Bible Study Notes: The King's power over nature and satan

Theme: The King's power over nature and satan

Text: Mark 4:35-5:20

1. Jesus calmed the storms

2. The healing of the mad man of Gadarenes

vv37-38

1a. How did the disciples react to the storm?(Notes: Many of them were fishermen, so why were they really scared?) 2b. How do we react to the "storms" in our life as believers when they seem to overwhelm us? Discuss. 

vv38

2a. Jesus Christ slept as the storm rages. How we you feel when God seems to be "sleeping" during the "storms" of our lives? 2b. Why did the disciples wake Jesus Christ up? 2c. What did Jesus Christ do when He woke up?

vv39

3. QUIET! BE STILL! These were Jesus Christ's command to the raging storm. Discuss. 

vv40

4a. What did Jesus Christ say to the disciples after rebuking the storm? 4b. What important part of this rebuke has to do with our link to Jesus Christ as The Saviour? 4c. Discuss one or two issues in your life where you seem to have a "wavering faith" in an overwhelming situation.  

vv41

5a. Why were the disciples terrified? 

6a. Describe the physical features of this man. 6b. What was the man's initial response to Jesus Christ? 6c. What's the name of the spirit and why did Jesus Christ ask? 6d. The "Legion Spirit" as described in the passage is what?

7a. The spirits were cast into what? 7b. What was the response of the herdsmen and crowd after Jesus healed the man? 

8a. Describe this man after the healing as compared to how he was before he met Jesus Christ

Bible Study Notes: The King for all nations

Topic: The King for all nations

Text: Mark 7:24-37

Introduction: Put these in mind as we discuss and answer these questions. 

1. Jesus Christ was in a gentile region

2. The woman was Greek and born in Syrian Phoenicia

3. Her daughter was possessed by demon

4. Jesus healed the deaf and mute man by physically touching him. 

The above are very instructive as we engage in this study. It will help us come to the realisation that indeed Jesus Christ is King for all nations. 

Questions for Discussion

1a. Where was Jesus? 1b. Why do you think where Jesus was at the particular time is significant?

2a. In Israel, dogs were seen as unclean. Why did Jesus address and refer to this woman as dog?  

2b. What did Jesus mean when He said "First let the children eat all they want"? (See John 1:11-13). 

2c. How did she respond to Jesus? 

3a. Jesus commended her for the response. What does this response tell us about the woman's faith? 3b. Faith is sometimes found where we least expect to find it. What does this mean for our evangelism as believers in our present world?. 

4a. Describe Jesus' contact with this man? 4b. Why did Jesus have to do this and for what reason?

5a. How did the people respond to the healing of this man? 5b. What does the healing of the deaf and mute man have in common with the Syrophoenician woman? 

6. As believers, how do we associate with those in need?  

Hymns 

Pass me not O gentle Saviour

To God be the glory great things He has done!

Bible Study Notes: The Kings way.

Topic: The King's way

Text: Mark 9:2-29

Introduction: There are two stories in this passage and both point in the direction of Jesus manifestation as The Messiah who has come to take away our sins and redeem our souls. 

1. How does this passage confirm the reality of Jesus' suffering and death which He spoke of in 8:31? (see vv 9,12,13, 19)

2a. Discuss the events that happened on the high mountain. Note the three key events that took place. 

2b. How would these events encourage the disciples in the future? 

2c. How should these events encourage us as believers? 

3a. Why did Jesus command them not to tell anyone in v9?

3b. Why were the disciples discussing what "rising from the death meant"? 

3c. vv 11-13 talks about "Elijah and His coming", why did the disciples ask Jesus "why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first"? (See John 1:17-21, Mathew 11:13, Luke 1:17, Malachi 4:6)

4a. Why couldn't the disciples drive out the evil spirit in the boy despite being given the authority in Mark 3:15, 6:13. (See v24 & v29)

4b. What was Jesus implying in vv19 when He addressed thus "O unbelieving generations, how long shall I stay with you........"

4c. How should we as believers convey the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world? 

4d. How do you understand the phrase "All things are possible" as used by Jesus in vv 23 (See Luke 17:6, Mathew 17:20)

5a. "Begone unbelief, my saviour is near" is a popular hymn we sing at church. Share with members of your group an event in your life where you have shouted "I believe Lord, help my unbelief". 

5b. How do we build on the assurance of this passage that Jesus is a present Help in times of trouble? 

6 Why do we find it sometimes difficult to pray as believers and what are the factors affecting our prayer life?

Praise & Worship: For men only!

I must confess that something just stirred up inside of me as I opened my PC to write this article, I’d wanted to write on an entirely different topic but I couldn’t hence this topic. Many of us as Men no matter our circumstance need to worship God daily. Nonstop. Sometimes, when I look at His Awesome wonder, I marvel at his sculptural dexterity. Forget human physiology and anatomy. Forget Medicine! God is an artist. He formed the bones and covered them in sinews and tendons. He formed the ball and socket joints and didn’t leave it like that; he added cartilages as a form of shock absorbers. He formed the ear and covered the middles section, the most delicate part with a tympanic membrane or else many of us in this 21st century would have gone deaf with the advent of over-blaring iPods and MP4s. He covered the eyeballs with an automatic eyelid, no matter the danger, no matter how small a foreign object may be, the eyelid closes before impact. It’s like He has a remote control in his hands up there. Take a look at your heart (I know you can’t see it but visualise its mechanism, follow the rhythm) and tell me if there is a Piston and Sleeve in place, what pumps that little organ? It’s been pumping the very minute you and I were conceived and will never stop till we drop the last breath. Even a Bentley Continental GT needs an annual service. When was the very last time you manually serviced your heart? What about the brain? Not even the world's fastest supercomputers can match it in Intuition.

You see, appreciating God is a personal exercise, no one can do it for you, wake up in the morning and say:
"Covenant keeping God
There is no One like You
I am that I am, i say
There is no One like You"

Walk into your bathroom and as the water touches your head from the shower faucets, shout in allegro again and sing:
"As the deer pantheth for the waters
So my soul longs after you
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship You.............."

As you wear your crispy shirt plus blue suit, tell Him once again:
"I am grateful Oh God/2X
For all you have done for me
I am grateful oh God"

As you commence your daily journey to work, touch God’s raw nerves with this sweet melody:
"I stand/2x
In awe of You
I stand/2x
In awe of You
Only God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of you"

When you get to work and think of the thousands of jobless human beings, tell Him this pls:
"Who am i that you are mindful of me?
How You love me when i call
Is it true that you are thinking of me?
Its amazing/2x
I am a friend of God/3x
He calls me friend"
 As you have your sumptuous lunch, tell Him this pls:
Forever
Oh Lord
The word is settled
In heaven
It is settled

Return home singing this age long hymn: Now thank we all our God
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

When it’s time to go to bed, shake the heavens in high decibel with this:
Great is your mercy towards me
Your loving kindness towards me
Your tender mercies i see
Day after day
Forever faithful towards me
Always providing for me
Great is your mercy towards me
Great is your grace

Forget your academic qualifications, forget your family pedigree, forget your political associations, forget the wealth you have amassed, be lost in His glory. If not for Him, where would you have been? 

Many are blind: You have a clear sight, even with a fashionable contact lenses
Many are deaf: You can hear and decipher correctly my Dear!
Many are crippled: You have both legs intact and even have a Prada lace up shoe right now!
Many are depressed: You have your sanity intact!
Many are barren: Of course you have a Baby, oh my God, many even have triplets!

Give it to him because He is: Wonderful, Glorious, Holy, Majestic, Healer, Deliverer, Shield, Defence, Strong, Tower, Your best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything! He is GOD. Jehovah ELOHIM-The ONE who created the universe. 

Life of Pi: My review from a Christian perspective.

Summary: A Indian boy (played by Suraj Sharma), a Zebra, hyena, an Orangutan and a Bengal tiger adrift in the Pacific Ocean. 

I was opportune to watch this movie over the weekend as we celebrated the 50th birthday of a senior friend and he took us all to an IMAX screen where we watched in 3D. It's an adaption of Yann Martel's novel "Life of Pi". 

Life of Pi started with a family in India who owned and relocated to Canada with the animals. On their way in a steamer on the pacific, the ship wrecked. The boy survived on a lifeboat with an injured zebra. As they drifted at sea, a hyena and Oragutan floated in and joined them. A couple of minutes later, Pi saw something from a distance and thinking it was human, threw a lifeline. It was a Bengal tiger, the same animal, his now dead father warned him about when he was still in India and before he could withdraw the lifeline, the tiger was in! A full grown man eating Bengal tiger. The hyena being a wild animal wounded and killed both zebra and Orangutan. The tiger lept out and killed the hyena leaving Pi and the animal for the next 266 days. Alone and drifting at sea! The story starts....

Pi and Richard (The Tiger) needed to survive. Pi, being the higher animal must fend for the tiger or the tiger would eat him. Pi showed compassion as God would on us despite our unfaithfulness. The tiger as a man eating animal is instructive to me as a very sinful man who'd mess up despite God trying to help us. The tiger attacked Pi at various times during the movie despite the fact that he provided food and water for him. God "will never leave nor forsake us". "He will provide for our needs according to His riches in glory". Pi also showed resilience in the face of great adversity. He suffered dehydration and had to stay alive and watchful of the tiger. Pi separated himself from the tiger by staying on a makeshift raft leaving the tiger on the lifeboat and they couldn't be separated because of the bond. How many times have we run away from God but has continue to show us love? How many times have we disappointed God, yet "The steadfast love of The Lord never ceases". How many times have we have wandered off but "God has made our crooked path straight". 

Pi and the animal eventually bonded and began to live at peace. Pi trained and tamed the animal and when there was no more food, both became extremely weak and were on the verge of death. Out on the horizon, an island came into view. Food was available once again. How many times have we disbelieved God as a result of events around us? I don't have a job and my bible is telling me to believe in God? I'm very sick with a terminal disease and the bible says "let the weak say I am strong". Pi and the the tiger stocked up on food and left the island. The God that we serve as believers will always provide respite in the face of trouble. We can always run to Him for shelter. He is always readily available to provide succour but why do we run away from the One who is able to sort things out? 

A few notes stood out in this movie:
God will be God
He will provide for us according to His riches in glory
He loves us despite our unfaithfulness. 
He's a compassion God

Good morning God, what do you want me to do?

Text: Genesis 22:1-18 & Hebrews 11:17-19

Characters: God, Abraham and Isaac

Plot:

• God asked Abraham to sacrifice his “only” son by killing him and presenting him as a burnt offering (This was a test from God but Abraham didn’t know!)

• Abraham without hesitation prepared for the journey and took his son and servants along

• He got to the designated place, prepared the altar and was going to offer his son to God

• God stopped him and replaced the about to be sacrificed son with a ram in the thicket

• Abraham offered the ram as burnt offering to God

• God blessed Abraham

The relationship between Abraham and Isaac

• A very cordial father-son relationship

• Abraham was VERY ready to do what God had commanded without hesitation

• Isaac was very to do what his father asked him to do: Carry the wood and follow him

• When Isaac asked his father about the animal to be offered. The response from his father reassured him that all was well. Cite the example of ​Pastor Derek and son when he asked his son to freefall backwards without looking back)

• When his father asked him to climb unto the altar, Isaac never hesitated! He had the TOTAL TRUST in his father just as Abraham believed that God will sort out something!

In this chapter, there are three instructive issues here:

ABRAHAM TEST (your only son repeated thrice. 2, 12, 16

Genesis 22:1-2 tells us what was at stake

• Take your son, your ONLY son (over 20 years old) whom you love and go to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you.

• He obeyed God and went on the journey to do what God had commanded.

. A 3 day journey- 72 hrs is a long period to come to a logical conclusion

. Offer him as a burnt offering. Kill him and set fire to him. 

James 1:2-4

James 1:12-18. Talks about perseverance. 

ABRAHAM TRUST

• Genesis 22:8 and Genesis 12:1-3(A great nation!) An Abrahamic covenant. 

• Abraham did not know how God will do it but he knew that God would do it. VISUALISE THE TRUST. It’s a very BIG TRUST!

ABRAHAM’S TRIUMPH

• In v19 of Hebrews 11, Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and figuratively speaking, He did raise Isaac back from death.

• God asking Abraham to go kill his son “contradicts” Genesis 12:1-3(I will make you a great nation)

• Abraham believed that God will NEVER allow him kill his son, Isaac and that He would provide something in lieu but peradventure He did not, so be it. I WILL OFFER HIM nonetheless!

PUTTING OUR 100% TRUST IN GOD

• Twice in the chapter, Abraham hinted at his extreme faith in God. He told the servants(v5) that they should wait behind as they approach Moriah and that “we” would return. If Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, why use the word “we”? Total trust in God.

• Isaac asked him, Where is the burnt offering in v7? His response is that of a MAN SPEAKING FAITH INTO WHAT IS A HUMANLY HOPELESS SITUATION. God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, v8.

Solemnly sing the chorus 

“God will make a way where there seems to be no way, He works in ways we can not see, He will make a way for me, He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side, with love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way”

FAITH AT ITS HIGHEST POINT

Now we can stand back and see the story in clear perspective.

• Did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? Yes!

• Was this a legitimate request? Yes!

• Did Abraham know in advance how the story would end? No!

• Did he know that God was going to put a ram in the thicket in lieu of his son, Isaac? No!

If Abraham didn't know this, what did he know then?

• He knew and understood what God had asked him to do (Offer your son as sacrifice to me!)

• He also knew that God had promised to give him a son through whom he would bless the world.

• What he didn’t know was how God was going to RECONCILE His promise (To bless the world through Isaac) and his explicit command (To offer the same promised child as sacrifice)

Solemnly sing this chorus “Jehovah Jireh, my provider, His grace is sufficient for you/2x. The Lord shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory, He will give His angels charge over you, Jehovah Jireh cares for you, for you, for you. Jehovah Jireh cares for you!”

JESUS CHRIST AT CALVARY

Over 2000 years ago, Our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ died for us all. He paid the ultimate price. He redeemed our souls. He gave us new life!

• In Genesis 22, we clearly see what a man(Abraham) would do for the love of God

• At Calvary, we saw what God did for the love of man.

• Abraham was asked (Tested) to sacrifice his son; God actually sacrificed his only son!

• When Jesus died on Calvary, there was no ram in the thicket to replace him. There was no saying “Do not harm that child” as was said to Abraham.

• God’s hand fell in judgement on his own son!

• Jesus died for you and I.

• Jesus Christ rose from the dead and because of this; we have life and have it more abundantly.

If God could give us His only son, Jesus Christ, He surely deserve the very best from us. He deserves our ALL!

“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to the thee, take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise”

Don't wear my armour!

1Samuel 17:38-40

I have read this passage quite a few times but never really got the impact it made this evening. I drew out the following:

1. You don't need to wear somebody's armour to win a battle. 

2. Wearing the armour of another person in the journey of life can limit your movement and impede progress. 

3. David wore King Saul's armour and was weighed down. He couldn't move. He was constrained. 

4. By wearing King Saul's armour, he was putting on the toga not designed by God for that particular warfare. Here's the math. David plus King Saul's armour (in the battle against Goliath) would have resulted in David's death. 

5. The moment David removed the armour. He became himself again. The David "purposely designed by God". 

6 He picked up five smooth stones. In a warfare laced with armour, spear, javelin, bows and arrows, fortified helmet and spiky caligae sandals? No wonder Goliath was extremely upset and cursed David. Perhaps, if David had dressed like a real warrior, maybe, just maybe, Goliath would have respected him but dressing like the shepherd that he was became a decoy. David became a F16 Stealth jet in a rickety Volkswagen. 

7. How did one smooth stone kill such a man? Yes. It became a lethal projectile because Goliath was obviously not wearing a helmet(A big error in technical warfare). When God is ready to back you up in the battle of life, He uses His own method. He makes situations easy. He gives a well deserved victory !

The God that we serve is called Jehovah Saboath-The Lord of Hosts. The Man of war. He intervened! He will do same for you in that situation that seems insurmountable. 

Jesus:The name we honour

Jesus:The name we honour!

Isaiah 9:6-7

This service is going to be a "Worship service" where I'd say a few words and allow you to do an introspective thinking and after you are through, we'd worship God together. 

From the bible passage we've read, I have culled out these unique names. 

Tailor the church to worship God silently as they meditate on these names

Wonderful Glorious Holy Majestic Victorious Conqueror Triumphant Mighty Healer

Deliverer Shield Defence Strong tower Our friend Omnipotent Omnipresent

Soon coming King Alpha Omega Lord of everything

Sing.........

"Holy Holy Holy are you Lord!"

"For to us a child is born"

This is a gift from God! (worship God again as we think about this gift!). When you receive a very good and wonderful gift, you adore it.  You cherish. You look at it all the time. You keep it safe. You don't mess about with it. You want to keep it and keep it well! Now, let your imagination return wild as you think of God's gift to the world. 

Sing..........

"Joy for the world, 

The Lord is come, 

let earth receive her King, 

let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing......."

This morning, Jesus Christ is delivered via FIRST CLASS POSTAGE to you. Receive Him! Sign for The special package! Keep Him safe in your heart and worship Him in spirit and truth! Make Him Lord over your life!

"and the government shall be upon his shoulder"

The bible states that God will give this son the kingship to rule forever. The bible went further, there shall be no end to His kingdom. 

He will also save his people from their sins

He will be addressed as the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Relate His Kingship to the governments of the world....

In sequential order-describe the Queen and her succession(with respect)

Barack Obama-GW Bush-William Jefferson Clinton-George Bush

David Cameron-Gordon Brown-Tony Blair-John Major

The United Nations-Ban Ki Moon-Koffi Annan

Chola Mukanga was preaching at Grace Bapt Church Bexleyheath last month and he dropped something (sometimes during sermons, God drops something into your heart, just one word and you are contented for the day".    "do not look at the lions of Westminster or Brussels but unto the Lion of the tribe of Judah". Very succinct point. Direct and apt! I add "We sure need to return to God to help sort out this global economic crisis". 

Sing....

Bigger than all our problems. Bigger than everything. God is bigger than every mountain, we can and cannot see....."

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. Deut 10:17

Sing........."GF Handel "Hallelujah Chorus"

"the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!" WORSHIP HIM!!!!

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful Counsellor........

What does a counsellor do? He or she gives educated advise and we believe them. You go to your GP and he gives diagnosis and you believe the learned doctor! 

The bible does not only call Him "Counsellor". There's an added adjective "Wonderful". 

What's the lexical meaning of wonderful?

Excellent. Great. Marvellous. Amazing. 

He will possess supernatural wisdom in discharging His duties

He will be an encyclopaedia of solutions to world's problems. 

2Chronicles 7:14. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land". WORSHIP HIM!!!

Add this:The world is hurting presently. Double dip recession. High rate of unemployment. Global terrorism. Wars and rumours of war. Bad political leadership 

Mighty God, 

This child will be a powerful warrior. He as messiah will accomplish the following:

1. Multiply the nations (according to the Abrahamic covenant)

2. Break every yoke of bondage (Psalm 107:13-16) "oh that men will praise The Lord"

3. He will bring peace

Psalm 48:1-2 (sing........"Great is The Lord and greatly to be praised.......")

Everlasting Father, 

Jesus as messiah will be father to His people eternally. He will compassionately care for us but He will also discipline us when we err!

Analogy:

He's the LAMB. 

He also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  

DON'T MESS ABOUT WITH GOD.......He is a CONSUMING FIRE!

Prince of Peace

His name is Immanuel "God with us". 

He will make peace available to the world. This is evident when Jesus and His disciples journeyed on a boat and they experienced a heavy storm. He woke up and commanded "Quiet! Be still!"  

Jesus' name is Peace and He will give us peace. That song writer says "when peace like a rice attends my way". Whatever trials and tribulations we pass through, we should run to the one whose name is PEACE!

Sing......everything. Everything. Lord you are everything. 

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. 

This Jesus that will be born will be the rightful heir to the throne of David and will also inherit the promises of the Davidic covenant. 

What are these promises?

 2Sam 7:12-16

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"

Tell them to go read Psalm 89:1-37

The zeal of The Lord will accomplish this

Finish with

"Jesus is the name we honour, Jesus is the name we praise........"

The Nigerian Pastor: A helpful critique from a biblical perspective (Part 2)

The Church 

(Mathew 7:21-23)

The very moment God "calls" a particular person, the norm in Nigeria is to get ordained by a senior pastor which tells the world that this new entrant must be accepted as pastor. In some cases, a church will just spring up out of nowhere and people will start to worship there. (Pls, tell me I am lying!). Lets take a quick look at the fabric of these churches. The examples I'm about to write are not in any way related to a particular church but what I have witnessed to have become norm. Here goes, this is how a church is formed in Nigeria. John 14:6

1. "God has "called" me and easy money" Ministry. 

I was shocked to my bone marrow in late 2009 as I watched a Nigerian Talk show hosted by a popular comedian. The guest on that particular show that week is a pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Lagos and as he was interviewed, the pastor dropped a very sarcastic statement and I had to rewind my SKY Decoder to ascertain if I did hear well. Hear him "When I just arrived to reside in Lagos and had no car, I used to tell myself when I see people drive flashy cars past me that in this same Lagos, I will drive these same expensive cars with them and now I am driving some very expensive cars". As the interview progressed, the comedian passed a rather bad joke and I expected the pastor to check and correct the insinuation but he never did. Hear the comedian "Pastor, when you come into church on a particular Sunday morning and see the large crowd, do you usually say "ah, see money, ah don hammer" which translates loosely "We will make some good offerings today". The pastor giggled and the interview went on.  This is the sad mindset of our churches in Nigeria. Sad, sad mindset! Many of our churches in Nigeria are "floated" for material gain. On the street where I had my formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, I have been told during the initial thought gathering process of this analysis that there are four churches lined up there. A street of less than 1000 metres.  

A man by the name, Pastor Jonah applied to be interviewed on Dragon's Den asking for £250,000 to start a church and promises a return of 500% in 3 years. I don't know how true this story is but this is a microcosm of the endemic problem we have in Nigeria. A quick come back to the pastor on that talk show, some of my readers will be quick to support the pastor that he was "professing good things" with his mouth. Yeah right and he couldn't correct the insinuation about "good flow of money as a result of a large turn out at church services? (James 5:19-20; John 14:26)

2. "I had a fight with my former pastor" Ministry

I know quite a chunk of churches existing today as a result of altercation between a pastor and one or two of his supporting ministers. The latter gets upset and leave to go "float" his own church. It's as simple as that. In the ensuing melee, members begin to show allegiance and in most cases, will move along and "partner" with the aggrieved junior pastor and before you know it, a church is birthed and services starts. (Galatians 1:9; Titus 3:10)

3. "I can't stand the doctrines of my former church" ministry

This kind of a church has a link with No 2 above but can also stand on its own. The core root of the problems can be traced to the senior pastor because he had no calling from God in the first place and thus, we have heresies and eisegesis coming from the pulpit and feeding the people wrongly. Aggrieved members will gather themselves, chose a front man and go "float" a church. The new man and his members decides out of personal volition that its high time they started a church. 

4. "I have served my former pastor well and thus deserve my own church" ministry

Do I need to explain this lie of a church ministry? 2John 1:9-10; 

The next big thing after the "floating" of a church is the brazen acquisition of church buildings.  Pastors in Nigeria go extra length in erecting and purchase of church buildings. These buildings are called in local parlance, "Mega churches". Let me not mince words, pastors try to outdo themselves in the bid to showcase which church building should be known as the best mega building in town. These buildings are everywhere in Nigeria. (I just told you another big lie!). Why do we spend so much money on the acquisition of buildings to serve as worship centres? Why do we spend so much on interior decor and putting the bill on the members of the church? Why? Let me tell you a quick story (Names have been withheld to protect the privacy of those involved). A pastor opened a church at a local fitness centre and after about 6 months, he moved the church to a building leased from a local landlord and members contributed £30,000 (Thirty Thousand Pounds) used in the facelift of the church. In their own words, "our God deserves a good and more decent place of worship". The question on my lips as I write these series is "what does my God really deserve; A beautiful place of worship or my beautiful fervent heart of worship?" Choose one!  Lets go back to the story I was sharing, about a year after spending so much money on the new building, the landlord increased the rent and the church ran into financial difficulties, they were evicted by the court. They wasted £30,000!!!

There's also a "feel good" factor attached to these churches where members are expected to "showcase" their church under the illusion that "the reason why I go to my church is because God has blessed me". Church members attach God's blessing to the church they attend and see the pastor as the reason behind the blessing. The pastors of these churches throw all sorts of "spiritual incentives" from the pulpit and the people swallow them hook, line and sinker. 

I will be looking at a few problems preventing the church from sound doctrine in Nigeria in the next part. 

The Nigerian Pastor: A helpful critique from a biblical perspective (Part 1)

The Call

The Call to be a pastor is a personal relationship with God where you must have heard from Him. You can't be a pastor without hearing from God! I need to drum this harder: you can't be a pastor without God telling you at first instance or over a period of time that He wants you to do His work. God in His magnificent glory must give you the "Job Description". God must call and if He hasn't, then you are not a pastor! Now, I can hear a few of my readers asking the next vital question "does that mean you have to go to a theological school?" Capital Yes! You sure need some form of formal training after The Call. Why do people then say, When God calls, He equips? Yes, He does. God only grant the grace to fulfil the calling, the education is your part to play. Will God force you to read the bible? Will He force you to study the bible and understand the content? God only provide the ability and enabling grace to dig deep into His word, He wouldn't force you to read His word. So, some sort of education in theology is important and in the course of this education, they as a matter of fact, teach church administration which is very important. Have you been really called by God to be a pastor? Do an introspective check! Search yourself very well! Bible references for further study 2Peter 2:1-3; 1Timothy 4:1-2; Jude 1

Why would God want you to a Pastor? 

God's will must be central in this call or the "called" will loose focus from day one. (see Romans 12:1-2; Psalms 119:168; 143:8). I have heard people say "God called me" and pronto! They become pastors. (All I am going to write in these series are either experiences and/or what I have seen and I promise you not to add for personal benefits).  Hard question: How did God call you? God's words are there to feed us and we must as a matter of fact run to it for better clarification. Jesus Christ initiated the call of His disciples. He called them forth! I have come to understand that the call of Jesus Christ should be a "Follow me" drama and not "I want to follow Jesus to be a pastor". I repeat with all iota of strength in me that God must call you. (See Mathew 4:18-22). When Jesus Christ called the fishermen, He told them "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men". What's the meaning of that very popular phrase by Jesus? Hear it loud and clear "Follow me and I will use your gifting as fishermen to catch men into God's kingdom!"I write boldly that God uses our personal gifts in the call to be pastors. God must have seen something just as Jesus Christ did when He saw the fishermen. 

The gifts we have as believers should never be interpreted as the calling of God to serve in the position of a pastor. I have seen so many people rush into pastoral jobs because they have taught bible study and Sunday school classes. Error! The fact that you can teach with flawless eloquence at bible study class does not make you a pastor. Lets not waste time on this. I have also seen so many Personal Assistants to pastors "ordained" as pastors because they have "served meritoriously" the church and the Senior Pastors and as such must be"compensated". Sometimes, we find our ourselves on the front burner of church administration by virtue of opportunities to serve God. That's good, there's no crime in serving God at church, be it as Personal Assistant, Church Secretary, Sunday School leader, Protocol Officer, Youth leader, Mens Leader, Chief Usher, Et al but the danger is the "pushing forward" we get from the senior Pastors to recommend to be ordained as pastors without God actually calling us! 

As I bring this first part to a close, I refer to Paul, admonishing Timothy in 1Timothy 3:1 "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task". A very noble task that mustn't be taken for granted.  A noble task  with an intense and all absorbing desire for the work of God in the office of a pastor. I must quickly add that there is also a sense of compulsion! Those whom God has indeed called have a sense of purpose and commitment. You can't miss these pointers! I ask again, did God call you? Did God really call you to be a pastor? 

That I may know Him

Phillipians 3:10
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death" ESV