Bible Study Guide for Churches, Small House Fellowships, and Discussion Groups

By Richard Sogunle

In my many years of attending Bible study, I have found that many who attend barely grow beyond the level of being fed the word of God. Many are stocked in the level of milk without the capacity to handle the solid word of God. The aptitude and zeal to understand and rightly share the word of God is absent in the greater percentage of church attendees today. Every good shepherd desire that their flocks grow in their spiritual muscle and be able to stand anywhere and anytime on their faith feet without being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. However, due to various environmental and organizational challenges, a small group Bible study setting may be lacking in many churches. The members may attend worship services on Sunday and other times, and listen to the pastor's sermon day after day, but never have the opportunity to contribute their God-given ideas or ask questions that could strengthen their courage to share their faith with understanding. This book is designed to challenge believers in reading a passage of the scripture and equip them with spiritual-warfare weapon in memory verse during each Bible study session. The individual will have the opportunity to learn and discuss the weekly topic and questions that follow every introduction to the topic. The study guide is simply arranged to enable any believer or group of believers and families to use in any Bible study group setting. The study guide discusses various topics with supporting scriptural references to equip participants with practical knowledge and applications to their daily Christian living. Bible Study Guide for Churches, Small House Fellowships, and Discussion Groups is a must-have handbook for pastors, leaders of various Christian fellowship groups, and believers that will love to grow in their Christian walk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781641407212

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Bible Study Guide

for Churches, Small House Fellowships, and Discussion Groups

Richard Sogunle

ISBN 978-1-64140-720-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64140-721-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Richard Sogunle

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Series 1

The Word of God

Topic: The Word of God

Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Passage: Joshua 1:8–9, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the

Lord

your God is with you wherever you go."

Background to the Word of God: The Bible contains the inspired word of God through faithful men. It reveals the mind of God, the nature of man, the punishment of sinners, the path to salvation, and the joy of the believers. The Bible is made up of sixty-six different books, and divided into two sections, the Old and the New Testaments. The Old Testaments contains thirty-nine books, which also were divided into five categories: five books of the Law—Genesis to Deuteronomy; twelve history books—Joshua to Esther; five wisdom books—Job to Song of Solomon; five books of major prophets—Isaiah to Daniel; and twelve books of the minor prophets—Hosea to Malachi. There is a four hundred years of God’s silence before the new era of the New Testament began. The New Testament contains twenty-seven books. The first four books contain the record about the birth, life, death, resurrection, and the ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The book of Acts gave the account of the Acts of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church. There are twenty-one epistles written to the churches and individuals. Lastly, the Bible ends with Revelation. The Bible declares God’s eternal plan for man’s redemption from eternity past to eternity future through his inspired words. May we gain understanding through the power of his words as we study his words in Jesus’ name.

Discussion

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of incredible and unbelievable stories and events. What do you think about the infallibility and the inerrancy of the Word of God (Prov. 30:5–6, Ps. 119:140, Rev. 22:18–19)?

The word Bible can be considered an acronym that may stand for B, Basic; I, Instruction, B, Before; L, Living; E, Earth. How much influence and authority has the Word of God in directing your day-to-day moral and spiritual life (Ps. 119:11, 89, 105; Job 4:4)?

The Bible contains the revealed mind of God, plans of God, and the move of God. Therefore, it is complete for instruction, for reproof, and for correction in right standing with God (2 Tim. 3:16–17). It is life’s manual for the children of God. How often do you read the manual?

Your word is you, so the Word of God is God. It is living—ever alive. It is powerful, able to do whatever God wants to do. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, knows all things (Heb. 4:12, John 1:1, Ps. 138:2). How is the word of God, God?

How difficult is it for you in understanding the Word of God, and how willing are you to be a Bible student?

Series 1

Topic: The Word of God 2

Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Passage: Numbers 23:16–19, "Then the

Lord

met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go back to Balak, and thus you shall speak.’ So he came to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, ‘What has the

Lord

spoken’ Then he took up his oracle and said: ‘Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor!’ God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

Introduction: The Bible contains the revealed mind and purpose of God for man. When God speaks through the Bible, he meant what he says and will not lie. There is no error, inconsistency, or joke in the word of God. Man may lie, he may be incoherent and inconsistent in his words, but God’s word never changes. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When the word of God dwells within you richly, you understand the character of God, and walking with him becomes a stress-free lifestyle. The word of God purifies your word, purges your mind, and aligns your ways with the plans and purpose of God. The word of God is one of the major weapons in a spiritual warfare. If you possess this weapon both in your heart and on your lips, you stand the ground of winning against the devil, your mind, and other contrary words all the time. The word of God is powerful, and it gives power and effectiveness to your prayer life. As we study, may our inner man be strengthened through the power of his words in Jesus’ name.

Discussion

It requires diligence and zeal to study and meditate on the word of God. How important is the Word of God to you in developing your spiritual vitality in your daily walk of faith (2 Tim. 2:15)?

There are covenant blessings associated with obedience to the word of God; also there are consequences to disobedience to the word of God. How can you relate to both in your Christian walk (Deut. 8:1–20, Deut. 28:1–2, Exod. 15:26)?

The word of God is a lamp and a light. How effective and bright is this lamp and light in guiding you from stumbling on the path of life (Ps. 119:105, Prov. 6:22–23)?

God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent (Ps. 138:2, Luke 21:33, Isa. 40:8). His words are full of various promises to his children. Write down some of the promising scriptures that have made the difference in your life and share with your study group.

We feed our bodies with various nourishing meals and our souls with messages from movies and words of men. How often do you feed your spirit with the word of God (Deut. 8:2–3, Matt. 4:4)? Read John 1 and share with someone before next Bible study.

Series 1

Topic: The Word of God 3

Memory Verse: Jeremiah 15:16, Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

Passage: Proverbs 3:1–8, "My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the

Lord

with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the

Lord

and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones."

Introduction: In order for us to fully gain understanding of this series on the Word of God, it is important to note that there are different forms of the word of God. We see the word of God as a Person. He is the second person in Trinity—Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14, Rev. 19:13). Secondly, the direct spoken words of God as in the history of creation in Genesis 1, and the Thus says the Lord … These are his commands, laws, and decrees (Exod. 20:1–17). Thirdly, we also found God’s words spoken through his prophets (Num. 22:38, Deut. 18:18–20, Jer. 1:7–9). Lastly are the narratives of the written word of God. The Bible contains the narratives of the spoken word of God and the acts of the Holy Spirit through his servants (Isa. 30:8; John 14:26, 16:12–13). The efficacy and accuracy of the Word of God cannot be doubted in order for it to accomplish what it was sent to do. As we study, may we all gain understanding through the power of his Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

Discussion

The Word of God possesses the power to create, transform, and enlighten. You are asked to read John 1. What revelation did you get from this chapter (1 John 1:1–4)?

The heroes of faith recorded in Hebrews 11 all have something in common: they were guided by the word of God. Your level of faith can be revealed by the amount of the word of God that is in you. How common and trivia or important is the word of God to you (Rom. 10:17, Heb. 11:1–2, Ps. 119:11)?

The word of God is the believers’ sword of the spirit. How sharp is the sword on your lips, and what are you doing to keep it remain sharpened (Eph. 6:10–17, Heb. 4:12)?

Some Christian desire victorious Christian lives but weak in their study, sharing, and obedience to the word of God (Luke 4:13, 1 Pet. 5:8–9). On the scale of one to ten, where do you consider yourself to be, and how determined are you to get to where you want to be?

Take up the challenge to speak the word of God to at least one person between now and next week; then come and share your challenges or difficulties in sharing the word (1 Cor. 9:16).

Series 1

Topic: The Word of God 4

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16–17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Passage: Psalm 119:97–106, "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments."

Introduction: In our previous studies, we learnt that the Bible (Word of God) contains the mind and will of God for man, the state of man, the direction to salvation from sin, the judgment of sinners, and the joy of believers. It contains man’s GPS (God’s Plan for Salvation). How then can we read the Bible and understand and uncover the mysteries in the Word of God? To a natural mind, the word of God does not make sense. It is confusing and sometimes seemingly impossible to be true. The devil is not afraid of Christian who goes to church or carries the Bible everywhere, but him who understands his biblical covenant rights and able to rightly divide the word of truth. When the word of God becomes our flashlight that directs our paths, it becomes difficult to stumble or fall in the journey of life. As we study, may we all gain understanding through the power of his Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

Discussion

In order to gain the best from reading the Bible, it is important that each believer know the reasons for studying the word of God. Therefore, how important is studying the Bible to you (2 Tim. 3:16, Ps. 119:89, John 8:47, Ps. 119:9, Ps. 19:7)?

Who can study and understand the Bible (1 Cor. 2:14–16, 1 Pet. 2:2, Acts 17:11, Col. 3:16)?

Studying the Bible becomes beneficial to believers when it is read as the only source of strength and divine revelation for daily Christian walk with God. How do you respond to the word of God? How does the Bible benefit you in your daily walk with God (1 Pet. 2:2, Rom. 1:16, John 6:68–69, Job 23:12, 1 Tim. 6:20, 1 John 2:5, and 2 Tim. 4:2)?

The Bible teacher John Macarthur gave a five steps to how to study the Bible. These include reading, interpreting (is there an error to avoid, gaps to bridge, and principles to understand?), evaluating, applying, and correlating.

What will you consider the basic reasons it is difficult for you to study, understand, and apply the word of God to your daily life? How can you become teacher of the word of God (Ps. 119:97, 2 Tim. 2:15)?

Series 1

Topic: The Word of God 5

Memory Verse: Psalm 105:19, "Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the

Lord

tested him."

Passage: John 14:22–24, Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.’

Introduction: The word of God is a light that shines on the path of his children. It brings knowledge and understanding to the simple mind. The word of God is like a clay that is used to shape our lives, what we value, and who we are in the world. The word of God carries a tremendous power to heal, deliver, and strengthen the feeble mind. It gives the absolutely correct answer to every question that life throws at us as children of God. The word of God will ignite faith for man’s deliverance from ignorance, poverty, sickness, and spiritual bondage. When the word of God becomes our word, it enables us to be strong and carry out great exploit for the kingdom. Lack of understanding or rebellion to the word of God makes a Christian suffer needlessly. As we conclude this series, may the word of God begin to empower us to enjoy our victory in Christ in Jesus’ name.

Discussion

Do you love God? Can God say you love him based on your diligent obedience to his words?

How do you feel when