RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025 – AGE 16-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 5TH OF JANUARY, 2024 – LESSON NINETEEN (19) – TOPIC: REVISION /SUMMARY

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RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025
AGE 16-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 5TH OF JANUARY, 2024
LESSON NINETEEN (19)
TOPIC: REVISION /SUMMARY

• Revise the previous lesson with the children.
• Ask them question to ensure lessons have been well understood.
• Tell your class to review the previous lessons during the week.

SUMMARY OF LESSONS 14-18
LESSON FOURTEEN (14)
TOPIC: PURE NEART (Mind of Christ)
BIBLE TEXT: Psalm 24:3-4

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 2:16. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ”.

LESSON AIM: To let the teenagers know that they must be clean within and out, and have the mind of Christ as they deal with the issues of life.

INTRODUCTION: The Bible has a lot to say about the mind. Unlike any other book, when you read the Bible, it reads your mind (Hebrews 4:12). Genesis 6:5 reads, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. “Later in Romans 1:28 we read about “A reprobate mind”. In the Bible we also discover the carnal mind (Romans 8:7), the corrupt mind (1 Timothy 6:5), and the Christ mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. In today’s lesson we will discuss the meaning of having the mind of Christ and a pure heart.

OUTLINES
A. TRUTH ABOUT THE MIND OF CHRIST
B. CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST
C HOW CAN YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?

A. TRUTH ABOUT THE MIND OF CHRIST

1. The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (1 Cor 2:5-6).
2. The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3. The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4. The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5. The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15.)

If you struggle with being double-minded, and you can admit it, you are almost there. Read and study the Word. The Word produces faith. The more you study, the more faith that you will have. The old self will fall away if you don’t cling to it. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and then follow it.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST

1. Lives to serve God 2 Tim. 2:22
2. Lives for the sole purpose of God. James 3:14-16
3. Has Pure Desires. Ezekiel 36:26.
4. Loves God. Deut. 6:5
5. Filled with Agape love. ICor. 13:4-8
6. Filled with The Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
7. Humility. Isaiah 66:2
8. Good to Others. Luke 6:45
9. Selfless. Mark 12:31
10. Free from Guilt. Heb. 10:22
11. Holy. Peter 1:16
12. Honors God. Col. 3:23
13. Free from Sin. Matt 5:8

B. HOW CAN YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?

1. Study The Word Of God: When we study His word, we are changed. The word of God is living and it breathe life into us. It allows us to see where our thought and our feelings fail to line up with God’s intention.
2. Spend Quiet Time With God: Spending quiet time with God goes hand in hand with dwelling on His word. Matt. 6:33
3. Examine Your Words To Keep A Clean Heart: Words have power. The words we say can lift others up or can cause hearts to break. Luke 6:45.
4. Monitoring Your Thought: The thoughts we allow our minds to harbor can keep us from walking out a life pursuing purity. Prov. 4:23
5. Be Repentant: All of us are sinners and our very best efforts would still not be enough to remain pure in our own strength, but God. Acts 17:30
6. Be Open To Wisdom: There are times when we have blind spots, and we miss the mark. Perhaps our prayer life is lacking. God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us fellowship with other believers. Prov. 3:13-18.

SUMMARY: It’s time for us to have the mind of Christ in us, not the mind of the world. In the words of Paul, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:3-4).

CONCLUSION: A humble heart is not only submitted to God, but it is also submitted to each other. We know the verse. He calls us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” God calls us not only to be humble before Him, but those who are pure in heart, those who are humble before God, will also walk humbly before their brothers and sisters. The pure hearted Christian has no ulterior motives or selfish angle. He loves his brother and helps him because he seeks to please God. He gives generously because he seeks to please God; He teaches and preaches sacrifices, prays, fasts, supports his family, visits the sick, acts kindly, obeys the law-because he seeks to please God.

LESSON FIFTEEN (15)
TOPIC: DEDICATION
BIBLE TEXTS: Colossians 3:23-24

MEMORY VERSE: Timothy 4:15; “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest”.

LESSON AIM: To let the teenagers know that it is a good thing to work with all their heart for God.

INTRODUCTION: To live a life of dedication to God Almighty is to live a life T of holiness and devotion to God. It means having unalloyed love and affection for God. A life that is dedicated to God is a life of complete faithfulness and loyalty to God. The importance of living a life of dedication to God cannot be overemphasized. Without a life of dedication, one cannot go to heaven; it is what you need to escape hellfire. On earth, you need a life of dedication to God to receive His blessings and become successful in all areas of your life.
Without dedication, you will see what you have built begin to decay; with dedication, you will see it continue to stay strong. In today’s lesson we will look at the meaning of dedication and a dedicated life to God and the profits of dedicated service to God,

OUTLINES
A. WHAT IS THE DEDICATION OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD?
B. A LIFE DEDICATED TO GOD
C PROFIT OF DEDICATED SERVICE

A. WHAT IS THE DEDICATION OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD?

1. Being dedicated to God means that, like a refiner who purifies gold of its imperfections, God works with us in our imperfections (Malachi 3:1-4).
2. It means being willing to say, okay God, I have got this or that weakness and with your help, I am willing to do what is needed to get better.
3. Being dedicated to God means we are a light to the world. Psa. 32:8.
4. When we make the conscious decision to quit trying to run our own lives and allow God to have control, we win. Psa. 1:1-6.
5. Our cry of weakness is actually our greatest moment of strength.
6. It is the point when we stop trying to be good Christians and rather internalize the Gospel understanding our need for a Savior our utter inability to save ourselves.
7. It is the point when we accept the grace of God to work in our lives so that the Holy Spirit transforms us day by day into the likeness of Christ as we submit to God. Rom. 12:1-2

B. A LIFE DEDICATED TO GOD (Psalm 63:1-11)
One sign of a genuine believer is dedication to Christ. To be devoted means to cling to Jesus and steadfastly persevere with Him. Out of love and gratitude, we express our dedication to Him through three things:

1. a passion to obey, John 14:15.
2. a spirit of humility. 2 Samuel 7:18.
3. a servant’s heart.

C. PROFIT OF DEDICATED SERVICE

1. The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of His devoted and dedicated servants (Ps. 35:27; Job 36:11)
2. The Lord is committed to the health and wholeness of His devoted and dedicated servants (Ex. 23:25; Matt. 8:14-15).
3. The Lord is committed to the deliverance and liberty of His devoted and dedicated servants (Ps. 91:14-15; Ex. 7:16;8:1)
4. The Lord is committed to the distinction of His devoted and dedicated servants (Mal. 3:17-18).
5. God grants access to revelational depths for His devoted and dedicated servants (1Cor. 2:9-10; Ps. 25:9-14) Intimacy with God is the pathway to the secrets of God.

SUMMARY: It pays to serve the Lord, don’t waste your lifetime serving yourself or serving the enemy. A life that is dedicated to God is a life of complete faithfulness and loyalty to God. The importance of living a life of dedication to God cannot be overemphasized. Without a life of dedication, one cannot go to heaven; it is what you need to escape hellfire.

CONCLUSION: The reason many cannot help living in sin instead of a life of dedication to God Almighty is because they have not really made up their minds to do so. There are people who take new resolutions, especially at the beginning of a new year, but just few days into the year, they forgot the decisions they took. There is a point you get to in your relationship with God, where you take a type of decision I describe as a personal rugged decision.

LESSON SIXTEEN (16)
TOPIC: AN EXCELLENT LIFE
BIBLE TEXT: Dan. 6:3, Dan. 1:19-20.

MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 3.23. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”

LESSON AIM: To teach our young people how to live a life of excellence in all they do.

INTRODUCTION: I believe we’ve lost one thing in life that truly matters- EXCELLENCE. Nobody does anything with excellence anymore. We’re always rushing on something or half doing something. Rarely do we give our whole self to anything. We don’t give all our time, energy and gifts into our tasks or crafts. The quality of work from many employees and even entrepreneurs are slipping. I’m afraid we’ve lost our spirit of excellence. What is the spirit of excellence? It’s doing things well done, decent and in order. It’s doing something and asking the question “would God be pleased with this work?” We can’t lose our spirit of excellence. Excellence is not the same as perfectionism. God isn’t asking you to be a perfectionist, He’s asking you to be excellent. Perfectionism will kill you, excellence will promote you! Perfectionism is trying to please people. Excellence wants to please God. It’s time to start doing things with EXCELLENCE! Are we serving with excellence? Are we leading with excellence? Are we working with excellence? We’ve got to be excellent! Why don’t we have the spiris of excellence? Why have many people lost that spirit of excellence? Excellence simply means the quality of being outstanding or extremely good in whatever you do.

OUTLINE
A WHY LIVE A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE?
B PEOPLE WHO LIVED LIVES OF EXCELLENCE (DISCUSS)
C OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

A WHY LIVEA LIFE OF EXCELLENCE?
i.God wants us to live excellently like Him (Proverbs 8:6).
ii. Everything good and excellent is from our God (Gen 1:25b, Matthew. 19:17).
iii. He has an excellent name (Psalms 8:9; 148:13),
iv. He is excellent in power and judgment (Job 37:23), and
v. His ways and deeds are excellent (Psalm 18:30).

Having an excellent orientation is simply thinking God’s thoughts and living God’s life (Philippians 2:5). This will, in tum, produce God’s kind of result (Daniel 5:11-12: John 5:19- 20). Excellence is clearly seen and attainable in the person of Jesus Christ and only individuals who are in Him can access it (Philippians 4:13)

B. PEOPLE WHO LIVED LIVES OF EXCELLENCE (DISCUSS)
i. Daniel had a spirit of excellence. Daniel 6 3-4
ii. Joseph was a leader of excellence. Gen 39.1-
iii. Jesus was also a leader of excellence. (Mark 8) He didn’t half do anything! He wanted to do well done!
iv. Paul was excellence personified.

C. OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE
Anyone can attain excellence and live perpetually in that realm. To attain such height, certain decisions, which include the following, must be taken:
i. Strive to give your best
ii. Excellence is a choice! You have to choose to be excellent!
iii. Be detail oriented. Paying attention to the minor things can have a major impact. Here’s some questions to ask yourself.
•Is this finished?

• Can more be added?
• Can something be taken away?
• Did I give it my all?
• Would God be pleased with this?
• Am I honestly pleased with this?

iv. Don’t settle for good-look for GREAT!
v. Apply The Golden Rule in all you do. Matthew 7:12;
vi. Surround yourself with people who are open-minded (1 Samuel 22:1-2);
vii. Do not stop developing yourself (2 Timothy 2:15; Daniel 9:2);
viii. Do not give room to excuses (Proverbs 22:13);
ix. Believe you can be better (Philippians 3:12).

CONCLUSION: The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not. “Excellence” is a drive from inside, not outside. Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency. Don’t Climb a Mountain with an Intention that the World Should See You, Climb the Mountain with the Intention to See the World.

LESSON SEVENTEEN (17)
TOPIC: CAREER CHOICE
BIBLE TEXTS: Jeremiah 29:11-14; Proverbs 3:6

MEMORY VERSE: Prov. 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established”.

LESSON AIM: To let the Teenagers know how they can choose their career in future.

INTRODUCTION: Choosing a career can sometimes seem overwhelming. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a man of work. He was a skilled artisan, a craftsman who knew how to
produce a quality product. He took great pride in His work. He said, “My yoke is easy.” As a skilled carpenter, He knew the difference between a yoke that was made well and one that was poorly built, for a well-made yoke was easy on a beast of burden. Of the 132 public appearances of Jesus, 122 were in work settings, and He used them effectively to teach great spiritual truths to His disciples. As Christians, we desire to live in a way that’s pleasing to the Lord. It’s easy to ask ourselves, “What would the Lord want me to do”. However, if you don’t wait on Him in all your decisions, you can make a lot of mistakes and waste a lot of time. Fortunately, we can keep seeking God and receiving His grace. God has created each of us with specific aptitudes, skills and interests.

OUTLINES
A. GUIDE TO RIGHT CAREER DECISIONS
B. PRACTICAL APPROACH USING THE ACRONYM D.E.C.I.S.IO.N
C. SOME INAPPROPRIATE CAREERS (DISCUSS WHY THEY ARE INAPPROPRIATE)

A. GUIDE TO RIGHT CAREER DECISIONS
i. Prioritize your relationship with God Matt 6:33

We can get so caught up in fear about having enough money and paying the bills that we forget God is there and promises to take care of us. That’s where we need to put our focus first.

ii. Could the job impact your faith? (bring men to Christ) 2 Corith. 5:18.

iii. Consider your gifts and talents Prov. 18:16 (strengths and weaknesses).

iv. Be open to new things.

v. Wait on the Lord Ps 27:14.

vi. Talk to mentors and people in that career Prov. 11:14.

B. PRACTICAL APPROACH USING THE ACRONYM D.E.C.I.S.I.O.N
D – “Do our best at what we are responsible for currently”.

E – Enter into more quiet time with God Matt 6:33; Ps 1:2.

C – Cease anxious thoughts about our future Philp. 4:6

I – Inquire about opportunities that God opens up for us

S – Seek advice from those who are in the field we are drawn towards Prov. 11:14.

I – Ignore the temptation to make money the most important goal.

O – Organize your life in preparation for change.

N – Navigate yourself towards your God-given calling and purpose in any field of work.

C. SOME INAPPROPRIATE CAREERS (DISCUSS WHY THEY ARE INAPPROPRIATE)
i. Prostitution,
ii. Pornography,
iii. Gambling,
iv. Betting and anything illegal etc.

CONCLUSION: Deciding on a career may seem
overwhelming, but it is easier when you give yourself a lot of options and time to consider it. Although the idea of a “job for life” is fast becoming a thing of the past, the field of work which you choose is important because it will determine where you will spend most of your working life and will also define how many opportunities you will have to branch out using your basic skills set. So, it is advisably to choose wisely and select a field that encompasses as many of your talents as possible, which will allow you the greatest freedom and flexibility for shifting around a field doing different jobs with a good set of basic skills, along with a good dose of solid confidence in your worth and abilities.

LESSON EIGHTEEN (18)
TOPIC: HOME TRAINING: MANNERS AND SOCIAL ETIQUETTE
BIBLE TEXT: Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 32:46-47

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets”.

LESSON AIM: To teach young persons the importance of good home training particularly manners and etiquette.

INTRODUCTION: As you navigate the journey of growing up, one essential aspect often overlooked is manners and etiquette, especially within the confines of your home. Understanding and practicing etiquette can bring harmony and respect to your family life. Matthew 7:12 is often interpreted as the Golden Rule, emphasizing treating others the way you would want to be treated, which is a cornerstone of good etiquette and moral conduct. So, what exactly is etiquette, and why does it matter?

OUTLINES
A. BASIC DEFINITION
B.IMPORTANCE OF ETIQUETTE
C. TYPE OF ETIQUETTE
D. SOME HOME ETIQUETTE TIPS.

A BASIC DEFINITIONS:

1. What is manner?
   Manner is a person’s outward bearing in the way of behaving towards others.
2. What is Etiquette?
   Etiquette is more than just a set of rules that dictates what our behaviors and manners should be like. It is what draws the line between people with good manners and people who behave irresponsibly everywhere. Etiquette and manners go hand-in-hand. In simple terms, etiquette refers to proper way of doing things in a given setting.
3. What is home training? Gen 18:19
   Home training refers to the upbringing or education a person receives at home, particularly in terms of manners, behavior and values instilled by the family. It is about learning proper conduct, respect and social skills within the home environment.

B. IMPORTANCE OF ETIQUETTE
i. It helps to make good first impressions which are important for jobs, good service, influence, and preaching the gospel.
ii. It helps to give good perception (appearance), as this is what is seen by people (Proverbs 17:28; Ecclesiastes 5:3). Illustration of the value of a container as a reflection of the value of the content. A dull man dressed well is perceived as smarter. Which man is hirable? The sloppy or the refined one?
iii. It teaches you to listen to the opinions of others especially elders which can save your life. (1Kings 12:13-14).
iv. It gives you an edge over your peers.
v. It teaches you to adjust to situations, environments and people. E.g. Joseph, Ruth, David, Daniel, and Esther adjusted to situations and took their various kingdoms! Copy them!

C. TYPES OF ETIQUETTE
i. Social Etiquette: How we interact with family members and guests, including greetings, conversation manners, and respecting personal space.

ii Table Etiquette: Proper behavior during meals, such as using utensils correctly, chewing with your mouth closed, and expressing gratitude for the food and company.

iii. Digital Etiquette: Respecting screen time boundaries, avoiding distractions during family time, and being mindful of online behavior and its impact on others.

iv. Home etiquette: Home etiquette refers to the polite and respectful behaviors expected of someone in a home or domestic setting. This can include things like removing shoes upon entering, respecting personal space, using good manners at the dinner table, and cleaning up after oneself. It’s essentially about being considerate and mindful of others in a domestic setting.

D. SOME HOME ETIQUETTE TIPS YOU SHOULD KNOW AND OBSERVE

i. Lead by Example: Observe how your parents or guardians demonstrate good manners and follow their lead.

ii. Practice Respect: Treat family members with kindness and consideration, even when disagreements arise.

iii. Communicate Effectively: Listen actively, express yourself respectfully, and resolve conflicts calmly and constructively.

iv. Help with Chores: Pitch in with household chores without being asked, showing initiative and responsibility.

v. Respect Privacy: Knock before entering someone’s room and respect their personal space and belongings.

vi. Express Gratitude: Show appreciation for the efforts of family members and express gratitude for everyday blessings.

CONCLUSION: As teenagers, practicing manners and etiquette at home lays the foundation for respectful and harmonious relationships in all areas of your life. So, strive to follow biblical principle by treating others with love and respect, and actively practicing good manners. This would create a positive and nurturing environment within your family and beyond.

Open Heavens 2025 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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