We ended
the classes as they began with a full number staying to the end, attentive in
every way and actively participating. It was a true joy to be with all of the
students and see their excitement at studying in depth as they had not had an
opportunity to do. They were continually telling me to relate their thanks to
the brethren in the U.S. who had provided the funds necessary to carry on this
class. They were asking that we might have another class like this one very
soon on another book.
The
routine for the week has remained unchanged. Brother Jerry Moral has led the
men in singing for some period each morning before Jonathan and I arrived at
the meeting place. Once we arrived, I ask for any situation the students might
know about that may need our prayers. I also shared with them those that I knew
of in the U.S. that needed our prayers and asked for their prayers. We then
spent about 20 minutes in solitary prayer. After that, we got started with the
study promptly at 9:00am.
Today’s
study began with Hebrew 11:32 and went through Hebrews 13:3 before we took our
lunch break. We discussed the closing characters of faith found in the 11th
chapter and how their faith was seen in action that endured despite great
affliction and even death. We saw the need for all to receive the Lord’s
discipline and grow spiritually thereby. As a side observation, we noted the
principles of proper discipline to be exercised by parents with their children.
The exhortations regarding our continued obedience and the self-control needed
in such was covered at some length. We saw the contrast between the things that
came with the beginning of the Old Covenant and what came with the New
Covenant, as well as the closing admonitions about the better way of faith. We
then introduced the first few verses of chapter 13 urging proper love and
concern for our brethren.
The
afternoon session began with a long discussion about the danger and disastrous
effects of fornication and adultery, as well as that of covetousness. The
exhortations to remember the life and faith of those formerly having the rule
over the readers and the to submit to those who presently had the rule over
them was also examined and applied. The altar that we have in contrast to that
of old and the suffering of Christ outside the gate in comparison to
regulations under the Old Covenant were also covered. We closed by summarizing the
final admonitions.
I first
suggested this type of study to several Filipino brethren about 2 years ago. My
reason for doing so was that I had spent much time with them repeatedly
covering fundamental matters as we tried to reach denominational preachers and
members of those denominations in lectures and Gospel meetings. There has been
a great deal of success in those efforts. We have also spent a good portion of
time in teaching fundamentals of the faith as well as things needed by men as
they began to preach the gospel in preacher training programs. However, we have
not spent much time and effort on helping men to grow in their depth of study,
so that they can provide the “solid food” needed for spiritual growth and
maturity.
Last
year, I laid out a more detailed plan to Jonathan Carino and he agreed to
gather men that he believed would be able to grasp English well enough to
benefit from such classes. Having completed the first of that kind of class,
showing how to study a Bible book and how to understand it as a whole, I am
convinced more of these classes are needed. We had 20 men registered in the
classes as well as 10 to 20 “sit-in” participants who were local brethren that
have jobs, so that they could not be at every class. All of them were excited
by the opportunity and saw the benefit. Even though I always thought such
classes were needed, I am even more convinced now that this will bear fruit
even more than I had imagined. It has lit a fire of zeal in them to study more
diligently! These men were all talking about how they could take the things
they learned and teach them to people where they are in their own dialect and
help them learn how to study with greater depth and effectiveness. To all who
have had a part in this effort, please know that I am deeply grateful to you
and know that, without you, this would not have been possible!
This was the guest of honor at our final supper this evening. My Filipino brethren enjoyed the guest immensely. I, on the other hand, did not much care for his eyes being on me nor the fact that his mouth was always open. I decided to eat elsewhere! :-)
