RCCG Sunday School Teacher's Manual 31st December 2017 Lesson 18

TOPIC — THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: MEEKNESS AND TEMPERANCE [SUNDAY, 31ST DECEMBER 2017]

OPENING PRAYER:

Father, help me to bring forth the fruit of meekness and temperance in the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

MEMORY VERSE: What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Cor. 4:21

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

INTRODUCTION:

Meekness connotes a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked (James 3:13). The word meekness does not connote weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of meekness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. Temperance means properly, self-control, continence. Meekness and temperance shall be studied extensively, as parts of the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, in this lesson.

TEXT REVIEW: 1 Cor 9:24 -27

Some words were used in today’s bible passage to depict the attribute of sportsmanship. Such words are: ‘run’, ‘prize’, ‘strive’, ‘mastery’, ‘crown’ (medal), and ‘fight’. 1 Cor. 9:24-26. As you will agree, it is easy to run to win a prize. Physically, a lot of preparations go into it. For, instance, the sports man must subject himself to rigorous and constant exercises, must monitor/regulate his dietary system, and he must know the rule of the game and abide by it. He must follow the instruction of the referee/instructor as and when due. He must be ready to do it better than opponents or competitors, etc.

Apostle Paul used the following words to summarise it. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” 1 Cor. 9:25a. Temperance in this scripture is the key issue. It means habitual moderation, passion, restraint, absitinence, patience, calmness and so on. A man that would obtain prize in a competition must be ready to pay the price of temperance. Similarly a man that will run the spiritual race to Heaven must be ready to pay all the attributes of temperance and keep his body under and bring it unto subjection always. 1 Cor. 9:26-27

Thank God, Holy Spirit has the fruit of temperance. Gal. 5:23

LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: MEEKNESS

Question:

What is meekness?

Answer:

i. It is restraining of ones might and power.

ii. It is display of humility and grace.

iii. It is a constraint on the power of words and actions.

iv. It is handing over of might/ strength to God’s guidance.

v. It is acceptance of God’s view on all matters including thought. Isa. 55:9

Question:

What are the benefits of meekness?

Answer:

i. Through meekness, erring fellows can be corrected and restored.

ii. Forgiveness of others is easy. Matt. 18:23-35.

iii. Completions and sectarianism will disappear. Phil. 15:18

iv. Believers will complement one another in the ministry.

v. God will pay attention to the fellow ad make him inherit His blessing (the earth) Matt. 5:; Isa. 66:2

Question:

Did God give specific directive on meekness?

Answer:

i. Yes.

ii. God commanded believers to put on meekness. Col. 3:12

iii. God commanded believers to follow after meekness. 1 Tim. 6:11.

iv. God commanded believers to seek meekness. Zep. 2:3.

Question:

Are there examples of the meek in the bible?

Answer:

Yes, Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, etc. 1 Cor. 9:19; Num. 12:3; 2 Sam. 16:10, 12 etc.

Class Activity 1:

Using the above stated definitions of meekness, identify people who are meek in our contemporary society.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: TEMPERANCE

Question:

What is temperance?

i. It is ability to exercise self-control.

ii. It is demonstration of moderatioin and constraints against earthly and fleshy desires and lusts. Rom. 7:21-25

iii. It is believers’s decision not to use his God given freedom to commit sin. Gal. 5:1; Rom. 6:6

iv. It is perseverance. 2 Pet. 1:6

v. It is continence, chastity, self-government and moderation over evil tendencies.

Question:

What are the benefits of temperance?

Answer:

i. It frees believers from guiltyconscience which springs from sin or recklessness toward sin. 2 Cor. 4:2

ii. It helps us find liberty to love and live as God desires.

iii. It helps believers to run the race to win prizes. 1 Cor. 9:24; Gal. 5:13

Question:

What does the Holy Spirit do with temperance to believers?

Answer:

The Holy Spirit helps the believers through the fruit of temperance to exercise self-control, restraint and maintain a focus despite all odds and distractions.

Class Activity 2:

Examine why a non-temperate person cannot win a prize in the holy race.

SUMMARY:

Believers must be meek and temperate in all things and situations.

CONCLUSION:

Believers must bear fruit of meekness and temperance.

EVALUATION:

What is the fruit of goodness and faithfulness?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Father, give me strength to be meek and temperate.

ASSIGNMENT:

Mention 5 attributes each of an in temperate and aggressive person.