Wednesday, October 29, 2014

26 October 2014 - ENCS

At ENCS the sermon was delivered by Steve Murrell
About some key words to Ephesus that Paul did tell
In Acts chapter twenty, to Rome Paul was on his way
He thoughts it was his last chance messages to convey
After Pastor Steve shared about global activity
He quickly focused on key words for ENCS three
 
Life only has real meaning, per verse twenty four
If in all that we do, God's purpose is at our core
The first key word is that we must testify the gospel
For the gospel is good news, Pastor did then tell
It is not opinion or an editorial, but is a historical fact
Jesus came to earth and although He was attacked
He offers eternal life to those who do repent
For that is the real reason that He was sent
But to turn to God we must turn away from sin
For into this life don't let temptations come in
And although we are sinful, God loves us so much
Which is why our hearts the gospel does touch
 
Grace builds us up, per verse number thirty two
To our sin, justification allows us to say adieu
Sanctification is the process of God-driven change
It is an ongoing process of how our life we arrange
Glorification is how we can live like Jesus Christ
All of these are available for free, clearly mispriced
Per Titus two verse eleven, God's grace is there for all
Into our lives self-control and godliness we can install
 
The third word is give, in other words generosity
"It is more blessed to give than to receive" is the key
This includes our time, words, money, and passion
As individuals and a church, we should not ration
If we live to give we will be on the right track
And God will ensure that we will never lack

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

12 October 2014 - ENCS

On Sunday, the "Go" series Pastor Larry did complete
He showed a video of a mission trip in the Philippine heat
Based on Acts 1:8, the series talked of what our purpose should be
Using God's anointing power, we can reach family and community
Breaking through cross-cultural barriers is a way to share the worth
His sermon was not surprisingly titled "To the ends of the earth"
As Singapore is prophesied to be the Antioch of the region
People come in and go out on mission trips by the legion
The apostles went around the world to many different places
All but John were eventually martyred, with joy on their faces
Similarly, reaching out to the world should become our norm
That is why Pastor Larry focused on the word "transform"
For although the world may be under control of the evil one
God has shown his far greater power in all He has done
Per John 5:19, sixteen forty three, and fourteen twenty seven
We can overcome, with the peace of God who resides in heaven
 
Pastor then mentioned transformations numbering four
Although I am sure he could have come up with more
To be transformed for a purpose must be the case
For we are not here on earth just to take up space
Transformed love, per John thirteen verse thirty five
As disciples of Jesus, our love for others should thrive
Per Luke five, we should also have transformed obedience
We should follow quickly, but not just out of expedience
Lastly, Pastor said we need to have transformed thinking
So that from our Christian purpose there will be no shrinking

Monday, October 6, 2014

5 October 2014 - ENCS

In the penultimate week of the "Go" series, Pastor Josh did preach
Per John four, Jesus went to Samaria to avoid the Pharisees' reach
For when God is moving, rule-loving religious leaders get upset
The irony of course is that Jesus hadn't baptized anybody yet
For the Jewish people, Samaria was not a very hospitable place
Too many times, the two groups of people in conflict did face
 
After a long walk from Jerusalem, Jesus was tired and sat next to a well
He then asked a Samaritan woman for a drink, verse seven does tell
This broke all sorts of rules, for she was a single woman
It made it culturally even worse that she was a Samaritan
She mentioned Jacob, who provided for their physical needs
He talked of living water, which can absolve our sinful deeds
 
It is interesting to note why she was there at midday
Because she didn't want to hear what others had to say
But Jesus knew her whole history, per verse sixteen
He also loves us no matter how bad we may have been
 
Pastor said that we need to worship with knowledge true
Worshipping God in spirit and truth is what we should do
Per Second Corinthians, God is the only judge that matters
Even if many others may try to turn our reputation to tatters
We should try to honor our fathers, heavenly and on earth
They give us their approval and confirm our true worth
God is the truth and thus overcomes any lies that are told
Remembering the truth can set us free should make us bold
 
The woman mentioned the Messiah; Jesus said He was the One
She went to town and witnessed about what He had said and done
Based solely on her testimony, many in the town did then believe
The entire town pleaded with Jesus and His disciples not to leave
And because He did end up by two days postponing His trip
They learned for themselves and responded with worship
For anyone who believes in Jesus shall be saved, per Romans ten
We can then all worship in spirit and truth over and over again