VOLUME 23 ISSUE 49 Dec 8
from your Pastor It really cannot be denied that we are in the month of December. Stores and streets are crowded; gifts are prepared and wrapped; Christmas lights and decorations are seen; and joyful carols and music are heard almost everywhere. I am just saddened that many of those activities and festivities have already overlooked the reason for celebrating the season. Our lesson for this month reminds us, believers, that while we are rejoicing that a Saviour was born, we should be more excited for His next appearing. Indeed, that excitement should challenge us to do more for Him. Let me encourage every member also that we must be faithful in giving our commitments for our Nehemiah project next week. Before we get busy buying gifts, let us not forget to be generous also to God who has given us many and much blessings we do not deserve. I believe that your faithfulness will be greatly blessed by God and our investment for His work will never be in vain. Likewise, I am eager to see through our program for next year as to what great things God has prepared for our church and every family. Stay faithful. Have a Spirit-filled Sunday!
DR. ED M. LAURENA
Sunday School Outline LISTENING AND WATCHING FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES Matthew 25:1-13 / Titus 2:13
I. God’s people should not be deceived while listening and watching for the signs of the times . A. God’s people of old were given warning concerning the signs of the time. B. God’s people of this present time should take heed to the warning concerning the signs of the time. II. God’s people should not be discouraged nor be dismayed while listening and watching for the signs of the times . A. God’s people should not fear. B. God’s people should not falter. III. God’s people should be declaring the salvation of Jesus Christ while listening and watching for the signs of the times . A. God’s people should not be busy for the world. B. God’s people should be busy for the Lord. IV. God’s people should be delighting in God while listening and watching for the signs of the times. A. Signs of the time indicate that His coming is very near. B. Signs of the time indicate that His compensation is very near.
Gospel tracts, preaching/music CDs & Sunday School/Discipleship lessons are available @ the ushers' table after the service.
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Church Bulletin
BUSYNESS vs BUSINESS 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. The signs of the times are not just near, but they are clear and they are here! Natural calamities, chaos in the government, degrading value of family relationships, rise of numerous cults – these are occurrences uncontrollable by human efforts. As these signs make evident the soon coming of the Lord, there are various reactions we can draw from people. Undeniably, many assert the same truth that Jesus may come anytime, but they act as if time is in their hands, hence are too busy with their own businesses. The Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, a national landmark in China, is the most famous site for suicide. Since its construction in 1968, there had been approximately 2 million people who attempted to jump to their deaths into the river more than 90 meters below. Of such number, over 200,000 individuals actually died. The irony is that this bridge has hectic lanes for transportation and thousands of pedestrians.
For the longest time, not even one from the busy crowd daily passing through bothered to care for a desperate soul. Until in 2003, Cheng Si, a 46 year-old middle class man did something about the problem. With his binoculars, he spends every weekend at the bridge looking for jumpers. From the time he started this social work, he had rescued more than 200 whom he counselled and comforted in a rented apartment which he called “soul station.” Sometimes, even for us Christians, it is so easy to confuse our daily busyness with our daily business. We tend to waste much time on our busyness that profits a little, while we neglect the essence of our real business. As we redeem the time and as we learn to number our days, let us apply our hearts unto wisdom (Eph 5:16; Ps 90:12). Let us not exchange soulwinning with our overtime at work. Let us not forsake those we sit beside with in the bus; let us give them Gospel tracts! Let us take advantage of every family occasion, grab the opportunity to preach the word to our loved ones! We can offer more than what Chen can. If there is one thing we must be busy about, it is to take care of our Father’s business just as Jesus did (Luke 2:49).
BE
WATCHFUL FOR THE
COMING OF
CHRIST WHILE
READING BETWEEN THE SIGNS The only wise action for anyone who understands what is coming is to turn to God with repentance and obedience.
In Luke 21:29-36 Jesus Christ said: "Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand...Watch ye therefore, and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass ..." We are living in a perilous time. Whether or not it is clear to us, the world is unfolding as it should…as the Lord has so vividly revealed in His Holy Word. Increasingly, we are in a time of pervasive and persistent conflicts between truth and fallacy; and almost always, the truth is obscured by a flawed concept of right and wrong. In the Scriptural passage mentioned, Jesus Christ is referring to future end-time events and warning us to be on the lookout for what is happening around us so we will not be lulled into complacency or distracted by deceitful signs. The Lord rebuked His apostles in the Book of Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” We should realize the sobering fact that, no matter when the end of the age comes, people living at that particular time will dispute the possibility of the world ending. Under inspiration of God, the Apostle Peter tells us that "scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?'" (2 Peter 3:34). Regardless of when it occurs, there will be people who will express disdain even at the very time it approaches. No matter how difficult things look, some will even have the audacity to assure everyone that man has everything under control. Tragically, such assurances will do nothing but provide a false sense of security, leading people to continue foolishly in trusting human ability rather than the all-powerful God. The Apostle Paul warns us in Romans 13:11, “...now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” As the end approaches, salvation is most certainly important to keep in mind as everything falls to pieces and breaks apart around us. The end of the world as we know it, though it includes many catastrophes on a global scale never before seen in history, is not all bad news for mankind. It includes good news as well. God will intervene before it is too late as a fulfillment of His providential promise to the saints as expressed in Matthew 24:21-22, “...but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” The alternative is not only the destruction of human civilization but the annihilation of the human race itself. The only wise action for anyone who understands what is coming is to turn to God with repentance and obedience. Indeed, God "hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;” ...Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:30-31). When Jesus comes in power and glory, He will rebuke the world for its sins. On the day of the Church's founding, the Apostle Peter exhorted his audience, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation " (Acts 2:40). It is vital to keep our eyes open and our perspectives firmly grounded upon biblical truth. As Christ admonished us, let us intelligently watch and read between the signs on what happens around us and always be in an attitude of praise and prayer. Let us ever be mindful and vigilant while the end draws nigh.
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo Beata B. Agustin
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakatapat Kahit napapalibutan ng mga pagbabalatkayong kumakalat… Patuloy nating unahin ang Diyos higit sa lahat At ang Kanyang kahariang karapat-dapat Sa pagmamahal Niyang di masusukat!
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakasigla Kahit nabibigatan sa mga suliraning dala-dala… Patuloy nating purihin ang Diyos na dakila At ang Kanyang pangalang mapagpala Sa biyaya Niyang di sumasala! Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakatatag Kahit nababagabag ng mga makamundong pagyakag… Patuloy nating sandalan ang Diyos na puno ng habag At ang Kanyang kapangyarihang hayag Sa lakas Niyang di mabubuwag!
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakasigasig Kahit napapagod dahil sa mga nakapanlulumong pag-uusig… Patuloy nating pagkatiwalaan ang Diyos ng pag-ibig At ang Kanyang tuwinang matulunging bisig Sa pagkilos Niyang di madadaig! Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakabanal Kahit natutukso upang magpakita ng mga makasalanang asal… Patuloy nating dinggin ang Diyos na handang mangaral At ang Kanyang salitang sa kasamaa’y nagbabawal Sa katuwiran Niyang di masasakal! Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y magpakatapang Kahit natatakot sa banta ng mga kaaway na pumaparatang… Patuloy nating sundin ang Diyos na kagalang-galang At ang Kanyang tagubiling sa atin naka-atang Sa tagumpay Niyang di mahaharang! Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Kristo, tayo’y maging mapagbantay Kahit nag-aalala sa mga pighating dulot ng bagyo ng buhay… Patuloy nating asahan ang Diyos na laging umaalalay At ang Kanyang kaaliwang taglay ay patnubay Sa kalooban Niyang di sumasablay!
CHRISTIAN BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH PREACHING THE GOSPEL THAT ONLY JESUS SAVES! St. Francis Homes 2, Landayan, San Pedro, Laguna 4023
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY ∙Sunday School ---------- 8:30 am ∙Morning Service -------- 9:30 am ∙Youth Fellowship ------- 1:30 pm ∙Discipleship -------------- 3:00 pm ∙Afternoon Service ----- 4:00 pm WEDNESDAY ∙Doctrine Class ---------- 5:45 pm ∙Prayer Meeting---------- 7:00 pm Soulwinning & Visitation Thursdays and Saturdays ___________________________________ ∙www.cbbcphilippines.org ∙email-info@cbbcphilippines.org ∙tel - (02)869.0433 ∙cel - 0905.3004422 or 0926.7247837 or 0917.8870954 Dr. Ed M. Laurena Pastor
Church Attendance Dec 1 & Dec 4
Mon
Eph 1-3
Sunday School
2, 380
Tue
Eph 4-6
Sunday AM
2, 688
Wed
Phil 1-4
Sunday PM
1, 186
Thu
Col 1-4
Wednesday
483
Fri
1 Thes 1-5
First Time Visitors
130
Sat
2 Thes 1-3
44
Sun
1 Tim 1-6
Baptisms
Maaari Mong Matiyak ang Langit
A
Bible Reading
ng sabi ni Hesus, “Ako ang daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay: walang makapupunta sa Ama kundi sa pamamagitan ko.” Juan 14:6 Wala nang iba pang makapagliligtas sa iyo mula sa impiyerno. Magtiwala ka kay Hesus ngayon! Roma 6:23 “Kung ipahahayag ng iyong bibig na si Hesus ay Panginoon at mananampalataya ka nang buong puso na Siya’y muling binuhay ng Diyos, ikaw ay maliligtas”. Roma 10:9 1. Aminin mo na ikaw ay isang makasalanan. Roma 3:10 2. Magsisi ka sa iyong kasalanan. Gawa 17:30 3. Manampalataya ka na si Kristo Hesus ay namatay para sa iyo, nalibing at nabuhay namagmuli. Roma 10:9-10 4. Sa pamamagitan ng panalangin, tanggapin mo si Hesus sa iyong puso bilang iyong Tagapagligtas. Roma 10:13
Manalangin ka ng ganito: Panginoon, ako po ay isang makasalanan at nangangailangan ng kapatawaran. Nanampalataya po ako na nadanak ng dugo ni Hesus at Siya ay namatay sa krus para sa akin. Nagsisisi po ako sa aking mga kasalanan. Tinatanggap ko po si Kristo Hesus sa aking puso bilang aking Tagapagligtas. Amen. "Kung tinanggap mo si Hesus bilang iyong Tagapagligtas, ito na ang simula ng iyong bagong buhay kay Kristo." Roma 8:1 Ngayon: 1. Basahin mo ang iyong Biblia araw-araw upang makilala pa ng lubusan si Kristo Hesus. 2. Makipag-usap ka sa Diyos sa panalangin araw-araw. 3. Manambahan ka sa isang simbahan na pinapangaral si Kristo at ang Biblia ang tanging pamantayan. 4. Ibahagi sa iba si Kristo Hesus.
ACTS29 - the official Sunday publication of Christian Bible Baptist Church | Year of Continuing2013