SIO WASIKIAO, BALI WATENDAO.

SIO WASIKIAO, BALI WATENDAO.

1.      Ni kwa nini ahadi ilipewa Ibrahimu ya kuwa yeye na uzao wake watairithi nchi?

“Kwa sababu Ibrahimu alisikia sauti yangu,akayahifadhi maagizo yangu,na amri zangu,na hukumu zangu,na sheria zangu.” Mwanzo 26:5.

2. Ni na nani ndio Bwana ataweka agano, na kumuonyesha rehema?

“Basi jueni ya kuwa BWANA,Mungu wenu,ndiye Mungu;Mungu mwaminifu,ashikaye agano lake na rehema kwao wampendao,na kushika amri zake hata vizazi elfu.” Kumbukumbu la Torati 7:9.

3. Ni kwa nani ndiyyo Kristo anaelezea baraka?

       “Lakini yeye alisema, Afadhali, heri walisikiao neno la Mungu na kulishika.” Luka 11:28.

4. Je wote wasemao,’Bwana, Bwana’ wtaokolewa mwishowe?

     “Si kila mtu aniambiaye, Bwana, Bwana, atakayeingia katika ufalme wa mbinguni;” Mathayo 7:21.

5. Basi nani ataruhusiwa kuingia?

“Si kila mtu aniambiaye, Bwana, Bwana, atakayeingia katika ufalme wa mbinguni; bali ni yeye afanyaye mapenzi ya Baba yangu aliye mbinguni.” Mathayo 7:21.

6. Ni visababu gani wengi watatoa katika siku hiyo kuu?

“Wengi wataniambia siku ile, Bwana, Bwana, hatukufanya unabii kwa jina lako, na kwa jina lako kutoa pepo, na kwa jina lako kufanya miujiza mingi?” Mathayo 7:22.

7. Ni jibu gani watapokea?

“Ndipo nitawaambia dhahiri, Sikuwajua ninyi kamwe; ondokeni kwangu, ninyi mte­ndao maovu.” Mathayo 7:23.

8. Watiifu wamefananishwa na nini?

“Basi kila asikiaye hayo maneno yangu, na kuyafanya, atafananishwa na mtu mwenye akiIi, aliyejenga nyumba yake juu ya mwamba.” Mathayo 7:24.

9. Wale wasikiao neno, bali hushindwa kutii wamefananishwa na nini?

“Na kila asikiaye hayo maneno yangu asiyafanye, atafananishwa na mtu mpumbavu, aliyejenga nyumba yake juu ya mchanga.” Mathayo 7:26.

10. Ni nani ndio Paulo anasema watahesabiwa haki?

“Kwa sababu sio wale waisikiao sheria walio wenye haki mbele za Mungu, bali ni wale waitendao sheria watakaohesabiwa haki.” Warumi 2:13.

KUAMINI KATIKA YESU.

KUAMINI KATIKA YESU.

1. Nini ndio nabii wa Agano la kale alitabiri kuhusu Kristo? 

“ Isaya 11:10.

2. Ni vipi mtume alielezea unabii huu?

“Na tena lsaya anena, Litakuwako shina la Yese, Naye aondokeaye kuwatawala Mataifa; Ndiye Mataifa watakayemtumaini.” Warumi 15:12.

3. Mitume waliomuamini Kristo kwanza, walikuwa wawe akina nani?

“Nasi katika huyo tupate kuwa sifa ya utukufu wake, sisi tuliotangulia kumwekea Kristo tumaini letu.” Waefeso 1:12.

4. Nini ndio Waefeso walifanya waliposikia ujumbe wa kweli?

“Nanyi pia katika huyo mmekwisha kulisikia neno la kweli, habari njema za wokovu wenu; tena mmekwisha kumwamini yeye, na kutiwa muhuri na Roho yule wa ahadi aliye Mtakatifu” Fungu la 13,sehemu ya kwanza.

5. Ni matokeo gani walipokea kutokana na ukweli waliouamini?

     “Nanyi pia katika huyo mmekwisha kulisikia neno la kweli, habari njema za wokovu wenu; tena mmekwisha kumwamini yeye, na kutiwa muhuri na Roho yule wa ahadi aliye Mtakatifu” Fungu la 13,sehemu ya mwisho.

6. Ni kwa nani ndio injili inakuwa nguvu za Mungu?

“Kwa maana siionei haya Injili; kwa sababu ni uweza wa Mungu uuletao wokovu, kwa kila aaminiye,                      kwa Myahudi kwanza, na kwa Myunani pia.” Warumi 1:16.

7. Na ikiwa mtu atasitasita katika imani yake au kuamini; anachukuliwaje na Bwana?

“Lakini mwenye haki wangu ataishi kwa imani; Naye akisita-sita, roho yangu haina furaha naye.” Waebrania 10:38.

8. Ni kupitia kwa nini ndio mtu anapata ushindi juu ya dunia?

“Kwa maana kila kitu kilichozaliwa na Mungu huushinda ulimwengu; na huku ndiko kushinda kuushindako ulimwengu, hiyo imani yetu.” 1 Yohana 5:4.

Dugger-Porter Debate.

LESSONS FROM DUGGER-PORTER DEBATE:

In our day to day life we’re engaged in debates over a number of issues both religious and secular. Elder A.N.Dugger has been said to be one of the greatest debaters in the recent history of the COG, severally I’ve gone through his debates the famous one being Dugger- Porter debate: This was a written discussion on the Sabbath and the Lord’s day between elder Dugger (a Sabbath keeper) and elder W.C.Porter (an evangelist of Church of Christ-Sunday keeper).

·         In a debate on Biblical doctrine, one must be well versed in the Bible. On proposing that Sabbath is to be kept in this age, elder Dugger opened his affirmation with the book of Gen.2:1-3 and goes on to quote other 47 Biblical verses. The trend continues with Bible verses all through the debate.

·         Other proves are acceptable in a Biblical debate- In his first affirmation elder Dugger quotes other sources of information than the Bible: He quotes from the following sources, Webster Dictionary, Greek writings and a book by the name ‘The weekly cycle’ throughout the debate other sources are quoted to support an argument.

·         In a debate one might decide to play treacherously, this is evident in elder W.C.Porter’s first negative. Even after over 40 Biblical verses, Porter still asks for proof! There are other incidences of treachery in the debate, but this doesn’t help the debater but expose him as insincere person.

·         In a debate, questions raised need to be answered and or else they’ll haunt the respondent. This is evident in a number of questions that both elder Dugger and Porter didn’t answer and ultimately exposed some of their weaknesses.

·         In a debate it’s good to keep an eye on the subject and not sideshows. In his 1^st affirmation elder Porter mentions that Sunday should be kept holy because Jesus resurrected on Sunday. If most of us could be in elder Dugger’s position, we could have taken that chance to ‘teach’ Porter the real day of crucifixion and resurrection. Dugger kept an eye on the subject matter and waited till his final submissions to respond to the resurrection issue.

·         In a debate one might be desperate to prove his case and thus ends up in ‘name calling’ or attacking the personality of his opponent. Such a move is aimed at intimidating the opponent and thus silencing him. This is something that a good and sincere debater should refrain from.

·         In any debate, it’s good to know when to quit. Some debates are moderated by a neutral person and thus will determine when to end it. In unmoderated debates, once ‘intimidation’, cycle debate (repeat of points), many unanswered questions etc starts showing up then know that it’s time to hang up.

Brethren these are just but a few of many lessons that I learnt from that book, look for a copy and you can learn more.

Be Blessed.

MAPENZI YA MUNGU KUTUSAMEHE.

MAPENZI YA MUNGU KUTUSAMEHE.

1. Ni kwa njia gani Mungu ameshughulika na wenye dhambi?

  “Hakututenda sawasawa na hatia zetu wala hakutulipa kwa kadiri ya maovu yetu” Zaburi 103:10.

2. Ni kwa nini ametushugulikia kwa namna hii?

  “Kama vile baba awaoneavyo watoto wake ndivyo Bwana anavyowahurumia wamchao, kwa maana yeye anatujua umbo letu na kukumbuka ya kuwa sisi tu mavumbi” Zaburi 103:13, 14.

3. Mungu yu tayari kufanya nini kwa wote wamwitao?

  “Kwa maana wewe Bwana u mwema, umekuwa tayari kusamehe na mwingi wa fadhili kwa watu wote wakuitao” Zaburi 86:5.

4. Wakati Ibrahimu alimwomba Mungu kusamehe Sodoma ikiwa angepata humo watu kumi watakatifu, Bwana alisemaje?

  “Akasema Bwana asiwe na hasira nami nitasema mara hii tu, huenda wakaonekana humo kumi? Akasema, sitaharibu kwa ajili ya hao kumi” Mwanzo 18:32.

5. Ni ombi gani alilofanya Musa kwa niaba ya Israeli?

  “Nakusihi usamehe uovu wa watu hawa kama ukuu wa rehema yako ulivyo kama ulivyowasamehe watu hawa tangu huko Misri hata hivi sasa” Hesabu 14:19.

6. Ni jibu gani Mungu alilolitoa muda huo huo?

  “Bwana akasema  mimi nimewasamehe kama neno lako lilivyokuwa” Hesabu 14:20.

7. Wakati Daudi alipoungama dhambi yake kuu kwa Mungu, alipokea majibu gani?

  “Nilikujulisha dhambi yangu, wala sikuuficha upotovu wangu, nalisema nitayakiri maasi yangu kwa Bwana nawe ukanisamehe upotovu wa dhambi yangu” Zaburi 32:5.

8. Je Mungu husamehe wakati wote dhambi zinapoungamwa kwa njia mwafaka?

  “Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, Yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata atuondolee dhambi zetu, na kutusatisha na udhalimu wote”. I Yohana 1:9.

9. Je utimilifu wa msamaha huu ni kiasi gani iwapo mtu atatimiza masharti?

  “Mtu mbaya na aache njia yake, na mtu asiye haki aache mawazo yake, na amrudie Bwana naye atamrehemu na arejee kwa Mungu wetu naye atamsamehe kabisa” Isaya 55:7.

10. Ni kwa namna gani ya kipekee Mungu amedhihirisha nia yake kusamehe mwenye dhambi?

  “Bali Mungu aonyesha pendo lake yeye mwenyewe kwetu sisi, kwa kuwa Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yetu, tulipokuwa tungali wenye dhambi” Warumi 5:8.

11. Je onyesho hili la ajabu la Mungu latufanya kutumaini vipi?

  “Yeye asiyemwachilia Mwana wake mwenyewe, bali alimtoa kwa ajili yetu sisi sote, atakosaje kutuki­rimia na mambo yote pamoja naye” Warumi 8:32.

12. Ni kwa nini Mungu ametoa maafikiano haya?

  “Bwana hakawii kuitimiza ahadi yake, kama wengine wanavyokudhani kukawia, bali huvumilia kwenu, maana hapendi mtu ye yote apotee, bali wote wafikilie toba” II Petro 3:9.

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13. Wakati mwana mpotevu katika mfano alipotubu na kurudi nyumbani, baba yake alifanya nini?

  “Akaondoka, akaenda kwa babaye. Alipokuwa angali mbali, baba yake alimwona, akamwonea huruma, akaenda mbio akamwangukia shingoni, akam­busu sana” Luka 15:20.

14. Alipouliza afanywe kuwa mmoja wa watumishi, ni amri gani iliyotolewa kwa sababu ya kutubu kwake?

  “Lakini baba aliwaambia watumwa wake, Lileteni upesi vazi lililo bora, mkamvike; mtieni na pete kidoleni, na viatu miguuni; mleteni ndama yule aliyenona mkamchinje; nasi tule na kufurahi; kwa kuwa huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa, naye amefufuka; alikuwa amepotea, naye ameonekana. Wakaanza kushangilia” Luka 15:22-24.

15. Je Mungu ananuia kuwafanyia wanawe kama vile wazazi wa hapa duniani?

  “Basi, ikiwa ninyi mlio waovu mnajua kuwapa watoto wenu vipawa vyema, je! Baba aliye mbinguni hatazidi sana kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu hao wamwombao?” Luka 11:13.

16. Ni wangapi hupokea msamaha kutoka kwa Mungu?

  “…kila aombaye hupokea; naye atafutaye huona; naye abishaye atafunguliwa” Mathayo 7:8.

17. Je Mungu husahau vilio vya wale wamwitao?

  “Je mwanamke aweza kumsahau mtoto wake anyonyaye…. Naam hawa waweza kusahau  lakini mimi sitakusahau wewe” Isaya 49:15.