NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 : TOPIC – WHEN LOVE IS LOST.

By | September 5, 2020

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 : TOPIC – WHEN LOVE IS LOST.

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE

Date : Sunday, September 6, 2020.

TOPIC: WHEN LOVE IS LOST.

Devotional Reading : Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22.

Background Scripture: Genesis 37.

Lesson Scripture: Genesis 37:2-11, 23-24a, 28.

GOLDEN TEXT : His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:11

Primary Learning Outcome/Indicators:

Learners will know that God has commanded us to love one another as He loves us and indicate achievement of this by:

• Mentioning some consequences of parental favouritism in the family;

• Identifying some causes of rivalry among siblings like the case of Joseph and his brothers who hated him;

• Taking some practical steps in resolving any long-standing conflict that may have arisen among siblings in their family, in order to promote love.

INTRODUCTION:

Jealousy is an ungodly attitude that is common in our contemporary time among siblings. It is often assumed that some parents may have noticed some signs of competition among their children at one time or the other. Sometimes, it results to hostility, which is referred to as sibling rivalry. Different factors may be responsible for this, these include birth order, success, intellectual giftedness personality traits, beauty, and so o. Rivalry among siblings becomes intense, especially in a polygamous family and when there is parental preferential treatments. Because of the consequences which are usually devastating, in most cases, such attitude like jealousy and lack of love in the family can lead to animosity, which sometimes extends to their adulthood and their children. What started as mere competition for food or parental attention may end up in siblings killing one another, if it is not nipped in the bud.

The Bible, especially the Old Testament has records of examples of sibling rivalry. Cain was jealous of his brother Abel because God preferred Abel’s offering to his and this led to murder. Rachael and Leah competed for the love of their husband, Jacob, even Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 29:31-30:24; 21:8-9). Also, Miriam and Aaron, probably out of jealousy, challenged the authority of their brother, Moses (Numbers 12). In all these instances, the root of the problem can be traced to lack of love for one another. Today’s lesson centres on the story of Joseph who was hated by his brothers, and what rivalry can breed among siblings when love is lost in the family.

THE LESSON EXPLAINED…

A. JOSEPH, THE FATHER’S LOVED SON: [Genesis 37:2-4]

Jacob lived in the land of Canaan where his father had stayed and was later buried (Genesis 49:29-30). He had twelve sons but he loved Joseph more than his brothers for obvious reasons. According to verse 3, he was born to his father Jacob in his old age and probably because he is the son of his favourite wife. To further prove his love for him, Jacob made a rich ornament robe with full sleeves for him. Without doubt, the provision of such expensive robe showed Jacob’s intention to favour him more than his brothers, and to spare him from taking part in their menial labour. Jacob’s preference for Joseph triggered hatred from his brothers and they expressed it by refusing to speak kind words to him from that moment (v. 4). At the age of seventeen, Joseph became a shepherd and took care of his father’s flock in the field with his brothers, sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives.

Sometimes, it is difficult to break old patterns. Jacob repeated the same favouritism that his mother Rebecca showed to him, which eventually sparked a similar hatred and fury in Esau, his twin brother who was preferred by their father. Ordinarily, one would have expected Jacob to learn from his past mistake and manage his family differently without necessarily showing partiality in his love towards his children. However, he maintained the old pattern of showing favouritism to Joseph to the detriment of others. Being a parent is an opportunity, and a great responsibility of providing for the needs of our children with the expectation of loving them equally. Another important role of parents is to maintain balance and curtail some excesses on the part of their children because any slight indication of parental favouritism will definitely result in hatred and disunity in the family, even death in some cases.

DISCUSSION TIME:

1. How can parents practically demonstrate equal love to their children without showing preference to any of them?

2. Mention other challenges parental favouritism can cause among children in the family.

3. Start a “word web” by writing the word ‘envy’ in the middle of the board with arrows emanating from it. Ask class members to write attitudes each arrow stands for.

B. JOSEPH AND HIS DREAMS: [Genesis 37:5-11]

Joseph was divinely ordained to be great and nothing would change it, as it was revealed to him. He had a dream that they (his parents and brothers) were in the field binding sheaves when suddenly his sheaf arose and stood upright and theirs bowed down to his (vv. 6-7). By interpretation, it means he would reign over his brothers someday. Probably out of enthusiasm or immaturity, Joseph shared the dream with his brothers and that triggered more anger and jealousy already in them. They said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” (v 6) They hated him and became more jealous of him. The second dream was a replica of the first, when the sun, moon and the eleven stars were bowing to him. Innocently, he shared it with his brothers without any premonition of their evil intention. Although his father rebuked him about being careless with his dreams. That, however, would not have stopped his brothers from openly showing that they hated him. After all, their father’s preferential treatment from the beginning had already triggered a cycle of hatred and jealousy, which could not be reversed.

This lesson is an indicator to some causes of rivalry and jealousy among children of the same parents. Actually, it was not Joseph’s fault that his father loved and preferred him to his brothers, since his brothers could not openly show their dissatisfaction to their father, possibly out of respect, Joseph became the object of their anger and frustrations. The situation in the family degenerated without any attempt of their father to reconcile his children. Parents should be proactive to intervene in the affairs of their children immediately they notice hatred, jealousy and division in the home, instead of love and unity. This is important because negative emotions aggravate crisis in the family more than one can imagine, if left unchecked. It is, therefore, the duty of parents to make sure that their children do not develop negative emotions. Instead, they should be encouraged to love one another as God loves them.

DISCUSSION TIME:

1. Should Joseph be blamed for sharing his dreams with his brothers? If yes, why do you think so?

2. Joseph’s brothers’ attitude towards him is an example of transfer of aggression. Discuss how a believer can overcome this tendency in an attempt to handle one’s frustration

3. What are the roles of parents in helping their children show love to one another and in developing positive emotions?

C. JOSEPH’S BROTHERS’ CRUELTY: [Genesis 37:23-24a, 28]

Joseph’s brothers had gone to graze their father’s flock near Shechem and their father decided to send Joseph to them to ask of their welfare (vv. 12-14). Joseph sincerely accepted the assignment, went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. Of course, it was an opportunity for his brothers to carry out their conceived evil against him. Following the suggestion of Reuben who was actually concerned about preventing him from being killed (vv. 18-22).They stripped him of his rich ornamented robe and threw him into an empty cistern probably with the assumption that that was his end. Soon after, he was sold to the Ishmaelite merchants for twenty shekels of silver and was taken to the land of Egypt as a slave boy (v.28).

The common saying that it takes a little spark to set the whole forest ablaze is very true in this scenario. Joseph s brothers sold him for a token, without affection for him as their brother. When jealousy and hatred are allowed to foster among siblings, friends, couples and even colleagues, they grow and there is the temptation to do the unimaginable. It is sinful to hate and be jealous of one another Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment….” (Matthew 5:22) To corroborate the importance of loving one another Paul said, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14) Christians should strive to live in peace and love with one another and eschew bitterness against anyone, no matter the offence, before the situation degenerates to the point of considering the option of murder. We should learn to forgive and reconcile with those who have offended and hurt us in the past. In other words, hate and jealousy should be overcome with love.

DISCUSSION TIME:

1. Discuss the best way Christians should react to hurt and offences.

2. Based on the story of Joseph and his parents, what are the roles of parents in avoiding rivalry among their children?

PRAYER POINTS:

• I thank God for the grace to be a parent, help me Lord to love my children equally.

• Pray that the Holy Spirit will remind you of any unresolved grievances you may have towards any of your siblings in order to forgive them.

• Pray that God will restore the lost love in our families, churches, communities and nation.

FELLOWSHIP AND MINISTRY BUILDING ACTIVITIES:

• Encourage the class members to write a short note or make a phone call to someone with whom they have had conflict and promise love and peace as they renew their friendship.

• Parents who have caused rivalry among their children should prayerfully consider planning a family reunion for their children before the end of the year.

TAKE HOME:

• Parents should avoid anything that will lead to rivalry among their children.

• Christian parents should endeavour to love their children equally.

• Believers should be committed to maintaining the bond of love, peace and unity in the family and in the church.

• Love within the family and among siblings is worth giving whatever it takes in order to sustain it.

• Do not repay evil with evil but live at peace with all humankind (Romans 12:17-

19).

Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!

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