17 July 2016 - ENCS

As part of the Leadership series, I was asked to speak today

Talking about "Competence : Not a Laughing Matter” I did say

All of us are leaders, Pastor Josh said a couple of weeks ago

As we influence others, the Oxford dictionary also does show

Leadership is stewardship of every God-given competency

It is a process, not just bossing people around, we did see

Competence is doing something successfully and efficiently

Paul shared another definition in his second letter to Timothy

Doing our best, being proud of our work, and the truth to tell

So in addition to being leaders, we can be competent as well

God wants us all to be competent leaders, make no mistake

And like Christ, that means a servant attitude we should take

But per a Joey Bonifacio post, serving is not always leadership

Although true leadership is always serving, he did aptly quip

Books on competent leadership, there is clearly an excess

Four attributes competent leaders must biblically possess

The first attribute of competent leaders is heartfelt humility

In Deuteronomy, Moses said that God gives us the ability

Do not think too highly of self, in Romans twelve Paul wrote 

Second Corinthians twelve has the “thorn in the flesh” quote

We should be humble because from God, all talents come

Without humility, being a servant leader would be very glum

Biblical leaders were Moses, young David, Jesus, and Paul

Humility is one word that can be used to describe them all

In practical terms, better results humble leaders generate

As a team working as one, individual skills will amalgamate

I tried to give credit to the team while shouldering any blame

And got in a fight with my boss for refusing to provide a name

In conclusion, competent leadership often requires humility

And effective leadership benefits from humility, we often see

In Philippians chapter two, Paul added more perspective

With Christ-like humility and without conceit is how to live

Remember the Proverbs adage that pride precedes the fall

This has been seen both in business circles and in football

Samson and the older David both fell into the trap of pride

Fortunately, they were redeemed for God was on their side

Unlike false humility, true humility comes from one's heart

From a balanced perspective, we should try not to depart

Honesty is the best policy should be used in both directions

Both over and understating reality should elicit objections

The second attribute is that competent leaders are aware

Of their talents and competencies, honestly to compare

In Deuteronomy, Moses said choose wise, respected men

Boast of unique talents, in Second Corinthians, Paul did pen

Knowing one’s strength, as per the Sun Tzu classic quote

Allows your team to build a sustainable competitive moat

Knowing your talents also enables you to others best serve

Sometimes what matters is where you sit on the bell curve

Being aware of resulting talent gaps is at least as important

Per Exodus four, Moses’ speech impediment was not a stunt

Paul said we have different roles in First Corinthians twelve

Comparing to a body’s unique functions, he did then delve

For whenever you veer away from your core competencies

Odds of success decrease and the stress will not please

Competent leaders therefore try to hire to fill talent gaps

Hiring top tier talent allows the leader to take more naps

Honing their talent is the third competent leader attribute

Per First Timothy six, with our gifts we should be resolute

For there is always more to learn and knowledge to expand

Luckily for us, the Bible and prayer are far from contraband

The fourth attribute is that competent leaders must apply

Joseph and Paul used their talents to successfully glorify

Paul said he was an expert builder in First Corinthians three

In that one sentence, he expressed awareness and humility

Of course, leadership is not confined to Christians alone

But Christian leaders must act in line with God’s throne

So the why and the how are as important as the what

Because a competent Christian leader is not just a robot

To be respected more than liked, leaders should choose

When faced with the choice, Biblical leaders did not refuse

Making faith visible, competent Christian leaders should

This helps their leadership and marketplace ministry good

In conclusion, we are all leaders and competent ones too

Thus a servant leadership mentality we should all imbue

Humility, awareness, honing, and applying are attributes

For stewardship of leadership, there are no substitutes

3 July 2016 - ENCS

Tonight Pastor Josh started a new series on leadership

He said we are all influencers so we all need to equip

Our position matters far less than our attitude and action

Leaders help others achieve their goals with satisfaction

5Cs of leadership, starting with confidence is the intent

Then connection, competence, character, and commitment

Confidence, Josh said, is different from arrogance or pride

The main difference is in believing that God is on your side

Hebrews ten says that confidence will be richly rewarded

We must persevere with God’s will even in times sordid

The word confidence translates as “bold resolve” in Greek

Which we need as following God’s plan is not for the weak

And the meanest people are the ones needing God’s light

So in such situations we must allow His love to shine bright

Confidence can come from three places, Josh then did say

Believing in self, in our earthly situation, or in God every day

By believing in ourselves, per Jeremiah seventeen five and six

Our hearts will depart away from the Lord, leaving us in a fix

More practically, we will either be unwilling to admit mistakes

Or when we make one, our whole world collapses and breaks

By believing in our situation, in Luke twelve Jesus did warn

When the situation changes, we will feel empty and mourn

There is nothing wrong with storing surpluses as a decision

But we must worship the provider rather than the provision

The optimal route therefore is believing in God in heaven

We will be blessed, as per Jeremiah seventeen verse seven

Jesus loved, sacrificed, and forgave more than we ever can

Which is why He was the best leader ever since time began

King Abijah demonstrated this in Second Chronicles thirteen

Despite facing a bigger army, his confidence in God was seen

He cried to the Lord and the enemy was thoroughly defeated

We should also ask for help so our mission can be completed

26 June 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh wrapped up the short series entitled “One Accord”

Highlighting that many people slip after a high with the Lord

Of course when we are desperate and in need, we often pray

But after our prayers are answered, from good habits we stray

Josh said we should be led by relationships, not circumstances

In that way, we can keep the momentum up and make advances

Josh used three Biblical examples to make points numbering three

The first was the Transfiguration, in Matthew seventeen we do see

There was also Moses’ encounter in Exodus chapter twenty four

And Elijah and fire in First Kings eighteen which is the stuff of lore

All three involved a mountain as a centrepiece, not just a prop

As such, the sermon was entitled “Maximising the Mountaintop"

The purpose of the mountaintop is what Josh first talked about

For without a clear purpose, there will be abuse without a doubt

In the Transfiguration, God said they should listen to His Son

God gave Moses a plan to handle what there was to be done

The Lord answered Elijah’s prayers with fire to show his strength

For godly encounters like these, most of us often pray at length

But problems also arise when we come down from the mountaintop

We come down to reach out to others but challenges arise nonstop

Moses got extremely angry when he returned to see pagan worship

Elijah was scared of Jezebel’s threat so he went away on a long trip

We have to recognise that God’s word and plans will be tested

For the enemy wants God’s kingdom’s progress to be arrested

So the real question is how we should respond, Josh did then say

The clear Biblical answer is to turn back to God and fervently pray

God continued to sustain Elijah as he went back to the mountain

Moses went back up the mountain to atone for the people’s sin

Peter, James, and John looked up and saw only Jesus remaining

Reminding us that that single focus ensures our faith is sustaining

17 June 2016 - Burning Hearts

On Friday, the Burning Hearts conference was blessed by Francis Chan

All were moved by the powerful words and testimony of this great man

A picture of a large army came to him before he spoke to the big crowd

He then said that people in God’s army should be fearless, never cowed

Francis highlighted the story of Gideon in Judges chapters six and seven

Gideon's army of thirty two thousand was too large, said God in heaven

Asking those who “trembled with fear" to leave led to the first reduction

In Numbers, only two were fearless, surviving by obeying God’s instruction

Francis pointed out that with affluence, the church often struggles to thrive

This is probably because riches and comfort tend to our courage deprive

In Matthew twenty four, Jesus voiced a warning about love growing cold

Reminding believers that no matter the environment, we must stay bold

Per Hebrews twelve verse twelve, Jesus suffered outside the city gate

We should also not fear being unpopular and rejected, Francis did state

Jesus went through temptations, challenges, and a very unjust process

We should follow Him rather than crowds, and in doing so be fearless

For going with the flow and the popular way does not give us true life

In fact we must lose our life in order to find it amidst this earthly strife

Regarding the challenges of affluence, Francis turned to First Timothy six

Paul said not to put hope in wealth, but that to God our eyes should fix

Living for God leads to good works as well as a generous spirit and heart

Remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive is a good start

Similarly, Christian thinking should be focused not on one’s self but on others

We should treat everyone as well as we treat our own sisters and brothers

Paul said that power comes from prayer, per Ephesians chapter three

For motivation comes not from external factors but from the Spirit Holy

If our thoughts, words, and actions are rooted and grounded in love

We will be walking in accordance with the desires of our Lord above

In summary, Francis asked the congregation what we want to be known for

Go beyond being great leaders, parents, and businessmen, he did implore

For it is far better to be filled with the fullness of God and follow His way

Even if that means challenging the popular political correctness every day

12 June 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh concluded the short series entitled One Accord

Talking about “Unity” on his anniversary left none of us bored
Blessings are associated with unity, per Psalm one thirty three

Life forevermore is God’s promise, it is very evident to see

The power of unity is clear through the Bible, Josh did say

Even in Genesis eleven when people did not follow God’s way

The world all spoke the same and built the tower of Babel

God then said that “nothing they propose will be impossible”

The purpose of unity is therefore important to bear in mind

“Let us make a name for ourselves” said ungodly mankind

As believers, we need to understand God’s vision for us

Per John seventeen, unity with God Jesus did discuss

For then our unity will show others all about God’s love

Per John thirteen, being disciples of Jesus who is above

And if we do not love others on earth, Josh also did say

Then we are not filled with God’s love, for that is His way

The process of unity is best done imitating Christ’s humility

Which Paul wrote in Philippians chapter two for us to see

We should act in the interests of others, not just conceit

By humbling himself to death, the enemy Jesus did defeat

God then exalted Jesus, showing that humility bring glory

Serving Jesus and uniting in humility are thus laudatory

5 June 2016 - ENCS

“Experiencing church community” started the new series One Accord

Into Acts chapter two verse forty two, Rachel Ong in depth explored

Per that verse, four specific things the early Christians did in earnest

Learning, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer aided their quest

The first and the last link us with God, the other two with each other

Reminding us that in both parts of community we should smother

The early believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

We also have access to the entire Bible plus of course preaching

To commune with God, Rachel has a yellow chair in a specific place

Similarly, we should daily read the Word at a given time and space

And in the same way that we focus on our phones and children

When we meditate on God's Word, we should pay full attention

The early believers devoted themselves to growing fellowship

We have life groups, which establish more than one relationship

Although we may get hurt, in others we should believe the best

Of course forgiving others as Jesus did is a very difficult test

For “loving your neighbour as yourself” is a godly command

By making this intentional, our diversity can be a strong stand

Also, per Genesis one, God has always wanted to be our friend

If is therefore not healthy or God-like if being solitary is our trend

The early believers devoted themselves to breaking of bread

Which is not just about eating, but also fellowship Rachel said

We can share life, hospitality, and kindness through our food

By breaking bread, into our networks we others can include

The breaking of bread is also symbolic, per Luke twenty two

As it did foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would do

We influence others by serving them, per John seventeen

This servant leadership was in Jesus’ life constantly seen

Finally, the early believers also devoted themselves to prayer

During which we should listen, not just talk, for God does care

Jesus showed us how best to pray, per verses in Matthew six

Rachel said we can not pray right until our priorities we do fix

For when we do manage to put God’s will first, all else will flow 

God will inspire us in prayer and then into the world we can go

29 May 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Larry brought the series on the book of Acts to an end

There is power in one prayer and one message, he did contend

And there is clearly power of the gospel in this world of selfies

For when shared, the gospel can change lives with great ease

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, per Romans one sixteen

For the gospel is the power of God for salvation of all, it is seen

Peter and the centurion Cornelius were at the core of Acts ten

Cornelius may have been the one about whom Luke did pen

Devout, generous, God-fearing, and prayerful per verse two

We should not look at appearances but on what people do

Pastor Larry then said that the gospel builds faith to pray

Which then reminds us of the power of praying every day

From verse nine, Peter had a vision telling him to eat everything

Which was God’s way of telling him that to tradition not to cling

God said “do not call anything impure that God has made clean”

For sharing the gospel with Gentiles is what He really did mean

Pastor Larry then highlighted that the gospel trumps tradition

The gospel is available to everyone, for God has no predisposition

In the next part, we are reminded about Peter and the number three

Cornelius sent three men and the vision three times Peter did see

Linking to his denials and Jesus’ reinstatement in John twenty one

For God prepares us for the future as he repairs what we have done

Pastor Larry then stated that the gospel heals our broken past

So once we accept the gospel, there is no reason to be downcast

Peter spoke to a large group of people, starting with verse thirty four

God’s message and the Holy Spirit are for everyone, he did implore

This is why believers have been charged with the Great Commission

Because in God’s ideal world, there should not be a single omission

Pastor Larry concluded by saying that the gospel is to be preached

That is the only way the good news can be shared with the unreached