PROGRAMME OF FASTING AND PRAYER

AFTERNOON: SABBATH 6th APRIL 2013

PLANNING FOR EACH SESSION

OPENING

Song 05 minutes

Opening Prayer

DEVOTIONAL 20 minutes

Reading

Questions and Answers

SESSION OF PRAYERS 30 minutes

Prayers couples or pairs or other. . . .

PAUSE AND FELLOWSHIP MOMENTS 05 minutes

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Divide the large group into small groups of 10-15 people

2. Be on time. Respect the schedule

3. The study is not a sermon! Do the reading and then discuss

4. Be sure to maintain the hour of prayer, which is the reason for your meeting

5. Respect the break moment. This allows:

a) The members to move and have fraternal exchanges.

b) For the pastors / elders to move from a church A to a Church B, if necessary.

6. Have a sheet of paper for each person. It will be necessary for session 4.

Recommended slots:

Session 1: 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. =) Theme # 1: The garment and simplicity

Session 2: 2:20 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. =) Theme # 2: Readings, radio and television

Session 3: 3:10 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. =) Theme # 3: Leisure and entertainment

Session 4: 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. =) Theme # 4: The songs and music

- The subjects of prayer should wherever possible be collected and grouped by theme before that date.

- Optionally you can insert a period output missionary between sessions 3 and 4

Sabbath afternoon program

Reading 1: Dress and Simplicity

Dress

As Seventh-day Adventist Christians we have been called out from the world. Our religion must have a

molding influence on all our activities. Our habits must stem from principle and not from the example of

the world. Customs and fashions may change, but principles of right conduct remain the same. Early in

our history Ellen G. White wrote that the purpose of Christian dress is “to protect the people of God from

the corrupting influence of the world, as well as to promote physical and moral health. She also counsels

that we should avoid gaudy display and profuse ornamentation, fads and extreme fashions, particularly

those transgressing the laws of modesty, and that our clothing should be, when possible, “of good quality,

of becoming colors, and suited for service . . . rather than display.” Our attire should be characterized by

“modesty,” “beauty,” “grace,” and “appropriateness of natural simplicity.”

The people of God should always be found among the conservatives in dress, and will not let “the dress

question fill the mind.”

“To dress plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind, is in keeping with our

faith. It is clearly taught in the Scriptures that the wearing of jewelry is contrary to the will of God. The

apostle Paul admonishes us to dress ourselves “in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not

with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing” (1 Tim. 2:9). The wearing of ornaments of jewelry

is a bid for attention not in keeping with Christian self-forgetfulness.

In some countries and cultures the custom of wearing the wedding ring is considered imperative, having

become, in the minds of the people, a criterion of virtue, and hence it is not regarded as an ornament.

Under such circumstances we do not condemn the practice.

Let us remember that it is not outward adornment that expresses true Christian character, but “the hidden

person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the

sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3, 4). We should avoid the use of cosmetics not in keeping with good taste and

the principles of Christian modesty.

We should observe cleanliness and Christ like deportment as we seek at all times to please and rightly

represent Christ our Lord. Christian parents by example, instruction, and authority should lead their sons

and daughters to attire themselves modestly, and thus win the respect and confidence of those who know

them. Let us consider ourselves well dressed only when we meet the demands of modesty by wearing

tasteful, conservative clothing.

Simplicity

Simplicity has been a fundamental feature of the Church from its beginning. We must continue to be a

people called to live a simple life. Increase of pomp in religion always parallels a decline in spiritual

power. As “the life of Jesus presented a marked contrast” to the display and ostentation of His time, so the

simplicity and power of our message must be in marked contrast to the worldly display of our day. The

Lord condemns “needless, extravagant expenditure of money to gratify pride and love of display. In

harmony with these principles, simplicity and economy should characterize our graduating exercises, our

weddings, and all other church services.

1st Part: Clothing and Simplicity 1 / According to the guidelines of the Scriptures, the Spirit of Prophecy that we just read and the local culture of your region, can you define very clearly what is meant by the following: - Different type of clothes - Respectful beauty of clothing - Appropriate clothing for its wonderful simplicity. 2 / These days, we noticed that the wearing of jewelry has grown in the church, discuss ways to bring back the members to respect the guidelines of the Bible in this area, if this problem arises in your church or ways to protect members otherwise. 3 / What can the church do to help parents educate their children to be serious? 4 / How could we have a simple life like Christ who was totally opposed to unnecessary and worldly attractions?

Reading 2: “Modern Media” The readings, The Radio and the television

The readings

Like our bodies, our inner beings need wholesome nourishment for renewal and strengthening (2 Cor.

4:6). Our minds are the measure of our persons. Food for our minds is of the utmost importance in

developing character and in carrying out our life’s purposes. For this reason we should carefully evaluate

our mental habits. What we choose to read, hear, and watch, whether by book or magazine, radio or

television, the internet, or other modern media shapes and impacts our character.

Books and other literature are among the most valuable means of education and culture, but these must be

well chosen and rightly used. There is a wealth of good literature, but equally there is a flood of literature,

often in most attractive guise, that damages minds and morals. The tales of wild adventure and of moral

laxness, whether fact or fiction, however presented, are unfit for Christians of any age.

“Those who indulge the habit of racing through an exciting story are simply crippling their mental

strength, and disqualifying their minds for vigorous thought and research.”. Along with other evil results

from the habit of reading fiction, we are told that “it unfits the soul to contemplate the great problems of

duty and destiny” and “creates a distaste for life’s practical duties.”

The Radio and the television

Radio, television, and the internet have changed the whole atmosphere of our modern world and have

brought us within easy contact with the life, thought, and activities of the entire globe. They can be great

educational agencies through which we can enlarge our knowledge of world events and enjoy important

discussions and the best in music.

Unfortunately, however, modern mass media also can bring to their audiences almost continuous

theatrical and other performances with influences that are neither wholesome nor uplifting. If we are not

discriminating, they will bring sordid programs right into our homes.

Safety for ourselves and our children is found in a determination, by God‟s help, to follow the admonition of the apostle Paul: “Finally . . . whatever things are true . . . noble . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely . . . of good

report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

2nd Part: Literature, Radio and Television 1 / What are the advantages or disadvantages of the use of modern audio-visual media? 2 / What are the filters that we should use in choosing types of audio-visual media? 3 / It is often noted that it is the material (TV, computer) that dominates people and not the people who dominate the hardware. What can we do to reverse the roles so that men will dominate the material and its harmful effects? 4 / Make a list of reasons and changes that you think are useful to introduce prayer in the use of modern audio-visual media, and pray in this way.

Reading 3: The recreation and the entertainment

Recreation and Entertainment

Recreation is a purposeful refreshing of the powers of body and mind. A vigorous, wholesome mind will

not require worldly amusement but will find a renewal of strength in good recreation.

“Many of the amusements popular in the world today, even with those who claim to be Christians, tend to

the same end as did those of the heathen. There are indeed few among them that Satan does not turn to

account in destroying souls. Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and glorify vice.

The opera, with its fascinating display and bewildering music, the masquerade, the dance, the card table,

Satan employs to break down the barriers of principle and open the door to sensual indulgence. In every

gathering for pleasure where pride is fostered or appetite indulged, where one is led to forget God and

lose sight of eternal interests, there Satan is binding his chains about the soul.”

We must avoid anything that dramatizes, graphically presents, or suggests the sins and crimes of

humanity—murder, adultery, robbery, and similar evils, which to a large degree are responsible for the

breakdown of morality. Instead, we should find delight in God‟s great world of nature and in the romance of human agencies and divine workings.

Social dancing is another form of amusement with an evil influence. “The amusement of dancing . . . is a

school of depravity, a fearful curse to society.” (See 2 Cor. 6:15-31 18; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4; 2 Tim.

2:19-22; Eph. 5:8-11; Col. 3:5-10.)

Recreation is essential. But instead of joining the multitudes who are “lovers of pleasures rather than

lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4), we should endeavor to make our friendships and recreations both Christ-

centered and church-centered.

3rd Party: Leisure and Entertainment 1 / What exactly is the purpose of entertainment? 2 / Can you give the various entertainment that Satan uses to destroy the psychological defenses in order to give a green light to bad habits? 3 / What are the educations to be given to churches and especially the young to protect them from these attractive and harmful entertainment? 4 / How to make all church members love God more than the love of pleasure? Pray in this direction.

Reading 4: The music and song

Music

“Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure, noble, and elevating,

and to awaken in the soul devotion and gratitude to God.”—PP 594. Jesus “held communion with heaven

in song

Music is one of the highest arts. Good music not only gives us pleasure but elevates our minds and

cultivates our finest qualities. God often has used spiritual songs to touch the hearts of sinners and lead to

repentance. On the contrary, debased music breaks down morality and draws us away from our

relationship with God.

We should exercise great care in the choice of music in our homes, social gatherings, schools, and

churches. Any melody partaking of the nature of jazz, rock, or related hybrid forms or any language

expressing foolish or trivial sentiments, will be shunned.

Place of Music in Worship

Power of Music: “Music can be a great power for good, yet we do not make the most of this branch of

worship. The singing is generally done from impulse or to meet special cases, and at other times those

who sing are left to blunder along, and the music loses its proper effect upon the minds of those present.

Music should have beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and devotion.

Call to your aid, if practicable, instrumental music, and let the glorious harmony ascend to God, an

acceptable offering.”

Sing

Sing With Spirit and Understanding—“In their efforts to reach the people, the Lord’s messengers are not

to follow the ways of the world. In the meetings that are held, they are not to depend on worldly singers

and theatrical display to awaken an interest. How can those who have no interest in the word of God, who

have never read His word with a sincere desire to understand its truths, be expected to sing with the spirit

and the understanding? . . . How can the heavenly choir join in music that is only a form? . . .

“The singing is not always to be done by a few. As often as possible, let the entire congregation join.”

4th Part: Songs and Music 1 / From the reading we have just done, what is the purpose of music and songs? 2 / Discuss the different effects of inadequate songs and music to reverse the principles of morality and entail God's children to move away from their Master. 3 / How can the church sing with insight and introspection? 4 / To whom is intended the worship songs?