RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 3rd June 2018 Lesson 40 – Fishing For Men’s Soul
OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me with new zeal and strategies to win souls.
Bible Passage: Matthew 4: 18-25 (KJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
MEMORY VERSE: “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Few are called to be poachers or evangelists but every born again Christian is called to be a fisher of men. Every born again child of God has the opportunity to deal individually and personally with men’s souls. Fishing for a soul is a definite effort to lead a person to accept Christ as Saviour and Lord at a definite time. Andrew brought Peter to Christ. John. 1:41-42. You too may be the means of bringing a future world preacher to Christ. Why not start today?
TEXT REVIEW: MATTHEW 4:18-25
The Almighty God has the character of calling those who are dutiful and committed to their vocations. For instance, Gideon was threshing wheat by the wine press when He called Him. Judges 6:11, Elisha was ploughing with twelve yoke oxen when He called Him. I Kings 19;19. And in today’s Bible passage, He saw Peter and Andrew who were fishermen, casting their nets into the sea, before He called them- Matthew 4:1 8. A similar invitation was extended to James Zebedee and John Zebedee. The two also were fishermen by vocation. They were mending their nets possibly after use. Beside these ones, some other people came to Him or were brought to Him and they followed Him too. Matt 4 24-25. These ones came from Decapolis, Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Syria and beyond Jordan – Matt. 4:25. What were the professions of these ones? Amazing. They were not professionals. Rather, they were lunatics, tormented, sick people, palsy and people of diverse manners of sicknesses-Matthew 4:23-24, He healed them all and they followed Matt. 4:24-25, Matthew 20:34; John 6:2. What message does this passage convey to believers?
i. The Lord wants to use the professional, dignified and noble people who are willing to follow Him. Matt. 4:2’0-22.
ii. The Lord has space to accommodate people who are considered worthless in the society. He has ability to heal and transform them. Matt. 4:24.
iii. He is waiting for you too to surrender and follow Him because He is the Lord of all flesh. Jer. 32:27.
Lesson Outline 1:WHY MUST I FISH FOR MEN’S SOULS?
i. Note to Teacher Task: Teacher’s should ask students why they think it is essential to fish for men’s souls.
ii. Teacher should explain the following reasons why believers should fish for men’s souls:
a. A Soul is worth more than the whole treasures of this world before God, Mark 8:35-38
b. The fact of hell. Every unsaved soul would perish forever in hell fire-Jn.3:18, Rev.21:8.
c. The suffering of Christ on the cross for each sinner. Believers must fish for men’s souls in order to ensure that Christ did not die in vain. Rom.5:8; 1Pet. 3:18.
d. Because the world will pass away and all its pleasures but only those who are in Christ Jesus will abide forever and will inherit all things. lJn. 2:17; Rev. 21:7.
e. Because there is a great reward for a soul winner. Pr. 11:30; Dan. 12: 3.
Class Activity 1: Why are souls still perishing despite the large number of believers on earth?
Lesson Outline 2: WHAT DO I NEED TO BE A FISHER OF MEN?
Note to Teacher Task: Teacher should state the following requirements to be a soul winner:
i. You must be born again and be sure of your salvation. Only the saved can serve. I Pet. 1:23
ii. You must be living a pure life. A life surrendered to Jesus Christ and dedicated to Him. 1 Jn. 3:3.
iii. A fisher must be patient, vigilant and hardworking. This is so because the big fish lives in deep waters.1Thess. 5;14.
iv. You must be prayerful. Prayers remove the obstacles on the path of the fishers and the souls. 2Thess, 1:11.
v. The one fishing for souls must at least have a fair knowledge of the word of God. You must study the Bible diligently. 2Tim.2:15.
vi. The fisher of men needs wisdom to respond to questions agitating the mind of the soul to be won. God gives wisdom liberally-James 1: 5.
vii. You must be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives power for a successful soul fishing. Acts 1:8; Eph. 5:18.
viii. You must have compassion for lost souls, otherwise, you will work with a dead, mechanical and dispassionate concern. Sinners know those who are truly concerned about them. Mt. 9:36.
Class Activity 2: Why do you think God places a high premium on winning souls?
SUMMARY:
Go and win souls for Christ.
CONCLUSION:
Follow Christ. He is calling you now, Matthew 4: 1 9b, 21c
EVALUATION:
What is fishing for men’s souls?
Who is a fisher of men?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, let the whole body of believers obey you and become soul winners.
ASSIGNMENT:
God places premium on soul winners. Why? Give five points to support this position.
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 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?
