Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Manual July 13, 2025 Lesson 25: Topic - Zacharias And Elizabeth Are Made Rugged

Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Manual July 13, 2025 Lesson 25: Topic - Zacharias And Elizabeth Are Made Rugged 

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas

 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Theme: PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP* 

 JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025

 JULY 13, 2025.

 

 LESSON 25

 Unit 4: Leadership Preparation In The New Testament (I)* 

 Topic: ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH ARE MADE RUGGED 

 Memory Scripture

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth (Luke 1:5). 

Zacharias and Elizabeth's unwavering faith in the face of trials shows the resilience and strength that adversity can foster.

BRIEF COMMENT

Zacharias and Elizabeth, a couple in the New Testament, provided valuable lessons through their lives, backgrounds, family and ministry. Zacharias, a priest, and Elizabeth, born into a Levite family, exemplified godliness in their lives. Luke 1:6 confirms their righteousness, stating, "...they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Despite facing the challenge of barrenness, even in their old age (v. 7), they remained faithful and diligent in their priestly duties. What sustained this remarkable couple? What qualities defined them? Where did they derive their strength and diligence in their duties despite their circumstances? The Holy Spirit is poised to reveal these insights to us, enabling us to enhance our leadership skills and prepare for greater responsibilities in the future.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ZECHARIAH

HIS SHORT STORY

Zechariah, a Jewish priest, was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were known for their personal holiness. They were well suited to doing a special work for God. But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered not having God's blessing. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, and they had stopped even asking for children. 

One day while on duty at the Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah received an unexpected blessing. He was chosen to be the priest who would enter the Holy Place to offer incense to God for the people. Suddenly, much to his surprise and terror, he found himself face to face with an angel. The angel's message was too good to be true! But the news of the coming Savior was eclipsed by doubts about his own ability to father the child the angel promised him. His age spoke more loudly than God's promise. As a result, God prevented Zechariah from speaking until the promise became a reality. 

The record of the prayer in Luke 1 is our last glimpse of Zechariah. Like so many of God's most faithful servants, he passed quietly from the scene once his part was done. He becomes our hero for those times when we doubt God and yet are willing to obey. We gain hope from Zechariah's story that God can do great things through anyone who is available to him. 

 Strengths and accomplishments

Known as a righteous man Was a priest of God One of the few people to be directly addressed by an angel Fathered John the Baptist 

 Weakness and mistake

Momentarily doubted the angel's promise of a son because of his own old age 

 *Lessons from his life*  

* Physical limitations do not limit God 

* God accomplishes his will, often in unexpected ways 

 Vital statistics: 

*Occupation: Priest 

*Relatives: Wife: Elizabeth, Son: John the Baptist. 

 Key verses:

"Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old" (Luke 1:6-7). 

Zechariah's story is told in Luke 1.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ELIZABETH

HER SHORT STORY

In societies like Israel, in which a woman's value was largely measured by her ability to bear children, to be without children often led to personal hardship and public shame. For Eliza- beth, a childless old age was a painful and lonely time but still she remained faithful to God. 

Both Elizabeth and Zechariah came from priestly families. For two weeks each year, Zechariah had to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to attend to his priestly duties. After one of those trips, Zechariah returned home excited but speechless. He had to write down his good news, because he couldn't give it any other way. And what a wonderful surprise he had for his wife: Their faded dream would become an exciting reality! Soon Elizabeth became pregnant, and she knew her child was a long-hoped-for gift from God. 

News traveled fast among the family. Seventy miles to the north, in Nazareth, Elizabeth's relative Mary also unexpectedly became pregnant. Within days after the angel's message that she would bear the Messiah, Mary went to visit Elizabeth. They were instantly bound together by the unique gifts God had given them. Elizabeth knew that Mary's son would be even greater than her own, for John would be the messenger for Mary's son. 

When her baby was born, Elizabeth insisted on his God-given name: John. Zechariah's written agreement freed his tongue, and everyone in town wondered what would become of this obviously special child. 

Elizabeth whispered her praise as she cared for God's gift. Knowing about Mary must have made her marvel at God's timing. Things had worked out even better than she could have planned. We, too, need to remember that God is in control of every situation. When did you last pause to recognize God's timing in the events of your life? 

 *Strengths and accomplishments*  

* Known as a deeply spiritual woman 

* Showed no doubts about God's ability to fulfill his promise 

* Mother of John the Baptist 

* The first woman besides Mary to hear of the coming Savior 

Lessons from her life:

God does not forget those who have been faithful to him 

God's timetable and methods do not have to conform to what we expect 

 Vital statistics

Occupation: Homemaker 

Relatives: Husband: Zechariah. Son. John the Baptist. Relative: Mary.  

Contemporaries: Joseph, Herod the Great 

 Key verses:

"Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said" (Luke 1:43-45). 

Elizabeth's story is told in Luke 1:5-80.

Our DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS Stated that:

 1. True leaders, who are genuine disciples of Christ, are known by their responses to trials and challenging experiences.

 2. The attitude you fail to adopt, you cannot exhibit; one cannot impart what they do not possess.

*BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES:* Proverbs 24:10; 21:31  

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 *COMMENTS*

 *24:10* Times of trouble can be useful. They can show you who you really are what kind of character you have developed. In addition, they can help you grow stronger. When Jeremiah questioned God because of the trouble he faced, God asked how he ever expected to face big challenges if the little ones tired him out (Jeremiah 12:5). Don't complain about your problems. The trouble you face today is training you to be strong for the more difficult situations you will face in the future.

 *21:31* This proverb refers to preparing for battle. All our preparation for any task is useless without God. But even with God's help we still must do our part and prepare. His control of the outcome does not negate our responsibilities. God may want you to produce a great book, but you must learn to write. God may want to use you in foreign missions, but you must learn the language. God will accomplish his purposes, and he will be able to use you if you have done your part by being well prepared.

*AIM of this lesson is:* To extract lessons from the lives, ministry and family of Zacharias and Elizabeth for our own use in leadership development.

*INTRODUCTION* 

 *TEXTUAL SOURCE: Luke 1:5-9* 

Glory and honour be to the Almighty God for His never-ending blessings that He regularly bestows upon us. May His name be forever exalted. Amen! 

This week's lesson marks the beginning of UNIT 4, which aims to unveil LEADERSHIP PREPARATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Zacharias and Elizabeth are our focal persons for this particular lesson. Therefore, it is our prayer that the eyes of our understanding be opened to receive all that the Holy Spirit is ready to impart to us, and may we also be graced to take necessary actions for better leadership skills to the glory of God.

*LESSON OUTLINE* 

 *I. IMPACT OF GROWING UP AS LEVITES* 

 *II. IMPACT OF MARRYING INTO A GODLY HOME*

*LESSON EXPOSITION* 

 *I. THE IMPACT OF GROWING UP AS LEVITES (Luke 1:5-9)* 

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (v. 6).

*A QUICK SUMMARY OF LUKE 1:5-9* 

1:5 This was Herod the Great, confirmed by the Roman Senate as king of the Jews. Only half-Jewish himself and eager to please his Roman superiors, Herod expanded and beautified the Jerusalem Temple-but he placed a Roman eagle over the entrance. When he helped the Jews, it was for political purposes and not because he cared about their God. Later, Herod the Great would order a massa- cre of infants in a futile attempt to kill the infant Jesus, whom some were calling the new "king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2). 1:5 A Jewish priest was a minister of God who worked at the Temple managing its upkeep, teaching the people the Scriptures, and directing the worship services. At this time there were about 20,000 priests throughout the country-far too many to minister in the Temple at one time. Therefore the priests were divided into 24 separate groups of about 1,000 each, according to David's d instructions (1 Chronicles 24:3-19).

Zechariah was a member of the order of Abijah, on duty this particular week. Each morning a priest was to enter the Holy Place in the Temple and burn incense. The priests would cast lots to decide who would enter the inner sanctuary, and one day the lot fell to Zechariah. But it was not by chance that Zechariah was on duty and that he was chosen that day to enter the Holy Place-perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. God was guiding the events of history to prepare the way for Jesus to come to earth. 

 *1:6* Zechariah and Elizabeth didn't merely go through the motions in following God's laws; they backed up their outward compliance with inward obedience. Unlike the religious leaders whom Jesus called hypocrites, Zechariah and Elizabeth did not stop with the letter of the law. Their obedience was from the heart, and that is why they are called "righteous in God's eyes." 

 *1:7* God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time. He worked in an "impossible" situation-Elizabeth's age and barrenness-to bring about the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time. 

 *1:9* Incense was burned in the Temple twice daily (Exodus 30:7-10). When the people saw the smoke from the burning incense, they prayed. The smoke drifting heavenward symbolized their prayers ascending to God's throne.

a) v. 5: Growing up in a family of priests, the couple learnt to respect God's laws and were equipped with the qualities of honesty and dedication needed for their role as a spiritual mentor. 

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If we are to use the case of ZECHARIAH and Elizabeth (the family of priest) as a yardstick for all ministers family of today the outcome will be so disgraceful because most of ministers family lives are contributing does not glorify God. One wife in the mission house different concubine within and outside the church. Not to talk of those who took the office of ministers because of money and to satisfy their boss desire instead of God because of promotion and special recommendations.

b) The couple traced their lineage to Aaron, indicating a deep familiarity with Torah from childhood (cf. Mal. 2:7). Their upbringing instilled reverence for God's laws (cf. Psa. 119:97-100), sets a high standard for their righteousness, obedience and moral integrity. 

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You can't jump into the ministry if God has not prepared you ahead. Ministry is not by accident or second option. Every godly experiences and spiritual development you're receiving today is part of the way God is preparing you ahead in his master plan. You can't decide how and when God will use you, God knows where you can function for Him very well. Allow Him to complete His process like ZECHARIAH. Don't jump ahead of His time.

c) Their priestly ancestry, tracing to Aaron, the first priest, gave them a deep understanding of their divine calling, preparing them for leadership in service. 

d) Immersed in the teachings of the Levitical priesthood (Deut. 33:10), they were prepared for leadership roles within the religious community, understanding the significance of their service. 

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Majority of ministers of God today are the main problem of the church simply because they have not been prepared ahead. They have not been prepared for leadership role. If you failed to submit yourself under spiritual leadership training today you will be an agent of destruction instead of agent of progress when you're given the opportunity. You can learn from the life of most of the ministers around you today. Some are bringing positive progress while some are pulling down what most of ministers have genuinely built for for.

e) v. 8: Zacharias served as a priest, adding to the adherence of him and his wife to ethical standards learnt through years of Levitical training. Their combined background shaped their exemplary lives. 

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Background matters in everything you're doing in life. It's the determinant of progress or opposite. When your background is faulty, all your personal decision will be done in a wrong way.

f) vv. 5-6: The way the couple were raised shows how important it is for parents and church leaders to guide future leaders. Their story makes us wonder why some children go astray even when they are brought up in a godly manner. 

g) v. 9: Zacharias' understanding of priestly duties led to his dedication to righteous living. His readiness was guided by his parents and his training as priest.

h) Children and youths are urged to emulate Zacharias and Elizabeth's dedication to righteousness despite their upbringing. Parental guidance is essential, but personal choices matter in embracing leadership preparation.

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The question to back up this point is:

How many youth are attending Bible Study and Sunday School classes in our assembly every week? but they will only be available for 24/7 prophetic praise programme. Praises cannot help you to know God more, it cant's tell you the godly life you're to live and it won't stop you from involving yourself in fraudulent activities, sleeping with different ladies/guy, yahoo+ and rituals. If the WORD of God can't shape you no praise programme can't do it. You need the word of God to be able to stand on your feet in time of trial and troubles.

*II. IMPACT OF MARRYING INTO A GODLY HOME (v.5)* 

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth (Luke 1:5).

a) v. 5: Marrying into a godly home immersed Zacharias and Elizabeth in a culture of righteousness, providing spiritual guidance and shaping their values and character (cf. Psa. 119:1-3; Prov. 22:6). 

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Marrying a Christian/church members does not mean you're marrying from/into a Christian family. Most of church members of today are a big problem to the body of Christ due to their rough background. The best family you can have is a family that are genuinely born again not family with self made Christian without identity of Christ in them.

b) They were raised in homes where God's Word was important, learning from godly parents and family members who set examples of righteous living and leadership (cf. Deut. 6:6-7; 1 Cor. 11:1). 

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Most of the families doesn't observe morning devotion, they don't attend same ministry, some of their children doesn't go to church. Even some will only go to church in order to create problems for members and ministers. A godly family will always seek the goodness and progress of the Church of God irrespective of the situation. Godly family will not be changing churches like changing clothes. Godly family will help the ministry to succeed not to scattered etc. What is the position of your family in Christian gatherings? If you can't set up a godly examples you can't help Christ to build His Church.

c) Their marriage into noble priestly lineages of Aaron and Abijah provided a supportive environment where faith was nurtured, preparing them for leadership roles (cf. Gal. 6:2). 

d) Their union was guided by divine providence, as they were both products of godly homes, attracting each other by their shared values (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-15).

e) From infancy, God prepared them in similar godly homes, bringing them together in marriage to become a formidable team, so that they could lead God's people and birth John the Baptist (cf. Psa. 127:1). 

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It is better to marrying a partner than have the same godly experience and that carries what you have with genuine salvation and fear of God than to marry him//her because of wealth or because you want to avert poverty

*LESSONS DERIVED* 

 1. Despite one's family background, personal determination and faithfulness can overcome any challenges, empowering individuals to rise above limitations.

 2. Believers should aim to marry and build a godly home, as mismatched marriages can cause frustration and unhappiness.

QUESTIONS

 1. What has a person's family background got to do with becoming a godly leader?

 2. How does the choice of marriage partner affect one's leadership responsibility and fulfilment?

God bless you and thank you for supporting this vision.

You can make your contribution and you can also ask questions.

Thank you