RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2022/2023 AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 11TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2022 LESSON TWO (2)

BIBLE TEXT: Luke 15:11-32

[11]And he said, A certain man had two sons:

[12]And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

[13]And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

[14]And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

[15]And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

[16]And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

[17]And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

[18]I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

[19]And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

[20]And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

[21]And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

[22]But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

[23]And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

[24]For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

[25]Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

[26]And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

[27]And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

[28]And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

[29]And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

[30]But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

[31]And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

[32]It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2022/2023 AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 11TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2022 LESSON TWO (2)

MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 89:26 “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation,”

LESSON AIM: The children will choose to follow God who is their Father

CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God wants you to know through Jesus that He is your Father

Children! How many of you have ever seen or eaten a catfish before? Do you know that as soon as the mother catfish lays the eggs, the father catfish takes over? Each egg is laid, one at a time, and is about two and a half centimeters wide. Father catfish opens his large mouth and carefully tucks each egg inside. There are at least ten eggs. While he is carrying the eggs over a period of one month, the father catfish does not eat and each egg actually hatches inside his mouth. He must make sure he does not swallow them!

Father catfish’s mouth works like an incubator. It keeps the eggs protected at just the right temperature until the new fish are ready to hatch. The male catfish makes a fantastic father. We all want a fantastic father. Sometimes this does not happen but we can be sure that whatever happens in our family, one Person never changes. We have a Father in Heaven who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The catfish father does some great things, but naturally, he is not perfect. AIl fathers make mistakes; that is, all fathers except God the Father who watches over us. Jesus once told a parable to His disciples about one father who loved his son very much

1. A man had two sons and the younger one was dissatisfied with the home setting

2. He asked his father to give him a share of his inheritance

3. The younger son took his share of the family’s money and left home to have fun.

4. The father loved his sons and was sad to see the younger one leave home.

5. The extravagant son wasted all his money, his friends left him, and he ended up working on a farm, eating pig food

6. He remembered his father and longed to go home, and was truly sorry for his wrong behavior.

GOSPEL CONNECTION: This father Jesus talked about loved his sons and it was very easy to forgive him. Do you know that God who is the Father of all loves you very much and wants to forgive your sins? The bible says in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He sent His Son to take the punishment for your sins. Jesus died on the cross and was buried but came alive again on the third day, and now lives in heaven. Jesus wants you to live with Him and God the Father someday in heaven but you need to put your trust in Him as Lord and Saviour.

CLIMAX: His father was waiting for him to return home, and welcomed him back as a son.

CONCLUSION: The father threw a party to welcome his son home though the older son was unhappy.

CHALLENGE: When we choose to go our own way, we hurt our family, ourselves, and God. God never forgets us even when we go away from Him. God loves us even when we do wrong, and wants us to be sorry for our sins and come back to him. God will always welcome us as His sons and daughters

INVITATION: You need to call on Jesus as Saviour to be able to call God Father (Romans 10:13)

SUNDAY ACTS 2:7-9

MONDAY – ACTS 2:10-12

TUESDAY – ACTS 2:13-15

WEDNESDAY – ACTS 2:16-18

THURSDAY – ACTS 2:19-21

FRIDAY – ACTS 2:22-25

SATURDAY – ACTS 2:26-29