NBC Sunday School Manual For August 11, 2024 : Topic – CHRIST’S LOVE AS THE RULE.
Read previous NBC Sunday Sunday School Manauls here
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
Theme for the Month: “ETERNAL HOPE.”
DATE: SUNDAY, 11TH AUGUST, 2024.
TOPIC: CHRIST’S LOVE AS THE RULE.
Devotional Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.
Background Scripture: 1 John 3:1-10.
Lesson Scripture: 1 John 3:1-10.
GOLDEN TEXT:
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Distinguish between the children of God and that of the Devil, according to the passage;
● Discuss the different ways we, as believers, can respond to God’s love towards us;
● Make resolutions to appropriate the love of Christ towards us, as believers.
INTRODUCTION
Children often say, “Oh! It is ojoro” when they are playing games in dubious ways. What they mean is that their opponent has cheated or breached the rules of the game. The fact remains that games such as football, relay-race, hand/basketball weight-lifting, wrestling, Ludo and several others have their rules and regulations. The rules are put in place to safeguard the players, the spectators, and other important stakeholders, during the game. In some cases, participants are made to acquaint themselves with the rules of the game before its commencement to avoid unnecessary excuses when they are found guilty of breaching the rules. Sometimes, some games end in chaos and all stakeholders will be negatively affected when rules and regulations are not instituted or enforced. There were cases when individuals and countries were suspended from participating in games because they failed to comply with the rules and regulations guiding the game. The necessity of keeping to some accepted rules guiding a game also applies to the Christian faith.
The main theme of chapter 3 of the epistle of first John is ‘Right Living and True Love. The book is personal in nature because the author did not name the recipient. Apostle John wrote the book to the churches around Ephesus to warn them against heresies that could easily corrupt and cause rift in the Christian faith. He reassured the Christians of their faith because of the pressure from some group of Christian men who were once members of the church. They tried to incorporate some ideas from other philosophies as part of the faith. John appealed to them that these ideas are not faith based. As a result, John wrote to encourage the people to live righteously and love one another. As children of God, we must be guided by the love of Christ and allow His love to lead us so that we would not lose our esteemed position in Him. The focal point of today’s lesson is the love of Christ as a rule for Christian living. John’s claim is that if Christ did not become man and die for humankind’s sins, there is no Christian faith and if anyone deliberately sins, he is not a Christian. He added that God is love, and He wants His children to love one another.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. GOD’S GREAT LOVE
[1 John 3:1-3]
The division that took place in the Christian community in the days of John was an indication that “the enemy of Christ” (antichrist) was already present in the church. This necessitated his warnings against false teachings. He encouraged the people to live in fellowship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and be guided against anything that will distort their fellowship with God. He made them to know that God is righteous and anyone who does what is right has been born of Him (1 John 2:29). In verse 1, John called the attention of the people to the greatness of God’s love, which He has lavished on us that we are called the children of God, even though the world does not know Him. He became more precise in verse 2 when he said, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Therefore, those who have hope of becoming like Him in His appearance should purify themselves so that they will be as holy as Him. The word ‘Purify’ as used in this context may mean the confession of sins so as to receive forgiveness because no sinner will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The love of God for every believer is immeasurable — beyond what we can explain. Apostle Paul described it better in his letter to the church in Rome, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Jesus’ death has earned us the gift of eternity. Apostle John described God’s love for believers in the passage as great, that we are called children of God (v. 1b). Therefore, the best ways Christians can respond to this privilege of being called children of God is through faithfulness to Him, total obedience, holy living and dedication to His service. Christians should endeavour to renew their hope in Christ Jesus continually and make effort to purify themselves as Jesus’ followers. We should remember that those who purify themselves will no longer be dominated by sin, rather they will do what is right and be like Him (vv. 2- 3). The challenge, therefore, is that we must watch our conduct, character and relationship with one another, as we wait eagerly for Jesus’ second coming.
DISCUSSION TIME
Discuss some practical steps Christians can take to meet with Christ when He appears in His glory.
Considering the modern-day challenges confronting the world, discuss how our hope in Christ can be renewed.
B. THE RIGHTEOUS VERSUS THE SINFUL
[1 John 3:4-10]
Apostle John made a comparison between the nature of those who belong to God and those who belong to the Devil. According to him, those who belong to God do not live in sin, and they love one another with the love of God (v. 10). But the children of the Devil belong to the world and its system; therefore, their activities are contrary to God’s will for humankind. He added that anyone who commits sin is guilty of breaking the law (1 John 2:2) because there is no sin in Christ Jesus. Apparently, anyone who lives in Christ does not derive pleasure in sinning, like those who I continually live in sin because they have neither seen nor known Him (v. 6). John, however, admonished the people not to allow anyone to lead them astray because anyone who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. Conversely, anyone who lives in sin belongs to the Devil because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning (vv. 7-9; John 8:44). Interestingly, the Son of God appeared for this reason – – to destroy the works of the Devil. He reaffirmed, in verse 9, that because God’s nature is in His children, they cannot continue to live in sin. Sin differentiates God’s children from those of the Devil.
It is clear from John’s explanation that those who belong to God do not live in sin, and they love their brothers and sisters in the Christian community. On the other hand, the children of the Devil belong to the world system and its principles, and they live contrary to the will of God (v. 10). However, it should be noted that although believers sometimes fall into sin (1 John 1:8-10), they do not remain in a habitual state of sinning because God’s seed remains in them. Therefore, whenever a Christian sins, confesses and genuinely repents, he/she will receive forgiveness so as to continue in the Christian journey. Christians should also remember that it is our duty to do what is right, shun all forms of evil and love one another – these are the ways to know whether we are truly God’s children.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Christ appeared in order to take away our sins (v. 5). Discuss.
2. How can we help someone who claims to be a Christian but continues to sin?
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
Divide the class into two groups. Let group A list the characteristics of the children of God and group B, the characteristics of the children of the Devil. They should pray for one another for God to uphold them to the end.
Take Home:
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson?
● __________
● __________
● __________
Commitment:
● Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment to accept and appropriate Christ’s love as the rule in your relationship with God and humankind.
Happy Sunday in Advance.
Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!