RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024 – AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 17TH OF DECEMBER, 2023 – LESSON SIXTEEN (16) – TOPIC: REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD 1
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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 17TH OF DECEMBER, 2023
LESSON SIXTEEN (16)
TOPIC: REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD 1:
(GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE)
BIBLE TEXT: Luke 15:11-32.
[11]And he said, A certain man had two sons:
[12]And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[13]And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
[14]And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
[15]And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
[16]And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
[17]And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
[18]I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
[19]And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
[20]And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
[21]And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
[22]But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
[23]And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
[24]For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
[25]Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
[26]And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
[27]And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
[28]And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
[29]And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
[30]But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
[31]And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
[32]It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 51:1 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.'”
LESSON AIM: The children will know that God wants the best for them because He loves them.
CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God’s love is unconditional.
INTRODUCTION: Children of God! Did you know that when Jesus lived on earth that He liked to teach people that God really does love everyone unconditionally? But many times the
Pharisees (church people) would get upset and think they were better than the sinners. Today we are going to see how the parable of the prodigal son is a reminder of God’s wonderful
unconditional love.
PROGRESSION OF EVENT
- There was a wealthy man who had two sons and the younger son demanded his inheritance.
- The father agreed to his requested and divided his properties into two.
- The younger son went to a far country and it did not take long for him to waste his inheritance.
- The young man found himself in trouble and there was no food on the land anywhere,
- The only job this man could find was feeding pigs and he was so starved he Wanted to eat the foodof thepigs
- So he decided he Would own up to his actions and go back home.
- The son did not feel worthy to be called a son and decided he will ask his father to o hire hím asa servant.
GOSPEL CONNECTION: This parable is a reminder of God’s love. Because He loves us, He punishes us when we commit sin, God is saddened by our sins and promises to forgive us when we repent. The only way to repent is to believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved, Jesus died on the cross shedding His lifeblood to take the punishmcnt for our sins. Because of
sin, we deserve death as punishment but instead, God gives us life through His Son, Jesus.
CLIMAX: The father was so excited when he saw him from afar, he rejoiced and called for a party.
CONCLUSION: The older son did not think it was fair that his brother had strayed and squandered money, and was still treated with so much love and forgiveness.
CHALLENGE: As a child who believes in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, today’s lesson is a reminder of how your earthly parents show that they love you and forgive your poor behaviors if you repent of them. And the lesson also shows us what God is like through the father of the two sons and what we are like through the two sons. Both sons treated their father badly but he kept on loving them. When we do wrong things, God still loves us unconditionally and waits for us to repent.
CARRY-OVER ACTIVITY: This week, when you display poor behavior at home, apologize and try not to do them again.
INVITATION: You can only repent if believe in the Lord Jesus as your Savior (John 5:24).
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY: Psalms 31:13-16
MONDAY:Psalms 31:17-20
TUESDAY: Psalms 31:21-24
WEDNESDAY: Psalms 32:1-4
THURSDAY: Psalms 32:5-7
FRIDAY: Psalms 32:8-11
SATURDAY: Psalms 33:1-3
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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