C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR December 19, 2021 LESSON TWELVE : TOPIC – WHEN PREACHING JESUS’ RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE 

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C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR December 19, 2021 LESSON TWELVE : TOPIC – WHEN PREACHING JESUS’ RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE   

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
(KINGDOM OF GOD FAMILY)
THEME: IN TIME LIKE THIS
Unit Three : BREAKDOWN IN FAMILY STRUCTURE
Date
December 19th, 2021
Lesson : TWELVE
TOPIC : WHEN PREACHING JESUS’ RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE
Memory Scripture
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers
(2 Timothy 4:3)
It doesn’t matter whatever the Devil or any other person is saying. JESUS IS COMING SOON! Broadcast it to the ends of the earth. Maranatha!
BRIEF COMMENT
It is no gainsaying nor exaggeration to say that, in this age and generation, people are more interested in prosperity, success, favour and blessing manages than that of Christ’s return. This is the fulfilment of the prophecies of the end-time, according to the Apostles Paul in II Tim. 4:1-3.
Evidently enough, many preachers have deviated from preaching the truth about Christ’s Second Coming, to prosperity, wealth-making, success, and other forms of message that they feel the people would love to hear. The Church also now has more interest in listening to “God bless you” than “repent.” Many preachers of the gospel have become motivational speakers, all in a bid to satisfy and keep the congregation, instead of teaching them what they need for eternity.
This lesson reveals the causes of this sad reality, as well as the way out, and reminds us that the Blessed Hope stands sure and that it worth believing.
Devotional Bible Readings For Week One
Mon. 13: Beware Of The Latter-day Temptations (1 Tim. 4:1)
Tue. 14: Beware Of Hypocrisy (1 Tim. 4:2)
Wed. 15: Beware Of Sweet Talks And Lusts (2 Tim. 4:3)
Thur. 16: Beware Of Fables (2 Tim. 4:4)
Fri. 17: Be A Witness (2 Tim. 4:5)
Sat. 18: Be Heaven-Minded (Col. 3:2-4)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. Satan is working round the clock to make the preaching of the Gospel of Christ unfashionable to many, and many are ignorantly falling into this scheme.
2. Christians as this end-time must not be ignorant of the Devil’s wiles and devices. We must cooperate with Jesus to silence the Devil’s schemes whenever we are.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 2 Timothy 4:1-4
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To show why the message of Christ’s return has suddenly become boring and unattractive to so many, and the way out.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be:
i. able to identify some of the devices of the Devil in this end time;
ii. showing more signs of being more aware of and ready to fight false doctrines;
iii. more watchful of spiritual laxity; and
iv. able to differentiate between the true doctrine of, Christ’s coming and fables/fictions.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: DANIEL 12:4; MATTHEW 13:14-15; 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5; PHILIPPIANS 2:21; HEBREWS 12:1; 2 PETER 3:9; TITUS 2:13; COLOSSIANS 1:27; 1 THESSALONICAL 4:16-18; REVELATION 21:4; EPHESIANS 5:26-27; 1 PETER 1:13.
We give all glory, honour and thanks to God for the abundant blessings He has been bringing our way in His Word, in the different lessons so far discussed in this series of the Sunday School. Just last week, we discussed the topic, WORK-RELATED ISSUES, in which we looked at how God, the great Worker, initiated work and still have interest in man working to take care of himself and his loved ones. We also objectively looked at the implications of God’s attitude to laziness and the slothful. May His Word sustain us, make us grow daily into the full stature of His desire for us, and eventually take us home on His imminent return.
This lesson twelve, being the last but not the least in the series, and the end of the third division is titled WHEN PREACHING JESUS RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE. It seeks to unveil to us why the gospel of Jesus is fast becoming unattractive in this generation, and what Christians should do with respect to this, in these perilous times.
May God open our understanding to fully absorb exactly what He has for us in this lesson
May God deliver all Christians from this peril of preferring some other kind of messages/gospels to that of Christ, even as He prepares us for His Second Coming. Shalom, and remain rapturable!
LESSON OUTLINE
I. WHEN PREACHING JESUS RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE
A. THE DEVIL IS THE CAUSE
B. THE BLESSED HOPE REAMAINS STILL
INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION
This two-week lesson contains one division with a further sub-division into A and B.
DIVISION I: WHEN PREACHING JESUS’ RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE
This is the only division of this lesson, and it is purposed in two dimensions: to show and expose the Devil as the cause of the itching ears developed by people in this end time, causing them to gather to themselves teachers that would tell them only what they want to hear, messaging the ego of their immoral minds. Christians are to beware of this; and to remind Christians of the Blessed Hope in Christ’s return. Though He tarries, He shall surely return, soon.
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. WHEN PREACHING JESUS’ RETURN BECOMES UNATTRACTIVE (Ephesians 5:26-27; Philippians 2:21; Colossians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:12; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Peter 3:9)
The antonym of ‘attractive’ is ‘unattractive’, which indicates that something is not appealing at all, or less appealing than some other things. It is appalling how a bride or groom suddenly becomes unattractive to his/her spouse after a while. It is not so shocking and alarming to hear that Peter, the one who swore heaven and earth never to deny Jesus, to the extent of even cutting someone’s ear, just to resist Jesus’ arrest, was found denying Him on 3 different occasions? Definitely, Satan, man’s arch-enemy, is at work. And his major assignment is to distract man from keeping the Blessed Hope alive, so he can have more candidates to populate hell. Be wise!
A. THE DEVIL IS THE CAUSE (Phil. 2:21; 2 Tim
4:3; Heb. 12:1; 2 Pet. 3:9)
And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive (Mat. 13:14).
i. 2 Tim. 4:3: The message of Jesus’ return becomes sour and unattractive in the ears of people, today. Why? The devil has made most people develop itching ears. They prefer to hear only prosperity and wealth-making messages. Any message about Christ’s imminent returns is boring to them.
ii. v. 4: As a result of the itching ears that have been developed, their ears are automatically turned away from the truth of the gospel. They prefers to listen to fables, fictional narrations, and oratory performances. All these are the devil’s work to turn people away from Christ at this end time.
iii. We are admonished not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices/scheming, lest he takes advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11). He is the master deceiver (Jn. 8:44), all out to deceive and destroy people (Jn. 10:10; 1 Pet. 5:8).
iv. Satan knows the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16,17), hence his scheming to turn the attention of Christians away from preaching it to the world (cf. Rom. 10:13-15).
v. Heb. 12:1: The Devil is overburdened many Christians with the yoke of sin (especially secret ones), shyness (cf. Rom. 1:16), fear of persecution and laziness. Their guilt holds them back from evangelising.
vi. Phil. 2:21: One of Satan’s tools toward deafening people’s ears to the gospel is the global economic recession. In the struggle to restore their losses, people are naturally tempted to focus more on economic and politics matters than the return of Christ.
vii. 2 Pet. 3:9: Satan is using the tarrying of Christ’s return to weigh down many to believe that He is not coming back again. He has made many lose hope concerning Christ’s return, thus making them lose interest in preaching it.
viii.Even among the few that preach the advent of Jesus, there are some who do not live their lives according to the Word. Their lifestyles negate Christ’s holiness (Phil. 2:19-21; 3:18-19; 2 Tim. 3:5).
ix. The gains of technological advancement (Dan. 12:4), notwithstanding, Satan uses it to distract people (especially the youths) from focusing on the second coming of Christ. Discipleship (biblical) is no longer popular.
B. THE BLESSED HOPE REMAINS STILL (Eph. 5:26-27; Col. 1:27; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Tit. 2:13)
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appealing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:13).
i. Tit. 2:13: IN spite of the height of distractions and devil’s wiles, the blessed hope of Christ’s imminent return is sure and undeniable. Christians only have the responsibility to keep the hope alive, avoid becoming weary and distracted. Even His first coming was doubted and was not believed by a lot (Isa. 53:1-11).
ii. Col. 1:27: Christ remains the hope of glory. In Him, we have the hope of His immediate and ultimate kingdom. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Our hope to see and reign with Him someday is sure.
iii. 1 Thess. 4:16-18: God’s infallible Word (Num. 23:19) says that the dead in Christ shall be raised first before the yet living saints would be translated to join them in the clouds with Jesus (1 Cor. 15:52) for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). This assurance of the His Word forms the basis of our hope.
iv. Christ shall wipe away all tears and there shall be no more pain, tears, agony, etc. (Rev. 21:4). This is also one of the contents and elements of the full package —- THE BLESSED HOPE.
v. Remember the certainty of His coming. The angels announced it (Acts 1:10,11), He said it Himself (Joh. 14:1-3), the early Church and Church fathers believed it (2 Tim. 4:8,18). Therefore, believe it, preach it and expect His unstoppable coming.
vi. The fact that Christ has tarried for so long and may still tarry for a little more time, coupled with all the distractions that Satan is displaying notwithstanding, these can never be enough to negate or cancel Christ’s return. Delays is not denial. Christians, be wise and be sensitive!
LESSONS DERIVED
1. We are in the end-time, and so, the devil is working hard to distract Christians from the faith and hope in Christ. We must not be ignorant of his devices.
2. As humans, we hope for good things, but we must realise that those things are ephemeral in nature and can fail. The only hope that cannot fail is in Christ and His return.
QUESTIONS
1. What strategy would you use to witness to people who are already weary of Christ’s return, as a result of the prolonged date?
2. Highlight some wiles of the devil in distracting Christians from the blessed hope.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1.
i. Regular teaching of the gospel of Christ’s return.
ii. Praying for them to be encouraged once again and embrace the Gospel once again.
iii. Opening their eyes and inner minds for them to know that their weariness is one of the devices of the Devil to make them lose focus on heaven. This should be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
iv. Assuring them of the Blessed hope, the imminent and inevitable return of Christ.
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2
i. Weariness of the mind and soul
ii. Lack of faith
iii. Loss of focus on heaven
iv. Itching ears
v. Spread of false/unbiblical doctrines
vi. Gospel preachers becoming motivational speakers
vii. Increase in the number of teachers of false doctrines.
viii.Increase I think the number of false prophets.
ix. Economic meltdown
x. Worldly and lustful ambitions.
LIFE APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 13:5 admonishes all Christians to examine themselves on a regular basis, to see if they are still in the faith
This same admonition of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians applies to us Christians, today. We too must examine the ourselves to ensure the devices of the Devil are not yet at work in our lives. If there is any sign of the devices seen in our lives, we need to attend to them quickly and make necessary amends
And if they are not yet effective in our lives, let he who thinks he stands take heed, lest he falls (1 Cor. 10:12).
CONCLUSION
We have come to the end of the 12 lessons from July to December, 2021 series of the Sunday school, by God’s grace. We have been tremendously blessed by God through His human agents (the Sunday School teachers). May all that God has invested in us, all the while be evident in our lives, even as we are conscious and constantly aware of the devices of the Devil, and as we also look forward to the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Shalom, and remains rapturable!
WORK WHILE WAITING (WWW)
Reading Assignments In Preparation For January To June, 2022 Sunday School Series
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK ONE
Mon. 20: I Am The Beginning, The End (Rev. 22:13)
Tue. 21: I Declare The End From The Beginning (Isa. 46:9-10)
Wed. 22: I Have Great Plans For You (Jer. 29:11)
Thur. 23: I Knew You From The Beginning (Jer. 1:5)
Fri. 24: I Will Establish You (Gen. 12:1-3)
Sat. 25: I Need Your Trust (Prov. 3:5-6).
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. Dec. 27: People Shall Depart From The Faith (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
Tue. ” 28: People Shall Develop Itching Ears (2 Tim. 4:3).
Wed. ” 29: Preach The Word Continually (2 Tim. 4:1-2)
Thur. ” 30: Preachers Are Needed (Rom. 10:14)
Fri. ” 31: Preaching Promised On Spirit’s Empowerment (Acts 1:8)
Sat. Jan. 1: Preachers Should Disciple Converts (Matt. 28:18-19).
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK THREE
Mon. 3: God Has Not Forgotten You (Isa. 49:15)
Tue. 4: God, Your Ever-Ready Help (Psa. 33:20)
Wed. 5: God Waits To Help In Need (Psa. 121:1-2)
Thur. 6: Godly Fear Brings Abundance (Psa. 34:9-10)
Fri. 7: God’s Alone Is Our Sure Rest (Matt. 11:28)
Sat. 8: God Hears When You Call (Psa. 5:1; 54:2)
This is the end of the year 2021 Sunday School Lesson.
Get your January – June. 2022 Manual @ any CAC headquarters closer to your assembly. God bless you.
Our Examination will be available once is ready.

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