RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 18th March 2018 Lesson 29 — Marital Intimacy: The Perspective Of Christ And The Church
OPENING PRAYER: Father, strengthen our relationship with Christ in true love.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 5: 24-33
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife,
and they two shall be one flesh.32 This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church.33 Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her
husband.
MEMORY VERSE : ‘’Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” – Romans 15:7
INTRODUCTION:
The marriage of a man and a woman is a mirror of the relationship that exists between
Jesus Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:23, 32). In examing marital intimacy, therefore, it is important that we explore the path that Jesus Christ took in procuring intimacy with the Church.
TEXT REVIEW: Eph. 5:23-33
A. The relationship between Christ and the Church is highlighted in the following scriptures:
i. Christ accepted to be the head of the
Church and have authority over it. Eph. 5:24
ii. Christ is the Savior of the Church – the body of the believers. Eph 5:23
iii. Christ loves the Church and received it. Eph 5:25
iv. Christ sanctified the Church and cleaned it. Eph 5:26
v. Christ presented the Church and cleaned it. Eph 5:27
B. Everything Christ did for the Church should be done by the husband to the wife. Eph 5:31
C. Just as the Church accepted the position and provision of Christ for her, so also should the wife do. Eph 5:33
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Shared Responsibility
2. Shared Results
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
i. The Lord Jesus left His Father’s glory in heaven to join the believers, the Church. John1:1-2 ; Gal 4:4 ; Phil 2:5-8
ii. The Church must break every other bond and join herself to Christ. Matt 10:37
iii. The parental bond must never super-cede Christ’s love in the heart of believers. Matt.10:37.
iv. The Church must let go or sacrifice ego,achievements and glory to pursue and achieve intimate relationship with Christ. Matt 16:24-25
v. The Church must demonstrate selfless love for Christ and the brethren as Christ did. Luke 10:27
vi. The Church must demonstrate true
friendship relationship and reverence to Christ.
John 15:15-16
vii. The Church must devote it’s resources- time, energy,intellect,
money,etc. to promote it’s love for Christ and His kingdom work. Eph
5:25-27.
Activity 1: What do the following scriptures say about Christ and Church intimacy?
i. John 10:17-18
ii. Phil 2:5-8
iii. Matt 19:21-22; Rom 5:8; 1 John 3:16
SHARED RESULTS
The process has been completed and oneness between Jesus Christ and the Church achieved. Therefore, believers are required to share all things with Christ:
i. Shared prosecution. 2 Tim 3:12; John 15:18-19.
ii. Shared peace. John 14:27; Col 3:15.
iii. Shared power and authority. Luke 10:19; Matt 28:18-20.
iv. Shared victory. John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5.
v. Shared inheritance. Matt 19:27-29; Rom
8:16-17.
Activity 2: What are those things which
believers are expected to share with Christ in
addition to those identified in outline 2? How?
SUMMARY:
Christ shares so much of His blessing with the Church (believer).
Believers too should
share “them all” Christ.
CONCLUSION:
Husband, wife, children and brethren should
follow the footsteps of Christ.
EVALUATION:
Identify the shared responsibilities and results between Christ and the Church.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, I hand over my all to you. Please accept me totally.
ASSIGNMENT:
Identify five things which believers may not want to share with Christ.
