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TOPIC — The Early Church: A Model For Today

MEMORY VERSE: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42
BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 2:42-44

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

INTRODUCTION:

A close study of the daily life of the first apostolic church reveals certain peculiarities worthy of note. This seems to run contrary to some trends noticed in some churches today. We need to examine what the early church looked like and practiced in order to realign ourselves with the will of God for His Church.

OUTLINES

1. SOME SHORT-COMINGS OF THE PRESENT – DAY CHURCH
2. THE QUALITIES OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

1. SOME SHORT-COMINGS OF THE PRESENT – DAY CHURCH:

In many of the Churches of today, human philosophies and motivational talks have replaced sound doctrines (1 Corinthians 2:4; Colossians 2:4,. Rather than rendering selfless services. People now seek for immediate reward /compensations (Acts 20:35, Galatians 6:9). True love, as well as genuine fellowship (I. E. Inter-personal relationship) is not just missing among members but has been replaced with suspicions (1 John 3:18, Hebrew 10:25). There is also the lack of sacrificial giving and commitment to kingdom projects (Acts 2:45, Psalm 69:9). Pride, egoistic tendencies and unhealthy rivalry among leaders and followers are quite noticeable (2 Corinthians 10:12, Philippines 2:5). Some members even engage in a life of suspicion, envy and strife (James 3:14,16). There are also gimmicks in some churches today resulting in exploitations, intimidations, faking of miracles, lies and deceptions in the name of packaging ; etc (1 Timothy 6:3-7; Ephesians 4:14, 2 Corinthians 12:16-17).

2. THE QUALITIES OF THE EARLY CHURCH:

The early church was characterized by steadfastness in ‘apostolic’ doctrines, fellowship, prayer and breaking of bread from house to house (Acts 2:42-46,12:5). The early Church featured warm, truthful and loving fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:13, Philippines 4:10). Real signs and wonders took place in the Church (Acts 2:43, 4:14, Mark 16:20).

They were united with brotherly love and had all things in common (Acts 2:44, John 17:21). The members of the early Church were also generous (Acts 2:5, Acts 4:34-37) and enjoyed Favour (Acts 2:47). The church had tremendous numeric growth on daily basis (Act 2:41, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14).

For Better Understanding Check the RCCG Teachers Manual here - http://myreligion.com.ng/2018/11/rccg-sunday-school-teachers-manual-for-november-11-2018-lesson-11-topic-the-early-church-a-model-for-today/

CONCLUSION

While we cannot rule out the need for innovations and creativity that make the Church of God lively today, the present day Church must be modeled after the early Church.

Click to read previous Rccg Sunday School Manuals here

QUESTIONS

1. Mention at least 4 short – comings of the present – day Church.
2. What are the qualities of the early church?
For Further Reading : Acts 17:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Acts 2:17, Psalm 103:1, Acts 10:35, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Acts 4:4.

‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar reported the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone emancipates his share in slave, a fair price for the slave should be fixed, give his partners their shares, and the slave be thus emancipated. Otherwise he is emancipated to the extent of the share which he emancipated.

Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 31, Hadith 15

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Samson and the Gates of Gaza

SAMSON MARRIED THE daughter of one of the Philistines but afterward her father took her away from him, and, in revenge, he killed great numbers of them, and destroyed their crops and vineyards.

The Philistines then came out in great force against the men of Judah, and demanded that Samson should be given up to them. The men accordingly came to Samson, and said they must give him up to the enemy.

So Samson let them bind him with strong cords, and take him to the Philistines. But at that moment God gave him strength to snap the cords asunder and, snatching up the jaw-bone of an ass, he fell upon his enemies, and killed a thousand of them.

After this, Samson went to Gaza, a city of the Philistines, and at night the people shut him in, saying to each other that they would kill him in the morning.

But in the middle of the night he got up, tore down the gates of the city, and, throwing them upon his shoulders, carried them to the top of a hill in the neighborhood. His enemies now saw that they could not overcome him by force, so they bribed a woman to get from him the secret of his strength.

Samson deceived both her and them several times, but at last told her the truth, that if his hair were cut off, he should be no stronger than any other man. So, when he was asleep, she cut it off and then, calling the Philistines, they took him, put out his eyes, and set him to grind corn.

But as he toiled in prison, God gave his strength to him again. So one day, when the great men of the Philistines were going to worship their false god Dagon, and would have Samson make sport for them, he begged the boy who led him in to let him rest against the pillars of the building where they were assembled.

The the completed Interesting old testament Bible Stories here - http://myreligion.com.ng/?cat=63

Then, praying to God that He would once more enable him to destroy his enemies, he laid hold of the pillars, and, bending forward with all his might, pulled the building down, crushing both himself and thousands of the Philistines. Thus it happened that he killed more in his death than in life.

MEMORY VERSE: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” –Matthew 23:27

BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 5:1-16

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

INTRODUCTION:

A person, who pretends to be something that he really is not, is a hypocrite. It is not just making a mistake but a deliberate plan to pretend, deceive or cheat. He is dirty inside but clean outside (Joshua 7:1, 8-12; Matthew 23:27). A person in a drama representing someone else explains this. He could imitate the speech, mannerisms and conduct of the character portrayed; but in real life he is a different person.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Forms and reasons for hypocrisy
2. Consequences of hypocrisy

FORMS AND REASONS FOR HYPOCRISY

Hypocrisy can take two forms: that of professing belief in something and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief (Isaiah 29:13). The other is that of looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed (Matthew 7:3-5; Romans 2:1). Jesus described hypocrites as wolfs in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), white-washed tombs (Matthew 23:27), snakes and broods of vipers (Matthew 23:33) and graves (Luke 11:44).
There are several reasons people engage in hypocrisy. These include; pride of life (1 John 2:15-16), undeserved desire for the honour of men and a feeling of insecurity (2 Corinthians 10:12). They want to be respected in the church as being holy but in secret, committing sins (1 Samuel 15:13,20,25-30). Ananias and his wife wanted the praise given to Barnabas when they were not as faithful (Acts 4:34-37; 5:1-10). Some people pretend to be who/what they are not in order to cheat (Genesis 27:20-22). People who declare false records and inaccurate tithing fall under this category (Proverbs 11:1). Self-indulgence may be another reason for hypocrisy (Romans 16:18).

CONSEQUENCES OF HYPOCRISY

God knows all things including the secret deceit of the heart (Psalm 44:21; Jeremiah 17:9-10; 1 Samuel 16:7) and all the ways of man (Job 31:4; Psalm 1:16). No one can hide from Him or deceive Him. He will repay every man according to his works (Revelations 22:11-12). The consequences of hypocrisy may include:
1. Bad leadership (1 Samuel 15:13,20,25-30).
2. Shame and disgrace (Jeremiah 13:25-26).
3. Punishment (Proverbs 11:21).
4. Curses (Isaiah 29:15-16; Job 15:34-35).
5. Untimely or spiritual death (Job 27:8; 36:13-14; 1 John 5:12).

CONCLUSION

The same way fornication is a sin against God, so also is hypocrisy (Galatians 5:19-21). The only solution is repentance (Isaiah 55:7).
Click to read previous Rccg Sunday School Manuals Here

For better understanding, Check for Teacher's Manual At the Source here - http://myreligion.com.ng/?cat=52

QUESTIONS

1. Mention 4 reasons for hypocrisy.
2. What are the consequences of hypocrisy?
3. How can we stop hypocrisy in the Church?

God Humbles the Proud Heart of Nebuchadnezzar

ONE NIGHT WHILE Nebuchadnezzar lay asleep in his palace, God caused him to have another strange dream. This time when he awoke in the morning he remembered what the dream had been, and he wondered about its meaning. So he sent again for the wise Chaldeans, and told them about the dream that was troubling his mind.

The Chaldeans were glad because Nebuchadnezzar had remembered his dream but when they listened to it they could not tell its meaning. So the King sent them away and called for Daniel. He believed that the spirit of Daniel’s God dwelt in Daniel and caused him to understand the deepest mysteries. And he called Daniel the master of all his wise men.

Daniel listened while Nebuchadnezzar told the dream that was troubling him. And God caused Daniel to understand what the dream meant. But at first he was afraid to tell the King. For a whole hour he sat quietly, wondering that he should do.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Do not be afraid, nor let the dream or its meaning trouble you.” So Daniel took courage and spoke to the great ruler.

Now, the dream had been this: Nebuchadnezzar had seen a tree grow up in the earth and become so great that the top of it reached to the sky. Underneath its branches all the beasts of the field found shelter, and in its leafy boughs all the bird of the air made their nests.

And the people of the earth from the near and far came to eat of its fruit. Then Nebuchadnezzar had seen the Lord come down from heaven and cry out: “Cut down the great tree cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get away from under the shadow of it, and let the dew come upon it for seven years.

But let the stump of the great tree remain with its roots in the ground until the seven years be passed. Let this be, that all who live may know there is a God in heaven who rules over all the kingdoms of earth.”

Daniel knew the dream was sent as a warning from God to the proud King. He knew Nebuchadnezzar was not willing to believe in the great God, who is over all.

But he spoke bravely and said, “This great tree which you have seen means you, for you have become a great king and you are known in every part of the land. And the meaning of that voice which you heard crying out that the great tree should be cut down is that you shall lose your kingdom for seven years and go out from men to live among the beasts of the field.

You shall eat grass like an ox, and the dew of heaven shall be upon you. But when you humble yourself and believe that the Most High God rules in the kingdoms of earth, giving them to whomever he pleases, then you shall return again to live among men and be restored to your kingdom.”

Daniel knew that God is very merciful, and he believed that God would save the King from such severe punishment if only the King would quit his sins and do right. So he urged Nebuchadnezzar to turn away from his wicked doings and begin to live differently. Then he went back to his own house.

One year passed by, and nothing unusual happened. Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar almost forgot the strange dream, at least he did not try to do as Daniel had urged him to do.

He saw about him all the splendors of his kingdom and all the beauties of his palace grounds. He saw the famous city of Babylon, which he had helped to beautify, and his heart grew more proud and haughty.

Then one day as he walked about in his kingly palace, admiring the grandeur of his surroundings, he said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for my own royal house by my own power and for my glory?”

And while he spoke the words a voice called him from heaven, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar to you it is spoken: The Kingdom is taken from you.!”

In that very hour the great king lost his mind and became like a wild beast. And the people were afraid of him, and they drove him out of the city. There he lived in the fields and ate grass like the oxen.

And his hair grew like eagle’s feathers and his nails grew like claws. For seven years he roamed about in the fields, with a heart like a beast’s instead of a man’s. Then God allowed his mind to return again, and his heart to become like a man’s heart, and Nebuchadnezzar rose up like a man and thanked God for his mercies, and praised him for his greatness.

When the people of Babylon saw that their King had returned again to their city with the mind of a well man, they welcomed him back.

And they honored him as their king just as they had done before. But Nebuchadnezzar did not forget the lesson that God taught him, and he no longer believed that his greatness and his glory had come by his own strength.

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A’ishah (RA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When a woman gives some of the foodstuff (which she has in her house) in charity without being extravagant (without being wasteful), she will receive the reward for what she has spent, and her husband will receive the reward because of his earning, and the keeper (if any) will be similarly rewarded. The reward of one will not decrease the reward of the others.” Agreed upon.

Bulugh al-Maram, Book 4, Hadith 637

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The Judgment of Solomon

SOLOMON WAS THE greatest king that ever reigned in Israel he was also one of the wisest men that ever lived. When he first came to the throne, God appeared to him one night in a dream, and asked what gift He should bestow upon him.

Solomon prayed that He would give him wisdom to govern his people. God was pleased that he had asked wisdom instead of riches, or conquests, or long life, and He told Solomon that because he had done so, not only would He make him wiser than any man who ever lived, but that he should be rich and famous above all kings of the earth.

And if he would obey Him in all things, long life should also be added to the other good gifts which were to be his.

In those days it was the custom for kings to sit in some public place, where such of their subjects as had wrongs to complain of might plead their cause before them, and obtain justice.

One day two women came before Solomon. One of them told him that she and the other woman both lived in one house, and each had a very young child that in the night the child belonging to the other woman died, and its mother exchanged it for the living one, putting her own dead child in her neighbor’s bed as she lay sleeping, and taking the living child to herself.

In the morning, the mother of the living child found out the cheat but she whose child was dead would not give up the one that she had stolen, for she said it was her own. And the two women stood there before the king, each one contending that the living child was hers, and that the dead child belonged to the other.

Then Solomon desired his people to bring him a sword and when it was brought, he bade them divide the living child in two, and give half of him to each of the women.

The woman who had falsely claimed the child made no objection to this decision. But the real mother could not bear it. Rather than have her son killed, she was willing to lose him altogether and she cried, and in no wise slay it!”

Then the king saw at once to which of them the child belonged and he said, “Give her the living child, for she is its mother.”

And all the people of Israel, when they heard of this judgment of Solomon, knew that God had indeed given him wisdom to do justice among his subjects and they held him in great awe and reverence.

There are a lot of Stories at the source, read here - http://myreligion.com.ng/?cat=3

Topic : Creation – How the World Was Made

THIS GREAT WORLD in which we live did not always exist. The broad expanse of sky, which smiles upon us when days are fair, and frowns and weeps when days are foul, did not always form an arch above our earth-home. Long, long ago there was no world at all. There was no sun to shine, there were no stars to twinkle, nor moonbeams to play through the night shadows. But even then there was God for he ever has been and always shall be the same unchanging Divine Being.

Then, away back in that long ago, at the very beginning of time, God made the world. Not as we see it today, for at first water covered everything, and all was darkness everywhere. What a strange, unfriendly world this must have been, for no living creature could dwell in it! But God planned to make it beautiful, so he caused the light to shine. This light he called Day and the darkness he called Night. And then the evening and morning of the first day of time passed by,

On the second day God made the beautiful blue sky, and placed above the water-covered earth clouds to carry the sky-moisture. He called the sky Heaven. On the third day he caused the waters to flow together in wide, deep places, and he called them Seas. Dry land then rose up, and this he called Earth. But as yet there were no grasses, flowers, nor trees-the whole earth was barren and desolate. So God caused a carpet of grass to grow upon the bare ground and beautiful flowers to spring up from the earth. The trees and herbs also he made to grow at his will. When God beheld all these things he saw that they were good.

On the fourth day appeared the great lights which we see in the sky-the sun, the moon, and the stars. These he made to divide the day from the night.

After these things were made, God began to create living creatures. He made fishes of all kinds and sizes to swim about in the seas and birds of every description to fly about above the water and land, just as we see them doing today. Thus the world continued to become more delightful, and the fifth day of the first week of time passed by.

On the sixth day God made all the animals, great and small, and every creeping thing. Then there was life abounding in the woods and on the plains, as well as in the air and in the sea. What a beautiful world! Still what a strange world, for there were no people in it! Not a home anywhere-not a man, woman, nor little child to be seen. What a very strange world indeed!

But God had not yet finished his work of creation, for he wished to have people live in the wonderful world he had made. They could enjoy its beauties and take care of it as no other living creature could do. And more, they could know who had made all these great things, and knowing God they could love and worship him. So it was that God made the first man. Out of the dust of the ground he made the man’s body, then he breathed into that body with the breath of life and man became a living soul.

This first man God called Adam, and to Adam he gave the power to rule over all the other living creatures. These animals and birds he brought to Adam, and Adam gave each of them a name. But not one of them did Adam find suitable for a helper, and because he needed a helper very much God made for him a woman. This woman became Adam’s wife, and he loved her very much. He called her name Eve.

Read all the interesting Bible Stories from the source here - http://myreligion.com.ng/?p=192

When the sixth day ended God had made the world and had placed everything in it just as he wished, therefore on the seventh day he rested from his work.

Topic - Lot’s Choice, And How It Brought Trouble

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WHEN LOT SELECTED the fertile plains of Jordan for his share of Canaan’s land, he thought he was making a wise choice. He saw in the distance the large cities of the plain, called Sodom and Gomorrah. He knew that in those cities he could sell sheep and cattle from his flocks and herds, and soon have much silver and gold. So he moved toward Sodom. After a while he pitched his tents still nearer the city walls, and finally he moved his family inside the gate.

Now, Sodom was not a nice place for good people to live. The people of Sodom cared nothing about God. Some of them were very rich, and perhaps they had beautiful homes. But they had unlovely hearts.The Bible tells us that the men of Sodom were wicked and great sinners in God’s sight. But in Lot’s sight they were rich men, and clever, and so he brought his family to dwell among them. This was a sad mistake.

One day trouble came upon Sodom. There had been war in the land and the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and three other cities had gone out to battle. The army against which they fought defeated them. Then the conquering soldiers entered the gates of Sodom and of Gomorrah, crowded through the streets, and pushed their way into rich men’s houses, taking everything that they could find to carry away. They even took people and led them away to become slaves. And Lot with his wife and children were taken with the others.

One of the captured men escaped and fled across the country to the place near Hebron where Abram lived. He told about the battle and what had happened to Lot. When Abram heard of Lot’s trouble, he took three hundred and eighteen of his men servants and, with some friends, hurried in pursuit of the captives. After a long, hard march across the country they came upon the enemy’s camp at a place in the north of Canaan, called Dan. It was night, and the unsuspecting enemies lay asleep. Abram and his men rushed upon them and frightened them. They thought a great army had come to fight against them, and they were not prepared for a battle. So they rose up in haste and ran away, leaving behind their tents and all the goods and the people which they had taken away from Sodom and Gomorrah.

This was a great victory for Abram. The people of Canaan honored him for his courage, and the king of Sodom went out to meet him. He offered Abram all the gold and silver and food and clothing that he had taken away from the enemy’s camp, and asked only that the people be returned again to Sodom. But Abram would not accept any reward from the king, because he had promised God that he would not keep anything for himself. And so all the people and their possessions were again returned to their homes.

Another king also came out to meet Abram. His name was Melchizedek, and he was king of Salem, a place which was later called Jerusalem. Melchizedek was different from the other people of Canaan because he loved the true God and worshiped him. He was a priest of God. When this king met Abram he brought food for him, and then he asked God to bless Abram. He also thanked God for giving Abram such a great victory.

Because Melchizedek was a priest of the true God, Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken from the enemy’s camp.

After this experience, Lot took his wife and children and went back again to live in wicked Sodom but Abram returned to his quiet tent-home under the oak-trees near Hebron.

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The Tower of Babel – And Why It Was Never Finished

A CLEAN, NEW world lay before Noah and his three sons when they stepped out of the ark. Now there were no wicked neighbors to mock at them when they built altars to worship God. Even the wicked works of those wicked people had been swept away out of sight. Everything was ready for a new beginning.

Noah and his sons set to work and made new homes. Noah’s sons were named Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After a while God gave them children. These children grew up and made homes for themselves. Then there were other children and so it came about that the number of people grew and grew until the earth became as full of people as it was before the flood.

From the mountain of Ararat, where the ark lodged when the waters went down, the human family went into the south country. Later they moved east, into the valley of Mesopotamia, and there they lived on a plain in the land of Shinar.

“Let us build for ourselves a city,” said the people some time after they reached Shinar, “and let us make a tower so great and high that its top will reach up to the sky. Then we shall not be scattered over the face of the earth, and separated from one another.” And so the people set to work.

In this land of Shinar the soil is such that bricks can be made of it, and soon many bricks were made and ready for use. What a busy people! Some were making brick, others were mixing mortar, and still others were carrying brick and mortar to the workmen who were building the city and the tower. Everything was moving fast and everybody was thinking that some day their city and their wonderful tower would be finished.

Then something happened that the people had not expected to happen at all. God came to see the city and the tower. He did not talk to the builders, and very likely they did not know he had been there to look upon their work. But God was not pleased with what he saw. He knew that men would become more sinful if they should finish that great tower. Already they were thinking more and more about their own work and less and less about the God who gave them strength with which to labor. Soon they might forget God entirely and worship the work their own hands had made. So God planned to stop their building.

Until this time all the people in the world spoke one language. Now God caused them to speak different languages. The people of one family could not understand what their neighbors were talking about. Neither could their neighbors understand what they were saying. Such a great change caused the people to become restless, and all those who spoke one language moved into neighbor-hoods by themselves. They could no longer go on with their great building, either, because the workmen could not understand one another’s language and so at last they quit trying to finish the tower whose top they had planned should reach the sky. And the name of the city was called Babel.

Soon the people of one language gathered together their possessions and moved away from Babel. Others did the same. Across the plains they journeyed and over the mountains into strange lands where men’s feet had never walked before. They built cities and planted fields and vineyards, and their number grew until they became strong nations.

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RCCG Sunday School October 28 : Lesson 9, Topic – Intentional Disciple-Making

TOPIC – Intentional Disciple-Making

OPENING PRAYER: Father as I grow in you, help me to consciously make disciples for your

kingdom.


MEMORY VERSE: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:2

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 3:10-15

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

Discipleship process requires a teacher-student relationship. Hence, there is no discipleship where the convert is not taken through a definite process of intentional learning. The goal of discipleship is to produce an individual who has come to the realization of living on daily basis with Christ and experiencing consistent growth through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

TEXT REVIEW: 2 TIMOTHY 3:10-15 – “MASTER AND HIS STUDENT”.

(i) The following phrases point to the fact that a master-student relationship existed between Apostle Paul and Timothy:

“thou hast fully known my doctrine” (verse 10).”knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (verse 15) and “from whom hast thou learned them” (verse 15).
(ii) Apostle Paul must have spent quality time with Timothy before Timothy could master the nine (9) “faith courses” in three (3) different countries of Antioch, lconium and at Lystra. Verses 10-11
(iii) These courses were: doctrines, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions and afflictions. Verses 10-11.
(iv) These scripture-based subjects, Apostle Paul declared, were able to make the learners, Timothy,wise and produce good workieffect. Verses 14-16.
(v) The Apostle delivered the final key note instruction to Timothy (in verse 14) when he said, “continue thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured of …”
He stated that doing this, Timothy would become perfect and thoroughly furnished unto ALL good work. Verse 17.

The above illustration demonstrates DELIBERATE/CONSCIOUS EFFORT of a master to produce quality and approved student, in this case a disciple proven and tested.


LESSON OUTLINE 1: REASONS FOR INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

(i) Intentional discipleship is a conscious, deliberate and purposeful effort of the teacher to reproduce himself/herself in the student
(ii) The Lord Jesus commended it. Matt. 28:18-20.
(iii) Intentional discipleship will ensure the continuity of the gospel. Acts 2:42.
(iv) It will enable the disciple to do a greater work in the ministry. John 14:12.
(v) It will eradicate the sacred/secular dichotomy in which the church-life and work-life of the disciples are different (being holy only in the church and becoming the opposite outside the church) 2Cor. 5:20.
(vi) It will help to raise new generations of kingdom believers and world-changers. 2 Tim. 1:5.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Mention those activities of a teacher to produce a student like himself/herself.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: HOW TO DISCIPLE OTHERS

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AFTER JACOB CAME back to the land of Canaan with his eleven sons, another son was born to him, the second child of his wife Rachel, whom Jacob loved so well. But soon after the baby came, his mother Rachel died, and Jacob was filled with sorrow. Even to this day you can see the place where Rachel was buried, on the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Jacob named the child whom Rachel left, Benjamin and now Jacob had twelve sons. Most of them were grown-up men but Joseph was a boy seventeen years old, and his brother Benjamin was almost a baby.

Of all his children, Jacob loved Joseph the best, because he was Rachel’s child because he was so much younger than most of his brothers and because he was good, and faithful, and thoughtful. Jacob gave to Joseph a robe or coat of bright colors, made somewhat like a long cloak with wide sleeves. This was a special mark of Jacob’s favor to Joseph, and it made his older brothers envious of him.

Then, too, Joseph did what was right, while his older brothers often did very wrong acts, of which Joseph sometimes told their father and this made them very angry at Joseph. But they hated him still more because of two strange dreams he had, and of which he told them. He said one day: “Listen to this dream that I have dreamed. I dreamed that we were out in the field binding sheaves, when suddenly my sheaf stood up, and all your sheaves came around it and bowed down to my sheaf!”

And they said scornfully, “Do you suppose that the dream means that you will some time rule over us, and that we shall bow down to you?”

Then, a few days after, Joseph said, “I have dreamed again. This time, I saw in my dream the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars, all come and bow to me!”

And his father said to him, “I do not like you to dream such dreams. Shall I, and your mother, and your brothers, come and bow down before you as if you were a king?”

His brothers hated Joseph, and would not speak kindly to him but his father thought much of what Joseph had said.

At one time, Joseph’s ten brothers were taking care of the flock in the fields near Shechem, which was nearly fifty miles from Hebron, where Jacob’s tents were spread. And Jacob wished to send a message to his sons, and he called Joseph, and said to him:

“Your brothers are near Shechem with the flock. I wish that you would go to them, and take a message, and find if they are well, and if the flocks are doing well and bring me word from them.”

That was quite an errand, for a boy to go alone over the country, and find his way, for fifty miles, and then walk home again. But Joseph was a boy who could take care of him-self, and could be trusted so he went forth on his journey, walking northward over the mountains, past Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, and Bethel — though we are not sure those cities were then built, except Jerusalem, which was already a strong city.

When Joseph reached Shechem, he could not find his brothers, for they had taken their flocks to another place. A man met Joseph wandering in the field, and asked him, “Whom are you seeking?”

Joseph said, “I am looking for my brothers, the sons of Jacob. Can you tell me where I will find them?”

And the man said, “They are at Dothan or I heard them say that they were going there.

Then Joseph walked over the hills to Dothan, which was fifteen miles further. And his brothers saw him afar off coming toward them. They Walking knew him by his bright garment and one said to another: “Look, that dreamer is coming! Come, let us kill him, and throw his body into a pit, and tell his father that some wild beast has eaten him and then we will see what becomes of his dreams.

One of his brothers, whose name was Reuben, felt more kindly toward Joseph than the others. He said:

“Let us not kill him, but let us throw him into this pit, in the wilderness, and leave him there to die.”

But Reuben intended, after they had gone away, to lift Joseph out of the pit, and take him home to his father. The brothers did as Reuben told them they threw Joseph into the pit, which was empty. He cried, and begged them to save him but they would not. They calmly sat down to eat their dinner on the grass, while their brother was calling to them from the pit.

After the dinner, Reuben chanced to go to another part of the field so that he was not at hand when a company of men passed by with their camels, going from Gilead, on the east of the river Jordan, to Egypt, to sell spices and fragrant gum from trees to the Egyptians.

Then Judah, another of Joseph’s brothers, said, “What good will it do us to kill our brother? Would it not be better for us to sell him to these men, and let them carry him away? After all, he is our brother, and we would better not kill him.”

His brothers agreed with him so they stopped the men who were passing, and drew up Joseph from the pit, and for twenty pieces of silver they sold Joseph to these men and they took him away with them down to Egypt.

After a while, Reuben came to the pit, where they had left Joseph, and looked into it but Joseph was not there. Then Reuben was in great trouble and he came back to his brothers, saying: “The boy is not there! What shall I do!”

Then his brothers told Reuben what they had done and they all agreed together to deceive their father. They killed one of the goats, and dipped Joseph’s coat in its blood and they brought it to their father, and they said to him: “We found this coat out in the wilderness. Look at it, father, and tell us if you think it was the coat of your son.”

And Jacob knew it at once. He said: “It is my son’s coat. Some wild beast has eaten him. There is no doubt that Joseph has been torn in pieces!”

And Jacob’s heart was broken over the loss of Joseph all the more because he had sent Joseph alone on the journey through the wilderness. They tried to comfort him, but he would not be comforted. He said: “I will go down to the grave mourning for my poor lost son.”

So the old man sorrowed for his son Joseph and all the time his wicked brothers knew that Joseph was not dead but they would not tell their father the dreadful deed they had done to their brother, in selling him as a slave.

Source: http://myreligion.com.ng/?p=565

Haha..............

About Christianity and Islam

In Dialogues Concerning Jesus Christ the Messiah
By Shabir Ally

The Similarities

Jesus is one of the greatest persons ever to have walked the earth. Two world faiths hold him in high regard. Islam holds him to be God’s Messiah, Prophet, and Righteous Servant. Christianity holds him to be all of the above and even more. Some Christians believe that Jesus is God the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Some believe that he is the Son of God. Some take this title to mean the Divine Son of God. Others think that ‘Son of God’ is a title that can refer to a person who is especially favoured by God; and that it refers to Jesus more so because he was favoured by God to a remarkable degree.

Hence belief in Jesus is an element of faith that is common to Christianity and Islam even though the two faiths believe in him differently. Both faiths hold Jesus in high esteem. Muslims and Christians believe that Jesus entered the world in a miraculous manner; that he worked mighty deeds on earth; that his exit was mysterious; and that his second coming will be spectacular. His miraculous entrance is hailed by Christians as the virginal conception, as is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Quranic story of Jesus as found in chapters 3 and 19 has many elements in common with Luke’s Gospel, leading to the common interpretation and belief among Muslims in the virginal conception as well.

Jesus’ powerful deeds, especially during the last few years of his ministry, are detailed in the four Gospels in the New Testament. Likewise the Quran informs us that God supported Jesus with the Holy Spirit and that Jesus healed the leper, cured the blind, and even raised the dead back to life, all with God’s permission.

According to the Gospels, Jesus’ exit from the world was at first a mystery to his disciples. But the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John show that Jesus later appeared to his disciples and confirmed for them that God had raised him alive to heaven. The Quran, without describing the event in any detail, confirms for Muslims that “God raised Jesus to Himself” (Quran 4:157). The belief that Jesus is alive with God, then, is common to Muslims and Christians.

Muslims also generally believe that Jesus will return to earth before the Day of Judgment. This belief is not clearly stated in the Quran although two verses (4:158 and 43:61) have been interpreted as possible references to this event. This belief is, however, stated in many sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and found in the most authentic collections of his sayings.

In short, Muslims and Christians share a common reverence for Jesus, and this can serve as a starting-point for dialogue leading to greater levels of mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect.

The Differences

Focusing on our commonalities, however, should not prevent us from being honest about our differences, for only in understanding our differences as well can we truly understand each other.

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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

By Ayden Zayn
August 24, 2016

Most people have heard of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as well as the former heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. But if asked to identify other Muhammads, past or present, it’s likely that many would have a hard time naming even one! Yet there are many noteworthy people having achieved great things who happen to bare the name of Muhammad (alternate spellings included). Here are a few of the most famous ones…

Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī

Lived: 780 to 850
Highlight: One of the fathers of algebra.

A Muslim mathematician who introduced the use of the decimal to the Western world. He is considered one of the fathers of algebra. Some words reflect the importance of al-Khwārizmī’s contributions to mathematics. “Algebra” is derived from al-jabr, one of the two operations he used to solve quadratic equations. “Algorism” and “algorithm” stem from Algoritmi, the Latin form of his name. His name is also the origin of “guarismo” (Spanish) and of “algarismo” (Portuguese), both meaning “digit”.
Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi

Lived: 865 to 925
Highlight: Father of pediatrics.

The first to produce acids such as sulfuric acid, writing up limited or extensive notes on diseases such as smallpox and chickenpox, a pioneer in ophthalmology, author of first book on pediatrics, making leading contributions in inorganic and organic chemistry, also the author of several philosophical works… Through translation, his medical works and ideas became known among medieval European practitioners and profoundly influenced medical education in the Latin West. Some volumes of his work Al-Mansuri, namely “On Surgery” and “A General Book on Therapy”, became part of the medical curriculum in Western universities. Edward Granville Browne considers him as “probably the greatest and most original of all the physicians, and one of the most prolific as an author” and has been described as the father of pediatrics and a pioneer of ophthalmology. Source: Wikipedia

Abū Nasr Muhammad ibn Muhammad Fārābī (Al-Farabi)

Lived: 872 to 950
Highlight: Widely considered second only to Aristotle in knowledge.

Farabi made contributions to the fields of logic, mathematics, music, philosophy, psychology, and education… Credited with preserving the original Greek texts during the Middle Ages because of his commentaries and treatises, and influencing many prominent philosophers, like Avicenna and Maimonides… Philosophy: Al-Farabi had great influence on science and philosophy for several centuries, and was widely considered second only to Aristotle in knowledge (alluded to by his title of “the Second Teacher”) in his time. Physics: Wrote a short treatise “On Vacuum”, where he thought about the nature of the existence of void. He may have carried out the first experiments concerning the existence of vacuum. Psychology: Wrote “Social Psychology and Principles of the Opinions of the Citizens of the Virtuous City”, which were the first treatises to deal with social psychology. Source: Wikipedia

Abū l-Walīd Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Rušd (Ibn Rushd or Averroes)

Lived: 1126 to 1198
Highlight: Renewed Western interest in ancient Greek philosophy.

Developed the notion that bodies have a (non-gravitational) inherent resistance to motion into physics. This idea in particular was adopted by Thomas Aquinas and subsequently by Johannes Kepler, who referred to this fact as “Inertia”… Ibn Rushd is most famous for his commentaries of Aristotle’s works, which had been mostly forgotten in the West. Before 1150, only a few of Aristotle’s works existed in translation in Latin Europe, although the tradition of great philosophers and poets of antiquity continued to be studied and copied in the Greek Byzantium. It was to some degree through the Latin translations of Ibn Rushd’s work beginning in the thirteenth century, that the legacy of Aristotle was recovered in the Latin West. Source: Wikipedia

Muhammad Ibn Battuta

Lived: 1304 to 1369
Highlight: Widely recognised as one of the greatest travelers of all time.

A Medieval Berber Muslim traveler and scholar, who is widely recognised as one of the greatest travelers of all time. He is known for his extensive travels, accounts of which were published in the Rihla (lit. “Journey”). Over a period of thirty years, Ibn Battuta visited most of the known Islamic world as well as many non-Muslim lands. His journeys included trips to North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Africa, Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China. Source: Wikipedia

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HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Is The Bible True?

Is the Bible True? – A Remarkable Book

Is the Bible true? Certainly the Bible is a remarkable book — unquestionably the world’s all-time bestseller with countless millions of copies in print. A single Bible distribution organization reported delivering over 627,000,000 Bibles worldwide in one year alone (United Bible Societies, 1999). Actually, the Bible is a compilation of 66 books written by over 40 separate authors from a variety of backgrounds (from lowly peasants to noble kings) over a period of at least 1,600 years. These 66 books are divided in two principle parts, the “Old Testament” (39 books) and the “New Testament” (27 books). The Bible was completed in its entirety nearly 2,000 years ago and stands today as the best-preserved literary work of all antiquity with over 24,000 ancient New Testament manuscripts discovered thus far. Compare this with the second best-preserved literary work of antiquity, Homer’s Iliad, with only 643 preserved manuscripts discovered to date.

Is the Bible True? – “…By inspiration of God”

So, is the Bible true? If the Bible is indeed what it claims to be, the implications for us are considerable. The Bible candidly claims to be “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Of course, the Bible is not the only book to claim divine inspiration, but it is unique in that it offers substantial evidence to back its claims. It even goes so far as to challenge its readers to put it to the test, exhorting us to “Test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Is the Bible True? – The Test of Prophecy

Is the Bible True? Unquestionably, the single greatest evidence lending to the veracity of the Bible’s claims of divine inspiration is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Consider this: if man were able to clearly and consistently foresee the future, would the billion-dollar Las Vegas gambling industry exist? We’re willing to bet it wouldn’t. As man by himself is unable to foresee future events, prophecy is a reasonable indicator of supernatural inspiration. The Bible purports to contain more than a thousand inspired prophecies. The vast majority of these prophecies have already come to pass and can be verified by secular history. Consider, for example, Ezekiel’s prophecies concerning God’s judgment against the ancient Phoenician capital of Tyre (Ezekiel, chapter 26). The prophecy states that Tyre would first be razed by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. Later, it would be utterly destroyed by a coalition of nations, flattened like the top of a rock, its ruins (and even its dust) scraped and thrown into the sea, becoming a place for fishermen to spread their nets. The surrounding nations would witness Tyre’s fate and surrender without a fight. It’s a rather odd prophecy. Amazingly, the conditions of Ezekiel’s prophecy were fulfilled, even to the tiniest detail. Nebuchadnezzar sacked Tyre. Later, Alexander the Great led a coalition of nations against Tyre, demolished it, scraped it to bedrock and threw its ruins into the sea. The ancient site became (and remains to this day) a place for local fishermen to spread their nets to dry. (For secular confirmation, see General History for Colleges and High Schools, Boston, Ginn & Co., p. 55).

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Is the Bible True? – Prophecy Fulfilled in 1948

Is the Bible true? Prophecy is not just a phenomenon of the ancient past. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled today before our eyes. Consider the nation of Israel. The Jews were “the least of all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:7), without a homeland and without freedom, serving as slaves in Egypt. At the time, Egypt was the dominant world power. However, because of a promise God made to a man named Abraham, his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob centuries earlier, God rescued the Israelites from their bondage “with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders” (Deuteronomy 26:. God gave the Israelites a homeland of their own, made a covenant with them, and entrusted them with the Bible.

Israel was a nation set apart for God — God’s testimony to a world that turned its back on the One who created them. Sadly, Israel’s history, like that of the world’s, was one of constant rebellion against God. Over and over, the Jewish people would rebel, suffer God’s wrath, humble themselves, regret their rebellion and turn back to God, and receive God’s blessing again – then start the process all over again… Finally, God sent nations upon them (like He did with ancient Tyre) and drove the Jews from their homeland. In 70 AD, Roman legions decimated Israel, dispersed the Jews throughout the world, and banned them from ever reentering their homeland. The Jews were without a homeland for 1,900 years! Nevertheless, God promised the Jews that though He would remove them from the land, they would remain an identifiable people and would return to their land again. (see, for example, Leviticus 26:13-16; Nehemiah 1:8-9; Deuteronomy 30:1-5).

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It is a miracle in itself that the Jews have survived and remained an identifiable people without a homeland for 1,900 years. All other nations who have ever lost their homeland became assimilated into the surrounding nations and lost their identity within a few hundred years. Yet the Jews have remained and miraculously returned to Israel as their official homeland in 1948.

Description: What is the Quran?

Click to read the Completed Qu'ran Story Here from Part I - 4 The End - http://myreligion.com.ng/?p=284

Muslims believe the Quran to be God’s final revelation. They believe it is the literal word of God, revealed over many years, to His final prophet, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. The Quran is full of wisdom. It is full of the wonder and glory of God, and a testament to His mercy and justice. It is not a history book, a storybook, or a scientific textbook, although it contains all of those genres. The Quran is God’s greatest gift to humanity – it is a book like no other. In the second verse of the second chapter of the Quran, God describes the Quran by calling it a book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are pious, righteous, and fear God. (Quran 2:2)

The Quran is core to Islam. Believing in it is a requirement. One who does not believe in the Quran, in its entirety, cannot claim to be a Muslim.

“The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’ — and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’.” (Quran 2:285)

Islam has two primary sources, the Quran, and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, that explain and sometimes expand on that of the Quran.

“And We have not sent down the Book (the Quran) to you (O Muhammad, except that you may explain clearly unto them those things in which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a folk who believe.” (Quran 16:64)

The Quran was delivered to Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel and revealed in stages over a period of 23 years.

“And (it is) a Quran which We have divided into parts, in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages.” (Quran 17:106)

Prophet Muhammad was commanded by God to convey the Quran to all of humankind and the responsibility weighed heavily upon him. Even in his farewell address he called on the people present to bear witness that he had delivered the message.

The Quran explains the concept of God, it explains in detail what is permissible and what is forbidden, it explains the basics of good manners and morals, and gives rulings about worship. It tells stories about the Prophets and our righteous predecessors, and describes Paradise and Hell. The Quran was revealed for all of humankind.

The book in which the Quran (the words of God) are contained in is called a mushaf . The Quran is considered so unique in content and style that it cannot be translated; therefore, any translation is considered an interpretation of the meanings of the Quran.

When God sent Prophets to the various nations He often allowed them to perform miracles that were relevant to their particular time and place. In the time of Moses magic and sorcery were prevalent therefore Moses’ miracles appealed to the people he was sent to guide. In the time of Muhammad, the Arabs, although predominantly illiterate, were masters of the spoken word. Their poetry and prose were considered outstanding and a model of literary excellence.

Click to read the Completed Qu'ran Story Here from Part I - 4 The End - http://myreligion.com.ng/?p=284

When Prophet Muhammad recited the Quran – the words of God – the Arabs were moved tremendously by its sublime tone and extraordinary beauty. The Quran was Prophet Muhammad’s miracle from God. Muhammad was unable to read or write therefore the Arabs knew that he was unlikely to have produced such eloquent words, but even so some refused to believe that the Quran was the word of God. God therefore challenged them, in the Quran, to produce a rival text.

“And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Quran) to Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a chapter of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God, if you are truthful.” (Quran 2:23)

Of course they were unable to do so. In contrast to those who questioned the origin of the Quran, many Arabs converted to Islam after hearing the recitation. They knew immediately that such sublime beauty could originate only from God. Even today it is possible to see Muslims moved to tears while listening to or reciting the Quran. In fact some people, unable to understand even one word of the Arabic language are moved by the intrinsic beauty of the Quran.

After establishing that Quran is the word of God and that it is a recitation, it is also important to understand that Quran has remained unchanged for more than 1400 years. Today when a Muslim in Egypt holds his mushaf in his hands and begins to recite you can be sure that in far away Fiji another Muslim is looking at and reciting the exact same words. There are no differences. The child in France holding his first mushaf is tentatively reciting the same words that flowed from the lips of Prophet Muhammad.

God assures us in Quran that He will surely protect His words. He says, “Verily, it is We Who have sent down the Quran and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” (Quran 15:9) This means that God will guard against anything false being added or any part of it being taken away.[1] It is protected from tampering and if anyone attempts to distort the meanings of Quran, God will guide someone to expose the deception.[2] Muslims believe that the previous revelations from God, including the Torah and the Gospels of Jesus were either lost in antiquity, or changed and distorted, so it is a source of comfort to them knowing that God’s words – the Quran – are now well guarded.

God sent down the Quran, from above the heavens, to the Angel Gabriel in the glorious month of Ramadan. The story of how this recitation was revealed and how Quran came to be available worldwide, with an interpretation of the meanings translated into over 100 languages[3] will be covered in part 2.

Click to read the Completed Qu'ran Story Here from Part I - 4 The End - http://myreligion.com.ng/?p=284

To be continue…….

Question?

After s-x, can we just have some water and wash off ourselves and go for prayers or do we have to have a complete bath?

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Thank you for your question. Islam is a religion that demands purity and cleanliness in all aspects of life.

After s-xual intercourse, one is considered in a state of major impurity. Hence ritual prayer (salah) is only valid after one purifies them by taking a ghusl (Islamic bath).

“O you who believe … If you are in a state of major impurity, cleanse yourselves well (by taking a bath), … or you have had sexual contact with women …” (Qur’an 5:6)

There are three mandatory actions of Ghusl:

1. To rinse the mouth
2. To rinse the nose
3. To wash the entire body

It is important to note that:

• All areas of the body are thoroughly washed with water. The inner part of the circumcised area must also be washed provided it can be opened without any difficulty.

• The inner part of the navel is washed.

• The inside of a cavity which has not sealed is washed.

• The braids of a man’s hair are untied, even if water reaches the hair’s roots. A female is exempt from undoing her braids as long as the water reaches her hair’s roots. If a woman’s hair is so compact that it prevents the water from penetrating the roots then it is obligatory to open her braids.

• Water reaches the skin underneath the beard, moustache and eyebrows.

• To ensure that water reaches the external part of the vagina.

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Islam Hadith : Hadith on Sacrifice

Narrated Al Bara: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said (on the day of Id-al-Adha), “The first thing we will do on this day of ours, is to offer the (‘Id) prayer and then return to slaughter the sacrifice. Whoever does so, he acted according to our Sunna (tradition), and whoever slaughtered (the sacrifice) before the prayer, what he offered was just meat he presented to his family, and that will not be considered as Nusak (sacrifice).” (On hearing that) Abu Burda bin Niyar got up, for he had slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, and said, “I have got a six month old ram.” The Prophet (peace be upon him)said, ‘Slaughter it (as a sacrifice) but it will not be sufficient for any-one else (as a sacrifice after you).” Al-Bara’ added: The Prophet (peace be upon him)said, “Whoever slaughtered (the sacrifice) after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 68 Hadith 453

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, he just slaughtered it for himself, and whoever slaughtered it after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 68 Hadith 454

Narrated Uqba bin Amir: That The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave him some sheep to distribute among his companions to slaughter as sacrifices (‘Id-al-Adha). A kid was left and he told The Prophet (peace be upon him)of that whereupon he said to him, “Slaughter it as a sacrifice (on your behalf).”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 68 Hadith 462

Narrated Anas: The Prophet (peace be upon him) slaughtered two rams, black and white in color (as sacrifices), and I saw him putting his foot on their sides and mentioning Allah’s Name and Takbir (Allahu Akbar). Then he slaughtered them with his own hands.
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 68 Hadith 465
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