Activities from March 6-24

March 6, in our midweek service, we studied about “Being Ready/Prepared”. Brother Reneboy preached the lesson because the scheduled preacher who should teach the proverbs is out and needed to preach somewhere. We gave the opportunity to him because he is not always here in Tuguegarao. He is busy with the work at Maddela, Quirino and we are happy for the growth of the church there.

March 7-8, I went to my mother’s store to help but at the same time, I made bible tracts that I will be giving to those who pass by. There are also some who are asking questions like if we believe Jesus is God, if we are also keeping the Sabbath and many more. The church building of the Seventh Day Adventist is near the store so many of whom I am trying to give the tract rejects it because it is against their doctrine to hear other teaching aside from what they are taught.

March 10, in our Lord’s day service here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught the lesson “Was Christ’s Sacrifice if Vain?” and brother Rody taught in the sermon about “Spiritual Growth”.

In the afternoon, I preached in Palca about “If Anyone Desires” from the text Luke 9:21-26. The things we needed to do in order to follow Jesus is all the main points of the lesson. We cannot follow Him and be His disciple if there are many hindrances like our families, wealth and pleasures in life.

March 12, In our preachers’ bible study, brother Efren taught the “Persian Period” wherein he focus on the history from king to king in the Mosaic Time. In the afternoon, we studied “Acts 22” that brother Kernel shared. The discussion is about the conversion of Saul and how he had the change of heart from being a persecutor to becoming an apostle.

March 13, in our midweek service, brother Efren taught in our bible study about “Proverbs 29”.

March 16, I went to Palca for another home bible study. I preached to the group about “Remaining to be faithful in the Lord”.

March 17, in our Lord’s day service here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught about “The Three Crosses”. He shared about what we can see from the attitudes of the three man in the cross. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about “We will not neglect the house of God”. After the lesson, we extended the invitation and one soul came in front to confess her faith. She is Jacinta Conti from the village of Namabbalan, Tuguegarao. It is a little bit far from the worship place but because of the help of the brethren who are also near her, she tried to come and attend worship and thankfully, she obeyed the gospel.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “What we failed to do?” Being procrastinate, prideful, self-righteous and many works of the flesh are the things that makes us fail but the lesson shows how we need to handle this problems and to do the right things.

March 19, in our preachers bible study, brother Rodolfo taught in the morning on “Acts 23”. In the afternoon, we discuss about “The Name of God”. Brother Edgar lead us and we studied this lesson coming from what other Pastors are claiming to be the true name of God.

March 20, in the morning, we went to Asilang, Sampaguita to have a service in the funeral of our late sister, Teodora dela Cruz. She is a member at Maguirig, Solana where brother Jun Gumpad is preaching.  Brother Jun preached the lesson  “Where are the Dead?”

In the evening, in our midweek service, brother Robert taught “Proverbs 28”.

March 22, I was invited to come in the bible tracts distribution in Annabuculan, Amulung.  The travel is very tiring because of the rocky road and made my whole body in pain. We distributed bible tracts from house to house and also preached to those interested. I was asked to preach in a group where in they are all “Iglesia ni Cristo”, a well know religion here in the Philippines because it was established here. I choose to compare the true church to their religion and also “Why many will not be saved?”.

March 23, we went to Palca for Home Bible Study. I invited brother David Malupeng and July Aguinaldo. Brother July preached about “When will Christians be happy?” and David and I lead the singing the prayers. We are at sister Angelina Santiago’s house and we are happy that her daughter (Dina) who is working at Singapore came home and joined us. His son (Don-don) also just graduated from High school so we also had the thanksgiving. We all prayed together and thank the Lord for the wonderful things He gave to them. Sister Angelina will have her eye surgery this coming Wednesday and sister Dina will be flying back to Singapore on Friday. They needed our prayers.

March 24, in our Lord’s day here at Tuguegarao, brother Robert taught about “The People of God” and in the sermon, brother Jun preached about “They Mocked Salvation”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “The Man not needed in the Church”. Those man like David who only sees the faults of others, Cain who is overcome by his wrath, John Mark who turned back from his co-workers, Judas who is only looking for money and the elder brother who is envious. Those are the things we should keep out of the church, those attitudes that should not be within every Christians.

Activities from February 20 - March 5, 2013

February 20, in our midweek service, brother Jun shared to us the lessons we could learn from "Proverbs 26".

February 23, we went to the burial of brother Jesus Pader. He is the reason why there is a church in Maguirig and also the first christian there. Brother Geronimo Ganela preached a sermon about "Life and Death". 

February 24, in our Lord's day service here at Tuguegarao, I taught in our bible study about "A Few Things" (Few are saved, Few Laborers, and faithful over few things). In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about "Learning from death" (The Value of our life, brevity of life, vanity of earthly things, death is not the end of life, certainty of death, and each has his own spiritual responsibility).

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "Proverbs 27:1-17". I am encouraging them to not think always of themselves but also look for the others and also about the reason why we are living and why we needed to work today and not always think of what to do tomorrow because we do not know if tomorrow will still come.

February 26, in our preachers' bible study, brother July taught in the morning about "Proverbs 31" then followed by brother Rody wherein he shared about the "Timeline of the Old and New Testament". 

In the afternoon, I shared to them "Acts 20" the continuation of Paul's Third Missionary Journey. I pointed out about the reason why Paul told the brethren that he might not see his face anymore because of the danger ahead of him and that tells us that if we needed to die for the gospel, then so be it, our reward is in heaven. From this chapter, it also tells us to preach the whole counsel of God because of the sacrifices Jesus did just for us to have salvation and to share it to everyone.

February 27, in our midweek service, I taught on "Proverbs 27". This time, I shared to them every detail on the whole chapter. Solomon intended this proverb for his son to not forsake God and the people around him but it is written in the bible so that we can also think on this things as a guidance for us to have a righteous life.

February 28, I should be going for a home bible study at Palca but early in the morning, they sent me a text message saying that we will re-schedule the study for next time because they have an emergency to attend to.

March 1-4, brother Jun, Teddy and I went to Manila to work in the newly opened congregation in Pasay. We traveled by night on the Friday and hoping to arrived there early Saturday but unluckily, when we are near Bulacan area, the bus got a problem and that we needed to transfer to another bus but the bus arrived about 30 minutes later. We arrived in Manila about 8 in the morning but we are still far from the Pasay area. We traveled by train but again the train's destination will not reach Pasay because of some technical problems also. We again ride a bus to reach the area and so finally, at 10 in the morning, we arrived safely at Pasay. Thanks to God's guidance for all the help he gave us on this trip. 

Saturday, we prepared the meeting place (clean, prepare the projector, making copies of our outlines,etc). 
Sunday, in our Lord's day service, brother Teddy led the singing and I taught in our bible study. We are still few when I started to teach because the brethren came from different areas around Manila and some are really from far places. I again taught the lesson about "A Few Things". I already preached this lesson from many places and I wanted to share also to them that there is a warning in the bible "Many are called but few are chosen". Even though we are a christian already, still there is Satan trying to get us back into darkness and wanting us to go with him in hell. In the sermon, brother Jun preached about "Did Christ's died in vain?" Many of the denominations today preach about neglecting Mark 16:16, Matthew 16:18 and other verses pertaining to Christ, the church and how to enter the church. If we say that it is not important to obey the gospel or the church, we are also saying that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is useless because without it we will be save as our friends from denominations teach. We have five visitors who attended the worship and four them are already christian who are looking for worship place here in Manila because they are members of the Lord's church in their provinces. Here are the list of names:
1. Jackson Edwas
2. Garry Laurencio
3. Judy Ann Matias (Non-christian)
4. Eric de Guzman
5. Sydney Sabiniano
We have a total attendance of 30 wherein two are kids.

Monday, we traveled back to Tuguegarao and arrived Tuesday morning.

March 5, in our preachers' bible study. Brother Gemiano Pader shared to us the lessons on "Acts 21" the end of Paul's third missionary Journey until his imprisonment. After the question and answer, brother Rody also shared to us the timeline of the whole bible.