The Christian Approach To Investments: RCCG Sunday School Teachers

OPENING PRAYER: Father, guide me to increase wealth through credible means, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should inform the students about the state of the class, the progress made and the challenges encountered during the 2nd quarter of the Sunday School year.

MEMORY VERSE: “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” – Proverbs 13:11

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 19:11-27
Luk 19:11 While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear.
Luk 19:12 So he said, “There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home.
Luk 19:13 Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, ‘See what you can earn with this while I am gone.’
Luk 19:14 Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
Luk 19:15 “The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned.
Luk 19:16 The first one came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.’
Luk 19:17 ‘Well done,’ he said; ‘you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.’
Luk 19:18 The second servant came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.’
Luk 19:19 To this one he said, ‘You will be in charge of five cities.’
Luk 19:20 Another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief.
Luk 19:21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.’
Luk 19:22 He said to him, ‘You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted.
Luk 19:23 Well, then, why didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.’
Luk 19:24 Then he said to those who were standing there, ‘Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.’
Luk 19:25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins!’
Luk 19:26 ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘that to those who have something, even more, will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them.
Luk 19:27 Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!’ ”

LESSON INTRODUCTION: In the parable of the talents in Luke 19:11-27, Jesus makes it clear that He expects his followers to be faithful stewards of the resources that He has put at their disposal. Good stewardship includes wise investments. Many believers find it difficult to adopt a practical theology for money management and investing for a distant and uncertain future. The Bible, however, offers practical wisdom on investing the resources we have with insight and foresight.

TEXT REVIEW: Luke 19:11-27.
The key issues in the text with respect to investments and savings are identified as follows:
i. Wrong notion about the timing of the kingdom of God which was considered to be immediate and people may not need to save.
ii. Some other people imagined that the time to the end is very far and thereby need not commence saving immediately. -Vs 12.
iii. Some people just hate the principles of saving and investment and consider it as burdensome. -Vs 14
iv. Some people are not informed about the values of saving and investment. Vs 20-21. 14.

LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR INVESTMENTS AND SAVINGS

i. The teacher should find out from students what savings and investments mean.
ii. Teacher should explain investments as an act of putting money and or other resources into a real business (has to do
with people, product or services) with the hope of receiving a return on investments.
iii. A well-managed business will yield returns on investment. Prov. 31:10-31; Eccl. 11:1-6.
iv. Class should discuss the line of businesses which a believer could invest in, in the light of the followings:
a. Real estate.
b. Contracts.
c. Ventures, stocks, shares, bonds, etc.
v. Some don’ts of investments:
a. Do not invest in what you do not have an understanding or have experience in. Prov. 24:3-4.
b. Avoid getting rich quick scheme or investments. Prov. 13:11; Prov. 21:5.
c. Do not invest what you do not have.
d. Do not invest what you cannot afford to lose.
e. Do not accumulate debt in the name or investment. Prov. 22:7.
f. Do not invest because a Christian offers it. This may not guarantee loss.
vi. Invest in your personal education. it opens doors of opportunities for you.
vii. Invest in your children’s education. it secures your future.
viii. Save for the future.
ix. Saving is biblical. Gen. 41; Prov. 6:6-11; Prov. 21:5.
x. Saving honours God as it rightly values money as a gift from above. James 1:17
xi. Avoid unplanned impulsive or unwise spending
xii. Saving demonstrates that we value what God has graciously given us. Luke 12:47-48.
xi. Saving may be a means of leaving an inheritance or blessings to your heirs, children, wards and others. Proverbs 13:22

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Are there any similarities or differences between savings and investments?

LESSON OUTLINE 2: REASONS FOR INVESTMENTS

i. Wealth Creation: investing your money will allow it to grow and compound. You earn money on the money already earned and create wealth over time.
ii. Beat Inflation: Returns from investment help to maintain the purchasing power at a constant level. If you do not beat the inflation rate, you will be losing money, not making money.
iii. Retirement: You should invest while you are earning so as to create a mass of funds that can be used when you retire. This provides security to maintain a comfortable lifestyle even after retirement.
iv. Accomplish Financial Goals: Investing can help you reach bigger financial goals. This return on your investments can be used towards financial goals, such as buying a home, buying a car, starting a business, or putting your children through school.
v. High Returns: Investing would help to achieve high returns as compared to a bank’s savings account which provides little return.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Why should you invest?
SUMMARY:
i. Savings and investments are biblical.
ii. Both have principles that applied would bring returns.
iii. Savings and investments have tremendous benefits.

CONCLUSION: Investing into the future is not an act of anxiety, everyone must save for the rainy day. In order to build wealth, you should invest your money.

EVALUATION: Why should you avoid unwise and impulsive spending?

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to invest wisely.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention the five disadvantages of excess consumption over investment.

Action Point
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