CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – 1st SEPTEMBER, 2024 – TOPIC: THE BLESSEDNESS OF KNOWING CHRIST
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CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth,
and the life.
DATE: 1st SEPTEMBER, 2024
HYMN: S. S& S. 873. Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine.
TOPIC: THE BLESSEDNESS OF KNOWING CHRIST
TEXT: John 3:36: Philippians 3:8-14; Ephesians 3: 18- 19
INTRODUCTION:
Many people, believers and non-believers alike lay claim to knowing Christ, either because they have read or heard about Him. However, we do know that knowing someone goes beyond hearing and reading about him/her. There is a deeper level of
experience and interaction needed with somebody before we can claim to truly know the person. In this study, we shall be examining what it means to know Christ, how to know Him and, the blessings that come from
knowing Him.
LESSON OBJECTỊVES
- understand what it means to know Christ;
- understand howa believer can come to increased knowledge of Christ;
- identify lessons we can learn from some Bible characters about knowing Christ;
- give pointers to dangers of not knowing Christ; and
- identify blessings that come from knowing Christ.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1a: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
KNOW CHRIST?
Knowing Christ is beyond having a head knowledge of Him. It means to have a Spiritual encounter with Him. It signifies experiencing the transformative power that comes from such an encounter. To know
Christ means to be fully persuaded that “Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John. 14:6) and be ready to embrace that truth, the truth about God, the truth about life and death and everything in between. To know Christ is to know and experience His boundless love (Eph. 3: 18- 19). Indeed, to know Christ is to be
convinced beyond “all reasonably doubt” in our spirits that He is the fullness of the Godhead represented bodily (Col. 2:9). It is to be persuaded that….. no man can come to the. Father except by Him (John. 14:6). It is to know and accept that Jesus is not just one of the popular faces of existence, but rather the one sent by God to redeem mankind.
To know Christ is beyond having a casual intellectual| load of information/knowledge about Him. It is to be a part of the family of God (the Church) through Him here on earth. It is to experience Christ and the power of His resurrection, and be
delivered from a life of sin and death (Col. 1 :13). To know Christ is to know His will and do it (John 10: 27); to mortify the deeds of the flesh; (Rom. 8:13); and to acknowledge and accept that He is coming back again in glory to ransom the saints.
Q1b: DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PHRASE SURPASS KNOWLEDGE”AS USED IN EPH 3:19.
There is a knowing that has its foundation in our mental or intellectual faculties that may enable us to reason and argue logically and intellectually., but it does not have the power to change and transform us……
limiting in nature. The knowing that “surpass knowledge” is the one that “knocks'” on understanding with the power to impact our perceptions resulting in actions. It is the kind of knowledge that changes the way we respond to issues as opposed the usual…..it is experiential knowledge that is way beyond mental awareness. It is the gateway to being filled with all the fullness of God and it can only be birthed in a life by the workings of the Holy Spirit upon that life.
Q2. DISCUSS SOME WAYS BELIEVER CAN COME TO INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST:
A. SEEK HIM – Jer.29:13; Matt.7:7; 1 Pet.2:2-3
It is God’s desire that we long for and pant after Him. When we actively and wholehearted seek Him, we wil| find Him. (Jer.29:13) It means that half-heartedly seeking after God will
not bring us closer to Him. In Matt.7:7 (NLT), We are enjoined to “keep on seeking”, for it is only after that, we will find. The knowledge/revelation of Christ we had yesterday is not enough. There is evermore a fresh dimension and knowledge of God that unfolds each day. “Day after day uttereth speech’ ‘ (Psalms
19:2) speaks to the fact that there is a fresh knowledge of God to be revealed each day. If we are not actively seeking, we may miss out on fresh knowledge…….. a revelation and dimension of the person and character of God for that moment. Like newborn babies, we are to crave
spiritual milk of God’s word So that our experience of His salvation will be full.
B.YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Eph.3:16; John 14:26; 16:13-14
The ability to know God is a work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot know God by our five senses. Remember when Jesus asked Peter who he thought Jesus was? Peter replied, ‘Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God’.
Jesus concluded that flesh and blood did not give Peter “this revelation, but my father which is in Heaven” Peter received this revelation through the Holy Spirit. One of the ways God
empowers us to be partakers of His glorious riches and resources is through the Holy Spirit (Eph.3: 16).
C. READING, MEDITATING AND
DOING GOD’S WORD- Joshua 1:8;
Col. 3:16; Psalm 1:1-2
Reading God’s word allows us to know His mind concerning us, the circumstances of life. the kingdom, and much more.
Reading His word is a deliberate
action and activity that requires our active participation and focus. The gains of reading God’s word cannot be fully achieved until we meditate upon it and become doers. In Joshua 1:8, we are reminded to not only study
but to also meditate and obey
everything that is written-therein lies our good success By meditating on God’s word, we allow what we have read to increase and fill us up, leaving no room for the enemy. For everything the enemy may bring our way, there is an appropriate response from the store of God’s word within, such that we are always victorious over the wiles of the devil.
D. LIVING A CONSECRATED LIFE-
Romans. 12: 1-2
A life of consecration is a life of separation unto God and the things of the kingdom. The demand placed on the believer who knows Christ is to live a consecrated life which is not optional. It is a sacred demand of heaven that must be attended to with all zeal and earnestness. As such, the believer is expected to understand that knowing Christ means surrendering to Him and letting Him have first place in all that concerns him or her It is to reckon oneself dead to the things of this world and to say like Paul, “For me to live is Christ”. That as living sacrifices, our will, purpose, goal, talents, and everything about us is fully surrendered to God. The more you know Christ, the more
consecrated you ought to be, the more consecrated vou are, the closer you are to Christ.
E. PRAYERS- 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 18
Prayer is a call to partner with the all-knowing and powerful God to intervene in the affairs of men. The affairs may be big or small. When we pray we are saying in earnest, God I cannot do this on my own. For the believer to truly know Christ, God’s help and intervention are needed. This can be requested in the place of prayer. We can pray our desires into reality. The believer is encouraged to pray without ceasing and, never give up in the place of prayer. The more intimate we are with God in the place of prayer, the more He reveals Himself to us.
F. CULTIVATING A HEART OF THANKSGIVING
Ps.107:22; 1Thess.5: 18
The word of God enjoins us to thank God in all situations. Being thankful is to focus and concentrate on the goodness of God and not dwell on the negatives. A grateful heart does not deny the negative report, but rather, it is saying despite it, I choose to be thankful for the grace of knowing Christ Jesus. Thanking God in all situations shows that we know Him and have faith that He can do all
things.
G. OTHERS INCLUDES WITNESSING,
FELLOWSHIP, etc
H. THE CLASS CAN MENTION OTHERS
Q3. IDENTIFY THE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE FOLLOWING
PERSONS AS IT RELATES TO DESIRING TO KNOW GOD(CHRIST)
A. PAUL -Phil. 3:10-13
Apostle Paul was used by God to perform spectacular miracles in the scripture. He also wrote many books of the New Testament portion of the Bible and was involved in many evangelical missions which led to the establishment of many churches at that time. Yet he desired that I may know Him”
Of the believer’s quest to know God, there is no end till the feet of Jesus are arrived at the glorious resurrection. There is always a
dimension of God to know. The
believer can also never know enough to the point of “retiring”.
The believer is encouraged to be like Apostle Paul who despite his many encounters and experiences with God still desired to know Him more.
B. MOSES- Exodus 33: 13.
The heart cry of Moses ‘that God will show him His ways that he may know Him. Not to forget, it was this same Moses that God called out of the wilderness to lead the children of
Israel out of Egypt. He was used of God to perform great signs and
wonders on their way out of the Land of Egypt and on the way to the Promised Land. At the end, he still expressed a desire to be taught of the Lord.
C. DAVID -Ps. 63:1
David was a man who experienced God through various encounters. From a shepherd boy, he was anointed king. He slew Goliath, fought and won many battles in the name of the Lord and enjoyed a close walk with God, such that he was described as a man after God’s heart (Acts.13:22). Yet in the scriptural verse referenced, he was not ashamed to express a deep longing for God….”‘ earnestly, I seek for You; my whole being longs for You.
In summary, it would appear, that the more we seem to know God (Christ), the more we want to draw closer to Him…………The desire to know God is the soul’s ultimate quest and it cannot be satisfied by any other except God. Let’s draw closer to seek this our God and to
know Him.
Q4. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF NOT KNOWING CHRIST:
Hosea 4:6: James 1: 22-24
Destruction is the lot of the people who lack this knowledge. They do not know and refuse to acknowledge that they are bereft of knowledge-…. Such a one dwells in self-deceit and is open to the manipulation of satan. Such will not enjoy the privileges of knowing Christ and having a close relationship with Him.
Q5. WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS OF KNOWING CHRIST?-Job 22:21- 29: 2
Pet. I:3-4;2″ Cor.7:1
The believer wbo knows Christ indeed receives divine enablement to live a godly life and escape the corruption that is in the world. The plenteous good and blessings mentioned in Job 22: 21 — 29 will become the reality of such a believer. A close walk and relationship with God is experienced and ultimately, he she will make heaven.
DALLY LIVING APPLICATION:
The study has explained the need for the believer to draw near to Christ to know Him. It is through knowledge of Christ that we are able to receive all that pertains to life and godliness.
Knowing Christ allows us to partake of His Divine nature and receive His great and precious promises and escape the corruption that is in the world.
The believer should make every effort to know God..
MEMORY VERSE: John 17:13
“…and this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON:Be fully persuaded on
Jn. 14:6.
TUE: Reflect on Col.2:9.
WED: Daily crave the spiritual milk of God’s word. 1Pet2:2-3.
THU: The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ to us Jn.14:26: 16:13-14.
FRI: Surender to God.Rom. I2:1-2.
SAT:Oh, that I may know Him’. Phil 3:10-13.
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