RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON TWENTY-NINE SUNDAY 21ST MARCH 2021
TOPIC: REBUILDING: PARENTS-CHILDREN BRIDGES
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, help all parents to bring up their children in the way of the Lord. Help all children to grow in the love and fear of the Lord.
MEMORY VERSE: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the lord”. — Ephesians 6:4
BIBLE PASSAGE: EPHESIANS 6:1-4
Ephesians:6.1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians:6.2
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
Ephesians:6.3
“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Ephesians:6.4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
INTRODUCTION
Building Parents-Children bridges can be an uphill task. It is obvious that there is a generational gap between parent and their children. When we compare two generations and when there is a considerable difference and when there is a considerable difference in the lifestyles, habits, likes and dislikes of the people belonging to these separate times, problems due to age gap arise. It is no secret that these days, these gaps are widening by width and bounds. This lack of understanding of social media, moral, political, musical, fashion or religious opinion leads to lack of acceptance which is the primary reason families break.
TEXT REVIEW: EPHESIANS 6:1-4.
The first commandment in the Book of Ephesians chapter 6 is for the children to obey their parents in the Lord. Eph. 6:1 and the validity of that directive is that “It is right”. RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON TWENTY-NINE SUNDAY 21ST MARCH 2021
LESSON OUTLINE
1. CAUSES OF RELATIONAL GAP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN
2. BRIDGING THE GAP
CAUSES OF RELATIONAL GAP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN
NOTE: See how to handle this outlines under the activities below:
i. Generational gap: Generation gap means all human beings born and living around the same time; also known as ‘coevals’. And when there is a significant gap of time among two coevals, it is defined as ‘generation gap’. A generation gap or generational gap is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values (1King 12:3-10).
ii. Culture shift: Modification of a way of life through innovation, invention, discovery, or contract with other societies. It derives from the experience of encountering new ways of doing things that challenge the basic belief that your way of doing things that is the “correct” way (Gen. 29:25-26).
iii. Need for space: Parent feel protective about their children and they like to be involved and be informed about the things that are happening in their children’s life. But the younger generation feels a need for space as they are discovering and experimenting with new things (Judges 14:1-3).
iv. Thought-flow differences: Parents’ morals and views of life can be very different from their children’s. This can lead to either imposition of ideas/decisions or friction/resistance on the part of the children (Judges 14:3).
v. Little or no attention/support: The busy schedule of many parents, as a result of their career or other engagements, has severed the relationship they have with their children. Children from such homes usually suffer from lack of attention, emotional/psychological support, etc. (1Sam. 16:11). RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL LESSON TWENTY-NINE SUNDAY 21ST MARCH 2021
ACTIVITIES:
i. Teacher should divide the class into five groups.
ii. Teacher should give the following points to each group to discuss how they can lead to gap between parents and their children. For instance:
a. Group 1: Generational gap.
b. Group 2: Cultural shift.
c. Group 3: Need for space.
d. Group 4: Thought-flow Differences.
e. Group 5: Lack of adequate attention.
iii. Where the group do not understand the points, teacher should briefly explain the meaning to the group.
iv. Each group should present their points to the class with a speaker representing each group.
v. Teacher could give extra point to support the submission of each group
NOTE:
The above represent class activity. No other class activity 1.
BRIDGING THE GAP
A. Treat lesson outline 2 as that of of the outline 1 above as stated under the activities below.
The reality of a generation gap is only in terms of age. If parent put aside their ego and look at things from an entirely different perspective, they perhaps would never have a gap between them and their children. Here are some tips on how parents can bridge the gap between them and their children:
i. Communicate constantly: When parent communicate respectfully at an opportuned time with our children, they are letting them know that they are willing to do all it takes to lessen the age gap and understand things from their point of view (Prov. 25:11).
ii. Listen and understand: Parents sometimes tend to talk too idealistic. They should rather learn to listen, let their children voice their opinions for better understand. Nagging or giving lectures all the time is not a good idea (Colossians 3:21; Eph. 6:4)
iii. Be open-minded: When parent open their heart, they look at things with a new perspective. This helps them understand why what is being said is actually said. This is very important if they must understand their children’s priorities and habits (1Thess. 5:21).
iv. Learn to accept: Parents have to first accept that they ‘lived’ in a world different from today’s. Therefore, they have to make the effort to understand and accept their children’s reasonable perspectives and priorities (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
v. Breakthrough your imperfection and fears: Parents should realise that they are not perfect just as their children are not also perfect. Let not your parenting be done out of fear but in love. Parents must model God’s love with their word and actions (Prov. 22:6).
B. ACTIVITIES:
Give the following points to the groups to identified:
Group 1: Regular communication.
Group 2: Listening and understanding.
Group 3: Open minded.
Group 4: Listening and understanding the reality of the present age.
Group :5 Accepting reality of imperfection of ideas of parents and issue of fear.
C. Each group should explain to the class how each of the factors can bridge the gap between the parents and the children.
D. Teacher should prepare to assist any group whose answers are not satisfactory enough.
E. Teacher should explain the role which age differences and ego could play in the expansion of the gap between the parents and their children.
NOTE:
The above also represents the class activity. Therefore, there is no class activity 2.
SUMMARY
Allowing gap to exist between the children and parents could have a devastating effect on proper upbringing of the child. Therefore, any identified gap should be closed and bridged
CONCLUSION
Rebuilding the gap between parents and children involves doing what is needed to be done as parents by becoming a little more understanding and accepting what their children see as their ‘World’.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, help parents with divine wisdom to bridge the gap between them and their children.
ASSIGNMENT
List five devastating effects of allowing or tolerating gap between parents and children. 2marks for each point.