Yesterday we enjoyed a brief Bible study (and a little party! – because it’s our last study for a while) with some friends in Las Palmas. We talked about Romans 12:1-2 (cool passage – I know it’s a familiar one, but always worth another look), and some other interesting topics. 🙂
Earlier this month we had to give up a house we had rented in the community of Las Palmas. Since 2013, our team has rented this place to house visiting teams and interns, to hold Bible studies and kids’ clubs, and to store church supplies (since we have no building).
But the owner contacted us to tell us that they had to leave their other house, and so they needed this one to live in.
So, we moved out of the house, affectionately known as “Kerpis” (after the street name), and temporarily farmed out the furniture and supplies to various people’s houses. We do hope to rent again, but for now, the ministry has no permanent location.
In some ways, we could see the providence of the move. Although it’s obviously inconvenient, we’ve been enjoying doing our Bible study at alternate locations.
Two of the families in the church have locations that are very conducive to our Friday night study. And the bonus is, we’re connecting (and in some cases reconnecting) with some of the kids in another area of Las Palmas.
Shari is encouraged to see what the kids are learning at the Friday study. They’re really interested and asking great questions. God does some interesting things when you’re nomadic!
Tomorrow I’ll be going alone to preach at a sister church about an hour north of here, while Shari and Hannah help with the Sunday School in Las Palmas. We certainly would appreciate your prayers as we share the gospel at two locations tomorrow!
By the way, we need Bibles! If you would like to help with one or two, check here for details and contact us ASAP.
Would you like to help our church in a practical way? We need some Bibles!
Every Friday we have a Bible study with both adults and children from our church, and of course we have services and Sunday school on Sundays. Shari is in charge of the children’s ministry at the church, and she puts hours into making sure the kids are getting teaching that is biblical and fun!
These Bibles can be shipped to our door for about US$15.55 or CA$19.61 each (including shipping) from Amazon.com. At the moment we need 6 Bibles, but of course if we get more we can use them for the adults and for more kids as the church grows. So if you like, you could get a single Bible, or get them all for around $100 or so.
Remember, these need to be sent to our address in Mexico, so if you’re interested, contact us directly for our address.
To order, use this link to make sure you get what we need:
Thanks for your help!
Last night we finished up a series of 45 Bible studies. We did the Chronological Bible Study (15 lessons) and then Discovering Life (15 lessons) and Discovering Life 2 (15 lessons). No one has been there for all of them – but I think everyone has learned a little something. 🙂
We actually spent two weeks on the last lesson, which was both on spiritual gifts, and then the conclusion.
Here are some of us – well, one person had to leave early, and not all the kids are in the picture, but this is most of us adults from tonight… although not everyone came tonight… ok, enough disclaimers…
We tried to end the study focusing on the gospel itself. So this was my attempt at covering some of the key teachings in Scripture…
The Gospel of God’s Grace (Acts 20:24)
Which is a gift of God, not from works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Which gives the forgiveness of sins (Acts 26:16-18)
Which saves (Romans 1:16)
Which strengthens us (Romans 16:25)
Which teaches us to live a godly life (Titus 2:11-14)
If we don’t obey it, we will be lost (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
If we change it, we will be accursed (Galatians 1:8)
Those who believe
Are free from sin (Romans 6:22)
Have been born again (1 Peter 1:23)
Were washed, sanctified and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Await the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14)
It was fitting, I think, to end with that great text from Titus. I pray that the last line would be a description of our church — a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works!
Our remaining time with the team from Mt Calvary went well. There were lots of other fun activities. For one, the women promoted and joined a craft class hosted by the church in Santa Barbara. Here are a few of them – they were making pretty greeting cards.
Also, we continued with evangelistic events, where we providing hearing aids and reading glasses to people who needed them, along with sharing the gospel. Here’s the team singing in front of a large crowd in the town of RÃo FrÃo (also in the municipality of Ixtapaluca).
The next team arrives tomorrow, so I’ll be heading downtown with them, Lord willing. Shari and Hannah will be teaching the adults and kids back here in Ixtapaluca at our regular Friday evening study.
This team will be starting their ministry on Saturday, and I’ll be preaching on Sunday.
Sunday afternoon, Nathanael and I will be heading out with the team to the State of Veracruz. I’m mainly going to help with transportation, and there was just enough room for one more small person, so Nathanael is squeezing in too.
The team will be involved in ministry in various areas in the state.
Here’s a photo of some of the people who took a similar trip a few years back. Some of the same people will be there this time.
We’ll be gone until Thursday, the team flies Friday, and the next team comes Saturday. And so it continues!
I’m such a bad Bible study leader. Do you know what I did?
I’m so ashamed.
For our Bible study passage we … we … we opened the Bible at random.
I know, I know.
Actually, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. We had just finished a two part study on how to study and understand the Bible. We did a review, and then as a bonus we look at 7 ways to look for Christ in the Old Testament. My claim was that you should be able to open up to any page in the Old Testament and find Christ.
So – after we got the training, we tried it out. Sure enough, we found Christ in several ways in – where was it? Some chapter in Jeremiah. It was quite interesting, actually. I noticed some things I hadn’t before.
Really, you should try it. Just don’t open the Bible at random expecting that it will be talking about you. That’s when you get into trouble!
Tomorrow we’ll head into “grey areas” – yes, actually a study about how to figure out what to do when the Bible doesn’t address it directly (how to dress – video games – going to the casino – you name it!).
Actually, this study is online in English – here is part 1, and here is part 2.
I’m preaching on Sunday, and would appreciate your prayers. Once again I’ve been learning about some things that have really confused me in the past, from Mark 6. Amazing stuff.
In the midst of all this – it’s (a slightly belated) birthday season! This week, a party for Hannah, and next week a party for Nathanael. Hannah’s party is a dolphin theme, and we’re taking her and some friends to the aquarium in Mexico City.
But if you know Shari, you won’t be surprised to know – cakes are being created!