CENTRAL THOUGHTChristians should not only build houses for God but be well built up as God’s temple. TEXT: EZRA 5:1-5, 6:13-22, 1 COR. 3:6-17, 6:19-20INTRODUCTION:God’s house is also referred to as a temple. It is a house where people worship God from time to time. It is usually different from other buildings because it serves as a sacred purpose. King David planned, and gathered some materials to build God a temple. God however, warned him not to do so through the prophet Nathan because he had shed much blood as a man of war. (2 Sam.7:4-5; 1 Kgs 8:17-19).Solomon his son thus built a very magnificent house for the Lord from 1012 BC to 1005 BC. He used a period of seven years to build it. It was sitted on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem and the Israelites worshipped gladly in it for many years.This beautiful temple was destroyed and the worshippers then, the Israelites, were carried away. LESSON OBJECTIVES To know what God’s temple is. To know what necessitates building houses for God. To know why the first temple was destroyed. To know believer’s responsibilities in building God’s house. To encourage believers to participate in building God’s house BIBLE TRUTH: QUESTION 1) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTAligning with God’s will, plan and purpose remain the only way for an individual to receive and enjoy God’s blessings. TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 13:1-14; 15:1-16. INTRODUCTION:We saw in the first part of this lesson how the children of Israel assumed that the presence of the Ark of God with them in the battlefield would guarantee them victory despite their life of sin. They learned the hard way that God cannot (and should not) be taken for granted. They were defeated in the battle and God allowed the Ark of the Covenant to be captured by the Philistines. Thus, believers today should learn from their experience that we cannot make a practice of sin and expect God’s presence to remain with us. The responsibility is ours to walk before God in holiness so that His presence with us can continuously be guaranteed.In this second part of the lesson, we will discover what befell the Philistines while the ark was with them. They soon found out that the God of Israel is the Almighty God and He alone deserves worship. The experience of the Philistines forced them to carry the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel on their own. Let us prepare our hearts to appropriate the truths derivable...
Learn MoreTo understand what God’s word is.To know why the written word of God should be appreciated.To appreciate the relevance of God’s word.Bible Truth:Q1. What is God’s word?The bible is God’s written word and promise to men. It has been given toguide, instruct and comfort man in life’s journey. From the varioussymbols with which the Bible has been illustrated we see the need tostudy, know and do the word of God. Like a two-edged sword (Heb.4:12)the Bible pierces the heart of the hearer; like a hammer (Jer.23:29) it ispowerful and breaks the resistance of the hearer; like a fire (Jer,20:9;23:29) it is a burning word consuming the dross in the hearer; while likea seed (1 Peter.1:23) the Bible is a living word regenerating the hearer.Moreover, in branding the Bible a mirror, its ability to faithfully reveal theindividual to himself is portrayed (James.1:23-25). This same word issaid to be a lamp and a light (Ps.119:105), illuminating and guiding thebeliever day by day. As food, (1 Peter.2:2; Heb.5:12-14; 1Cor.3:2), theBible is nourishment feeding the soul. The word of God thereforeconvicts, regenerates, reveals, illuminates and nourishes the individual.It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof , for correction, for instruction inrighteousness (2Tim.3:16).There is need to study to show oneself approved as Paul instructedTimothy (1Tim.2:15-16)....
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTKeeping to the terms of a covenant is the major guarantee of its effectiveness. TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 4:1-22 INTRODUCTION:It is a well-established fact in the Scripture that God’s presence is with His people. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s relationship with His people and His presence with them. However, God’s continual presence with His people is not to be assumed. Such presence is only guaranteed when His people live in obedience to His word. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every believer to be conscious of God’s presence and consciously avoid anything or any situation that will rob him of God’s presence and the attendant blessings. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this lesson are to: Understand the structure, contents and purpose of the Ark. Examine the relationship of Israel with God before the battle with the Philistines. Know what happened to Israel’s first encounter with the Philistines and Israel’s reaction. Examine Israel’s wrong assumption following the defeat by the Philistines and the consequences. Know some of the ways we make similar wrong assumptions today; and Teach us what to do to ensure God’s continual abiding presence in our lives. BIBLE TRUTH: QUESTION 1) WHAT WERE THE STRUCTURE, CONTENTS AND PURPOSE OF...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTChrist is the believer’s sure anchor. TEXT: ESTHER 3:1-6; 4:1-14. INTRODUCTION:As believers, we face a number of challenges that put a demand on our faith. These challenges may come to us in all areas of life- socially, politically, economically and spiritually, for which we must take a stand for Christ and be resolved to run the race to the end.Thus, in this study, “The believer’s stand in times like this” we shall be looking at the happenings around us and how a believer should respond to them. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are to: Understand what “The believer’s stand in time like this means; Know the characteristics of the time we are living in; Discuss how some characters in the Bible stood in the time they lived in; Discuss how a believer should respond to the happenings in the time he/she lives in. BIBLE TRUTH:QUESTION 1) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE PHRASE “THE BELIEVER’S STAND IN TIME LIKE THIS”.The believer in the context of this study refers to someone who believes in Christ Jesus. Such an individual must have accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Savior; he/she is someone ready and willing to live his/her life in obedience to the word of the Lord.It...
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