12/04/2026
CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
All who truly love God should
forgive offenders.
DATE: SUNDAY 12TH APRIL, 2026
HYMN: S. S&S. 616-"Take My Life and Let It Be"
*TOPIC: FOCUS ON CHRIST FOR HIS IMMEASURABLE LOVE AND GRACE TO FORGIVE*
TEXT: Eph. 4:30-32: Col.3:12-16; 1Jn. 4:7-12
INTRODUCTION:
God is love and made us in His own image and after His likeness)
(Gen. 1:26). God's kind of love is the agape which is the sacrificial and infinite one. Thus, it is
immeasurable and above human comprehension. Grace and forgiveness are crucial aspects of the Christian life. Grace is an
endow ment or an enablement given to man and could be exhibited as
empowered ability, and privilege.
When one is embittered or offended by another it is the inbuilt love God has deposited in him that ignites, encourages or quickens him to forgive more easily, in spite of the
circumstances or the repentant actions of the offender.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson are to:-
(1). explain the meaning of the words love, grace and forgiveness;
(2). establish the relationships that subsists among love, grace and
forgiveness;
(3). know the benefits of and how Christ's love serves as a model to
forgive others;
(4). explore the practical implications of one's failure to forgive offenders; and
(5). examine how un-forgiveness may hinder growth in a local
assembly
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHAT IS LOVE, GRACE AND
FORGIVENESS?
(a) Love-(1 Jn. 4:9-12). Love is expression of goodness, kindness, in giving and or enhancing another one's state.
There are three types of love in
operation; agape, filial and eros.
The agape kind of love which God has exhibited to mankind has all the attributes man cannot fully comprehend, quantify or explain and as such, it is the immeasurable love under focus.
(b) Grace - (Eph. 2:8) Grace can be seen as an ability, empowerment, enhancement, assistance, help, an extended right, or recognition released by person(s), a party or organization to someone or persons to enable the one so given, to perform what otherwise, he could not have been able or officially allowed to do. Grace is manifest as a special power to act above one's usual way of doing things.
(C). Forgiveness - (Col. 3:12-13)
To forgive is to deliberately or
voluntarily agree to let go one's
right to gain; not to recover benefit or debt from someone; let an offender go free of guilt without compensation or punishment; not to pay back or non-retaliation for the wrong done to us. Forgiveness may also mean, to forbear someone else'
Wrong, error, omission or
commission against us. It means
to release a person we are annoyed with, from our mind and to let him go free of the perceived offence. The grace to forgive is an enablement that comes from God directly to us often.
Q2. WHAT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS WHICH SUBSIST AMONG LOVE, GRACE AND
FORGIVENESS? (ROM. 5:8; EPH. 2:8-9; 4:32)
God is love and He released same out of Himself to mankind through the gift of Jesus Christ by which man became capable of doing like God. God showed man example with this and did not only command man but also empowered him to do likewise on earthly matters, to and among his neighbourhood.
Love is to help, care and share with one another daily. Grace is the enablement to love and obey all God has commanded man.
To forgive is to extend our mercy, grace or benevolence to our neighbours any time they err against us. So, it is the grace God
gave to us through His love that
empowers us to forgive others.
Hence, love, grace and forgiveness are not only inseparable; they cannot be partitioned away from each other or be demarcated out
because their functions overlap. We show love through grace; grace is empowered by love and forgiveness is enabled and expressed by the grace which love ignited in us to release to others. As such, believers do express the three of them jointly
and no one of these can be
genuinely and meaningfully
expressed in isolation to people
with result successfully.
Q3a. WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL
IMPLICATIONS OF ONE'S
FAILURE TO FORGIVE
OFFENDERS? (Matt 6:15;Mk 11:25; Act 24:15)
If one finds it difficult or refuses
to extend forgiveness to mankind, God says such a person will not also be forgiven of his offences. This implies that such one would have by so doing, shut up the gate of heaven against himself, by his own conduct.
It is advisable therefore, that anyone who does not want to miss the kingdom of God must do his best possible to forgive others of all manner of offences.(Rom.12:17-19)
We are commanded to forgive others their trespasses when praying to enable our own prayers to be answered by our God also.
Q3b. DISCUSS HOW UNFORGIVENESS MAY HINDER GROWTH IN A LOCAL ASSEMBLY.
Unforgiveness: simply refers to a situation where one refuses or is not able to let go or write off, the offence(s) his fellow human being committed against him, for whatever reasons. It implies a situation where a person is still
aggrieved or pained about the
wrong(s) of the offender(s) against him and in most cases the wrong doer is still being watched, hunted for and or trailed, for any opportunity to be retaliated against by the offended.
Simply put, unforgiveness is to keep malice and/ or to refuse to play with a friend as before the offence was committed. Where unforgiveness exists in a local assembly it can lead to the following problems.
(a) Cause disaffection among
brethren and may tear them apart. (Amos 3:3)
Breed gossip and hatred among members of the congregation.
(c) Lead to quarrels and division and lack of growth.
(d) Stop answers to their prayers.
(e) Discourage and weaken
members zeal for God's work in
the church.
(f) Some members may change
place of worship or stop to attend
fellowship completely
(g) Make many to backslide.
Q4.USINGTHE FOLLOWING, DISCUSS SOME WAYS WE CAN
FORGIVE OTHERS:
(a) Remembering how God forgave us all our sins freely. (Jn.3:16)
(b) Meditating on God's forgiveness enables one to overlook others' errors (Eph.4:32)
(c) Praying for grace and a heart of love to forgive offenders (1Jn.4:7)
(d) Humbly asking for and extending forgiveness to offenders. (Matt. 6: 14-15)
(e) Applying Christ's principles of forgiveness always without recording others' offences.
(Matt. 18:21-22)
(f) Endeavouring to forgive others their offences quickly. (Eph. 4:26)
(g) Remembering that forgiveness is the basis for going to heaven. (Matt. 6:14-15)
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Grace, love and forgiveness are
inextricably linked in the Christian life. When we become born again, God who is love Himself, imparts us with enough love. This love grows
the grace as ability within us to help, care, show concern to people, overlook offences and grow desire in us to always please God. The expression of this grace through the love from and for God, enables us to
forgive others theirwrongs.
Forgiveness may not be easy, but it is essential for our spiritual health and growth as individuals and for the health and progress of the church of God as well.
Any believer who is very unwilling to, or having difficulties in forgiving others whether spouse, close family
members, associates or far relations should prayerfully seek counsel to overcome, else his desires and effort towards entering heaven is at risk. All believers should avoid going to hell from the church through simple unforgiveness which the devil might have entrapped them with. There is nothing worth alternating the kingdom of God for.
MEMORY VERSE
Ephesians 4:32 KJV
"And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you."
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
MON: God forgave all your sins
freely. (Jn. 3:16)
TUE: Do not revenge, let God be the judge. (Rm.12:17-19)
WED: Forgiveness makes way for us to see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14-15)
THU: Forgiving others shows God's grace and love in us. (Gen.1:26)
FRI: Forgive others their offences quickly. (Eph. 4:26)
SAT: Forgive every offender always without recording. (Matt.18.21-22)
