Baptism Testimony - "God is My Secret Weapon!"

Greetings to all!! My name is Wendy. Thanks for allowing me to share my exciting journey with you.

When I was a teenager, I was sick of studying and decided to drop out of school at the age of 15. I worked for 4 years and took private N-level at the age of 19. At that time, I was a very depressed youth as my parents often quarrel and fight at home. My parents have divorced since then. There were many nights when I cried silently in bed without anyone’s knowledge. I developed low self-esteem and carried suicidal thoughts too; but somehow I did not have the courage to perform it. Due to the lack of attention from parents, I started to crave for attention from people. I began to have boyfriends. However, i realized that the relationships were only temporal, it couldn’t fill up the emptiness that was in me. Sadly, each of these relationships only got me being hurt over and over again.

At the age of 20 years old, my friend Evelyn invited me to FCBC. I received Christ during my second visit here. Initially, i received Christ simply because i enjoyed the worship service. I doubted the existence of God, yet strangely I do feel a sense of peace each time i am in church. As time passed, God slowly healed many areas of my life especially during an encounter weekend that I attended. I didn’t know that I had so much grudges on my mom till God revealed it to me one by one. There was one image which was extremely clear: my mom tried to throw me down a monsoon drain when i was in kindergarden. My leader Aunna prayed along with me to release forgiveness for my mom. I could feel my heart being set free and enlightened. I realized that I still love her like the mommy that i used to have before and I praise God for that. Although my mom remarried, we still contact each other. I know she’s important to me and will definitely invite her when I am getting married someday.

I went to ITE when I was 22, and I began to depend on God more. God was my greatest support and He really magnified His presence strongly. The exam period was stressful as I have to study till late at night. There are times when I will just broke down in tears and felt like giving up. Yet God’s strength sustained me, pulling me through every single revision as I prayed and seek for Him. God made me shine in ITE. My classmates often asked me how do I get my good grades, and I simply told them God is my secret weapon! Although my education journey is much longer than others, I know that I might not have done so well without God in my life. I just received a certificate of Merit and I’m now pursuing my diploma of Nursing at NYP.

After knowing God, I am able to have more self-control and do not hop into relationships easily. God fills the emptiness that is in me with His love. I learnt that relationship should set in only when I am ready for marriage and God has the chosen one for me. My heart no longer need to be broken by entering another relationship that is not God ordained for me. Not only did He mend my broken heart, He gave me new hopes of having a wonderful and loving family in future.
God has blessed my family in many ways. My grandparents who use to worship their own gods received Christ this year. It was a shocking news for me, but the Lord affirms this verse: ‘as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’. At times i really question how is it possible? Incredibly, my dad also received Christ recently. Now we can communicate even better, we often pray and do our devotions together. I can see God transforming my grandparents and my dad. I see so much of joy in them and God is certainly good in doing the impossible!

When I was torn and despaired, I found new hopes in God. He rebuild me and my family. God took away my insecurities because He now lives in me. Thank you LORD! Amen!

Written by Wendy Bernice Goh, baptised on 18 Dec 2009 (Click here to read full post)

20th Dec Sermon Discussion - “Are you Ready for Christmas?”

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:1-20

The KEY Question that we need to ask ourselves first before we can say that we are ready for Christmas is to first of all, ask ourselves: “What does Christmas mean to us?”

Luke 2:11 teaches us that Christmas is about: “A Savior is BORN, He is CHRIST the LORD!” Christmas is about Jesus our LORD! Without Christ, there is no christMAS!

From the passage, Luke 2:1-20, we are able to draw 2 very important Truths of how we can be ready for Christmas... which is: “To See God’s Glory and to Share His Story!”

The Question of this Sunday’s Message is: “How can we be READY for Christmas?”

1. We need to SEE His Glory – GOD is with US!

Luke 2:9-10; 10-11; 11-14

In order for us to see God’s Glory, we need to be able to ENTER God’s Presence; EMBRACE God’s Promises & EXALT God’s Purpose in our lives!

Let’s make time in this Christmas to have a personal sanctification time with the Lord and allow God to speak to us. Christmas is 5 days away from the last day of 2009, let’s make time to reflect on all the things that has happen in this year, be it “victories or setbacks, ups or downs” that happen to us in the year 2009…

In this way, we can spend some personal time with our God reflecting all His goodness and hear from Him again His promises for us to fulfill our destiny… which is to fulfill God’s Purposes in our lives…

Today, shall we take some time to reflect on God’s goodness and refocus on God’s Promises and Directions for us? Let’s share with one another how 2009 has been for everyone and share our dreams & hope that we want to see in 2010…

2. We need to SHARE His Story – GOD is LOVE!

Luke 2: 17-18; 20

The very first thing the shepherds did after hearing the good news was to go about sharing with others about their encounter with BABY Jesus… That they had seen BABY Jesus, concerning what had been told them about this BABY child… The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Let’s gather together to pray for the Christmas STOMP, FCBC’s Christmas Harvest Event… that the Lord will grant us a Mighty Harvest. Let’s ask God to use us to consolidate all our friends who will be or has come to know our Lord Jesus as their Savior into our cell groups and that we will not lose any single soul that has just been ushered into God’s Kingdom.

Let us REMEMBER our Lord Jesus & EXALT HIM in this Christmas 2009! Let’s CELEBRATE Christmas!!!

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6th Dec Sermon Discussion - “The Blood Of Our Identity- From Shame To Significance”

Mass Icebreakers – “Face Off!”

1. Everyone use their hands to cover their faces like a mask.
2. Go round to another person and count “1,2,3” with that person and drop their hands from their faces looking eyeball to eyeball with the other person. First person to laugh loses. Repeat with as many people as they can in 3 mins.

Sermon Title: The Blood Of Our Identity- From Shame To Significance
Foundational Scriptures: Isa 50:6-7, Isa 52:13-15.

Isaiah 50:6-7 (MSG)
“I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard. Didn't dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this.”

Isaiah 52:13-15 (NLT)
“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.”

Understanding Questions

1. According to the scriptures above and what we heard in the sermon, where was one of part of the body that Jesus bled for us? Answer : His face, blood flowed from His face. He was disfigured so much that people could not recognize Him.

2. Why did Jesus have to “lose His face” for us? Answer : Face represents our identity. We can find our identity through the blood that flowed from the face of Jesus for us.

3. Why did Jesus have to shed blood on His face? Because:

a. Our Identity Is Lost When We Sinned.

i. Before sin came into the world through Adam & Eve, there was only God consciousness. After sin came in, it brought self-consciousness.

ii. Consequences of lost identity and self-consciousness – We will ask questions like: “Who Am I?”, “Where’s my place?” We’ll try to find identity and significance in stuff like fashion, cars, our talents, riches etc.

iii. How to regain lost identity? The story of Moses:
• He had an identity crisis as he was born a Jew but raised an Egyptian.
• He spent forty years tending sheep. In Exodus 3:10, God appeared to him and called him to deliver Israel from Egypt – “Let My people go”.
• Moses asked God, “Who Am I?” and God replied, “I am with you”. Moses then asked God “Who Are You?” and God replied, I AM Who I Am”. God was telling Moses and us – You are who I AM. If you know ME (God), then you will know who you are!
• Galatians 3:28 (NIV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The world tells us to discover or find ourselves. God tells us to die to ourselves so that we can find our identity in Jesus Christ alone.

b. Our Identity Determines Our Destiny

i. If you don’t know who you are, you won’t know where you are going.

ii. Story of David - David’s destiny was a king but due to wrong choices, he almost lost his destiny until he repented.

iii. Self-consciousness brings fear and traps us in the opinion of others. People who don’t know God are always searching for their true destinies.

iv. Isaiah 62:2 (NIV) - “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.” When we invite God into our lives, He always gives us a new name. People call us by our weaknesses but God only calls us by our destinies and potential. Examples – Abram (dignified father) to Abraham (Father of many nations). Sarai (my princess) to Sarah (The Princess). Simon (stone) to Peter (the rock). Gideon who was cowardly and feared the Midianites, the angel spoke – “You mighty warrior of valour!”.

v. If Satan can rob your identity, he can rob you of your destiny, you’re finished! God the Father spoke and affirm to His Son Jesus His identity in Luke 3:22 “You’re My Son in whom I love; with you I am well pleased”. Satan tried to rob Jesus of His identity when he tempted Him in the widerness.

vi. So, Who are we and What is our destiny?? 2 Cor 5:17 & 2 Cor 5: 20-22 -“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!...We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

WE ARE A NEW CREATION & WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR JESUS!

Ministry Time (Note: Cell Leaders, it is very important to do this)

1. Ask all your cell members to close their eyes. Tell them, “We will apply the blood of Jesus to receive a new identity and destiny today. The Holy Spirit is going to help us”.

2. Lead your cell members to confess that they feel lost because of sin. Also lead them to reject all lies of Satan and names of weaknesses that their parents or friends have given them. You can identify some names like “stupid”, “good for nothing”, “lazy”, “loser” etc. Lead them to pray and ask the blood of Jesus that flowed from His face to cleanse them.

3. Next ask them to release their own self to Jesus in exchange for a new face, a new identity. You can go round and lay hands on them as the Spirit leads you.

4. End off with a song or shout of victory e.g. Declare - “I am a warrior, I am strong, I am an ambassador for Jesus” etc.

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22nd Nov Sermon Discussion - “The Voice of Truth”

Today’s message is entitled “The Voice of Truth” and the question of the day is “What does the voice of truth say?”

The voice of truth tells us that the Greatest FEAR of the devil is for us to know the truth.

1. The LIE

First things first. Let us see what the lie is. Read through Exodus 1:8-10 and compare these verses with other versions:

Exodus 1:9 (NKJV) “... “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we;”

Exodus 1:10 (MSG) “We’ve got to devise a plan to contain them...”

Pharaoh was a powerful man. Whatever he said was done, whatever he wanted was given to him. However he was afraid of one thing. He was afraid that the Israelites would someday overpower the Egyptians. Can you imagine that? Now the Israelites had no army and were just farmers and shepherds but yet the pharaoh, one of the most powerful men on earth who was almost god-like was afraid of this group of farmers and shepherds! Why? Because he knew that God was with them and that they were mightier. So, he had to find a way to contain them.

The same thing can be said about us. The devil knows that we are mightier and he is afraid and so he tries to contain us. How does he contain us? By lying to us. We need to be free of the devil’s lies!

2. The TRUTH

But how can we be free from the lies? John 8:32 tells us “..you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”! So what is the truth?

a. 1 John 4:4 - “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

b. Romans 8:37 - “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

c. Philippians 4:13 - “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

d. Isaiah 54:17 - “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute (overthrow) every tongue that accuses you.”

e. 2 Corinthians 2:14 - “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ...”

f. 1 John 5:4 - “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

So you see, we are mightier and stronger than the devil. The question is, do you believe it?

Ask the group to share whether they have been living out God’s truth in their lives. Have they been overcomers or have they been overcome? Have they allowed God’s truth to set them free or the devil’s lies to contain them?

Minister to one another and end off with every cell member making a declaration to rise up to the strength and might that God has given them to be overcomers.

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15th Nov Sermon Discussion - “There’s No Plan B, There’s a B Plan”

Ice-breakers – “People to People”

1. Pair the people up. Cell leader to shout instructions for the pairs to “connect”. Examples – “nose to finger”, “feet to feet” etc (Note: No indecent body parts or instructions allowed).
2. Whenever you shout “people to people”, they must change partners.
3. Do a few rounds. Transition: “Today we are going to talk about body life (cell life)…”

Key Scripture – John 13:31-38

31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Eugene shared at the start of the sermon, how many times Jesus gave us the Great Commission (reaching others, making disciples)? Who can tell me where these verses are?
Answer: Five times and found in Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:47-49, John 20:21 & Acts 1:8.

2. If God wants us all to be messengers of His love, what should be our response?
Answers:
i. See it as our great privilege.
ii. Have a sense of urgency to tell our friends about Jesus.
iii. Show God that He can depend on us.

3. What is God’s “B” plan? Go round and allow the teens to share with their own words.
Keywords:
i. To love one another.
ii. B stands for body.
iii. Relation evangelism.
iv. Not a single fishing rod, but a net.
v. Returning and staying in community.

4. How do we be part of God B Plans?

i. Step Out in Obedience to Love – Follow His Commands. (vs 34 “a new command I give you”).

a. Ask the teens, “What does this mean for us as a cell group”?
Answers:
• Grow in love for one another.
• Doing it together as a body.
• It is a command from God. We need God’s help.
• It requires obedience and discipline to follow.

ii. Sacrificially Serve One Another – Follow His Way. (vs 34 “as I have loved you”).

a. When Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross, what did He reconcile (joined back or bring together again)?
Answers:
• He demonstrated grace by bringing Man to God.
• He reconciled Man to Man. Since we are all sinners saved by grace, we can forgive those who wronged us.

b. Ask the teens, “What are some suggestions you can share how we could serve one another in this cell group”?

iii. Stay In Community – Follow His Love. (vs 35 “by this all men will know that you are my disciples”).

Read also 1 John 4:7-12 - 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[b] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

a. These verses help explain what Jesus spoke to His disciples about in John 13. What are some key points you can remember from Ps Eugene’s sharing on this?

Answers:
• Stay in community, don’t run away.
• Don’t hop from church to church.
• No loyalty, no stick-ability = no community for the world to see.
• If we want to know God, we must love another. If we love another, we will know God.
• Can only experience love in a community (cell).
• To grow in love, God may send the unlovely into our lives e.g. people we can’t stand.

Remember the decisions we make are not just life and death. They concern eternal life and eternal death.

b. What is the best test to check if our cell groups Is vibrant and exciting?
Answers:
• Will we invite our friends here???
This cell belongs to ALL of us. Let’s share some ideas how we can make our cell attractive to our friends….Remember next year is Project X – Cell Multiplication. Experience It!

Works
1. Remind teens to sign up for Transformers Camp and also to invite their friends.
2. Lead them in a time of prayer for their friends they hope to bring for the camp and also Christmas Stomp on 24 Dec.

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8th Nov Sermon Discussion - "Moving Into God's Destiny"

Scripture Reference: Joshua 1:1-9 (Message by Rev Rick Seaward)

Introduction:
God has a Destiny for every single one of us… The question is, are you entering into the Destiny God has for you?

Similarly, God has a Destiny for Joshua and for the Nation of Israel, individually & collectively. God told Joshua to get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them.” (Joshua 1:2)

From Joshua chapters 2 to11, we read how Joshua led Israel to conquer and took possession of much of the Promised Land. But…, it was at least several months or 2-3 years before Joshua led the people to conquer the Promised Land.

Why had they never got the land before? What was holding them back? God? the Land? the Enemy? No, it was They, THEMSELVES...

There are 2 major reasons that hindered Joshua from fulfilling God’s Destiny to lead the nation of Israel to Conquer the Promised Land

1. Things of the Past
A. Things People Have Said To Us
B. Living in Our Past Consequences
C. Living in the Failure Of Others
D. Settling For the Status Quo
E. The Same Methods

Question for Discussion: What are some things of the Past that may hinder you from believing that you will fulfill God’s Destiny?

2. Things Right Now
A. Forgetting the Promise (Our Destiny)
B. Fear
C. Not Wanting to Take Responsibility
D. Not Completely Believing God's Word
E. Lack of Commitment to Obeying God's Word
F. Many Distractions from God's Plan

Question for Discussion: Is there anything that is happening now in your life that may cause you to think that you are NOT able to do what you think God is calling you to do?

Reminder: Our Destiny is to Conquer, Not just To Win!
A. Joshua 11:16, “Joshua took all the land …”
B. He won many battles, but kept going until He conquered
C. Joshua would not stop until He had conquered!

Conclusion: Will you move into your God-given Destiny? Will you be a part of God’s Destiny for FCBC?
Let’s pray for God to restore a Conquering Spirit in us! Pray that we will not be just satisfied with WINNING, but we want to CONQUER as what God has intended for us to do! Pray that we will fulfill God’s Destiny for our lives. Pray that FCBC will fulfill God’s Destiny for our church.
Let’s commit our YouthNet Goals for 2010 to the Lord in prayer too that we will EXPERIENCE MULTIPLICATION & SEND everyone out for a Mission Trip next year!!!

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1st Nov Sermon Discussion - "Dead Man Walking"

Scripture Reference: John 11:38-44

Ice-Breaker:
To start today’s cell meeting, we like to play a game called, “Guess the Murderer”. This is how we play the game:

Step 1: Have everyone sit in a circle

Step 2: Bow our heads and close our eyes and the cell leader will walk behind everyone in circle to choose the “murderer” by tapping on someone’s head without anyone knowing whom he has chosen

Step 3: Everyone can open their eyes now and just talk and joke and have fun normally while the “murderer” tries to kill the rest of you one by one by winking at you without anyone noticing….

Step 4: If someone winks at you, you must make a loud noise as though you are in pain being killed by someone. After you “die”, you remain in the circle as before but you cannot tell anyone who murdered you.

Step 5: At any time, anyone who is not murdered can guess who the murderer is. But if he guesses wrongly, he “dies” too.

Step 6: The murderer wins if he can “kill” the last 2nd last person in the circle.

(NOTE: Cell leader, you can play this game a couple of rounds depending on the time that you have…)

I hope you have fun playing this game… being dead after you are “murdered”… :)

Let us now discuss Pastor Melvyn’s Sermon entitled, “Dead Man Walking”

Scripture Passage: John 11:38-44 (Cell Leaders can get the members to role play this passage as an introduction to the discussion)

Introductory Questions:
- What was the “Hopeless Situation” in this story?
- How did Lazarus “come alive” or “ break free” ?

The Question of Today’s Message is: How can we live in True Freedom?

1. Remove Hopelessness – Walk in Faith
Are there situations around you that you feel hopeless about ? Have you given up praying or believing something can happen to change the situation ? Share with one another & minister to each other…

2. Reject Bad Habits & Bondages – Wake Up to Freedom
Are there Bad Habits that you are holding on to? Are you caught in any bondage that you would like to share with us so that we can pray for you?

Conclusion:
The only way that we can truly be set free & live in Freedom is to WALK in FAITH. Only by walking in Faith can we overcome the struggles that we face which make us feel that we are living in the “prisons” of our minds, in the “jails” of our lives… We need to WAKE UP from our “tombs” that tries to make us think that we are like “Dead Man Walking”…

Dear friends, let’s ask God to impart a NEW FAITH unto us so that we can live in TRUE FREEDOM…

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25th Oct Sermon Discussion - "Can God Depend on You?"

Announcements:

Before we discuss about the Sermon today, we have an announcement to make: Camp Transformers – An Exciting growth camp for all teens in FCBC aged 12-16, including the Gkidz P6s moving into YouthNet… Dates: 18-20 Dec (Fri – Sun); Fees: $40

Activity 1: Movie Talk

Starter Questions: Who has watched the movie: “Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen”? How do you find the movie? Are there any truths worth remembering about the movie? (Allow the teens to answer and talk about the movie themselves…)

Leaders’ personal wrap up:
I remember it was so touching when the movie ended with Optimus Prime thanking the boy for saving his life, Sam replied, “Thank you for believing in me…”

· Is this not the same for many of us… We rise up to be used by God because we were encouraged along the way by someone who believed in us… gave us the chance to serve the Lord… Just like Optimus Prime can depend on a ordinary child like Sam, we too want to be those whom God can depend on!

The Question of Today’s Message is: Can God Depend on You?
(Message by Pastor Dishan Wickramaratne)

Summary of Ps Dishan’s Message:

1. God is looking for people whom He can use… God looks at the heart… God is asking, “Who can I depend on?”; “Who can I trust?” (1 Samuel 16:7)

2. An example of someone that God uses greatly is one of Jesus’ 12, Andrew, better known as, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew is a simple & quiet person that the Lord could trust, that the Lord can depend on. Andrew was one of the first who knew Jesus, the first to say that Jesus was the Messiah. Although Andrew was not well known, Andrew was faithful in bringing people to Jesus. It was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus. (John 1:40-42a)

3. In the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, it was Andrew who spoke up positively when the rest of the 12 disciples were negative. It was Andrew who spoke up about the young boy who had 5 loaves & 2 fishes. Many of us remember that Jesus fed the 5000, remember the boy who had the 5 loaves & 2 fishes. Very few people took note that it was Andrew who brought the boy to Jesus. (John 6:5-9)

Today’s message is about God wanting to use us for His Purpose… God is NOT asking us to DIE for Him… God is asking us to LIVE for Him… God builds His Kingdom with faithful people who are willing to bring their friends to Jesus… Are you willing to SHINE for Jesus in your lives and introduce Jesus to your friends by bringing them to church or evangelistic events so that they can know Jesus?

Activity 2: Discussion & Praying for Friends

During the Teens Camp, “Camp Transformers”, there will be an Evangelistic Event where we can invite our friends to attend, on the 2nd Day of the Camp (19th Dec 2009), from 1pm to 7pm.

Discuss as a cell how can we facilitate the bringing of our friends for this Evangelistic Event on 19th Dec. Then pray for the friends by name…

Invitation cards will be given out to the cell members on the following week cell mtg on 1st Nov…

Conclusion:

Do NOT belittle what God can do through YOU!!! Let us rise up and be someone that Jesus can depend on! Dear friends, what are we going to do for our God? Can God depend on us? Let’s Pray together…

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18th Oct Sermon Discussion - "Recovering From a Fall"

Sermon Scripture Reference: 1 CHRONICLES 21-22:1

1st Activity: (Game)

Let’s start today’s Word Discussion with a Simple Activity:

Step 1: Ask for a “brave” volunteer from your cell group. If yours is a mixed gender cell, only a guy can volunteer.

Step 2: The volunteer stands in a circle formed by the other cell members. The cell members should stand closely together and all have both hands open to the person in the middle but not touching him/her.

Step 3: At the count of 1,2,3, the person in the middle locks his/her legs and arms by the side and starts falling in any direction her/she wants without moving legs at anytime (like a doll). The cell members forming the circle ensure the person is within the circle and does not fall down at any time.

Step 4: Keep going for about a minute and try with one or two more volunteers if time permits.

Debrief for the Game: How does this activity tie in with the sermon we just heard today?

• Sermon is about falling back into the merciful hands of God.
• Humility needed to depend on others’ help not to fall.
• We are sometimes not in complete control although we think we are.

Today’s Message:

How then can we recover from a fall or a failure? We need to know the two characteristics of God.

1. FLEE FROM THE HOLD OF SATAN – GOD HATES THE SIN OF PRIDE
2. FALL INTO THE HAND OF GOD – GOD HEARS THE POOR IN SPIRIT


1. Flee from the hold of Satan - God hates the sin of Pride

a. According to Ps Melvyn’s sermon, was taking a census (counting of number of troops) wrong? Why then was God angry with King David for doing so?

Answer: The reason King David ordered the census because he wanted to know for his own pride how big and powerful his army was.

2nd Activity: (Deeper into the Word)

b. Pick a few teens to read the following verses using their Bibles:

• Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

• Proverbs 8:13 - To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

• Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

• James 4:6 - But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Ask the teens to share what they think “pride” is and why it displeases God.

Answers: What is pride? It is self importance and self reliance versus depending on God for guidance and blessing.

Pride is the very sin that Satan has committed that caused Satan (also known as Lucifer) to be cast down from heaven. In fact, pride is the very nature of Satan. Pride opens the door wide for Satan to attack us! It attacked David and cause him to think that Israel’s success depended upon the strength of Israel’s army.

2. Fall into the hand of God – God Hears the Poor in Spirit

King’s David prideful action brought grave consequences; let’s learn how he recovered from this fall. Let’s read three verses from 1 Chronicles together:

1 Chron 21:8 - Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

1 Chron 21:13 - David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men

1 Chron 21:17 - David said to God, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O LORD my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people."

Learning points:

1. The turning point of this episode came when David realized his great sin and realized he has nothing if not for the blessing of God in his life. Twice, he confessed and repented of his great sin. He became poor in spirit – apart from God he is nothing and has nothing. He recognized that he needs to fall completely into the hand of God once again.

2. It was really a divine step that the angel of the Lord stood at the threshing floor of Araunah (a place in Jerusalem) when God, filled with His heart of compassion – stopped the killing. The threshing floor is a place of where what is precious is separated from what is perish – what is treasure is separated from what is trash.

3. God wants to remove what is useless from our lives so that He can bring out what is precious. In spite of the pain of the sin, David was being constantly changed to be a man after God’s own heart. Out of the gross sins of David came the most beautiful thing – the location for the building of the Temple of God!

4. God’s grace and mercy for us is paid by Jesus on the cross. Jesus set the example for us by humbling Himself to go to the cross. The cross gives us a fresh start from our prideful fall.

3rd Activity: (Doers of the Word)

1. Share one area of pride God convicted your heart about today.
Examples: performance in school, good looks, success, family, wealth.

2. Ask your friend to pray for you to help you surrender that area of pride to the Lord today. Pray for God’s grace.

(Click here to read full post)

4th Oct Sermon Discussion - "The Place to Be!"

1st ACTIVITY: (Game)

Let’s start today’s Word Discussion with a Simple Activity:
Let’s play a game, called, PESI-COLA: ONE; TWO; THREE!
The game is simple:

Step 1 – Have everyone hold hands & form a circle.

Step 2 – Let go of your hands, and as you shout out, “PESI-COLA: ONE; TWO; THREE! ,” move backwards 3 steps to make the circle bigger.

Step 3 – One by One, take turn to use your foot to touch anyone’s foot or leg. By so doing, the person being touched will be eliminated & out of the game!
(Please note that every one can only do this in one move & he or she must not jump a few steps… Please REMEMBER to be gentle & do not injured someone by kicking him or her too hard…)

Step 4 – Those who are out keep cheering those who are still “Alive” and see who is the last man or woman Standing WITHOUT being touched by anyone…

Debrief for the Game: What do you think is the moral of this game?
☺ Just to have fun? Of course… Anything else? Anyone can come up with a reason to link back to today’s message?
☺ Correct!

- You can only touch your Neighbour!
- You can only touch the one that is next to you, or surrounding you…

Introduction to Today’s Message:

- To Love God is to Love Your Neighbour; It is the SAME!
- To Love Your Neighbour is the Place to Be.

The Question of Today’s Message is:
How can I be a Good Neighbour?

1. When we Accept our Place in God’s Plan

Acts 2:26 says … God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

- The Activity that we just went through is to show us how important it is for us to appreciate the place that God has placed us in…
- We are God’s channel, God’s Ambassador to TOUCH someone… who is your Neighbour… who is NEXT to you…
- We can only be a Good Neighbour when we acknowledge that it is God who set the EXACT PLACE that we should live in…
- Then we can actively seek God’s Plans for us at the Place where we are in, be it our home, our school or our cell…

2. When we Align God’s Plan in our Place

Acts 2:27 says … God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us.

This is God’s Plan:
- God wants to touch everyone! How can He do that?
- And He wants to do it THROUGH YOU!
- This is so that when you begin to TOUCH someone with God’s Love, that someone will SEEK GOD, REACH OUT to God, & FIND GOD!!!

In today’s sermon, Pastor Eugene shared with us 3 Steps of how we can help our Nieghbours Seek God, Reach Out to Him & Find Him…

Step 1: Be a Bridge of Blessing (Make a Difference)
Step 2: Be a Channel of Care (Meet the Needs of your Neighbours)
Step 3: Be a Deliverer of Destiny (Manifest the Savior)

2nd ACTIVITY: (Discussion)

Let’s Discuss how can we Practically do these 3 Steps in our Lives?

- Have Everyone share… This has to be personal…
- Only YOU can TOUCH your Neighbour!!!

3. When we Act in Faith & Believe God for Transformation

Jesus responds to FAITH & not just to Needs. Let your LIGHT Shine!!!

Some say, now is EXAM Time, why are we asking you to be a blessing to someone? At this time, like all other students, should we not JUST FOCUS in our EXAMS instead of being distracted by matters not concerning ourselves?

I want to tell you, “It is precisely that it is during this EXAM Time that we need to move out & be a blessing to our Neighbours… ” In times like this, when all our “Neighbours” are anxious about their exams, this is the best time for us to move in FAITH & be a Blessing to our Neighbours! Do something simple, don’t have to spend too much time… Just say a word of encouragement to some one; or pray for someone…

Let’s group into groups of 2 or 3 to pray for One Another… that we will Make a Difference & Meet Someone Needs so that the LIGHT of Christ will SHINE THROUGH US!!!

Do you accept your place in God’s Plan? Can you appreciate the place that God has placed you? Will you choose to be use by Him to bless someone?

All of us need to go through a JOURNEY of FINDING God’s Destiny for ourselves… We want to know God’s Plans for our lives… And the JOURNEY starts with where we are… NOT somewhere else… It is in the place that we are in, where everything is the same, the people are the same, during very ordinary moments, in the simple ways, that we begin to SEEK GOD… and as we REACH OUT to Him, we FIND HIM…

God place us where we are is so that WE WOULD:

• SEEK HIM
• REACH OUT TO HIM
• FIND HIM

Questions for Sharing:

Let’s share with one another, how we feel about the place where we are in?
- Are we happy with where we are?
- Are we happy with the Family that we are in?
- Are we happy with the School that we are studying in?
- Are we happy with the Church that we are in?
- Are we happy with the Cell Group that we are in?

Let’s share with One Another why are we Happy?
- Or why are we NOT? What can we do about it?
- Do you BELIEVE that God has a Plan for you at where you are?
- Do we want to seek the Lord & find out what His Plans are for you?

If you want, all you have to do is to SEEK HIM & REACH OUT to Him… The Lord says that you will sure FIND HIM! (Click here to read full post)

27th Sept Sermon Discussion - "This Day We FIGHT!"

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 13:14-20

Jehoash is a King of Israel of the Northern Kingdom during the last days of Elisha. When Elisha was very sick, King Jehoash came to Elisha, crying for help. From the story of King Jehoash, we can imagine that King Jehoash was not very hopeful that he will be able to defeat the enemies of Israel… There seemed to be a Passive Spirit…

The Question in today’s Message: How can we Break Free from the Passive Spirit?

1. We are Positioned for God’s Promises - Anointed for Victory
The Question we need to first ask ourselves is do we believe that God has blessed us with His Victory?
As October approaches, it also means that we are nearer to all our Final Year Exams, do we believe that God has blessed us with Victory in our Studies?
Let’s share with everyone, how well do you think you are doing in your revision? How well do you think you will do in this coming exam?


2. We are to Possess the Promises – Fight from Victory
As much as God wants to bless us, we need to recognize it is about 100% God & 100% Man… God wants to help us, but the question is do we want to help ourselves? God will not just ZAP us and give us good results like that… God wants us to grow in diligence, faithfulness… We need to work hard, then we can be good at it… Every promise of God needs to be followed through.

3 possible reasons that caused us to be Passive: Discourage; Wearing Down; & Fear
- In real life, are there things that are happening around us to make us feel Discouraged?
- Are there things in our lives that caused us to have a feeling of “Wearing Down”? What are they?
- Are there things that we are afraid of?

Optional Activity: Let’s play a game, it is called, Piggy Back – Dog & Bone!
Same as Dog & Bone, but 2 persons combined into one number, one be the horse, one be the person to grab the bone… Only the person on top can grab the bone & the person on top cannot touch the ground with his or her feet… (Please note that the pair in the Piggy Back should be of the same gender…)
Debrief for the Game: Is it tough? Did some just give up? Then sure lose, right? Remember this: Whenever we give up, we will sure Lose!


3. We need to have Passion for the Promiser – Persevere for Victory
When we have PASSION, we will be able to Persevere & be an Overcomer
Last but not least, remember that we need to depend on God… Let’s not be like the kings of Israel, depend on so many other things but not totally depend on God…
Let’s go into a time of prayer and ask God to bless us with Victory… Let’s hold hands in a circle and pray together… (Click here to read full post)

20th Sept Sermon Discussion - "How to Face Life Challenges"

Activity: Praise-Connectors Challenge

Instructions:
i. Divide the cell into 2-3 groups. Draw lots to decide which group will go first
ii. Cell leader start with a praise song ‘This is the day’
iii. Where ever the leader ends at, the first group is to connect with another praise song that starts with the same word that leader ends at.
iv. The next group will continue with another song with the word that the previous group stops.

For example:
Leader start with ‘This is the day, This is the day, That the Lord has made, That the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice….

Group 1 starts with ‘Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is in you..'
Group 2 starts with ‘You are You are crowned with many crowns, And rule all things in righteousness’ .... Etc

This continues until the winner merges or 10 min, whichever come first.

1. Rate the difficulty you face in connecting the praise songs.
1 = very easy 5 = difficult for some song 10 = very difficult
Praise comes easy for some and may be very difficult for others. When we face challenges, we may take things into our own hands and try to overcome the challenge with our methods. Just like Leah. Let’s read Gen 29:32-35 to understand more.

2. Read Gen 29:32-35. What was the turning point for Leah?
‘This time, I will praise the Lord’. When we face challenges, the turning point comes when we begin to praise God.

3. The divine order is praise comes first. Looking at the different challenges that you face, how can praise bring a turning point?

Challenges:
- Exams
- Friendship problems, such as misunderstanding, conflicts
- Family problems such as not enough money, quarrels,

Praise often brings a turning point because –
1. Praise protects the dream and the dreamer
2. Praise protects you when you are vulnerable (Gen44:14-18)
3. Praise put pressure on the problem (Gen45:1,2)
4. Praise was chosen by God to welcome a new day (Num2:3)
5. Praise says you expect to win
6. Praise declares your destiny is in good hands
7. Praise is the cure for discouragement and depression
8. Praise releases the power of God

4. When Ps Ashley faced the problem of losing hair, he chose to praise God each time he was discouraged. What challenge are you facing now? What will you do to bring a turning point in your life?

(Click here to read full post)

13th Sept Sermon Discussion - "Staying Fresh for God"

Scripture Reference: Daniel 6

A) Warming Up

Share ONE new thing that your members may not know about you. It can be an embarrassing moment, a peculiar habit, a past experience, a place you have visited and so on. Share something that is new to your cell group.

Leader's conclusion: There is always something new or fresh we can know about each other. The same goes with our relationship with God. However, for any relationship to stay fresh, it takes time, effort and desire to grow in the relationship.

B) Listening Room

Read Daniel 6:10 to the cell and share that what kept Daniel fresh through the 60 years of serving a total of 4 pagan kings and being a man of faith and integrity was his daily time with God.

1. Read the following Bible passages three times. Use either

(i) A Bible passage from http://english.duranno.com/livinglife or

(ii) Daniel 6

2. Pause and listen to God and then take the time to write a note FROM God to yourself.

3. After that, pause again, read through what the Lord has spoken to you and write your response to God.

4. Share with each other what you hear God say to you and your response to Him. Pray for each other.

C) Application

Commit to doing Quiet Time regularly as a church. Go to the website http://english.duranno.com/livinglife to read the daily devotions and spend time with the Lord.

The Lord feeds the spiritually hungry Matt 5:6. Some of you may even want to take the challenge to read the Word before food when you start your day. Choose to hunger for the Word of God today.

(Click here to read full post)

Elevate: Vision Chart

Watch out for the next session of Elevate: Vision Chart. Check out the promo video - Chart Toppers!

ELEVATE TV #02: Chart Toppers from Elevate TV on Vimeo.

Sat 19.09.2009
7.30 - 10pm
TOUCHCENTRE
4th Floor - TC Chapel
3 Marine Parade Central

To RSVP: facebook.com/event.php?eid=129081604430&ref=nf

This week's guests:

Sim Yihui was the co-leader of the Singapore Women's Everest Team that reached Everest Peak on 20 and 22 May this year. She will be sharing her experiences, her struggles and what it took to conquer the big mountain.

Isaiah Pang, our very own Youthnet songwriter who composed "Jesus Died for Me" will be sharing his thoughts on the unexpected success and popularity of his song and giving tips on how to get started if you want to write songs too!

(Click here to read full post)

6th Sept Sermon Discussion - "Dark & Stormy Night"

Scripture Reference: Matt 14:22-32

A) Warming up – When you can’t see, you hear (Animal Sound)

Time: 10 mins
Logistics: Blind fold & small pieces of paper
Objective: Members are blindfolded & have to make an animal sound & find the other persons(s) of the same animal sound. They must continue to make the sound until leader says stop.
Animal sound: Dog-woof / Pig-oink / Duck-quack / cow-moo / sheep -meh / cat –meow

Direction
1. Write at least 2 animals & their sound on the small piece of paper & let the group pick up the paper to know what animal sound they are making
2. Arrange everyone, blind folded in different places in the room (ensure there is no obstacles in the room)
3. At the shout of “start”, everyone will have to make their own sound & find each other
4. They must continue making the animal sound until leader shouts stop.

Leader’s conclusion:
When we cannot see, we need to depend on other senses - hearing - to find our friends. We all need to take the little step (no matter how scary it is to walk when blinded) forward to find our friends.

B) Discussion

1. Recap from Sermon: How do we tide through the storms of lives?
a. Recognizing God’s voice-it brings security
b. Responding to God’s voice- it brings salvation

2. What are the characteristics of God’s voice
a. It’s a voice of comfort, I can count on it
b. It’s a voice of communion, I can come to Him
c. It’s a voice of compassion, I can cling to him

3. Why do we need to discern God’s voice during storms of our lives
a. We hear other voices
i. Voice from our logical mind – this brings doubt
ii. Voice from our flesh – this brings self pity
iii. Voice from the evil one – this brings self condemnation

b. We can be led away from God when we respond to other voices than God’s voice

4. How do we discern God’s voice during storms of our lives
a. Draw near to God (James 4:8)
b. Test the voice with the bible (1 Thess 5:19)

C) Application

1. God promised to save us when we honestly call to God, humbly step out in faith & humbly cry out to Him in our storms of lives. We can have peace when God is in the same boat as us. We can smile during stormy times because God is in our vessel. Let us affirm this truth with this song “With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm”
2. Are you right now in a middle of a storm? Let’s split up into smaller groups to share & pray for each other.

(Click here to read full post)

30th August Sermon Discussion - "How to Run a Fishy Business"

Scripture Reference: Luke 5:1-11

1. Prepare a piece of paper and pen for each member. Get them to compete by writing down as many different types of fish that they know of / have eaten before. Whoever manages to come up with the longest list within 2 minutes wins.

2. Read Luke 5:1-11. There are 3 key elements that we need to become effective Fishers of Men. What are they? Which of the 3 elements do you need to have more of in your own life?

3. Name 2 of your closest friends in school. If you had a chance to talk to them about God, what do you hope to say to them? Pray and ask God for opportunities and for courage in each other for this week to talk to our friends.

(Click here to read full post)

Listening to God's Voice

As I watched how the other brothers and sisters in Christ serve God through various platforms, i couldn't help but wonder where i stood in queue on this "waiting list" that i subjected myself to. "Are you good enough?", "Maybe it was something you have done?", "Remember the last time you served half-heartedly?" were familiar questions that kept coming back to me. Honestly, those were questions that i didn't know how to answer and it lingered on in my head. I was spiritually, physically and mentally worn out. Everytime these questions came back, i would redirect them to God and try to listen for an inner audible voice. Though i knew that God can speak to us through anything, i was stubborn and insistent and told God that i will only be convinced if i can actually hear his voice. And so, i waited for weeks, if not months and surrendered to the fact that God doesn't want me to hear the ugly truth.

So it happened. God spoke to me a few months later.

The young adult cell sat down after sunday service for cell group and the one question that Adrian Yang ( Young Adult Cell Leader) asked was "What do you think is God's purpose in your life?". As i hear the other brothers responding to this question one at a time, i became nervous because i obviously didn't know how to answer that question. Personally, i always felt that giving out model answers are a waste of time. No sincerity and unauthentic. So i asked for a skip to buy time. I expected the cell to come back to me after the last guy has shared but they had forgotten about it and carried on with the Word. So i thought to myself again "Wah, since they forgot about it, then i don't need to think about it lor". After cell, we were heading off for lunch and i wanted to share with Adrian how i felt in the past months. Somehow, i ended up telling him this: "God is keeping me here in this cell to develop patience, build character and prepare me for something big that is coming ahead". You know, i was shocked. All these while i have never thought of anything like that but after having said that, i felt peace and joy in my heart. I immediately acknowledged that spontaneous thought as God's voice.

A few weeks later....

My cell leader, Guang Han, rang me up and asked if i was willing to take up role of anchoring Touch Young Arrows. Though i was kinda excited that there was an opening for me to serve, i was willing but yet reluctant. Reluctant because i felt that i wasn't the right person for the job, it was not exciting enough and i knew that i had to die to self if i were to be involved in anything in regards to Touch Young Arrows (travelling distance, lesser time to sleep etc.) I hesitated over the phone and Guang Han eventually told me to pray about it and give him an answer the following day. After we ended the conversation, i was anxious because i felt that i had too little time to ponder. I sat down on my couch and started to pray immediately. I prayed hard and really asked God to give me a sign. The harder i prayed the more i felt that this was a test from the Lord. A test of the readiness of my heart to serve.

I came up with excuses for myself and bargained with God that i know this was a test blabla and haha. I guess i didn't receive any signs from God because of the way i prayed and so i stopped praying. While i was spending time with God again that very night, the question Guang Han posed to me came back to me and there was a built up of anxiety. "Time is running out Lord ! Give me an answer please!" was the first thing i asked of the Lord. At this point of time, i dropped all opposing thoughts and started to be objective about my prayer. I was really desperate when every minute went by with no signs showing. I eventually fell asleep praying.

I woke up in the middle of the night because i felt that i had the urge to pee. As i lazed a for awhile on my bed, i heard a voice telling me: "Wake up from your slumber". I thought it was my imagination or God telling me to visit the washroom if not i'll wet my bed. Normally, If i were to get up in the middle of sleep, the first thing i would do is to look at my handphone to check for miss calls or incoming messages. But this time, it was different. Another voice came into my head telling me to "Stand up and walk". I went straight for the lights and my eyes fixed itself on the bible lying on the side of my bed. I suddenly lost the urge to pee and i kinda knew God wants me to wait upon his Word. So i took the bible and placed my thumb on the side of the bible. I told God to bring me to the right page and i randomly flipped open the bible. To my surprise, i found myself staring at the very first page of the book of Proverbs and the settings of the book. The words that caught my eye on the very first page were "Although they are not meant to teach doctrine, a person who follows their advice will walk closely with God. The word "proverb" comes from a Hebrew word that means to "rule or govern", and these sayings, reminders, and admonitions provide profound advice for governing our lives". As i read through the book of proverbs, many of the verses hit me right on the nail and i knew that i have been foolish in my ways for a long time. There was also a thought in my head that kept telling me that i was the Chosen One. Even though i was convicted then, i wanted to make sure that it was from God. The next morning, i called Guang Han to share with him what happened the night before and agreed to take on the role in TYA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been having heart palpitations after meals for awhile now. It got worse by every passing day so i decided to visit the hospital in hope of getting a referral to see a specialist. So on the night before my first official day at Touch Young Arrows, the symptoms came back after supper with the brothers and they insisted that i see a doctor immediately. So off i went to the hospital and the doctors told me my condition was serious and i had to be warded. I argued with them that i had something important in the morning but they rejected my appeal. As i lay on the hospital bed the next morning, i apologised to God for trying to be a smart aleck and coming to the hospital. I was lonely for awhile and had one-way conversations with God. I felt that he wasn't there at all, or he didn't forgive my heroic act of getting myself warded. I was quite upset and indulged in self-pity. I asked myself if i had heard the wrong Voice to be involved in Young Arrows.

I'm actually quite a stubborn person and I told God that he can speak to me through the nurses or patients. (Something Real-Time and convincing, In-my-face kind). Not only did i get a nil return from God, to be honest i did not even feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. I thought that whatever bit of God's anointing in me has left. I felt like i was nothing. So there i was, all on my own except for the SMSes that kept coming in. I remembered reading every single SMS that came in a dozen times or more but to me, they were just normal SMSes. I dozed off due to boredom and right after i woke up, a light-hearted familiar spontaneous thought came to my head, telling me to read through the SMSes that were sent earlier. This time when i read the messages, i noticed that in almost every single message, the words "God is with you", "Holy Spirit is with you", "You are not alone" were present. I couldn't help but thought about my baptism name, Emmanuel, which carries the same meaning. I felt the presence of God in the room and i started to think about my baptism, which eventually brought me back to Spiritual Warfare i encountered right after i decided to get baptised. I knew Spiritual Warfare is present every minute, every second but it totally slipped my mind when i harboured thoughts about God or the HS leaving me. God also revealed to me that i have to learn to be extra sensitive to his Words and messages that can come from anything; be it text, objects or people.

I give Thanks to God for everything all that has happened and i know the voice of God will never fail me.

Amen.

Written by Dan Emmanuel Hum Gao Ming
(Click here to read full post)

ELEVATE

ELEVATE TV #01: Chair from Elevate TV on Vimeo.

What is ELEVATE?

Elevate is all about giving new things a go. It’s a bottom up movement that pretty much takes shape from how YOU decide it should be. It’s about new platforms and new expressions. You’ve got a gift? Talents? Or a voice that speaks about the problems your generation faces. We want that. Contribute. Let it come out, on canvas, film, song, administration, set design, music/instruments, preaching. There’s so much more to church then just doing it.

Relevance is our motto. Our main audience is you. Let’s enjoy real community. So do rock up, for some food, fellowship, music and word. It’s all good news. Bring your mates, your besties and Elevate your Christian experience to a whole new level.

Next ELEVATE meeting: 19 September 2009 (Friday) @ TOUCH Chapel

Check out the ELEVATE blog @ http://elevatehigher.blogspot.com or follow them on Facebook today!

(Click here to read full post)

Baptism Testimony - "A Journey of Faith in Him"

I came from a non-Christian family. When I was born, I don’t stay with my parents. I stayed with my auntie and her family. I stayed with them for 12 years. I only went back to stay with my parents as I was progressing to secondary school. Before then, I only went back to my own home during the weekends. I know as a fact that my parents were busy working as I was growing up and they had no time to take care of me. That was why I don’t feel my parents’ love throughout the first 12 years of my life. I always listened to my aunt and did whatever she asked me to do. I was a staunch Buddhist when I was young; I was very passionate about my Buddhist faith.

During my primary school days, whenever I did not do my homework, my mum would be called to school to meet my teacher. Despite the many tuitions that I had, I did not do well in my studies and my grades were lousy. That had made me felt that I was very useless. Others could do so well but not me. I always envied people who were so smart.

When I was young, I hope that I can become a Christian because I want to get married in a church. I also don’t know why I have such thoughts.

When I was 17 yrs old and studying in Nitec, I became a Christian. My best friend brought me to her auntie’s church. Two ladies prayed for me and I felt something in my heart and I started crying. I felt His unconditional love. That day, I invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart to be my Saviour and Lord of my life.

After becoming a believer for about a year, I began to understand what it meant that God has His plan for me. For 2 years, I tried to apply for a place in the poly but my application was rejected. When I was rejected by the poly, I went into slight depression for a few months. Many people kept encouraging me and prayed for me. But I refused to listen to them. I just kept applying to the poly but in the end, all doors were closed to me. I believed that God has a reason for not allowing me to get into the poly at that time. So I decided to apply for Higher Nitec instead.

During my 2 years in Higher Nitec, I studied very hard and always prayed and sought God for wisdom in my studies. I always prayed and asked God to show me a physical rainbow as a sign of His faithfulness, something I don’t usually see often. God showed it to me in many different ways. I thanked God for blessing me with miraculous results in my studies. I scored straight As throughout my studies. Although teachers set high expectations on me and I also gave myself high standards to attain, I always tell myself that I can do it, that I must persevere, that I must have faith in myself and in God. Not only did I do well in my academic studies, I also participated in quite a few competitions for my school. In most of the competitions, I would emerge as champion and this would always surprise my project group. I always do things with faith in God no matter what the outcome would be.

I went to Taiwan for a competition last year and our group won a few awards. God really blessed me throughout my journey in ITE. At the end of my ITE journey, I was awarded a silver course medal. I was the top student of my cohort. I was accorded the Tay Eng Soon scholarship. I was also the outstanding student in my school.

Currently, I am studying in Nanyang Polytechnic. I went directly into the second year of my course.

I always trust GOD that He has a plan for me and knows my future. My journey with God is all about FAITH in HIM.

by Elizabeth Joy Lee Kia Suang from Ps Lee Lai Fun's Tribe
(Testimony dated 28th August 2009)
(Click here to read full post)

A teacher's labour behind the scene....

During Secondary 2, my Math grade was abysmal from the start, and was nearly streamed into a more inferior class, making learning challenging.

During the holidays, I received a call from the Math Head of Department (HOD), offering me to be streamed into a better class which has Additional Math. This was done on one condition, which I was to be able to pass the subject by Year 3 in order to keep it. My parents and I consented to this request. She became the Math teacher for my classes.

Although our class was known to be the “Math Class” (because it consisted of A Math, E Math and Principles of Accounting), our grades did not reflect that reputation well. Keeping that in mind, our Math teacher took great efforts to improve our grades. This included: sourcing for various school assessment papers, burning those in a disc for our own convenience, held intensive remedial classes during the June and December holidays.

At times I feel regretful that my own class (including myself) was unable to fully grasp her hard work and sometimes even portray it in ungrateful insinuation.

My ‘O’ Levels came and went. I fared pretty well in my grades and this was especially so for my Math; an A1 for E Math and A2 for A Math! Today, I stand as a graduate from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in Tourism and Resort Management; one of the more difficult courses to apply because of its huge popularity and aggregate requirements.

I shudder every time I remember my Secondary 2 holidays. If she never believed and gave that opportunity to me, I would not be standing as who I am today.

This story is to let known that a teacher’s perseverance and conviction to their students can impact their lives permanently. Teachers, do your best by showing the appropriate love and concern for your students, for even a student with delinquent tendency like me can be touched. As teachers, you are not only sculpting grades but lives as well! Have pride in what you do, for your students see that in you.

This dedication goes out to Ms Rahma, who is none other than the Math teacher mentioned above. Happy Teacher’s Day Ms Rahma! May the future generation of teachers emulate what you have done for your students!

Written by Wesker Tay, 20 years old
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"Cher... You want to see me?"

When I first entered junior college, my Math teacher was a trainee from NIE allocated to teach us for the next few months.

Not long after, I received my first Math tutorial back and there were the dreaded words “See Me” in red staring straight in my face.

“Cher…you want to see me?”

“Joanne, I’m quite worried for you…. do you understand the lecture? Is my lesson hard to follow? Do you need help?” Miss Tng looked at me with eyes of concern.

There and then, I felt so ashamed. The truth was I did not put in effort for my tutorial and I was there because of my shoddy work.

That day, I spent my first afternoon staying back in school for consultation. Ms Tng was very patient, though tired; she went through the entire chapter with me.

From then on, I started to be more serious in my work. I make sure I understood the lessons and take effort to seek teachers for consultation when necessary.

How blessed I was to meet Miss Ting during the early stages of my JC life. She was a trainee teacher not staying long in our school but she went the extra mile for her student. That simple act of giving transformed my attitude and life.

My L1R5 score for O Levels was 16 points, I completed my A Level with 2As and 1B and was given a place to study Chemistry in NUS.

Thank you Miss Tng.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Written by Joanne Wong, 19 years old
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Prayer Prompters from YN144 Leaders' Meeting

1. Ask God to remove any blockages that hinders you from moving on. - Not being able to let go of the past, relationships, unfinished heart matters.

2. Pray Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" - Ask God to release you from any unsettled or disturbed spirit.

3. Pray for open heart to receive the new things that God is bringing into your life.

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23rd August Sermon Discussion - "YOUth No Take 2"

Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 12:1, 1 Tim 4:12

A) Warming up – “U r Special”

1. Everyone to write down on a piece of paper the heading “OMG there is nobody nobody like me”
2. Stick the paper on your back. Go around the cell and write down affirmative attributes you see in your fellow cell members.
3. After everyone has written, share with the cell all the characteristics listed about you and whether you agree or disagree with it.
4. Twit one affirmation that you are most encouraged by.

God sees the potential in each and everyone of you. You are unique and special in God’s eyes.

B) Discussion

The youth age is an age to learn responsibility. God’s plan always has young people at the forefront. Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Josiah and Mary are examples of young people whom God spoke to and used to bring about salvation or/and deliverance. They learnt responsibility while they were still young in age and they made a positive difference in and for their generation.

Joseph – learnt to manage family relationships and be effective in his workplace
David – Learnt to look after the sheep and use his shepherd’s skill to protect
Jeremiah – learnt to listen attentively to God, be brave to speak up
Josiah – learnt to rule a kingdom with a pure heart
Mary – learnt to ponder things of God in her heart and act in obedience

1. Why do you think God intentionally had young people in His plans?
2. What kind of responsibilities do you have now?
3. What other responsibilities are you learning?

C) Application

Don’t Ever Say There Is No You in God’s plan. You have a DESTINY, a mission. You are never too young to make a positive difference.

1. If everything is possible for you today, what do you want to be involved in to make a difference? What will hinder you to make a difference?
2. Share and pray with one another in the cell.

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