Center of Praise Ministries

Center of Praise Ministries
Weekend Teaching ~ OmniGroups Study Guide
A Season of Transition
Honor Where Honor Is Due
Instruction by: Dr. Ronn Elmore
Weekend of January 3 -­‐4, 2015 CenterofPraise.net Introduction
We know God to be a great God who is good to us. He is actively conforming and transforming us
into the image of His precious Son, Jesus Christ. We seek to honor God in our walk as disciples of His
Son through the activity of worshiping, learning, and serving.
God has sectioned off a special and even peculiar people who are set aside for His glory. Throughout
scripture the people of God have embraced a habit or tradition of pausing to look back, just prior to
proceeding forward. As we have transitioned into a New Year, we want to take some time to look
back at where God has brought us from, who
Learning Objectives
has helped us along in this journey, and
1. Taking a look back
acknowledge Him for setting the path before
2. Looking Back In Order To Going forward
us that we are to walk upon.
3. Declaring God’s Word
Taking a Look Back
Some of the older saints might recall the lyrics to the song
Look Where He’s Brought Me From. The words of the song
speak of reminiscing of how God has “brought me out of
darkness to the marvelous light.”
All throughout the Old Testament, God gave instruction to
the Children of Israel to take pause, before possessing the
new land, prior to entering into battle, and preceding the
dedication of any new place or thing, to look back: God
brought you out of some place, and into the place and
position He has promised.
Luke 4:16-­‐21 NLT 16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for h e has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Jesus went to the Temple on the Sabbath, picked up the
scroll of Isaiah, celebrated what God said in the past, and
identified Himself as the One whom the prophecy was
written. He looked back in order to go forward.
Certainly over the course of the past year as the teaching
at Center of Praise Ministries focused on being Healthy,
Wealthy, and Ready to Serve, some have embraced
healthier lifestyles, have invested into the true wealth of
others, and are now actively serving God by serving
others. Look back at where God has brought you from.
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Looking Back to Go Forward
It has been said “In order to proceed forward one must look back”.
The people of God, Israel, time and time again, reveled in disobedience to the Lord, and were now in
captivity. The prophet Jeremiah (in chapter 3) continually reminded the people of their faithlessness.
In the midst of these rebukes God promises to send shepherds.
God has placed His heart into individuals who would
shepherd His people. The word “shepherds” is literally
translated from the Old Testament into the word pastors.
Shepherds, especially good ones, smell like their sheep
because of the closeness in proximity and the level of
relationship with the sheep.
The Lord instructed His people to look for those who would
shepherd them; they would recognize the person by the
heart God placed within him. Such was the case with
Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, and later with Jesus.
The same is true today. God has called shepherds
(pastors) who have His heart, poised to guide and give
instruction by knowledge and understanding. God is
God, in all of His perfection. Pastors are not perfect, but
they have the heart of God. God is true to His word in
sending pastors.
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding. HEBREW WORDS Knowledge [de`ah] knowledge of God Shepherds [ra`ah] to pasture, tend, of ruler, teacher, of people as flock Understanding [sakal] to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper, have insight, comprehension; giving insight, teach As we look back over the past quarter-century God has
kept His promise. He sent to Sacramento a man after His own heart: a true shepherd who guides with
knowledge and understanding. God has sent a shepherd who not only has the heart of God, but
also one who smells like the sheep.
At times such as these we find ourselves celebrating what God has accomplished through this ministry
under the leadership of our Bishop, Dr. Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr.: a shepherd after God’s heart. Looking
back over the years and taking inventory of the track record of such a man compels us to praise God
from the heart and causes us to speak the Word of the Lord in honor.
Declaring God’s Word By Showing Double Honor
As we look forward towards the future, realizing,
understanding, and embracing a transition such as this,
it is imperative to look back at the many words of
encouragement, the teaching of the Word of God,
prophetic words of knowledge, the sensitivity to the
things of the Holy Spirit, and even the embraces shared,
the gifts given, and friendly waves; and know that it is
more than appropriate to give honor where honor is
Galatians 6:6 Let the one who is taught the word share ALL good things with the one who teaches. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. due.
GREEK WORD Honor [timē] a valuing, affixing a price; deference, reverence shown to one Dr. Ronn Elmore shared from his heart that we should
give both the
evidence
of our honor by means of a monetary gift. Be ready
next week to give double honor to a worthy shepherd.
Our strategy as a church is to WORSHIP, LEARN & SERVE as direct responses to the nature and character of God. Serving is the m ost powerful w ay for a believer to reveal the life of God in them. HE’S HERE… WE WORSHIP – God is available at all times and in all places, even in seasons of transition
and shifting to provide the comfort, security, surety, and confidence we need to not just weather
storms or survive battles; but also to embrace the shift and maneuver through the transition by His
grace. Acknowledge Him in all your dealings and activities. He will respond with clear direction.
HE KNOWS… WE LEARN – Jesus honored God the Father in all of His activities. By reading the Word of
God and seeking understanding, you begin to unlock the knowledge and understanding He would
have you to embrace. His Word is never changing, yet it is ever revealing.
HE’S ABLE… WE SERVE – Showing honor is serving. Give honor where honor is due (or overdue). Honor
those in your life who have made a difference for you, or have spoken a word to encourage you.
Discussion Points
But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. James 1:22 NLT 1. Look back over the past year. Discuss how you have
incorporated the teachings on Healthy, Wealthy, and Ready to
Serve into your life. How have you been transformed over the
course of the past year?
2. Jesus drew from the prophet Isaiah in the declaration of His
ministry strategy. In doing so He demonstrated a look back. In
your own life what is one situation or experience God has brought
you through that has shaped you into the person you are today?
3. Archers pull back upon the bowstring in order to shoot the
arrow at its target. As you look back, discuss how God has used
difficult times for the purpose of propelling you forward.
4. When you gain knowledge and understanding you are to apply
it to your life. Shepherds (pastors) guide people into the
understanding of God’s purpose for their lives. Discuss how your
pastors have enriched your life through their teaching, as well as
through the programs made available to you.
5. Take a moment to reflect upon the people in your life, perhaps
even those sitting with you now. Share a word with them to honor
and encourage them.
In the space below begin to write down the ONE SPECIFIC THING you’d like to tell Bishop Lovelace that you’ve appreciated the most about him and the kind of pastor he has b een. Collect your thoughts here, and be prepared to rewrite them next Sunday. Dear Bishop,