RCCG Sunday School 9 September 2018 Lesson Two – Thanksgiving: When and How?
TOPIC — Thanksgiving: When and How?
OPENING PRAYER: Almighty Father, let my mouth open to praise you always . Let me have the right attitude to thanksgiving always.
(Scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 HYMN)
MEMORY VERSE: “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” –
Psalm 34:1
BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 17:11-19
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
In the world we live, many believe that most things they get are their rights. They believe in their sweat, smartness and intellect, hence, they see no reason they should give thanks to anyone, not even the Almighty (Zechariah 4:6). For believers, this is not only wrong but wicked and dangerous act. For instance, in Luke 17:17-19, only one of the lepers returned to give thanks to the Lord. He was heal and also made whole while the remaining nine were only heal but not make whole.
TEXT REVIEW: Luke 17: 11-19 “MERCY” IS BY MERCY.
We all owe our existence to the mercy of God (Like 17:13)
Lamentation 3:22 unequivocally pronounced, “it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not”.
Some people may think that only the sick need mercy as the case with the ten lepers (Luke 17:12). No , we enjoy journey mercies(Psalm 121: without which they would have consumed us. We enjoy res/ sleep mercy (Psalm 4: or else we would have slept the sleep of death ( Psalm 13:3). We enjoy locational mercy (Psalm 91:12). How many times have we returned thanksgiving to God for His constant mercies?
In today’s Bible passage, one leper did not take God’s mercy for granted. He returned and gave thanks with a loud voice ( Luke 17:15). God wants believer who has been cleansed from sin( which is worse than leprosy) to stop standing after off (Luke 17:12). Many only returned on thanksgiving Sunday to give thanks to God. Some, during Easter or Christmas. This is standing afar off. Some don’t even return at all because they thought they are qualified for mercy. A few one return to the Lord to thank him only when they see miracles. Teacher! You should know better. Miracles or no miracles, you are embodiment of God’s mercies and therefore, you are to come near to him daily, fall down on your face at His feet and give Him thanks(Luke 17:16). He had shown you mercy because of His mercies ( Psalm 145:9-10).
LESSON OUTLINES 1: WHEN SHOULD WE OFFER THANKSGIVING?
QUESTIONS:
i. When do people usually thank God?
ii. When do people don’t feel like thanking God?
iii. When should believers thank God?
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1
i. When it is well/rosy. Psalm 103:1-2, 136:1-4
ii. When people see miracles. Like 17:15
iii. When we can do all things including paying our bills. Phil. 4:13
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2
i. When in adverse conditions 2 Cor.11:26-30 Job 1:20-22
ii. When disappointed, abandoned or rejected. Psalm 42:5, 10-11, job 19:25
iii. When going through trials. Psalm 59:16-17, Daniel 3:17-18, Act 16:25-31
iv. During persecution / temptation. Daniel 6:10, James 1:2-4
v. During delay Psalm 13:1-6.
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3:
i. All times. Psalm 13:1-6
ii. All circumstances and situations. 1 Thess.5:18.
LESSON OUTLINES 2: HOW TO OFFER ACCEPTABLE THANKSGIVING
i. Find out from the students how they have been offering their thanksgiving to God.
ii. Identity necessary precautions or avoidable pitfalls in thanksgiving.
iii. Give guidelines for proper/acceptable thanksgiving.
A. AVOIDABLE PITFALLS
i. Do not give thanks out of necessity/ grudging 2 Cor. 9:7
ii. Do not give thanks from an unrepentant heart. Psalm 51: 16-17.
iii. Do not give thanks from waves of sin/proceeds of iniquity. ROM. 3:23; Numbers 22:7.
B. GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE THANKSGIVING
i. Give willing. Exodus 35:5
ii. Give it with joyful noise. Psalm 95:2
iii. Give songs to the Lord. Psalm 13:6; 126:1-2
iv. Give clap offering to the Lord. Psalm 47:1.
v. Give thanks to the Lord with dancing and musical instruments. Psalm 150: 3-6.
vi. Give quality substance, time, materials, property, money e.t c to God. Prov. 3: 9-10.
vii. All thanksgiving should represent a sweet smelling savior to God in holiness and obedience. Genesis 4:4; Psalm 107: 22.
CLASS ACTIVITIES 1&2 : Those who participate in the discussion should score 20 marks.
SUMMARY : Give acceptable thanksgiving to God always.
CONCLUSION:
According to Romans 1:21,only people of vain imaginations and foolish or darkened heart will not be thankful (Psalm 50:14)
EVALUATION: Even and how can believers give thanks to God.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, don’t let me ever be tired of giving acceptable thanks to you.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five (5) conditions under which a person thanksgiving can be rejected.