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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 13-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 1ST OF OCTOBER, 2023
LESSON FIVE (5)
TOPIC: WHO DESERVES GRATITUDE 4: FRIENDS/NEIGHBORS
BIBLE TEXT: Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 27:10 – “Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.”
LESSON AIM: At the end of the study, teenagers should be able to understand why friends and neighbours deserve gratitude and how it should be expressed.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Neighbours and friends are very important in the journey of life. They therefore need to be appreciated and our gratitude to them should be expressed from time to time.
INTRODUCTION: Relationships are a cornerstone of happiness and living a full life. This is because they come with a wide array of rewards. Relationships provide us with friends, neighbours and family to share our lives with and people who can help us out in tough times. They tend to bring us a lot of help that gives relief, which results in joy. Thus, they deserve our gratitude.
STUDY GUIDE
WHO ARE FRIENDS/NEIGHBOURS?
• A neighbour is anyone around you at any point in time, while a friend is someone who is walking with you on the journey of life.
• Friends can be freely chosen amongst peers and are based on reciprocity of affection while neighbours are accessible and less freely chosen, with no mutual obligations or expectations.
HOW DO I KNOW OR CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY?
• Similarity of values – Pro. 27:17
• Similarity of purpose and vision – Pro. 27:17
• Divine direction – Rom. 8:14, 2 Cor. 6:14
• Trustworthiness
• Christlikeness – 2 Cor. 6:14
• Filial and mutual love, as well as respect for each other – Prov. 17:17
WHY FRIENDS DESERVE OUR GRATITUDE
•They can be our support system in hard times – Eccl. 4:8-12.
• They open doors to greater, stronger and better relationships.
• Some of them are helpers of destiny.
• They help us strengthen our faith when we walk away from the right path – Prov. 27:9.
• We can rely on them – Job 6:14.
• They give sincere advice, seeking the best for us – Prov. 27:9, 12:26.
• Friendships promote mutual love – John 15:12-13.
• Friends challenge each other for the best – Prov. 27:17.
• True friends love at all times – Prov. 17:17.
• They are a source of blessings from God – Prov. 27:9.
HOW TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO FRIENDS NEIGHBOURS
• Be their friend also – Prov. 18:24.
• Agree with them when they are right.
• Corect in love and be an encourager – Prov. 27:9.
• Pray for and with them – James. 5:16.
• Celebrate them and celebrate with them, especially on their special days e.g. birthdays, matriculation, graduation etc.
• Be sincere with them – Prov. 27:9.
• Support and defend them.
LIFE APPLICATION: He/She who wants a good friend must first of all be friendly and put on godly values and characters.
CONCLUSION: Iron sharpeneth Iron, so a man sharpens his friend – Prov. 27:17. Iron cannot sharpen a piece of wood or plastic. The kind of friend you keep is a reflection of who you are. 2 Cor. 6:14 explains that light has nothing to do with darkness. Amos 3:3 also explains that people need to agree to do anything together.
TODAY’S LESSON REFLECTION:
What truth have you learnt in today’s lesson?
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Write down one way in which you are going to apply what you now know.
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