RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 12 October 2025 – Lesson 6
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TOPIC: Vain Worship (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 12 October 2025)
MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” – Isaiah 29:13 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 15:7-9 (KJV) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 12 October 2025)
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
INTRODUCTION: The word “vain” means empty or without value. “Worship” is reverence and adoration directed towards God, be it the lifting of hands, spoken words, or sung songs. Worship should not be a mere ritual, but an expression of love, and submission to God even in the time of adversity (Job 1:20-21). Unlike common beliefs, it neither begins nor ends with the singing quota of our Christian gatherings. Vain worship is unacceptable before God and it is an attitude abhorred by Him. This lesson uncovers vain worship and highlights the biblical direction for true worship.
LESSON OUTLINE
- POINTERS AND CONCERNS
- A CALL TO TRUE WORSHIP
1. POINTERS AND CONCERNS
Certain human manifestations point to vain worship.
Vain worshippers place importance on being seen outwardly by all as reverencing God (Luke 18:10-12). It is only about superficial worship such as honouring God with lips or maintaining “holier-than-thou” appearance with neither connection of the heart nor inner transformation (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 23:27-28). It is saying the right things but not truly engaging with God (Matthew 15:8). It is being legalistic i.e. following human traditions and prioritising rituals and man-made commandments to take precedence over true devotion to God (Mark 7:6-9).
One concern for those who promote vain worship is that they cannot continue in deception forever (Galatians 6:7-8). God rejects worship that does not come from the heart (Amos 5:21-23, Matthew 7:21-23). Focusing on traditions rather than personal faith weakens the relationship with God (Galatians 1:14). Vain worshippers are also, often led into misguided religion, in which they risk replacing godliness with human practices (Colossians 2:8).
2. A CALL TO TRUE WORSHIP
God has called us to authentic worship which begins with true repentance and renewal of mind (Acts 3:19). True worship does not start or end in church but is evident in every aspect of life (John 4:21-23). It is, therefore, a lifestyle that must be lived daily (Romans 12:1). Our Lord, Jesus Christ, explains that it must be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
True worship comes from the heart and is based on God’s truth (Philippians 3:3). It aligns with the will of God and is evidenced by love, obedience and reverence (1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Samuel 23:1 16). It always exercises genuine faith, devotion, and a commitment to God’s word (Psalm 119:37-38). We must submit to the leading of God; this gives Him pleasure, and no true worship can be better than that (Romans 8:14).
CONCLUSION: Desist from ritualistic and fruitless worship; God can only be worshipped acceptably in spirit and in truth.
QUESTIONS
- Define vain worship.
- Mention four ways to be involved in vain worship.
FURTHER READINGS:
Sunday: Mark 7:7 (KJV)
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Monday: Matthew 15:8 (KJV)
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Tuesday: Isaiah 29:13 (KJV)
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Wednesday: Isaiah 1:12-17 (KJV)
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Thursday: Amos 5:21-23 (KJV)
21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Friday: Micah 6:6-8 (KJV)
6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Saturday: Romans 10:2-3 (KJV)
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
ASSIGNMENT: State five (5) pointers to vain worship (2×5=10 Marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- 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. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
