NBC Sunday School Manual For October 1, 2023 :Topic – PREVIEW FOR OCTOBER
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
Theme for the Month:
“FAITH TRIUMPHS, LAW FAILS.”
DATE: SUNDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2023.
PREVIEW FOR OCTOBER
The theme for this month is “Faith Triumphs, Law Fails.” The main texts shall be taken from the books of Romans and Galatians. The lessons focus on how laws are created – 1. for the benefit of the society; 2. to give clear guidelines for “right” and “wrong.” Despite these reasons, some people sometimes intentionally break the law. Paul said that while God’s law guides us to do right, sin uses the same law to bring disobedience and death. The lesson also emphasises the following:
● It is better to keep the law than merely having it without obeying it.
● The struggle of the one who wants to keep the law and the weakness of the flesh that makes it difficult.
● Paul’s plea for the Galatian believers to hold fast to faith in Christ and not to revert to keeping the law.
● How the law shows humankind’s need for salvation.
Paul describes the law as a means of discipline but now, on account of Christ, we are released from the law to become children of God. As we study these lessons, we expect that the class will be interactive and learner-friendly so that lives will be blessed.
SUGGESTED TEACHING METHODS: These suggested teaching methods can be used during the general opening or in the classes.
October 1 – Interactive/Participative Method: Let two class members discuss the lesson and make the discussion participatory with emphasis on justification through faith in Christ alone.
October 8 – Questions and Answers: The moderator should carefully select one question under each sub-heading for discussion. There should be room for contributions.
October 15 – Soliloquy: Let a class member soliloquise the Golden Text in Galatians 2:20b
October 22 – Interactive/Participatory: Let at least two class members discuss “The Superiority of the Gospel”. The discussion should be interactive.
October 29 – Monologue: Let someone walk in front of the class while talking loudly about how believers have been freed to become heirs with Christ.
TOPIC: A MATTER OF THE HEART.
Devotional Reading:
Ezekiel 36:25-30.
Background Scripture:
Romans 2:1-29.
Lesson Scripture:
Romans 2:12-24, 28-29.
GOLDEN TEXT:
“No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” Romans 2:29
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Identify some marks of hypocrisy.
● State some religious practices that are against God’s injunction.
● Make a commitment to live in obedience to God’s Word, even when it is not convenient.
INTRODUCTION:
Mr. Hassan Samuel is a Christian and a police officer. He shares his experiences with his children from time to time to encourage them to join any of the para-military when they grow up. One day, one of his youngest sons said to him, “Dad, what did you learn during your training at the Police College?” Looking surprised and beaming with smile, his father responded, “I learnt many things but specifically, we were taught to help people abide by the law of the country. “The boy replied his father and said, “I have heard people say that police are not law-abiding; they are law breakers.” The father responded with a smile, “My son, not all policemen are lawbreakers; at least, your father is not.”
The concern of the young boy illustrates the lifestyle of the Jews to whom Apostle Paul addressed the book of Romans. Previously, Paul had proven that both Gentiles and Jews are sinners who needed salvation; particularly the Jews who have the Law. However, in chapter two, he was specific as he rebuked the Jews who were proud and presumptuous about the fact that they had the Law (Romans 2:17). Paul’s frightful picture of man’s sinfulness is true of the Jews also, even though they were God’s own nation, for they practise the sins common to humankind. Martin Luther used three metaphors to describe the law: he said, ‘it is like a mirror that shows sinners who they really are before God. It is a hammer that crushes human arrogance when humans see who they are before God. It is a mask; behind this mask is the mercy of God, to which the law drives the sinner and the saint’.
Romans Chapter 2 was written primarily to the Jews. They were proud to be called “Jews” with the understanding that “salvation belongs only to them.” Unfortunately, even though they claimed to be the custodian of the Law and boasted about God’s expectation from them, they were the “vilest of offenders” who never obeyed the Law. Paul, however, told them that it is not the hearer or custodian of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Therefore, there are no special privileges for Jews and Gentiles but God expects obedience to His Word. This is the focal point of today’s lesson.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED…
A. THE NECESSITY OF THE LAW:
[Romans 2:12-16]
Paul made it clear in the first few verses of the chapter that God’s right judgment is sure. He stressed the fact that those who pass judgment on other people only condemn themselves because they are also guilty of the same sin and so, they cannot escape God’s judgment (vv. 111). He became more specific in verse 12 when he said, “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.” The declaration was necessitated by the fact that only those who obey the law will be declared righteous in the sight of God and not necessarily those who hear it. He stated in verse 13 that though when the Gentiles do what the law requires, they become a law for themselves even they do not have the law. This declaration implies three important things: 1. that the law is already written in their hearts, 2. their conscience will bear witnesses and 3. their thoughts sometimes accuse and defend them (v.15). This will take place in the day of the God when He will judge the secrets of the people through Jesus Christ.
The summary of Paul’s message is that God is impartial, both Gentiles and Jews will be judged. This judgment will be based on obeying and doing God’s will and not just hearing it and keeping the law. By virtue of their claim to possess and know God’s law, they were to serve as guides to Gentiles. Unfortunately, they were hypocrites because they never kept the law they claimed they knew. Paul’s main point is that the Jews, who have the Law but does not obey it, is not better than the Gentiles who does not have the law but does what God requires. The necessity of the law is doing what God requires. However, Paul later made it clear that to be justified before God is to receive by faith the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ who alone fulfilled the law of Moses (Romans 10:4).
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Discuss why people find it difficult to obey the laws of the land, at home and even in school.
2. Discuss how the law can be written in the hearts of people.
B. VAIN PRIDE OF THE JEWS:
[Romans 2:17-24]
Apostle Paul analyses specifically the lifestyle of the Jews who possessed the Law but do not obey it. According to him, they preferred to be identified as “teachers and guides” to other nations (probably the Gentiles) as far as the law and the knowledge of God is concerned, than actual doers of the law. However, Paul observed and lamented that they were also guilty of what they condemned in other nations to whom they were teachers and guides. According to the passage, the supposed teachers and guides (the Jews) were classified as:
● Notable teachers who were only interested in teaching others instead of teaching themselves (v.21a).
● Thieves – even though they had in their possession the law, they were not guided by it. They often robbed pagan temples and profited from the plunder they made from others (v.21b).
● Idolatrous- they were known for idol worship instead of the true God of Israel (v.22).
● Disobedience to the law thereby dishonouring God (v.23).
As a result of their disobedience to the Law of God, the Gentiles continuously showed contempt for God (v.24; Isaiah 25:5). Similarly, Jesus condemned the hypocritical lifestyle of the Jews (the Scribes and Pharisees) who claimed to possess the Law but neither reverenced God who is the Lawgiver, nor did what the Laws says (Matthew 23:1-3). In the same vein, Peter admonished believers to ‘gird up the loins of their mind” (1 Peter 1:13a) and be resolute in complete obedience to the Word and will of God. Today, many Christians are like the Jews. They simply take pride in being called “pacesetters” or “people of the Book” without really setting the pace in faithfulness, godliness and obedience to God. In other words, they do not live by the principles of the Bible. Therefore, Christians need to be reminded that everyone is accountable to God. As the Law professed by the Jews became a witness against them, so the Holy Spirit and the Bible as the Word of God are our witnesses. God’s standard is that we should live by the truth we know. By virtue of our way of life and knowledge of the Word of God, we are to serve as guides to the blind, light to those in darkness, instructors to the foolish and teachers to the ignorant (v.19).
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Describe some common attitudes in believers that easily make unbelievers have contempt for God.
2. Discuss the implication of verse 24 for believers.
C. THE PRIDE OF PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION CONDEMNED:
[Romans 2:28-29]
The Jews did not only claim that they were the custodians of the law and teachers of nations, they were also proud of their outward and physical piety such as fasting, praying in the public and temple attendance. Particularly, they were boastful of their physical circumcision, which was a sign of the covenant between God and the people of Israel (Genesis 17:9-14). However, Paul emphasised that circumcision only has value if there is strict adherence to the Law. According to verses 28 and 29, both the Jews and the Gentiles are equal before God. Therefore, a real Jew is the one whose heart has been circumcised (Deuteronomy 30:6) through the power of the Holy Spirit and not by the written Law. Interestingly, such a person will receive praise from God and not mere human being (v.29b).
As stated above, believers should know that commitment to religious activities and efforts cannot save anyone. Only faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ can make us to be in right standing with God. Little wonder, Apostle Paul condemned the activities of the Jews who trusted only in their physical circumcision whereas; they were actually lawbreakers. Even today, it has become increasingly difficult to identify believers from unbelievers because many have equated ceremonious church activities with spirituality. Many people claim to “have the form of godliness but they deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5a). Nevertheless, we need to know that our covenant relationship with God, through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, demands total obedience. This does not, however, mean that we would not be involved in religious activities but we must put the salvation of our souls first and foremost. More importantly, being a Christian (Jew) is not because someone was born into a particular nationality (Jewish birth) or religion but it comes through the circumcision of the heart, which is spiritual rather than physical. This spiritual transformation comes by being united with Christ and being born again (Colossians 2:11). The attitude of showing an outward piety will earn praise from people but God is pleased when we keep the spirit of the law and serve others.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Discuss some common religious activities that are being projected by Christians and how they are displayed.
2. Discuss Paul’s intention in verse 29 and some lessons believers can learn from it.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:
● Deliberate on how Christians can always match their words with their actions.
Take Home: Write down some lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson?
● __________
● __________
● __________
Commitment:
● Based on today’s lesson, make a commitment to be a doer of God’s Word and not just a reader or hearer of it.
🌨 Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!