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TOPIC and SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN : Life [Sunday, 1st June 2018]
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. RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual
LESSON AIM:
To study the origin, purpose and value of life.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual
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?
Lesson Outline 2
HOW LONG IS THE LIFE SPAN AND WITH WHAT CAN LIFE BE COMPARED?
A. LIFE SPAN
i. The Bible gave different life spans at different dispensations.
ii. Before the flood it was 846 years on average. Gen. 5.
iii. After the flood it was reduced to 393. Gen. 11.
iv. At the time of Moses it was between 70 – 80 years. Psalm 90:10
B. COMPARISON
i. Life is compared to a journey. Gen. 47:9 (From birth to death).
ii. Life is compared to a dream which comes in the night and disappears in the day. Psalm 73:20
iii. Life is like a shadow which is a poor imitation of real substance (compare 70 years to eternity. This is infinitesimal). Ecc. 6:12
iv. Life is like a vapour which vanishes away. James 4:4.
v. Life is like a tale (an interesting story). Psalm 90:9
vi. Life is like water spilled on the ground which is absorbed immediately.2 Sam. 14:14.
vii. Life is like a flower which fades away soon after budding. Job. 14:2
CLASS ACTIVITY 2 –
Why should life be carefully handled?
SUMMARY
Life is precious. Keep it in Jesus. Phil. 1:21
CONCLUSION:
Those who keep their lives on the shelves will soon see it expire or stolen. John 10:10
EVALUATION:
To what can you compare life?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, do not let me be careless with my life.
ASSIGNMENT:
From the Bible passage for today (John 15: 5-19), find ten reasons why you should keep your life in Christ or why you should abide in Christ (Answer Tip- See Text Review).
Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here
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?
