Saturday, December 6, 2008

Story of the Day 12/4/08




Just to share something to you today, 12/04/08

Consumer Christianity

We bought a kilo of fresh bangus fish [our national fish] yesterday. It was caught directly from the nearby pond whereMolong with his wife and 3 year old daughter at the fishing pond. I live with my wife and our 3 year old daughter. The guy who caught the fish got them all within half an hour. So I thought of taking my whole family today to fish in that very pond and enjoy the day. After one whole hour of throwing the fishing hooks, we were able to catch not even one small fish. We changed our places three times around the pond and waited 20 minutes furthermore and yes, we saw some fish splash here and there but caught none.

My daughter was so much looking forward to fish today and I too so badly wanted my daughter to enjoy watching her parents catch fish for her. I felt strange about not catching any, I then asked, “Hmmm…Lord, is there something you want to tell me about this?”

Here are some thoughts that came to mind:

Since fishing symbolizes ‘reaching out’ to others as ‘fishers of men’, I thought about it but in a different way. Many times putting some bait to the hook is meaningless. “They just consume my food! This is useless!” I said. “They have been eating my food for their benefit and yet I could not have even one of them.” Lots of Christianity that is happening in our church meetings today are just like that - consumer Christianity. People go to church with an attitude of ‘Bless me and my family,’ looking for things or persons to please or to be pleased by the pastor’s sermon, eats them, feels the juicy taste of the word, goes home - can’t remember what they’ve heard, therefore can’t put into practice for the rest of the week, hardly act as responsible Christians and go back in again next Sunday. This is an irresponsible attitude for a Christian’s life.

You want others to feed you ‘week-after-week,’ yet you do not know how to feed yourself from ‘day-to-day.’ No wonder, they jump from one church to another if they don’t like the church menu, like in a restaurant - as long as they pay for the food that they eat [tithe] the manager is happy. The underlying principle is, they can just change to any church they want without changing their lives. The N.T. believers know nothing of this kind of practices, even Jesus warned such person to be treated as a ‘heathen and a tax collector’ who has to undergo a process.

One of my friends lives since 1985 a selfless life that has an impact in 150 nations. See, www.housechurch.com This friend’s household-of- faith, says Dr. David Lim is ‘five steps ahead of house church’ as we view it. What I mean with ‘as we view it’ is that having endless meetings in houses where there are no fathers, mothers, and brothers and sisters, like any healthy family would have. We have many Christian neighbors in our house churches instead of family of God in Christ Jesus.

My point is, in ‘Consumer Christianity’ whether it is in a house church or not, we actually ‘disfellowship’ with our brothers and sisters if we are unable to be there for one another, serve one another. When someone wants to live his/her life in isolation from the brethren, consuming the richness of Christ and the hospitality of the brethren for his own benefit, like the fish that consumes the bait but doesn’t serve others with its life, we disfellowship.

What to do: Our life was never meant to isolate ourselves from the brethren. It was meant for ‘one-anothering,’ ‘life-together,’ doing things together, learning and encouraging one another. Serving, helping, like individual members of ONE family. I like what my friend says, “you don’t sponsor a family, you help a family!”

By the way, after another hour of throwing our fishing hooks into the water, we at last caught, one, two, three sBangus fishmall fish. We went back to where we positioned first and there we caught bigger fish. We had more fun catching the big ones. We had to stop fishing because our budget is good enough for just a kilo, which is about $3. It would have been fun to stay and fish longer because almost every other 2 or 3 minutes either my fishing hook or my wife’s caught one, and they were even bigger. We went home and cooked them for dinner.

Anyway, what a wonderful day today.

Molong




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Comments:
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Thanks for sharing this.. it is very inspiring.

tony

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nice fish dude, i just had some snapper for dinner myself.

cheers, Paul

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molongsky,

nice story, kahilak ko lansang ug bara d kabra....hehehe. Wish im also there for fishing may be next time pls let me know...mwah...


regards,
donsky

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nice pics molong, nice lesson as well

good job, good father - better father than me.

by the way, asa mo dapita ana consolacion.....


from

ken

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what a wonderful story and insights! thanks

terry flynn

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GREAT STORY!

Eman

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Molong...

Hey, thanks for the fish story and the pix. Give Lisa and Faith and
the girls my love.
Blessings...
Gary

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Molong!

Nice to see the pictures and read your email. It made me think.

Steve

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Thursday, December 4, 2008

fishing lesson



Just to share something to you today, 12/04/08

We bought a kilo of fresh bangus fish [our national fish] yesterday. It was caught directly from the nearby pond. We thought with my wife to take our baby the next time, which is today, thought it would be fun to take my whole family and enjoy the day.

Funny because yesterday as the guy helped caught a kilo for us it was just about 30 minutes, but today it took us, me and my wife trying to throw our fishing hook, didn't caught anything for an hour! I thought this is ridiculous, not only that we didn't caught even one but also we didn't saw some fish splashing in the waters even we throw a lot of food fish in the air. My wife just gave a laugh and said, "Well, we can do this for fun while we're here." We transferred to three different cottages. Waited for another 20 minutes, saw some fish splashing, yet still didn't caught one.

The experience felt bad for me because I want to see my 3 year old daughter that her mom and Dad caught some fish for her. How wonderful it feels to see your child enjoying watching it. Especially, yesterday she knows that we're going to get some fish and she can't wait to see them.

"This would be an opportunity to hear from God about the situation," I thought while trying our best to caught at least one to start the excitement. I have been telling those friends I have to practice listening from God in situations that prompt us to. So, "Hmnnn...Lord, is there something you want to tell me about this?" I asked.

Here are some thoughts that came to mind:

Consumer Christianity

Since fishing symbolizes 'reaching out' to others as 'fishers of men' I do thought about it but in a different way. Many times putting some bait to the hook seems meaningless. "They just consumed my food! This is useless!" I said. "They have been eating my food for their benefit yet I could not have even one of them." Lots of Christianity that is happening in our church meetings today are just like that - consumer Christianity. People went to church, have an attitude of 'Bless me and my family,' looking for things or person to pleased or be pleased by the pastor's sermon, eats them, feel the juicy taste out of the word, goes home -can't remember what they're hearing, never acted as responsible Christians and goes back in again next Sunday. This attitude is a part of being irresponsible for your [Christian] life. You want others to feed you 'week-after-week,' yet you do not know how to feed yourself from 'day-to-day.' No wonder, they jumped from one church to another if they don't like the menu, like a restaurant - as long as they pay after eating [tithe] it won't matter to the manager. The underlying principle is, they can just transfer to any church they want without changing their lives. The N.T. believers knows nothing about this practices, even Jesus warned such person to be treated as a 'heathen and a tax collector' after undergo a process.

I know a friend who's living Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Cor. 12 Together-life, no clergy, no programs, no calendar attendance since 1985 yet very successful in reaching out people of up to 150 nations. Wanna hear their life-story through books, articles, videos and even listening to an MP3 audio just go to www.housechurch.com.

This man's 'household of faith' was defined by Dr. David Lim [while reading one of their books] as, "Five steps ahead of 'house chruch as we view it.' What I mean for 'as we view it' is having endless meetings in houses without having 'hundreds of fathers, mothers, and brothers and sisters,' in ONE house of God. What happen is that we're having 'many Christian neighbors' instead of one family in Christ. In other words, we are still 'emerging' into something [I wish it's not a 'children's shelter']. To point something in my first observation [Consumer Christianity] is this: They have a scriptural way of 'dis-fellowshiping' a brother or a sister if unable to 'live accordingly together with the brethren' that is I believe, someone wanting to live his life in isolation with the brethren, away from 'one-anothering' to the point that all he does is consume the richness of Christ and the hospitality of the brethren for his own benefit. The heart of serving 'among the brethren' was not present in the first place. Of course, "the really fun part of discussing disFellowship is that we are 'forced' to spend most of our time talking about FELLOWSHIP. The Dance.:)" [A Revolution without Dancing is a Revoltuion not Worth Having, p.4].

I do have some couple of brothers, who are friends yet all I can do for them is be with them. I cannot work something nor build something with them. We talked and have some serious discussions about being a family together, not isolate himself - deceiving himself by transfering from different church to another, submitting to no one, yet when he needs something he would call me up. For a time, will be glad to help but until unchecked attitude will be sorted out he will remain a 'prodigal son' hopping from church to church looking for food.

What to do: Our life was never meant to isolate ourselves from the brethren. It was meant for 'one-anothering,' 'life-together,' doing things together, learning and encouraging one another. Serving, helping, like individual members of ONE family. I like wha this friend says, "you don't sponsor a family, you help a family!"


After an hour throwing our fishing hook in the water, at last we caught, one, two, three small fish. We decided to get back to the first cottage where we positioned first and we caught bigger fishes. After getting some few big ones we decided with my wife to throw two the small fishes back to the water. They're still breathing but dying. Thinking they will live, we finally dump them off. We have more fun getting the big ones, and while enjoying the two fish that we throw in to the water caught our attention, "How pity you are fish," my 3-year old daughter speaks in cebuano language. The two fish didn't survive, they finally died and just floating. I decided to put them back in my bucket and just take them home. It would be cheating to leave them in the water dead after we caught them. I signalled the two girls whom we temporarily adopted to stop fishing because our budget is good only for a kilo, whcih is about $3. We take them to the caretaker, have it scaled and we paid more than our money. I tell the guy to get the last fish that we caught and throw them into the water while still alive so that we can only pay based on how much money we've got. It could have been fun to stay longer and get some because almost every 2-3 minutes either my fishing hooks or my wife's can caught one, and they're a bit bigger too. We went home and cook them for dinner, not yet, just here in the computer typing this to share you, and sooner we will have our dinner.

Anyway, what a wonderful day today.

I've attached pictures for you to see.

Molong

Thursday, September 18, 2008

From Seating Capacity to Sending Capacity: Why an Incarnational Kingdom on Mission is Very Attractive, Neil Cole

If we think that a model of church is our solution to reaching the world we are already in a bad place, whether that model is a mega church or a micro church.

There is a vast difference, however, between an attractional posture and an incarnational/missional understanding of church. The difference is not in the organization, but in the release and flow of God's kingdom. The church is not meant to be sedentary but sent-"one holy, apostolic (sent) church."

Today we expect the lost to come to us. In the Bible, God is always the Seeker going after those who are lost. He pursued Adam in a garden and Moses in a desert. He found Jonah at the bottom of the sea and Peter on top. Jesus found Matthew in an office and Paul out on the road.


God became a man and entered the world through a birth canal just like the rest of us. He chose to come to us on our turf, rather then expecting us to rise to His. Jesus preached everywhere that the kingdom of God has come near. He came to seek and to save the lost, and He now invites us to join Him.


Many ask: "How can we make the church more attractive to the lost?" If we start down this path we unintentionally leave our true path: Letting people see how attractive Jesus is! It's all about Jesus...not us. In a sense, for every step we take toward impressing people with our own strengths we move further from letting them become impressed with His.


God always prefers to reveal Himself in weak things rather strong. It is the simple vessels that often reveal God's glory more then having to find Him in the midst of laser lights and fog machines. The curiosity of a child's question; the embrace of a loving grandmother; the accepting handshake of a good friend; the smile of a proud father; the warmth of a soft shoulder to cry on-these are the things that reveal God's character more than any sermon.


Love for one another is a powerful ingredient in evangelism, but sitting in an auditorium listening to a preacher talk about it is not as powerful as being able to see it and taste it first hand. A "neighbor nudge" for two minutes on Sunday morning is not enough.

Coming into a home with a loving spiritual family-each praying, singing and sharing their inner lives-is amazing for someone who never learned to trust. Sensing the power of Christ working in and through those people can break even the most hardened heart.

More than once, I have seen toughened gangsters and drug dealers, weep in the presence of Christ among His people and pour out confession unsolicited. I have seen a Palestinian Muslim surrender everything to Christ in the midst of a faith community praying together. Four fraternity brothers gave their life to Christ in a meeting at their frat house in front of their peers unreservedly. Christ in us is powerful; it is the hope of glory. Simply being another anonymous person in a pew is not so powerful.


The reality is most people are not even curious about what is happening in church. For the few who are seeking, the last place they want to look is in church. Why? Because church is seen as a passive religious event that demands allegiance but offers very little experience. We ask for volunteers all the time. We offer spiritual-gift assessments to see where people fit best in our program, but we never really offer very challenging experiences for people. Handing out bulletins, directing traffic wearing a bright orange vest, chaperoning a youth function, or changing a diaper in the nursery may be helpful for the church program, but none of it is a task worth giving your life to. Many who struggle to do these things have a nagging unspoken question: "Did Jesus come so I can do this?"


We must transition from seeing church as a once-a-week worship event to an ongoing spiritual family on mission together. Then people will see church as something worth giving your life for. Honestly, people need one another more then they need another inspiring message. You would be surprised what people will do for Jesus, or for a brother or sister, that they will not do for a vision statement and a capital giving campaign.


One side effect of pursuing excellence in production is that common Christians become spectators who can contribute a percentage of their income to keep things going, but little more. We have raised the bar on how church is done so high that few believe they could ever do it themselves. The dark side of this endeavor is that we have lowered the bar of what it means to be a Christian so that simply showing up to the weekly one hour event with some regularity and a check book is all it takes.


My goal in life is to reverse this. I want to lower the bar of how church is done so that anyone can do it, and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple so that they will do it.


I will never forget meeting with an organic church made up of high school students. As we were all singing praises to the Lord I felt His pleasure. I asked the students to share the biggest church they had ever been to. Southern California has many mega-churches. Several were mentioned, ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 attendees.


"I think Satan is more intimidated by this little church of 15 kids than by any of those Godzilla-sized churches," I said. They all snickered and looked around the room at one another with smiles, thinking that the old man had finally lost his mind.


I then showed them why I thought this way. I asked, "How many of you think you could start a church like one of those mega-churches?" No one raised a hand. I then asked, "How many of you think you could start a church like this one?" All raised their hands. The snickering stopped. It was one of those holy moments in life that are hard to forget. I then asked them to look around the room at all the raised hands, and I said, "I assure you, Satan is terrified by this. And he should be!"

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

campus

Hi Ambruce, will answer you questions below your letter. I am much grateful with your partnership. Know that I am your friend and your brother and will gladly do what I can. Remember, i am just sharing my stories and experiences, you cannot just follow them except God will tell you to do the same. We are learning from each other my friend. This is house church way.
1) Dennis and I started what we call campus church in one of the big university here. Basically, we are applying the HC concept to students in the campus with the hope that as they graduate and actually even now, they can be the ones who can be our person of peace to start housechurches in their own homes and or communities. Just want to ask, have you been partnering with some thing like this? We appreciate if again you can tell us your story.
Yes, we have been partnering with someone who works in campuses like the Living Seas Campus Ministry. It is good to have contacts with the students with the purpose of them being 'person of peace' and start their own house churches where they live. We have the same heart in these. However, there are some dangers if we don't get the right perspective when it comes to doing house church. Here i explain thoroughly.

Do not make up a name or a group in your house churches in campuses like "Living Seas or "Light of Jesus", etc. That if you want your house church ministry as 'pure' one and 'house church is the way we live' not religious meetings. I mean, if house churches is a way of life, how we live like: building healthy relationships [one anothering] with other believers or not, meeting needs, or to picture it is - having meals together, [like a families] and sharing life together with God's Word in our mouth where we live either in our homes or plaza, or beach, or campuses, two or three getting together like 'barkada's' then why need to be registered at SEC? Why make up a name other than we are 'followers of Jesus'?

Calling ourself a Christian means that we have a church name, and a pastor, our identity then is that. In NT, the unbelievers are the ones who called "The Way -followers of Jesus" Christians, not them. Means, 'you little Christ' or 'you like Christ' which is good. In modern way, we THEY say the same words but not the same tune and so not the same meaning: "Ganyan and mga Kristianos" or "Ganyan ang mga Kristianos?" - the second statement has a question mark in it, means our life is questionable as they us.

Problems of having a group names are:
1. Other than you didn't get really what's a house church, you are also 'polling' other people to you. Paul says, 'there are some among you hear who will draw disciples for themselves.' Or, "I am Cephas, I am apollos, I am Christ." Creating a name for it is wanting to fulfill your small vision of ministry. We already have a leader which is Christ as we follow Him and He has vision 'for us', means that we don't have a vision for ourselves 'for God's glory', asking God to cooperate with us instead of joining Him. His vision got us! Let us pray the our small vision will not hinder His big vision.
2. Having a name for it, simply entitled for others to ask another question: Who's the leader? or the founder? the director? the president? It ask a 'clerical' question which is against the patterns of the NT church [priesthood of all believers, no more clergy system]
3. Creating a name is a big temptation to exalt yourself than others. Simply because you are the one who create that name, or you are the one naming the group. If disagreements arises then you just have to push yourself up above others. Why should you be the one who will leave, you make up the name, not them, they better get out the organization and labeled them as rebellious.
4. If you are the founder of that group, then you must have a 'board of trustees' that is made up of respected pastors' in order to be registered as 'legal' organization and can start operate in campuses. And worst, you cannot make your own decision because you have to ask them first if they allow you to do your hearts desire rather than asking God what He wants you to do. [This happens now in Agape here]
5. Having a name is having a 'membership form' to be sign-up.
6. 5-10 years from now, these so-called house church names or groups will soon become institutionalized, like traditional churches having their own denominational names - building their own 'little empires' of churches around the city and around the globe and when they're gone their ministries gone too.

Again, that if you want your ministry as 'pure' house church 100% then do not do this.

I work with house church 'campuses' ministries but not 'closely.' I focus more on those who want pure house church who have the same heart and mind like me. I have friends in campuses who are not a part of 'Agape Campus House church Ministries' and they do house church with their classmates and friends, being personally and closely trained to start house churches wherever they are. If someone says to me, "God uses those who have names didn't He?" My answer is yes God uses them "but that does mean that He cannot use them if they don't have a name right?"

If i work with these house church with their own names, i know my limitations then. They are still my friends and still love them and ate with them. House Church principles is not a question of saving people, any group names can do just that. But it is a question of how fast you reach them out without the hazel of having rules and regulations and how quick they mature in their Christianity because you let them being accountable to God and in submission to God and not to you. They mature fast because you are more on releasing and empowering like the 5-fold gifts. You can send them out directly to their homes, offices, not just in schools.

What you can however, is teach them how to make friends, build relationships and win their friends heart to the Lord, and then do church life together with their classmates.

Here is what I mean about do church life together. Let their life be the materials, let them ask each other questions about anything and then put God's Word on it. This is 'life' discipleship', not 'curriculum' discipleship. You can never run out of topics about life. Talk about each others opinions, facts and feelings then put God's Word on it. The secret for each of them to share their life and share God's word is let them all read their Bibles daily. In this way, while sharing and talking the Holy Spirit will remind them of what they read. So it is important for them to read their Bibles to remember. How can the Holy Spirit can remind them of something that they don't read in God's Word? We call this 'relevancy of God's Word' meaning the Word of God can be applied to our everyday life and situations.

Make this kind of 'life' meeting valid to them wherever they go. Say it in their faces that this is valid.

Hey, we can use materials of course but be careful it will not become a pattern, specially we Filipinos are easy to become use to it of something, then it will turn to become a tradition, then the tradition will become sacred -you sin if you change it! If this becomes a pattern my challenge to those who use it is: "If you're finished with Class 101 -Maturity subjects you are mature then? If you're done with one curriculum what's next? then you start looking for manuals, etc. Until when will you use this kind of training, until Jesus comes? What a boring Christianity. Jesus gives us life and life to the fullest. he didn't leave us manuals upon manuals, like TV manuals and never have to use the TV. No wonder most Christians never enjoy their Christianity because they don't know how to use their life in Christ. They have been joining Sunday schools for 20 years never graduated! Imagine, you've been trained going to school for 20 years as a doctor but never have an actual surgery? Send them out because God can give them work to do, and that work will teach them how to do it. Now, this is fully trusting the Holy Spirit. I did try crazy things for God, you just have to do and I can witness life being change in a different way -they learn to do ministry on their own.

Be careful to listen to what I say, listen instead to the Holy Spirit in you my friend.


2) Dennis also arranged to do Rice distribution to the poorest of the poor in one of our nearby barangay here. He planned to do dis for 3 months of distributing 3-5 kilos per week per family of about 25 families. I am just wondering, how can we do develop relationship with them that would hopefully result into multiplying housechurches even among the poorest? This is Dennis' obedience to his Bible readings!You must have been doing something like this!
Yes, i do the same though not fully due to financial status. But we do help people in anything they need whatever way we can. Like yesterday we enrolled a 6 year old girl who has a heart problem, we send her to school and paid her bills. Then, we found twin babies who has problem in their heads, wounds that itched, we try to help buy their medicines. Helping the poor is Biblical, it is Jesus heart. The rich man advice to sell his property and give them to the poor. What he did not do, the church did, they sell things and help the poor.

In poor areas, i would suggest one worker or church planter focus on 2-3 families a week visiting and doing Bible Studies. Bible studies, though not real church, but its a good start because Filipino's have been used to it and Roman Catholics received them specially now a days. Make sure that these 3 houses or families were not far from each other -in this way they are easy to gather together in one big house during birthdays or other celebrations. Make sure if there is at least one house that's big enough for the three families to gather. During birthdays encourage them to bring foods, drinks, anything that help the celebrant enjoy his birthday. Mostly i buy a case of drinks as my part. They we ate together, have games, dancing, singing, enjoy, huddle, build relationships -easy because mostly they know each other already as neighbors, then share about house church principles - this is what they did in Jesus times in the house of Matthew, Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisees - a house church meeting. Share some verses as well this time. Then let them all agree to meet together in that house, if its okay for them two times a week mostly. Other kind of meetings.

Mobile meetings -from house to house, transfer to other houses to witness their families as well. or stay in one house. As you keep on gathering you or the church planter can pick up potential someone to be train and do the same. Lots of kinds, some would not allow others to come but help him start his own house church with his household in his house. Much more, model house church then let them do it as they watch you. Until it becomes their lifestyle wherever they go... programs are good, materials are good but don't make it as a rule.
3) With regards to your coming here on September 27-29, we are not sure when will you plan to be home, is it on the 29th or you must be home that day already? I am curious to ask too if its profitable in your experience to do an open Housechurch seminar in town inviting pastors, lay leaders and members in churches here that are already aware about housechurch movement?

It depends on you. It's ok for me if i stay long as long as you need me. We call this kind of seminar 'House Church Awareness Seminar.' Of course we will not be harsh with them, and will not give them heavy teaching, but just an overview of it, then do a workshop, and maybe share some notes. One day awareness is good enough. I may need your assistance here and Dennis. Dennis also can share and you. It's important fro us three to share for them to see the collaboration and networking of each other.

Additional thoughts:
Would it be nice if house churches in the Philippines is one, but plurality of elders in every cities and towns?

By Country: The Church in Jerusalem, The Church in the Gentiles...
House Church, Philippines; House Church, Canada; House Church, India, etc.
[We use the word 'house' church to differentiate with traditional]

By Province: The Church[es] is Galatia...
House Churches, Manila; House Churches, Neuva Viscaya; House Churches, Cebu; House Churches, Cagayan do Oro.

By Cities and Towns: House Church, Ephesus...
House Church, Mandaue; House Church, Talisay City; House Church, Pampanga...

House Church is a way of uniting Christ's Body. One body, One Spirit. Would this be very nice?

In helping others: Paul get offerings in Corinthian Church to help other churches in crises...
We will all collect, lets say 5 peso each believer in all house churches in the Philippines to help those families who loved one who died in Sulpicio Lines sinking ship. Let's say, we have now around 100,000 believers in house churches, that makes 500,000 pesos to help them. The media might not recognize this but I am sure traditional church who are divided by NAMES can notice it, right?

Now, this can only happen if you are a 'pure' house church. This is Christianity.

Glad can help.

Molong






--
Molong
Being Church 24/7

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Being Church Outline

BEING THE CHURCH WHERE YOU ARE

Living Christianity in Authentic Way

Matthew 5:24

I. Church is YOU – 1 Cor. 3:16

A. Old Testament Temple – Building

1. ‘Make me a tabernacle that I may dwell with my people.’ Since from the beginning God wants to live with His own people.

a. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden.

b. Enoch walked with God and He was not because God took him.

2. When God chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, through Jacob God named him Israel and all his descendants became God’s own people. And God lives with them through the Tabernacle that Moses built.

3. This covenant makes Israel, the people of God different from other nations of the earth. Covenant includes:

a. The Laws

b. The sacrifice

c. The priest and

d. The temple.

4. Its purpose is one: To make them different.

B. New Testament Temple – Body

1. ‘For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ –John 1:14

a. When God became flesh through Christ and lived among us it means that there’s a problem.

- The Covenant that is the first has no more effect. The Laws only makes man know that he’s a sinner and therefore guilty. According to the Law, ‘It is written, no one is righteous, not even one.’ All have sinned and needs to die. Man cannot save himself. He needs a Savior.

- Christ came in the likeness of a sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. The law requires a sacrifice of sin and a priest to mediate to God. In the Old Covenant, people bring a sacrifice, a lamb, in the temple and the priest would offer it to God to cover the sin of His people. Priest would do this once a year every year.

b. When God became flesh through Christ, He fulfills the requirements of the law by sacrificing Himself on the cross [Matt. 5:17; Rom. 10:4]. He is the sacrifice [Jn. 1:29], He became the sinner therefore He died to pay the wages of sin, He died once and for all, He is the high priest of God by offering Himself [Heb. 8:1,2], He became the mediator between God and man [Heb. 8:6, 2 Tim. 2:5]. He fulfills the law to Himself.

c. He fulfills the law to us by becoming the sinner, the sacrifice and the High Priest.

2. The word ‘dwelt’ in Greek is Tabernacle. John 1:14 read, ‘The Word became flesh and tabernacle among us.’

a. ‘I will write the law in the minds.’

b. ‘You shall be my priest.’ 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5

c. ‘Christ offered His life for me on the cross so I will offer my life as a living sacrifice.’ Rom. 12:1

d. ‘You are the temple of God.’ 1 Cor. 3:16

3. The New Covenant fulfilled the Old Covenant. The New is better than the old. [Heb. 8:6]

FIRST/OLD COVENANT SECOND/NEW COVENANT APPLICATION


Law I will write my laws in their minds Obey Christ’s commands [Jn. 13:35]

Sacrifice /Blood of lamb in temple Christ body/blood offered in heaven Offer our lives as living sacrifice [Rom. 12:1]

Priest Christ became our High Priest We are priest of God [2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5]

Temple Christ’s body/The Church Being church where we live

Flesh Circumcision Heart Circumcision Obedience in the heart

Note: Old and New Covenant has only one goal – to make the people of God different from all the peoples of the earth, to be holy.


Your Church At Home [Cebuano Version]

Ang Simbahan Sa Imong Balay


Oras: Alas 6:10 sa gabie

“Hi Sonia, kumusta?”

Samtang giablihan ang pultahan ni Lisa ug gipadayon ang iyang bag-ong naamiga nga silingan nga nag inusarang ginikanan sa iyang duha ka anak nga lalaki.

“ Kumusta naman ug ang imong mga bata?” nangutana si Lisa.

“Bisi gamay ug usahay makalibog ‘sab.” Maoy tubag ni Sonia sa maoloymon nga tingog. “Kining kinamaguwangan,” samtang naghinol sa ulo sa anak “andam na para mueskuwela pero kining usa padayan pa gihapun sa iyang medicina para pampakalma sa iyang ataki.”

Ang bana ni Sonia bag-o lang namatay sa aksidente ug nagbilin ug duha ka anak, ang manghod naay epileptic ug sa dihang si Lisa nakadungog sa nahitabo iya dayong gibisita si Sonia unya giimbita niya sa maong panihapon sa balay.

Domingo nga adlaw kadto ug pipila ka mga kaubanan nga Kristohanun nagsabot-sabot nga makigsandurutay sa balay nila ni Brod Molong para usab manihapon. Nagkasabot usab sila nga dalhon nila ang ilang mga kaila nga silingan ug mga higala. Si Sonia ang unang niabot sa panagsabot. Wala siya’y kabang-gaagan sa maong gisabutan nga panagtigum pero giimbita nalang siya ni Lisa sa dihang nahibaloan ang iyang dinaliang pagpanginahanglan nga madasig dayon.

Gawas pa sa ilaha, aduna usab sila’y kauban nga sila si Sister Nikki ug Wilsa. Sila manag amiga ug nagtrabaho sa usa sa mga dagko nga Kompanya.

Si Brod Darbie naabot ug nagdala’g mga pinutos nga mga pagkaon, kauban niya sila si Richard ug Michael. Miabot usab si Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar nga gikan sa eskuwelahan. Kauban nila ang managtiayon nga mao si Sister Jocelyn ug Brod Ken nga adunay usa ka anak nga lalaki. Misunod pag-abot ang mga ginikanan nga sila si tatay Gamay ug nanay Celia ug duha nila ka anak nga lalaki - si Roel ug Wengweng.

Ug ang katapusan nga miabot mao si Cristine nga nagdala’g mga duwaan sa mga bata ug pagkaun para sa tanan. Nagdala usab siya’g mga senina para ipanghatag.

Silang tanan mga bayente kabuok.

Ug magsugod na sila sa ilang panihapon.

“O, pwede na manglingkod sa lamisa ang tanan.” Samtang si Brod Molong nga mao ang hingtongdan nangagda.

Samtang nanglingkod sila sa hataas nga lamisa nga puno sa pagkaon si Brod Darbie mibarog ug mihangyo nga siya maoy magpasalamat sa pagkaon ug sa kalit lang usab mipasundayag sa tanan nga menyuonon na siya.

“Soon he will become a ‘good’ man.” Matod pa ni Brod Molong.

“Good because the Bible says that, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” Nangatawa ang tanan samtang nagyango-yango sa ilang mga ulo.

Nipadayon si Brod Darbie sa pagpasalamat ug nangaon.

“Congrats bro, nalipay ko ka’yo nimo.” Niingon si Brod Molong nga nilamano sa kamot ni Brod Darbie sa wala pa siya kasugod ug kaon ug nangutana, “Tell me, how old are you?”

“Trayenta anyos na lage ug nindot na g’yung magmenyo.” Nagkanayon si Brod Darbie nga malipayon ang hulagway.

“Bitaw,” mingtubag si Brod Molong, “ Marriage day is the day you’ll going to be with someone you love forever. And how happy it is to marry not only someone you love but also someone that loves you! Di ba?”

“Maayo na da” samtang nikaon sa iyang unang hungit si Brod. Darbie.

“And marriage too is God’s expression of His gift that is given to you through her.” Si Molong nipadayon pagsulti.

“Sultihi kuno ko bro, ikaw man g’yuy unang namenyo nato, what is it like being married?” Nagutana si Darbie.

“We’ll, they said marriage is a mystery and will always be like that.”

“Oy! kahibulungan kana nu,” nagkanayon si Brod Darbie sa iyang taga Surigawnun nga tuno. “Sa ato pa, mura ‘tag nagkauban ug taga laing planita ani, ha ha.”

“Matod nila,” nitubag si Molong. “But I think if communication is open and secrets revealed it’s not anymore a mystery but ecstasy. Let me share to you what an expert in marriage counselor Mr. Harold Sala says about marriage. He said that, ‘Communication is vital in any relationship especially between spouses. It is the most difficult quality to develop and therefore must be given time and space between a husband and a wife.”

“Mura lang diay ‘mog amigo ug amiga?” Matod pang Brod Darbie.

“Yes! Pero mas maayo pa g’yud kung atong tumanun ang gisugo ni San Pablo sa taga Epeso mahitungod sa bana ug asawa, then only we can have a better family in the years to come.”

Ug samtang sila nangaon naminaw pag-ayo si Brod Darbie sa dihang gisaysay ni Brod Molong ang responsibilidad sa bana ug asawa.

Sa atbang nila sa katapusan nga lamisa mao si Sister Wilsa nga nagstorya kang Sister Jocelyn mahitungod sa ilang mga kaagi ug pagbati hilabi na gayud sa sitwasyon ni Sister Jocelyn nga nagsabak karon sa ilang ikaduhang anak ni Ken. Naghisgot-hisgot sila mahitungod ug family planning kung unsaon nga malikayan na nila ang pagmabdos pa pag-usab kay naglisod man sila pagkinabuhi karon. Ug pagkahuman giampuan ni Wilsa si Jocelyn, ug ang bata usab nga naa sa iyang sabakan samtang gitapion ni Wilsa ang iyang tuong kamot.

“Unsa?” Nakurat pag-ayo si Sister Nikki samtang naghisgot si Ken sa iyang mga kaagi. “Tulo na kabuok ang imong napatay sa edad nga sixteen?”

“O,” nagkanayon si Ken. “Ug katulo usab ‘ko napriso.”

Makadaghan na makaapil si Ken sa panagtigom sa balay ni Brod Molong pero hilumon ug hinayon ug tingog kung musulti, murag maulawon. Kasagaran kung imong pangutan-on muyango-yango lang sa iyang ulo. Pero karon, nagpagawas na g’yud sa iyang mga kaagi sa walay kukaulaw.

Nipadayon sila sa paghisgutanay sa iyang kaagi ug nangutana si Nikki sa katapusan.

“Nya, naunsa naman ka ‘ron, unsa may nahitabo nimo nganong wala naka mibuhat anang mga butanga?”

Si Ken mipadayag sa yano nga sa diha nga siya nag-apil apil sa maong pundok o kaunkaun iyang giusab ang iyang mga pamaagi. Bayente dos na siya karon niining higayuna.

Sa unang higayon pa ni Richard ang pag-apil ug ingun niani nga panagtigom. Si Brod Darbie maoy muhapit niya kauban si Michael nga iyang amigo. Pareho sila nga latagaw sa dalan, rebelde sa pamilya kay nangluod. Mangayo’-ngayo’ nalang ni silag basig unsa, kung wala g’yud silay makuha usahay mangawat na lamang. Silang duha may mga bisyo usab sa ilang kinabuhi ug tingali nag drugas usab. Susihon nato ang ilang kinabuhi samtang nag-storyahanay sila ni Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar.

“Nganong nagka amigo man mong duha? Asa mo gikan? Naa ba ‘moy mga pamilya?” nangutana si Maricar.

“Naa man,” mingtubag si Richard, “pero ila ming gibiyaan ug gibasol nako ang Ginoo niining hitaboa sa akong kinabuhi. Dili man unta maayo nga basulon ang Ginoo pero mao man g’yud akong pagbati.”

“Unsa man diay nahitabo sa imong pamilya?” Nangutana si Maricar.

“Gibiyaan ko’s akong papa ug ang akong mama nangita ug lain. Namatay akong papa sa dihang otso anyos pay akong edad. Pinangga ko’s akong papa kay ako ra usa nilang anak.” Ug iyang gidayeg iyang papa ug gitunglo iyang mama samtang nagpadayon siya sa pagsaysay sa iyang kaagi.

Naklaro ang ilang gipangbati ug gi-oyun oyunan nila ni Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar.

“Kahibalo ka ba?” nisulti si Gary. “Ang Ginoo naay plano ninyong duha kay kung wala pa wala namu ron, dili ba?”

“Tinuod na bay. To-o gyud ko ana.” Nitubag si Michael.

“Nisulti ang Bibliya,” si Maricar nipuno sa pagsugyot, “’Nga basin pa akong mama ug papa mubiya pero ang Ginoo di gyud mobiya kanako.’ Ug mao nang naa pa ‘mo ron”

“Kung gusto mo’g mga higala, anhia lang gud me diri, magkita-kita ra ta diri samtang hapiton mo di Brod Darbie.” Misugyot si Brod Gary samtang nagdasig kanila.

Nalingaw sila samtang nagpadayon sa pagkaon ug paghisgot-hisgot sa ilang mga kasinatian.

Silang tanan adunay panagsandurutay, nagkailhanay pag-ayo sa usa’g usa. Adunay kalipay ug kasubo sa ilang taliwala samtang sila nag-inambitay sa ilang mga kaagi. Pagkaanindot sa nahitabo – ang kaulaw nawala, ang gipangtago nangabutyag, ang mga kinaiya napakita ug hilabi na ang pagdinawatay sa usa ug usa nahitabo. Ug Kining tanan nahimo sa lamisa samtang nangaon sila.

Samtang sila nagdinasigay sa kalit lang…

Whaaahhhh…”

Nagkaguliyang, na-nyagit ug nanagan ang mga bata sa ilang mga ginikanan nga nakuyawan samtang nangaon ug nagduwa duwa sa ilang tungod gawas sa usa ka bata: Nagbula ang baba ug nisulirat ang mga mata ug naglisod sa pag ginhawa. Ang anak diay ni Sonia nga may epileptic.

Si Brod Molong milompat sa iyang lingkuranan ug miduol sa bata ug misunod ang uban. Ilang ge-hinginlan ang espiritu sa demonyo ug gi-ampuan nila aron mukalma ug sa taud-taud ang bata naulian sa iyang kaugalingon. Namalik sila sa ilang mga lingkuranan ug miipon dayon si Sister Christine sa mga bata ug unya gi-estoryahan niya mahitungod kang Dabid ug ni Golayat.

“Ops, sa dili pa nato ipanghatag ang gipangdala ni Sister Christine nga mga senina,” misulti si Brod Molong sa kadaghanan. “Maminaw sa ‘tag panghitabo sa kinabuhi ni tatay Gamay sa dihang nagsugod na siya’g apil-apil sa ato.

“Sukad nga niapil kog kaon dinhi,” nagkanayon si tatay samtang nangatawa ang tanan. “Daghan nako’g makuha nga mga karton para ipatimbang.”

“Unya ra tay, karton o kaon, he he.” Mibinuang si Weng-weng.

Mihugyaw ang tanan ug namakpak sa ilang mga kamot.

Si tatay Gamay kauban sa iyang asawa nga si Celia manguha ra intawon ug mga karton sa mga tindahan sa Colon para ilang sustento kada adlaw. Niining higayonana gipadawat sila ni Brod Darbie sa Ginoo. Unya pagkahuman nihonghong si Wengweng: “Kuya Molong, pwide mokanta?” Ug samtang si Weng-weng mipaambit sa iyang awit mitulo and luha sa uban samtang naminaw sa kanta. Si Wengweng man gud adunay deperensya sa iyang sinultihan kay biktima man siya sa drogas apan naka-undang siya kay giatiman man siya sa pag-ministeryo sa Teen Chalenge.

Nahimuot ang tanan nga naminaw sa nagkadalip-asay nga awit ni Weng-weng ug sa pagkahuman niya ug kanta mihatag ug pipila ka mga bersikulo nga iyang nasag ulo.

“Mas daghan pa man ug bersikulo si Weng-weng kaysa sa akoa.” Nagkanayon si Brod Darbie ug namakpak ang tanan.

Nahuman kini sa pag-inampuay sa usa’g usa ug unya gipanghatag ang mga senina nga inughatag sa mga nanginahanglan. Ug aduna sa’y minghatag ug kwarta hilabi na gayud sa kang Sonia nga adunay panginahanglan nga medicina sa iyang mga anak. Ug nag-offer si Nikki ug Wilsa nga kung gusto siya motrabaho tabangan siya nila.

Ang tagsa-tagsa kanila nanguli sa dihang gibati na nila nga molakaw. Ug ang sunod nga panagtigum nga may kaon didto sa balay ni Brod Darbie nga anaa lamang sa sunod nga Barangay. Ang oras sa ilang panagtigom kay alas 11:30 sa buntag, paniudto sunod adlaw dayon. Pwede kaapil kung kinsay gusto apan aduna usa’y mga kaubananan didto nga motambong sa maong panagtigom.

Oras nga nahuman: 9:05 p.m.

Ang Simbahan Nga Anaa
Magtiguman Sa Balay

Ako si Brod Molong ug si Lisa ang akong asawa. Ang among balay anaa sa syudad sa Jakosalem, Cebu City, adunay gamay nga kwarto ug kusina apan daku-daku ang sala nga masudlan ug mga bayente [20] ka tawo kung butangan ug lingkuranan palibot sa lamisa.

Mao kining among unang balay ug among gidesisyunan nga magsugod ug house church o balay tigumanan sa mga Kristohanon. Ang among balay wala gihimong simbahan kundili gihimo lang tigumanan ug dalangpanan sa mga tawo nga nanginahanglan ug pagdasig taliwala sa mga pagsulay ug problema nga ilang giatubang matag-adlaw [Acts 28:30]. Ug ang kasagaran namo nga maimbita kadtong ania lang duol sa among panimalay – ang mga tawo nga anaa magpuyo daplin sa dalan ug uban nga silingan.

Ang mga Kristohanon mao ang simbahan o iglesia o templo sa Dios kay ang espiritu ni Kristo nagpuyo man kanila [1 Cor. 3:16]. Ug kining maong mga tawo ingon nga iglesia anaa sa mga balay-balay magtiguman [Acts 5:42]. “Ikumusta usab ako sa iglesia nga anaa magtiguman sa ilang [Prisca ug Aquila] balay.” [Rom 16:3-5]

Ang house church o balay tigumanan, mao ang gagmay’ng pamilya sa Dios nga nagtigum alang sa pagdinasigay [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]. Ug ang house church usab maoy pinaka-epektibo nga pamaagi pagluwas sa tibuok nimong banay [Acts 16:31-34]. Dili ba ang imo man gayong tibuok nga pamilya maoy buot nimong mahakuyog sa gingharian sa langit?

Importante nga mga puntos nga pagahimuon sulod sa panagtigum:

1. Mangaon Buhat 2:42, 46

Ang tagsa-tagsa magdinalhanay sa ilang mga pagkaon sa pamahaw, sa paniudto o sa panihapon ba hinuon. Depende lang sa ilang panagsabot kung kanus-a usab nga adlaw. Ug kining bahina sa ilang pakigkaon maoy pag-celebrar usab sa gitawag nga “The Lord’s Supper”, o paghimumdom sa gibuhat ni Kristo kanato didto sa krus sa kalbaryo. Mangaon sila kauban sa Dios nga espiritu ug buhaton kini hangtod sa bagbalik ni Kristo sa pisikal niyang lawas [1 Cor 11:26]. Mga puntos mahitungod sa pagsinaluhay.

a. Sa kaon mahitabo ang pagdinawatay sa usa’g usa. Ang tawo nga mudawat ug laing tawo gitawag siya ug tawo nga “mahigugmaon sa kalinaw” [Lk 10:6]. Kung ikaw muagda ug kaon sa tawo dili ba niuyon kaman kaniya? Ug kung ikaw usab agdahon sa pagkaon dili ba gidawat kaman niya? [Tan-awa si Hesus sa iyang pagdawat sa mga makasasala ug nakigkaon kanila – Lk 15:2] Ug nahimo dayon nimo silang higala dili ba? [Tan-awa si Hesus nga usa ka higala sa mga makasasala – Lk 7:34-36, ug higala usab sa Kristohanon – Jn 15:15]. Dinhi usab mahitabo ang gitawag nga maabiabihon nga kasing-kasing, ug kining tanan mahitabo dinha sa kaon. Mabati sa usa ka tawo ang gugma ug kini mudangop sa panaghigugmaay sa matag-usa. Dili ba mao man kini ang timailhan nga kita mga tinun-an ni Hesus? [Jn 13:34,35]

b. Si Hesus mianhi aron sa pagkaon ug pag-inom [Lk 7:34]. Ang pagkaon sa ‘panihapon’ diha sa balay tigumanan mao ang paghinumdom ni Hesus, Siya ang hinungdan sa ilang panagtigom, Siya ang sinugdanan, tunga-tunga ug katapusan sa tanan nilang pagahimuon kay Siya man ang “Pangulo sa panimalay” ug kita man ang iyang mga “sakop sa Iyang panimalay.” [Lk 10:25].

2. Magdinasigay 1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25

Ang tumong sa panagtapok mao ang pagdinasigay sa usa’g usa, dili pagsimba. Ang simba mahitabo sa adlaw-adlaw nga kinabuhi nga mao ang “paghalad sa inyong kaugalingon ingon nga buhing halad” [Rom 12:1,2]. Makasimba kitang mag-inusara ra apan dili kita madasig kung kita rang usa. Mahimo ang pagsimba sa Dios sa house church apan dili maoy ilang tumong sa panagtapok. [Mao na nga ang uban morason ug, “Ngano man diay kung dinhi na lang ko sa balay mosimba, dili ba diay pwede?” – naa ra man diay na.] Sa ato pa, kung ang maong tuyo sa maong house church mao and pagdinasigay sa usa’g usa ang tagsa-tagsa diay adunay responsibilidad nga mudasig ug usa. Adunay 58 kabuok nga “usa’g usa” sa Bag-ong Tugon sa Bibliya ug nagpasabot lang kini nga dili kita mabuhi kung wala ang usa ug usa kanato. Wala gigarantiya sa Bibliya nga madasig kita sa pagpaminaw ug wali kay dili ang tanan nakabaton ug pagdasig, kahibalo ang pastor/pari niana ug mga membro usab, apan madasig lamang ang tanan sa pagdinasigay.

Maapil na diri ang ubang importanting pagabuhaton:

a. Pagsobmitaray o magpasakop sa usa’g usa. Ang Bibliya nag-ingon nga “magsobmitaray kamu sa usa’g usa diha ni Kristo” [Eph 5:21]. Ang gipasabot sa maong magsobmitaray o magpasakop mao ang magbinantayay [dili manghimantayay] ug magbinadlongay sa usa’g usa. Kung ang usa’g usa magsinobmitaray o magpasakop mahitabo ang pagdinasigay kay pareho man sila nga may tulobagon.

b. May tulobagon sa usa’g usa. Kung kita magsobmitaray sa usa’g usa aduna usab kitay tulobagon sa usa ug usa. Ang gipasabot mao nga kung unsa ang mahitabo nimo ako ang manubag sa Ginoo. [Gen. 4:9] Mao na nga kung may pagbati kita niini sa usa’g usa nan magbinantayay ug magbinadlongay kita’s atong mga [sayop nga] lihok.

c. Magbuhat ug mga tinun-an. Kining tanan nga pagabuhaton – pag-dinawatay, pag-inampoay, pag-dinasigay, pg-tinudloay, ug pag-sobmitaray o magpsakopay, mao ang magbinuhatay ug mga tinun-an ni Kristo. Sa maong panagtigum, dili ra usa ka tawo ang mohimo niini kundili ang tanan.

3. Mag-Inampoay Santiago 5:16; Buhat 1:14; 2:42

Dili mahitabo ang pagbinuhatay ug mga tinun-an sa matag-usa kung walay pagsobmitaray ug mga tulobagon sa usa sa usa ug labaw na gayod kung walay pag-ampo nga mahitabo. Gawas pa, ang pag-ampo dili lang pag-mentinar sa kinabuhing Kristohanon ug kundili mao ang kinabuhi gayud sa Kristohanon. Maski asa magtigum ang mga disipolo sauna adunay duha nga mahitabo: kaon ug ampo. Kay ang kaon importante para mabuhi ug ang pag-ampo usab importante kung maglisod nasad kita sa atong pagkinabuhi. Walay laing dalangpanan ang tawo sa iyang kalisod kung dili sa Dios ug diha kini mahitabo sa pag-inampuay. Hilabi na diha sa tigum manggawas ang mga kinahanglanon ug pag-ampo. Kung ang usa magsugod na sa pag-ampo sa usa mabati niya ang gibug-aton niini ug kini muhatod kanila sa panagsuoray ingon nga mga igsoon diha ni Kristo.

4. Maghinatagay Buhat 2:44; 4:34

Pinansyal o material man nga bahin walay makaangkon maski usa apan iyaha ang tanan. Kun adunay panginahanglanon ang usa, andam ang usa sa pagtagbo. Busa, “walay nanginahanglan kanila kay ila man ang tanang butang.” [Buhat 4:32] Mao kini ang gihimo sa mga unang Kristohanon kaniadto ug kinahanglan nga mao usab kini karon. Dili na lamang ikapulo sa atong kinabuhi kundili tanan [Duet. 6:4-6] kay sa dihang naluwas kita dili na kita ang tag-iya sa atong kaugalingon kundili ang Dios ug lakip na usab ang atong kabutangan. Ang wala mabuhat sa datung batan-on nga giingnan ni Hesus “ibaligya ang tanan mong kabutangan ug ihatag sa mga kabos” nahimo sa unang mga Kristohanon. Diay dili lang ikapulo. Pagkaalaot kaha sa usa ka asawa nga ang gihatag nga gugma sa iyang bana kaniya dyes pursyento lamang, ug pagkaalaot usab sa syudad nga kung ang sundalo nga ipadala sa gubat dyes pursyento ra usab.

Aduna ako’y maayong ehimplo: Adunay usa ka Kristohanon nga nag-ampo sa paghatag sa iyang kaugalingon. Ug ang Ginoo miingon kaniya:

“Aduna ka bay kwarta karon?”

“Ania Ginoo.” Ang Kristohanon mitubag.

“Akoa na kana.” Miingon ang Ginoo ug mioyun ang Kristohanon.

“Aduna kapa bay laing kwarta?” Nangutana pagbalik ang Ginoo.

“Aduna Ginoo apan atua sa bangko.” Mitubag usab ang Kristohanon.

“Ah, may bangko ka diay? Akoa na usab kadto.” Miingon ang Ginoo.

“Unsa?” mitubag ang Kristohanon nga nagsugod ug pagbagolbol. “Ang tanan gayud? Mag-unsa naman lang ako ug ang akong pamilya?”

“Aw, may pamilya pa diay ka?” nagutanana ang Ginoo nga daw wala masayod. “Akoa na usab sila ha?”

“Maski ang akong gwapang asawa?” Nagkanayon ang Kristohanon nga nagmoro na ang nawong.

“Dili lang ikaw ang akong gihigugma, lakip na usab ang imong mga anak ug hasta gayud ang imong gwapang asawa gihigugma ko usab.” Nagkanayon and Ginoo ug mipadayon pagsaysay, “Dili ba imo naman kahang gihatag ang imong kaugalingon nako ug sa tanan nimong kasing-kasing, huna-huna, kalag ug kusog imo man akong gihigugma, dili ba? Unya imo hinuong itago kanako ang tanan nga anaa kanimo?”

“Na hala sige gud, imoha namang gikuha ang tanan nga akong minahal sa kinabuhi,” Nagkanayon nga nagbagolbol ang Kristohanon ug mi-offer pa nga daw nagpakilooy, “ ug mentras nag-inusara naman lang ‘sab ko kuhaa nalang usab ang tanan nakong mga kabutangan sa akong balay.”

“Oy! Aduna pod diay kay balay ug kabutangan, akoa napod na! Nya tingalig aduna pod kay mga sakyanan ug mga negosyo siguro nu; akoa na usab kadto ha?!” Gipangayo na g’yud hinuon ang tanan sa Ginoo.

“Ikaw gud.” Nagkanayon ang Kristohanon sa mayumo nga tingog nga naguol usab pag-ayo. Apan sa taud-taud miingon ang Dios kaniya sa kaadlawon sa gabie:

“Kay imo man gihatag ang tanan kanako ako usab kini ihatag pagbalik kanimo. Apan adunay kondisyon nga atong sabotan ug kinahanglan nga imo kining tumanon, uyon ka ba?”

“Unsa man kana Lord?” Nangutana ang Kristohanon nga naulian ang pagbati.

Ug ang Ginoo miingon: “Tipigi ug ampingi silang tanan. Pwede?”

Unsa man, dyes pursyento lang gihapon?

Ang duha ka marka sa tinuod nga Kristohanon mao ang mang-gihatagon ug mapasayloon. [giving and forgiving]

Si Kinsa Ang Magdumala

Sa House church?

Anciano o Elder lamang ang magdumala sa panagtigum. [Acts 14:23] Usa ka tigulang na diha sa pag-matoto sa iyang mga anak kay “unsaon man niya pag-atiman sa simbahan kung siya dili kahibalo moatiman sa iyang kaugalingong panimalay?” [1 Tim. 3:5] Hilabi na nga ang maong simbahan nga naa sa usa ra ka pamilya usab [Gal. 6:10], ug kini magtratar sa usa ug usa ingon nga kapamilya [1 Tim. 5:1,2].

Sa maong house church nga panagtigom mahitabo ang pagkahimong ulo ni Kristo sa Iyang simbahan nga mao ang Iyang lawas [Eph 5:23] kay ang panagtigom sa mga Kristohanon diha sa balay dili man pagdumala [lead] ang maong pagdala kundili pag-atiman [fathered] raman sa mga katawhan sa Dios ingon nga mga anak. Mahitabo ra usab kini nga mailhan siya ingon nga nagdumala kung aduna lamay mga problema. Apan kun ang tumong nga pagabuhaton sa mga Kristohanon mao lamang ang pagdinasigay nan dili na makit-an ang problema kay masulbad raman sad dayon sa dihang magdinasigay na.

Unod Sa Panaglambigitay

Ang unod o ang ilang gehisgot-hisgotan sa panagtigum mao ang mga butang sa ilang kasing-kasing. Ang gipasabot mao ang tanan nilang gustong pakigsultihan maoy ilang estoryahan, unya sa katapusan ihatod sa pulong sa Ginoo. Pweding maghisgutanay ug nahitabo, opinion ug ang labaw sa tanan ang walay pagkahurot g’yud nga hisgotan mao ang atong mga pagbati. Mahulagway man siguro nimo nga naghisgot sila ug pulong sa Ginoo taliwala sa ilang adlaw-adlaw nga kasinatian.

Ang mga sulat ni apostol Pablo sa mga kasimbahanan naglambigit gayud ug nagkalain-laing puntos sa kinabuhi: Sa pamilya siya nagahisgot, sa trabaho siya usab nagahisgot, ug mahitungod usab problima sa matag-usa siya nagahisgot, mahitungod sa politika o pang-gobyerno siya usab nagahisgot ug sa mga ubang butang siya usab nagahisgot. Ug kining tanan iyang gisulat sa usa lamang ka sulat sa mga kasimbahanan, ug ang ubang sulat usab pariha ra ug sulod para sa tanang kasimbahanan. Unsa may gipasabot? Ang tanan hisgutan gayud alang sa kausaban sa atong mga panglantaw sa atong kaugalingon ug kalibutan.

Wala silay gipang-andam nga mga tapik o tima sa ilang panagtigom, wala usab silay giandam kung kinsa ang mosulti apan tanan pwede mosulti kay importane kini sa pagdinasigay. Ang trabaho lamang sa anciano o elder mao lamang ang pagdasig usab sa tanan nga makaambit sa ilang pagbati. Dili makita ang iyang pagkalider gawas lamang kung adunay dagkong problema.

Ug Nganong Kining Pagdinasigay Buhaton Sa Sulod Sa Panimalay?

Pwede nga ang pagdinasigay mahitabo sa espesyal nga lugar sama sa mga bilding nga maoy imong kasagaran nga Makita, pwedi usab sa gawas sa imong balay [lawn], pwede sa plaza, pwede sa dagat, pwede sa mga mall, pwede sa hotel ug sa restaurant – basta diin asa pwedi mukaon, hilabi na ang tanan matapok kung na’y kaon. Apan gitawag lang kini ug house church o ang simbahan [nga anaa magtiguman] sa imong balay kay kinahanglan man magsugod sa imong kaugalingong pamilya diha sa imong panimalay. Ngano man? Kay dili kita makahusga sa kinabuhi sa usa ka tawo gawas sa sulod sa iyang panimalay. Ang gipasabot mao nga ang tinud-anay nga kinabuhi anaa mahitabo sulod sa panimalay. Ang pagiging Kristohanon mahitabo sa atong adlaw-adlaw nga pagkinabuhi [labaw na sa atong kaugalingong pamilya] ug dili sa adlaw’ng Domingo lang. Dili na mao ikaw sa imung trabahuan o eskuwelahan apan mao ikaw kung giunsa nimo pag-respito ang imong ginikanan ug mga igsoon ug lakip na imong mga kasilinganan. Daghan karon ang mga pamilya nga sige ug away inig human ug simba sa halayo nga dapit kay ngano man? Pwide nako usbon ang akong mga kinaiya sa imong atobangan, pwide usab nako matonto akong asawa sa imong atubangan apan kon moduaw ikaw sa akong panimalay nan imo na gayong masuta ang tinud-anay kong kinabuhi ug kinaiya. Ambot lang, natural ra ba gyud nato nang mausab kita atobangan sa katawhan, murag aduna kita’y duha ka nawong atobangan ni bisan kinsa.

Busa, labing maayo nga buhaton ta kini sa atong kaugaligong panimalay hilabi na gayod nga ang mga sugo sa Dios diha gayod ipatuman sa atong tag-sa tagsa ka panimalay [Duet. 6:4-6], dili sa gawas sa imong panimalay o maski gani sa templo ni Moises. Ug si Hesus usab nagministro kasagaran sulod sa panimalay o sa ka balay-balayan ug si apostol Pablo usab – sa dihang wala pa siya makabig iyang gipanglutos ang mga Kristohanon nga atua magtiguman sa mga kabalayan [Acts 8:3] – ug sa dihang giluwas siya sa Dios siya mismo nagsugod ug nagdasig nga magbuhat ug mga kasimbahanan sa mga kabalayan. [Acts 20:20]

Ug Ang Labaw Sa Tanan Nga

Ma-angayang Masabtan Sa Usa’g Usa Nga Nalambigit Sa Pagdinasigay

Ang Kristohanon mao ang pamaagi o dalan sa pagkinabuhi ug dili ang pagbuhat ug mga relihiyusong bulohaton o actibidadis. Ang pagiging Kristohanon mao ang pagkinabuhi sa bag-ong kinabuhi nga imong nakaplagan diha ni Kristo. Busa ang imong pamaagi sa pagkinabuhi sauna imo nang usbon pinaagi sa pagsubay sa mga sugo sa Ginoo sa Bibliya. Lahi-lahi kita ug mga gawi sa nagkalainglaing dapit nga atong ngadtuan, apan ang tinuod gayud nato nga kinabuhi makita sa atong mga gawi sa atong panimalay. Ang atong gawi sa atong trabahuan o hilabi na sa atong panagdinasigay sa usa’g usa nagpakita nalang kana kung unsa ang atong gawi sa atong isig ka panimalay.

Mao kini sa Daang Tugon sa Bibliya: kung unsa’y imong nakat-onan sa simbahan nan pagadalhon mo kini sa imong panimalay, ipatoman kini sa Dios sulod sa maong banay [Duet 6:4,6]. Pero sa Bag-ong Tugon mao na kini: Kun unsa ang nakat-onan mo sa imong panimalay nan imo kining ipaambit sa tigumanan, ug kun buhaton kini sa tanang Kristohanon mao na nga ang mahitabo sa maong panagtigom mao ang pagdinasigay o paglig-onay sa usa ug usa. [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]

Isulti ko pag-usab: Dili programa ang buhaton kundili pagkinabuhi bilang usa ka Iglesia atubangan sa usa’g usa.

Gusto ka ba nga mahitabo kini sa imong panimalay?

Samtang naghisgot ako niining mga butanga sa uban, adunay miingon, “Ah, murag si Hesus!” Ug mitubag ako, “O, murag ang gibuhat ni Hesus sa balay ni Mateo [Lk 5:29-39], ni Zacheos [Lk 19:1-27], ug sa Pariseo [Lk 7:36-50].

Dili ba sayon ra?

Si Hesus naghulat nga pasudlon sa mga kasimbahanan [house churches sa Greyego nga pinulongan] sa Laodicia:

“Ania Ako nagatindog sa pultahan, ug kung kinsa kadtong makadungog sa Akong tingog ug moabli, Ako makigsalo kaniya ug siya Kanako.”

Pinadayag 3:20

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Kung gusto ka niini ug nanginahanglan ka ug tabang pagtawag o text lang niini nga mga numero:

Cel. # 0906-8398055 o bisita sa: http://24-7church.blogspot.com/2008/03/being-church.html