The classes on Monday and
Tuesday were good, but it was obvious that the students were not yet comfortable
with the process. Since it is the first time we have had such classes in this
area, we knew an adjustment would be needed. Today showed that adjustment had
been made and the students seemed to be more focused and involved in the
classes as they opened up in answering questions and discussion.
The morning session started
in 1 Peter 4:7 and ended with the completion of the epistle. The topic of
persecution and other trials was our focus as we started the studies. We also
gave emphasis to 5:1-5 in identifying what the Bible says about elders,
shepherds or overseers as well as showing their work. We also noted the
contrast between the Bible teaching about their function and that practiced by
our institutional friends in their practice of the “sponsoring church” or an
eldership’s oversight of a separate “mission church” in an entirely different
place (sometimes a different continent).
The afternoon session on
Premillennialism focused on answering three main questions:
· Was the rejection of Christ unexpected or prophesied
before Christ’s coming?
· Was the church an afterthought or part of the eternal
plan of God?
· Are the church & kingdom different
groups or the same group of people?
We answered each question by
noting that the Scripture teaches the opposite of what Premillennialism claims.
In answering the last question, we observed that Jesus placed the Lord’s Supper
in the kingdom (Luke 22:15-20,
28-30). But the Scripture records that the Lord’s Supper was partaken in
the church (1 Cor. 11:17-34; Acts 20:7).
How can that be explained unless we understand that the church and the kingdom
are comprised of the same people?
Rody and Jonathan again did
an excellent job of conducting the morning session to clarify points in the
dialects of the participants. On the first day, the students were also a little
hesitant to ask questions and seek clarification of Rody and John, but that is
no longer the case. They had a good discussion period with much participation
and ran over the allotted time. In the afternoon question session, the students
started asking me the questions, so we all joined together in the discussion
period. We cut that afternoon question period a little short because the
Tuguegarao congregation has a Wednesday evening service starting at 6pm. Jonathan
Carino was asked to bring the lesson in that service. He did an excellent job in presenting a lesson on the identity of the New Testament church. I was able to catch up with my good friend, Willie Otey Pastor, as we had time to visit before listening to John's lesson.
At the close of the morning
session, we discovered that two young men (both 14) who had been attending the
classes wanted to be baptized into Christ. Rody took their confessions and
talked with them about their responsibility to live a new life of obedience to
the Lord as Christians. They were then baptized and welcomed among the saints.
Thanks to all of those who
have helped make these classes possible. We also appreciate so very much your prayers
for this effort.
