God is Jealous for me!!!

I love this song because it is a gentle reminder of the love of God ("Mega, off the chart Love") for sinful creatures (Nobodies) like us. Sent His son, His ONLY son, His love, to come and die for us to rescue us from ourselves. With such great love I want this GOD in my life, in my family and in everything that pertains to me!!!! 

Bible's Best....

Just for fun, what's your most favorite Bible passage, and why?

Lesson 10

Civil Responsibilities

Romans 13:1-14

Today’s Verse: 
Romans 13:1 – “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Sneak Peek:

The people of Nigeria have several reasons to distrust and speak badly against the government of their nation. In fact, some feel the nation will be better run without a government calling the shots on how citizens should live their lives.

      As one who is a Christian, what reasons can you give Nigerians to pray and not curse the government?

-     When we pray for the government, we recognize God’s supreme authority over all. When we curse the government, we disregard God.

-     When we pray (bless) the government, we bless ourselves. Because they are the head. When the head is sick, the body is. When the head becomes well, so does the body. Cursing the government of your country is cursing yourself

      What does the Bible say about the way we speak about our government?

-          The Bible says that those in government are ministers of God.

-          The Bible says we must be subject to them, for conscience sake.

What Do I See?

Read the entire passage for today Romans 13:1-14. Write down your Lesson Topic and any key ideas you see.

Lesson Topic – Love, Honor, and Bless, Regardless of Circumstance.

Key Ideas

-          Subjection to higher authority

-          Rulers are ministers of God

-          Love others

-          Put on the armor of light

-          Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

FUN BOX

What is the First Lady’s middle name? FAKA

If you got it right, say

I’m so Nigerian   (put your country’s name here)

What Can I Infer?

1.      What are our duties to our civic rulers? 13:1, 6-7

-          We should be subject to them

-          We should pay our taxes

-          We should honor them

2.    What reasons does Paul give for rendering those duties to our rulers? 13:2-5

-          If we disregard them, we disregard God, and call damnation upon ourselves

-          They are not terror to good works, but to evil

-          They are ministers of God to us for good.

-          God uses them as a tool to execute wrath upon evil doers

-          We should be subject to them to have a clear conscience

3.    What are our duties to fellow citizens of our State and country? 13:8-10

-          Love them as ourselves. Owe only love

4.    How does the last portion of this passage, 13:11-14, relate to the rest of the passage?

-          It tells us why and how we can be enabled to carry out our responsibilities to the government and fellow citizens.

My Summary: In one sentence, summarize Paul’s main point in this passage

-         Even as Christians, our responsibility is not only to the church and to fellow believers, but also to secular government and State, and people in our community; our godly love is not fully expressed without this.

Self-Assessment

1.   What irritates you the most about our government?

-          They’re too corrupt

2.  When have you disagreed with the laws imposed by the government and what did you do?

-          I think some Lagos traffic laws are utterly ridiculous. But I hear they’ve not yet been “legally” enforced. I have done nothing, but complain.

3.  Under what circumstances would you choose to disobey commands of government authorities? What consequences would you be willing to suffer?

-          If they impose laws that seek to blaspheme the glorious Name of Christ.

-          Any consequence (so help me God!)

4.  What motivates you to submit to authority? What makes it difficult for you to submit?

-          Motivation - When the government puts the people first and acts in the interest of the people

-          Discouragement – When people in the government blatantly practice corruption and do not punish the guilty just because he/she is influential.

5.  In general, do you need to work on being more obedient to local, state, or federal laws? Why or why not?

-          Not really. I try to ensure to keep all the rules and do my part. Although, there may be some aspect I may still be lagging. I pray God reveals those to me, and help me obey, even when it is difficult to.

Weekly Self-Assessment Action Plan

1. Resume prayers for the government everyday

2. Also pray for other leaders – home, church, work, etc.

3. Honor my leaders by speaking rightly about them, and respecting God by respecting them.

4.

5.

End of Bible Study Season

We are approaching the end of this Bible study season. In fact, we closed up on the Book of Romans in our live Bible Study group this Sunday. I'll post discussions here soon. I am believing God for inspiration to prepare the manual towards the next Bible study, which will likely focus on the Second Book of Corinthians; and also to help gather new Bible Study members as I have moved locations. Yes,the last Bible Study on Sunday with my friends was quite emotional for me. I'm going to miss them greatly. I trust that God has bigger plans for each of us individually. And I pray that we each find ourselves in groups where people hunger and thirst for God. In the meantime, we'll post topics here and each person will participate by commenting and sharing their views. Please, join in and invite your friends if you like our blog.

Please, also feel free to ask any questions about God or the Bible; 

And share your testimonies,
prayer requests
and new revelational knowledge.

Lesson 9 – Romans 12:1-21; 14:1-9

Lesson 9 

A Little Service, Please - Romans 12:1-21; 14:1-9

Today’s Verse: Romans 12:9-10 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another

Sneak Peek:

Rita has been in the business of helping people for over three decades now. She organizes garage sales, volunteers in soup kitchens, gives to the poor, and just
always steps in to lend a hand when the need arises. Through this, Rita
can boldly say she has experienced God’s favor in her life and in her
family. Her husband, Bob, however, does not believe in helping people.
He believes that people who are in need brought about the unfortunate
situation on themselves, and should take care of those situations
themselves. Rita has said and done all she can to convince her husband
otherwise, all to no avail

      What can you tell Bob that will change his views on service to people?

-          We express the love of Christ by showing love to people and helping to meet their needs. It is our duty to lend a hand. It is not our business how they came about their problems.

      List out ways by which you can lend out a helping hand to people in your church and community. Apply some this week.

-                Giving money

-          Smiling at them

-          Giving a hug

-          Praying for them

-          Listening to them

What Do I See?

Read the entire passage for today Romans 12:1-21; 14:1-9. Write down your Lesson Topic any key ideas you see.

My Title – Be Your Brother’s Keeper!

My Themes

1.      Members of the Body of Christ

2.      Love without dissimulation

3.      Blessings on enemies

4.      Like-mindedness

5.      Living unto God

Fun Box

What’s the kindest thing you’ve done so far?

-          Err, I don’t know. I guess God weighs good deeds differently than we do

What Can I Infer?

1.      How can we present our bodies as living sacrifices to God?

-          By yielding completely to Him and remembering that our bodies are His Temple

2.      Is there any difference in God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will? Explain.

-          I think God’s good will is what is acceptable by Him and it’s what is perfect for an individual. So, NO, I don’t think there is a difference.

[I may be wrong. Other opinions are welcomed]

3.      Identify seven spiritual gifts listed in 12:4-8. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 12 & 14)

-          Prophecy

-          Ministry

-          Teaching

-          Exhortation

-          Giving

-          Ruling

-          Showing of Mercy

4.      How did Paul say we should deal with our fellow brother/sister in Christ? 12:9-21

-          Basically, obey the golden rule when dealing with others. And even more, think of others more highly that yourself.

My Summary: In one sentence, summarize Paul’s main point in this passage

-          Honor God; and while doing that, honor others.

What Do I Do?

Each week, it is important we apply lessons learned from Bible Study into our lives as Christians.

Self-Assessment

1.      What are some potentially divisive differences in values you have observed in your church or among your friends?

-          Opinions about legal rights for individuals in same-sex relationships

-          Christians’ place in wars

-          Christians’ place in politics

2.      What are some values Christians hold as personal convictions that are not clearly supported by Scripture?

-          For me, it’s OK for countries to engage in war as long as it protects their own people

3.      How can differences of opinion or values (a) benefit (b) separate and destroy the body of Christ?

-          If handled well, we can appreciate God for how different people are, and it can help us to be more tolerant of everyone.

-          If not handled well, it can bring conflicts in Christian gatherings, and drag the name of Christ in the mud

4.      In what area do you need to be careful about wrongly condemning others?

-          Wrongly? Mine is not wrongful condemnation… But I admit, it is not in my place to condemn them. And by them, I mean “transgender(s)”… I don’t know anyone who has changed their sex, and I pray that I never meet anyone of those in my lifetime. It is mind-boggling.

Weekly Self-Assessment Action Plan

1. Practice tolerance

2. Give lots of hugs

3. Smile at a lot of random people

4. Do less talking; more listening

5. Pray for God’s blessing upon as many people as possible

In Christ Alone by Owl City

A nice version of this song by Owl City. I love him by the way! 

Lesson 8 – Romans 9:1-8; 10:1-17

Lesson 8 
                                                          Truly Jewish

Romans 9:1-8; 10:1-17

Today’s Verse:
Romans 9:8 – 
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for seed.

Sneak Peek

Micah has grown up in a Jewish home all his life. His parents migrated from Israel many years ago, when he was still a few months old. He has been taught by his parents and Rabbi that Jews are the first begotten of God, and people of other religions are just making claims to being followers of “their” own God.

On many recent occasions, however, Micah’s friendship with his bestie, Samuel, has been nothing short of a source of confusion for him. Samuel just became a Christian and has being attending believers class, where he was told that a real Jew is someone who accepts Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and is righteous by faith and not by deeds, and that anyone can be God’s child, a spiritual Jew. Samuel has been sharing his new found beliefs with Micah.

      What can Samuel tell Micah that will help to clear Micah’s confusion?

Jesus is the only way to God. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Jesus was Jew as a human and He came to fulfill the law that God gave to the Jews, and because of His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross, EVERYONE, not only Jews, now have access to God. Christians are Christ’s followers. God wants everyone to be Christ’s followers, whether they are Jew or Gentile.

      If you met a Jew today, how will you present the gospel of Christ to him/her?

I’ll start from the very beginning – from Creation to the Slavery to Moses’ Law to Exile to Jesus to Now to Eternity.

I believe they’ll understand that way.

 What Do I See?

Read the entire passage for today Romans 9:1-8; 10:1-17. Write down your Lesson Topic and any Key Ideas you see.

Lesson Topic

Not by Work; But By Faith

Key Ideas

1.       Advantages of  being Jew

2.       Seed of Promise

3.       Zeal but no righteousness

4.       Christ, the end of the law of righteousness

5.       Salvation through confession; Righteousness through believing

Fun Box

How many memory verses can you remember so far? Recite them?

Romans 2:21; Romans 7:7

What Can I Infer?

1.       Outline some of God’s gift to Israel, as seen in 9:4-5

-          Adoption as children

-          Glory

-          Covenants

-          Giving of the law

-          The Service of God

-          The Promises

-          Ancestors of Christ

2.       Who is a true Jew, according to 9:6-8

-          Children of the Promise. Children not of flesh, but of God. Spiritual Children from the lineage of Isaac

3.       From 10:1-7, how does Paul describe the Jewish understanding of being right with God?

-          They have a zeal for God, but lack true knowledge

-          They have their own righteousness, but Ignorant of God’s righteousness and not submissive to God’s righteousness

-          They didn’t understand salvation is complete in Christ – starts and ends with Him

-          They thought that the law gave life

4.       How can a person be truly right with God? Romans 10:8-10

-          Through the Word of faith

-          Confessing Jesus with mouth and believing in heart that God raised Jesus from the dead

Lesson Summary: In one sentence, summarize Paul’s main point in this passage

-          One cannot be righteous by works; one has to put on Christ’s righteousness to be righteous.

What Do I Do?

We should not only be hearers of His Word, but also doers.

Self-Assessment

1.       What steps do you take in ensuring that you regularly preach the gospel?

-          I keep tracts in my purse and share around, or drop on counters, in buses, planes

-          I go out of my way to be friendly to bike riders, and sellers, and ask if they know Jesus. Our conversation about Christ usually starts from there.

-          I encourage myself and my Christian friends by raising topics in the Bible or about a character or a deed of God

-          I share testimonies about God’s goodness in my life, and His awesomeness in the world in general

-          I fast and pray once every week for the salvation of the souls of my loved ones (I’ve been slacking on this a little lately. I need to pick it up and be more committed)

2.       Referring to 10:16-17, what can you do, intellectually or spiritually, to help someone understand his/her need for Christ?

I think I’ll do the same thing I will to preach Christ to a Jew, as I stated above – I’ll start from the very beginning; and ALSO, pray continually for the salvation of their souls.

Weekly Self-Assessment Action Plan

1.       Be more serious with my weekly prayer and fasting program for lost souls

2.       Continually preach Christ.

3.       Spend more time in God’s presence, so as to learn more from Him

4.       Share new knowledge of God with friends

5.       Pray for Christians and Christian leaders all over the world