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 22nd to Saturday 28th April, 2018)
- Sunday: 2 Kings 4-5
- Monday: 2 Kings 6-8
- Tuesday: 2 Kings 9-11
- Wednesday: 2 Kings 12-14
- Thursday: 2 Kings 15-17
- Friday: 2 Kings 18-20
- Saturday: 2 Kings 21-23
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