New Year 2018

Start of another year ...

Christmas message from the Pope

From Pope Francis:

"Christmas is usually a noisy party: we could use a bit of silence, to hear the voice of Love."

Christmas is you, when you decide to be born again each day and let God into your soul. 

The Christmas pine is you, when you resist vigorous winds and difficulties of life. 

The Christmas decorations are you, when your virtues are colors that adorn your life. 

The Christmas bell is you, when you call, gather and seek to unite. 

You are also a Christmas light, when you illuminate with your life the path of others with kindness, patience, joy and generosity. 

The Christmas angels are you, when you sing to the world a message of peace, justice and love. 

The Christmas star is you, when you lead someone to meet the Lord. 

You are also the wise men, when you give the best you have no matter who. 

Christmas music is you when you conquer the harmony within you. 

The Christmas gift is you, when you are truly friend and brother of every human being. 

The Christmas card is you, when kindness is written in your hands. 

The Christmas greeting is you, when you forgive and reestablish peace, even when you suffer. 

The Christmas dinner is you, when you sated bread and hope to the poor man who is by your side. 

You are, yes, Christmas night, when humble and conscious, you receive in the silence of the night the Savior of the world without noise or great celebrations; you are a smile of trust and tenderness, in the inner peace of a perennial Christmas that establishes the Kingdom within you. 

A very Merry Christmas for all those who look like Christmas.

Pope Francis

Romans 1

Read today

BSF Grandsharing (7 Nov 17)

GMs attending: Alvin, Chee Yong, Christopher & Mun Fong

Sharing:

God is in control and is sovereign 

John’s gospel focus is LOVE

Walk the walk ... not just the talk

Power of God .... miracles

Love of God

Jesus is the vine

Humility of God ... washing feet of disciples

Serve others

Peter’s denial .... resurrected Jesus asked him to feed my sheep ... love others

Follow me! Was Jesus’ call to follow and obedience 

Pure and unconditional love of God

Personal relationship with Jesus .... leads to eternal life

Life vs Death

Light vs Darkness

Truth vs Lies

Freedom vs Bondage (of sin)

Love vs Wrath .... which path and gate are you taking

Why share the gospel?

Origin + Meaning + Morality + Hope

Jesus is the river of life .... whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst

Who is Jesus Christ? 

Lay down life for Jesus ... Peter’s arrogance ....

Life is use by God to teach me

Failure is God’s teaching process ... turns me to His word .... speaks to me directly

Learn contentment not comparison 

Don’t dwell on pass sins .... dead and buried ... move on and leave it behind

Learn from past, to live for the present and look forward to the future

Trust in God

How God sees us through issues and challenges

Love of God and Jesus ... how he can die for us

Humility and servanthood

Love the Lord .... means to act .... feed His sheep

Abide in Jesus and He abides in me

Gives me peace

Keep life simple .... for me to be on the side of God .... no matter what season of life .... whatever circumstances I face

Power of Jesus ... His love to touch life of others

Jesus is my Shepherd .... never leaves you alone

Fish on the right side of the boat ... listen to His calling and direction

Love Jesus by action .... not just head knowledge

—�—�—�—�

John’s gospel documents turning points .... each pointing to who is Jesus

John 20:21 .... He is the Messiah .... all who believe in Him .... has life to the full

Requires a response to this message

Focus is on Jesus .... are you focused instead in the world?

Are you falling behind and overwhelmed by the rat race?

Principle: God’s people are to focus on Jesus and Faithfully follow Him

Develop and maintain a relationship with Jesus to live life to the full ....

Remain in the vine .... bear much fruit

Receive Joy .... joy is complete .... God’s wish and concern is for us to have joy

Friends of Jesus and God ..... 

See our prayers answered ... asked in His name ... what we want is what he wants too ... so focus on Him

Living without Christ is difficult.... see instead beauty of life when He is present in your life

Learn to listen to and listen for God

BSF Lesson 29 - John 21

BSF Lesson 29 

Christ Commission - John 21 (31 Oct 2017)

Aim: Jesus works to accomplish His unique purposes for each believer

1. Jesus’ way to fish (John 21:1-14)

Principle 1: Jesus is the source of our success

2. Jesus’ way to shepherd (John 21:15-17)

Principle 2: Jesus disciplines and restores His people to fruitful service

3. The focus is Jesus (John 21:18-25)

Principle 3: God’s people are to focus on Jesus and faithfully follow Him

BSF Lesson 28 (25 Oct 2017)

BSF Lesson 28

Jesus’ Resurrection - John 20:1-31

Qn: What is life?

Aim: Belief in Jesus’ bodily Resurrection is the gateway to living life to the full.

1. John Believed (John 20:1-9)

Principle 1: God provides enough evidence to believe Jesus is resurrected

2. Mary Believed (John 20:10-18)

Principle 2: Belief in Jesus’ bodily resurrection leads to a new relationship 

3. The Disciples & Thomas Believed (John 20:19-31)

Principle 3: Honest doubts can lead to full faith

BSF Lesson 27 (17th Oct 2017)

Jesus’ Death & Burial (John 19:31-42)

Aim: Jesus’ Death and Burial fulfils God’s redemptive promise of salvation.

1. Jesus’ Death (John 19:31-37)

Principle 1: Jesus’ death on the cross perfectly fulfilled prophecies

2. Jesus’ Burial (John 19:38-42)

Principle 2: believers participate in Jesus’ burial by burying their old way of lives

Have you buried your old way of life? 

Pride, selfishness, self interest and self sufficiency ... only then can your new life in Christ be lived

First step to eternal life is to die ... die to old self ... no matter how costly to have spiritual gains. May we trust you and your plans for each of us ...

BSF Retreat - Pictures

BSF Lesson 26

BSF Lesson 26: 

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (John 19:18-30)

Aim: for our salvation is purchased by Jesus' suffering on the cross

1. Jesus bore our sins on the cross (John 19:18-22)

Principle 1: Our sins are placed on Jesus and nailed to the Cross

God's attribute: He is incomprehensible .... we can know Him via His Word and through the Holy Spirit

2. Jesus' sufferings on the cross (John 19:23-27)

Doctrine: Redemption

Purchased us by His blood

Purchased us from market place of sin .... free to live, love and serve Him and his people

Live as Christ possession

Not alive as we please

Live as Christ's priceless possession

Principle 2: Jesus suffered & died so that believers can stand before God without shame

3. Jesus' triumph on the cross (John 19:28-30)

Principle 3: Jesus triumphant death on the cross opens the way to God

Temple curtain torn apart 

Miracle that cannot be done by man

To be indifferent to God's invitation .. .. Is the worst sin of all

BSF Retreat - Day 2 General Session 2

BSF - General session

30Sep2017

Christ, the Solution to Identity

1. Identity in Christ (Col 2:6-15)

Principle 1: The spiritually fit find their identity in Christ alone.

It is not your title that makes you spiritually mature ... but it is driven by your relationship with Jesus

Your identity is from Jesus

2. Identity theft (Col2:16-23)

Principle 2: Hollow routines, rules and experiences produces shallow spirituality.

3. Identity guaranteed (Col3:1-4)

Principle 3: The spiritually mature set their affections in glory.

BSF Retreat - Day 2 General Session

BSF Day 2

30 Sep 2017

Christ Magnified Matures His People

Susie Rowan

Aim: Christ magnified matures his people

Strain for spiritual gain in others (Col 1:24-2:5)

Principle 1: Spirit-filled strain yields spiritual gain.

No strain ... No gain

*************

BRIDGE

B - build

R - reach

I - innovate ... our technology

D - develop ... SDGs

G - ground everything in doctrinal integrity and fidelity 

E - enhance the brand

BSF Retreat - Day 1 General Session

BSF Retreat 29 Sep 2017

What is Spiritual fitness?

Christ, the Person of Perfection

1. God the father, perfecter of maturity (Col 1:1-4)

Principle 1: God the Father answers our prayers for spiritual wisdom and strength

2. God the Son, the perfection of maturity (Col 1:15-23)

Source of spiritual maturity = Jesus Christ

Principle 2: Christ is the quintessence of spiritual fitness

Jesus - most perfect embodiment of ... our spiritual fitness

Theme song: O Great God be Glorified

BSF Retreat - Day 3 General Session

BSF Retreat - General Session

1 Oct 2017

Susie Rowan

Jesus is all you need for spiritual maturity

1. Spiritual maturity through repentance (Col3:1-17)

Principle 1: Spiritual maturity thrives when you love Jesus more than sin & self

2. Spiritual maturity at home and work (Col3:18-4:1)

Principle 2: Spiritual maturity grows in and through home and work.

3. Spiritual maturity in ministry Community (Col4:2-18)

Principle 3: Spiritual maturity flourishes in a ministry community

BSF Retreat Reflections - Day 3

Silent retreat - 2 Hrs with God

A conversation with God about Spiritual Fitness

1. Discovering Spiritual Maturity 

- be thankful & prayerful 

- be Christ-centered

Truth: The spiritually fit know Christ is all they need for spiritual maturity 

2. Magnifying God and Maturing His People

Truth: The spiritually fit labour to present everyone mature in Christ 

3. Assuring & Securing Identity

Truth: The spiritually fit find identity in Christ Jesus

4. Building Spiritual Muscle

BSF Lesson 24

Jesus' Arrest and the Jewish Trials (John 18:1-27)

Aim: Christ voluntarily suffered to fulfil God's plan

 1. Jesus' Arrested (John18:1-12)

Principle 1: Jesus is Lord over every situation

 2. Jesus Tried & Peter's Denied (John 18:13-27)

Principle 2: Jesus' love is greater than our weakness

BSF Lesson 25

From Pilate to the Cross (John 18:28-19:17)

Aim: God always achieves His purposes yet holds us responsible for our choices.

 1. Pilates faces truth (John18:28-38)

Principle 1: Jesus' testimony of truth demands a response 

2. Pilates rejects truth (John18:39-19:12)

Principle 2: Rejecting Jesus' testimony of truth leads to a downward spiral of sin 

3. Pilates crucifies truth (John19:13-17)

Principle 3: Evil cannot stop God's plan.

Proverbs 3:5-6

BSF Retreat

Day 1 (Fri)

BSF Lesson23

John 17: Jesus Prays for Those Who Belong to Him

Aim: Jesus treasures the people God gives Him

1. Jesus Glorified (John 17:1-5)

Principle 1: eternal life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

2. Disciples sanctified (John 17: 6-19)

Principle 2: Believers are God's gift to Jesus Christ who treasures them

3. Believers unified (John 17:20-26)

Principle 3:  Unity and love provide a powerful witness for Jesus Christ 

BSF Lesson22

BSF Lesson 21 - 29 Aug 2017

The Holy Spirit's Ministry (John 16:5-33)

Aim: the HS works to accomplish God's purposes in the lives of people.

1. The Promised Spirit (John 16:5-15)

Principle 1: HS guides believers into all the truth to glorify Jesus 

2. The Promised Victory  (John 16: 16-33)

Principle 2: Jesus victory in overcoming the world guarantees our peace and joy.

VerseOfDay

VerseOfDay

Fruits of the Spirit

BSF Lesson21

BSF Lesson 21 - Christian Certainty - The Letter of 1 John

 

Aim: Assurance of fellowship with God & eternal life rest on God's love & truth

1. Fellowship with God is Possible (1 John 1:1-2:2)

Principle 1: Fellowship with God begins with following Jesus Christ

 

2. Fellowship with God can be tested (1 John 2:3-5:17)

Principle 2: Fellowship with God comes from living a life truthfully following Jesus Christ 

3. Fellowship with God is certain (1 John 5:18-21)

Principle 3: Fellowship with God is certain when we abide in Jesus Christ 

BSF Lesson20

BSF Lesson 20:

Union with Christ (John 15:1-16:4)

Aim: Jesus expects believers to bear fruit that lasts

1. Jesus' followers bear fruit (John 15:1-11)

Principle 1: Jesus' true followers bear much fruit when they remain in Him

2. Jesus' followers love one another (John 15:12-17)

Principle 2: Jesus commands all true followers to love others just as He loves them.

3. Jesus' followers can expect persecution (John 15:18-16:4)

Principle 3: The more one is like Christ, the more one can expect persecution from the world

VerseOfDay

BSF Lesson18

Jesus announces His departure & return - John 13:31-14:14

Aim: Jesus is God, whom we can trust with our present & future

1. Love as Jesus Loves (John 13:31-38)

Principle 1: Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He loves us

 

2. Follow as Jesus Leads (John 14:1-8)

Principle 2: A relationship with Jesus is the only way to true life

 

3. Believe and ask in Jesus name  (John 14:9-14)

Principle 3: : When we ask anything to glorify God in Jesus’ name, He will do it

BSF Lesson19

BSF Lesson 19

Jesus' Promise of he Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31

8 Aug 2017

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Aim: Believers who loves Jesus Christ have His Spirit live in them forever!

1. Jesus spirit lives in believers (John 14:15-20)

Principle 1: Jesus' Spirit lives in all believers who love Him

2. Jesus' spirit teaches believers (John 14:21-26)

Principle 2: the Holy Spirit teaches all things and empowers godly living

3.  Jesus' spirit gives peace to believers (John 14:27-31)

Principle 3: the peace that Jesus gives overcomes even the darkest of circumstances 

SadhuSundarSingh

JimElliot Quote