COP 2016 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 25

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2016 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 25 – SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 2016

THE COST OF DISOBEDIENCE 1

Main Text: Jonah: 1:1-17

Memory Verse: Jonah: 1:12. Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.

Introduction

God is described in scripture as infinite, loving and kind, tenderly watching over His earthly children and guiding the steps of the faithful. He speaks of us as the people of his pasture, the flock under his care (Psalm 95:7). This great love led him to send His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sin, that we might escape the punishment we deserve. If God could do this for us, what other good thing would He withhold from us? All we have to do is to learn to trust His love and say yes to Him in all our days. In the first chapter of the book of Jonah, we learn how God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach, and how he disobeyed by running away from the Lord, forgetting that he was dealing with the omnipotent God.

Discussion Questions

1. What was Jonah’s relationship with God? Verse 9

2. What did God instruct him to do? Verses 1, 2

3. How did Jonah respond to the instructions of God? Verse 3

4. What happened to him and the other sailors on the boat? Verse 4

5. What are the consequences of disobeying God?

6. What have you learnt from today’s study?

Conclusion

The human spirit is capable of withstanding enormous discomfort including the prospects of death. Many martyrs, political prisoners and war heroes have gone to their graves willingly and confidently. They understood the sacrifice they were making and accepted its meaning in their lives.The debt of the love of God and the fact of his omnipotence should always be our source of motivation to obey His voice in every area of our lives with all reverence and trembling. Even though Jonah knew the depth of God’s love, he disobeyed Him and suffered for his disobedience.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2016 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 25 – SUNDAY EVENING, JUNE 19, 2016.

ACTIVITY: PASTORAL CARE GROUPINGS / FOLLOW-UPS AND VISITATION

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COP 2016 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 24

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2016 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 24 – SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 12, 2016

TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF SELECTIVE OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S VOICE

Main Text: 1 Samuel 15:17-23

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Introduction

In our previous study on total obedience to God, we looked at how Noah absolutely obeyed God and how important that act of obedience was. In today’s study, we will look at the results of selective obedience. Many Christians obey God selectively. They will obey God on certain issues such as: fornication, drunkenness and murder but disobey Him when it comes to bribery, honesty, forgiveness or tithing. In our main text, we encounter King Saul who selectively obeys the Lord and how God disapproved of such a behaviour. Partially obeying God is equal to disobeying Him and this comes with its related punishments.

Discussion Questions

1. What did God command Saul to do? 1 Samuel 15:18

2. What was Saul’s response to Samuel’s query? 1 Samuel 15:20

3. In which way did Saul selectively obey the Lord? 1 Samuel 15:21

4. In which ways do Christians selectively obey the Lord?

5. What does the Lord delight in according to 1 Samuel 15:22?

6. What was the result of Saul’s selective obedience? 1 Samuel 15:23

Conclusion

Obeying God must not be selective. This form of obedience is like doing evil in the sight of the Lord. Saul attacked the Amalekites just as God commanded, but contrary to God’s instruction, he decided on his own to bring their king alive. He also spared the best of the sheep, cattle and fat calves for sacrifice. As Christians, there is always the temptation to obey God selectively especially in this generation. The Lord does not delight in sacrifices but rather obedience. Running around, putting your life at risk in the name of the Lord, among other things, is good but it is important to first seek to obey God absolutely.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2016 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 24 – SUNDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 2016

TOPIC: WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR? (THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN)

Main Text: Luke: 10:25-37

Memory Verse: James 2: 14, What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?

Introduction

Quite often we behave like the law expert recorded in the parable of the Good Samaritan. He might have learnt the theoretical aspect of the law but lacked the practical aspect of it. We ‘busy’ ourselves with so many things, which in our eyes seem important in our service to God and ignore the basic and fundamental ones, which touch the heart of God. We profess to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and might; yet when it comes to loving our neighbours, we are found wanting. The law expert, in his quest to know what he must do in order to inherit eternal life, was told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told him to do as the Samaritan had done. In other words, he was told to help those in need, give without expecting anything in return and have a better understanding of who his neighbour is.

Discussion Questions

1. According to the parable, what must the teacher of the law do to inherit eternal life? (verses 25 & 27)

2. The Good Samaritan was considered the neighbour in the parable. Why?

3. In what ways do we sometimes behave like the priest and the Levite?

4. In what ways can you be a neighbour to others who are suffering?

5. How can you love your neighbour as yourself?

6. What have you learnt personally from this parable?

Conclusion

Sometimes we can be so preoccupied with offices we hold and services we ‘render to God’ that we can lose sight of the needs of people around us. People, who are in affliction, need not to be our friends, relatives or from our tribes before we help them. As Christians, our faith must be demonstrated in concrete ways to all manner of people. Faith is made complete by actions. We must therefore strive to back our faith with good deeds.

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