Couples for christ chapter talk Faithfulness and Order

Couples for ChristFoundations for Christian Living

Talk No. 11:

AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE

TO EXHIBIT THE FRUIT OF

THE SPIRIT…..HOW?

(Gal 5:22)

Three Important Qualities

1. Generosity

2. Faithfulness

3. Peace

GENEROSITY

a. A Christian is a person for others

*Meets the needs of others

b. But we need the wisdom for ameaningful generosity.

* Not just give everyone whoasks

* Not just accept all requests forservice

FAITHFULNESS

a. A Christian ought to be like arock, one who can be countedon, one whose word is reliable.

b. A faithful servant (Mt. 24:45-47),Mt 25:14

c. Crucial for working together. Wemust be able to count on oneanother.

PEACE

a. Peace means “ good order”.

(1 Cor 14:33)

b. Order is necessary not so that our

lives are nailed down or regimented,

but so we can answer for ourselves.

* Not to inhibit spontaneity, but to

have the peace to be freer.

DAILY ORDER

1.The modern world presents us with the problemof having infinite possibilities, with constant choiceand decision.

a. People make no definite commitments.People have no roots.

* Take life from day to day. Be “charismatic”

b. Result: A life led and controlledcircumstances

c. For us, we have a definite direction andgoal: we’re on our way to heaven.

DAILY ORDER2. The solution: order our daily lives

a. Some situations are outside our control, and some are subject to ourcontrol.

* We bring “accidents” into God’s plan through faith

* We bring those things under our control into God’s planthrough faithfulness and order

* We should not focus on what we don’t know but on what we doknow.

b. Practically, we should make a list of priorities by areas.

* Five major areas: Family, CFC, Church, work, personal

* We should subdivide each area into 1st and 2nd priority. Perhapseven a 3rd priority

* we should aim to know ahead of time if we can do somethingbefore committing ourselves to it.

DAILY ORDER

2. The solution: order our daily lives

c. We should make a weekly and term-length(month ,year) schedule.

* Put in all the things we have to do regularly

- Block out all CFC activities

* Have a weekly planning session forourselves.

- Plan on Sunday for the rest of the week

- Review as needed and keep on track.

REORDERING OUR LIVES

Elements to Consider

1. As we enter into a life in the Lord and inCFC, we need to make changes in ourlives.

a. Growth in the Lord – completechangeover, overhaul

b. We need to reorder priorities and putmore order in our daily schedule.

* so we reflect the Lord’s priorities

* so we can be in better position to servethe Lord.

REORDERING OUR LIVES

Elements to Consider

2. Principles

a. The Lord is our first and highestpriority

* First and greatestcommandment

* We must be ready to give upeverything for Him (Mt 13:44)

REORDERING OUR LIVESElements to Consider

2. Principles

b. We need to trust in God

*Anxiety is a real enemy to a committed life (Mt6:25-33)

* God is a loving Father who has our bestinterests at heart

c. We need to strike the right balance among ourmany important activities

* Not over emphasize one to the detriment ofother

* Often we don’t have as much time foreverything as we would want. Thus, need forprioritization.

CFC Is A High Priority For Us1. We entered freely into a solemn covenant with

God. We ought to take it seriously becauseGod takes it seriously.

2. CFC can be our primary help in becoming thepersons God intends us to be.

a. A way for the Lord to be first in our lives

b. A way for us to grow in holiness andrighteousness and the fruit of the Spirit.

c. A way to learn about other priorities fromthe Christian perspective.

* Not according to the desires of ourflesh or the wisdom of the world

*CFC is a strong support environment

CFC Is A High Priority For Us

2. CFC can be our primary help in becoming thepersons God intends us to be.

d. A way of caring for the family

* CFC is a family renewal ministry

* CFC has various ministries for our children

e. A way of serving the church

* CFC is a servant to the Church and iscommitted to its renewal and strengthening

* Our members perform many services in theparishes

3. We should build our lives around our life in CFC.Block out all CFC schedules.

Aspects Of Faithfulness and Order in CFC

1. Attendance

a. A part of our covenant

b. Very necessary if we are to move on

* Fraternal care and support

* Formation courses

* The Lord speaks through sharings, prophecies, exhortationsduring our meetings

- Don’t miss the Lord’s special word for you

c. Don’t just excuse yourself on your own from meetings

* Inform your head/leader if you cannot come

* Don’t say “ I’m old enough to decide”. This is true but:

- Most of us are still young in the Lord. Informing the head willafford an opportunity to learn more about priorities in the Lord.

- We don’t lead individual lives but are part of a body. Thedecisions of one will affect the others.


1. Attendance

d. Don’t allow the blessings in your life to becomethe obstacles.

* Children

- Let go and let God

* Work/Career/Business

- Prov 10:22

* When we honor God by our right priorities, Hewill bless us.

e. Pray that the Lord will protect your CFC schedule


1. Attendance

f. Faithfulness and order includes punctuality

* shows our respect for God. We should not be latefor the time of worship which precedes every meeting.

* Shows our respect for our brethren

- We do not keep them waiting

- We do not waste their time

- We afford some time for our fellowship beforemeeting starts

* A practical tip: have ‘arrival” and “starting” times


1. Attendance

g. Acceptable nights out in CFC:

* Most would experience Church meetings to be monthly or bi-weekly.

* Meetings in CFC are necessarily more often(weekly, twice a week, thrice a week,4 times a week)

2. Service

a. There is a place in CFC for all levels of involvement

* At the lowest level, one could just be a member and not have a specific service

* However, our unique pastoral structure ( one leader couple for every five or sohousehold member-couples) necessitates the raising up of many leaders to lead households

- At any one time, about 20% of the body are leaders

- Thus, part of the vision for being a CFC member is to think in terms ofserving as leaders at sometime

- Leaders move up the “ pastoral ladder”


2. Service

b. How do we handle requests for service?

* Be open. But also consider your other priorities

* Be creative and flexible when doing service

- Overall leaders do not have to be at all events allthe time, members should not expect them to be

- You can pop in on an activity and then leave, if yourcontinued presence is not required

- it is not necessary to always be there as a couple.

c. We stress service, but we should not neglect our family.

* 1 Tim 5:8

* A well ordered family life allows us to serve. 1 Tim 3:4-5


3. Other considerations

a. it often is necessary to cut back on some fonts

* Sometimes good things (golf, socials), but necessary to makeroom for better things.

b. Get free of things running you

* Addiction to work, family, TV, sports

c. You may lose old friends

* Try to bring them to CFC. This is the way to keep therelationship going.

d. Seek out your leaders for input

*Greater wisdom and experience is available.

* have humility

Conclusion

1. We need order so that our life

would be at peace, so that we do

not neglect all the important

elements of our life, and so that we

can serve the Lord.

2. Let us be faithful to God’s call to us

and to our covenant in CFC.

Galatians 5:22

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness”

5:22 Apan ang bunga sa Espiritu mao ang gugma, kalipay, kalinaw,

pailub, pagkamapuanguron, pagkamaayo, pagkamatinumanon

Bible Verse

Mt. 24:45-47 “45 “24:45 "Nan, kinsa ba ang kasaligan ug

manggialamon nga ulipon nga maoy itudlo sa iyang agalon sapagdumala sa iyang panimalay, sa paghatag kanila sa ilangpagkaon sa hustong panahon?

24:46 Dalaygon kadtong ulipona nga sa pag-abut sa iyangagalon mahiabtan nga magabuhat sa ingon.

24:47 Sa pag-katinuod, magaingon ako kaninyo, nga igatudloniya siya nga maoy magadumala sa iyang tanang katigayonan..

Bible Verse

Mt 25:14. 25:14 ¶ "Kay mahisamakini unya sa usa ka tawo ngasa dayon na niyag langyawngadto sa laing yuta, mitawagsa iyang mga ulipon, ugkanila gipiyal niya ang iyangkatigayonan.

Bible Verse

1 Cor 14:33. 33 For God is not a

God of disorder but of peace—asin all the congregations of theLord’s people.(14:33 Kay angDios dili Dios sa kasamok,kondili sa kahusay)

Bible Verse

Mat 13:44. 13:44 ¶ "Ang gingharian sa

langit sama sa usa ka bahandi nganalubong ilalum sa usa ka uma, nga sahingkaplagan kini sa usa ka tawo, iyanggibalik paglubong; ug tungod sa iyangkalipay siya milakaw ug iyang gibaligyaang tanan niyang kabtangan, ug iyanggipalit kadtong umaha.

Bible Verse

Mt 6:25-33. "Busa, ingnon ko kamo, ayaw na kamo pagkabalaka bahin sa inyong

kinabuhi, kon unsay inyong kan-on, o unsay inyong imnon; o bahin sa inyonglawas, kon unsay inyong ibisti. Dili ba ang kinabuhi labaw pa man kay sa kalan-on, ug ang lawas labaw pa kay sa bisti? 6:26 Tan-awa ninyo ang mga langgamsa kalangitan; wala sila magpugas ni mag-ani ni maghipos ngadto sa mga dapa;apan ginapakaon sila sa inyong langit-nong Amahan. Dili ba labaw pa mankamog bili kay kanila? 6:27 Ug kinsa man kaninyoy makadugang ug usa katakna sa gitas-on sa iyang kinabuhi pinaagi sa pagkabalaka? 6:28 Ug nganongmabalaka man kamo bahin sa bisti? Palandunga ninyo ang mga lirio sakaumahan, giunsa nila sa pagtubo; wala sila magbudlay ni magkalinyas;6:29apan, suginlan ko kamo, nga bisan pa si Salomon sa tibuok niyang katahumanwala gani makabisti maingon sa usa kanila.6:30 Ug kon sa ingon gibistihan saDios ang mga tanum sa kaumahan, nga karon buhi pa apan ugma igasalibay nangadto sa hudno, dili ba kamo labaw pa nga iyang pagabistihan, O mga tawonga diyutayg pagsalig? 6:31 Busa, ayaw na kamo pagkabalaka nga manag-ingon, Ùnsa may among kan-on? o Ùnsa may among imnon? O Ùnsa mayamong ibisti?`6:32 Kay ang mga Gentil nagapangita niining tanang mgabutanga; ug ang inyong langitnong Amahan nasayud nga kamo nagakinahanglanniining tanan.6:33 Apan maoy unaha ninyo pagpangita ang gingharian ug angpagkamatarung gikan sa Dios, ug unya kining tanang mga butanga igadugang rakaninyo.

CovenantCouples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life

CovenantTrusting in the Lord’s help and guidance:

1. I shall live as a follower of Christ.

* Pray and read the Bible daily.

* Strive for holiness and Christian perfection.

2. I dedicate myself to the task of building a strong family for Christ.

* Invest myself in time and effort for home and family.

* Live out and defend the culture of life.

3. I shall be a committed and active member of Couples for Christ.

* Faithfully attend meetings and participate in community events.

* Give generously of my time and finances for the furtherance of our mission.

* Undergo all formation courses.

* Relate in love, loyalty and respect with all members of the CFC family.

4. I shall be a witness to the world of God’s love.

* Actively evangelize and do mission.

* Love and serve my parish.

* Love and care for the poor.

May the Lord Jesus Christ, with the intercession of our blessed Mother Mary, help me to faithfully live this covenant, for His greater honor and glory and for the good of my brothers and sisters.

Bible Verse

Proverbs 10:22 ¶ Angpanalangin ni Jehova,nagapadato kini; Ug siyawala magadugang ugkasubo niana.

Bible Verse

1 Tim 5:8 Ug kon adunay tawo ngawala magtagana alang sa mga iya, ilabina alang sa mga sakop saiyang kaugalingong banay, kinisiya nagalimod sa iyang pagtoo uglabi pa siyang dautan kay sa dilimagtotoo..

Bible Verse

1 Tim 3:4-5 Kinahanglan magamaayo angiyang pagdumala sa iyang kaugalingongpanimalay, nga magadumala sa iyang mgaanak aron sila magamasinugtanon ugmagamatinahuron sa tanang paagi;

3:5 kay kon ang usa ka tawo dili makamaonga magdumala sa iyang kaugalingongpanimalay, unsaon man niya sa pagpakatagadsa iglesia sa Dios?

Spiritual

Couples for christ chapter talk Faithfulness and Order