RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY:APRIL 22, 2018: CHILD ABUSE

Open Heavens 22 April 2018

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. 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.

2. 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.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. 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.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?

PRAYER: Father, save our children from all manners of child abuse.
Heal those children who have been abused.

BIBLE PASSAGE:Mark10:13-16
13.And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14.But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15.Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16.And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

MEMORY VERSE:”But whose shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6

LESSON INTRODUCTION:According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a child is “a young person especially between infancy and youth”. Child abuse is any maltreatment of a child which causes him/her harm. Such action can also take the form of child neglect or failure to protect a child from danger especially by a parent or other care-giver. The Bible does not use the word abuse but tells us that whosoever hams a child is asking for God’s anger. Mark 9:42.

TEXT REVIEW: MARK 10:13-16
OFFENCE TO LITTLE CHILDREN
The Lord pronounced a huge judgement on those who offend the little ones who believed in Him. Words like “Millstone were hanged on his neck and were drowned in the depth of the sea” Matt. 18:6 were found in Jesus’ pronouncement of judgement.
The offence in today’s Bible passage was that the disciples of Jesus rebuked those who brought the children to be touched and the Lord was greatly displeased with their action-Mark 10:13-14. God has been very mindful of children and He places high premium on them. The scriptures support this position in the following examples:
I. He provided water for Ishmael when he cried. Ger.. 21:16-20.
II. He accepted the ownership of children and mated them His heritage. Psalm 127:3
III. He compared children to arrows in the hand of the mighty. Psalm 127:4. He helped Elisha to raise the dead son of the Shunamite woman. 2 Kings 4:16-35.
IV. He carried them on the shoulder and blessed them. Mark 10:16.
V. He appoints angels to them who beholds God’s face. Matt.18:10.
VI. He assured them of the Kingdom. Mark 10:14-15 If God values children like this, then, those who plan to abuse them are looking for His trouble and before long they will find what they are looking for. Matt. 18:6

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY, 22ND APRIL 2018: CHILD ABUSE

LESSON OUTLINES:
Lesson Outline 1:FORMS OF CHILDABUSE
Child abuse takes different forms:
i. Physical Abuse:Can be excessive beating of a child especially one that leaves him/her with marks, throwing objects, poisoning, child labour (trafficking, hawking), neglecting to give the child basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, etc. It also includes use of drugs, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress. 1Kgs. 3:19, 25-26; Mk. 9:42.
ii. Sexual Abuse:This is when any person engages a child in any sexual activity such as fondling a child’s sexual organs, engaging the child in any immoral activity e.g. pornography, rape, defilement of the child, etc. 2Sam. 13:10-15.
iii. Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as cursing, belittling, and constantly finding fault), etc. 1Sam. 17:26-28; Col. 3:21.

Class Activity 1: Identify any other signs and prevention of child abuse in our society.

Lesson Outline 2: SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE
A. Signs of Child Abuse
i. Aggressive behaviour.
ii. Low self-esteem.
iii. Sleeping difficulties
iv. Unexplained bruises.
v. Burns or swellings.
vi. Lack of concentration.
vii. Criminal Inclinations.

Child abuse may eventually lead to deformation or death.

B. Prevention of child abuse may take the following forms:
i. Early education, identification and intervention.
ii. Break the silence, report any abuse.
iii. Train a child in a godly way. Prove 22:6.
iv. It is not every wrong that should be met with punishment.

Class Activity 2: Identify any other signs and prevention of child abuse in our society.

SUMMARY:No child should be abused under any guise.

CONCLUSION:Children are very precious to God and should be well taken care of.

EVALUATION:
i. What is child abuse?
ii. How can it be controlled?

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, make our society child-loving in Jesus’ name.

ASSIGNMENT:

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY, 22ND APRIL 2018: CHILD ABUSE

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*
*1.* 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.
*2.* 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.
*3.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
*4.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
*5.* 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.
*6.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6
BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 10:13-16
Mark:10.13
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought [them.]
Mark:10.14
But when Jesus saw [it,] He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mark:10.15
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Mark:10.16
And He took them up in His arms, put [His] hands on them, and blessed them.
INTRODUCTION:
According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a child is “a young person especially between infancy and youth”. Child abuse is any maltreatment of a child which causes him/her harm. Such action can also take the form of a child neglect or failure to protect a child from danger especially by a parent or other care-giver. The Bible does not use the word abuse but tells us that whosoever harms a child is asking for God’s anger (Mark 9:42).
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Forms of child abuse
2. Signs and prevention of child abuse
FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE
Basically, child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.
PHYSICAL ABUSE: Can be excessive beating of a child especially one that leaves him/her with marks, throwing objects, poisoning, child labour (trafficking, hawking), neglecting to give the child basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, etc. It also includes use of drugs, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress (1Kings 3:19, 25-26; Mark 9:42).
SEXUAL ABUSE: This is when any person engages a child in any sexual activity such as fondling a child’s sexual organs, engaging the child in any immoral activity e.g. pornography, rape, defilement of the child, etc. (2Samuel 13:10-15).
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as cursing, belittling, constantly finding fault), etc. (1Samuel 17:26-28; Colossians 3:21).
SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE
These are some of the signs that a child is being abused: aggressive behaviour, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulties, unexplained bruises, burns or swellings, lack of concentration and criminal inclinations. Child abuse may eventually lead to deformation or death.
Prevention of child abuse may take the following forms:
1. Early education, identification and intervention.
2. Break the silence, report any abuse.
3. Train a child in a godly way (Proverbs 22:6).
4. It is not every wrong that should be met with capital punishment.
CONCLUSION:
Child abuse is a menace that must be dealt with holistically in the fear of God. Children are precious to God and must be well taken care of (Psalm 127:3).
QUESTIONS
1. Mention three forms of child abuse.
2. State at least two ways of preventing child abuse.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-FOUR SUNDAY:APRIL 22, 2018: CHILD ABUSE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS: SUNDAY 22TH APRIL 2018: BELIEVE

MEMORISE: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13

Please read: John 3:14-18

MESSAGE:
According to our Bible reading today, the key to eternal life is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And what does it mean to believe? To believe means to accept or regard something or
someone as true, or to accept the truth of what is said by someone or about someone.

To believe in Jesus Christ means accepting that
everything He says and does is the truth. It also
involves accepting Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and believing that it is only through
Him that man can get to God.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the Way means accepting the fact that there is no other way to God except through Him.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the
Truth means accepting that everything He does
and says is the absolute truth.

Believing that Jesus Christ is the life means accepting that eternal life can only be given by Him.

Anyone who does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is condemned and will definitely perish,
because accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour means accepting the Eternal Life into your heart. And if you have the Eternal Life living in you, then you will not perish but have
everlasting life!

ACTION POINT:
If you haven’t accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, it means that you don’t believe in Him and so you do not have access to eternal
life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 4-6
Luke 18:18-43

Hymn 1
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire !

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Open Heaven 20 April 2018 Friday – NO FOOD FOR THE LAZY MAN

Open Heaven 20 April 2018 Memorise:And that ye study to be quite, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 1st Thessalonians 4:11

Read: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-12 Open Heavens 20 April 2018

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 10-11, 2nd Timothy 3-4

Hymnal: Sing hymn 4

MESSAGE – OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 FRIDAY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A lazy man is described in Proverbs 10:4 as someone who works with a slack hand. He or she is also described as slothful in Proverbs 12:24. The Holy Spirit warns us against slothfulness in Romans 12:11:

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Some people are fervent in spirit but slothful in business, whereas some others are diligent in business but not fervent in spirit. These are lopsided Christian lifestyles which are not profitable. In today’s memory verse, we are warned against being lazy.

Laziness results in some people becoming so poor that they become fraudsters to make ends meet. Defrauding others is a terrible sin that calls for God’s vengeance (1st Thessalonians 4:6). Lazy Christians take advantage of the generosity of the Christian brotherhood to defraud other diligent Christians.

Such lazy ones do not want to work with their hands. Instead, they go from house to house and from church to church to defraud the brethren under several pretexts; interestingly, this is not a new development in the Body of Christ. Under the guise of awaiting the second coming of the Lord, laziness was so rampant in the Church at Thessalonica, so much so that some believers abandoned their trade and businesses to loaf around.

For this reason, Apostle Paul, after his initial epistle, further wrote to this same Church in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10, saying,

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

OPEN HEAVENS 20 APRIL 2018

Today, job scarcity makes it difficult for us to know who is actually lazy among the brethren who loaf around other brethren. In actual fact, it is not the lack of jobs that makes people unemployed; rather, it is pride and the unrealistic dreams of white collar jobs. Some would not do any other job than what they were trained to do in school.

These group of Christians should learn from people like Apostle Paul, who in spite of his degree in law engaged in tent making to make ends meet (Acts 18:3, Philippians 3:5). Some people are misguided into thinking that doing manual labour would drain their anointing; this is a lie of the devil.

The Lord promised to bless the work of our hands, not our idleness (Deuteronomy 28:12). The story was told of how God directed a young but brilliant Christian to start clearing human waste in a modern way, and he became a millionaire through it.

if you are naturally lazy, you need supernatural healing, because laziness is a disease that can kill the body and throw the soul into hell. Therefore, detest it with everything in you.

Action Point – Open Heaven 20 April 2018

Create a job if no one offers you one; you are a child of God with the ability to create things.

OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2018 HYMN

SING HYMN 4 – TRUST AND OBEY

When we walk with the Lord in

the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our

way!

While we do His good will, He

abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and

obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other

Way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust

and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a

cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it

away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh

or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and

obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a

sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly

repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown

or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and

obey.

But we never can prove the

delights of His love

Until all on the alter we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the

Joy He bestows,

Are from them who will trust and

obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we

will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the

way;

What He says we will do, where

He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS SATURDAY 21TH APRIL 2018: OPEN THESE WINDOWS

MEMORISE: Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

Please read: 2 Chronicles 7:11-14

MESSAGE:
Heaven has windows which can be open or shut.
If shut, there will be no rain. Rivers will begin to dry up and this will bring famine and death.

One way by which God judges people is by shutting the windows of Heaven over them.

In Amos 4:6-9, God says He can open heavenly windows
for some and shut it over some. This means that while some people are crying that things are too hard for them, others are feasting, celebrating
and saying that things are really good.

May the Lord open the heavenly windows over you in
Jesus’ name.

God’s anointed prophets can also open or close
heavenly windows. This is one reason why you must carefully relate with a genuine man of God.

One pronouncement is all that the Heaven is waiting for to open or shut the windows over a
person, city or nation. Do you know that as long as you remain in right standing with God, and please Him in all you do, you can leave open
heavenly windows over your life? You can also
command open the windows already shut. This is one key that believers have, but many have not
been using. Pray for the power today!

ACTION POINT:
Pray that God will open the windows of Heaven over you and your loved ones today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 1-3
Luke 18:1-17

Hymn 3
1. There shall be showers of blessing
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing
Sent from the Savior above

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drop ’round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us a refreshing;
Come now and honour Thy Word.

4. There shall be showers of blessing
Oh that today they might fall,
now as to God we are confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Open Heaven 22 April 2018 Sunday – THE NEED FOR MIRACLES

Open Heaven 22 April 2018 Memorise:God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4

Read: John 11:39-45 Open Heavens 22 April 2018

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Open Heaven 22 April 2018

Bible in one year: Judges 15-16, Titus 2-3

Hymnal: Sing hymn 7

OPEN HEAVEN 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

A careful study of the miracles recorded in the Bible will reveal some truths to the discerning. Such a study will reveal that miracles are supernatural and that they are an intervention of God in the affairs of men.

This study will also reveal that miracles happen only when God deems it necessary. In other words, God divinely intervenes when the ability of man fails and He wants to show His Almightiness.

Open Heaven 21 April 2018

God does not waste His divine intervention wherever He has given man the enablement to act. For example, He stopped sending manna to the children of Israel the moment they got settled in the Promised Land. They had to cultivate and eat from the land, which was flowing with milk and honey. Joshua 5:12 says,

“And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canna that year.”

OPEN HEAVENS 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY

The truth of the matter is that although God was still capable of sending the manna, He stopped sending it because there was no need for it anymore. He expected His children as His image carriers and co-creators with him to cultivate the land.

Also, in Exodus 14:15-16, even though the Lord was willing and ready to intervene for the salvation of Israel at the Red Sea, He told Moses to play his part. If a child of God fails to understand this principle, it can cause him or her untold pain and disappointment due to failure to act where he or she ought to.

Having established these truths, we must also realise that the ability to work miracles is like a stamp or approval given by God to His chosen human vessels. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus called for His Father’s intervention in the case of Lazarus who was dead. Why did He call on the Father to intervene? John 11:42 says,

“And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Also, in today’s memory verse, “divers’ miracles” is listed as one of those supernatural things God uses to bear witness to the message of His chosen vessels. Without this witness, our message will be like that of mere orators and philosophers. Jesus needed miracles to establish His mission, and so do we. Let us therefore thirst for this gift to glorify the Almighty God.

Prayer Point –  Open Heaven 22 April 2018

Father, from today, please confirm my witness of You by working Your miracles through me.

OPEN HEAVEN 22 APRIL 2018 SUNDAY HYMN

SING HYMN 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

Wonderful story of love;

Tell it to me again;

Wonderful story of love;

Wake the immortal strain!

Angles with rapture announce

It,

Shepherds with wonder receive

it;

Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love.

Chorus:

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.

Wonderful story of love;

Through you are far away;

Wonderful story of love;

Still He doth call today;

Calling from Calvary’s

Mountain,

Down from the crystal-bright

fountain,

E’en from the dawn of creation,

Wonderful story of love.

Wonderful story of love;

Jesus provides a rest;

Wonderful story of love;

For all the pure and blest,

Rest in those mansions above

us, With those who’ve gone on

before us,

Singing the rapturous chorus,

Wonderful story of love