RCCG Sunday School Manual For June 14, 2026: Lesson 41: Title - John The Beloved

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S MANUAL

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2026

LESSON FORTY-ONE (41)

TOPIC: JOHN THE BELOVED

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 old 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,

Has poured His blessings on thee.

5.

O Sunday School, on the Lord's Day,

Though the sun shines brightly,

Or clouds grow dark with falling 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 blessed?

Opening Prayer

Father, help me to seek You diligently and serve You faithfully all the days of my life, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Bible Passage

John 19:25–27

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour, that disciple took her into his own home.

Memory Verse

"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved."

— John 13:23

Introduction

John the Beloved was one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ and is remembered for his deep devotion, unwavering faith, and profound understanding of God's love.

Born around 6 A.D. in Galilee, John was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the younger brother of James. Before following Christ, he worked as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee alongside his brother. When Jesus called him, he left everything behind to become one of His devoted followers.

John's life was marked by remarkable spiritual experiences, divine revelations, and influential writings. He authored the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation. His teachings continue to inspire believers to embrace love, truth, faithfulness, and the hope of eternal life.

According to church history, John died around 101 A.D. in Ephesus, Asia Minor, after a lifetime of faithful service to God.

Lesson Aim

To draw valuable lessons from the life and ministry of John the Beloved.

Teaching Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

Describe the background of John the Beloved.

Explain his character traits and achievements.

Apply practical lessons from his life to their Christian walk.

Teaching Plan

To achieve these objectives, the teacher should:

a.

Allow students to:

Recite the memory verse.

Read the Bible passage.

Participate actively in discussions.

Complete class activities and assignments.

b.

Allow the Assistant Teacher to:

Monitor the well-being of class members.

Mark attendance.

Record assignments.

c.

Teach the lesson outline, summarize key points, conclude the lesson, evaluate learning outcomes, and assign homework.

Text Review

John 19:25–27

This passage highlights the unique relationship between Jesus and John the Beloved.

Even while suffering on the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John, demonstrating the deep trust and confidence He had in him.

The passage reveals that:

Several faithful followers stood near the cross of Jesus (v. 25).

Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing nearby (v. 26).

Jesus committed His mother's care into John's hands, and John accepted the responsibility (v. 27).

This act illustrates John's loyalty, compassion, and close relationship with Christ.

Lesson Outline One

HIS CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The Character of John the Beloved

John authored the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John), and the Book of Revelation.

Jesus gave John and his brother James the nickname Boanerges, meaning "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17).

He was passionate about defending the honour of Christ, though at times he displayed impatience and excessive zeal (Luke 9:53–55).

Like many believers, he struggled with ambition and the desire for recognition before he matured spiritually (Mark 10:35–40).

His Achievements

John was among the three disciples who witnessed Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain (Matthew 17:1).

He was one of the three disciples present during Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).

He enjoyed a unique level of intimacy with Jesus and received special insights from Him (John 13:23–26).

He remained at the foot of the cross when many others fled and was entrusted with the care of Jesus' mother (John 19:25–27).

He was among the first disciples to visit the empty tomb after Christ's resurrection (John 20:2–4).

He was among the 120 believers who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:13–14; 2:1–4).

He accompanied Peter during the healing of the lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:1–10).

He ministered alongside Peter in Samaria, where believers received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17).

While exiled on the Isle of Patmos, he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ concerning future events (Revelation 1:9; 4:1).

He was widely known as the disciple "whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23).

Class Activity 1

Discuss possible reasons why John enjoyed such a close relationship with Jesus.

Lesson Outline Two

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JOHN THE BELOVED

Like John, believers should strive to be:

1. Zealous for God's Work

John remained committed to God's service despite opposition and persecution.

References: Revelation 1:9; Galatians 6:9

2. Loyal and Supportive

He faithfully stood by Jesus and cared for His mother when others abandoned Him.

References: John 19:25–27; Galatians 6:2

3. Focused on God's Glory

Believers should seek to honour God rather than pursue personal recognition or ambition.

References: Mark 10:35–40; 1 Corinthians 10:31

4. Faithful During Difficult Times

John remained close to Christ through suffering and was rewarded with divine revelations.

References: Revelation 1:9; Romans 8:28

5. Hardworking and Productive

Before becoming a disciple, John was a diligent fisherman. Later, he became one of the most influential writers of the New Testament.

Reference: Mark 1:16–20

Class Activity 2

Mention other important lessons believers can learn from the life of John the Beloved.

Conclusion

The life of John the Beloved demonstrates unwavering faith, loyalty, devotion, humility, and love for Christ. His example remains a powerful model for believers today and is worthy of emulation.

Evaluation

Mention five achievements of John the Beloved.

Closing Prayer

Father, help me to be loyal, faithful, and zealous in serving You all the days of my life, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Assignment

Identify and explain two personal lessons you have learned from the life of John the Beloved.

(5 Marks Each = 10 Marks Total)