C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR OCTOBER 3 & 10, 2021 LESSON SIX : TOPIC - TIMES OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH WORLDWIDE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: IN TIME LIKE THIS
Unit Two : POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC WAR
Date : 3rd & 10th October, 2021
Lesson : Six
TOPIC : IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Memory Scripture
Then she arose with her daughter-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread (Ruth 1:6)
BRIEF COMMENT
Here is a message that reminds us of God's unprecedented love for man. From the beginning, God has made provision for man's comfort and convenience. Whosoever remains within the confines of God's love and provisions will definitely enjoy God's pleasant offers.
However, just like the prodigal son who left his father's camp of abundance, Elimelech and his household left Bethlehem ("House of bread") for Moab. Only his wife, Naomi and one of his 2 daughters-in-law, Ruth made it back to Bethlehem when the Lord had visited His people. But before then, many things had gone wrong on their lives. Naomi lost her husband and two sons. The prodigal son also staged a comeback after he had suffered greatly. He became a fugitive, engaged in demeaning jobs that he wouldn't have been allowed to do in his father's house. However, as soon as he realised his errors and returned to his father, he was fully restored (Lk. 15:11-32).
In the same vein, man lost his position in God's camp (Eden) as a result of sin. He became a fugitive and the land was cursed because of him. The life of comfort and convenience became that of struggles and turmoil. Nevertheless, God, in His mercy, has provisionally redeemed man, such that anyone who accepts His provision would be restored to Him.
Just as the prodigal son staged a homecoming, thank God Naomi put her shame and grief behind her to return home. Was she welcomed? God never cast away any prodigal child who realises and retraces his steps back to Him. Was she fully restored? God is an everlasting restorer. In Jesus, He redeems and restores man and all he has lost. All man needs do is return into loving, waiting arms.
Devotional Bible Readings For Week One
Mon. Sept. 27: God Instructs Issac (Gen. 26:1-2)
Tue. Sept. 28: God's Promises To Isaac (Gen. 26:3-5)
Wed. Sept. 29: Isaac Obeys God's Instruction (Gen. 26:6,17)
Thurs.Sept. 30: Isaac's Obedience Eventually Paid Off (Gen. 26:22).
Fri. Oct. 1: Isaac Receives More Promises From God (Gen. 26:24)
Sat. Oct. 2: Isaac Becomes Prosperous In The Land (Gen. 26:26-30)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. In unfavorable economic situations, we need to rely on God and His plans to avoid plunging deeper into crisse.
2. When man chooses to leave behind the Omniscient God in any situation, he has plunged himself into the danger of committing further errors --- jumping from frying pan to fire. After all, the way that seems right to man can end up in destruction (Prov. 14:12). Only God knows the end from the beginning and must be allowed to take the lead in any situation of our lives, if we are to come out stronger, bigger and greater.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Genesis 1:3-31; 2:8-23
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To make readers realise and understand God's unabated love for man, both in security and abundance.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, learners should:
i. be able to discuss the depth of God's love for humanity regardless of suffering and struggling, even economically that man might go through;
ii. be able to convincingly defend the fact that contrary to God's original plan for man, man brought trouble upon himself through sin, orchestrated by Satan;
iii. be able to show that God is always willing and ever ready to restore man to his original position; and
iv. be able to prove that through God remains unchangeably merciful and gracious, man must first return to be restored.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 1:1-31; 2:7-15; 3:17-19; 4:8-15; EXODUS 3:6-8; 2 CHRONICLES 7:12-15; PSALMS 30:5; JOEL 2:25
The name of the Lord alone be praised forevermore, for the grace and privilege of partaking in His O
Word on weekly and daily basis. All honour and adoration to His holy name. May all His investment over us bring joy to His heart always. Amen.
The last lesson addressed the topic, WHEN KNOWLEDGE INCREASES GLOBALLY, which happens to be the opener of the second unit of this series. In it, the Holy Spirit brought to our remembrance how God spoke of the way knowledge would be on the increase, and how it has actually increased today. Do we still remember the implications for our Christian living in relation to our God?
Lesson 6 seeks to address the topic, IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN which spotlights God's role before, during and after the downturn. God is the God of all times and seasons, and all situations are under His control. He is God, both in famine and plenty.
In this lesson, we are examining another season in the history of the world, where the world economy is taking a downturn, where three-square meal is fast becoming impossible for many, where men struggle to survive and where men are full of complains. What can we do to survive this trend without defrauding, or going against God, our Creator?
INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION
As usual, this is a 2-week lesson with two major divisions, I and II. Each is further divided into A and B.
DIVISION I: THE WORLD ECONOMY GOD CREATES
This division exposes to us the conducive economy, comfortable and convenient provisions of God for mankind. God's original plan for man was that he should lack nothing. That is why He first created everything man needs for a good life. He created a garden fully stocked with the basic amenities. God made all things readily available to man, then gave him the only task to cultivate them for his own enjoyment. The only one God did not create before Adam, was Eve. God's care for humanity is an all-round provisions.
DIVISION II: THE MIX-UP IN WORLD ECONOMY
This division deals with how mix-up came up in the world's economy, resulting in major setbacks, heavily disrupting the economy God originally arranged for man. Man's sin in the garden brought about suffering, struggling, turmoil and pain, which were not part of God's plan for him. Just like how a good healthy banana becomes unhealthy and poisonous to the human system when overripe. The curse God placed on the ground for Adam's sake ushered in the era of pain and agony, worsened when Cain spilled his brother, Abel's blood on the ground. However, God is ever ready and willing to restore man to the original plan, if man would come through Jesus Christ, His Son, confessing his sins and forsaking them.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. THE WORLD ECONOMY GOD CREATES
A. PLEASURABLE LIFE FOR HIS CREATURES
B. PLANNED ECONOMY FOR HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL
II. THE MIX-UP IN WORLD ECONOMY
A. THE FIRST ECONOMY MISHAP
B. THE RESTORATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. THE WORLD ECONOMY GOD CREATES (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:7-15; Exodus 3:6-8)
The word "economy" is the state of a country, region, or a people in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money. It is a major factor that determines the standards of living of the people. The economy God created in the beginning was a flourishing and robust one, such that all that man needed for wellness and comfort were made abundantly available.
A. PLEASURABLE LIFE FOR HIS CREATURES (1-3-31; 2:8-23)
And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food (1:29).
i. 1:3-27: God made man after having created the other things, so that man will not lack anything needed for life and godliness (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). Ahead of every divine mission and vision, there is always divine provision.
ii. v. 28: From the beginning, God blessed man, releasing great prosperity on him to be economically okay in the real sense of the Word (cf. Prov. 10:22).
iii. vv. 29-30: God officially announced to man (Adam) the provision for his feeding, living and comfort, that He had made ahead of his arrival. He officially handed everything over to man to enjoy and cultivate ---- prosperous economy.
iv. v. 31: The end of God's six-day creative work reads, Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.
v. 2:8: The Lord God created a garden eastward in Eden, and put Adam there. Why? Security/safety. As long as Adam remained in that Garden, his protection and prosperity were guaranteed (cf. Psa. 91:1; 125:2)
vi. vv. 10-14: The gracious God also provided for the Garden to be regularly watered, by a four-way river (Psa. 46:4) for it to remain fresh and flourishing, hence its nutritious structure for man's wellness.
vii. vv. 11-12: GOD also endowed the land with natural treasures, like gold, bdellium and the onyx stone. All for man's use and comfort. What a caring God and Father!
viii. vv. 15-17: Amidst all the provision for comfort and enjoyment, God made man responsible for cultivating the garden. You can't be idle, if you would enjoy divine prosperity (cf. 26:12ff).
ix. vv. 16-17: God gave man the Law to moderate his economic activities. He must obey to continue in divine prosperity (cf. Isa. 1:18ff).
x. vv. 21-23: Among all creatures in the Garden, none was compatible with Adam. God noted his loneliness, caused him to deeply fall asleep, removed one of his ribs to form a female whom Adam called WOMAN. Eve came to make Adam's economic strides easier ---- helpmeet.
xi. Just imagine that such an experience like the above continued in the world, of course, it would have been too great. Woe to the devil who cunningly truncated the peaceful economy. Our hope is JESUS CHRIST.
B. PLANNED ECONOMY FOR HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL (Exod. 3:6-8)
So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exo. 3:8a).
i. 3:6-8: God promised to bring His people to a land flowing with milk and honey --- the Promised Land, in fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:3; 15:1ff; 17:1ff).
ii. 13:14, 21-22: He chose to miraculously displace the original inhabitants of the land flowing with milk and honey (cf. 3:8b), for His own people's comfort and enjoyment --- prosperous economy (cf. Jos. 6:12,20; Psa. 105:13-15)
iii. 16:11-16: God fed them with angelic food and water from the Rock of Ages (17:5-7), in journey through the wilderness (Psa. 78:23-25), even when there was neither food nor water supplies in their physical environment. He always made sure they did not suffer, or lack any good thing (cf. Deut. 8:1ff).
iv. 3:6: The faithful God gave them these provisions for prosperity because of His covenant with their faithful patriarchs, to show them the dimension of His love for them, that they might keep His Word (Num. 23:19; Psa. 105:42-45).
v. 3 John 1:2 makes it clear that God's plan for His people is all-round prosperity.
vi. God has given man all things he needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and still gives man all his needs, progressively (Phil. 4:19; Psa. 23:1).
LESSON DERIVED
1. As long as man remains in God's camp, he continues to enjoy God's provisions, protection and care --- true prosperity.
2. God has a good plan and package for humanity, ours is to trust Him, and align ourselves to His plans and programmes.
WORK TO DO
In spite of God's prosperity plan for man, why does humanity still wallow in poverty, suffering and lack?
SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO
i. Man's sin made him fall from Grace to grass (Rom. 3:23), and as a result, he could no longer enjoy the provisions God made available for him.
ii. It is said that your location determines your allocation. As long as man dwells in the garden, God's abundant provisions and protection are guaranteed over him, and vice-versa.
iii. Man's suffering, poverty and lack is not an indication of God's ignorance of the situation, neither is it an indication of God's wickedness. Man only brought the evil upon himself (Isa. 59:1-2). God is not to blame, but man.
iv. That the prodigal son suffered in a strange land, was whose fault? His father's No! His own fault? Yes! Man began to suffer when he left God's camp to fulfil his own desires (Rom. 1:28-32). Likewise, the lost Naomi suffered in the land of Moab was the result of the family's jetting out of God's gracious presence. God cannot be blamed.
v. However, like the prodigal son and Naomi, God promises to restore man's fortunes and put him back into his original position as long as he returns to Him, humbly and repentance (Psa. 30:5,11; Isa. 60:10).
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR OCTOBER 3 & 10, 2021 LESSON SIX : TOPIC - TIMES OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
October 03, 2021
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Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
October 03, 2021
Rating:
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