Preaching activities from August 6-31, 2016

August 6 (Funeral Service in Bangag, Solana – brother Valeriano Pante)

Brother Robert invited us for the last service in the wake of brother Valeriano. Brother Jerome preached to a big crowd that reaches the other side of the road. He preached about “The facts of life”. Brother Robert and Manny led the opening song, while brother Rogelio led the opening prayer. I led the closing song and brother Jay led the closing prayer. After the service we did, an Aglipayan priest also held a service. Brother Valeriano is a Christian but his some of his children are members of that denomination, so we cannot stop them from doing what they want.

August 7 (Sunday Worship in Tuguegarao and Palca)

In the morning, I taught in our bible study the second part of my lesson about “David and Bathsheba” when Nathan rebuke David of his sin and the death of their child. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Have you died with Christ?” a great question if we really did what Jesus wants us to die with Him and be raised in the newness of life.

In the afternoon, I preached at Palca the same lesson “David and Bathsheba” with the same discussion but I added verses that makes it a sermon.

August 10 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

Brother Jay continued on our lesson on the first book of the letter of Paul to the Corinthians. He discussed the 13^th chapter of the book and made focus on charity/love and how to show it to everyone.

August 13 (Gospel Meeting in Ajat, Centro Iguig)

We were invited to join the Gospel Meeting at Iguig where brother Ronald Valdez is preaching. I am chosen to be one of their speakers. Brother Edgar Corpuz was the first speaker and he preached about “The importance of Gospel Meeting”. He showed us why we need to be attending Gospel Meetings and what profit will we gain if we do so. The second speaker was brother Robert Pader and he preached about “Does it make any difference?” He showed us the difference between the denomination churches and the church the Jesus built. I was the last speaker and I preached about “Can you attract anyone to go to church?” Can anybody see us as we should be, as a christian? As the title depicts, can our actions and the words that come out in our mouth attract anyone to come to church? After the lessons preached, we extended the invitation, but got no response from the audience. We have notice that one of the councilors of the town is in the room, so after the meeting, we have conversation with her. He is willing to be attending more services of the church and even willing to help in the installation of a new electricity line.

August 14 (Sunday Worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In the morning, I taught in the bible study here in Tuguegarao. I taught the same lesson I preached in the Gospel Meeting “Can you attract anyone to go to church?” If you notice in the pictures, the title is in our language (tagalog), I just translated it in this report so that you can understand. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Signs of a mature Christian”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I also preached the same lesson. After the service, the brethren asked to include brother Jun Lamigo in our prayers because she is again feeling dizziness and cannot move well. He have diabetes and is taking lots of medicines. We went to their house and also prayed there.

August 17 (Help in the construction in the chapel at Iguig and midweek service at Tuguegarao)

Together with 12 other preachers (Efren Respicio, Jimmy Duque, Jerome Forelo, Jayson Tanguilan, Jun Antonio, Joeben Jacobo, Robert Pader, Ronald Valdez, Edgar Corpuz, Rogelio Esperanza, Manny Pader), and I, we help in the concreting of the flooring of the church building in Iguig. During the gospel meeting that was held here, the floor was very muddy that it sticks with our shoes and become heavy. And so we help brother Ronald with the work to lessen paying carpenters to do it. It is very hard because when we are starting to work, there was a heavy rain that makes our path muddy and slippery. But even though we had lot of scratches and wounds, we are very happy to see the what we had finished and we are sure that the brethren there will also be very happy.

In the evening, brother Efren taught in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. He discussed “James 4”. It has been so long since the last time he preached here. I invited him during our work in Iguig and he immediately responded with a yes. The brethren here are also happy to see him.

August 21 (Sunday worship at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In the morning here at Tuguegarao, I again taught in our bible study about “Bakit ninyo pinakikinggan ang salita? Kung hindi niyo naman susundin” in English “Why do you still need to hear the word? If you will not follow it”. The title speaks for itself and also I showed them the some biblical truths that we needed not just to hear, read but also to follow. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached “James reminds Christians”. He also use James 4 are his reference.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Be not hearers but doers”. I made another lesson coming from the previous lesson I preached in Tuguegarao.

August 24 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

Brother Rody and sister Tessie just arrived Tuesday here in Tuguegarao coming from their 3 months trip in the US. And so he again got a chance to preach to us. He discusses the problems of the Corinthian Church from the first chapter until the 13^th.

August 26 (Preachers’ bible study at Iguig)

We had a preachers’ bible study at Iguig, the place where we first have the Gospel Meeting, then the construction in the church building, and now a bible study with the same group. We all plan to do this, not just to encourage each one of us that even though we have limited resources for our preaching, if we work together, no one can stop us to share the truth of the bible. Brother Ronald stand and shared a lesson about “Unity” and after his sharing, we had an open forum where everyone is sharing what we read and heard from denominations that we needed to correct using the bible only.

August 28 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In the morning here at Tuguegarao, brother Jerome taught in our bible study about “Working with other Christians” explaining to us the need to share our talents for the Lord’s work and in the sermon, brother Rody preached “God made man, male and female”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Our transformation”. From living in bondage of sin to being joined with Christ in baptism and now living in righteousness.

August 30 (Preachers’ bible study at Tuguegarao)

We had again our preachers’ bible study here Tuguegarao with brother Rody as the one who is to preached. We continued on our study on the bible survey from book to book and we are already in the book of Jeremiah.

August 31 (Midweek service here at Tuguegarao)

I taught in our bible study “1 Corinthians 14” about the problem in Corinth on the gifts they receive. I only have a short time preparing the outline because I got a message from brother Rody at around 2 in the afternoon that they are in Ballesteros to visit the mother of sister Tessie who is sick in the age of 80+ and telling me to take his place and teach this evening in our midweek service. With the Lord's help, I write the lesson on a bond paper but no more time to make a powerpoint presentation. This time, in this chapter, the problem is about speaking in tongues and Paul is telling them that it is better if they prophesy and to show charity to everyone. A part of the discussion is also about the women who needs to be in silent and not over the authority of men when it comes to standing in front of the pulpit and preach.