RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADERS’ MANUAL FOR JANUARY 14, 2024 : TOPIC – RETURN TO THE FIRST LOVE (PART 2)
READ PREVIOUS HOUSE FELLOWSHIP MANUALS HERE
RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP LEADERS’ MANUAL
SUNDAY 14TH OF JANUARY, 2024
LESSON TWENTY (20)
TOPIC: RETURN TO THE FIRST LOVE (PART 2)
HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM
1. I love this family of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family
2. I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family
3. I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family
4. I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family
5. Come, join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And am so glad to be
A part of this great family.
OPENING PRAYER: Father, please release upon my life the grace to return and abide with my first love in Jesus name.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Leader should ask members what they understand by first love and let them list some components of first love.
MEMORY VERSE: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. “Revelation 2:4
BIBLE TEXT: Mark 12:30
[30]And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: The first deliverance a believer who has left his first love encounter is to realize the height they have fallen from, repent and return to their first love just like the prodigal son in the book of Luke 15:11-32.
LESSON AIM: To ensure members return to JESUS if they have lost their first love.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, members should be able to know:
– what signs to see on someone who has left their first love.
– steps required to regain or return to someone’s first love.
TEXT REVIEW: Mark 12:30
a. Loving God must be total, with all your heart, soul and mind.
b. Your strength is part of what is required for loving God.
c. Loving God is the first commandment from God Himself.
LESSON OUTLINE ONE
SIGNS OF LEAVING YOUR FIRST LOVE
Believers don’t just fall out of love for God suddenly but satan, our enemy subtly tries to shift our focus away from God and gradually without realising it, we step out of His presence. These are some of the signs of leaving your first love:
i. Delight in someone or something else more than God – Exo. 20:3; Eph.5:11.
ii. No desire for fellowship with God or things of God.
iii. The things you used to detest are now okay (it doesn’t matter syndrome).
iv. Loss of desire to preach gospel or win souls for Christ – I Cor. 9:16.
v. Easily offended and hard to forgive – 1 Cor. 13:1-4.
vi. Lack of spiritual sensitivity – Judges 16:20.
vii. Loss of heavenly joy – Nehemiah 8:10.
viii. No thought about the life after death – Matt. 16:26; Mark 8:36.
LESSON OUTLINE TWO
STEPS TO RETURNING TO YOUR FIRST LOVE 1. Look for where the axe head has fallen and pick it up.
2. Remember the height from which you have fallen.
3. Acknowledge your sin, confess, repent and forsake it – Prov. 28:13.
4. Have a solid intimacy with God – James 4:8
5. Pray, fast, study, meditate on God’s Word – Joshua 1:8; II Tim. 2:15.
6. Render service to God and humanity.
ACTIVITY: Members should state other things that may cause the loss of first love.
SUMMARY: Your first love can be regained, all you have to do is to cry out to Him and repent of your sin.
CONCLUSION: *”… And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”z Judges 16:20b. Is God still with you?
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, revive our prayer altars with Your fire in Jesus name.
2. We purge ourselves from all ungodly attitudes with the blood of Jesus.
3. Everything we have lost to the enemy be restored today.
4. Father, guide us from falling from where You have divinely placed us.
5. Father, lead Daddy G.O throughout this year 2024 without wavering.
6. Every spirit of lukewarmness in the Church be destroyed in Jesus name.
ASSIGNMENT: List what made king David fall to the trap of Bathsheba in II Sam. 11:1-4.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: My son, if sinners entice you consent thou not – Prov. 1:10.
TUESDAY: For my mouth shall speak truth, wickedness is an abomination to my lips – Prov. 8:7.
WEDNESDAY: Believer’s hope is not only earthly but also heavenly. I Cor. 15:19.
THURSDAY: Let your heart be cleansed through faith in Christ-Acts 15:9.
FRIDAY: Never forsake your first love no matter what.
SATURDAY: Encourage a beloved brother or sister who is becoming lukewarm.
SUNDAY: Prayer against lukewarm attitude in the church of Christ.