RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ MANUAL 23 OCTOBER 2022

LESSON EIGHT (08)

TOPIC: POLITICAL DOMINION

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 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 blessings on me

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

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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, help me to understand the dominion You gave man from the beginning.

BIBLE PASSAGE: GENESIS 1:26-28.

[26]And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

[27]So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

[28]And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

MEMORY VERSE: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10.

INTRODUCTION: The word dominion means “rule or power over.” God has sovereign power over His creation and has also delegated the authority to mankind to have dominion over the works of His hands (Gen.1:26; Ps.8:6). However, some Christians are passive and do not see that God wants the Church to take charge of and revamp their societies. Instead, they only see the command for believers to preach the gospel as in Matthew 28:19-20 and wait for God to implement social reforms Himself.

TEACHER’S DIARY

LESSON AIM:

To guide the students into the Theology of Dominion.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

a. Know God’s perspective of dominion.

b. Understand the workings of political dominion

c. Understand the Believers’ role in exercising dominion.

TEACHING PLAN:

To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should:

a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to the discussion, do class activities and assignment.

b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, mark attendance and assignment.

c. Teach the lesson outlines, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignment.

TEXT REVIEW:

i. At creation God said man should be made like Him and have dominion over His creation, V26.

ii. So ………………………………………………………V27.

iii. And God blessed ..…………………………V28.

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. DOMINION THEOLOGY

2. DISPOSITION OF CHRISTIANS TO POLITICAL DOMINION

1..DOMINION THEOLOGY

A. The teacher should explain the meaning of dominion theology as follows:

i. Dominion theology refers to a line of thought with regard to the role of the church in contemporary society.

ii. It holds that Christians should rule all areas of society, personal and corporate by the Law of God.

iii. This belief is based on Genesis 1:28, which says, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion …”

iv. Genesis 1:28 is a divine mandate to claim dominion over the earth, physically, spiritually, economically, politically, etc. (Lk.19:13).

v. This theological idea about Christians having political dominion has its root in:

a. The nature of God and reality

b. The importance of justice

c. The value of freedom

d. A rich understanding of the human person as created in the image of God (Ps.82:6; Jn.10:34).

e. The fact that Christians are made for flourishing (Ps.92:12-13)

f. We are called to an eternal destiny (Rom.8:30).

Dominion theology refers to a line of thought with regards to the role of the church in contemporary society; it holds that Christians should rule all areas of society, personal and corporate by the Law of God. This belief is based on Genesis 1:28, which says, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion …” This verse is a divine mandate to claim dominion over the earth, physically, spiritually, economically, politically, etc. (Lk.19:13). This theological idea about Christians having political dominion has its root in the nature of God and reality, the importance of justice, the value of freedom, and a rich understanding of the human person as created in the image of God (Ps.82:6; Jn.10:34), made for flourishing (Ps.92:12-13), and called to an eternal destiny (Rom. 8:30).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should discuss why some believers do not take the lead.

2. DISPOSITION OF CHRISTIANS TO POLITICAL DOMINION

A. The teacher should establish the history of political docility in the church:

i. The political docility of Christians of the early church could be traced to the fact that Israel and some gentile nations were under the colonial rule of the Roman Empire and Christians were taught to be in subjection to the authorities that be (Rom.13:1): at best, they were to pray for those in power and could not participate in the politics of their time (1Tim.2:1-2).

ii.This might have been responsible for why Christians hesitate to be actively involved in the politics of our days, whereas, the God we believe and serve is interested in the way the world is governed (Gen.1:28).

iii. Satan stole the “keys of dominion” when he deceived Adam and Eve.

iv. When Christ gave the “keys of the kingdom” to Peter in Matthew 16:19, it was a sign that dominion had been returned to man.

v. Now it is our job to “take back” what is rightfully ours.

vi. Political dominion is a must for Christians and not an option because the earth is our place of dominion, not Heaven (Ps.115:16).

vii.Christians have to occupy strategic political positions to be at the helms of affairs for positive influence.

B. The teacher should explain the believer’s disposition to political dominion as follows:

i. While it is true that we belong to a heavenly kingdom that is not of this world, we are still numbered among the people in this world and are subjected to the rules and systems of its government (Jn.17:15-16).

ii. We indeed seek another home, (Heb.11:10, 14; 13:14) but that should not be an excuse to be nonchalant about our present abode and refuse to take responsibility for its governance (Ps.115:16).

iii. It is also true that the world is passing away (1 Cor.7:31) but we should not forget that we will also give an account of how it is managed before it passes away (1Jn.2:17).

C. It should therefore be of concern for Christians:

i. To be a part of ‘high level’ decision making processes to ensure that justice is done.

ii. Biblical principles are upheld and the Christian faith survives and is preserved (Ps. 33:5; Mic. 6:8).

iii. As the salt and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16), when we engage ourselves in politics and government, we speak out for those who cannot speak and defend the rights of the poor and needy (Prov.31:8-9).

The political docility of Christians of the early church could be traced to the fact that Israel and some gentile nations were under the colonial rule of the Roman Empire and Christians were taught to be in subjection to the authorities that be (Rom.13:1): at best, they were to pray for those in power and could not participate in the politics of their time (1Tim.2:1-2). This might have been responsible for why Christians hesitate to be actively involved in the politics of our days, whereas, the God we believe and serve is interested in the way the world is governed (Gen.1:28).

Satan stole the “keys of dominion” when he deceived Adam and Eve. Then, when Christ gave the “keys of the kingdom” to Peter in Matthew 16:19, it was a sign that dominion had been returned to man. Now it is our job to “take back” what is rightfully ours. Political dominion is a must for Christians and not an option because the earth is our place of dominion, not Heaven (Ps.115:16). Christians have to occupy strategic political positions to be at the helms of affairs for positive influence.

While it is true that we belong to a heavenly kingdom that is not of this world, we are still numbered among the people in this world and are subjected to the rules and systems of its government (Jn.17:15-16). We indeed seek another home, (Heb.11:10, 14; 13:14) but that should not be an excuse to be nonchalant about our present abode and refuse to take responsibility for its governance (Ps.115:16). It is also true that the world is passing away (1 Cor.7:31) but we should not forget that we will also give an account of how it is managed before it passes away (1Jn. 2:17).

Therefore, it should be of concern to Christians to be a part of ‘high level’ decision making processes to ensure that justice is done, biblical principles are upheld and the Christian faith survives and is preserved (Ps.33:5; Mic.6:8). As the salt and light of the world (Matt.5:13-16), when we engage ourselves in politics and government, we speak out for those who cannot speak and defend the rights of the poor and needy (Prov.31:8-9).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should identify areas where they want to make changes if they had the privilege of being in power.

SUMMARY:.The understanding of dominion theology will enable believers to take their rightful places in leading in any spheres of this world.

CONCLUSION: All Christians are political, whether we realize it or not. If we choose not to engage in politics, it is a vote for the status quo – the way things are.

QUESTION:

* 1. All Christians are political, whether we realize it or not. If we choose not to engage in politics, it is a vote for the status quo – the way things are. Mention three (3) dispositions of Christians to political dominion.

EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students to discuss their understanding of dominion theology.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, I receive the grace to exercise all-round dominion.

ASSIGNMENT: Students should list five (5) reasons some Christians are afraid of being involved in politics. (2×5=10 Marks).