Category Sunday School

TOPIC: FULFILLING PURPOSE

MEMORY VERSE:
John 18:37 (NKJV), “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

BIBLE PASSAGE:

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

INTRODUCTION
God does not waste resources. Hence, everything he created is for a purpose. The sun gives light and never ceases to shine (Psm. 136:7-9), the cloud gives rain in due season and tree provide food and shade accordingly (Lev. 26:4).

Other animals play their parts without hesitation. Amazingly, man struggles to understand and fulfill his purpose for living. The discovery, as well as fulfilment of divine purpose, is the focus of today’s lesson.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE
2. LIVE TO FULFIL IT

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE
Like Apostle Paul, once you become a new creation in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17), you must begin to crave for the understanding of your purpose for living on earth (Philippians 3:12). That purpose has been predetermined by God before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5; Gal. 1:15). It is your duty to discover and fulfill it.
Here are some practical pointers to your purpose for living:

1. Potential: You need to identify your in-built ability, your talents, and God-giving gift (Eph. 4:7). Find out the things you do with less stress eg., singing, drawing, talking to the crowd, helping others, etc. The knowledge or skills you acquire in life should be to shape and sharpen your potential (Acts 7:22).

2. Passion: What are those things you exceptionally have flare or zeal for, and do often? Build your vocation or career on such things. The things that gets you excited, give you joy and satisfaction can lead you to the fulfilment of your purpose in life (Psm. 69:9; Colossians 4:12-13).

3. Prayer: After you have identified your potential and the things you are passionate about, you need to pray for divine guardians, so that the world and the enemy will not hijack your purpose in life (Acts 9:1-2).

LIVE TO FULFIL IT
These seven things will help every child of God fulfill his/her purpose in life:

1. Ask God to reveal His plan for your life to you (Jer. 1:4-5). Then, draw a vision and mission statement (Prov. 29:18; Habakkuk 2:2).

2. Set achievable goals and pursue them (Acts 20:24). Take a step at a time and do not be mediocre (Psm. 37:23).

3. Identify and relate with people of like passion: learn from their mistakes and build on their success (2Kings 2:1-2, 14).

4. Submit yourself for mentoring and counseling: do not claim to know it all (Acts 18:24-26; Prov. 11:14).

5. Live as if you don’t have more days on earth: do not procrastinate (Luke 9:61).

6. Focus your attention on God (Heb. 12:2). Make sure all that you do is to His pleasing (Col. 1:10).

7. Always return all the glory to God: do not ascribe anything to yourself (Isa. 42:8).

CONCLUSION
So many people live and die without leaving any positive mark. Be different. You are not a nonentity

QUESTION
1. Discuss the practical pointers to the discovery of one’s purpose in life.
2. Mention the paths to the fulfillment of purpose in life.

TOPIC: MIDLIFE CRISIS

MEMORY VERSE: “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. – Psalm 61:2

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Ecclesiastes 2:14-19

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

INTRODUCTION
A midlife crisis is a term used to describe a period of transition in life where someone struggles with their identity and self-confidence. It happens anywhere around 35 years old to 60 years old and affects men and women. A midlife crisis is not a critical disorder but is mainly psychological, emotional, or sometimes behavioral.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. REASONS AND SYMPTOMS OF A MIDLIFE CRISIS.
2. ANTIDOTES FOR A MIDLIFE CRISIS.

REASONS AND SYMPTOMS OF A MIDLIFE CRISIS.
Reasons for a midlife crisis vary. It may include feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s present status (financial, marital, social, etc), self-doubt, yet-to-be-fulfilled dreams, and a desire for significant changes in direction and purpose in various aspects of life, such as career, relationship, or lifestyle (Psalm 90:13-17). These feelings are naturally amplified as we age: we realise we are running out of time, and our past are likely becoming more permanent (Psalm 69:1). While spiritual warfare can happen at any time in our lives, it certainly could play an integral role in a midlife crisis. Job, adjudged by God to be just and upright, was attacked by Satan in his midlife (Job 1:8, 13-21, 2:7).

Some common symptoms of a midlife crisis may include:

1. Questioning the meaning and purpose of life to make significant, often impulsive changes in one’s life (James 4:14; 1Peter 1:24).
2. Fret about life’s choices and unmet goals resulting in feelings of depression, anxiety, or restlessness (Isaiah 49:4).
3. Dissatisfaction with one’s status: career, relationship, or accomplishments compared to one’s mates – people within the same age bracket (2Corinthians 10:12).
4. Preoccupation with youthfulness and the fear of aging (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10).
5. Increased focus on physical appearance and attractiveness (2Corinthians 5:12).

ANTIDOTES FOR A MIDLIFE CRISIS
Virtually everyone experiences a midlife crisis but at varying degrees on intensity and duration. Some emerge from this period and satisfaction, while others may struggle to overcome the challenges associated with this transition. Here are some things believes undergoing midlife crisis should do:

1. Accept the fact that every stage of life is ordained by God and part of His good plan for us (Proverbs 20:29).
2. Look inward and concentrate on your inheritance potential, the things that are working for you and can stand you out (Matthew 25:15-17). Upgrade your skills or knowledge in your are of strength.
3. Determine to initiate Paul’s forward looking perspective (Philippians 3:13-15).
4. If experiencing certain symptoms of a middle life crisis such as chronic fatigue, restlessness, headaches, or anxiety, see a counselor, a therapist, or a mental health professional (Proverbs 24:6).
5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, nurture meaningful relationships, network with people who are ‘flying’, and find fulfilling activities that can contribute to a sense of well-being during this challenging period (Proverbs 13:20).
6. Consolidate your achievements so far. Find fulfillment in whatever God has ordained you to be (2Timothy 6:6).
7. Persevere in the trial, continue to serve the Lord and find joy in Him (James 1:2-4).

CONCLUSION
God can see us through the period of midlife crisis but we must be sensitive to what He is drawing our attention to. Do the needful because it is too late (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Lamentation 3:27).

QUESTION
1. Identify four causes of midlife crisis.
2. Mention at least five antidotes to a midlife crisis.

MEMORY VERSE:

Numbers 27:7 (NKJV), “The daughters of Zelophehad (zih-LO-fuh-had) speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.”

BIBLE PASSAGE:

Numbers 27:1-7

[1] Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

[2] And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

[3] Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

[4] Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

[5] And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

[6] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

[7] The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

MEMORY VERSE:

Isaiah 52:11 (NKJV), “Depart! Depart! Go out from there,
Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean,
You who bear the vessels of the LORD.”

BIBLE PASSAGE:

Proverbs 31:2-6 (NKJV),

INTRODUCTION
Addition is a compulsive tendency developed over a period of continuous and repeated actions or exposure to a certain substance. It can result in loss of or shift in focus, social and emotional disconnect, poverty, death, etc.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. TYPES OF ADDICTIONS
2. OVERCOMING ADDITION