Bible Lectureships and other Activities

Those who attended the ladies class

February 14, we held a Bible Lectureship here at Tuguegarao together with bro. Ron and sister Donna Halbrook and bro. David and Starla Halbrook. The ladies have their own class in the second floor of the church building led by sister Donna and Starla. My wife attended their class and I am happy to hear from her that they enjoyed and learned a lot from them. This is the first time that they have a Bible Studies as group of ladies. In the first floor of the church building, we also held our Bible Lectureship and all are man. Bro. Ron was the first one who preached and he shared about "The Rapture: Is it Now?Near? or Never?". He discusses about the Theory of the Premillenialist about this so called Rapture that Christ will return to reign for 1,000 years on earth.And this theory have many consequences if it is true like "Kingdom prophecies in the Bible made void" Daniel 2:31-45, "God's power is limited" Mark 9:1, "Christ Dethroned" Acts 2:30, 36, "Seek Earthly Kingdom" John 18:36, "The church reduced to temporary substitute status" Ephesians 3:10-11, " "Denies present reality of the kingdom" Colossians 1:13-14, and "Ignore God's plan for Christ's death" Acts 2:23.  This only shows that the bible is true and not the Theory of Premillenialism. He also add the lesson about "Will Israel be restored to its land?". In Galatians 3:26-29, the blessings promised to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ and not in the Land. 

Followed by bro. David, he shared to us about the topic on "A lesson from a Tassel".  Among the many statutes of Moses' law, we find somewhat obscure instruction in Numbers 15:37-41. He shows the purpose of these tassels that we may remember and do all the commandments and be holy for God. Another lesson was followed by bro. Ron and he speak about "Does Christ now reign as King?". According to the prophecy, His rule begins in the Roman Empire and it was fulfilled on the gospel age. He completed all His work and now seating on His throne.

In the afternoon, bro. David spoke to us concerning "What will I preached about?". He gave us ideas on how we can easily make outlines and bible lessons that we can use to preach every Sunday. Then the last lesson was discussed by bro. Ron and it was entitled "When is the 1,000 years reign of Christ?". To summarized the lesson he shared, the 1,000 years reign of Christ shows His perfect victory over the Roman Empire.

More pictures: Tuguegarao Bible Lectureship

February 15, we went to Manaring, Ilagan to attend also their Bible Lectureship together with the American brethren. Upon arriving, we saw 10 souls already confessing their faith. The lectureship started Feb. 14 and maybe they attended the class before this day, but we never saw them baptized in water because after the confession they went their own ways. The attendance is very good because we are more than 200 coming from different places. Many of the audience are brethren from the whole Ilagan province.

The lectureship I attended started with bro. David preaching about "Continue in the things which you have learned". We need to continue what we started as Christians and share the good news to everyone. Bro. Ron preached next and he shared about "Walk in spirit, not the flesh!". This is how people live today: Walking in the flesh(Selfish, Sinful Conduct) and Walking in Spirit(Follow God's word).

In the afternoon, the number of audience went down because they need to travel back home. They will have none to ride when they will be there until we finished the studies. But we still have more than 100 attendance left. Bro. David again preached to us about "Ephesians 4:1-3" which is walking worthy of the calling with which we are called in all lowliness, gentleness, long suffering, bearing one another in live, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And the last lesson was preached by bro. Ron about "Resurrection of Christ" discussing to us the whole chapter of Mark 16.

After the lesson, we extended again the invitation and 12 precious souls went in front to confess their faith. We baptized them in the near river but the first 10 who confess in the morning was not there. Hope and pray that they will be baptized soon.

More pictures: Manaring Bible Lectureship

In the evening, we have our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. Bro. Ron spoke to us regarding the song in our hymnbook which is "Holy, holy, holy" on Isaiah 6:1-8.

My family and the Halbrook's

February 16, it was the time when the Halbrook's left Tuguegarao and fly going to Manila and directly to Cebu. They will be here in the Philippines until the last week of February. Please continue to pray for their safe travels and on their way back to their homes.

February 18, we went to a Thanksgiving at bro. Florencio Constantino, one of the elders here at Tuguegarao who is having his birthday. We sing together with them with spiritual songs, read a part of 3 John and prayed together to the Lord to thank Him for another year of many blessings for bro. Flor and his family.

February 19, in our Sunday Service here at Tuguegarao, we studied about "Know your Enemy" that was taught by bro. Jun. We need to recognize Satan and his tactics and resist him everyday. In the sermon, bro. Rody shared to us about "Burial or Cremation". We looked into the points about whether cremation is scriptural and whether cremation is sinful. I have many questions to ask about this lesson because we cannot read anything about cremating bodies in the bible and we cannot also say that it is sinful because the one's who are cremated are the dead and not those who are alive. 

In the afternoon, my wife continues to teach the children at Palca while I preached in the church about "Time to speak and Time to be silent". We always say that "Speak where the bible speak and be silent if the bible is silent". We need to speak about the good news and we need to be silent before God because He must be the only one who is commanding us what to do.

More pictures: Palca Lord's Day