THE CHURCH OF
PENTECOST – 2016 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
WEEK 19 – SUNDAY
MORNING, MAY 8, 2016
TOPIC: DISCERN
WHAT YOU HEAR
Main Text: Joshua 9:
11-27
Memory Verse: 1
Thessalonians 5: 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
Introduction
God speaks
through dreams, visions, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophesies and many
more. However, there is the need to pay careful attention to all we hear from
the Lord through discernment and prayer. This is to make sure it is the Lord
speaking to us and to understand what He actually intends to communicate.
Christians who do not develop the virtue to distinguish between the voice of
God and other voices are likely to accept all that people say and this can be
dangerous for our Christian growth. In our main text, we learn of how the
Gibeonites acted deceitfully towards the people of Israel. They deceived them
with old clothes, worn out sandals and decaying food that they had come from a
long distance when in fact they were near them. Joshua and the people failed to
consult the Lord and probably depended on their rich military experiences or the
evidence provided by the Gibeonites.
Discussion
Questions
1. How did the
Gibeonites act towards the Israelites? (vs. 4,5)
2. How did they
outwit the Israelites? (vs. 9-13)
3. What did
Joshua and the people fail to do before accepting the Gibeonites? (vs. 14)
4. In our world
today, how can the following guide us in avoiding being deceived?
a. Giving the Word of God first place
b. Obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit
5. What lessons
have you personally learnt from the study?
Conclusion
We live in an
era where many claim to speak from the Lord announcing, “Thus saith the Lord”.
How do you know whether it is the Lord speaking or it is man speaking? We must
not despise prophesies or look down on those means by which God speaks to us.
Rather, we should compare what we hear with the Word of God. If you want to
know God’s will in a given situation, the first thing to do is to go to the
Bible. If the Bible has the answer, do not expect another answer anywhere. That
is why we are advised to meditate on His law day and night (Ps.1:3;
Josh.1:8-9). We must be careful not to elevate any human writing, experience,
revelation, Church tradition or practice above the Scripture but accept the
Bible as the final authority for instruction for godly living and doctrine
(Acts 17:10-11; Matth. 5:7-8 ).
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THE CHURCH OF
PENTECOST – 2016 HOME CELL OUTLINE
WEEK 19 – SUNDAY
EVENING, MAY 8, 2016
TOPIC: HUMILITY IN
PRAYER (THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR)
Main Text: Luke: 18:10-14
Memory Verse: James 4:6, For God resists the proud but gives
grace to the humble.
Introduction
Throughout his ministry, Jesus used parables to teach both the disciples
and the multitudes. We learn from our main text the parable of the Pharisee and
the Tax collector, who went to pray. In his prayer, the Pharisee portrayed
himself self-righteous as he looked down on the tax collector. On his part, the
tax collector saw himself as an unworthy sinner who needed mercy from the Lord.
Jesus used the parable to teach us to be humble and refrain from judging
others.
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think was wrong with the prayer of the Pharisee? (verse
11 & 12)
2. Why do you think the tax collector went home justified? (verse 14)
3. In what ways do we sometimes behave like the Pharisee?
4. What should be our attitude towards God in prayer?
5. What insights have you gained from the parable?
Conclusion
Jesus condemned the prayer of the Pharisee because he was proud,
self-righteous and looked down on the tax collector. Today’s memory verse draws
our attention to the fact that God gives grace to the humble but opposes the
proud. In spite of our status, education, titles, spiritual gifts, abilities,
wealth, among others, we should always humble ourselves before God and not look
down on others.
