RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual For Sunday 16Th July 2023

Almighty Father, please save my class members and I from scoffers in the name of Jesus.

MEMORY VERSE: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts”. –2Peter 3:3

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Scoffer, in Greek, is ’empaiktes’ and it simply translates to a mocker. A scoffer mocks sin, Christ, twists God’s word for selfish gains, opposes the gospel and the things of God. The Bible uses scornful and scoffer interchangeably which all means mocker. Believers are warned to be careful and be on guard.

Mention any five issues which Jude raised with regards to scoffers in the above passage.

i. ……..

ii. ……….

iii. ……….

iv. ………….

v. ……………

The teacher should define the meaning of scoffers from the lesson introduction and then identify and explain the characteristics of scoffers as indicated below:

i. They deny the truths of the Scripture and entice people to join their error (Jude 4).

Ii They reject the word of the Lord and despise God’s ministers (2Corinthians 36:16).

iii. They question the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ claiming that the time had lapse(2Peter 3:4).

iv. They mock those who still wait and for the coming of the Lord Jesus (like you and I) (2Peter 3:4).

v They follow ungodly desires and create divisions in the church (2Peter 3:3; Jude 18-19).

vi. They have a form of godliness but they do not possess the power of godliness (2Timothy 3:5).

vii. They present lofty sound ideas to lead people astray (2Peter 2:1).

viii. They incite violent (Proverbs 29:8).

ix. They are proud leaders who trivialize the judgement of God (Isaiah 28:14-15).

Differentiate between an apostate and a scoffers

A. The teacher should explain to students that the proliferation of scoffers is one of the signs of the last days.

B. The teacher should identify and explain the following guidelines to students to avoid being ensnared

i. Take seriously the commands to study and meditate on God’s word (Psalm 1:1-2; Joshua 1:8).

ii. Remain spotless and blameless in Christ (2Peter 3:14; Ephesians 5:27).

iii. Continue to look for the appearance of the Lord (Titus 2:13).

iv. Weigh every teaching with the word of God (Acts 17:11).

v. Know that God is never slack concerning His promises (2Peter 3:9)

vi. Be established on your holy faith (Jude 20)

vii. Remain steadfast to the end (1Corinthians 16:13; 1Timothy 6:12).

viii. Try all spirits (1John 4:1)

ix. Grow in grace (2Peter 3:18).

The class should discuss the danger posed by scoffers to the church.

Believers while observing the traits of scoffers must also follow the guidelines to escape it’s snare

Beware of scoffers and refuse to be one (Psalm 1:1).

CLOSING PRAYER

Almighty Father, please give us wisdom to identify scoffers and to treat them with caution.

ASSIGNMENT

Why do you think there are more scoffers these days than ever before? (5) reasons (2×5=10 marks)