Table of Contents
_RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL_
_LESSON: TWENTY-EIGHT_
_DATE: SUNDAY 15TH MARCH 2026_
_TOPIC: LOVERS OF PLEASURES_
*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 be 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?
MEMORY VERSE: “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”. – 2 Timothy 3:4
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Peter 2:13–14
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
INTRODUCTION
Lovers of pleasures are those who have invariably turned sensual pleasures, sensual gratifications, etc. to their god and therefore love and serve them instead of God. These people live for pleasure without restraints and are inordinately concerned with their interests above others. Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:1–4 states lovers of pleasures as a sign of the last days. He used the Greek word “philodonos” meaning “lovers of pleasures” to emphasise that society will become engrossed and obsessed with the pursuit of their comfort, happiness and pleasure. We shall examine the dangers of sensual pleasures and remind ourselves of how to bring pleasure to God.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. DANGERS OF SENSUAL PLEASURES.
2. CREATED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE.
DANGERS OF SENSUAL PLEASURES
Sensual pleasure is a carnal or worldly pleasure that naturally extinguishes all love and sense of God (2 Timothy 3:4–5). These fleshly lusts portend a lot of threats to its practitioners and those around them. Such fleshly lusts include the fact that the word of God has no root in them because of the cares of this world and love for the pleasures of life (Luke 8:14). They are careless in the way they live (Isaiah 47:8). This incessant love for pleasures often results in poverty (Proverbs 21:17). They are sold out to lustful desires (Titus 3:3). A blind eye is turned to God’s judgement (Romans 1:32). These people will be judged because they take pleasure in sin (2 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 John 5:17a). It is rather unfortunate that these people are dead while they live (Romans 8:6; 1 Timothy 5:6). The reward of unrighteousness awaits them (2 Peter 2:13).
Furthermore, those who take pleasure in fleshly lusts are not subject to God’s law (Romans 8:7), their growth is stunted as they refuse to leave the baby stage and still exhibit other carnal traits like strife, envy, etc. (1 Corinthians 3:1–3), they are self-gratifiers (Philippians 2:21) who run after mundane and earthly things and their god is their belly (Philippians 3:18-19; Numbers 11:4). When every man is eager only for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, it makes men dangerous to one another.
CREATED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE
Revelation 4:11 discloses that we were created for God’s pleasure and we are to give Him glory and honour all the time. One of the ways to give God glory is to acknowledge Him in all that we do (Proverbs 3:6; Jeremiah 9:23-24); when this is done in complete obedience, it is accompanied by prosperity (Job 36:11). We honour God when we surrender totally to Him (Psalm 37:5; 55:22).
We also give pleasure to God when we do the following: live uprightly (1 Chronicles 29:17); stay away from anything that defiles (Ezra 10:11); trust Him (Psalm 36:7-8); do His will (Psalm 103:21); seek to know Him for His greatness (Psalm 111:2); fear Him and hope in His mercy (Psalm 147:10-11).
CONCLUSION
Love God and serve Him passionately; carnal pleasure is enmity against God. Love not the world!
QUESTIONS
1. Mention three dangers of sensual pleasures.
2. In what ways can we bring pleasure to God?
