RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 21 JULY 2024

LESSON: FORTY SEVEN (47)
TOPIC: PERILOUS TIME

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me
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?

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[1]This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2]For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3]Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4]Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5]Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

MEMORY VERSE: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Timothy 3:1.

INTRODUCTION: The translated word for “perilous” in 2Timothy 3:1 is ‘chalepos’, which means troublesome, dangerous, fierce, dreadful, etc. The term, last days, refers to the period between Christ’s ascension into Heaven and His second coming. Perilous times constitute part of the last days. The ‘last days’is not just a prophecy. It started from the days of the Bible (1John.2:18-19). The importance of the prophecy and warning against the perilous times cannot be over-emphasised because we are living in the fulfilment of these perilous times. The purpose of this study is to carefully consider the writing of Paul to Timothy in 2Timothy 3:1-5 on the things that characterise the Perilous Times and the position every believer in Christ should take.

OUTLINES:
1. CHARACTERISTICS OF PERILOUS TIMES
2. CAUTION FOR BELIEVERS

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF PERILOUS TIMES
According to Paul, the conduct of the people will reveal perilous times. Some people will be lovers of their selves (2 Timothy 3:2) i.e. they will be self-centred (Philippians 2:21); covetous – having lust of the eyes, craziness for wealth and materialism (Luke 12:15;); boasters – expressing vain glory (Psalms 10:3); proud – valuing themselves above all others (Proverbs 21:4); blasphemers – those who speak immorally of God and sacred things (Mark.3:29); disobedient to parents – disrespecting and dishonouring parents both physically and spiritually (Romans 1:30); unthankful – not appreciating God and others for good deeds (Romans 1:21); unholy- not pleasing God (Jude 18).
Furthermore, 2Timothy 3:3 says some people will be without natural affection – no family affection and lack of tender love (Romans 1:31); trucebreakers – treacherous and betraying true friendship; False accusers – character assassination (Proverbs 10:18); incontinent – without self-control (2 Peter 2:14); ‘fierce’ – wild or violent, having or displaying an intense, ferocious aggressiveness (Psalms 11:5); despisers of those that are good – All forms of lies, evil speaking against true believers and godliness (Nehemiah 2:19).
2Timothy 3:4 also makes mention of traitors – a betrayer of trust (Acts 7:52); heady – reckless or headstrong (Proverbs 21:29a); lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God- All forms of immorality and ungodliness that satisfy the flesh (Philippians 3:19).
In addition, 2Timothy 3:5 speaks of them as ‘Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof’ – Being religious but not victorious above sin, outwardly looking good but inwardly rotten in unrighteousness (Matthew 23:27).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Each student should mention one characteristic of the perilous times.

2. CAUTION FOR BELIEVERS
Scriptures admonish believers living in this ‘last days’ to turn away from all ungodly practices in order not to be caught in the web of the perilous times (2 Timothy 3:5). As believers, we must receive the prophecies/warning and be conscious of it at all times. We must separate from the company and fellowship of people with the characters above (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). We must avoid all forms of carnality and false doctrines (Romans 8:6-7; Ephesians 4:14). We must be watchful and be prayerful to guard against deception and temptation to sin (Matthew 26:41; 2Corinthians 2:11). We must release ourselves to the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His leading (James 4:7; Romans 8:14).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What roles can believers play to ensure they remain in the faith in this period.

CONCLUSION This is a perilous time; every believer that wants to get to heaven must heed the warning, and be careful to live a separate life from the world and false brethren to please God.

QUESTIONS:
* What events will characterise the perilous times?
* What scriptural cautions are believers to adhere to during perilous times?

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) measures you have put in place to overcome the perilous times (2×5=10 Marks).