Journey off the Map (Vocation Bible School) (VBS) 2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

9th August, 2015

Rev. David Kwamkur 

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Vocation Bible School (VBS) 2015

* VBS 2015 Theme: Journey off the Map

* Sub-theme: Growing in Love

* Service Leader: Dr. Mrs. Zipporah Kpamor

* Text: Isaiah 30:19-22

☆ Isaiah 30:21 → "And whether you turn to the right or turn to the left, your ears will hear a message behind you: “This is the way, walk in it.”

* Whether you realize it or not, life is a journey

* As Christians, we are not citizens of the world; we are only 'passing through' to Heaven, our ultimate destination

* There are many ways, but for us as Christians, there is only ONE WAY

* The most important thing (in communication) is not the "saying" aspect, but the "listening" aspect

* Many people have encountered serious problems in life because of their failure to listen properly

* Your ears are not merely for decoration

→ It was not a mistake that God created you with two ears and only one mouth!

* The act of hearing has nothing to do with the size of your ears

→ It has every thing to do with your listening ability

* To listen properly, you must be silent

* Meditating on God's Word is an excellent way to listen to what He has to say

* A guide is person that leads travelers or tourists through an unfamiliar location

→ If you know your destination, you will not need a guide

* As a traveler, you must rely on your guide and you must:

→ trust your guide

→ realize that you do not know your way

→ remember that you do not know more than your guide

☆NOTE: Jesus is our guide through our journey through the unfamiliar terrains of life

☆ Summary of the Week-Long VBS Teachings:

DAY 1 - Monday:

→ Jesus is our guide.

→ Your journey begins with Him if you accept Him as your Lord and Savior

DAY 2 - Tuesday:

→ Daniel chose to obey God no matter what

→ God wants you to follow Jesus no matter what, even when you don't understand it

DAY 3 - Wednesday:

→ Shedrack, Meshak & Abednego did not obey the King's ungodly orders

→ God wants you to obey our guide even in difficult circumstances

→ Jesus is your guide and you must trust in Him always

DAY 4 - Thursday (Stay on track):

→ This is the major problem for many Christians

→ Staying focused on the right track to the end is a personal choice

→ if you are in a race, no one will reward you if you derail from the stipulated approved tract

→ You must be consistent in your walk with God

→ Keep your focus on God no matter what happens in life

→ When you remove your eyes off Jesus, you will begin to sink

DAY 5 - Friday (Keep Watching)

→ Daniel received a vision of things to come

→ Jesus also revealed to us in His Word the things that we are to expect in the future

→ If you are not watching, you will miss out on the promises in God's Word

☆Matthew 26:41 → "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

☆ NOTE: Our journey is a part of a much bigger story. God gave Daniel a promise of things to come. God has promised to complete our journey with Him through life

* Many times, even when we are sure that Jesus is talking to us, we attempt to 'convince' Him that our own way or plan is the best

→ this is the source of our problems in life!

Train Up Your Child in The way of the Lord (Pastor Peter Adebola) 28-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Naming Ceremony

of Miss. Chimnemelum Blossom Samara Uche

@ Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe

Abuja - Nigeria

28th April, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Peter Adebola

* Topic: Train Up Your Child in The way of the Lord

 

 

* Names are very important to God

- God Himself has several names

- When God wanted to do something spectacular in the life of a man, He addresses the issue of that man's name. For instance: God changed Abram and Sarai's names to 'Abraham' and 'Sarah' respectively when He wanted to bless them (Genesis 17:5 and 15); Jacob's name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28 and 35:10); Jesus changed Simon's name to Cephas (that is: Peter) (John 1:42)  

* Just like God, we must take names important

* Anything of value must pass through a process

→ A great child must pass through rigorous training (spiritually, academically, physically, socially etc.)

★ Proverbs 22:4 → "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

* Child training in the way of the Lord supersedes any kind of training

* Spiritual training is very important

→ It forms a foundation for a great future

* God will hold you responsible for instructing your children in the way of the Lord

→ You must ensure that they do not grow up to become wayward or backward

★ 1st Samuel 3:13 →" For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."

★ Genesis 18:19 → "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."

★ Joshua 24:15 → "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

* God will not hold the church responsible for your failure [in raising your child in the fear of the Lord.]

→ Training of children is generational

★ 2 Timothy 1:5 → "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

* Pay the price to train your children

- A well trained child is a product of consistent instruction and investment in time, prayer, discipline, money, and the like

* Spiritual training outweighs every other training

- Many parents spend a lot of money to ensure that their children get the best secular educational training, but they neglect instructing their children in the fear of the Lord.  

* Training of children is a sacrificial venture. It does not come easy, and initially, the child may not even appreciate it!

* You don't have to indulge them in everything

- Generally, children always want to have their way. They want to sleep longer in the mornings; they want to sleep late at night; they don't want to go to school everyday; etc. -  the list is endless!  

* As a parent, you have to be tender and tough at the same time

- You must learn to strike a balance when disciplining your children. Avoid both extremes of toughness or permissive tenderness.  

* Do not over-pamper your children

- It is good to let the kids have treats occasionally, but when it is too much or too frequent, it becomes detrimental

* You have to train your child today so that the child can be 'traced' tomorrow.

- What you sow in their lives is exactly what you reap in the future 

* Your children cannot be 'too young' to be instructed in the way of the Lord

- Some parents think that younger children should not be disciplined or instructed. This is wrong.

- NOTE: Younger children learn faster and retain better!

Interactive Session on Family Issues (2) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi 17-11-2014

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

17th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues (2)

* Text: Psalm 24:7-8 →"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

* Question: What are you to do when one of the parents do not have interest in the fanfare of naming ceremony?

★ Amos 3:3 → "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

* Both parents must have a consensus/ a common ground

* Any difference in expectations or opinion must be settled in the place of prayer

* Compromise (finding common ground between couples) is always important in life

* Always seek and go after peace in the home.

* Always focus on things that unite you as a couple

* Downplay things that divide you

* Make every effort to come to an express agreement, not just permissive agreement on any issue