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?

MEMORY VERSE: “Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Corinthians 8:6-9

[6]Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

[7]Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

[8]I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

[9]For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

LESSON INTRODUCTION: In addition to the description of ‘Grace’ given in the previous lesson, Grace can also be referred to as the divine influence in a human heart that reflects on the outside. It produces favour, beauty, goodwill, loveliness and ability. It increase as one grows in the knowledge of God’s word (2 Pet.3:18). We shall therefore consider the various dimensions of grace mentioned in the Bible as well as some actions that can be taken with or against grace.

OUTLINES

1. DIMENSIONS OF GRACE

2. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH/AGAINST GRACE

DIMENSIONS OF GRACE

The Bible talks about grace in various dimensions. For instance, we have common grace (Ps.145:9; Matt.5:45), saving grace (Eph.2:4-9; Tit.2:11), abundant grace (2 Cor.4:15), sanctifying grace (Tit.2:12; 1Jn.2:15-16), sustaining grace (Rom.6:14; Jude: 1:24-25), supernatural/enabling grace (Phil.4:13; Lk.1:37), service (gifting) grace (Rom.12:6; Eph.4:7), sufficient grace (2 Cor.9:8; 1 Pet.5:10), victorious grace (1 Sam.17:36-37), sacrificial giving grace (Gen.22:9-10; 2Cor.12:15), great grace (Acts 4:33), eternal grace (1Cor.9:27), etc.

The key to access and operate at any of these levels or dimensions of grace lies in the degree of one’s connection with Christ from whom all grace originates and the desire to grow in Him (Jn.15:5; Phil.4:13; 2 Pet.3:18).

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH/AGAINST GRACE

There are lots of benefits that a believer can derive from grace apart from salvation. Grace can impart great blessings (Ps.84:11). It also imparts faith (Acts 18:27). In addition, it makes one God’s elect (Rom.11:5-6), gives boldness (1 Cor.15:10), calls believers to the ministry (Gal.1:15), helps render acceptable service (Heb.12:28), gives seasoning to speech (Col.4:6), gives strength (2 Tim.2:1), helps in time of need (Heb.4:16) and brings hope (2 Thess.2:16), among others.

However, it is possible to do the following against grace:

1. Receive grace in vain (2 Cor.6:1).

2. Frustrate grace in one’s life (Gal.2:21).

3. Fall from grace (Gal.1:6-8; 5:4).

4. Fail of the grace of God (Heb.12:15).

5. Turn grace into lasciviousness (Jude 4).

6. Sin in spite of grace (Rom.6:1).

7. Reject grace through pride (Jam.4:6).

CONCLUSION: Every believer must aspire to grow in grace (2 Pet.3:18). It is a dangerous thing to abuse grace despite its benefits.

QUESTIONS:

1. State the dimensions of Grace known to you.

2. What can you do with/against grace?

FURTHER READINGS: MON: 1Pet. 5:5-6; TUE: Prov. 3:34; WED: Prov. 11:16; THUR: Lk.9:16; FRI: Lk22:19; SAT: Jn. 1:1Z SUN: 1 Cor. 15:10.

ASSIGNMENT: ldentify with any two of the dimensions of grace above and state how

they have worked for you (5×2=10 Marks).