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Lord's Day Sermon (4 Nov)

The great promise of God's peace

Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.

Troubles can overshadow the reality of God's peace. We can lose sight of this peace...

So what is this peace?

It ia NOT...
A vague dream or mere pleasant hope.
Just the removal of our troubles
Based on external circumstances. It is within (Phil 4:7), not without

It is...
Peace with God (Romans 5:1)
From God (2 Cor 1:2)
It is God Himself (Eph 2:14) - recall the song of the angels to the shepherds

From the passage,
The provision, protection and possesion of God's peace
The description of God's peace
The condition of God's peace

How can we be assured of God's peace?
It has been proven by His performance
It is maintained by God's power
It is supervised by God's presence, the Holy Spirit

What are the conditions?
Although the gift of peace that God offers is free, certain conditions have to be met - we must have a right relationship with Him.

How does this peace look like?
It is experienced and lived out (Phil 4:6-9).

'Fear God and Fear Not' or naught

Do we have this peace?
Do we value this peace?

Lord's Day Sermon (7 October 2012)

Romans 1:18-32
The Gay Agenda and the Biblical Response
Rev Tan Eng Boo

The church has lost her testimony - allowing homosexual clergy, endorsement of homosexual unions and regarding homosexuality as a normal, non-sin.

So what does the Bible have to say?

In the Old Testament, the earliest account is found in Genesis 19:1-11, c.f. Jude 7.

The Mosaic Law is also clear - Leviticus 18:22, 20:13.

These are laws regarding morality, not ceremony.

But has the Mosaic Law been put aside, superseded?

In the New Testament, Romans 1:26-27 is clear about the Bible's stand against homosexuality; it is against the natural order ordained by God.

Additionally, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 states, practising homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Can it be that God created homosexual people? That people are born homosexual? Not so, because God created man in both male and female. See Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6-8.

Conclusion
We affirm that the Bible is clearly against homosexuality.
But we must welcome homosexuals in the Church and seek to help them be rid of their sin.

Change is possible.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Lord's Day Sermon (30 September 2012)

Joseph and Excuses
Rev Tan Eng Boo

Joseph could have been angry with God because of all his experiences, sold as a slave and cast into prison, but he wasn't.

On the life of Joseph...
Genesis 37:3 - a favourite child of Jacob, only 17 at that time.

Genesis 37:28 - sold into slavery

Being sold into slavery is not a simple thing, it is a traumatic event. How did Joseph forgive?

In Potiphar's house...
Genesis 39:1 - a slave in Potiphar's house

The word 'officer' means eunuch. Maybe that is why the wife went after Joseph.

v2 - the Lord was with him!

And in v3, even Potiphar could see it. Joseph must have had quite the exemplary Christian.

There is no excuse to compromise for friends.

With Mrs Potiphar...
Genesis 39:7 - 'cast her eyes' has the meaning of lust. Aggressive to even ask Joseph outright.

In v8 - 9, Joseph had 2 principles that he stood by. First, adultery is 'great wickedness'. Second, it is sin against God.

In v10, she persisted. Still Joseph did not fall into sin.

Finally, in v12, he ran from her. Flee temptations!

Joseph was then falsely accused and sent to prison.

In the prison....
Genesis 39:21 - Joseph continued to find favour in God's eyes

Despite doing what is proper for God, Joseph find himself in prison. Yet he did not stop being faithful to God.


Whatever happens, happens for God's purposes...

Genesis 45
Joseph could forgive his brothers because he could see God's good plan (v7) in all that happened.

Genesis 50:15-17 - while Jacob died, Joseph's brothers feared revenge from Joseph.

Yet in v19-20, Joseph saw how God worked everything for good and he forgave his brothers.

We must be clear about how God works in our lives, shaping us for good. Never give up on God.

Lord's Day Sermon (23 September 2012)

John 15:12-13 ESV
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.


The Redemptive Power of Godly Friends
Rev Tan Eng Boo

Key word: GODLY, not just any friends

3 levels of friendship, found in Job 19.
Acquaintances in v13
Familiar friends in v14
Inward friends in v19

There is such a thing as a very, very close friend - Proverbs 18:25.
We need friends because of the support - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

We can build up inward friend friendships and we ought to do so, in a GODLY manner.

The power of Godly friendship... has a redemptive effect, how?

1. In earnest counsel

Proverbs 27:9 ESV
Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Be a counsellor, a GODLY counsellor, to friends. So there is a need to know the Bible well enough to give such advice.

2. Gives trustworthy correction

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.


Similar to counselling, correction is that necessary counsel given when when we are already on the wrong path.

True, GODLY friends will seek to correct and rebuke, in other to get the wayward friend back on track.

3. Gives consistent comfort

Proverbs 17:17 ESV
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

At all times! A GODLY friends is always willing to stand with you in a sacrificial manner.

Who is the example of such friendship? Jesus sets the perfect example. (John 15:12-13)


We ought to work towards being GODLY friends, more than acquaintances.

So how can we build our friendships?
Join the Bible class!
Spend time together; like during the after service period, attend vigil services, etc...