South West Bible Study (June 16th, 2009)

Bible study centered on the concept represented by the first soil of the parable of the sower. This soil represents the person who hears the Word, but doesn't understand it. This person has a problem understanding the Word because he doesn't have the necessary previous knowledge ("… whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him," Matthew 13:12). This was the case of Agrippa in Acts 26. On the opposite end, we have the case of the eunuch in Acts 8. This man had the previous knowledge, and was given more.

There were 8 people present, 2 children, one teenager, and four adults. The people who participate in this Bible study are very regular. They do come to church and one of them is a visitor. The rest are members or children.

Midweek Bible Study (June 11th, 2009)

21 people attended. Three children, two teenagers, and the rest were adults. There were three visitors among the adults. The visitors have been coming for quite a while. Today we had to study Romans 8.29, 31. I explained a little bit about the wrong use calvinist theology makes of this passage. It was understood that this position contradicts free will. Then I appealed to the context, where Paul wants to give total assurance of God's justification. It was a great night. A lot of application was made, for us to understand the implications of the truths of God's foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Some of the participants were very generous to let me know that the lesson really helped them.

North West Bible Study (June 5, 2009)

Bible Study began at 8:30 p.m. All the members of the Ulate Milanés family were present (three adults, three teenagers and a minor). There were two trainees present. There is at present a boom of radio stations, TV stations and places of worship being controlled by mediatic preachers who use them for their own profit. These preachers claim to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and ask the listeners to donate to them, so that the Lord will bless their lives with prosperity and freedom from problems. The only thing listeners have to do is enter into a covenant relationship with God by which they will pledge a monthly amount to be deposited in the account of their ministry. Once the preacher hears about the donation, he will have a special prayer in behalf of those who came through. Roberto has expressed his outrage for this abuse, and has acted upon it, by helping a national TV journalist to report on this abuse. I decided to help Roberto and his household deal with all this confussion created by such preachers. So, last night we began to study about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We began with Acts 3.1-16, to understand the difference between a real biblical miracle and what is shown on television. Then we studied Mark 16.9-20, the whole context, to understand why the Lord promised the gifts to the apostles. We have to continue with Acts 8, where it is clearly taught that the only ones who could transmit the gifts by the laying on of the hands were the apostles, etc.

Participants were very interested. Many questions were generated. I had to ask them to let me dismiss the Bible study, around 9:30.

Midweek Bible Study (June 4th, 2009)

17 people attended: 14 adults, 1 teenager and 2 children. The study was on Romans 8.28: "And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose". We tried to understand what "good" means. We read passages such as Genesis 45:7, 8 and Esther 4:14. Then we read Eclesiastes 12:13 and Lamentations 3:25-33. In both passages, two men who had had very dissimilar lives reached the same conclusion regarding what "good" is. " Good" is everything that makes you closer to God, and "bad" is everything that moves you away from Him.

South West Bible Study (June 2nd, 2009)

I had a Bible Study last night at this South West home. This time Roberto didn't make it, he said he had a rough day. I don't blame him. There were four people present, besides me. Two of them are not members yet, but they are visiting. One is a member in Coronado, who was visiting the family. The Bible study went on from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. It was profitable. It benefited the five people present. I centered on 1 Corinthians 13, because this people had not been coming to Sunday School, where we are studying this passage in depth. We analyzed the first three qualities of agape love, didn't have time for the rest. Abundant application was made to the particular situation they are living as a family and as a couple. There was great interest because they can really use the concepts to improve their lives. One of the participants is fully aware of the need for baptism. So he asked questions related to what would happen if he sinned after baptism, so we studied 1 John 1.5—2.1. Then we wrapped up with a special prayer for their particular needs.