C.A.C Sunday School Manuals For April 14, 2024 Lesson 13: Title - Meaningful Service And Ministry
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Nigeria And Overseas
2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST
LESSON Thirteen : 14th April, 2024
TOPIC: MEANINGFUL SERVICE AND MINISTRY
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
For the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
Jesus came to minister to (serve) others (Mark 10:45). Your gift must serve others, lifting them up in significant ways.
BRIEF COMMENT
The gifts of Christ are meant for the well-being of His Church and the advancement of His Kingdom. Without a clear understanding of their purposes, misuse can occur. These gifts serve two primary purposes: equipping the saints for the Ministry and building up the body of Christ. Equipping the saints involves sharing the gospel's teachings and fulfilling ministerial duties, while building up the Church enhances its growth in grace and influx of new members. A meaningful service and ministry integrates these two key purposes, preparing us for our heavenly journey.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 8: Ministering To God Through Others (Heb. 13:1)
Tue. 9: Ministering To God Through Strangers (Heb. 13:1,2)
Wed. 10: Ministering To God Through Prisoners (Heb. 13:3)
Thur. 11: Ministering To God Through Our Spouses (Heb. 13:4)
Fri. 12: Ministering To God With Sincere Heart (Isa. 58:7)
Sat. 13: Ministering To God With Compassion (Jas. 1:27)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. The knowledge of God as both the Owner and Giver of all should help us to acknowledge and appreciate His deeds by sharing with others.
2. The purpose of being gifted is not for our personal gains, but to serve and strengthen the Church.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To show how our service and ministry can be meaningful.
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
i. describe service and ministry; and
ii. explain how our ministry and service can be useful to God and men.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: JOHN 13:1FF; ACTS 6:1FF; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19FF; EPHESIANS 2:10; 4:16; COLOSSIANS 3:22FF; 1 PETER 4:10
To God be the glory for the success of the previous lesson: COMFORTING AND UNITING THE CHURCH. Today, we are looking at the purpose for which God, our Maker, gives us His gifts, from the topic, MEANINGFUL SERVICE AND MINISTRY. Every gift we receive comes from God, who created us, and is aware of our skills and potential. He distributes to each person what an individual can account for, on the day of reckoning. When we leave this sinful world, people will remember us for the good deeds we did. Only the services we rendered to God and humanity will remain. While you still have breath in your nostril, what kind of service are you rendering to God? Check and correct it right away!
LESSON OUTLINE
I. TO GOD
II. TO ONE ANOTHER
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. TO GOD (Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:22ff; 1 Cor. 6:19ff)
For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10)
a) Eph. 2:10: We are eternally created/designed by God to do good works, i.e., ministry. Ultimately, we are made for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11). So, our gifts must minister to Him.
b) 1 Cor. 6:19,20: We are not alive on our own accord. God bought us with Christ's priceless blood. We must therefore serve Him with our gifts.
c) Col. 3:22ff: Our services, i.e. how we put our unique gifts to use (ministry) should be unto the LORD. Do it as if God stands by you watching all you are doing, live and direct!
d) vv. 24,25: It is the LORD Who would reward us (Matt. 10:42; Gal. 6:9,10). To Him alone should our service be. We must use those gifts to please Him, immediately and ultimately.
e) For a meaningful service to take place, we must serve with God's mind, in God's presence, according to God's purpose, with God's power, and to God's people.
f) Through the grace we receive, we are expected to be transformed, in becoming what He wants, and ordained us to be. That is our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).
g) You cannot sit on the fence. If you fail to serve God with your gifts, you will serve other gods. Jesus is the epitome of servanthood.
ΙΙ. ΤΟ ΟΝΕ ΑΝΟOTHER (Jn. 13:1ff; Acts 6:1ff; Eph. 4:16; 1 Pet. 4:10)
As each one has received a gift minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold of the grace of God (1 Pet. 4:10).
a) Eph. 4:16: Spiritual gifts are God's enablement. Serving one another with the gifts is not optional. It is a must. If we truly love God, we must demonstrate this in our love for others (1 Jn. 3:11ff).
b) 1 Pet. 4:10: Have you discovered your gift(s)? Identify your ministry along the line of those gifts, with which you must minister to/serve others well.
c) Peter calls the attention of those who think they can use their gifts selfishly and those who think they have no gift, to the fact that every believer has a gift(s) and should use them for the benefit of all.
d) Jn. 13:1ff: Jesus exemplifies the truth that we must use our gifts to serve one another in Him. How can the Master be serving His disciples (Mk. 10:45)? Are you doing that?
e) Acts 6:1ff: These appointed deacons used their gifts to serve the body of Christ. What are you doing with yours?
f) God has called you, placed you where you are and expects you to serve Him faithfully with your given gifts in building the Church, and to draw other people to Jesus (Eph. 4:1ff).
g) You cannot claim to serve God that you can't see physically when you cannot serve man that you see daily. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into the places of service. The key is to serve with gladness of heart.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. We are designed to serve God according to His purposes. Anything other than God's purpose leads to unfulfilled and disastrous living.
2. The best way to fulfil your calling and please God Who saved you is to serve others faithfully with His gifts in you.
QUESTIONS
1. What do you understand by: "We are God's workmanship"?
2. How can we fulfil God's purpose with our gifts, even as we relate with others?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
* Refer to part I of the lesson exposition.
* We are God's masterpiece and handwork.
* We are more than the product of creation, but the degree of skill that imparts value to the things made.
* We belong to God and are entirely the product of His creative, redemptive and sanctifying work.
* Workmanship: Humans are not merely objects of production. The product of that level of competence has worth.
* He shapes us in the manner He sees fit for His own enjoyment and objectives (Col. 1: 16 and Phil. 2: 13).
* To help us accomplish His purpose in the world, He has given us the scriptures, gifts, and the Holy Spirit (Rm. 12:4-7). According to 1 Corinthians 12:7, our purpose is to share the good news.
* Because only God is able to save us, we are God's workmanship, a masterpiece. It is His mighty, imaginative work within us.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
* We can serve God's purpose in interpersonal relationships by doing the following:
* Praying for one another (Eph. 6:18).
* Give to those in need and share among other brethren (Heb. 13: 16).
* Offer support and encouragement (1 Thess. 5: 11).
* Work joyfully, and with intention (Phil. 2: 14-15).
* Distribute the Word of God (Ps. 96:3).
* After calling the Twelve to a seat, Jesus declared, "Anyone who wishes to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Matt. 20:26).
* We are called to nurture and equip every believer to carry out their unique ministry, and in doing so, they will strengthen and expand the body of Christ.
LIFE APPLICATION
Richard Ngidi was a gifted man of God who worked alongside Reinhard Bonnke, performing miracles, signs and wonders. Ngidi became prideful and began to believe that he was solely responsible for Bonnke's success. He even threatened to leave, claiming that Bonnke's ministry would end without him. However, during a crusade where Ngidi purposefully didn't show up, Bonnke relied on the Holy Spirit and experienced great success. This marked the beginning of Bonnke's ministerial success and unfortunately, the end of Ngidi's involvement. Despite this, Ngidi later regretted his actions and missed out on witnessing Bonnke's continued success.
CONCLUSION
This is the end of lesson 13. We cannot help but thank God for His T infinite mercy, which has successfully seen us through the whole of the lesson. We are all called to serve one another in a variety of ways because, it is impossible for someone to live in isolation from others. May God grant us the grace to always and actively participate in meaningful service and ministry that advances the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
April 13, 2024
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