Monday, January 30, 2006

Living the incarnational life (Feb 3rd 06)




CHINESE NEW YEAR COUPLET
Also Known as "Chun Jie" or "Spring Festival"
<<--Meaning on the left
"Farewell to the cold winter and welcome to the warmth of Spring - the wonder of creation"
Meaning on the Right-->>
'Die to yourself, love others as yourself, the way of Christ"






Living the incarnational life (Feb 3rd 06)

Text: John 1:1-14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood (or overcome) it. ……..

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[αιμα] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[μονογενους ] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A. The Uniqueness of Incarnation
* “carnal” is Latin for “flesh”, the New Testament Greek word is “Sarx”
* The Mighty Creator God steps into humanity and became one of us!
* The sinless Son of God, born through the immaculate conception of the Holy Spirit is God’s way of providing a sinless lamb of Go for the sins of the World.
* John 1: 14 “14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”

B. Incarnation is NOT “reincarnation”
- For Christ – once and for all, the monogenous
- Never before and never after!
- Totally and absolutely unique! – Our God is a God of new creation not re-cycling!
- A Holy & Awesome mystery!
- For Christ – what condescension!
- For us – an example to follow – to live a life of service is just natural (no condescension involves for us – we are just dust “made in the image of God!”

C. What does such awesome truth mean to us?
- Live like Christ – honour him in our lives – not just our lips
- Live for the higher purposes of God
- Live to serve – all creatures big and small, the good and the bad, the pretty and the pretty ugly….
- To go the path of downward mobility – Duppy not Yuppy
- Mission and transformation – Go and live and share our life with the unreached people - Eg Eric Liddell, Jim Elliot etc.

D. The Divine Paradox
-Jesus gave us the fail proof way to live – Read Phil 2:5-11
->> He gave up the Heavenly Glory and came to die for us all. He went down to the lowest of low and God exalted Him to the highest of high!
Closing Story

- Jim Elliot – Martyred at 28 yrs old. But change the tribe from homicidal to mostly Christian – reversed the population declined due to killing –from 500 in 1955 to 2000 plus in present days.
- The Greenpeace activists who is willing to move between the harpoon and the whale
- The US secret agents willingness to take a bullet for the president.
- What kind of believer are you?
- My Pastor during the student days – chased by parangs,
- l My own journey …..etc


Discussion questions

1. Share with us when and where you were born – eg Are you the first, middle or last child? Are you a “surprise” (sounds better than “accidents”) or your parents were planning and expecting your arrival?

2. Why is the “doctrine of incarnation” of the Lord Jesus Christ so important to our faith?


3. In what way is incarnation different to “re-incarnation” of the eastern religions?


4. What does Christ's example taught us to live?


5. Why do people have so many troubles getting along with each other?


6. Can you suggest ways where we can promote a “culture of affirmation” in our community of faith?



7. What do you understand by exhibiting “Christ-like Character”?
What are some of the ways that God used to bring change and transformation of our character?

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Christ-Centered Faith - Key to Christ likeness


Christ-Centered Faith - Key to Christ likeness

1. DEFINATION OF fAITH
A. Faith: an ability to trust in and draw upon the power God beyond my rationality, my instinctive pessimism, my willingness to settle for less than best.

B. Hebrews 11:1 & 6 – classic Biblical definition
V1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” 2This is what the ancients were commended for. ……
V6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”.

2. FAITH IS THE KEY
•Faith to dream and see the invisible
•Faith to attempt the impossible
•Faith to defy the odds that is stack against you
•Faith to braze a trail for others to follow
•Faith keeps us from wandering off track
•Faith keeps us from going cold
•Faith ensures that we won’t exchange a life of adventure and excellence with mediocrity
•Faith causes us to be focused and fearless

3. GOD IS ALWAYS PLEASED WITH DREAMERS AND VISIONARIES
•Look at the list of faith heroes
•Noah..
•Abraham…..
•Joseph…
•Daniel…
•And many more….

4. WE NEED FAITH TO OVERCOME THE “defeatist” Mentality
•Can you believe God for more in your lives?
•Have you settle for the status quo?
•I will and I can change !!!

5. Parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30
•Matthew 25:14-30: - parable of the talents
•Invest our God given talent! – double it, grow it.
•Don’t just hide it out of fear!

6. WE ARE CREATED TO SERVE GOD

Gotta Serve Somebody - LYRICS
(Originally by Bob Dylan – sung by Nicole Nordeman)
You might be an ambassador to England or France
You might like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You might be a socialite with a long string of pearls

You might be a rock-and-roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You might be a business man or some high degree thief
They may call you doctor, they may call you chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody -Serve somebody

You might be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You might be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country underneath another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes, indeed
Serve somebodyIt might be the devil or it might be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, knowing how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody’s heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes, indeed
Serve somebodyIt might be the devil or it might be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody
You might like to wear cotton, you might like to wear silk
You might like to drink whiskey, you might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may like to be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed
©1979 Special Rider Music (SESAC)

7. Christ centred Faith
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”
– Jesus is both the source, theobject, the model, and reason that we live.!!! He is also the sustainer and purifyer of our faith.
Don’t just have faith in other things – like faith in your faith, faith in your perseverance, faith in your own ability.

8. Conclusion and Application
•It takes faith to believe in Christ. What are you waiting for ?
•God is always pleased with those people who take him upon the face value of his words.
•Can you believe God for more in your lives? Have you just settle for the status quo?
•“As for me and my house” (Joshua 24:15) - Our challenge àà whom are we gonna serve ?

Monday, January 02, 2006

2006 New Year Message Outline
















Young People At Watch Night Service


New Year Message Outline – Ps Jeremy Wong

“Christ centred Living” – part of our theme for 2006, The 3 Cs - Christ centredness, Culture of affirmation, Christ-like character

Bible Text : Hebrews 1:1-8
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? 6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him." 7In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." 8But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. ( eg 1:8 God the Father calls him God!)


1. Christ must be the Lord of All or He is not the Lord at all!
The centrality of Christ in our faith is foundational.
Hebrews 1:1-8, Colossians 1:15-20 tells us about his deity, majesty, and pre-eminence
Even the Father calls Him God! (Heb 1:8)
Jesus make sure His disciple know that (see Mark 8:27-30)
Sooner or later you got to get this right
We have difficulty in submission to authority because we do not submit to Christ!

2. A Culture of affirmation
The Holy Trinity is our best example – The Holy Spirit testify about the Son à The Son exalts the Father à The Father affirms the Son
We need a nurturing environment for growth.
We will bloom in an atmosphere of affirmation and encouragement.


3. Christ –like Character
The preceding steps is crucial for developing Christ-like character
More than that – we need the refining process
Gold & silver is refined from the furnace of afflictions (See Isaiah 48:9-11)
God will not give His glory to another


Wrapping it all up – Conclusion & Application
Revision – what are the 3 Cs
How to inculcate the 3 Cs?
Answer - by 3 Cs – Conviction, Commitment, Consecration
Plus the 3 Ss
– Surrender, Submission, Supplication