Welcome to a unique adult Sunday school class (Karibu shule ya Jumapili ya watu wazima ya aina yake)
Using the BES curriculum for children's Bible studies, we have officially launched Sunday School for youth and adults at TLMC Korogwe.
The first lesson was the life of Joseph in his youth from the age of 17 to 28. We learned in many ways, including filling in crosswords in groups. Everyone has really enjoyed this learning method that encourages everyone to read the Bible. They have also enjoyed learning about life during the Bronze Age, when Pharaoh's decrees were law, as it was believed he was chosen by the Egyptian gods.
We learn many principles through the life of Joseph in Genesis 39:1-23 and Genesis 40:1-23.
I. Basic principles within the family for young people and couples
1. We can receive blessings by staying with blessed people. We should work with people who have good fortune and avoid those who are evil. Potiphar was blessed because of staying with Joseph.
2. We should not quickly believe accusations without investigating – Potiphar, as a husband, was required to investigate allegations against Joseph even if they came from his wife.
3. Let us be faithful to keep our marriage covenant even when there are temptations – Potiphar’s wife was probably left at home for long periods while at the same time being close to a handsome young man named Joseph. However, nothing should cause us forget our marriage covenant.
4. Spouses can be a source of sexual violence; however, it is easier to assume that house girls or house boys are the source. Here we see a man’s wife sexually abusing a young man.
5. Blood relatives can be the enemies of your vision. – Joseph was sold by his own brothers. So we need to be careful with them.
6. A young man can fear God even in dangerous circumstances – Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house and a prisoner in prison, but he continued to trust and serve his God.
II. Basic principles for servants and leaders
1. Be honest in our work at all costs – Joseph worked hard and overcame evil desires.
2. God can lift us anywhere if we obey Him – Joseph was lifted as a slave at home and a prisoner in prison.
3. Recognize God as the source of our knowledge – Joseph said that interpretation is God’s work and not his own ability.
4. Let our gifts work beyond church or worship – Joseph interpreted dreams while in prison
5. God can allow us to be accused and even imprisoned and lift us through that situation – Joseph was accused of a rape attempt and thrown in prison.
6. We should not believe accusations even if they have evidence – Potiphar’s wife had evidence of Joseph’s garment, and yet Joseph had not committed a crime.
7. We should recognize the source of our blessings – Potiphar realized that Joseph was the source of his blessings and not his hard work. Perhaps you are God-fearing but have not yet discovered the source of your blessings.
8. The people we help may forget us when they are successful/we may also forget those who brought us to where we are when we prosper in life. The cupbearer forgot Joseph’s request when he was reinstated.
9. Let us have big visions and share them with people of great opportunity – Joseph considered himself qualified to work for the ruler of the land and told the chief cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh when he returned to work.
10. Let us not ignore the needy who come to us, but help those we can. Joseph did not ignore the dreams of his fellow prisoners. We should not be selfish.
11. Let our spiritual level not decrease when we are away from the church – Joseph was taken into slavery in places where people worshipped gods and spoke foreign languages, but he did not deny his faith.
12. Let us be truthful and righteous in our services – The baker expected a good translation when he heard Joseph translating for his colleague, but Joseph did not twist it to please him.
Join us in these important classes to learn how to know God deeply. Ephesians 4:13 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Karibu shule ya Jumapili ya watu wazima ya aina yake
Kwa kutumia mtaala wa BES wa masomo ya neno la Mungu kwa watoto, tumezindua rasmi Sunday School ya vijana na watu wazima hapa TLMC Korogwe.
Funzo la kwanza lilikuwa ni maisha ya Yusufu katika ujana wake kuanzia akiwa na umri wa miaka 17 hadi 28. Tulijifunza kwa njia nyingi ikiwa ni pamoja na kujaza majedwali (cross words) kwa vikundi. Kila mmoja amefurahia sana njia hii ya kujifunza ambayo inamhimiza kila mtu kusoma Biblia. Pia wamefurahia kujua maisha yalikuwaje kipindi hicho cha zama za Bronze (Bronze age) ambapo Farao alichotamka kilikuwa ni sheria kwa vile iliaminika alichaguliwa na miungu ya Misri.
Tunajifunza kanuni nyingi sana kupitia maisha ya Yusufu katika Mwanzo 39:1-23 na Mwanzo 40:1-23.
I. Kanuni za msingi ndani ya familia kwa vijana na wanandoa
1. Tunaweza kupokea baraka tukikaa na watu waliobarikiwa. Tufanye kazi na watu wenye nyota za mafanikio na kuepuka wasiofaa – Potifa alibarikiwa kwa sababu ya kukaa na Yusufu.
2. Tusiamini tuhuma kwa haraka bila kufanya uchunguzi – Potifa kama mume alitakiwa kuchunguza tuhuma dhidi ya Yusufu hata kama zilitoka kwa mkewe.
3. Tuwe waaminifu kutunza agano la ndoa zetu hata kama kuna vishawishi – pengine mke wa Potifa aliachwa nyumbani kwa vipindi virefu na wakati huohuo akiwa karibu na kijana mzuri anayeitwa Yusufu. Pamoja na hayo jambo lolote lisitufanye tusahau agano letu la ndoa na kumuogopa Mungu.
4. Wanandoa wanaweza kuwa chanzo cha ukatili wa kijinsia – hata hivyo ni rahisi zaidi kuwachukulia wadada wa kazi (house girls) au wakaka wa kazi (house boys) kwamba ndio chanzo. Hapa tunaona mke wa mtu akimfanyia kijana ukatili wa kingono.
5. Ndugu wa damu wanaweza kuwa maadui wa maono yako. – Yusufu aliuzwa na ndugu zake wa damu. Hivyo tusiwaamini moja kwa moja kwamba wanatutakia mema.
6. Kijana anaweza kumcha Mungu hata katika mazingira hatarishi – Yusufu alikuwa mtumwa nyumbani kwa Potifa na mfungwa gerezani lakini aliendelea kumwamini na kumtumikia Mungu wake.
II. Kanuni za msingi kwa watumishi na viongozi
1. Tuwe waaminifu katika kazi zetu kwa gharama yoyote – Yusufu alifanya kazi kwa bidii na kushinda tamaa mbaya.
2. Mungu anaweza kutuinua popote kama tutamtii – Yusufu aliinuliwa akiwa mtumwa nyumbani na mfungwa gerezani.
3. Tumtambulishe Mungu kama chanzo cha maarifa yetu – Yusufu alisema kutafsiri ni kazi ya Mungu na sio uwezo wake binafsi.
4. Karama zetu zifanye kazi zaidi ya kanisani au ibadani – Yusufu alitafsiri ndoto akiwa gerezani
5. Mungu anaweza kuruhusu tusingiziwe na hata kufungwa na kutuinua kupitia hali hiyo – Yusufu alituhumiwa kufanya jaribio ya kubaka (rape attempt) akatupwa gerezani.
6. Tusiamini tuhuma hata kama zina ushahidi – Mke wa Potifa alikuwa na ushahidi wa nguo ya Yusufu na bado Yusufu hakuwa ametenda kosa (alibambikiziwa kesi).
7. Tutambue chanzo cha baraka zetu – Potifa aligundua kwamba Yusufu ndiye chanzo cha baraka zake na sio bidii yake ya kazi. Pengine wewe ni mcha Mungu lakini bado hujagundua chanzo cha baraka zako.
8. Watu tunaowasaidia wanaweza kutusahau wakishafanikiwa/ hata sisi tukifanikiwa tunaweza kusahau waliotufikisha hapa tulipo – Mnyweshaji alisahau ombi la Yusufu aliporudishwa kazini.
9. Tuwe na maono makubwa na tuyashirikishe kwa watu wenye fursa kubwa – Yusufu alijiona ana sifa za kufanya kazi kwa mkuu wa nchi na akamwambia mkuu wa wanyweshaji amtaje kwa Farao atakaporudi kazini.
10. Tusiwapuuze wahitaji wanaotujia bali tusaidie tunachoweza – Yusufu hakupuuza ndoto za wafungwa wenzake. Tusiwe wabinafsi.
11. Kiwango chetu cha kiroho kisipungue tunapokuwa mbali na kanisa – Yusufu alichukuliwa utumwa maeneo ya watu wanaoabudu miungu na wanaoongea lugha ngeni lakini hakuikana imani yake.
12. Tuwe wakweli na waadilifu katika huduma zetu – Mwokaji alitarajia tafsiri nzuri alipomsikia Yusufu akimtafsiria mwenzake lakini Yusufu hakupindisha ili kumfurahisha.
Ungana nasi katika madarasa haya muhimu ili ujue umjue Mungu kwa kina. Waefeso 4:13 “hata na sisi sote tutakapoufikia umoja wa imani na kumfahamu sana Mwana wa Mungu, hata kuwa mtu mkamilifu, hata kufika kwenye cheo cha kimo cha utimilifu wa Kristo.”
Dr Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Korogwe, Tanga, Tanzania
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