C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MAY 28 & JUNE 4, 2023 : LESSON TEN: TOPIC – GOD'S GRACE: SUFFICIENT FOR PAUL
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MAY 28 & JUNE 4, 2023 : LESSON TEN: TOPIC – GOD'S GRACE: SUFFICIENT FOR PAUL
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria & Overseas
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: SOME CHARACTERS WHO GROW IN IN LORD'S GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
JANUARY - JUNE, 2023
Unit Three: Spiritual Growth In The New Testament
May 28 & June 4, 2023
LESSON TEN
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Paul, despite
being a religious fanatic, encountered the God of all grace; he was sustained by this Grace, even in the face of terrible trials. Only grace is capable of transforming a wrecked life into a glorious one.
BRIEF COMMENT:
Paul spoke extensively on the grace of God more than anyone in the Bible. He realised that it was God's grace that located and transformed him from a persecutor of the Way, to a preacher of the gospel (Acts 9:1ff; 26:12-23). He recognised the grace of God by which he became a minister to the gentiles (2 Cor 6:1; Eph. 2:1ff; 3:7), and continually banked on it. Even when he complained about a particular challenge he faced, God drew his attention to His grace, which is ever sufficient for all situations/circumstances one may encounter. God's grace has never been deficient in any way. It is always available, and even in excess.
My strength is made perfect in weakness simply implies that it takes God's sufficiency or adequacy to meet man's deficiency or inadequacy. We know the miracle of God, because of man's need for God's miracle. So, it is in our weaknesses that we recognise that there is God, who is all-powerful (Omnipotent). This understanding comforted Paul, and gladdened his heart. That is why he confessed that he would boast in his infirmities. Because God's grace is available and sufficient, continue to depend solely on it. Like Paul, cooperate with Him, and recognise His grace upon your life and you will need nothing other than His grace for fulfilment in life.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK ONE
Mon. 22: Paul Embraces Suffering For The Gospel (Acts 22:24-28)
Tue. 23: Paul, Not Afraid Of Chains (Acts 20:20-24)
Wed. 24: Paul Is Almost Lynched For Christ's Sake (Acts 21:27-32)
Thur. 25: Paul, The Missionary, Experiences Snake Bite (Acts 28:3-5)
Fri. 26: Paul Gets Confirmation Of God's Grace (2 Cor. 12:6-9)
Sat. 27: Paul Finishes His Race By Grace (2 Tim. 4:6-8)
2. DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. Only God's grace can sufficiently sustain one till eternity, like it did Apostle Paul.
2. There is no inadequacy in God's grace, but it is perfect, and it strengthens. Recognise it by seeking Christ's knowledge, and you will realise its sufficiency even more than it helped Paul.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:1-10.
4. AIM AND OBJECTIVES:
AIM: To know the sufficiency or adequacy of God's grace in our lives, by looking through the life of Paul
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, the learners should:
i. be able to identify God's grace in their lives and its sufficiency, or otherwise;
ii. be able to explain what God's grace did in the life of Paul, and apply this to their lives, personally;
iii. be showing signs of having developed the attitude of gratitude for what the grace of God has done in their lives; and
iv. have begun to maximise God's grace that located them, by seeking God's knowledge, and extending the same to others.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: ACTS 9:1-25; 13:1FF; 26:12-32; PHILIPPIANS 3:1-16; EPHESIANS 3:1-15
Glory be to God for bringing us to yet another lesson in this series. Last week, we concluded lesson 9, where we studied the topic: GOD'S GRACE IN JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES. In that lesson, we learnt how Jesus (as a young Boy, and later, full-fledged Minister) and His disciples grew in the grace of God. The disciples were called, groomed, commissioned and continued to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. May God help us to do all that is necessary to be who He wants us to be. Amen.
God is blessing us these two weeks with another topic: GOD'S GRACE: SUFFICIENT FOR PAUL. In this lesson, God will be helping us to see how God's grace located Paul on his expedition against the 'People of The Way', on Damascus road. Jesus, the Light of the world, met him and changed his story, as the heavenly Light shone around him, converting him from a persecutor to a messenger of the Way. Christ, through the instrumentality of men and the Holy Spirit, further groomed and commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul continued in Christ's knowledge as he suffered to defend the gospel, which reached him by God's grace, before kings and nations. Though accused and persecuted by his Jewish people, he would stop at nothing to deliver and bear the Lord's name among the Gentiles. He resolved to know and seek nothing aside Jesus, His power, and to show same to the Gentiles. To him, it was a payback time to reciprocate God's grace that chose him.
May the Holy Spirit help us to maximise His grace upon our lives, for His glory and edification of His Church. Amen.
INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION: This lesson is divided into 2 broad divisions - I and II. Each division is further subdivided into parts, A and B respectively.
May 28: DIVISIONI: CONVERTED AND CALLED BY GOD'S GRACE
This division bothers on two important issues relating to Apostle Paul's conversion and call. One, his experience on the way to Damascus, and secondly, how he was on course for the gospel. Paul realised that it was the grace of God that located him, a persecutor of the Way for that matter. He knew that he became a minister of God, especially to the gentiles, by grace. Conversion to Christ and call to ministry are products of God's grace.
June 4: DIVISION II: CONTINUES TO PURSUE CHRIST'S KNOWLEDGE
Since it was the grace of God that located, saved and sent Paul, he worked in that grace faithfully, he served Christ, and pursued His knowledge to the best of his ability by God's grace. To pursue the knowledge of Christ, the Giver of grace, is the best way to appropriate and appreciate the grace. Paul actually modelled to us today, how to maximise the grace of God, which is available to us. This is the issue discussed in this division.
LESSON OUTLINE
1. CONVERTED AND CALLED BY GOD'S GRACE
A. ON HIS DAMASCUS' EXPEDITION
B. ON COURSE FOR THE GOSPEL
II. CONTINUES TO PURSUE CHRIST'S KNOWLEDGE
A. BY DESIRING MORE OF CHRIST
B. BY REACHING OUT TO THE GENTILES
LESSON EXPOSITION
May 28 I. CONVERTED AND CALLED BY GOD'S GRACE (Acts 9:1-25;13:1ff).
To be converted is to turn from something to another. It is a significant change or shift. Whereas, to be called is to receive the signal about something, or an alert to carry out some orders or assignments. Conversion to God is by God's grace. Likewise, to be called by God for a specific task is not by merit, but by God's mercy and grace. How?
A. ON HIS DAMASCUS' EXPEDITION (Acts 9:1-9) So he, trembling and astonished, said, "LORD, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (v.6).
i. vv. 1,2: Paul, in his negative zeal (Phil. 3:6), constantly made onslaughts against Jesus' disciples. And, having obtained permission from the high priest, gathered false witnesses to destroy those found on the WAY (cf. Psa. 27:12; Gal. 1:13). That was enough for him to be divinely destroyed in defence of the Way. But grace intervened.
ii. vv. 3,4. The Light whom Paul persecuted unknowingly (1 Tim. 6:16), suddenly...shone around him from heaven. Those who walk in darkness think they are secure until the Light of God finds them out (Isa. 9:2). Only God's grace does that.
iii. vv. 5,6: Though, Paul hadn't known the Lord, he must have heard of YAHWEH as a Jewish Scholar. If he had disputed all he heard about Jesus, this experience was undeniable, even as the Lord confirmed Himself the more-I am Jesus (Acts 4:12).
iv. Paul himself confirmed that only grace and mercy could have saved such a terrible blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man like himself (1 Tim. 21:13)!
v. vv. 6-9: The broken Saul asked, Lord, what do you want me to do? as he looked unto Jesus for the first time (Heb. 12:2). What a graceful turn around for a once die-hard persecutor! Grace caught him.
vi. He was further broken by 3-day blindness and fast (v. 9). The arrester became the arrested; of course, for God's glory. He lost his natural eyes for the supernatural. No wonder he confessed the abundance of revelation that was opened to him (2 Cor. 12:1-4).
vii. God's grace is the only explanation for how a once persecutor of the Church would end up, after being broken by God's power, as one who proclaims and propagates the gospel he once worked against. Grace is still working for all, including enemies of the Cross, especially those who would cooperate.
B. ON COURSE FOR THE GOSPEL (9:10-25; 13:1ff) Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God (9:20).
i. 9:15,16: ....for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles (v. 15). Grace didn't just save Paul, it made clear his eternally
settled destiny. Have you discovered what God's grace has ordained for you to do in Him (cf. Eph. 2:10)?
ii. vv. 17-19: Ananias was to groom and pray for Paul (cf. 25:8,9). Discipleship entails pruning; scales fell off Paul's face having seen the Lord (cf. Jn. 8:12). He was also baptised.
iii. vv. 20-25: Immediately he preached the Christ-gracefully enabled
turning point! No more living for the devil, but Christ (Gal. 2:20). He began boldly speaking for the Lord he once persecuted (2 Cor. 5:17). iv. 13:1,2a: Paul was privileged to be worshipping in a local assembly that was balanced ministry-wise. He was being graciously prepared for the ministry. May our local churches return to their God-given duty of grooming balanced leaders for the body of Christ.
v. vv. 2bff: Still worshipping, they prayed for, commissioned, and sent Paul forth on the missionary expedition. Given this solid foundation and ministry base, the remaining chapter of Acts account for his success in the ministry. Where are you coming from?
vi. There is no way Paul wouldn't have been on fire to preach Christ whom he once persecuted, because God's grace had found, called and sent him to further the gospel. What are you doing with the grace that has found, called and sent you?
LESSONS DERIVED
1. There is no sinner too hard for the Lord to arrest. Grace visits the undeserving to convict and convert. Paul, a case study.
2. God's grace doesn't bring us into Christ for frivolity. It gives the believer something specific to do for the Lord. What is yours?
WORK TO DO
Describe the circumstances that led to Paul's arrest on the road to Damascus. How does that portray the grace that saves?
SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO
By permission, he set out to arrest Christians in Damascus as usual. But amazingly, he became the arrested (Acts 9:1,2). This is grace and power of God in action.
He saw the light of life and heard the voice of God that called his name and asked why he was persecuting Him. God does not want anyone to go contrary to Him. It is a difficult thing to kick against God (vv. 3-5).
He was blinded and remained for three days (vv. 8,9). After that, a disciple in Damascus was sent to pray for him to receive his sight. Scales fell off his eyes, and he could see (vv. 10-19). Not until scales of sin fall off the sinners' eyes, they remain in the dark and dungeon of sin and devil. Grace of God alone will bring clear vision to be able to recognise the true Way to follow.
Not until we see the light of God, we are only walking and groping in the darkness of the world.
Humanly speaking, people like Paul, persecutors, or enemies of God, should have been destroyed by God for their heinous/nefarious activities against His fold, but for grace.
Above all, we are all billed for destruction after our forebears aligned with the enemy of God, but the grace of God that saves located us, and brought redemption for us. Hallelujah.
Therefore, every sinner or diehard criminal has the right to be preached to, and to be saved from sin by grace. Don't be judgemental.
Jun. 4 II. CONTINUES TO PURSUE CHRIST'S KNOWLEDGE (Acts 26:12-32; Philippians 3:1-16; Ephesians 3:1-15).
To pursue Christ's knowledge is to want to know Him intimately, personally and deeply. Apostle Paul yearned greatly for this, and is a worthy thirst for anyone who wants to grow deeper in Christ's knowledge. Since the day God saved him by mercy, Paul never stopped growing in His grace, pursuing to know Christ deeper. This must also describe every believer in Christ.
A. BY DESIRING MORE OF CHRIST (Acts 26:12-32; Phil. 3:1-16)
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Phil. 3:10).
i. Acts 26:12: Paul couldn't have easily forgotten his conversion experience that fuelled his passion for Christ. Can you share your conversion testimony?
ii. vv. 19ff:...I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Paul had heard and seen many things since he graciously encountered Jesus (Acts 9:1ff), and was ready to follow his commission to the letter (Phil. 3:12,13). That is typical of he who is truly growing in Christ's grace and knowledge.
iii. Though the Jews wanted to kill him (21:27,30,31), God's grace preserved him to show His Light to all, Gentiles inclusive.
iv. Phil. 3:5-8: Paul's interesting pedigree notwithstanding, he had counted all things as dung. Why? For Christ's supreme knowledge. You can't hold on to the past and still be relevant in the Lord (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).
v. vv.9-16: More than his own life mattered to him (cf. 1:23,24), his passion was, That I may know Him... The more of Christ you know, the better your life and living would be. vi. Your passion to know Christ the more would help make regular Bible study and waiting on Him your habit. Is that true of you? Make amends, NOW!
vii. To pursue the knowledge of Christ, the Giver of grace, it is best to appropriate and appreciate the grace of God bestowed on us.
B. BY REACHING OUT TO THE GENTILES (Eph. 3:1-15) For this reason 1, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles (Eph. 3:1).
I. vv. 1-5: Paul didn't become the prisoner of Christ Jesus for fun. God never calls for fun, or purposelessly. God endowed him with His grace for the sake of the Gentiles, unlike Peter whose calling was to the Jews.
ii. v. 6: He passionately advocated and prayed that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews, in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 4:7). Is there anyone you think is not worthy to be told the Gospel? Make amends now.
iii. vv. 7-15: Apostle Paul didn't stop sharing the amazement of his unworthiness to receive the grace of our Lord, and to lead the gospel crusade among the unworthy Gentiles. He equally majored on the practical administration of this mystery (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17).
iv. Go through the book of Acts, from chap. 13, you will see that the missionary outreaches of Paul were mostly targeted at the Gentiles of his days. He pursued his mission to the Gentiles passionately.
v. Paul had actually modelled to us today, how to maximise God's ever-available grace, in the way he faithfully took the gospel very deep, most especially, among the gentile nations. We have to faithfully reach out to sinners.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. Whether past achievements, present sufferings, or future glories, they are ephemeral; they shouldn't make us lose focus of heaven.
2. Christians are to appropriate God's grace and make it known to others, so that they also can enjoy it, like Paul.
QUESTIONS
1. Why would God choose to arrest, forgive and save a die-hard persecutor of the Way, like Paul?
2. In spite of Paul's achievements and pedigree, he chose to abandon all for the sake of the excellence of Jesus Christ. What propelled him?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
* There are several factors that were responsible for why God chose to arrest, pardon and save Paul, a die-hard persecutor of the Cross. They include the mercy and grace of God, furtherance of the gospel, and answer to the prayer of the saints, among others.
* However, the chief of them all, is the grace of God, by which we are saved, called and preserved to the end of time.
* For the fact that he was located by God's grace, he determined, by same grace, to contribute immensely to the furtherance of the gospel as he preached everywhere, including some gentile lands.
* Also, by same grace, he wrote many epistles and converted many souls to Christ. Those things he suffered for the sake of Christ were not enough to make him give up propagating the gospel.
* All these and many more, are functions of God's grace.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
* What propelled Paul to abandon all his achievements?
* It is not humanly easy, if not impossible, to jettison some of those things which one can lay claim to, like achievements, titles, trophies, and honours for the sake of Christ.
* However, Paul declared, Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:8).
* The grace of God, without doubt, propelled Paul to forsake all for the excellence of knowing Christ deeper.
* Having been arrested, saved and called by grace, the need to reciprocate this wonderful gesture, made him forsake everything-qualifications,
achievements, and accolades to embrace the excellence of Christ.
* What have you given up for the sake of the gospel of Christ? You are not saved until salvation has taken something from you.
LIFE APPLICATION:
Before God's grace will be sufficient or adequate for anyone, it must have prevailed on that person, by bringing conversion, and calling him out of darkness into the marvellous light of Jesus (Col. 1:13), and even set him apart for specific assignment (ministry) in the vineyard of God. But if you don't allow this grace to do all these in your life, it is doubtful, if you can enjoy its benefits. Paul allowed the grace to maximally work in his life. That is why he was able to boast in the sufficiency of God's grace.
CONCLUSION:
This is the end of lesson 10 in this series. We appreciate God for the entrance of His Word that gives light and understanding to the simple. We are better now that we have known that when one cooperates with the grace of God, which has found him, he will be able to enjoy the benefits of that grace to the fullest. May the Holy Spirit assist us to utilise the grace just like Paul, who extended the benefits of the grace to others.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. May 29: Grace Saves Everyone Alike (Rom. 3:24; Acts 15:11
Tue. May 30: Grace Justifies, Not Works (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 2:16)
Wed. May 31: Grace Brings Redemption For All (Rom. 5:15; Tit. 2:11) Thur. June 1: Grace: Needed For Total Turnaround (1 Tim. 1:13, 14)
Fri. June 2: Grace Brings Sufficiency In God (2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13)
Sat. June 3: Grace Helps To Endure Persecution (2 Cor. 12:10)
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR MAY 28 & JUNE 4, 2023 : LESSON TEN: TOPIC – GOD'S GRACE: SUFFICIENT FOR PAUL
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 03, 2023
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 03, 2023
Rating:
No comments: