₦airaland Forum

LESSON 3 18/9/2016

PURPOSE FOR THE FAMILY

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 258, 259

Devotional Reading: Mk. 10:1-9

Topic For Adults: Remember The Reasons For Your Marriage

Topic For Youths: Understand Why You Want To Get Married.

Topic For Intermediates Pray For Your Family

Scripture Lesson: Gen. 2:18; 24-25; Eccl. 9:9; Prov. 5:15-20; 1 Cor. 7:2-5; Gen. 18:17-19; Prov. 22:6; Mal. 2:15

Memory Verse: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour (Eccl. 4:9) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 18/9/2016
Provision For Members’ Needs
1 Tim. 5:3-10
One of the reasons for instituting the family is that God wants children raised up in an environment where their needs are met by the parents. Under normal circumstances, the husband is expected to play the role of the bread-winner of the family; that is to provide for the needs of every member of the family. Economic situation has so much eroded the economic worth of so many husbands that they cannot adequately provide enough for the family. In such situation, the wife should join hands with the husband to ensure the smooth running of the family. It is utter irresponsibility for the husband to have the means, but fail to provide for his family. There are husbands who claim to be Christians, but do not care to know how the children are fed, clothed and trained in school. Such husbands are worse than infidels. They negate God’s agenda for the family. Similarly the wife whose main priority is expensive clothing and jewelry, at the expense of the family welfare.



Point of Emphasis: If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith.

Prayer Point: God, touch the heart of husbands who do not provide for the upkeep of their families.



BACKGROUND

God has established the family as the basic unit in the society. God assigned the responsibility of the head of the family to man while the woman is created as the loving companion and helper for man. Marriage is what brings about the family. It is a permanent union created by God for couples to enjoy marital bliss. This week’s lesson aims at addressing issues that will make marriage to endure and thrive forever.



NOTES ON THE TEXT

PART 1: MARRIAGE IS FOR COMPANIONSHIP AND SUPPORT (GEN. 2:18, 24-25; ECCL. 9:9)

Companionship is the foremost reason for God instituting marriage. A companion is someone that a person has chosen to share his time, feelings, joy and sorrow with. Man is a social being and would find life unbearable if he were to spend all his life alone. Experience has shown that people easily lose their minds when put in solitary confinement. God knew that it was not good for man to dwell alone; hence He created a companion for him. However many couples treat their relationship with their spouses with levity. The person who was chosen to be the companion often becomes a boxing partner or a punch bag. Couples spend days without speaking to one another. Couples quarrel and find it difficult to forgive one another. Spouses wound each other emotionally and physically. These are outside the will of God for marriage.

God’s desire is that couples should live together in harmony, forgiving each other’s offences, sharing their joy, successes and failures together. Marriage failures occur because man has abandoned God’s intention for marriage. Instead man is pursuing his own agenda. God is still calling man back to His original plan.



PART 2: MARRIAGE IS A ROUTE TO ESCAPE SEXUAL IMMORALITY (PROV. 5:15-20; 1 COR. 7:2-5)

Fornication and adultery are extra-marital relationships which God seriously frowns upon. There is a clear warning that people who indulge in them will be judged (Hebrews 13:4). Equally condemnable before God is every form of sexual perversion, which the Bible classifies as coming from depraved minds (Rom. 1:26-27). These forms of sexual immorality destroy God’s plan for the family and the generation of human race. People who brazenly engage in these sins dishonor God and are under His wrath. Free and trial sexual relationships are encouraged in many cultures. Some devices to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases have been made available. In these cultures the targets are the youths. Those who engage in extra-marital relationships may avoid the physical repercussions, but cannot avoid God’s judgment.

In order to legitimately satisfy sexual desire, which in itself is from God, God instituted marriage. Sexual relationship between a male husband and his female wife is not sinful. It can be engaged in without inhibition and without one party withholding it as a weapon to quarrel. It is engaged in, not just for the pleasure, but for child-bearing too. Sexual relationship should therefore be engaged in with necessary thoughtfulness and plan so as to avoid large family size that the available resources cannot cope with. Before marriage, sexual urge has to be put under full control.



PART 3: MARRIAGE IS FOR REARING GODLY CHILDREN. (GEN. 18:17-19; PROV. 22:6; MAL. 2:15)

Marriage, as instituted by God between a man and a woman, is a means for the continuation of the human race through procreation. Through marriage, one generation produces the next generation. Without proper marriage, human race will go into extinction. But God’s intention for instituting marriage goes beyond just having children; God wants parents to train their children to fear and obey Him. He wants godly parents to bring up godly children. Unfortunately many parents are too busy or too unconcerned to make necessary input that is needed for the children to grow to know the Lord. They expect the children to come out right because they go to church and hear the pastors preach. They depend on housemasters and housemistresses in boarding schools to train the children. It is the responsibility of the parents to train the children. You cannot contract out this responsibility to another person.

The church of God should also expend genuine effort to intercede on behalf of couples who have delay in child-bearing. It is a painful experience that only those who are passing through it or have passed through it can understand. Since God promised that none among His people shall be barren (Exo. 23: 26), the church should earnestly pray for these couples and encourage them.

CONCLUSION

Marriages fail and families suffer because man has abandoned God’s plan for marriage. Marriage and family life can still succeed if every couple would review their reactions to God’s commands and plans for the family.



QUESTIONS

What is the foremost reason why God established marriage?

How do couples wound one another emotionally and physically? Is this the will of God?

Can those who engage in sexual perversion avoid God’s judgment?

What can happen to the human race without proper marriage?

Why are marriages failing today and what should be the remedy?

LESSON 2 11/9/2016

GOD’S PATTERN FOR THE FAMILY

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 223, 260

Devotional Reading: Matt. 19:1-12

Topic For Adults: Conform to God’s plan for your family.

Topic For Youths: Decide To Follow God’s Commands For Your Marital Relationship.

Topic For Intermediates: God’s Plan For The Family Is Ideal For You

Scripture Lessons: Gen. 2:22-24; Mk. 10:1-10; Heb. 13:4

Memory Verse: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 11/9/2016
Husband Is Head Of The Family
Eph. 4:17-23
In any human organization, there needs to be someone in control. In the case of the family, God’s plan is that the husband should be the head. The issues of women fighting for their right arose because men have misunderstood and often have misused the concept of being the head of the home. The husband being the head does not confer on the husband the power to oppress or subjugate the wife; neither does it make the wife inferior to the husband. Every member of the family is important, and each should learn to submit one to another. Being the head of the family implies being given the privilege of taking the final decision in cases where a consensus cannot be reached on a matter. Wise husbands have learnt to take their wives, ideas and suggestions seriously in taking decisions.

Point of Emphasis: The husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church.

Prayer Point: Grant husbands and wives the wisdom to manage the homes in the knowledge and fear of you, Lord.

BACKGROUND

There is increased wave of some believers who compromise the Biblical standard with the world. To prevent the drift and ensure that Christians continue to comply with God-given standard, there is a need for us to be reminded of the plan of God for Christian family. This will enhance Christians to pattern their families on God’s plan.

NOTES ON THE TEXT

PART 1: HUSBAND AND WIFE BECOME ONE FLESH (GEN. 2:22-24)

The desire to acquire wives is not new, just as the temptation to disobey God’s commands is not new. The first man to have two wives is recorded in Genesis 4:19. Many men over the millennia have taken several wives. The original plan of God is that the family should be built on the foundation of one man committing himself (leaving father and mother) to one woman in marriage. God’s plan does not permit co-habitation (man and woman living together without getting married) or trial marriage (man and woman living together to see if they are compatible without affirmed commitment to each other). It also precludes having concubines.

The challenge of enjoying a happy family life is greatly compounded when polygamy or extra-marital relationship is embraced. The records of polygamous families in the Bible illustrate the strife, suspicion, bloodshed and many other woes that families such often go through.

PART 2: MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE (MK. 10:1-10)

By the time Jesus Christ was born, some Pharisees were teaching that a man could put away (legally divorce or be separated from) his wife for any reason the man deemed fit on the basis that Moses permitted it (Deut. 24:1-4). Jesus declared that divorce was a permission given because of the hardness of the people’s heart. Divorce and separation were not part of God’s plan for the family life. In fact, God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16).

A genuinely born-again Christian does not go ahead to do what God hates, because he knows the act will separate him from God. Two people starting a family together should have strong commitment to make the relationship a success. The strongest weapon against divorce is forgiveness and genuine repentance. In any marriage, one party will offend the other. The offending party should genuinely repent and decide not to allow such offence to occur again. The offended party should also learn to forgive freely. In an atmosphere of repentance and forgiveness, the consideration for divorce will not arise. If divorce does not come in, there won’t be any thought of remarriage.

PART 3: SEXUAL PERVERSION IS FORBIDDEN (HEB. 13: 4)

Sexual relationship is an important ingredient which God put in place to solidify marriage relationship. The devil has turned man’s desire about sex to sensual self-indulgence without recourse to God’s commands and plan for man. The society in many cultures has come to accept as normal different forms of sexual perversion.

Any sexual relationship outside of that which God approves – between a man and a woman committed to each another in marriage – can be regarded as perversion. It comes in the form of extra-marital affairs, homosexuality (sexual relationship between persons of the same sex); bestiality (sex between a person and an animal); etc.

God frowns at sexual perversion seriously and judges sexual perverts sternly. Societies, in which sexual perversion is openly accepted considers itself open-minded. God hates the sin, though He loves the sinner and wants the sinner to change from his ways. The act of sexual perversion is an abomination before God.

CONCLUSION
Marriage is indeed honorable for all. The problems we face in the family relationships are due to man forsaking the plans of God for the family. When we submit ourselves to follow God’s plan, the family life becomes a source of joy and support for every member of the family.

QUESTIONS

What are some practices that are not compatible with God’s plan for marriage?

Why is the challenge of enjoying a happy family life compounded when extra marital affairs is involved?

Did Jesus give permission to divorce?

Why should Christian not adopt society cultures about sex as normal?

What are the implications of sexual perversion and why did God frown at it seriously?

LESSON 1 4/9/2016

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FAMILY



Suggested Hymns: G.H.B 22, 32

Devotional Reading: Deut. 6:4-9

Topic for Adults: Allow God to be in control of your family.

Topic For Youths: Lay The Foundation Of Your Future Home On Jesus Christ.

Topic For Intermediates: Jesus Is The Sure Foundation For A Happy Family

Scripture Lesson: 1 Cor. 3:9-17; Prov. 24:3-4; 18:22

Memory Verse: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 4/9/2016
Know Who You Are – Your Temperaments
Prov. 30:11-14


God created a lot of variety of human beings, each one different from another. Temperament is the basic template with which one is created. It dictates one’s natural tendencies, natural strength and weaknesses, and affects one’s outlook in life, behavior and relationships. There are people who are reserved while others are extroverts; some people are meticulous and well organized in all they do, while others do not care about details; etc. Hardly do two people of the same temperament marry one another; couples are meant to complement one another – in the area where the man is weak the wife should be strong and vice versa. In essence, it is not every sister in the church that is suitable for a particular brother. Each man should know his nature very well and be able to decide what kind of temperament will enhance his life and destiny. No matter what your temperament may be, it should be moderated by the Holy Spirit.



Point of Emphasis: Know the temperament of the person you intend to marry, or you have married.

Prayer Point: Father, give our singles the wisdom to know the right person to marry.



BACKGROUND

The importance of having a family based on God’s standard must not be undermined. Blissful family has much to do with the kind of family one establishes. It is the intention of this week’s lesson to sensitize believers on how they can make their families role models in this polluted world.



NOTES ON THE TEXT

PART 1: MAKE JESUS THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE (1 COR. 3: 9-17)

God is the author of marriage and family. He has the blueprint of what it takes to make a strong and successful marital home. He also has all the resources necessary for the family to overcome every challenge the family may face. Right from the Garden of Eden, Satan has deceived man to think he can do without God. Rather than getting re-connected after sin separated him from God, man has been struggling to make it in life on his own. The steady decline in the quality of family life and the attendant heart ache are clear proofs that man’s effort to manage God’s institution of marriage is not working.

God created the bridge that connects man back to Him. He made Jesus pay the penalty of sin through His death on the cross. Man needs to surrender his life to Jesus by accepting Him as his Lord and Savior. Taking this step enables a man to lay the foundation of his life on the Eternal Rock; the foundation is therefore forever secured. When Jesus is Lord and Savior to both husband and wife, the home is sure to succeed. Any other ground on which the foundation of the home may be laid is sinking sand. If the foundation of your home was not laid upon Jesus Christ, you can invite Him into your home today, so that He can reset the foundation.

PART 2: BUILD YOUR FAMILY ON THE WISDOM OF GOD (PROV. 24:3-4)

Many families are built on faulty foundations – foundation of lies and deceit; foundation of worldly wisdom; foundation of fleshly lust and premarital sex; foundation in which the fear of God and commitment to His commands are secondary; etc. Since God is the author of marriage, His prescription for marriage should be the most important for any couple planning to get married or already married. This is wisdom. Wisdom prevents couples from doing things which will undermine their family. Wisdom makes couple to be open and truthful to each other. Wisdom makes them seek God’s face concerning any issue that affects them. Wisdom makes a couple respect and love each other. Wisdom keeps at bay any act of selfishness and makes spouses care for each other’s interests. But the foolish woman pulls down her home with her hands (Proverbs 14:1) while the foolish husband scatters his home with his fists. Wisdom makes couples determine to forgive one another’s offences.



PART 3: ALLOW GOD TO CHOOSE FOR YOU (PROV. 18:22)

To find a good husband or a good wife is a favor from the Lord. It is a well-known fact that it is not every brother or sister in the church that appears very spiritual is a marriage material. Not every pair of brother and sister in the church will form a happy marital couple. God knows every person beyond the outward appearance. He knows which man will fit a particular woman perfectly, and vice versa. If you are not yet married, take time to wait upon God, so as to know whom God will choose for you. If you are already married, do not use this as excuse to divorce or separate from your spouse. Ask God to come and intervene in the family situation to correct whatever is wrong with the foundation of your home.



CONCLUSION

This lesson “laying the foundation for family” is an eye-opener for all those who want a godly family in this present generation. There are some worldly postulations and philosophy that have been proffered concerning marriage but have not yielded positive result. Children of God should bear it in mind that nothing can compare favourably to the standard of God. It is, therefore, advisable for children of God to stick to what God has stipulated for His children.



QUESTIONS

If a wife is the bone of the man’s bone and flesh of the man’s flesh, why then do Christian homes still experience turbulence?

Which should take priority: the prevalent cultural practice or what the Bible says about the family?

What do you think can make a family thrive and succeed in life?

Mention those things that wisdom does in family.

We are currently into marriage. What is marriage? Who owns marriage? What are the things to do not to choose wrongly? and many more. As we continue, God will make us understand his word d more

Good day

My name is Victor and I want to share some things online. I will be posting and explaining some certan things with the use of the Bible and logical reasoning.

It's like a daily devotion and I'll try as much to be updating the post very early in the morning because it's a good thing to start your day with the word of the Lord

All what I'll be posting here will be from the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) Sunday school.

Started new quarter on early September and I'll only post Sunday lectures at once to meet up with lesson

May God help us.

And please feel free to ask your questions

Pardon my English too

Lalasticlala
Seun
Ishilove

lekkie073:
According to The Sun, Jose Mourinho is ready to
drop his skipper after a series of
underwhelming performances.
United slumped to their third loss in a row on
Sunday, suffering a 3-1 defeat away to
Watford.
And Rooney in particular has come under fire
for his poor showing at Vicarage Road.
The 30-year-old star didn't create a chance,
didn't play a through a ball and made just one
tackle all game.
Tellingly, a poll on leading fans forum
RedCafe.net has revealed that a staggering
95.8 per cent of United supporters believe
Rooney is now unable to compete at the
required level.
One fan wrote: “I just cannot understand why
he is allowed play after bad performance after
bad performance. That was the worst yet.
“It's been the case for 3 years now. It's a joke
he still starts for us," posted another.

When I read about this thing yesterday... Tears of joy jus filled my eyes.... Rooney is gone...he should just go to mls or retire.. His time is up

Oga o.. So no miui8 for redmi note 3 mtk edition

Abeg.. Tell amosun ooo... Workers plenty for ogun state weh e never pay for over 6 months now both in academic and health sector

D album is dope tho

Still waiting for miui 8 for redmi note 3 mtk

lekpaboy:
That agent didn't manage the call well and ought to be marked down for quality. He didn't listen actively to the caller, he didn't apologise or even empathise. He felt the sub was just disturbing him. In fact he probably would've thought he was a hoax caller. Well that's why I like the Etisalat agents. They'll apologise, sound friendly and even compensate you.

Compen kini... Ooh... U b eti worker abi... Rubbish people

This thing is so annoying... And na all networks dey do am... Oloriburku people

Did u download any latest app?... I mean did u download any app lately?

Sermwell:
I feel going to church is just a waste of time since they are all going to be repeating themselves everyone here in our house is busy preparing for tomorrow's sunday service but I don't see the big deal and I'm already making up my mind not to attend any church service anymore! I'm just tired abeg!! I hope this is normal!

I think it's the kind of church u r going. Going to church is essential in a Christian's life and I think d solution for u is to pray to God to lead u to HIS church not d church u want but d church HE wants u to be

Mobdro
Sky sports 1

If u want to watch online, download wss or uknow or mobdro

Cool down and watch d most expensive match in football history

Abeg... Help me beg rain make e pause ... Rain no wn make me watch derby

investigator007:
One mentality Nigerians have is that once it is expensive, then it is original.

Lolz... And another mentality about Nigerians is they do not think before concluding

D top Chinese products I know are 4
Huawei
Xiaomi
One plus
Others...

And also, better products don't come cheap

I don't even think d 500mb is renewable

Na d airpods me need.... Hope it will work for other phones apart from iPhone?

VIPERVENOM:
passing by

How fa... U no dey ginger us again o

abhosts:
There is a difference. Nigerian atheists are usually very Rude, Proud and Condescending to people of Faith but that cannot be said of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.

That's just it... Many atheists in Nigerian always criticise other religions also

Here on nairaland, see a topic on pastor having sex with member or flaunting money, they won't be slow to criticize Christianity. They always shout there is no God but I don't know what they gain from bashing those that believe in God

Harmored:
*GO AND WATCH "GOD IS NOT DEAD" thank me later

That's the way

Fm 17 on my mind