Discipleship Series : Are you Connected

Discipleship Series: Are you Connected

Acts 2:42-47

Hebrews 10:24-25

Pr Yi Ping

26 Feb 2017

Connect Group Sunday

Topic: Discipleship Series: Are You Connected?
Text: Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25

- Let's change terminology to CONNECT GROUP

1. It is not good for man to be alone
a) Man's nature to be in a relationship: Ge 2:18 (also Ge 1:27)
b) Man falls easily when alone
- RELATIONSHIP because it's harder to stand firm when no one to urge us or journey with us
- Example of Peter who denied Jesus
- Pr YP's own experience: was very active in Canada and wanted to be low-key when back in KK but was spotted and connected with a young adults' fellowship group because a sister was persistent in connecting; Lesson? One can be very involved in church yet still not connected with church

2. Disciple-making in the Connect Group

- INTIMACY in faith community together

- Ac 1:12-14 after Jesus' ascension the disciples gathered; and in Ac 2:42 we see they devoted themselves to apostles' teachings and fellowship 

- Fellowship here refers to koinonia , i.e. participation, communion, sharing in something in common, which is the Great Commission 

- Strengthening of the church whenever we gather; a time for self reflection, and together remember what the Lord has done for us 

3. Meet together in order to go out
- TRANSFORMATION in maturity and multiplication
- The disciples made disciples together (Ac 2:43-47);
- Not merely lip service, but they lived live together and participated in God's mission, out of their comfort zone; the Lord added to their number because of their lifestyle; they did not live for themselves
- Meeting together in small groups is not an end in itself, but a means for us to make disciples

Connect Groups are just a mean to an end. 

How abt the Connect Groups of KKE? 
- Revisioning Discipleship - relook into the Word concerning "discipleship"
- As we come together in CGs, learn to establish RELATIONSHIP with God and people; allow safe space for Authenticity, Brokenness and Courage to take place, producing INTIMACY. Empowered by the Holy Spirit we experience TRANSFORMATION of lives, where people mature and multiply!
- Pr YP talked abt what happened to the 12 disciples - 11 out of 12 disciples remained faithful to the Lord until their death; they were an unexpected group sent forth to reach the world yet Jesus used them to form backbone of the Church; and this Great Commission is given not only to the early disciples but to you and me too!
- May this verse (He 10:24-25) and the bookmark remind us all to be connected and make disciples 🙂

Questions:
1. Share one of your AHA moments in the Connect Group (CG), something that you struggle/wrestle with alone and unable to find a solution, but found revelation as you share it with CG member(s).
2. How does the Connect Group help you in your growth as a disciple? In what way can you make disciples within your Connect Group?
3. In two years' time, what kind of disciple do you want to see yourself growing into?

Rock or Sand

Rock or Sand

Ps Renny Khoo

19 Feb 2017

Matthew 7:24-27

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

This verse reveals the contrast between the wise and foolish man who built their houses on rock and sand. One would act on the word of God and the other will not act on the word of God. The one who acted on the word of God built on rock and the other on sand. The one who built on the rock did not fall but the one who did fell and it was described as “great was its fall”.  The difference between the two was that the one that was founded on rock or firm foundation did not fall.

The illustration of Burj Khalifa had very strong foundation to hold this superstructure which took a year to construct. What are the foundations we are setting for ourselves and families?

The foundation took one year to build. What lies beneath a strong and tall structure ? Are we rooted ? 

Are you ready? Vs are you rooted

In today’s fast pace, transient lifestyle and modern gadgets reinforced a lack of capacity for intensity, strength or depth, breeding a culture of “YOLO” meaning You Only Live Once. It is a culture of no calculation of the consequence of our action that it brings to our life. This is in direct contrast to leading a worthy and meaningful life for Jesus as you have only one life to live.

1.      Foundation becomes evident in times of crisis

         We are being tested in everyday stresses of life.

Building foundation requires hard work. A successful career, a Golden Marriage Anniversary are some of the testament of hard work on building a strong foundation. The stresses of life contribute to our foundation and when a significant crisis arises, it will reveal the strength of our foundation that we had been building and nurturing. The call to build practical strong foundation includes remaining faithful to worship on Sundays and prayer meetings, faithful in what we have and do and the responsibilities that we embrace. For in being faithful, we are building something solid in the foundation that we were called to build.

2.      Foundation is rootedness in the timeless word of God

We were spurred to be hungry for the word of God. So that we can lay timeless material in the foundation we are building in our lives by being rooted in word of God. To be intentional in studying the word of God. The use of a bible reading guide is a good start.

To study the word of God through Christian courses is another alternative to constantly refresh our appetite on the word of God. For when the storm of life comes, our foundation is strong because we are rooted in what the word of God said.

The memorisation of the word of God to be stored in the depths of our heart will further fortify our faith.

3.      Foundation means doing the word

We are reminded that it is one thing to know and quite another to carry out what we do know for a wise man act on the word of God.

We are challenged to examined the foundation of our lives. Are we still building strong foundation through our daily devotions and walk with the Lord? It is now a time to reassess and relook our foundation.

Questions

1.    “Crisis reveals character”. How do you relate/ understand the above statement to the foundation in our discipleship journey?

2.    Share your current journey of your quiet time/ devotional life


3.    Share what you have been reading/ hearing recently. How are your acting on them, or otherwise? Any “everyday stressors” that you are encountering?

Some personal reflections :-

This parable also reminds us that we can begin with the same dream and desire, have the same knowledge and resources, but how we choose to build our life which is hidden like the foundation will in the end decides how well we have built our life. For on the surface up and from the outside, the two houses look exactly the same, same design, same materials but what lies underground, unseen by the world, is really what matters. 

It is about one person who decides to invest time in the foundation, spend more money on that and not rush it through. And this stands the test of time and storms.

24 Feb 2017

Interestingly, this same Bible passage was chosen for the Opening Devotion by Rev Edmund Chan at IDMC Miri on 17 February 2017 at Miri Meritz Hotel. His devotion notes is Foundation of Your Life by Rev Edmund Chan. 

Discipleship begins at home

Discipleship begins at home

Pr Annie Wong

12 Feb 2017

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates

- Understand discipleship
Discipleship is the process of bringing people into right relationship with God, and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional growth strategies, that they might multiply the entire process in others also.

1) Misconception of discipleship

It does not happen on its own.

It does not happen only at church.

- Misconception of discipleship

One myth is that discipleship is automatic. On the contrary, it is not automatic. It is counter-intuitive. A new believer, just like a baby, needs to be fed. Discipleship needs to be intentional. Another myth is that discipleship happens in Church. People spent most of the time: Work 28.5%, Sleep 33.3%, Church Activity 6.5%, Family/Your own 32.7%. These statistics show that people spend most of their time at home. Therefore the home is the most strategic and ideal place for discipleship to begin. Parents should disciple each other and their children. Parenting is about making disciples. We must first learn to be disciples ourselves before we disciple others. Parents have been given the responsibility to be the primary disciplers of their children.

2) Discipleship at home is Christ-centered home

To know Him

To live in Him

(a) To know Him

As parents, we are empowered to make sure our children follow Jesus as His disciples. The first thing is for them to know and cultivate a relationship with Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 --- "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Romans 1:16 --- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Pr. Annie shared her faith journey in her younger days. As parents, we should take ownership of our children's faith journey, making sure that they truly know Jesus.

(b) To live in Him

Galatians 2:20 --- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
One of the greatest treasures you can give your children is that Jesus lives in the home. If you are a parent, you are a reflection of God. They see God in you. You are a God proxy to your children. Children see, children do. They learn by example. The next generation will be in danger if parents are not good models to their children. What one generation neglects, the next generation rejects. We are the life examples to our children that they can see. Video clip was shown of a mother convicted to change her ways in order to be a good example to her child which resulted in a happy home. Children can help mothers to grow and change. As parents, we can learn from our children and vice versa.
Deuteronomy 6:7 --- Do our children see us praying and reading the Bible at home? We need to be authentic role models to our children. Our children can minister to us and vice versa. Discipleship at home can expose our weaknesses and vulnerability. 2 Corinthians 12:9 --- "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Children may find it difficult to obey their parents, who are not perfect. Ephesians 6:1-3 -- "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." It is not parents but God who gives this commandment.

3) Discipleship at home builds up the church

Strong families will contribute to building up a strong church.

A strong church will contribute to building up storing families.

Strong families are made up of strong individuals.

The home plays the primary role in family discipleship while the Church plays a secondary role only because discipleship begins at home.

Strong Families will contribute to building up a Strong Church.
A Strong Church will contribute to building up Strong Families.
Strong Families are made up of Strong Individuals.

We need a paradigm shift of discipleship from the institutional view to the biblical view.
From church-centred & home-supported (institutional view) to home-centred & church-supported (biblical view).

A Christian home is a Christ-centred home. God uses individual families to touch the Big Family of God which is the Church.
Discipleship is about modelling. Let's be good models to our children, not only at home but wherever we are. Let's model our love to one another.

Questions :-

1) How did you come to know Christ personally ? Recall your testimony.

2) Talking about Discipleship which begins at home - share how you as member is growing in your walk with Christ.

3) Share how you as a disciple of Christ are being a model to your family members / household. 

How are you to minister to one another ? 

How and why should you overcome challenges as a disciple of Christ at home ? 

Word-Centered Disciples

Word-Centered Disciples

Ps Renny Khoo

5 February 2017

**********************************
[11:10 AM, 2/6/2017] Basel E Elder Flora Fung: Word-Centered Disciples
Ezra 7:10

A Christ-centered disciple is also a Word-centered disciple.

1. Study the Word:
Search the Word... See God of the Word --- Jesus exhorts us to abide in the Word. Story of Ps Renny's first bible and her gleanings, also her sermon note-taking. Not so much the end-product but the work that God does within us in the process.

2. Apply the Word:
(i) We need to (1) Know the Word --- view that the Bible is irrelevant for today; selective reading, or worse, selective obedience; (2) Believe the Word --- you need to know in order to believe, and vice versa;
(ii) Bible application (1) Be specific --- applying to specific situations or problems you face; (2) Be accountable --- giving permission to a trusted friend or CG mate to ask you honest questions, e.g. Have you been guarding your devotion life with God?; "people don't do what we expect, but it's what we inspect"; transformation is impossible without intentional application of the Word in our lives; don't shortchange the transformation that we all can experience!

3. Share the Word
If you're able to teach it to another person, it means you got it; sharing stories of how applying God's Word has changed your life;

Final analysis is this:
It is not about mastering the Word. Rather it is about being mastered by the Word.
- when we submit ourselves to God and His Word
- We study to master a certain discipline or subject, but God??
- When you stand under the authority of the Word of God, you will begin to understand God.
- Let's grow our appetite for God's Word! Spiritual appetite can be cultivated. There is power in His Word.

Questions:
1. What is your favourite verse? Why? (Strictly only one verse)
2. Share your present devotional life. What are your experiences/struggles/ways of practising your quiet time with the Lord.
3. Share specifically one incident where you apply the reading of the Word. What took place? How has this experience changed you (or otherwise)?                      
[6:55 PM, 2/12/2017] Basel E Elder Flora Fung: SERMON NOTES --- 12 FEB 2017

Title: Discipleship begins at home

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

(1) Discipleship begins at home

- Understand discipleship

Discipleship is the process of bringing people into right relationship with God, and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional growth strategies, that they might multiply the entire process in others also.

- Misconception of discipleship

One myth is that discipleship is automatic. On the contrary, it is not automatic. It is counter-intuitive. A new believer, just like a baby, needs to be fed. Discipleship needs to be intentional. Another myth is that discipleship happens in Church. People spent most of the time: Work 28.5%, Sleep 33.3%, Church Activity 6.5%, Family/Your own 32.7%. These statistics show that people spend most of their time at home. Therefore the home is the most strategic and ideal place for discipleship to begin. Parents should disciple each other and their children. Parenting is about making disciples. We must first learn to be disciples ourselves before we disciple others. Parents have been given the responsibility to be the primary disciplers of their children.

(2) Discipleship at home is Christ-centered home

(a) To know Him

As parents, we are empowered to make sure our children follow Jesus as His disciples. The first thing is for them to know and cultivate a relationship with Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 --- "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Romans 1:16 --- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Pr. Annie shared her faith journey in her younger days. As parents, we should take ownership of our children's faith journey, making sure that they truly know Jesus.

(b) To live in Him

Galatians 2:20 --- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
One of the greatest treasures you can give your children is that Jesus lives in the home. If you are a parent, you are a reflection of God. They see God in you. You are a God proxy to your children. Children see, children do. They learn by example. The next generation will be in danger if parents are not good models to their children. What one generation neglects, the next generation rejects. We are the life examples to our children that they can see. Video clip was shown of a mother convicted to change her ways in order to be a good example to her child which resulted in a happy home. Children can help mothers to grow and change. As parents, we can learn from our children and vice versa.
Deuteronomy 6:7 --- Do our children see us praying and reading the Bible at home? We need to be authentic role models to our children. Our children can minister to us and vice versa. Discipleship at home can expose our weaknesses and vulnerability. 2 Corinthians 12:9 --- "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Children may find it difficult to obey their parents, who are not perfect. Ephesians 6:1-3 -- "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." It is not parents but God who gives this commandment.

(3) Discipleship at home builds up the church

The home plays the primary role in family discipleship while the Church plays a secondary role only because discipleship begins at home.

Strong Families will contribute to building up a Strong Church.
A Strong Church will contribute to building up Strong Families.
Strong Families are made up of Strong Individuals.

We need a paradigm shift of discipleship from the institutional view to the biblical view.
From church-centred & home-supported (institutional view) to home-centred & church-supported (biblical view).

A Christian home is a Christ-centred home. God uses individual families to touch the Big Family of God which is the Church.
Discipleship is about modelling. Let's be good models to our children, not only at home but wherever we are. Let's model our love to one another.

Questions
(1) How did you come to know Christ personally? Recall your testimony.

(2) Talking about discipleship which begins at home --- share how you as grandparents, parents, children or grandchildren are growing in your walk with Christ.

(3) Share how you as a disciple of Christ are being a model to your family members/household. How do you minister to one another? How and why should you overcome challenges as a disciple of Christ at home?

************************************************

Ezra 7:10

 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

A Christ-centered disciple is also a Word-centered disciple. 

1) Study the Word

Search the Word... See God of the Word --- Jesus exhorts us to abide in the Word. Story of Ps Renny's first bible and her gleanings, also her sermon note-taking. Not so much the end-product but the work that God does within us in the process. 

2) Apply the Word

i) We need to 

Know the Word - view that the Bible is irrelevant for today; selective reading, or worse, selective obedience;

Believe the Word - you need to know in order to believe, and vice versa; 

ii) Bible application

Be Specific 
applying to specific situations or problems you face; (2) Be accountable --- giving permission to a trusted friend or CG mate to ask you honest questions, e.g. Have you been guarding your devotion life with God?; "people don't do what we expect, but it's what we inspect"; transformation is impossible without intentional application of the Word in our lives; don't shortchange the transformation that we all can experience! 

Be Accountable 

3) Share the Word

3. Share the Word

If you're able to teach it to another person, it means you got it; sharing stories of how applying God's Word has changed your life; 

Final analysis is this: 

It is not about mastering the Word. Rather it is about being mastered by the Word.

- when we submit ourselves to God and His Word

- We study to master a certain discipline or subject, but God?? 

- When you stand under the authority of the Word of God, you will begin to understand God. 

- Let's grow our appetite for God's Word! Spiritual appetite can be cultivated. There is power in His Word. 

The Word is not merely for information but Transformation.

When you stand under God, you begin understand the Word of God.

Questions:
1. What is your favourite verse? Why? (Strictly only one verse)
2. Share your present devotional life. What are your experiences/struggles/ways of practising your quiet time with the Lord.
3. Share specifically one incident where you apply the reading of the Word. What took place? How has this experience changed you (or otherwise)?

Discipleship - Passing on

Discipleship  - Passing on

Pr Janice Chern

29 January 2017

Our KKE theme is Revisioning Discipleship

Matthew 4:19

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

v13 “…keep as the pattern of sound teaching…”,
v14 “…. guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...”
The context of the above verses is in verses 5 & 6 where Paul was reminding Timothy that it was his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice who had faithfully been passing on the faith they received to him.

We are called as disciples of Christ to pass on our faith as we were reminded in Matthew 4:19 “….Follow me, and I will make you fish for people” to make disciples not just in teaching but is also reflected in our lifestyle. A disciple is essentially following a lifestyle - the way we live our live.

Introduction

The example of the celebration of CNY are in many ways instructional based where cultures were passed on and modelling of these instructions by elders reinforces the instructions. In the Christian context, the elder’s lifestyles will coach the disciple the principle of Christian living. As disciples, we need to ask questions to our mentors and check the answers against the Word of God. A disciple making church is to reproduce disciples to make disciples for ultimately it is the aim to make every generation to know the great God and praise His mighty works. Psalm 145: 4

How life change can happen 

The example of how a man who struggle with his lust felt the difference when he was mentored and when he voluntarily decided to end the mentoring relationship. When he was being mentored he felt safe to confide, felt no condemnation, prayed, spent time in devotion, lived a life honouring God however when he stopped the mentoring relationship, bad decisions were made, not seeking God at lives crossroads, spiritual life went dry and felt a lack of guidance. The example showed how in mentoring both the mentor and the mentored needed to work together to reap its benefits.

What Is Mentoring 

The illustration of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odysseus' son. So mentoring is a figure that imparts knowledge and share wisdom to someone who is less experience. In the biblical context, it is to ensure our younger generation is look after and brought up well thus ensuring the generations to come will follow after Jesus too.
V15 also implied that we need to guard else we may lose whatever we have gained.

Paul Stanley and Robert Clinton defined mentoring as

 “A relational experience in which one person empowers another by sharing God-given resources”.
Resources can be knowledge, money, time, experience, networking or influence. It is enabling another by sharing resources.

Why mentor

In serving together, as leaders, we are being observed. People can pick up if we are emphatic, compassionate, understanding or open. As Christian leaders our lifestyles are important as examples for others to follow. As a family of God we are to look out for each other for when distraction comes and there are disruptions in their Christian journey, support will be rallied to uphold each other. As the old adage goes, it takes a village to raise a child. We need to reproduce disciples effectively. We need to disciple our next generation to have an authentic Christian faith.

The story of Mentor

Mentor - king went for 20 years of war against Trojan and the elder called Mentor trained up his young son. The King returned to have a young man prepared for his roles as prince.

You can lose what you are taught if we do not guard it. Therefore we need to teach the younger ones how to keep the faith and make it grow.

Barriers to life change

Generational bias can be a barrier to being mentored. A young man can also mentor somebody, for age does not qualify reproducibility. Neither is an older person necessary be a better mentor for in the richness of his experience, he can be bias to the younger person’s faith as they wanted to step out in faith.
The fear of accountability where someone who consistently checks on us, fear of being vulnerable, fear of rejection, fear of commitment are some barriers to the process of being mentored.
In spite of all the above, we are called to be “FAT + H” Christians. Faithful, Available, Teachable and Hungry.
For mentoring is spiritual friendship eagerly helping one another to know, love, serve and resemble God in greater and deeper ways. So sharing of resources will bound to cause life change for life on life will impact life. Sharing of life will impact life. As leaders, our word carry a lot of weight. We need to let go and let God work in their heart. They too need to grasp the heart of the loving Father.

E Stanley jones
My life in my hand is pain and problem but my life in God’s hand is power and possibility. When I saw people who believe in me, I saw my life was different. It helps me to walk with Jesus.

What is mentoring ? 

Why we need mentoring ?

These children are left in neglect. The phenomena is very alarming. Likewise in Churches, the needs to mentor the younger Christians is also huge task. We need to model lifestyle, ask questions, 

How can we do mentoring ?    

Lifestyle and coaching spiritual life for the younger members. 

Conclusion 

Grow FAT and be hungry for God

Faithful 

Available 

Teachable + 

Hungry for God

Questions :-

1) Name the real reasons people don't Mentor. Go deep in your hating.

2) How are you availing yourself to be mentored ? if not, how can you start ? 

3) So, why mentoring in a disciple-making church ? 

Celebration of Spiritual Habits

Celebration of Spiritual Habits

Pastor Renny Khoo

22 January 2017

1 Timothy 4;7b - 8

1 Timothy 4: 7-8 

Context of this verse, to train ourselves in godliness as it has its values in this present life and life to come

What are the spiritual habits ? 

What would be some of the spiritual habits we would like to have as compared to the physical habits that we practice. Some examples would be Bible reading, scripture memorisation, prayer, worship, evangelism, service and stewardship. The practice of spiritual habits is an indication of the transforming power of God in our lives.

There is a powerful relationship between discipline/ habit and being a disciple.

How does this occur in practice?

The key is submitting ourselves to be trained.

1)   Training is a retooling experience

 2Tim 3: 17 Proficient and equipped for good work

Hebrews 5: 14, 12: 11 trained by practice to distinguish good from evil

Retooling is making changes in order for us to further improve. It can be gradual and incremental. It is making minor changes to align ourselves.

Training is an indirect way of establishing spiritual habits in order to know God better. It puts in motions positive events in our experience with God. Spiritual habit are regimes to keep us fit for service so that we are fully fit and ready to answer the call of God. It is to attain a quality of spiritual strength and stamina which is otherwise impossible. The more we do it, the better we will be. Training is a retooling experience.

The Training enable equipping for good work.

2) Training requires effort

The word train comes from the Greek word gymnós, where the word gymnastic is derived.

In this age of constant debate between grace and work, the balance between grace and effort will bring upon an understanding that God opposes earnings but urges effort on our part. We must actively participate in order to bring about the results that we expected.

This is consistent with the Bible as it exalts us to “running to get the price”, “working hard”, “facing danger”, “suffering”, “pressing on”, “labouring”, “competing as an athlete” and “working hard as a farmer”.

D.A Carson - People do not drift into holiness. Apart from grace driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to scripture, faith and delight in the Lord.

We need to submit ourselves to be trained but all in the light of grace from God. We can “catch up” on our “cheat days”

Grace-driven effort

Disciplined grace Vs Cheap grace

A balance of our efforts to cultivate good spiritual habits. God honors and urges effort from us. 

Grace is given to us as free gift 

3) Training is best done in a community

Have a friend and family member to support your effort to train.

Richard Foster - (Celebration of discipline), “The disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbours.”

In establishing spiritual habits, it is essential that we belong to a community of faith or Connect group as we help one another on our journey. It is the best place for our spiritual habits to be formed, encouraged, celebrated, challenged and trained.

In conclusion, Ps Renny shared the story of a legendary Sportman from 2500 years ago. He is Milo of Craton, he was a 6th-Century BC Wrestler from the Magna Graecian city of Croton, who enjoyed a brilliant wrestling career and won  many vicotories in the most important athletic festivals of anceint Greece. 

His strenght was desrcibed as legendary :-

He carried a bull on his shoulders, and to have burst a band about his brow by simply inflating the veins of his temples. 

And this was how he trained, he carried a calf when it was young and until it was a 4 years-old bull.

The illustration of Milo of Croton’s training is an example of incremental physical transformation over a period of time.

Practical ways of celebrating spiritual habit are, be reasonable, start “too” light, be consistent but remember grace – “catch up days”, “cheat day” and always improving – retooling.

Maturity comes when new habits slowly take over our old habits.

The key to inner transformation is to submit ourselves to training habits until they become second nature to us. It is not about information but as we train, we are continuingly form as a disciple conforming to a true follower of Christ.

Lessons to learn from Milo :-

1. Start "Too Light" - be reasonable
2. Be Consistent
3. Always improve - retool

The key to inner transformation is to submit ourselves to be trained.

Questions

1.    Some of the common spiritual habit include: Bible reading, Scripture memorisation, prayer, worship, evangelism, service and stewardship.

Choose one of the habit to share your experiences, thought or questions.

Share if you have plans to retool one spiritual habit this year?

2.    How do you understand joy, delight and celebration in light of training?

3.    Share how by belonging to a Connect group you are training (helping) one another to follow Christ.

The marks of a disciple of Christ

The marks of a disciple of Christ

Joseph Tang

15 January 2017

1 Corinthians 11:1

 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Matthew 16:24

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

What makes a disciple ? What makes a believer ? 

Be a believer and then a disciple. There is no difference.

Commitment and surrender. 

The journey of a disciple of Christ

With Him - Being

Being with Him is to deny ourselves.

In Him - Growing

Appetite in growth 

1 Peter 2

Stuck in growth

Hebrews 5:14

Like Him - Growing To Be

John 15:35

You will bear much fruits.

Questions:- 

How has your being a non-being with Jesus contributed to your growth or stagnation (or even regression) in Him ? 

People can come to Jesus yet unable to receive from Him. Are you experiencing this ? What do you do to prevent this from happening ? 

Name an area you are (or will be) working on for the good of many, that they may be with Jesus.

Another Notes taken for this sermon :-

Title : Marks of a Disciple in Christ by Pr Joseph Tang on 15 Jan 2017

Text : 1 Cor. 11:1

The marks of a disciple of Christ is the embodiment of Christlikeness and its characteristics in the life of the believer.

What makes a disciple?

" He is someone who is committed to deny himself, take up the cross and follow Jesus"
(Matt.16:26)

What makes a believer?

"Anyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believed in his heart that God raised him from the dead will be saved"
(Rom.10:9)

The Journey of a Disciple of Christ

a) With Him - Being

Relationship Stage
- We must build a deeper relationship with God and men through word and prayer.

- We must draw nourishment from the vine and remain in Him so that we will bear fruit because without Him we can do nothing (Jn.15:5)

- Be a good student under the master until we have received power from above and ready to be sent. Being precedes doing.

b) In Him - Growing

Intimacy Stage
- We must create space for Jesus and his living word in our lives.

- We must come together and testify about God's goodness in our lives e.g. Connect Group.

- We must moved on from infant milk to solid food as we mature in the word.

c) Like Him - Growing To Be

Transformation Stage
- We will be transformed into christlikeness.

- Certainly we will bear much fruit.

- The fruits of the Spirit will be manifested in our lives.

- Others will know that we are God's disciples.

- God's name will be glorified.

Questions

1) How has your being or non-being with Jesus contributed to your growth or stagnation (or even regression) in him?

2) People can come to Jesus yet unable to receives from Him. Are you experiencing this? What do you do to prevent this from
happening?

3) Name an area you are (or will be) working on for the good of many, that they may be with Jesus.

👆 is sermon notes, shared by Pr Joseph Tang on 15.01.17 was forwarded by Elder Yin Leung.

Discipleship: The Basics

Discipleship: The Basics
8 Jan by Ps Renny Khoo
Text: Matthew 28:18-20

I. Crisis of Discipleship
- we are facing a crisis of discipleship
- size ≠ health
- opposite of maturity is not immaturity but apathy
- goal of discipleship is Christlikeness

II. Clarifying terms in Discipleship
a) - Disciple - a follower of a master; primary term used in the Gospels to refer to Jesus' followers; false separation of "Christian" and "disciple"
- Discipleship - the state of being discipled; two important elements of understanding discipleship are Journey and Obedience (see III)
- Disciple-making - making disciples beyond the 4 walls of church; does not occur with Christians only but non-Christians also; multiplying our lives and inviting others to follow Christ

b) The premise - Matt 28:18-20; Jesus said it; Jesus modeled it

III. Clarion call to Discipleship
Participating in the Great Commission requires one thing - a transformed person . To experience this, there must be two ingredients:

a) Journey - a journey is marked by progress rather than perfection; becoming a disciple is a process, and failure is part of this process; belonging to a Connect Group sustains us along our journey.

b) Just do it (obedience) - obedience leads to encounters and experiences that can produce transformation from within; agreement with what the church believes in is not the same as having faith.

To be a disciple of Christ is to submit ourselves to the transforming power of Christ.

To Journey and to Obey is a call to persevere.
- (video of baby bear running away from lion)
- don't give up in our journey
- God will always enable us and empower us; we go through a roller-coaster of emotions but He is with us
- Let us: continue to deepen in Word and prayer; join Connect Group; cultivate safe space for each other's journeys; respond positively to God's call to us as disciples!

Questions:
1. How do you understand Discipleship?

2. A disciple refers to Jesus' follower. Share your experiences as Jesus' follower, especially the journey on living the transformed life.

3. Share your experiences on how belonging to your Connect group is part of discipleship. Think of who you might like to invite to be part of your Connect group.

The Clarion Call to Discipleship

New Year Sermon

1 January 2017

Ps Renny Khoo

The Clarion Call to Discleship 

Phillipians 3:8-11

 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

What is that one thing ?

We all want to grow and be mature.

The three "SO THAT" (Shift Gears) purpose statements from Vs 8-11

Let's shift gear in this new year.

3-fold shift-gear in Revisioning Discipleship

1) From Ritual to Relationship

V8-9 so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him

Having a real living relationship with God.

Journey together in Connect group.

2) From Institution to Intimacy

V10 that I may know Him

Knowing that is experimental and intimate, God encounters us.

Our prayers are not to be over-communication and under-connected with God.

Not over-burdened and under-nourished in His works.

3 things before God as we know Him :-

Authenticity 

Brokenness 

Courage

3) From Tradition to Transformation 

V11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead

2 Peter 1:3-11

Through God, we become part-takers of His divine nature ...

Conclusion 

Relationship- Join a Connect Group

Intimacy - Be Authentic, Broken, Courageous 

Trasnsformation - Maturity. Multify.

A living Relationship births forth Intimacy which leads to Transformation.