Love Your Neighbour

4th Sept Sermon Discussion - You Can! Because God is Faithful

2010-09-07T08:46:00.004+08:00

22nd August Sermon Discussion - Dare to Dream!

2010-08-23T15:47:00.003+08:00

8th August Sermon Discussion - 4th Dimensional Thinking

2010-08-10T16:32:00.003+08:00

[TODAY’S SERMON...]

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.

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

[HOW DO WE RENEW OUR MIND?]

We need to think in 3 specific ways:

1) Think possibility
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.

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.

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’ ?

2) Think pure – Matthew 5: 8
There are 3 types of impure thoughts. They are anxiety, sin and inferior thoughts.

Anxiety: 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.

Sin: 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.

Inferior: Let’s discuss. When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you see a masterpiece or do you not like what you see?

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.

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!

3) Think Paradise
Read Ephesians 2:6-7

To think paradise, is to think that you are with God in the heavenly realms.

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!

[PRACTICE WHAT YOU LEARNT..]

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.

2. Have you been reading the bible? To have 4th dimension thinking, you need the word of God. Start reading the bible today!

3. Memorise Romans 12:2

18th July Sermon Discussion - The Danger of Drifting...

2010-07-19T21:43:00.005+08:00

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4; 6:11-12

[TODAY'S SERMON]

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.

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:

1. Spiritual drifting comes from negligence.
2. Spiritual drifting can be overcome by diligence.

[HOW WE SEE IT...]

So what is all this talk about negligence and diligence? Well let’s try to explain it:

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.

Diligence is when we constantly take responsibility to make sure that our pencils are sharpened and useable at all times.

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.

[THE BIBLE SAYS...]

Hebrews 2:1
“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”

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!

Pay much closer attention to your spiritual walk. Make it a point to seek God everyday so that you do not drift away!

Remember, what is it that we must do to drift away? – Nothing!
So what are you going to do so you don’t drift away?

[YOUR LIFE...]

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!

Example: Prayer, quiet time, reading bible etc.

[SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...]

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!

Take some time to ask these questions as a cell:
1. What are some things we can do as a cell to ensure that all the members of the cell do not drift away?
2. What can I do during my own daily schedule to ensure that I do not drift away?

20th June Sermon Discussion - Consider the Goodness and Severity of God

2010-06-23T09:43:00.007+08:00

Scripture: Romans 11:21, 22

INTRODUCTION

• Take a moment and think through what God is like. Now try and put a picture to what God is to you.

• Is God like an old gentle man floating up on the clouds giving out gifts and love to everyone

OR

• Is God like an angry giant up in the heavens looking down in anger waiting to zap everyone with lightning?

• 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.

MESSAGE

• The truth is that God is good and loving, but at the same time God is severe and fierce.

• God’s goodness is always popular but people usually don’t want to talk about God’s severity.

• 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.

Question: 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?

• We need to see and understand God’s severity before we can understand God’s goodness.

• 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!

• We need to see God fully and complete! He is not 50% gracious and 50% severe – He is 100% gracious and 100% severe!

How then shall we live?

#1: We need to be overwhelmed by the grace of God

• 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.

• God loves us so much that’s why He doesn’t consume us! And He demonstrated that love in Romans 5:8!

• 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.

#2: We must not take His grace for granted

• Hebrews 12:29 tells us that God is a consuming fire.

Question: 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?

• Always listen to the voice of God and do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:15).

• 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.

APPLICATION

• The way to always be overwhelmed by the grace of God and not to take it for granted is to walk closely with God.

• The question is, how is your quiet time? Do you spend time with God?

• 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.

MEMORY VERSE

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

13th June Sermon Discussion - "You Can Be A Blessing!"

2010-06-21T09:59:00.006+08:00

Introduction:

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☺

Bible verses: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-8

3 simple steps that we can take in response to this call and experience the miracle of multiplication

1. Go and see the need

Write down the names of your friends/family members that you want to invite for 40 days of Faith.

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.

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.

Activity 1:

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.

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?

2. Pray and bring them to the Lord

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.

Activity 2:

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.

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.

c) Make it a commitment to pray to Him daily for the people that you are inviting.

3. Organize and serve them together

Jesus was very detail at His execution. Similarly we need to be organize in our 40 days of faith.

Activity 3:

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.

b) Which day and time do you want it to be held? After school? Sat?

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.

Yeah, remember 40 days of Faith don’t start on 1 August. It starts NOW!

29th May Sermon Discussion - "I CAN!"

2010-05-31T08:48:00.005+08:00

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

INTRODUCTION

Did you know...

You could share the gospel to your entire school?

You could lead 100 people?

You could be the top student in your school?

You could reach your generation for Christ?

God’s word for you today is that YOU CAN do great things!

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!

The most ordinary people can do great things through our extraordinary God!

You can be great! (But you need to believe it!)

Activity: 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!”

- 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!

- So what is believing that “I CAN!” all about?

MESSAGE

#1: We live with an attitude of FAITH!

• Attitude is important because it is what shapes our lives.

• Attitude will either liberate us (free us to do great things) or limit us (push us down to never do great things).

• 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.

• 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!

#2: We choose to act in OBEDIENCE!

• We cannot just believe that we can do great things. We must actually start doing it!

• James 1:22 (NKJV) “But be DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

• A true attitude of faith that believes God can and will use you will lead to action.

• Philippians 4:13 doesn’t just say “I can”. It says “I can DO”.

• Don’t just believe that you can do great things. Great things don’t just happen. Great things happen through doing something.

#3: We allow God’s POWER to come!

• 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.

• Philippians 4:13 doesn’t just say “I can do”. It says “I can do all things THROUGH Him who strengthens me”.

• 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.

• 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 our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.”

APPLICATION

• 40 Days of faiths is just around the corner. In fact it starts now.
• Do you believe that you can lead a group?
• 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.

Activity: 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!

Memory Verse:
Philippians 4:13 (NIV) “I CAN do ALL THINGS through Christ who STRENGTHENS me.”

13th March Sermon Discussion - "Quick Feet"

2010-03-18T14:35:00.003+08:00

Bible Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:8

Ice-breaker: Cat & Mouse

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!

Introduction:

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!

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!

1 Chronicles 12:8 (NASB) “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.” Just like David’s mighty men had quick feet, God calls us to be well-trained and have quick feet too.

How To Have Quick Feet:

1. We Must Have The Right Spirit

Jeremiah 17:9 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!

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV) “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.”

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?

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.

2. We Must Guard Our Hearts

Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.” 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.

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!

What are some negative emotions that affect you usually? Envy, anger, resentment, worries? Identify and learn to be on your guard against these emotions.

3. We Must Renew Our Minds

Our minds can receive the truths and revelations of God because we have the mind of Christ, 1 Cor 2:16 (NIV) "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” God also pours new wine (His revelations) into new wineskins (our renewed minds), Luke 5:37.

To have Quick Feet for God, we need to let God transform us by the constant renewing of our mind, Romans 12:2 (NIV) “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.”

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.

What are some new truths / revelations God has shown you recently?

4. We Must Have Vision

God always completes what He has begun, Psalms 138:8 & Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “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.” God’s plans for your life will be completed if you know the vision and choose to follow after it.

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.

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!

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?

6th March Sermon Discussion - "From Victory to Victory: The Painful Lessons from Ai"

2010-03-11T17:00:00.004+08:00

Bible Scriptures: Joshua 7 & 8

How to have Victory to Victory Despite Failures

1. Corporate Commitment to Holiness

Activity 1: Games Time

I. Split yourself into 2 groups
II. In your group, take out a pen and a piece of paper
III. In order to win, the group that finishes the given task in the fastest time wins the game.
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.
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.
VI. Similarly, if one sins, the body of Christ will be affected. Let’s look at the book of Joshua.

In Joshua 6:18, 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.

In Joshua 7: 1 it states, ‘ 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.’ The Lord didn’t just punish Achan. The Lord punished Israel. They lost the battle in Ai and 36 men lost their lives.

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?

2. Communal Circumcision for Cleansing

In Joshua 7:13, it states ‘ 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.’ 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.

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.

3. Courage to Fight on Again

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.

Activity 2:

I. What does courage means to you?
II. Courage is simply letting go of the past and letting God take you into His plan.
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.

28th Feb Sermon Discussion - “Taking Cities for God- Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles”

2010-03-04T16:27:00.003+08:00

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.

Bible text: Joshua 6.

3 Strategies in Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles:

1. Divine Plan

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.

Activity 1: Sharing

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.
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?
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.

2. Divine Presence

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.

Activity 2: Sharing

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.
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.

3. Divine People

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.

Activity 3: Memorise a verse

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.’

Baptism Testimony - "The Greatest Gift Anyone Can Ever Have!"

2010-03-03T17:01:00.008+08:00

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 ‘Wa Lao, Wa Kao’, ‘Siam la’.

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.

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.

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.

My turning point came when my grandmother had a heart attack in 2004. I was in secondary 3 then.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Written by Michelle Ho Jia Yee, baptised on 26 Feb 2010

21st Feb Sermon Discussion - “Victory before the Battle”

2010-02-24T11:53:00.003+08:00

Introduction:
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?

Bible verses: Joshua 5:1-12

2 Key Strategies to Have Victory before the Battle:

1. Circumcision – Establish your faithfulness
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.

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.

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.

Activity 1: Sharing
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).

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.

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.

2. Celebrate God’s Victory – Empower your faith
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.

Activity 2: Pray
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.

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.

14th Feb Sermon Discussion - “What A Blessing... The Family”

2010-02-19T10:24:00.002+08:00

Bible verses: Ephesians 5:31- 6:4

How Can We Celebrate The Family?

#1 - BY RETURNING TO GOD’S COMMAND FOR THE FAMILY – HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Take a moment to share about a special family time that you enjoyed with your family and what made it so meaningful?

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!

3. What does it mean to honour someone? Have you been showing your love for your parents?

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!

Application:
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.

#2 - BY RECEIVING GOD’S MANDATE FOR THE FAMILY – RAISING A GENERATION FOR GOD.

Ask yourself these questions:

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?

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!

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?

Application:
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.”

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.

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.

7th Feb Sermon Discussion - “Offensive Offering and Worthless Worship”

2010-02-10T10:29:00.004+08:00

Bible verses: Malachi 1:6-2:9

2 key areas that cause the Israelites’ worship to be unacceptable to the Lord:
1. They were worshipping without a fear and reverence for the Lord (Malachi 1: 6-9)

Activity: You are given a scenario. There is a list of questions for you to answer relating to the scenario. Please choose one answer only.

Imagine your Principal has asked to see you at 9am at the school canteen.

Question 1: What time will you come? (Give a reason to your answer)
A. 9.00am
B. 8.45am
C. 9.15am

Question 2: Will you make sure your uniform is in place?(Give a reason to your answer)
A. Yes
B. No

Question 3: When the Principal is talking to you, will you be using your phone or daydream?
A. Of course
B. No, I better listen

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.

1. How many of you come on time or earlier for service?
2. How many of you sms your friend, talk to your friend or sleep during service?
3. How many of you actually listen and apply what Pastor teaches on Sunday?
4. How about our dressing? Is there a need for change ?

Do you agree that some of our attitudes show a lack of fear and respect for the Lord ?
What are some actions we can take to correct our behaviour ?

Application: 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.

2. They worship in a wearisome and tiresome manner (Malachi 1:12-13)

1. We grow tired of God and merely go through the motions when we have lost the fire in our hearts for Him.

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?

Application: Minister to the teens in the areas of their worries and cares. All read Psalms 23 together and be refreshed in his presence.

**Cell leaders, please emphasize the two points below to wrap up:

How to Remove “Offensive Offering & Worthless Worship” from Our Lives?

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 BEST.

2. We must see how much He loves us and be renewed in our love and honor for Him. We are His BELOVED.

31st Jan Sermon Discussion - “Triumph over temptation”

2010-02-02T10:22:00.002+08:00

Pastor shared with us 3 key areas on how to have triumph over temptation

Bible verses: Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11

1. Dump self-significance – REALISE OUR WORTH

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...

2. Dethrone self-service – REVIEW OUR WORSHIP

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, “ Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” 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.

Activity 2: Reflection & Sharing

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”?

a. For example, in our CCAs, are we upset when we are not appointed for certain roles that we want very much?

b. For those who are in uniform groups, we struggle that we are promoted slower than others...

c. Or jealous of someone doing better than us in schools... etc...

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...

3. Drive out self-satisfaction – RELY ON GOD’S WORD

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.

Activity 3: Sharing & Praying for One Another

i. What are some needs in your life? Let’s share with one another and..

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.

24th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Influencing Our Community through the Transformation Principle”

2010-01-28T10:00:00.004+08:00

Introduction

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.

Do you know what does F.A.I.T.H stands for? Forsaking All, I Trust Him.

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.

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.

Thus, if God can use him, God CAN USE YOU TO DO EXTRAORIDNARY THINGS!!! Yeah!

2 Principles on how do we influence the community:

Principle #1: Act Righteously

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.

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?

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.

Activity 1: Sharing - Have we been living a life that is pleasing to God? If not, do share 3 things that you want to change?

Principle #2: Be a Blessing

Activity 2: Time to pen it down

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.

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.

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.

17th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Making The First Move with God”

2010-01-19T14:00:00.003+08:00

Bible Passage: Joshua 3

Activity 1:

Title of Activity – Crocodile, Crocodile, please can we cross the River?

Instructions of the Activity:

Mission of the Activity – Cross the River without being caught by the crocodile

Step 1 – Choose a person to be the crocodile

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”.

Step 3 – Have the crocodile position in the middle of the River

Step 4 – Have the rest of the Cell Members position themselves in the “near bank of the river”

Step 5 – Everyone ask the crocodile: “Crocodile, crocodile, please can we cross the River?”

Crocodile will answer: “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.

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…

Step 6 – Whoever that is caught becomes the new crocodile

Step 7 – Re-run this activity for a few rounds until someone get caught 3 times.

Introduction of the Word Discussion:

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.

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 “Where and how do I start to be part of this Joshua Generation?”

3 THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO START OUR JOURNEY OF CONQUEST

#1: SURRENDER your life to God – This helps us to overcome FEAR

QUESTION: 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.

#2: SEEK God’s glory – This helps us to overcome SHAME

QUESTION: 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.

#3: STEP out in faith – This helps us to overcome INERTIA

QUESTION: 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.

CLOSING: Come together as a group and declare that you:

1. Receive the call to be a Joshua Generation

2. Know that you can be part of the Joshua Generation

3. Will make a choice and start to become part of the Joshua Generation

10th Jan Sermon Discussion - “Only By Grace - The Scarlett Thread”

2010-01-13T15:20:00.004+08:00

Bible Passage: Joshua 2

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 )

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.

3 Truths about God which allow us to put our Trust in God and KNOW that He can use us:

1. God is Great

Joshua 2: 8-11
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.

Activity:
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.

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.

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.

2. God is Gracious

Deut 9:6; Romans 5:20; Eph 2:8

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.

Activity:
Write down 3 weaknesses that you have. Do you know that God can still use you despite your sins & weaknesses?

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.’

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?

3. God is Faithful

Joshua 2:12-14; 17-19; 2 Timothy 2:13

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.

God can use you as long as you believe it because…
He is a God who is Great, a God who is Gracious and a God who is Faithful !

QUESTION:
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?

3rd Jan Sermon Discussion - “Rising Up As A New Generation”

2010-01-05T16:06:00.005+08:00

Bible Passage: Joshua 1:1-9

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.

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!

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!

How do we rise up as a Joshua Generation?

3 Principles to Follow :

DIVINE APPOINTMENT – BE COURAGEOUS

Activity 1: Sharing

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 )
Do not say 5 because we can’t be lukewarm in our decisions. If you are below 10, what’s stopping you from believing?

John 15: 16, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.’

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.’

God can use YOU!! (At this point, it will be good if the cell leader can share personally how God uses them)

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!

iii. Pray for your school!

INWARD AUTHENTICITY – BE COMMITTED IN HOLINESS

Activity 2:

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 ?

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.

CORPORATE ALIGNMENT – BE IN COMMUNITY

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!

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:

FCBC planting cell, Ha-lle-lu---jah
FCBC planting cell, Ha–lle–lu–jah
Here cell, there cell, everywhere cell cell,
FCBC planting cell, Ha–lle–lu—jah!!!!

Yeah, let’s have faith to believe that there will be a cell in every part of Singapore!

27th Dec Sermon Discussion - “Thank You Lord for 2009”

2010-01-02T10:49:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reference: Psalm 100 (A Psalm. For giving thanks.)

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.

Question of the Message: Why we are to be Thankful to the Lord for 2009?

1. Because the Lord is God - Avoiding the Sin of Forgetfulness

Psalm 100:1-3 … Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us…

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?

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.

· 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…

· 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…

2. Because the Lord is Good - Avoiding the Sin of Grumbling and Complaining

Psalm 100:4-5; Num 23:19; Exodus 15:22-24; Exodus 16:1-3; Num 20:1-5; Num 11:1-6

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.

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.

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.

· 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?

· 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?

· What is the difference between sharing with one another our struggles and grumbling / complaining about all the difficult situations that we are in?

It is all about whether we have a Heart of Gratefulness…

Let’s Pray: “O God, remove from me the spirit of grumbling & complaining… and Replace it with a Spirit of Gratefulness, of Thankfulness…”

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.

Baptism Testimony - "God is My Secret Weapon!"

2009-12-30T11:12:00.003+08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Wendy Bernice Goh, baptised on 18 Dec 2009

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

2009-12-22T18:03:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:1-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luke 2: 17-18; 20

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

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

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

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

2009-12-08T12:11:00.004+08:00

Mass Icebreakers – “Face Off!”

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

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

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

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

Understanding Questions

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

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

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

a. Our Identity Is Lost When We Sinned.

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

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

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

b. Our Identity Determines Our Destiny

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-11-30T09:17:00.004+08:00

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

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

1. The LIE

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

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

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

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

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

2. The TRUTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-11-18T17:06:00.004+08:00

Ice-breakers – “People to People”

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

Key Scripture – John 13:31-38

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

Discussion Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-11-09T19:33:00.006+08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1st Nov Sermon Discussion - "Dead Man Walking"

2009-11-03T18:14:00.005+08:00

Scripture Reference: John 11:38-44

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

Step 1: Have everyone sit in a circle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-10-27T16:57:00.003+08:00

Announcements:

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

Activity 1: Movie Talk

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

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

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

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

Summary of Ps Dishan’s Message:

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

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

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

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

Activity 2: Discussion & Praying for Friends

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

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

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

Conclusion:

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

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

2009-10-21T09:18:00.007+08:00

Sermon Scripture Reference: 1 CHRONICLES 21-22:1

1st Activity: (Game)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Message:

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

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

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

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

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

2nd Activity: (Deeper into the Word)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning points:

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

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

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

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

3rd Activity: (Doers of the Word)

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

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

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

2009-10-06T16:59:00.003+08:00

1st ACTIVITY: (Game)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Introduction to Today’s Message:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2nd ACTIVITY: (Discussion)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• SEEK HIM
• REACH OUT TO HIM
• FIND HIM

Questions for Sharing:

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

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

If you want, all you have to do is to SEEK HIM & REACH OUT to Him… The Lord says that you will sure FIND HIM!

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

2009-09-29T20:02:00.007+08:00

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 13:14-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-09-23T23:25:00.003+08:00

Activity: Praise-Connectors Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-09-16T17:04:00.004+08:00

Scripture Reference: Daniel 6

A) Warming Up

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

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

B) Listening Room

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

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

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

(ii) Daniel 6

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

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

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

C) Application

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

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

Elevate: Vision Chart

2009-09-14T22:16:00.004+08:00

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

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

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

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

This week's guests:

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

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

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

2009-09-09T08:15:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reference: Matt 14:22-32

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

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

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

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

B) Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

C) Application

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

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

2009-09-09T08:04:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Luke 5:1-11

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

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

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

Listening to God's Voice

2009-09-05T11:26:00.002+08:00

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

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

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

A few weeks later....

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.

Written by Dan Emmanuel Hum Gao Ming

ELEVATE

2009-09-03T14:15:00.004+08:00

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

What is ELEVATE?

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

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

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

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

Baptism Testimony - "A Journey of Faith in Him"

2009-09-02T16:55:00.003+08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Elizabeth Joy Lee Kia Suang from Ps Lee Lai Fun's Tribe
(Testimony dated 28th August 2009)

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

2009-09-01T10:40:00.003+08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Wesker Tay, 20 years old

"Cher... You want to see me?"

2009-08-31T10:29:00.004+08:00

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

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

“Cher…you want to see me?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you Miss Tng.

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

Written by Joanne Wong, 19 years old

Prayer Prompters from YN144 Leaders' Meeting

2009-08-25T18:05:00.004+08:00

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

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

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

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

2009-08-25T16:50:00.004+08:00

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

A) Warming up – “U r Special”

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

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

B) Discussion

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

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

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

C) Application

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

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

16th August Sermon Discussion - “Families That Can Save The World”

2009-08-19T18:06:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Malachi 4:4-6

A. Warm-up
1a. Describe your family in 3 words.
1b. Share a happy experience in your family.

B. Discussion
2. God wants to grow families that can save the world. Who is the most important person in the family who can achieve this?

3a. In the sermon who is the best example of a father?
3b. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus spoke about His purpose in coming to earth. What is His purpose?

3d. Give some examples of what God the Father has done for us.

4. In Romans 8:15, For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

We lose the spirit of sonship when we have to perform to feel accepted or when we harden our hearts towards our parents.

What can we do to turn our hearts back to our parents?

(We must learn to forgive our parents from our hearts, until then we cannot learn or experience the Father’s love.)

5. According to the sermon, in what ways can a father reach out to his children? Discuss.

C. Application
6. Take some time to pray for our fathers that GOD will help them grow in their roles as fathers to us. If some of our fathers are pre-believers, we can pray for their salvation.

7. Ask God to show you ways you can show His love to your family.

9th August Sermon Discussion - “Your Time is Up!”

2009-08-12T18:10:00.005+08:00

Scripture Reference: Daniel 5:17-30

A. Warm Up Activity: Finger Catching
Instructions:
1) Form a circle
2) Stretch out your right hand and put your left first finger on top of the right hand of your friend next to you
3) Leader will read Daniel 5:17-30
"When you hear these 2 words – 'God' and 'king', you catch the finger that’s on your right hand, at the same time avoid being caught by your friend"

B. Discuss
1. Who avoided being caught all the time? How did he/she do it?
The 2 factors are to listen carefully for the 2 words and to act fast enough. Likewise Pastor Khong has given us a serious warning that we need to listen to and to act upon.

1a. What are these 2 words of truth?
i. You may have crossed the line of no return, Experience God’s grief
ii. You don’t have to cross the line, Experience God’s grace

2. Compare the lives of these people to see how they have cross the line:
2a. King Belshazzar
Arrogance, pride (Daniel 5:22)
Defile God’s temple (Daniel 5:2-5, 23)

2b. Samson
Sin of Pride
Womanising

2c. Ananias & Sapphira
Lied to God & his leaders (Acts 5:1-10)

3. The purpose of a warning is to give us advanced notice of something coming. God gives us warning through His word, His leaders and events happening around us. Why do you think God goes through so much trouble to give us warning?

4. You don’t have to cross the line. Are there areas of your life that God is warning you on?
a. Sin of pride
b. Boy-girl relationship – heavy petting
c. Addiction to games
d. Have not spent time with God in reading his word or prayer, for a long period of time
e. Unforgiveness

5. What is your response to God’s warning?

2nd August Sermon Discussion - “What Do You See?”

2009-08-04T15:49:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:35-38, Galatians 2:10

The opposite of love is indifference.

1. #Cell leader to bring a set of newspaper#.
Let's have a look through the many stories in the newspaper, what do you see about the condition of the people (pain & poverty)? Share a story that catches your attention.

2. How do you think God feels when He sees these people you mentioned in the stories? What would Jesus have done?

3. During the sermon, we were taught that in order to keep our heart tender and soft, we have to go meet a need. Take a moment to ask God to give us eyes of compassion to look for someone around us that we can show kindness this week.

26th July Sermon Discussion - “Molded to be a Masterpiece”

2009-07-29T10:22:00.002+08:00

Scripture references: Jeremiah 18:1-10

A. WARM UP
In small groups of 3 or 4 persons, share what you know about the process a potter takes to produce his final ceramic/potter product. (take about 3 min)

What are the factors that will determine how the final product will look like? (take about 3 min)
Possible answers:

The picture the potter has in mind and his continual shaping
The treatment process to the clay (quantity of water used, frequency of water used, ability to get rid of air traps in the clay…)

B. DISCUSS
Let us read Jeremiah 18:1-10

Observation: In this passage, you will learn what you’ve just shared earlier, that is

How the pot turns out as a final product depends on the potter, and
How the pot turns out as final product depends on the quality of the clay

Therefore, from Jeremiah 18:1-10, we learn that if we want to be molded as God’s Masterpiece, we need the same 2 truths:

Truth #1: It’s NOT ABOUT Me! God Must Be My Centre Of Attention – Don’t Be 2nd Best
Jeremiah 18: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

Truth #2: It’s ABOUT Me! I Am God’s Centre Of Attention – There Is A 2nd Chance
Jeremiah 18:4 “But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

C. APPLICATION

We all want to be molded by God to be His desired masterpiece. Is there any area in your life right now that God is showing you that He wants to remould for His purpose. Share and pray with one another.
In the process of being molded by God to be His desired masterpiece, God always gives us a second chance. Share a breakthrough that you want to see God do for you today. Pray a blessing for each other.

19th July Sermon Discussion - “Standing Tall in Turbulent Times – God and God Alone”

2009-07-21T15:01:00.007+08:00

A) Warm-up activity: Tear Down Pride

Logistics: Enough balloons for each cell members (can substitute with nice colored papers too if you can’t get hold of balloons), 1 sharp toothpick, Some markers & 2 “surprised” gifts ( e.g. Chocolates; flowers etc)

1) Distribute a balloon to every cell member and ask them to inflate it (or pass out the sheets of paper).
2) Write on the balloons (or papers) 3-5 things that they are proud of about themselves / what they have.
3) Everyone takes turn to share what they wrote.
4) Cell leader to choose to burst 2 balloons after all have shared (or tear up the papers if papers are used).
5) Cell leader to get the 2 members to share how they felt about having their balloons burst (papers torn); in view of the rest still having theirs left untouched. (Possible responses: Upset, puzzled, feel picked on, unfair why the rest still have their balloons, papers, hurt.)

Transition Statement: We all tend to find our significance / security in the areas we wrote on our balloon. How would you feel if God took that all away? Let’s study the life of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 and learn how and why God humbled him.

B) Sermon Discussion:

1) Read Daniel 4:28-37
2) How did God humble Nebuchadnezzar? (v33- He lost his sanity; driven away by his people; lived like a wild man)
3) Why did God humble Nebuchadnezzar? (v28- He took credit for his status and achievements without recognising that God ALONE governs.)

How did God restore him and why did God restore him?
(v34-36 Only when Nebuchadnezzar looked to God and humbled himself to recognize that only God alone rules, then he regained his sanity, splendor and honor was restored and he returned to the throne even greater than before.)

Seeing how God restored King Nebuchadnezzar, restoring to him all that he lost and even more, we know we have a gracious God.

At this moment, cell leader to present the surprised gifts to the cell members whom he/she had earlier on, burst their balloons (torn their papers). This is to help them recognize that we have a gracious God by giving them now more than what they had at the beginning.

C) Application:

In view of God’s sovereignty and graciousness,
1) What is an area of pride that you would like God to tear down?
2) Share a difficult moment you are walking through. Instead of resisting God, LOOK UP to Him now and acknowledge that He alone rules and thank Him for helping you grow in humility through that struggle.
3) Pray for each other.

12th July Sermon Discussion - “Standing Tall in Turbulent Times – Drawing the Line”

2009-07-14T16:28:00.009+08:00

Scripture Reading: Daniel 3:16-18

Warm-up:

A. Play the familiar game, “Simon says”.

For those who do not know the game, “Simon says” is a game where the game leader specifies a few commands. If the game leader starts the command with “Simon says”, the participants are required to obey the command in order to stay in the game. If the game leader did not use the phrase “Simon says”, participants are required to ignore the command. Let’s start the game with:

(i) Simon says, “Jump 3 times.”

(ii) Jump 5 times.

(iii) Simon says, “Tickle the friend seated next to you.”

(iv) Stop tickling your friend.

(v) Simon says, “Run to the nearest wall, touch it, come back & sit down.”

(vi) Simon says, “Give me a 10 cent or 20 cent coin each.”

(vii) Simon says, “Dig out a $2 or whatever dollar note from the wallet of the person seated on your right and keep the money for yourself.”

a) How did you feel when you were asked to take money from your friend’s wallet? Would you do it?

b) If the rest played along to take money from their friend’s wallet all in the name of fun and you choose not to follow the crowd, how would you feel about being the only one not doing what others are doing?

B. Read Daniel 3:16-18. How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego draw the line in obeying God ?

Review what Ps Khong taught us about drawing the line.

The 3 Principles about “Drawing the Line”

(i) Please God, not man

(ii) Have a Personal Knowledge that God is Great and God is Good

(iii) Be Willing to Pay the Price for Obeying God

C. Are there situations in your life that you will follow the crowd mindlessly or be prone to compromise in?

Some possible peer pressure situations: Copying homework, speaking vulgarities or swear words, please your friends etc.

D. How can you draw the line for your situation using any one of the 3 principles listed above?

5th July Sermon Discussion - “Running On Empty”

2009-07-08T10:37:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reference: John 7:37-39

Icebreaker : What is your favorite drink when you’re really thirsty ? Does it immediately quench your thirst or make you even more thirsty ?

Context: Some of us may be running on empty without realizing it. We feel drained & tired.

In the John passage, the Lord Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink. Streams of living water will flow from within. We will be able to enjoy an overflowing life.

Q1 : What do you think is the condition of your heart today?

We need to constantly take time out to check the condition of our heart. It is like a car having a fuel gauge to know when it will run empty. Are you near “Empty” or “Full “ ?

Q2 : Is your heart tender & open for God to refill you ?

Our hearts need to be open for God to work & refill us. Same like the car; the fuel cap needs to be opened before the owner can refuel it. Therefore, our hearts need to be open.

Q3: Have you been refilled by the Lord ? How can you be a blessing to someone this week ?

As we are being refilled by the Lord, we must believe God's blessing will flow to us. Through us blessing will flow out to others. We can be streams of living water & a blessing to others.

Baptism Testimony - "No more vulgarities & bullying - God changed my Life!"

2009-07-06T14:08:00.004+08:00

Before I accepted Christ, I used to think that a man needs to enjoy life to the fullest by doing what he or she likes. In the past, I had a group of friends whom I felt were fun and cool. I followed them in speaking vulgarities, bullying others, stealing, cheating and many other bad habits. I felt good and thought they were the only people I could be with and trusted them for my life.

When I was in primary school, I attended a few church activities arranged specially for the kids. Church was enjoyable and wonderful as interesting stories were shared. During my secondary school time, I wanted to join a church and was once invited to an Easter Day event held at the indoor stadium. A lot of amazing testimonies were shared. People got healed and wonderful things happened there. Since then, I began to know there is a God that heals and many people put their faith and trust in Him. It was a special experience. However, I was still very confused and did not join a church.

After a few years, I found no meaning in the things I do. I asked a friend of mine who was attending Church, to bring me along. The very first day I step into church, the people there were very nice, friendly and I love it. It was the very first day I got to know my cell leader Alvin. I asked him lot of questions about God. He would either call or send sms, asking about my being and guided me with bible verses to help me to know Jesus more. Eventually, we began to build our relationship and he signed me up for an encounter camp.

The three days of encounter camp drew me closer to God and I realised I need to invite God into my life. Furthermore, I said to myself that I must be serious with Jesus, to have faith and trust in Him. During the camp, I was praying for peace in my family as there are usually quarrels at home. When I got home from the camp, my family became more peaceful and I knew God had answered my prayer. My faith began to grow more in Him and whenever I faced problems, I would pray to Him for I knew that my God is a god who answers prayer. Furthermore, my character changed gradually better and I stopped speaking Vulgarities and the bullying, and growing in humility each day. I didn’t follow after my usual friends anymore and I found my life more meaningful than before.

After knowing the Lord, I encountered healing and grace from Him. Firstly, I went for running one evening. When I came back, one of my feet was so painful that I could not walk well. At night, I prayed for healing and to my amazement, my foot was alright the next day. Secondly, I did one of my practical tests in school badly. I knew I would fail as I could not understand very well what my teacher was teaching. However, thank God for His grace, when my teacher reviewed the names of those who failed, my name was not mentioned in the list.

Thank God for He listens and answers prayers and my life was changed.

By Nelson Wong Teng Guo
Testimony dated 26th June 2009

Baptism Testimony - "God's Love is Fresh Every Morning"

2009-07-06T13:57:00.005+08:00

Hello everyone! My name is ShuJing. It’s a wonderful day today for me and you. God bless you! As I stand here, I proclaim that truly, God’s love is fresh every morning and this fellowship that God has freely given to me fills my heart with thanksgiving. God is with us, and He never fails. I would like to testify of God’s love for us through my story.

What happened was this: Amidst the confusion and stress in my adolescent years, I suffered from anorexia nervosa. In the beginning, I was conscious of my body image, and then it deteriorated to the point of obsession. I refused to eat anything. I was skin and bones all over. My hair kept dropping. I even faint when I walk about in my house. My sister Su Chin nursed me back to health eventually.

Because of this incident, I experienced rejection from my friends, yet also the unconditional love my family had for me. I was up and about in no time. Months later, I realized with dread that I had stopped having menstrual periods. As the reality sets in, I felt hopeless at the improbability of having my own children in the future.

As I was crying myself to sleep one night (year 2002), I said, “God, if you are real, please help me!” The time with which God uses to work miracles still amazes me. The following morning, God has restored my body. However, I did not know how to know Him better and I got busier with studies. It was three years later that I found God when my poly friend invited me to FCBC. Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you. ”

During the three years, God sent His witnesses to me to share the gospel with me at the MRT station, inside the MRT cabin and when I was walking home. In 2005, my poly friend, Cher, invited me to the Christmas Service at FCBC. Ps Khong shared about God’s love for us and I recognized that the God that I have been seeking was Jesus Christ and I received Jesus into my life. But I didn’t commit to knowing Him more and stopped going to church and cell meetings as my schoolwork took priority. Although I studied hard, I could find no joy, there was still a void inside my heart. I switched courses to study in yet I failed to find what I want.

After going one big circle, a year ago in April 2008, I wanted to get into this florist apprenticeship in fareastflora.com so much that I prayed “God, if you give me this opportunity, I will come back to church and follow you with all my heart.” Again, God heard me and answered my prayer. Praise God! Someone once said that there is a God-shaped void inside every one of us, that only God can fill, and wow, that’s really true.

When my friend XinYan invited me to attend church with her, I knew it was the Lord reminding me of my prayer. I also joined XinYan’s cell group and grow spiritually with the rest of the cell sisters under our cell leader Cindy. Cindy loves each one of us and I thank God for her and also all my cell sisters who are God’s blessings in my life.

The encounter camp has been a tremendous blessing, where I received an outpouring of love from God. I learnt that the more you allow God and the Holy Spirit to move in your life, the more He will bless you with.

Before I end, I bless you with Psalm 118:14 that says, “The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.”

God will bless us and our families, and the nations too, praise God!

by Beth Quah Soo Jing
Testimony dated 26th June 2009

28th June Sermon Discussion - “Standing Tall in Turbulent Times – Good News in Bad Times”

2009-07-02T09:35:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reading: Daniel 2

1. Warm-up: Sing the song “This is the day that the Lord has made…”
Go around and share the meaning of this song. Remind them that God is in control of every matter in our lives. We need not fret, worry, panic or sweat. Is there something that you are worry about right now? Let’s submit our problem to Him…

There’s good news in bad times because God’s news is always good news. God’s good news is:

a) God controls the future – Don’t Sweat!
b) God confides in His people – Don’t Speculate!
c) God is the champion – Don’t Surrender!

2. Ask if they confide in someone and vice versa. We confide in this person because we trust this person and believe that this person is willing to listen and may give us advise to our problem. God is someone we can trust and He loves us and wants to give us good advise to guide and protect us. Let’s allow God to speak to us…

3. What is a champion? Can you name someone whom you can call a champion? God has the wisdom and power to overcome all obstacles and problems in our lives. Is God your Champion?

I can do all things in Him who strengthens me (Phil 3:17). Let’s believe that we can overcome all problems and trials because God is our Champion.

21st June Sermon Discussion - “Standing Tall in Turbulent Times – Taking a Stand for God”

2009-06-25T23:39:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reading: Daniel 1

A. Warm Up: What is one Bible story about Daniel that you remember most and share why that is your favorite story.

B. Read Daniel 1:20 and review what Ps Khong shared on how we can take a stand for God in Turbulent Times. We do this by ...

1. Trusting God's Sovereignty – Rest. We can find rest even if our world seems to be falling apart.

2. Touching God's World - Relevance. We can choose to be a blessing and influence the world for good.

3. Testing God's Word - Reliance. We can depend on what God has promised in His Word, the Bible.

Is there a situation in your home or school that you are facing now that requires you to take a stand for God? Can you apply any of the points shared above? Share and pray with one another.

C. Take out your Bibles and find a promise in God's Word that you would like to claim for yourself this coming week. Find a partner and pray united prayers that God will fulfill His word in your life today!

Teen IDOL Camp 2009

2009-06-18T18:34:00.007+08:00

A peek at the fun filled Teen IDOL Camp! Thank God for all who made it possible!

14th June Sermon Discussion - "How Do I Love Myself?"

2009-06-16T23:57:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:14

A. Warm Up: With a pen and paper, draw yourself and share with one another what you like best about yourself and why?

B. Read Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

From this scripture, what is the one key that will help us to obey this command to love our neighbor?

From last Sunday’s message, we learnt that we have to deal with 2 things in order to love ourselves better.

1. Freaked out by our past – Admit it.

2. Freed up by the Lord – Accept it.

Share which one applies more to you and why.

C. Application: Go back to the picture that you have drawn earlier of yourself, write your name near your picture and add the line after your name “ ______ is God’s beloved”.

When you are done, tell the person next to you that “I am God’s beloved.”

Pray a blessing of God’s love for one another.

God CAN use YOU!

2009-06-13T15:48:00.005+08:00

Just today as I was walking home from school, I came across this "walking beggar" who was begging money from everyone he came across. He was walking with his crutches and his left leg was missing (most probably due to amputation or something). At first when he came towards me, I didn't give him any money and walked away. But then something in my heart reminded me to go and bless him.

Remembering about the 100k and what God has done for me, I went and blessed him with my money as he said he doesn't have enough money to eat. I prayed for God to bless him and told him about how God actually wants to bless him and after this whole thing, he was so grateful and he kept thanking God. :) He only gave me his name, as he doesnt have a handphone and he lives in his friend's home.

I invited him to Chinese service and he was quite receptive when I told him about Jesus and how He wants to bless him. I can't contact him, but I just pray that he will, one day come to church! :)
-----------------------------------------------

Another time was when I was on the way home at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. I saw this man who is blind and selling tissues. As God has convicted me, I approached him. After talking with him for a while, I realized that he is also a Christian! As I went on further, he actually opened up to me that his finger is hurt and need healing from the Lord.

So, seizing the opportunity, I whipped out my 100K blessing card and shared with him. He told me that he needed healing from the Lord, employment & career, financial freedom and family harmony. So I prayed for him on all these areas.

Amazingly after I prayed for him, I saw more and more people coming to buy tissue from him and also giving him more money than needed! When the uncle asked to return their change, they refused and walked off. Some of them even gave him money and didn't even take any tissue from him! Praise God! Our God is so amazing. He answers and hears our prayers!

I hope that after this testimony, you will be encouraged! :) Therefore, do not give up in doing the 100k blessing! You never know who among you will come to know the Lord because of you! :)

by Joanne Liew

7th June Sermon Discussion - "In This World You Will Have Trouble"

2009-06-09T16:37:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reading: John 16:33, John 17

1. Warm up: (Prepare a blank piece of paper and a pencil for each of your cell member.)

Write the word “TROUBLE” on top of blank piece of paper, now draw a picture that comes to your mind that describes this word.

Go around the group and get all to share what they have drawn and also have them share how they personally feel when troubles come their way at home or at school or at play.

2. Read aloud together John 16:33 and if possible from different Bible translations.

Recall and review the 3 Attitudes that they should have in times of trouble.

(i) We must Anticipate His Glory – God is going to show up

John 17:1(NIV) After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

(ii) We must Appreciate His Body – Love One Another

John 17:11 (NIV) I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

(iii) We must Advance His Love – Give Generously

John 17:26 (NIV) I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Share one attitude that you would like to grow in and how you anticipate this will be a blessing to you.

Pray with another person in your cell that God will help you grow in this attitude this coming week at home, at school or at play.

3. Share and pray with one another how you plan to complete praying for the 10 persons as part of the Love Singapore 100K Blessing campaign.

John 17:4 (NIV) I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Enlarge the Place of Your Tent

2009-06-05T10:53:00.007+08:00

(Note written by Ps Eugene, dated 7th May 2009)

Dear Youthnet Family,

Currently I am on a flight from Singapore to Chengdu and have been thinking and praying (not sure which is which but I know the Lord hears my thoughts) about where the Lord has led us thus far, in this year of Loving our Neighbour. Probably many of us will say that where we are today is not exactly what we had in mind when we first began the year (this call of faith and the way of the cross for transformation). When we began the year, we did put down some plans and the Lord did show us some key strategies for this year. Therefore are these 2 streams and thoughts come together, what I felt the Lord put in my heart was a reminder to “stay on the course that I have set for you, do not get distracted or derailed, because this journey of faith is exactly what I have prepared and set up for you to work out your salvation and to see the coming day of the Lord”.

This strong impression came with a reminder again to “Enlarge the Place of your tent” (Isaiah 54:2).

I sense that the Lord is saying to many of us, at least in this immediate few months ahead, it is not about “planting and setting up new tents” it is about doing everything we can (with all the resources, blessings, open doors, opportunities) to step out in fresh faith and just “enlarge it”. It just calls for a diligent heart and enthusiastic spirit to “just do it” and see His hand move as He brings them in. I felt the Lord say that it is not going to be another added burden but in fact many of you will experience a new refreshment that you have missed for quite some time already and it will surprise you how energize and refresh you and your cell will feel by just “enlarging your tent”.

So what are some primers that will get us going?

1. “Stay on the course” – we have put down in our plans this month of May to be fully engage with the Blessing Campaign and as we sought the Lord for “My Perfect 10” we must enter wholeheartedly into this phase of Blessing and Fellowship. So do get fully into gear and start Blessing.

However as I was praying about this, I felt the Lord impress on me a new perspective to this call to bless and that is we must not just think that this is just about blessing “new people” or “people juts off the streets” (which of course does include these too). But how about thinking and reaching out to “all those who have come to our TGIF parties” what it means is that as long as these friends that we have, are not yet in any of our cells or been to any encounter, they are a group of people that we need to specifically make a strong effort to go out to bless and fellowship. Especially those who have indicated their desire to know Jesus or have even said the sinner’s prayer at our TGIF mtgs but have yet to make a public declaration of their faith. We can also include the many on our “consolidation list” too.

Now let me come back to this note again, I am now checked in at Chengdu Sunshine Hotel, have met up with the team that is already here.

2. “Think Relationally” – The Lord then reminded me again that this is indeed a very strategic key that He has revealed to us and that sometimes we have this misconception that we think it is just about relationships, we think it would just happen. But I sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting that “just happen” relationships needs a lot of “intentional hard work”. As we all know, relationships can be most rewarding and at the same time most frustrating too. We often think we know all about relationships but the Lord was saying again that “good relationships” is something that we must all “go after” or “pursue”.

So the key thrust of this prompting is that, in this faith journey, we must not get caught up (sometimes even before we start) with the “end results” and we forget to give heart and hard focus to “on going relationships” in fact, the word was “make relationship your goal and not just the channel” and by relationship, I was reminded again that it is not about relating with someone just to get a “conversion goal” but really to value relationships as long term friendships that will last the test of time and place too. I felt the Lord say, seek out, catalyst and build up fresh new communities (small groups) committed to each other and the rest the Holy Spirit will take care. We must understand that we must love the messenger before we love the message.

Just finished morning breakfast and have some time in between before we go down to ChongZhou city where the awards ceremony and show will be held this evening. Final pointer…

3. “Love One Another” – by this will all men know that you are my disciples. As I was on the flight, I was reading John 13 and it begins with the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet. As I read this familiar story again and with the key lessons from G12 and Transformation Conference ringing in my mind, I saw an interesting new angle to verse 14 “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should washed one another’s feet”.

Often when I read this story and be reminded that this is key to servant leadership we often feel either guilty and judged when we as leaders feel that we have not done enough washing of feet and often too, we read it too as a place to “judge our leaders” and say, hey why “nobody has come to washed my feet”. But today as I read this scripture again, the key word “washed one another’s feet” seem to catch my attention. And the interpretation that I got today was that, if Jesus being of a “higher” level can wash his disciple feet of the “lower level” then surely we can washed “each other’s feet” at the same level, that should be the first given default level.

What I felt the Holy Spirit wanting to grab my attention to is that it is NOT about levels of leadership but a loving spirit towards each other. So it is not about what I do “down” or what I expect from “up” but what I am doing towards my fellow brothers and sisters because Jesus has set an example to break the ultimate status barrier – God to Man.

I trust that this short sharing is helpful to you and I pray that it will encourage you to press on and pursue God’s Perfect 10 for you – bless and fellowship, bless and fellowship. This is a promise that we can claim, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things that these because I am going to the Father.” (John14:12) Yes, we can do even greater and more because “Jesus is going to the Father” or in other words – “He has given us the Holy Spirit”.

God Bless, have faith, live faith, build faith and let’s Pull Together in Love.

Ps Eugene

31st May Sermon Discussion - "As Innocent As Doves"

2009-06-02T17:16:00.004+08:00

Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:16

A) Ice-breaker – Truth or Lies

Ask every cell member to think of 3 statements: they could ALL be truths, ALL be lies or a MIX of both truth and lies.
Pair up with another cell member and share the 3 statements. Each person is to take turn to guess which statements are truths and which are not.
Ask the members, ‘Is it easier to tell a lie or to fall for a lie?’

B) Read Matthew 10:16 and review what Ps Khong shared about being “ Innocent as Doves”

Be the Best – Purity in Diligence
Be a Blessing – Purity in Compassion
Believe – Purity in Obedience (Trusting God)

C) From the sermon, we recognise that it is easy to be self-centred in our motives to be diligent or compassionate.

Divide the cell group into 2 groups. In each small group, discuss practical examples of ‘Being the Best’ (Purity in Diligence) and ‘Being a Blessing’ (Purity in Compassion) as a student. (An example of purity in diligence: You study hard for exams because you would like to be excellent & glorify God versus being ‘kiasu’. An example of purity in compassion: You join community service not just for the CIP hours but to serve the area of need.).

Each group is to share the practical examples listed.

Each member is to pick one area that is shared that he / she would like to work on.

D) A common symbol of the Holy Spirit is the dove.

Pray that the Holy Spirit come and purify you to become innocent and trusting to the Great Shepherd just like a dove.

24th May Sermon Discussion - "Dancing with Wolves"

2009-05-29T08:01:00.004+08:00

Scripture Reference: Matt 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.'

A. Warm Up Charade: There are 4 different creatures mentioned in this verse, choose one that is most interesting to you and share it with your group using only gestures and actions ie. without words or verbal sounds. After which, briefly share why your choice was interesting?

B. Why is it not a good idea to put sheep among wolves? Yet Jesus says “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves”. Can you recap again, who are the wolves that Jesus is warning us about”.

C. As a group, make a list of the common characteristics of “a snake” and also “a dove”.

Mark out or extract from your lists which of these are positive qualities that we can ask God for as we go about our daily lives in our homes, schools and marketplace.

D. Share one thing that the Lord has shown you that you would like to grow in your behaviour this week as you walk in wisdom like a snake and also in the purity of a Dove. Pray for one another.

God is Good!

2009-05-28T10:21:00.004+08:00

He answered the prayer request of my senior in my research group, Cai Ning, who is graduating soon from his PhD degree. One of the prayer items that he ticked in the 100K blessing booklet is financial freedom. It has been close to a year now that he's without any scholarship because he has exceeded 4 years of his scholarship term.

To his amazement.. he won a $1,000 frm lucky draw contest by Lianhe Zaobao which was confirmed yesterday. He said that the lucky draw took place last Friday, which i realised it was the day that i prayed for him in the office. I told him that God has answered his prayer and He will continue to do so. He replied with a broad smile and gave me a thumbs up. I can see that he's much more cheerful now. Praise God!

The news article can be found HERE. Cai Ning is the one wearing blue polo tee.

May this testimony encourage us to have faith to continue to believe that God will answer every prayer need of the people that we bless.

To God be the Glory!
Samuel

ASK and you shall receive!

2009-05-20T10:03:00.003+08:00

After attending the prayer meet on Wednesday, I was believing God for the 100k blessing, since I have not been able to meet anyone for the past few days. I remembered Pastor Richard's sharing about how he trusted God and shared the 100k blessing with the cashier and she ended up ticking everything including eternal life. When I first heard that, I really claim that for myself and I wanted such a Miracle to happen to myself as well.

The following day, Thursday, I started the day by claiming the verses of “ASK” which Ps Khong shared with us the night before.

Since Prayer meet yesterday, I have been praying and asking God to give me opportunities to bless someone as I headed to NIE today for my Maths tutorial.

I reached NIE just 15 mins before my lesson hence I decided to grab a quick bite at the canteen where... I met my Practicum collegue, Xiaoli. We did not talk much as I was in a rush off for my Maths lesson. We then each headed off to our own Maths classes. The interesting thing was I bumped into Xiaoli again during my tutorial break at the toilet! But we just exchanged ‘Hi’ and left.

My Maths tutorial lesson was packed till lesson ended later than schedule. Before I know it, all my classmates were gone. I did not get any opportunity to speak to any, more to say bless them with the 100k. I left class feeling a little disappointed. As I was walking finally to the bus stop, I made a final prayer to the Lord.

“God you say ASK and you will give. I pray I will meet someone at the bus stop whom I know where I can bless”

Guess what! When I reached the bus stop, there was only one person whom I knew and that person was no other than my friend Xiaoli! At that moment I knew immediately why God had to bring me to meet her so many times even just within a short span of 2 hours. He was telling me “Its her, she is the one I want you to bless all this while”

Without any further waiting, I approach her and took out my 100k blessing to bless her. She receive it well and the next thing that shocked me was, she ticked all the 12 blessings in the list, including Eternal Life!

Woah! I was thrown off board when I saw that! I calmed myself down and went ahead to pray for all the other 11 blessings for her first, before moving on to explain more to her about what this Eternal Life is about, by drawing the John 3:16 illustration to her. I also shared with her my own testimony of coming to know the Lord and then went on to invite her to come down for our Church service this Sun. I was surprised she readily agreed.

On the Sunday itself, she came for service and she said the sinner’s prayer and went forward to receive Jesus into her life! Now I am following up with her and prayer the seed will grow well.

Praise God! Indeed when we ASK, God will give if only we believe with FAITH!

by Lim Ju Lee

17th May Sermon Discussion - "What Is In Your Hand?"

2009-05-19T16:32:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Exodus 3:1 - 4:5

Use ONE thing from your wallet to talk about God to one another. Was it easy for you to do so?

Read the Exodus passage. What did Moses have in his hand? How did God use it?

What do you have in your "hand"? How can God use it?

When God called Moses, Moses hesitated with some questions, 3:11, 3:13 and 4:1. Do you have any hesitations in allowing God to use you? Share and pray for one another.

10th May Sermon Discussion - "Faith for the Nations"

2009-05-13T08:24:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reference: Psalm 2

Transformation Paradigm #1: “The Great Commission is about discipling Nations not just people.” (Ref: Matt 28:19, Acts 1:8, Acts 5:28)

Do you believe your family and your school can be transformed by God? How do you think your family or your school will look like when transformed?
Read Psalm 2 again. We learn that “God is in Control and we are in Command”. Share with your group, one thing you can do this coming week to contribute to the transformation in our school or our families?
The 100K Blessing Campaign is one of the steps that we can take to launch transformation in our school or our homes. Share with your group how many people do you plan to pray and bless this week? Pray for one another for God’s divine appointment and favor.

3rd May Sermon Discussion - "The Power of Fathers' Blessing to Their Children"

2009-05-07T20:35:00.002+08:00

Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11-22

Is there someone whom you have encountered who is like a father to you? Share with one another how this person has believed in you?

In the Luke 15 passage, why did the father interrupt the son’s confession of his wrongs?

God not only loves you. He likes you. What do you think God likes about you?

Do you have difficulty believing that God likes you? Share with your cell partner and pray for renewed mind.

26th April Sermon Discussion - "How To Bless An Angel"

2009-04-29T09:29:00.005+08:00

Scripture Reference: Genesis 18:1-15

1. Personal Reflection

On a scale of 1 to 10:

a) How often do you come out first in volunteering help to needy people?

Do you find yourself following the crowd or simply doing what is right and necessary?

b) How calculative are you when considering how much to give to others?

Do you find yourself giving good things to others, or only what is excess to you?

c) How often do you expect God to reward you directly or indirectly when you give to others?

Do you believe God will never shortchange you for what you give?

2. Why do you think it is so hard to give to others willingly? Have you responded personally to bless others in this 100k campaign?

3. Brainstorm together some things you can do to meet the felt needs of the people on your “Perfect 10”

Nominations for Love Singapore Fund (Youth Development)

2009-04-28T02:24:00.003+08:00

Youths and families in need? YOU can help!

Be part of the team of assessors in Love Singapore Fund (Youth Development).

Find out more information in the attachment.
Send in the nomination form through your pastors by 30 April 2009.

Prayer Alert! - Camps & Tribe Activities in June Holidays

2009-04-27T13:31:00.008+08:00

Pray for the camps & tribe activities in the June holidays.

1. Teens Encounter Weekend, 5-7 June anchored by Ps William

(i) Pray for the pre-believers attending to come to know the Lord as their Saviour and that all the campers will engage well and have a personal encounter with God.
(ii) Pray for the Guides to be able to communicate well with the teens and minister as the Holy Spirit prompts them
(iii) Pray for the Lord's anointing to be with the pastors as they share and minister to the youths.

2. Teens PE, SOL 1 & 2 camp, Teens IDOL (Intensive Development of Leaders), 12-14 June anchored by Ps Roland

(i) Pray for the pastors involved in the various tracks of the PE, SOL1 & SOL2 classes that they will effectively build our youths in their walk with God & the desire for outreach.
(ii) Pray that the 3 days of camp will draw them closer to God and to each other in their camp groupings. Pray that we will see youth leaders coming forth from this camp as well.
(iii) Pray for good weather & adjustment of the youths to the Sembawang campsite.

3. Cell outings & retreats in the June holidays

Pray for creativity and good programming in the many cell outings and retreats planned for the June holidays. Pray that many youths will be attracted to the church community and new converts or contacts will be added to the cells. We want to see each cell multiply itself at least once!

TAG HERE IF YOU ARE PRAYING TOGETHER WITH US!

19th April Sermon Discussion - "Facing The Giants"

2009-04-21T11:54:00.005+08:00

Read 1 Samuel 17:33:50

Activity: Draw out David & Goliath at the battle line
Description of David (1 Sam17:40,42)

A young man, ruddy & handsome
Staff in his hand
5 smooth stones in shepherd’s bag
Sling in hand

Description of Goliath (1 Sam17:4-7, 50)

9 feet tall, or 3m tall
He wore: (a) Bronze helmet on his head (b) Scale armor of bronze, weigh abt 57 kg (c) Bronze sheaves on his legs (d) Bronze javelin on his back (head of spear weigh 7kg) (e) Sword

Notes for Leaders:

Activity can be conducted in either option: (1) Each member to draw both David & Goliath; or (2) Pair the members, one to draw David, another to draw Goliath
Prepare logistics for drawing activity – papers & color pens according to group size.

1. As seen from the drawing, David seems to be at a disadvantage as contrasted with Goliath. What enabled David to win Goliath?
2. What are the giants of fear in your life?

Fear of sharing gospel with family and friends
Fear of failure (eg in exams, test, assignment)
Fear of rejection from friends, etc
Other fears (to be specific)

3. Words have power. Which promises of God do you want to claim through declaring?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov3:5,6
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1Pet5:7
God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb13:5
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. Ps 118:6,7

Leaders can also choose to pair the members and release a promise of God to each other
4. What is one action of victory that you want to take this week?

12th April Sermon Discussion - "Fix Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

2009-04-14T16:03:00.006+08:00

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 12:1-2

1. Warm Up: Let’s close our eyes & try to visualize Jesus in our mind… Let’s not rush this but take a moment to meditate and fix our spiritual eyes on Jesus…
2. What do you see as you visualize Jesus in your mind?

I see a God who is a Loving Father, loving me, treasuring me, taking care of me
I see a God who is Almighty & All Powerful.
I see a God who is Wise & Creative.

3. Let’s reflect on the 3 points which Senior Pastor shared would happen when we fix our eye on Jesus:

We know WE ARE PRECIOUS - Do you feel that God treasures you?
We know WE HAVE POWER - Do you feel that you are living a victorious Christian life?
We know WE HAVE PURPOSE - Are you satisfied with what you are experiencing in your Christian life?

4. As a Cell Group, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and pray for each other to enter the Dimension of Faith.

Let’s ask the Lord to anoint us with a new Faith to rise up so that we can experience His Power in our Lives!

5th April Sermon Discussion - "Overcoming Obstacles of Faith"

2009-04-08T09:40:00.007+08:00

1. Can you think of someone who has been an example of faith to you?
2. Senior Pastor shared with us these 4 Obstacles of faith:

a) Memory of Success and Failures.
b) Human Logic and Wisdom.
c) Past Hurts and Wounds
d) Unwillingness to pay the Price- Disobedience.

Which of these obstacles do you want to overcome?
3. Faith is acting on the Word of God. What step of faith will you take this week ?
4. Pray for one another in faith. Pray that you can come back next week to share a testimony of faith.

God's Providence in Abundance!

2009-04-07T14:10:00.005+08:00

I want to testify God's favour and goodness at work. I'm in pharmaceutical sales and I have to do quarter sales closing. In the last 2 weeks of March, there were just too many bad news at work. Many of the expected sales are unable to come through due to the bad financial climate. I felt very disappointed, discouraged and also helpless.

That weekend I attended the G12 conference and heard Pastor preach on the power of the blood of Jesus and tapping into the blessings of the garden of Eden. I went home thinking about the message and had a revelation. I had to stop believing in the lies of Satan and start applying the blood of Jesus in my life. I prayed and by faith I trust that things are going to be different.

The following week, I went to get my sales with the confidence of the Lord. Miraculously, the clients who reject or say unlikely to give me sales last week all said yes to me!

At the end of the day, as I consolidate the numbers, not only had I met the challenging targets, I even had some excess! Praise The Lord!

Not only did God provide, He provided in abundance! I had a head start to the new quarter!

I believed that it was the change in mindset and the rise of faith. Instead of being discouraged l decided to exercise faith, rejected the lies of Satan saying times are bad and its difficult to close the deals. I visualized success and proclaim God's victory and know that it will come to pass!

This was one of the most challenging sales closing but yet it was the easiest I've ever done because God is the one at work, not me.

Indeed God is my provider and the blood of Jesus is powerful! Praise God!

Written by Diana Darlene Koh (Ps Rachel Lee Tribe)

29th March Sermon Discussion - "Faith - The Only Way to Please God"

2009-04-03T10:48:00.010+08:00

1. Invite two or more persons to share about their faith experiences as a Christian.

Celebrate the miracle with thanks giving that God does answer acts of faith.
Invite them to share about the courage to take the step.

2. Reflect on the 3 key points on last Sunday’s Message on Faith.

Faith is acting on the Person of God (Heb 11:6)
Faith is acting on the Power of God (Matt 9:29, 2 Cor 5:7)
Faith is acting on the Purpose of God (Heb 11:1)

For without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

What will it take for each of us to please God?
Have each person write down their personal faith challenge on a sheet of paper and keep it in their Bible.
Invite on two or more persons to response.

3. Now invite members in the cell to share their personal response to Sundays sermon as they hear Senior pastor share about his desire to take the church on a faith journey in multiplication

As a group agree and commit to pray for the faith steps that you can take as a cell in this faith journey.

We are Youth members of Faith Community Baptist Church. Let's live a life that represent this name.

Let's make Faith a hallmark of our generation and leave a legacy of miracles!

God is FOR Us!

2009-03-30T09:32:00.003+08:00

My grandma passed away on the week of G12 conference. All my family and relatives are pre-believers except for one distant cousin, who has not been going to church for four years. They planned a Taoist funeral for my grandma, so I was quite concerned if I would be made to go through any of those rituals. I spoke to my dad on the first day, and asked to be excused for the rituals. He told me to participate and he walked away without negotiation.

A tent was built to house an altar full of deities and idols for the procession on the final night. I felt very uncomfortable and do not want to compromise what I believe in. I decided to speak to ask my dad again, praying that he will soften his heart. However, he got angrier with me. In turn, I was also very upset.

To avoid facing my dad and relatives who are gossiping about me, I went for G12 conference on Friday. I know I will be comforted after meeting my cell group and leader. I managed to speak to Pastor Danny and my cell group, pouring out what I had kept for the past 3 days – persecution, gossip, pressure to compromise, etc. They prayed for me and I felt better after that.

Though there was still fear in me to confront the situation when I returned home, I knelt and ask God to make a way for me. I was afraid that my father might chase me out of the funeral.

When I reached home, I asked my mother if I still must participant in the ritual. She said she will talk to my dad. Eventually, my dad agreed that I will not participate though he was still unhappy about it!

My relatives continued to gossip about me on this matter, this caused my mum to be heartbroken. Yet in my heart, I was fully secured in the Lord and was really feeling okay with what they said. They do not know what they are doing.

I believed this is not just a funeral that traditions and practices are enforced on unwilling daughter, but a lesson to teach me and make a stand.

I learnt to stand up for my God and not to compromise when situation seems to be so difficult. If God is for me, who can be against me?

Romans 8:31 – “…If God is for us, who can be against us?”

by Huishan, Ps Evelyn's Tribe

Survivor: Pulau Ubin 2009

2009-03-26T14:16:00.003+08:00

On The 21st of March about 120 people gathered at the bays of Changi for an adventure, into Pulau Ubin. By speedboat we stepped on the sands of the shores. There 2 of our actors introduced the island and our adventure to them in a short skit

They taught the teams to design their own flag and put on camo paint! Then the adventure begin for them. They were given guilds in forms of yellow packages like in the show Amazing Race. They trekked through the forest and to the beautiful Chik Jawa and plantations.

To survive the island they had to act out words to their lost friend, crawl through mud, flour, soy sauce and other unknowns, search the rainbow amongst the forest and other tasks.

While at the end of their journey God send a heavy downpour, teams continues to make their way to the final point. Rations of chips, fruits and soft drinks were given to our famished survivors, then prizes were given out to the most accomplished team

Finally everybody there was given a badge to remember this day. For the Survivors they have bonded with their cell and made new friends through the forest and mud and rain.

Photo collage of Survivor: Pulau Ubin 2009

For the Organizers they have worked as a closer as a team and had new friends whom came from other cells and tribes to help in this event.

God smiled on that day and I'm thankful He had imparted something to everyone that day. I'm only grateful to be given a chance to make it all happen =)

by Vernon Chow

22nd March Sermon Discussion - "A Heart for the Next Generation"

2009-03-25T14:07:00.004+08:00

1. We are the Next Generation, let’s Celebrate each other’s uniqueness! Take out one item from your wallet or handbag or knapsack that kind of represent who you are, show it to the group and share why this is so.

2. Read Psalm 127 and recall the 3 key features of the Next Generation as shared from the pulpit last Sunday.

We the Next Generation can…..

Be a Blessing
Be a Partner
Be a Transformer

Which of these 3 would you would like to be in this coming week? Why?

3. Look up 1 Timothy 4:12. As a group, make a list of as many ways as possible how the Next Generation can “set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”.

From the list made, choose one item that you feel you can do this week to apply this verse.

Impossible is Nothing!

2009-03-24T23:01:00.002+08:00

The thing that I brought home (literally, as you will see if you read on) from the conference was a greater impartation of faith. Not just for the multitudes but also for what He can do for my family.

My maid and my mother have a rather disharmonious relationship. Basically their communication consists largely of my mom screaming at her for screwing up and my maid trying hard to understand where she went wrong because of her poor grasp of the English language and my mother’s apparent “accent” (in my maid’s own words). As spectators to this bloody sport, my sis and I will try to stop my mom from going too far, but this usually produces the opposite result, unfortunately.

There were also times when my mom contemplated sending her back. When this happens, I usually get an SMS from her telling me such. Coincidentally, it ALWAYS happens when I’m in church and it will ALWAYS be followed by an SMS by my sister telling me how scared she is and how lonely she will be when the maid leaves. This will ALWAYS leave me feeling horrendously guilty for not being there for my family.

Keeping to that rather morbid pattern, I received several SMSes from my mom and sis regarding the abovementioned topic during the G12 conference. This time it seemed final. My maid was actually packing her bags at that very same time.

I felt very discouraged. It just felt like the Hiroshima end days of my nuclear family.

The subsequent SMS exchange I had with my sister was nothing short of depressing as she shared about what transpired and how she felt about it (she cried). I was all ready to cave in to the belief that in real life things never change, when I remembered one of the pastors saying something like “you can never please God without faith” and thus one should believe.

It was then that I made a desperate prayer to the Lord to resolve my little domestic situation. I cannot remember the exact words I uttered but it was something to the effect of asking God to preserve the sanctity of the familial institution.

What happened next was nothing short of amazing.

The next SMS I received was from my mom telling me that she was keeping my maid.

She added that she talked to my maid and they HUGGED (I expected an exchange of blows actually) and my maid told my mom that my mom was just like a mother to her.

That left me speechless.

It is not one-off too, what happened with my family. I can sense my mother making an effort to be more patient with my maid. She fails sometimes, but it’s a work in progress and I’m thankful.

To shamelessly rip off a certain sportswear label, impossible is nothing to God.

So today, make the choice to hope and believe. There can be change.
If you make that change to keep the faith regardless, everything will change.

Krystle, from Ps Evelyn’s Tribe

He IS the Almighty King!

2009-03-23T22:50:00.001+08:00

'When you change, everything can change.'

This is something a lot of people caught during the G12 conference and it has never been more real to me.

I am a first generation Christian in my family and it is often difficult to stand strong because of the many persecutions I face at home. My whole family believes in Buddhism. As if the generation gap between my parents and I was not bad enough, the difference in faith made it worse altogether. All along they cannot accept the fact that I have already converted and deep in their hearts, they cling onto a hope similar to mine- that is to convert the other party to the same faith. This is very evident in my home.

A huge wooden Buddha statue was placed in my not-very-big room, on it hung numerous pendants of idols. From the start, I knew better than to voice out my negative feelings towards the arrangement because my parents are very authoritative- being the traditional Chinese family. So I kept telling myself that “It is okay” but deep down in my heart I know this has shook my faith. It was just disturbing having to wake up seeing the statue and going to bed facing it too. What can I do but to pray?

During the Delirious? worship concert, everyone went forward to worship including me. The music was super loud, and I found myself soaked in the whole atmosphere. But God brought my mind back the situation at home; I started crying out to God. Taking advantage of the loud worship and music, it gave me courage to shout onto the Lord and ask Him to come and change things at home because I am so sick and tired of the constant. I told God I will not stop shouting unless He come and do something, anything in my home. Indeed, God did something.

After the end of conference, I received a message from my mum. It read 'When are you coming back? I've got a surprise for you in your room.' At first, it did not really appeal to me, in fact I started to reflect if I have done anything wrong, like “my phone-bill went out of hand again" or "I left my room in a mess this morning?". When I reached home, I immediately went to my table to look for any phone bill.

Surprisingly, there was none. It took me a few minutes to realize that my room was rearranged. And the big wooden Buddha statue was removed! It was removed without involving any fights or quarrels, but by mere grace, prayer and faith. I was so shocked and pleasantly surprised for I know this surprise came not from my mum, but from God. He answered my prayer! I did not shout in vain! I praise the Lord for everything He has done, from the bottom of my heart and I am sure He is doing something in each and every person's life, its only whether we want to let God or limit God.

Do not ever decide for God by limiting your faith or ceasing in prayer because He is the Almighty King!

Paulina, from Ps Evelyn’s tribe

Choosing to Believe

2009-03-22T14:56:00.000+08:00

It was a while back when my school released my cohort’s Industrial Attachment(IA) allocation. I was unfortunately allocated to semester 1, or rather, maybe this was God’s plan. I wanted to do my IA in second semester because I would like to participate in a particular sch program but doing this program in sem 1 was impossible due to various sch commitments. In terms of work in GB, sem 2 is also more ideal. Added on to that was several minor reasons.

I quickly sms-ed quite a number of my friends asking them if any of them wanted to change. I was rejected. It was difficult to change because even more wanted sem 2 IA than sem 1. During this time, I kept praying to ask God to let me find someone that I can swop with.
I’ve already done what I could have done physically. Then, there was a glimpse of hope that I thought I could change because my friend wanted to take a break from sch. My hopes went up. However he needed to get approval from the sch first, before he could swop his IA allocation with me. I was gittery as the deadline drew nearer and nearer. Prayed that the sch will approve his application so that I could take his IA slot. Deadline came, but still no news from the sch for his application.

I had gone to consult my prof on the IA and he said that I could don’t register for sem 1 IA, but that would mean I would not be allocated to sem 2 either. So I either had to bank on the school program that I wanted to go for, or source for my own IA which would be difficult. If all else fails, I had to do industrial orientation which wasn’t what i wanted.

Since the deadline had past, I started praying and asked God, then how? Do i take the risk of not registering for sem 1 and pray that God will help me to be accepted for the sch program? Before long, i totally forgot all about my IA and hence i also forgot to pray.

Recently, a sms caught me by surprise. A pleasant surprise asking if i wanted to still change my IA if prof allows. I was on cloud nine but tried to contain the joy for the fear that my hopes would be dashed once again if prof said that it was too late to change. Called my prof after our lesson and he said that we could still change but we need to send him our details. JOY is what described my mood that day.

Even when I forgot, God remembers me and my prayer.

My day ended late so by the time i got back to send him the email, my prof had probably left the office. I waited 1 day, 2 days for his email before someone mentioned that he was on leave for 10 days!!! I needed him to approve asap for fear that the letter from career office might come and this would mean i will no long be able to change my IA.

I tried checking my email several times a day hoping to receive a reply even while he was on leave. It was futile. I kept praying that the letter wouldn’t come. I started to doubt too. Then it dawned on me that why am i so panicky over this matter when its a blessing that God has given me? There shouldnt be any reason to. I started to claim victory over this issue by
faith!
It was also by God’s planning that pastor preached about doubts during the time of waiting. Some may say its by coincidence but I choose to believe this is God’s planning.

The 10 long days of waiting finally came! My IA allocation change to sem 2 has been approved! God is my Answer.

We cant run or hide when God chooses to test us, but we can always turn to God in times of trial. Bless you to know that God remembers you even when you forget Him. He remembers your prayers even when you forget them. Prayer is powerful!

By Adeline Wee

Prayer Alert! - Pray for your friends studying in NUS, NTU, SMU & SIM!

2009-03-21T15:24:00.001+08:00

Mugging season opens. Term papers, projects, thesis deadlines to meet, examinations to be studying hard for.

1. Take a minute to pray for anyone you may know from the campuses or if you are undergoing a stressful time on campus, call your cell leader and ask him / her to pray for you.
2. Pray that the Lord lift away every burden and anxiety and that the students will experience God’s peace in their hearts in the next two months.

Philippians 4: 6 & 7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Open Letter to Ps Nina from Jhee

2009-03-20T14:41:00.008+08:00

Hello Ps Nina,

Firstly, I want to thank you for speaking into my life at this Conference. I saw in you a life example of FAITHFULNESS and OBEDIENCE to the Lord. You did this by just standing up to speak, on platform, despite the obstacles you have to face personally, and that to me was a great learning point. You have demonstrated FAITHFULNESS and OBEDIENCE.

I did not just see that from the words you spoke, but from a LIFE that demonstrated it.

Secondly, I am very proud of you as the Spiritual Mother of this church. Many times it was said, on pulpit, that you have and will release women into the ministry. I want to add on to that, I believe that you have released MEN into believing in God, to top us up in our weaknesses.

My spirit is changed. I may be doing the same thing, but now with GREATER depth of faith.

Thirdly, I processed with some of my cells about my learning (not cognitive learning but more affective), when you stood up to speak, many shared that they felt the same way too. There are many who are impacted by the fact that you stood up to speak.

I pray that this would encourage you - when you speak, you demonstrate a life submitted to the Lord. That speaks to me POWERFULLY.

Thank you Pastor, and may God continue to use you mightily. :)

Hee Jhee (red t-shirt in photo above)
Ps Eugene Seow's 12

15th March Sermon Discussion - "Living in God's Divine Purpose"

2009-03-19T14:11:00.003+08:00

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:7-9 & Ephesians 2:10

1. Share 1 thing (item, song, card, etc) that you have “created” that you were really proud of. Explain why you were so proud of it.

Read aloud Genesis 2:7-9 and Ephesians 2:10.

Go around to at least 5 persons and say, “I am God’s workmanship, I am happy to be me!”

2. To live in God’s purpose, we must first recognize that we are God’s Workmanship

Read again Eph 2:10. What does this passage tell us about the purpose that God created us for?

Share with one another the good works that you think God has prepared for you in advance to do.

3. Discover the Garden of Blessing

Before sin came into the world, the Garden of Eden was a garden of blessing.

Do you know that God has given you every blessing you need to live in His purpose?
See Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

What is one spiritual blessing that you need today, share it and pray for one another?

Taking the I M out of the IMpossible

2009-03-12T10:37:00.006+08:00

In every journey of life all have our milestones to climb, giants to kill, storms to face. Having so much to say, so much thanks to give. Here is my account how Christ has brought me through all. Bearing witness that this is My God...

With a tendency enjoying tough challenges, I took up the possibly the ultimate physical endeavor ever and thats the Ironman Triathlon last year. 3.8km Swim 180km Bike 42km Run. Its a race that test your limits, stretches your body and mind. With a reason, desire and my God, I beat my body, disciplined in not just training, but also to love, hope, trust more. My journey wasn't just a personal thing but one that was connected to the community and the people I love.

At the age of 18, I wanted to be among the youngest Ironman in the country. But on 23 Feb 2008, at Langkawi Ironman, I raced my hearts out and it almost came out literally. My kidney failed, as high potassium in my body. Leaving me to puke 12 times and came close to heart attack. I was asked to give up and I did. It hurt more to stop than to keep going. But as those words left my lips, Christ caught me in his arms and held my heart. It was so intense that I know He's closer than I think, He's with me, He's not some theological concept or a belief but its the real deal.

Coming back discouraged and broken, it was painful to even give thanks. But as I pour out my heart, I remembered that I am to give thanks in all circumstances and not for all circumstances. I grew grateful, strong and know the best is yet to be.

Being diagnosed with Bronchospasm, a breathing disorder, having exams one day before the race, fear, past defeats were just a few of the things against me. If impossible could get more difficult this was it. Sometimes in life we do not need a guarantee but just an assurance that He is with us. I once again embrace the truth and build myself up not just to be an Ironman by name but by spirit. Having that steel within. Being a man of resilience and strong character. To conquer fears and discouragement. I learnt that strong character is never given, but always forged. Heated and hammered in challenges of life. Growing in deep dependence of Him. I committed to race with open hands, surrendering all expectations, pressure to someone whose faith and strength is more than me. How can I not let go? When someone stronger holds my fists.

Slowly it became not just another race but something so much more.

Finally, the day came. I slept little, realizing I forgot my goggles didn't help at all. I had to be discipline to let go of the anxiety because the way will be made. Its an insane mistake, but thank God He provides, I managed to borrow a goggles from a Japanese. Having high degree on both eyes, I couldn't see. But it was good enough to get the salt out of my eyes.

Conquering each loop of the bike, each turn on the run. Singing, talking to God, people, lifting my eyes to the hills, meditating Psalm 121. The focus I got into engaging with Him, the stronger I was, more certain and confident I was. As I reach to the point where I given up before, more fear came. It was an constant effort to let it go, to hope, to trust that He is my help, He will sustain me, He will protect me from harm. Holding fast onto his word and Him. We ran it together. Indeed, we have a God we can depend and NEVER fails.

With no one in front or the back. The finish was staged for me. Raising my heart speech and hands to the heavens. Committing it all to Him and the people I love. Finishing at 14 hrs 9 mins. I rejoiced in His name, truly my God with the name of I M (Exodus 14:3) has taken the IM out of the word IMpossible in the IronMan Triathlon (IM is the short form for Ironman). He qualified me to face the IMpossible and made it possible.

Looking forward for my next milestone in life as I grow from strength to strength.

Last thanks to Ming, Syl for being there for me. Sam, Sebas Teo and Pastor Yong Howe for advice and prayers. Josh Kwah for being my good all trusting brother, cell leader, mentor. Not to forget family and friends of their prayers. We did it.

by Sky Kwah

8th March Sermon Discussion - "The Spirit and The Blood"

2009-03-10T14:35:00.004+08:00

Hebrews 9:13-14

1. Warm Up: On a blank sheet of paper, draw pictures or images that come to your mind when you think of the Holy Spirit. Share with one another what those pictures or images mean to you.
2. Who is the Holy Spirit?
3. Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Review the 3 reasons from the sermon as to why the Holy Spirit is so important.

a) The Spirit of God illuminates God's perspective.
(John 16:13 The Spirit of God opens our eyes and helps us understand the reality of God's truth.)

b) The Spirit of God ignites God's passion
(Acts 2:1-4 The disciples of Jesus who were fearful of men and cowardly became courageous and God-fearing when the Spirit of God came upon them on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were set on fire for God. They began to speak in other tongues and Peter even preached the word of the Lord fearlessly and led the people to repent.)

c) The Spirit of God imparts God's power
(Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. Many sick were healed, those tormented by evil spirits were set free and more and more men and women believed in the Lord. These were all done through the power of the Holy Spirit.”)

Out of the 3 aspects of the Holy Spirit, which one do you need the most now in your life? Share with the group and minister to each other in the area that was shared.

4. As a cell group, what breakthroughs or miracles can we trust God for together? Let's pray together in anticipation for this to take place.

1st March Sermon Discussion - “The Blood on the Table”

2009-03-03T15:16:00.003+08:00

What is one interesting present that you have received before? How did you feel and why?
Read 1 Cor 11:17-34 and state the 3 reasons why we take the Lord's Supper?
Are there relationships/activities in your cell group that do not represent the Body of Christ well? What would you do differently? Share and pray for one another.

Shining in Campus Superstar - Rachael Chang

2009-03-02T10:12:00.006+08:00

In this round when I got eliminated.. I really wanna thank God because he gave me peace in my heart. He touched my heart & took away my sadness...I thought I would feel sad or down but in fact I never felt any pain.

All I would like to say is that I let everyone down.. but it's ok.. God gave me the confidence & motivation to do my best in the revival round..

I will do whatever it takes & do my utmost.

Anyway, I wanna thank Mamag, Shiying..JWSS school mates... Colin, last year's classmates.. and dorothy for all the never ending support & presense for my rounds through this whole thing..

I will not let all of them down & those that voted for me at home too..

Thank you so much..

I hope you'll will await to hear my improvement & my revival round song..

I will do it for the glory of God, my mum.. all my supporters & myself !

Catch Rachael in the "Revival Round" on Campus SuperStar on Channel U, TONIGHT @ 8:00pm. Vote for her too @ http://css2009.mediacorptv.sg/

Photo source: http://rachaelfc.blogspot.com/(Rachael's Fan Club Blog)

With Jesus, my life has so much more meaning!

2009-03-02T08:10:00.001+08:00

Before I trusted Christ, even though I was born in a Christian family, I did not know anything about Christ. When I was little, my parents did mention to me about the story of Jesus. Being small then, I was not very interested about it. I kept wondering 'Why do I need Jesus in my life?'; I thought that as long as I maintained a good attitude in life and did well in my studies, that was all I needed. But I was wrong.

My friend Yan Zhi invited me to his church (FCBC) in 2008. At first I hesitated because I remembered going to my first church and feeling not too belonging there. After much consideration, I attended FCBC's service and followed the pastor in saying the sinner's prayer for the first time in my life. Continuing to attend service with my cell, I even went for the Encounter Weekend with a few sisters. Never had I known so much about Jesus and God's truth and allowed Him to work so powerfully in my life. I began to better understand that sin had separated me from God and the victorious life He has for me.

God continued to shine light into the areas of my life that He wanted to work in - many of which I never thought were important to change. But they have been very important to Jesus all these while! I thank God that He never lets go of me all these years. After knowing Jesus in a deeper way and belonging to a family of God, I have learnt how to forgive people, like how Jesus had forgiven me of my sins. I also became more confident of myself and do not feel overly worried about my problems anymore. My relationships with my family and friends have improved a lot too. With Jesus with me, my life has had so much more meaning.

Have these ever happened in your life? :)

Cassandra Lee
(Testimony dated 27th February 2009)