RCCG Sunday School Student’s Manual 11Th June 2023 – Lesson 41
TOPIC: The Earthen Vessels
MEMORY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (KJV)
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
God can make something out of nothing and will never create anything without a purpose. He chose a small portion of the dust to form man and His breath in the nostril of man made the difference, making man a living soul (Gen.2:7). God has a purpose for all souls He created including all the resources He puts into our hands more so because no one can have anything except it is given from above. God expects the resources given to us to flow through us to benefit others and this forms the differences between a container and a vessel.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- TREASURES IN DUST
- CONTAINERS OR VESSELS
1. TREASURES IN DUST
Dust had no serious relevance to man until God touched, made and breathed into it, the breath of life (Gen.2:7). He deposited part of Himself – His Spirit – into the dust and deposited a treasure in it (Job 32:8). That small portion of dust began to move on the larger portion with authority from God (Gen.1:28). When the master, in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, was ‘travelling to a far country,’ he gave talents to his servants according to their pre-determined abilities.
All the servants got something and none was empty. All of us, therefore, have resources deposited inside of us and no one is empty (2Cor.4:7). Our Master, Jesus Christ, has deposited great treasures into us (Eph.4:7-8) and expects us to use the resources and make profits so that He will bless us when He comes back (1 Cor.12:7; Rev.22:12). What you do with the resources is a matter of choice; you could be a container or a vessel.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The teacher should ask each student to identify what talents or gifts or abilities they have and how they use the gift for God’s glory.
2. CONTAINERS OR VESSELS
God expects us to be vessels and not containers. What then makes a container different from a vessel?
A container receives and retains whereas a vessel transports (transmits). Abraham received Isaac and was willing to release him (Gen.22:15-18).
A container is a reservoir but a vessel is a channel (Lk.12:16-21; Gen.12:1-3).
A container is basically static like a pond but a vessel is dynamic (Acts8:5-6, 26-40).
A container gives only when compelled but a vessel is always giving (Eccl.11:2-6).
A container is limited in reception but a vessel is unlimited because it is constantly flowing (Jn.20:21-22; Prov.11:24).
A container abides alone whereas a vessel touches several others (Jn.12:24; Acts 10:38; Jn. 7:37-39).
A container could become a vessel if the container is willing. If a wheel is attached to a container and pulled, it becomes a vessel. A good example is in Elisha who forsook his ambition, attached himself to Elijah and kept moving (1Kgs.19:19-21; 2Kgs.2:1-22).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The teacher should lead the students to pray that they will be vessels to honour and not containers.
CONCLUSION
Beware; a vessel could equally become a container. Let the one who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls (1Cor.10:12).
QUESTIONS:
Give some examples of situations when God brought out something from nothing
What are the differences between a container and a vessel?
FURTHER READINGS:
Monday: John 12:24 (KJV)
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Tuesday: Luke 19:30 (KJV)
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
Wednesday: Acts 9:36 (KJV)
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Thursday: Acts 4:13 (KJV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Friday: Luke 6:17 (KJV)
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
Saturday: Matthew 26:58 (KJV)
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Sunday: Romans 8:25 (KJV)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) biblical characters, with scriptural reference each, who remained vessels in God’s hand. (2×5=10 Marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- 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. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
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RCCG Sunday School manual is used in Sunday School Classes in the RCCG.
The RCCG Sunday school manual is written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye and is available online for easy access. See the previous RCCG Sunday school Manual for 2023 here
