NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JULY 11, 2021 : TOPIC – THE POWER OF THEGOSPEL

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JULY 11, 2021 : TOPIC – THE POWER OF THEGOSPEL


Read previous NBC Sunday School Manuals here

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Sunday, July 11, 2021

TOPIC: THE POWER OF THEGOSPEL

Devotional Reading: Psalm 71:1-6, 17-24

Background Scripture reading Romans 1

Lesson Scripture reading: Romans 1:8-17

Golden Text: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16

By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:

ldentify what motivated Paul to visit the Roman brethren; Discuss the reason many Christians are ashamed to preach the Gospel; Make a commitment to spread the gospel message, according to the Great Commission.

Introduction

Albert Einstein is aProfessor of Physics andMathematics. He was well-respected by all, particularly his students because of his vast knowledge in science.One day, a student walked up to him and asked, “Dr Einstein, how many feet are there in a

mile?” To the utter astonishment of the student Einstein replied, “I don’t know.” The student thought and assumed that such renowned and great professor was joking to have claimed ignorance of such a simple fact every school child Ironically can memorise. Einstein joking Surprisingly, when the student pressed further for an was not explanation about Einstein’s knowledge, he declared, ” make it a rule not to clutter my mind with simple information that I can find in a book in five minutes.” In other words. Albert Einstein was not interested in trivial matters of such that will not benefit him. Rather, his passion Was to explore the deep things of the universe, to understand the depth of mathematical and physical truth and probably impart his generation. Similarly, Apostle Paul was not interested in trivial matters in his days. Unlike Einstein, his passion was not to explore the deep things of the universe, but rather to know the Creator of the universe through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The theme of his message was how the Gospel reveals God’s plan to put people right with Himself through faith from the beginning.

This served as motivation to him to preach Christ to all creation without any barrier thus his desire to visit the church in Rome.

Today’s lesson focuses on God’s power to save all, both Jews and Gentiles who believe.

THE LESSON EXPLAINED

A. Paul’s Eagerrness to Preach in Rome Romans 1:8-13

Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians begins with an introduction that consists of a salutation and a prayer of thanksgiving. He expressed thanksgiving to God through Jesus Christ for all of them because their faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. However, two things are paramount in his prayer for the brethren.

(1) he prayed for the Roman church constantly and

(2) he asked God for an opportunity to visit them.

Even though Paul was eager to visit Rome and to share a spiritual blessing with them for their strength,his primary concern Was partnership in the ministry by their faith (v. 12). Therefore, he needed the support of the Roman church. Of course, according to verse 13, he expressed his strong and long desire to visit them physically in order to win more souls and how he was held back. Although Apostle Paul did not state categorically what prevented him from visiting the brethren in Rome, nevertheless, it could be the demand of the ministry or possibly it was not yet God’stiming It is apparent from the passage that Paul served God With fervency.

He truly preached theGospel both to the Jews and Gentiles with the desire to reach more so This is indicateed in is his eagerness to visit Rome and make his own contributionto the growth and spread of Christianity. It is interesting to know also that the faith of the Romans was proclaimed throughout the whole world.

They did not only believe the Gospel, they lived the Gospel such that the testimony of their faith was seen all over

the world.So Paul appreciated God exemplary faith that would be great motivation for other for their believers. Paul’s eagerness to visit Rome was not a selfish desire. Indeed, it was an intention to offer service. unto God, perhaps to impart some spiritual gift (charisma) to make them strong Romans 12:6ff) and to have a harvest (fruit) of more souls among the Gentiles.

Discussion Time1

1. Discuss the importance of partnership in the ministry gospel.

2. Discuss what Paul means in verse 11 and its implications for believers.

B.Paul’s Declaration to Preach to the Gentiles Romans 1:14-15

As Paul continues in his letter to the Romans Christians, he expressed his commitment to continually preach the message of the Gospel to all and sundry. He made an allusion to his call as an apostle to the Gentiles in which he was under obligation to preach to the Gentiles. He said in verse 14, “1 am obligated both to the

Greeks and non-Greeks, both

to the wise and the foolish.”

This, of course, was the reason he desired to also preach the Gospel to the Romans with great zeal.

According to John Stott, Paul’s understanding of (under being bound obligation) and eagerness are said to be the driving force his ministry. Literarily, to be bound means to be a debtor or obligated to do something. Therefore, whoever has received the Gospel is duty bound, as a debtor (under theobligation), to share the same gospel message with others. Paul’sassertion in this passage explains that scope of unlimited. It goes beyond

the Gospel is Gentiles.He understood that his commission to spread the Gospel was not confined to a particular nation or group of people. In fact, the subsequent verses point to his jurisdiction both Jews and Gentiles (the whole world further identities of those who are qualified to hear the Gospel are thenbarbarians, cultured or uncultured people, the wise and the foolish, theunschooled and the nobles, without hindrances.

Throughout the period of his ministry, Paul demonstrated zeal and passion, even in the face of threat persecution, imprisonment, and death. Like Paul declared,Christians have been called to spread the gospel message to all without barriers in response to the Great Commission.

We can begin from our homes, extended family. We colleagues and members of the same community. We should see it as a duty to perform, knowing that it is the desire of God for everyone to be saved.

Discussion Time 2

1. How can Christians faithfully carry out the Great Commission with the intention of leading peopleto Christ?

2. What is the Gospel? What is the scope of the Gospel?

C. Paul Declares the Power of the Gospel Romans 1:16-17

Having declared his commitment and eagerness to preach the gospel message to all people, Paulalso made known his confidence about the power of the Gospel. He said in verse 16, “1 am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is

the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. By implication, Paul means that the Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, whom he refers to in this passage as Greeks. He further explains that the Gospel

reveals how God puts people

right with Himself through

faith from the beginning to the end. This is in line with the scriptures that “the righteous will live byfaith.” (v. 17: Hab 2:4) However, according to the account of Acts, the Jews received the Gospel before the Gentiles and, therefore, had the God’s special privilege of treatment of them (Acts 3:26; 9:4-5. But it isimportant to know that the gift of salvation is available for everyone who believes(John 112),. tribe educational status, gender and other qualifications m notwithstanding. As a result,

believers have the responsibility to spread Gospel around the world, according to the Great Commission (Matthew

28:19-20)

Apostle Paul was a servant of God who faithfully served and the gospel message to all. He was never preached ashamed to let people know of his personal salvation

experience and encouraged them to accept the Gospel.

For various reasons today,

many are ashamed of the Gospel, probably because the world does not like the good news and sometimes oppose those who believe and proclaim it. Some Christians who makeattempt are face with rejection, mockery or hostility, and so they become ashamed. Paul knew that the power of the Gospel can bring salvationto those who believe. Until now, whenever the Gospel is preached, the power of God is at work as people are saved from alienationfrom God (Ephesians 2:12). from sin (Matthew 1:21), from being lost (Luke 19:10), futility (1 Peter 1:18), from a yoke of slavery (Galatians

5:1 Matthew 8:25-26) generation (Acts 2:40). But and corrupt thanks beto God that salvation has alreadyy been achieved (Ephesians 2:5).

The scope is universal and open to everyone who believes and appropriates it in his/her own act of faith.

Discussion Time 3

1. How can the universalChurch synergise in gospelmessage with the purpose of preaching the reaching everyone forChrist?

2. Discuss why it is necessary for Christians topreach the Gospel and encourage each other in the faith.

Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity

Let the class members search the Scriptures and find verses that affirm that the Gospel should be available to everyone, irrespective of ethnicity or culture.

Let class members write a prayer seeking God’s will concerning how they are to participate in the salvation of the world.

Take Home

* The gospel message isfor all people.

* All Christians should learnto respond to the Great Commission by spreadinthe Gospel around the world.                       * We should not be ashamed to preach the message of to of salvation.

* We should be inspired by the example of others to live faithfully.

* The righteous shall live by faith.

* Partnership can be a catalyst in spreading the Gospel.

Leave a Reply