RCCG Sunday School Students Manual 1 May 2022 Lesson 35: Opposite-Sex Friendship

RCCG Sunday School Students Manual 1 May 2022 Lesson 35: Opposite-Sex Friendship

MEMORY VERSE: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” – Romans 13:14

BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 12:9-10, Proverbs 6:27-28 (KJV) (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 1 May 2022 HYMN)

(KJV)

Romans 12:9-10:
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Proverbs 6:27-28:
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

LESSON INTRODUCTION: Christian youths come together for diverse reasons such as academic activities, business/social engagements, spiritual exercises and so on. In the process, making friends with the opposite sex may be inevitable. This is not a sin as long as the motive is pure (friendship with no string attached). However, it becomes an issue of concern when we consider the common mistakes foreseeable. We shall attempt to unravel some of the mistakes as well as discuss some of the tips for a pure friendship with the opposite sex.

LESSON OUTLINES:

COMMON MISTAKES
TIPS FOR PURE FRIENDSHIP

1. COMMON MISTAKES

Here are some of the common mistakes youths make as they relate with their friends of the opposite sex.

Ignoring proper boundaries.
Misinterpreting the attentions of the opposite sex.
Tolerating too much in the friendship and hanging on too long.
Giving a blind eye to danger signals such as emotional attraction, attempt to touching sensitive parts of the body, holding hands, cuddling, pecking, and so on (Prov.6:27-28; Rom.12:1).
Getting involved much too soon and going too far such as involvement in family functions, financial/business commitment and so on.
Ignorantly sending potential spouse away.

ALSO READ: Open Heaven 1 May 2022 By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – What Do You Eat?

2. TIPS FOR PURE FRIENDSHIP

Define the friendship and set clear boundaries.
Never assume anything but ask questions when in doubt.
Do not allow anyone form a canopy over your life under the pretence of friendship.
Do not take advantage of your closeness to your friend to seduce him/her into any dirty game or romantic pleasure (1Thess.5:22; Col.2:21).
Differentiate friendship from intimacy.
Do not always seek to be in lonely places, dark corners, with a friend of the opposite sex.
Try and include others in activities instead of isolating yourself with one person.
Make a priority of same-sex friendship. Your bosom friend should not be of the opposite sex. You can have them as close friends but not as closest friend.
Seek opportunity to serve and not to be served or entertained. Real friendship is not on what you can get from others but on how to serve others. In service, we find true friendship (Rom.12:10-11).
If you are in a relationship leading to marriage, make sure your partner meets with your opposite gender friend.
Guard your heart. Do not allow premature romance ruin your heart, which is the centre of your destiny (Prov.4:23).
Keep everything strictly platonic (surface and plain friendship).

CONCLUSION: Prioritise same sex friendship. If you must have a friend of the opposite gender, know your boundaries and make sure you talk about them.

QUESTIONS:

What are the common mistakes some youths make with friends of the opposite sex?
Mention at least seven (7) tips for pure friendship among youths of the opposite sex.

FURTHER READING:

Monday: Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 18:1 (KJV)
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Wednesday: Job 42:10 (KJV)
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Thursday: Psalm 119:63 (KJV)
I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Friday: Proverbs 14:20 (KJV)
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Saturday: Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Sunday: Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

ASSIGNMENT: Check through your relationship with friends of the opposite sex and apply the tips you have learnt to keep the friendship pure.

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 friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and 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 be 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?

Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

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