RCCG House Fellowship Leader’s Manual 26 April 2020, Lesson 35 – House Fellowship Centers And Christian Social Responsibility
Click HERE for Previous RCCG Manual
TOPIC: House Fellowship Centers And Christian Social Responsibility (scroll down for RCCG House Fellowship 35 April 2020 Anthem)
Click HERE for Open Heaven 26 April 2020
PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to be a blessing to others.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Leader should ask members to discuss what our core assignment is as sons of God.
MEMORY VERSE: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” – Proverbs 19:17
BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 2:38-47, Matthew 25:31-45
Acts 2:38-47:
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Matthew 25:31-45:
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Historically, Christian Social Responsibility has always been in the Church and other mediating agencies which have mainly helped the poor. Christians’ social responsibility involves the practical care for individuals and families, following the example of Jesus and the Apostles. Acts 9:36-41
TEXT REVIEW: Acts 2:38-47, Matthew 25:31-45
i. Ensure that the Word has been shared, it is part of your responsibility.
ii. Ensure that no brethren is in need of what you have
iii. Let brotherly love continues
iv. How pleasant is it to dwell in unity
v. Let us dwell with each other with simplicity of heart.
LESSON OUTLINES:
MEANING OF SOME KEYWORDS:
HOUSE FELLOWSHIP: House Fellowship can be defined as a meeting in the house, an office, market place, underneath tree, a section of the school compound, etc, where believers (of different levels of spiritual maturity) and unbelievers gather at an agreed and at a particular day and time of the week to share The Word of God as well as praying for one and another.
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Is a moral (internal) concern with the injustice in the society, including poverty, discrimination, segregation, oppression. Such concern is followed by (external) action in the form of social assistance or social service. Social assistance is provided to help those in need (the oppressed, the underprivileged, the poor, handicapped and disabled persons, victims of family violence, new immigrants), through financial support or volunteer work.
CHRISTIANS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE BIBLE (OLD TESTAMENT)
- It is among the most powerful calls from God to help those who are in need Proverb 21:13
- God cares about the poor and the oppressed Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Psalms 146:7-9, particularly widows and orphans Isaiah 1:16-17, Exodus 22:22-24
- God acts by devicing programs to reduce increasing inequality between the rich and the poor, such as Jubilee year when everyone could return to their original land which must have been lost Leviticus 25:10-17
- God denounces the rich and the powerful for oppressing the poor Isaiah 3:14-15; Jeremiah 5:26-29; Ezekiel 16:49; Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-12
Oppressing a poor man insults God Proverb 14:31; 17:5
God encourages action by associating righteousness to one who promotes justice and acts fairly in society Ezekiel 18:5-9
FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:
- The ministry of Jesus is a demonstration of evangelism and social assistance hand-in-hand. In Jesus’ public ministry, He went about teaching as well as helping the poor Luke 18:22 and healing.
- The social ministry of Jesus was followed by His disciples Act 3:5
- Social assistance to fellow Christians is a priority 1 John 3:17, but also to non-believers Galatians 6:10
- Jesus warns those who neglect the poor in Matthew 25:41-45
- There are treasures in Heaven in helping those in need. 1 Timothy 6 :18-19
- By helping them, we are preaching Christ to them. Luke 4:18-19
SUMMARY:
It is our responsibility to ensure that no one is in need.
CONCLUSION:
Our house fellowship centres are also known as care centres as we demonstrate practical love of Christ of the early Church. Members with challenges such as financial, academic, medical, spiritual etc find assistance from their centres because of its small membership size than big churches with their large membership.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Meet a need you are capable of meeting around you.
PRAYER POINTS
- Father, empower our house fellowship centres to care for the needy in Jesus Name.
- Father, please remember the poor, the homeless and the needy and meet them at the point of their needs in Jesus Name
- Pray for rapid growth of RCCG physically, spiritually and numerically.
- Pray for Daddy G.O and his family.
- Father, increase RCCG geometrically through our Christian social responsibility.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men
TUESDAY: Proverbs 18:24
Good neighbourliness
WEDNESDAY: Luke 4:18
Reach out to the poor.
THURSDAY: Deuteronomy 15:11
Caring for the needy
FRIDAY: Luke 10:30-37
There is reward in showing mercy to the needy
SATURDAY: Job 36:6
God does not preserve the life of the wicked, but He gives right to the poor.
SUNDAY: Hebrews 13:2
Hospitality.
AUTHOR:
Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The Redeemed Christian Church Of God.
House Fellowship Anthem
- I love this family Of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - Come and join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE
10 minutes for Opening Prayer, Praise and Worship
10 minutes for Testimonies
15 minutes for Bible Discussion
15 minutes for General Prayers
10 minutes for Questions & Answers
5 minutes for Welcoming New Members
10 minutes for Announcements, Offering, House Fellowship Anthem & Closing Prayers.
Total – 60 Minutes (1 Hour)