2014 NOVEMBER WEEK THREE LESSON

LESSON TEN (10) 

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST IN FOCUS

(RULES OF CONDUCTS AND CORE VALUES)

 

RULES OF CONDUCT FOR THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

(AS IN THE MINISTERS MANUAL, 2001)

The Church is the household of God, redeemed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus the Church is not a mere social institution but a family of saints being trained and equipped until we all attain unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The following guidelines are therefore intended to help you walk worthy of your calling as a child of God: -

1. Set aside some period daily for personal quiet time in prayer and meditation on the Word (Matthew 6:6, Ephesians 6:18 – 20).
2.  Always endeavour to adequately prepare yourself through prayer and meditation before coming to the house of God (Hebrews 4:15 -16).
3. Be in your seat in good time before the commencement of the service, and participate fully in every aspect of the worship service.
4. Endeavour, by word and deed to bring up your children in the fear of the LORD, and bring them with you to the house of God. Supervise and monitor the active participation of your children in the Sunday School and Youth Ministry, as the case may be. Do not neglect the spiritual well-being of other relatives and house-helps under your care; they also need salvation (Genesis 18:19; Joshua 24:15, 2 Timothy 1:5, 6, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:4 – 7).
5. Make the Pastor your personal friend. He needs your sympathy, support and counsel even as you need his. Constantly pray for him (Hebrews 13:17 – 18, Romans 15:30 – 32, Malachi 2:7).
6. Make the Church your spiritual home. Love the brethren with brotherly affection and, if you are able, contribute to the needs of the saints (Philemon verse 7, Acts 2:46).
7. During casual conversation at home or at work, do not speak disrespectfully or disparagingly about the church and God’s servants. Make your concerns and grievances known to the appropriate authority for explanation or redress (3 John 9 – 10, Numbers 12:1, 2).
8. Endeavour to study the Bible diligently on your own and take it with you any time you go to the house of God (2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11, Joshua 1:8, Ezra 7:10).
9. Enter reverently; pray fervently; listen attentively; give praise from a grateful heart, and worship God in the beauty of Holiness (Psalm 118:27 – 29, Ecclesiastes 5:1, Romans 7:12, James 1:19). “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).
10. Marital fidelity and chastity before marriage are the hallmarks of a true Christian and are, therefore, strongly urged upon every child of God. Pre-marital and extra-marital relationships have no place in the church of God; members found in such relationships will be punished by suspension and/or withdrawal from fellowship (1 Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4)
11. In your business, endeavour to make all your dealings and transactions Bible-based, honest and transparent (Proverbs 16:8; 22:16, Jeremiah 17:11; 22:13, Proverbs 21:16).

A true child of God may not deal in items known to be detrimental to the spiritual, mental and physical health of others, e.g. alcohol, cigarettes and narcotic drugs.

 

THE CORE VALUES OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

1.      Preaching the Gospel – Placing emphasis on the "Foursquare Gospel" which is Jesus Christ our Savior, Jesus Christ our baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Healer and Jesus Christ our soon coming King, through rallies, crusades, conventions, media evangelism, personal evangelism, etc.  (Mk. 16:15-16; Mt. 28:19-20)

2.      Church Planting – Placing emphasis on planting a  local church for every community (Romans. 15:18-19)

3.      Discipleship - Equipping the saints to Christ-like maturity  (Eph. 4:11-13)

4.      Prayers – Worship,  intercession/supplication, spiritual warfare resulting in miracles, signs and wonders and answer to prayers (Acts 2:42-46; 4:23-31; 13:1-3)

5.      Gifts and Operations of the Holy Spirit (Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 19:16;1Co.12:1-11)-see Tenets

6.      Sacrificial Giving-(Mal. 3:6-13; 1Co. 116:1-2; 2Co. 9:1-9-consult Tenets)

7.      Fellowship – attending  church services, Home Cells meetings, tarry and other prayer programmes, Ministry meetings, Communion services, Conventions, meeting needs of the saints and of one another (Acts 2:44; 47; Gal. 6:2; 1Jn. 1:3)

8.      Church Discipline – In our efforts to maintain personal and corporate holiness, various, disciplinary measures are taken. Some disciplinary measures include; public rebuke, suspension, revoking of the Office of Elder, Deacon and Deaconess by the appointing authority and in extreme cases excommunication from the Church by the Executive Council on the recommendation of the Area Head and the Area Executive Committee(Hebrews. 12:14-17; 1 Tim. 5:19-21).

9.      Social Services–helping to meet some social needs through Schools, hospitals, and other social interventions- Mt. 25:31-46

10.  Respect for Authority - 1Th. 5:12-13