TOPIC: Perilous Times

OPENING PRAYER: O God, please help me to be watchful in the name of Jesus.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.

MEMORY VERSE: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

LESSON INTRODUCTION

The translated word for “perilous” in 2 Timothy 3:1 is ‘chalepos’, which means troublesome, dangerous, fierce, dreadful, etc. The term, last days, refers to the period between Christ’s ascension into Heaven and His second coming. Perilous times constitute part of the last days. The ‘last days’ is not just a prophecy. It started from the days of the Bible (1 John 2:18-19). The importance of the prophecy and warning against the perilous times cannot be over-emphasised because we are living in the fulfilment of these perilous times. The purpose of this study is to carefully consider the writing of Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 on the things that characterise the Perilous Times and the position every believer in Christ should take.

LESSON AIM: To study the characteristics of the perilous times and some cautions for believers.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this lesson, students should be able to:

a. Understand the characteristics of the perilous times.
b. Discover some cautions for believers against the period.

TEACHING PLAN: To attain the above-stated objectives:

A. Students should:
a. Take the opening prayer.
b. Recite the memory verse.
c. Read the Bible passage.
d. Participate in class activities.

B. The Assistant teacher should:
a. Guide the students to take the opening prayer, read the Bible passage, and recite the memory verse.
b. Conduct the class.
c. Mark the attendance (in the class).
d. Mark the assignment.

C. The teacher should: a. Explain the two lesson outline. b. Administer the two class activities. c. Summarize, conclude, and evaluate the lesson. d. Give the assignment and lead the closing prayer.

TEXT REVIEW: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The teacher should identify any 10 features of the perilous times according to the passage.
i. ………………………………………………ii……………………………………………….
iii. ……………………………………………
iv. …………………………………………….
iii. ……………………………………………
v. .…………………………………………….
vi. …………………………………………….
vii. ……………………………………………
viii. .…………………………………………
ix …………………………………………….
x. …………………………………………….

LESSON OUTLINES:

CHARACTERISTICS OF PERILOUS TIMES
CAUTION FOR BELIEVERS

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF PERILOUS TIMES

According to Paul, the conduct of the people will reveal perilous times. These characteristics are indicated below:

i. Some people will be lovers of their selves (2 Timothy 3:2) i.e. they will be self-centred (Philippians 2:21).

ii. Covetous – having lust of the eyes, craziness for wealth and materialism (Luke 12:15).

iii. Boasters – expressing vain glory (Psalm 10:3).

iv. Proud – valuing themselves above all others (Proverbs 21:4).

v. Blasphemers – those who speak immorally of God and sacred things (Mark 3:29).

vi. Disobedient to parents- disrespecting and dishonouring parents both physically and spiritually (Romans 1:30).

vii. Unthankful – not appreciating God and others for good deeds (Romans 1:21).

viii. Unholy – not pleasing God (Jude 18).

ix. Lack of natural affection – no family affection and lack of tender love (2 Timothy 3:3, Romans 1:31).

x. Trucebreakers – treacherous and betraying true friendship.

xi. False Accusers – character assassination (Proverbs 10:18).

xii. Incontinent – without self-control (2 Peter 2:14).

xiii. Fierce – wild or violent, having or displaying an intense, ferocious aggressiveness (Psalm 11:5).

xiv. Despisers of those that are good – All forms of lies, evil speaking against true believers and godliness (Nehemiah 2:19).

xv. Traitors – a betrayer of trust (2 Timothy 3:4; Acts 7:52).

xvi. Heady – reckless or headstrong (Proverbs 21:29a).

xvii. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God- All forms of immorality and ungodliness that satisfy the flesh (Philippians 3:19).

xviii. ‘Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof’ (2 Timothy 3:5)- Being religious but not victorious above sin, outwardly looking good but inwardly rotten in unrighteousness (Matthew 23:27).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Each student should mention one characteristic of the perilous times.

2. CAUTION FOR BELIEVERS

Scriptures admonish believers living in this ‘last days’ to

i. Turn away from all ungodly practices in order not to be caught in the web of the perilous times (2 Timothy 3:5).

ii. Receive the prophecies/warning and be conscious of it at all times.

iii. Separate from the company and fellowship of people with the characters above (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

iv. Avoid all forms of carnality and false doctrines (Romans 8:6-7; Ephesians 4:14).

v. Be watchful and be prayerful to guard against deception and temptation to sin (Matthew 26:41; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

vi. Release ourselves to the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His leading (James 4:7; Romans 8:14).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: What roles can believers play to ensure they remain in the faith in this period?

CONCLUSION: This is a perilous time; every believer that wants to get to heaven must heed the warning, and be careful to live a separate life from the world and false brethren to please God.

QUESTIONS:

What events will characterise the perilous times?
What scriptural cautions are believers to adhere to during perilous times?

EVALUATION: What are the signs of perilous times and the cautions for the believers?

CLOSING PRAYER: Almighty God, please carry me on Your wings and do not let me perish in these perilous times.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) measures you have put in place to overcome the perilous times (2×5=10 Marks).

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