RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 10 NOVEMBER 2024

LESSON ELEVEN (11)
TOPIC: AVOID STRIFE

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?

OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to steer clear of strife.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 13:7-11.
[7]And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
[8]And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
[9]Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
[10]And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
[11]Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

MEMORY VERSE: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16.

INTRODUCTION: Strife is a strong and bitter disagreement over vital issues. It is often associated with conflict, opposition, competitions, violence, etc. As a divisive agent, it causes confusion, destroys unity, and creates hostility in human relationships. Strife is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. It is a sign of carnality which breeds division (1 Corinthians 3:3). Strife destroys and it is an honour to stay away from it.

LESSON AIM: To expose strife and its damaging effects.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through the lesson, students should be able to:
• Know what strife is.
• Understand its effect on the brethren.
• Recognise its agents
• Identify the way out of strife

TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, teachers should:
a. Allow the students to read the Bible passage, recite the memory verse, review the previous week’s lesson, participate in the class activities and do the assignment.
b. Allow the Assistant teacher to conduct the class, mark attendance and assignment, grade performance and close the class session with the closing prayer.
c. Lead the opening prayer, review the previous week’s lesson, teach the lesson outlines, summarize, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignments to the students.

TEXT REVIEW: Genesis 13:7-11.
This passage is a snapshot of the strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and the herdsmen of Lot (Abraham’s nephew) as well as how the conflict was resolved. There was a strife among them V7.
A. Abraham said to Lot,
i. Let there be no ………………………………………………V8.
ii. The whole ………………………………..V9.
B. And Lot:
i. ……………………….…………………………………V10.
ii. Then Lot chose ………………………..V11.

OUTLINES:
1..EFFECTS AND AGENTS OF STRIFE
2. THE RIGHT RESOLUTION

1..EFFECTS AND AGENTS OF STRIFE
A. Strife destroys good fellowship;
i. It extinguishes the warmth and love in a relationship very fast (Genesis 13:7).
ii. Like a virus, it spreads from person to person (2 Samuel 19:9).
iii. No matter who we are, we must take strife out of our lives because it can bring emotional wounds to families (Genesis 27:34-36, 41), and nations can go to war.
iv. It brings disharmony among the fold of Christ (Acts 15:35-39).
v. It can lead to destruction (Galatians 5:15).
B. Strife has some terrible agents that trigger it to action. Some of these include:
i. Pride (Proverbs 28:25a).
ii. Anger/Wrath (Proverbs 29:22; 15:18).
iii. Backbiting (Proverbs 16:28).
iv. Tell-tale (Proverbs 26:20).
v. Argument (1Timothy 6:4; Proverbs 26:21).
vi. Envy (James 3:14; Philippians 1:15).
vii. Unhealthy rivalry (Luke 22:24).
viii. Unteachable spirit (Proverbs 13:10).
ix. Evil desires (James 4:1).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should describe strife in a word.

2. THE RIGHT RESOLUTION
A. Preventing or staying away from strife must be a personal resolve and a responsibility one must be willing to take up (Philippians 2:3). Therefore, we must:
1. Intentionally work at it and confront it by consciously and consistently saying no to strife (Proverbs 20:3).
2. Avoid needless arguments (Proverbs 17:14).
3. Do away with bitterness (Hebrews 12:15), conflict, violent disagreement, etc.
4. Be a strife-stopper like Abram (Genesis 13:8).
5. Refuse to backbite or be a part of those who foment trouble (Psalm 15:3).
6. Be the first to resolve issues (Matthew 5:23-24).
7. Learn how to disagree peaceably (Romans 12:18).
B. Unity is another major requirement needed to keep strife out of our lives and relationships (Psalm 133:1).
1. Jesus in His prayers in John 17:22 asked the Father to make His followers one, as He and His Father are one.
2. Unity brings positive results, makes us achieve collective goals (Genesis 11:5-6), live in peace, etc. but it requires humility.
3. Psalm 133:2-3 states that unity brings anointing, refreshing, and blessings.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: How have you been avoiding strife as a believer?

CONCLUSION: Strife is a work of the flesh and it must be kicked out to build unity and achieve giant strides in life.

QUESTIONS:
* Mention five effects of strife.
* Identify four right resolutions to end strife.

EVALUATION: Describe strife in two sentences.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, I receive the grace to avoid strife, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ASSIGNMENT: Give five biblical instances of people involved in strife with references (2×5=10 Marks).