2023 Anglican Bible Study Outline - Study 2 JANUARY 8, 2023
STUDY 2
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY JANUARY 8 2023
THEME: GOD’S CHILDREN AS PILGRIMS TO THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM:
MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S REIGN ON EARTH
SUB-THEME: God’s Reign 2
TOPIC: God’s Reign
on Earth
TEXTS: Col 3:12-17; Rev 3:20
Col 3:12-17 "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Rev 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
2023 Anglican Bible Study Outline - Study 2 JANUARY 8, 2023
AIMS:
i. to study how God whose throne is in heaven
does reign on earth and
ii. to expound on the manner of His reign on
earth.
INTRODUCTION
The stunning question that can arise
from today’s topic is: how could God whose throne is in heaven, reigns at the
same time on earth? Before Jesus Christ left the world, He promised us His
peace (John 14:27) and always to be with us till the end of the age. Matt
28:20. The reign of God is a peaceful one and it is witnessed wherever His
virtues are allowed in peoples’ hearts and livelihood. We can see from our
Bible passage (Col 3:12-17) the godly virtues that easily lead to peaceful co-existence;
which is an evidence of God’s reign in people’s hearts. How then can we achieve
these virtues? Let’s study together for more exposition.
2023 Anglican Bible Study Outline - Study 2 JANUARY 8, 2023
STUDY
GUIDE
1. From our Bible passage (Col 3:12-17)
How can you justify the fact that God whose throne is in heaven reigns on
earth?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. How can God reign in our world? Joel 2:12-13;
Jam 4:8; 1Pet 1:22; Rev 3:20.
---------------------------------
3. How do you understand Jam 4:1-2 in
line with what is happening in our contemporary world? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Does it mean
that God is no more on earth? If not, why are wickedness and ungodliness
reigning? Ps 2:2-3. ---------------------------------------------------------
4. As Christians, how can we be factors
of God’s reign on earth? Phil 4:5-7; Col 3:16; 1Pet 2:11-12.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that
God’s Throne is in heaven, He also rules on earth when we forsake sinful
habits, surrender our lives to Him and allow Him in our hearts. Therefore, the
more we allow God in our hearts, the more we enjoy His peaceful reign in our
world.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The more we surrender
to the Lordship of Christ, the more we enjoy His peaceful reign on earth.
MEMORY VERSE: Rev 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”.