BUSINESS TRADE FAIR PREPARATION

How to Start a Business

OFFERING THOUGHT: PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD (Isa. 40:31)

1. Opening Question: How does being discouraged affect your physical body?

2. Leading Question: What decision do you need to make after you have done everything?
(Isa. 40:31) Ans.: We are to put our hope in the Lord.

3. Recall Question: What does hope mean?

Ans.: Waiting expectantly.

4. Follow Up Question: What will happen if you put your hope in God?
Ans.: New strength will flow into you.

5. Application Question: What can you do to keep placing your hope in God and avoid
discouragement?
Ans.: Read your Bible more than listen to the current news.

6. REMEMBER: You can always decide to put your hope in God no matter what happens.
Text: Genesis 1:1-31

INTRODUCTION

1. Leading Question: When we see a problem coming, what is it that we are to do?
(Prov. 22:3) Ans.: We are to take refuge.

2. Application Question: In light an economic crisis, what can we do to take refuge?

Ans.: The best thing is to to hear the Word of God more so we know what to do. Have daily
devotions, attend services weekly, and attend your connect group meeting.

3. Follow Up Question: In order to face the hard times, what is it that we should explore as
an option?
Ans.: Have a small business – God will bless the work of our hands.

TRANSITION: We will learn about how God starts things and apply the principles in starting a
business.

I. START FROM NOTHING

1. Leading Question #1: What did God start with in creation? (Gen. 1:2)
Ans.: Nothing.

2. Application Question #1: What will happen if a pastor decides to start a church by
proselyting or getting members from another church?
Ans.: He will grow fast in the beginning BUT will attract the Christians with bad attitudes.

3. Application Question #2: What will happen if a man starts his business by stealing
someone else's contacts, clients and suppliers?
Ans.: The same thing – you will have problems and possibly attract problem clients.
4. PRINCIPLE TO LEARN: It is better to start with nothing.

5. Leading Question #2: Who was present and hovering during creation?(Gen. 1:2)
Ans.: The Holy Spirit.

6. Follow Up Question: When Jesus was ministering, who served as His guide?
Ans.: The Holy Spirit.

7. Application Question: What do you need to do when you are going to start in a business
to make sure that its the right thing to do?
Ans.: Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance.

8. REMEMBER: No matter how good an idea seems, God still knows what is better.

II. PREPARATION (Gen. 1:3-10)

1. Leading Question #1: What was God doing in the first 2 ½ days of creation before
creating any living creature?
Ans.: Preparing the place where the living creatures will live.

BUSINESS TRADE FAIR PREPARATION

How to Start a Business

PRINCIPLE TO LEARN: Build a good foundation and prepare well before you get into
business. DO NOT RUSH.

3. Sharing Question: Everyone thinks that it is so easy to put up a sari-sari store – how
many sari-sari stores are really successful?

4. Application Question: What preparation can you do before you start a business?
Ans.: Research, attend SOCES, ask do your homework.

5. Leading Question #2: What was the first thing that God prepared? (Gen. 1:3)
Ans.: He created LIGHT.

6. PRINCIPLE TO LEARN: Learn to seek God's WORD as you prepare.

7. Application Question: What happens when you make a decision based on the Word of
God in building the foundation of your business?
Ans.: You become stronger because you follow what you are convinced of, not just what
someone says.

8. Leading Question #3: What did God do after creating light?

Ans.: He separated and defined their parameters.

9. PRINCIPLE TO LEARN: You need to separate and define the parameters of your
business.
10.Sharing Question: What will happen to a business when it does not define their product
and their target market?
Ans.: They end up unsuccessful because they have no defined boundaries – they become
confused in their business.

11.Activity: You want to open a business in your barangay where there are 3 sari-sari- stores,
2 water stations, 1 internet cafe and a phone card dealer, you decided to open a canteen.
Make a list of what you will sell and what you will not sell.

TRANSITION: After talking about the principle of what to start with and preparation, let's talk
about the principle of evaluation.

III. EVALUATION (Gen. 1:4, 10, 13, 18-19, 21, 23, 25, 31)

1. Leading Question: What did God do at the end of every creative step?
Ans.: He evaluated.

2. PRINCIPLE TO LEARN: When you are starting your business, you become so busy – you
need to evaluate. DO NOT QUIT YOUR DAY JOB.

3. Sharing Question #1: What happens when you fail to evaluate the steps that you make?
Ans.: You will not be able to determine if the step you made was good or bad and will not
be able to improve or make necessary changes – this leads to failure.

4. Sharing Question #2: What happens when you quit your day job to focus on your
business which is not yet established?
Ans.: In light of an economic crisis, it might be a bad decision – the business is just to add to
your regular job. Do not quit your day job even if its because you don't like your boss – its more
important to earn now than to like your boss.

5. Application: What will you do if you started a business and you become so busy between
the day job and the business?
Ans.: Expect it to happen! Work with your family on scheduling and working to build the
business – all of you will benefit from it anyway!

CONCLUSION: In the coming economic crisis, take refuge in God's Word. Try to put up a small
business!

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