COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 17

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 17 – SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 29, 2018.

TOPIC: THE ROLE OF DIRECTIVE PROPHECIES IN THE ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, GENERAL SECRETARY AND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS DIRECTOR

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: Acts 6:3-7; Acts 13:1-3

Memory Verse: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1

Introduction

The need for divine guidance in the selection of key leaders in the Church is very important. This guidance, however, takes several forms. These include prayerfully nominating candidates and casting of lots on them (Acts 1:21-26), direct prophecy (Acts 13:1-3) and direct appointments (Acts 6:3). All these forms of selecting leaders were used in the early Church as shown in the Acts of the Apostles. Today’s study will focus on the role of directive prophecies in the selection of principal officers such as Chairman, General Secretary and International Missions Director. A directive prophecy is any prophetic utterance that seeks to give direction to the leadership of the Church to act in a specific way. In the selection of leaders, a directive prophecy can mention the name of a particular person who should be given a specific ministerial assignment or who should occupy a particular office of the Church.

Questions for Discussion

1. What was the qualification for those who were to be chosen for leadership? Acts 6:3

2. How were Barnabas and Saul called to missions? Acts 13:2

3. Why does the Bible say we should not believe every spirit but test them? 1 John 4:1

4. Does Acts 13:1-3 mean that if someone had not spoken audibly at a church, directive prophecy has not taken place? Discuss.

5. How can we, as a church make good use of directive prophecies without giving room for false prophecies to divide us?

Conclusion

Directive prophecies are important because they are intended to speak the mind of God to us clearly. The Bible, however, warns that all prophecies should be tested (1 Thes. 5:20-21). The reason is that there is the possibility of prophets making a mistake while prophesying (1 Kings 13:1-24, Jer. 23:25-32). This can create confusion in the Church especially in matters of choosing leaders. In order to minimize such weaknesses and make the best use of directive prophecies, the Constitution of the Church of Pentecost directs that, any form of prophecy or revelations concerning candidates for consideration to such positions as Chairman, General Secretary and International Missions Director should be communicated verbally or in writing to the Executive Council through the Chairman of the Church. This is to ensure that such prophecies are tested before they are made public.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 17 – SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 29, 2018.

TOPIC: HARD WORK PAYS!

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Memory Verse: For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat. – 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

Introduction

The first day of May is annually declared for the celebration of workers the world over. It serves as a platform where the efforts and hard work of workers are acknowledged and workers are motivated to continue to give of their best in the discharge of their duties. God’s word encourages hard work. In today’s discussion, the Apostle Paul commands the church in Thessalonica to encourage hard work and frown on idleness.

Questions for Discussion

1. What kind of command did Paul give to the Thessalonian church? Verse 6

2. What example did Paul and his fellow workers set for the Thessalonian believers? Verses 7-9

3. What is the difference between being busy and being a busybody? Verse 11

4. How do you differentiate between hard work and laziness?

5. Discuss the rule Paul gave to the believers in verse 10

Conclusion

Paul commanded the Thessalonian believers to stay away from anyone who was idle and disruptive. Using his own life and that of his fellow workers as good examples, Paul showed that though they had the right to elicit help from the churches, they chose to rather fend for themselves by labouring day and night. Being busy is actively doing something that is fruitful and yields productive results. However, a busybody is one who roams about aimlessly with no focus and sense of purpose. The lazy one is also always idle. This leads to unfruitfulness. These are the ones Paul strongly admonishes to settle down and earn the food they eat.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 17 (Sunday 29^th April to Saturday 5^th May, 2018)  

1. Sunday:          2 Kings 24-25
2. Monday:         1 Chronicles 1-2        
3. Tuesday:        1 Chronicles 3-5        
4. Wednesday:   1 Chronicles 6-7
5. Thursday:      1 Chronicles 8-10      
6. Friday:           1 Chronicles 11-13
7. Saturday:       1 Chronicles 14-16

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COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 16

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 16 – SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 22, 2018.

TOPIC: THE ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, GENERAL SECRETARY AND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS DIRECTOR – RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND GENERAL COUNCIL

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: Acts 1:20-26

Memory Verse: Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. – Acts 1:26

Introduction

As we learnt in our previous study, the Executive Council has the responsibility of waiting upon the Lord and nominating candidates for consideration for the position of Chairman, General Secretary (GS) and International Missions Director (IMD). In today’s passage, we read that the disciples nominated two people and cast lots to determine which of them God had chosen. In the Church of Pentecost, however, one candidate is presented at a time. The rationale behind this is to prevent a possible competition. Today’s study will discuss the democratic processes by which The Church of Pentecost elects the Chairman, General Secretary and the International Missions Director. The Constitution of the Church of Pentecost clearly provides details on these processes (find relevant portions of the constitution in the appendix).

Questions for Discussion

1. How many people did the disciples nominate for consideration to replace Judas in the apostolic ministry? (Acts 1: 23)

2. What was their concern for the choice of a leader as shown in their prayer? Verse 24

3. Identify the process by which Matthias was chosen. Verse 26

4. What does The Church of Pentecost do in the election of principal officers that is similar to casting of lots as was practised by the Apostles in Acts 1:26?

Conclusion

We read from today’s study that after praying, the apostles cast lots and the lot fell on Matthias. As a result, he was chosen to replace Judas in the apostolic ministry. Article 13.3 of the CoP constitution makes it clear that, after prayerful considerations, the Executive Council of the Church shall present a candidate from the list of eligible candidates to the Electoral College for open discussion and secret ballot. The Electoral College is made up of All Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists in the Church of Pentecost and Area Heads in Ghana.

The candidate is approved by simple majority vote at the Electoral College level. After this, the candidate is then presented to the General Council to be voted on. At this level, a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is needed by the candidate to be approved. Prayer is therefore a vital aspect of the process of election of especially the first three principal officers of The Church of Pentecost.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 16 – SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 2018.

TOPIC: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF DIRECTIVE PROPHECIES

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-7

Memory Verse: For we know in part and we prophesy in part. – 1 Corinthians 13:9

Introduction

The use of directive prophecy in the selection of leaders is important because, it can reveal the mind of God concerning God’s choice of leaders. It is also important to note that the Bible clearly indicates the possibility of false prophecies in the church. There is therefore the need to use divine wisdom in handling the benefits and challenges of such spiritual issues without compromising the unity and spirituality of the Church. In today’s passage, we see that even Samuel, a seasoned and trusted prophet of Israel, made a serious mistake in the first instance of his choice. The appearance of Eliab, the first son of Jesse, deceived him. It took God’s intervention for him to exercise patience and wait for David, the next leader of Israel.

Questions for Discussion

1. What did God instruct Samuel to do? 1 Samuel 16:1-3

2. What was Samuel’s response to God’s assignment? 1 Samuel 16: 4-5

3. Discuss where directive prophecy takes place. 1 Samuel 16:1.

4. Why do you think Samuel wanted to anoint Eliab?

5. Discuss the benefits and challenges in the use of directive prophecies in the selection of key leaders.

6. How can we as a church make good use of the benefits of directive prophecies and minimise their challenges?

Conclusion

God instructed Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel. Samuel in obedience to God went to Bethlehem and met the elders of the town together with Jesse and his sons. This was in readiness to select the king of Israel from among Jesse’s sons. It is important to note that Samuel’s prophetic ministry was known to be very sharp and reliable to the extent that the Bible testifies that “the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground”. In spite of these prophetic credentials, Samuel had it wrong in the first instance by considering Eliab as the prospective king of Israel. This comes to confirm the fact that “we know in part and we prophecy in part” (1 Cor. 13:9). Even though directive prophecies can help us choose our leaders according to the will of God, care should be taken in their use because, even the most seasoned prophet can make mistakes based on his observations and emotions.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 16 (Sunday 22^nd to Saturday 28^th April, 2018) 

       

1. Sunday:          2 Kings 4-5    
2. Monday:         2 Kings 6-8    
3. Tuesday:        2 Kings 9-11  
4. Wednesday:   2 Kings 12-14
5. Thursday:      2 Kings 15-17
6. Friday:           2 Kings 18-20
7. Saturday:       2 Kings 21-23

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COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 15

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 15 – SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 15, 2018.

TOPIC: THE ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN, GENERAL SECRETARY AND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS DIRECTOR - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Memory Verse: But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

Introduction

In our previous study, we learnt about the role of prayer in the election of leaders. The focus of today’s study is on the fact that, even though God can use anyone for His work, He respects the authority of divinely established leadership. He spoke to Moses and instructed him concerning the next leader for Israel (Num. 27:18-20). Also, in today’s passage, God spoke to Samuel and instructed him to anoint David as the next king for Israel.

Questions for Discussion

1. Why did God send Samuel to Bethlehem? Verse 1

2. Why didn’t Samuel anoint any of the sons of Jesse earlier presented? Verse 6-9

3. Why do you think God is interested in the heart of the leader of His people? (Verse 7; Prov. 4:23)

4. What is the role of the General Council in the election of the first three Principal Officers of the Church of Pentecost?

Conclusion

Samuel did not anoint any of the seven sons of Jesse because God had rejected them. God is interested in the heart of the leader because, out of it flows all the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). In electing the Chairman, General Secretary or International Missions Director, the constitution of The Church of Pentecost gives the Executive Council the responsibility to regulate its own proceedings after prayerful consideration and present a candidate from among the apostles and prophets to the Electoral College for open discussion and secret ballot. The Electoral College shall present the candidate so elected to the General Council for a secret voting by 2/3 majority. In case the 2/3 majority is not obtained the process will continue up to a third time, after which a simple majority vote will be conducted on the two highest ones.

The church believes that as we pray, God will surely speak to the Executive Council whose nomination shall be prayerfully considered by the Electoral College. As a result, the constitution of The Church of Pentecost directs that all directive prophecies and revelations concerning candidates for consideration for the positions be communicated verbally or in writing to the Executive Council through the Chairman of the Church for prayerful consideration.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 15 – SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 15, 2018.

TOPIC: APPOINTMENTS – AREA, DISTRICT AND LOCAL MINISTRY LEADERS

Review of Previous Week’s Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn last week?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: Numbers 11:16-17, Acts 13:1-4

Memory Verse: One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Dedicate Barnabas and Paul for the special work to which I have called them’. – Acts 13:2

Introduction

The selection of the 70 elders (Num. 11:16) to the position of tribal and group leaders was done by Moses. The Bible does not give us detailed information on the processes Moses used. However, the criterion was to choose men who were capable and well known by the people. Also, the selection of Paul and Barnabas was done by the Holy Spirit during prayers. The Apostles were appointed by Jesus and the selection of the seven deacons was by consensus. The choosing of Matthias was done by casting lots after prayers (Acts 1:24-26). The Area and District Ministry leaders are appointed by the Area/District Presbytery on the recommendation of the Area/District Executive Committee respectively. They hold office for three years and can be reviewed for further terms. Local Ministry leaders are appointed by the Local Presbytery in consultation with the District Minister and shall hold office for a term of two years and may be reviewed for further terms. Holders of these positions, unlike Ministry Directors, are unpaid officers.

Questions for Discussion

1. How are the Area/District Ministry leaders appointed?

2. How long are their respective terms of office?

3. What were the criteria for the choosing of the seventy elders and the seven deacons? Numbers 11:16; 18:21; Acts 6:3

4. What lessons have you learnt from this study?

Conclusion

The Constitution guides the Church in choosing people to fill leadership positions. These people must be full of the Holy Spirit, capable and willing to work. We may not be in the position to take such decisions, but we are in the position to pray for the Holy Spirit to direct our leaders to make the right choices for the Church. The presbytery at all levels should ensure that office holders are reviewed as directed by the Constitution of the Church. Review means that the Ministry leader can either continue or be changed. Officers should be willing to accept the decisions of the presbytery at each level.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 15 (Sunday 15^th to Saturday 21^st April, 2018)  

       

1. Sunday:          1 Kings 8-9    
2. Monday:         1 Kings 10-12
3. Tuesday:        1 Kings 13-15
4. Wednesday:   1 Kings 16-18
5. Thursday:      1 Kings 19-20
6. Friday:           1 Kings 21-22
7. Saturday:       2 Kings 1-3

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COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 14

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

WEEK 14 – SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 2018.

TOPIC: PRAYER IN THE ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, GENERAL SECRETARY AND INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS DIRECTOR

Review of Previous Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn from the previous lesson?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: Numbers 27: 15-23

Memory Verse: May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community. – Numbers 27:16

Introduction

The role of the leader is key to the success of every organisation. It is recognised that one critical challenge facing several churches today is that of leadership. It is therefore, very important for the Church to wait upon God in prayer prior to choosing her leaders. Today’s scripture passage reveals that it is God who appoints responsible leaders for His people. Moses had to pray and request from the Lord, to appoint a leader for Israel. In today’s study, we will discuss the importance of prayer and divine involvement in the election of Principal Officers such as the Chairman, General Secretary (GS) and the International Missions Director (IMD) in the Church of Pentecost.

Questions for Discussion

1. What did Moses do when he recognized the need for a new leader for God’s people? (Num. 27:15-16).

2. Why did the people need a leader? (Num. 27:17)

3. Identify the processes by which God chooses leaders for His people as shown in Numbers 27:18-20.

4. In view of today’s study, what should The Church of Pentecost do in the election of Chairman, General Secretary and International Mission Director?

Conclusion

We notice from today’s study that prayer is a very important aspect of choosing leaders for God’s Church. In response to Moses’ prayer for a successor, God directed him to choose Joshua (whom God had already endowed with the spirit of leadership). Joshua was brought before Eleazar, the priest and the entire assembly of Israel for his commissioning. Articles 13.3 (a), 14.3 (a) and 15.3 (a) of the Constitution of The Church of Pentecost make it clear that the candidates to be presented to the General Council for election must be prayerfully chosen. It is therefore the responsibility of the leadership as well as the entire membership of the church to pray and ask the Lord to choose leaders of integrity for His people at all times.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE

WEEK 14 – SUNDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 2018.

TOPIC: APPOINTMENT OF NATIONAL MINISTRY LEADERS

Review of Previous Lesson (5 Minutes)

a. What did you learn from the previous lesson?

b. How did you apply it to your life?

Main Text: Luke 6:12 -16, Acts 6:1-6

Memory Verse: And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. – Acts 6:3

Introduction

Choosing leaders, whether in the Church or in a nation needs to be handled with integrity and caution. To avoid the possibility of conflicts in the choosing of leaders, the Constitution of The Church of Pentecost guides the leadership of the Church in the selection of leaders at all levels. At the national level, the Executive Council with the ratification of the General Council appoints Ministry Directors for a term of four years. This can be reviewed again for another term of four years.

Questions for Discussion

1. Discuss how Jesus selected the twelve Apostles. Luke 6:12-13

2. Identify the five ministries in The Church of Pentecost.

3. How are the Directors appointed?

4. How long is the term of office for each Director?

5. Compare Jesus’ mode of appointing the twelve to that of the apostles’ selection of the seven deacons. (Luke 6:12 -13, Acts 6:2-6).

Conclusion

There are different methods that were used in the Bible in selecting leaders. In the case of the twelve Apostles, it was an appointment by Jesus after an all-night prayer. The selection of the seven Deacons was by consensus. The Apostles outlined the criteria and asked the people to make their choices. The Deacons were then presented to the Apostles to be prayed for. It is good that as members of the Church, we understand the selection process of various leaders. Ignorance of this can lead to unhealthy relationship and controversies. Lack of understanding of how leaders are chosen in any institution could be disastrous.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 14 (Sunday 8^th to Saturday 14^th April, 2018)  

        

1. Sunday:          2 Samuel 16-18         
2. Monday:         2 Samuel 19-20         
3. Tuesday:        2 Samuel 21-22         
4. Wednesday:   2 Samuel 23-24
5. Thursday:      1 Kings 1-2    
6. Friday:           1 Kings 3-5
7. Saturday:       1 Kings 6-7

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