Preaching activities from April 9 to May 15, 2018

April 9 (Service at Sampaguita, Solana)

Brother Denis Yuson invited us to have a service at the wake of our brother Romeo Fernando. He is a member of the Lord’s church at Aquib, Piat. He is a deaf brother but is always in attendance in their worship services and even joining us in Gospel Meetings from various parts of Cagayan. He died because he was hit by a car.

I led the opening prayer while brother Macky Miguel led our singing. Brother Jerome preached about “Things we can learn from the house of mourning”. The service was held at around 7 in the evening.

April 10 (Burial Service at Sampaguita, Solana)

I attended the burial service of brother Romeo. Brother Rody preached about death.

April 11 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I taught in our bible study the introduction of the book of James and also discussed to the brethren the first chapter.

April 13 (Gospel Meeting at Catarauan, Amulung)

We were invited to attend and help in the Gospel Meeting at Catarauan where brother Jun Antonio is preaching. The meeting was held in the afternoon. The weather was very hot that we don’t just need electric fans, but we also need our own personal fans using cardboards. Brother Joeben Jacobo was the first speaker and he preached about “Giving all diligence”. The final speaker is brother Rody who preached about “Are you ready?”. After the preaching, the invitation was extended, and two precious souls confess their faith and was baptized into Christ.

April 15 (Sunday services at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study here in Tuguegarao, brother Rody started on a booklet that we will use for several months. The title is “Your Bible” and the lessons are all about the fundamentals of the bible.  We started with the first lesson “What is the book?” In the sermon, he preached about “Story of Zacchaeus”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Do you see yourself in God’s mirror?” I shared two biblical characters in which whom we should follow as they follow Christ, Paul and Felix.

April 18 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

In our service, I led our opening songs and prayer. Brother Jay discussed to us the second chapter of the book of James. After the service, I went directly to the bus station to travel with my brother going to Manila because he will get his car there. He promised to give me some amount as his driver.

April 22 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study, I shared to them about “Tell me where your great strength lies”. The lesson is from the story of Sampson and also includes where Moses got the power to perform miracle, with the question if it is the rod or from God. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about “I am a Christian”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them the same lesson “Tell me where your great strength lies”.

April 24 (Visitation at Palca)

I visit our brother Enzo and sister Gina Simangan because they have been out of our services for two months already. There reason is, brother Enzo is running for a position in their village as counselor, that’s why he has been very busy campaigning. I advised them to continue going to church even though they are doing other things because serving God is still more important than serving for a village of even a city. Sad to say that, the next Sunday, they still didn’t attend our service, and even up to this day. The election is over (May 14) and whatever the result, I will know it on Sunday. I am praying that he loses so that they will go back to church.

April 25 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I shared to them the third chapter of the book of James about the responsibilities of a teacher, the danger of the tongue and the types of wisdom.

April 29 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

I again teach in our bible study with the continuation of my lesson “Tell me where your great strength lies” and now I included, Naaman, on how he was healed, is it the water in Jordan or because of God, and finally our salvation, is it the water from baptism of from God? In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about “Why we must not gossip?”

In the afternoon, I also preached the second part of the same lesson in Palca.

May 2 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

In our bible study, brother Jay shared to us the fourth chapter of the book of James.

May 4 (Visitation)

I visited again brother Leonardo Uton because he is again sick. He always feels dizzy because it is very hot right now here in Cagayan. Our temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius.

May 6 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody continued with the booklet with our studying. We are still in the first part. In the sermon, he preached about “When Jesus was baptized”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Sinking Simon”. We studied Matthew 14:22-33 verse by verse and applied it to every Christian life.

May 7-9 (Hospital)

From this days, my wife has been hospitalized because of gastritis. After the worship at Palca the last Sunday, she got stomach pains and keeps on vomiting what she eats. We decided to bring her to the hospital because she is already weak and har hands are cramping. We thank God that for the three days we stayed there, she got better and with the baby in her womb. We are also thankful that we got out of the hospital just in time to attend our midweek service here at Tuguegarao. Brother Rody continued with our lesson on the book of James. We are already the last chapter (5).

May 10 (Gospel Meeting at Lapogan, Gattaran)

Brother Joeben Jacobo invited us to attend their gospel meeting. It is for the entire day, but I only attended the afternoon session because I have some matters to attend to in the morning.

In the afternoon, brother Materno Sibayan Jr. preached to us about the “Rich Fool”. The final speaker was brother Rody who preached about “Pre-millennialism”. No converts in the meeting but I am sure the everyone is edified because of the reactions after the studies.

May 13 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

Brother Rody continued with our lesson on the booklet and we finished this time “The place God has for this book” and “What’s this book about?”. In the sermon, he preached about “When Jesus was tempted”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “The rich fool”. I was edified much in the lesson brother Materno Sibayan Jr. preached in the gospel meeting, and so I made my own outline about the same lesson.

May 14 (Visitation)

It was an election day here in the Philippines for village officials, but I prefer to visit the son of brother Jing Duran, who is a member of the Lord’s church at Palca, that was hospitalized here in Tuguegarao. Her son has a very high fever Saturday night and they brought him in the hospital. He is already in good health and is ready to go home today (May 15).

Preaching activities from March 21 to April 8, 2018

March 21 (Midweek Service at Metro Tuguegarao)

Brother Jay taught us “Hebrews 11”. He shared to us the stories of each individual that is presented in the chapter and how faithful they are to God. We need to have the faith of this individuals to gain also the reward coming from our God.

March 24 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study, brother Rody continued with his previous lesson on “Helpful steps in making evangelism successful”. And he also preached in the sermon with the topic “Abiding in the church of Christ”.

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them about “Following Jesus in a distance”. When Jesus was caught by the soldiers, Peter followed Him from a distance and by doing that, Peter sinned when he denied Jesus three times. We should not follow Jesus from a distance for us not sin, but we should be closer to Him and participate in all the works of the church. We should not be also go ahead of Him by adding to His words because by adding or subtracting the words of God, we will sin.

March 25 (Bible study at Amulung)

We went to Amulung to preach in an old congregation that started way back 1990’s. According to brother Rody, it was already 20 years back when they last came to this congregation. The congregation did not die, they continued serving God but because of some personal problems with brethren, communications stop. But we are happy that everything was solve now and we are again in unity with them to serve God. Brother Virgilio Bocarile first preached to us with the topic “Love God” then followed by brother Rody who preached “Abiding in the church of Christ”. Invitation was extended, and one young lady came in front to confess her faith. She was baptized in a near river.

March 26 (Hospital visit)

I went to the hospital to visit brother Leonardo Uton who have a high blood pressure and stomach pains. Together with his wife, I always pick them up first before going to Palca because it is hard for them to get any ride going to church every Sunday. March 24, when we arrived at their house, sister Linda, his wife told us that they needed to bring brother Leonardo to the hospital. The ambulance is already there and ready to bring him to a hospital here in Tuguegarao. The closest hospital from them is in Piat which is 20 minutes ride, but they prefer to bring him here in Tuguegarao which is an hour ride, because in Piat, they do not have the equipments. And so, I visited him and happy that I saw he is already ok. We prayed together with his wife and his daughter.

March 27 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

I taught in our bible study “Hebrews 12”. It talks about the right way of living as a Christian. We need to follow the example Jesus showed to us, and the chapter also shows how God disciplines his children, that we also need to remain faithful and the final judgment.

March 28 (Funeral service at Minagbag, Quezon)

Brother Jay invited me and brother Manny to be with him in preaching at a funeral in his congregation. Our brother Ernesto Dominguez, who was one of the first converts in that congregation passed away from the sickness of pneumonia. He is already old and so his body cannot respond to any medications. Brother Jay led us in singing, and brother July led the opening prayer. Brother Manny preached to us about “Where are the dead?” and finally, I led the closing prayer.

April 1 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

Brother Rody continued to teach to us the third part of his lesson on “Helpful steps in making evangelism successful”. In the sermon, he preached to us “The Lord’s Supper”. We have some visitors with us who are from Enrile, Gattaran and also someone from the country of Alaska. He was married to a Filipina and they are both living here in Tuguegarao.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “The thief’s cross”. It is a prophetic fulfilment as told by Isaiah and we can see the humility of Jesus on the cross. We can also learn about the kingdom of Christ in the cross during his conversation with one of the thief and finally, the reward hereafter.

April 3 (Hospital visit)

I went to visit two of our brethren from Palca who were hospitalized. Sister Pacita, having a high fever and brother Jun because of his diabetes. Jun is sister Pacita’s grandson. They are in one hospital but are in different rooms because of medication needs. Again, I am happy to see them both improving from their previous conditions. We prayed together to ask God more blessings from Him.

April 4 (Midweek bible study at Tuguegarao)

Brother Jay preached to us the last chapter of Hebrews (13). He talked about how love should remain in us always and several edifications for us to remain worthy of God’s blessings.

April 8 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

Brother Rody taught to us the final part of his lesson “Helpful steps in making evangelism successful”. In the sermon, he preached about “The use and misuse of tongue”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “The resurrection of Christ”. We answered the questions who raised Christ from the dead? When did Christ rise from the dead? Where did Christ Rise? How is it known Christ rose? And why did Christ rise from the dead? After the service, we took picture as a group but unluckily, some of the brethren were not with us because it was again raining very hard. It is hard for them to walk going to church. Next time, I will take pictures of them and also attached the pictures here.

Preaching activities from February 21 to March 18, 2018

February 21 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

We continued to study the book of Hebrews and with brother Jay, he shared to us the things we can learn from the 7^th chapter.

February 23 (Visitation)

I visited sister Gina Simangan, a member of the Lord’s church in Palca, but living in a near village (Dagupan). She is very sick because of Diabetes. I went to their house to give them the help coming from the church at Palca. I also handed her a little help for her medicines. We prayed together with her family. Today (March 19), she is already in good health and unlike before, she cannot stand up, but now, she can already work normally. Thanks to God.

February 25 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our service here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody took the opportunity to teach us in our bible study and sermon because he will again be leaving us and traveling to Mindanao for two weeks preaching. He shared in our bible study about “Helpful steps in making evangelism successful” and in the sermon, he preached about “The four second sermon”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them “Christian Beware”. The lesson is about the attitude of some other Christians that we should beware and avoid doing.

February 28 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I shared in our bible study the 8^th chapter of the book of Hebrews. About the new and better covenant.

March 4 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

I taught in our bible study the first part of my lesson about “Do we look for another?” The lesson is all about the miracles of Jesus and explaining to them how this applies to our life as a Christian. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached on “John 3:16”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “In time of tragedy”. The lesson is teaching us what we needed to do when tragedy strikes us, our brethren, our family, or others. We need to pray, mourn with them, comfort them and be with them if possible.

After the service at Palca, my wife and I traveled to Manila. We arrived at around 1:30 in the morning and brought brother Rody, sister Tessie and brother Jun in the airport for their flight going to Mindanao for the two weeks preaching.

We traveled back to Tuguegarao March 7 in the evening.

March 11 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

I continued with the lesson I started about “Do we look for another?’” in our bible study and brother Jerome preached “Two appointments” in the sermon.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them the lesson “Don’t be a fool”. We should not act like a fool (as the bible describes it) but we need to be wise, following the wisdom of God and the knowledge of His words.

March 12 (Visit brother Samuel Gamet)

Together with brother Jerome and Jay, we went to Cabarroguis, Quirino to visit brother Samuel Gamet. He is a faithful brother in Christ and a trusted preacher in Saguday Church of Christ. He had been hospitalized since February 23 and was admitted in the ICU because of stroke. He is now on a stable condition but still needs our prayers because half of his body can no longer move. We traveled going to the hospital for three hours but we are only allowed to stay in the room for only 30 minutes as ordered by the management. We prayed with his wife who is with him.

On our way back, we need to stop over in the house of one of our brother here in Tuguegarao who is living in Enrile. He is brother Marciano Mabatan. Together with his family, they needed to ride a jeep for 30 minutes travel going to church every Sunday to worship with us. Sadly, on March 9, he went to attend the last night of the wake of their relative, but on their way, he was hit by a car while walking in a right path. He was then brought to the hospital, but he died before arriving. We went to talk to their family and handed them the help coming from the church here in Tuguegarao. We also talked of the services we will do.

March 13 (Service at the wake of brother Marciano Mabatan)

With the three of us again (Jerome, Jay and I), we held a service in the wake of brother Marciano. Brother Jerome led the opening prayer, brother Jay shared a lesson about Death and I led the closing prayer. According to their family, the siblings of brother Marciano made an arrangement that we will have a service on the last night of the wake, but they will have the service in their own church in the burial. We cannot do anything because that is already decided by their family. But we know how our brother lived. He live faithfully in serving the Lord. It doesn’t matter where his siblings will bring his body before burying him, what is more important is the way he lives.

March 14 (Midweek service at Tuguegarao)

I shared in our bible study the lesson on Hebrews 10. We talk about the law which is the shadow of the things to come and the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

March 18 (Sunday service at Tuguegarao and Palca)

In our bible study here in Tuguegarao, I shared to them the lesson “Master of time” that is God who created time, paused the time during Joshua’s battle, reverses time during Hezekiah’s reign and will end time on the last day. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached about “Benefits of being a Christian”.

In the afternoon, at Palca, before going to the chapel, I always pick-up on our way brother Leonardo and sister Linda Uton, but this time, they cannot come to church because they needed to bring brother Leonardo to the hospital. He is again having a high blood pressure and according to sister Linda, he have a hard time sleeping. Please pray for our brother Leonardo.

In our worship at Palca, I also preached to them the same lesson on Master of time. After the service, there where students who came from a nearby high school. They conducted an interview with me. They first asked about what we think about the 10 commandments and so I answered them in about 3 minutes long explaining that we are not commanded to follow the 10 commandments, because the is for the Israelites, the commands we needed to follow now are the commandments of Jesus Christ. The next one was, what about abortion? I answered them directly and said that abortion is killing a baby which is a SIN. After that, I invited them to attend the services of the church at Palca. I pray that they will come next week.