Reflection & Thanksgiving

Pr. Annie Wong 

Sermon Outline 31^st Dec 2017

Topic: Reflection & Thanksgiving

Text:  Psalm 107:1,2,8,22,32 

Thanksgiving is living with an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE for everything God has done for us.

“I recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; l will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Ps 9:1-2 

An attitude of gratitude is a force that moves our heart to celebrate the acts of God in our lives and a time of reflection, to pause, to take stock of the blessings that surrounds us, recounting the pass acts of God as in Ps 9: 1-2.

1. Acknowledge God with thankfulness 

Prov 3:5-6

If we acknowledge Him, He will make your path straight.

Isaiah 40 3-5,

Prepare the way of the lord, make straight a highway for our God …..and His glory will be revealed. 

God want us to remove every obstacle in our lives and He is willing to help in removing all the obstructions if we acknowledge Him and in the process welcome His presence. The key is to acknowledge Him for all that He has done in the past with a Thankful Heart. God is looking for a Thankful Heart.

 Luke 17, 12-17

Healing of the 10 lepers. Jesus gladly healed all 10 lepers but he is also looking for a response of thankfulness from them. The key to continuous blessings is to respond with a joyful and thankful heart.

2. Thankfulness releases God's blessing

 Paul in Philippi Acts 16:16-26 

Despite Paul and Silas fate of being beaten and thrown in jail, they did not stop praising and giving thanks to God and they were delivered. Paul did not complain or went into self pity but he chose to praise God and he was delivered.

Jesus with the multitudes Matt 15: 29 to 38 

Jesus healed the multitudes and he also wanted to feed them too as He had compassion for them. As He gave thanks to the heavenly Father for the 5 loaves and 2 fish, these were multiplied and feed all who were present with left overs. For some of us, the present needs maybe overwhelming but God says thankfulness releases God’s blessing in abundance.

3) How do we acknowledge God? 

(a) Thank Him in words -Ps i 107:8 

We are to thank Him in words which are our prayers. Let it be a habit of looking for ways to thank God for His blessing upon our lives.

(b) Thank Him in joyful song Psalms 107:22 

Let everything within us praise the Lord.

David willed and commanded his heart to praise God as stated in Ps 43:5 regardless of how he felt and his soul was lifted up.

Thankfulness should be naturally flowing out from our hearts and mouths and as we continue in this manner, we will be able to overcome any heaviness in our spirit and stop the enemy from taking advantage of the situation when we put on the garment of praise.

1 Thess 5:16-18

Be joyful always, ….. give thanks in all circumstances….

(c) share testimony with others psalms 107:32 

When has God done something for us, we are to testify of His goodness to us. We need to announce to all in the assembly of people.

Testimony:

Renne Bong: God’s blessing of providence of a scholarship under circumstances that she could not understand at a certain point of time in her life.

Bong: God physical healing as he praises God during a time of physical pain and God’s protection overall. Lamentation 3: 22-23

(d) Bring Him a "Thank Offering" 

Ps 107: 22

We thank God by giving back in our acknowledgement of His blessings.

Question:

 1) How to apply thankfulness from the following verses: Ps 9 1-2, Pro 3:5-6, Isaiah 40. 3-5, 1 Thess 5:16-      18 

2) Share one experience for which you are most thankful this year and why are you thankful for it? 

3) How can we give thanks in times of adversities and what can be the outcome?

The Appearing of Christ and our waiting

Sermon outline Sunday 24/12/17 by Rev.Renny khoo

Topic :The Appearing of Christ and our waiting

Text : Titus 2:11-14

In Titus 2 :11-14 the scriptures tells us that there are two appearings of Christ.

One is called the appearing of Grace and the other is the appearing of Glory of our great God.

The appearing of Grace happens more than 2000 years ago when Christ first born to redeem us from our sins and enabled us to live godly lives and express our gratitudes with good works to fullness of life.

The appearing of His glory will be upon His return and second coming when He comes again to take us home to glory with Him.

In between the two Appearings there is a time of waiting for the Blessed Hope of what is to come.

While waiting for any results there is a time of hoping in anticipations just like anyone waiting for an examination results or any outcome of an event.So waiting =Hope.

In Hebrew the word YAKHAL =To wait for.

Example like Noah has to YAKHAL wait for weeks for the water to recede from the earth before he can find land or waiting for your spouse to come home.

The other Hebrew word QAVAH (to wait).It has a root word to carve or cord like measuring line in full accord with tensions.Its like a feeling of tension and anticipation while you are waiting.

This type of QAVAH or waiting can be found in Isaiah 40:31 while you wait upon the lord they will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles,run and not grow weary,walk and not be faint.

This type of waiting comes with anticipations and tensions.

When we wait with anticipations there is an element of hope.This waiting can be Passive or Active waiting for the hope to come.

YAKHAL likens to be a Passive waiting like Noah waiting till it happens not knowing what to happen or waiting for wife shopping till she finish.

QAVAH is Active waiting in anticipation with hope like waiting for wife shopping with tension of the exorbitant bills to come jokingly.

QAVAH waiting likens to Hope with tension and certainty , unlike the type of hope to see you with elements of uncertainty.This type of QAVAH waiting is with biblical certainty of Hope to come based on the person of Christ and not on circumstances which is very different from the worldly hope like optimism with uncertainty.

What are we waiting and how do we wait?

It is important to celebrate Advent four weeks before christmas arrives just to prepare ourselves.

Christmas reminds us that christ is coming back again the second time as we wait for Him.

In Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once ,and after that to face judgment,so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time,not to bear sin,but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

In His second coming he will come to bring us salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Are we eagerly waiting for him knowing we are only passing through on this earth to our heavenly home in our last days .

At christmas we need to look back to remember what Christ has done for us and be grateful to count our blessings with gratitude.

Then we look forward with blessed hope and wait with joy QAVAH for his second coming to bring us to His eternal glory.

Questions:

1) Share /what/how do you understand hope from following verses ;Hebrew 6:10-12,      Thes2:16-17,Col 1;21-23,1Peter1;3, Rom15:4

2) What are experiences or somethings you are grateful for this year ?

3) Share your prayers for next year.

Shepherds in the Field

Topic: Shepherds in the Field

Text: Luke 2:8-20

Introduction

1.    Shepherds in the field – insignificant group of people. They were the first to hear the good news. They were smelly and dirty and considered lowly people. Shepherds’ Field Chapel, Beit Sahour, which is 2km from Bethlehem. The house that never sleeps. Shepherds’ Field is the exact site where the shepherds were told the good news. The shepherd sits at the gate or entrance of the cave as gatekeeper to guard and protect the sheep inside the cave. Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7). Jesus was not born on 25 Dec but on March 25 which is Passover Day.

2.    Insignificant but with significant purpose

·         Upside down kingdom (Matt. 5:1-12). We cannot view God’s kingdom from a world’s perspective but from God’s perspective.

·         Unimportant town (Micah 5:2). Jesus chose a small and insignificant place to be born in. Boaz Field Souvenir Shop. Why Boaz Field? Bethlehem was the place where King David was born.

·         Unnoticed shepherd boy (1 Sam. 16). David was an unimportant member of the family. Prophet Samuel picked David out of Jesse’s sons and anointed him to be king. God has chosen him to be king.

·         Unclean shepherds. Why announced the birth of Christ to lowly shepherds who were not accepted by the community and considered unclean? They were not allowed inside the temple to worship God. Jesus welcomed the shepherds and lepers. He made them special. They did not deserve it but God gave it to them. God has significant purposes in insignificant things.

3.    Jesus Christ – our Roeh (Shepherd) (John 10:11-18). Sheep are animals which have very poor vision and need shepherds to guide them.

Conclusion:

1 Samuel 16:7b “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Good Shepherd sees you, He wants to lead you, to protect you and to give you the greatest gift of life. This Christmas, do you see Him?

Questions

1.    Read Matthew 2 and Luke 2:8-20, the news of Jesus’ birth were made known to which group(s) of people? How did they respond to the news? Why do you think they responded the way they did?

2.    What is your view on the upside down kingdom of God? Does that mean God does not favour people in high positions and with important status? Share freely!

3.    Do you know the Good Shepherd this Christmas? 

Preparing The Day of the Lord

10/12/17 by
Rev. Ngui Au Sze

Topic: Preparing The Day Of The Lord

Text: Mark1:1-8




Introduction

Advent and Christmas-What's the difference?

Advent is the season of four weeks before Christmas. It is the time of preparing ourselves spiritually to usher in Christmas. Christmas is the season to celebrate the birthday of the Lord and Christ is the reason for the season.

1) Preparing for the Lord

• John the Baptist and his role.
John the Baptist is the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He came into the scene after 400 years of prophetic silence since the days of Malachi. His ministry had two major roles. Firstly he was the forerunner and messenger to announce to the people that the messiah is to appear and secondly to urge his listeners to repent and change their ways to receive him.

• The Expected Messiah
The Israelites are not expecting a messiah to be a baby born in a manger. They are expecting someone anointed by God like Moses or David who could lead them to overthrow the overlords the Romans who has been governing and taxing them unfairly and making their lives miserable.

• Who are we Expecting
We are not expecting the messiah to be born because he already came 2000 years ago. We are looking forward to celebrate his birthday during Christmas and be reminded of his great love of dying on the cross for our sins so that we can be reconciled to God and inherit eternal life

2) The acts of preparation

• Confession
We may have inadvertently missed out confessing all the sins that we have committed in thought, word and deed. Advent is a good time to recall, confess and repent those sins so that we have minimum baggage carried forward to next year.

• A baptism of repentance
Besides confession we need to genuinely repent of our sins. Repentance means taking a 180 degree turn from sin toward God. Others should be able to see the difference it makes in us.

• what are our preparations
Besides the physical preparations of decorations, presents and food during Christmas we must also take stock of our spiritual lives as well such as carolling and hospital visitations to bring the hood news of great joy to those around us including bible reading plans etc.

3) The Lord is coming

• He will baptise with the Holy Spirit
John's water baptism by immersion demonstrated repentance, humility and willingness to turn from sin. Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit sending the Holy Spirit to live in each believer. The entire person will be transformed by the Spirit's power hence offering us both forgiveness and the power to live for him. The baptism of the Holy Spirit started at Pentecost

• How is your spiritual life
In the midst of our busyness it is good practice to do a health check on the status of our spiritual lives. Questions like when do you last have a heart to heart talk with God will be helpful.

Conclusion

We must reflect, pray and ready ourselves to walk the way of the Lord.

Questions

1) Read Isaiah 40:3-5 and Luke 1:5-25, who are some of the people God involved in the preparation of Christ's birth? What are their respective roles?

2) In what way are you preparing for the Lord's coming as we celebrate Christmas?

3) what do you think your role is in preparing for the second coming?

Grace-remembered season

Topic Grace-remembered season

Text :Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by Grace you have been saved through faith in christ and this is not from yourselves,it is the gift of God not by works ,so that no one can boast.

So Grace is the gift of God

Sunday sermon 3/12/17 by Rev.Renny Khoo

1)Santa said-You have to earn it.

  JESUS said-You need only to receive .John 1:12

The heartbeat of all human nature always have the tendency to attempt to earn acceptance by doing charities and hope to be rewarded.However we can never achieve God’s standards in order to earn His rewards no matter how much good works we do.

A gift is not a reward and we only need to receive it to own it.We do not need to earn a gift.

We can reject a gift but we cant earn it.Once we accept the gift it is ours.

So Grace is the gift of God.

2)Santa said -only if you behave,you will then get my love.

  Christ said-while you misbehave,I was already loving you.

  It is christ who first love us not for what we have done or how much we have loved him.1John 4:10

  Even while we were yet sinners christ died for us.Romans 5:8

3)Santa keeps a record of our deeds

  Christ declared-It is finnished

  Colossians 2:13-14 when we were dead in your sins….

                 God made you alive with christ and forgave all your sins.

                 He even canceled the written code …that stood against us..took it away..nailed it on the cross.

Christ deleted all our records and forgave us of all our past sins by erasing all our records that stood against us! We were all born sinners and we inherited this sin.This is evidence even in children who need not be taught how to manipulate others for selfish gain.

Grace is given even though we do not deserve it .we just need to receive his forgiveness out of His mercy.

God first loved us (while we were still sinners).

Jesus came to die for us ( so that we could live)

So now we live in service to God ( with gratitude in our hearts).

We do not serve to earn his love.

We serve Him out of gratitude with thanksgiving for His amazing Grace that saved us.

Questions

1)Grace is the gift of God.We can either receive or reject the gift.

  Share your thoughts on the above statement.

2)What are some things you are especially thankful for throughout this year?

3)How do you intend to practice grace-giving moments in celebrating this year’s christmas season?