RCCG YAYA Sunday School Students Manual 6 April 2025 Lesson 32 – Failing Forward
TOPIC: Failing Forward (RCCG Sunday School Manual For Young Adults And Youths (YAYA)
MEMORY VERSE: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” – Proverbs 24:16 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 26:18-22 (KJV) (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 6 April 2025 HYMN)
18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
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INTRODUCTION: Failure is simply an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; or lack of success. Failed attempts should not be viewed as an end; you become a failure when you stop trying. You must see failure as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone to future success. This is what failing forward is: the determination to apply the key lessons you learned from your failed attempts to future efforts.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- Failure In Perspective
- Leverage On The Experience
1. FAILURE IN PERSPECTIVE
Many people get grounded in the journey of life due to one experience of failure or the other. Failure should however be a springboard to fulfilling destiny. Properly defining failure beyond your ego and personal feelings helps in achieving great success in life. Below are some things to know about failure:
- It does not make the person who fails a failure (Proverbs 24:16; Micah 7:8).
- It is not final for an individual who knows that he or she has an eternal destiny to fulfil (1 Samuel 30:6-9).
- It is not always a result of a satanic attack. (Joshua 7:1-5).
- It helps you to do a personal reality check. (Judges 6:13-14).
- Failure, if properly understood, imbues you with a stronger determination to take on greater but calculated risks to succeed more. (Luke 5:5-6).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: How will you counsel someone who just experienced a failure?
2. LEVERAGE ON THE EXPERIENCE
Life is full of experiences of both success and failure. Having the right attitude to failure cannot be overemphasised in achieving future goals. See failure as an opportunity to learn from your previous mistakes (Luke 15:13-14, 17-20). Find out what you need to do to please God and fulfil destiny (Daniel 4:33-37). Do not quit: your first attempt may show that your orientation and knowledge might have limitations. (Exodus 14:13-15; 2 Chronicles 15:7). Avoid acting on assumptions alone because it is the lowest level of knowledge (Joshua 7:3). Hold fast to your vision after a failed attempt (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Be confident to go beyond the consequences of your past attempts (Genesis 26:20-22). Eschew pride (James 4:6) and design a system to mitigate future failure.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Have you ever failed in any endeavour? How did you handle the experience?
CONCLUSION: Learn from your mistakes and failures so that you can chart a new course to success.
QUESTIONS
- Mention three (3) things you learned about failure.
- Mention five (5) ways to handle failure.
FURTHER READING:
Sunday: Job 14:7 (KJV)
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Monday: Psalm 27:3 (KJV)
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Tuesday: Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Wednesday: Matthew 20:19 (KJV)
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Friday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 (KJV)
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Saturday: Isaiah 41:13 (KJV)
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five (5) dangers of brooding over failure. (2X5=10 Marks).
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
- 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. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today,
Without my being blest?