COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 30

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
WEEK 30 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 29, 2018.

TOPIC: DILIGENCE – AN INGREDIENT FOR INTEGRITY

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: Proverbs 6: 6-11
Memory Verse: The hand of the diligent will rule. But the slack hand will be put to forced labor. – Proverbs 12:24

Introduction

The challenge to maintain personal integrity comes to both the rich and poor. The rich must be careful to avoid foul and deceptive means of acquiring wealth. On the other hand, the poor must also ensure that they do not resort to lies and deception with the view to making quick money. However, if the habit of hard work to earn the basic necessities of life is developed, to maintain integrity becomes real and achievable. The author of Proverbs admonishes diligence (hard work) as opposed to laziness and absolute dependency. 

Questions for Discussion

1. What lesson does the writer ask the lazy to learn from the ant? Verse 6
2. Identify the important lessons we can learn from the ant Verses 7, 8
3. What are the characteristics of the lazy person? Verses 9, 10
4. How can poverty affect the financial integrity of a Christian?
5. What lessons of integrity can we learn from the ant.

Conclusion

When people are overly dependent on others not because they lack the opportunity for success but because they are lazy, it is very easy for them to sacrifice their integrity for food. The Bible encourages Christians to work hard with their hands to earn their daily living. The greatest lesson the author admonishes the lazy to learn from the ant is about wisdom and diligence. The ant seems to display more wisdom than the lazy person though it does not have a leader to instruct it. The lazy person sleeps when he is supposed to work, is afraid to take risks to achieve success and likes to postpone things to be done now - the end result being poverty.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE
WEEK 30 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 29, 2018.

TOPIC / ACTIVITY: DISTRICT / LOCAL / CELL INPUT

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 30 (Sunday 29th July to Saturday 4th August, 2018)

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

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COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 29

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
WEEK 29 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 22, 2018.

TOPIC: MAINTAINING OUR INTEGRITY

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: Genesis 39:1-20
Memory Verse: He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity. – Proverbs 2:7 (HCSB)

Introduction

Integrity is the consistent and permanent attitude of honesty, faithfulness, truthfulness and strong moral principles; it is doing what we know is right and keeping to the truth no matter the cost. One of the qualities that makes the home a better place to be, the church a safe gathering, and the community a happy environment to live in is integrity. When we practise what we believe and profess and do what we know would please our Lord Jesus Christ, then we can be said to have integrity. Joseph is one of the outstanding God-fearing people in Scripture. He displayed integrity even when things were most difficult for him in life.

Questions for Discussion

1. What did Potiphar do when Joseph found favour in his eyes? Verse 5-6
2. How did Potiphar’s wife respond to Joseph’s good looks? Verses 7, 12
3. How did Joseph respond to her request for sexual intimacy? Verse 8 - 10
4. How did Joseph display integrity in Potiphar’s house?
5. In what practical ways can we display integrity in our daily lives?

Conclusion

Potiphar virtually left everything in the hands of Joseph when he found him to be faithful and realised the Lord prospered everything he did. However, Potiphar’s wife desired to have sexual intimacy with him. But the more she persisted in her request for sexual intimacy, the more Joseph refused. Though Joseph had been elevated and had found favour in the sight of his master, he did not use that privilege to satisfy the flesh. He respected God and his master and refused to defile himself. Integrity is when we hold on to the truth and consistently refuse to be corrupted or displease the Lord. In our homes, churches and relationships, we must always display integrity.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE
WEEK 29 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 22, 2018.

TOPIC: WOE TO HYPOCRITES

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: Matthew 23:13-14
Memory Verse: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! – Galatians 1:9

Introduction

There are people in life who do not endeavour to achieve any feat but are quick to prevent others who desire to. Jesus pronounced woes (declaration of God’s coming wrath) on the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. The first of the woes was because these people were not entering the Kingdom of God and were also making it difficult for others who desired to enter. In this study, we shall examine this kind of trend in the world today in the light of Matthew 23:13-14.

Questions for Discussion

1. After pronouncing “woe”, what one word did Jesus use to describe these “Pharisees and Teachers of the Law”? Verse. 13
2. How do you understand Jesus’ statement against them in Matthew 23:13-15?
3. How can we identify a present-day “Pharisee and Teacher of the Law”?
4. What do the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law do to prevent others from entering the Kingdom of God?
5. How can these ‘Pharisees and Teachers of the Law’ also enter the kingdom of God? John 3:3-5

Conclusion

Jesus pronounced “woes” unto the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law because they were hypocrites. Their outward show of piety did not match the state of their hearts. One of their many sins was that they did not enter the Kingdom of God and also prevented people from entering it. Similarly, people who by their lifestyles reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour and teach others to do the same are just like these Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. Like Nicodemus, they must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 29 (Sunday 22th July to Saturday 28th July, 2018) 

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

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COP 2018 BILBE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 28

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
WEEK 28 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 15, 2018.

TOPIC: YOUTH MINISTRY WEEK – LIFESTYLE CHOICES

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 2:12-25; 30-34
Memory Verse: But as He who called you is holy; you also be holy in all your conduct. – 1 Peter 1:15 (NKJV)

Introduction

God looks upon behaviour more than a show of religion. He looks at character more than position. There have been many recorded instances where those charged with a sacred responsibility have been guilty of horrible sins. For instance, some church leaders in a reputable church teamed up to steal from the Church’s coffers. They were caught when a minister visited their church and paid tithes in foreign currency. The minister decided to inquire of the day’s proceeds, only to be given a figure far below what he gave. Today’s discussion focuses on lifestyle choices the sons of Eli made in contrast to that of Samuel, the consequences thereafter and the lessons we can draw as future leaders of the Church.

Questions for Discussion

1. What were Eli’s sons doing wrong? Verse 12-17
2. What other wrong did Eli know about his sons? Verse 22
3. What were the consequences of the sins of Eli and his sons? Verses 30, 31, 33, 34
4. Do our choices have negative effects on other believers? Discuss
5. How would you avoid being mustered by negative life choices?

Conclusion

God has set eternity in the hearts of humans. Intuitively, each sound person knows what is right and what is wrong. The sons of Eli were no exception here, yet Hophni and Phinehas had no respect for the LORD’s sacrifice – they took part of it before the rest was offered to God on the altar. They also incited a servant to forcefully take meat from people offering sacrifices. Worse still, they seduced the women who helped at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Eli was fully aware of these gross misconducts but refused to properly deal with his sons. By this, he honoured his sons more than God. The result of these sinful acts was total annihilation of their family line (1 Samuel 4:11, 18, 20; 1 Kings 2:26, 27). Life offers many choices, but choosing to serve God through a godly walk has eternal dividends.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE
WEEK 28 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 2018.

TOPIC: DO NOT BE A HYPOCRITE 

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: Matthew 23:27-28
Memory Verse: You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. – Matthew 15:7-8

Introduction

The study for today highlights one of the valuable virtues that we should seek to live by - honesty. It helps us to be true to God, to others and to ourselves in what we do and say. The Jewish law considered anyone unclean if they touched anything belonging to the dead. In view of this, the Pharisees were careful to have their tombs (place of burial for the dead) white-washed or painted every year so that being easily discovered, no one would accidentally come into contact with them. Painted white and bright, the tombs looked clean and beautiful on the outside but within, they contained the bones and decaying bodies of the dead.
Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites and likened them to whitewashed tombs. In our discussion today, we shall find out the reason for this characterisation of the Pharisees and discuss the subject of hypocrisy.

Questions for Discussion

1. How did Jesus describe the Pharisees? Verse 27
2. What are the characteristics of hypocrites? Mark 12:38-40, Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
3. In your view, why did He call them hypocrites and whitewashed tombs?
4. In what ways can our lives be described as whitewashed tombs or hypocritical?
5. What have you learnt from today’s study?

Conclusion 

Jesus described the Pharisees as hypocrites and whitewashed tombs. He did so because of their double standards and dual personalities. Hypocrites pretend to have virtues, moral or religious principles, which they do not actually possess (Matt. 23:27-28). They pay more attention to their reputation than their character and as such, feign a desirable public image which conceals their true character (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16). Hypocrites are very elaborate in observing religious rites while their hearts remain distant from God who is the object of worship (Matt. 23:23-24). 162
They are self-righteous, extol their own virtues and are critical of other people’s shortfalls of which they are equally guilty (Luke 18:9-14). This blinds them to their need of repentance and the Saviour. We can be described as hypocrites if we exhibit the above traits. We must therefore refrain from these characteristics as we strive to remain in Christ.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE
Week 28 (Sunday 15th July to Saturday 21st July, 2018) 
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

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COP 2018 BIBLE STUDY & HOME CELL WEEK 27

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
WEEK 27 – SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 8, 2018.

TOPIC: FINANCIAL INTEGRITY – WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

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: Matthew 25:14-30
Memory Verse: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. – Luke 16:10

Introduction

Integrity is a very important subject in the Bible. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: the quality or state of being complete and whole. This means that integrity in one’s life should portray a life characterised by moral soundness, truth and godly principles. Integrity is demanded in various forms in our societies, one of which is in the area of our finances. The attitude of the persons in the parable of the talents helps us to explore how we can maintain integrity in our finances.

Questions for Discussion

1. What interaction did the man going on the journey have with his servants? Verses 14-15.
2. How did the servants treat the talents they had received? Verses 16-18
3. Describe what happened when the master returned from the journey. Verses 19-23
4. What happened to the servant who did not show integrity with his talent? Verse 26-27
5. What lessons can we glean from the passage with regards to integrity?

Conclusion

The master gave his servants talents of gold to manage before he went on a long journey. Even though no one was watching them, two of the servants demonstrated integrity by trading with the talents and earning double of what they had received. The other servant hid his talent and got nothing. On his return, the master acknowledged the integrity of the two and rewarded them but the one who hid his talent was punished. As Christians, God expects us to show integrity in how we manage whatever funds we have. These include housekeeping money, office funds and even church money. Always remember that integrity is who you are in the dark.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST – 2018 HOME CELL OUTLINE
WEEK 27 – SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 2018.

ACTIVITY: DEALING WITH HYPOCRISY

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: Matthew 7:1-5
Memory Verse: You hypocrites, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:5

Introduction

In this study, we shall discuss how to deal with hypocrisy which has become a canker in the body of Christ. It is apparent that hypocrisy is fuelled mainly by man’s obsession with the outward. In the passage for today’s discussion, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees to focus on their weaknesses rather than the weaknesses of other people. 

Questions for Discussion 

1. What is the difference between a speck and a plank? Verses 3-4
2. What accounts for the attitude spoken of by Jesus in verse 3?
3. What advice did Jesus give to the Pharisees? Verse 5
4. How can this advice help to deal with hypocrisy in our lives?
5. What have you learnt from the discussion and how will you apply the lessons?

Conclusion 

With their self-righteous attitude, the Pharisees see themselves to be without fault. They fixed their gaze on others in whom they saw many flaws. By telling them to deal with the plank (a large piece of squared timber) in their eyes before looking for the speck (a dry chaff) in the eyes of others, Jesus showed them that they were worse off than the people in whom they found faults. Naturally, we are much quicker to identify small offences in others while we gloss over much larger offences in ourselves. This is hypocritical and blinds us from seeing our need for repentance. God wants us to focus first on what we must do to experience transformation. Thus, when we place the spotlight on ourselves and recognise our own faults and need for repentance, we avail ourselves for salvation and sanctification by the word of truth (Jn 17:17, Eph 5:26). When we admit our helpless state and depend on the Holy Spirit for strength to live holy lives, and to serve God faithfully, we are freed from the grip of hypocrisy.

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READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR GUIDE

Week 27 (Sunday 8th July to Saturday 14th July, 2018) 

1. Sunday:          Proverbs 4-7
2. Monday:         Proverbs 8-10
3. Tuesday:         Proverbs 11-13
4. Wednesday:    Proverbs 14-16
5. Thursday:        Proverbs 17-19
6. Friday:             Proverbs 20-22
7. Saturday:         Proverbs 23-25

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