Memory Verse: “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience”. – 1 Timothy 3:9.
Bible Passage: Hebrews 11:3-11.
Opening Prayer
Father, please help me to understand what faith is all about.
Previous Knowledge
The Teacher should allow the Assistant Teacher to review the previous lesson.
Lesson Introduction
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to please God. Pleasing God is accomplished by faith (Heb. 11:6). Faith is the foundation of the Christian life and the principle that brings us to Jesus Christ. An understanding of what faith is will help us grow in our walk with the Lord.
LESSON AIM: To teach students what faith entails.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to :
a. Describe faith.
b. Outline and discuss the stages of faith in their own terms.
TEACHING PLAN
To achieve the above-stated objectives, teachers should:
a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the bible passage, contribute to the discussion, and do class activities and assignments.
b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, and mark attendance and assignment.
c. Teach the lesson outlines, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignments to the students.
TEXT REVIEW Hebrews 11:3-11.
The writer of the book of Hebrews expressed the importance and power of faith.
i. We understand by faith that the worlds were formed by the word of God…………………………v3a.
ii. As a result of the above, all the things made at creation were made from physical things ……………………………………..v3b.
B. He went further to highlight the feats attained by the saints of old through faith.
i. Abel ……………………………….v4a.
As a result of this, Abel …………………………..v4b and c.
ii. Enoch v5 5a and B.
He had a testimony that ………….v6.
c. In verse 6, the writer warns that ……..v6.
d. The writer continues with the examples of the fathers of faith, citing that by faith:
i. Noah……………………………………v7
ii. Abraham…………………………………………………v8
iii. He(Abraham)…………………………………………………..v9.
iv. He looked for…………………………………………………v10.
v. Sarah through faith………………………………………………………….v11.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. A Description of Faith.
2. Stages of Faith.
A Description Of Faith
Faith can be described as:
A. The currency of believers (Mark 9:23). For instance:
i. When God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1, as well as everything we see ( the stars, moon and light), we understand by faith (Heb. 11:3).
ii. Faith works where we cannot see (Heb. 11:1). It is the substance of things hoped for.
iii. Faith is predicting your future. (Ps. 27:13). It is shaping your future by speaking and confessing it (Mark 11:24).
iv. Faith is the act of declaring and decreeing (Mark 11:23; Job 22:28); it is the vehicle that moves God (Matt. 8:9-10: 15:25-28).
B. The pillar for salvation (Eph. 2:8; Romans 10:9-10); pursuing a Christ-like life is a demonstration of faith (Heb. 10: 38-39).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The teacher should ask students to say what faith means to them.
Lesson Outline 2: Stages of Faith
Faith can be explained in three stages:
A. The faith that secures our salvation and makes us the followers of Jesus.
i. It is fundamental theology and the fore of what we believe as Christians (Romans 10:4; John 14:6; Eph. 1:13).
ii. It is what makes us believers (John 1:12). It is what separates Christianity from other religions (1 John 4:1-3).
This is what faith separates:
i. faith is an act, art and science of believing.
ii. It is the practical aspect of our profession as Christians.
iii. It makes us hold on to the word or promises of God against all odds (Romans 4:18-21).
C. The lifestyle of faith.
i. This is when faith has become a lifestyle, we live it.
ii. At this stage, it is impossible not to believe in God. We do not stagger at what we see or experience. (Daniel 3:16-18; Acts 21:11-13).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should say what stage of faith they think they are in.
SUMMARY: Believers must strive to understand and grow in faith as this is fundamental to our Christian life.
CONCLUSION
Faith is both a gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:9; Gal. 5:22). It is the fuel that keeps us going as believers.
EVALUATION: State the three stages of faith known to you.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me to grow in faith in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) things that challenge your faith in God. (2×5=10 Marks).