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 friend 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 blessing on Thee

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, please give me an understanding of your word today in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 4:8-16

[8]Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

[9](Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

[10]He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

[11]And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

[12]for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

[13]till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

[14]that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

[15]but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

[16]from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. The New Man

MEMORY VERSE: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: ‘Katartismos’ from the word ‘Katartizo’ is a concept in Greek that means to mend, repair, make whole, or perfect. It also means to make something or someone completely adequate or sufficient for a purpose or task. The basic idea is that of putting a thing into the condition in which it ought to be. This concept is however used in relation to the perfecting and equipping of saints for the God-given assignments committed to them. God wants His people to become perfect in all ramifications (Gen.17:1). He desires nothing less than perfection (Matt.5:48). Perfection is possible for all saints in Christ.

LESSON AIM: To teach the students that God expects perfection from them.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the study, students should be able to:

a. Describe who a saint is.

b. Highlight steps to perfection.

TEXT REVIEW:

A. The writer of this scripture emphasised that Christ ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men v8.

i. Christ descended into the lower part of the earth first before ascending, v9.

ii. He who descended is also ……………V10.

B. Christ gave the ministry gifts. List them;

i. …………………………………………V11.

C. What is the reason for the above gifts?

i. …………………………………………V12.

ii. ………………………………………..V13.

iii. ……………………………………….V14.

D. We are to speak the truth in love V15a.

so that:

i. …….………………………………..V15b.

ii. Because the whole body (of Christ) is joined together……………………….V16.

E. He encouraged them not to …………V17.

F. Summarise verse 18.

i. ……………………….………………………………….V18.

OUTLINES:

1. THE SAINTS DESCRIBED

2. STEPS TO PERFECTION

1.THE SAINTS DESCRIBED

A. Teacher should define ‘saint’ as stated below:

i. The word “Saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious.” It is almost always used in the plural, “Saints.” (Acts 9:13,32; 26:10; Phil 4:21). These are the group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom.

ii. Scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the Church. Christians are considered as saints (1Cor.1:2). They are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to closely match their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints.

iii. The saints are both on earth and in heaven (Ps.16:3; Matt.27:52; Zech.14:5).

iv. Everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint (Ps.89:7; Acts 9:32, 41; Acts 26:10; Rom.1:7).

B. Saints are called to revere, worship, and pray to God alone (Ps.149:1-9).

i. Every believer becomes a saint at salvation through the cleansing of sin by the blood of Jesus.

ii. At this point (of salvation) the righteousness of Christ is imputed on the believer: he is no longer a sinner but a saint in Christ (Eph.2:6-8).

C. Caution for saints:

i. However, as long as the believer is in this world, temptations and trials are inevitable.

ii. He must therefore work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Phil.2:5).

D. Godly character of saints:

There are three references referring to godly character of saints: They must live worthy (Rom.12:1-2), they are to build up the body of Christ (Eph.4:12), they are to be free from immorality or any impurity or greed (Eph.5:3).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Are you a saint?

2. STEPS TO PERFECTION

There are vital steps that help in building and perfecting the saints. These include:

a. Study God’s word (Acts 20:32):

i. It is the food for the saints (1Pet.5:2; Heb. 5:12-13; 1Pet.2:2).

ii. It cleanses them (believers) always (Jn. 15:3; Eph. 5:26).

iii. it continually trains them for perfection (2Tim.3:16-17).

iv. God uses it primarily to equip His saints (Ps.119:9-11; Ps.1:2-3, Josh.1:8).

b. Focus on Jesus: The saints continually get perfected as much as they look to Jesus their master (Heb.12:1-2).

c. Aim for the Prize of the high calling:

i. Believers get perfected by setting their gaze on the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14)

ii. We are to shed off the weights and sins that easily beset us (Heb.12:1)

iii. We must Bring our physical body into subjection (1Cor.9:26-27).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should mention what they are doing to ensure they become saints.

CONCLUSION: God wants nothing but perfection from His Saints (Gen.6:9b; 2 Chr.19:9). If you aim at it, you will get it!

EVALUATION: Describe who a saint is?

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to grow into perfection.

ASSIGNMENT: List five things you will do this week to build up your spiritual life. (2×5=10 marks).