2015 AUGUST WEEK FOUR HOME CELL STUDY / ACTIVITY

SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 23, 2015.

WEEK 34

DEVELOPING PATIENCE

Smile Awhile (focus on fellowship-10 mins):

Lead cell members to mention their favourite character in the Bible.

Into His Presence (focus on worship – 10 mins):

Lead the cell members in a time of adoration to God as led by the Holy Spirit. Let the cell members mention one reason each for praising and collectively worshiping God.

Digging Deeper (focus on the WORD – 40 mins):

Topic: PATIENCE

Main Text: Job 1:13-20

Memory Verse: Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Introduction

Patience or longsuffering is a virtue that is part of the fruit that the Spirit manifests in the believer. The believer has a responsibility to bear this virtue. Patience is defined as the capacity to endure or suffer pain, trouble or adversity with calmness and composure. It also connotes bearing with others their faults and limitations. Patience as taught in scripture is not the apathetic state of being, that accepts all evil in a depressed and passive way. Rather it is a product of our faith in God. Bible kind of Patience is a product of our faith in God. It is grounded in a conviction of the goodness of God and His ability to deliver us from adversity. Patience keeps us trusting and smiling even in difficult times. In our main text, we read about Job, who for no fault of his was tested to the limit of human endurance, yet kept his faith in God. In the face of loss, mockery and scorn from family and friends, Job could say “I know my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). In the final analysis Job’s patience was vindicated.

Discussion Questions

1. What is Patience?

2. Who caused Job’s calamities? Job 1:12

3. Name some of Job’s adversities. Job 1:13-20.

4. What was Job’s response in the face of his troubles? Job 1:21

5. How do you react when you fall into some adversity (sickness, unemployment, bereavement)?

6. How can we cultivate the virtue of Patience?

Conclusion

The Bible teaches us to cultivate the virtue of Patience. A patient man has great understanding (Prov. 14:29),  … a patient man calms a quarrel, Prov. 15:18. Better a patient man than a warrior… Prov. 16:32. As a character trait, this virtue has to be deliberately grown and nurtured in cooperation with the indwelling Holy Spirit. In our fast-paced world, people tend to be rash and reckless in taking decisions and we want quick-fix solutions to our problems and troubles. The patient man is able to wait on God in confident understanding that God is able and willing to intervene in our situation in his own time.

Stand with Me (focus on praying for members’ needs – 10 mins):

Members to pray for one another in turn for specific needs, especially those who have lost their relatives.

Making Jesus Known (focus on evangelism – 10 mins):

Lead members to pray for the community, nation and also all mission fields that the glory of God would be seen. Also pray that the patience of God would reach all the unreached nations in the world.

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2015 AUGUST WEEK THREE HOME CELL STUDY / ACTIVITY

SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 16, 2015.

WEEK 33

INDIGNATION (Righteous Anger)

Smile Awhile (focus on fellowship – 10 mins)

Lead cell members to indicate their favourite colour.

Lead cell members to discuss situations in which they have been angry at some wrong doing.

Into His Presence (focus on Worship – 10 mins)

Sing and worship the Lord for his Goodness

Digging Deeper (focus on the WORD – 40 mins)

Topic: INDIGNATION (Righteous Anger)

Memory Verse: John 2:15 – So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.

Main Text: 1 Samuel 11:1-9

Introduction

Indignation or righteous anger is anger at what is wrongful or unworthy. It is wrath caused by observed wrongdoing, injustice, wickedness or misconduct. It is our sense of right conduct, fellow-feeling and compassion that causes indignation at certain types of behaviour. As Christians, we ought to demonstrate displeasure at injustice and evil wherever these occur. In today’s reading, we see how Saul is indignant at the demand of Nahash the Ammonite to gorge out the right eyes of all the men of Jabesh Gilead before he signs a peace accord with them. The Lord Jesus threw out the traders in the temple because, what they were doing in God’s house of prayer was bad.

Discussion Questions

1. What is Indignation?

2. What demand did Nahash make from the people of Jabesh Gilead? 1Sam 11:2

3. Why was Saul so angry? 1Sam 11:4

4. What did Saul do as a result of his indignation? 1Sam 11: 6-9.

5. What did Jesus do to correct the misconduct of the traders in the temple? John 2:15.

6. How can one express indignation at some societal wrongs? Any personal examples?

Conclusion

It has been said that, “you can’t change what you tolerate”. Our country today is filled with all manner of evil which is destroying us and our environment. Evil thrives because God’s people are apathetic and unconcerned. Issues like domestic violence, child trafficking, sexual abuse, homosexuality, bribery & corruption, throwing waste everywhere, illegal mining (galamsay), and pollution are tearing the society apart. The Church of Pentecost is considered as the largest Pentecostal Church in Ghana. With our numerical strength, our collective indignation at societal wrongs can help to minimize these evils in our land.

Stand with me (focus on praying for members’ needs – 10 mins)

Members should pray for one another in turns for specific needs. Also members should pray that what breaks the heart of God will break their heart as well.

Making Jesus Known (focus on evangelism – 10 mins)

Lead members to pray for the community, nation and also all mission fields that the glory of God would be seen.

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2015 AUGUST WEEK TWO HOME CELL STUDY / ACTIVITY

SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 2015.

WEEK 32

DEALING WITH ANGER

Smile Awhile (focus on fellowship -10mins):

Lead cell members to mention one book in the Bible

Into His Presence (focus on worship – 10 mins):

Lead the cell members in a time of adoration to God as led by the Holy Spirit.

Digging Deeper (focus on the WORD - 40mins):

Topic: DEALING WITH ANGER

Memory Verse: Proverbs 27:4 Anger is cruel and fury is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Man Text: Mark 6:17-28

Introduction

Anger has been described as a strong emotional feeling caused by displeasure at somebody or something. When anger is intense, it turns into rage or fury and in this state one loses control and becomes violent and destructive. It sometimes causes people to behave as if they were mad. In today’s reading, John the Baptist had rebuked King Herod for taking his brother’s wife Herodias. Herodias was furious because John had dared to question their incestuous marriage. So she plotted and waited for an opportune time to express her displeasure. When anger is nursed as in the case of Herodias, it results in bitterness which influences a person’s motives and intentions. In the following weeks, we will study how to handle it.

Discussion Questions

1. What is anger?

2. Why was Herodias angry with John? Mark 6:18-19.

3. ‘So Herodias nursed a grudge against John’ …Mark 6:19. What does this statement mean?

4. What did her anger cause her to do? Mark 6:24-25

5. Can you share a testimony of how anger caused you or another to do wrong?

6. According to Eph. 4:26 and James 1:19 how should you handle anger?

Conclusion

The Bible recognizes that sometimes we may get angry, but it teaches us how to handle anger so that we may not harm ourselves and others. When anger is expressed violently, it may hurt other people, including loved ones. When bottled up in the heart it causes bitterness which can also result in disastrous consequences. The Bible instructs that “be angry but do not sin “and “let not the sun go down on your anger” and again “be slow to anger’. An important way to overcome anger is to speak gently to those who hurt us (Pro.15:1). Forgive and pray for those who deliberately hurt you.

Stand with me (focus on praying for members’ needs – 10 mins):

Members to pray for one another in turns for specific needs. Also members should pray against unholy anger.

Making Jesus Known (focus on evangelism – 10 mins):

Lead members to pray for the community, nation and also all mission fields that the glory of God would be seen. Also pray against spirits that distort the gospel to be put to shame.

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2015 AUGUST WEEK ONE HOME CELL STUDY / ACTIVITY

SUNDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2, 2015.

WEEK 31

FAMILY DAY

On this day, families (husband, wife, children and dependents) are expected to meet in their various homes to discuss issues pertaining to their family life and growth and also pray together. There is no study outline and so the head of the family will provide direction for the day. Where a young person is not staying with parents, they can possibly join another family for the family day, as a way of being nurtured in a family set up.

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2015 JULY WEEK FOUR HOME CELL STUDY / ACTIVITY

SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 2015.

WEEK 30

Prayer Session/Cell Outreach/District Input

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