Nigerian Baptist Convention Weekly Sunday School Lesson July 27, 2025 : Title - Jesus Predicts The Temples Destruction

Nigerian Baptist Convention Weekly Sunday School Lesson July 27, 2025 : Title - Jesus Predicts The Temples Destruction 

Topic : JESUS PREDICTS THE TEMPLE'S DESTRUCTION

Devotional Reading: Matthew 23:1-12,37-39*

Background Scripture: Matthew 23:37-24:35, Mark 13:1-23; Luke 21:5-24

Lesson Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

GOLDEN TEXT

"Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down." Matthew 24:2

Objectives: By the end of the lesson, cla members should be able to:

I. Identify some wrong ways people place esteem on the places of worship today. 

II.  Understand Jesus' message about the temple's destruction in Jerusalem and the deceptions associated with it.

III. Resolve to intensify evangelism and mission efforts to prepare the people and reconcile them back to God.

INTRODUCTION

The event of September 11, 2011 took the world by surprise as terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre located in New York. The impact of the destruction was beyond imagination. The centre was completed in 1973, its twin towers, which stood at 110 stories each, accommodating 50,000 workers and 200,000 daily visitors in 10 million square feet of space. The constructions were considered by many to be a triumph of human imagination. The centre was 1,360 meters tall, which made it the tallest building in the world before Chicago's Sears towers surpassed it. The building became a top tourist attraction, and no

one imagined that several years later, such massive edifice would be destroyed in on day. Similarly, in today's passage, the disciples could not comprehend how the magnificent temple they were seeing woul be destroyed one day. The Scripture in Luk 21:5-36 presents a period between the temple's destruction in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Christian era and Jesus return. Matthew tells the story in a prophet style, in a way that is similar to how Mark presents it. Today's lesson focuses on Jesus prediction of the temple's destruction in Jerusalem and the signs of Jesus' return.

THE LESSON EXPLAINED

A. Jesus Announced the Destruction of the Temple. Matthew 24:1-2*

While Jesus was leaving the temple and walking away, His disciples called his attention to the beautiful and magnificent temple building. Josephus, the Jewish historian, described the temple as a place covered all over with plates of gold. It appeared to strangers like a mountain covered with snow. The parts that were not gold-plated were surpassing white. This temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel over 500 years before Herod the Great began the remodelling and expansion, which started about 46 years before the event of this passage, and it was yet to be completed. Herod's commitment to remodelling and expanding the temple to make it more magnificent and dignifying was not because of the faith he had in the God of Israel. He intended to advance his political ambition and personal pride. Jesus, however, announced to His disciples, to their amazement, that the magnificent structure, which they seemed to have great admiration for, would be destroyed one day. The disciples found it hard to believe. They had to ask Him privately when it would happen and what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. True to Jesus' pronouncement, the temple was destroyed 40 years later when the Romans overthrew Jerusalem.

Believers must take every prophecy from the Scriptures seriously, particularly those that concern the coming of Christ and the end of the age. We should avoid idolising the place of worship instead of the Lord of the place of worship.

DISCUSSION TIME

1. Discuss the famous saying, "Nothing lasts forever" regarding Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the magnificent temple at Jerusalem.

2. When political office holders sponsor church projects, do they usually do it with pure intentions? What should be the church's response if proven that it has an ulterior motive?

B. Time and Signs of Jesus' Coming. Matthew 24:3-14*

When Jesus was sitting on Mt. Olives, the disciples went to ask Him privately about when the destruction would happen and what would be the sign of His coming and what signs they would expect upon the end of the age. In answering the question, Jesus linked His teachings with the specific prophecies of Daniel. His response showed that they needed to give priority to preparation rather than knowing the date and time. Jesus told them to watch out against religious deceptions (vv. 4-5, 11) and the false interpretations of natural and human catastrophes as indicating the end of the age (vv. 6- 8). He told them that they should expect persecution (v. 9-12), but despite the persecution, the Gospel would be preached throughout the ends of the earth (v. 14). Just as Jesus told the disciples, as believers, we should prepare ourselves to be acceptable at the time of His return rather than being more interested in prophecies and with the aim of determining the exact date and time of His coming. Similar efforts in the past have proven to be false. We should all be actively involved in spreading the Gospel through evangelism and missions, thereby taking over new territories for Christ.

DISCUSSION TIME

1. Mention some religious deceptions today. How can believers avoid them? 

2. Suggest ways churches can intensify evangelism and missions to target the unreached. 

Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:*

Lead class members to share some of the signs of Jesus' second coming and its implications for believers.

Prayer

Lord, help Your church to be more involved in evangelism.

Pray against every deception that is clouding the hearts of people and keeping them from knowing the truth.

*Take Home:* Write down three lessons you are taking home, based on today's lesson.

*Commitment:* Based on today's lesson, make a personal commitment to write the name of at least one person you will remind this week about preparation for the coming of the Lord.