Sunday School – 08/30/2026

TOPIC -BEWARE OF PLEASURES

Memory Verse

“Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3: 4

Lesson Text

2 Timothy 3: 1-7

Lesson Introduction

Many believers have become so entangled with the world that they have given their love to mundane things. They can be regarded as lovers of pleasures, people who have invariably turned sensual pleasures, sensual gratifications, etc. to their god; and therefore, love and serve them instead of God. These people live for pleasure without restraints and are inordinately concerned with their interests above others. Paul, in 2 Timothy 3: 1-4, states lovers of pleasures as a sign of the last days. He used the Greek word ‘philodonos meaning “lovers of pleasures” to emphasize that society will become engrossed and obsessed with the pursuit of their comfort, happiness, and pleasure. We shall examine the dangers of sensual pleasures and remind ourselves how to bring pleasure to God.

Lesson Outline

A. DANGERS OF SENSUAL PLEASURES
B. CREATED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

A. DANGERS OF SENSUAL PLEASURES

Sensual pleasure is a carnal or worldly pleasure that diminishes and ultimately extinguishes all love and sense of God, 2 Timothy 3: 4-5. These fleshly lusts and desires portend a lot of threats to its practitioners and those around them. Some of the signs and dangers of one becoming a lover of pleasure include the following: The word of God will no longer have root in the person because the cares of this world and love for the pleasures of life have filled their heart, Luke 8: 14, they become careless in the way they live, Isaiah 47: 8. The incessant love for pleasures often results in poverty, Proverbs 21: 17. They are sold out to lustful desires, Titus 3: 3. A blind eye is turned to God’s judgement, Rom. 1: 32. These people will be judged because they take pleasure in sin, 2 Thess. 2:12; 1 John 5: 17a.
It is rather unfortunate that these people are dead while they live, Rom. 8: 6; 1 Timothy 5: 6. The reward of unrighteousness awaits them, 2 Peter 2:13.
Furthermore, those who take pleasure in fleshly lusts are not subject to God’s law, Rom. 8: 7, their growth is stunted as they refuse to leave the baby stage and still exhibit other carnal traits like strife, envy, etc. 1 Corinth. 3: 1-3, they are self-gratifiers, Philippians 2: 21 who run after mundane and earthly things and their god is their belly, Philippians 3: 18-19;
Numbers 11: 4. When every man is eager only for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, it makes men dangerous to one another.

B. CREATED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

Revelation 4:11 discloses that we were created for God’s pleasure and we are to give Him glory and honor all the time. One of the ways to give God glory is to acknowledge Him in all that we do, Prov. 3: 6; Jere. 9: 23-24; when this is done in complete obedience, it is accompanied by prosperity, Job 36:11. We honor God when we surrender totally to Him, Psalm 37:5; 55: 22. We also give pleasure to God when we do the following: live uprightly, 1 Chronicles 29: 17; stay away from anything that defiles, Ezra 10: 11; trust Him, Psalm 36: 7-8; do His will, Psalm 103: 21; seek to know Him for His greatness, Genesis 5: 24; Hebrews 11: 5; fear Him and hope in His mercy, Psalm 147: 10-11.

Questions

Mention three dangers of sensual pleasures
In what ways can we bring pleasure to God?

Conclusion

Be a lover of God and not of pleasures. Serve Him passionately and remember that carnal pleasure is enmity with God.