RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 13th March 2022 (Lesson 28) – Widowhood And Single-parenting
TOPIC: Widowhood And Single-Parenthood
OPENING PRAYER: Almighty father, please send your help to the fatherless and the widows in our societies in the name of Jesus.
MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 21:8-19 (King James Version)
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: A single parent is a parent without a marriage partner widowed or separated deserted divorced or never married one who is alone in charge of his or her household with the wood is the state of a man whose wife is dead or of a woman whose husband is dead God loves and cares very deeply for the widowed and single parents therefore commands us to protect and care for these people in our churches and communities Psalm 82:3
TEXT REVIEW: Genesis 21:8-19
From this passage, teacher should identify the role played by the following people on Ishmael:
i. Abraham …………………………..
ii. Haqar ………………………………
iii. Sarah ……………………………..
iv. God ……………………………….
LESSON OUTLINES:
LESSON OUTLINES 1: CAUSES AND GOD’S DISPOSITION
i. Teacher should ask students to differentiate between a widow/widower and a single parent in term of causes.
ii. Teacher should differentiate as follow in term of causes:
a. widow/ widower: lost spouses to death.
b. Single parent man/woman (caused by) divorce, separation, abandonment, adoption, rape, unwanted pregnancy
iii. Teacher should allow student to find similarities between single parent and widow/widower.
iv. Teacher should explain those premium which God places on widow/widower and single parent as indicated below:
a. God is protector of Widow and father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5).
b. God forbids people from afflicting widow/widower and single parent. (Exodus 22:23).
c. God hears their cries and care for them and their children. (Gen. 21:15:19).
v. God does not want people to maltreat, afflict, abuse or take advantage of widows. (Exodus 22:22).
vi. God wants his children to visit and support the widows and fatherless. James 1:27
vii. God wants believers to defend them (Isaiah 1:17).
viii. The Almighty God values the widows and the fatherless in the following lights:
a. He sustains and relieves them. (Psalms 146:9).
b. God makes provision for them in his law (Deuteronomy 10:18; 26:12-13).
c. He preserves them. (Jeremiah 49:11).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should be allowed to share what they had done to assist the widows or fatherless or motherless.
LESSON OUTLINES 2: OUR RESPONSIBILITY
i. Believers should love and care for them. (James 1:27).
ii. Believers should provide support system for them. (Acts 20:35).
iii. Encourage them in words and deeds. (1 Thess. 5:14).
iv. Train them and or their children.
v. Support them as mordecai supported the orphan haddassah (Esther) and cared for her until she was great. (Esther 2:7).
vi. They must be represented and honoured. (1Tim. 5:3)
vii. The church must support them. (Galatians 6:10).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What Should believers do to help the widows/widowers and single parents?
SUMMARY: Support the widows/widowers, single parents and their children.
CONCLUSION: God’s intention for the church is that it becomes a family of faith, a real community where lives are shared, friendship are formed and support is given as we journey in faith together.
EVALUATION: How can widow’s and single parents be supported?
CLOSING PRAYER: Almighty father, please help your children to respond to the needs of the widows and single parents.
ASSIGNMENT:
- Project: Sunday school classes at the parish level should contribute money or materials to support the widows, widowers, single parents and their children. (As the Lord provides). Those who contribute should be prayed for by the pastor.
- Mention ten (10) things you can give to support widows, widowers, single parents and their children.
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 2021 here
