Electronics Addiction in Young People

 

Resource Credit : 

https://app.biblicalparenting.org/lZa12

D6 Family 2024 - The Mandate to Reach Families for Christ

D6 Family Ministry Conference 2024

Everyday : The Mandate to Reach Families for Christ

Dr Scott Turansky

https://biblicalparenting.org/d6/

Acts 16:6-34

The reasons for the Great Commission :-

Behind every person we reach out to, is a family and a group of people they are living, loving and caring for. They all need Christ's love and tranformation touch.

 

We are Family Church Retreat 2023

We are Family Church Retreat 2023

Karabrunai Resorts https://www.nexusresort.com/en 

29 - 31 May 2023

https://www.nexusresort.com/en

1st church camp after pandemic. It has been at least 5 long years 

since the last church retreat organised.

First morning, woke up to witness intense exercise 

at the beach by our eldest son, Elliot. Quite a scary photo right ?

Family has to have forgiveness for one another. 

Have to learn to wash one another's feet, now modern way, 

we used cleansing wipes to wash the feet. I got a foot massage 

espcially for my bunions simply because I asked for it. 

Family group hug at the youth session with Bel 

and its her 18th birthday today! 

Worship session at the main hall.

About 200 campers at this camp.

Twenty Ways for me to feel loved :-

1. Someone remembers my special days.
2. Someone remembers my sepcial events and offer prayers for me.
3. When I received a special message 
4. Someone offers helps in kitchen and cooking.
5. Spending time with me.
6. Having a lovely meal just because we want to. 
7. Someone calling me just to say what they think of my work
8. Having a deep conversations about personal life and life in general
9. To feel understood 
10. To be heard of my situations
11. To receive a gift to pamper myself esp for me-time
12. To go for massage and spa 
13. To blog or write down what I am grateful for
14. Show appreciation to people who I am grateful for - sharing love to others
15. Reach out to people I love and care
16. Accept compliments from others
17. Helping me to do research on topics that are of concerns and interests to me.
18. Bringing my favourite food to me when I could not go out.
19. Accpeting me trully for who I am and not criticise my flaws.
20. To read up a good write up about keen topics. 

https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/feeling-loved/

God's Ideas about Family through the lens of Marriage Relationship

Why do you think God started "family" with a marriage relationship instead of a parental relationship or a sibling relationship ?

Marriage - equal ground, not lord over one another

Sacrifical relationship 

Protective relationship

Nurturing relationship

Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, couple are one 

Husband and wife submit to God, wife submit to husband

Parental relationship is hierachy, order

Siblings - same level 

Building Blocks for building relationship within family

Complimenting

Assuring Confidence 

Comforting

Couching

Lifelong Reminders

Church Family Series: Lifelong Reminders

26 March 2017

Pr Joseph Tang

2 Peter 1:12-15

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Introduction
- Joseph and his alarms
- we are forgetful
- we need "interruptions" in our lives which can be blessings

Like alarm clocks, we need reminders to wake up, we need reminders like alarms in life. God has given us reminders and alarms, like divine timing and opportunities, if we miss it, we be left behind.

Why do we need Godly reminders?

i) Blind spot - 

We don't know the things we don't know! Need someone to tell us what we don't know, to show us our blind spots. 

ii) Forgetful - 

We are very forgetful sometimes. How could the Israelites forgot God's providence and guidance after Egypt so fast? But yet they did.

iii) Ungrateful - 

Malachi - how God argued the ungrateful nature of beings.

We come to worship to be reminded through songs, psalms and sermons and sharing about how great a God we serve.

Nature of reminders

i) Long lasting - 

Verse 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

ii) Loving reminders -

- sometimes we give reminders without bothering whether they last, but they should last
- how? Remind with love, it lasts longer; contrast with restrictions without reasoning or loving persuasion. People who gives us reminders with love are the ones who trully love us.

iii) Holy Spirit's Reminder -
Holy Spirit is in the business of reminding people of God' s doings and faithfulness in our life.

- with the help of Holy Spirit; it is Holy Spirit who will bring to mind the reminders 

Target of reminders

i) Reminding despite you know-

- reminders are because we lack doing them, not due to lack of knowledge;

Because one does not get it or do not do it, if you truly know, why didn't you do it?

It may sound like nagging, parents will keep on reminding the same things because the kids do not do it.

ii) Reminding because it's unpleasant to do-
- one reason is we find them unpleasant, annoying (like nagging), but we miss out if we brush them away without considering; younger ones, learn to listen; older ones, think abt how you remind;
- Galatians 2 - when Peter was confronted by Paul for shrinking back from table fellowship with the Gentiles; he needed a reminder; there are times when we lose sight of our purpose due to system or norm or our position/image; 

iii) Stubbornness 

Stiff neck people 

Stubbornness is like idolatry.

We refuse to accept criticism but yet we criticise freely.

Sources of reminders

i) It could come from someone lower than ourselves.

Revelations easily outdo experiences- we seek revelation more than just mere experinces in life.

ii) People can remind us but it's better if it comes from ourselves 

Psalmist often wrote: Oh my soul, .... self-reflections, seeking corrections from God.

- the best way to be reminded is when we remind ourselves
- prodigal son only repented when he came to his own senses
- the psalmist reminded himself "oh my soul, why so downcast?"
- ultimately, God is THE Source of our being reminded
- Joseph shared his experience of hearing from God during a worship time, when the Lord reminded him he had been relying on his own skills but where is the passion? Another time was during prayer meeting when God brought to his mind about tithing a sum from a love gift he received;
- these encounters revealed God cares about our relationships with him.

Conclusion
Don't stop drawing close to God. Life is so good when God is so near. May we commit our lives to Him and know His presence. Besides the nagging and nonsense, there is also the nudging from Holy Spirit. Be open to His reminders. Learn to remind ourselves and remind others.

Questions:
1) Describe an experience of timely reminder from others/self/God.

2) Talk about reminders that are still guiding your life even though the people who gave those reminders are no longer around you.

3) Godly reminders keep us close to God and in His will. It is important that we constantly receive and give such reminders. What will you do from now on to constantly get and give godly reminders? From whom will you get them? To whom will you give them?

Like-minded Community

Church Family Series:

Like-minded Community

Pr Lo Yi Ping

12 March 2017

Enrollment Service 

Phillipians 2:1-11

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippi was a cosmopolitan city. The Philippian church consists of people of diverse backgrounds and walks of life. The church was facing some strife and disunity. In order for the church community to be united Paul exhorted them to be likeminded, have the same love and to be one in spirit and purpose. How can we be likeminded in the midst of diversity? 

United by the Same Faith

To be likeminded we must have the mind of Christ to see things as he would see them and to respond as he would respond. We show the same love to others that the Lord has shown us. We are one in spirit and purpose to work together in harmony toward a common goal.

Empowered by the same spirit

By our own strength we can do nothing. When empowered by the Holy Spirit we can do all things that is in line with God's will. Even though we are given different gifts it is given by the same Spirit to edify the body of Christ.

Humbled by the same attitude of Christ Jesus

To be likeminded we must follow the humility of Jesus who was willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Jesus we should have a servant's attitude serving out of love for God and others. We can choose our attitude in life, expecting to be served or look for opportunity to serve others. 

Conclusion: When our Church and Connect Groups are like-minded and determined we can change history.

Questions

1) Share how God used someone who is different from yourself (can be a CG member) to help you grow in your walk as a disciple?

2) 1 Cor.12 mentioned different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. What are the gift(s) you received and how are you using it to edify the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Message Version :-
4-11 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.

3) Share one incident where you glorified God by having the same attitude of Christ Jesus?

Be a community with Agenda

Church family Series :

Be a community with Agenda

 Pr Janice Chin

5 March 2017

Text: Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 4:12-16

Story of a man who helped a little boy (who was too short) ring the doorbell and told to run! He didn't know what the agenda of the (naughty) little boy was! When we say someone has an agenda, it carries negative connotations, implying he has "niat jahat". I wonder what his or her agenda is? It's not always bad to have an agenda. By definition, agenda simply means underlying intentions or motives of a particular person or group. 

Let's be a community with agenda this morning. A church without an agenda or clear one would just be "Church-ianity" and playing church with a lot of activities, but without direction or conviction, and lacking a strong sense of conviction or purpose. A church with an intentional or purposeful agenda is altogether a different story. What does it really mean for us to gather at church on Sundays? What's our agenda every Sunday? What should be our agenda and priority as a church? A good and true agenda is found in Colossians 2:6-7. The agenda is to grow. Growth is a priority.

Colossians 2:6-7

(1.) Grow Yourself

2 Corinthians 3:18

 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Dying to self is so essential to growth. It's not just an event; it's a process, a process for life. We are to die for life. That's what we are called to do as followers of Jesus. There can be so little transformation and change in the midst of much busyness and activities. Could it be that we're living for ourselves? If we're living for God, we would be dying to ourselves and surely there's transformation. John 12:24; 2 Cor. 3:18. God would desire this for us and so should we. 

Pr. told the story of a family member planting something in the garden and not taking care of it and then finding it dead later. Her father, being the realist, said matter-of-factly, "Of course it died! You just planted it and left it to God, whether it grows or dies." Grow Or Die = G.O.D. (Acronym). 

Don't plant and leave to GOD - Grow Or Die ! 

Growth takes diligence and Progress must be maintained - Progress or Regress! 

Personal breakthrough takes diligence. If we desire to experience more of God, if we desire to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, it takes diligence. It takes continual choosing and conscious effort to correct one's body posture, say from a slouching posture to an upright posture. If we desire to continually grow in Christ, it takes effort and diligence. God's call is for us to grow as a people of God. Progress needs to be achieved and maintained. 

Pablo Casals, one of the greatest cellists, maintained a disciplined regimen of 5 to 6 hours of practice a day, even on the day he died. When asked why, he answered, "Because I think I'm making progress." Progress needs to be worked at. If we are not progressing, we could regress. If we track the disciples' journey with Jesus in the Gospels, they had to surrender and leave behind things. It involved surrender, death to self and resolve to grow and not fall away when things got tough.

(2.) Grow Others

2 Timothy 2:2

 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

We are called to grow one another, nurture one another. 

Learn to share life-giving thoughts, ideas, books we read.

Our call and our agenda is to grow ourselves and grow one another. This is because discipleship in community is the fullness and not just individualistic. Think about the difference between 20% of us investing in the next generation of disciples versus all of us investing. We are all disciples and disciplemakers, no matter what your job is and your stage of life or your level of spirituality. We are all called to nurture our faith and the faith of others. It's necessary because it's mutually edifying. It's always reciprocal. It's two way. Life impacts life. One way to grow ourselves and others is to learn to read or to share life-giving stuff. Reading is a good way. God's call is for us to all grow together. Grow to be like His Son. Grow to the full stature of Christ. Grow in Christlikeness. We're very much challenged to grow. It's not just a duty but a privilege to grow others.

In the bestselling book, "The Tipping Point", John Wesley's values and beliefs were captured by the author Malcolm Gladwell in this way: "If you wanted to bring about a fundamental change in people's belief and behaviour, a change that would persist and serve as an example to others, you needed to create a community around them, where those new beliefs could be practised and expressed and nurtured." We learn to hear and do. We learn to listen and obey. We spur one another on to obey God's Word. Can you imagine being pregnant and not wanting to give birth? If we want to see God's work multiply in our midst, it starts with us.

2 Timothy 2:2

Believing in disciple-making does not make disciples. Connect groups (in and of themselves) do not make disciples. Disciples make disciples. Hunger is, therefore, key. How are we together cultivating a hunger for God? Together. Can you picture it in your mind? Two means (hunger-habits). The habits of people who are spiritually hungry. Is our agenda driven by our own convenience, preference and personality or driven by God who supersedes all those? Love compels us to do remarkable things and to live distinctly different for God. I want to challenge us to have a holy discontent. To grow, we must counter our culture of individualistic privacy, convenience and comfort. 

Two hunger-habits are :-

Worship - Worship should propel us to greater obedience. To worship is to change. We must cultivate this hunger habit. That's where encounter and transformation can happen. Regardless of our preferences, are we worshiping or are we distracted on Sundays? Don't just come to " 聽 书 " but to worship the Lord and be changed by God.

Contemplation - There is contemplation in our worship. Listen to God. Meditate in the Word of God. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Active obedience takes place. Contemplate and hear His Word. Philippians 4:8 - "What is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things".

The way to overcome imperfect intentions is not by avoidance of intentions; focusing on more worthwhile intentions is how you replace unworthy ones. As a church, is our agenda driven by God or us? Let's be committed to the agenda of God. May God lead us from breakthrough to breakthrough, from glory to glory.

If we want to grow as a church, stop looking at the flaws of worship and participate and immerse in worship. When we come, in regardless, are we worshipping despite the setup or what burden our hearts? We will encounter break through when we come to really worship Him.

In worship, there is contemplation, we listen to God. 

When we over-think, we can drown in our own thoughts. 

May God speak and we listen to His voice. 

May the Lord anoint us with His power and fill us with His love, joy and peace to serve one another with good and true agenda.  

Questions

1. As church members and/or leaders, how have we been neglecting continuous growth in ourselves and/or others? Why should growth be a crucial concern for every believer in the Body, and in the world?

2. Share how you have actively obeyed God lately. What have you learnt about God?

3. What is one hunger-habit you want to cultivate with fellow disciples of KKE? Talk to your CG or leader, and do it!

Empowering

"Empowering of family"

Ephesians 6:1-9

Psalm 127:3-5

Psalm 128:3

Obedience to parents V1

Foundamental to order in society.

How children benefits through obedience to their parents.

Honoring parents V2-3

Why is honoring parents closely associated with enjoying a long life ? 

Modeling honoring our parents in our homes.

Fathers do not exasperate your children V4

Ways fathers exasperate their children

To provoke, irritate, 

Feeling of anger and feeling exasperation - cause of rebellion

Failure to listen, unrealistic high expectation 

Need time to spend time with our children

How do we communicate with your children ?

Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord V4

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Our long term aim for our children

This is the mandate by God.

Traditions we want children to keep.

Instruction is not just transfer of information like story telling, it is modeling and setting examples to our kids. 

God's mandate to fathers to train and instruction our children. 

Building a Household of faith

Sunday Sermon by Preacher Lo Yi Ping

31 July 206 

John 4, 9 &  20:31

Household of faith

Occupants In a house having complete trust and confidence in God

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for And convictions of things not seen

John 4:43-55 Jesus healed the official's son

 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

53 Then the father realised that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

How do we build faith ? 

Through believing the Word V 50

Through experiencing miracles together V 52

Through hearing V 47

Through telling John 4:39-42

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world."

John 9:1-41 Do you believe ? 

Jesus healed the blind man from birth. 

Believe Jesus is Christ and have life in his name. 

Marriage

IT Marriage, Christ & The Church

Ephesians 5:18-33

 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands 

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

What do we learn about marriage from this passage ? 

Origin of marriage is from God. V 31-32 Matt 19:4-6

This is made by God and his idea for all mankind. 

Nature of marriage V 22-25, 28-30, 33

Rev 19:7-9 Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Eternal purpose of marriage - Church as bride of Christ

Parallels between marriage and the gospel

Identity - oneness and new, your people, my people

Covenant - a commitment to one another and shine for Christ

Mutual submission - V 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Colossians 3:16 

 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit and practice mutual submission if we are to experience faithful and fulfilling marriage and faithful and fulfilling church.

Psalm 22 Prayer for Wallace

When I read Psalm 22, I remember my dear son, Wallace, especially for verses 9-11, not so much of the rest. Because he is such a sensitive child towards things of God. Because he understands things in a different manner. He feels God is far despite God has been good for him before. He feels his imperfection drives God far away. He knows that he is the one who has fallen away and he knows coming back, making a U turn towards God is hard. He wants to try to come around his way. He wants to be a self-made man. 

I pray that one day he will be able to declare Verse 8 and 22-31, that God is indeed surpass his expectations on goodness showed in favour by God to him. No matter how far he is from God, may he knows that he just needs to turn around and finds that God has been faithfully earnestly. May he knows that as a human, it is impossible to turna around and turn to God and be good. There is no goodness other than God. All human goodness pales compared to God's compassion and goodness. There is healing in God's kingdom, prosperity and peace. All that man wants to pursue, it is in God. From God, all things came into beings; from Him all good things abound; from Him, all evil flees. This is the God we serve, mighty and compassionate is He. 

Psalm 22  

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.

4 In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no-one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honour him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfil my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him- may your hearts live for ever!

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him- those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn- for he has done it.