Be Still

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

Joy Has Dawned

Joy has dawned upon the world
Promised from creation
God's salvation now unfurled
Hope for every nation
Not with fanfares from above
Not with scenes of glory
But a humble gift of love
Jesus, born of Mary

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable
Hands that set each star in place
Shaped the earth in darkness
Cling now to a mother's breast
Vulnerable and helpless

Shepherds bow before the Lamb
Gazing at the glory
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story
Gold, a King is born today
Incense, God is with us
Myrrh, His death will make a way
By His blood He'll win us

Son of Adam, Son of heaven
Given as a ransom
Reconciling God and man
Christ, our mighty Champion
What a Saviour, what a Friend
What a glorious mystery
Once a babe in Bethlehem
Now the Lord of history

Trusting God When Your Faith is Put to the Test

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back." - Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)

"Do we love God's gifts more or are we wholly devoted to God?"

"God desires the heart of the minister more than the success of the ministry."

- Pastor Oliver Chia

The Nature of Knowledge

"And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God..." - Matthew 22:31 (ESV)

Not 'have you not read what was written' or 'have you not heard what was said', but 'have you not read what was said'. In other words, what is written (i.e. Scripture) is God's Word.

Knowledge is not by skepticism, relativism, empiricism or pragmatism, but revelation.

Grace On Display

"Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." - Jonah 2:8 (ESV)

God's grace is not only on display when He forgives sin; it's also on display when we forgo sin.

Intentionally Intrusive, Christ-Centred, Grace-Driven, Redemptive Community

Reality of Grace

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV)

"Intentionally Intrusive, Christ-Centred, Grace-Driven, Redemptive Community" - Paul Tripp

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

Reality of Sin

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." - Hebrews 10:26-31 (ESV)

Creation and New Creation

The Bible begins with creation (Genesis 1 and 2) and ends with new creation (Revelation 21 and 22). The fall (Genesis 3) and final judgment (Revelation 20) are thus located within the wider narrative of creation and new creation. In other words, the story of the Bible is not about us, but about the whole of creation (which, of course, includes us)!

Dr Christopher Wright on the Mission of God

1. God's whole mission is for God's whole church.
2. The whole church's mission includes every church member.
3. Every church member's mission includes the whole of life.

Lord of History

"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" - Genesis 50:19-20 (NIV)

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" - Esther 4:14b (NIV)

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." - Daniel 2:20-22 (NIV)

Music Ministry Conference

The Word In Song Together

1. Purpose
2. Preparation
3. Prayer
4. Perceptive to the Present
5. Personality (and Personalisation)
6. Personal Life with God
7. Practical Stuff

Random Thoughts

Pursue God, not ministry. Love the congregation, not the music. Song leading is a ministry, not a roster!

Serving in the King's Palace

Rely on God

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Godliness with Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

Walk the Talk

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my Guide

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know, whatever befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know, whatever befall me
Jesus doeth all things well

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." - Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

Principles of Staff Work

1. Purpose

What do you want to achieve?

2. Plan

How do you plan to achieve it?

3. Packaging

How do you show what you have achieved?

All Scripture

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

If (and it is) so, then we should be seeking to read, understand and be guided by all Scripture - not just our favourite verses.

Christ-Centered Preaching

1. Text

- What is the location and function of the text in the whole of Scripture? What concerns do the text address? What is the big idea?
- What does the text reveal about God which provides redemption? How is the grace of God being displayed?
- What does the text reveal about man which requires redemption? What fallen conditions do we share in common with the text?

2. Type

3. Context

a. Predictive (e.g. Messianic Psalms, Prophets)

b. Preparatory: Bridges (e.g. Old Covenant Sacrifices) and Dead Ends (e.g. Judges)

c. Reflective: Grace of God Displayed

- Redemptive-Historical
- Doctrinal Development
- Literary Motif
- Relational Interaction

Grace is God providing for people who cannot provide for themselves!

d. Resultant: Grace of God Applied

- What (Instructional Specificity)
- Where (Situational Specificity)
- Why (Motivation)
- How (Enablement)

Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

Without extended and consecrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers up and bears no fruit. The 120 were devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14) when the Spirit fell and gave them utterance with three thousand converts (Acts 2:41). These converts were also devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42) when signs and wonders were done and people were added to the church daily (Acts 2:43, 47). Peter and his friends were engaged in prayer when the place was shaken and they were filled with the Spirit and spoke the Word boldly (Acts 4:31). Paul relied on prayer that he might be given utterance to open his mouth and proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).

Without extended, concentrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers. And when the ministry of the Word declines, faith (Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:2, 5) and holiness (John 17:17) decline. Activity may continue, but life and power and fruitfulness fade away. Therefore, whatever opposes prayer opposes the whole work of ministry.

- John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals

Endless Hallelujah

"Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."" - Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV)

10,000 Reasons

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" - Psalm 105:1-4 (ESV)

Come Praise and Glorify

Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ, He has in heavenly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we've been adopted through
His Son eternally

To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God Who saves

Come praise and glorify our God
Who gives His grace in Christ
In Him, our sins are washed away
Redeemed through sacrifice
In Him, God has made known to us
The mystery of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill

Come praise and glorify our God
For we've believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption's done
Until we join in endless praise
To God, the Three in One

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)

Who is sufficient for these things?

"If you are sufficient for your task, it's too small." - John Piper on Twitter, 15 Mar 13

Trust in the LORD

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." - Psalm 37:3-7a (NIV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)

What is love?

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." - 1 John 4:16b (NIV)

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." - 2 John 6 (NIV)

"Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God." - 3 John 11 (NIV)

ESV Reading for 2 Jan

"And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation." - Luke 1:50 (ESV)

Don't Waste Your Life

For me as a boy, one of the most gripping illustrations my fiery father used was the story of a man converted in old age. The church had prayed for this man for decades. He was hard and resistant. But this time, for some reason, he showed up when my father was preaching. At the end of the service, during a hymn, to everyone's amazement he came and took my father's hand. They sat down together on the front pew of the church as the people were dismissed. God opened his heart to the Gospel of Christ, and he was saved from his sins and given eternal life.

But that did not stop him from sobbing and saying, as the tears ran down his wrinkled face - and what an impact it made on me to hear my father say this through his own tears - "I've wasted it! I've wasted it!"

This was the story that gripped me more than all the stories of young people who died in car wrecks before they were converted - the story of an old man weeping that he had wasted his life. In those early years God awakened in me a fear and a passion not to waste my life. The thought of coming to my old age and saying through tears, "I've wasted it! I've wasted it!" was a fearful and horrible thought to me.

- John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

Only one life
'Twill soon be past
Only what's done
For Christ will last

Another Year is Dawning

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Another year is dawning
Dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting
Another year with Thee

Another year of progress
Another year of praise
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days