NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR AUGUST 7, 2022 : TOPIC – A NEW HOME.

By | August 7, 2022

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR AUGUST 7, 2022 : TOPIC – A NEW HOME.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE

DATE: SUNDAY, 7TH AUGUST, 2022.

TOPIC: A NEW HOME.

Background Scripture: Revelation 21:1-9.

Lesson Scripture: Revelation 21:1-9.

GOLDEN TEXT:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old will order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Describe the nature of the New Jerusalem;
● Highlight the requirements that qualify one for the New Jerusalem;
● Establish a relationship with God that ensures their participation in God’s new creation.

PREVIEW AUGUST 2022

We are most grateful to God for His steadfast love and grace to witness the month of August. The general theme for this month is “The Great Hope of the Saints”. The texts shall be taken from the book of Revelation. The focus of this month’s lessons is on the vision of the New Home and City God has prepared for the redeemed. The following points will be emphasised:
● John’s vision of a new heaven and earth where life’s challenges will be banished forever.
● The New City God will create.
● The River of Life that gives life and nourishment to the things that exist around it.
● How God creates and controls everything.

The lesson also affirms that in God’s new creation, God’s power will flow through the river, nourishing and healing people and nations in the New Jerusalem. Therefore, teachers are expected to make adequate preparation to teach these lessons using the suggested teaching participatory guide and ensure class members are involved so that everyone will be blessed.

Below are the suggested teaching methods to prepare for this month. They can be used during the general opening or in the classes.

August 7 – Pictorial Work: Let two class members stand in front of the class with two pictures on different cardboards. The first will be picture of a beautiful house and the other, picture of a dilapidated building. Ask two or three members to make their choices and explain probably what influenced their choices.

August 14 – Music: Sing Baptist Hymn 477- “Jerusalem, the Golden”

August 21 – Memorization: Write the Golden Text (Revelation 22:1) on a cardboard from different versions and let three class members stand in front of the class while they read in unison.

August 28 – Panel Discussion: Assign the two sub-topics to class members ahead of the class and ask them to prepare to discuss the lesson.

INTRODUCTION:
Sometime ago, a young graduate was posted to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria for his one year National Youth Service Corps. As it is natural for human beings to admire and celebrate new things because of the opportunity to be ushered into a better condition of life, the young man was excited. He spent time admiring the beauty, the road networks, buildings, streetlights, parks, dams, the transport system and the serenity of the entire city of Abuja. When he returned home after some months, he shared with his friends about the beautiful city. He also showed them pictures and video clips of some important sites. His conclusion was, “Abuja is a new home, a place to live.” Actually, what the young man described was a heaven-on-earth city. The pictures he showed his friends can be likened to the description of heaven in the apocalyptic writings found in the books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation, which we shall be considering today.

A writer expresses the wonder of the New Jerusalem in a song titled “Walk in Jerusalem like John’. As John concludes his vision, he described the nature of the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21). John’s vision foretells the events that Jesus Christ revealed to him to show His servants things that must happen very soon. The message was delivered to John through an angel while he was in the Island of Patmos because of his proclamation of the words of truth. However, it should be noted that the new heaven and the new earth is not a social order in this present world, but the eternal home of the redeemed, and the Father’s house of many mansions. The focus of today’s lesson is John’s vision about the New Jerusalem, where believers will reign with Christ forever.

THE LESSON EXPLAINED…

A. VISION OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH:
[Revelation 21:1-4]

John‘s vision was in stages as it was revealed to him by an angel in particular, the vision in chapter 21 is about the new heaven, the new earth and the New Jerusalem. First, John saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea (v.1). The reference supports prophet Isaiah’s declaration of the new heavens and new earth creation because the events of the past will be completely forgotten (Isaiah 65:17). Notably. die absence of the sea in the new heaven and new earth pictures lack of conflict, separation and disorder among God’s people. Secondly, he saw the coming of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven from God like a bride dressed and prepared to meet her husband. John’s language prepares the way for the description of the people of God as the bride of Christ who will live in the New Jerusalem. Thirdly, he heard a loud voice who spoke from the throne saying, ”Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.”(v.3]. This of course is the reinstatement of God’s eternal covenant relationship with His people Israel in the Old Testament (Exodus 19:4-6; Hebrews 8:812). By virtue of the restoration of His covenant, God promised to:
● Wipe away all tears from their eyes.
● Put an end to death.
● End grief or crying or pain because the old things have passed away and everything has become new. Even though the cities of the world have their riches and beauty, they are nothing compared to the glorious splendour of the city of God‘s people that was revealed to John.

The New Home as described in the passage is not merely an improvement over the old. It will be a completely new creation where life is more meaningful with a steady relationship with God. Everything that causes fear and shame will disappear and God’s people will be prepared in the same way a bride is prepared for her husband. Without doubt, this is an encouragement that believers will live in the New Home that is eternal and whose builder is God even though the present world is ephemeral and characterised by troubles. However, we should be reminded that entering into the New Jerusalem is not automatic or simply by performing religious activities. To accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord and living in obedience to Him through a consistent and holy lifestyle are the keys to entering into the New Jerusalem.

DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Distinguish between the features of this present earthly home and our heavenly home.
2. Mention some future
benefits that await Christians who live faithfully in this present age.

B.🎈 TRUTHFULNESS OF GOD’S WORD:
[Revelation 21:5-6]

The dialogue between John and the one sitting on the throne is amazing. Earlier on. John had heard a loud voice of the one who sat on the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them…”(v.3) with a promise to make all things new. Principally, he commanded John to write down the vision because the words are true and can be trusted.“ The reason for asking him to write down the vision was probably for preservation and to avoid alteration in the process of interpretation. In fact. the command was God’s prerogative and proclamation that He would make all things new. He said, ‘Look, I am making everything new (“5]. Ultimately, the one who sat on the throne identified himself as the final authority of all creation. He said. ‘lt is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End …’ (v.6}. By virtue of being the first and the last, He promised to freely give the right to drink from the spring of the water of life to those who are thirsty. The statement is similar to God’s invitation for everyone who is thirsty to come to drink water; buy corn and wine and milk without money 55:1). This implies God’s readiness to offer mercy to His beloved people in the new heaven and earth.

‘The final home of believers (The new heaven and the new earth) is guaranteed by God’s word and it is trustworthy. God Himself affirms it by saying “for what I tell you is trustworthy and true(v.5). God’s Word cannot be compared to the words of man While man is infinite and inconsistent, God is finite and perfectly consistent in His words and actions. Christians are therefore encouraged to make a definite commitment and trust God‘s Word because it is the instrument not only for changing lives but also for living a holy and meaningful life.

DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Give some reasons why God’s word can be trusted.
2. Why do some believers fail to trust God’s word In spite of the reasons given In (1) above?

C.🎈 REWARDS FOR GOOD AND EVIL:
[Revelation 21:7-9]

In the previous verse. the one who sat on the throne promised to give the right to drink from the spring of life to those who are thirsty. He also promised to maintain a Father and son relationship with those who win the victory(v.7). In other words, while He is their God, they will be His children. In contrast, a specific group of people, which includes the cowards, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, those who practice sexual immorality, magic acts, idolaters and all liars will be condemned. They will be cast into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And this he called the second death. Then, one of the seven angels with seven bowls of the seven last plagues beckoned on John and said to him. ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb” [v.9]. It is obvious that the marriage has not yet taken place but simply a pointer to a future marriage between Christ and the Church [Ephesians 5:22-32).

It is certain that there shall be reward and punishment for all people depending on their activities whether good or evil. Apparently, all believers will be rewarded because of their steadfastness in the face of persecutions, trials and temptations (v.7). The rewards are the blessings and privileges in verses1-6, which will earn them the right of place in the new abode (Hebrews 6:12; Mark 10:17). But others will be destined for condemnation and damnation, which the Bible describes as second death (Revelation 19:20). This is a warning to everyone, specifically believers to abstain from any lifestyle that does not glorify God. Rather, we should work towards living pure lives and be ready for the blissful union with Jesus Christ in eternity where obedience will be full and perfect. It is unlike the present life of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God and His commands that will eventually lead to rejection and condemnation.

DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Mention some of the evils that are prevalent in the Church today which are capable of bringing blemish to God’s people.
2. Discuss church discipline and suggest ways churches can improve on it.

📌Commitment:
● Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment to God that you will have a place in the new home.

📌Fellowship and Ministry Building Activities:
● Let two class members share with the class instances when their confidence in the Word of God helped them. Let them sing: “I am a friend of God/3x. He calls me friend” (four times).

📌 Prayer Points:
● Pray that your focus to make heaven will not be shifted.
● Pray that the Word of God will always be your guide.

📌 Take Home: Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson.
● __________
● __________
● __________

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