B.A.S.I.C. Newsletters - November 2006
www.LutheranMissions.org

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 85
  
I Cor. 16:9  "For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."    
 
November 15, 2006  

 

East Africa Pastoral Conference- How pleasant and how fair for brethren to dwell together in unity!

The Psalmist has it right when he points up how blessed unity is. Most of us arrived on Oct. 23rd for the two day conference to follow. Fully 21 men attended this study of God's Word, for that is what it was. There was no disagreement on the Word, for the Word is clear. We met in the Kisii highlands of Kenya. Next year we will meet, God-willing, at Arusha in Tanzania. Pastor Enosh of Etago, Kenya chaired the meeting as well as acting as our chaplain beginning each session with a devotion.

Pastor Fred of the CLCK Chotororo led us in an overview of the patriarch Abraham. He reminded us: to live a life of complete faith in God, to go where He sends us by faith, to look forward to that "city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10)", to remember that our God is a God of second chances, to rest assured that we are saved by faith which is the gift of God by grace.

Charles Gikonyo, who heads the Nairobi area of the CLCK led us in a study of
the figurative language of Is. 5:1-6.

Pastor Jeremiah of the CLCEA Arusha, Tanzania led us in a study of "Starting
Mission Work." He asked and answered several questions: What is church?,
What is mission work?, What do we mean by a missionary?, How hard is mission
work? He also gave us some cautions. Do not struggle just for many people as
once for sometimes their intention to follow may fail. Be aware of people coming from other denominations who come for poor reasons. Be careful of  how you live, for your conduct must reinforce your preaching.

While the men from the LCEA could not be present, Pastor Angowi the bishop of the LCEA had sent an essay which Steve Kithisya read. In Pastor Angowi's essay on" Faith and Ethical Decision" It was pointed out. "1. Natural law is universal for God's purpose of discipline in the world...2. Christ is the fulfillment of the law for those who believe in him. Believing in Christ is involving God overwhelming our whole life and bringing you into His kingdom and love and righteousness...3. Christians fulfill the law only by faith and love by faith in Christ. God grants to us forgiveness  and salvation. We become God's tool to convey his love to others. His faith looks to Christ and gets all that Christ has and his love looks to the neighbors and gives them all that he has."

Pastor Koenig delivered two essays: The Ministry of Paul on His Three Journeys, The Three Year Ministry of our Lord.

We hope next year to hear two essays that could not be delivered: Baptism by

S. Kithisya, Leadership by Ibrahim Kariuki.

The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace was evident as we fellowshipped together over God's Word and in our many private conversations. We thank the CLC for funding this meeting.

 

The Church Year

 

Introduction

The Church Year is a cycle of festivals and seasons. Christians around the world and throughout history have shaped their faith and marked their lives following what these portray about our Lord and His teachings. The first half of the Church Year(Advent through to Pentecost) recalls the events in the life of our Lord making them real for us in the present time. The second half is the Trinity Season during which we can focus on many things in connection with our faith and discipleship. Though the Church Year is an ancient tradition, Christians keep observing it as it celebrates God’s redemption. When Christians observe the festivals and seasons this helps them to:
Periodically you will be receiving in BASIC a short reminder of the season or festival we will be celebrating. There will be suggested Scripture that can be preached on also.
 

Advent Season

Beginning on Dec. 3, the First Sunday in Advent, we begin a season to prepare our hearts to celebrate once again the coming of our Lord to earth for us in human form so lowly, as a baby. There are four Sundays in Advent. During the week we also have midweek services which can focus on a variety of Scripture to prepare us for Christmas. We could consider the Old Testament prophecies about our Lord’s coming, among others.
Here are some suggested Epistle and Gospel readings for the four Sundays. The sermon could be based on one of these readings.
"Some time ago we concluded a study on the Books of the New Testament and we took a test on it.  Why not take the test again that you took at the beginning and see how you do?"
 
 The following 27 items are to be matched to the 27 books. See how you do. Which New Testament book is indicated by each of the following:
a) Pastoral letter to Crete,
b) to Gaius,
c) Epistle of Joy,
d) by the brother of James,
e) Ministry,
f) "I am...",
g) the Most Doctrinal Letter,
h) written by a Gentile of Antioch,
i) about the Church's Head,
j) about the Church as the Body of Christ,
k) written to a region,
l) the shortest Gospel,
m) Visions,
n) to Jewish Christians (in Rome?),
o) God is Love,
p) Congregational Problems,
q) Warns against Hypocrisy,
r) a Repentant Tax Gatherer,
s) to the Elect Lady and her Children,
t) Pastoral Letter to Ephesus,
u) Slavemaster and Slave,
v) Lawless One in 2:3-12,
w) Judgment
x) the Word of the God Grew,
y) Clear Statement of the End in 4:13-17,
z-1) Epistle of Suffering,
z-2) Paul's Last Letter.
 
TIMELINE (Why not cut this out and tape it in your Bible.)
30     Pentecost; Birthday of the NT Church
32     Death of Stephen and Conversion of Paul
43     Founding of the Gentile Church at Antioch; Paul summoned to Antioch by Barnabas
44     Death of James the Son of Zebedee
c.45   Epistle of James
46-48 Paul's First Missionary Journey
48      Epistle of Galatians
49      Apostolic Council
49-51 Paul's Second Missionary Journey
50     I Thessalonians; 50 (summer) II Thessalonians
52-56 Paul's Third Missionary Journey
55     I Corinthians; 55 (summer or fall) II Corinthians
56     Romans
56-58 Paul's Caesarean Imprisonment
58-59 Paul's Voyage to Rome
59-61 Paul's First Roman Imprisonment
59-61 The 'Captivity Letters' -Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians
50-60 Gospel of Matthew (the estimates of what year are in this range)
c. 60  Gospel of Mark
62-63 I Timothy (estimate of which year varies)
63     Titus
64     Fire in Rome. Neronian Persecution
65-67 II Timothy (estimates vary for  most of the following books)
61-62 I Peter
62(?) II Peter
65-69 Gospel of Luke. Acts
60-70 Jude
65-70 Hebrews
70     Fall of Jerusalem
90-100 Gospel of John, I, II, III John
95     Revelation
 
Pastor Koenig

 

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 86
  
I Cor. 16:9  "For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."   
 
November 30, 2006
 
 
In a recent Newsletter, you were given a quiz on the Books of the Bible.
Here are the answers.
a) Titus, b) III John, c) Philippians, d) Jude, e) II Cor., f) John, g) Romans, h) Luke, i) Col., j) Eph., k) Gal., l) Mark, m) Rev., n) Heb., o) I Jn., p) I Cor., q) James, r) Matt., s) 2 Jn., t) I Tim., u) Philemon, v) 2 Thess., w) II Pet., x) Acts, y) I Thess., z-1) I Pet., z-2) II Tim.
 
 
A Study of the Creeds
Historical Background
The Nicene Creed takes its name from the city of Nicea where a great church council was held in 325 at the direction of the Emperor Constantine. The church had been torn apart by controversy over the false teaching of Arius who taught that Jesus was not God equal to the Father. We can see in the second article of this creed the expansion of the wording to explain in more detail the truth as against this error. Of the important added wording to the second article was “of one or the same substance with.” By this the Arians were rejected in teaching that Jesus was not God the same as the Father. At another church council at Constantinople in 381 the Nicene Creed in its expanded form was reaffirmed. This expanded form as we have it today was yet again reaffirmed as true at the church council meeting at Chalcedon in 451. We use in the CLC-USA the Nicene Creed once a month on communion Sundays. Then the congregation jointly confesses this statement of faith.
 
Exercize
In the Nicene Creed as follows the new wording is in parenthesis. On a separate sheet of paper write out the passage from the list that supports the new wording.
I believe in (one God,) the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and (of all things visible and invisible.)
And in (one Lord) Jesus Christ, the (only begotten Son of God,) (begotten of the Father before all worlds,)(God of God,)( Light of Light,)( very God of very God,)(begotten, not made,)(being of one substance with the Father;)(by whom all things were made;)(who for us men, and for our salvation,) came down from heaven, and was incarnated by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again (according to he Scriptures;) and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with (glory) to judge the quick and the dead; (whose kingdom shall have no end.)
And I believe in the( Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life,)(who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;) who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;(who spake by the Prophets.)And I believe in one holy Christian and (Apostolic) Church. I acknowledge (one Baptism for the remission of sins;) and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
 
Rom.6:1-4, Deut. 6:4, Rom. 8:2, Col. 1:16, Jn. 17:5, Is. 53:5-6, Jn. 8:12, Eph. 2:20, Mt. 25:31, Jn. 1:14,18, Jn. 1:3, Jn. 15:26, I Cor. 8:6, II Pet. 1:21, Heb. 1:2-3, Lk. 1:33, Jn. 14:8-11, Col. 1:15-17, Col. 2:9
 
 
THE CLC NAIROBI
PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2006
 
In the year 2006, through hard work and faith in Christ,The CLC Nairobi (Kenya) has witnessed a busy period with stations registering an increase in the number of members, both adults and children.
The Ngong’ fellowship had a little drawback due to the shifting of the worship hall to a smaller hall that occurred because of financial difficulties.
 
We also have got six more stations in Murang’a,  Nyahururu,  Muhuru Bay and Kawanware(Nairobi).
In all these stations we have registered a growing interest of the members in the Church and more people are pledging to join us. Seemingly, we seem to have more women in our fellowships than men but nevertheless we still have men in them. Murang’a has  the highest number of members.
 
It is worth to mention that we discommunicated with three fellowships in Gikambura, Makuyu and Waithaka, all led by pastors Joseph, Mbuthia, and Kamau respectively. This was mainly due to their refusal to child baptism and women leadership in the congregation.
 
All in all we believe that in the next one year our church will see further growth and I have faith in Jesus Christ that this will be.
FUTURE PLANS
 
Having been registered as a church in Kenya now, our main focus is to now have an office or one central place from where all our activities can be coordinated. We had been given a six months ultimatum by the government and now we have two and half months to go.
A plot of land has ben identified and donated by one of our lady worshipers. We plan to build a semi permanent building for the church and also use it as teaching class room for three grades during the week for the children in our congregation.
 
Members have offered to participate in the construction so as to minimize cost. We are also going to recycle some old iron sheets available in the same compound for the same reason. Teachers for the children will also be from the congregation.
 
Pastor Koenig saw the plot and advises us to do a budget proposal which we did and handed over to him.
It is our hope and faith in Him(Jesus) that we will be able to accomplish this mission and further serve our Lord.
 
Thank you.
 
Report by:
Steve Muendo
skithisya@yahoo.com
 
 
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Pastor Koenig