COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 35

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 35 – SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 27, 2017.

TOPIC: BREAKING THROUGH CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS BARRIERS

Main Text: John 4:5-26

Memory Verse: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus - Galatians 3:28

Introduction

Culture constitutes the ideas, behaviours and customs of a group or community of people. Each ethnic group has its own peculiar cultural behaviours. These behaviours could create cultural barriers that may hinder healthy inter-ethnic relations, or promote conflicts and wars. Also, some tribes do not encourage inter-marriages. These behaviours also existed in the days of Jesus Christ between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jews considered themselves closer to God and saw the Samaritans as outcasts. They had nothing in common. It is against this backdrop that Jesus demonstrated that such cultural barriers must not exist in the kingdom of God. In this study, we will learn how the Lord’s interaction with the Samaritan woman brought salvation to a whole city.

Questions for Discussion

1. Who was Jesus speaking with? Verse 7

2. What was the woman’s reply and why? Verse 9

3. Under what circumstances do we hear such replies in our societies?

4. What was the outcome of the interaction between Jesus and the woman? John 4:39-40

5. In what ways will the study help you to relate better with others from different cultural backgrounds?

Conclusion

Though we come from various cultural backgrounds, we should not allow our differences to create divisions and conflict. Some parents sometimes refuse inter-marriages with the reason that the two tribes involved have nothing in common. As indicated in our memory verse, once we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we become one people with no wall of division. The interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman led to the salvation of Samaria. As Christians, we should promote peace and allow the Gospel we preach to cut across all cultural barriers.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 35 – SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 2017.

ACTIVITY: DISTRICT / LOCAL / CELL INPUT

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 35 (Sunday 27^th August to Saturday 2^nd September, 2017)           

1. Sunday:          Ezekiel 1-4     
2. Monday:         Ezekiel 5-9     
3. Tuesday:        Ezekiel 10-13
4. Wednesday:   Ezekiel 14-16
5. Thursday:      Ezekiel 17-19
6. Friday:           Ezekiel 20-21
7. Saturday:       Ezekiel 22-23

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COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 34

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 34 – SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 20, 2017.

TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE

Main Text: Acts 15:5-9

Memory Verse: Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” - Acts 15:1

Introduction

The Gospel is always presented to people in a cultural setting. As a result, there are cultural challenges whenever the Gospel is preached from one culture to another. These challenges may be geographical or generational. As read in today’s passage, some of the Jewish believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees insisted that the Gentile believers needed to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses in order to be saved. We will discuss ways by which we can avoid putting cultural yokes on others in our presentation of the gospel.

Questions for Discussion

1. What did the believers from Judea insist the Gentile believers do, and why? Verse 5

2. What was the response of Paul and Barnabas to this cultural imposition? Verse 2

3. What showed that God accepted the Gentile believers without discrimination? Verses 8, 9

4. In what ways do we also put cultural yokes on people’s necks in the church today?

5. How can we refrain from imposing culture on others and allow them to serve God sincerely from a pure heart?

Conclusion

The problem of how Christians should approach cultural issues has been an age long one. The apostles, however, concluded that since God Himself did not discriminate against the Gentiles but gave them the Holy Spirit as He gave to the Jewish believers, there was no need to put such a yoke on the Gentile believers. Sometimes we also expect others to serve God from our cultural perspectives. We should therefore, refrain from putting on others yokes that may not affect their salvation. To avoid this we need to genuinely approach all cultural issues from the scriptural point of view and in the spirit of love.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 34 – SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20, 2017.

ACTIVITY: PASTORAL CARE GROUPINGS / FOLLOW UP & VISITATIONS

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 34 (Sunday 20^th August to Saturday 26^th August, 2017) 

   

1. Sunday:          Jeremiah 42-45         
2. Monday:         Jeremiah 46-48         
3. Tuesday:        Jeremiah 49
4. Wednesday:   Jeremiah 50
5. Thursday:      Jeremiah 51-52
6. Friday:           Lamentations 1-2
7. Saturday:       Lamentations 3-5

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COP 2017 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 33

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 33 – SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 13, 2017.

TOPIC: CARING FOR THE BEREAVED

Main Text: Luke 7:11-17

Memory Verse: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” - Luke 7:13

Introduction

Throughout the gospels, we see evidence of the compassionate heart of Jesus Christ. His devotion to offering support to the needy and sick who came His way is clearly evident. Prominent among them is how He gladly supported the bereaved. As can be seen in the passage for our study, Jesus Christ was entering Nain when the corpse of a widow’s son was being carried out to be buried. Moved by compassion, He stopped the procession, encouraged the widow and raised the dead young man.

Questions for Discussion

1. What was happening as Jesus was entering Nain? Verses 11-12

2. What was the state of the woman mentioned in the passage? Verse 12

3 What did the Lord do when He saw the widow? Verses 13-15

4. Discuss the various ways we can care for those who are bereaved.

5. Discuss how we can improve the welfare system in the local church.

Conclusion

The widow’s condition was terrible because she had lost her husband and an only son. Jesus was moved with compassion when He and the disciples entered the city of Nain. Like the widow, many people in our churches, fellowships and Home Cell units are from time to time hit with various degrees of tragedy including bereavement. This is normally the time we can demonstrate Christ-like compassion through generous donations, words of encouragement, visitations, intercessory prayers and show of genuine love and concern.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2017 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 33 – SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 2017.

TOPIC: FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Main Text: John 6:1-13

Memory Verse: The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor - Proverbs 22:9

Introduction

Global statistics from the World Food Programme indicate that about 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead healthy active lives. The vast majority of these people live in Developing countries where about 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished. Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana inclusive) is the region with the highest prevalence. In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He showed compassion and sometimes fed those who followed Him and were hungry.

Questions for Discussion

1. Why did the great crowd follow Jesus and His disciples? Verse 2

2. What was Jesus’s response when He saw that great crowd coming to Him? Verses 5-6

3. Identify some responses of His disciples as Jesus tried to feed the hungry people? Verses 7-9

4. How did Jesus feed the hungry people? Verses 10-13

5. How can we as individuals, families and churches show compassion towards the hungry?

Conclusion

As Christians, we can emulate Christ’s example by caring for the hungry. Feeding the poor is part of Christian service which we must demonstrate as individuals, families or churches. Jesus did this when He saw the crowd that was following Him because of the signs and wonders they had seen Him perform. Though the disciples did not have immediate response to feeding the people, Jesus used the little resources available to meet that great need. We may not be able to show such great help on a large scale like Jesus but in our own small way, we can contribute to reduce the alarming rate of world hunger by providing for that poor neighbour next door.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 33 (Sunday 13^th August to Saturday 19^th August, 2017)    

1. Sunday:          Jeremiah 22-23         
2. Monday:         Jeremiah 24-26         
3. Tuesday:        Jeremiah 27-29
4. Wednesday:   Jeremiah 30-31
5. Thursday:      Jeremiah 32-34
6. Friday:           Jeremiah 35-37
7. Saturday:       Jeremiah 38-41

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