TOPIC: Broken Homes [Sunday, 1st April 2018]
OPENING PRAYER: Father, uphold our marriages. Save our homes from division. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 25:24-34
24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
MEMORY VERSE: ‘’And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” Mark 3:25.
INTRODUCTION:
Families are the bedrock of society. When families fall apart, society falls into social and cultural decline. The plan of God for divinely instituted homes is for them to remain united in body and in spirit (Psalm 133:1). A broken home is a family in which the parents are separated or divorced. It is also a family that is set apart due to tension and certain problems.
Unless you live in complete isolation, you have seen a broken home. It may be the family of a friend, relative or your own home. Hardly anything perplexes and discourages us more than broken homes. The Bible talks a lot about broken homes which explains the reasons for this lesson.
TEXT REVIEW: Gen. 25:24-34
There were some observed differences between Esau and Jacob as indicated below:
i. Esau was red and hairy, Jacob was not. Gen. 25:2b.
ii. Jacob held the heel of Esau but Esau did not hold Jacob’s heel. Gen. 25:2b
iii. Esau grew to be a CUNNING hunter but Jacob was a PLAIN man. Gen. 25:27
iv. Esau lived in the field but Jacob in the tent. Gen. 25:27
v. Esau used to be starved ( faint for food) and found of asking his brother for some food. Gen. 25: 28-30. His brother was not.
Gen. 25: 28 says, “…Isaac loved Esau,…and Rebecca loved Jacob. Isaac’s love to Esau had an attachment…” Because he did eat his venison” but Rebecca’s love for Jacob was without any attachment. This can be interpreted to mean that wherever “conditional love” comes to play, there would be envy and envy would result into chaos at the long run. Envy could lead to pretense, trick, falsification, stealing and killing or threat to life, sorrow, hate, etc. Gen. 25:31-33, Gen. 27:34-36, 41.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. WHY ARE SO MANY HOMES BROKEN?
2. EFFECTS AND REMEDIES FOR BROKEN HOMES.
WHY ARE SO MANY HOMES BROKEN?
i. Cultural shift (decline of religion and morality)
ii. Wrong choice in marriage. Pro. 21:9;19; Pro.19:13
iii. Parental or friend’s influence. Gen. 2:24; Pro. 13:20
iv. Lack of genuine sacrificial love. 1Jh.3:16; Rom. 5:7-8
v. Communication breakdown. Matt.5:37
vi. Sexual unfaithfulness between couples. Heb.13:4;Hos. 2:2
vii. Stinginess or meanness or poor economic planning. 1Tim. 6:10
viii. Preference for a child over other children (siblings). Gen. 25:28
ix. Attachment to job or other things than the family. Ps.127:2, Pro. 31:14-15.
x. World pleasures. 1 Jh. 2:15
Class Activity 1: Mention other factors that can lead to broken homes besides those stated above.
EFFECTS AND REMEDIES FOR BROKEN HOMES.
A. EFFECTS:
i. Husbands abandon spouses and children.
ii. Wives walk out of the marriage.
iii. Either or both live alone or with strange fellows.
iv. Children suffer emotional stress arising from being abandoned
v. Children may grow to become ordinary fellow.
vi. Parental love is lacking.
B. REMEDIES
Those who suffer the pains of broken homes can apply the following solutions:
i. Commit everything to God in prayer (Psalm 127:1; Psalm 50:15).
ii. Stop and consider that God is greater than any difficulty (Jeremiah 32:27).
iii. Embrace the fact that Jesus loves you (Romans 5:8; Matthew 11:28-30).
iv. Ask God to make you a better person in the present circumstances (Psalm 51:10).
v. Seek the help of other Christians (Proverbs 11:14).
vi. Learn to forgive and seek reconciliation/restoration (Ephesians 4:32; Romans 12:18; Isaiah 57:18).
vii. Be patient to meet your spouse at their point of need (Ecclesiastes 7:8; 1Corinthians 7:10).
Class Activity 2: Mention other effects of broken homes.
SUMMARY:
“Broken homes” could be described as “broken lives”
CONCLUSION:
Love the Lord with your family from the beginning and the love of God which produces unity will grow in your family.
EVALUATION:
i. What is broken home?
ii. How can it be eliminated?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, restore those who are suffering from the whips of broken homes.
ASSIGNMENT:
Use five points to differentiate a broken home and a united home.
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?