RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025 – AGE 13-15 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 17TH OF NOVEMBER, 2024 – LESSON TWELVE (12) – TOPIC: REVISION 2/SUMMARY
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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2024/2025
AGE 13-15 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 17TH OF NOVEMBER, 2024
LESSON TWELVE (12)
TOPIC: REVISION 2/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 07-11
LESSON SEVEN (07)
TOPIC: THE WORD OF GOD
BIBLE TEXTS: John 17:16-19; John 1:1; Psalms 119:11
MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 3:16- “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
LESSON AIM: For teenagers to know why understanding the Word of God is crucial for their faith journey.
CENTRAL TRUTH: The Word of God is the truth.
INTRODUCTION: The believer’s compass in life is the Word of God. It is like a user manual to guide, teach and instruct us on how to go about our lives, especially in this world filled with all manner of challenges and corruption. It not only gives solutions but empowers and equips us for whatever lies ahead in life.
STUDY GUIDE
A. WHAT IS THE WORD OF GOD?
- The Bible is the inspired Word of God – 2 Timothy 3:16.
- Jesus is the living Word of God – John 1:1.
- The Word of God is the Truth John 17:17, Proverbs 30:5.
Teens Teacher’s Manual 2024/2025 Edition
B. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORD OF GOD
The Word of God:
- has the ultimate authority and is trustworthy – 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:130.
- is powerful-Hebrews 4:12, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
- is relevant across all generations – Isaiah 40:8.
- provides spiritual nourishment and sustenance for believers – John 6:63, Psalm-119:105
- The Word of God is purposeful – 2 Timothy 3:15, John 20:31.
C. BENEFITS OF THE WORD OF GOD
- It keeps us from committing sin – Psalm 119:11.
- It offers us free counselling – Psalm 119:24.
- It makes a believer perfect and prepares him/her for good works-2 Timothy 3:16-17,
- It serves as a common ground for worship, teaching, and mutual edification, fostering unity among believers Colossians 3:16.
- It has the power to renew minds, change hearts, and conform believers to the image of Christ – Romans 12:2, James 1:22-25.
D. HOW TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
- Read it regularly (daily devotions).
- Study it with others – Colossians 3:16.
- Meditate on it day and night – Joshua 1:8.
- Share it with others (evangelism, witnessing) – 2 Corinthians 5:18, Matthew 28:19.
- Study the Word diligently -2 Timothy 2:15-
LIFE APPLICATION: The Word of God has the power and ability to impact every area of our lives, but only if we believe in it. Get various translations of the Bible, a concordance, study Bible or Bible commentaries to help simplify your studying of the Word. God’s Word is life, feed on it!
CONCLUSION: The Word of God is indispensable to the Christian faith, providing guidance, truth, transformation, and hope to believers, as they seek to live in obedience to God and fulfill His purpose in the world. Everything you will ever need to live life successfully on Earth is in the Word. Go for the Word! Seek knowledge. Study to show yourself approved.
ASSIGNMENT: Use another translation of the Bible apart from the KJV – like Amplified classic, to help you understand the Bible easily.
LESSON EIGHT (08)
TOPIC: VISION
BIBLE TEXT: Habakuk 2: 2-3, 2 Corinthians 4:18.
MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
LESSON AIM: To know the importance of having a Vision.
CENTRAL TRUTH: A Christian without a vision is like a fighter beating the air – 1 Corinthians 9:26.
INTRODUCTION: Tolu is a sportsman; he has been running in track races since his primary school days, representing his school. One day, he emerged as the first in a competition. He was interviewed on how he was able to consistently achieve success in his races. His response was that he had already seen himself emerging as the winner, so he prepared to win by: committing all his races to God, exercising daily, following the right diet, submitting to his coach to train him to be the best, and focusing on the finish line. He never looked at those cheering or mocking him because he had a vision in his mind to receive the Gold medal at the end of each race.
STUDY GUIDE:
A. WHAT IS VISION? VISION IS:
- a picture of the future in the heart of a person.
- a glimpse into the glorious destiny that God has prepared for His children.
- seeing tomorrow from today.
- a reflection of your values.
- seeing the end from the beginning.
- seeing the ultimate purpose of God for your life or existence.
B. THE IMPORTANCE OF VISION-IT:
- gives direction and purpose.
- guides our decisions and choices.
- encourages creativity and innovation.
- encourages personal growth and focus.
- makes you resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks.
- gives you a clear definition of success.
C. HOW TO KNOW THE VISION
- Have a desire/will-Habakkuk 2:1.
- Spend time praying and waiting on the Lord – Habakkuk 2:2-3.
- Spend time studying the Word.
- Analyze your strengths and interests.
- Discover the things you do effortlessly and passionately.
D. WHAT TO DO WITH THE VISION
1.. Write it down – Habakkuk 2:2.
- Interpret the Vision – Habakkuk 2:2.
- Keep praying about it, until you enter into its fulfillment – Hebrews 6:12, Hebrews 10:36-37.
- Prayerfully get a mentor.
- Prepare: give yourself to learning, training, attending workshops, seminars, and webinars.
- Have a group of likeminded individuals going in a similar direction.
- Step out. Act on the vision at the right time; the vision won’t manifest if you do nothing about it.
LIFE APPLICATION: God has a plan for everyone. He is willing to lead His children into its fulfillment. Do you know God’s plan for your life? Cry to God today to show you, if you don’t know it yet.
ASSIGNMENT: Write out the Vision that God has given you for your life and paste it on the wall in your room. Take a picture of it and show your teacher next week.
CONCLUSION: All great achievers in life, business, career, ministry, politics and so on are men and women of vision. No one ever became anything worthwhile or worth celebrating without the emblem of a great vision. People fail and become frustrated in life because they lack the vital element of success and happiness called Vision. The Word of God says in Proverbs. 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. This is the best time to seek the face of the Lord like Habakkuk, to see what God will say unto you. Take the time to find out God’s vision for your life.
LESSON NINE (09)
TOPIC: PURPOSEFUL LIVING
BIBLE TEXTS: Jeremiah 29:11; Luke 4:16-21; Romans 8:28
MEMORY VERSE: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”
LESSON AIM: To understand what it means to live purposefully
CENTRAL TRUTH: God has a plan for your life.
INTRODUCTION: When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. This is the case of the gift received by Femi on his birthday. The gadget looked so cool and he carried it about wherever he went doing all he could to show it off and use it for the few things he knew it could do, until one day when he met a lady who had the same gadget and was asking some questions about it, that he could not answer. After discussing with the lady for a while and seeing all the lady had been using hers for, he felt ashamed and wasteful because he never asked or made findings on how best he could use this gadget. Also, he got to know of the importance a bit late as the space remaining on the gadget was not much.
That day, Femi learnt a valuable lesson: that there is a purpose for everything and if only you can make your findings, you will not only enjoy those things you have, but also be happy and
fulfilled in so doing. This also applies to individual life: when we don’t know the purpose for which God created us, we end up spending the days of our lives on things that have no meaning.
STUDY GUIDE
A. WHAT IS PURPOSEFUL LIVING?
A purposeful life means living with a clear sense of why you’re here and what you’re meant to do. It also means having a personal mission or goal that guides everything you do, from the big decisions to the small everyday actions.
A purposeful life is one in which you find meaning and satisfaction to life by contributing positively to the lives of others, and continually striving to grow and learn. It’s not a destination, but a way of traveling through life.
While an ordinary life can be monotonous and uninspiring, a purposeful life is fulfilling and impactful.
B. EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED PURPOSEFULLY
- Jesus (John 10:10)
- Deborah (Judges 5:7, 4:4)
- Esther (Esther 4:14-16)
- Joseph (Genesis. 45:1-5)
- Samuel (1 Samuel 3:19)
- Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17)
- Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:12-18)
- Daniel (Daniel 1:8-17)
- Mary-the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38)
- Peter (Matthew 16:13-20)
C. STEPS TOWARD LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFE 2.
- Self-Discovery: Finding who you truly are
- Identify Your Values: What matters most to you?
- Embracing Passion: Finding joy and purpose in what you do.
- Goal Setting: Defining your path.
- Continual Learning: Embracing a lifetime of growth.
D. HOW TO LIVE PURPOSEFULLY USING JOSEPH L ASA CASE STUDY-GENESIS 37-45
- Find your purpose in God – Genesis 37:5-11.
- Be convinced about what God has revealed to you.
- Prepare for the future God has revealed to you.
- Ignore distractions – Genesis 39:7-12.
- Focus on God, even in unpleasant situations – Romans 8:28, Genesis 39:20-23, Genesis 40).
- Stay faithful by serving God’s people with your gifts – Genesis 40:5-8.
- When an opportunity arises, be excellent and maximize it-Genesis 41:14-36.
- Always give all the glory to God – Genesis 45:7.
E. BENEFITS OF A PURPOSEFULLIFE-IT:
- Enhances your sense of self-worth – Ephesians 2:10.
- Motivates you to strive for growth.
- Brings deeper satisfaction and happiness – Psalm 138:8.
- It empowers you to leave a positive imprint on the world and leads to a more rewarding and enriching life experience.
- It helps you to discover God’s plan for your life Jeremiah 29:11.
LIFE APPLICATION: God designed you with a plan in mind. He created you with purpose and He is committed to accomplishing His will in your life. Be encouraged. What are you doing daily in line with what God created you for?
Start doing something daily in line with God’s purpose for your life. For example, if you believe God has called you to encourage others, make it a point to say something kind to someone every day. If you believe God has gifted you with creativity, spend time each day creating something that brings joy to others.
ASSIGNMENT: Take time in the secret place with God to know your purpose and how to align with it.
LESSON NINE (10)
TOPIC: GOAL SETTING: S.M.A.R.T.
BIBLE TEXT: Habakkuk 2:2-3
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 14:28 “For which of you. intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
LESSON AIM: To help us know how to set SMART goals.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Without SMART goals, our vision mwould only be like wishes.
INTRODUCTION: Setting goals that will help you achieve W your vision is important because there is a process in the Yo attainment of our dreams. It won’t happen by default or like some people say, ‘Que sera, sera’ meaning ‘whatever will be, will be’. An intentional effort is required from you; hence your goals must be SMART.
SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s discuss further to know how to set SMART goals.
STUDY GUIDE:
A). WHAT IS GOAL SETTING?
Goal setting is not just about dreaming but turning those dreams into actionable plans that propel us towards success. Genesis 41:1-36 illustrates Joseph’s strategic planning during the famine, highlighting the importance of setting goals in achieving long-term visions. Similarly, Luke 14:28-30 emphasizes the significance of planning and counting the cost before embarking on a project.
B). WHYSET GOALS?
- God sets goals: Just as God sets goals for His creation and works purposefully towards their fulfillment, we too should set goals to align with His plans for us.
- Successful people set goals: Throughout history, successful individuals have demonstrated the power of goal-setting in achieving their dreams.
- Goals help us align our focus: By setting clear objectives, we can direct our efforts towards what truly matters, avoiding distractions and maximizing our potential.
- Goals help us set priorities: By prioritizing our goals, we can allocate our time and resources effectively, ensuring progress in all aspects of life.
C) WHAT ARE SMART GOALS?
- S- Specific: set goals that clearly define the exact thing you want to achieve. Habakkuk 2:2 encourages us to write down our vision and make it clear.
For example:
Vague goal: Learn data analysis
Specific goal: Complete an online course on analyzing data using SQL & Power BI within six months, then volunteer in a Fintech company to gain experience.
M-Measurable: Your goals are measurable when there is a specific metric or criterion that allows you to track your progress.
For example:
Non-measurable goal: Read daily
Measurable goal: Read five Chapters of the Bible daily to finish reading my Bible in a year.
- A- Achievable: Your goals are achievable when they are realistic within your current capacity and resources.
For example:
Unachievable Goal: Learn how to speak a new language fluently in one month
Achievable Goal: Spend 1 hour daily on Duolingo learning and practicing French language for six months OR Go to a French school and learn the language for a year.
- R- Relevant: Your goal must be aligned with your skills, interests, and overall objectives. Choose goals that matter to you and are within your capabilities and understanding.
For example:
General Goal: Learn a new skill.
Relevant Goal: Take a Human Resources Management certification course every semester holiday, which is relevant to my career aspirations to be a Human Resource Manager.
- T- Time-bound. Goals must be time-specifie, indicating the time of completion of that specific goal.
The ideas we have can fly away if we don’t have them planned within a timeframe for execution. Setting timelines to our goals gives us a sense of urgency; it keeps us accountable and focused.
For example:
General Goal: Win souls for Christ.
Time-bound goal: Vision 2032: 1:1:1 One member winning one soul in one month and establishing them in Church. Total of at least 12 souls per member per year, which will lead to a 400% increase in the attendance of RCCG worldwide.
Additional example:
Time-bound goal: “By December 31st of this year, I will have completed and submitted my application for three different internship opportunities in my desired field, ensuring I take proactive steps towards gaining valuable experience and furthering my career goals.”
LIFE APPLICATION: Imagine if Pharaoh had not taken any step in implementing Joseph’s idea to store food during abundance. What would have happened to Egypt? Start setting SMART goals for all aspects of your life in which you want to see tangible progress over time. Proverbs 24:3-4 encourages us to build our house through wisdom and understanding.
ASSIGNMENT: Focus on one aspect of your life, like your Academics, spiritual growth or career, and set SMART goals on it.
CONCLUSION: Having and itself, taking steps daily to ensure that it is achieved is important⁹
Philippians 3:13 encourages us to forget what is behind and press on towards the goal. Let’s commit to setting SMART goals and working diligently towards their fulfillment, trusting in God’s guidance and provision every step of the way.
LESSON ELEVEN (11)
TOPIC: FAITH
BIBLE TEXT: Hebrews 11:1-11
MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him for him that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”
LESSON AIM: Teenagers should be able to understand that the essence of a Christian is built on faith in the Lord.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Faith is essential in our relationship with God.
INTRODUCTION: Faith in God is rock-solid trust in His character and promises. It’s believing without a doubt that God will do exactly what He says He will, regardless of circumstances. Psalm 27:13.
Faith is the substance of things we’re hoping for, the evidence of things we’re yet to see. It’s the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen – Hebrews 11:1.
Faith is one of the biggest factors in a person’s relationship with God. Faith isn’t merely believing, it’s something that we back up with our lives and actions.
STUDY GUIDE:
A. WHAT IS FAITH IN GOD? Faith is:
- Essential to pleasing God.
- The belief in God’s existence and His promise to reward those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.
- The currency through which we receive in reality all that is ours as a result of our union with Christ. It’s the means by which we access the blessings and promises of God – Ephesians 1:3.
B. WHAT CAN WE RECEIVE BY FAITH?
- Salvation Ephesians 2:8
- Righteousness Philippians 3:9
- Peace with God Romans 5:1
- Victory over the world 1 John 5:4
- Son-ship in Christ John 1:12, Galatians 3:26
C. HOW DOES FAITH COME?
- Hearing the Word of God: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God – Romans 10:17. When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, our faith is strengthened.
- Prayer: Prayer is another avenue through which our faith is strengthened. As we pray, we communicate with God, and our trust in Him deepens.
D. PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR FAITH TO WORK AND THE RESULTS THEY GOT – HEBREWS 11
- Abraham: He believed God’s promise of a son, and Isaac was born to him in his old age-Hebrews 11:11-12.
- Moses: He trusted God’s guidance and led the Israelites out of Egypt through the Red Sea Hebrews 11.29.
- Rahab: She trusted God and hid the Israelite spies, saving her family from destruction – Hebrews 11:31.
- Gideon: He believed God’s call to deliver Israel from the Midianites and led a victorious battle – Hebrews 11:32.
- David: He had faith that God would deliver him from Goliath, and he defeated the giant with a sling and stone – Hebrews 11:32-34.
HOW TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH
- Be a Person of the Word: Meditate on God’s Word daily, allowing it to shape your thoughts and actions Romans 10:17.
- Be a Person of Prayer: Develop a consistent prayer life, seeking God’s guidance and strength in all things Matthew 21:22.
- Always Insist on What God Says: Stand firm on the promises of God, refusing to waver in doubt or fear – Hebrews 10:23.
- Obedience: Act promptly on God’s instruction, trusting that His ways are higher than ours – Genesis 6:11-22.
LIFE APPLICATION: It is impossible to please
God without faith. Stand in faith, believing for the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life and the lives of others. Pray with confidence, knowing that God hears and answers according to His will.
ACTIVITIES
- Encourage teenagers to create a “Faith Wall” where they can write down their own faith goals and prayers.
- Divide the group into small teams to research and present on one of the biblical heroes from Hebrews 11.
ASSIGNMENT: Put your faith to work over something you’re believing God for. Trust Him for the outcome, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises – Mark 9:23.
CONCLUSION: Faith is one of the biggest factors in a person’s relationship with God. It is not merely believing, it’s something we back up with our lives and actions through the Word of God.
Open Heavens 2024 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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