COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 31

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 31 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 30, 2017.

TOPIC: HONOURING THE MARRIAGE VOWS

Main Text: Matthew 19:3-12

Memory Verse: So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate - Matthew 19:6

Introduction

The Pharisees tested Jesus whether divorce was permitted for any reason. However, Jesus made it clear that couples who are bonded in marriage are not to be separated. Differences in temperaments, cultural incompatibility, academic gap and upbringing among others pose challenges to couples and make living together very difficult. Just as Jesus has loved us irrespective of our shortcomings, He expects spouses to make sacrificial allowances for the mistakes and errors of each other. Though the Jews allowed divorce, that was not God’s original plan, for Jesus indicated “it was not so from the beginning.”

Questions for Discussion

1. What did the Pharisees seek to know about marriage? Verse 3

2. What were God’s intentions for marriage? Verses 4-671

3. Why did Moses permit divorce among the Hebrews? Verse 8

4. What are some of the obstacles to a happy marriage?

5. How can we keep our marriage vows even when there are conflicts?

Conclusion

Marriage is one of the greatest human rites of passage that is celebrated in all cultures and religions in the world. People over the centuries have looked forward to couples living happily in marriage until death. This is the original plan of God; that what He “has joined together, let no one separate.” Divorce was permitted in the Hebrew culture because the people were hard to teach. Over the years, people have sought to justify grounds upon which divorce must be allowed; and these range from domestic to social or cultural issues. Nevertheless, we must endeavour to keep the marriage vows by following the teachings of Christ. Every couple must be determined to make their marriage work and with a sincere and loving heart declare daily, “till death do us part.”

************************************************************************

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 31 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 2017.

ACTIVITY: DISTRICT / LOCAL / CELL INPUT

************************************************************************

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 31 (Sunday 30^th July to Saturday 5^th August, 2017)           

1. Sunday:          Isaiah 45-47   
2. Monday:         Isaiah 48-50   
3. Tuesday:        Isaiah 51-53
4. Wednesday:   Isaiah 54-57
5. Thursday:      Isaiah 58-60
6. Friday:           Isaiah 61-64
7. Saturday:       Isaiah 65-66

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 32 (Sunday 6^th August to Saturday 12^th August, 2017)      

1. Sunday:          Jeremiah 1-3 
2. Monday:         Jeremiah 4-5 
3. Tuesday:        Jeremiah 6-8
4. Wednesday:   Jeremiah 9-11
5. Thursday:      Jeremiah 12-14
6. Friday:           Jeremiah 15-17
7. Saturday:       Jeremiah 18-21

DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY

COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 30

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 30 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 23, 2017.

TOPIC: FOCUSING ON YOUR MARRIAGE

Main Text: Genesis 3:1-19

Memory Verse: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” - Genesis 3:9

Introduction

Adam and Eve lived happily as a couple in the Garden of Eden until that day when the Devil [Serpent] altered what could have been a very fulfilling life for humankind. Through deceit, Satan got both Adam and Eve to disobey God by eating of the forbidden fruit. He first caught the attention of the woman who in turn won the husband. In their bid to gain more knowledge and become like God, they lost everything. Marriages can be happy and lasting when we keep focus on God’s word and keep watch over each other’s spirituality.

Questions for Discussion

1. How did the Serpent deceive the woman into eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil? Verses 1-5

2. What were the consequences of the disobedience of Adam and Eve? Verses 13, 19

3. How does our relationship with God affect our marriages?

4. What things can take our focus from our marriages?

5. What have you learnt from today’s discussions?

Conclusion

It is important to keep focus in marriage. As intended by God people marry because of the love they have for their spouses and often the desire to uphold the love of God. Since love is from God, we cannot continue in love when our relationship with God is broken. Couples who are very close to the LORD are close with each other and those who focus on Christ are focused on their marriages. We need to avoid friends and relatives who are likely to hinder us from fulfilling God’s mandate for our lives and marriages. Many storms of deception could come against our marriages, the greatest being the threat of divorce. However, we have a responsibility to keep focused because God hates divorce (Mal 2:16).

************************************************************************

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 30 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 23, 2017.

ACTIVITY: DISCUSS TODAY’S SERMON / BIBLE STUDY

************************************************************************

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 30 (Sunday 23^rd July to Saturday 30^th July, 2017)  

1. Sunday:          Isaiah 26-28   
2. Monday:         Isaiah 29-31   
3. Tuesday:        Isaiah 32-34
4. Wednesday:   Isaiah 35-37
5. Thursday:      Isaiah 38-40
6. Friday:           Isaiah 41-42
7. Saturday:       Isaiah 43-44

 DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY

COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 29

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 29 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 16, 2017.

WOMEN’S WEEK

TOPIC: DEBORAH, A WOMAN OF FAITH

Main Text: Judges 4:1-10, 15-21

Memory Verse: Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time - Judges 4:4 (NKJV)

Introduction

Have you heard of names like Christiana Obo, Eunice Addison, Esme Serebuor and other prominent women in the history of The Church of Pentecost? These were women who stood up and made great impact on the Church. In today’s passage, we will learn how God gave Israel into the hands of the Canaanites who oppressed them for 20 years because of their sin. They suffered under enemy’s domination until they cried unto God for help. The answer to their problem was Deborah, a woman of faith.

The text encourages women to take up challenges and defend the course of the weak, vulnerable and helpless just as Deborah, the prophetess did.

Questions for Discussion

1. What was the situation of Israel at the time of Deborah? Verses 1-3

2. Who was Deborah and what was her vocation? Verses 4-5

3. How did Deborah prove her faith in God during Israel’s crisis? Verses 6-7

4. Who was Barak, and why did he insist that Deborah went with him to the battle? Verses 6, 9

5. What useful lessons can we learn from the passage?

Conclusion

In today’s lesson, we learnt that God is ready to use anybody whether male or female to fulfil His perfect will. What He requires is that we put our faith and trust in Him. From the passage, Barak was the commander of the army and Deborah was a prophetess. However, when the men were afraid to lead the people to war, a woman of faith, Deborah rose to the occasion and led the armies of Israel to victory. Deborah believed so much in God and was disappointed at the way Barak approached the issue. God wants to have faith in Him and not doubts. Deborah honoured the LORD faithfully and her faith was richly rewarded.

************************************************************************

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 29 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 2017.

TOPIC: HANDLING CHALLENGES IN THE FAMILY

Main Text: Luke 15:11-32

Memory Verse: The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him - Luke 15:28

Introduction

Challenges are part of the normal ups and downs of life. Some challenges are exciting: a father or husband gets a job promotion and moves the family to a new home. A mother or wife has a baby and suddenly there is a new sibling or son. Other challenges can be more difficult, for example, a family business has to fold up because of career change or any other factor.

In this study, we shall look at how we can handle such challenges in our families. Jesus told His disciples the parable of “the prodigal son.” It teaches the challenge a family went through when a family member wasted his portion of the family’s inheritance but was accepted back home.

Questions for Discussion

1. What was the request of the younger son to his father? Verse 12

2. What did the younger son do with his inheritance? Verse 13

3. How did the father respond when his younger son came home? Verses 20-23

4. How did the elder son react to the celebration in honour of his brother, and what was the father’s response? Verse 28

5. What lessons have you learnt from today’s discussions?

Conclusion

In this story we have learnt that the younger son requested for his share of the father’s inheritance and spent it in extravagant living. However, after wasting all he had, he came back home and was accepted by the father who held a banquet in his honour. The elder son however, was offended as he felt discriminated against. The father consoled and helped him realize how important it was to have his brother back.

Families may from time to time have to deal with relational challenges but we would have to have the patience to accept even those who go wayward and show repentance.

************************************************************************

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 29 (Sunday 16^th July to Saturday 22^nd July, 2017) 

1. Sunday:          Isaiah 1-3       
2. Monday:         Isaiah 4-6       
3. Tuesday:        Isaiah 7-9
4. Wednesday:   Isaiah 10-13
5. Thursday:      Isaiah 14-16
6. Friday:           Isaiah 17-21
7. Saturday:       Isaiah 22-25

DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY

COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 28

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 28 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 9, 2017.

TOPIC: THE WEDDING AT EDEN

Main Text: Genesis 2:18-25

Memory Verse: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” - Genesis 2:18

Introduction

God Himself “officiated” the first “wedding” between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He saw that Adam needed a helper and that he would not be complete without one. He therefore, created Eve to be that helpmate who was as good as Adam himself. She would help Adam work the ground and fill the earth. Adam saw Eve as that wonderful mate who would make him complete. Thus he exclaimed, “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of a man”. Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife to become one flesh (Gen 2:23-24).

God upholds marriage and desires that couples would live happily, as they complement each other and work together to fulfil His plan for creation and their personal lives.

Questions for Discussion

1. According to verse 18, what was God’s plan for Adam?

2. What was lacking in Adam’s life? Verse 20

3. What was Adam’s response when Eve was brought to him? Verses 22, 23

4. What do you understand by the statement, “a helper suitable to him”? Verse 18

5. How should Christian couples fulfil God’s original plan concerning marriage?

Conclusion

God created Adam and Eve to fill the earth with their kind and build happy families. They were also to teach these families to love the Lord and care for His creation. They were made to complement each other, so that the presence of one would make the other complete. God wants all couples to be happy in their marriages as He intended for Adam and Eve. He wants couples to respect and love each other, knowing that one was made for the other. Every Christian husband or wife must through humility, love and mutual respect for each other, make the love of Christ known to all.

**********************************

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 28 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 9, 2017.

TOPIC: SUBMISSION TO PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY

Main Text: Romans 13:1-7

Memory verse: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God - Romans 13:1

Introduction

Our study today focuses on how Christians are expected to submit to governing authorities, including political leaders. This is important to maintain peace and order and at the same time, to promote development. Submission to political leaders is also important because, the law deals with those who rebel against political leaders. We see from today’s passage that political leaders are God’s servants because all authorities are God-ordained.

Questions for Discussion

1. Who establishes governing authorities? Verse 1

2. What will happen to those who rebel against governing authorities? Verse 2

3. How will you describe political leaders in the light of Romans 13:4a?

4. What should be our attitude towards governing authorities?

5. What lessons have you learnt from today’s study?

Conclusion

Since governing authorities are God-ordained, the Bible admonishes us to submit to them. Apostle Paul makes it clear that, rebellion against those in authority is rebellion against God and attracts judgement. Rulers are God’s servants and their purpose is to do good to their subjects. The reason we are expected to submit to them is not only to avoid punishment but also to have a clear conscience before God (Rom 13:4, 5). Christians are therefore, expected to set the best examples by being humble and submissive to our own leaders.

  

**********************************

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 28 (Sunday 9^th July to Saturday 15^th July, 2017)    

1. Sunday:          Proverbs 26-28         
2. Monday:         Proverbs 29-31         
3. Tuesday:        Ecclesiastes 1-4
4. Wednesday:   Ecclesiastes 5-8
5. Thursday:      Ecclesiastes 9-12
6. Friday:           Song of Solomon 1-4
7. Saturday:       Song of Solomon 5-8

DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY