NBC Sunday School Manual For May 14, 2023 :Topic – Jumping For Joy
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
Theme of the Month:
THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH.
DATE: SUNDAY, 14TH MAY, 2023.
TOPIC: JUMPING FOR JOY.
Devotional Reading:
Luke 10:1-9.
Background Scripture:
Acts 3.
Lesson Scripture:
Acts 3:1-11.
GOLDEN TEXT:
“He jumped his feet and began to walk. Then he came with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.” Acts 3:8.
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Narrate the miracle of the healing of the crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate.
● Describe the beggar’s attitude after he received his healing and the place of miracles in spreading the gospel message.
● Make a commitment to help people this week.
INTRODUCTION:
Akokomu is a small village in the community of Ketere. It is rich in mineral resources that boost the economy of its state and the nation at large. Even though the government had benefitted so much from the natural resources, the devastating condition of the town was calling for quick attention. No accessible road especially during the rainy season or clean water. The water from the stream is what the community uses for cooking, drinking, bathing and washing. This same stream is hat their animals drink from and they sometimes defecate in it, which end up polluting the water. The old and dilapidated bridge of 70 meters from the riverbed linking the village to other communities is usually covered with water during the rainy season. This made the people to cry out for help. After a while, God heeded their cry by using a church to build a standard bridge and to sink an industrial borehole that supplied hygienic water to the community. In addition, they constructed more classrooms with modern facilities for the only school in the community and a standard clinic with qualified medical personnel for the use of the people. The people in the community were overjoyed by the action of the church for being used by God to ease their troubles. This made many members of the community to accept the gospel message brought to them by the church. The story underscores the fact that the church is not only meant to preach the gospel of salvation but also see to meeting the needs of people around them.
The book of Acts of the Apostles has a record of miracles performed by the apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Notable among them is the healing of a crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate by Peter and John. The miracle gave Peter and John the opportunity to preach about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. He attributed the healing to the power of the risen Christ (vv. 1617) and this brought the number of believers to five thousand men because they believed the message (Acts 4:4). After the man was healed, he went into the temple with Peter and John, walking and jumping and praising God to the amazement of the people. The focal point of today’s lesson is the response of the man immediately he received his healing.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED…
A. THE BEGGAR AND THE APOSTLES:
[Acts 3:1-5]
The new community of believers grew after the Pentecost experience when they we Sprit. There were continuous miracles as the people continue study of the Scriptures and shared their possessions with one another ( Acts 2:42-47). One day. Peter and John went to the temple at three o’clock in the afternoon for the Beautiful Gate was a lame man who had never walked in his life. Every day, he w the entrance of the gate for the purpose of begging for alms from people who were to the temple. The action was necessitated by the fact that lame people were forbidde entering into the temple by lewish Law (2 Samuel 5:8). According to verse 3, when he saw Peter and John, the requested for money from them since that was why he sat at the gate. They both looked straight at him and then Peter said, “Look at us!” Interestingly, the man looked em with an expectation to get something from them (v. 5).
The beggar did not know that Peter and John were men of God who could heal him, unlike the blind Bartimaeus who recognised the presence of Jesus and presented his case as he shouted, Jesus! Son of David! Take pity on me” (Mark 10:46-52). God works in mysterious ways beyond the understanding of man. Some people believe that it was divine arrangement for the crippled beggar to receive his healing through Peter and John that day. More importantly, as it was his custom, the man did not shy away from begging for alms from them and this act got the attention of the apostles who eventually became his benefactor. Christians should not relent in their effort to seek help, especially when our requests are genuine because no one knows who the angel of help could be. Similarly, we should endeavour to create an enabling environment for people to express their concerns to us. After all, not everyone needs financial assistance but sometimes our prayer, counsel, and guide that can lead to their freedom.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. The place of miracle in evangelism cannot be over-emphasised. Discuss
2. What can the church do to empower physically challenged members so that they do not continuously depend on the church or individuals in the church for livelihood?
B. THE LAME MAN RECEIVES HEALING:
[Acts 3:6-11]
The lame man was expecting to receive something from Peter and John as he looked at them intently (v. 5). But Peter who was already empowered by the Holy Spirit said to him, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” He assisted him by holding his right hand and instantly, his feet and ankles became strengthened. Immediately the man jumped up and began to walk according to Peter’s command. Noteworthy in the passage is the man’s response to his miraculous healing. He entered into the temple with them (probably for the first time in his life), walking and jumping and praising God 8) The people were amazed at what had happened to him when they recognised that it was the same beggar who usually sat at the Beautiful Gate. The people were surprised as the man sed on to Peter and John at Solomon’s colonnade and they also ran towards them.
Apostle Peter and John were going to the temple to pray because it was the hour of prayer. Despite that, they did not undermine the request of the man to give him something. Instead of meeting his immediate need of material things, Peter exercised his spiritual authority and the man received his healing. This calls for believers to pay attention to people who have genuine reasons to seek their help. We should not close our eyes and hearts to people’s needs or turn deaf ears to their outcry. Rather, we should be willing to render help or make referral to people who can be of help to them. Apart from the fact that the person helped is blessed, God is pleased and others are attracted to Him just like many people ran to the apostles because of the lame man (v. 11). There are people in our churches and neighbourhood who need financial assistance, food, medical care, school uniform, bags, textbooks, encouragement, prayer, and fellowship. Let us endeavour to assist them as much as we can.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. What is the significance of the man’s action in verse 8 and what does it teach believers?
2. Discuss the simplicity of Peter’s style of prayer in the healing of the lame man and compare it with the manner of healing in our contemporary time.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:
● Members should write out at least three lessons they can learn from the attitude portrayed by Peter, John and the beggar. They are to read it aloud for others to hear.
Take Home: State at least three main lessons you are taking home, based on today’s lesson:
● __________
● __________
● __________
Commitment:
● Make a verbal commitment to assist someone this week.
Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!