RCCG YAYA Sunday School Students Manual 6 October 2024 Lesson 6: Men-Pleasers
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TOPIC: Men-Pleasers (RCCG Sunday School Manual For Young Adults And Youths (YAYA)
MEMORY VERSE: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;” – Colossians 3:22 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 6:5-8 (KJV) (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 6 October 2024 HYMN)
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Also Read:
– RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 6 October 2024 – I Know Who I Am
INTRODUCTION: A “Men-Pleaser” is an individual who strives to please men or seeks to gain their favour with an ulterior motive. If the motive for your actions, speeches or attitudes is to always please men or the world rather than God, then you are in the category of men-pleasers (Acts 5:29).
LESSON OUTLINES:
- CHARACTERISTICS AND DANGERS OF PLEASING MEN
- OVERCOMING MEN-PLEASING ATTITUDES
1. CHARACTERISTICS AND DANGERS OF PLEASING MEN
There are peculiar traits associated with men pleasers that tend to separate them from the rest of humanity. Some of these are:
- LOVE FOR HUMAN PRAISE: They are known to love the praise of men and to receive special appellations from other people (John 12:43).
- EMOTIONAL TOXICITY: They can do anything including to “murder” people, either physically, spiritually or emotionally. While Herod used physical weapons such as imprisonment or guns (Acts 12:1-3), some other people used their tongue, position etc.
- MANIPULATION OF JUSTICE: Men pleasers usually have undue respect for men such that they tamper with justice and deliver injustice to the poor (Deuteronomy 1:17).
- FEAR OF MEN: They exhibit fear of man as one of their peculiar traits, they always forget that the fear of man often brings a snare (Proverbs 29: 25).
- However, the scripture warns against being men-pleasers because of the inherent dangers.
Anyone who has the habit of pleasing men will live in perpetual bondage (1 Samuel 15:24). Such a person will lose his or her freedom. Also, men-pleasers will become accomplices in sin (Proverbs 28:21). The person will not have a mind of his or her own and will be easily tossed (Ephesians 4:14). Men-pleasers will become the enemy of God (James 4:4b) because of the attention given to men other than God. Men-pleasers will eventually experience the wrath of God because such a person is working contrary to God (Isaiah 30:1-2; Jeremiah 17:5).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should mention the additional dangers of pleasing men.
2. OVERCOMING MEN-PLEASING ATTITUDES
Men-pleasing attitudes can be overcome through a high degree of seriousness and consistency. Rededicate and consecrate your heart to God by putting the Almighty in His true and deserving first position (Deuteronomy 6:5). God must always be your delight (Psalm 37:4) and love Him passionately (1 John 4:19). Follow people, as they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Stop putting your hope in men because vain is the help of man (Psalm 60:11). Pray more in the Spirit for courage (Joshua 1:6) to say no and you will prevail over men-pleasing attitudes.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Have you tried to please men before, what was the outcome?
CONCLUSION: God is supreme, worthy of our worship and does not like competition. Beware of men-pleasing attitudes.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the dangers of pleasing men?
- Mention three ways to overcome men-pleasing attitudes.
FURTHER READING:
Sunday: Romans 1:16 (KJV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Monday: 1 Samuel 15:24 (KJV)
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Tuesday: Psalm 20:7 (KJV)
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Wednesday: Acts 10:35 (KJV)
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Thursday: 2 Samuel 1:1-16 (KJV)
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.
Friday: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (KJV)
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Saturday: Ephesians 6:1-8 (KJV)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
ASSIGNMENT: State five (5) likely dangers of pleasing men above God. (2X5=10 Marks).
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 friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and 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 be 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?