Handling Offense

web-admin September 13, 2017

September 13, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Erel Villanueva)

Topic: Handling Offense

“God desires peace, unity, and reconciliation within us.”

“We are to grow in the love of God.”

“How to win a brother and how to handle offense.”

Luke 17:1 – Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

“We cannot avoid offense”

Offense – a stumbling block; a cause to sin; transgression of the law.

Mark 4:16-17 – These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

Displeased – Indignant – Resentful – Fall Away => because they did not settle it in their hearts.

Philippians 1:9-11 – And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

“Have time to read the Word of God to know the Love of God.”

The Family of God: Out To Win The Straying Brother

web-admin September 10, 2017

September 10, 2017, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 18)
Theme: “The Family of God: Out To Win The Straying Brother”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Love should be the motive in how we deal with our brother.”

Ezekiel 33:7-11

Romans 13:8-14

Psalm 119:33-40

Matthew 18: 12-20

1.(v.12-14) God cares for all, even the straying.

2.(v.15-18) God heals broken relationships just as much as broken bodies.

3.(v.19-20) God loves and empowers unity.

The Family of God: With Minds Set On His Interests

web-admin September 3, 2017

September 3, 2017, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 17)
Theme: “The Family of God: With Minds Set On His Interests”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“We should want to please Christ and not to offend Him.”

Jeremiah 15:12-21 – God is willing to bless His people if we abide in His law.

Romans 12: 9-21 – The things we say we believe, must be lived out in our life.

Psalm 26:1-8

Matthew 16: 21-27

1.(v.21-23) Being mindful of the things of men more than the things of God offends Christ.

2.(v.24-27) To consider heaven’s rewards more than this world’s rewards pleases God.

The Promises of God

web-admin August 30, 2017

August 30, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: The Promises of God

God’s Promise for His Chosen People

Deuteronomy 7:6-9 – For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2 Corinthians 1:20 – For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

The Family of God: With Authority from Heaven

web-admin August 27, 2017

August 27, 2017, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 16)
Theme: “The Family of God: With Authority from Heaven”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Who Christ is to us will determine how we will live or how we live for Christ”

Isaiah 51: 1 – 6

Romans 12: 1 – 8

Psalm 138

Matthew 16: 13 – 20

1.(v.13-16) Who is Jesus Christ to us?

2.(v.17-20) Knowing who Christ is, will allow us to walk in His Authority.

The Family of God: With the Faith for Works of Healing

web-admin August 20, 2017

August 20, 2017, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 15)
Theme: “The Family of God: With the Faith for Works of Healing”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“As His Mercy reaches towards us, our faith should reach out towards Him.”

Isaiah 56:1-8

Romans 11:25-32

Psalm 67

Matthew 15:21-28

1.(v.21-23) God’s Mercy opens the way to Him.

2.(v.24-26) Faith with Humility is how we respond to His Mercy

3.(v.27-28) Great faith perseveres in holding on to His unfailing mercies.

“Faith for works of healing is also the faith for the meeting of every need.”

“God’s mercy extends to those who are willing to accept His covenant.”

“God is always willing to forgive anyone who is willing to return to Him in humility and repentance.”

The Family of God: Against Contrary Winds Prevailing

web-admin August 13, 2017

August 13, 2017, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 14)
Theme: “The Family of God: Against Contrary Winds Prevailing”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Faith in God will allow you to soar above the storms of life.”

Jonah 2:1-9

Romans 10:6a-11

Psalm 29:1-4; 10-11

Matthew 14:22-33

1.(v.22-27) Trust that the Lord is with you in the middle of the storm.

2.(v.28-33) Look and keep looking at the Lord even when the storm grows stronger; even when problems become complicated.

“As believers, we need to establish a relationship with our Father; we need to stay in His presence.”

“In the middle of your problems, God is giving you strength.”

“The presence of problems does not mean God’s absence.”

Faith – is the confidence in God’s ability to care for you.

Fear – confidence in the enemy’s ability to destroy you.

“The Power of God can only be received and operated on Faith in God.”

The Family of God : From the Mountain to the People

web-admin August 6, 2017

August 6, 2017, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 13)
The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Theme: “The Family of God: From the Mountain to the People”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“We are to ascend to God, that we might descend with God.”

Genesis 12:1-4a

2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Psalm 33:4-5;18-22

Matthew 17:1-9

“Spend more time with God.”

“Ascend to His Presence and descend with His Presence.”

“Change our values for God’s values”

1. (v.1-3) Let us go up to the presence of the Lord.

2. (v.4-5) We are transformed as we focus on the Lord (as we encounter Christ).

3. (v.6-9) We’re to bring His Presence and Power as we go to the world.

Psalm 73:28 – But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 139:17-18 – How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

John 17:3 – And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Hebrews 10:19-23 – Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Family of God: From Their Treasure,Things Old and New

web-admin July 31, 2017

July 30, 2017, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 12)
Theme: “The Family of God: From Their Treasure,Things Old and New”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Let’s consider the Kingdom of God as our most valuable treasure.”

1 Kings 3:5-12

– God is pleased when we put His Kingdom first in our life.

Romans 8:26-30

– God sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve His Kingdom well.

Psalm 119:123-135

Matthew 13:44-52

1.(v.44-46) Let your treasure be the Kingdom of God.

2.(v.47-52) Let’s not run away from the Lord’s dragnet(mercy) stay there until the end.

The Holy Spirit : Our Divine Enabler

web-admin July 26, 2017

July 26, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Erel Villanueva)

Topic: The Holy Spirit : Our Divine Enabler

“The Holy Spirit gives us the divine power that will enable us to serve the Lord and fulfill His plans and purposes.”

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Luke 4:1 – Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

Luke 4:14;18 – Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region… “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”

Witness = “Martus” = “Martyr” – being a witness by His death; people who are willing to die to what they believe and see about Jesus.

“The power of the Holy Spirit will only work in our lives if we are willing to die of our own self; willing to be a ‘Martyr’ and give our all to God.”

“We have to settle the issue of Lordship in our lives then we can experience the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Family of God : In The Kingdom of their Father

web-admin July 23, 2017

July 23, 2017, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 11)
Theme: “The Family of God: In The Kingdom of their Father”
Homily by Fr. Fernando Ilustre

“We are chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, special people to God. Whom He has taken out of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of Light.”

Isaiah 44: 1 – 8

Romans 8: 12 – 18

Psalm 139: 1 – 10

Matthew 13: 36 – 43

We, as the Kingdom of God

web-admin July 19, 2017

July 19, 2017 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Fernando Ilustre)

Topic: We, as the Kingdom of God

“We as God’s people, are the Kingdom. We are the Kingdom of God.”

Revelation 1:6 – and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 – And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

“We are kings, God has placed us into the Kingdom of Light – We are the Kingdom.”

“Jesus is the Head and we are the body of Christ – We are the Kingdom.”

Hebrews 7:25-26 – Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

“Jesus always lives to make intercession for His Body and that we are to manifest the Kingdom of God.”

I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING