LESSON: FOURTY SIX (46)

DATE: SUNDAY JULY 16TH 2023

TOPIC: BEWARE OF SCOFFERS

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
Almighty Father, please save my class members and I from scoffers in the name of Jesus.

MEMORY VERSE: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts". –2Peter 3:3


BIBLE PASSAGE: JUDE 1:11-18

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

INTRODUCTION
Scoffer, in Greek, is 'empaiktes' and it simply translates to a mocker. A scoffer mocks sin, Christ, twists God's word for selfish gains, opposes the gospel and the things of God. The Bible uses scornful and scoffer interchangeably which all means mocker. Believers are warned to be careful and be on guard.

TEXT REVIEW: JUDE 1:11-18

Mention any five issues which Jude raised with regards to scoffers in the above passage.
i. ........
ii. ..........
iii. ..........
iv. .............
v. ...............

LESSON OUTLINES
1. TRAITS TO OBSERVE
2. THE DISPOSITION OF BELIEVERS

TRAITS TO OBSERVE

The teacher should define the meaning of scoffers from the lesson introduction and then identify and explain the characteristics of scoffers as indicated below:

i. They deny the truths of the Scripture and entice people to join their error (Jude 4).

Ii They reject the word of the Lord and despise God's ministers (2Corinthians 36:16).

iii. They question the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ claiming that the time had lapse(2Peter 3:4).

iv. They mock those who still wait and for the coming of the Lord Jesus (like you and I) (2Peter 3:4).

v They follow ungodly desires and create divisions in the church (2Peter 3:3; Jude 18-19).

vi. They have a form of godliness but they do not possess the power of godliness (2Timothy 3:5).

vii. They present lofty sound ideas to lead people astray (2Peter 2:1).

viii. They incite violent (Proverbs 29:.

ix. They are proud leaders who trivialize the judgement of God (Isaiah 28:14-15).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Differentiate between an apostate and a scoffers

THE DISPOSITION OF BELIEVERS

A. The teacher should explain to students that the proliferation of scoffers is one of the signs of the last days.

B. The teacher should identify and explain the following guidelines to students to avoid being ensnared

i. Take seriously the commands to study and meditate on God's word (Psalm 1:1-2; Joshua 1:.

ii. Remain spotless and blameless in Christ (2Peter 3:14; Ephesians 5:27).

iii. Continue to look for the appearance of the Lord (Titus 2:13).

iv. Weigh every teaching with the word of God (Acts 17:11).

v. Know that God is never slack concerning His promises (2Peter 3:9)

vi. Be established on your holy faith (Jude 20)

vii. Remain steadfast to the end (1Corinthians 16:13; 1Timothy 6:12).

viii. Try all spirits (1John 4:1)

ix. Grow in grace (2Peter 3:18).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2
The class should discuss the danger posed by scoffers to the church.

SUMMARY
Believers while observing the traits of scoffers must also follow the guidelines to escape it's snare

CONCLUSION
Beware of scoffers and refuse to be one (Psalm 1:1).

CLOSING PRAYER
Almighty Father, please give us wisdom to identify scoffers and to treat them with caution.

ASSIGNMENT
Why do you think there are more scoffers these days than ever before? (5) reasons (2×5=10 marks)