RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON NINE SUNDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2021
TOPIC: BEATITUDES: THE PEACEMAKER AND THE PERSECUTED
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, teach me how to be a peacemaker and endure persecution.
MEMORY VERSE: “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” – 1Peter 3:14
BIBLE PASSAGE: MATTHEW 5:9-10
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 5:9-10 are parts of Jesus’ sermon on the Mount in which he says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” This lesson attempts to explain who the peacemakers and persecuted are as well as why Jesus pronounced these peculiar blessings on them.
TEXT REVIEW: MATTHEW 5:9-10
The Lord Jesus Christ stated clearly in these verses the promises of God for peacemakers and those being persecuted for righteousness’s sake as follows:
A. Blessed are…………..V9a
For…………………..V9b
B. Blessed are………….V10a
For………………….V10b
LESSON OUTLINES
1. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKER
2. BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKER
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9).
Question 1:
Who are peacemakers?
Answer:
i. Generally, ‘peacemakers’ are those who strives to prevent contention, strife and war; those who use their influence to reconcile opposing parties, prevent lawsuits and hostilities, in families and neighborhoods.
ii. In the context of the relationship between God and man, those who witness for Christ, share their faith with their friends, and serve others in the name of Christ are the ambassadors for Peace (2Corinthians 5:18-20).
iii. Those who bring the wonderful message of God’s peace to the world are ”peacemakers” (Ephesians 6:15).
iv. Furthermore, the term includes all who make peace between men, whether as individual or as communities. Those who worthily endeavour to make peace, even if they did not succeed at it are also peacemakers.
Question 2:
What blessings are there for peacemakers?
Answer:
i. Jesus called peacemakers the “children of God”
ii. Peacemakers shall be called God’s children because:
a. He is the God of Peace (Romans 15:33; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11);
b. God’s supreme purpose is to secure peace (Luke 2:14);
c. God gave his only begotten son (Jesus) to be born into this world as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:14).
d. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Peace. It is by a spirit that we are made his children.
iii. If we are not peacemakers, we do not have the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:14).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Class should discuss why some believers prefer to hide their heads when they should resolve conflicts/issues.
BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Question 1:
What does it mean to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake?
Answer:
i. To persecute, means literally to pursue, follow after as one pursues a fleeing enemy. Here it means to vex, or oppress one, on account of his faith.
ii. Persecution is never pleasant but involves suffering and often severe pain (Romans 8:18; 2Corinthians 4:9).
iii. Some people suffer for doing evil, but there that is punishment, not persecution.
iv. Some are persecuted for reasons unrelated to righteousness. Jesus was not offering a general blessing to all victims of persecution for any cause. He offered it only to those who were persecuted for actively pursuing the kingdom of righteousness and because of their faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:11; 1 Peter 2:20).
v. Christians are not expected to seek or provoke persecution. However, we are to consider it a blessing, if in the honest effort to live righteously, other persecute us (2Timothy 2:12).
Question 2:
What are prescribed blessings for those been persecuted for righteousness sake?
Answer:
It is all evidence that we are the children of God and that he will defend us (2Corinthians 4:9).
Question 3:
What is the antidotes for persecution?
Answer:
i. Endurance: To endure persecution for the sake of righteousness require uncompromising faithfulness to God despite every threats and pressure (Romans 8:35-39).
ii. Joy: Rather than feeling discouraged, dismayed enraged or depressed, Believers who find themselves persecuted for opening living for Christ and his Kingdom have good reason to rejoice and be glad-for their reward in heaven is great (Matthew 5:11-12; Act 6:8-15).
iii. They have evidence that they are Christians and are candidates of heaven (Acts 7:55-59)
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
Class should site instances when they played the role of peacemakers.
SUMMARY
The peacemakers shall be called God’s son’s while those persecuted
for righteousness shall have great reward in heaven.
CONCLUSION
The peacemakers and those that endure persecutions for Christ’s sake are God’s blessed children.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, hel me to be a peacemaker and give me the strength to endure any form of persecution that comes my way.
ASSIGNMENT
State five distinctions between punishment and persecution.