RECOVERING THE GREAT COMMISSION/ THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
PREAMBLE
When one mentions the Great Commission the minds of many Christians rush to Matthew 28:19-20 and other Gospel portions of the Bible that have traditionally been labelled as such. Similarly, the mention of the Great Commandment may send many minds to Deuteronomy 5 the home of the Ten Commandments. It may therefore come as a surprise to some when this month’s studies do not use any of these Scriptures. It should not be so. Why? Because man’s responsibility to God starts right from Creation when God said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over” all other creatures. This month’s study traces the Great Commission and the Great Commandment right from Creation through the fall and through the ups and downs of the Church of the first century and we hope it will elicit new insights and cause us to heed the call to respond to the God of mission and the God of love.
STUDY ONE WEEK OF MAY 26th
THE GREAT COMMISSION
Introduction:
This week we go back to the beginning of time to establish God’s purpose in creating man. For, what can be a greater commission for man than that? But how did man fare with his responsibility? Let’s find out.
Read : Genesis 1:26-2:20 and Genesis 3.
Observe:
1. What was God’s intention for man at creation?
2. What was God’s instruction and restriction to man?
3. What was man’s relationship to the rest of creation?
Read : Genesis 3
4. How did man break the instructions and restrictions given to him by God?
5. What were the consequences?
Digest:
6. How was man to work and take care of creation?
7. In view of God’s instruction to Adam, why was it necessary for him to have a suitable helper?
8. Why was man going to die for eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
9. What became of man’s relationship with the creation after the fall?
Apply:
10. How have we been faithful in keeping our place in relation to creation?
11. How has the fall affected our ability to keep God’s creation order?
Memory Verse:
Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground”.”(NIV) Genesis 1:28
STUDY TWO WEEK OF JUNE 2ND
REBUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS
[Review of Last Week’s Memory Verse: Genesis 1:28]
Introduction:
We know from last week’s study that man did not do well with the responsibility that God assigned to him. And by His grace and love for man God had to do something to rebuild the corrupted foundations. He rebuilds even through His Church today.
Read: Ephesians 2:11-22, Galatians 4:1-11.
Observe:
1. Why did God send His Son?
2. What is the role of Jesus in the Ephesians passage?
3. How do these passages characterise the Galatians’ and Ephesians’ past lives?
4. What foundation are we building on?
5. Who assures us of our son-ship?
Digest:
6. How is the gift of the Spirit significant to the Galatians’ and Ephesians’ experience?
7. Why is Paul regretting that he might have wasted his effort?
Apply:
8. How can we build on the foundation that has already been laid?
9. Share with the group moments when you have retreated back to your former ways?
10. What can you learn from these passages?
Memory Verse:
Galatians 4:6.
“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father”.”
(NIV) Galatians 4:6
