RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 12TH JULY 2020
TOPIC: LESSONS FROM THE SEVEN CHURCHES
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?
READ >> OPEN HEAVEN 12 JULY 2020
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, help me to listen always to what the spirit is saying to the churches
MEMORY VERSE: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. – Revelation 2:29
BIBLE PASSAGE: REVELATION 1:17-20
Revelation:1.17
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
Revelation:1.18
“I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Revelation:1.19
“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
Revelation:1.20
“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
INTRODUCTION
The letters written to The seven churches, chosen by the Almighty God, contain all the strengths and weaknesses of Christians down the ages. Jesus Christ wrote letters to each of them and to the body of Christ in general.
The letters were also meant for individuals in the churches. Each time you read any of these letters, regard it as a letter from your “Husband” (Jesus Christ) to you. This is because God normally deals with individuals.
Here are the contents of the letters to each of the churches containing the names of the churches, commendation, recommendations and the lessons to be learnt. 1Cor. 10:11-12.
TEXT REVIEW: REVELATION 1:17-20.
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not”
ACTIVITY: Teacher should identify what other things did the lord say to Apostle John from the Bible passage.
LESSON OUTLINES
STEPS:
i. Teacher should split the each class into seven groups.
ii. Teacher should give each group the following names with the following Bible passages to study for 9 minutes.
a. Group 1- EPHESUS CHURCH Revelation 2:1-7.
b. Group 2 – SMYRNA CHURCH Revelation 2:8-11.
c. Group 3 – PERGAMOS CHURCH Revelation 2:12-17.
d. Group 4 – THYATIRA CHURCH Revelation 2:18-29.
e. Group 5 – SARDIS CHURCH Revelation 3:1-6.
f. Group 6 – PHILADELPHIA CHURCH Revelation 3:7-13.
g. Group 7 – LAODICEANS CHURCH Revelation 3:14-22.
iii. Teacher should ask each group to identify the following from their Bible passages and make presentation for three minutes each.
a. Commendation/Positive attributes of the church
b. Condemnation/Warnings/Corrections/Counsels to the church.
c. Lesson to learn/Rewards/Punishments to the church.
iv. Teacher should use the table below as guide to check the correctness or otherwise of the student’s responses.
Where the group responses are different from those on the table, teacher should correct as appropriate.
S/N -1
CHURCHES – EPHESUS. (Rev. 2:1-7)
COMMENDATIONS-
•A diligent and patient Church.
•Detest evil-doers.
•Had doctrinal purity.
•Spirit of discernment, Perseverance and tirelessness.
CONDEMNATIONS-
•Turned away from their first love.
•Lost passion for Christ, work no longer motivated by love.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
Consider how far you have fallen. Repent. Do the things you did at first.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•Failure to repent will lead to destruction.
•Nothing can replace a heart full of love for Jesus.
•Overcomers will have access to tree of life and Paradise of God.
S/N -2
CHURCHES – SMYRNA (Rev. 2:8-11)
COMMENDATIONS-
•A poor but spiritually wealthy church.
•Exercised forbearance.
•Got spiritually victory.
CONDEMNATIONS- None.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
•Do not be afraid of persecution.
•Remain faithful to the end.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•Faithful Christians will receive the crown of life to live with Jesus forever. James. 1:12.
•Overcomers will not come under the power of the second death. Rev. 20:6.
S/N -3
CHURCHES – PERGAMOS (Rev. 2:12-17)
COMMENDATIONS-
•A faithful church that refused to deny the faith.
•Held on to Christ even in the midst of satanic influences
CONDEMNATIONS-
•Encouraged the false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans of unrestrained carnal lifestyle, self indulgence and moral/religions. •Compromises.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
Have a change of heart.
•Live differently or face a destructive judgement.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
God promise to give special food (hidden manna) to overcomers as well as white stone with a new name written on it known only to the recipients.
S/N -4
CHURCHES – THYATIRA (Rev. 2:18-29)
COMMENDATIONS-
•A church with strong love for Christ.
•Faith, service, patience-endurance.
•Great work.
CONDEMNATIONS-
Some believers tolerated false teaching like sexual immorality and idolatry which led some astray with an unrepentant heart.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
•Adulterers must repent or face sudden death.
•Be faithful and watchful.
•Stand firm in your belief.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•Faithful believers will not be overburdened.
•There is victory over Satan for obedient Christians.
•Believers will have authority to rule with the presence of Jesus, “The morning Star”
S/N -5
CHURCHES – SARDIS (Rev. 3:1-6).
COMMENDATIONS-
There are a few members of the church who did not defile themselves.
CONDEMNATIONS-
•A spiritually lifeless church.
•Unsaved people with imperfect works.
•Bearing the name “Christians” with no spiritual fruit.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
Keep in mind the teaching given to you.
•Be ruled by it and have a change of heart.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•Overcomers will be dressed in white.
•Their names will not be taken away from the book of life.
•Jesus will witness their names before God
S/N -6
CHURCHES- PHILADELPHIA (Rev. 3:7-13)
COMMENDATIONS-
Church with little strength.
•Kept God’s word and did not deny His name.
•The church endured patiently which led to an open door that could not be shut.
CONDEMNATIONS- •None
RECOMMENDATIONS-
•Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•The victorious Christian will escape the days of tribulations and be made permanent pillars in the temple of God.
•God will also write on them His name, the name of His city (The New Jerusalem) and His new name.
S/N -7
CHURCHES – LAODICEANS (Rev. 3:14-22)
COMMENDATIONS- •None
CONDEMNATIONS-
•A lukewarm (Neither cold nor hot) church.
•Proud wretched, self-glorification.
Spiritually blind and naked.
RECOMMENDATIONS-
•Be fervent in the Lord or you will be thrown away.
•Submit to God and live a life of purity to enjoy divine Revelation.
LESSONS/ REWARDS-
•Believers should choose to obey God.
•Overcomers will sit will sit with Christ on His throne.
i. Teacher should relate these churches to the different categories of the people in the church.
ii. Teacher should encourage the class to emulate the examples of those churches with commendations and avoid the pitfalls of churches with condmnations.
iii. Teachers should encourage students to strongly heed the recommendations/warnings/corrections given to each church, and
iv. Pray for rewards at the end of sojourn on earth.
CLASS ACTIVITY
All participants to score 20 marks each.
SUMMARY
The Almighty God is watching the attitudes of each member of congregation herein referred to as the seven churches and would reward everyone accordingly.
CONCLUSION
Just as Paul wrote to The church at Corinth, the things that were written to the seven churches are for our admonition so that we could learn from them. We are alive today but the end of all things will come soon. Therefore, we must learn to be careful and maintain right position in Christ. 1Cor. 10:11-12.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, help me to work, to receive commendation and not condemnation. Help me to heed all cautions, warnings, instruction to earn commendations.
ASSIGNMENT
Compare between Ephesus and Thyatira churches or contrast between Sardis and Philadelphia churches.
Glory be to God