Sunday School 28 May 2023

TOPIC: Child Abuse

MEMORY VERSE: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6 (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 10:13-16 (KJV) 

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

LESSON INTRODUCTION: According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a child is “a young person especially between infancy and youth”. Child abuse is any maltreatments of a child which causes him/her harm. Such action can also take the form of a child neglect or failure to protect a child from danger especially by a parent or other caregivers. The Bible tells us that whosoever harms a child is asking for God’s anger (Mark 9:42)

LESSON OUTLINES

FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE

SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE

Children are precious to God and must be well taken care of (Psalm 127:3). Basically, child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.

PHYSICAL ABUSE: can be the excessive beating of a child (especially one that leaves him/her with Marks), throwing objects, poisoning, child labour (trafficking, Hawking), neglecting to give the child basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare, etc. It also includes the use of drug, alcohol or any substance that will cause the child distress (1Kings 3:19; 25-26; Mark 9:42).

SEXUAL ABUSE: This is when any person engages a child in any sexual activities such as fondling a child’s sexual organs, engaging the child in any immoral activity eg pornography, rape, defilement of the child, etc. (2Samuel 13:10-15)

EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: includes teasing, bullying, threatening, verbal abuse (such as causing belittling, constantly finding fault), etc (1Samuel 17:26-28; Colossians 3:21).

2. SIGNS AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

These are some of the signs that a child is being abused: aggressive behaviour, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulties, unexplained bruises, burns or swellings, lack of concentration and criminal inclinations. Child abuse may eventually leads to deformation or death.

PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE MAY TAKE THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Early education, identification and intervention.

Break The silence report any abuse.

Train a child in a godly ways (Proverbs 22:6)

It is not every wrong that should be a melt with capital punishment

CONCLUSION

Child abuse is a menace that must be dealt with holistically and in the fear of God.

QUESTION:

Mention three (3) forms of child abuse.

State at least two (2) ways of preventing child abuse.