SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S MANUAL SUNDAY 12TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2021

LESSON TWO (2)

TOPIC: BE THANKFUL

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 be 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?

OPENING PRAYER:

Father, I thank You for Your loving kindness towards me and my family.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalms 100:1-5

[1](A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

[2]Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

[3]Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

[4]Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

[5]For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

MEMORY VERSE:  “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms” Psalms 95:2

LESSON INTRODUCTION: To be thankful literally means to be full of thanks or appreciation. It is an expression of gratitude to someone. Thankfulness in this context is an act of thanksgiving or a show of gratitude to God. Though some people are ungrateful for various reasons, we must not be ingrates because of its attendant dangers.

TEXT REVIEW: Psalms 100:1-5

A. The Psalmist states that all lands (nations, tribes) should make a joyful noise to the Lord. V1

B. The people should: 

i. ............................. V2a

ii. ....………………………… V2b

C. He states the reasons as follows:

i. The Lord is God V3a

D.Therefore, 

i. ................V4a.

ii. ............... V4b.

......

E.  Other reasons to be thankful to God are:

i. .................... V5a.

ii. ....................V5b

iii. .................. V5c.

TEACHING METHOD: Question and Answer teaching method.

LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: REASONS AND BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING

•Question 1: What are the reasons for thanksgiving?

The reasons for thanksgiving are inexhaustible: some of them are;

•Answer:

1. Thanksgiving is a command (1 Chron.16:8)

2. Believer’s requests should start and end with thanksgiving. (Phil.4:6)

3. We thank God for victories over battles of life (John 2:9)

4. It is important to thank God for His mercy and divine provision (Psalm 68:19; Mic 7:18-20)

5. Thanksgiving is offered to God for His miracles and restoration of hope (1 Sam.2:1-5; Ps.126:1-2)

6. The primary reason God created us in His image is for fellowship, thanksgiving, praise and joyful heart (Isa.43:21)

•Question 2: What are the benefits of thanksgiving?

•Answer: If you will cultivate the habit of showing gratitude to God, you will attract overflowing blessings from Him. Here are some of them:

1. Thankful people receive answer to prayers . (John.11:41-44)

2. Thankful people enjoy abundant provisions (Mk.8:6-8)

3. Thankful people experience deliverance from bondage (Acts 16:25-26)

4.Thankful people are peaceful and joyful 

(Phil.4:6-7)

5. Thankful people enjoy divine presence 

(Ps.95:2; Ps.22:3)

6. Thankful people also experience complete restoration and wholeness 

(Lk.17:16-19)

7. Thankful people enjoy victory without a fight (2 Chronicles 20:21-23)

LESSON OUTLINE 2: DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE

•Question 1: Why do some people find it difficult to show gratitude to God?

•Answer. A. Ingratitude is the result of vain imagination and a darkened heart. Sometimes your thanksgiving is senseless to the ordinary person but it is more profitable to be thankful than to grumble or complain (Prov.15:8; Rom.1:12)

B. There are several reasons people are ungrateful to God: some of which include;

1. Sin or spiritual blindness (Eph.4:17-18)

2. Refusal to take account of what God has done (Rom.1:21)

3. Pride  (Acts 12:21-23)

•Question 2: What are the dangers of ingratitude?

•Answer: Every act of ingratitude comes with their attendant dangers which are:

1. Risk of losing the existing blessing, salvation and Heaven (Matt. 25:25-25,30)

2. Limiting one’s blessings or answered prayers  (Lk.17:12-16,19).

3. It could result in emptiness and sorrow (Proverb 17:22; 15:13) thereby, making restoration practically difficult.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should share their experiences on when they found it difficult to thank God and how they were able to pull through.

SUMMARY: Every child of God should learn to be thankful so as not to be caught in the web of ungratefulness and its dangers.

CONCLUSION: Showing of gratitude to God ensures continuous divine presence and fellowship.

EVALUATION: Why is ingratitude dangerous?

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, forgive me for every act of ingratitude; give me the grace to always be thankful from today in Jesus’name.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) people who gave thanks to God with reference from Bible