*CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH* 

Nigeria And Overseas

2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

PREVIEW CLASS 

 *UNIT 5: GOD GIVES ADMINISTRATIVE GIFTS AND MORE*

 *THEME: SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST*

20th October, 2024

 *LESSON* THIRTY-NINE 

 *TOPIC* *THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF MARTYRDOM* 

 *MEMORY SCRIPTURE* 

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25). 

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 *COMMENT*

 16:25 The possibility of losing their lives was very real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment-pledging our whole existence to his service. If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing eternal life. If we protect ourselves from the pain God calls us to suffer, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our life in service to Christ, however, we discover the real purpose of living.

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The gift of martyrdom is the readiness to give one's life for the Gospel's sake as enabled by the Holy Spirit. Stephen and so many others are examples. We also have examples of martyrs in our contemporary world.