FAQS for COGOP TRB
Who is God?
Who is Jesus?
What is Christianity?
Who is a Christian?
How can I learn more about Jesus and Christianity?
When are your services?
Do I have to be a Christian to attend your services?
Are weekly activities available?
Where can I get information about upcoming events?
Do you have facilities for children?
Do you have family activities?
How can I become a born- again believer?
How can I get baptised?
Who can I contact if I need counselling or prayers?
Do you have ministries/ support for young people?
Do you have counselling sessions for married couples, or un-married couples?
How can I join a ministry?
What acquirements are needed to join a ministry?
What is Faith?
How do I know that God loves me?
If i Sin will God Forgive me?
How do I Pray?
How do I forgive others who hurt me?
How do I Love others?
Who is God?
Answer
God is the creator of everything that exists. For many years there has been the debates about how God came about, and the evolutionary debate about "if we all evolved from something, where did God evolve from?" or "who created God?" God is an infinite being outside of human understanding; He created the world and the process, and is not part of the process or evolution.
God is Love.
God's love is unconditional, and in spite of who we are or what we have done He still loves us. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 describes perfectly what love is, and in effect describes God's love and who He is.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
Who is Jesus?
Answer
Jesus is the Son of God. According to the New Testament, Jesus was sent by God to redeem us back to Him. Jesus died for us all so that we can be connected back with the father, God. By accepting Jesus as our Lord and savoir, and acknowledging Jesus as the son of God we have a chance of eternal life with God.
Scriptures to support this are:
2 Corinthians 5: 21.
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
John 3: 16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
What is Christianity?
Answer:
Christianity was founded in Palestine by the followers of Jesus.
Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus.
Christianity teaches that there is only one God in all existence, that God made the universe.
Who is a Christian?
Answer:
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, and is centred on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.
How can I learn more about Jesus and Christianity?
Answer:
The best place to start would be to read the bible to learn about the history, principles and ways of God. Look for a good local church to attend where you have the opportunity to learn more and fellowship with other Christians. You are more than welcome to join us at COGOP TRB.
What time are the services?
Answer:
We have two services on a Sunday. The morning worship is from 11.45am - 1:30pm, and the evening worship is from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Do I have to be a Christian to attend your services?
Answer:
No you don't. We welcome anyone to our church with the love of Christ, and we hope that as you fellowship with us you will be blessed.
Are weekly activities available?
Answer:
Yes they are. At COGOP TRB we have weekly meetings held by the different ministries to fellowship with one another and support you in your spiritual growth. You can find all the meeting dates from the website. If you sign up for the newsletters, you will also be updated directly by email on any other upcoming events.
Where can I get information about upcoming events?
Answer:
By signing up to receive our newsletters, you will be informed on any upcoming events by email, you can do this via our website. Alternatively details of upcoming events will be posted on our website.
Do you have facilities for children?
Answer:
Yes. We have facilities that are suitable for children of all ages.
Do you have family activities?
Answer:
From time to time we have organised events that are designed to bring families together to have fun and to fellowship with one another. Details on upcoming activities will be sent to newsletter subscribers and posted on the site.
How can I become a born- again believer?
Answer:
Understanding God's purpose.
Being a born-again believer in Christ means renewing your mind according to the word of God.. God loves you and wants you to know Him so He can fill you with peace, love and give your eternal life with Him in heaven.
How to give your life to Christ:
1. Admit you are a sinner and need forgiveness.
2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
3. Through prayer, confess that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and commit to live for Him for the rest of your life.
For more information see:
How can I get baptised?
Answer:
Register with the church offices staff, who will also give you all the information you need about being baptised, and the dates that the baptism will be taking place.
Who can I contact if I need counselling or prayers?
Answer:
Any of our pastors will be happy to have counselling sessions with you. If you require counselling make an appointment with the church office. These sessions are confidential and third parties will only be contacted at your request.
If you need prayers send your prayer requests to contact@cogoptrb.org and our prayer team and church body will lift you up in prayer.
Do you have ministries/ support for young people?
Answer:
We have a youth club which meets every Friday from 7:30pm-9pm. In the world we leave in today, we make it our business to offer any support possible to young people dealing with any kind of issues, and the ministry is designed to provide that support system for young people.
Do you have counselling sessions for married couples, or un-married couples?
Answer:
Yes we do. We have sessions for married couples, un-married couples and engaged/ courting couples. Relationships can be difficult sometimes and needs time and a lot of hard work to make it work. Our pastoral team is fully qualified to provide advice on any issues you may be facing in your relationships so don't hesitate to give us a call.
How can I join a ministry?
Answer:
To join any of the ministries at COGOP TRB contact the ministry leaders, this information can be gotten from the church offices.
What acquirements are needed to join a ministry?
Answer:
You will have to be a member for COGOP TRB to be a member of the ministries.
Or
There are no requirements, only your desire to form a relationship with God, an openness to receive and give love to others and commitment to meetings.
What is Faith?
Answer.
Faith can be defined as a belief that does not rest on logical proof or physical evidence.
According to Hebrews 11: 1, Faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
How do I know that God loves me?
You know that God loves you because His word says so. It is in God's nature to love, irrespective of what we have done and who we are. He loves you because He sent His own son to die for you so that you can have a chance to live eternally with him in Heaven.
John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
Whatever you have been through in life, you must always remember that God's love is definite, draw unto Him and He will draw unto you.
If I Sin will God Forgive me
The Bible says that if we confess our sins and repent of them that He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9), Jesus also said in Matthew 6: 14-15 That if you forgive others that offend or hurt you, God will also forgive you your wrong doings.
How do I Pray?
Prayer is a 2way communication between You and God, you pray, and then u listen. Prayer is saying back to God what he said in His word.
How do I Forgive those who hurt me.
When you refuse to forgive others, you are unable to receive forgiveness and answered prayers from God. But when you set your will to forgive, God forgives you and cleanses you from unrighteousness so that you can escape the guilt, condemnation and fear associated with sin.
God forgives, loves and accepts Christians based on Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (Ephesians 1:6-7).
0Condemnation is an emotion associated with guilt and fear that makes us feel unworthy and undeserving of God's blessings.
1Sin robs us of the boldness and confidence we need to believe that God's Word will work in our lives.
0Sin often stops people from praying, believing and attending church."
God blots out our transgressions so that He can bless us despite our shortcomings (Isaiah 43:25, AMP).
0God cleanses us from unrighteousness when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).
0God erases our sins and promises never to remember them again.
0Just as God forgets our sins, we should also forget them.
1Remembering past sins opens the door for condemnation, guilt and lack of confidence toward God.
2If you remember your sin and meditate on it, you will eventually repeat it.
1God instructed us to remind Him of our merits (Isaiah 43:26, AMP).
0Boldly remind God that you are in right-standing with Him through Jesus Christ and that you expect to receive His blessings and favor.
2Jesus nailed our sins to the cross and wiped them out forever (Colossians 2:12-14)."
God requires that Christians forgive those who sin against them (Mark 11:25-26).
0If we refuse to forgive others, we will not be forgiven.
1Prayers are hindered when unforgiveness operates in our lives.
0Unforgiveness is a fear-based stronghold that hinders the blessings of God.
1Deliverance, promotion, healing and increase are directly linked to forgiveness.
2Forgiveness is an act of faith, given in spite of another person's actions.
0Jesus instructed us to declare our forgiveness for others each time we pray (Matthew 6:12)."
God has forgiven our sin debt, so we must forgive each other of all debts, regardless of the severity or frequency (Matthew 18:21-35).
0Jesus told Peter that there is no limit to the number of times we must forgive (v. 21-22).
1Those who refuse to forgive others are considered wicked (v. 32).
0Unforgiveness opens the door to torment (v. 34).
Forgiveness is an act of the will and a decision to walk in the love of God.
0Loving others involves forgiving them just as readily as Jesus forgives us (Colossians 3:13, AMP).
Married couples should be mindful to forgive each other instantly so that their prayers will not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7).
How do I Love others
Every principle, law and prophetic word hangs on the love of God. If things aren't working in your life, examine your love walk. The only way that God can invade humanity is by His agape love flowing through people. You have the capacity to love like God does; His love is in your heart.
Every principle, law and prophetic word hangs on the law of love (Matthew 22:34-40).
0Love is the distinguishing mark of the Christian; it is the only way the world will recognize you as a Believer (John 13:34-35).
1The gifts of the spirit are necessary, but love is the more excellent way.
2Walking in the spirit is walking in love."
Every Christian has the capacity to love as God does (Romans 5:5).
0God's agape love has been poured into the heart of every Believer.
Therefore, we are able to love supernaturally.
0Human love is emotional love.
1Agape love is supernatural love that will enable you to love beyond your natural ability.
2A sign of the end times is when love grows cold among people (Matthew 24:12-14).
1The law of love includes loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate and curse you, or speak negatively about you (Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:18-21).
2The Good News of the Gospel is the message about God's love (Acts 20:19-24).
3God desires that you bear the fruit of love in your life (John 12:24; John 15:4).
Love is the sole aim and purpose of the Bible's teachings (1 Timothy 1:5).
0There are six reasons why God's love is important.
0It's the whole meaning and purpose of your life.
1It's the only way others will know you are a Christian.
2It proves you are abiding with God.
3It shows you are filled with the fullness of God.
4It's proof that you love God.
It's the perfect bond of union between you and others.
Mankind is born with the tendency to think and act selfishly, but the agape love of God is deposited within his heart when he becomes born again. Once a Believer develops in love, power becomes available, but walking in love is a process that requires sacrifice and development.
Mankind is born with the tendency to be selfish.
0Human beings have stony hearts until they become born again (Ezekiel 36:26).
0The sin nature is present within every person until he or she becomes born again and supernaturally receives a new heart from God (Ezekiel 11:19).
1Adam and Eve rebelled against God because of fear and selfishness, which are opposites of love.
0They feared that God was withholding something they wanted.
1They allowed their senses and negative emotions to guide their decisions, and their actions ultimately cursed mankind to follow their pattern of selfish behavior.
2Babies are born under the curse of being emotionally controlled and selfish."
Agape love is supernaturally deposited into the heart of every born-again Believer (Romans 5:5).
0The agape love of God enables Believers to share unconditional, unqualified and non-emotional love with God and with others.
1Agape love enables a Believer to exercise supernatural power.
0The Believer who walks in agape love has the power to resist sin and keep God's commandments (John 14:15, 21-23).
1Agape love enables the Believer to do as God commands, which is to respond to his or her enemies with forgiveness, prayer and words of blessing (John 14:15).
2Believers who walk in agape love have the power to edify members of the Body of Christ by considering others first; praying for them and showing compassion whenever possible (John 13:34).
Walking in agape love requires development and training.
0Christians build strength to walk in love by experiencing pressure (temptation) and facing resistance (the flesh).
0Temptation to be selfish provides pressure that, when resisted, builds spiritual muscle.
1When temptation occurs repeatedly, continued resistance enables a Believer to grow stronger, move to increased levels of resistance and strengthen the spiritual muscles involved in expressing agape love.
2Satan flees when a Believer uses temptation to build spiritual muscle; a strong Christian who walks in agape love threatens the kingdom of darkness.
1Development includes proper spiritual nutrition and rest.
0The spirit man needs the Word of God to be edified, sustained and refreshed during and after spiritual workouts."
Selfishness and fear are two primary obstacles to agape in the life of a Believer.
0Some Christians allow selfishness to stop them from walking in the unconditional, unqualified love of God (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
0Selfishness is a way of thinking that motivates a person to always seek his or her own advantage, pleasure or well-being without regard for the well-being of others.
1Selfishness will cause lack in the last days.
2Believers can avoid selfishness by purposely seeking the well-being of others.
1Fear stops some Believers from walking in agape love.
0Complete surrender is the only attitude that allows
Believers to deny themselves and walk in the perfect will of God (Matthew 10:39).
1A Believer should never esteem his or her life and purposes above another person's or above the plans and purposes of God (Matthew 16:25).
2The fear of missing out on pleasure or benefits and experiencing hardship stops many Believers from walking selflessly in the power that comes with love (Acts 20:22).
A Believer must deny self, follow God's instructions and abandon his or her own plans to experience the power that accompanies agape love (Luke 17:33).
