C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR OCTOBER 17 and 24, 2021 ( UPPER ELEMENTARY & LOWER ELEMENTARY) : TOPIC – FROM USELESSNESS TO USEFULNESS

MEMORY VERSE: Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me – Philemon 1:11 (RSV).

LESSON OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, students would:

1. be willing to accept Christ and obey His teachings;

2. have learnt that it is profitable to be where God wants us to be at any time in life;

3. be able to decide to remain where God wants them to be; and

4. have known that that there is room in Christ for everyone that comes to Him.

In this new lesson, Onesimus, a slave, had stolen, betrayed; and had to run from his master, Philemon. He met with Paul, who led him to salvation in Christ Jesus. His life was mended and he eventually became useful in all ramifications. May our lives receive a turn-around through this lesson in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Being wealthy, Philemon owned so many slaves. One of Philemon’s slaves was named Onesimus. Onesimus means – ‘useful or profitable.’ He had stolen from his master, and ran away. In his travels, God providentially led Onesimus all the way Rome, where he crossed paths with the apostles Paul. We are not told as to how they met. But the God of Heaven was pursuing Onesimus! Although, he had undoubtedly heard the gospel in Philemon’s household, he ran from the place where he easily could have been saved. He travelled hundreds of miles to a large city where he happened to meet Paul. When Paul shared the gospel, God opened Onesimus’ heart and he trusted in Christ. He then stayed with Paul and the two men formed a close relationship as Onesimus served Paul. In time, as Onesimus grew in the faith through Paul’s teaching, he realised that he needed to return to his master and make restitution for the crimes he committed. Paul wrote a letter of appeal to his friend, Philemon, and the entire Church, to welcome back this runaway slave, not as a second-class citizen, but as a beloved brother in Christ. You too can be saved today, if only you would trust in Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour.

LESSONS

1. A lack of contentment and submission can give room for the Devil in a child’s life.

2. We should not hesitate to preach the gospel to anyone we come across in life.

3. God can help correct every mistake in our lives.

WEEK TWO: ONESIMUS – A CHANGED CHARACTER

October 24, 2021

Even though Onesimus was a young Christian who had not had enough experience as Paul, there were already some major changes in his character

Formerly, he had grudgingly served Philemon, his master, doing only the bare minimum, and stealing everything he could as he looked for an opportunity to escape. But now, in submission to the Lord, he returned to his master, ready and willing to render whatever service is required of him. Formerly, Paul said that Onesimus, whose name means “useful or profitable”, was useless to Philemon. He was not a good worker. But now, he truly mean that God had changed Onesimus’ attitude. Before, he resented his lot in life as a slave. He hated his master and God. But now, he was in submission to God to the extent that he was willing to give up his freedom, go back and place himself under his master’s authority. Instead of being a surly and angry slave, he now was a helpful and cheerful servant. God has changed Onesimus’ attitude through the gospel. Giving your life to Christ and remaining in/with Him, is the only way to victory in perilous times.

LESSONS

1. God can mend every life that is handed over to Him.

2. Willingness to obey the gospel makes God work for us.

3. Like Onesimus, God can give everyone that trusts in Him a new beginning and a new story.

QUESTIONS

1. Briefly narrate the story of Onesimus.

2. How did Paul describe the latter life of Onesimus?

3. If you were Philemon, how would you treat Paul’s letter?

PRAYER: O Lord, deliver me and give me a new life and a new story.

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

1. identify God as a merciful God who has the power to save and deliver from sin;

2. seize every opportunity to preach the gospel of God Jesus to the hopeless and straying sinners; and

3. realise that no matter their situation God is able to forgive and save.

The once useless boy later became very useful after accepting Jesus into his life.

INTRODUCTION

A lost sinners is a helpless being who moves from one place to another without anyone to help or assist him/her. This can be related with anyone who lacks Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Such person lived a wayward and meaningless life. We saw the example of such people in the Bible, but today, we want to look at the life of one of them whose name is Onesimus. God bless you as you listen in Jesus’ name.

WEEK ONE: ONESIMUS – A BAD CHARACTER

October 17, 2021.

There was once a servant in the Bible who stayed with his master. The servant’s name was Onesimus and his master was Philemon.

On day, Onesimus offended his master and he ran away from many days. Onesimus did not apologise to his master, Philemon, but he rather chose to escape with his sin. That is what sin does to a sinner who refused to confess his sins to Jesus so as to be saved.

Onesimus became a wanderer, with hunger, thirst, and suffering. But one day, he came across Apostle Paul who preached the gospel of God Christ to him. Onesimus accepted Jesus Christ and Paul taught him the word of God. Did you see why you must preach to others to come to Jesus? Onesimus was useless when he left his master, he suffered and was rejected by people, but God prepared his servant, Paul, to preach to him, because our God is merciful. He is still merciful today, if you come to Him.

LESSONS

1. With sin in your life, you will become useless.

2. Anyone who lives in sin is a slave.

3. God is still looking for sinners who will come to Him for salvation. He is a merciful God.

WEEK TWO: ONESIMUS – A CHANGED CHARACTER

October 24, 2021.

Last week, we learnt about someone who ran away from his master. What was his name? And who is the master? Who preached to him?

Today, we want to look at the outcome of the step of salvation that Onesimus took.

Paul wrote a letter to his master, Philemon, to forgive Onesimus, not only that, Onesimus returned to his master as a brother in Christ, not as a servant or slave because he has become a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17) in Jesus. He was no longer a sinner but a saved soul. If anyone accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the host of heaven will be happy with him/her while the devil will be sad.

Philemon accepted Onesimus as his own son and forgave him of all what he did in the past and never mentioned it again. Are you a child of God or a slave to Satan? Do you love and forgive anyone who offends you? Come to Jesus today.

LESSONS

1. Onesimus, a slave, became a son because he repented of his sins.

2. Philemon was a good master because he forgives Onesimus.

3. A sinner is a slave to Satan while a saved soul is a child of God.

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Onesimus?

2. Mention the role played by Paul in this lesson.

3. What did you learn from the life of Philemon?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, come into my life and reign in my life as my Lord and Saviour.

A man was known as Onesimus in the Bible. He was a slave to his master called, Philemon. One day, Onesimus disobeyed and offended his master could not locate him. Onesimus became a wanderer.

One day, as he wandered about, he met a man of God called Apostle Paul who preached to him and he became a changed person, a born again Christian. Onesimus became a new person in Christ (I Corth. 5:17) because he surrendered his life to Jesus and forsook all his evil ways and characters.

Anyone who remains in sin is a lost person, but if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, He will love and bring you back to Himself. Onesimus was asked to return to his master, Philemon, joyfully and with great gladness. He returned now as a son to his father, he was no longer received as a slave but beloved son in the Lord. Living is sin makes one to become a slave, but in Jesus, we are sons and daughters.

Jesus did not want us to perish but for us to come unto Him for the salvation of our souls and for us to reign with Him in the kingdom of God in eternity.

Come to Jesus now, He loves you and wants to live with you (Rev. 3:20). No matter your situation or the level of the sin you have committed, He loves you but He only hates sin in your life. Repent and forsake your sins and evil ways today.

MEMORY VERSE: At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me (Philemon 1:11).

PRAYER: Lord, I give you my heart, let me live my life for you alone and deliver me from a sinful heart in Jesus name. Amen.