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?

A Witnessing Community

Church Family Series : A Witnessing Community
19 March 2017

Ps Renny Khoo and Eric Chong

Salt of the Earth, light of the world

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.

The illustration of a plaque that are hung in most home “Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest, the silent listener to every conversation” provided an impression of God’s omnipresence and a God who wants to be known, seen and acknowledged. As a church family, it is also God’s desire that we are witnesses of His goodness and grace to us.

Matt 5: 13 -16 provided an indication of how we can be a witnessing community.

1. Salt of the earth

A man is worth his salt. Roman soldiers were paid with salt.

We need to guard and preserve.

How can salt lose its saltiness?

i. Who are you

In the days of Jesus, a roman soldier received his wages in salt. The Greeks regarded salt as divine and the mosaic law states all offering must contain salt. Lev 2:13. So when Jesus said to the disciples you are salt, they understood it. The Disciples are to serve as preservatives stopping the moral decay in a sin infected world just like salt inhibits food from going bad in their times where refrigeration was not available then. There is a need to guard, preserve, protect else compromises creeps in and all will be destroyed. However, salt can lose its “saltiness” if our lives are lived in compromised positions leading to contamination.  Disobedience, apathy, carelessness, indifference are some examples of contaminated salt. The human gateways, the ear, eye and mind are strongholds to guard so that our lives will not be compromised for we live in a world filled with sublime messages. The example of sublime messages embedded in a film statements of “buy coke eat popcorn” and “Cow drinks milk” are subtle messages that the world is trying to mould us into.

ii. Whose are you

In 2 chronicles 13 : 5 David’s kingship of Israel was given by a covenant of salt. It was a legally binding agreement. As inferred, we are the salt of the Earth so we belong to God and He belongs to us. As He is a covenant keeping God, we are to guard and preserve and do not allow compromises to creep into our lives by guarding our mind gate.

We belong to God through convenient of salt 

Must protect and guard the Convenant. 

Guard the gateways of our eyes, ears and mind against things we are receiving and we allow things to contaminate our minds and corrupt practices. 

Light of the world

We are the light of the world.

2. Light of the world

Matthew 5: 14 – 16 You are the light of the world.

In Eric’s sharing, the moment we receive Jesus in our lives, we automatically become the light of the world and there is no in between. Either light or darkness. The Black hole illustration showed that the Black hole can only be seen because of the light surrounding it. The presence of light is always going to be there despite of the black hole and likewise the joy and zeal of becoming a child of God cannot be hidden. As God did not redeem us to hide and segregate us but as a lampstand for all to see. It is an act of showing the world His glory. We walk as a member of Christ and going to where God has sent us in the community and schools to shine for Jesus bringing the message of gospel with the Church as a platform so that God’s name can be glorified. We are as the moon reflecting the sun’s light. The sun/ Son is the source of light. As the verse in

2 Cor 318 “ .. on veil face transform from glory to glory...” We are to reflect God’s glory.

In an environment of change, Ps 89 the prayer of Nathan started with adoration, remembering God’s favours and complaining on the family of David. However, he ended by saying praise be to God forever and ever, Amen and Amen. We too need to always give thank in times like these, illuminating our light and proclaiming His name. May our prayer be as Paul’s in Phil 1: 21 ” for me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”

i. The who
The salt of the earth clearly describe a sense of identity and distinctiveness in Jesus for it addresses of who and whose are we.

The light of the world, it reminded us that we are a reflection of the ‘son”. We have a sense of destiny and influence.

“Salt focuses on our being and light focuses on our doing. Being and doing are parallel”.

ii. The what
We have a spiritual dynamo in side us that does not require us to be pushed or pretend for it is imbedded this identity we are who we are. As we embrace this being and doing we shall be found as a witnessing community.

iii. The world
The application of the power of accumulated effect where as a community of likeminded people proclaiming Jesus to whoever is interested, the Holy Spirit can work with us in convicting those whom we share thus making us a witnessing community.

We are reflection of the son just like the moon reflecting the lightness of the sun.

Application
Be salt and light, to make a difference


Questions

1) “Salt focuses on our being and light focuses on our doing. Being and doing are parallel”. Share how do you understand and practice the above statement.

2) What are some experiences/ insights/ creative ways where you can or/ and your CG were/ intending to be salt and light?

3)  Encourage one another with testimonies where ‘they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”

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!

IDMC 2017 Miri Keepsakes