Today’s Lesson
Prayer Point - Pray that believers will follow godly counsel in marriage.
Previous Knowledge - Teacher asks students to mention what they benefitted from last week's lesson. Teacher marks the workbook.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE - Proverbs 1:1-10
B. Memory Verse - "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Proverbs 1:33.
C. Lesson Introduction - Counseling is the process of giving pieces of advice or useful suggestions to other individuals by a qualified person in order to help them solve their problems either now or in future. Everyone needs such pieces of advice or counsels at a particular point in time so as to guide against taking steps of error. (Proverbs 11:14b). Therefore, as marriage is a sacred institution that requires divine guidance before being entered into, such counsels should be given priority.
TEACHER’S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim - To study the characteristics and role of pastoral counsel in marriage.
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
i. At the end of the lesson, students should be able to understand the characteristics of pastoral counsels.
ii. They should also be able to discover the role of pastoral counsel in marriage.
To achieve these objectives, teacher enumerates and explains the characteristics and role of pastoral counsel. Teacher concludes by encouraging students to heed counsel of God's servants (Pastor).
C. Text Review - Proverbs 1:1-10 To know wisdom, instruction and word of understanding, one should do the following:
i. A wise son/daughter should hear the instructions of the father. V.8
ii. A wise son/daughter should not forsake the law of the mother. V8b
iii. A wise son/daughter should receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgement and equityV.3
iv. A wise man/woman shall hear and increase learning. \/:5
v. A wise son/daughter will not consent to counsel of sinners. V.10
D. Teaching Method - Teacher should use discussion method.
E. Time Management -15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion and Assignment, 15 minutes for General Review.
2. Lesson Outlines
I. LESSON OUTLINE 1 - CHARACTERISTICS OF PASTORAL COUNSELS
i. They are divine instructions aided or enhanced by the gift of the Holy Spirit. ii. They take a form of word of wisdom, word of knowledge and discerning of the spirit. I Cor. 12:7-8
iii. They are like reality therapy. Luke 15:22; Provo 15:22
iv. They are not motivated or influenced by personal interest, propaganda or sentiments. I Sam 25:44
v. They are pieces of advice which are produced after intense prayers to the Almighty God who inspired them. PS. 5:3; Deut. 29:29; Dan. 9:3-4; II Cor. 1:11
vi. Pastoral counsel seeks to foster the happiness of persons being counselled. Prov.15:23; Provo 27:9.
Class Activity 1- Why do you think some people do not want to take counsel from genuine men of God?
II. LESSON OUTLINE 2 - ROLE OF PASTORAL COUNSEL IN MARRIAGE.
i. Pastoral counselling provides timely relief and comfort to devastating and destructive problems. Ruth 3: 1-3
ii. It acts as veritable tools that cannot be rushed in the process of choice or decision making. Joe13:14
iii. It prevents young men and women from entering into courtship with more than one suitor at a time. Rom. 13:20; Psalm 73:24;
iv. It brings about decent take off into courtship between two children of God as the Pastor mediates between the intending couple Psalm 11:3; Isaiah 58: 12
v. It shows young contemporary adults that marriage is not bondage afterwards. Jeremiah 23:22; Acts 20:27-28.
Class Activity 2 - How far do you think right counselling will help to prevent wrong marriage or heal marriages?
SUMMARY- Take right counsels and be wise, avoid wrong counsels, learn judgment, take instruction, be guided and it shall be well with you.
CONCLUSION- Pastoral counsels help to produce a wonderful marriage. Please heed counsels.
ASSIGNMENT-See assignment in the workbook.
