23 February 2025 - ENCS

The spirit empowerment series was continued by Mark Chew

Focusing on the fruit of the Holy Spirit and what it can do

Per First Corinthians thirteen, to use our gifts we need love

The passage also lists facets of love that come from above

These facets correspond to a list in Galatians chapter five

John thirteen and Romans thirteen tell us how to be alive

Loving one another as Jesus loved both Jew and Gentile

Praying for others, even if they have been extremely hostile

An Attitude of Gratitude includes giving thanks all the time

For our blessings and even when things are not in the prime

We should Pray Outwards for our needs God already knows

That ia for the lost, believers, and those who do us oppose

We should Know Our Worth for we were bought with a price

We are chosen and are children of God to be very precise

30 June 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Mark Chew spoke about parables three

In Matthew twenty one and twenty two we see

The focus of all three is actually Jesus, the Son

“What do you think?” is appropriate for everyone

The parable of two sons Jesus shared, not afraid

One son pretended obedience, the other delayed

True obedience is like Jesus, following God’s will

It may not sound that exciting but it sure does fulfil

Obedience also reveals the trust we have in God

It is the hallmark of Jesus so we should be awed

The parable of the talents talks about stewardship

And faithfulness to use our talents on our life’s trip

For this is how we should give honour to our God

Fruitfulness serves to revere the Son we applaud

This parable also acts to foretell Jesus’ final days

His suffering and death due to others’ evil ways

The wedding banquet parable has persuasion

The first invitees were indifferent to the occasion

So the invitation then became open to everyone

Akin to our imputed righteousness via the Son

8 October 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Mark spoke on “Values, Treasures, and the Heart”

In Matthew six, about types of treasure Jesus did impart

We should not lay up temporal treasures here on earth

As eternal treasures in heaven have so much more worth

Mark said we should remember that our hearts do pursue 

Those things, temporal or eternal, which we most value

Firstly, recognise how valuable we are in Christ’s eyes

His words in Matthew six about birds we should memorise

Per John ten, we are so valuable He will not let us go

As Romans five, Hebrews thirteen, and Luke twelve show

We are valuable masterpieces, per Psalm one thirty nine

Because per John one, we are in Christ’s direct bloodline

Secondly, realign our perspective using heaven's eyes

Doing things that upset God is foolish and clearly not wise

We should all create and add value to people around us

Although storing and increasing value is not superfluous

In First Timothy six, in a passage that is never outdated

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, Paul stated

Finally, reposture our hearts and reorder our values

Do a heart check and seriously consider God’s views

For the heart is often deceitful, per Jeremiah seventeen

So the Lord tests our hearts, in the passage it is seen

We should clear the blockages and take proactive care

“Slowing, stopping, silence, solitude” Mark did share

And in the absence of those on a South African trip

I would add “Pray, Mediate, Proclaim, Fellowship”

3 July 2022 - ENCS

On the book of Philippians, Pastor Mark today did speak

Fifty one mentions of Jesus serve to add to His mystique

Understanding more about Jesus helps us His lens to use

Our perspective will change and life will no longer confuse

Many different contrasts in chapter one we clearly see

Servants and saints, life and death, good will and envy

Beginning and completion as well as confidence and fear

As Pastor Mark said, using Jesus’ lens makes them clear

Paul and Timothy were a team despite the big age gap

About their strong relationship Pastor Mark did recap

We should each have a Paul and a Timothy, Mark said

To be discipled and disciple others we should not dread

 

His points once again serve as a good reminder to me

To life’s events through an appropriate lens try to see

To obey God’s word rather than follow my own druthers

To be open to both learning and teaching from others 

1 July 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Mark shared at worship just the other night

His words were brief but the message was just right

From Second Chronicles chapter seven he did refer

We should humble ourselves and wicked ways deter

For then we will receive forgiveness from God’s hand

And the verse says He also promises to heal our land

Pastor also spoke about Philippians chapter one

From Paul and Timothy, who was his spiritual son

The term “servants’ implies obedience and humility

That tells us the attitude that in us God wants to see

Pastor Mark then spoke about different generations

And the importance of building strong foundations

Each generation can and should both learn and teach

And in that way we continue the church’s outreach

12 June 2022 - ENCS

Pastor Mark today continued speaking about relationships

Specifically focusing on words that come from friendships

Proverbs twenty seven verses five and six, Pastor did quote

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love” Solomon wrote

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted” for they are sweet

Whereas “an enemy multiplies kisses” and is full of deceit

A faithful friend will speak the truth in order to help guide

Speaking from a place of love his feedback is supplied

So if a Christian friend is given cause to rebuke you or me

Assume it is well-intentioned and thus accept it thankfully

Similarly, when we provide feedback, do it with love as well

“The sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel”

So let me accept friends' rebukes as if they were from above

And ensure that if I rebuke others it is from a place of love

5 June 2022 - ENCS

On “Relationship Matters” Pastor Mark did speak today

The reason is clear even in Genesis one, Pastor did say

“Let us make man in our image” from verse twenty six

Does bring the concept of the Holy Trinity into the mix

The "three persons in one" is mentioned in Matthew three

Christ’s baptism both the Spirit and the Father did see

Each is fully God regardless of the specific nomenclature

Pastor said this indicates that God is relational by nature

As we are made in His image, we are relational by design 

Per Hebrews ten, "meeting together" is guidance divine

Helping us “spur one another toward love and good deeds"

Encouragement from believers is one of our core needs

A key relational component is trust, also known as faith

We need faith to be close to God, Hebrews eleven sayeth

Knowing this, the enemy seeks to fracture relational lines

Causing mistrust and making us busy are two clear signs

That God’s laws are fundamentally relational is no surprise

All about relationships, the Ten Commandments do advise

Per Exodus twenty, the first four are all about the Lord God

The fifth about parents; about neighbours the rest give a nod

But Jesus’ focus was not on the letter, but the spirit of the law

He referred to this often, as in Mark two twenty seven we saw

Pastor Mark also said we have a debt to love, to be relational

Per First John “we love because he first loved us” - sensational

3 June 2022 - ENCS Worship

A key theme emerged during ENCS worship last night

From Matthew chapter ten verse eight several did cite

Jesus said “freely you have received, so freely give”

That is a very strong reminder of how we are to live

This reminder resonated as it was far from unique

For it linked to conversations held earlier in the week

When I think of all I have received from God above

What I focus on is His unfailing, unconditional love

I remember that He has provided many a blessing

A manifest example of HIs love He is expressing

In an earthly way I should thus be kind to all others

Whether or not they are Christian sisters or brothers

The secret disciple

On an oft-overlooked man Pastor Mark did speak 

For his actions were critical during Easter week

Joseph was a disciple albeit in secret we do hear

Per John nineteen because the Jews he did fear

From Arimathea, wealthy with a tomb to share

With Nicodemus, Jesus’ body he did prepare

Isaiah fifty three verse nine he did consummate

The early church did therefore Joseph venerate

Joseph is a parallel for many in the marketplace

At times we might operate with a Christian face

But we do not make the reason for my actions clear

Perhaps like Joseph, public reaction we do fear

But when it mattered most, Joseph was brave

Asking Pilate for Jesus’ body to put in the grave

Legend has it that he was then put in prison

But that Jesus freed him once He was arisen

So whether by self or in a group be it big or small

We would do well to remember the pastoral call

At home, in church, at the office, or on a trip

Remember - pray, meditate, proclaim, fellowship

Psalm 55

It has been an extremely long and silent time

Since I felt called to pen a message in rhyme

But at an ENCS worship night this past Friday

“I have missed your poems” a friend did say

Pastor Mark Chew spoke about Psalm fifty five

Then that lyrical voice stirred and came alive

Perhaps it had gone into a form of hibernation

Coinciding with the global covid infestation

David’s words in the psalm do strike a chord

He asked that his pleas are heard, not ignored

The enemy causes thoughts that do trouble

Stresses and suffering then seem to double

David said he wanted to fly away and rest

In his place of shelter far from the tempest

In verse seventeen, he cried out in distress

God heard his voice, David did then profess

If unto the Lord, per verse twenty two

We cast our cares, He will sustain you

And as David says in verse twenty three

We should trust in God, for all eternity

Very stressful have been the covid years

A reduction in community plus health fears

Looking back we should remember a truth

God has been with us from our early youth

So as we go forward and start to connect

Let us not God and church ever neglect

Whether at home, at office, or on a trip

Pray, Meditate, Proclaim, and Fellowship

Habakkuk and Prayer

Today about Habakkuk Mark Chew did share

Focusing on different perspectives of prayer

Like Job, Habakkuk did to the Lord complain

He shared his feelings and expressed pain

Looking at verse seventeen of chapter three

Habakkuk spoke of no sheep and a barren tree

This was a fair assessment of the situation

He was being real with God in his frustration

But in verse eighteen, Habakkuk then rejoiced

“I will be joyful in God my Savior”, he voiced

Implying quite clearly that he did speak in faith

Knowing that God is able, Pastor Mark sayeth

Habakkuk goes even further in verse nineteen

He will rely on God’s strength, it is clearly seen

By doing so, a mountain can look like a molehill

As this is effectively submitting to the Lord's will

As I contemplated Pastor Mark’s observations

It seems this is applicable to earthly relations

Share our feelings, both positive and frustrations

Be real with the assessments of our situations

Trust God has given talents to all His creations

These enable us to restore and build foundations

6 March 2016 - ENCS

 Pastor Mark Chew was the guest preacher for Campus Sunday

“Change the campus, change the world” is what he did often say

He started his sermon by saying that campus ministry was actually fun

Fun is part of abundant life, which per John ten, comes from the Son

Campus ministry is also fulfilling, as various pictures we did view

The people we disciple bring us joy, per First Thessalonians two

We heard short testimonies from two of the younger generation

Both of the students provided insights, laughs, and a revelation

The first said that when God puts something into your heart

You must respond and honour Him, for that is doing your part

The second highlighted that our identity is as a child of God

The command to love our neighbours as ourselves got a nod

Campus ministry can get a bit messy, Pastor Mark did continue

Remember we all make mistakes in what we say and what we do

Perhaps most importantly, God’s heartbeat is in campus ministry

We should teach youth commandments, in Deuteronomy six we see 

In order to obey the Great Commission said in Matthew twenty eight

Older and younger generations must work together, without debate

One thing each one of us can do is to pray and pray again and again

There is danger in not sharing about God, per Judges two verse ten

With our words and actions, our walk should be a model for all

Per First Corinthians four, we should imitate Christ, as did Paul

Everyone needs a father, as intimated in First Corinthians eleven

Providing love, guidance, and instruction as did Christ from heaven

Sometimes to be a good father, it is important to first be a good son

Reconcile with our earthly and heavenly fathers for what we have done

In summary, the importance of campus ministry should be quite clear

For today’s youths will become tomorrow’s leaders in not many a year

30 November 2014 - ENCS

The Redemption Stories series was continued by Pastor Mark Chew

He said we all have stories, some that are old and some that will be new

God is actually redeeming us, per Philippians chapter one

Our picture and story reflect our response to what is done

More often with others, our stories we should share

That is one way we can show God that we do care

Luke chapter twelve warns us against covetousness

The rich man planned for more but ended up with less

 

Pastor Mark's goal was to have a condo and cars three

Looking back, he realizes just how foolish that would be

The phrase 'full time' was planted in his brain

If he loved God so much, the answer was plain

God's gifts are irrevocable, per Romans eleven

Mark tried to bargain with our God in heaven

But he felt no peace, so he decided to take the leap

In his first church job, the learning curve was steep

 

Similarly, God has already called each and every one

We might have to give up dreams or even some fun

But per Psalm thirty one, in God we should trust

Pursuing God's dream with excitement is a must

For if to God we say yes and serve full time

He will not shortchange us by even a dime

 

Full time takes various forms, Pastor Larry did say

It does not mean being in the church every day

But whether in church or in the marketplace

On God's plans, our actions we must base

30 December 2012 - ENCS

Pastor Mark Chew continued "The Greatest Gift" series today

When shopping we are all keen on free gifts he did say

Per Matthew 10 :8, Jesus told his disciples how to live

He commanded "freely you have received, freely give"

 

But we can only give what we have, Pastor did note

From Acts 3 and Exodus 4:2 he then did quote

What we have may be just what someone else needs

That is why simple actions can turn out to be great deeds

 

Our ability to give is constrained by our supply

But what if our supply was as limitless as the sky?

For as per Philippians four verse nineteen

God will meet all our needs even when unseen

 

If God can get his hands on what He has given to us

He will not only use it but multiply it without a fuss

Remember the story of the five loaves and the two fish

After feeding thousands, the leftovers were many a dish

2 Corinthians 9:10 says that God will supply the seed

And enlarge the harvest to meet everybody's need

 

But to freely receive, we must unlock our heart

Then and only then can God do His part

That is how we receive God's mercy and love

Forgiveness, trust, and life's destiny from above

 

For the nature of God is to give, we can clearly glean

His greatest gift to us is mentioned in John 3:16

He gives to us all the time in so many varied ways

If it pleases His heart, he will give all of our days