RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 11th June 2023 (Lesson 41)
TOPIC: The Earthen Vessels
OPENING PRAYER: Almighty Father, please be glorified in the vessels of your children in all nations in the name of Jesus.
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 potion of the dust to form man and His breath in the nostril of man made the difference, making man a living soul (Genesis 2:7). God has a purpose for all souls He created including all the resources He put 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.
TEXT REVIEW: 2 Timothy 2:20-21
A. The teacher should identify any six kinds of vessels in this passage
i. ……………
ii. ……………
iii. ……………
iv. …………….
v. …………….
vi. …………….
B. The teacher should state four ways to possess one’s vessel as a believer.
a. …………..
b. ……………
c. ……………
d. ……………
LESSON OUTLINES
- TREASURES IN DUST
- CONTAINERS OR VESSELS
1. TREASURES IN DUST
The teacher should identify and explain the treasures in the dust as follows:
i. Dust had no serious relevance to man until God touched, made and breathed into it, the breath of life (Gen. 2:7).
ii He deposited part of Himself – His Spirit – into dust and deposited a treasure in it (Job. 32:8).
iii. That small portion of dust began to move on the larger potion with authority from God (Gen. 1:28).
iv. Just as the master, in the parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30, was ‘travelling to a far country,’ he gave talents to the 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).
v. Our Master, Jesus Christ, has deposited great treasures into us (Ephesians 4:7-8)
vi. He expects us to use the resources and make profits so that He will bless us when He comes back (1Cor. 12:7; Rev. 22:12).
vii. 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
A. Difference between a container and a vessel.
i. A container receives and retains whereas a vessel transports (transmit). Abraham received Issac and was willing to release him (Gen. 22:15-18).
ii. A container is a reservoir but a vessel is a channel (Luke 12:16-21; Gen. 12:1-3).
iii. A container is basically static like a pond but a vessel is dynamic (Acts 8:5-6; 26-40).
iv. A container gives only when compelled but a vessel is always giving (Eccl. 11:2-6).
v. A container is limited in reception but a vessel is unlimited because it is constantly flowing (John 20:21-22; Prov. 11:24).
vi. A container abides aline whereas a vessel touches several others (John 12:24; Acts 10:38; John 7:37-39).
B. TRANSFORMATION OF A CONTAINER TO A VESSEL
The teacher should explain how a container can be transformed into a vessel physically and spiritually.
i. Physically: If you attach wheel(s) to a container and pulled, it becomes a vessel.
ii. Spiritually: If the Holy Spirit comes into a container the Spirit will transform the person to a vessel.
iii. Example of a container – transform vessels was Elisha who, forsook his farm and ambition and followed Elijah. 1Kings 19:19-21; 2Kings 2:1-22.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
The teacher should lead the students to pray that they will be vessels to honour and not containers.
SUMMARY
Be a vessel to honour and not a container.
CONCLUSION
Beware; a vessel could equally become a container. Let the one who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls (1Cor. 10:12).
CLOSING PRAYER
Almighty Father, please convert many containers to vessels of honour for Your Glory.
ASSIGNMENT
Mention five (5) biblical characters, with scriptural reference each, who remained vessels in God’s hand. (2×5=10Marks).
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
