C.A.C Sunday School Manual For October 18, 2020 The Unity Of Brethren. Lesson Seven : Unit Two / Division II

By | October 14, 2020
C.A.C Sunday School Manual For October 18, 2020 The Unity Of Brethren. Lesson Seven : Unit Two / Division II
 
 
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH WORLWIDE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: THE UNITY OF BRETHREN
UNIT TWO / DIVISION II
October 18th, 2020.
II. THE FAILURE OF THE CHURCH (Mark 10:37; 1 Corinthians 3:1-7)
When Campism and Segregation begin in a body, failure is inevitable. Some for Paul, and others for Apollos; we fail to realise that they are both servants of God and must complement one another and not compete with one another (1 Cor. When the Church fails to the united, the great commission becomes an impossible mission.
A. SQUABBLES OVER BELIEFS AND WORSHIP (1 Cor. 3:1-4)
For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (v.3)
i. As the Church grew in age and generations after generations of leaders took over from the predecessors, different kinds of modern methods of worship were introduced with a view to making things easier for us.
ii. Placing images to be worshipped instead of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is one of such introductions to Christianity that has caused divisions among us (Rom. 1:21-27; cf. Exod. 32:2-4).
iii. The differences in how we worship, occasioned by denominationalism, has caused lots of division today, in no small way. Shouldn’t the Bible be our role model and standards (2 Tim. 3:16-17)?
iv. There is also the unnecessary squabbles over doctrines. Theological differences have so widely torn apart different churches and denominations (cf. Eph. 4:20).
v. 1 Cor. 3:1-4: Thank God for the proliferation of churches. However, is denominationalism a blessing or a curse? Why all these sectarianism bringing dispute to the name of the Lord? It is high time we took the godly advise of Paul and humbly lay to rest our differences for God to do His works through us (vv. 5ff)
vi. 2 Chro. 7:14: The Lord is willing and ready to restore the unity of the Church, only if we realise how long we have erred, and are ready to make the necessary amends towards becoming united, once again.
B. STRUGGLE FOR LEADERSHIP POSITION (MK. 10:35-45)
They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory” (v. 37).
i. Over-ambition is a major cause of the disunity among believers. It manifests in unwholesome craving for position of authority in the church, and is fuelled by tribalism, nepotism and segregation (cf. Jas. 2:1ff).
ii. vv. 35-37: These disciples demonstrated what is not untrue of so many believers today; we don’t want to work where the world would not be able to see and praise us. Many are like those Pharisees who love human praise that God’s assessment.
iii. v. 41: Such tendencies have caused a lot disaffection and division among brethren. It has divided so many churches into so many groups, sects and factions, thus hampering unity. Why pursing what God is not giving? Only God promotes (Psa. 75:6ff). Over-ambition destroys. Ask Absalom and Adonijah.
iv. Let us beware of unnecessary politicking amongst us. It happened among Jesus’ disciples. It has been a potent tool in the hands of the devil to cause disunity among believers. Why should we allow the devil have his way in our midst (Eph. 4:27)?
v. vv. 42-45: We must follow the warning and injunction of Christ to His disciples. And most importantly, He is our perfect model. He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (v.45). He who is not ready for that is not ready for leadership, and can never unite the body. And such a person should never aspire to get to leadership position among believers in order not to court God’s wrath.
vi. Any believer who is too big to serve is too small to lead. When God puts a man in a place, the place fits the man, and the man fits the place. Struggling and campaigning for leadership positions is an indication of gross insensitivity and over-ambition. If God wills, it will come without lobbying.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. We don’t need all these unnecessary controversies over theological issues. We should be wiser be wiser than the devil to stop him from using them to tear us further apart.
2. Don’t aspire to get to any leadership position that God has not programmed for you. It is over-ambition that fuels disunity among brethren. Don’t court God’s wrath.
QUESTIONS
1. The Church was united at inception. Compare what happens in the present day church with the experience in the united early church.
2. What are the contributions of doctrinal differences and over-ambition to the deviation of the church from the God-pleasing unity of believers?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. The unity in the early Church has become, or almost become history. This is because of various doctrines and belief systems creeping into the Church as the gospel was being handed down from generation to generation.
ii. Unlike the early Church, the greed and struggle for positions and material gain have gone a long way in undermining the unity of the Church.
iii. The devil’s attack against the Church at this present age appeared to be fiercer, as Satan does not relent in attacking the gospel more ans more, just to divide us and strike us down.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i. They are the major culprits in the deviation of the Church from her true united stand.
ii. As various leader emerged in the Church, from generation to generation, various doctrinal beliefs and teachings also began to spring forth, thereby setting in the dispensation of heresies and unscriptural teachings. This caused a major division in the Church.
iii. Over-ambition, aspiring to take a position God has not ordained for many believers over the generations, has also led to division of the Church, over time.
iv. One of the profound warnings of the Late Apostle Ayo Babalola was that leaders must be careful for temptation and struggle for power and positions. May the Holy Spirit remind us daily and open our eyes to know that power and positions are automatic master keys to heaven.
LIFE APPLICATION
We may want to ask, “What have the various umbrella bodies of Christians and churches in our nation done so far, to unite believers in this part of the world?” We see more split in their folds than bringing people together to serve God and humanity. It is obvious everyone wants to go his or her own direction, because of individualism, selfishness and inordinate ambitions. Can you still remember how you started ‘your own church/ministry’? But should Christians have any other goal apart from Christ’s? It is high time we all returned to God in humility, asking Him to flush out our egos and all that is carnal in us, so that we can fulfill the mandate of evangelism He gave us from the beginning. Unless we unite, our eternity may be in doubt, too. May God help us. Amen.
CONCLUSION
This lesson, by God’s grace, has exposed to us some of the reasons for disunity in the Church. As hearers and doers of the Word, we must therefore seek redress and make amends where needed, so that Satan, the archenemy of the gospel who seeks the downfall of the Church, will be put to shame. May God make us all instruments of peace and unity. Amen!
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 12: Beware Of Deception (Matt. 24:4-5)
Tue. 13: Be Not Troubled (Matt. 24:6)
Wed. 14: Be Careful and Mindful (Matt. 24:7-8)
Thur. 15: Being Hated Is A Sign (Matt. 24:9)
Fri. 16: Betrayal And False Prophets (Matt. 24:10-11)
Sat. 17: Behold! Preach The Gospel Worldwide (Matt. 24:14

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