Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Manual July 27, 2025 Lesson 26: Topic - Jesus' Classical Example

Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Manual July 27, 2025 Lesson 26: Topic - Jesus' Classical Example 


CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON


PREVIEW CLASS


Theme : PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP


JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025


JULY 27, 2025.

 

LESSON 26


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


 Topic: JESUS' CLASSICAL EXAMPLE 


Memory Scripture

Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles (Matthew 12:18). 


Jesus, the epitome of love and righteousness, provides an eternal example of living with purpose, compassion and unwavering faith as a divinely prepared leader.


BRIEF COMMENT

It is undeniable that proper preparation prevents poor performance. The I Father foresaw the gravity of Jesus' earthly mission, anticipating the temptations and schemes of the enemy. How else could Jesus have triumphed over sin and death? How could the hope of the gospel have been proclaimed without thorough preparation? God empowered Jesus with His Spirit to proclaim justice to the Gentiles, ensuring His comprehensive readiness for the redemptive work through divinely chosen vessels and the Trinity. Enduring suffering, deprivation of earthly pleasures, and unjust persecution, Jesus emerged victorious over sin, death, and the devil himself because of the presence of the Trinity with Him.


Our DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS Stated that:

 1. To build a formidable spiritual leadership capacity as in Jesus' case, a deliberate and measurable process of preparation is inevitable.


 2. For any tangible and lasting spiritual endeavour, a thorough preparation is not optional. Don't jump the gun of preparation.


BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 40:3; Hebrew 1:1-10

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Isaiah 40:3 (NLT) Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!


COMMENT: Preparing a straight highway means removing obstacles and rolling out the red carpet for the coming of the Lord. The wasteland is a picture of life's trials and sufferings. 


Hebrew 1:1-10 

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” ? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”

8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.


 COMMENT

1:1 The book of Hebrews describes in detail how Jesus Christ not only fulfills the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament but is better than everything in the Jewish system of thought. The Jews accepted the Old Testament, but most of them rejected Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. The recipients of this letter seem to have been Jewish Christians. They were well versed in Scripture, and they had professed faith in Christ. Whether through doubt, persecution, or false teaching, however, they may have been in danger of giving up their Christian faith and returning to Judaism. 


The authorship of this book is uncertain. Several names have been suggested, including Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, Priscilla, and Paul. Most scholars do not believe that Paul was the author, because the writing style of Hebrews is quite different from that of his letters. In addition, Paul identified himself in his other letters and appealed to his authority as an apostle, whereas this writer of Hebrews, who never gives his or her name, appeals to eye-witnesses of Jesus' ministry for authority. Nevertheless, the author of Hebrews evidently knew Paul well. Hebrews was probably written by one of Paul's close associates who often heard him preach. 


1:1, 2 God used many approaches to send his messages to people in Old Testament times. He spoke to Isaiah in visions (Isaiah 6), to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:10-22), and to Abraham and Moses personally (Genesis 18; Exodus 31:18). Jewish people familiar with these stories would not have found it hard to believe that God was still revealing his will, but it was astonishing for them to think that God had revealed himself by speaking through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment and culmination of God's revelation through the centuries. When we know him, we have all we need to be saved from our sin and to have a perfect relationship with God. 


1:2 Jesus was God's agent in creating the world: "For through him God created everything" (Colossians 1:16). As followers of Christ, we may give easy assent to this truth but deny it in practice. We may believe that Christ knows and controls the laws of heaven (pertaining to salvation and spiritual growth), but we may act each day as though our financial, family, or medical problems are beyond his reach. If Jesus could create the universe, then no part of life is out of his control. Do not exclude Jesus' wisdom and the Bible's guidance in your complex problems of life. No expert, professor, doctor, lawyer, or financial adviser knows more about your ultimate security and well being than Jesus does. Go first to God for advice. Talk to him in prayer and listen to him in his Word. He can sustain you in times of stress. From that perspective you can evaluate all the other wisdom and help made available to you. 


1:3 Not only is Jesus the exact representation of God, but he is God himself-the very God who spoke in Old Testament times. He is eternal; he worked with the Father in creating the world (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). He is the full revelation of God. You can have no clearer view of God than by looking at Christ. Jesus Christ is the complete expression of God in a human body. 


1:3 The book of Hebrews links God's saving power with his creative power. In other words, the power that brought the universe into being and that keeps it operating is the very power that cleanses our sins. How mistaken we would be to ever think that God couldn't forgive us. No sin is too big for the Ruler of the universe to handle. He can and will forgive us when we come to him through his Son. That Jesus sat down means that the work was complete. Christ's sacrifice was final. 


1:4 The "far greater" name that was given to Jesus is "Son." This name given to him by his Father is greater than the names and titles of the angels. 


1:4ff False teachers in many of the early churches taught that God could be approached only through angels. Instead of worshiping God directly, followers of these heretics revered angels. Hebrews clearly denounces such teaching as false. Some thought of Jesus as the highest angel of God. But Jesus is not a superior angel, and in any case, angels are not to be worshiped (see Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:1-10). We should not regard any intermediaries or authorities as greater than Christ. Jesus is God. He alone deserves our worship.


1:5, 6 Jesus is God's honored, firstborn Son. In Jewish families the firstborn son held the place of highest privilege and responsibility. The Jewish Christians reading this message would understand that as God's firstborn, Jesus was superior to any created being. 


1:10f. The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 102:25-27. In the quotation, he regards God as the speaker and applies the words to the Son, Jesus. The earth and the heavens folded up like a cloak reveals that the earth is not permanent or indestructible (a position held by many Greek and Roman philosophies). Jesus' authority is established over all of creation, so we dare not treat any created object or earthly resource as more important than he is. When we spend more time on ourselves than on serving Christ, we treat ourselves (his creation) as being more important than our Creator. When we regard our finances, rather than our faith in Christ, as the basis for security, we give higher status to an earthly resource than we do to God. Rather than trusting in changeable and temporary resources, trust in God, who is eternal.


*AIM of this lesson is:* To show how Jesus was prepared for His assignment as a New Testament Leader.


*INTRODUCTION* 


 *TEXTUAL SOURCE: Matthew 3:1-17; Luke 1:13-15; Luke 1:13-15; John 1:29,36,37*


This is the 27th lesson in this series with the topic: "Jesus' Classical Example." The lesson is intended to identify and understand how Jesus, as a New Testament leader, was fully prepared for His leadership assignment and responsibility. This will ignite an enduring passion for the godly pursuit of leadership preparation as a Christian.


*LESSON OUTLINE* 

 *I. JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY* 


 *II. THE TRINITY PREPARES HIM ALL-ROUND*


*LESSON EXPOSITION* 

 *I. JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY (Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 1:13-15; John 1:29,36,37)* 

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways (Lk 1:76) 

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1:76 Zechariah had just recalled hundreds of years of God's sovereign work in history, beginning with Abraham and going on into eternity. Then, in tender contrast, he personalized the story. His son had been chosen for a key role in the drama of the ages. Although God has unlimited power, he chooses to work through frail humans who begin as helpless babies. Don't minimize what God can do through those who are faithful to him.


a) Lk. 1:13-15: This is John, the forerunner of Jesus, born to Zacharias, a Jewish priest, and Elizabeth. He was set apart for special service to God, which was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus (Mat. 11:10; Lk 1:17). 

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1:13 While burning incense on the altar, Zechariah was also praying, most likely for the coming of the Messiah to his people. How odd it must have seemed that the angel would say that his prayer was answered and Zechariah would soon have a son. Yet the greatest desire of Zechariah's heart-to have a son-would come true. At the same time, the answer to the nation's prayer for the Messiah would also come true. Zechariah's son would grow up to prepare the way for the Messiah. 


1:13 John means "the LORD is gracious," and Jesus means "the LORD saves." Both names were prescribed by God, not chosen by human parents. Throughout the Gospels, God acts graciously and saves his people. He will not withhold salvation from anyone who sincerely comes to him. 


1:15 John was set apart for special service to God. He may have been forbidden to drink wine as part of the Nazirite vow, an ancient vow of consecration to God (see Numbers 6:1-8). Samson (Judges 13) was under the Nazirite vow, and Samuel may have been also (1 Samuel 1:11).


b) Matt. 3:2: John the Baptist's message was unmistaken: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Mk. 1:4) Thus, Jesus must have been influenced, as He also preached the same message during His earthly ministry (Matt. 4:17, 6:10). 

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3:2 The Kingdom of Heaven began when God himself entered human history as a man. Today Jesus Christ reigns in the hearts of believers, but the Kingdom of Heaven will not be fully realized until all evil in the world is judged and removed. Christ came to earth first as a suffering servant; he will come again as king and judge to rule victoriously over all the earth.


c) vv. 3-5: John prepared Jesus by baptising Him. By this, Jesus also showed His submission to the Law-humility. This invariably enhanced His earthly ministry.


d) vv. 11-12: He prepared their minds for greater expectation for what Jesus would do which includes baptism with Holy Spirit and fire. This must have prepared the minds of the people for His message. 

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3:11 John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive their sins and had decided to live as he wanted them to live. Baptism was an outward sign of commitment. To be effective, it had to be accompanied by an inward change of attituden leading to a changed life-the work of the Holy Spirit. John said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. This looked ahead to Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus in the form of tongues of fire, empowering his followers to preach the Good News. John's statement also symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing God's judgment on those who refuse to turn from their sins. Everyone will one day be baptized either now by God's Holy Spirit or later by the fires of his judgment. 


3:12 A winnowing fork is a pitchfork used to toss wheat in the air to separate grain from chaff. The grain is the part of the plant that is useful; chaff is the worthless outer shell. Because & it is useless, chaff is burned; grain, however, is gathered.


e) Jn. 1:29,36: Behold! The Lamb... John revealed Jesus to all who were around him. This was important for Jesus to confirm the truth that John had been preaching. 

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1:29 Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the Temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29:38-42). Isaiah 53:7 prophesied that the Messiah, God's servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb. To pay the penalty for sin, a life had to be given and God chose to provide the sacrifice himself. The sins of the world were removed when Jesus died as the perfect sacri- fice. This is the way our sins are forgiven (1 Corinthians 5:7). The "sin of the world" means everyone's sin, the sin of each individual. Jesus paid the price of your sin by his death. You can receive forgiveness by confessing your sin to him and asking for his forgiveness.


f) 37: He also allowed his disciples to follow Jesus for continuity of what they had learnt from him (Jn. 1:28-30). Jesus Himself later spearheaded baptising disciples, showcasing John's influence on Him (Jn. 4:1). 


g) *John's mission was to prepare the way for Jesus,* which he fulfilled. Jesus, however, acknowledged John's role by submitting to him for water baptism. John was one of God's tools in preparing the human Jesus for His leadership roles.


John's mission was to prepare the way for Jesus, which he fulfilled.


Any church leaders whose mission does not focus on preparing the way for Jesus is on personal mission not global kingdom mission. What is your mission in ministry?


*II. THE TRINITY PREPARES HIM ALL-ROUND (Matthew 3:13-17)* 

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him (vv. 16).


SUMMARY OF *Matthew 3:13-17*


 *3:13-15* John had been explaining that Jesus' baptism would be much greater than his, when suddenly Jesus came to him and asked to be baptized! John felt unqualified. He wanted Jesus to baptize him. Why did Jesus ask to be baptized? It was not for repentance for sin because Jesus never sinned. "We must carry out all that God requires" refers to accomplishing God's mission. Jesus saw his baptism as advancing God's work. Jesus was baptized because (1) he was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses, and Daniel had done; (2) he was showing support for what John was doing; (3) he was inaugurating his public ministry; (4) he was identifying with the penitent people of God, not with the critical Pharisees who were only watching. Jesus, the perfect man, didn't need baptism for sin, but he accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, and God showed his approval. 


3:15 Put yourself in John's shoes. Your work is going well, people are taking notice, everything is growing. But you know that the purpose of your work is to prepare the people for Jesus (John 1:35-37). Then Jesus arrives, and his coming tests your integrity. Will you be able to turn your followers over to him? John passed the test by publicly baptizing Jesus. Soon he would say, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (John 3:30). Can we, like John, put our egos and profitable work aside in order to point others to Jesus? Are we willing to lose some of our status so that everyone will benefit?


3:16, 17 The doctrine of the Trinity, which appeared later in church history, teaches that God is three persons and yet one in essence. In this passage, all three persons of the Trinity are present and active. God the Father speaks; God the Son is ho baptized; God the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus. God is one, yet in three persons at the same time. This is one of God's mud incomprehensible mysteries. Other Bible references that speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5; and 1 Peter 1:2.


a) v. 13: Jesus came... to be baptised by John. Proper preparation requires cooperation from the one being prepared. Jesus didn't bypass this process but humbled Himself (Mk. 1:4). 

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Before you preach or teach allow your character to pass your message ahead. Jesus humility was a great message to the world and leaders. He humbled Himself to be baptized by just ordinary man so that His message would be communicated without any doubt. Most leaders encourage members to attend Sunday school classes but they in person won't be available; don't go around during sermon but the instructor won't postpone any meeting till after the sermon when he was not the one on the pulpit! Don't preach what is difficulty for you to do if not people will refer to you that your message contradict your character.


b) v. 14: John's suggestion for Jesus to baptise him would have disrupted the divine plan and the subsequent witness of the Trinity at Jesus' baptism (Lk. 3:22). There are no shortcuts to a lasting destiny. Be cautious! 

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Boycotting the normal principles will affect your divine purpose and all your followers.


*Do you know in Law (Law students or borrow course will understand this)* 


"delegatus non potest delegare," which is Latin for simply mean: 

1. *Delegated power*: When power is delegated to someone, they cannot further delegate it to another person without proper authorization.

2. *Principle*: This principle ensures that the person entrusted with authority exercises it personally, unless explicitly permitted to sub-delegate.


John the Baptist has been ordained even before he was born that he would be the one that will baptized Jesus Christ but John was avoiding this due to the position of Jesus Christ in Trinity and if Jesus Christ allow this the divine mission would have been aborted. No matter your position in ministry do not aborted divine lay down principles for your life and people around you. *Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented* 


Learn from Divine humility and earthly acceptability.


c) v. 15: Jesus didn't assert His superiority before His time but instructed John to allow the baptism to fulfil all righteousness. Those who understand their journeys are discerning in choosing which opportunities to pursue.


d) v. 16: The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus to prepare Him for His earthly ministry (Acts 10:38). Despite being divine, Jesus, as a human, faced His first challenge in the form of temptation by Satan, which He overcame (Matt. 4:1-11). 

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Holy Spirit wouldn't have descended on Jesus if He had failed to allow John the Baptist to baptized Him. Most of leaders are empty today simple because they refuse to humble themselves totally under the leadership of God. They underrated what God can use that followwrs for in their lives. Do you know most of the solution to most of our leaders problems has been given to their young ministers but the ego of *"I'm the one in charge"* has badly affected them. Looking for solution where there is no solution will continue to add to the existing problem. God can use anybody for you, don't underrated anyone. You can't determine how God will solve your problem just humble yourself. Most of our leaders does not even want to hear any message from their young ministers. Believing that God can't send someone like you to me. Be a humble leader if you want to enjoy God's presence in your family and ministry.


Holy Spirit won't just come upon anyone even if you keep praying from now till Christ come if you don't follow divine principles. Don't be deceived and don't allow anyone to deceive you you can't receive Holy Spirit by accident if you're too proud to be led by God.


e) v. 17: The heavenly Voice affirmed Jesus' identity as the Son, linked Him with the suffering servant (Isa. 42:1), and signified the Father's approval of His mission (Jn. 1:1), providing Jesus with much-needed encouragement. 


f) The appearance of the Holy Spirit, the Word (in the Father's voice), and the Father's involvement were all-round preparations for Jesus (in human form). Water baptism and baptism by the Holy Spirit are evidences of the true preparation process for Christians.


LESSONS DERIVED

 1. God has proven to us His unbiased interest in true preparation for godly leadership, through Christ.


 2. The Holy Spirit is the non-negotiable power of God Who every Christian must possess for a total spiritual preparedness for the Kingdom business (Acts 1:8).


QUESTIONS 

 1. What was John the Baptist's roles in preparing Jesus for His earthly ministry?


 2. The Trinity prepared Jesus. Discuss.


Glory and Honour to God for giving us another grace to learn today's lesson at His feet. My prayer is that may God grant us a retentive memories in Jesus. Amen

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