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

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

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