RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL LESSON 44
TOPIC: THE PREACHER’S TOOL
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” – 1Corinthians 1:24
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1Corinthians 1:18-24
INTRODUCTION:
We were made to understand last Sunday that the preaching of the gospel is compulsory for all believers. It follows, therefore, that if this assignment is to be carried out cheerfully and fearlessly, and with divine approval, divine wisdom, compassion and the Holy Spirit, power must be possessed by any would-be preacher of the gospel. May the Holy Spirit teach us as we study, in Jesus’ name.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Godly wisdom
2. Compassion
3. Power
GODLY WISDOM
It is God’s perfect will to give wisdom to any who lack it and who will ask in faith (James 1:5-8) for it is the wisdom of God that can confound the wise of this world (1Corinthians 1:27) as it happened during Paul’s ministration to the Athenians (Acts 17:15-34). Furthermore, the preaching of the gospel that has Jesus Christ as its theme always, is indeed wisdom because He does not only expose carnality but also impacts spiritual things (1Corinthians 3:2-4; 2:13, 16).
COMPASSION
This was the divine nature that was manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ throughout His earthly ministry (Matthew 9:36; 23:37; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13). Gospel preachers can be likened to Pharaoh’s daughter who came to the rescue of baby Moses (Exodus 2:6). We must take a cue from our Lord and be compassionate. His admonition to persecutors as well reveals this (Luke 6:28). When we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
POWER
The need for power in gospel preaching cannot be over emphasized. The Lord made an open declaration of this in His great commission to us (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Believers are to preach the gospel with boldness, for the Spirit of God is for boldness, love, power and sound mind (Acts 4:31; 2Timothy 1:7). This power will pull down all the strongholds of the enemy (Satan) and his agents, in and around both the speaker and the hearer, which may want to render the message ineffective (2Corinthians 10:4-5; Acts 16:16-18).
CONCLUSION:
Let us, as true ambassadors for Christ (2Corinthians 5:20), rise up in obedience to the command of our Lord and preach the gospel with compassion and power. His grace is our sufficiency (Philippians 4:13). Please pray to God and go. Tomorrow may be too late.
QUESTIONS
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is what and what from our study?
2. Why is it compulsory for gospel preachers to be compassionate?
3. Give reasons for the need of the Holy Ghost power in gospel preaching?
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TEACHER’S MANUAL
OPENING PRAYER: My Father, grant me godly wisdom, compassion and power to preach your word.
- OPENING
Bible Passage: I Corinthians 1:18-24
18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto
us which are saved it is the power of God.
19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to
nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto
the Greeks foolishness;
24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.2. Memory Verse: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
- Lesson introduction: We were made to understand last Sunday that the preaching of the gospel is compulsory for all believers. It follows, therefore, that if this assignment is to be carried out cheerful and fearlessly, and with divine approval, divine wisdom, compassion and the Holy Spirit, power must be possessed by any would-be preacher of the gospel. May the Holy Spirit teach us as we study, in Jesus’ name.
- TEXT REVIEW : I CORINTHIANS 1 : 18-24
THE GOSPEL OF POWER AND WISDOM
The preacher of the gospel of the Lord need not to be giants in stature to deliver, or else, only the giants like Goliath would have been gualified. They do not also need to be very wise or else, only the stuff of Solomon, Daniel, etc would have qualified. But when the gospel touches the weak, the weak becomes mighty and strong even stronger than giants. 1Corinthians 1 : 27; when the gospel touches the foolish people, it makes them wiser.
The power / potency of the gospel of Jesus Christ is explained thus :
¡. It is capable of bringing to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1Corinthians 1 : 19
¡¡. Even though, it looks simple, but when it touches those that are saved, it produces power in them, 1Corinthians 1 : 18.
¡¡¡. It challenges the wise, the scribes the disputers of these world to a standstill, 1Corinthians 1: 20
¡v. It is capable of saving those that believe. 1Corinthians 1: 21.
- It is capable of bringing to nothing those things that are in existence. 1Corinthians 1 : 26.
v¡. Although men despise it for its simplicity, yet God has empowered it and has chosen it, 1Corinthians 1 : 28.
v¡¡. It is able to make believers righteous and sanctified. 1Corinthians 1: 30.
v¡¡¡. Although the Jews and Greek do prefer signs and earthly wisdom, they missed it because what they were looking for are in Christ, 1Corinthians 1: 22-23.
¡x. Any Jews or Greek who believes the gospel of Christ would also receive power and wisdom of God just as believers are not Jews and Greek, 1Corinthians 1 : 24.
One of the reasons why God chooses weak things to confound the mighty things is to ensure that all glory will be given to him (GOD) alone. 1Corinthians 1: 29-31. Therefore, preacher/ teacher remember to give glory to GOD for souls, won to the kingdom through you because it is not you who does it, but GOD through the gospel of Christ in you.
- TEACHING METHOD– use the Lecture teaching method.
- TIME MANAGEMENT – Use the standard time for teaching two lesson outlines.
TWO LESSON OUTLINES
- LESSON OUTLINES 1: GODLY WISDOM
¡. God gives perfect wisdom to those who ask him in faith. James 1: 5-8.
¡¡. It is through God’s wisdom that the preacher can confound the wisdom of his/her audience (the world).1Corinthians 1: 27.
¡¡¡. Paul confounded the wisdom of the Athenians through the wisdom of God. Acts 17: 15-34.
¡v. The preacher needs God’s wisdom to expose carnality and to impact spiritual knowledge. 1Corinthians 3: 2-4; 2: 13, 16.
Class activity 1: Why is it dangerous to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus with the wisdom of man or wisdom of the world?.
- LESSON OUTLINES 2 : COMPASSION
¡.Compassion is manifested throughout Christ’s earthly ministry. Matthew 9: 36, ,23: 37 mark 1 : 41, Luke 7 : 13.
¡¡. The preacher must show compassion to rescue the soul of sinners from peril or destruction (like pharaoh’s daughter)-Exodus 2 :6
¡¡¡. Through compassion, the Lord Jesus directed believers to bless those who curse them and pray for those who despitefully us them- Luke 6 : 25.
¡v. Through compassion, Christ died for all sinners. – Romans 5 : 8
- LESSON OUTLINE 3 : POWER
i.Christ is full of powers in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28 : 18.
¡¡. Christ promised believers power through the Holy Ghost. Acts 1 : 8.
¡¡¡. Power enable the preacher to preach the gospel with boldness and sound mind . Acts 4 : 31 (:p) , 2Timothy 1 : 7.
¡v. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the strong hold of satan will be pulled down. 2corinthians 10 : 4 – 5.
- The power of the Holy Ghost enables believers to overcome any other power which may want to render the message ineffective. – Acts 16 : 16-18.
Class activity 2 : Why is compassion necessary for the preacher?.
SUMMARY – A successful preacher must arm himself or herself with Godly wisdom, compassion and power.
CONCLUSION – Let us, as true ambassador for Christ ( 2Corinthians 5 : 20 ), rise up in obedience to the command of our lord and preach the gospel with compassion and power. His grace is our sufficiency (Philippians 4 : 13).Please pray to God and go. Tomorrow may be too late.
EVALUATION – identify two roles of power, divine wisdom and compassion in the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
CLOSING PRAYERS – Father, send forth your divine power from heaven to enable preachers all over the world preach with signs and wonders following.
