TOPIC — Divorce: Not An Option [Sunday, 8th April 2018]
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, we rebuke every evil spirit and the peril of end time behind divorce in the name of Jesus Christ. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)
MEMORY VERSE: “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” – Matthew 5:32
BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 19:3-13 (KJV)
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
INTRODUCTION:
Divorce is one of the major problems facing homes today. Divorce is granted to the unbelievers for many reasons such as adultery, cruelty, desertion, drunkenness, and neglect to provide, conviction of criteria, separation, bigamy, incompatibility etc. However, is divorce permissible for Christians? Let us approach this this lesson by attempting to an we a number of questions.
TEXT REVIEW:
Whatever thing which was not in the beginning was not from God because God was the beginning. His word was in the beginning. It was in the beginning God created all things including marriage. Gen. 1:1; John 1; Gen. 1:27,28.; 2:18. The “beginning” was not subject to human pressure like Moses who was pressurised by people to give a commandment, to give a bill or writing of divorcement to put the wife away. Matt 19:7-8. Deut 24:1-2 gave the details of the reasons for the bill. However, verse 4 of this chapter even considered certain aspect of the bills as “abominable to God and could lead the land to sin.” The “beginning” Himself said in Matt 19:8 ‘but in the beginning it was not so”. The consequence of doing what God did not say or commanded would be previous. Such act should be avoided. Jesus is the beginning- Rev. 1:8, Therefore, it is wisdom to do what was in the beginning – Prov. 1:7-8.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At The end of the lesson, students should be able to:
i. Discover some common questions raised on divorce and provide appropriate answers to them.
ii. Understand appropriate counsel for partners in shaky marriage.
TEACHING METHOD: Use Question and Answer method
LESSON OUTLINES
1. Some Common Questions and Answers
2. Counsel for Partners in a Shaky Marriage
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question 1:
Is there any scriptural ground for divorce?
Answers:
i. There’s one and only one reason and that’s fornication. Matt. 19:9.
Question 2:
What does the word “fornication” mean in this passage?
Answers:
i. The basic meaning is illicit sexual relationship with a third party.
Question 3:
Can the innocent partner in a divorce re-marry?
Answers:
i. The “innocent partner” should be ready to forgive the “guilty partner” Matt. 16:14-15.Prov.28:13.
ii. Divorce was not the original plan of God for human beings.
Question 4:
How long is a marriage contract?
Answers:
i. Until death breaks it. Matt. 19:6.
ii. In marriage, God performs a miracle when two individuals become one person.
iii. Only God is permitted to break that union by taking one of the partners in death.
Question 5:
Can the ‘innocent partner’ in a divorce re-marry.
Answers:
i. It’s doubtful if there is such a thing as an innocent partner in the sight of God.
ii. It’s most likely that the “innocent partner” had failed in some ways.
Question 6:
Why should people avoid divorce like a plague?
Answers:
Divorce represents a tragedy that has undermined the home, the very basic of society.
Misery always follows in its path, broken homes, bruised and broken hearts, bewildered, homeless children, delinquent youth, loneliness, tears and at times suicide or insanity.
The couple should consider the welfare of the children who would suffer most and the shame connected with divorce and the scandals that it engenders.
Many Christians look at divorce as sinful, regardless of the circumstances because it is a public admission of utter failure which belittles the power of Christ. Phil. 4:13
Economic disaster often follows divorce and it is the cause of lack of love and happiness in marriage.
Question 7:
Can there be love when there is no respect?
Answers:
i. The answer is yes, for God loves the unlovely sinner, whom He cannot respect.
ii. Love that is unselfish and Godly can be deep and powerful even with those whom we cannot respect.
iii. With such a love, our marriages would last for life. 1Pet.4:8.
Class Activity 1: Explain how love and respect can mutually grow together.
LESSON OUTLINE 2:
COUNSELS FOR PARTNERS IN A SHAKY MARRIAGE
Question: What biblical counsels are available for partners in a shaky marriage?
Answers:
i. The husband and wife should renew their solemn vow of, for better for worse till death do them part.
ii. Both should get it right with the Lord first by returning to the Lord in prayer.
iii. Both should get it right with each other.
iv. Both or offending partner should confess sin and genuinely repent.
v. Mutual sharing and understanding would help marriage work.
vi. Spending quality time in prayer both as individual and couple would work wonders. James 5:16
vii. Husbands should assume the status of responsibility and provide for the Family. 1 Tim 5:8.
viii. Wives should be subject to their husbands. Eph. 5:24
ix. Husbands and wives continue to be attracted to each other in genuine love.
x. Genuine love should be allowed to radiate all through the spheres of the marriage.
xi. Determine in godliness to allow the marriage to work despite odd is a good pill for a recovery.
Class Activity 2: Mention those counsels which couples should avoid or reject in marriage.
SUMMARY
Do not give room or consider divorce was a way out of marriage.
CONCLUSION
Genuine love in marriage covers multitude of sins and prevents eventual break up.
EVALUATION
I. Mention a few questions that agitate people’s minds on marriage
II. Mention right counsels for a shaky marriage.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, let divorce be a thing of the past in our society. Please come and heal broken hearts and marriages.
ASSIGNMENT
Identify five (5) negative counsels which may ruin marriage. Give right counsel to counter such negative counsels.
Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
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