RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGES: 13-19) Manual 1 August 2021, Lesson 48 – EMPATHY
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RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGES: 13-19)
TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 1ST OF AUGUST, 2021
LESSON FORTY EIGHT (48)
TOPIC: EMPATHY
BIBLE TEXT: Luke 7:11-16
[11]Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.
[12]And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
[13]When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
[14]Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
[15]So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
[16]Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
MEMORY VERSE: “Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her he had compassion on her and said unto her, Weep not”.
SONG FOR TODAY: I need you to survive
(Hezekiah Was)
LESSON AIM: Teach the teens to put themselves in another person’s shoes.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Being emphatic is not a sign of weakness or naivety. It is a sign that God lives in your heart.
INTRODUCTION: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. That is, the capacity to place oneself in another’s position. Empathy is a skill that can be learned by everybody with the help of the Holy Spirit. God is the very best at empathy – Matt 9:36, Ps 103:14, Ps 56:8,1 Peter 5:7
STUDY GUIDE:
A. Why must you show empathy?
- To show love – 2 Cor. 13:4
- To exemplify compassion as Jesus did – Heb 4:15
- It is a love language that everyone understands, both believers and unbelievers – Ps. 145:8-9
- People would also be there for you when you’re in pain – Col 3:12, Gal.6:2
- It helps us to understand how others are feeling and what their needs are.
- It helps us to know the appropriate way to resolve issues, the right counsel to offer
- It gives people opportunity to be strong emotionally and to develop confidence.
- Allows people to build social connections with others.
- It helps you to regulate your own emotions and maintain relationships.
B. How to learn empathy:
a. Be sensitive: be able to recognize signs of distress shown by people. This can be through facial expressions, postures, sighs, tone of voice, the content of what they say and their apparent situation.
b. Imagine yourself in that situation, how would you want people to react and help you?
c. Think of possible solutions and gently present it to the person.
d. Practice, practice and practice showing empathy.
Examples where empathy was shown in the Bible:
- The death of Lazarus – John 11: 30-35
- Elijah and the widow of Zarephath -1 Kings 17:7-16
- The Good Samaritan – Luke 10: 25-37
- Paul and Eutychus – Acts.20:7-12
- Widow of Nain – Luke 7:11-17
Mention other examples of empathy.
DISCUSSION: Discuss the differences between sympathy and empathy.
INVITATION/APPLICATION: God wants us to judge less, listen more and be ready to share people’s pain.
CONCLUSION: We conclude with the song below;
SONG
I pray for you, you pray me
I love you; I need you to survive
I won’t harm you, with words from my mouth
I love you; l need you to survive
It is His will, that every need will be supplied
You are important to me;I need you to survive
ACTIVITY:
- How can l apply this to my life?
- What is God saying in the text?
MY PRAYER POINT FOR THE LESSON:
Father, please help those in need in Jesus name.
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.