B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 86b
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.”
December 14, 2006
The Church Year
Christmas Season
This is a time of great celebration among us as we joyfully consider His first coming to ransom us. The twelve days of Christmas stretch from Christmas to Epiphany. This year Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve, falls on a Sunday. Our tradition is to gather on this evening to worship Him just as the angels did. Sometimes this is a children’s service. Yet again the next day we gather again to adore Him as our redeemer. On New Year’s Eve we traditionally have a communion service to end the chronological year being strengthened with the Word and sacrament. On New Year’s Day to begin the new year we gather again with Him in worship. Readings follow which could also be used for sermons.
- Christmas Eve or Day – Ep.: Titus 2:11-14, Gos.: Lk. 2:1-14. Appropriate Old Testament texts could also be used like – Is. 9:2-7, 7:10-14.
- New Year’s Eve or the Sunday after Christmas – Ep.: Gal. 3:23-29, Gos.: Lk. 2:23-40
Pastor Mayhew has an exercize on the Nicene Creed as follows, which you could also go through and give to pastors in your fields. While my last exercize was on ‘new wording’ in the Nicene Creed, Pastor Mayhew’s is on the whole Creed. Let us continue to study to show ourselves approved by God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed. The Nicene Creed History In contrast to the Apostles’ Creed which was formulated over many centuries and as a general baptismal confession of faith, the Nicene Creed was formulated in much shorter time, and was written to combat the false teachings of Arius (who denied the divinity of Christ) and the Macedonians (who taught that the Holy Spirit was not God). Because of the Arian controversy, emperor Constantine convened an ecumenical council to meet at the city of Nicea in the year 325 A.D. to settle the dispute. A confession was written by Eusebius of Caesarea, and presented to the 318 bishops who attended the Council of Nicea. A few changes were made to Eusebius’ confession to establish more firmly the deity of Christ (the Latin word homoiousious – similar nature – was replaced with the word homoousious – same nature). The Council of Nicea accepted this form of the Creed and condemned the Arian teaching. The Nicene Creed at that time ended with the words “…and in the Holy Ghost” and an anathema against the teaching of the Arians. In the year 381, emperor Theodosius convened a second ecumenical council at Constantinople to deal once more with the Arians, and with a dispute over the person of the Holy Spirit. It was at this council that the wording of the Third Article was added, condemning Macedonius and his followers and defending the doctrine of the Trinity. The Latin (western) form of the Nicene Creed differs only in the addition of the Latin word “filioque” (“and the Son”), which was added at a later ecumenical council, held in Toledo, Spain in the year 589 A.D. The Greek (eastern) church never agreed to this addition, saying that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone (John 15:26), not the Father and the Son (John 16:7). This was one of the issues that separated these two churches, their final and complete separation coming in 1054 A.D. Exercise 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 His 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 incarnate 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 the Scriptures ____________; And ascended into heaven ____________, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father ____________ ; And He shall come again with glory ____________ to judge both 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 worshiped and glorified ____________, Who spake by the Prophets ____________. And I believe 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 ____________ . Amen.
Passages Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 51:13; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:15; Luke 1:27; John 1:1-2; John 1:3; John 1:14; John 3:13; John 3:18; John 10:30; John 15:26; John 16:7; John 17:3; John 20:17; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:36; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:42; Acts 4:10, 12; Acts 8:37; Acts 10:42; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 15:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 4:5 (3); Ephesians 4:10; Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 1:17; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 4:1; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 21:23
Answers I believe (Acts 8:37) in one God (Deut. 6:4), the Father (John 20:17) Almighty (Revelation 1:8), Maker of heaven and earth (Isaiah 51:13) and of all things visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). And in one Lord (Ephesians 4:5) Jesus Christ (John 17:3), the only-begotten Son of God (John 3:18) , begotten of His Father (John 1:14) before all worlds (Colossians 1:17) , God of God (Colossians 1:15), Light of Light (Revelation 21:23) , Very God of Very God (John 1:1-2), Begotten (Psalm 2:7), not made (John 1:3), Being of one substance with the Father (John 10:30), By Whom all things were made (Ephesians 3:9); Who for us men (1 Corinthians 15:3) and for our salvation (Colossians 1:21-22) came down from heaven (John 3:13) And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20) of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:27) And was made man (Hebrews 2:14) ; And was crucified (Acts 2:36) also for us (Romans 4:25) under Pontius Pilate (Mark 15:15). He suffered (1 Peter 4:1) and was buried (Matthew 27:60); And the third day He rose again (1 Thessalonians 4:14) according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4); And ascended into heaven (Ephesians 4:10), And sitteth on the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33) ; And He shall come again with glory (Matthew 16:27) to judge both the quick and the dead (Acts 10:42); Whose kingdom shall have no end (Isaiah 9:7). And I believe in the Holy Ghost (Psalm 51:11) , The Lord (Galatians 6:8) and Giver of Life (Romans 8:2), Who proceedeth from the Father (John 15:26) and the Son (John 16:7) , Who with the Father and the Son (2 Corinthians 13:14) together is worshiped and glorified (Revelation 4:8), Who spake by the Prophets (2 Peter 1:21). And I believe one (Ephesians 4:5) holy (1 Peter 2:5) Christian (Acts 4:10, 12) and Apostolic (Acts 2:42) Church (Colossians 1:18) . I acknowledge one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) , And I look for the resurrection of the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16) , And the life of the world to come (1 Thessalonians 4:17) . Amen.
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Nathanael Mayhew
Zion Lutheran Church
Lawrenceville, GA
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The following was sent by Pastor Enosh of the Etaga CLCK-Kenya..
History of the CLC’s Work in Kenya + The CLC Kenya was started in the year 2000 by Pastor and Mrs. Koenig. It started with some discussions with the Roman Catholic and 7th day Adventist people in Etago region. By that time about 125 people attended the discussion. +In June 18 the same year the first service was held by the new congregation of 32 adults and 24 children. +By this time the first Board of elders and a pastor was set up. Pastor Samson was chosen to lead the congregation. +In the year 2001 the missionary David Koenig visited and preached at Etago C.L.C. During this visit more Bibles and other books were purchased for people. +The service was conducted with 70. Whereby 40 members were baptized by the missionary. +In the year 2002 the mission Board gave money for the roof of Etago C.L.C. This time the missionary baptized two babies. +The church choir produced a cassette of their music which showed the growth of the church. +The missionary and mission volunteer Tim Schreyer met with Pastor Samson and Enosh in Nairobi to discuss the work in Etago. At this time they discused the need of E.C.L.C. to open an orphanage school. +Also discussions were made on how they shall join the seminary in HIMO. +In November 14-16 the first meeting of representatives of Etago C.L.C., LCEA and ELCC were held in Uchira, Tanzania. This was hosted by the L.C.E.A. This was mainly meant to study the Word of God. +The Etago C.L.C. opened the first branch at Kenuchi with 25 members. +In the year 2003 the Etago C.L.C. started discussions with Pastor Fred who became interested with the teachings and promised to confess. +The Aids orphans pre-school was opened with 80 children taught by two trained ladies of the congregation. +Another sister congregation was started at Chotororo under Pastor Fred with 50 members. +Plans were finalized for Samson and Enosh to go to the HIMO seminary in Tanzania starting January 2004. +In November 2003 the missionary visited Chotororo to explain the C.L.C.’s teaching to Pastor Fred who was formally a Baptist believer. After discussions Pastor Fred confessed and was given a catechism and a Christian doctrine to study and undertake. +In the year 2004 the orphanage project was financed by the Kinship group. +Problems arose over financial matters due to misappropriation by Pastor Samson. +The problem was dealt with in December when the elders said that Samson will no longer be a pastor, whereby he was replaced by Enosh. +The attendance of the two men to the HIMO seminary was dropped. +Other sister churches were opened and these are: Omotembe, Ritembu, Olgumii (Maasai) +Pastor Fred baptized 37 members. +Charles Gikonyo as the missionary’s driver also was interested in the teachings whereby he requested a sister congregation in Nairobi. +In the Nairobi area more people also became interested whereby some other sister congregations were started. +In the year 2005 plans were started on how to register the C.L.C. in Kenya under the government law. +Charles was funded to register the church because he was found to be near to the registration centre. +Pastor Enosh and Fred held a baptism of 14 children (child baptism). +The first classroom of the orphanage projected was constructed. +The first pastoral conference meeting was held in Nairobi in October by C.L.C.K. and L.C.E.A. +In the year 2006 the second classroom for the orphanage project was constructed. +The second pastoral conference meeting was held at Etago in Kisii Hotel. +Up to this time since the year 2000-2006 in Kenya, God has blessed us with six congregation in Etago zone with 856 members Etago C.L.C. 128 members Kenuchi C.L.C. 98 members Chotororo C.L.C. 122 members Ritembu C.L.C. 88 members Omotembe C.L.C. 118 members Olgumii C.L.C. 108 members +These are headed by two pastors: Pastor Enosh and Pastor Fred. Men who are under teachings are: Japheth Ayunga, Emmanuel Ondara, John Mochama
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Pastor Koenig
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B.A.S.I.C. Christmas letter
December, 24, 2006
May each of you have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year under His loving hand. Isaiah 42: 1-2 Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My spirit on Him, He will bring forth justice to the nations.
That Which Shines In the Darkness Is. 49: 6… I will give You as a Light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.
Is. 7:14 Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Pointing Towards Heaven
| The Christmas Tree Is. 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. |
THE THREE WISE MEN
The Gentiles
Is. 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you, For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and the glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Pastor David Koenig
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