RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 7th May 2023 (Lesson 36)
TOPIC: Marriage Influencers
OPENING PRAYER: Almighty father, please grant couples wisdom and understanding to build and establish their homes.
MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 24:3 (KJV)
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:”
BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 5:3-4 (King James Version)
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
God, invented marriage for companionship, sexual intimacy, procreation and invariably fulfillment (Genesis 2:18, 21-24). However, What becomes of marriage depends primarily on the understanding of the couple on what marriage should be and the factors that positively or negatively influence such understanding (Proverbs 24:3-4). How a couple manage such influence(s) determines whether or not there will be happiness, peace, progress etc. We shall, therefore, address some of this marriage influencers in this lesson.
TEXT REVIEW: PROVERBS 5:3-4
The teacher should identify five things which the above stated Bible passage mentioned about the strange woman.
i. …….
ii. …….
iii. …….
iv. …….
v. ………
LESSON OUTLINES:
- NEGATIVE INFLUENCERS
- POSITIVE INFLUENCERS
1. NEGATIVE INFLUENCERS
Teacher should ask students on how items 1-7 could have adverse influence on a marriage?
a. Friends in toxic relationship: Couples must protect their marriage from failure by avoiding destructive relationship patterns sponsored by third parties whose marriages seem not to be working (1Corinthians 15:33; Psalm 1:1).
b. Inordinate pursuit of money or career: Money is needed to run the affairs of the home but when it is being pursued at the expense of the marriage, it may affect the togetherness of the couple (1Timothy 6:10).
c. Undue attention to social media: Communication becomes hampered when spouses pay more attention to social media activities than to each other (Matthew 6:21). This has destructed family intimacy.
d. Character defects: One of the factors that make marriage beautiful is changed. However, when spouses refuse to admit the need for a change in a defective lifestyle, such marriage suffer needless tensions (Matthew 7:3).
e. Close relationship with Ex-lovers/opposite sex: Failure to redefine and detach fully from previous or present intimate relationship with the opposite sex can trigger unforeseen sexual immorality (Proverbs 5:3, 15,20).
f. Excessive jealousy: This happens when a partner is over possessive. This is dangerous and can lead to destructive behaviours (Proverbs 6:34).
g. Addictions: Habits like gambling, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and the like, are some moral vices that can draw the heart of either of the partners away from the marriage.
NOTE:
The discussion has taken care of the Class Activity 1
2. POSITIVE INFLUENCERS
The teacher should note and make necessary contributions on influencers of marriage as stated below:
i. Trust and understanding (1John 4:18; 1Peter 3:7).
ii. Selflessness and mutual support (Galatians 6:2; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
iii. Praying together and keeping Christ at the centre of the relationship (Matthew 18:19; Psalm 127:1).
iv. Building a new home and family culture together (Genesis 2:24).
v. Spending quality time together (Proverbs 31:28).
vi. Guarding and managing your thoughts (Proverbs 4:23; 23:7)
vii. Finding work-family balance (Romans 12:11; Psalm 127:2).
viii. Never go to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26)
ix. Speaking kind and uplifting words to each other (Proverbs 15:1; Colossians 4:6).
x. Do not nag (Proverbs 21:19)
xi. Being reasonable with family finance and budget (Proverbs 16:21)
NOTE:
The discussion has taken care of the second Class Activity.
SUMMARY:
Negative influencers to marriage should be avoided while positive influencers should be embraced
CONCLUSION:
Every marriage is a work-in-progress. Therefore, we must be intentional to make it work.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, please help all couple to avoid negative influencers and embrace positive influencers in marriage
ASSIGNMENT:
Mention five (5) categories of people (that represent third party) capable of influencing a marriage (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
