RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 25 JULY 2021

TOPIC: RETALIATION

OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to love my neighbour as myself, according to your word.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 12:17-21

MEMORY VERSE: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD”. Leviticus 19:18

LESSON INTRODUCTION: Retaliation is a violent response to an act of harm or perceived injustice. To retaliate is to do something harmful or negative, to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance”, revenge, and avenge” have the idea of punishment in their root meaning. The question of non-retaliation or non-violence is often discussed in relation
to Matthew 5:38-44.

READ >> OPEN HEAVENS 25 JULY 2021

TEXTREVIEW: Romans 12:17-21.
The Almighty God assures believers that He would avenge tne wrongs inflicted on His children. He said, “I will repay”. Rom. 12:9.
Rather than revenge, God commanded His children to do certain things as commanded in the Bible passage for this lesson. Teacher snouid Tdeny dny ive of such directives.

LESSON OUTLINES
LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT RETALIATION?
i. Believers should not retaliate or revenge. Rom. 12:9.
ii. Believers should not pay back evil for evil. Rom 12:17.
iii. Believers should feed the enemy and give drinks to them in anticipation for divine rewards. Rom. 12:20; Prov. 25:21-22.
iv. Believers should not join the offenders in committing the same error. Rom. 12:21, Matt. 5:39.
V. Believers should allow God to judge. Heb. 10:30.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: i. Teacher should ask the students to explain why some people revenge (by themselves).
ii. Why do nations of the world retaliate by imposing sanctions?

LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE PROPER CHRISTIAN ACTION
i. Believers should love their enemies. Matt. 5:38-44.
ii. Believers should allow God to judge their enemies. Rom. 12:19.
iii. Believers should resist impulse to retaliate and live in peace. Rom.12:18.
v. Believers should forgive. Luke 6:27-31.
v. Believers should allow God to defend them. Psalms 20:1.
vi. Believers could set healthy boundaries/limit in case of destructive relationships. 2 Cor. 6:17; Prov. 22:24; Ezra 10:11.
vii. Believers should please God in all their ways. Prov. 16:7.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Find out at least seven (7) instructions given to believers in Matt. 5:38-44 as right attitude to revenge.

SUMMARY: Do not revenge.

CONCLUSION: The scripture enjoins us to live peaceably with all men as much as possible. Rom. 12:18.

EVALUATION: What is retaliation? Why should believers not retaliate?

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to obey your instruction on the issue of revenge/retaliation.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five reasons believers pray to God to send fire on their enemies