RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024 – AGE 4-5 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 5TH OF NOVEMBER 2023 – LESSON TEN (10) – TOPIC: QUALITIES OF A GRATEFUL HEART 3: A WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL.

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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 4-5 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 5TH OF NOVEMBER 2023
LESSON TEN (10)
TOPIC: QUALITIES OF A GRATEFUL HEART 3: A WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL.

BIBLE TEXT: Acts 16:16-40
[16]And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
[17]The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
[18]And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
[19]And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
[20]And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
[21]And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
[22]And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
[23]And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
[24]Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
[25]And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
[26]And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
[27]And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
[28]But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
[29]Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
[30]And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[31]And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
[32]And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
[33]And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
[34]And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
[35]And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
[36]And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
[37]But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
[38]And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
[39]And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
[40]And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 14:25a, “A true witness delivers souls.”

LESSON AIM: God wants you to be a true witness.

CHILD RELATED TRUTH: Tell others about Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION: Witnessing simply means telling others about Jesus so that they may receive the grace of salvation. Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15 commands you to preach the gospel that is tell others about Jesus. If you are grateful that Jesus saved you from your sin and you re now His child, you will give Him gratitude with your grateful heart by witnessing.

Also Read: Open Heaven 5 November  2023 – WHILE MEN SLEPT II 

PROGRESSION OF EVENTS
A. Paul and Silas traveled to Philip were they taught. Verse 12, 13, 16.
B. Following them each day, a fortune teller called out that Paul and Silas were servants of God who proclaimed the way of salvation. Verse 16, 17. (She was speaking the truth but controlled by the evil spirit. Her master uses her fortune telling to make money).
C. Grieved, Paul commanded the evil spirit to leave her in Jesus name. Verse 18.
D. With their business ruined, the girl’s owner took Paul and Silas to the town officials and accuse them of teaching against the law. Verse 19-21.
E. The crowd attacked Paul and Silas, the officials ordered them beating and put in prison, placing them in stocks in the inner cell. Verse 22-24. (Paul and Silas rejoiced even in their hard times. You too can rejoice in the Lord even in hard times).
F At midnight, the other prisoners heard Paul and Silas singing and praying when an earthquake suddenly shook open all the doors. Verse 25,26.
G. Thinking the prisoners had escaped, the jailer drew his sword to kill himself, but stopped him. Verse 27, 28.
H. The jailer ran to Paul and Silas asking” what must I do to be save? Verse 29, 30. (He must have realized that God is with Paul and Silas and helping themn to rejoice even in their hard times, so he wants to believe in their God. So even the lives of Paul and Silas in the prison witnessed for Christ. Can your life witness for Christ even in a hard situation that even other can see and want believe in Christ?)
I. Paul to him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. you and your household” (Romans 6:23, Jesus Christ is the perfect son of God, whom God sent to die for your sins. John 3:16, He came gave His blood on the cross, died and rose the third day. Hebrew 9:13, when you believed Jesus died for you, you can be saved from your sins, so that someday you can have eternal live and be with God in Heaven. That’s the message Paul and Silas shared with the jailer.)
J. In the jailer’s home. Paul and Silas taught everyone present about Jesus and the jailer washed their wounds. Verse 32.

CLIMAX: God turned Paul and Silas pain to joy and victory as the jailer and his fanily believed in the Lord and are baptized to show their belief. Verse 33b.

CONCLUSION: The rejoicing jailer served Paul and Silas a meal, they were set free from jail and they went to other believers’ house (Lydia) to praise God and encourage other believers. Verse 34-40.

CHALLENGE: Paul and Silas rejoiced as they suffered in prison but still used their lives and words to witness for Christ. If you have believed in Jesus Christ will you use your life and words to witness? Always do this and rejoice in the Lord by thanking Him for what you remember about Him or sing praises to Him.

INVITATION:Will you believe on Jesus. Acts 16:31 .

SUNDAY PSALM 11:1-2
MONDAY PSALM 11:3-4
TUESDAY PSALM 11:5-7
WEDNESDAY PSALM 12:1-2
THURSDAY PSALM 12:3-4
FRIDAY PSALM 12:5-6
SATURDAY PSALM 12:7-8

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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