Fellowship – Speaking Away
Lesson 18: Speaking Away
Introduction
Good public speakers are few and far between. The United Kingdom boasts some 18,000 members; yet if you were to ask who the good public speakers were, then most of that 18,000 would list the same few speakers. That means that every one of those few are extremely busy.
In Tanzania, we have the extreme end of this. If you were to list the good public speakers then we would come to maybe five to ten across the entire country. Invariably most of those are also recording brethren of their own Ecclesias and play an important role during every meeting. The result of this combined with the very small Ecclesias is that either an Ecclesia will have to week after week sit through some of the most awful Bible addresses by the same speaker every time or Ecclesias have to rely on materials produced in the UK.
An exhortation for every day of the year can be found here https://www.christadelphian.or.tz/materials/literature/exhortation – the only problem is, these exhortations are all written in English, and may not be applicable to the current climate.
There are also exhortations that are circulated via the monthly newsletter. Whilst in Swahili sadly, the newsletter exhortations are very short and are often repeated.
In this article we attempt to set out some solutions to these ongoing problems.
Mutual Improvement classes
One very good solution to this problem is to make more good speakers available. And, interestingly good speaking is something that can be learnt. Mutual improvement classes have been going on around the world for many years, and this is something that can be learnt even in isolation. The publication “Shule ya Manabii” (ISBN: 978-1-291-53255-5) is one such book that will guide any willing learning about how to become a useful speaker.
Teaching teachers how to speak is one of the main aims of mutual improvement. It is hoped that schools of the prophets will in the future be run from the new building complex in Mbeya. Contact the recording Brother in Mbeya to see if any of these are being run.
General idea
The general idea of this is such that we can build up a good number of good public speakers. These public speakers can then travel around the country speaking at various Ecclesias. Essentially they could give the same Bible talk 52 times, if they attended 52 different Ecclesias (one for each week in a year). Whilst this means that the individual will have to do a lot of travelling; it also
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takes a great deal of pressure off the speaking Brother who has to prepare the talks
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it means more time allocated to preparing each talk
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it means Ecclesias will not get board with the same speaker week in week out
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it encourages unity amongst the Ecclesias
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it reduces the risk of wrong ideas creeping in
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it enables communications and transport of packages
Your own Ecclesial
If you are to travel to another Ecclesia to serve them for a day, then it is important to note that you are leaving your own Ecclesia alone to fend for themselves. If you are the only adequate Brother to perform certain tasks in your own meeting then you should not leave them to themselves unless you can come up with an alternative arrangement.
One obvious way to resolve this is a reciprocal arrangement. Suppose if you will, that the speaker of Arusha is to speak in Mbeya next Sunday. Whilst this is happening Arusha meeting loses their speaker and have no meeting. This would not do. Instead whilst the speaker of Arusha goes to Mbeya; then the speaker of Mbeya can go to Arusha on the same day. Both Mbeya and Arusha benefit. If you do this, and I have experienced this; you might have to do more than just speak. You may find yourself fully replacing the responsibilities of a recording brother or similar, in the meeting that you are visiting. And, why not. Providing you have been given all the information that is required, there should be no recourse to not accept this.
Getting paid
Some have attempted over the years to make a career out of their ability to speak well. Whilst you are providing a service to an Ecclesia, we do not have a paid for ministry. We do all as a giving of thanks to our Heavenly Father for His free gift to us. We have freely received from Him “all things”, should we not freely give back “all things”. We do not get paid for our ministrations.
Whilst this is understood, it has to be acknowledged that bus fares and travel food do become an issue. Nobody can afford a large bus fare each week; and food whilst travelling, and phone vouchers get extremely expensive. In such instances it is common for the host Ecclesia to provide a freewill gift to cover such expenditure. It must be stressed that this is not a payment for services rendered. This is a gift. If the host Ecclesia cannot afford such a thing, then it should not be expected.
We remember how the Apostle Paul laboured in making tents so that he could afford to preach in Corinth (Acts 18:3). He even had to work during the night to keep up with costs (2 Thess. 3:8) so that he would not be “chargeable to any”.
Internet
Bus fares and travelling are expensive. Many Ecclesias are not going to be able to afford a gift of a busfare and it is often even harder for an individual to come by funds. The internet to an extent has provided a means whereby this travelling problem may be overcome.
Most of us have a mobile phone with internet enabled on it. This was not true maybe only a few years ago; but it is increasingly true today. Almost everyone of us will have had some form of internet based conversation. Some of the facilities now available even have video capabilities. E.g. Zoom, Skype, Whats-app etc. These provide us with a means whereby a speaker who is sitting in Arusha can be speaking at his own meeting whilst an Ecclesia in Tobora, and an Ecclesia in Ivungwe can all be listening to him speak at the same time as his own Ecclesia. What a wonderful use of this new technology.
When things go wrong
This is all very wonderful, but from time to time things may go wrong.
Bus breakdowns
The most common issue with travelling even in these days of tarred roads, is bus breakdowns. I have travelled a great deal in Tanzania. The one thing that we have come to rely upon is that at some point during our trip we will have a bus breakdown. Jumping from one vehicle to another always means paying a fare all over again. There is not always a kindly pickup that we can jump on the back of. We have even had to get a guesthouse accommodation over night; and in the worst case, we slept in the ditch over-night.
Knowing that bus breakdowns will occur is something that you will need to prepare for. A well charged mobile phone (with credit) has become essential for such a trip. At least, with this you are able to inform those waiting for you, that you may be late. Always start your journey early, with the expectation that your journey will take a great deal longer than the time estimates that are advertised. It is better to be many hours early, than to be far too late arriving.
Dangers of elitism
The Apostle Paul faced this problem in Corinth. (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4). It got to the point where some of the good orators became idolized and almost worshiped themselves in their own capacity. This is not something that should be encouraged. Quite the contrary.
The other possibility is that the speaker themselves become “puffed up” (1 Corinthians 4:18-19; 5:2; 13:4; Colossians 2:18). This is when a speaker begin to think too highly of themselves. They begin to worship “the work of their own hands” (Isaiah 2:8; Jeremiah 1:16; 25:14; Acts 7:41). This is no less idolatry than carving an image. We should not boast in our own knowledge of the scriptures, for doing so shows that we “know not the scriptures” (Mark 12:24).
Accommodation
Travelling a long distance will regularly require us to seek overnight accommodation. Where-ever possible this should be accommodated by staying with Brothers and Sisters in their own homes or within the Ecclesial hall. It is unfortunate that many of the Ecclesial halls have been built without beds inside. This can easily be remedied by the addition of a mattress or two in a back room. Don't expect to sleep; Christadelphians are well known for their much talking - often late into the night.
Differing traditions
Every Ecclesia has slightly differing practices. Some play a drum whilst singing their hymns, others may have a stringed instrument or an electronic keyboard, others will sing unaccompanied. There will be many things that differ to your home Ecclesia. Take care not to try to impose your Ecclesial traditions onto an Ecclesia that you are visiting. There are of course times of exception to this. We might notice a tradition that opposes the scriptures. In which case we should quietly and harmoniously point this out to one of the local Brethren (Matthew 15:2-3; Mark 7:5-9, 13; Galatians 1:14; Matthew 18).
Know their programme
When you visit another Ecclesia, always ensure that you know their timetable. It may be that they start their breaking of bread service two hours earlier than you do. It would not be a good thing to turn up to the service two hours later than expected.
The order of service will almost definitely be different to yours. There is likely to be good reason for all these things. There is an Ecclesia in Mumbles, U.K. that have their bread and wine before the Exhortation. They do this because many of their members work on the lifeboat services, and should they be called away then at least they will have obeyed the Lords command first. When I first went to the Mumbles meeting I thought this was very odd, as we break bread after we have had an exhortation. But once I knew the background to this, I realized how very sensible this order of service was for the Mumbles Ecclesia.
Greetings
Whenever we travel to another meeting, it is important that we travel with the various greetings of our Brothers and Sisters. Your home members may want you to carry letters and packages to the Ecclesia that you are visiting. This is commonly known as “the Ecclesial grapevine”. And, very helpful and encouraging it is too.
Introductions
When you visit another Ecclesia it is important that they know who you are. If it is the case that we are not known in the Ecclesia that we are visiting then it is common to carry a letter of commendation (2 Corinthians 3:1) from the arranging brethren of our home Ecclesia to the Ecclesia that we are visiting. This letter will introduce us to those we are to meet with, and it will endorse that we are who we say that we are.
Some visitors will have come long distances to join with an Ecclesia. This is particularly true of speaking Brethren. It is good practice to welcome these visitors. We do not welcome just anyone into our congregations. If a Brother is visiting from far it is good practice to change your Ecclesial planned programme and invite the visitor to speak instead of the planned local Brother, but only if you know that the visitor is capable of speaking well. This should be agreed with the local Brother before making the invitation and your elders, as you do not want to upset the local Brother, and you may not know the visitors capabilities. If you do not know whether a brother is baptised or not ask to see his letter of recommendation from his Ecclesia. Check that this letter has the Ecclesial stamp upon it.
Some Ecclesias will ask visitors to stand up and say a little about themselves at this point, others do not follow this practice. Local traditions apply here, and should be adhered to. The registrar will normally write the names of visitors in a book in case of a military tribunal.
If you know of any illnesses or news of a fraternal nature, then this is the appropriate point to make such announcements. The welcome should be short and to the point.
Example: “This morning we welcome Bro X, Sis. Y from Mbeya and the assistant linkman Carl Hinton from UK to join with us in partaking of the emblems at the appointed time. Our Brother Hinton will exhort us this morning in place of Bro. Z. We regret that sister W cannot join us this morning as her uncle has died, and she has travelled to Dar-es-salaam to visit relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time”.
All equal
Visiting missionaries from the West are just men and women like you and I. They are all simple fallible humans. Interesting to hear what they have to say, but we must be like those of Berea - “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11).
The same applies for any Brother that speaks at our meeting place whether a European or a local. None are infallible. If we want to be in the Kingdom then they are not the ones that are going to get us there, they cannot do all the work for us. We cannot be “spoon fed” eternal life. We all have to work ourselves - “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12). That means reading the Bible for ourselves. That means sharing our thoughts with our Brothers and Sisters that means talking to one another about the Word of God. That means altering our way of living so that it aligns with a Christ-like character. We have to have the four faces of the Cherubim (Ezekiel 1).
When we join in fellowship what do we talk about? We seem to talk about anything and everything but the Bible. The football, the weather, the traffic, the latest gossip… How much better would it be if after the Brother finished his Bible talk that we continued by discussing what he has spoken about, and debate “whether those things are so”. Our meetings are not just social gatherings, they should help those attending to change their mode of life so that they gain moral attitudes.
Solomon's Judgment Hall
Solomon's Judgment Hall was large and lofty, its walls lined with cedar, and housing a large canopied throne of ivory overlaid with gold and flanked by lions. Here Solomon handed down his royal judgments (1 Kings 7:11), prefiguring the greater splendour and solemnity of Christ, of whom it is said that he shall have "a great white throne" of judgment (Revelation 20:11).
Adjacent to the Hall of Judgment and linked with the great "House of the Forest of Lebanon" was the Hall of pillars where interviews of business or state receptions were held.
The fame of Solomon had soon spread throughout the empires of the world, and in the area of Sheba it was reported to the Queen of this wise King reigning in Israel. As more and more details of the glory of his Kingdom came to her she became more desirous of visiting it to see for herself the Kingdom of Israel and to speak with King Solomon.
Sheba is the area of land at the south eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, a place that was noted for its spices. Archaeologists tell us that it was a wealthy kingdom with many great and glorious buildings.
In Solomon's Judgment Hall rows of massive square cedar pillars supported the roof of the "House of the Forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:1-5). On the paneled walls hung 500 shields of gold (1 Kings 10:16, 17) used for the ceremonial processions of the King, the spectacle of which so impressed the visiting Queen of Sheba. Even the drinking vessels and plates, displayed in this splendid house, were of gold or of "pure gold". As for silver, "it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon"(v. 21). An even greater glory will characterize the splendour of the royal buildings in the age to come (see Isaiah 60:11, 13, 17).
The Queen of Sheba decided to ask many difficult questions of Solomon to test him and see if what she had heard was true. To her astonishment she found that Solomon could answer all her queries (1 Kings 10:1-3). Not only did she speak with Solomon, but she saw the Temple, visited the house of Solomon, saw the people who served him; and also noted Solomon's wise government of Israel and the magnificent way everything was done. The whole of what she saw left her "breathless" (v.5). After all this she told Solomon that she had not heard half of all the glory of the Kingdom. She went on to say, "Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be Yahweh thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Yahweh loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice" (v.8-9).
The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon many costly presents of gold, precious stones and spices, and returned to her own country.
A greater than solomon. Luke 11:31.
When Jesus was speaking to the people in his day he reminded them how that the Queen of Sheba came to hear the wisdom of Solomon and gave glory to Yahweh because of what she saw. So likewise Jesus, who is greater than Solomon, has spoken of the wisdom of God, and there will be Gentiles who will hear and listen to him. Also as the Queen of Sheba came with gifts to Solomon, so nations will do again in the future, when Jesus will establish a glorious Kingdom in Jerusalem, and the Gentiles will bring their wealth to him (cp. Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 60:9).
So Solomon and his reign foreshadow (or give us a picture in a small way) of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. This is shown in the following comparison:
The golden age of Israel's history was due in part to the thorough preparation of David and more especially to the blessings of Yahweh in approval of Solomon's unselfish request for wisdom and understanding. Under a powerful yet wise administrator the extensive kingdom was consolidated. Peace at home and abroad was experienced by a happy and secure people. Gentiles were attracted to the worship of Yahweh, all of which are features of an even greater Kingdom, to be established by the Son of God.
By God’s grace we will be permitted to visit others like the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon. Not to see a house of mans making, but a temple made without hands (Mark 14:58; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6; 2 Corinthians 6:16). In so doing, we will surely behold “marvelous things” from the Word (Job 5:9) and share together in “good conversation” (James 3:13; 1 Peter 3:16).
This glory of Solomon was to be short-lived. Solomon was promised wonderful blessings, but if the king and his people forsook Yahweh's commandments, He would severely punish them. Solomon's wealth, weapons and women caused his tragic decline.
We too are promised the blessings of the Father if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:24-34). If we avoid getting caught up with the cares of this life by a humble devotion to God in every aspect of our daily lives, we can look forward in joyous expectation to participating in the glorious Kingdom of the greater than Solomon. Therefore let us "remember now our Creator in the days of our youth," and "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccles. 12:1, 13).