tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69576831630272661582024-03-13T09:50:05.418+08:00Love Your NeighbourThink Relationally | Appreciate Diversity | Mark A DifferenceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-90104627653316860622010-09-07T08:46:00.004+08:002010-09-07T08:49:16.859+08:004th Sept Sermon Discussion - You Can! Because God is Faithful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLRuAPqJ18K2bl8ixA5CLSxmvvBO6K1TjhKCsnqc2a2JQiISM60BEL6NlOvSrQJJdlVRVzfDctl5gh_QG12a9J9J4sXAUs2uQ0Pabjh2lysCW75W1-VJNcHMM_2ViKOLNktfkAfS6y0eJ/s1600/Slide1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 580px; height: 840px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLRuAPqJ18K2bl8ixA5CLSxmvvBO6K1TjhKCsnqc2a2JQiISM60BEL6NlOvSrQJJdlVRVzfDctl5gh_QG12a9J9J4sXAUs2uQ0Pabjh2lysCW75W1-VJNcHMM_2ViKOLNktfkAfS6y0eJ/s800/Slide1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513966800939534002" /></a><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLRuAPqJ18K2bl8ixA5CLSxmvvBO6K1TjhKCsnqc2a2JQiISM60BEL6NlOvSrQJJdlVRVzfDctl5gh_QG12a9J9J4sXAUs2uQ0Pabjh2lysCW75W1-VJNcHMM_2ViKOLNktfkAfS6y0eJ/s1600/Slide1.jpg">Click here to see full size image</a></center><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-83932145281600213532010-08-23T15:47:00.003+08:002010-08-23T15:54:41.344+08:0022nd August Sermon Discussion - Dare to Dream!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9wr_B3o3TmTKUqsl73au8E9d_dEQfnFU6OjcrIbfcSJdFsfSgMtEH0pt8Eh2AeB26lfW7m74THNikYf9bO09qZZyNu4IlA59GEOIPZNdjOVrHYZPlqIxlk17IfTrXCntXVZBAJpnfocO/s1600/Slide1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 580px; height: 840px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9wr_B3o3TmTKUqsl73au8E9d_dEQfnFU6OjcrIbfcSJdFsfSgMtEH0pt8Eh2AeB26lfW7m74THNikYf9bO09qZZyNu4IlA59GEOIPZNdjOVrHYZPlqIxlk17IfTrXCntXVZBAJpnfocO/s800/Slide1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508509069199934018" /></a><br /><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9wr_B3o3TmTKUqsl73au8E9d_dEQfnFU6OjcrIbfcSJdFsfSgMtEH0pt8Eh2AeB26lfW7m74THNikYf9bO09qZZyNu4IlA59GEOIPZNdjOVrHYZPlqIxlk17IfTrXCntXVZBAJpnfocO/s1600/Slide1.jpg">Click here to get full size image.</a></center><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-22489126061917414292010-08-10T16:32:00.003+08:002010-08-10T16:45:14.677+08:008th August Sermon Discussion - 4th Dimensional Thinking<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">[TODAY’S SERMON...]</span></b><br /><br />Last week, Pastor Khong shared about the 4th dimension. If you recall, the 4th dimension is the world of the spiritual world. It is where the works of the Holy Spirit of God, the spirit of Satan, and the human spirit of man take place. There are 4 keys to the 4th dimension which are thinking, vision and dreams, faith and words. Today, we will look deeper into the 4th dimension thinking.<br /><br />Do you know how powerful our mind is? It is said that the state of life is determine by the state of mind. This means that your thinking controls the way you live. And that’s why to enter into the 4th dimension, we can’t have 3rd dimension thinking (worldly thinking). We need to renew our mind to have 4th dimension thinking. Look at Romans 12:2<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">[HOW DO WE RENEW OUR MIND?]</span></b><br /><br />We need to think in 3 specific ways:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h6rn0F5WdOeHoLqWSYdEjIyGhEjrkF94HalG9sspMIhns1OnJ1sG9xdS1VwCEhAeQ1KaIo8F2AdfxXXoWw8OqTHIjzZEohyphenhyphenkPDy0vbEp2ha63MdYdrqDR8TMr5jQHfJFw_zqX_luTqui/s1600/donut.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h6rn0F5WdOeHoLqWSYdEjIyGhEjrkF94HalG9sspMIhns1OnJ1sG9xdS1VwCEhAeQ1KaIo8F2AdfxXXoWw8OqTHIjzZEohyphenhyphenkPDy0vbEp2ha63MdYdrqDR8TMr5jQHfJFw_zqX_luTqui/s200/donut.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503699230300741298" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>1) Think possibility</u></span></b><br />Have you heard before the ‘half full or half empty cup theory’? It goes like this. Water is being filled to the half line marker of the cup and you decide whether the cup is half full or half empty. This theory is used to see how people perceive their situation in life. People who see the cup as half empty are normally pessimistic about life. They don’t see any possibilities to their problems. Whereas people who see the cup as half filled, are normally optimistic about life. They see possibilities instead of problems.<br /><br />You see, when we face challenges in life and we don’t think of the possibility, we are actually saying that our God is the God of impossible. And with that thinking, we can never enter into the 4th dimension.<br /><br />Today, will you believe with all your mind that ‘with God, all things are possible’ and ‘you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength’ ?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3rvDn3P7RPYn0a2LymManGYDfOQhyphenhyphenQwCcE_4HdY3cBsNzVjKfw2zwwA87X2eLqY2WdsnTB6o-bFV3NIR-fpX69Xkj5aAcX7imw9f-tPNneaVLJsQXYHpkjt8B8Q_IEgrraPf4iNUIUGL/s1600/anxious-woman.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3rvDn3P7RPYn0a2LymManGYDfOQhyphenhyphenQwCcE_4HdY3cBsNzVjKfw2zwwA87X2eLqY2WdsnTB6o-bFV3NIR-fpX69Xkj5aAcX7imw9f-tPNneaVLJsQXYHpkjt8B8Q_IEgrraPf4iNUIUGL/s200/anxious-woman.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503699361840516914" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>2) Think pure</u></span></b> – Matthew 5: 8<br />There are 3 types of impure thoughts. They are anxiety, sin and inferior thoughts.<br /><br /><i><b>Anxiety:</b></i> In Mat 6: 25-34, God tells us not to worry. But honestly, how many of you worry a lot? Share with your cell what are 3 things that your normally worry about. Do you know that worrying goes no where? It’s like sitting on a rocking chair. You can rock all you want but it goes nowhere. Today, surrender your worries to God and trust Him. Know that He has good plans for you.<br /><br /><b><i>Sin:</i></b> Look at Romans 1:28-31. Are they sinful thoughts in you? It can be thoughts of envy, lust, murder etc. Will you confess to your leader about it? Don’t wait till your thoughts become real. Remember, our mind can control the way we live.<br /><br /><b><i>Inferior</i></b>: Let’s discuss. When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you see a masterpiece or do you not like what you see?<br /><br />When we do not like ourselves, we are actually criticising God’s creation. Maybe some of you here dislike the way you look because of what people say about you. Write it down on a piece of paper of all those hurtful words that were said about you.<br /><br />Take the paper, close your eyes, and tear it because these are all lies and you need to let go of it and start to believe that you are a MASTERPIECE! You are SPECIAL!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOlCBYnhUY4kGG3UNi32BXfSxlo-3b1gPVyPcnw3sAbGPXOk5gJc20nbMR5HqLqM4WXn68DPVzYkI80id5VWyuUxmCSCq-jSWT3k32qOtjtuistP7MAyfmKpxXy9S-_75pOCBuA7avqUz/s1600/victor.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOlCBYnhUY4kGG3UNi32BXfSxlo-3b1gPVyPcnw3sAbGPXOk5gJc20nbMR5HqLqM4WXn68DPVzYkI80id5VWyuUxmCSCq-jSWT3k32qOtjtuistP7MAyfmKpxXy9S-_75pOCBuA7avqUz/s200/victor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503699461142502882" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>3) Think Paradise</u></span></b><br />Read Ephesians 2:6-7<br /><br />To think paradise, is to think that you are with God in the heavenly realms.<br /><br />Do you know that you are 4th dimension creature living in 3rd dimension world. Look at Ephesians 2:6. God is seated with us! Now you know this truth, will you start to have 4th dimension thinking? When you start to have 4th dimension thinking, you will see the impossible becoming possible, the supernatural becoming natural, and the victimize becoming victors!<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">[PRACTICE WHAT YOU LEARNT..]</span></b><br /><br />1. Some of you here might not be leading a group because you think you can’t. Today, will you take a leap of faith to believe that you can? Invite 1 friend to your cell 40DOF group or Teens excite.<br /><br />2. Have you been reading the bible? To have 4th dimension thinking, you need the word of God. Start reading the bible today!<br /><br />3. Memorise Romans 12:2<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-29004552576348454952010-07-19T21:43:00.005+08:002010-07-19T22:07:53.496+08:0018th July Sermon Discussion - The Danger of Drifting...<strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4; 6:11-12<br /></span></em></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">[TODAY'S SERMON]</span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6hkjbEkeqFoSNByUL8ONSCbKeClf_oOjm5VtE7QNmdWYlUJlmCvtgtPaJHZTc3Fm9zLj0fvCnisTjqVgLD5Kcg4ToPQCOw3r3SrrBSdcQ8uX0MFdqORKzt5dnWuftfPP_uCgFpJ5o5sj/s1600/paddle.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495616940866233922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6hkjbEkeqFoSNByUL8ONSCbKeClf_oOjm5VtE7QNmdWYlUJlmCvtgtPaJHZTc3Fm9zLj0fvCnisTjqVgLD5Kcg4ToPQCOw3r3SrrBSdcQ8uX0MFdqORKzt5dnWuftfPP_uCgFpJ5o5sj/s320/paddle.jpg" /></a><br />Imagine that you are on a raft in an open ocean and you are trying to reach an island. To reach the island, you will have to put in effort and paddle towards it. The moment you stop paddling and do nothing, your raft will just float around aimlessly according to current of the ocean – You end up drifting away.<br /><br />Our Christian walk is very much the same. The moment we do nothing, we end up drifting away (from God). Two important truths we need to learn from today’s message:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">1. Spiritual drifting comes from negligence.<br />2. Spiritual drifting can be overcome by diligence.</span> </strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">[HOW WE SEE IT...]</span></strong><br /><br />So what is all this talk about negligence and diligence? Well let’s try to explain it:<br /><br />Do you remember using a pencil back in primary school? You have to constantly sharpen your pencils to make sure that they are useable. Negligence is when we are irresponsible and do not constantly sharpen and make sure that our pencils are useable. So in the event we need a pencil, we might just find that our pencils are blunt, broken and useless.<br /><br />Diligence is when we constantly take responsibility to make sure that our pencils are sharpened and useable at all times.<br /><br />If your Christian walk is a pencil, are you sharpened and useable or are you blunt and broken? The moment you stop sharpening your walk by reading the bible, spending time with God or praying, you end up drifting further and further away from God.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">[THE BIBLE SAYS...]</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Hebrews 2:1<br />“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”</em><br /><br />How is your spiritual walk? Are you spending time with God? Are you reading the word? Are you praying? If your answer is no, then it’s time to listen to what Hebrews 2:1 says!<br /><br />Pay much closer attention to your spiritual walk. Make it a point to seek God everyday so that you do not drift away!<br /><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;"><strong>Remember, what is it that we must do to drift away? – Nothing!<br /></strong></span><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">So what are you going to do so you don’t drift away?<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">[YOUR LIFE...]</span></strong><br /><br />Pause and think through your spiritual walk for a moment. What are some areas that you’ve not been sharpening? Write it down below and commit to the Lord that you will start sharpening it today!<br /><br />Example: Prayer, quiet time, reading bible etc.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">[SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...]</span></strong><br /><br />The great thing about God’s plan for our lives is that He didn’t just plan for us to walk through our Christian walk alone! Apart from being there, God has also sent many people to you to minister to you on His behalf. A good example would be your cell group!<br /><br />Take some time to ask these questions as a cell:<br />1. What are some things we can do as a cell to ensure that all the members of the cell do not drift away?<br />2. What can I do during my own daily schedule to ensure that I do not drift away?Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-60511106605955943722010-06-23T09:43:00.007+08:002010-06-23T10:00:30.927+08:0020th June Sermon Discussion - Consider the Goodness and Severity of God<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Scripture:</span></b> Romans 11:21, 22<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">INTRODUCTION</span></b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2jUnZuuutzIJKZ-WGdOQcHZbDf6MLywsn8t8bAhX1ktFz9twCGnoAheXCvNxcdE2sUflYA1PQCz2048NOA7ZeIZT9_5upgg7fxJwvPJNSaBgiNirbYMFymoO_TL-ypVZMq0ufZytVp4t/s1600/goodness.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2jUnZuuutzIJKZ-WGdOQcHZbDf6MLywsn8t8bAhX1ktFz9twCGnoAheXCvNxcdE2sUflYA1PQCz2048NOA7ZeIZT9_5upgg7fxJwvPJNSaBgiNirbYMFymoO_TL-ypVZMq0ufZytVp4t/s320/goodness.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485782839813241826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOK0Npmr48Fft2Rh2Gu-ddJh0SswuZF6U__CZHD31tHCL1XE2pfm0PLO6VPPzwtAqHb0BJAgw8Ul_dCA3F4c26jhLdFPxAXeycPVDU-lFEbn_MqELpWU4pmLJeb5WXA3cvJj3jfaVNMGd/s1600/severity.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOK0Npmr48Fft2Rh2Gu-ddJh0SswuZF6U__CZHD31tHCL1XE2pfm0PLO6VPPzwtAqHb0BJAgw8Ul_dCA3F4c26jhLdFPxAXeycPVDU-lFEbn_MqELpWU4pmLJeb5WXA3cvJj3jfaVNMGd/s320/severity.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485782849553639090" /></a>• Take a moment and think through what God is like. Now try and put a picture to what God is to you.<br /><br />• Is God like an old gentle man floating up on the clouds giving out gifts and love to everyone<br /><br /><b><i>OR</i></b><br /><br />• Is God like an angry giant up in the heavens looking down in anger waiting to zap everyone with lightning?<br /><br />• God may or may not be either one but to know God as who He truly is, we need to know God and see Him completely.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">MESSAGE</span></b><br /><br />• The truth is that God is good and loving, but at the same time God is severe and fierce.<br /><br />• God’s goodness is always popular but people usually don’t want to talk about God’s severity.<br /><br />• In order to truly know God, we need to see every part of Him and not just choose the parts that we want to see.<br /><br /><b>Question:</b> Based on Romans 11:21-22, what do you think will happen if you only choose to see God’s goodness and not His severity?<br /><br />• We need to see and understand God’s severity before we can understand God’s goodness.<br /><br />• If we choose to see God in an incomplete way, then we will end up falling away and rejecting the truth – Look at the book of Jeremiah!<br /><br />• We need to see God fully and complete! He is not 50% gracious and 50% severe – He is 100% gracious and 100% severe!<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">How then shall we live?</span></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">#1: We need to be overwhelmed by the grace of God</span></b><br /><br />• We are all imperfect and have sinned and because of that we actually deserve to die and not live another second. But take a look at Lamentations 3:22-23.<br /><br />• God loves us so much that’s why He doesn’t consume us! And He demonstrated that love in Romans 5:8!<br /><br />• We all actually do not have the right to live and have any form of blessings in our lives. But because of God’s grace and mercy, we can live a life full of blessings.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">#2: We must not take His grace for granted</span></b><br /><br />• Hebrews 12:29 tells us that God is a consuming fire.<br /><br /><b>Question:</b> Take a look at another verse, Hebrews 10:26-27. What do you think will happen if we always say that it’s okay to sin because God will always forgive us?<br /><br />• Always listen to the voice of God and do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:15).<br /><br />• If your heart is hardened, your reject the word of God and because of that you cause yourself to stop receiving God’s grace, mercy and love.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">APPLICATION</span></b><br /><br />• The way to always be overwhelmed by the grace of God and not to take it for granted is to walk closely with God.<div><br />• The question is, how is your quiet time? Do you spend time with God?</div><div><br />• Choose today to walk with God every day. Do your quiet time every day. As you obey God and spend time with Him, you will learn and see God in His completeness. Don’t choose parts of God that are better for you. Choose God for all that God is.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">MEMORY VERSE</span></b><br /><br /><b>Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) </b>“Because of the LORD’s <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">great love</span></i></b> we are not consumed, for his compassions <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">never fail</span></b></i>. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”<br /></div><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-15447262427642663332010-06-21T09:59:00.006+08:002010-06-21T10:11:27.879+08:0013th June Sermon Discussion - "You Can Be A Blessing!"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Introduction:</span></b><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE4wEUwNfHakvW8OyJNWAlqFSgYb1NkSLSNDpOW8sNsZJ2xoTGRzA4RL0A_IMgoYQaxHHsKETOTwzLppSQixPGHuTZ1tWlA1wCuSCOgnvHQH51ZKKuEQUlgEn8praVt5pfkG3ZkG2v8Cn/s1600/40DOF_FCBC.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE4wEUwNfHakvW8OyJNWAlqFSgYb1NkSLSNDpOW8sNsZJ2xoTGRzA4RL0A_IMgoYQaxHHsKETOTwzLppSQixPGHuTZ1tWlA1wCuSCOgnvHQH51ZKKuEQUlgEn8praVt5pfkG3ZkG2v8Cn/s320/40DOF_FCBC.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485043377382523010" /></a>How many of you want to see yourself leading a group or inviting your friends to the 40 days of faith? If you want, you need to start now! Yeah! Though 40 days of Faith officially starts on 1 August, you need to start praying and planning now. Don’t worry its just a few simple steps☺<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Bible verses:</span></b> Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-8<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">3 simple steps that we can take in response to this call and experience the miracle of multiplication </span></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">1. Go and see the need</span></b><br /><br />Write down the names of your friends/family members that you want to invite for 40 days of Faith.<br /><br />How many of you here are troubled or stress out on what to do to reach out to them? Let’s look at what Jesus do when He reach out to the multitudes.<br /><br />In Mark 6:34 states ‘When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke – like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them. Looking at this verse, it says that the crowd was like sheep with no shepherd and what Jesus did was to meet their needs by teaching them. He didn’t spend thousand of dollars nor perform a talent show to reach out. He just met the needs of the people.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Activity 1:</span></b> <div><br />a) How did you come to know Jesus and what makes you believe in Jesus? Write it down. I believe many of you here believe in Jesus because Jesus met your needs. Maybe some of you here a wounded heart and Jesus met your needs by healing it. Maybe some of you here have fears and Jesus met your needs by helping you to overcome your fear.<br /><br />b) Look at the names of the friends/family members that you have written just now. Do you know their needs? Write it down beside their names and start praying for them. If you don’t, then its time to spend time with them, to know more about them and pray for them. And if their needs are something that you can meet, are you willing to help them meet it? For example, some of them need friends to study with. Are you willing to set up a study club and study together with them? Or maybe some of them need friends to go out with. Are you willing to organize a simple outing for them to spend time with them?<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">2. Pray and bring them to the Lord</span></b><br /><br />In Mark 6:30-44, we see how God was able to feed the thousands despite having five loaves and 2 fishes. Indeed, with God, all things are possible.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Activity 2:</span></b><br /><br />a) As we are talking about leading a group or inviting friends for 40 days of Faith, how many of you are fearful doing it or think that you can’t lead a group? Write down those fears and reason why you think you can’t.<br /><br />b) Today, God wants to tell you that you can! In Phil 4:13 ‘ I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’ Just like how Jesus was able to feed the thousands with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, He is able to help you overcome your fears. As long as you tell God that you are willing to lead a group or willing to participate in the 40 days of Faith, God will help you.<br /><br />c) Make it a commitment to pray to Him daily for the people that you are inviting.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">3. Organize and serve them together </span></b><br /><br />Jesus was very detail at His execution. Similarly we need to be organize in our 40 days of faith.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Activity 3:</span></b><br /><br />a) Take this time to think of the venue that you want your 40 days of faith to be held and write it down. Make sure it’s comfortable, convenient and conducive. There will be a short video for them to see. Do ensure that the place is able to show the video.<br /><br />b) Which day and time do you want it to be held? After school? Sat?<br /><br />c) From now till 40days of Faith, it’s about 1 month plus. Organise activities that can fellowship with them or meet their needs before the 40 days of Faith officially start. You can have a study club/a once a week movie outing/a bbq gathering/play sports or computer games etc. It will be good if you can work together with a fellow sister/brother in Christ.<br /><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Yeah, remember 40 days of Faith don’t start on 1 August. It starts NOW! </span></i></b></div><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-37250600238169308882010-05-31T08:48:00.005+08:002010-05-31T09:04:10.191+08:0029th May Sermon Discussion - "I CAN!"<strong>Scripture:</strong> Philippians 4:13<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbPiocY8JbH3bWGcXHperqsWjDrykHlnx-XcjYxhtLp5_1P5K_e9rDmD23F9JGNffoZn42v7vcoyhozbmgsU-k_B496XV-1hku5LvI0-ng7NgDY4GP7MgJCdKUgr51taYAq0CSBml9KoE/s1600/icandoallthingsthruchrist.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477232398469824930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbPiocY8JbH3bWGcXHperqsWjDrykHlnx-XcjYxhtLp5_1P5K_e9rDmD23F9JGNffoZn42v7vcoyhozbmgsU-k_B496XV-1hku5LvI0-ng7NgDY4GP7MgJCdKUgr51taYAq0CSBml9KoE/s320/icandoallthingsthruchrist.jpg" /></a><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Did you know...</span></em></strong><br /><ul><li>You could share the gospel to your entire school?</li><br /><li>You could lead 100 people?</li><br /><li>You could be the top student in your school?</li><br /><li>You could reach your generation for Christ?</li></ul>God’s word for you today is that<strong> <span style="color:#000000;">YOU CAN</span></strong> do great things!<br /><br />It doesn’t matter whether you’re smart or rich or how old you are; God can and will use you to do great things if you let Him because God lives in you!<br /><br />The most ordinary people can do great things through our extraordinary God!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">You can be great!</span></strong> <em>(But you need to believe it!)<br /></em><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Activity:</span></strong> Share with one another in the group what is your greatest dream. It could be to become a millionaire, a pilot, own a mansion or even to be the next Apostle Lawrence Khong! Regardless of what it is, do you believe that you can do it? Do you believe that you can do even more than that? End off telling one another “you can!” and then by saying it yourself that “I can!”<br /><br />- So why do we need to believe that “I can!”? Is to please Pastor Khong? Is it just so that we will feel excited about the 40 days of faith? NO!<br /><br />- So what is believing that “I CAN!” all about?<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">MESSAGE</span><br /></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">#1: We live with an attitude of FAITH!<br /></span></strong><br />• Attitude is important because it is what shapes our lives.<br /><br />• Attitude will either <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">liberate us</span></u> </strong>(free us to do great things) or <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">limit us</span></u> </strong>(push us down to never do great things).<br /><br />• If we always tell ourselves that we can’t do it then we will end up not being able to do it. But if we tell ourselves that we can do it then we will end up being able to do it.<br /><br />• Romans 8:31 (NIV) “If God is for us, who can be against us?” – God is for you! So step out in this attitude of faith to believe that God can and will use you to do great things!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">#2: We choose to act in OBEDIENCE!</span><br /></strong><br />• We cannot just believe that we can do great things. We must actually start doing it!<br /><br />• James 1:22 (NKJV) “But be <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">DOERS</span></u></strong> of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”<br /><br />• A true attitude of faith that believes God can and will use you will lead to action.<br /><br />• Philippians 4:13 doesn’t just say “I can”. It says “I can <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">DO</span></u></strong>”.<br /><br />• Don’t just believe that you can do great things. Great things don’t just happen. Great things happen through doing something.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">#3: We allow God’s POWER to come!</span></strong><br /><br />• We can believe that we will do great things. We can start to work on great things. But only when God’s power comes and empower us can we fully do great things.<br /><br />• Philippians 4:13 doesn’t just say “I can do”. It says “I can do all things <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">THROUGH</span></u></strong> Him who strengthens me”.<br /><br />• We can easily say “I can pray and heal the sick!” We can believe that we can do it. We can do something by praying. But only when we allow God’s power to come and empower us can any healing take place.<br /><br />• 2 Corinthians 3:5 (Amplified Bible) “Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but <strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">our power and ability and sufficiency are from God</span></u></strong>.”<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">APPLICATION</span></strong><br /><br />• 40 Days of faiths is just around the corner. In fact it starts now.<br />• Do you believe that you can lead a group?<br />• When you believe it and step out to start doing it, God will empower you and you will see great things being done through you.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Activity:</span></strong> Spend some time seeking the Lord and asking Him to help you lead a group through the 40 days of faith. If you are serious and believe that God can and will use you, tell your leader that you want to lead a group. You may not know how, but take that step of faith and obedience and allow God’s power to come and use you!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Memory Verse:</span></strong><br /><em><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Philippians 4:13 (NIV) “<u>I CAN</u> do <u>ALL THINGS</u> through Christ who <u>STRENGTHENS</u> me.”</strong></span></em><br /><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-50006734021501847952010-03-18T14:35:00.003+08:002010-03-18T14:47:59.179+08:0013th March Sermon Discussion - "Quick Feet"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible Scripture:</span></b> 1 Chronicles 12:8<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Ice-breaker: Cat & Mouse</span></b><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoLPydytV2cuIv_poelgAaawJNN7wNjjjUTRifOIyYHQYadgpIUwAN57U8W_-9xDx5Rcs_uE_nrzm9TRpOxp9Su6RZqMcro16Xy_3k-_Ag5Bq2V_8oLV208FiyUwU8hGae0oDIIvPqkMu/s1600-h/cat-mouse.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoLPydytV2cuIv_poelgAaawJNN7wNjjjUTRifOIyYHQYadgpIUwAN57U8W_-9xDx5Rcs_uE_nrzm9TRpOxp9Su6RZqMcro16Xy_3k-_Ag5Bq2V_8oLV208FiyUwU8hGae0oDIIvPqkMu/s200/cat-mouse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449861594796069330" /></a>Sit around in a circle of at least 8 people; prepare 2 objects (e.g. water bottle or bible). One object will represent a ‘Cat’, and the other a ‘Mouse’. Moving in a clockwise direction, the ‘Cat’ will be passed from person to person by having the object go 1 round around the waist of the person, before passing on to the next person. The ‘Mouse’ will be passed in a similar fashion except that it needs to go 2 rounds around the waist of the person. The objective of this game is for the ‘Cat’ to catch the ‘Mouse’. Start the game with the ‘Cat’ and ‘Mouse’ at opposite sides of the circle and you will see the ‘Cat’ catching the ‘Mouse’ soon!<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Introduction:</span></b><br /><br />In the ice-breaker, why was the ‘Cat’ always able to catch the ‘Mouse’? The answer is simple; it moves from person to person faster. In short, it has quicker feet!<br /><br />God has destined great things for our lives and our church, represented by the ‘Mouse’. For us to claim them, we need to be just like the ‘Cat’, we need to have quicker feet. Just like in the ice-breaker, when we chase God’s purposes for our lives wholeheartedly, we will always be able to catch them. That is God’s divine will!<div><br /><i><b>1 Chronicles 12:8 (NASB)</b> “From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.”</i> Just like David’s mighty men had quick feet, God calls us to be well-trained and have quick feet too.</div><div><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">How To Have Quick Feet:</span></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">1. We Must Have The Right Spirit</span></b><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3Hq7Ox1m6OtKC07nyGr-2UNkH94hpSyPZ_9Pvbh5nOlIJvdgtvmIGgtTTiWQmNEabId0nbZpHR18PLRJdU2SqH-QDVZ_cWwXTuRB77pxoRlnMo-g4IXZPtKgB_tDMvy4-ttN8UrDX6W9/s1600-h/Running_Feet.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3Hq7Ox1m6OtKC07nyGr-2UNkH94hpSyPZ_9Pvbh5nOlIJvdgtvmIGgtTTiWQmNEabId0nbZpHR18PLRJdU2SqH-QDVZ_cWwXTuRB77pxoRlnMo-g4IXZPtKgB_tDMvy4-ttN8UrDX6W9/s320/Running_Feet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449861824188821282" /></a><b><i>Jeremiah 17:9</i></b> tells us that our hearts can deceive us. What this means is that we can easily harden our hearts and not even realize it! The only way we can always be in the right spirit is to always be in the presence of God, Philippians 4:8-9 shows us how – our daily devotion of reading God’s word will bring His presence into our lives!<br /><br /><i><b>Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)</b> “8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”</i><br /><br />One sign of a hardened heart/wrong spirit is the unwillingness to learn or grow anymore. Check our hearts: are you someone who would choose to do things the easy way, laze around, find some excuse to do less for God or are you someone who pays attention to the things of God and pay the price to obey Him?</div><div><br />Will you make a choice today to put God in the highest place in your life? You can do so by stepping out of your comfort zone and joining in the 24/7 prayer at TC Chapel this week or joining in the G12 conference looking forward to hearing God speak to you.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">2. We Must Guard Our Hearts</span></b><br /><br /><b>P</b><i><b>roverbs 4:23 (MSG)</b> “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.”</i> When need to guard our hearts because issues of life flows from our hearts. If we do not guard our hearts, we get wounded easily. ‘Injuries’ in our hearts such as resentment, un-forgiveness, pain, anger or bitterness, weighs us down and can create insecurities. King Saul became envious of David’s success in battle instead of being proud of his fellow man’s victory, 1 Samuel 21:11.<br /><br />Paul and Silas showed us an example of guarding their hearts in the midst of imprisonment in Acts 16:22-26. They experienced spiritual attack in their relationship with God when they were caught, emotional hurt when they were put to shame when their robes were torn off and physical pain of being beaten. Yet at about 12 midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Evidently, they guarded their hearts and did not allow circumstances to cause them to focus on their hurt. Like Paul, we can stay focused on God and His calling to win the unsaved instead of the hurt and pain suffered. Don’t live with the victim mentality but rather, have a secure, victorious mentality!<br /><br />What are some negative emotions that affect you usually? Envy, anger, resentment, worries? Identify and learn to be on your guard against these emotions.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">3. We Must Renew Our Minds</span></b><br /><br />Our minds can receive the truths and revelations of God because we have the mind of Christ, <i><b>1 Cor 2:16 (NIV)</b> "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.”</i> God also pours new wine (His revelations) into new wineskins (our renewed minds), Luke 5:37.<br /><br />To have Quick Feet for God, we need to let God transform us by the constant renewing of our mind, <i><b>Romans 12:2 (NIV)</b> “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>One way to be transformed by the renewing of our mind is to have the positive attitude of wanting to learn and staying teachable. Your feet will become quicker when you want to learn. God will pour into you His fresh anointing and revelation. Let us make an effort to learn new things every day, so that we are trained to run faster for God.<br /><br />What are some new truths / revelations God has shown you recently?<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">4. We Must Have Vision </span></b><br /><br />God always completes what He has begun, <i><b>Psalms 138:8 & Philippians 1:6 (NIV)</b> “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”</i> God’s plans for your life will be completed if you know the vision and choose to follow after it. </div><div><br />Bartimaeus was blind and begging before he received sight from Jesus, Mark 10:46, 51-52. When God gives you vision, you will have passion because you have a reason to live.<br /><br />To find out more about God’s vision for your life, come to the G12 conference ready to receive God’s Word. Don’t think of yourself as being too young and cannot relate to God’s plans for your life. Prepare your heart and ask God speak to you! The G12 vision has transformed so many lives all around the world, it can change yours too!<br /><br />If you have not already done so in response to the sermon from last Sat / Sun, would you decide right now to have Quick Feet?<br /></div><br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-7077175623057125342010-03-11T17:00:00.004+08:002010-03-11T17:12:09.000+08:006th March Sermon Discussion - "From Victory to Victory: The Painful Lessons from Ai"<strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Bible Scriptures:</span></strong> Joshua 7 & 8<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPf-PNzwxuBMiTWZGtDuh3ZdFttOVB5WrBAk3cqZMFnkGQODlKx0AwgbzLPagOb9izLFNbZIuFjQZwWo0Cl30DDUX6_rW_j_H3NaKFeg7mM8SM2IgYabN2MyTPy4GYK1uYB5UoYC1Oofg/s1600-h/victorious.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPf-PNzwxuBMiTWZGtDuh3ZdFttOVB5WrBAk3cqZMFnkGQODlKx0AwgbzLPagOb9izLFNbZIuFjQZwWo0Cl30DDUX6_rW_j_H3NaKFeg7mM8SM2IgYabN2MyTPy4GYK1uYB5UoYC1Oofg/s320/victorious.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447301184045546866" /></a><strong><span style="color:#000000;"><u>How to have Victory to Victory Despite Failures</u></span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">1. Corporate Commitment to Holiness<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Activity 1: Games Time</span></strong><br /><br />I. Split yourself into 2 groups<br />II. In your group, take out a pen and a piece of paper<br />III. In order to win, the group that finishes the given task in the fastest time wins the game.<br />IV. This is the task: Every member in the group has to use both their thumb and their second finger to hold the pen and use that pen to write the word ‘UNITY’ on the piece of paper. If any member’s thumb or finger leaves the pen, the group has to redo.<br />V. As you played the game, do you realized that in order to win, everyone has to play their part? If one stops, there will be great difficulty in moving the pen. If one decided to disobey the rules, the group can’t complete the game. Everyone’s action affects one another.<br />VI. Similarly, if one sins, the body of Christ will be affected. Let’s look at the book of Joshua.<br /><br />In <strong>Joshua 6:18</strong>, God told the Israelites to keep away from the devoted things. The devoted things refer to the gold and silver of Jericho. However one man decided to disobey what God has commanded.<br /><br />In <strong>Joshua 7: 1</strong> it states, <em>‘ But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.’</em> The Lord didn’t just punish Achan. The Lord punished Israel. They lost the battle in Ai and 36 men lost their lives.<br /><br />VII. Do you know when we sin and choose to be ignorant of it, it affects the body of Christ? Maybe your fellow sister in Christ need God to heal her from a disease, but because of your sin, God’s hand can’t move. Today, if you have a sin in your life, are you willing to repent?<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">2. Communal Circumcision for Cleansing<br /></span></strong><br />In <strong>Joshua 7:13</strong>, it states <em>‘ Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says; That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.’</em> The reason why the Israelites lost Ai was because of sin. Thus, in order to win, they need to remove the sins in their lives. They need to set apart themselves for God.<br /><br />i. Do you want to experience victory in your life? If you want, consecrate yourself daily. True freedom comes when we choose to obey Christ and live like Christ.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>3. Courage to Fight on Again</strong><br /></span><br />Joshua 8:1. When Joshua was about to fight against Ai again, he was afraid as he had lost to Ai before. He was afraid that history will repeat itself. But God told him to not be discourage or afraid as God will help him.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Activity 2:</span></strong><br /><br />I. What does courage means to you?<br />II. Courage is simply letting go of the past and letting God take you into His plan.<br />III. Break into groups of 2 .Is there any areas in your life that you have given up and need courage to fight again? Share and pray for one another.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-40583503768397723092010-03-04T16:27:00.003+08:002010-03-04T16:34:35.793+08:0028th Feb Sermon Discussion - “Taking Cities for God- Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN94aPfGiyGJrEzp6m6UeaKcwGmpA_frGZ8bo47dgNwTcCXOiOU-mPvY-MEEHmyDOTx33ldZ8zew1i49-pkwLEPOl2_NuIec0Zw9UXjFWhCV4Ff-LbpwfnQE8ou7rl8g26TZLJ7VBTGKG/s1600-h/The+Cross.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN94aPfGiyGJrEzp6m6UeaKcwGmpA_frGZ8bo47dgNwTcCXOiOU-mPvY-MEEHmyDOTx33ldZ8zew1i49-pkwLEPOl2_NuIec0Zw9UXjFWhCV4Ff-LbpwfnQE8ou7rl8g26TZLJ7VBTGKG/s400/The+Cross.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444694018169119842" /></a>Have you been joining in the 40 days of prayer? Believe that as you draw near to Him, you will experience inner victory. With that, you can experience outer victory.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible text:</span></b> Joshua 6.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>3 Strategies in Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles:</u></span></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">1. Divine Plan</span></b><br /><br />In Joshua 6:2-5, the Lord gave Joshua a divine plan in tearing down Jericho. Jericho signifies the obstacles in our lives. As a Christian, our obstacles are not just about our needs in our lives. It includes a bigger plan in transforming your school, transforming Singapore.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>Activity 1: Sharing</u></span></b><br /><br />i. Is there an obstacle (a Jericho) in your life right now that you find it hard to overcome? Share and pray for one another.<br />ii. Just like how the Lord gave Joshua a divine plan, God has also given Pastor Khong a divine plan in transforming Singapore. One of the 7 gates of culture influences is Education and Schools. As a student, you have a part to play to transform your school. However, do you want to? Do you believe that your school can be transformed? Do you believe that there will be salvations happening in your school everyday?<br />iii. You can make it a habit to pray for your school everyday. Also set up a prayer group in your school. On top of that, plan ways to be a blessing to your school and execute your plans. For example, you and your friends can help to clean the classroom every day.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">2. Divine Presence</span></b><br /><br />The reason why Jericho fell was because the presence of the Lord was with them. In Joshua 6:8, it states that the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of Lord.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>Activity 2: Sharing</u></span></b><br /><br />i. Do you know when we only ask God for His power/blessings rather than His presence, our relationship with Him will not be too strong? The reason is because you only know Him for what He can do rather than who He is. Thus, when you don’t get what you ask for, you will feel disappointed and leave Him.<br />ii. Are you willing to desire God’s presence and not just His power? When we desire God’s presence, we can overcome the obstacles in our life.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">3. Divine People</span></b><br /><br />All of you are God’s chosen people. You can overcome. You are special. You can win the nation. You can be strong. You can do great things. You can dream. You can be happy. Out of all these, which is the one that you find it hard to believe you can do? Share with your partner and pray that you will experience breakthroughs.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><u>Activity 3: Memorise a verse</u></span></b><br /><br />John 15:16 ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.’<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-58024766217983589122010-03-03T17:01:00.008+08:002010-03-03T17:18:59.424+08:00Baptism Testimony - "The Greatest Gift Anyone Can Ever Have!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqY8lgSV4s87WDYoqEeYR1aHACUOST2iPALdAt3phN4wx2BHmWUf2R4oQg6-aPDNh_7I1SeR46nbIxYxfyZVhQnGILnUscyYW4KmiSO-CCaq1aXkUVgkBpQhEPW-OMHV22kvd5pPaJYNS/s1600-h/Michelle+Ho+Jia+Yee_IPHW_FCBC_BAPT-11+(Medium).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqY8lgSV4s87WDYoqEeYR1aHACUOST2iPALdAt3phN4wx2BHmWUf2R4oQg6-aPDNh_7I1SeR46nbIxYxfyZVhQnGILnUscyYW4KmiSO-CCaq1aXkUVgkBpQhEPW-OMHV22kvd5pPaJYNS/s800/Michelle+Ho+Jia+Yee_IPHW_FCBC_BAPT-11+(Medium).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444334491650862338" /></a>I was born into a Buddhist family. I grew up following my parents to temples to pray and perform the different rituals that Buddhists usually do. Eg. burn paper money, drink the ash water, hold joss sticks. Before I knew Christ, I was a very wild person. I used to say words that hurt others’ feelings, especially those rough Hokkien words such as <i>‘Wa Lao, Wa Kao’, ‘Siam la’</i>. <br /><br />I was not sensitive to my friends’ emotions and said whatever I felt like saying. I was very immature and can even be impolite at times. I used to be very impatient too and often lose my temper over small things. I remembered one time when I shouted at my grandmother just because she had forgotten to do something for me. But above all these, I felt that my life was meaningless. Going to school was meaningless, doing homework was meaningless. I did not have a sense of purpose and even felt lousy about myself.<br /><br />The time when I began to realize that I needed God was when I came to Secondary school. I was from Fairfield Methodist Secondary. We had daily devotion every morning before the start of lessons. A teacher would come up and share a word from the bible as well as pray for the whole school. We also had chapel once a week. It is like a service with worship and a short message. Though I’ve heard about Jesus from my grandmother when I young, but it was in Secondary school that I slowly began to understand who He really is.<br /><br />I realized that Christians are happy people. They tend to do things more effectively than me. Also, I can see that they have a lot more motivation and purpose in the things that they do in their everyday lives. As time passes, I realized that deep down inside I wanted to believe in this God but I was not totally convicted yet.<br /><br />My turning point came when my grandmother had a heart attack in 2004. I was in secondary 3 then.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost">The doctor said that she needed to go for an operation but there was only a 50-50 percent survival chance. It is possible that she’ll slip into a coma or even pass away during the operation. I was terrified. I realised that I needed a miracle to save my grandmother’s life. My grandmother was the one who brought me up and I was very close to her. Losing her would be too unbearable for me. So I made a deal with God. I told God that if He’s really real, He would save my grandmother’s life. In the end, my grandmother’s operation was successful. God came true to me. He saved my grandmother’s life and she’s living with me up till today. That was the time that made me confirmed that God is real. However, I didn’t knew how or what to do to accept Christ.<br /><br />How I accepted Christ was when my physics teacher then, Joanna invited me for a Good Friday concert in April 2005. It was a harvest event organised by FCBC called ‘Starlight’. I agreed to go since it was a school holiday and I had nothing to do. After the performance, Ps Eugene gave a short sharing and that really touched my heart. Thus, during the alter call, I said the sinner’s prayer and gave my life to God. That was how my journey as a child of God began. Soon, I started coming to church and cell and continued to learn more and more about Jesus.<br /><br />To me being a Christian is to have the Holy Spirit inside of me. It means having God everywhere I go and everything I do. Right now, I’m living a life that seeks to do the will of God. My life is meaningful and purposeful. I understand that God has a perfect plan for my life and all I have to do is to obey Him. I’m now more conscious of my own actions. I also have better control over my emotions. I begin to have more patience to the people around me especially towards my parents.<br /><br />My aim now is to live a life that is righteous before God. Furthermore, I’m learning to practice this unconditional love to others just as God has showed His unconditional love to me. I’m starting to have more confidence in what I do. I’m a much happier person, knowing that I have a God who loves me and will see me through every single situation of my life. It is the greatest gift anyone can ever have.<br /><br />Written by Michelle Ho Jia Yee, baptised on 26 Feb 2010</span>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-82175639350150332132010-02-24T11:53:00.003+08:002010-02-24T12:05:05.279+08:0021st Feb Sermon Discussion - “Victory before the Battle”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKLLbNtf28HrTRCOh7260dIiVr96DH7SER6QGYIhP4gJL_9TCGUiltJRVhTgXVuMTLSXC38TIHZ4cijkIig-IBj9hN6q-5MzXP3Unscns_hkAD6ppwybbBsu5CjvC10gzCAIqedjpd6iN/s1600-h/victory.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKLLbNtf28HrTRCOh7260dIiVr96DH7SER6QGYIhP4gJL_9TCGUiltJRVhTgXVuMTLSXC38TIHZ4cijkIig-IBj9hN6q-5MzXP3Unscns_hkAD6ppwybbBsu5CjvC10gzCAIqedjpd6iN/s320/victory.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441656070747001810" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Introduction:</span></span><br />This year is the year of breakthroughs. FCBC will see miracles happening, healing taking place, families restored and cell multiplication. Yes we will. However, we need to do a very simple yet powerful thing – PRAY. When we pray, it will move God’s hands. There will be victory even before the battle starts. Isn’t that amazing? So are you ready to enter into the 40 days of prayer?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible verses</span>:</span> Joshua 5:1-12<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><b><u>2 Key Strategies to Have Victory before the Battle:</u></b></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><b>1. Circumcision – Establish your faithfulness</b></span><br />In Joshua 4, Joshua led the Israelites to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. This caused the Amorite Kings and all the Canaanite kings to lose their courage in facing the Israelites. This is seen in Joshua 5:1. Since the kings had lost their courage in facing the Israelites, Joshua could had brought his people to tear down Jericho immediately. However, he didn’t. He obeyed what God had commanded him to do. God asked him to circumcise his people.<br /><br />In the Old Testament circumcision was an act by an Israelite family to remove the foreskin from the penis, the male sexual organ, shortly after a baby boy is born. It is believed that circumcision also brings health and hygiene benefits. Today, circumcision is still being practiced by both the Jews and Muslims.<br /><br />The significance of circumcision is to cleanse by removing that which is unclean. In today’s context, there isn’t a need to undergo physical circumcision as the blood of Christ has already cleansed our sins i.e. our hearts are circumcised by His blood.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><b><u>Activity 1: Sharing</u></b></span><br />i. The reason why the Israelites won the battle was because they had undergone circumcision. This shows that outer victory can only be won when there is inner victory. Examine your life. Go round and share what is one area of unfaithfulness the Lord convicted your heart about and you need his cleansing? (E.g. devotion life, late for church etc).<br /><br />ii. Do you believe in the power of prayer ? When we pray, we move the hand of God. The breakthroughs that you have been waiting for, be it in your personal life or for your cell group, can be experienced only if we start to pray. On top of that, as we rise up to be a Joshua generation, the devil will attack us even more. In Ephesians 6: 12 ‘ For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood(man), but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ Thus, it’s important to pray to fight against the devil.<br /><br />iii. Today, are you willing to rise up to be a prayer warrior and be part of the 40 days of prayer and fasting? Are you willing to pray for Pastor Khong and his family too? He and his family need your prayer. Take out the 40 days prayer schedule. Go round and decide as a cell the slots you will come and pray e.g. 6am before going to school etc.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><b>2. Celebrate God’s Victory – Empower your faith</b></span><br />Even before Joshua and the Israelites took over Jericho, they celebrated the Passover. The Passover is the Old Testament version of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper we partake every month reminds us of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The wafer represents His body, the grape juice, His blood. Jesus won for us the victory on the cross through His sacrifice. We can visualize our victory through the cross. The gate of faith is visualization – Seeing clearly and specifically by faith the results and outcome we want.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><b><u>Activity 2: Pray</u></b></span><br />i. The 40 days of prayer and fasting will end just before Good Friday. This year, our cell believes that we can organize three Good Friday events to win our friends. Let’s now pray together for this to happen.<br /><br />ii. Also in the 40 days of faith, everyone will lead a cell group. I want you to close your eyes and visualize yourself leading a cell group. How many members do you have? Can you see your members’ faces? It can be your friends, your family members. Put the Cross in the middle of your cell. Start praying for your new cell group.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-72033370848079067672010-02-19T10:24:00.002+08:002010-02-19T10:30:53.235+08:0014th Feb Sermon Discussion - “What A Blessing... The Family”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KCvyGopPwCweTq5Mg6PTc4eTIXzV1V9JHwrlQTOeV1w-9TGB0SVAfBLsNjcv-zFguwwDSzILI6l6Oi1pgdVqYQQUJSra4i45Y4_Q9IwV_yG-4w018vvKsf20il7BwMqs67NMlMOtMxXJ/s1600-h/Family.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KCvyGopPwCweTq5Mg6PTc4eTIXzV1V9JHwrlQTOeV1w-9TGB0SVAfBLsNjcv-zFguwwDSzILI6l6Oi1pgdVqYQQUJSra4i45Y4_Q9IwV_yG-4w018vvKsf20il7BwMqs67NMlMOtMxXJ/s400/Family.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439776383951213170" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible verses:</span></b> Ephesians 5:31- 6:4<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">How Can We Celebrate The Family?</span></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">#1 - BY RETURNING TO GOD’S COMMAND FOR THE FAMILY – HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.</span></b><br /><br />Ask yourself these questions:<br /><br /><i>1. Take a moment to share about a special family time that you enjoyed with your family and what made it so meaningful?<br /><br />2. Take a moment to share about how your parents care for and look out for you? It could be simple things like making the bed, cooking or spending time with you!<br /><br />3. What does it mean to honour someone? Have you been showing your love for your parents?<br /><br />4. Is there something that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do today to honour your parents? It could be a simple “Thanks mum/dad”, a hug or even giving them a gift!</i><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Application: </span></b><br />As a cell group, let’s commit ourselves to honour our parents in everything we do. Let’s always show them our love for them as well as give them due respect. Get into groups of 2 or 3 and take some time to pray and thank God for our fathers and mothers.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">#2 - BY RECEIVING GOD’S MANDATE FOR THE FAMILY – RAISING A GENERATION FOR GOD.</span></b><br /><br />Ask yourself these questions:<br /><br /><i>1. God’s command for the family is to raise a Generation for God. Do you think you are part of this generation? Do you want to be part of this generation?<br /><br />2. Do you believe that your generation can do great things for God? Not when you grow up, not in ten years time but right now!<br /><br />3. God doesn’t just give us a physical family but a spiritual one as well. Are you part of one? Are you working with your spiritual family to rise up as a Generation for God?</i><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Application: </span></b><br />1 Timothy 4:12 tells us “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”<br /><br />Have you been scared to do things for God because you are young? Well don’t be! You can be part of a Generation for God doing great things for God! As a cell group, link hands and pray, committing to God that the entire group will grow together and rise up as a Generation for God.<br /><br />Cell leaders, claim the word in 1 Timothy 4:12 that each and every one of your members will be an example in speech, life, love, faith and purity.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-90649170161227462472010-02-10T10:29:00.004+08:002010-02-10T10:46:48.056+08:007th Feb Sermon Discussion - “Offensive Offering and Worthless Worship”<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible verses:</span></b> Malachi 1:6-2:9<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">2 key areas that cause the Israelites’ worship to be unacceptable to the Lord:</span></b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOzp0x7W2HpON77HDR7CDSoxogwfLIhC8BKDyRh4jAEZW7xLvExyZHGDr08VVqBvSeQ2HWK2xlISJBD-LH2gBsVahm-i-PX57r4BRju9Q3mK0JAUF016ncfbXIHe-WkSIOt9JuKXKWEEL/s1600-h/FearOfLord.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOzp0x7W2HpON77HDR7CDSoxogwfLIhC8BKDyRh4jAEZW7xLvExyZHGDr08VVqBvSeQ2HWK2xlISJBD-LH2gBsVahm-i-PX57r4BRju9Q3mK0JAUF016ncfbXIHe-WkSIOt9JuKXKWEEL/s320/FearOfLord.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436439293228320786" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">1. They were worshipping without a fear and reverence for the Lord (Malachi 1: 6-9) </span></b><br /><br /><b>Activity: </b>You are given a scenario. There is a list of questions for you to answer relating to the scenario. Please choose one answer only.<br /><br />Imagine your Principal has asked to see you at 9am at the school canteen.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Question 1: What time will you come? (Give a reason to your answer)</span></b><br />A. 9.00am<br />B. 8.45am<br />C. 9.15am<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Question 2: Will you make sure your uniform is in place?(Give a reason to your answer) </span></b><br />A. Yes<br />B. No<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Question 3: When the Principal is talking to you, will you be using your phone or daydream?</span></b><br />A. Of course<br />B. No, I better listen<br /><br />Many of us will definitely come earlier or on time, will definitely make sure our uniform is ok and will definitely pay full attention to what the Principal says as we are afraid that we might get punished or even get expelled. Let me ask you another set of questions.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">1. How many of you come on time or earlier for service?<br />2. How many of you sms your friend, talk to your friend or sleep during service?<br />3. How many of you actually listen and apply what Pastor teaches on Sunday?<br />4. How about our dressing? Is there a need for change ?</span></b><br /><br />Do you agree that some of our attitudes show a lack of fear and respect for the Lord ?<br />What are some actions we can take to correct our behaviour ?<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Application:</span></b> As a cell group, let’s commit ourselves to give God our best every week when we come to worship. Let’s hold each other accountable for positive change. Choose one teen to lead a prayer of commitment for the cell group.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS4DaDCbjzxJoHdCkCfxlBQruyrnnZEZz7M8MSJIo543lQyF_Y6k4E5bmjiFTQ_SZBPmNSgoCdKyyIzdxd4oxxCdavKus4fLLMy4xLtYpUqVm3KKXrLAM3IL2EItTeE6PiM61QWJ9C1Ub/s1600-h/fire+bible.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS4DaDCbjzxJoHdCkCfxlBQruyrnnZEZz7M8MSJIo543lQyF_Y6k4E5bmjiFTQ_SZBPmNSgoCdKyyIzdxd4oxxCdavKus4fLLMy4xLtYpUqVm3KKXrLAM3IL2EItTeE6PiM61QWJ9C1Ub/s320/fire+bible.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436439297545117650" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">2. They worship in a wearisome and tiresome manner (Malachi 1:12-13)</span></b><br /><br />1. We grow tired of God and merely go through the motions when we have lost the fire in our hearts for Him.<br /><br />2. Someone once said that worry and worship cannot exist together. Our worries can also become “gods” that is bigger than God that robs our joy in worshipping Him. Are there burdens in our hearts that hinder our worship?<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Application:</span></b> Minister to the teens in the areas of their worries and cares. All read Psalms 23 together and be refreshed in his presence.<br /><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">**Cell leaders, please emphasize the two points below to wrap up:</span></i></b><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">How to Remove “Offensive Offering & Worthless Worship” from Our Lives?</span></b><br /><br />1. We must fall in love with God so that like someone in love, we can’t wait to be in His presence to worship and spend time with Him. We give Him our <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">BEST</span></b>.<br /><br />2. We must see how much He loves us and be renewed in our love and honor for Him. We are His <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">BELOVED</span></b>.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-87741357705966136262010-02-02T10:22:00.002+08:002010-02-10T10:29:02.023+08:0031st Jan Sermon Discussion - “Triumph over temptation”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnudzDmUJSkTZaWHBJv4Ps-87Cb6vaylR1MHJ2hajfS4lH_hnW_fjKBCNre-J8yVAr3IDQ-vuJw6fwlCzLloGw6vsW43qNyCtmDAStx9qSceETCmllhUu1SsTOobrtBrb38dbPyslAhXS/s1600-h/victorious.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnudzDmUJSkTZaWHBJv4Ps-87Cb6vaylR1MHJ2hajfS4lH_hnW_fjKBCNre-J8yVAr3IDQ-vuJw6fwlCzLloGw6vsW43qNyCtmDAStx9qSceETCmllhUu1SsTOobrtBrb38dbPyslAhXS/s800/victorious.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436435963621903362" /></a>Pastor shared with us 3 key areas on how to have triumph over temptation<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible verses:</span></b> Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">1. Dump self-significance – REALISE OUR WORTH</span></b><br /><br />In the 3rd temptation of Jesus, we saw the devil tempting Jesus to jump from the highest point of the temple to prove that He is protected... But Jesus answered “Do not put the Lord your God to test.” We need to never doubt our position in Christ as children of God and realise that we are precious to Him. There is no need to prove ourselves and fall into the Performance Trap of the World. We are the princes & princesses of God because we are His children & not because of what we can do or did not do...<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">2. Dethrone self-service – REVIEW OUR WORSHIP</span></b><br /><br />In Luke 4:5-7, we see how the devil tempted Jesus by offering to Jesus all the authority & splendour that belong to the kingdoms of the world. This time, Jesus overcame by quoting the scripture, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">“ Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”</span></b> One of human’s weaknesses that the devil can use to attack us is our hunger for power & fame. The only way for us not to fall into such temptations is to constantly check our hearts to ensure that we worship God & God alone.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Activity 2: Reflection & Sharing</span></b><br /><br />i. Let’s take some time to reflect if there are areas in our lives where we too are struggling with the hunger for “Fame & Power”?<br /><br /><i>a. For example, in our CCAs, are we upset when we are not appointed for certain roles that we want very much?<br /><br />b. For those who are in uniform groups, we struggle that we are promoted slower than others...<br /><br />c. Or jealous of someone doing better than us in schools... etc...</i><br /><br />ii. Let’s share with one another our struggles in this area so that as a family, we can help to guard one another. As one body, let’s help one another to overcome such temptations... of being too caught up with fame & power...<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">3. Drive out self-satisfaction – RELY ON GOD’S WORD</span></b><br /><br />One area that satan will tempt us it’s our needs. In Luke 4: 3, ‘ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ In this verse, we can see that the devil started by attacking the needs of Jesus as he knew Jesus was hungry. Jesus overcame the attack by quoting God’s Word, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That is why it is so important for us to know God’s Word through reading the bible in our daily devotion. Only when we know the Word of God, can we overcome the devil’s attack like what Jesus did.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Activity 3: Sharing & Praying for One Another</span></b><br /><br /><i>i. What are some needs in your life? Let’s share with one another and..<br /><br />ii. Let’s close the word discussion by praying for one another that the Lord will satisfy the needs in our lives. Allow the Lord to speak through you as you pray for one another. If the Lord give you a verse or two to share with the person you are praying for, be bold to use that verse(s) to pray for your friend.</i><br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-59568668601327302662010-01-28T10:00:00.004+08:002010-01-28T10:20:39.221+08:0024th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Influencing Our Community through the Transformation Principle”<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Introduction</span></span><br /><br />For the past few weeks, we have learnt that God can use us to do great things for Him. We just need to have Faith.<br /><br />Do you know what does <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">F.A.I.T.H</span></b> stands for? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">F</span>orsaking <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">A</span>ll, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">I</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">T</span>rust <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">H</span>im</b>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-QDzIfmdwhNNmni0CxjSMZbz4IfAMHL4uDCAq10ZqtwhR_fFqvxNLTR_asejohEhaY7e7BcpATsmuQgwwjXTbO7V5K6oMui7Ua-PB77tEr8sAdPXdDEadyZ7teOCK4_do6-yJb4aRRBa/s1600-h/faith3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 580px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-QDzIfmdwhNNmni0CxjSMZbz4IfAMHL4uDCAq10ZqtwhR_fFqvxNLTR_asejohEhaY7e7BcpATsmuQgwwjXTbO7V5K6oMui7Ua-PB77tEr8sAdPXdDEadyZ7teOCK4_do6-yJb4aRRBa/s800/faith3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431608395114329314" /></a><br />Yes, we just need to surrender every of our fears, our shame, our thoughts and to walk in His way. When we are all willing to walk in His ways, our schools, our families, our nation can be transform.<br /><br />Look at Pastor Brian Burton’s life. Are you inspired by his life? He is an ordinary man yet he does extraordinary things simply because of the Great God he worship. The God that he worships is the same as ours.<br /><br />Thus, if God can use him, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">God CAN USE YOU TO DO EXTRAORIDNARY THINGS!!!</span></b> Yeah!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">2 Principles on how do we influence the community:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>Principle #1: Act Righteously</u></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6bavdQTvKFckharalzFtIg8Z_-QpJFDHZhszptdKJHFAqPi6IVQoQk6H0x2aTK1pixeb1Gr_oE6XG8kfPfOBaC0p5BuyFM6-tr_p7SSgo82NbrQm5uXnpJVngcElbQGf_LPkzGMGtkdj/s1600-h/righteousness.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6bavdQTvKFckharalzFtIg8Z_-QpJFDHZhszptdKJHFAqPi6IVQoQk6H0x2aTK1pixeb1Gr_oE6XG8kfPfOBaC0p5BuyFM6-tr_p7SSgo82NbrQm5uXnpJVngcElbQGf_LPkzGMGtkdj/s320/righteousness.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431609347382069410" /></a>In order to influence our community, we first need to a live a life that is pleasing to God. This means making a stand for God – saying no to sin and yes to His calling.<br /><br />When we dare to not conform to the world, and stand up for what is right in God’s eyes, people will be drawn to us. Take for example, school bullying. Do you know that 1 out of 4 students are being bullied in Singapore? Are you wiling to stop this by loving your classmates and not gossiping about them? When you see your classmates being bullied, are you willing to protect them?<br /><br />When we live a life that is pleasing to God, God will give us a winning strategy to win our family, friends, school and the nation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><i>Activity 1</i></span><i>: Sharing - Have we been living a life that is pleasing to God? If not, do share 3 things that you want to change?</i><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><u>Principle #2: Be a Blessing</u></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpjE7UIuVhdlCbw-amgawHAiEtbFI2YwdncknSbMDG3j9KZRT2GpJjZjVGPdnHynjZMHKLbWeQngVgTthddbigOAz4kRTYj-S5vIClsvbD83du_KAOdMK544if0L_RTCGXVGgxRlTP_ml/s1600-h/smiley.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpjE7UIuVhdlCbw-amgawHAiEtbFI2YwdncknSbMDG3j9KZRT2GpJjZjVGPdnHynjZMHKLbWeQngVgTthddbigOAz4kRTYj-S5vIClsvbD83du_KAOdMK544if0L_RTCGXVGgxRlTP_ml/s320/smiley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431609352263560914" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;"><i>Activity 2:</i></span><i> Time to pen it down<br /><br />1. Do you believe that God has given you the power and authority to bless the community? If you believe, write down 3 things that you can do to serve your family and 3 things to serve your school.<br /><br />Next, identify 3 problems that you see in your family and school. For example, your parents have no time to do housework. Write down how you can help and do it this week. When we start to serve and meet the needs, people will see God’s love.<br /><br />2. Be committed to pray. Pair in groups of 3 to pray for your family, school and Singapore. Let’s have faith to see transformation. </i><br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-8320987587984615732010-01-19T14:00:00.003+08:002010-01-19T14:14:52.831+08:0017th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Making The First Move with God”<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bible Passage</span>:</b> Joshua 3<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><u>Activity 1:</u></span></b><br /><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Title of Activity – Crocodile, Crocodile, please can we cross the River?</span></i></b><br /><br /><b><i>Instructions of the Activity:</i></b><br /><br />Mission of the Activity – Cross the River without being caught by the crocodile<br /><br />Step 1 – Choose a person to be the crocodile<br /><br />Step 2 – Form the banks of the river with 2 lines, this side of the line known as “near bank”, and the other side of the 2nd line known as the “far bank”.<br /><br />Step 3 – Have the crocodile position in the middle of the River<br /><br />Step 4 – Have the rest of the Cell Members position themselves in the “near bank of the river”<br /><br />Step 5 – Everyone ask the crocodile: <i>“Crocodile, crocodile, please can we cross the River?”</i><br /><br />Crocodile will answer: <i>“Only those with …..” and everyone one will try to run across the “River” to the “far bank of the river” without being caught by the river.</i><br /><br />For example, after the crocodile says, “Only those with shoe laces”, then everyone will run across the river to the “far bank”… But the crocodile can only catch those without shoe laces…<br /><br />Step 6 – Whoever that is caught becomes the new crocodile<br /><br />Step 7 – Re-run this activity for a few rounds until someone get caught 3 times.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><u>Introduction of the Word Discussion:</u></span></b><br /><br />Joshua chapter 3 shows us how the people of God chose to take a step of faith in laying hold of God’s promises. After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Joshua and the new generation has decided to take that step of faith to cross River Jordan and moved into the Promised Land.<br /><br />2 weeks ago, we talked about rising up as a Joshua Generation. Previous week, we talked about how anyone of us can be part of the Joshua Generation. This week, we want to answer the question of <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">“Where and how do I start to be part of this Joshua Generation?”</span></span><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><u>3 THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO START OUR JOURNEY OF CONQUEST</u></span></b><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOphXMOBtpkYbV4VW0pRC0xTNkMnpmjFN3_mo_nkAfDGipS82YtZrzfA1sqo5x6sX3_vYrsrfEcjOcX4KGi7T5mnzWyTHxzoHxGulxO0doNvjW_9BbmurcSAxDuzU8hdbMVR4FWRRLfxqe/s1600-h/journey+start+sign2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOphXMOBtpkYbV4VW0pRC0xTNkMnpmjFN3_mo_nkAfDGipS82YtZrzfA1sqo5x6sX3_vYrsrfEcjOcX4KGi7T5mnzWyTHxzoHxGulxO0doNvjW_9BbmurcSAxDuzU8hdbMVR4FWRRLfxqe/s800/journey+start+sign2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428330231517589186" /></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">#1: SURRENDER your life to God – This helps us to overcome FEAR</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">QUESTION:</span> <i>Have you really been living a surrendered life? Is God just a part of your life? If He is, then our lives will be apart from God. What are some areas that you have not surrendered to God? Let’s share with the group some of these things and commit ourselves to live a surrendered life.</i><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">#2: SEEK God’s glory – This helps us to overcome SHAME</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">QUESTION:</span> <i>Have you invited a friend to church in the last month? If yes, share how you found the courage to ask them. If no, share what are some of the things that hinder you. Are you afraid of rejection or what your friends might think of you? As a group, commit yourselves to seek God’s glory in all that you do so that you may no longer be self-conscious but God-conscious.</i><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">#3: STEP out in faith – This helps us to overcome INERTIA</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">QUESTION</span>: <i>Do you want to see miracles? Do you want to see God working miracles in your life and through your life? Take that step of faith! Share with the group what are some areas where you need to take a step of faith. What sort of inertia is preventing you from taking that step? Pray that God will help you to overcome this inertia.</i><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><u>CLOSING:</u></span></b> Come together as a group and declare that you:<br /><br />1. Receive the call to be a Joshua Generation<br /><br />2. Know that you can be part of the Joshua Generation<br /><br />3. Will make a choice and start to become part of the Joshua Generation<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-58930377304679393422010-01-13T15:20:00.004+08:002010-01-13T15:32:02.689+08:0010th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Only By Grace - The Scarlett Thread”<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Bible Passage:</span></span> Joshua 2<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb1WmDNAgCRV923N79F6qbUOgu0rGhMiXcNECKXBvMfM33A8uDb5nxCtTPSdB4_GRhJaZzM2z8OdhkHTRSLHEJkNEnAjZ_MQGy0YU4kelyDSQ9hcp7DHjUJi-g021saW6keZA7s0-n18U/s1600-h/grace.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb1WmDNAgCRV923N79F6qbUOgu0rGhMiXcNECKXBvMfM33A8uDb5nxCtTPSdB4_GRhJaZzM2z8OdhkHTRSLHEJkNEnAjZ_MQGy0YU4kelyDSQ9hcp7DHjUJi-g021saW6keZA7s0-n18U/s320/grace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426122874885824802" /></a>Looking at Joshua’s life, we think that God used him because he is a great man. But in Joshua 2, we see how God used a woman called Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute. She was unlike Joshua. However, God used her to be part of the group that brought the people into the Promised Land. On top of that, she was part of the genealogy of Jesus!! ( Matthew 1: 5 )<br /><br />Isn't that amazing! Though Rahab was a sinner, God still used her. If God could use a person like her, God can definitely use you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;"><u>3 Truths about God which allow us to put our Trust in God and KNOW that He can use us:</u></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">1. God is Great</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Joshua 2: 8-11</span></span><br />Rahab knew that God is great. She heard about the miracles that God did and understood the power of God. Because she knew this truth, she tapped into the power of God.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Activity:</span></span><br />Split yourself into 2 groups. Take out a piece of paper. Each group has to write down 3 stories that are found in the Bible that speaks about God’s power. The group that finishes the fastest wins the game.<br /><br />Do you know how powerful our God is? He is more powerful than any superheroes you ever knew. When you are willing to be used by God, He will display His power through you.<br /><br />Sometimes we doubt if God can use us and display His power through us because we are too self-conscious, focussing on ourselves. In order to be used by God, BE CONSCIOUS of the power of God and stop focusing on our inadequacy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">2. God is Gracious</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Deut 9:6; Romans 5:20; Eph 2:8</span></span><br /><br />The Devil is constantly trying to accuse us and make many of us think that we are not worthy to be used by Him. God is Gracious. Rahab has no right to inherit the promise of God as she is not even an Israelite. The fact is, Rahab was a prostitute which was despised by even her own community. But God was gracious to Rahab.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Activity:</span></span><br />Write down 3 weaknesses that you have. Do you know that God can still use you despite your sins & weaknesses?<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">2 Corinthians 12: 9,10 ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’</span></span><br /><br />The Devil will say to you, ‘You are not good enough, you have sinned against the Lord and the Lord will never forgive you’. He will tell you many lies that will pull you away from God. If God will never forgive you, why would He send His Son, Jesus, to die for you? Why would He bother to send His only Son just to clear our sin?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">3. God is Faithful</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Joshua 2:12-14; 17-19; 2 Timothy 2:13</span></span><br /><br />It is not enough to know that God is Great & Gracious, we need to know that God is Faithful. Only when we know that God is faithful, then we can trust God fully! God always remembers His promises and will never forget because He is faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us, “ if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” He will be great and gracious forever because of His Word to us.<br /><br />God can use you as long as you believe it because…<br />He is a God who is Great, a God who is Gracious and a God who is Faithful !<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;"><u>QUESTION:</u></span></span><br />Do you want to be a part of the Joshua generation? And believe that God can and will use you this year in the 40 days of faith? Will you choose to believe in God and not yourself?<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-24381898514958645582010-01-05T16:06:00.005+08:002010-01-05T16:25:35.594+08:003rd Jan Sermon Discussion - “Rising Up As A New Generation”<span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bible Passage:</span> </span>Joshua 1:1-9<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyML6JtRRsKT6jRABJBXIIcnO6RtfPxVy3mPYz9ueubSjymuJ3bT7b90zyVhxq2vND4HI6J_4qAOgdHhpH4s_CXHxeHjtiE1vLJ_FmIRjxpl_3PmqpxiuDxTr1ZRgrUzeyZixTw3Xbo0p/s1600-h/joshua+generation.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyML6JtRRsKT6jRABJBXIIcnO6RtfPxVy3mPYz9ueubSjymuJ3bT7b90zyVhxq2vND4HI6J_4qAOgdHhpH4s_CXHxeHjtiE1vLJ_FmIRjxpl_3PmqpxiuDxTr1ZRgrUzeyZixTw3Xbo0p/s320/joshua+generation.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423168841809987442" /></a>2010 is not only the beginning of a New Year but a New Decade. God wants to raise a new Joshua Generation to fulfil what God has intended for us... We do not want to be like the Moses Generation which did not experience all the blessings that God has given to them and did not enter the Promised Land.<br /><br />We want to be a Joshua Generation so that we will not be afraid of the giants in the Promised Land. We want to fulfil the Purpose of God in our Lives and ENTER the Promised Land!<br /><br />SP is going to start the year 2010 by preaching through a series of messages using the book of Joshua. God has great plans for FCBC, for YouthNet, for the Teens Congregation... but we need to move out of the Occupation Mode and move into the Conquest Mode!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>How do we rise up as a Joshua Generation?</u></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">3 Principles to Follow :</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>DIVINE APPOINTMENT – BE COURAGEOUS</u></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Activity 1: Sharing</span></span><br /><br />i. On the scale of 1 -10, how much do you believe that God can use you? (1 - Don’t believe at all; 10 - Believe wholeheartedly )<br />Do not say 5 because we can’t be lukewarm in our decisions. If you are below 10, what’s stopping you from believing?<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-style:italic;">John 15: 16, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.’</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Jeremiah 1: 5 ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’</span></span><br /><br />God can use <span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">YOU</span>!!</span> (At this point, it will be good if the cell leader can share personally how God uses them)<br /><br />ii. Now as you believe that God can use you, are you willing to start a cell group in your school? If you are, take this time to think on how you are going to start a cell in your school and write a faith goal. For example, “ By faith, I will have 5 members by the end of March.” Remember, with God, all things are possible! Have faith!<br /><br />iii. Pray for your school!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u><span style="color:#cc0000;">INWARD AUTHENTICITY – BE COMMITTED IN HOLINESS</span></u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color:#000000;">Activity 2:</span></span><br /><br />i. Have you been a good student/good daughter/son? If not, what can you do this year to become a better student and child ?<br /><br />ii. Have you been doing your quiet time daily? Do you know that in order to walk in holiness, it’s important to spend more time with God. When you spend more time with God, you will understand His heartbeat. This will help you to walk in holiness. Today, will you decide to walk in holiness? Write a letter to God.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><u><span style="color:#cc0000;">CORPORATE ALIGNMENT – BE IN COMMUNITY</span></u></span><br /><br />A Joshua generation is one that thinks about others. As you know, PROJECT X is our project as a family of Christ. Project X is about cell MULTIPLICATION. Are you willing to be part of this project? If you are, let’s join hands as a cell to pray!<br /><br />Let’s end off with this song of faith. You know the song, “OLD MACDONALD had a farm” ? To the same tune, let’s sing this song:<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">FCBC planting cell, Ha-lle-lu---jah<br />FCBC planting cell, Ha–lle–lu–jah<br />Here cell, there cell, everywhere cell cell,<br />FCBC planting cell, Ha–lle–lu—jah!!!!</span></span><br /><br />Yeah, let’s have faith to believe that there will be a cell in every part of Singapore!<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-26074128305157566072010-01-02T10:49:00.006+08:002010-01-02T11:02:53.921+08:0027th Dec Sermon Discussion - “Thank You Lord for 2009”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR3T0IA0yshCaq63JI28uuIoudmiUKmuYGK4uKqiX2E_LG0yryb2KqERbMZzziinc4ZiliAWVFX40h3QLj88nrzNwNfKf2ZJXeQAbXOUJKgQjDIEG1iPsoihBW_z4pUSvZiwBRxlKnhYj/s1600-h/Give-Thanks-to-the-Lord.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR3T0IA0yshCaq63JI28uuIoudmiUKmuYGK4uKqiX2E_LG0yryb2KqERbMZzziinc4ZiliAWVFX40h3QLj88nrzNwNfKf2ZJXeQAbXOUJKgQjDIEG1iPsoihBW_z4pUSvZiwBRxlKnhYj/s400/Give-Thanks-to-the-Lord.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421972279934541666" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Scripture Reference:</span> Psalm 100 (A Psalm. For giving thanks.)</b><br /><br />This is the final weekend of 2009. In a matter of days we will all be celebrating and ushering in the new year, 2010! Take a moment and think through what you’ve done for the year 2009 and as you do that declare Psalms 100, a psalm of thanksgiving together as a group.<br /><br /><u><b><span style="color:#000000;">Question of the Message: Why we are to be Thankful to the Lord for 2009?</span></b></u><br /><br /><b><span style="color:#000000;">1. Because the Lord is God - Avoiding the Sin of Forgetfulness</span></b><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Psalm 100:1-3 … Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us…</span></i><br /><br />Honestly, how many of us give thanks to God every day? How many of us remember to thank God when He blesses us with good grades/ family harmony/good friends, etc? Do you know when we stop giving thanks to God for His blessings or forget about how He blesses us, we are allowing pride to blind us?<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Deut 6:10-12 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, … – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ... olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.</span></i><br /><br />· Let’s take some time now to remember & reflect on some of the significant things that happen in our lives in 2009 and give thanks to God. Let’s take time to Count our Blessings! Let’s share with one another what are some of these Thanksgivings…<br /><br />· Is there any way you can share your Blessings with Someone you know…, where you can bless someone with the same blessing that you have received? Let’s share with one another what we can do to share God’s blessing for us with someone else…<br /><br /><b><span style="color:#000000;">2. Because the Lord is Good - Avoiding the Sin of Grumbling and Complaining </span></b><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Psalm 100:4-5; Num 23:19; Exodus 15:22-24; Exodus 16:1-3; Num 20:1-5; Num 11:1-6</span></i><br /><br />Maybe in the year 2009, it’s had been tough year for you and you kept asking God why, why must this happen? At times we don’t understand why God allow certain things in life to happen. Indeed, life is never easy. But are you willing to trust God in good and bad times? Are we willing to stop grumbling when things are bad and trust God that He has good plans for us.<br /><br />In Exodus 16:1-3, we see how the Israelites were comparing, complaining and grumbling about their situation. They had been set free from their slavery in Egypt but now because of a little hardship they were unhappy and said that they were better off in Egypt! Oh, how they’ve forgotten where they came from. They had forgotten the worse life that they had before which is why they were comparing, complaining and grumbling.<br /><br />There was once a man who always complained about how he did not have shoes. He kept grumbling about his pitiful state until one day when he saw a man without feet to enjoy the comfort of shoes. Only then did he remember to count his blessings.<br /><br />· Are there difficult moments that you have gone through in 2009? Let’s share with one another so that we can pray for one another… okie?<br /><br />· Does anyone have an example of how we have complained about our situation but the Lord showed us someone else who was going through much worse situation than we were in?<br /><br />· What is the difference between sharing with one another our struggles and grumbling / complaining about all the difficult situations that we are in?<br /><br /><u><b><span style="color:#000000;">It is all about whether we have a Heart of Gratefulness…</span></b></u><br /><br />Let’s Pray: “O God, remove from me the spirit of grumbling & complaining… and Replace it with a Spirit of Gratefulness, of Thankfulness…”<br /><br />Let’s take time to pray for one another that God will help us overcome our struggles as we end off singing the song “Give Thanks” as a group.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-43622506141582310762009-12-30T11:12:00.003+08:002009-12-30T11:18:25.540+08:00Baptism Testimony - "God is My Secret Weapon!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9QuDoZjElejhKkUrwIP88WI-VpeSOMIRdx9w9Uj4mBiMYiykSyJXQAAbDrz_2H0IOPXgZuuca9eU0IQvPTkdW9nonFccSB1t3zlFlg6h72a5mFogLzNl6UiOFXArGXwYCqNrF0IwmZ75/s1600-h/Wendy+Goh+Cheok+Chin_IPHW_FCBC_BAPT-12+(Medium).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9QuDoZjElejhKkUrwIP88WI-VpeSOMIRdx9w9Uj4mBiMYiykSyJXQAAbDrz_2H0IOPXgZuuca9eU0IQvPTkdW9nonFccSB1t3zlFlg6h72a5mFogLzNl6UiOFXArGXwYCqNrF0IwmZ75/s400/Wendy+Goh+Cheok+Chin_IPHW_FCBC_BAPT-12+(Medium).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420862861274015426" /></a><br />Greetings to all!! My name is Wendy. Thanks for allowing me to share my exciting journey with you.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost">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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br />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!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Written by Wendy Bernice Goh, baptised on 18 Dec 2009</span>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-85566782681300580442009-12-22T18:03:00.003+08:002009-12-22T18:11:39.517+08:0020th Dec Sermon Discussion - “Are you Ready for Christmas?”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidP0H5KiZQ5GVAw0T3SXxLWAnYXg2TTVsOL2SWvHYD605oejoowTpmO650CcoUn9Ztz-3CndyT4sLrqes6-r4NlWN8UT3InUr57HvZDU2aarYd-HJmG7fK4mpYtV7I92kXebDOQ8t7Ycw/s1600-h/The-Christmas-Story-01.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidP0H5KiZQ5GVAw0T3SXxLWAnYXg2TTVsOL2SWvHYD605oejoowTpmO650CcoUn9Ztz-3CndyT4sLrqes6-r4NlWN8UT3InUr57HvZDU2aarYd-HJmG7fK4mpYtV7I92kXebDOQ8t7Ycw/s320/The-Christmas-Story-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418000829065077714" /></a>Scripture Reference: Luke 2:1-20<br /><p> </p><p>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: <strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">“What does Christmas mean to us?”</span></em></strong> </p><p>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!</p>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!”<br /><br />The Question of this Sunday’s Message is: “How can we be READY for Christmas?”<br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><br />1. We need to SEE His Glory – GOD is with US!</strong></span><br /><br />Luke 2:9-10; 10-11; 11-14<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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…<br /><br />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…<br /><br />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…<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>2. We need to SHARE His Story – GOD is LOVE!</strong></span><br /><br />Luke 2: 17-18; 20<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Let us REMEMBER our Lord Jesus & EXALT HIM in this Christmas 2009! Let’s CELEBRATE Christmas!!!<br/><br/>Mr.Keropokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06781544951513215659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-29523541586044127922009-12-08T12:11:00.004+08:002009-12-08T12:25:10.386+08:006th Dec Sermon Discussion - “The Blood Of Our Identity- From Shame To Significance”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGY3Aby_WJzgXMg1NCXD15JsmobzoApexio2-apIcM6s_NbVWbIJ5_LMfEEzBtceZJHQnL1xdXiZCxiR1LbdsN5hTBp80xkjrOoSL7Cuc6_Db195x9Ssd55l5UWudrzOQcxtwhiHfCjtD/s1600-h/identity+in+christ.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGY3Aby_WJzgXMg1NCXD15JsmobzoApexio2-apIcM6s_NbVWbIJ5_LMfEEzBtceZJHQnL1xdXiZCxiR1LbdsN5hTBp80xkjrOoSL7Cuc6_Db195x9Ssd55l5UWudrzOQcxtwhiHfCjtD/s320/identity+in+christ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412716456382609490" /></a><u><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Mass Icebreakers – “Face Off!”</span></strong></u><br /><br />1. Everyone use their hands to cover their faces like a mask.<br />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.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;"><u>Sermon Title: The Blood Of Our Identity- From Shame To Significance</u><br />Foundational Scriptures: Isa 50:6-7, Isa 52:13-15.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Isaiah 50:6-7 (MSG)</span></strong><br /><em>“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.” </em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Isaiah 52:13-15 (NLT)</span></strong><br /><em>“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.”</em><br /><br /><u><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Understanding Questions</span></strong></u><br /><br />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? <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Answer :</span></strong> His face, blood flowed from His face. He was disfigured so much that people could not recognize Him.<br /><br />2. Why did Jesus have to “lose His face” for us? <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Answer :</span></strong> Face represents our identity. We can find our identity through the blood that flowed from the face of Jesus for us.<br /><br />3. Why did Jesus have to shed blood on His face? Because:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">a. Our Identity Is Lost When We Sinned.<br /></span></strong><br />i. Before sin came into the world through Adam & Eve, there was only God consciousness. After sin came in, it brought self-consciousness.<br /><br />ii. Consequences of lost identity and self-consciousness – We will ask questions like: <em>“Who Am I?”, “Where’s my place?”</em> We’ll try to find identity and significance in stuff like fashion, cars, our talents, riches etc.<br /><br />iii. How to regain lost identity? The story of Moses:<br />• He had an identity crisis as he was born a Jew but raised an Egyptian.<br />• 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”.<br />• 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!<br />• 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.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">b. Our Identity Determines Our Destiny<br /></span></strong><br />i. If you don’t know who you are, you won’t know where you are going.<br /><br />ii. Story of David - David’s destiny was a king but due to wrong choices, he almost lost his destiny until he repented.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!”.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WE ARE A NEW CREATION & WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR JESUS!</span></strong><br /><br /><u><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Ministry Time (Note: Cell Leaders, it is very important to do this)</span></strong></u><br /><br />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”.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-75399257838017295522009-11-30T09:17:00.004+08:002009-11-30T09:25:35.030+08:0022nd Nov Sermon Discussion - “The Voice of Truth”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1endk3UxqAioq1y9WCKCKHZP_mJqGdKgAt5xXAuA5NJlBCdX5a-KqANSX93xaW4j0H-M4DcMnwdgF5d8Vkmw0oFeg4P-eJmb1DLAXZPc_Aqp0u9GKFjc90INPvFFAVWV9Jv4WEIW-iNtd/s1600/listening.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1endk3UxqAioq1y9WCKCKHZP_mJqGdKgAt5xXAuA5NJlBCdX5a-KqANSX93xaW4j0H-M4DcMnwdgF5d8Vkmw0oFeg4P-eJmb1DLAXZPc_Aqp0u9GKFjc90INPvFFAVWV9Jv4WEIW-iNtd/s320/listening.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409701626099763506" /></a>Today’s message is entitled <b>“The Voice of Truth” </b>and the question of the day is <b>“What does the voice of truth say?” </b><br /><br /><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The voice of truth tells us that the Greatest FEAR of the devil is for us to know the truth.</span></b></i><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. The LIE</span><br /><br />First things first. Let us see what the lie is. Read through Exodus 1:8-10 and compare these verses with other versions:<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Exodus 1:9 (NKJV) “... “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we;”<br /><br />Exodus 1:10 (MSG) “We’ve got to devise a plan to contain them...”</span></i><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br /><b>2. The TRUTH</b><br /><br />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?<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">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.”<br /><br />b. Romans 8:37 - “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”<br /><br />c. Philippians 4:13 - “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”<br /><br />d. Isaiah 54:17 - “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute (overthrow) every tongue that accuses you.”<br /><br />e. 2 Corinthians 2:14 - “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ...”<br /><br />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.”</span></i><br /><br />So you see, we are mightier and stronger than the devil. The question is, do you believe it?<br /><br />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?<br /><br /><b>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. </b><br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957683163027266158.post-68504431809810851562009-11-18T17:06:00.004+08:002009-11-18T17:17:44.605+08:0015th Nov Sermon Discussion - “There’s No Plan B, There’s a B Plan”<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Ice-breakers – “People to People”</span></b></u><br /><br />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).<br />2. Whenever you shout “people to people”, they must change partners.<br />3. Do a few rounds. <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Transition: “Today we are going to talk about body life (cell life)…”</span></i></b><br /><br /><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Key Scripture – John 13:31-38</span></b></u><br /><br />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.<br />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.<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">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."</span></b><br /><br /><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Discussion Questions</span></b></u><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0HmxK9gGWcH4z8euw2fSVrIYFpJkicT-9GJ5v0w6YIddNi9pXxERCKdobWJ41IRPRhIC7anvagvvA6yxLXwmTF4AhlRMQiiRztGWoqQwDH4fUCb-cYk8rPfdnv1Cqe3TylUZf2QhxDl9/s1600/Plan+B.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0HmxK9gGWcH4z8euw2fSVrIYFpJkicT-9GJ5v0w6YIddNi9pXxERCKdobWJ41IRPRhIC7anvagvvA6yxLXwmTF4AhlRMQiiRztGWoqQwDH4fUCb-cYk8rPfdnv1Cqe3TylUZf2QhxDl9/s320/Plan+B.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405370198591321010" /></a>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?<br /><b>Answer: Five times and found in Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:47-49, John 20:21 & Acts 1:8.</b><br /><br />2. If God wants us all to be messengers of His love, what should be our response?<br /><b>Answers:</b><br />i. See it as our great privilege.<br />ii. Have a sense of urgency to tell our friends about Jesus.<br />iii. Show God that He can depend on us.<br /><br />3. What is God’s “B” plan? Go round and allow the teens to share with their own words.<br /><b>Keywords:</b><br />i. To love one another.<br />ii. B stands for body.<br />iii. Relation evangelism.<br />iv. Not a single fishing rod, but a net.<br />v. Returning and staying in community.<br /><br />4. How do we be part of God B Plans?<br /><br />i. <b>Step Out in Obedience to Love – Follow His Commands.</b> (vs 34 “a new command I give you”).<br /><br />a. Ask the teens, “What does this mean for us as a cell group”?<br /><b>Answers:</b><br />• Grow in love for one another.<br />• Doing it together as a body.<br />• It is a command from God. We need God’s help.<br />• It requires obedience and discipline to follow.<br /><br />ii. <b>Sacrificially Serve One Another – Follow His Way. </b>(vs 34 “as I have loved you”).<br /><br />a. When Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross, what did He reconcile (joined back or bring together again)?<br /><b>Answers:</b><br />• He demonstrated grace by bringing Man to God.<br />• He reconciled Man to Man. Since we are all sinners saved by grace, we can forgive those who wronged us.<br /><br />b. Ask the teens, “What are some suggestions you can share how we could serve one another in this cell group”?<br /><br />iii. <b>Stay In Community – Follow His Love.</b> (vs 35 “by this all men will know that you are my disciples”).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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?<br /><br /><b>Answers:</b><br />• Stay in community, don’t run away.<br />• Don’t hop from church to church.<br />• No loyalty, no stick-ability = no community for the world to see.<br />• If we want to know God, we must love another. If we love another, we will know God.<br />• Can only experience love in a community (cell).<br />• To grow in love, God may send the unlovely into our lives e.g. people we can’t stand.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Remember the decisions we make are not just life and death. They concern eternal life and eternal death.</span></b><br /><br />b. What is the best test to check if our cell groups Is vibrant and exciting?<br /><b>Answers:</b><br />• Will we invite our friends here???<br />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!<br /><br /><u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Works</span></b></u><br />1. Remind teens to sign up for Transformers Camp and also to invite their friends.<br />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.<br/><br/>Mark.A.Differencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13319766704067138692noreply@blogger.com0