Return of the Son | Luke 24.44-53

Sermon link: open.spotify.com/episode/6bP6hMJFSqhkJY2QAcy9nX

Slides here.

To Know Christ | Philippians 3.4-14

Listen to “To Know Christ – Philippians 3.4-14” on Spreaker.

Key points:

• Put no confidence in the flesh (vv. 4-6)
• Seek to know, gain & be found in Christ (vv. 7-11)
• Forget the past; press on (vv. 12-14)

_{Special shoutout to @jedsmiley for giving permission to share about her experience meeting #TaylorSwift & her baptism.}

Slides here.

Salvation in no one else | Acts 4.5-22

 

Key points:

1. Do versus done – rest in God’s love & salvation
2. Being before doing
   • Be repentant; be forgiven
   • Be with Jesus; be like Jesus
   • Be obedient; be compelled; be prepared

Slides here.

Created for God’s Purposes | Psalm 139

Listen to “Created for God’s Purposes – Psalm 139” on Spreaker.

Key points:

1. God knows you
2. God is with you
3. God made you (for His purposes)

Response/Application

• Do you know God?
• Is Jesus in your life?
• Do you know, are you living for God’s purposes?

Slides here – bit.ly/createdps139

Gospel Power | Romans 1.16-17

I preached my first sermon at Grace church today, entitled “Gospel Power” (Rom. 1.16-17), which I wish to dedicate to the memory of the 5 missionaries – Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, & Roger Youderian – who 66 years ago this weekend, on 8 Jan. 1956, were martyred in Ecuador, killed by the Huaorani Indians.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

#JimElliot

Slides here – bit.ly/gospelpowerRom1

Key points:

1. The gospel is … the power of God.
2. The gospel is … for salvation.
3. The gospel is … to everyone who believes.

Response/Application

• Be unashamed
• Live out the gospel
• Be strong & courageous

Main idea – The church/Christian life is all about the gospel; the gospel is all about Jesus.

#gospelpower #romans1 #powerofgod

Beyond our bubbles

I came across this outside a local restaurant recently – Covid-safe dining in isolation. Is this indeed the new normal? It also made me wonder if as Christians & the church, are we guilty of living in our isolated bubbles? Another way of putting it is, do we exist in our own echo chambers? 2 Tim. 4.3-4 warns us that a time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but gather teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear, suiting their own desires, turning away from the truth. May we instead heed Jesus’ instruction to be salt of the earth & light of the world, not hidden, but to shine our light before people that they may see our good works & glorify God our heavenly Father (Matt. 5.13-16).

Christians & the Metaverse | Dr Alex Tang

https://draltang.wordpress.com/2021/11/03/christians-and-the-metaverse/

An amazing article by Dr. Alex Tang across the bridge, describing the new Metaverse (or Web 3.0) & its implications, following the Facebook Corp’s name/concept change & rebrand to “Meta.” Summary below.

Main components of the Metaverse

• Augmented Reality
• Lifelogging
• Mirror Worlds
• Virtual Reality

Christian concerns

• Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
• Identity
• Worship
• Hospitality
• Gospel

Read full article here.

Throwback to this helpful article describing Web 3.0 already back in 2019.

Serve Asia | OMF short-term missions programme

Serve Asia is OMF International’s short-term mobilisation programme, something that I had the privilege to be part of as the Serve Asia Co-ordinator (SAC) for OMF’s Singapore National Office (SNO) some years back. In a nutshell, it’s about mobilising people, especially youths and young adults, toward short-term missions (in OMF terms, anything less than 1 year), in technically any mission field that any of OMF’s missionaries are based in or have ministries/mission work. I also had the opportunity to serve in the International Centre (IC) under New Horizons when their co-ordinator was on sabbatical, a newer initiative bridging unconventional home and field sides where OMF has no or little presence, experience – from anywhere to everywhere!

If you have a few weeks, month or even 1 year off or a gapyear, time in between studies, career, etc, and are considering missions or serving in East Asia, do prayerfully consider joining Serve Asia. If you are located internationally, out of Singapore, visit the international link here.

Serve Asia (SNO design v.1)

A big shoutout to our best SA boss Andrea, and a throwback to our original SNO Mob team – bosslady Yong Hong, Carolyn, Lee Peng, Jie, Samuel

https://omf.org/singapore/get-involved/serve-asia-short-term/
#ServeAsia #OMF

Wet markets, trishaws & kungfu movies

In memorium – 赖玉梅 (1930-2021), 冯全 (1913-83)

My paternal grandparents were immigrants from China to Singapore even before WWII & the Japanese Occupation, my grandpa was from Hainan Island, & my grandma from Guangdong (Canton), she spent some time in Malaysia before moving over. They married young, my grandma had the first of 8 children at age 18, my dad was number 2 at age 20. They took care of me much of my early childhood, as my parents were both working (dual-income families were a push by the government), & we stayed in the same HDB block in Marsiling, overlooking the old Causeway (before the days of sky/traffic cams).

Shadow of the Almighty

Sitting in mandated quarantine back in Singapore this morning, returning with my family after 2 years in the States for my PhD studies, God has been reminding me of His sovereignty and protection, especially throughout the Covid pandemic (since early 2020).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from … the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield & bulwark.

Psalm 91.1-4 #psalm91