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.

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

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.

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

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

DOWNLOAD THIS STUDY

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxjb3B3ZWVrbHlzdHVkeWRvd25sb2FkfGd4OjRjN2VkM2ViZWI1NjVhMzk