A Journey of Breaking Free

Topic : A Journey of Breaking Free

Text : Galatians 5:1-15; Romans 6:1-14

28 January 2018

The pastoral team and church leadership are inviting everyone to a journey together - the Discipleship Journey.  In life, especially in our Christian faith journey, we don’t need to know everything before attempting something new, we don’t need to be an expert before serving in a ministry, it’s a journey of faith, a journey of learning to give room for God to act, for Him to lead and for us to trust and follow.

Pastor Edmund Chan, in his book “Radical Discipleship” talked about “The Five Defining Questions”. Eg. on the topic of “Breaking Free” :

Q1. Why is breaking free so important for Christianity?

Q2. If it is so important, why is it so neglected?

Q3. What is breaking free all about?

Q4. What makes breaking free so difficult?

Q5. How can it best be accomplished?

Breaking Free is important for Christians because that is the main ministry of our Messiah, the main reason why Jesus was sent to us. To proclaim good news to the poor. “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18-19; Gal. 5:1)

Jesus’ work is finished on the cross, He was crucified, died, buried and resurrected. But we did not die to many of the sins in our life, especially in our mind set, that is why as Christians we are still bound in many ways and have not experience the total freedom in Christ.  (John 19:28-30; Romans 6:1-7)

A journey of Breaking Free requires our _______

* Repentance – metanoia (Greek) – change of mind. Changing the way we view or do things, from our way to God’s way (according to the teaching of the truth.)
* Rekon dead to sin (Romans 6:11-14)

EDWJ – 7 Jan “Finding our way back”

Sin is pushing God out of the place He has reserved for Himself. It is something that move us away from dependence on Him. To restore our relationship with Him we must repent.

* Resurrection

To experience resurrection, we must go through the process of “Crucifying, dying. Burying”, and God will bring about the resurrection in us.  Such process is known as sanctification & transformation.  Transformation is not changing from one person to another, but rather bringing to life (revive) what was dead in us due to sin.

Conclusion :

A journey of breaking free begins with repentance. Repentance is the path that leads to life. As we make progress in our movement towards God, sin gets pushed out of the way, ongoing process of sanctification and transformation sets in.

Questions :

1. Jesus said “It is finished.” Share the implication of these words to you.

2. What are some of your struggles, concern or fear in “dying” to sin? If the above mentioned is not a struggle, concern or fear for you, share how you overcome such thoughts?

3. Self-sufficiency is idolatry, an underlying sin of trusting in yourself and bypasses the divine. How much are you trusting God or yourself in life? How would you like your CG to help you in breaking free from such sin?

A Call to Honour

Topic: A Call To Honour

Text: 1 Peter 2:17

21 Jan 2018

Ps Chong Mei Ling

It is obvious that the Culture of honour is lacking in the society. It’s so sad when the culture of honour is absent in the church, in the body of Christ. We can see children dishonouring parents, parents dishonouring their children, and spouse dishonouring one another. Can you recall an incidence when you have been dishonoured? How did you feel? Dishonour can be communicated by just a look, a look of contempt, that makes you look so small. It may have happened years ago but it has left a mark in your heart.

1.    Definition of Honour

Hebrew – H3513 Kabad. To make heavy. To consider weighty.

Greek – G5092 Timao. To prize ,to value, to fix a value upon, to respect.

Honour (consider weighty)	Dishonour (make light of)
To prize	To treat as ordinary or common
To treasure	To discount
To value	To disrespect
To respect	To ignore
To revere	To put down

2.    Who should we honour? The world honour those who are gifted, talented, beautiful and handsome, who are rich, successful, those who has power and position. We honour people who have made it. As Christians, are we different? Example of our response to have a newcomer who is a heart surgeon coming to our church and how we show respect outwardly, but not in our heart when we found out that she is arrogant, proud, rude and boastful. Honour is always the attitude of the heart.

The word of God says we should honour all people. (1 Peter 2:17, 18.) love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king. the emperor at that time persecute the Christians. How were the readers’ reactions? Peter went on to say “Be submissive to your masters, not only outwardly but with respect.” The respect comes from the heart. As you hear this, many of you find it hard to accept. There are a few people you find it hard to honour, impossible to honour or you don’t want to honour. Ask for the grace of God be upon us, that we will not close our heart toward His Word. God’s values are always different, love our enemy, bless those who curse us, honour those whom we think are not honourable. It is difficult. But God’s Word is the truth. When we choose to obey God’s Word and the truth, it brings life to our spirit, it brings freedom. That’s why it is so foolish if we do not obey the Word of God. Example of her experience in one occasion when she was not invited for celebration and was asked to man the office. When she forgave them, the shame was lifted from her spirit and the peace of God came. Learn to be honest with God. She did not retaliate. She was tempted to, but God held her back by His grace.

3.    What is the effect of allowing shame/hurts to lodge in our heart? Dishonouring Heart is a breeding ground for a spirit of anger. When we dishonor someone, anger will come in, condemnation will come in and self- righteousness. We think we are better. It gives us the right to hate the person, to give up on that person. Example of a cell leader gave up on a problematic cell member. She was relieved when that member left. Years later she met this member who was then transformed by the Lord and the word. This cell leader was rebuked by the Lord for give up on that person. That is dishonoring . (Cell group leader take note. ) thank God that he never give up on us.

4.    Why is it that we need to honor one another? Because God created us as “Beings” of honour (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 8:5). We are made according to God’s kind. It’s such an honor to be made God’s kind. God predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ to HIMSELF according to the good pleasure of His will. (Ephesians 1:5). It is God’s pleasure to adopt us as His sons. We are so precious. May God enlighten our hearts to see who we really are. Prayer: (Pray aloud to be heard by yourself): I am made in God’s image, according to Gods’ likeness. God has crowned me with His glory and majesty. He has adopted me as his son according to the good pleasure of His will, Heavenly Father I want to thank you for making me me. Forgive me for I often have dishonored myself for looking down on myself. Restore honor in my inner being as I honour who you made me to be. I also honour you because you are my Creator. I will heed your call to honor one another who are created in your likeness. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We are people of honor. We are not rubbish.

5.    Example of dishonor (Matthew 13:54-58). Jesus was dishonored in his hometown. They judged Jesus by the outward appearance, by his circumstances. Because of their unbelief, they did not see the Messiah they were longing for. As a result, they did not experience the fullness of Jesus’ power. When we dishonor one another, we limit the person, when we dishonor our children, we will not see their potential. Whom have you treated as common or as nothing? Have you seen yourself like that?

6.     

Honouring Heart	Dishonouring Heart
-See & recognize the value of the person	-See the person as common & ordinary
-To treat the person with dignity & respect	-To discount or ignore the person
	-To put down

7.    Family: To love is to honour. The hallmark of love is honour.

a.    Wife to honor the husband (1 Peter 3:1-2) You find favor with God if you choose to obey and honour.

b.    Husband to honor the wife (1 Peter 3:7) so that your prayer will not be hindered. It’s a command and a warning. To shut your out heart and you life form your wife is most dishonoring. Honour is the fuel that runs a healthy marriage.

c.    Parents honour children. Do you see your children as blessing from God? Or a burden? To compare your child to others is most dishonoring act.

d.    Children to honour the parents (Ephesians 6:2-3). Life will go well with you. You may live life long on earth. You cannot agree with your parents but still honour them in your heart.

Honouring God

a.    To love God is to honour His Word. If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:21, 1 John 2:4). We can obey God’s Word and yet do not have honour. Ask God to help us to obey out of love. I give tithes because God has given me so much. If I give tithes so that I receive more, I better forgive (others), otherwise God will not forgive me. This is true but is self-focus. That is not honour.

b.    To love God is to honour His Commands (John 14:21, 1 John 2:4).

Questions:

1.    Which group of people you find easier to honor or dishonor? Give examples of things you will do to honor/dishonor someone.

2.    Refer Matthew 13:54-58, why do you think it is difficult for people to honor Jesus? What is the consequence of dishonoring Jesus?

3.    To love God is to honor His ?. How does this truth apply to you and what do you plan to do to honor Him?

A Journey of Starting Over

Sunday Sermon 14/01/18
by Rev. Renny Khoo

Topic: A Journey of Starting Over

Text: Jeremiah 31:3

Jubilee Concept

The Jubilee Year is the 50th year at the end of 7 cycles of sabbatical years (7x7). According to Lev.25:8-13 slaves and prisoners will be freed, debts forgiven and land that had been sold will be returned. It is a year of release and a reset button to start over because God is a redemptive God.

1) Redemption of God

Redemption means to buy back with a price. To release someone from bondage a ransom has to be paid. Salvation is not free. To free us from the deadly consequences of our sins God bought us back at a tremendous price and the price tag is the blood and death of his son Jesus Christ.

2) Regimental Journey Vs Redemptive Journey

Discipleship is not a regimental Journey but a redemptive Journey.
While the regimental journey focusses on Performance, Work, What we must do and the demands of the law; Redemptive Journey on the other hand focusses on Pilgrimage of following Jesus, walking with Jesus, What Christ had accomplished and Abounding grace the unmerited favour of God.

3) Redemption Rooted in Love

Rom. 8:35-39 reassures us that Christ's love for us is eternal. Though we may face hardships, persecution, illness, imprisonment even death we are more than conquerors in him who love us and nothing can separate us from his love.
It is often said that God's love is unconditional but it is also conditional because besides being a loving God he is also a holy God and he demands holiness.
The good news is his standard of holiness which we can never achieve is fulfilled in Christ Jesus on our behalf. Though conditionally unconditional, his love is illogical because no one in his right frame of mind will go to this extent of giving love.

Starting Over is Coming Home

God is inviting us to come home and start over again. No matter whatsoever we have done or become he wants us to start afresh with him in a new relationship because his steadfast love never ceases and his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning and great is his faithfulness Lam. 3:22-23. You may press your reset button now.

Questions

1) Share your 'starting over' experiences. What made you decide to start over?

2) Read Rom. 8:31-39 aloud. Identify and share truth statements from this passage.

3) Describe your present relationship with God. Would you say that it is a loving relationship? How so? or How not so? Pray for one another.

Let’s Journey! - Discipleship Journey

7^th Jan 2018

Rev Renny Khoo

Sermon Outline

Topic :  Let’s Journey! - # discipleship journey

Text    :             Col 2:6-7

         
   Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col2:6-7)

1.  Introduction: Let’s Journey!

 This journey is the call for us to go on with Christ in the same way we received Him.

For example, when we experience God’s goodness, like when He died for us, what did it feel like?        How can we keep this first love?

However, what does it mean ‘to journey on’?

It means to take a series of steps, one step at a time.

2.  Let’s Journey: Grow in Spiritual Vitality

a. The journey is about progression, not perfection.

    Eg. we can take 4 steps forward and then  2 steps  backward. 

It is about taking a series of steps from where we are at the present moment.

 Along this walk, God meets us (God Moments!) where we experience God and hear His voice.

 Thus, it is really important for us to learn to be sensitive to God.  Little moments may lead to defining moments and breakthroughs may be at our doorsteps or thresholds.  So we got to make a decision at that precised moment or the opportunity will not be ours to take.

b. The journey is about growth, not deliverance.

     The journey has a purpose and destiny.  Eg. Do you want to take it up?  We can cry out to God during distress but we can put Him aside too.  However, growth is not like this! We need to have a relationship with Him.

3.  Let’s Journey: Grow in Relational Maturity

a.  The journey is about a relationship with God.

God wants to empower us as He walks together with us. So it is important for us to be accountable in how we walk with Him and build this relationship with Him.

b.  The journey is about a relationship with one another.

As we journey with God, we are also journeying with one another. We need to build our relationship with one another. As we walk together, we have relational growth with one another i.e. we can help one another in overcoming our human problems. Thus as time is the essence, we need to join a CONNECT GROUP  to sharpen and be accountable in our walk with Christ.

4. Let’s Journey! Together.

 What kind of a journey? It’s Discipleship Journey.

Our discipleship journey is a redemptive journey.  “Jesus said: Come one come all!”

So we can or need to start over because Jesus has redeemed us .  We can feel God all over again.

Conclusion

‘May we learn to claim and receive in a spirit of Thanksgiving, may we learn to walk with God and one another.  May we have ears of faith to hear your words’

Questions:

1.  Share your initial impressions as you see this word – ‘Journey’.  What are some pictures, key words, experiences associated with this word?

2.  Read Col 2:6-7 again.  How do you understand (in bold and underline),.. “walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,...”

3.  In the context of Discipleship Journey, share your intents, reminders to self, action or growth plan as a response to one of the following:

  The Journey is about a Relationship, with God and with one another.

   The Journey is about progression, not perfection.

  The Journey is about growth, not just deliverance.