RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 21 MAY 2023

LESSON THIRTY-EIGHT (38)
TOPIC: 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 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 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

[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.

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 caregivers. The Bible tells us that whosoever harms a child is asking for God’s anger. Mark 9:42

OUTLINES
1. FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE
2. SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

1. FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE
Children are precious to God and must be well taken care of. Basically, child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional. Ps.127:3

Physical Abuse: Can be the 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 the use of drugs, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress.
1 Kg.3:19, 25-26; Mk.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. 2 Sam.13:10-15

Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as cursing, belittling, constantly finding fault), etc. 1 Sam.17:26-28 ;Col.3:21

2. 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. Prov.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.

QUESTIONS
1. Mention three (3) forms of child abuse.
2. State at least two (2) ways of preventing child abuse.

ASSIGNMENT: Give five (5) reasons people abuse children. (2×5=10 Marks).