OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to have a solid relationship with You in Jesus’ name. (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 17 September 2023 HYMN)

MEMORY VERSE: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8. (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 1:18-19 (KJV)

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

LESSON INTRODUCTION: There are diverse views, both within and without, about the Christian faith. Some call it a religion, while others say it is a way of life. In some quarters, it is believed that it is a personal relationship with God. What exactly is the tenet of our faith as Christians and how does it compare with other faiths? Is it a religion or a relationship?

LESSON AIM: To teach the students the ideology of the Christian faith.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the study, students should be able to:
a. know what the Christian faith entails.
b. Distinguish between the Christian faith and other faiths.
c. Mention the benefits of having a relationship with Jesus.

TEACHING PLAN: At the end of the study, students should be able to:

a. know what the Christian faith entails.
b. Distinguish between the Christian faith and other faiths.
c. Mention the benefits of having a relationship with Jesus.

TEXT REVIEW: Isaiah 1:18-20.

The prophet Isaiah in the above text declares the mind of God to His people as follows:
i. Come now …………………………………V18.
ii. If ye ……………………………………………V19.
iii. But if ye ……………………………………V20.

TEACHING METHOD: The Question and Answer Method.

TIME MANAGEMENT: The teacher should apply the two-lesson outline teaching time.

LESSON OUTLINES 1: MORE THAN A RELIGION

A. Teacher should ask the following questions

i. Question: What is a religion?
Answer: Simply put, Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman – with controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. (Exodus 34:14).
ii. Question: Is Christianity a religion?
Answer: In that respect, “Christianity can be classified as a religion”.
iii. Question: So how is Christianity more than a religion?
Answer: Practically speaking, Christianity has a key difference that separates it from other belief systems that are considered religions. Most religions are man-centered. They are built upon the concept that man can reach a higher power – God through his own efforts – good works, sacrifices, rituals, etc. In that regard, Christianity is not a religion.

B. Question: Do men make a religion out of Christianity in any way?

Answer: Just as the Jewish leaders made a religion out of a relationship with God, many people do the same with Christianity:
i. They follow the way of the “Pharisees” in creating rules not found in Scripture (Mark 7:8).
ii. Some who profess to follow Christ are actually following man-made religion in the name of Jesus (Colossians 2:8).
iii. While claiming to believe Scripture, they are often plagued with fear and doubt that they may not be good enough to earn salvation or that God will not accept them if they do not carry out some ritualistic activities or perform to a certain standard (Ephesians 2:8-9).
iv. The leaders of religious sects add many of their own rules to make it even more cumbersome (Matthew 15:9).
v. They pride themselves on their ability to keep the Law – at least outwardly. This is religion masquerading as Christianity: it is one of Satan’s favourite tricks (Matthew 23:1-7).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should mention other reasons why the Christian faith is more than a religion.

LESSON OUTLINES 2: A CALL TO A RELATIONSHIP

1. Question: What are the proofs that the Christian faith is a call to a relationship?

Answer: The Christian faith is a relationship that God has established with His children because:
i. The Bible states clearly that there is nothing man can do to make himself right with God (Isaiah 64:6).
ii. God did for us what we cannot do for ourselves (Colossians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
iii. Our sin separates us from His presence, and sin must be punished (Romans 6:23).
iv. God loves us, He took our punishment upon Himself (Isaiah 53:5).
v. All we must do is accept God’s gift of salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2. Question: Are there other reasons to substantiate that Christianity is a call to a relationship?

Answer: The grace-based relationship between God and man is the foundation of Christianity and the opposite of religion (Titus 2:11-14):
i. We are able to love God “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
ii. Holiness and obedience to Scripture are important, but they are pieces of evidence of a transformed heart, not a means to attain it.
iii. God desires that we be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
iv. He wants us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18).
v. We do these things because we are His children and want to be like Him, not in order to earn His love.
vi. God wants us to know Him, draw near to Him, pray to Him, and love Him above everything. That is not religion; that is a relationship.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Mention encounters you have in your faith that shows you clearly that you are in a relationship with God.

CONCLUSION: Christianity is not about signing up for a religion. Christianity is about being born into the family of God (John 3:3).

QUESTIONS:

What is religion?
Explain the Christian faith.

EVALUATION: Students should mention two things that show Christianity is more than a religion.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, let my relationship with You wax stronger in Jesus’ name.

ASSIGNMENT: Write five differences between the Christian faith and other faiths. (2×5=10 marks).

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