Ephesians Completed in Cebu Classes

The change in times helped far more today. Leaving at 6:45am, it took only 15 minutes to arrive at the venue. Since we finished about 4pm (30 minutes early), it took only 20 minutes to get back to the hotel. This is definitely the way to go in our schedule in order to minimize wasted time on the road.

We started class this morning with Ephesians 4:7 and completed the book in the afternoon session. Having completed the more “doctrinal” portion of the epistle, we concentrated on the application made to the lives mandated of those “in Christ.” We discussed and examined in some detail numerous points:

·      The various functions God gave to the church in order to bring all to maturity and unity in Christ as every part does the work He intended.

·      When evil is permitted into our lives, it grows from a mind desiring the evil, to a practice of evil and finally brings on to a habit of evil that continues in “being past feeling,” no longer touch by the truth.

·      When the light of truth are put into our lives, it has the power to grow from a mind of desiring good, to a practice of righteousness and finally become a habit of righteousness that becomes a joyous way of life.

·      Anger and bitterness, if allowed to remain in our life, will cause a multitude of problems and will spread like a cancer.

·      Immorality must be permitted no place in our lives as Christians because it is totally the opposite of the holiness of God. Such evil has taken many from the light of God to a life of darkness, no longer serving God’s cause, but living an existence of shame.

·      The terrible danger and destruction of using intoxicants.

·      The parallel of the husband-wife relationship and that of Christ and His church. We saw the primary lesson was that of Christ and the church, but the parallel also teaches us about the responsibilities of husbands and wives as well.

·      The responsibilities of parents and children were discussed in some detail giving some specific admonitions to the preachers to remember their responsibilities as fathers to properly train their own children, not just teaching the church and forgetting to take care of their own homes.

·      We looked in some detail at the “whole armor of God” and emphasized the need to be equipped overall, not just in a few areas.

The Lord willing, we will start with Colossians in the morning.

Cebu Classes Continue

We were able to get started a little before the time set this morning. When I was driven back to the hotel by Kristofer Carino after classes yesterday, it took over an hour and a half because we were in the middle of rush hour traffic. The hotel is probably no more than 4 kilometers as the crow flies – maybe 5 to 6 as the roads are laid out. Counting the drive to the hotel and then back, he had to travel about 3 hours! That put the whole family in for a very long day.

Given that problem, we decided there was a need for a “Plan B.” I decided to get started earlier so we may leave earlier, before the heaviest part of rush hour traffic and get my driver back to the venue at a decent hour. From now on, I will be picked up at 6:45am so we can start classes at 7:30am or a little before. That will end my part by at least 4:30pm and driving times should be cut in half. Jonathan Carino and Lordy Salunga are taking the time from 4:30 to 5:30 for discussion and further clarification in their dialect so that all have a better understand of the material covered. It will also give students another half hour to work on their assignments in the evenings and get to sleep earlier so they can be more rested for the next day’s classes. I know they must need more sleep just as I do, having had a little less than 3 hours last night after the late arrival and preparation for today’s classes.

Today, we covered Paul’s teaching from Ephesians 1:3 to Ephesians 4:6. We noted the prologue to this great epistle (Eph. 1:3-14) which ties the scheme of redemption together in one interwoven thought. From that point, the inspired apostle takes up each element to further clarify each aspect of the plan. In the process of going through the day’s studies, we dealt with several grand themes:

·      The correct idea of the predestination taught in God’s word (God’s plan to save men who are called by the gospel and willingly come to be “in Christ” and not an arbitrary decision of God to save some and condemn all others to hell).

·      The gospel message being the means of how God calls us to Him.

·      How the Spirit and Christ are said to dwell in us.

·      The difference between man’s works that have no place in our salvation  and the good works that “God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” which do play a part in our salvation.

·      How God made possible the end of the mandated separation of Jew and Gentile, commanded in the old law, and then reconciled both to Himself in one body – the church.

·      The manner by which God made known His will for salvation, a mystery for many generation, but revealed or made known by the apostles and prophet inspired by the Holy Spirit.

·      The plan that God gave for unity which was prescribed by the Spirit and the part we must play in maintaining that plan in the bond of peace.

As always, I think I learn more and benefit more than the students from these all-day efforts to concentrate on the Bible message. Of course, I am also very thankful to each of you who make these trips possible with your support both monetary and through prayer. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to have this great blessing of being a part in the work of our Lord here in the Philippines!

Classes on Ephesians & Colossians Start

Our Monday got us off to a good start in the classes on Ephesians and Colossians. As noted earlier, many of the participants in our classes were coming from Mindanao and did not arrive until early this morning – a few did not arrive until a little after 1pm. For this reason, we had arranged to start at 2pm. However, when I called Jonathan Carino to find out who was coming to pick me up, I found out we had a problem – the elevator in the building was not working. I asked for Kristofer Carino to pick me up anyway rather than waiting for the elevator to be fixed. Traffic was far heavier than normal, so we were even later getting to the venue than anticipated. To make a long story short, I ended up climbing stairs to the 12^th floor! That was a real test for the new hip as well as the back, but that made it fine. It did take a while, so we were even later in getting started.

 

We started with a brief introduction dealing with our schedule for the week and an overview of the assignments they would be expected to complete each night. We then passed out the materials for the class and got right into the introductory material.

We first introduced the city of Ephesus by showing maps and photos of the city. We noted where it was geographically in relation to modern boundaries as being in what is now known as “Turkey.” We saw the first century boundaries had it as the capital of the Roman province of “Asia.” We also examined some of the picture of the ruins of the ancient city, how it was laid out and other things to get a sense of life as it would have been in that first century city, especially with its places of idolatry (the temple of Artemis or Diana, the temple Hadrian, the temple of Domitian, etc.) and immorality. [Note: the blog will have a few of those pictures and maps included at the end of this entry.]

We then noted the other places in the New Testament where Ephesus is mentioned:

•       Acts 18:18-21 Paul came to Ephesus with Priscilla & Aquila

•       Acts 18:24-28 Priscilla & Aquila met Apollos

•       Acts 19 Paul again came to Ephesus

•       Taught in school of Tyrannus for 2 years

•       Left after uproar of silversmiths for Diana images

•       Acts 20:16-38 Past Ephesus - met elders in Miletus

•       1 Cor. 15:32 Reference to fighting wild beasts there

•       1 Cor. 16:8 Wrote this book from Ephesus

•       1 Tim. 1:3 Instructed Timothy to stay in Ephesus

•       2 Tim. 1:16-18 Onesiphorus ministered to Paul there

•       2 Tim. 4:12 Sent Tychicus to Ephesus from Rome

•       Rev. 1:11 Listed as one of 7 churches addressed in book

•       Rev. 2:1-7 First letter to 7 churches was to Ephesus (end 1^st century)

Lastly, we studied introductory matters such as the book’s authorship, setting, background, time of writing, place of writing, messengers, purpose and theme. Since we were late getting started, we only covered the first two verses of the first chapter and introduced the prologue of book (Eph. 1:3-14). The Lord willing, we will take up with the discussion of that section of the text and get through at least chapter 3. Classes are set to start at 7:30am and end at 6pm with a break for lunch and a few short breaks through the day. It is a long day of study!

Sunday in Cebu

This morning, I gathered with the congregation meeting in the central, business district of Cebu City. Jonathan Carino and his good family work with these brethren. Two families that I had known for a long time are no longer meeting with this congregation as they started a new congregation in another part of Cebu. In the U.S., we would call it “a friendly swarm” as the congregation meeting in the central city was helpful and happy that some were able to reach souls in another area and start a sound work there. Their was no problem that began the new work, but both are fully supportive of one another as they continue to reach the lost and work in the same cause of Christ. As it turns out, I will be privileged to join the new work in a Gospel Meeting next Saturday, the Lord willing.

 

The time for the preaching and classes was combined today so I gave an extended lesson on “Letting the Peace of God Rule in Our Hearts” from the text in Philippians 4:6-9. They were very supportive and showed a desire to search the Scriptures as we gave them in order to prove the teaching from God’s word.

I have grown in by love for and admiration of the Central Cebu City congregation as I have met with them over the past 15 years. They worship in spirit and in truth, having an obvious love for the Lord and one another. Their growth in spirituality and number is also clear since our first time together in 2002. Every time I come here, there are new faces as more have obeyed the gospel since my last visit. After our intended venue for the classes fell through, they again agreed to let us use their meeting place for the classes on Ephesians and Colossians starting tomorrow. May God bless them for their great efforts!

One of my dearest friends on earth is Jonathan Carino. Just a few weeks ago, he was sick “nigh unto death,” but is doing so much better now. It is evident to me that the illness has taken strength from him, but he continues he great work in the Lord. There is no way I could do my work here in the Philippines without his ceaseless help. It was such a pleasure to work with him again today! Jonathan is an humble and effective worker in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior. My only wish is that I could clone him and have another Jonathan with whom I could work daily in Oklahoma City!

Another dear friend and co-worker in the kingdom, Lordy Salunga, is due to fly in late tonight and help Jonathan and myself in the classes starting tomorrow. He was formerly a professor in a top university here in the Philippines, but is now a diligent worker in preaching the gospel throughout the country. I am grateful for his help in this effort.

Thanks again to all of you who have helped make this effort possible and who prayer for the success of the Lord’s work here. God bless!