and making them disciples is the whole essence of Christianity.

Action Point: How many souls have you won to Christ this year? Open your mouth and allow God to fill it with words to those that are perishing.

Click To Read Previous Open Heaven Devotionals Here www.muyilight.com

HYMN 7: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE.

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

UNIT I: MAN'S LOVE TOWARD GOD
July 22, 2018.

LESSON ONE.
THE PATRIARCHS LOVED GOD WHOLLY.

How Noah chose to love and follow God in his crooked generation, and how Abram chose to follow the YAHWEH he knew little or nothing about are proof of the patriarchs' love for the true God. That love mustn't die with you!



MEMORY SCRIPTURE
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir or the righteousness which is according to faith (Hebrew 11:7)

* 1. BRIEF COMMENT
After anyone has accepted Christ, there are levels of Christian living. Some people live in the basement of Christian's experience, merely inside the building, where it is dark, dismal and gloomy. Others live on the ground floor. They leave the first foundations and go on. Ray of light enters but their outlook is upon the circumstances about them. They live very close to the world. Still others live up higher. Ray of light and warmth flood the rooms.

The noise and attractions of worldly Street do not disturb them. The air is pure. The outlook is toward the blue skies and distant mountains. These ones live above the world, hid with Christ in God.

Noah lived on this higher plane and got sighted and connected by God who forewarned him about the future decimation of the world. He demonstrated his faith by acting on God's warning about the coming flood and spent many years building an ark to save his household. His love for God was expressed as, "faith-in-action."

It is on this higher realm of faith that God wishes us all to live continuously. May you received God's grace to be His representative.

* 2. DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. Action speaks louder than voice. Do not tell us how much you love God by mouth, show it by your choices, preferences and actions.
2. Ruth and Esther can both represent the feminine gender in this regard (Ruth 1:16-17; Esther 4:16).
3. All of us believers must show our love for God by preaching the gospel of Christ on daily basis (I Cor. 9:16).

*3. BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: I Peter 3:20
*4. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: This lesson is aimed at helping learners to see and understand the actions of love displayed by Noah and Moses, with a view to making a resolve to do same.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this two-week lesson, learner:
i. should be able to differentia between love in action and love in word;
ii. are expected to recognize and explain the rationale behind Noah and Abraham's display of love;
iii. are expected to have resolved to demonstrate such love for God through "growing" of their faith; and
iv. should be determined to make choices and actions that would prove their love for God, come what may.

INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 6; 7;8; HEBREWS 11:7
We have just concluded series of lessons for the first half of the year, with the Theme: LOVE IN ACTION. To God be the glory for the revelations that we have received and the enabling grace with which He is helping us to demonstrate (put into practice) our convictions. Clearly, we saw that whatever God has done, and is doing now, has always been informed and motivated by love i. e All of God's actions have been love-induced, love-motivated and love-provoked. Therefore, the challenge in I Jn. 3:18. We saw God in actions in the first six months of the year. What about man? Have men responded? This is the challenge in part II, i.e the second half of the year. This is a continuation of Part I: LOVE IN ACTION.

Again, God's purpose and programmes are usually older than man. So whenever God wants to do a thing, a new thing, He usually painstakingly looks for those who have faith (no matter how little) in Him, this (little faith) would have been registered consciously or unconsciously in their CHOICES AND ACTIONS.

Whenever, He sees such, He would come around, He would help them by deliberately establishing relationship with them. Thus, testing, trusting and trying their OBEDIENCE and faith by their CHOICES and ACTIONS which they would demonstrate willingly, and in love.

Such were Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Daniel, Esther, Ruth, etc. They chose God, cleaved to Him during periods of uncertainties, in loneliness, with risky movements, "unreasonable" instructions (divinely given), etc. Their actions /choices revealed their faith in and love for God, which eventually affected their generations and their DESTINES.

The first lesson in this series is Titled: THE PATRIARCHS LOVED GOD WHOLLY. We would concentrate on the ACTIONS of love displayed by Noah and Abraham. We may not see much of the opportunities we enjoy today (fellowship with other brethren, Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Ownership of different versions of the Bible and choices, totally resolved to DEMONSTRATE what they knew (I Jn. 3:18). May we be provoked to ACT our love for God, His word, house and His people. Amen.

*6. INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION
This is a two-week lesson. Each of the divisions, i.e I and II are further subdivided into parts A and B respectively.

DIVISION I: BEFORE THE FLOOD: NOAH'S EXAMPLE
This division describes Noah, a righteous man, and his choice of God, amid the wickedness of his days and society. God needed to purge the earth of wickedness and wicked of men, and but He must preserve a few for the purpose of procreation. He found Noah and gave him instructions on what to do in preparation for the impending decimation upon the world. Noah loved God and put this into action by going ahead to build an ark inside which God preserved him and his household plus other selected animals. After the flood, Noah still continued to be on God's side.

DIVISION II: AFTER THE FLOOD: ABRAHAM'S EXAMPLE
This division focuses on Abraham; a man who knew God, loved him and demonstrated faith toward Him. God had handpicked him from amongst many people, gave him an instruction to leave his father's house and country to a land that God wished to give him. Abraham obeyed. Also, after God had fulfilled His promise of a son to Abraham, He brought him again to the 'test-room.' In all of these events, we saw Abraham demonstrating unfeigned love and faith in God. This division will tell us faith-activating and reviving testimonies about Abraham.

LESSON OUTLINE
I. BEFORE THE FLOOD: NOAH'S EXXAMPLE
A. HE CHOSE GOD IN A WICKED WORLD
B. HE CLEAVED TO THE LOVING GOD

II. AFTER THE FLOOD: ABRAHAM'S EXAMPLE
A. HE FOLLOWED GOD OBEDIENTLY
B. HIS LOVE WAS TESTED.

LESSON EXPOSITION
22nd July, 2018 | I. BEFORE THE FLOOD: NOAH'S EXAMPLE (Gen. 6, 7,
Evil had grown rampant on the earth. It threatened to destroy everything that was good. Only one righteous man remained, Noah. God sent the flood to restore good upon the earth. When he came out of the ark, the first thing Noah did was to erect an alter and worship God. A rare display of love and unfeigned faith.

A. HE CHOSE GOD IN A WICKED WORLD (Gen. 6:1-9, Heb. 11:7)
This is the genealogy of Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God (6:9).
i. God was disappointed with His creatures and resolved to destroy both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air (Gen. 6:6, 7). Has man really changed? Like Enoch (Gen. 5:22,24) who walked with God, Noah is another challenge v9. God always has a witness (Acts 14:17). Those who walk with Him usually work for Him.
ii. Noah chose to walk with God (v.9) in that perverse generation that was eventually wiped off. He chose to be part, to be separate and to serve God. Adam and Eve chose to obey the devil; Jesus chose to obey God, His Father. Our choices reveal who we are.
iii. We do not know how much Noah knew in theory (Theology), but we can see the uncommon, unpopular and risky choice he made which was a practical demonstration of His love for God, in truth and in deed (I John 3:18). How do we show our love toward God, His Word, His people and His Word? God vindicated His unpopular choices and actions (II Pet. 2:1-5).
iv. Noah whose name means "comfort" received the grace to survive the first universal flood and to be the one with whom God started another dispensation. Why? He "chose" to identify with God, so God honoured Him? Are we ready for Him in this generation?
v. Gen. 6:13-22, God chose to speak to a mortar man what He intended to do before the events. If anyone chooses God, He/she would enjoy indescribable privileges.
vi. The emblem of true love for, and faith in God is to pledge for Him when all others are doing/going contrary to His will, for it is highly rewarding.

B. HE CLEAVED TO THE LOVING GOD (6:13-22; 7:1-4; 8:20122)
Then Noah build an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar (Gen. 8:20).
i. Cleaving involves sticking (Joining, uniting) to someone or something. The language is often heard when a marriage between a man and a woman is solemnised (Gen. 2:24). Choosing God is the first step towards relationship with Him.
ii. Noah head from God and continued to hear from Him without interruptions, before the flood (6:13ff), after the construction of the Ark (6:22, 7:1-5), after the flood (7:24,8:1-5) after they had disembarked from the Ark (8:15,20-22). Listening, hearing, doing are the ways to consolidate relationship with God.
iii. Noah heard God. Building an ark? Any precedence? Expecting rain? Has it rained before (Gen. 2:5)? Imagine the strangeness, unreasonableness and the technology involved (Gen. 6:13-22; Gen. 2:15). No wonder, God found him.
iv. Noah heard God and obeyed Him; he was consequently saved from the flood by the ark (a perfect type of Jesus, our Ark of safety).

LESSONS DERIVED
i. The choices we make determine our actions which would unavoidably affect our destiny.
ii. God speaks, and of course, in many ways and consistently. Listening and cleaving to Him anywhere and at all times would reveal our trust and love in action. These would guarantee unbroken relationship, which is a vital condition for fulfillment.

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WORK TO DO
Abraham showed love in action by putting others first (Gen. 13:1-18), taking a risk for the undeserving (Gen. 18:23-33, 19:29). Any

CAC LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Saturday, July 21, 2018

TOPIC:
TESTED, NOT TEMPTED


Read James 1:12--15

MEMORISE
Let no one say when he is tempted, " I am tempted by God "; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone (James 1:13).

EXPOSITION
Our memory scripture clearly shows that God isn't playing games with anyone. Jesus said to him (the devil), " it is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Why that? God cannot be tempted by any of His creatures, spirits (fallen or holy angels), human, plants, animals or any other kind.

When Job fell into diverse ordeals, God was testing him while Satan tempted him (Job 1:13-22; 2:4-6). Truly, God allows our faith to be tested. Trials toughen faith, build the tested, and fortify him or her against the whim and caprices of giving up too soon. Temptation, otherwise, is solicitation to do wrong. While tests seek to discover the man's moral qualities or character, temptation persuades to evil, deludes, that it may ruin the tempted.
To give up on God or yourself is another way of yielding to temptation. To give up on God means failing to hold onto His biblical promises as applicable to your situation and circumstances. To give up on others means doubting the ability of God to cause what is not, to be. And to give up on yourself means it is too late for a significant change or turn - around.

There are two other equally damning lies Satan wants you to believe: (1) just once won't hurt; (2) now that you have ruined your life, you are beyond God's use,and might as well enjoy sinning. Don't believe that nonsense. Whatever tests (trials) you are going through, don't give up. What settings are you in when you fall? Get out fast. What props do you have that support your sin? Eliminate them. And what ungodliness are you usually with? Avoid them. Remember, it is easier to suppress the first wrong (evil) desire than to satisfy all that follows it.

PRAYER POINTS
1. Oh Lord, turn my eyes away from worthless things, and preserve my life according to Your Word.
2. Oh Lord, see me through every trial period that may come my way.
3. Father in heaven, destroy every satanic stronghold against the peace of our dear nation.

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EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Esther 8-10 & Hebrews 11

HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY.......... SHALOM

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RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual For July 8, 2018 Lesson 45 : Topic – Death

TOPIC: Death

OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to believe on your word. Let me pass from death to life.(scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL 8TH JULY, 2018 HYMN)

Bible Passage: John 5:17-27 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 8, 2018)

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
MEMORY VERSE: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” – John 5:24

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

What is death? Death is the opposite of life, the departure of life and the cessation of life. To humans, death is the separation of body, soul and spirit. The body goes to the grave and disintegrates while the spirit goes back to God. (Ecc. 12: 7) and the soul goes to one of two places: the soul of the wicked to hell, Lk. 16: 23, and the soul of the righteous to paradise (Abraham’s bosom). Lk. 16: 22.

LESSON AIM:

To study the origin, causes, description and remedy for death.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
i. Discover the origin and causes of death.
ii. Discover death and remedy for death.

TEXT REVIEW: John 5:17-27

The Bible wrote significantly about death. From Genesis to Revelation, death is common. Both great and small would die, even the oldest man in the Bible which was Methuselah who lived nine hundred and sixty nine years still died. Genesis 5;27. I know this is not a cheering news. However, the cheering news is the hope for the dead which is contained in the Bible passage for today. John 5:17-27.
i. John 5:17 states thus, “My father worketh hitherto, and I work”.
ii. John 5:21, “My father raised up the dead and quickeneth them even the son quickeneth who he will”.
The role of “Faith” in the quickening procedures of the dead cannot be over emphasized. Romans 4:17. The Lord Jesus quickens whom He will simply means, the Lord will raise from the dead/to eternal life, those who have faith in Him. These are the ones the Bible called the “dead in Christ”. I Thess. 4:16. I think this good news should be spread by all believers that Jesus is the hope of the dead. However, those who did not believe in Him in their life time also have Him to contend with when all the dead, good and bad, will hear His voice from whichever grave they are. “For the hour is coming in which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation- John 5:28-29. God has given to Jesus the authority to execute judgment because He has life in Him. The one that will judge the dead must have life in Him. Jesus has life in Him. John 5:26-27.

LESSON OUTLINES

Lesson Outline 1:
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSES OF DEATH?

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RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual For July 1, 2018 Lesson 44 : Topic – Life

TOPIC: Life

OPENING PRAYER: Father, let my life be hidden in your life. Don’t allow the devil to snuff out my life. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)
Bible Passage John 15: 5-19 (KJV)

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

From time immemorial, people have been asking: “Why was I born? Why did God make me? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? What is the meaning of life? What is life itself?” Various people give various answers. Some say, “Life is the union of soul and body.” This may be true of humans, but not of plants. Some say it is the period between birth and death. This of course is not true, for life exists before birth and after death. Only Jesus has the answer-Jn. 11: 25;14: 6. The Bible speaks of three kinds of life: Physical life, which was given to man at the time of creation; Spiritual life, which is the new life that God gives to the believer in Jesus Christ. Eph. 2:1; Eternal life, which is the nature of the Lord God Himself.

LESSON AIM:
To study the origin, purpose and value of life.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
i. Discover the origin and purpose of life.
ii. Discover the length and value of life span.

TEXT REVIEW: John 15:5-19
BENEFITS OF ABIDING IN CHRIST.

Christ is the Vine, we are the branches. Those who abide in Christ have the following benefits to enjoy:
i. They will bring forth much fruit. John 15:5
ii. They will not amount to nothing. John 15:5.
iii. They will not be cast forth or cut down. John 15:6
iv. They will not wither. John 15:6
v. They will not be burnt in fire. John 15:6
vi. Whatever they ask the Lord will be done for them. John 15:8
vii. They shall be the disciples of Jesus. John 15:8.
viii. Jesus will love them. John 15:9.
ix. They will abide in Jesus’ love and keep His commandments. John 15:10.
x. The joy of the Lord will remain with them. John 15:11
xi. Their joy will be full. John 15:11
xii. They will be friends of Jesus. John 15:14.

TEACHING METHOD

Teacher should use Lecture Teaching method.

Lesson Outline 1
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF LIFE?

A. ORIGIN OF LIFE
i. All lives come from God. Genesis 2:7
ii. The Lord Jesus is life. John 14:6; John 11:25
iii. The Lord Jesus gave life. I John 5:12-20
iv. Our parents are vehicles through which we came to this world.

B. PURPOSE OF LIFE
i. To accomplish our God-given assignment or destinies.
ii. To prepare for eternity with the Lord Jesus in heaven.
iii. To choose the final resting place for our souls.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Why should a believer avoid Satan and his work?

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C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JUNE 24, 2018. LESSON TWELVE : TOPIC - JESUS CONTINUES LOVING AFTER RESURRECTION

C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

JUNE 24, 2018.
LESSON TWELVE

JESUS CONTINUES LOVING AFTER RESURRECTION

Jesus kept monitoring the disciples after the resurrection. And He eventually sent His Holy Spirit, in fulfillment of His promise of love.

MEMORY SCRIPTURE
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also (John 14:18,19).

BRIEF COMMENT
True love is powerful and perfect. No amount of water can quench the fire of true love. The true love with which Christ loves His disciples made Him to make the declarative statements, that is serving the purpose of our memory scripture for this particular lesson. Because He loved them... He says, "I will not leave you orphans", "I will come to you". Again, for His love for them,... He says that while the world will no longer see Him, they would continue to see Him. Also, because He loved them,... they would live just as He continues to live on. This is quite amazing. It is Jesus alone, that could demonstrate such a matchless love. He was actually true to this word motivated by love, because He went out searching for them, after resurrection, according to this lesson. Jesus is our example. Love can never be too much, except if it is not enough. Love! Love!! Love!!!

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. The resurrected Lord loves His disciples with a perfect and undying love.
2. Jesus continues to shower His unexplainable love on them (disciples), even after His resurrection and beyond.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: This lesson aims at showing that the love of Jesus for His disciples continues after He resurrected.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, the learners should have:
i. discovered that nothing but genuine love motivated the risen Lord to be on the lookout for His straying disciples;
ii. Known that because of love, Jesus came from glory to search and redeem sinners, and He is never tired on the lookout for the backsliders with the love message; and
iii. Known that, as a show of His love, Christ has fulfilled the promise of the Father (Holy Spirit ) to us all.

INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: JOHN 21:1-19; ACT 1:8; 2:1-25
Glory, honor and adoration to God for the release of timely, soul-lifting, and destiny-moulding spiritual information for the Church, through the instrumentality of His Word. Through these wonderful Words of Mighty God, we understand the way better, day-by-day. This lesson marks the end of this Sunday school series (January to June, 2018). The previous lesson is the eleventh in the series. It centers on Jesus' Atoning Love and narrates how our Lord Jesus willing offered Himself as a ransom for the sin of the world, by which He offered a sweet smelling sacrifice to God, once and for all. This is love in the practical way as demonstrated (not defined) by the Lord.

Today's lesson is the last, but not the least in the series. It reveals the extent of the love of Jesus Christ for His disciples. Does the love that brought Jesus to the world, and led Him to the Cross, end at Calvary? No. It is an endless love that continues, even after His resurrection. He searched for some of them who had decided to go their own way and brought them back to the business. This is true love. May the Lord help us to know and understand the power of His love to us, so that we can become the catalyst to join in spreading His love abroad in Jesus' name. Amen.

INTRODUCTION TO THE DIVISION
DIVISION I: JESUS CONTINUES LOVING AFTER RESURRECTION
This is the only division in this lesson. It is out to tackle the issue of the continuity of Jesus' love for His disciples, after t
He might have resurrected. It would be handled under two different headings (a) He supervised the scattered disciples (b) He ensured the Holy Spirit's descent. The Bible texts picked to facilitate the effective discussion of this lesson are John 21:1-19 and Act 1:8; 2:1-25 respectively. It promises to be wonderful, life-changing and God-glorifying, as we encounter the wonderful love of Jesus.

LESSON OUTLINE
1. JESUS CONTINUES LOVING AFTER RESURRECTION
A. HE SUPERVISED THE SCATTERED DISCIPLES
B. HE ENSURED THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENT

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RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual For June 24, 2018 : Lesson 43 : Topic – Hearing From God

TOPIC: Hearing From God

OPENING PRAYER: Father, open my ears. Let me hear clearly from you. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)
Bible Passage: I Samuel 3: 1-10 (KJV)

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

You cannot hear, if there is no call from somewhere or someone. Also, you can only answer to a call that you hear. A call can come from any quarters. However, being able to recognise the voice of the one calling is very crucial for every child of God. May God give us hearing ears, seeing eyes and listening hearts, in Jesus’ name – Prov. 20:12; Matt. 11:15.

TEXT REVIEW: I SAMUEL 3:1-10

i. For God to call you, you should be a child of His. I Samuel 3:1a.
ii. Before God will call you, you must prepare your ear to hear and listen. I Sam. 3:4a. The Bible says, the Lord has opened my ear, he wakened my ear morning by morning”. Isaiah 50:4-5.
iii. Whenever God calls, He wants people to answer. I Sam 3:4b. “I was not rebellious” Isaiah 50:4.
iv. God values availability. “And he answered, am I”. I Sam. 3:4-5; “I was not rebellious, neither turn away back”. Isaiah 50:5c.
v. God loves those who run by the callings, “And he ran to Eli and said, here am I” I Sam. 3:5; “…. Write the vision, and make it plain that he may run that readeth it”. Habakkuk 2:2.
vi. God prefers those who keep the night watch. Samuel, though lay down, yet, he heard the Lord’s calling and responded-I Sam. 3:5-6. Night watch produced miracles from troubles. Matt. 14:25-27, Psalm 119:148.
vii. God prepares before He proclaims. He prepared Samuel by calling him three times. He did not proclaim until He was sure Samuel was fully ready. I Sam 3:8-9. viii. God speaks to holy instruments though he may be young. That means, God prefers holiness to corruption. God prefers innocence to godless adulthood. I Sam. 3:10

Lesson Outline 1: HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

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TOPIC: Bearing Fruits That Will Abide

MEMORY VERSE: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” –John 15:16 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

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BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 16:1-5

1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

INTRODUCTION:

There is need for an extra spiritual effort on the soul saved to get them established, localised in a church fellowship and mobilised until they too become soul winners. The Master did not just command us to bear fruits but that the fruits may abide (John 15:16). There is nothing compared to the worth of a soul won into the kingdom of God (Luke 15:4-7).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Fruit-bearing is a must for the believer
2. Abiding fruit is Christ’s command

FRUIT-BEARING IS A MUST FOR THE BELIEVER

The primary purpose for our election into the family of God is to go forth and bear fruits (John 15:16; Romans 7:4). Failing to carry out this instruction may be disastrous in that it may lead to an eternal loss of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1-2; Matthew 3:10).
It is wise therefore to watch on possible causes of unfruitfulness which may include: wiles and devices of the wicked one, tribulations and persecution, worldliness (Matthew 13:18-22). It is important to note that these causes may not be due to a personal fault, yet this type of attitude may incur the Lord’s disappointment for failing to invest life’s resources (Luke 13:6-9; 19:20).

ABIDING FRUIT IS CHRIST’S COMMAND

Jesus ordained the believers not only to bear fruits but also to ensure that the fruits last (abide) (John 15:16). In order to achieve this therefore, efforts must be geared towards conceiving, maturing and multiplying of the fruits (Colossians 1:28). An essential tool in the hand of the Holy Spirit to achieve this is the man/woman sold out to the ministry of follow-up of the souls. Biblical examples include the early Apostles particularly Paul (Acts 2:46; 15:36; 16:5; 18:18-23; Ephesians 1:15-18; Philippians 2:19-20). The principles adopted include spending quality time in prayers and Bible study with souls as led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is pleased to increase the work of grace in a life when our trust and confidence in God is expressed in the new convert to suitable and appropriate truths in the Holy Bible (Acts 2:41-47).

CONCLUSION:

The Lord’s command is that all born again Christians should bear fruits and more importantly that the fruits should abide. Having examined some basic principles, it is only worth it to put into practise all taught in this lesson. Call on the Holy Spirit today and He will help you in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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QUESTIONS:

1. What is the Lord’s command concerning fruits bearing?
2. Mention some dangers in fruitlessness.

RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for sunday June 3rd, 2018 Lesson 40 : Topic — Fishing For Men’s Soul

TOPIC: Fishing For Men’s Soul

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MEMORY VERSE: “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:18-25

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

INTRODUCTION:

Few are called to be preachers or evangelists but every born again Christian is called to be a fisher of men. Every born again child of God has the opportunity to deal individually and personally with men’s souls. Fishing for a soul is a definite effort to lead a definite person to accept Christ as Saviour and Lord at a definite time. Andrew brought Peter to Christ (John 1:41-42). You too may be the means of bringing a future world preacher to Christ. Why not start today?’

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Why must I fish for men’s souls?
2. What do I need to be a fisher of men?
WHY MUST I FISH FOR MEN’S SOULS?
There are several reasons you must be a fisher of men’s souls.
1. Soul is worth more than the whole treasures of this world before God (Mark 8:35-38).
2. The fact of hell. Every unsaved soul will perish forever in hell fire (John 3:18, Revelations 21:.
3. The suffering of Christ on the cross for each sinner. Believers must fish for men’s souls in order to ensure that Christ did not die in vain (Romans 5:8; 1Peter 3:18).
4. Because the world will pass away and all its pleasures but only those who are in Christ Jesus will abide forever and will inherit all things (1John 2:17; Revelations 21:7).
5. Because there is a great reward for a soul winner (Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3).

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE A FISHER OF MEN?

1. You must be born again and be sure of your salvation. Only the saved can serve (1Peter 1:23).
2. You must be living a pure life. A life surrendered to Jesus Christ and dedicated to Him (1John 3:3).
3. A fisher must be patient, vigilant and hardworking. This is so because the big fish lives in deep waters (1Thessalonians 5:14).
4. You must be prayerful. Prayers remove the obstacles on the path of the fishers and the souls (2Thessalonians 1:11).
5. The one fishing for souls must at least have a fair knowledge of the word of God. You must study the Bible diligently (2Timothy 2:15).
6. The fisher of men needs wisdom to respond to questions agitating the mind of the soul to be won. God gives wisdom liberally (James 1:5).
7. You must be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives power for a successful soul fishing (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).
8. You must have compassion for lost souls, otherwise, you will work with a dead, mechanical, dispassionate concern. Sinners know those who are truly concerned about them (Matthew 9:36).

CONCLUSION:

Every one that is genuinely saved has been called to serve. To serve in the kingdom of Christ begins with fishing for the souls of men. You must be willing and obedient.


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QUESTIONS:

1. Who can be a fisher of men?
2. Why must you win souls?

RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual For May 27th, 2018 Lesson 39 — Quarterly Review


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TOPIC: Sunday School Quarterly Review

SECTION 1 – 4th Quarter Test – Marks Obtainable = 50 Marks

Time Allowed = 15 Minutes
Co-coordinator (Parish/Area/Zonal) should set 10 questions from the 12 lessons in the quarter and administer them for 15 minutes. Each question carries 5 marks. Total score should be marked over 50 marks.

SECTION 2 – 4th Quarter Attendance in the Sunday school and Participation in Class Activities.

Marks Obtainable = 50 Marks Time Allowed = 15 Minutes
Class Teachers should check the student’s attendance and participations in Sunday school in Sunday School Class Report (R1) and count how many times the student attended the School. 4 Marks should be given for each time the student was present in the Quarter, while 2 marks be given for attending the quarterly review.
i.e. 4 marks x number of times present + 2 marks
e.g. 4 X 12 times +2 = 50
Total Scores should marked over 50 marks

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SECTION 3 – ASSIGNMENTS

Marks Obtainable = 100 Marks Time allowed = Zero
Class teacher should check student’s workbook and obtain the student’s score. The work book assignments should be scored over 100 marks for every quarter with 10 marks for each assignment.
GRADING OF SCORES
Total Score = Section 1 + Section 2 + Section 3
200
e.g. = 40 + 42 + 70 x 100
200 1 = 76%

SECTION 4 – INTERACTIVE SECTION

Marks Obtainable – Zero mark Time Allowed – 15 minutes
Teacher and students should discuss how to move the Sunday school forward in the new quarter. They should discuss challenges and set new goals. They should pray for success of the Sunday school and all officials.


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RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for May 20th, 2018 Lesson 38: Topic — Cornelius

TOPIC: Cornelius

MEMORY VERSE: “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” – Acts 10:2

BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 10:1-6

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1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

INTRODUCTION:

Cornelius was a Roman centurion, of the band called the Italian band (Acts 10:1), stationed at Caesarea in Palestine. He was supposed to have been of a distinguished family in Rome. Cornelius had evidently been led by the Holy Spirit to renounce idolatry, to worship the true God, and to lead a devout and beneficent life. He was prepared to receive the Savior, and God did not fail to reveal Himself. Cornelius was miraculously directed to send for Peter, who was also miraculously prepared to attend the summons. He was also ‘’the first gentile convert’’, and the story of his reception of the gospel shows how God broke down the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles.

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. Character and achievements
2. Lessons from his life

CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Cornelius was a devout man who feared God of Israel (Acts 10:2a). He was generous and charitable. He gave money to the poor (Acts 10:2b). He prayed to God constantly (Acts 10:2c).

An angel appeared to him in a vision (Acts 10:3) and told him that his prayers and his gifts to the poor had come up before God as a memorial (Acts 10:4). The angel also instructed him to send to Joppa for Simon (Peter) who would tell him words by which he and his household would be saved (Acts 11:14).
Cornelius called his relatives and close friends to gather with his household so they might also hear what Peter would say (Acts 10:24). While Peter was talking to Cornelius and the others, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word (Acts 10:44).
Cornelius and those with him were the first Gentiles, non-Jewish, converts. Their conversion was evidence that God had ‘’also granted to the Gentile repentance unto life’’ (Acts 11:18). They were baptised in water and admitted into the Christian church (Acts 10:44-48).

LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE:

1. If you seek God diligently, you will surely find Him (Acts 10:30, Acts 17:27, Deuteronomy 4:29).
2. Generous giving to the needy and constant prayers can reach the throne of God Himself (Acts 10:4)
3. Although Cornelius, and undoubtedly many in his household and among the relatives and close friends, was religious, he still needed to be saved-born again (John 3:3-.
4. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone (Acts 10:34-35).
5. Try to make certain all your household, relatives and close friends hear the words of the and know what they must do to be saved.

CONCLUSION:

The heart of Cornelius was drawn towards godliness and God arranged for his salvation. He carried everyone around him along and God touched them all.

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QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the character and achievements of Cornelius.
2. What lesson can we learn from the life of CCORNELIUS

RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual For May 13th, 2018 Lesson 37 : Topic — Gideon

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TOPIC: Gideon

MEMORY VERSE: “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” – Judges 6:12 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Judges 6:11-16

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

INTRODUCTION:

Gideon, also called Jerubbaal (Judges 6:29,32), was of the tribe of Manasseh. He was the son of Joash, of the family of Abiezer (Judges 6:11). He was a valiant and prudent judge of Israel, particularly the eastern and northern tribes, (B. C. 1249 to 1209). He resided in Ophrah, east of the Jordan, a region often ravanged in harvest-time by the wandering tribes on its eastern border. Being called of God to deliver his people, and encouraged by signs from Heaven, he defeated the Midiantites, and caused Israel to dwell in safety for many years. Gideon had many wives and seventy sons (Judges 8:30). He also had a son named Abimelech by a concubine in Shechem (Judges 8:31). Died in “a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites” (Judges 8:32).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Character and achievements
2. Lessons from his life
CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT
Gideon was a humble man who did not believe he was capable of saving Israel because his family was poor and he was the least in his father’s house (Judges 6:15). An angel of the LORD appeared to him and delivered God’s commission to him – he was a “mighty man of valour; God was with him, and would “save Israel”. (Judges 6:12,14). Gideon as reluctant to believe that God would be with him and asked for a sign, which God gave (Judges 6:16-24).
Gideon gathered an army of 22,000 men to fight the Midianites, but God cut it to 300 so all would know that it was God that won the battle (Judges 7:2-4).

LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE

1. Christians must always be ready. God may call you at any time to accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 6:.
2. You must always remember that God “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
3. God gives us the power to do whatever He tells us to do, no matter how difficult it may seem to be (Philippians 2:13; 3:14).
4. Courage in the face of adversity can accomplish great things (Deuteronomy 31:6).
5. Victory over the battles of life is not achieved through human ability but through divine interventions (Zechariah 4:6; Exodus 14:13-14; 2 Chronicles 20:17).

CONCLUSION:

Often times, when God wants to accomplish a great task, He does not call the qualified but qualifies the called.

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QUESTIONS:

1. Identify the character of the man, Gideon.
2. What are the lessons to learn from the life of Gideon?

RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for May 6, 2018 Lesson 36 : Topic — Nehemiah

TOPIC: Nehemiah

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MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deedd that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof” – Nehemiah 13:14 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 2:1-8

1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

INTRODUCTION:

Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, was born in Babylon during the captivity (Nehamiah 1:1). He was, according to some, of the race of the priests; according to others, of the royal family of Judah and apparently a stepson of Queen Esther. He sustained the office of cupbearer to the Persian king Artazerzes Longimanus. Touched with the calamitous state of the colony of Jews, which had formerly returned to Jerusalem, he besought the king of Persia to permit him to go to Jerusalem and aid in rebuilding it. He directed his attention chiefly to rebuilding the walls of the city. He remained in Judea for thirteen years as governor, carrying out many reforms, notwithstanding much opposition that he encountered (Nehemiah 13:11). Probably, he remained at his post as Governor till his death (about B.C.413) in a good old age.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Character and achievements
2. Lessons from his life

CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Nehemiah was a man of prayer, patriotism, action, bravery and constancy. He always viewed prayer as a first action rather than a last resort (Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:4, 4:4-5,9). He was persistent, with great faith in God and His ability to do anything he was asked (Philippians 3:14).
He went to Jerusalem where the city wall was broken down, and with a single minded purpose persevered until the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt (Nehemiah 6:15). The rebuilding of the wall enabled Jerusalem to become a fortified city once again, nearly a century and a half after its destruction in 586BC. After the wall was rebuilt, Nehemiah and Ezra called the people to prayer and the public reading of the law (Nehemiah 8:1-3,.
He was one of the first to sign his name to a covenant agreement among the people regarding walking in God’s law (Nehemiah 9:38). He wrote the book of Nehemiah (430-431 BC).

LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE

1. Prayer should always precede any endeavour (James 5:17-18).
2. God is always willing to help (Psalm 46:1).
3. Persistence combined with faith can accomplish great things. Jesus Himself exhorted persistency with His parable of the persistent widow and the judge (Luke 18:1-.
4. Be single-minded in all that you do for God, and in all that you desire from God (Luke 9:62, James 1:5-.
5. God remembers and rewards good work (Nehemiah 13:14, 1Corinthians 15:58, Revelations 22:11-12).

CONCLUSION:

Nehemiah had an unrelenting zeal to rebuild the broken wall of Jerusalem. In spite of the opposition from Sanballat and others, he achieved his goal. What passion do you have for the things of God?

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QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the man, Nehemiah.
2. What lesson can you learn from his life-style?

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL For APRIL 29, 2018 LESSON 35 : Topic — A SCRIPTURAL APPROACH TO FAMILY PLANNING


TOPIC: A Scriptural Approach To Family Planning

MEMORY VERSE: “Lo children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward” – Psalm 127:3 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

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BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 127:3-5

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

INTRODUCTION:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Family planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility”. It is important to examine God’s plan for the institution called “family” and to understand the reasons for us to also plan our families.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. The biblical view
2. Reasons for family planning

THE BIBLICAL VIEW

The biblical view on family planning can be traced to the importance that God places on fruitfulness and child bearing. These include the fact that:
1. God’s command is that we should be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).
2. Children are great blessings from God (Psalm 127:3).
3. Children are weapons of defense (Psalm 127:4).
4. Children are ones pride and joy (Psalm 127:5; Proverbs 27:11).
5. God cherishes children as tools for propagating His kingdom (Mark 10:14-16).
However, God’s plan of fruitfulness and multiplication does not call for the suffering or neglect of any child in this world (Jeremiah 29:11).

REASONS FOR FAMILY PLANNING

God has given man the grace for increase and procreation. However, wisdom demands that man should consider the need to cater for the children God gives which must include provision of food, shelter, education, etc. The reasons for birth control may differ from one family to another. These include:
1. Priorities and Necessities: This is to meet other pressing needs such as shelter, career, education, economy, etc (Proverbs 16:9).
2. Resources: Adequate provision is needed for every child. It is a sin to raise children you cannot cater for (1Timothy 5:.
3. Health, especially of the mother: If and when the life of the mother is at risk, birth control should be considered (Ephesians 5:28-29).
4. Pleasure: This may be to give room for marital/sexual intimacy (1Corinthians 7:3-5).
5. Government policy: Many nations have policy on the acceptable number of children for each family in order to regulate their population.
If believers in the Christian family have reasons for family planning, they should consult with the appropriate professionals in that field for proper counseling and recommendations.

CONCLUSION:

God’s plan for man is to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). However, we must be wise and ensure that we raise children that we can cater for (Proverbs 4:7; Ecclesiastes 10:10b).

QUESTIONS

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1. What are the biblical views on family planning?
2. Mention five reasons given for birth control.

RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for April 22, 2018 Lesson 34 : Topic — CHILD ABUSE

TOPIC: Child Abuse

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

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BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 10:13-16

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

INTRODUCTION:

According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a child is “a young person especially between infancy and youth”. Child abuse is any maltreatment of a child which causes him/her harm. Such action can also take the form of a child neglect or failure to protect a child from danger especially by a parent or other care-giver. The Bible does not use the word abuse but tells us that whosoever harms a child is asking for God’s anger (Mark 9:42).

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. Forms of child abuse
2. Signs and prevention of child abuse

FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE

Basically, child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.
PHYSICAL ABUSE: Can be excessive beating of a child especially one that leaves him/her with marks, throwing objects, poisoning, child labour (trafficking, hawking), neglecting to give the child basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, etc. It also includes use of drugs, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress (1 Kings 3:19, 25-26; Mark 9:42).

SEXUAL ABUSE: This is when any person engages a child in any sexual activity such as handling a child’s sexual organs, engaging the child in any immoral activity e.g. pornography, rape, defilement of the child, etc. (2Samuel 13:10-15).
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as cursing, belittling, constantly finding fault), etc. (1 Samuel 17:26-28; Colossians 3:21).

SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

These are some of the signs that a child is being abused: aggressive behaviour, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulties, unexplained bruises, burns or swellings, lack of concentration and criminal inclinations. Child abuse may eventually lead to deformation or death.

Prevention of child abuse may take the following forms:
1. Early education, identification and intervention.
2. Break the silence, report any abuse.
3. Train a child in a godly way (Proverbs 22:6).
4. It is not every wrong that should be met with capital punishment.

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CONCLUSION:

Child abuse is a menace that must be dealt with holistically in the fear of God. Children are precious to God and must be well taken care of (Psalm 127:3).

QUESTIONS:

1. Mention three forms of child abuse.
2. State at least two ways of preventing child abuse.

RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for April 15th, 2018 Lesson 33: Topic — Conflict Management In The Family
April 14, 2018 - Pastor E. A. Adeboye, RCCG Weekly Sunday School Manual

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RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual for April 15th, 2018 Lesson 33: Topic — Conflict Management In The Family

TOPIC: Conflict Management In The Family

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” – Romans 12:17 (scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 13:7-9

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

INTRODUCTION:

A family is defined as a group of people related by blood, marriage, law (e.g adoption) or custom. Generally, conflict can be defined as strong disagreement between people, groups, etc, that results in often angry argument. Conflict management is the practice of being able to identify and handle conflicts sensibly, fairly and efficiently. Conflict is inevitable. No relationship is perfect or conflict free, but conflict when managed biblically can serve as a catalyst for change and opportunity for a good family growth.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Conflict in the family and its causes
2. Biblical ways of managing conflicts within the family.

CONFLICT IN THE FAMILY AND ITS CAUSES

Conflict in the family may arise from misunderstandings among members of the family that is parent-children, spouse-in-law, etc. Contradictory interest among members of the family can also be another factor. Other causes of conflict in the family may include:
1. Incompatibility (Amos 3:3)
2. Unresolved disagreement (Ephesians 4:26-27)
3. Lack of trust (Proverbs 31:11)
4. Unforgiveness (2Corinthians 2:10-11).
5. Communication gap (Hebrews 13:16)
6. Unfaithfulness (Genesis 39:7-12).
7. Financial challenges (1 Timothy 6:8-10)
8. Lack of genuine love (Colossians 3:19; 1Peter 1:22).

BIBLICAL WAYS OF MANAGING CONFLICTS WITHIN THE FAMILY

1. Examine yourselves (Psalm 26:2; 2 Corinthians 13:5).
2. Love God and put Him at the centre of your family (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
3. Forgive one another (Luke 17:3; Ephesians 4:26).
4. Communication effectively and resolve all conflicts as fast as possible (Romans 12:17-18).
5. Maintain openness and sincerity with one another (Genesis 2:25).
6. Live a life of humility (Proverbs 29:23; Jeremiah 13:18).
7. Love one another (1Peter 1:22).
8. Revenge not yourself for wrongs done against you (Romans 12:19).
9. Commit your ways to the Lord (Psalm 37:5).
10. Take every matter to God in prayers (James 5:16).

CONCLUSION:

Conflict is inevitable in the family. However, every conflict should be resolved in the fear and love of God.

QUESTIONS:

1. Mention 5 causes of conflicts in the family?
2. What are the biblical ways of managing conflicts within the family?

For better understanding check Teachers manual here - https://www.muyilight.com/2018/04/rccg-sunday-school-teacher-manual-for.html