RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 18 August 2024 Lesson 51 – New Heaven, New Earth
RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 18 August 2024 TOPIC: New Heaven, New Earth
OPENING PRAYER: Father, don’t let me pass away with this world; help me to live in the new heaven and earth.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.
MEMORY VERSE: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – 2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Revelation 21:1-5 (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Also Read:
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
In the days of Noah, the world was destroyed with water, but God has promised that He would no more destroy the world with a flood (Genesis 9:11). The end of the world, described in 2Peter 3:10 as the day of the Lord will occur after the final judgement by God (Revelation 20:7-10). This scripture reveals that the universe will be destroyed by fire. Therefore, believers should bear in mind that this present world will not last forever (Matthew 5:18).
LESSON AIM: To study the passing away of the present heaven and earth and the emergence of the new heaven and earth.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this lesson, students should be able to:
a. Understand the biblical truth about the passing away of the present heaven and the earth.
b. Understand also that there will be the emergence of a new heaven and earth.
TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated goals, the teacher:
a. Should explain to students that the existing world and heaven will pass away soon as indicated in the Bible.
b. Should also explain to the students that after the passage of the present heaven and the earth, there would be the emergence of a new earth and heaven.
c. Should explain the nature of the new heaven and earth and the requirements to live in the new heaven and earth.
d. The teacher should summarize, conclude, evaluate and give assignment to the students.
e. The teacher should allow the Assistant Teacher to conduct the class, take the closing prayer and mark the assignment while students should be allowed to make contributions and participate in class activities.
TEXT REVIEW: Revelation 21:1-5.
The Apostle John saw:
i. A new heaven and a new earth. Revelation 21:1.
ii. The first heaven and first earth had passed away. Revelation 21:1.
iii. A very beautiful holy city called the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:2.
ACTIVITY: Mention any five things which Apostle John “HEARD” according to Revelation 21:3-4.
i. ————————————————————–
ii. —————————————————————
iii. ————————————————————-
iv. ————————————————————-
v. —————————————————————
LESSON OUTLINES:
- THE PASSING AWAY OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
- EMERGENCE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
1. THE PASSING AWAY OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
i. The prophet Isaiah foretold the passing away of Heaven and Earth (Isaiah 34:4; 51:6).
ii. This refers to the physical Heaven and earth – the material world and all it contains – but not to the inhabitants of heaven and earth. To “pass away” is to disappear or be no more.
iii. The “heavens” in 2 Peter 3:10 refers to the physical universe – the stars, planets, and galaxies – which will be consumed by some kind of tremendous explosion, possibly a nuclear or atomic reaction that will consume and wipe out all matter as we know it.
iv. All the elements that make up the universe will be melted in the “fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:12).
v. This will also be a noisy event, described in different Bible versions as a “roar” (NIV), a “great noise” (KJV), a “loud noise” (CEV), and a “thunderous crash” (AMP). There will be no doubt as to what is happening.
vi. Everyone will see and hear it because we are also told that “the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: How should believers prepare for the day when the world and elements would melt in fire?
2. EMERGENCE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
i. In Revelation 21:1, John writes of a new heaven and a new earth in the eternal state, having seen that “the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13).
ii. God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” which will include the “New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2), the capital city of Heaven, a place of perfect holiness, which will come down from heaven to the new earth.
iii. This is the city where the saints – those whose names were written in the “Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 13:8) – will live forever. Peter refers to this new creation as “the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
PERSPECTIVE
Knowing that Heaven and earth will pass away gives us perspective in life.
i. This world is not our home. “We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
ii. Jesus tells us to have the proper priorities (Matthew 6:19-20).
iii. Also Peter, after reminding us of the temporary nature of this world, says, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:14).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class members should identify common spots or stains which could tarnish a believer’s life of holiness.
CONCLUSION: Believers should remain faithful to the end because there is the hope of eternal life with God beyond this present world.
QUESTIONS:
- Describe how the present heavens and earth will pass away.
- Will there be a new heaven and a new earth? Explain.
EVALUATION: What do you understand by the new heaven and the new earth?
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to always be pure and holy.
ASSIGNMENT: List five (5) things you must be doing now in preparation for the new heaven and the new earth. (2×5=10 Marks).
NOTE:
RCCG 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 friendship suits me well,
Both young and old 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 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?
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