RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL FOR SUNDAY 11TH OF FEBRUARY, 2024

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

INTRODUCTION: Cohabitation is a relationship that exists between people who live together and have sexual relationships without being legally married to each other. Currently, cohabiting seems to be gaining ground among young people. This is not the right concept when put on the scale of God’s standard. We shall look at some things that cohabiting will not do and the way out.

TEXT REVIEW: 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

i. Now ……….. V1.

ii. Getting …….. V2.

i. To solve housing problems.

ii. For emotional attachment.

iii. To test for compatibility.

iv. To solve economic problems, etc.

B. The effects of cohabitation should be discussed with the teacher’s guide:

i. Cohabiting may appear to have solved housing and economic problems but underneath is untold stories of painful experiences (Prov. 9:17-18).

ii. Cohabiting will not guarantee a perfect relationship (Psm. 127:1).

i. It is not a surety or an assurance that one will really know the behaviour of the other person fully because the heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9).

ii. It will not change the negative habits of an individual.

iii. It subjugates rather than provides freedom as one is at the whims and caprices of the cohabitant.

iv. The unholy act of fornication will not yield a holy sexual relationship (1Cor. 6:18; 7:2; 10:8).

v. It will not rule out disappointments or skirmishes between the two partners.

vi. The security or sustenance of the relationship is not guaranteed.

vii. It may result in unplanned pregnancy, abortion, or unwanted babies.

viii. It can fuel low self-esteem.

The teacher should allow the class suggest some likely way of avoiding the practice of cohabiting and then share the following facts:

i. There are many good ways to deal with economic and relationship issues instead of cohabiting (Prov. 3:5-6).

Ii. Do the right thing by getting into a pure proper courtship with marriage in view (1Cor. 7:1-2).

iii. Stop trial and error relationship and get married legally if you know you are mature for marriage (1Cor. 7:9).

iv. Make up your mind to honour God with your body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19).

v. Avoid sex before marriage (Heb. 13:4).

vi. Patience is the rule of the game (1Cor. 13:4).

vii. Get the foundation right, so you can build a good and fruitful home on the right footing (Psm. 11:3).

viii. Secure a beautiful and stable future for your children (Gal. 6:7).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should discuss other ways of avoiding cohabitation.

CONCLUSION: Cohabiting is a products of disobedience and dishonour. Do the right thing.

EVALUATION: Mention two things cohabiting will not achieve.

CLOSING PRAYER : Father, deliver me and anyone else that is trapped in the act of cohabiting.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) disadvantage of cohabiting (2×5=10 Marks)