Adult:

📖 Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

YAYA:

📖 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

Adult Bible Passage:

1 Kings 18:30–32

YAYA Bible Passage:

Genesis 50:17–20

Adult Bible Passage:

📖 1 Kings 18:30–32 — Elijah Repairs the Broken Altar

This passage records how the prophet Elijah repaired the broken altar of the Lord before calling on God during the confrontation with the prophets of Baal.

From the passage we learn:

• Elijah called the people to come near as he began repairing the broken altar of the Lord (v30)

• He took twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel (v31)

• The stones symbolized God’s covenant relationship with His people (v31)

• Elijah rebuilt the altar in the name of the Lord (v32)

• He also prepared the sacrifice upon the restored altar (v32)

This passage shows that restoring our spiritual altar is necessary before experiencing the power and presence of God.

🔎 Reflection: Why is it important for believers to repair their spiritual altar when their relationship with God becomes weak?

YAYA Bible Passage:

📖 Genesis 50:17–20 — Joseph Demonstrates Forgiveness

This passage records Joseph’s response to his brothers after the death of their father, when they feared that Joseph might retaliate for the harm they had done to him.

From the passage we learn:

• Joseph’s brothers asked for forgiveness for the wrong they committed against him (v17)

• Joseph was deeply moved and wept when he heard their request (v17)

  His brothers humbled themselves and acknowledged him as their servant (v18)

• Joseph reassured them that he would not take revenge because judgment belongs to God (v19)

• He explained that although they intended harm, God used the situation for good (v20)

This passage demonstrates that forgiveness recognizes God’s ability to transform painful experiences into blessings.

🔎 Reflection: How can understanding God’s purpose help believers forgive those who hurt them?

Altars represent points of connection between humanity and God. Throughout Scripture, altars symbolize worship, sacrifice, and dedication to God. It has played a significant role in God's relationship with His people across generations.

📖 Genesis 8:20 (Noah)

📖 Genesis 22:9 (Abraham)

📖 Genesis 35:7 (Jacob)

📖 Exodus 17:15 (Moses)

🔥A. Altar Destroyers

When we neglect God's altar, we inevitably build others; devoting our time, talents, treasures, energies, efforts, earnings etc. to such

📖 1 Kings 18:18–21

Certain actions can damage a believer’s relationship with God.

Examples include:

1️⃣ Sin
📖 Isaiah 59:2

Sin creates separation between humans and God.

2️⃣ Idolatry
📖 Ezekiel 14:5

Placing anything above God destroys spiritual devotion.

3️⃣ Seeking benefits rather than seeking God
📖 John 6:26

Some people pursue God only for blessings instead of relationship.

4️⃣ A divided heart
📖 Matthew 6:24
📖 Romans 12:2

Trying to serve God while conforming to worldly patterns weakens faith.

5️⃣ Negative Influences
📖 1 Corinthians 15:33

Ungodly associations can damage spiritual commitment.

6️⃣ People-pleasing
📖 Galatians 1:10

Seeking human approval above God’s approval leads to compromise.

7️⃣ Pride
📖 Psalm 138:6

Pride distances people from God’s grace.

8️⃣ Unbelief
📖 Hebrews 3:12

Doubt can lead to spiritual drift.

9️⃣ Disobedience
📖 1 Samuel 12:15

Ignoring God’s commands weakens the relationship with Him.

🔟 Lukewarmness
📖 Revelation 3:16

Half-hearted devotion weakens spiritual life.

👉 Neglecting God shifts our devotion away from Him, creating barriers to the deep relationship he desires with us.

🔥 B. The Act of Mending

Repairing the altar symbolizes restoring one's relationship with God.

A broken connection with Him can be rebuilt through deliberate spiritual actions.

1️⃣ Repent and return to your first love
📖 Revelation 2:4–5
📖 Jeremiah 2:2

This involves renewing spiritual devotion through prayer, Bible study, and faith.

2️⃣ Offer yourself as a living sacrifice
📖 Romans 12:1

Believers must surrender their lives to God completely.

3️⃣ Rededicate your life to God
📖 Titus 3:5

Rededication brings spiritual transformation and renewed commitment.

4️⃣ Seek restoration through humility and obedience
📖 2 Chronicles 7:14

God promises healing when His people humble themselves and repent.

5️⃣ Surrender completely to God
📖 James 4:7

True restoration happens when believers submit fully to God’s will.

Forgiveness is a deliberate decision to release resentment, anger, and revenge toward someone who has hurt us.

The Bible teaches that forgiveness reflects God’s nature and is necessary for healthy relationships.

📖 Matthew 6:14–15

Believers must forgive others because they themselves have been forgiven by God.

📘 A. Reasons Christians Should Forgive

One of the fundamental obligations of a Christian is to follow peace with all men.

📖 Hebrews 12:14–15

We should not only forgive but we should heal

📖 Genesis 45:1-15; 50:15-21

The major reasons we are to forgive are:

1️⃣ It is a command from God
📖 Mark 11:25
📖 Ephesians 4:32

2️⃣ Believers are examples to others
📖 Matthew 5:14–16

3️⃣ Refusing to forgive displeases God
📖 Matthew 18:32–35

4️⃣ Unforgiveness can hinder prayers
📖 Mark 11:25

5️⃣ We also need forgiveness from God
📖 Matthew 6:14

👑 B. Achieving True Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be practiced through the REACH model:

1️⃣ Recall
Understand clearly what happened without nurturing bitterness.

📖 Genesis 45:4

2️⃣ Empathise
Try to understand the offender’s perspective.

📖 Genesis 37:8, 19-21; 50:20a

3️⃣ Altruistic Gift
Remember how God forgave you and extend that grace.

📖 Colossians 3:13

4️⃣ Commit
Make a clear decision to forgive.

📖 Acts 24:16

5️⃣ Hold
Remain committed to forgiveness even when painful memories return.

📖 Genesis 50:17-20

How Both Classes Connect

Adult Class → Restoring relationship with God
YAYA Class → Restoring relationships with others through forgiveness

Together they reveal:

👉 Spiritual restoration involves both vertical and horizontal relationships.

• Repairing the altar restores fellowship with God.

• Forgiveness restores peace with others.

Living a Restored Life

God desires believers to maintain a pure heart and peaceful relationships.

📖 Matthew 5:23–24

A healthy spiritual life requires:

• repentance

• humility

• forgiveness

• obedience

🔎 Ask Yourself:

• Is my relationship with God strong or neglected?

• Do I regularly rebuild my spiritual altar through prayer and devotion?

• Am I holding unforgiveness against someone?

• Am I willing to release past hurts and trust God for healing?

A believer who practices restoration and forgiveness will:

• experience peace

• grow spiritually

• maintain strong relationships

• walk in God’s grace

🏆 COMPETITION PREPARATION

If you are representing RCCG HoD in the regional competition, focus on:

✔ The meaning and importance of spiritual altars
✔ Actions that destroy a believer’s spiritual altar
✔ Steps for repairing a broken altar
✔ Biblical reasons Christians must forgive
✔ The REACH model for practicing forgiveness

Participants should be able to explain clearly:

✔ Why believers must restore their relationship with God
✔ Why forgiveness is necessary for spiritual growth

📖 Matthew 6:14 (KJV)

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

👉 Adult and Yaya Weekly Homework

👉 Adult and Yaya Mock Quiz: Lessons 1 – 30

Father, thank You for teaching us the importance of restoring our relationship with You and forgiving others. Help us to rebuild our spiritual altar and practice true forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.