Bishop Prof. Julius O. Soyinka

The Sinner's Repentance and the Saviour's Rejoicing  Study Text: Luke 15: 3 - 10 Introduction: This passage, highlights God's boundless joy and relentless pursuit of the lost, using the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin.  Jesus emphasizes that a sinner's repentance brings more joy in heaven than the righteousness of 99 others.  We will be doing a systemic and expository study of these two parables, and then consider the lessons that will be of great blessings to us. Thus, we shall be discussing under three subheadings: A.  The Parable of the Lost Sheep  B.  The Parable of the Lost Coin  C.  The Profitable Lessons from the Parables  A.  The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7): There are two things to consider in this parable. 1.  The Love and Passion of the Shepherd  A shepherd with 100 sheep loses one, but rather than staying with the remaining 99, he goes after the one lost sheep until he finds it.  The she...

Choose you this Day Whom you shall Serve  Study Text: Joshua 24:14 - 15 Introduction: This scriptural portion highlights the importance of making a deliberate choice to serve God and emphasizes the need for individual commitment.  It challenges believers to choose wholeheartedly to serve the Lord, and setting an example for their households to follow.  The passage emphasizes that serving God is a conscious choice, not a passive acceptance.  Joshua urges the people to serve God with sincerity and faithfulness, putting away the gods of their ancestors and embracing true devotion.  He serves as a powerful example of personal commitment to God, and how a father's choice can impact the household's spiritual direction.  Deliberate choice to serve the Lord, with personal commitment can produce family influence, and plays significant roles in shaping one's spiritual journey. We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:     1.  The Call t...

The Stone Has Been Rolled Away Study Text: Mark 16:1 -  4 Introduction: The women went out early in the morning to go and beautify the tomb of Jesus, but suddenly remembered the great stone at the entrance which they are not capable of rolling away.  Therefore, they asked:  Who shall roll away the stone for us?  This is the same question that many of us would have asked if we were in a similar situation.  Who would help them roll away the stone? But then we read from scripture: Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. To their amazement, the stone had already been rolled away. With God, no obstacle, no hindrance, no limitation and no impossibility. Only we need to reach out with our faith in His Word and His Power. We shall be looking at   four stones Jesus rolled away with His resurrection from the dead: 1.  The Stone of Dominion of Sin 2.  The Stone of Distress of Sickness  3....

A Good Soldier of Christ  Study Text: 2 Timothy 2:1 - 4 Introduction: - Believers in Christ are in a spiritual warfare. The devil, the world, and the flesh are the real enemies confronting them. -  These spiritual enemies are out to destroy the testimony and effectiveness of the believer. The enemy will seek to take you out or make you to be in a bondage, and as a prisoner, you will be ineffective in warfare. -  Thus, we are called upon to be good soldiers of Christ, so that we can prepare for the battles with assurance of victory all the time. - So, every believer needs to recognize that he is a soldier, and must understand his identity, his responsibility and his authority. - We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings: 1.  The Call to be a Good Soldier of Christ  2.  The Characteristics of a Good Soldier of Christ  3.  The Conquest of a Good Soldier of Christ  1.  The Call to be a Good Soldier of Christ  - How can we...

The Living among the Dead: A Portrait of a Manipulated Destiny  Study Text: John 11:32-44, Revelation 3:1 Introduction: Lazarus was not supposed to die, because Jesus said his sickness was not unto death, but his destiny was manipulated. He died, and was buried four days before the Lord could get there. His case was closed by the enemy and the purpose of God for his life was terminated. In the program of God, Lazarus is a living Soul, but in the realm of darkness, he had been declared dead. There was only one thing wrong with Lazarus, but as a result of that one thing that was wrong with him, all things were wrong with him. What was wrong with him? He was dead. Popularity does not count much when a man is dead. Handsomeness is irrelevant when a man is dead. Beauty has no value when a woman is dead. Academic qualifications have no voice when a person is dead. In fact, all things that we think are important lose their importance when death comes. All things that we hold dear lose the...

Divine Comfort in Difficult Conditions  Study Text: Psalms 23:1 - 6 Introduction: - Life often presents us with challenges that feel like walking through “the valley of the shadow of death.” -  These are times of extreme hardship, difficulties, fear, and uncertainty, where one feels that the only way out is death. - But for the believer, these times are not meant to destroy us. The Word of God assures us that even in the darkest moments, we can walk confidently because God is with us. Micah 7:8 - In this study, we are being encouraged to be assured that God can see us through every life difficulties and coming out triumphantly.  We can find strength and hope in God’s presence. We shall be discussing this topic under three subheadings: 1.  The Condition 2.  The Confidence  3.  The Comfort  1.  The Condition -There are several difficult situations and conditions that are common to man, and that can be described as one passing through the valley...

The God of Restoration  Study Text: 1 Samuel 30: 8, 18 - 19 Introduction: - God is not just a God of creation, but also a God of restoration, actively working to heal, renew, and bring back what has been destroyed or stolen by the enemy. John 10:10 -  God is not indifferent to suffering or brokenness, but actively seeks to heal and restore.  - God's restoration often goes beyond simply returning to the original state; it can lead to a better, greater and more abundant life.  - Divine restoration entails a transformation that brings an overwhelming increase, spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. When the Lord decides to turn the fortune of a person around, He does it in a unique way that the past shame is totally forgotten. - Divine restoration also means God is interested in your battle and is involved in bringing back all your lost glory. Whatever God is involved in is settled, so if God gets involved in your battle, you can go to bed and sleep becau...