RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 4th December 2022 (Lesson 14)
TOPIC: The Mystery Of Faith
OPENING PRAYER: Father, please help me to understand what faith is all about.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE:
Teacher should allow students to review the previous week’s lesson.
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Timothy 3:9 (KJV)
“Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
BIBLE PASSAGE: Hebrews 11:3-11 (King James Version)
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to please God. Pleasing God is accomplished by faith (Heb.11:6). Faith is the foundation of the Christian life and the principle that brings us to Jesus Christ. An understanding of what faith is will help us grow in our walk with the Lord.
TEXT REVIEW: Hebrews 11:3-11.
A. The writer of the book of Hebrews expressed the importance and power of faith:
i. We understand by faith that the world were framed by the word of God, V3a.
ii. As a result of the above, all the things made at creation were not made from physical things ………….v3b.
B. He went further to highlight the feats attained by the saints of old through faith:
i. Abel …………………v4a.
As a result of this, Abel …………v4b&c.
ii. Enoch …………V5a&b.
He had a testimony that…….v5c.
C. In verse 6, the writer warns that ………..V6.
D. The writer continues with the example of the fathers of faith, citing that by faith:
i. Noah….V7.
ii. Abraham…. v8.
ii. He (Abraham)….. v9.
iv. He looked for……v10.
v. Sara, through faith…..v11.
LESSON OUTLINES
- A DESCRIPTION OF FAITH
- STAGES OF FAITH
LESSON OUTLINE 1: A DESCRIPTION OF FAITH
Faith can be described as:
A. The currency of believers (Mk.9:23).
For instance:
i. When God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1, as well as everything we see (the stars, moon, and light), we understand by faith (Heb.11:3).
ii. Faith works where we cannot see (Heb.11:1): it is the substance of things hoped for.
iii. Faith is predicting your future (Ps.27:13): it is shaping your future by speaking and confessing it (Mk.11:24).
iv. Faith is the act of declaring and decreeing (Mk.11:23; Job 22:28): it is the vehicle that moves God (Matt.8:9-10; 15:25-28).
B. The pillar for salvation (Eph.2:8; Rom.10:9-10): pursuing a Christ-like life is a demonstration of faith (Heb.10:38-39).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The teacher should ask students to say what faith means to them.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: STAGES OF FAITH
Faith can be explained in three stages:
A. The faith that secures our salvation and makes us followers of Jesus.
i. It is the fundamental theology and the core of what we believe as Christians (Rom.10:4; Eph.1:13).
ii. It is what makes us believers (Jn.1:12).
iii. This faith is what separates Christianity from other religions (1Jn.4:1-3).
B. Faith is an act, art and the science of believing.
i. It is the practical aspect of our profession as Christians.
ii. It makes us hold on to the word or promises of God against all odds (Rom.4:18-21).
C. The lifestyle of faith.
i. This is when faith has become our life-
style, we live it.
ii. At this stage, it is impossible not to believe in God. We do not stagger at what we see or experience (Dan.3:16-18; Acts 21:11-13).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should say what stage of faith they think they are in.
SUMMARY: Believers must strive to understand and grow in faith as this is fundamental to our Christian life.
CONCLUSION: Faith is both a gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22).
It is the fuel that keeps us going as believers.
EVALUATION: State the three stages of faith known to you.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to grow in faith in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) things that challenge your faith in God.
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 2022 here
