Snippet of Sermon by Prof Lionel Lee:
This sermon is not going to be it critique of mega churches which have developed very successful congregations and worship services. I wish to speak out against consumerism trends of choosing churches and prevailing preferences of the minds... Reach reported that one out of 7 adults change churches. 1 out of 6 go on a rotation, participate generation x service and go to another church for Sunday school. Churches are like consumer products for people like selecting which church has my favorite styles, which speaker makes me feel good, which church have child care, nursery rooms etc. Many Christians making an important life choice based on these attractions instead of genuine ministry and growth factors.
What happened to the quality of the church the bible speaks of? What of the koinonia (Greek word) that is translated "church or congregation"? We used to look at our church relations the way we viewed commitment: life long membership, faithfulness. Unknowingly the value of the church has dropped from such lofty ideals. These modern trends are difficult to overcome as it hits society.
We need to introduce the concept of koinonia back into our vocabulary, communion or community, inter-participation with each other where people share many things in common. Someone shared this, "In this very modern individualistic society, you can share when you have nothing. It becomes difficult to share when we have everything." The bible still describes the church as a living body, working together to glorify god. Koinonia a sharing people, an engaged, totally committed not afraid to live lives of interdependence with each other. People who are not afraid to share joys and pains, common interest and goal, giving to each other and giving for others within and without.
What can Charis Methodist do about this trend of people deciding about churches in a consumeristic way? I would like to suggest by enhancing the koinonia spirit of the church. There are 3 ways where this spirit can be exemplified. We need to rebuild the community strength, support, service. Heb 10: let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because he who promise is faithful.... Consider how to spur one another to love and good deeds.
1. V 22 Community strength: Link up to God. Does it strengthen your relationship with God? Sin has placed a no entry sign into this holy place. our relationship is a restored relationship. The church should help strengthen that Christian relationship with God. The gift of holiness can equally attract others not just healing power, J I Packer, in his book "Rediscovering holiness" commented that what we hear mainly preached and taught these days is not holiness, but success and positive feelings, freedom of happy families. What we value in our teachers and top people behind money backed enterprises are not their holiness but their skills and gifts and resources. The restored relationship is not a switched-on and switch-off phenomenon, it's always thickening as we start. It's a relationship that grows, it's not only individualistic, but communal. Faith grows in us, the broader community. You start off but you grow in bounds because others polish you up. First let us link us to God.
2. Community support v23: look upwards to heaven: does the church support you in difficult times? Does the church strengthen your relationship with God, support you in difficult times? These difficulties often swerve off course in our lives... Of course, it is easy to think of giving up when you have received a heartache or an unkind word from the pulpit. Life was never meant to be easy, our faithfulness and the promise of blessings from Christ do not shelter us from the hard knocks of life. 1 Peter 4 to expect suffering not just health and wealth. Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Remember those early days when you have received the light, you've endured.... Sometimes you're publicly exposed to insult, you stood side by side with those who were so suffering . It is difficult to suffer alone. When we suffer, God offers us his loving presence and when we allow him to walk with us, suffering is redemptive, it changes us, it helps us become more holy. He uses them to make us like him and gives depth and brings new life in us. Th church is not about the quality of worship or programs, it is about the people the community spirit, all the people inside. I have every confidence that as and when I should be in trouble, the people here in Charis MC will drop everything in order that they may come out and help me. Such support structures take a very long time to build. It will be foolish to throw it all up so that I can hear good sermons and enjoy wonderful singing.
3. Community service v25 does the church engage you? How do we treat coming to church? We do the "me" thing in church just like the way we would head for a petrol station. We come into the church and refill our spiritual tank then we leave. We go at it as a largely individual activity, we move on. Many of prefer to read emails than hear each other through the telephone because we don't want to know someone else's emotions behind the words. We are increasingly isolated in this mordern world. Many of us enjoy the impersonalism of a big church, we don't want to be known. We simply disappear in the crowd and it works for us because closeness brings us the danger of hurting each other and ourselves. But koinonia forces us to break down barriers to become vulnerable to each other by our active interaction with each other. In Koinonia, we need to learn to mend broken relationships. There is yet more, that the people not only connect but that they may spur each other to good deeds. v 24 Methodist history relates how slavery came to be abolished. It was through men like Wilberforce and Lincoln, men with the koinonia spirit, introducing the new social conscience that corrected many injustices in their society.
When you stay in the Methodist Church, you are part of a larger heritage. Today, this vision continues in the Methodist church through MWS and MMS. There ain't no perfect church in town, the church is a building still under construction and most building stay under construction until the last stage. It looks dirty and dusty all the time. But the complete project is going to be different.
There's a church in Barcelona, Spain, the Sangrada Familia, (Church of the Holy Family) which has not been completed. And when asked what's taking them so long, the reply was, "The patron of this project is not in a hurry! " Our imperfections should be recognized and accepted. Instead of finding the perfect church, let's patient to wait upon the Lord - He's not done with us yet!
Reflection Questions:
1. What can you say to a young person in Charis MC who is contemplating leaving for a mega church?
2. What can you do to build the Koinonia spirit in Charis MC?
3. How can you live with the imperfections of the church without losing God's vision of that beautiful bride that he will welcome at the last day?
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
VOICES FROM THE PEWS: THE VALUE OF SCRIPTURE (2 TIM 3:14-17)
Snippet of Sermon by Mr Lim K Tham
1. V 15 Scripture makes us wise for salvation. John 20:31 tells us that the 1 aim of scripture is to help readers know God. We live in a time where Christian activities to evangelize others, even tracts are unwelcome. Evangelism in the early church was via the use of Scripture and nothing else. It was said that the gospel stood out in the way the speaker appealed to Scripture e.g. Peter, Stephen and Paul's use of Scripture. In one study about evangelism, it was found that people were converted to the Christian faith due to two factors:
2. V16 It is profitable for teaching (what is right), for reprove (what is not right), for correction (how to get it right), for training in righteousness (how to stay right). The usefulness of Scripture is when creed (beliefs) and our conduct are married together. Bible was not given for our information but for our TRANSFORMATION. What we believe must be backed by conduct. The speaker referred to recent article by David Brooks that sparked a debate (david-brooks-moral-diet.html). In the artcile, he mentioned that in the 1970s, the gift shop at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was an informal affair. It was staffed by about 300 mostly elderly volunteers, and there were cash drawers instead of registers. The problem was that of the shop’s $400,000 in annual revenue, somebody was stealing $150,000.
The writer of the article also had one blind colleague and one sighted colleague take taxi rides. The drivers cheated the sighted colleague by taking long routes much more often than they cheated the blind one, even though she would have been easier to mislead. They would have felt guilty cheating a blind woman.
"... these days, people are more likely to believe in their essential goodness. People who live by the Good Person Construct try to balance their virtuous self-image with their selfish desires. They try to manage the moral plusses and minuses and keep their overall record in positive territory. In this construct, moral life is more like dieting: I give myself permission to have a few cookies because I had salads for lunch and dinner. I give myself permission to cheat a little because, when I look at my overall life, I see that I’m still a good person." What the Bible tells us is that we need some interior moral standard. Are you bothered by the spiritual nominalism? Do we want to grow in holiness?
3. V17 It equips people to do good works. The study and reading of scripture must never be simply for our own salvation only. It should be more than defending the faith. Ultimately it is for equipping believers to please God and to do the work God wants him/her to do. We are all called to serve. Here, the author uses an old title reserved for prophets in the Old Testament, "the man of God" although it is used in a general way here to place the responsibility on all of us to be worthy of that title. We must be fully equipped for good works and this equipping is only found in the word of God.
CONCLUSION: 3 REASONS FOR VALUING SCRIPTURES.
1. V 15 Scripture makes us wise for salvation. John 20:31 tells us that the 1 aim of scripture is to help readers know God. We live in a time where Christian activities to evangelize others, even tracts are unwelcome. Evangelism in the early church was via the use of Scripture and nothing else. It was said that the gospel stood out in the way the speaker appealed to Scripture e.g. Peter, Stephen and Paul's use of Scripture. In one study about evangelism, it was found that people were converted to the Christian faith due to two factors:
- The reading of the Bible
- The lifestyle of the Christians.
2. V16 It is profitable for teaching (what is right), for reprove (what is not right), for correction (how to get it right), for training in righteousness (how to stay right). The usefulness of Scripture is when creed (beliefs) and our conduct are married together. Bible was not given for our information but for our TRANSFORMATION. What we believe must be backed by conduct. The speaker referred to recent article by David Brooks that sparked a debate (david-brooks-moral-diet.html). In the artcile, he mentioned that in the 1970s, the gift shop at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was an informal affair. It was staffed by about 300 mostly elderly volunteers, and there were cash drawers instead of registers. The problem was that of the shop’s $400,000 in annual revenue, somebody was stealing $150,000.
Dan Weiss,
the gift shop manager at the time who is now the president of Lafayette College,
investigated. He discovered that there wasn’t one big embezzler. Bunches of
people were stealing. Dozens of elderly art lovers were each pilfering a little.
The writer of the article also had one blind colleague and one sighted colleague take taxi rides. The drivers cheated the sighted colleague by taking long routes much more often than they cheated the blind one, even though she would have been easier to mislead. They would have felt guilty cheating a blind woman.
"... these days, people are more likely to believe in their essential goodness. People who live by the Good Person Construct try to balance their virtuous self-image with their selfish desires. They try to manage the moral plusses and minuses and keep their overall record in positive territory. In this construct, moral life is more like dieting: I give myself permission to have a few cookies because I had salads for lunch and dinner. I give myself permission to cheat a little because, when I look at my overall life, I see that I’m still a good person." What the Bible tells us is that we need some interior moral standard. Are you bothered by the spiritual nominalism? Do we want to grow in holiness?
3. V17 It equips people to do good works. The study and reading of scripture must never be simply for our own salvation only. It should be more than defending the faith. Ultimately it is for equipping believers to please God and to do the work God wants him/her to do. We are all called to serve. Here, the author uses an old title reserved for prophets in the Old Testament, "the man of God" although it is used in a general way here to place the responsibility on all of us to be worthy of that title. We must be fully equipped for good works and this equipping is only found in the word of God.
CONCLUSION: 3 REASONS FOR VALUING SCRIPTURES.
- Wisdom for Salvation. No other literature can do it, not even tracts. It is important than to give Scripture away.
- Profitable for teaching and instruction. We need to read and study it and let our conduct be consistent with our creed.
- Bring us to maturity as man and woman of God, equipped for good works!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Why Am I A Methodist? Social Holiness (Matt 5:13-16)
Snippet of Sermon by Rev Dr Daniel Koh
In several of his hymns, John Wesley mentioned that there is no holiness but social holiness. There is no isolated believer. On top of works of piety, he believers that personal redemption includes works of mercy, attending to the poor and the powerless. While he was still in Oxford with his brother, they regularly visited the prison as part of their spiritual discipline. In "Use of Money" sermon, he mentioned a few times how important it is "to earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." He gave clear lessons on how our lives may affect our response to God's word and concerns for the welfare of th epoor. He shared tht we are not licenced to enrich ourselves and be consumed by material pursuits. There are standards that we have to follow. When he says, "Save all you can", he is not advocating that we store up treasures for ourselves to gain admiration for ourselves.
"Give all you can" part of his admonition is hard for Singaporeans to follow especially when we often feel that "Money no enough!" for personal use. It is important to critically examine and assess what is happening in the world at large and not simply buy into the ideology of our day. John Wesley kept 28 pounds for his own expenses and gave the rest of his pay packet away. He continued this practice even when his salary was increased over time. For so many of us, it is so easy to spend more on ourselves when we have more.
He saw how many people were continually poor and powerless because of the structural limitations in his society. He was anxious that to bring long term changes society, to the prison inmates so that they can come out of their poverty. He spent his life-time establishing schools to build the character of poor children. His dream was to see a multi-functional society where all have learnt to read the Bible for themselves.
We need to get ourselves acquainted with our Methodist beliefs and not gloss over or neglect to draw lessons on how to practise social holiness. We are spiritually deformed if we live our faith for our personal benefit and see only the private side to our redemption.
His faith and understanding is biblical, wholesome and social. We are invited to follow in his footsteps to reach out to the poor and the powerless in Singapore and practise social holiness. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
In several of his hymns, John Wesley mentioned that there is no holiness but social holiness. There is no isolated believer. On top of works of piety, he believers that personal redemption includes works of mercy, attending to the poor and the powerless. While he was still in Oxford with his brother, they regularly visited the prison as part of their spiritual discipline. In "Use of Money" sermon, he mentioned a few times how important it is "to earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." He gave clear lessons on how our lives may affect our response to God's word and concerns for the welfare of th epoor. He shared tht we are not licenced to enrich ourselves and be consumed by material pursuits. There are standards that we have to follow. When he says, "Save all you can", he is not advocating that we store up treasures for ourselves to gain admiration for ourselves.
"Give all you can" part of his admonition is hard for Singaporeans to follow especially when we often feel that "Money no enough!" for personal use. It is important to critically examine and assess what is happening in the world at large and not simply buy into the ideology of our day. John Wesley kept 28 pounds for his own expenses and gave the rest of his pay packet away. He continued this practice even when his salary was increased over time. For so many of us, it is so easy to spend more on ourselves when we have more.
He saw how many people were continually poor and powerless because of the structural limitations in his society. He was anxious that to bring long term changes society, to the prison inmates so that they can come out of their poverty. He spent his life-time establishing schools to build the character of poor children. His dream was to see a multi-functional society where all have learnt to read the Bible for themselves.
We need to get ourselves acquainted with our Methodist beliefs and not gloss over or neglect to draw lessons on how to practise social holiness. We are spiritually deformed if we live our faith for our personal benefit and see only the private side to our redemption.
His faith and understanding is biblical, wholesome and social. We are invited to follow in his footsteps to reach out to the poor and the powerless in Singapore and practise social holiness. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Monday, June 4, 2012
Guidance: When Christians Disagree (Acts 15:36-41)
Snippet of Sermon by Mr Lim Chin Leng
Do Christians disagree? Why? On this side of heaven, disagreement will be a part of our lives. The main characters in the account include, Paul the apostle to the Gentiles and Barnabas who is also known as Joseph from Cyprus. He has the other title of being the "Son of Encouragement". Both were highly respected and Barnabas was the one who first took Paul under his wings in his early days as an apostle. They had gone on a mission together the first time with John Mark and the pair has always been referred to as Barnabas and Paul. But later on, Luke began to refer to them as Paul and Barnabas to signify a change of leadership. Paul increasingly became recognized as the Leader. After the first journey, there was the suggestion to re-visit the cities that they had gone to in their first trip. However, they could not agree about who they should bring along with them. John Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia earlier in Acts 13:30 probably because of the hardship and persecutions, he quitted. The sharp disagreement between the two led to a split and that was probably the last time we hear about John Mark and Barnabas in Acts. We are told then that Paul took Silas in his second missionary journey.
Conflicts abound when people work together. It happens even among the most godly leaders. As we work closely with one another, over time, we are bound to experience differences of opinion where we would offend and irritate each other. These differences bring us into conflicts with each other whether between husbands and wives, between different church members. The internal and external stresses that we encounter complicate matters and hinder our abilities to resolve our differences. And unresolved conflicts then stay that way, hindering our ability to work with each other.
It is important to recognize conflicts as a fact of life. They can become destructive only if we will let them develop on an unhealthy course. If only we can learn how to harness such times to draw us closer to each other.
The disagreements were described as being sharp, that means that it was a major clash of convictions about who will be involved. Perhaps heated words were exchanged causing them to be hostile to each other. Both parties refuse to back them. These could be disagreements about doctrines, styles of worship, women in leadership, whether one can drink alcohol? These can lead to conflicts with people who do not hold the same convictions as us.
Paul was concerned that the person on the team should be trustworthy and can be counted upon not to quit when things go bad. John Mark did not fit the bill as he had a lousy track record. After failing once, Barnabas felt that he needed another opportunity to renew himself. The result of the disagreement saw them splitting into two teams.
In all conflicts it is important to remember these 4 things that goes by these alphabets:
R-espect each other. Regard this person as a brother/sister in the Lord. Keep this in mind that "I may be wrong" and respond when another extends peace to us.
E-xpress: communicate and help eacah other express emotions appropriately without having to attack the other. This is better than keeping it in and exploding at another time.
L-isten: Ask the other to help us understand rather than choose to be used by others in the conflict.
C-larify: Did I understand you correctly? Is this the concern that you have?
On hindsight, the conflict ended well. The relationship between the two healed and they were able to go many more places. In the second missionary journey, Paul and Silas were both thrown into prison and they were able to praise God behind bars. We are not too sure how John Mark would have reacted under those circumstances. What we do know is that Barnabas brought John Mark to Cyprus and discipled him so well that when Paul was about to face death, he asked to have John Mark come alongside him in 2 Timothy. The man who was previously useless had become useful. Something changed. Paul was able to acknowledge it. A person's failure is not fatal or final when there are people who are matured who can bring out the best from him/her. It is to John Mark's credit that his gospel was the earliest of the 4 gospels to be circulated, documenting the life and ministry of Christ.
God is sovereign and he works through all. There is no excuse to say, 不爽就走。Is this the posture of our hearts? How do you want to respond? Do we want to miss the way God matures us and nurtures us through conflict? When Christians disagree, there are 4 important ways of carrying on with the ministry:
1. Pray for Guidance
2. Search the Scriptures, do not jump to conclusions.
3. Seek Godly counsel, people who are more experienced and insightful.
4. Ask for specific directions?
Do Christians disagree? Why? On this side of heaven, disagreement will be a part of our lives. The main characters in the account include, Paul the apostle to the Gentiles and Barnabas who is also known as Joseph from Cyprus. He has the other title of being the "Son of Encouragement". Both were highly respected and Barnabas was the one who first took Paul under his wings in his early days as an apostle. They had gone on a mission together the first time with John Mark and the pair has always been referred to as Barnabas and Paul. But later on, Luke began to refer to them as Paul and Barnabas to signify a change of leadership. Paul increasingly became recognized as the Leader. After the first journey, there was the suggestion to re-visit the cities that they had gone to in their first trip. However, they could not agree about who they should bring along with them. John Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia earlier in Acts 13:30 probably because of the hardship and persecutions, he quitted. The sharp disagreement between the two led to a split and that was probably the last time we hear about John Mark and Barnabas in Acts. We are told then that Paul took Silas in his second missionary journey.Conflicts abound when people work together. It happens even among the most godly leaders. As we work closely with one another, over time, we are bound to experience differences of opinion where we would offend and irritate each other. These differences bring us into conflicts with each other whether between husbands and wives, between different church members. The internal and external stresses that we encounter complicate matters and hinder our abilities to resolve our differences. And unresolved conflicts then stay that way, hindering our ability to work with each other.
It is important to recognize conflicts as a fact of life. They can become destructive only if we will let them develop on an unhealthy course. If only we can learn how to harness such times to draw us closer to each other.
The disagreements were described as being sharp, that means that it was a major clash of convictions about who will be involved. Perhaps heated words were exchanged causing them to be hostile to each other. Both parties refuse to back them. These could be disagreements about doctrines, styles of worship, women in leadership, whether one can drink alcohol? These can lead to conflicts with people who do not hold the same convictions as us.
Paul was concerned that the person on the team should be trustworthy and can be counted upon not to quit when things go bad. John Mark did not fit the bill as he had a lousy track record. After failing once, Barnabas felt that he needed another opportunity to renew himself. The result of the disagreement saw them splitting into two teams.
In all conflicts it is important to remember these 4 things that goes by these alphabets:
R-espect each other. Regard this person as a brother/sister in the Lord. Keep this in mind that "I may be wrong" and respond when another extends peace to us.
E-xpress: communicate and help eacah other express emotions appropriately without having to attack the other. This is better than keeping it in and exploding at another time.
L-isten: Ask the other to help us understand rather than choose to be used by others in the conflict.
C-larify: Did I understand you correctly? Is this the concern that you have?
On hindsight, the conflict ended well. The relationship between the two healed and they were able to go many more places. In the second missionary journey, Paul and Silas were both thrown into prison and they were able to praise God behind bars. We are not too sure how John Mark would have reacted under those circumstances. What we do know is that Barnabas brought John Mark to Cyprus and discipled him so well that when Paul was about to face death, he asked to have John Mark come alongside him in 2 Timothy. The man who was previously useless had become useful. Something changed. Paul was able to acknowledge it. A person's failure is not fatal or final when there are people who are matured who can bring out the best from him/her. It is to John Mark's credit that his gospel was the earliest of the 4 gospels to be circulated, documenting the life and ministry of Christ.
God is sovereign and he works through all. There is no excuse to say, 不爽就走。Is this the posture of our hearts? How do you want to respond? Do we want to miss the way God matures us and nurtures us through conflict? When Christians disagree, there are 4 important ways of carrying on with the ministry:
1. Pray for Guidance
2. Search the Scriptures, do not jump to conclusions.
3. Seek Godly counsel, people who are more experienced and insightful.
4. Ask for specific directions?
Guidance: Sense & Nonsense (Joshua 3:1-17; 4:24)
Snippet of Sermon by Mr Daren Lee
Following God's Will at times does not always make sense.
Stay in the river: Positive example of following God's guidance. The instructions do not make sense, key word: obedience.
Act 1: Taking the first step. The priests do not know the entire game plan in Joshua’s instructions. V4 They knew that they were to follow the ark which will go before them. But from V5 we learn that they do not know what is going to happen. The priests were simply told to stay in front of 2-3 million people, but what is going to be the way forward? It doesn't seem to make sense. Often we want 100% certainty that the proposal will be successful. We want to be certain before we move ahead. Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” A strong torch will be able to show the path ahead, but a lamp can only shine the next step.
Illustration from Alice in Wonderland: Alice asked the Cheshire Cat for direction: “Which way are we to go from here?” His answer, “It depends a great deal on where you want to go.” Alice answered, “I don't care, as long as I go.” The Cat wisely said, “Then it doesn't matter, any direction will make sense.” Today many people continue to ask today, “Please tell me where we can get into the centre of God's will?” God does not serve our purpose, but when He brings us across the river, we will have a bigger vision of God.
Joshua had the people stack stones by the banks of the Jordan as a
constant reminder to them of who their God is. The Awesome One. When faced with
the seeming nonsense of God's guidance, we are not just to know the future but
to know the One who is in front of us, but for knowing God deeper.
Reflection Questions:
Following God's Will at times does not always make sense.
Stay in the river: Positive example of following God's guidance. The instructions do not make sense, key word: obedience.
Act 1: Taking the first step. The priests do not know the entire game plan in Joshua’s instructions. V4 They knew that they were to follow the ark which will go before them. But from V5 we learn that they do not know what is going to happen. The priests were simply told to stay in front of 2-3 million people, but what is going to be the way forward? It doesn't seem to make sense. Often we want 100% certainty that the proposal will be successful. We want to be certain before we move ahead. Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” A strong torch will be able to show the path ahead, but a lamp can only shine the next step.
Principle: God guides us enough to take the first step. one step one step at a
time. If priests had not put it in their hearts to obey God, they
would not have crossed the Jordan that day. If we do not put it in our heart to
be obedient, we will not follow God. We need to obey and take the first step.
Act 2: The Game-plan is out: The priests were to step into the river before the water will stop. It can look like rubbish at its best. They could be wondering, “Are you sure God? At this flood stage? It’s going to be very scary. What if I fall, we will slip and fall and lose the ark in the raging waters.” The last time they crossed any body of water was under Moses’ leadership. All that Moses had to do was to raise the rod only. The sea bed was dry when he led the people through it. The priests could have asked, “Why ask me to get wet first?” Human condition: we often think that we know best. They were able to take the second step.
Act 2: The Game-plan is out: The priests were to step into the river before the water will stop. It can look like rubbish at its best. They could be wondering, “Are you sure God? At this flood stage? It’s going to be very scary. What if I fall, we will slip and fall and lose the ark in the raging waters.” The last time they crossed any body of water was under Moses’ leadership. All that Moses had to do was to raise the rod only. The sea bed was dry when he led the people through it. The priests could have asked, “Why ask me to get wet first?” Human condition: we often think that we know best. They were able to take the second step.
The higher principle they held on to was this: in order to take the
second step is this: God's ways are higher than our ways. In obedience, they
took the second step. What is going to happen next?
Act 3: Stay in the river. Many times we fail to how much stress the priests had to face. From V15 we know that the water did stop. The water piled up a great distance away, at a place called Adam, 16 miles (i.e. 24 km) away. Assuming that the water moved at 10 miles per hour it will take about 2 hours for the water to stop flowing. For the priests, this means that they will have to stay in the water for 2 hours while the question continue to turn in their heads, “Is it going to stop flowing? Am I going to die?” The priests needed to be obedient to stay in the river.
Act 3: Stay in the river. Many times we fail to how much stress the priests had to face. From V15 we know that the water did stop. The water piled up a great distance away, at a place called Adam, 16 miles (i.e. 24 km) away. Assuming that the water moved at 10 miles per hour it will take about 2 hours for the water to stop flowing. For the priests, this means that they will have to stay in the water for 2 hours while the question continue to turn in their heads, “Is it going to stop flowing? Am I going to die?” The priests needed to be obedient to stay in the river.
Principle: God has done the miracle but we cannot feel it yet. Our
knowledge is limited. When we step out in faith, at times, it feels like God
has played us out. But obedience will reap a mind blowing blessing that has
already begun. But because they stood in the river long enough, they
experienced the promise of God.
Reflection Question: Have you ever walked and
stepped out in faith and obedience?
Illustration from Alice in Wonderland: Alice asked the Cheshire Cat for direction: “Which way are we to go from here?” His answer, “It depends a great deal on where you want to go.” Alice answered, “I don't care, as long as I go.” The Cat wisely said, “Then it doesn't matter, any direction will make sense.” Today many people continue to ask today, “Please tell me where we can get into the centre of God's will?” God does not serve our purpose, but when He brings us across the river, we will have a bigger vision of God.
Joshua had the people stack stones by the banks of the Jordan as a
constant reminder to them of who their God is. The Awesome One. When faced with
the seeming nonsense of God's guidance, we are not just to know the future but
to know the One who is in front of us, but for knowing God deeper. Reflection Questions:
1. If you do not have a direction in your life: learn to follow God.
2. If you have taken a bold step of faith but it appears that things are
not working out, and you begin to doubt that God has played a terrible prank on
you, it’s not strange. God has not abandoned us.
For Jesus, the river was the cross. When Christ was on the cross, he
felt abandoned by God. God seems to have turned his back on him, he felt
totally quiet, God silent, it is at the moment when things are the darkest, and
god seemed to have forsaken me, he was in the center of God’s will. Because
Christ stood there, we are able to enjoy immense blessing. The blessing has
already begun.
WHY AM I A METHODIST? FAMILIAL HOLINESS (Prov 17:6; 23:13-14; 29:27; Deut 6:4-7)
Snippet of sermon by Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan
SERMON PROPER
The Methodist’s model for family holiness is
encapsulated in the practices experienced by John and Charles and their
siblings as they came under the authority of their mother Suzanna. John did not
have children by his wife, only a step son. There is very little mention of
Charles’ family life even though we were told he was happily married. So what
we do see in John Wesley and Charles and their siblings were on many accounts
the outcome of the strong Christian influence in their family. You might be
wondering why very little is mentioned of Samuel Wesley, their father. Samuel
was mostly on the move seeking out better pay in different offers to pastor
churches and other openings for ministry. At one point, he even left Suzanna
alone for an entire year because of differences in political views.
So we will take a closer look at the way Suzanna Wesley thought about her role as mother to her children. The aim of her parenting
is the salvation of their souls My basic purpose was "the saving of their souls." The salvation of their souls My basic purpose was "the saving of their souls."
In a letter to her husband dated Feb 6, 1711-1712, she wrote: “As I am a woman, so I am also mistress of a large family and through the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you; yet, in your absence, I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my care as a talent committed to me under a trust by the great Lord of all the families both of heaven and earth. And if I am unfaithful to Him or you in neglecting to improve these talents, how shall I answer unto Him, when He shall command me to render an account of my stewardship?... As these, and other such like thoughts, made me at first take a more than ordinary care of the souls of my children and servants, so – knowing our religion requires a strict observation of the Lord’s day, and not thinking that we fully answered the end of the institution by going to church unless we filled up the intermediate spaces of time by other acts of piety and devotion – I thought it my duty to spend some part of the day in reading to and instructing my family: and such time I esteemed spent in a way more acceptable to God than if I had retired to my own private devotions.”
Inspired by a true zeal for God’s glory, she planned to do somewhat more that she should by praying more for them and speaking to those that she often converse with greater warm of affection.
She resolved to begin this with her own children and observed the following method: “ I take such proportion of time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. ON Monday, I talk with Molly; on Tuesday with Hetty; Wednesday with Nancy; Thursday with Jacky; Friday, with Patty; Saturday, with Charles; and with Emily and Suky together on Sunday.
She methodized and arranged everything so exactly, that to each operation she had a time, and time sufficient to transact all the business of the family.
15. John Wesley
had "avoided" marriage with a couple of ladies in his college years
and with Sophy Hopkey in Georgia. They only stayed together for 17 years then she left. He became the founder of our Methodist Church.
Today, parents are under intense pressure more
than ever to turn out a good product. Many parents flagellate themselves when
they do not read enough or play enough with their kids, mindful of possible
long-term consequences. A huge industry
of kiddie gyms, kiddie concerts, parenting books and courses has evolved to
help parents produce bright sparks who will be a credit to them. Your choice of
tools exposes your priority as you hold this child in trust.
How have you set
out to set your children apart for the Lord? How have you set out to set your
family apart for the Lord?
Family holiness for Suzanna begins with establishing
God’s place in the lives of the children from day 1. For Suzanna, the saving of
the souls of the children was of utmost importance. That they were to
understand their duty to God and to their families: to live lives that glorify
the Lord.
Israel’s
rebellion was not caused by God’s failure as a Father. It resulted from their
wicked and foolish choices—and unhappily, they suffered the consequences of
God’s righteous judgment. Ponder now the truth that the Lord Himself
understands the sorrow of having a rebellious son and remember...you’re not
alone. In
the book of Ezekiel, God makes it clear that children are responsible for their
own choices. In a passage about righteous fathers who have wicked sons, God
speaks of personal responsibility and accountability:
“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—if he…walks in My
statutes, and keeps My rules by acting faithfully— he is righteous; he shall
surely live,” declares the LORD GOD. “If he fathers a son who is violent, a
shedder of blood, who does any of these things (though he himself did none of
these things).…he [the son] shall not live.…his blood shall be upon himself.” (Ezek. 18:5-6,
9-11,13)
INTRODUCTION
Parenting is always found to be a highly dynamic season of life.
Not only new parents find it a daunting task, but even those who may have had
half a dozen kids with some of them all grown up may attest to the challenge that
parenting entails. Christian parenting is no different, as the mere fact that
someone is Christian does not protect him or her from the challenges faced in
the home.
But how does Christian parenting differ from the way
that the world parents? After all, just about anyone can give his or her
children a good education, a roof over their heads, and enough food to eat. Is
it that Christian parents can turn to the Bible to whack their kids over on the
head for wrong behavior? Is it because they can threaten their kids with the
consequences of disobedience?
SERMON PROPER
The Methodist’s model for family holiness is
encapsulated in the practices experienced by John and Charles and their
siblings as they came under the authority of their mother Suzanna. John did not
have children by his wife, only a step son. There is very little mention of
Charles’ family life even though we were told he was happily married. So what
we do see in John Wesley and Charles and their siblings were on many accounts
the outcome of the strong Christian influence in their family. You might be
wondering why very little is mentioned of Samuel Wesley, their father. Samuel
was mostly on the move seeking out better pay in different offers to pastor
churches and other openings for ministry. At one point, he even left Suzanna
alone for an entire year because of differences in political views. So we will take a closer look at the way Suzanna Wesley thought about her role as mother to her children. The aim of her parenting
is the salvation of their souls My basic purpose was "the saving of their souls." The salvation of their souls My basic purpose was "the saving of their souls."
In a letter to her husband dated Feb 6, 1711-1712, she wrote: “As I am a woman, so I am also mistress of a large family and through the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you; yet, in your absence, I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my care as a talent committed to me under a trust by the great Lord of all the families both of heaven and earth. And if I am unfaithful to Him or you in neglecting to improve these talents, how shall I answer unto Him, when He shall command me to render an account of my stewardship?... As these, and other such like thoughts, made me at first take a more than ordinary care of the souls of my children and servants, so – knowing our religion requires a strict observation of the Lord’s day, and not thinking that we fully answered the end of the institution by going to church unless we filled up the intermediate spaces of time by other acts of piety and devotion – I thought it my duty to spend some part of the day in reading to and instructing my family: and such time I esteemed spent in a way more acceptable to God than if I had retired to my own private devotions.”
Inspired by a true zeal for God’s glory, she planned to do somewhat more that she should by praying more for them and speaking to those that she often converse with greater warm of affection.
She resolved to begin this with her own children and observed the following method: “ I take such proportion of time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. ON Monday, I talk with Molly; on Tuesday with Hetty; Wednesday with Nancy; Thursday with Jacky; Friday, with Patty; Saturday, with Charles; and with Emily and Suky together on Sunday.
She methodized and arranged everything so exactly, that to each operation she had a time, and time sufficient to transact all the business of the family.
- Academic Subjects & Religious Instructions; 6 days in a week from 9-12; 2-5.
- As to the children, their times of going to rest, rising in the morning, dressing, eating, learning, and exercise, she managed by rule, which was never suffered to be broken, unless in case of sickness.
- the custom of singing psalms at beginning and leaving school, morning and evening. Then also that of a general retirement at five o'clock was entered upon. When the oldest took the youngest that could speak, and the second the next, to whom they read the psalms for the day, and a chapter in the New Testament: as in the morning they were directed to read the psalms, and a chapter in the Old; after which they went to their private prayers, before they got their breakfast, or came into the family.
- They were never suffered to choose their meat, but always made to eat such things as were provided for the family.
- They were never permitted to contend with each other; whatever differences arose, the parents were the umpires, and their decision was never disputed. The consequence was, there were few misunderstandings among them, and no unbrotherly or vindictive passions; and they had the common fame of being the most loving family in the county of Lincoln.
- Drinking or eating between meals was never allowed, unless in case of sickness, which seldom happened.
- At six, as soon as family prayer was over, they had their supper; at seven the maid washed them, and, beginning at the youngest, she undressed and got them all to bed by eight, at which time she left them in their several rooms awake, for there was no such thing allowed of, in our house, as sitting by a child till it fell asleep.
- Taking God's name in vain, cursing and swearing, profaneness, obscenity, rude ill-bred names, were never heard among them; nor were they ever permitted to call each other by their proper names without the addition of brother or sister.
- When turned a year old, (and some before,) they were taught to fear the rod, and to cry softly by which means they escaped abundance of correction which they might otherwise have had.
- She had little difficulty in breaking their wills, or reducing them to absolute subjection. They were perfectly obsequious to their parents, and were taught to wait their decision in everything they were to have, and in everything they were to perform.
- They were never permitted to command the servants, or to use any words of authority in their addresses to them.
What’s uppermost in your minds as you
lead the family? As you guide your children?
Paul reminds us that we are not to
conform to this world but be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Family
holiness for Suzanna begins with establishing God’s place in the lives of the
children from day 1. For Suzanna, the saving of the souls of the children was
of utmost importance. That they were to understand their duty to God and to
their families: to live lives that glorify the Lord. She deliberately built
into their daily regime incrementally the practice of faith; praying, bible
reading, praising…
She remained their spiritual guide
throughout their lives. She (Mrs. Wesley) never considered herself discharged
from the care of her children. Into all situations she followed them with her
prayers and counsels; and her sons, even when at the university, found the
utility of her wise and parental instructions. They proposed to her all their
doubts, and consulted her in all difficulties.
What was the outcome of her efforts in
grooming children set apart for the Lord?
Her Sons:
1. Samuel secured his Master
of Arts degree, was ordained and returned to Westminster as a teacher. Twenty
years later he moved to Tiverton in Devonshire where he became the headmaster
of an endowed school.
15. John Wesley
had "avoided" marriage with a couple of ladies in his college years
and with Sophy Hopkey in Georgia. They only stayed together for 17 years then she left. He became the founder of our Methodist Church.
17. Charles became a minister and was the most happily married of all his siblings. Charles
was constantly active in composing poetry-- close to nine thousand poems, many
of which were hymns.
Her Daughters:
3. Emilia: She found
employment as a teacher at a girls' school in London and later at a school for
girls at Gainsborough. At
age 44, about 1736, she married an apothecary named Robert Harper. He took her
savings and left her eventually, with his debts and a sickly, dying baby.
6. Sukie: threw
herself upon a course, vulgar, immoral man, Richard Ellison. She suffered from his vile behavior and cruelty to a point when she fled to London, taking
her children with her and never lived with him again.
7. Mary (crippled): married a pastor John
Whitelamb, in
1734. Within less than a year, Mary died in childbirth.
8. Hetty: She eloped with the man of her dreams and came back five
months pregnant and unmarried. She was disowned by her father and married off to William
Wright, a journeyman plumber from Lincoln. She was a gifted poet, had some
of her poems published. Mother Susanna, after
showing for three or four years that she had been wounded by Hetty's sin, came
around to the point where she accepted her fully. A rich affection grew once
more between them, especially after Samuel's death.
14. Anne (Nancy) : Little
is known of her till, in her twenties, she married a land surveyor, John
Lambert. He is spoken of as a well-educated, well-read man.
16. Martha (Patty): She married Westley Hall at age 30. He was a womanizer and often bring back infants from his other women to Martha. Martha nursed them.Martha
herself bore ten children, but all except one died in infancy. Martha
lived to be 85, was a gifted conversationalist, discussing philosophical
matters with Dr. Samuel Johnson and others.
19. Kezzie: she
proved rather weak as a child, lacking the energy that characterized the rest
of the family. At age 19, she became a pupil-teacher in the school at Lincoln
at which her sister Emilia had taught. She
fell into a lingering illness which terminated in her death at age 32.
Parenting was a wild ride for Suzanna
if you have time to read her memoirs. Despite her efforts, not all of them
turned out as well as she would like them to. Not all turned out to be 好果实。 We are tempted to ask, “Does it mean that God did not keep his
promise that children are a reward to their parents?” Suzanna’s heart ached for
her girls who got themselves into trouble.
The memoirs of Suzanna gives us
comfort to know that we are in good company when we think, “Some of the kids in church are gifts to their
parents but not my child or children!” Maybe your sorrows have made you more
cynical and you’re beginning to wonder just what God means when He uses the
words “gift” and “reward.” Or perhaps you can remember a time when you did
believe that your children were a gift, during those days when they were little
and first smiled up at you with their sweet toothless grins. But now, darker
images of angry, spiteful, and bitter words have obscured those beloved memories. Where
did we go wrong? What are we missing? Why is this happening?”
God
empathizes with us as parent to his people. The Lord Himself knows what it is like to be rejected by
His children. Isa. 1:2 Children
have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. Jer. 5:3b-4 You have struck them down, but they felt
no anguish. You have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They
have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.
The
battle for our families is actually spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:12). The
fundamental discord in our children’s rebellion is not between them and us, but
between our children and the Lord. When a child decides that he loves the
world, he isn’t just rejecting us, he’s rejecting the things of God (1 John
2:15-17; James 4:4). As parents, we shouldn’t be shocked (though we frequently
are) that a child who loves the world may exhibit hatred toward us. Yet the
Bible teaches, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the
world hates you” 1 John 3:13. We often we pray and hope that there are “right”
parenting formulas that can guarantee you’ll have godly children. For instance,
some parents prefer a particular method of discipline. Others insist that a
certain type of education is the key, while still others promote a particular
curriculum that is guaranteed to instil godly character into children. These
parents all believe that by carefully following a prescribed system, they will
be assured of success. But are there really any failsafe methods of
child-rearing? Does the Bible prescribe specific methods of parenting that
promise success every time? The biblical
answer to this question is No, there are no foolproof methods of parenting.
John
MacArthur writes: Equipping a child with spiritual truth is no guarantee he
or she will follow Christ. I know many diligent parents and grandparents whose
hearts have been broken by a family member’s rejection of Christ. We can only
plant the seeds by teaching and living out the truth. How they respond is out
of our hands.2
I hope you can recognize the difference between your responsibility and your children’s. Much of the sorrow we experience as parents of wayward children comes from the self-doubt and guilt we are prone to feel over our failures. What did we do wrong? Did I love her too much or not enough? What did we say or fail to say that would have turned her heart?
Our children aren’t actually ours. They belong to God,
ultimately, and He expects no less than our complete devotion to their souls. I
hope we can direct him so that when he is older and he sins, he will feel the
weight of it, see his need for salvation, and fall in love with Jesus forever.
When
good kids go bad - Parents may need to repent. Our parents play a large role in who we are (see Prov. 22:7). This is precisely why God mandates parents look after and nourish spiritual concerns: God believes parents can positively influence children. Unfortunately, the other side of that coin is that we can negatively influence our children as well. If we have failed to be the example Christ requires of us we bear some responsibility for the choices our children make. There is no mistake about this: such is sinful.
- the parents must go on. Do what it takes to be forgiven, and then move on. Let us move forward to do better in the future, and not be weighed down with the past.
1. Here we are at the start
committing to each other
By His word and from our hearts
We will be a family in a house that will be a home
And with faith we'll build it strong
Chorus
We'll build a household of faith
That together we can make
And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down
As one in Him we'll grow and the whole world will know
We are a household of faith
2. Now to be a family we've got to love each other
At any cost unselfishly
And our home must be a place that fully abounds with grace
A reflection of His face
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