House Fellowship Leader Manual February 2023

TOPIC: Time And Chance 

OPENING PRAYER: Father, help me to use ordained time profitably.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Leader should remind members that we have a God who is ever present, ready to respond to our yearnings.

MEMORY VERSE: “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” – Ecclesiastes 9:11 (KJV)

BIBLE TEXT: Romans 8:28, Job 14:14 (KJV)

Romans 8:28:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Job 14:14:

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

LESSON INTRODUCTION: The Almighty God is the Lord over “Time and Chance”

God is timeless because He lives in eternity. He has been in existence before the creation of the Heavens and the Earth. A thousand years is but a day before God because He operates in Kairos while we operate in Chronos.

God has an appointed time for everyone to fulfill his/her purpose in life. This can only be achieved by being at the right place, at the right time and doing the right thing by waiting in the place of prayer. This book of Job 14:14 says “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come”.

LESSON AIM: To have understanding that there is provision of opportunity and timing for it’s happening.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, members should be able to:

i. know definition of time and chance (Opportunity)

ii. See examples of Biblical characters that used that time and chance correctly.

TEXT REVIEW: ROMANS 8:28, JOB 14:14

i. There is need to wait for one’s time of visitation and emancipation.

ii. All things work together for good for lovers of Christ that wait for their time.

LESSON OUTLINE ONE: DEFINITION OF TIME AND CHANCE

TIME: A measurable period during which an action or condition exits or continues.

It is a portion of duration which God has given to man. Time can also be referred to as opportunity.

CHANCE – Incident or Occurrence of events in the absence of obvious intentions or cause Ecclesiastes 9:11 explains to us that it is not the fastest runner that wins in a race nor the strongest man that wins in a battle. But Time and Chance happen to them all. It means that nothing happens in life by accident, the Almighty God is the force that controls ‘Time and Chance’.

LESSON OUTLINE TWO: BIBLE CHARACTERS WHO EXPERIENCED TIME AND CHANCE

JOSEPH – He wanted the butler to help him immediately he (butler) was released from the prison but it did not happen until after two years, Genesis 41.

DAVID – He obeyed his father by going to see his brothers then he saw Goliath terrorising the Army of Israel, 1 Samuel 17

ESTHER – She became a queen in order to save Jews from destruction, Esther 6.

Hannah – She needed a son and God needed a Prophet to replace Eli, 1 Samuel 1-2.

WOMAN WITH ISSUE OF BLOOD – She got the chance and perfectly use it, Mark 3:25-34.

RAHAB, THE HARLOT – Utilised the chance and got better offer, Joshua 6.

RUTH, THE MOABITRESS – She got covenanted to David’s dynasty.

ACTIVITY: Let members study those that refused to wait for their time and the repercussions.

SUMMARY: Time and Chance happens to all issues of life.

CONCLUSION: There is time for everything. Doing things at the wrong time would lead to disaster. God has an appointed time for our miracles but be sensitive to positive chance that can bring newness to the journey of your life.

PRAYER POINTS

Father, please let me be at the right place, at the right time and doing the right things in Jesus Name.

Father, deliver me from the spirit of impatience.

Father, grant me the ability to understand Your times and seasons.

Father, restore to me all my lost opportunities.

Father, by Your mercy, my efforts in life will not be in vain.

GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK:

MONDAY: Daniel 2:21

TUESDAY: He has got times and seasons in His hand, fret not.

WEDNESDAY: Ecclesiastes 3:11, He is never late.

THURSDAY: Matthew 6:25-34

FRIDAY: Jeremiah 32:17, 27.

SATURDAY: Psalms 127:1

SUNDAY: Philippians 4:6-7

SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE

10 minutes for Opening Prayer, Praise and Worship

10 minutes for Testimonies

15 minutes for Bible Discussion

15 minutes for General Prayers

10 minutes for Questions & Answers

5 minutes for Welcoming New Members

10 minutes for Announcements, Offering & Closing Prayers.

Total – 60 Minutes (1 Hour)