Weekly Bible Lessons Notes Scripture, unless otherwise indicated, is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved. All comments, enquiries and suggestions may be directed to: The Head, Educational Resource Development Department Freeman Centre for Missions and Leadership Development, P. O. Box 413, Kumasi, Ghana. Telephone: (051) 23014, 20968 Email: [email protected] Copyright © The Methodist Church Ghana January - June 2010 1 148 The Weekly Bible Lessons is produced biannually by the Educational Resource Development Department of the Freeman Centre for Missions and Leadership Development of The Methodist Church Ghana, under the supervision and over- sight of the Board of Ministries of the Church. This booklet is designed to facili- tate and enhance organised group Bible studies, within group (class) meetings Notes and personal devotion. Review Editor Our Writers The following writers made significant contributions to this edition of Weekly Bible Lessons, January-June 2010. Right Reverend Professor O. Safo-Kantanka, BSc., MSc., PhD. , Diocesan Bishop, Kumasi Diocese Very Reverend Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, BA. , Chaplain, KNUST, Kumasi. Very Reverend G. K. Abeyie Sarpong, BA., Superintendent Minister, Tutuka Circuit, Obuasi Diocese. Very Reverend (Mrs). Comfort Ruth Quartey-Papafio, MTS., ThM., Kasoa Circuit, Winneba Diocese. Very Reverend James K. Walton, BSc., MDiv., Headmaster, Methodist Day Senior High School, Tema. Rev. Daniel Kwasi Tannor, BA., MPhil., Lecturer, Christian Service University College, Kumasi. Rev. Richard E. Amissah, Evangelism Coordinator, Kumasi Diocese. Rev. Kwame Amoah Mensah., B.Ed., Diocesan Youth Organizer, Kumasi Diocese. Rev. Mark S. Aidoo, BD., MTh., Student, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. Mr. John Ntsiful, BA., MTh., Senior Lecturer, Christian Service University College, Kumasi. Mr. Solomon Acquah, BA., MPhil., Methodist Church, Ahinsan Circuit, Kumasi Diocese. Very Rev. Christopher Andam, BA., MSc., Superintendent Minister, Ayigya Circuit, Kumasi Diocese. Rev. David K. Yalley., BTh., Bohyen Circuit, Kumasi Diocese. Rev. Patrick Kofi Amissah., B.Ed., B.D., M.A., M.Phil. Student, St. Edmund's College, University of Cambridge, UK. 147 2 Our Guest Writers Mr. J. G. K. Owusu., BSc., Immediate Past Lay Chairman, Kumasi Diocese. Notes Mr. Alfred Sakyi, BA., MBA., Head, Consumer Finance, Ecobank Ghana, Accra. Mr. Paul Mantey, B.Comm., MBA., Deputy Head EDC Investments Ltd & Fund Manager iFund Mutual Fund, Ecobank, Accra. Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi., BA., MA., DMin., Director, Methodist Church E.M.R Division, Accra Mrs. Ama Birago Kantanka Gyimah., BSc., M.Sc. Student, KNUST, Kumasi. Editorial Staff Editors: Very Reverend James K. Walton, BSc., MDiv., Headmaster, Methodist Day Senior High School, Tema. Reverend Daniel Kwasi Tannor, BA., MPhil., Lecturer, Christian Service University College, Kumasi. Editorial Assistant: Mr. Richard E. Amissah Jnr., Freeman Centre For Missions and Leadership Development (FCMLD). Review Editor: Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo-Kantanka, Diocesan Bishop, Kumasi Diocese. Published by: Freeman Centre For Missions and Leadership Development (FCMLD). Very Rev. Samuel Kofi Osabutey, Director, Lay Ministries Division & FCMLD. Rev. Daniel Kwasi Tannor, Head, Educational Resource Development Department. 3 146 A NEW OUTLOOK FOR WEEKLY BIBLE LESSONS BIBLE LESSON APPLICATION We are pleased to present to you the Weekly Bible Lessons (WBL) in a new Apply the lessons of today’s study in your home and share the results with format. The lessons that have been used since the inception of the WBL have been your group taken from the Uniform Series Ministries in Christian Education of the World Council of Churches. Bible Study Leader: Please ensure that all in your group, have set up the After more than a decade of using these lessons it has become necessary to widen family altar in their homes, except where the head of the home disallows it. the scope of the topics discussed in the WBL. DAILY BIBLE READINGS This is the fifth edition of a new three-year cycle of lessons which cover issues Monday Joshua 24 : 14-18 Joshua’s house and Israel serve the relevant to our own situation. The major themes covered include the following:- Lord Doctrine, Family Life Education, Church and Society, Health and Sanitation, The Tuesday Deuteronomy 4 : 9-10 Teach your children about the Lord Environment, Worship Life, Evangelism and Nominalism, Leadership, Poverty and Wealth Creation, Life and Ministry of Jesus and Character Studies. Wednesday Proverbs 22 : 5-6 Train a child in God’s way Thursday 2 Timothy 3 : 14-17 Timothy exhorted to continue in In each edition, one of the themes would be given the major emphasis. For the scriptures he has known from example, in this edition Poverty and Wealth Creation has been allotted 10 of the infancy 26 weeks. Friday Isaiah 55 : 10-11 The Word will not return empty Saturday Psalm 78 : 5-8 The fear of the Lord to proceed The format for presentation has also been changed. In some cases, we have fol- lowed the old format you are familiar with (i.e Background, In Depth, The Word in from generation to generation. Our Lives, Test Yourself, Discussion Questions, etc). In others a write-up on the topic has been presented. As much as possible, the biblical basis of the topic has been given in the write-up. It is expected that the exposition will be well studied to form the basis of the Discussion. We encourage every literate member of the Church to have their own copy of the WBL and study the exposition at home, so that there can be a meaningful discussion of the topic at the Bible Class Meeting. The writers have researched into the topics and presented you with a wealth of information. Therefore let us make very good use of these materials. It is our hope that this new approach will help deepen your knowledge of the Bible, especially as it relates to the every day issues that confront us. We welcome any suggestions that will help us improve on this new approach to our Christian Education. God bless you for using the Weekly Bible Lessons. Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Safo-Kantanka Review Editor Instructions For Use: This volume of Weekly Bible Lessons contains 26 Lessons. The lessons which follow the old format are divided into nine sections: Key Verse, Scripture Lesson, 145 4 Helping to resolve conflict by having conflicting family members say or Background, In Depth, The Word in Our Lives, Test Yourself, Discussion write a few things they like about the other person. This becomes a Questions, Bible Lesson Application and Daily Bible Readings. The goal of these helpful reminder to look at the positive sides of each family member. lessons is to provoke Bible Study group (class) members to think more seriously With conflict comes the need to forgive or be forgiven, a good lesson about their faith. Therefore, it is not necessary to complete all the sections of each on how we can be Christ-like. lesson. Your group should study a different lesson for each week. Each group member should read and study each lesson, whenever possible, before the group meets. D. THE ALTAR OF THE SPOUSES Group Leaders: When preparing your lessons, consult each section for your own Christian couples have a wonderful opportunity to strengthen their personal study. Later, when you are leading your group meeting use only those relationship under God with the constant application of devotional methods. sections that will be best for your group. The least they can do is to pray together on a daily basis. Short periods of Bible study may also be added. This way they learn to share their joys, fears The New Format for the Weekly Bible Lessons: Some of the lessons in this edition have been based on a new format which con- and struggles with each other and with God. sists of the following arrangements: Mutual trust and support is needed here to sustain this kind of activity. A Key Verse: Wherever appropriate, a Biblical passage which brings out the key breach of confidence occurs when one spouse begins to refer to a problem issues being discussed has been quoted. Members are encouraged to make this the Memory Verse. shared by the other spouse in a derogatory manner or in order to tease him/ her. Regular engagement in spousal devotions can only serve to grow the Scripture Lesson: The selected Bible passages may not deal directly with the relationship that they have with God and with each other. topic under discussion, but they provide information that relates to the issue. They are to be read, but may not necessarily form the basis of the write-up. CONCLUSION Introduction: This gives the reason why the topic needs to be discussed. Christian homes that value obedience to scripture and are concerned about the benefits that this will bring to their family life will do all in their power to Exposition: This constitutes the main body of the write-up. It is expected that establish and continue the family altar. the leader would have read the lesson and lead the class in understanding the ex- position just as they would have done with the In-Depth in the Old Format. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS The Word in Our Lives: This section deals with the Christian response to the 1. Discuss the reasons why the family altar should be set up. Add to the list issue under discussion. The leader must ensure that this is made clear to the group if you may. so that they can respond appropriately to the issues. Sometimes The Word In 2. Discuss the stated obstacles to the setting up of the family altar and their Our Lives is incorporated in the Exposition, it being so closely linked to the issues under discussion.