Matthew - Liberated by God's Grace

Matthew - Liberated by God's Grace

Lessons from the life of Matthew.

Bishop James Wong

27 Nov 2016 - Advent 

1. God uses people with a broken past.

2. Matthew brought his gang to Jesus.

3. Sharing the messages of love. 

4. Matthew serve God with his gift.

He took something away from his tax collection table a pen and he continued to record the miracles of Jesus.

Prayer Meeting on 15 Nov 2016

Psalm 43:

1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.

2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?

3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.

Hebrews 4

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

God's Handprints

God's Handprints

Dr Ho Siang Boon

20 Nov 2016

Matthew 5:13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

When God at work, He leaves His Handprints behind.....

Hopefulness - God works on us with both of His hands.

Jeremiah 18:6, Jeremiah17:7-8

Aspire to inspire 

Isaiah 58:10

Nurture - God will nurture His beloved. Don't harden ourselves as we are clay 

Isaiah 64:8

Development (Maturity)

1 Peter 4:10

Am I a lamp that shines for my community ? 

Growing up

Growing Up Lah !

Pr Janice Chin

Phillipians 2:13 

 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Ephesians 4:13-16

 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We are called to grow up. 

Growth without depth - John Scott's statement on churches in the world today. 

The modern phenomena of Delayed Adulthood. Likewise, churches are having this too with many christians not growing into maturity.

The Spiritual Formation

Being transformed for Christ

Dimensions of our growing up in Christ 

1) Our Community 

Key practices to cultivate :- 

Intergeneration

Inclusion

Learn stories from elderly of how their spiritual journeys have been, how the have kept their faith. Include new friends from all ages into your circle.

2) Our inner life 

Key practices to cultivate :-

Introspection

Innocence

Psalm 139

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Romans 16:19

 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

How to practice innocence ? 

By doing what is good. 

God-kind Weapons for the war

NGod-kind Weapons for the war

Ps Renny Khoo

30 October 2016

Ephesians 6:10-24

Stand firm V 11, 13, 24

1. Belt of truth - Knowledge 

Satan's scheme - Deception

The truth does not set us free but it's the knowledge of the truth that will set us free.

We need to know the real and truth so we know what is fake and false.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness - Live out the truth

Satan's scheme - Corruption

3. Shoes to proclaim gospel of peace - Advance the truth

Satan's scheme - Opposition

4. Shield of faith - Believe the truth

Satan's scheme - Intimidation

Satan is the Accuser of the brethren.

5. Helmet of salvation - Hold fast to the truth

Satan's scheme - Discouragement

The purpose of the armor is to stand firm.

Foundation : The Word

Purpose : Stand firm

Energy : Pray 

Crave ou time to grow in Christ

Recovering Power in the Marketplace 1

Recovering Power in the Marketplace 1 

Dr David Fung

13 Nov 2016

Ephesians 1:18-23

 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way.

1 COrinthians 15:27-28

 27 For he "has put everything under his feet". Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Marketplace mountains concerns :-

Art - performing, YouTube

Business - money, finance

Church - religions

Distribution - connection, logistic

Education - 

Family - 

Recovering our sense of Calling

Everyone is serving something.

God calls us first. Called by Him, through Him, for Him

Remptative nature - no longer free man

Personal redemption and remdemption of nations.

Recovering our authority in Christ

Power is neutral. Power of authority

Struggle of power and authority

There is space around you with power

Space is invaded when power taken away.

Calling comes before works.

Participating in God's work of redemption

There is a cost to follow Christ in the marketplace.