RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2021 LESSON TWENTY-FOUR
TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
OPENING PRAYER
Father, please give me an insight into the spiritual gifts you have deposited in me.
MEMORY VERSE: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant”. — 1Corinthians 12:1.
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1CORINTHIANS 12:1-7.
1 Corinthians:12.1
Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
1 Corinthians:12.2
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
1 Corinthians:12.3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians:12.4
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians:12.5
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians:12.6
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
1 Corinthians:12.7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit [of all:]
INTRODUCTION
A spiritual gift is a special divine empowerment bestowed on a believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a given ministry. The gift is to be used in God’s way according to His grace and discernment within the context of the Body of Christ and to help the church execute her mission on earth. The bible makes it clear that every genuine Christian is given spiritual gifts according to the Lord’s choice. Spiritual gifts can be given to us at salvation or/and cultivated through our walk with God.
TEXT REVIEW: 1CORINTHIANS 12:1-7.
Apostle Paul educates the Church on the subject of spiritual gifts.
A. He does not want believers to live in ignorance, -V1.
B. He reminds us that, like the believers at Corinth, we were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as we were led. -V2.
C. He gives us the understanding that:
…………………………………………… V3a.
…………………………………………… V3b.
D. He further explains that:
…………………………………………… V4
…………………………………………… V5
…………………………………………… V6
E. He affirms that……………….. V7
LESSON OUTLINES
1. LISTS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
2. TALENTS AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS COMPARED
LISTS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A. There are three passages of the Bible that contain the lists of spiritual gifts
Romans 12:3-8 lists the spiritual gifts as follows:
prophecy, service (as deacon/deaconess), teaching, exhorting, generosity, leadership, and showing mercy. (1Corinthians 12:8-11) lists the gifts as the word of wisdom (ability to communicate spiritual wisdom),
the word of knowledge (ability to communicate practical truth),
faith (unusual reliance upon God),
the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues (ability to speaking a language that one has not studied), and interpretation of tongues. The third list is found in (Ephesians 4:10-12), which speaks of the ministry gifts of the apostles, prophets
evangelists, pastors and teachers.
B. You can seek a spiritual gift from God and be zealous after it by seeking to develop that area (1Corinthians 12:31). However, if it is not God’s will, you will not receive a certain spiritual gift no matter how strongly you seek after it.
C. It is also possible that the biblical lists are not exhaustive, that there are additional spiritual gifts beyond the ones the Bible mentions as witnessed in the body of Christ today
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Class should mention some spiritual gifts in operation today that are probably not mentioned in the Bible.
TALENTS AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS COMPARED
There are similarities and differences between talents and spiritual gifts.
A. Similarities:
Both are gifts from God.
Both grow in effectiveness with use.
Both are Intended to be used on behalf of others, not for selfish purposes (1Corinthians 12:7)
Natural talents are often the vehicle through which spiritual gifts can be used.
B. Differences:
Natural Talents versus Spiritual Gifts
i. Natural talents are physical abilities to do special things,
spiritual gifts are spiritual abilities to do certain things.
ii. A person is given a natural talent as a result of a combination of genes: some have natural ability in music, art, mathematics, carpentry or mechanical aptitude and surroundings (Exodus 31:1-6).
Spiritual gifts are given to all believers by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:3, 6) at the time they place their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
iii. A talent can be possessed by anyone (Christian or non-Christian), while spiritual gifts are only possessed by believers in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives to the believer the spiritual gifts He desires the believer to have (1Corinthians 12:11).
iv. One may develop his talents and later direct his profession or hobby along those lines for personal gains, spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the building up of Christ’s church generally (Ephesians 4:12).
v. Talents can be used entirely for non-spiritual purposes. Both talents and spiritual gifts should be used for God’s glory and to minister to others (1Peter 4:10) spiritual gifts are focused on these tasks.
RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2021 LESSON TWENTY-FOUR
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Students should mention some talents exhibited in the world today.
SUMMARY
Every genuine Christian has been given spiritual gifts. It is your duty to discover and use the gifts to the glory of God.
CONCLUSION
God is infinitely wise, and He knows through which gifts you will be most productive for His kingdom.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, from today, I will use your gifts in me to glorify your name and edify the Church.
ASSIGNMENT
List ten fields of life where people usually manifest talents (1×10=10 Marks).