RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual For September 8, 2024, Lesson 2 : Topic – The Deity Of Jesus (1)
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RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 8 September 2024 TOPIC: The Deity Of Jesus (1)
OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to understand the divine nature of Jesus.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.
MEMORY VERSE: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” – 1 John 5:20 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: John 1:1-5,14 (KJV)
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Generally, a ‘deity’ is a ‘god or goddess’ in a polytheistic religion (belief in many gods). Also, a being of divine status, quality, or nature is referred to as a deity. In the context of the Christian faith, the Deity is the Creator and Supreme Being. The argument about the Deity of Jesus Christ is common among people of other major religions (although they teach that Jesus was a prophet, a good teacher or a godly man). However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than the three combined (Matthew 16:13-16). Jesus is God. He is Divine.
LESSON AIM: To teach the church, the divine being of Jesus Christ.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this study, students are expected to:
- Understand with biblical evidence that Jesus is God and not just man.
- Identify His godly attributes.
TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should:
a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to the discussion, and do class activities and assignments.
b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, and mark attendance and assignment.
c. Teach the lesson outline, summarize, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignments.
TEXT REVIEW: John 1:1-5, 14.
A. In the above texts, the writer draws attention to the divinity of Jesus Christ that:
i. In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and……………………V1.
ii. Jesus was with God in the beginning …..V2.
iii. All things …………………………………………………V3.
iii. Life is him (the word) and ………………….V4.
iv. The Light shines in ……………………………V5
v. The word became flesh (Jesus)……..…….V14.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST
- REASONS THAT JESUS IS GOD
1. THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST
Here are some of the biblical evidences that Jesus is God:
- Jesus is a member of the Godhead (Genesis 1:1; 26a) referred to as the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit).
- The Bible clearly states that the Godhead resides in Jesus Christ bodily (Colossians 2:6-9).
- God the Father refers to Jesus as God (Hebrews 1:8).
- Old Testament prophecies of Christ announce His deity as the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6).
- Jesus says in John 10:30 “I and My Father are one” and “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
i. Jesus, announcing His identity as “I AM” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14).
ii. Jesus receives worship several times in the Scripture (Matthew 2:11; 28:9; Luke 24:52). He never rebukes people for worshipping Him.
- The apostles, through divine inspiration, testify that Jesus is God:
- For instance, John 1:1 says “…the Word was God.”
- John 1:14 says “And the Word became flesh…” This indicates that Jesus is God in the flesh.
iii. Thomas the disciple in John 20:28 declares to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” Jesus did not correct him.
iv. Apostle Paul describes Him as, “…the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
v. Apostle Peter says the same, “…of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Share with the class any encounter with non-believers who reject the fact that Jesus is God.
2. REASONS THAT JESUS IS GOD
A. The provision of salvation only works if Jesus is God, hence the divinity of Jesus is the reason why:
- He is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
- Jesus is God incarnate, the eternal Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8; 22:13)
- Jesus has the right to forgive sins. This is something only God can do (Acts 5:31; Luke 5:20-24).
- Jesus will “judge the living and the dead,” (2 Timothy 4:1) and reward all deeds in the flesh (Rev.22:11-12).
B. Some titles that uniquely belong to Jehovah (the formal name of God) in the Old Testament are used for Jesus:
- For instance, “Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14; 78:35) is used for Jesus in the New Testament (Titus 2:13-14; Revelation 5:9).
- Jesus is called Emmanuel-“God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
C. Some actions that can be accomplished only by God are credited to Jesus. For instance, He created and sustains the universe (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17).
D. He possesses attributes that only God can have:
i. Eternality (John 8:58).
ii. Omnipresence (Matthew 18:20, 28:20).
iii. Omniscience (Matthew 16:21).
iv. Omnipotence (Luke 7:13-15).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should distinguish between the biblical explanation of Christ being God (John 1:1-5, 14) and the opinion of people of other religions.
CONCLUSION: Christians should not only believe in the deity of Jesus but must be bold to proclaim and defend it scripturally.
QUESTIONS
- Give four biblical pieces of evidence that Jesus is God.
- Explain three reasons Jesus is God.
EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students to give some biblical pieces of evidence in defence of the deity of Jesus Christ.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, give me mighty encounters that convincingly reveal Your divinity to men.
ASSIGNMENT: Write out five things Jesus did in your life that no man can do. (2×5=10 Marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?