RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY SUNDAY, 25TH MARCH 2018: A HAPPY MARRIAGE
*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?
OPENING PRAYER
Father, let our youth find their own wives. Let the marry find good things and favor.
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD” – Proverbs 18:22
RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL LESSON THIRTY SUNDAY, 25TH MARCH 2018: A HAPPY MARRIAGE
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1Corinthians 7:1-15
1 Corinthians:7.1
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians:7.2
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians:7.3
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians:7.4
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband [does.] And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife [does.]
1 Corinthians:7.5
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians:7.6
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
1 Corinthians:7.7
For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
1 Corinthians:7.8
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
1 Corinthians:7.9
but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn [with passion.]
1 Corinthians:7.10
Now to the married I command, [yet] not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from [her] husband.
1 Corinthians:7.11
But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to [her] husband. And a husband is not to divorce [his] wife.
1 Corinthians:7.12
But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
1 Corinthians:7.13
And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
1 Corinthians:7.14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
1 Corinthians:7.15
But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases.] But God has called us to peace.
INTRODUCTION:
There are seasons and times for everything and every purpose in life (Ecclestiastes 3:1). Like in every other facet of human endeavour, doing the right thing at the right time, in marital issues, is crucial to success. Many people have entered the institution of marriage at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons. Believers in Christ should be different and get it right from the onset. When should a Christian marry? What makes a happy marriage? These questions will be addressed in this lesson. Open Heaven 24 March 2018
TEXT REVIEW: 1COR. 7:1-15
Apostle Paul, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, gave some guild lines to man and wife with regards to married through his writing:
A. MAN
i. Do not cohabit or have sexual relation wiy a woman you are not marriy to. 1Cor.7:1
ii. Go and marry rather than committing formication. 1Cor. 7:2
iii. Married man should give conjugal right ( goodwill, kindness and entitlement) to her wife. 1Cor. 7:3
B. WOMAN
i. Woman should marry. 1Cor 7:2
ii. Wife should give conjugal right to the husband. 1Cor 7:3
iii. Wife should not divorce the husband. 1Cor 7:10, 13
C. THE MAN AND THE WIFE
i. Both should surrender their powers for each other. 1Cor 7:4
ii. Both should not defraud. 1Cor7:5
iii. Both should mutually give themselves to fasting and prayer. 1Cor 7:5
iv. Both should live in peace. 1Cor 7:15.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. When should a Christian marry?
2. What makes a happy marriage?
WHEN SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MARRY?
i. Wait until you are old enough to marry. Marriage is for adults and not for children, for it carries heavy responsibilities requiring maturity and experience (1Corinthians 7:36; Hebrews 5:14).
ii. Let God guide you into marriage after much prayer and seeking His will (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:13).
iii. Do not rush into marriage even after you know whom God wants you to marry. It is always advisable to know your partner sufficiently well to know his or her dislikes (Isaiah 28:16).
iv. Never marry a man or a woman with the hope of reforming or transforming him or her. Instead of reforming they may drag you to hell. Therefore, wait until any moral problems are settled (1Corinthians 10:12).
v. Wait for health. Marriage requires strong bodies. If your partner is unwell, jointly pray for healing from above (Jeremiah 30:17).
vi. Wait for the approval of the girl’s parent. This is very important. A Christian should not “steal” a wife (Isaiah 28:16; Colossians 3:20).
vii. Wait for a measure of financial stability. Not wealth as such but at least some security (1Timothy 5:8).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
“Wait” is a crucial word in the outline 1 Explain why majority do not want to wait to marry
WHAT MAKES A HAPPY MARRIAGE?
i. A careful courtship.
– A time to get acquitted to each other.
ii. Holy relationship
– Avoid sin (1Corinthians 8:9).
-Avoid petting and caressing
– Purity(2Samuel 13:15)
-Avoid mistake
iii. Genuine heart agreement of the couple (Amos 3:3).
iv. Home established on Christ’s faith (Ephesians 2:20)
v. Scripture-based orderliness.
-Husband as head (Ephesians 5:23-24),
-Wife as pleasant help mate ( suitable and complementary.
(Genesis 2:18)
-Family alter for daily devotion. (Matthew 18:19).
-Dutiful, and without fraudulent intention to cheat. (1Corinthians 7:3-5).
-Genuine love and acceptance (1Corinthians 13:4-8; Ephesians 5:25; Titus 2:4).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Mention causes of conflicts in marriage.
SUMMARY
Commitment, responsibility and love will promote peace in marriage.
CONCLUSION:
Marry according to the word of God. Stay in marriage according to God’s word. Then peace will envelope the marriage according to the word of God.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, let your peace, love and grace sustain our marriages.
ASSIGNMENT
Mention 10 factors which should not be neglected during preparation for marriage.
