Reflection #12

This week, I have learned that Christianity came in the Philippines. Although it was not the kind of Christianity that we are believing in. They were first brought to us the Spaniards and the Christianity that they brought to us had influenced us a lot. Some of its influence still exist until today. I have also learned that there were people who really tried to bring the gospel here in the Philippines by smuggling Bibles. Because of their desire to let all the people read or know about it, they took a very dangerous job that would cost them their lives if got caught.

Spreading the gospel by means of smuggling Bibles is still done today mostly in the Muslim countries. This is really a very dangerous job. But, by the grace of God, He really protected those people who have been doing that. I wonder if I would be willing and brave enough to do that also. I realized that people during those times really did sacrificed a lot. They sacrificed their safety just for the gospel to be preached and known by many people.

It would be nice if I would allow myself to work ore for the glory of God. I am thankful that I didn't remain in the kind of Christianity that the Spaniards offered. In that, I would strive hard to do the ministry while I'm still young. I would use my strength for the glory of God and I would praise God for everything that He is about to do in me.

Reflection #11

This week, I have learned about the great awakening and those missionaries who went to different places in proclaiming the gospel. I have learned that there were people who took courage in proclaiming the gospel to thousands of people. And I was so amazed on how they did it. Because their voices can be heard by thousands of people. Their gospel presentation were so powerful that it led people to turn away from their sins and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. I have also learned that there were people who also took courage in proclaiming the gospel to the unreached people of the world, proclaiming the gospel to the hard places. Even if they encountered life-threatening situations, they didn't gave up. They endured and persevered in the field. They finished well.

Doing the ministry is not always easy. Sometimes, we need to face difficulties that could be caused either by people or by nature. I have heard a lot of reports concerning missionary works and they made me ponder a lot about what if it what they experienced would happen to me also. It would really take a lot of courage in doing the tasks that has been given to us as Christians.

As a response, I would make myself ready anytime when the field would call for someone to work in it. It would be a great opportunity and privileged to serve the Lord while serving my fellowmen. Proclaiming the gospel, sharing the love that God has given me and telling people about His goodness and love.

Reflection #10

This week, I have learned about Ambrose of Milan. I have learned that he was a great defender of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. It wasn't easy because a lot of teachings regarding salvation has taught during his time. It was so brave of him to continue on his teachings and defending it no matter what. I have also learned that because of his preaching, Augustine came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was a great sermon that he preached that cause Augustine to accept Christ in his heart.

What Ambrose did was really great. I could not even stop thinking about how great his sermon was and I kept on imagining how he did it. I also admire the courage that he had in defending the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Because at that time, it wasn't only him who taught about it though not having the same teaching that he had. It was really great of him to do those things and they were not just ordinary things. Those things were written in the history of our Christianity. It was just so amazing.

Preaching will soon be the ministry that I'll be having. In that, I am encouraged upon hearing a report about this great man who came to led a person who became great as well in his later life. And I think maybe it can happen to me also. I don't know, but if God would allow it, why not?  I also am encouraged to polish my preaching skill while I am still here in BTC.

Reflection #9

 This week, I have heard report concerning Jacob Arminius and Jonathan Edwards. I was was so blessed and encouraged by their lives knowing that they lived it for God. I have learned that Jacob Arminius' work was so important and from it comes most of our doctrinal beliefs. It was his work that went against the teachings of Calvin which is TULIP that was completely the opposite of it. As for Jonathan Edwards, I have learned that he contributed a lot for the great awakening. He was so bold in preaching the gospel to thousands of people and it encouraged me to do so as well.

These persons were really great and they really contributed a lot to Christianity during their time. They did not remain idle, but they did the work of the Lord. Every Christian should be like them. We know the gospel and we should not keep it for ourselves only. We should also let others know about it so that they would also be able to experience the goodness and faithfulness of God.

In this, I am encouraged to be active in doing the ministry. I want to engage myself more in the field so that I would have a lot of experience on how to do the ministry better for it to be effective. I am encouraged to stand for the Lord and to be faithful in sharing or preaching the gospel knowing that a lot of people still hasn't heard about it.

Reflection #8

This week, I heard reports about John Chrysostom and St. Jerome. I have learned about their courage in facing the persecutions from the pagan people during their time. Even though they were harshly treated, they did not denied their faith. Even to the point of their death, they never recanted their faith in Christ. John Chrysostom even said, "glory be to God for all things," upon his death. I have also learned that they were not just ordinary people. They were people of high regards in the society. They were intellectual people and they really have spent time in studying what they believed in. They did not just remain hearers of the word of God. They read it themselves, wrote it, and preached it to other believers.

Before, I thought that people were not that educated. But as we continued our discussion in Church history, with these historical men, I began to realize that they were not what I think they were. They were more than what I expected, and I praised God for what He has done for them an in their contribution that made them part of the church's history.

I have not experienced persecution but maybe, someday, I will. So, I will prepare myself for that while I am still young. I will build up the foundations of faith that I believed in and be more courageous in standing for it. I will also study hard and let myself be trained and equipped for me to become ready for the things that is to come.

Reflection #7

This week, I have been thinking about this quote that Martin Luther said, "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." This quote puzzled me but I've been thinking about this with doing the ministry in mind. Surely, the Lord will come sooner or later. I do not know the exact time of his coming but I am sure that he will come. The things that we are doing right now, the ministries,and many other things will soon end. But if ever I would be given a revelation by God Himself that the world will end tomorrow, I would still continue to do the ministry. I would even do more knowing that it would be my last. I learned that life is short, and we should live it for the Lord. Even if the world will end tomorrow, I would rather be caught planting the seeds of salvation to a person's heart rather than doing nothing and just wait for the ultimate end.

There are a lot of people who are living their life to the fullest having in mind the coming end of the world. Most of them are living a merry and abundant life because if the end would come, they would not be able to those things. But it depends on how or what way are they making themselves merry. I think it would be best to live to the fullest for the Lord while we are still here on earth. Because when the world would come to an end, we would not be able to more things for Him. It takes a lot of courage to live that kind of life. It also takes a lot of faith.

Concerning that, I would do even more for the Lord. Thinking that the world would come to its end soon. And I do not want to be caught doing nothing for Him. Having the coming end in mind, I would give thanks to the Lord for He has given me this much time now to be able to serve Him and glorify His name.

Reflection #6

This week, I have learned something about the life of Justin Martyr. I have learned that to be a Christian is to really live for Christ. During his time, Justin really faced a lot of circumstances concerning his faith. But it did not matter to him. He lived courageously without denying his faith. I have also learned how important it is to defend our faith. Just like Justin, he wrote something in defense of his faith or the faith of all Christians. Knowing our faith very well, who we believed in, would cause us to make a defense for it. That was what happened to Justin Martyr. Though he was martyred, his name lives on and is written in the books of history.

I realized how privileged I have been in being here at BTC, and being able to study the word of God by the help of the professors. In that way, I have gained a lot of information about my faith, how genuine it is, that many people have died for that same faith that I have. I have been more encourage upon knowing such things and been interested in knowing more of them.

In that, I would study more and be serious in studies here at BTC, thinking that I would not be here forever learning all this things by the help of the professors. A time will come, when I too would come to a stage of my life where I would be teaching and helping others concerning their faith. It would be a great opportunity whenever that time would come.