RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 25 SEPTEMBER 2022

LESSON THREE (04)
TOPIC: SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES

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 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 blessings on me

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 understand what spiritual sacrifices entail.

BIBLE PASSAGE: HEBREWS 13:15-16

[15]By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

[16]But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

MEMORY VERSE:
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5.

INTRODUCTION: The Christian faith, like every other religion, involves components like a temple, altar, and sacrifices (Gen.4:3-4; 8:20; 1 Sam.1:9). Spiritual sacrifices, however, replaced the material sacrifices of the Old Covenant (Ex.29:36). No longer do we offer bulls, goats, and lambs on the altar (Heb.10:1-11). Our worship today involves the offering of spiritual sacrifices. What are these spiritual sacrifices and who qualifies to offer them acceptably?

TEXT REVIEW: In the above text, the writer admonishes believers to offer two kinds of spiritual sacrifice
i. The sacrifice of …………………………….V15a.
That is, …………….. …………………………..V15b.
ii. The sacrifice of ………………………………..V16a.
Because………………..……………………………V16b.

OUTLINES:
1. WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES?
2. HOW TO OFFER ACCEPTABLE SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES

1. WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES?
1. Spiritual sacrifices are:
a. Continuous offerings from believers to God in faith.
b. They are words or deeds motivated by a desire to glorify God alone (Heb.13:16).

2. Just as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary in the Old Testament, so our spiritual sacrifices ascend to God (Ps.141:2; Rev.5:8).

3. These include the believer’s prayers, praises, will, good deeds, body, time, treasures, talents, and spiritual gifts.

4. Therefore:
i. The fact that the incense was always burning means we should always pray (Lk.18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17).

ii. Fasting is also a spiritual sacrifice that aids the believer’s prayer (Dan.9:3).

iii. God created us to praise Him, and we must offer the ‘sacrifice of praise’ to Him continually (Heb.13:15).

iv. Just as Jesus surrendered His will to the Father (Lk.22:42), so should we, though it’s an ongoing battle (Rom.7:18-20).

v. Our talents and spiritual gifts are from God and should be offered for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edification of the body of Christ (Eph.4:7, 12).

vi. Our treasures (financial/material resources) contribute to the spiritual sacrifices to be offered to God, the kingdom work on earth, the ministers of God, and the people in need (Phil.4:18; Prov.19:17; Gal.6:10).
Spiritual sacrifices are continuous offerings from believers to God in faith. They are words or deeds motivated by a desire to glorify God alone (Heb.13:16). Just as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary in the Old Testament, so our spiritual sacrifices ascend to God (Ps.141:2; Rev.5:8). These include the believer’s prayers, praises, will, body, time, treasures, talents, and spiritual gifts.

Therefore, the fact that the incense was always burning means we should always pray (Lk.18:1; 1 Thess.5:17). Fasting is also a spiritual sacrifice that aids the believer’s prayer (Dan.9:3). God created us to praise Him, and we must offer the ‘sacrifice of praise’ to Him continually (Heb.13:15). Just as Jesus surrendered His will to the Father’s (Lk.22:42), so should we, though it’s an ongoing battle (Rom. 7:18-20).

Our talents and spiritual gifts are from God and should be offered for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edification of the body of Christ (Eph.4:7, 12). Our treasures (financial/material resources) contribute to the spiritual sacrifices to be offered to God, the kingdom work on earth, the ministers of God, and the people in need (Phil.4:18; Prov.19:17; Gal.6:10).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
Students should share with the class the spiritual sacrifices they have made to God.

2. HOW TO OFFER ACCEPTABLE SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES
A. Believers constitute the new priesthood (1 Pet.2:9). Therefore, to offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices:
1. We must appear before God sanctified (Ps.24:3-4; Lev.10:1-3):

2. We must present our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ (Rom.12:1-2; Gal.2:20).
a. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord (1 Cor.6:18-20).
b. The believer’s body is yielded to God as an instrument of righteousness (Rom.6:12-13; 8:11-13).

3. This implies that we are to:
i. Maintain good sexual boundaries (Eph.5:3).
ii. Refuse to use our bodies for theft, or to bring harm to another person (1 Pet.4:15; Col.3:12-13).

B. Spiritual sacrifices must be offered:
i. Obediently (1 Sam.15:22).
ii. Willingly (2 Cor.9:6).
iii. Cheerfully (2 Cor.9:7).
iv. Timely (Eccl.11:6).
v. In reverence to God (Mal.1:8).
Believers constitute the new priesthood (1 Pet.2:9). Therefore, to offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices, we must appear before God sanctified (Ps.24:3-4; Lev.10:1-3). First, we must present our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ (Rom.12:1-2; Gal.2:20). Our bodies are the temple of the Lord (1 Cor.6:18-20).

The believer’s body is yielded to God as an instrument of righteousness (Rom.6:12-13; 8:11-13). This implies that we are to maintain good sexual boundaries (Eph.5:3), refuse to use our bodies for theft, or to bring harm to another person (1 Pet.4:15; Col.3:12-13). Second, spiritual sacrifices must be offered obediently (1 Sam.15:22); willingly (2 Cor.9:6); cheerfully (2 Cor.9:7); timely (Eccl.11:6) and in reverence to God (Mal.1:8).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should narrate how they have offered a spiritual sacrifice in a timely manner.

SUMMARY: Spiritual sacrifices are part of the Christian’s worship and must be offered on God’s terms to be acceptable.

CONCLUSION: Sacrifice is part and parcel of worship. Jesus promised us rewards for every kind action done in His name (Mk.9:41).

QUESTIONS
* What are spiritual sacrifices?
* Mention ways believers can offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices to God.

EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students to list three ways to offer an acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, let my whole life be a pleasing sacrifice unto You.

ASSIGNMENT: In line with today’s lesson, mention with biblical references, five (5) people who offered acceptable sacrifices to God.