RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 4 FEBRUARY 2024
LESSON TWENTY THREE (23)
TOPIC: EXCELLENCE
*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 friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and 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 be 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?
BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 5:5-14
[5]In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
[6]Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.
[7]The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
[8]Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
[9]Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
[10]The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.
[11]There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
[12]Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” The Writing on the Wall Explained
[13]Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?
[14]I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
MEMORY VERSE:
“Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” Daniel 5:12 (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: Every human behaves in a certain order. These behaviours are the product of personal perception or orientation developed over time. Orientation is simply defined as a perceived inclination toward something or someone which could be positive or negative based on the individual’s developmental factors. Excellence, on the other hand, means being distinct. God is excellent and He wants us to live an outstanding life just like Him (Psalm 8:9).
OUTLINES:
1. LIVING LIKE GOD
2. ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
1. LIVING LIKE GOD
Our God is the source of everything good (Matthew. 19:17). He has an excellent name (Psalms 8:9; 148:13), He is excellent in power and judgement (Job 37:23), and His ways and deeds are excellent (Psalm 18:30). God wants us to live excellently like Him (Proverbs 8:6). Our affiliation to Him will inevitably open us up to the kind of reality that surrounds Him (Daniel 1:8-9; 2 Chronicles 26:3-5). Having an excellent orientation is simply thinking God’s thoughts and living God’s life (Philippians 2:5). This will, in turn, produce God’s kind of result (Daniel 5:11-12; John 5:19-20). Excellence is clearly seen and attainable in the person of Jesus Christ and only individuals who are in Him can access it (Philippians 4:13).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Search yourself; can you say you are excellent? If not ask God for the spirit of excellence and If yes, make efforts to get better.
2. ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
Anyone can attain excellence and live perpetually in that realm. To attain such height, certain decisions, which include the following, must be taken:
You must be born again (John 3:3-6); consciously have and develop intimate fellowship with God through His word and His Spirit (Jeremiah 15:16; 1Corinthians 2:10-12); make up your mind to engage God in every area of your life (2Chronicles 26:3-5); surround yourself with people who are open-minded (1 Samuel 22:1-2); do not stop developing yourself (2 Timothy 2:15; Daniel 9:2); Do not give room to excuses (Proverbs 22:13); Believe you can be better (Philippians 3:12).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Apart from the ones listed above, students should mention other ways in which a man can attain excellence.
CONCLUSION: Having excellence through life is attainable and it is found in having the mind of Christ.
QUESTIONS:
* What is excellence?
* How can believers achieve excellence?
FURTHER READING: SUN: 1 Peter 2:1. MON: Prov.28:5. TUES: 1Thess.5:21. WED: 1 John 4:1. THUR: Jer. 29:8. FRI: Rev. 2:2. SAT: Acts 20:30.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) Bible characters that attained excellence (2×5=10 Marks).
