RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 30th June 2024 (Lesson 44)
TOPIC: RAHAB: AN UNLIKELY ALLY
OPENING PRAYER: O Lord, please save all members of my household by Your mercy in the name of Jesus.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.
MEMORY VERSE: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” – Hebrews 11:31 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Joshua 2:1-6, 12-13 (KJV)
Joshua 2:1-6:
2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
Joshua 2:12-13:
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: The story of Rahab is one of the thought-provoking accounts in the Bible. The occasion that projected her into the hall of faith is that of a great faith in the God of Israel whom she knew almost nothing about. She rose from being a harlot to a joint-heir in the Abrahamic covenant and eventually got a space in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). Her life gives us a deeper insight into what God can do with the lives of every sinner who comes to Him.
LESSON AIM: To study the character and achievements of Rahab.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this lesson, students should be able to:
a. Discover the personality of Rahab.
b. Discover her achievements and learn some lessons from her life.
TEACHING PLAN: To attain the above-stated objectives:
A. Students should:
a. Take the opening prayer together.
b. Recite the memory verse.
c. Read the Bible passage.
d. Participate in class activities/discussions.
e. Take the closing prayer together.
B. The Assistant Teacher should:
a. Conduct the class.
b. Assist the teacher to administer the class activities.
c. Mark the attendance.
d. Mark the assignment.
C. The teacher should:
a. Explain the two lesson outline.
b. Administer class activities.
c. Summarize, conclude, evaluate the lesson, and give an assignment.
TEXT REVIEW: Joshua 2: 1-6, 12-13.
Mention five things that Rahab did in the passages above.
i. ……………………………………………………
ii. ……………………………………..……………
iii. …………………………………………………
iv. …………………………………………………
v. ………………………………………….………
LESSON OUTLINES:
- HER CHARACTER
- ACHIEVEMENTS AND LESSONS FROM HER LIFE
1. HER CHARACTER
i. Rahab, in Hebrew, means “wide.’’
ii. She lived in the 12th century B.C. She was a Canaanite harlot who lived in Jericho City (Joshua 2:5).
iii. She rented rooms to travellers and visitors who came into the city. This explains why the two spies sent by Joshua found lodging in her house.
iv. She was a selfless woman who saved her household with high negotiation skills (Joshua 2:12-13).
v. She knew what to do with the information at her disposal. Rahab asked the two Israeli spies to swear by the Lord thereby showing her faith in the only true God.
vi. She was smart enough to know that her city would be overthrown. Vii. In her wisdom, she joined herself to the winning side (Joshua 2:9-10).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The Class should discuss what they would do to bring their family members to the knowledge of Christ.
2. ACHIEVEMENTS AND LESSONS FROM HER LIFE
A. ACHIEVEMENTS
i. She skilfully hid the spies to prevent the king of Jericho from capturing and executing them (Joshua 2:6).
ii. This act of kindness earned her salvation from destruction (Joshua 6:25).
iii. She believed all the stories about the God of Israel even without seeing them (Joshua 2:10).
iv. Rahab was a skilful negotiator who selflessly made the spies swear to spare her and her household (Joshua 2:13).
v. The book of Hebrews named her among faith heroes in the Old Testament (Hebrews 11:31).
vi. James records her as being justified by works (James 2:25).
vii. Matthew lists her in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Mathew 1:5).
B. LESSONS FROM HER LIFE
i. Rahab stepped out of her harlotry into faith in God. So, anyone can change from bad to good (Isaiah 1:18).
ii. We should show kindness to people, just as Rahab did to the spies (Galatians 6:10).
iii. She walked by faith and not by sight (Joshua 2:9-12). We also are expected to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
iv. Just as she ensured the safety of her household (Joshua 2:18-21), every child of God should ensure the salvation of his/her family (Acts 16:31).
v. She was diligent enough to follow instructions (Joshua 2:18; 6:22-23). Likewise, believers must carefully follow the right instruction (Proverbs 4:13).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Can God use the wicked to help the righteous? Discuss.
CONCLUSION: Rahab is a typical example of God’s transformative power. Do not write yourself or anyone off.
QUESTIONS
- Mention three characters that stood Rahab out.
- Mention three characters that stood Rahab out.
EVALUATION: Mention three characteristics of Rahab, three achievements, and three lessons from Rahab’s life.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, please use me for Your glory.
ASSIGNMENT: Prayerfully identify five people in your neighbourhood who has been written off but can become a mighty ally in God’s hands. Take them through the journey of salvation and spiritual growth. (No mark).
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 2024 here
