RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON THIRTY-ONE SUNDAY 4TH APRIL 2021
TOPIC: LASTING LEGACY 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?
MEMORY VERSE: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just”. — Proverbs 13:22
BIBLE PASSAGE: JEREMIAH 35:2-11
Jeremiah:35.2
“Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”
Jeremiah:35.3
Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, his brothers and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites,
Jeremiah:35.4
and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which [was] by the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door.
Jeremiah:35.5
Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.”
Jeremiah:35.6
But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.
Jeremiah:35.7
‘You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have [any of these;] but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’
Jeremiah:35.8
“Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,
Jeremiah:35.9
“nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed.
Jeremiah:35.10
“But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
Jeremiah:35.11
“But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.’ So we dwell at Jerusalem.”
INTRODUCTION
A legacy is defined as what we leave behind, to family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, communities. This includes material possessions, our history, belief systems and values (if adopted), business practices, name, reputation and teaching (if useful). It could also be defined as money or property bequeathed to another by will or something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past. Legacies are rare and special gifts, from one person to another, from one generation to the next. As Christians we should seek to leave a lasting legacy of godliness for those who come behind us. The fact is, most of what we do will not last; things we cherish will ultimately “perish with the using” (Colossians 2:22). Unless we think seriously about the kind of legacy we are developing it is likely we will leave nothing worth inheriting.
LESSON OUTLINE
1. HOW TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY
2. BENEFITS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A GODLY LEGACY
HOW TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY
Passing on to the next generations a legacy with eternal value is far more important than a temporal inheritance of money and property. The single most important legacy you can leave to the next generation is serving the Lord and thereby affecting their generation and thereafter. And the quality of your life in Christ will be one of the major influences upon them. Believers can leave legacies of life skills and faith examples to their children (Proverbs 1:8,9). Christian leaders can also leave positive legacies in the lives of others. You can leave an enduring legacy in many ways:
1. Set the example of character traits your children should develop. Be consistent with rules and consequences. (1Timothy 4:12).
2. Make sure your own choices reflect Jesus’ teachings and the legacy you hope to create. (Job 36:10).
3. Building your life and those whom you influence upon the eternal word or God. (Proverbs 30:5).
4. Encourage and inspire them. (Hebrews 10:24-25).
5. Freely give and receive grace and forgiveness (Colossians 3:13).
6. Winning souls to the Lord. (Proverbs 11:30).
7. Touching the lives of those younger, even much younger, than you with the wisdom the years have given you. Target some young people. (Hebrews 13:16).
8. Love your local church, and do everything in your power to make it a beacon of truth and blessing to your community.
9. Maintaining Godly Character and Conduct. (Proverbs 22:1).
10. Give of your time and be available to them.
BENEFITS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A GODLY LEGACY
The following are some of the benefits of leaving a lasting legacy
1. To impact the next generation.
2. Great visions and passion not to die off.
3. A way of providing for the next generation.
4. Developing next generation of leaders.
5. Having a legacy will make you a better leader. It will exert a positive impact on the way you plan and lead and how you communicate and the values you hold.
The characteristics of a godly legacy include:
1. A positive legacy must be developed. It doesn’t just happen.
2. Must be worth inheriting.
3. Legacy is not about celebrating your life or achievements, but maximising the influence you can have in the lives of others so that you know your work for God is not in vain. (1Corinthians 15:58).
4. “Legacy” is not about titles or positions (these do not “make” the leader), but credibility, influence, positive role modelling, passion and integrity.
5. Legacy is about others “buying into” our beliefs and values and following them when we are not around, because what we leave behind has true worth.
Pass on the best of yourself to those you lead. Set an example.
CONCLUSION
Many leaders assume legacy is something they need to think about later in life. Others do not leave a legacy at all (those who follow are left to pick up the pieces), or their work and vision quickly dissipate and they are quickly forgotten. Good legacy building starts now. Make your life count. Do it now.
QUESTIONS
1. How can believers leave a lasting legacy for generations after them?
2. Mention the benefits of having a good legacy.