Preaching Activities from December 2, 2015 to January 3, 2015

December 2, I am again scheduled to teach in our midweek bible study here at Tuguegarao. We are already in the 22^nd chapter of the book of Acts about the defense of Apostle Paul to the Jews and his citizenship as a Roman that they could not just put him into jail or kill him because of this. We, as Christians are also like Apostle Paul who have a dual citizenship. We are a citizen from where we are born and at the same time, we are a citizen in the city of God which is in Heaven and someday, if we remain faithful to Him, we will all see each other in that beautiful place prepared by our Lord.

December 6, in our Lord’s Day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “Winds and Waves” and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Measure of a strong Christian”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I prepared a lesson about “Real Treasure” but I saw some visitors who are Catholics, I decided to preach a lesson about “The one true church in the bible” and also I included “Salvation”. The visitors are the husband of sister Rowena (Hesus Mary) and Mark Fernandez.

December 8, we again had our preachers’ bible study and now we are already studying the book of Ecclesiastes.

December 9, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody taught on Acts 23, but he started to summarize the book of Acts from chapter 1 to 22 then just a little on Acts 23.

December 13, in our Lord’s Day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “The gospel makes us right with God” and in the sermon, brother Rody preached “Runners in the Christian Race”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “The Real Treasure”. We will not find the real treasure here on earth, even if we have all the riches of this world, that is not the real treasure that will make us happy because there will come a day that all of this will be left behind and we can never take it with us. The real treasure is found in God’s word and that is also where we can find true happiness.

December 15, in our preacher’s bible study, we opened the book of “Song of Solomon” and studied the wise words of King Solomon on marital relationship and also our relationship to God.

December 16, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Rody taught “Acts 24”. Same as before, he again summarize the first chapters of the book and share a little on the 24^th chapter.

December 19, we had a thanksgiving here at Metro Tuguegarao where brother Anthony and sister Lanie Panopio brought their daughter here in the chapel to offer thanksgiving to God. Brother Jerome preached a lesson about thanksgiving while I led the prayer for thanksgiving. Their daughter Llwellyn Allanah is celebrating her 1^st birthday and it is a good thing to thank God first before any other celebrations because we all know this is a gift from God.

December 20, in our Lord’s Day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun continued with his lesson about “The Gospel Makes us right with God” and in the sermon, brother Rody preached “What some have done with Jesus”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Lawful and Helpful”. There are things that are lawful in different nations but are not helpful to us and to God. Other nations right now are considering/allowing abortion, same sex marriage, etc. but in the sight of God, even if this is lawful in our country, it is not helpful in our relationship to God. I also included in this lesson about the lawful and helpful acts in our worship to God.

From my wife's children's class at Palca

December 21, we went to Toran, Apparri to attend their Gospel Meeting. We drive early to reach our destination at about 9 in the morning. We arrive early and so we have conversations with the brethren about the congregation, what is their current situation and members who are faithful. Because brother Luis Ramirez and brother Ahelio Acob are already very old, they are requesting and asking us preachers from Cagayan if anyone who will be willing to come to their congregation and stand as their preacher. I am thinking about this when I heard their announcement and a part of my mind is saying that, I will accept it but the other half is saying, I cannot because I lose much support and the place is two hours travel from Tuguegarao. But in my mind and my heart, I wanted to help the church grow in this congregation. God has plans for them and also for me, whatever will come this January, then I will decide.

In the Gospel Meeting, I started the work with leading a song, and brother Jerome was the first speaker and he spoke about “What does Jesus require of you?” then followed by brother Rody with the lesson “Don’t yield”.

In the afternoon, brother Joeben preached “Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” That ends the Gospel meeting and in the last part, brother Luis shared again their burden of looking for preacher to come to them. Please let us include them in our prayers. They are a faithful church that needs a faithful preacher.

December 23, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, I again stand and taught in our bible study. This time, we are already in the 25^th chapter of Acts. About the defense of Apostle Paul in front of Festus, King Agrippa and Bernice.

December 27, in our Lord’s day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “God’s family” and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached about “Seek or to serve”. After the worship, we extended the invitation and 1 precious soul went in front to confess her faith and was baptized into Christ. Sorry I do not have the picture of the conversion.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about the “Lessons we can learn from the trials and sufferings of Paul”.

When I arrived back here in Tuguegarao, brother Jun invited me to the chapel and together with brother Rody, we baptized 8 more souls who are from Maguirig, Solana.

December 29, in our preachers’ bible study, we opened the book of “Isaiah” and studied the different stories and lessons we can get from it.

December 30, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao brother Rody taught on “Acts 26”.

December 31, as a family of Gumpad, Daquioag, Reyes and Forelo, we had a thanksgiving at the house of brother Rody for the whole year that God did not forsake us in all the times. We all prayed together before the year ends.

January 3, in our Lord’s Day service here at Metro Tuguegarao, it was our 32^nd year anniversary since the congregation started here. In our worship, brother Rody preached about “Remember”. After the work in the church, we had our thanksgiving for another year that pass.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Satan’s lies ahead of us this year 2016”. We all should be aware that Satan is always there trying to destroy our faith in God and so we needed to learn from God/His word as our ultimate weapon against Satan’s tactics. After the worship, we also had our thanksgiving by playing bible games and most especially by praying to God and thanking Him always.