RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 1 SEPTEMBER 2024

LESSON ONE (01)
SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2024
TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

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 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?

MEMORY VERSE: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

BIBLE PASSAGE: CHRONICLES 29:10-12
10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

INTRODUCTION: The kingdom of God is also known as the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23-24). The concept of the kingdom of God takes on various shade of meaning in different passages of the Scripture. A general understanding of God’s kingdom programme will help every believer key into the plan and purpose of God for mankind. Moreover, the concept of the kingdom of God is generally considered to be the central team of Jesus’ teaching.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. ASPECTS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
2. SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

1. ASPECTS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
God’s kingdom comprising there aspects:
a Universal kingdom, a Meditorial kingdom, and a Spiritual kingdom.

UNIVERSAL KINGDOM: This is God’s eternal sovereign rule over all that exists; the entire universe (Daniel 4:3). In this kingdom, God rules in absolute sovereignty over all His Creation (Psalm 47:2, 7-8).

MEDIATORAL KINGDOM: God uses divinely chosen human representatives to speak on his behalf and stand in gap of for His people. The Scripture records the special encounters and insights giving to these representatives about God’s will for mankind and His provision to save sinners. The Mediatorial kingdom will end with the thousand-year (millennial) reign of Christ upon the earth (Revelation 20:4-6). This will be the concluding link between human history and the eternal kingdom (Revelation 21 & 22).

SPIRITUAL KINGDOM: This kingdom is an invisible kingdom that exists in the heart of believers in Christ Jesus (Luke 17:20-21). Jesus said His kingdom was not of this word (John 18:36). He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). The kingdom of God can be equated by the sphere of salvation that must be entered into by being born again (John 3:5-7; 1Corinthians 6:9-10). It is Scriptual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on earth of God’s will (Matthew 6:10).

2. SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
In this Sermon on the Mount Jesus admonishes His audience to first seek the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness (Matthew 6:33). To seek the kingdom of God is to, as a matter of priority, hunger and thirst for the rule and reign of God in our lives with Jesus being in charge (Matthew 5:6; 6:9-10). We must also be willing to submit totally and obey His will as we come under the lordship of Christ and He is in control of our lives. The main benefit of the kingdom is the forgiveness of sins (Acts 3:19; 5:31). It is not rules or regulation but “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

CONCLUSION: We are equally commanded to witness to others that the kingdom of God is open to all who will surrender their lives to Jesus (Matthew 3:2; Mark 16:15-16)

QUESTIONS:
1. Explain the three aspects of God’s kingdom.
2. How can you seek the kingdom of God?

FURTHER READINGS: SUN: Psalm 103:19 MON: 1 Kings 3:13 TUE Daniel 2:44 WED: Psalm 103:21 THUR: Deuteronomy 7:21 FRI Like 24:47 SAT: John 6:15.

ASSIGNMENT: Identify 10 scriptural references in the Book of Matthew where the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to natural things. (1×10=10 Marks).