Paolo Punzalan.com

“I just don’t think that’s really for me.  I don’t believe it is the right thing for me to do now.”

This is a summary of some of the people I’ve engaged in conversation with regarding the message of Christ.

This is the quintessential attitude of the post modern generation:

“What is truth?

It is that which conforms to what actually is.”

What then is “is”?

That now depends who defines it.

That is where we see the difference between Theology and Religion.

Theology begins with God while religion begins with man.

“I am the way, THE TRUTH and the life. (John 14:6)

Only when we find Jesus is when we truly find the truth.

After attending Sticky Church conference with Ferdie and Crickette, Ferdie had a good top 10 blog to summarize our time there.  Click here to read his post.

Here’s my top 5 why I like Ferdie’s no. 10 in his post (sermon-based small group).

1. People who come to church tend to be more attentive since the message is going to be discussed in the small groups that week.

2. Because it will be a point of discussion during the week, there’s increased note taking during the message.

3. At the small group meetings, interaction and discussion will crank up because they’ve listened in to the message and had the time to process it.

4. Although the small group material will not be a regurgitation of last weekend’s message because it will focus on a different set of verses to study, the more important focus will go to application and making sure the Word is lived out.

5. Because we meet at our local churches for the Word during Tuesdays and again with the Metro Manila Pastors on Wednesdays, the sermon kitchen is full with ingredients to come up with an excellent Word for the weekend coupled with a small group material to boot.

Really looking forward to what God will do in the next several months.  God is phenomenally good.

Read an excellent blog by Steve Murrell about discipleship…

Got the following questions from someone I do not know who is writing a paper for a class about whether discipleship “has value in today’s context.”

Here are my quick answers to his questions:

Q: What is a disciple?
A: A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, “fishes” for people and does this in fellowship with other disciples, while carrying a cross.
(Discipleship is not complicated. Difficult, yes. Complicated, no. It is so simple that a carpenter described it to uneducated fishermen 2000 years ago in one sentence – Matthew 4:19.)

Q: Do you have to be saved to be a disciple?
A: Yes. But since evangelism is the starting point of making disciples, the discipleship process starts long before one is saved.

Q: Are all Christians disciples? If not, what are the differences?
A: All should be, but unfortunately not all are following Jesus, fishing for people or fellowshipping with others. And not all are carrying a cross.

To read the rest of the article, click here…

I received an email a couple of weeks ago and I just wanted to share this because it gives us a picture of how awesomely God moves in the lives of individuals.

Paul says in 2 Cor. 3:16, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

It’s amazing when someone turns to God and what happens when He opens a heart… similar thing that happened to many of us…

“This year’s father’s day, I took my friend up on her invitation to go to your church…  I didn’t know it but after that Sunday and the Sunday that followed and the next and the next, I was never the same again. I am presently 24 years old. I went to a strict all-girl school yet rebelled against my parents, indulged in wild parties, …  The last time I read a Bible was when I was 7 years old (yes, 7 years old).

But I lost all of it in my adolescent years as curiosity got the better of me, along with the desire to conform to the sinful ways of the youth today. Though I remained fearful of God, I didn’t feel anything to Him. I had nothing but a “crisis faith” and “head faith”. I simply didn’t know Him. I saw Him as just a powerful stranger, clad in all holiness up above, in control of my life.

However, after those Sundays that I spent in your church, there is a great awakening in me. I am in touch again with the faith and innocence I once had when I was young. More importantly I have come to know him in a way I have never had before. I am so overwhelmed with this new recognition of Him that when I praise and worship Him my heart feels like exploding, unable to handle His greatness.”

Every Wednesday, Metro Manila Pastors meet to pray, strategize and plan for our churches.  As many of you know, we are one church in multiple venues.

During the prayer time, Edgar Gorre (senior pastor of Quezon City) shared something powerful from John 2:1-11.

He talked about the first miracle Jesus performed at the wedding in Cana.  Pastor Edgar shared this in the context of our 25th year celebration.

1. “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)

This was Mary’s instruction to the servants.

We are called to do what Jesus says.  His word.  Our command.

This is our every day desire – to do whatever He tells us.

2. “You saved the best till now.” (John 2:10)

The master of the banquet was surprised that the second batch of wine was better than the first.

With God, the best is always yet to come.  He surprises you at the beginning and yet He has something even better after.

God’s shown us 25 years of His faithfulness, and for sure, He has something greater in store for us in the next 25 years.

God’s shown you His love and faithfulness?  Remember, the best is yet to come.

3. “He thus revealed his glory…” (John 2:11)

As a result, Jesus revealed His glory and because of that, His disciples’ faith was built.

Application for us ?  Jesus takes responsibility for a life submitted to obey Him.  Through this, God ultimately gets the glory.