C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR AUGUST 22 & 29, 2021 ( UPPER ELEMENTARY, LOWER ELEMENTARY & PRE-ELEMENTARY)

MEMORY VERSE: But Peter and the apostles answered. “We must obey God rather than man” – Acts 5:29 (RSV).

OBJECTIVE: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state why preaching the gospel is so important to God; and

2. Explain how they can preach the gospel in this end time.

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s business. God wants us to preach the gospel. In time past, a government in Nigeria made a decree that no one should preach the gospel in public places, such as in the market place, buses, taxi cab,, etc. Before then, Christians in Nigeria preached the gospel everywhere.

When the Christians heard this decree, they prayed hard unto God in their various churches. Some stopped preaching the gospel because they were afraid of being arrested, but some still went ahead to preach the gospel of Jesus. Thank God that they prayed, because soon the decree stopped.

In times like these, when there is persecution, it is becoming dangerous to preach the gospel but God wants you to, if you have given your life to Christ. Pray to God to give you boldness and promotion that you need.

The perilous time, that is, the end-time is here. Christians are being persecuted (we have learnt about persecution in the previous lesson). Persecutors do not want Christians to preach the gospel. They may beat, reject or kill them for preaching the gospel.

God wants us to preach the gospel, so Jesus gave us specific instructions to go and preach the gospel to everyone and everywhere. This is why Jesus gave this instruction before He died and resurrected.

Preaching the gospel is so important to God that God sees any Christian who does not preach the gospel as wicked. Am sure you don’t want God to call you a wicked child, so make sure you preach the gospel.

The gospel of Jesus is like a two sided coin. One side is God’s responsibility. The other side is the responsibility of the children of God. God has done His duty by making Jesus to come, die and live forever for us. The duty of man, including you, is to give our lives to Jesus and tell others about Jesus. You must not fail in your own duty; because God will not come down to preach the gospel. God wants you to preach the gospel for many reasons. One is that without preaching the gospel, people can’t be saved. It means they will go to hell. Two; preaching the gospel will take people away from darkness and bondage, into light. Three; it makes the world a better place, when you preach the gospel to people, they give their lives to Jesus and stop being wicked. Nigeria is evidence. So many evil and wickedness stopped in Nigeria because gospel of Christ came to Africa. God wants you to preach the gospel, so that He can show His power to the unbeliever.

The disciples of Jesus, after the death of Christ knew all these things, so they went ahead to preach the gospel. As they preached, miracles happened and the High Priest, the temple captain got them arrested and imprisoned for preaching the gospel

The disciples knew they would be punished, yet they preached the gospel because they knew Christ has instructed them to, and has also promised to be with them.

Preaching the gospel is the only way you can use to save your friends and people from going to hell. It is the greatest gift you can give to people, even if you give them money and other things. Preach the gospel today.

1. When you preach the gospel, God will always be with you. We can preach the gospel because God is with us. It also spreads up the coming of Jesus.

2. Pray that God should help you to feel the way He feels about preaching the gospel.

Now that you know why it is so important to preach the gospel, also need to know what to preach and how to preach it. Because preaching the gospel is God’s business, so you need to learn how to do it.

When you want to tell a friend about Jesus, whether face-to-face, on phone or through a message. Your message to him is about Jesus, is not about your Church, or pastor, your message is that all man has sinned, so God is angry with man and the devil also is tormenting man. God needs somebody to come and take away man’s sin, so that the devil will not torment man again, so God sent Jesus to come, die and live for man. Now that Christ has done that, He remains the only one that can save us from sin, devil and hell. He is the son of God and can introduce us to the father.

When you are preaching the gospel to your friends you are preaching the gospel to your friend, don’t take too much of their time. Do not argue with them

If they ask you any questions, answer them properly. Give them right answers from the Bible. You can see that Peter and the other disciples didn’t argue with the Sadducees and the High Priest, Peter only preached Christ to them.

Some of the dangers today you may be afraid of could be fear of being mocked, made just of, being removed from popular groups, beaten or punished. But you need not fear; God is with you. If you discover that you are always afraid to tell others about Jesus, pray very well. Tell God to take fear away from you and make up your mind to preach Christ, no matter what.

In these dangerous times, people are becoming very hostile to preaching the gospel as a child. As a teenager, if you have an android phone, instead of using all sorts of pictures, use Jesus’ pictures for your DP and write about Christ in your status. Someone is seeing it. Post Christian Videos to your friends. Post simple word of gospel on your Facebook, twitter and the rest. Sing gospel songs always, even when in the midst of your friends. If you have opportunity to make personal T-shirt with message, write a word of gospel on it. Decorate your room with stickers or wall posters that talk of Christ. If you are younger, tell your parents to allow you to sing Jesus’ songs for friends when they call. If you are having a party and you are giving out party packs, tell your parents to print something like “Jesus loves you”, “Jesus cares”, “Jesus is coming soon”, etc. on items they are giving. These and many more, if you pray very well, will make people give their lives to Christ, and you will be preaching the gospel, even in this dangerous times.

You are too small, remember Naaman’s servant. She was a young girl. She told her boss’ family about the God of Israel. You too, go out and tell someone about Jesus.

1. If you are born again, use all your talents to tell someone about Jesus.

2. One of the great ways of preaching the gospel is to live as a true Christian.

3. Always pray before and after preaching the gospel.

1. What and what were the disciples of Jesus doing before they were arrested?

2. What did the High Priest and others do to the disciples when they were arrested the second time?

PRAYER: Whatever happens, O Lord, help me to remain committed to preaching.

TOPIC: PREACHING THE GOSPEL EVEN WHEN IT IS DANGEROUS

TEXT: Acts Of the Apostles 5:12-42

MEMORY VERSE: But Peter and the other apostles answered, we must obey God rather than men – Acts 5:29 (RSV)

LESSON OBJECTIVE: At the end of this lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Preach the gospel with boldness and confidence wherever they find themselves; and

2. See the gospel as a commission for every child of God.

No situation should make us stop preaching the gospel

INTRODUCTION

To preach means to evangelize, or witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners and perishing souls. The word “Gospel” is the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, while “Danger” means something hazardous, risky, or perilous condition that can affect someone negatively.

Preaching the gospel even in danger gives believers a courage and boldness to stand by faith. The Apostle laid a very good foundation by preaching the gospel in the midst of trials, persecution. They stood by their faith to preach with boldness and with the confidence they had in Christ Jesus, their Master. In this lesson, we shall be looking at the faith of the Apostles, even in persecution and the situations they found themselves after preaching in the temple.

The Apostles experienced God’s power to do miracles, boldness to preach the gospel and God’s presence to overcome their enemies. They faced hatred and persecution from the high council called (Sanhedrin). The Apostles were arrested, put in jail, beaten and slandered by community leaders. But they continued spreading the GOOD NEWS. As children of God, faith in God does not mean we are free from troubles, but it makes troubles to appear powerless and simple. As Christians do not expect everyone to react favorably, when you share something about the gospel. Some people will be jealous, afraid, or threatened as children of God shares the gospel. We should expect some negative reactions and trials; that is why we must be more concerned about serving God than distraction and reactions of people.

Serious students of the Bible know, however, that obeying God often results in pain and suffering, they also recognise that being persecuted fr Christ is a deeper kind of blessing when we endure them.

The Apostles faced a lot of persecution when they were preaching in the temple at Jerusalem from the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Pharisees were the strict keepers of law, not only God’s law but hundreds of other rules they had added to God’s law. They were only careful about outward purity while many of their heart is full of impure motives (Acts 5:17). Jesus, during His earthly ministry, confronted a lot of Pharisees.

As children of God, we must allow the Spirit of God to lead and direct us in preaching the gospel, no matter the danger, situation, trials or persecution on our way, we must be courageous and be bold enough to go out and preach the gospel.

1. As children of God, and the preacher of the gospel, we must not allow situation or danger, trials to hinder us in witnessing Christ to the perishing souls.

2. While preaching the gospel, we should expect reaction from the people, either positive, or negative that will give us more boldness to preach.

3. We are to love the sinner and show concern in their situation in order to bring them to Christ.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is not restricted to my tribe, race, language, or country but rather for the entire world. We must be ready to witness Christ all over the world. We must also plan to reach the unreached; we must not be ashamed of the gospel we are carrying, and preaching the saving knowledge of Christ.

The Apostles knew their priorities. While we should try to live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18) conflict with the world and its authorities is sometimes inevitable for Christians (John 15:18). There will be situations where you cannot obey both God and people. Then, you must obey both God and trust His Word, let the Word of God encourage you (Luke 6:22). Let people mock and curse you as devil because you follow and you are serving the Son of Man.

Fear can stand as hindrance for us to witness the gospel of Christ. We must not allow that. The Gospel must be preached and heard all over the world. Christians should be ready and testify to the loving word of God about what Christ did to save human being from the coming doom. We are children of light; don’t hide the brightness of the light you are carrying. We are salt of the world don’t lose your t

salt to avoid becoming tasteless

We are saved by grace, let us show others the way that leads to salvation of their souls through love, care, giving, and sharing the Word of God.

1. We must not be ashamed of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; let us rise up to witness the gospel

2. As children of God, we are to plan to reach the unreached places, so that they can be saved.

3. Let us develop the heart of love toward the perishing soul and witness to them the gospel of Christ.

1. How can we preach the gospel of Christ to those that do not hear our language?

2. How can we reach the unreached, who have not heard about the gospel at all?

PRAYER: Whatever happens, O Lord, help me to remain committed to preaching.

Last week, we learnt about the sons of Samuel who lost their places as judges in Israel. The lesson reminding us on how to follow the life of Jesus and godly leaders.

Today, we want to learn how the Apostles preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in a dangerous time and situation. The apostle were arrested for preaching and were cast into the prison but God sent His angel (17-21) and set them free. The angel said to them “Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life.” Here, they were not instructed to run away or hide themselves from their enemies who want to kill them but they were asked to go into the Temple where they can be seen openly and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don’t be afraid or ashamed of telling people about the goodness of Jesus Christ. Speak about His love, kindness, His death and resurrection for the salvation of our souls.

We must speak about Jesus, even when we are asked to stop, we must preach Jesus at all times in anywhere we find ourselves.

The disciples preached the gospel even at the point of death. This is exactly what Jesus commanded us to do, so as to proclaim His love, care and mercy to the world.

MEMORY VERSE: Peter and the other apostles replied, we must obey God, not men – Acts 5:29 (GNB).

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me and give me the courage to preach Your gospel even in dangerous time and places.