Gospel Light Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Gospel Light
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By Pastor Jason Lim
1. RECOGNITION OF THE BATTLE
The Devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to destroy our faith through fear, doubt, suffering
and sin. We must neither obsess over his attacks nor remain ignorant of them.
2. RESISTANCE IN THE BATTLE
Christians must be sober-minded, watchful and firm in faith. We resist by standing in God’s gospel
grace and obeying the commands Peter gives throughout his letter.
3. RESTORATION AFTER THE BATTLE
One day, suffering and conflict will end. God Himself will restore, strengthen and establish His
people, bringing them to glory. The Devil may roar, but remains tethered.
Therefore, stand firm in God’s grace and live faithfully amid hostility, for His
glory.
By Pastor Jason Lim
As elders lead humbly by example, the flock is called to submit.
The church must be clothed with humility in suffering.
1. ENGAGING WITH HUMILITY
Submit to elders, even when you disagree.
2. ENROBING WITH HUMILITY
Put on humility like a servant’s apron.
Let servanthood shape our posture, practice, and identity.
3. ENCOURAGING HUMILITY
Peter cites Proverbs 3:34.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
4. ENDURING IN HUMILITY
Accept difficult circumstances under God’s mighty hand,
trusting Him while awaiting Christ’s return.
5. ENTRUSTING IN HUMILITY
Cast every anxiety upon God, practising
the ABCDs explained in the sermon.
In suffering, trust and obey God. Follow Jesus in humility,
inviting sinners to cast their sins upon Him.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Healthy shepherds are needed for the suffering church to live out holiness in hostility,
so God may be glorified.
1. MEANING.
Elders are mature men of faith leading the church, also called overseers and shepherds.
The Bible speaks of a plurality of elders in each church.
2. MINISTRY
Elders shepherd the flock through oversight: feeding, leading, guiding, guarding.
Three contrasts mark their ministry: not for praise, profit, or power.
3. MOTIVATION
Elders look to the unfading crown of glory at Christ's return. As someone said,
"Elders may not be paid much, but the retirement is out of this world!"
May God bless our elders, raise up more, and stir your calling. May sinners look to Christ,
our Shepherd, for salvation.
By Pastor Chee Keen Seethor
The sermon on Good Friday at Gospel Light Christian Church emphasized
the significance of Jesus' sacrifice as detailed in Hebrews 9:20-28.
The speaker explained the Old Testament sacrificial system, highlighting
the high priest's role on the Day of Atonement. Jesus' sacrifice was
presented as superior, offering eternal forgiveness of sins. The sermon
contrasted the temporary nature of Old Testament rituals with Jesus'
once-and-for-all sacrifice. It underscored the urgency of accepting
Jesus for salvation, warning of the fearsome judgment without His
sacrifice. The message concluded with a call to believe in Jesus for
eternal life and to eagerly await His return.
By Brother Raynor Cheng
Romans 12:1–13 guides us in serving:
1. Live Sacrificially from God’s Mercies
Because God has shown mercy in Christ, we offer ourselves to Him, renew our minds, and walk humbly. Pride destroys unity in Christ’s body.
2. Loving Service within the Body
United in Christ, we use our gifts to serve one another—not mechanically, but lovingly.
3. Addressing Reasons of Paralysis and Priority
When serving takes a lesser role, the desire to love and serve others should still remain.
Let us serve with gospel joy, remembering Christ saved sinners like us.
4. Consider First Areas of Service that Actively Speak Gospel Truth in Love
Prioritise ministries that help the church grow in Christlikeness through truth spoken in love.
By Brother Luzerne Cheng
This sermon explores the biblical foundation of Christian service in John 15. Genuine service does not earn God’s favour but grows naturally from abiding in Christ.
Jesus, the true Vine, and the Father, the Vinedresser, produce the fruit of self-sacrificial love in believers. In contrast, outwardly impressive service motivated by recognition, approval, or self-interest is ultimately empty because the heart is far from God.
Joyful, sustained, and selfless ministry flows from delighting in Christ, meditating on his grace, and growing in love for him. As we behold Christ, service becomes the overflow of transformed hearts rather than mere duty. May his love warm our hearts!
By Pastor Jason Lim
We must be prepared for suffering. Peter tells us how:
- BE READY
Do not be surprised. Christians are strangers to the world, suffering witnesses to others, and suffering leads to glory. Trials reveal the genuineness of our faith.
- BE REJOICING
Suffering for Christ shows that His Spirit rests upon us. Believers may look forward to joy when Jesus returns.
- BE RESOLUTE
Do not quit or be ashamed. Glorify God in Jesus’ name. Remain steadfast, persevere, endure, and do good.
- BE RELYING
As Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father, so must we. Faith enables us to endure suffering. Instead of resenting, rejecting, resigning, or retreating, be ready, rejoicing, resolute, and relying. This is holy living amid hostility.
By Pastor Paul Choo
God established the family and appoints fathers to play a vital role in its spiritual direction and well-being. A father’s leadership, however, is not about control or status, but loving sacrifice, faithful example and service modelled after Christ.
Drawing from Ephesians 5–6, the presents the memorable formula “GO SLOW” for building a healthy, God-honouring family. Give thanks, practise the biblical “one-anothers,” submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, exercise loving leadership, and obey parents in the Lord.
Gratitude can reshape the atmosphere of a home, while mutual submission transforms relationships. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, parents must nurture rather than provoke their children, and children are called to honour and obey their parents.
Ultimately, fathers influence their families most powerfully not merely through what they teach, but through what they consistently model.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Christians live in a hostile world. Our savior was hated. We will be persecuted too. But we respond by focusing on our:
- VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
We are to be clear-minded about the return of Jesus, who will judge all things. We are to be prayerful for the sake of our purity and perseverance.
- HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH
Jesus' return should lead us to love one another earnestly. We show hospitality and serve one another with our gifts.
We are so prone to believe that what God is after in us is only huge acts of service. But God really intends for the Christian life to be a long journey of small, humble, and joyful obedience.
May God be glorified in His church!
By Pastor Jason Lim
There is only 1 command in this passage- to arm ourselves with the Jesus way of thinking to suffer well. Why?
1. EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
Whilst it is never easy to suffer, it's easier knowing we are not pioneers, but followers of suffering.
2. EXPECTATION OF CONFLICT
The world around us hates Christ and His church. Persecution is not strange, because we have become strange to the world.
3. EXONERATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
Whilst the world may judge us, God will vindicate us, and raise us to new life, like how He raised Jesus in the Spirit.
As Christ suffered before us, let us suffer well: do good, bless others, trust God, and glorify Him through the way of the cross.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Suffering is not a curse. It is the path of Jesus. Peter thus exhorts his readers to endure, to do good:
1. PROCLAMATION.
Jesus, after His death & resurrection, proclaimed His victory, by the Spirit, to fallen angels in Tartarus.
2. PROTECTION. Peter uses the same Noahic story to show just as God saved the 8 in the ark from the waters, He will save His people in Christ from His judgment, through Christ’s death & resurrection.
3. PRE-EMINENCE. Jesus shows that suffering injustice is the path to glory.
God wants us to be priests who glorify him. And it is via surprising ways of submission and suffering.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God can bring good to people as they suffer.
- REASSURANCE
Whilst Christians will suffer even when we do good, there is no ultimate harm. We can trust God, like David, and our greater David, Jesus.
- RESPONSE
We are called to:
Replace our Fear (fear God instead of man's threat). Relate our Faith (give a defence of the hope that is in us).
We are fishers of men in all circumstances.
- RESULTS
Peter summarises how suffering injustice is good. It brings good to us (promised inheritance), and good for others (present influence).
God wants us to be priests who glorify him. And it is via surprising ways of submission and suffering. This is the way of Jesus
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jesus said, "Love your enemies." Peter carries this ethos into His letter here in 1st Peter.
1. VALUES
Embrace the 5 inward values of harmony, sympathy, charity, pity & humility, so that they will be expressed in outward blessing to others.
2. VOCATION
To follow Jesus, is to withhold retaliation and to bless instead. This is what it means to be spiritual priests offering sacrifices.
3. VINDICATION
Whilst we may think non-retaliation will mean that we lose out, it will ultimately pay off when we receive our future inheritance and glory. Christians are free from vindictiveness because God is our vindication.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Husbands are commanded to subject themselves to their wives too- not in obeying them, but in understanding and honoring them.
1. UNDERSTANDING
Husbands are to live with their wives in an understanding way- Study your wife! Be an expert on your wife! Do a PhD on her!
2. UNDERTAKING
Instead of abusing their wives, husbands are to undertake the role of lifting her up. He is to honor her.
3. UNDERPINNING
There are 2 reasons why: 1) God values your wife. 2) God values your witness. She is a fellow heir with you. She is precious.
How you honor your wife will be a "sermon" people will watch and hear about Christ.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Wives are commanded to subject themselves to their husbands as an expression of their priesthood (2:9).
1. PRINCIPLE
Wives submit as part of God’s created order, doing so for the Lord’s sake and in reverence to Him—not by nagging, belittling, or “mothering” their husbands, but by appreciating, praying for, and supporting them.
2. PRIORITY
Wives should prize inner, soul-deep beauty over outward appearance, because it is imperishable, precious to God, and a powerful witness that can draw a husband to the Lord.
3. PATTERN
Holy women like Sarah submitted to their husbands because their hope was in God, not man. Trusting Him to make all things right in His time, they found freedom from the “what ifs” that threaten quiet confidence in submission.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Apostle Peter teaches the need to suffer injustice as a means of glorifying God.
1. COMMAND
Slaves must obey even unjust, harsh, wicked, and perverse masters. The fear of God is their motivation.
2. COMMENDATION
Suffering injustice in the hands of unjust masters is not meaningless but beautiful because God is honoured.
3. CALLING
We are called to follow Jesus, suffering injustice without retaliation.
4. CONFIDENCE
Jesus entrusted Himself to God who judges justly. And so can we.
5. CONSEQUENCE
Through our obedience (enduring in the face of injustice), people may be saved too, by the grace of God.
Suffering injustice is not a weakness, nor a waste, nor a wrong. It is the surprising plan of God to witness to and to win the lost.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The church is to be like a spiritual temple and a royal priesthood to proclaim God's excellencies. What is the best way to do so? Apostle Peter's emphasis is for the whole church to live rightly:
1. ABSTAIN
We are commanded to constantly abstain or hold away the fleshly lusts- lust, greed, anger, wrath, addiction, pride etc.
2. MAINTAIN
We abstain because we want to maintain a beautiful and attractive conduct before a watching world.
3. ATTAIN
The end goal is so that God may use our testimony to lead the unsaved to find salvation in His Son.
Peter is not teaching legalism but sanctification that leads to evangelism and glorification.
May our church be a lighthouse for the world we live in today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Apostle Peter's emphasis is for the whole church to live rightly. And it is first seen in the way we submit ourselves to the authorities over us:
- PRINCIPLE
We submit to our government not because of their performance (though that will make it easier!), but because of their position. Whilst we should not obey if they call us to sin, we are called to obey even unjust rulers.
- PURPOSE
We subject so that we may shine that godly beautiful life of biblical submission. Peter is singular in his motivation here. It is about God's glory.
- PARADOX
Whilst we are free in the gospel, we are to make ourselves slaves for God. So we honour all, including the emperor.
By Pastor Jason Lim
In the Old Testament, we are told God is the Rock.
In the New Testament, we also see that Jesus is the stone or rock:
- THE CORNERSTONE
Jesus is the foundation of the church. Rejected by Israel, He is the head of the church. He is chosen and precious. He gives life to those who come to Him.
- THE STUMBLING STONE
Sinful man rejects and disbelieves Him. They disobey His word and take offence with Him, and thus will trip and fall over Him. This is both their choice and God’s will.
- THE LIVING STONE
The resurrected Jesus is alive today, and He gives life to those who will come (and keep coming) to Him. Peter closes this section by showing that we are God’s new covenant people: His priesthood, called out of darkness, shown mercy, and made His own.
By Pastor Jason Lim
1. THE COMMAND TO LOVE
Love is self-giving for others, proven in action. We are to love the brotherhood earnestly, constantly, and sincerely, putting away love-killing sins: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander.
2. THE CONVERSION TO LOVE
We can love because we’ve been purified and given new hearts. Bor again through God’s eternal Word to a living hope, we need not live self-serving or anxious lives but can give ourselves to serve.
3. THE CRAVING THAT FUELS LOVE
Just as we have tasted the Word that gives us new birth in Christ, we are now to crave for the same Word that grows us so that we may love.
1. THE MARK OF THE NEW BIRTH
Verse 14 calls God’s people “children of obedience”, not because obedience makes us God’s children, but because the Spirit gives new birth so we can obey. Grace changes us so we now want to obey and actually do.
2. THE MANDATE OF THE NEW BIRTH
As children of obedience, we must live out who we are in Christ, like a butterfly that no longer crawls but flies. Peter urges us not to be shaped by our former ignorance, but to pursue holiness and conduct ourselves with reverent fear.
3. THE MOTIVATIONS OF THE NEW BIRTH
Peter calls for holiness because God is holy, impartial, love and faithful. It is about God-centered motivations
By Pastor Jason Lim
Peter speaks about:
1. THE PRIVILEGE
For a long time, the gospel was partially veiled, so much so that prophets & angels have searched to know its full details. But now the gospel is fully revealed. Peter wanted to show how privileged his readers were to have the full gospel message in their day.
2. THE PRIORITY
Because salvation is so great and the gospel so fully revealed, Peter urges believers to set their hope entirely on the coming glory, their new birth and their future inheritance. To do this, they must think clearly and soberly, disciplining their minds, replacing lies with gospel truth.
In hostility, they are to wipe away their tears to see clearly the hope that is to come. That is how they can have holiness in hostility.
By Elder Jeffrey Pang
During the time of the prophet Malachi, Israel was in spiritual decline. Though religious rituals continued, covenant faithfulness had eroded, most visibly in their marriages.
Many Israelites violated God’s covenant by marrying idol-worshippers, leading to spiritual compromise, social injustice, and widespread divorce. Malachi’s confrontation speaks powerfully to our own day, where marriage is often treated as optional, temporary, or redefinable. Scripture, however, presents marriage as central to God’s redemptive purposes: from the first marriage in Genesis to the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation.
Malachi’s message calls God’s people to recover His design and purpose for marriage, so that the Church may faithfully reflect His covenant love and be salt and light in a broken world.
By Pastor Jason Lim
These verses reveal more fully how God blesses us in the:
1. PAST
God caused us to be born again to a living hope. God gave us the ability to "see" the future glories of His inheritance. And in this we can rejoice, even in suffering.
2. PRESENT
God’s power guards us through faith, enabling us to endure to the end. Even amid suffering, we rejoice in the sure hope to come—this is the supernatural power of God’s gift of faith.
3. PROSPECT
God uses our faithful endurance to bring Him glory, and His gift of faith, love, and hope will one day result in praise and honour to Him. Peter offers no shallow promises, but points us to the gospel—where even amid trials, we rejoice in the sure hope of salvation and keep our eyes on the prize.
By Pastor Jason Lim
After 40 years and long instruction, Moses calls Israel to a decision: choose life -choose God through obedience. In the same way, our faith is defined by the choices we make.
1. THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
Moses reminds Israel of God’s faithful care and deliverance, calling them to covenant faithfulness. Likewise, God’s goodness toward us is meant to lead us to repentance.
2. THE PRECAUTION FROM GOD
Moses warns that rebellion and idolatry bring judgment, just as Jesus calls us to repent, for the Kingdom is near.
3. THE PROMISES OF GOD
God says, "I will circumcise you". He will change their hearts. Paul will speak of this circumcision and subsequent obedience in Rom 10:6-8.
Will you also choose life? Come to God. Ask Him by faith to circumcise your heart, that you may believe and obey.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We embark on a 20 week journey through the book of 1 Peter today.
- THE AUTHOR
Peter was a most colourful character in the Bible. And he was also an apostle, probably the most prominent amongst the original 12. And so what we will read is deeply interesting.
- THE AUDIENCE
This letter was written to the elect (both Jews and Gentiles) in Asia Minor of ancient Rome (modern day Turkey). They were scattered and were subject to harassment, hostility and persecution. And that is the reason for the letter- to urge the believers to live in holiness in the midst of hostility.
- THE AFFIRMATION
Instead of moping, moaning and groaning, Peter reminds his readers about their blessings in the gospel. He speaks of the Father's sovereign election, the Spirit's sanctifying work in their hearts, and the cleansing by the blood of Jesus. He also speaks of the grace and peace multiplied to God's people.
So, instead of a superficial "things will always get better soon", or a superficial "God is here for your comfort", let us learn the profound goal of "holiness in hostility". Jesus came not to live it up, but to give his life up for God's glory. May we follow Him.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Today we bid farewell to Moses. These 4 chapters reveal Moses' great confidence in God:
- THE SUCCESSION
As Moses hands leadership to Joshua, he entrusts Israel to God, confident that God, not Moses, will keep His covenant and lead them into blessing. Do we trust God in our own life and ministry transitions?
- THE SONG
Moses’s song (Deut. 32) is a witness-song: it exposes Israel’s sin and suffering, yet proclaims God’s ultimate supremacy. Do we trust Him when life feels messy and doesn’t make sense?
- THE SEND-OFF
Facing death, Moses blesses Israel, trusting God’s future goodness. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’ burial but points to the promised greater Prophet (Deut 18): Jesus, the greater Moses, who died and rose and leads us to the true Promised Land.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God commands Israel to make a national pledge when they enter Canaan. They will stand on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim to affirm the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.
- THE GRAVITY OF SIN
True happiness comes through obedience; unrepentant sin brings God’s judgment, so we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
- THE GAP IN SIN
Because judgment does not fall immediately, we may take sin lightly; yet this delay is God’s mercy, giving us time to repent - and a call to warn and preach to others.
- THE GRACE DESPITE SIN
Neither Israel nor we can keep the Law, but God provides forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus, so the blessings of heaven come to all who repent and believe in Him.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 6th–10th commandments teach love for neighbour. Given to Israel, they show how to become a gracious society—a people made beautiful not just by the land, but by the way they live.
- THE DESCRIPTION
By the last five commandments, Israel is to love one another by honouring life, guarding faithfulness, living generously, and walking in truth: even in the details of daily life.
- THE DESIRE
God has always desired His people to be a beautiful, blissful people of love - from Eden, through Israel, to the new creation, and His church today.
- THE DEPENDENCE
The Law could not make Israel beautiful. Only the Lord Himself can. And so it is for us. Only Christ and His Spirit can change us.
By Pastor Jason Lim
1. THE PEOPLE
Five groups are called to purge evil from Israel by serving with righteousness, justice, and impartiality - not self-interest - fearing God and obeying His Word.
2. THE PRINCIPLES
Their role is to purge evil and bless Israel, calling God’s people to submit to His appointed authorities. Leaders must serve with integrity, resist temptation, and be grounded in God’s Word.
3. THE PINING
Israel longed for a day when evil would be fully removed, but never saw it - made worse by corrupt priests, kings, and prophets. So they yearned for a perfect Saviour. 2000 years ago, He came! Jesus is that perfect prophet, priest and king who will purge his people from sin.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Deuteronomy 13:1–14:21 expands the 3rd commandment on honouring God’s name (between commandments 2 and 4), showing what it means to honour Him.
1. DEDICATION
Israel must stay loyal to God by rejecting and removing every enticement to idolatry, just as the New Testament calls the church to guard against false teachers through discipline.
2. DISTINCTION
Israel’s distinct food laws reinforced their holiness and separation from pagan practices, and while these laws don’t bind Christians today, the call to be holy and distinct in a sinful world remains.
Though Israel couldn’t keep the Law, Jesus obeyed perfectly and died to give believers His righteousness, so we are forgiven, cleansed, and saved.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 4th commandment is about honouring God via rhythms or periods- not just once a week for the Sabbath, but also in regular tithes, feasts and release in Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17.
1. THE CALENDAR
Israel observed regular tithes, a third-year tithe for the poor, a seventh-year sabbatical, and three annual pilgrim feasts (Passover, Weeks, Booths) for all males.
2. THE CHARACTER
These sabbaths, feasts and releases formed Israel in rest, remembrance and relief. May we also live out rest, remembrance and relief in the year ahead.
3. THE CHRIST
Col 2:16,17 says that these sabbaths and feasts point ultimately to Jesus. Jesus is our ultimate rest, reality and release.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 2nd commandment is about "How" we worship.
1. THE PROTECTION OF WORSHIP
Israel is commanded to eliminate all remnants and reminders of idolatrous worship. They are also to establish a central place of worship. All these protect the corporate worship of YHWH.
2. THE POSTURE OF WORSHIP
Unlike the abominable and cruel worship acts of Canaanites, Israel is to worship with rejoicing. They rejoice because they know God is the one who has delivered them from slavery into the abundant Promised land. And out of that joy, they give and sacrifice. True worship is gospel- and grace- centered. Out of gratitude for Jesus and His love, we rejoice and present ourselves a living sacrifice.
3. THE PRIORITY OF WORSHIP
The chapter opens and closes with a call to be careful to do all that is commanded. Also, when we see the kings of Israel, the KPI (Key Performance Index) seems to be their allegiance to true worship.
By Brother Raynor Cheng
The Ascended and Victorious Christ provides Word ministers to equip every believer to build the body of Christ. As each member speaks the truth of the gospel in love to each other, the body grows toward maturity in Christ, united in sound understanding and grows away from staying an infant at the merciless waves of deceit. God’s design for the church is not passive attendance but active, gospel-shaped participation, with every part working together under Christ the head.
By Pastor Chee Keen
This message is a look at the cross, from the perspective of the resurrection, to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what Jesus did for us, according to the Gospel. Through the journey of Thomas, from doubt to faith, of seeing and believing, we will observe a moving human drama of an unexpected encounter with the living God. And this may perhaps be our own journey too.
By Brother Luzerne Cheng
King David seeks out Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson. Though from the house of his enemy, David shows him kindness for Jonathan’s sake, restoring Saul’s land and giving him a permanent place at the king’s table. Mephibosheth, who calls himself a “dead dog,” is treated as one of the king’s sons—a stunning reversal that seems too good to be true.
This passage points us to Jesus, the ultimate kind King who offers grace that seems too goodto be true. God extends His kindness to “dead dogs” like us—dead in sin and of other allegiances— inviting us to sit at the King’s table not because of merit, but because of His generous kindness. Yet the kind King will return in judgment for those who reject His grace.
Our identity as adopted children, seated at His table, should transform how we view God and how we serve Him—with joyful willingness rather than joyless duty.
By Pastor Yu Fei Sin
The legacy that matters most isn’t what we achieve but the faith we pass on.
When we receive God’s truth deeply and retell His works boldly, we become a living bridge for those who come after us. This is the heartbeat of Psalm 78—faith that refuses to die with one generation.
May we be steadfast to Gospel Light’s mission, leading the next generation of believers who will one day rise, remember, and place their hope in Him.
By Hanniel Sinon
Life is full of seasons we don’t choose and moments we can’t control, so it often feels confusing and unfinished.
We move from joy to sorrow, from gain to loss, unable to stop time from pushing us along. Yet we still long for something more whole, lasting, and meaningful than life under the sun.
Solomon tells us this ache is no accident: God has put eternity in our hearts. Our restlessness isn’t meant to crush us but to draw us back to Him. To recognise that He is God and we are not, and that only He can satisfy our deepest hunger.
In the end, Ecclesiastes shows that this ache is an invitation to trust the One who holds time, to fear Him rightly, and to find in Him the life we were made for.
By Pastor Jason Lim
In 7 repetitions, Moses gives his reminders to Israel to love and obey God in this passage. Here we also learn:
1. THE MEANING OF LOVING GOD
To love God means fearing Him, walking in His ways, serving Him, keeping His commands, and clinging to Him: with right perspective, practice, passion, posture, principles, and perseverance.
2. THE MOTIVATIONS OF LOVING GOD
We love God because He first loved us, setting his sovereign love on undeserving sinners; yet Scripture warns that those in church but not in Christ, remain under his wrath and face judgment.
3. THE MANIFESTATIONS OF LOVING GOD
True love for God is seen in love for others, leadership of people to God, and loyalty to God
So, how can one truly love God? It is not natural to man. It must be a gift. It has to be a divine operation of the Spirit.
But one can humble oneself and ask God to give that new heart.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Israel is to love God with their all. And now in Deuteronomy 7, God calls for a total and radical elimination of the Canaanites by Israel. Why? Is this just? And how?
1. REQUIREMENT
Is God a moral monster? Is He good and just in this apparent Canaanite genocide? Discover 7 principles that will help you make sense of this command and how you can respond to seekers.
2. REASON
The clearing of the Canaanites is predicated on the sovereign love of God for Israel. In the same way, we fight sin today because of God's love for us.
3. REASSURANCE
We can have victory over sin because of Christ- we died with Him, and His Spirit lives in us. Discover what this means for you today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
To love God, Israel must remember Him: not merely in thought but in a life of obedience. This the key to true life and abundance.
1. REMEMBER GOD IN YOUR PAIN
The wilderness is God’s classroom, where pain exposes our hearts and teaches us to trust Him: so don’t waste your pain; humble yourself and remember His goodness.
2. REMEMBER GOD IN YOUR PROSPERITY
When things go well, pride can lift us up into self-reliance (“my power did this”) or self-righteousness (“I’m better than others”), but every good gift comes from God by grace.
3. REMEMBER GOD IN YOUR PARDON
As Moses pleaded for Israel on the basis of God’s promise and glory, so Jesus now intercedes for us (Heb 7:25), saving us completely as our forgiveness rests not on our goodness but on God’s faithful grace.
Remember God in every season by loving and obeying Him, for where Israel failed, Jesus obeyed perfectly and died for our sins: so remember Him for His gospel.
Christian parenting is not aiming for Harvard, but Heaven. But to point our children to God and His gospel requires work.
In Deuteronomy 6, we learn it involves:
1. INTERNALISATION
To teach God's Word, we need to internalise God's word. Not just to know or to memorise, but to also live it out. To help our kids know what it means to love God, we 've got to love God!
2. IMPARTATION
It is the parents' responsibility to teach our children about God. This cannot be farmed out. We've got to do it convincingly, consistently, conversationally, creatively and conspicuously.
3. INSTRUCTIONS
We are to teach our children the Shema (last week's sermon). But this passage elaborates further on what that all means. It is about the Favour of God, the Fear of God & the Faith in God.
We’ll never fully keep the Shema—but Jesus did. He paid our sin debt. Come to the cross and find grace in Him alone.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Law is summarised in the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. It speaks of the Fundamental Doctrine and the Fundamental Duty.
1. GOAL OF THE LAW
God’s Law is about love, not just rules: love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength wholly and Him alone.
2. GOODNESS OF THE LAW
Obedience brings blessing, but no judge or king keeps God’s Law. We all fail—except Jesus. He fulfilled the Law, loved the Father perfectly, and secured its promised good. Repent and believe in Him for eternal life—the greatest love of all.
3. GRACE TO DO THE LAW
God’s people can live out this Law, because Christ lives in us. He has given us a new heart and a new Spirit. This love for God and obedience to His Word is the evidence of true salvation. May God lead you to the cross, for grace and goodness in Jesus alone.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The last, but not the least. The 10th commandment is often the root of many other sins.
1. MEANING
This command forbids sinful coveting—craving what’s illegitimate or desiring good things for wrong reasons. At root, covetousness doubts God’s goodness, love, wisdom, and power, so we grasp to secure our own happiness.
2. MISERY
Yet this sinful coveting never ends well. It results in evil- hurts/wars/quarrels/fights. It is empty- Ecc 5:10, Luk 12:15, Mar 8:36. And it is enslaving- 1Ti 6:9-12.
3. MEETING
God’s people can live out this Law, because Christ lives in us. We have a new Position (no more slaves to sin), a new Passion (a new heart that loves God) and a new Power (His Spirit in us).
Fight coveting with three C’s: Contentment (Heb 13:15), Contribution (generous to meet needs), and Consecration (Kingdom values and goals).
The tenth commandment aims for God’s people to display Christlike love and generosity—let’s live this in our gospel communities.
And may these 10 commandments humble you (“I am a hopeless sinner”) and lead you to salvation in Jesus (“He is our sin-bearer”).
By Pastor Jason Lim
We all lie. No one needs to teach us to. Since a child, we lie to avoid consequences, or to get what we want. Whole industries are set up to counter lies.
- BREAKING THE LAW
People lie because of cowardice, covetousness, conceit or contention. People lie because we are self-centered.
- BURDEN OF THE LAW
The Law exposes and magnifies our sin—we’re fully seen, and we feel its weight. All we can confess is, “I am a hopeless sinner.” But the gospel announces: Jesus is our sin-bearer—he died for thieves like us, washes our sins, and changes our lives when we ask him.God’s promise of salvation in Christ is sure—you can trust him.
- BEAUTY OF THE LAW
In Christ, we can live this Law: a new position (no longer slaves to sin), a new passion (hearts that love God), and a new power (His Spirit in us). So we turn from lies to truthful, gracious words that build and bless.Ultimately, the ninth commandment calls us to display Christlike love and generosity—let’s live this together in our gospel communities.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Not many will admit to being a thief. But if we consider this commandment more seriously, we will have to.
1) BREAKING THE LAW
Scripture condemns all theft—embezzling, cheating, robbing, extortion, kidnapping. We see it publicly (shoplifting, scams, burglary) and personally at work, in business, taxes, IP, digital media—even by stealing time when we’re late. We all break the 8th commandment.
2) BURDEN OF THE LAW
The Law exposes our sin and leaves us confessing, “I am a hopeless sinner.” But the Bible’s good news is this: Jesus is our sin-bearer. He died for thieves like us, to forgive and transform all who ask Him.
3) BEAUTY OF THE LAW
Because Christ lives in us, we have a new Position (no longer slaves to sin), Passion (new heart), and Power (His Spirit). So we turn from taking to giving (Eph 4:28; Zacchaeus), and love like the Good Samaritan. As a church, don’t Punch or Pass—Pick him up!
The ultimate goal of the 8th commandment is for God's people to display the love and generosity that portray the love of Christ and His church.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We live in a sex-saturated age with shifting norms. Youth are inundated online; porn is a pandemic; sexual sin surges. In this climate, we must hear the seventh commandment:
1. PROTECTION
The command safeguards marriage (Gen 2:24), forbidding bodily sins—premarital sex, homosexual acts, polygamy—and mental lust (Matt 5). God gives it for our good and joy, not as a killjoy.
2. PREPARATION
The Law exposes our sin and our inability to self-justify. It points to Jesus—who obeyed, died, and rose to give us His righteousness. All who humble themselves before Him are forgiven and saved.
3. PRACTICE
Only those born again in Christ can truly live out this commandment. United with Him, they receive a new Position (free from sin’s slavery), a new Passion (love for God), and a new Power (the Spirit within). Even sex addicts can be freed—if they come to Jesus.
To keep this commandment, we must also learn to Flee, Fight, Fortify, Fellowship, and Fulfill. The ultimate goal is that God’s people display faithfulness in marriage as a reflection of Christ’s love for His church.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The sixth commandment is brief, yet often broken. We keep it on three levels:
LEVEL 1
The Hebrew term means wrongful killing—premeditated or accidental (manslaughter). It excludes capital punishment, self-defense, and some just wars, but includes most abortion, suicide, and euthanasia.
LEVEL 2
Jesus raised the bar: anger, insults, and contempt are “heart-murder.” He also warns against provoking murder in others’ hearts.
LEVEL 3
The summit is not mere avoidance of harm but active, costly love—like the Good Samaritan: love enemies and lay down our lives, as Jesus did.
None of us keeps the Law perfectly; it exposes our sin and drives us to Christ, the only perfect Law-keeper who died to save law-breakers. Risen today, He enables His people to obey. God’s people must be marked by love—may we truly love one another.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 10 Commandments are a summary of God's rules and statutes for His people.
1. THE PLACEMENTS.
They are organized into two tablets of stone. They begin with commands that teach us to love God. This highlights that our vertical relationship with God is the most important relationship in life.
2. THE PRINCIPLES.
A. Package- Breaking one law makes us guilty of all. We cannot pick and choose.
B. Positive too- Love is not just about withholding bad things, but also giving good things.
C. Penetrating- The Law governs our inward attitudes, not just outward actions.
3. THE PURPOSES.
The laws are given for our benefit:
A. Reflects the Sovereign- They show us the Law-giver and guide us in how to reflect God better.
B. Reveals our Sins/Sinfulness- The Law condemns us in our sin, but it cannot remove our sins. C. Redirects to our Savior- The Law drives us to Jesus, our Physician of the soul.
D. Ring fences our Soul- The Law protects and blesses us when we obey.
4. THE POWER.
The power to obey comes from God, who gives us a new heart and His Spirit (Deuteronomy 30:6–8). May seekers turn to Jesus (not to the Law) to be saved from our sins.
May God's people delight in God's laws and obey in the power of His Spirit!
By Pastor Jason Lim
As the saying goes: teachers fear principals, principals fear parents, parents fear
children—while children fear no one. In these last days (2 Tim. 3:2), the Fifth
Commandment is urgently relevant.
THE EXPLANATION
Honour means esteeming and valuing. In Hebrew, it’s ‘make heavy’: regard parents as
weighty and important—not beneath us—because God set them over us.
THE EXCELLENCE
God promises good to those who honour their parents and judgment to those who curse or
attack them. Honour is wise—parents guard, guide, and grow us.
THE EXPRESSION
Honouring our parents is not just attitudinal; it is also actionable. There are concrete
manifestations:
Submit
Speak well
Support
None of us keeps this Law; only Jesus did—honouring His parents and His Father perfectly.
He died to cleanse our sins and credit us His righteousness. The Law exposes sin; Jesus saves.
Repent and believe today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
In a work-obsessed nation, the Fourth Commandment is God’s oasis. Rather than debate its binding force, hear Jesus: ‘The Sabbath was made for man’ (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath isn’t a burden but a blessing—for:
REST
This command frees us to trust God: we don’t need to work 24/7. Push that hard and we break. Instead, rest—pause, lie down, breathe. Stressed and sleepless? Recover God’s Genesis rhythm: one-in-seven for your soul.
REMEMBER
The Sabbath is meant for us to remember God—how He is both Creator and Saviour. We align ourselves with Him as we repent and rejoice. This is often the spiritual lifeline for busy people in a cosmopolitan world.
RELIEVE
We can be full of good works and of service to others. As Jesus said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
So instead of asking if we must keep the Sabbath, think about what you will miss out on if you don’t! The Sabbath was made for you!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jesus breaks down age-old barriers to form a united people- the church. There is now no more Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, in terms of how we should treat one another differently. Therefore, favoritism (which is unfair and preferential treatment of one, and despising another, because of self-interest &/or pride) is contrary to the work of God.
Instead of loving one another and showing mercy to the needy, favoritism is rooted in self-centredness. And this self-centredness may be a reflection of an unregenerate heart. He may call himself a Christian, and think he is a Christian, but may not actually be a Christian. He may be practicing a false or empty and vain religion.
This sermon will help one examine one's life and encourage true believers to grow in love and good works.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God's name is not just His title, but the representation of His totality. To take His name in vain is to take Him lightly. It means we treat Him as empty or of little worth. Instead, we are to revere and honour Him and His name.
THE PROHIBITIONS
This commandment warns against any form of blasphemy, profanity, frivolity, or hypocrisy with respect to His name. But it is not only in our words, but also in our works—e.g., Malachi 1:6–7; Romans 2:21–24.
THE PURPOSES (OTHER)
The Law can’t save; it exposes our sin and points us to the Savior. Jesus alone fully honors the Father (Jn 17:4, 6, 26) and died for our sins. Through Him, God gives new hearts and His Spirit. All who call on His name will be saved.
THE PURSUIT
Instead of just avoiding the prohibitions, God's people should actively pursue the full intent of this Law. We are therefore to praise, pray, practice, and preach God's name.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 2nd commandment is not just an extension or an application of the 1st commandment. The 2nd commandment is, in fact, crucial to the fulfilment of the 1st, and even the rest of the commandments.
THE COMMAND
The 1st commandment addresses the Who of worship; the 2nd addresses the How. The 1st guards against worshipping the wrong person; the 2nd against forming the wrong picture. The 1st errs by addition (more gods), the 2nd by subtraction (reducing God to something less). This applies not only to physical idols but also to mental ones. Idolatry is entertaining thoughts unworthy of God.
THE CAUTION
There is a severe warning, for God must deal with any misrepresentation of who He is for the good of the people. People trust and hope in Him, and His greatness and worthiness will not be undermined by false images (material or mental). Those who hate God will be judged.
THE COMFORT
God promises blessing to those who love and honour Him rightly. True love is not only shown in service but also in seeking to know Him. We know Him not by imagination but through His revelation in Scripture. Only God can lead us to a right knowledge of Himself, and His people must diligently pursue Him in His Word.
Most of all, thank God that Jesus paid for all our sins—even when we misrepresented Him!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 1st commandment is the most important of the 10. It shows us:
THE CAPACITY TO WORSHIP
Man is created with the desire, the instinct, and the drive for worship. Either you worship the true God, or you worship false gods — but we all have a god.
THE COMPETITION IN WORSHIP
There were many gods during Moses’ time, and there are still many gods today. From traditional religions to modern-day functional gods of possessions, prosperity, pleasure, praise, or people, our hearts are tempted by many false gods.
THE CALL FOR WORSHIP
God calls us to worship Him alone — not that He is first, but that He is the only one. This is because all other gods are no gods; they cannot respond. But the God of the Bible alone is our Creator, Sustainer, Judge, and Saviour. Our hearts are made for God. Only the God of the Bible can satisfy our hearts. Knowing Him enables us to live in righteousness and fulfill all the commandments by His power.
So, how can we fulfill the 1st commandment? Only when God circumcises our hearts and gives us new hearts to love Him (Deu. 30:6–8). He sent His Son, who lived a perfect life (worshipping God alone even in the midst of great temptations), to die for us and save us from our sins. So humble yourself and look to Jesus to be saved.
For all believers, let us destroy the idols in our hearts one by one. Let us fight for faith and loyalty to Him (through the Word, prayer, and community), and may we love and serve God — and God alone.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Moses now persuades Israel to obey God after he has highlighted the events in Deuteronomy 1-3.
1) THE CALL
Moses commends to Israel the blessings of obedience. They will live and possess the land when they obey. They will also be a light to the nations, when people see how a wise and understanding people they. The laws are for their good and flourishing.
2) THE CAUTION
He also adopts the "stick" approach, warning them of severe consequences for disobedience. His warnings take on a prophetic character when they predict the exact disastrous path Israel will tread. This reminds us that whilst God's laws are good, we are weak and powerless to obey. The Law can't save us. Only Jesus can.
3) THE COMFORT
But all hope is not lost. God is still faithful to His promises to Abraham, even if Israel is unfaithful. There will come a future generation who, when afflicted, will seek God with all their heart. And God will be merciful to save them through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
May seekers turn to Jesus (not to the Law) to be saved.
May God's people delight in God's laws and obey in the power of His Spirit!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Instead of being angry and living in sin because of the pains of trials, the people of God should exude righteousness.
But what does this righteous life look like? How can you and I practically do it? And why does this matter at all?
James teaches about living in righteousness in trials here:
- Instructions
A true Christian is evidenced by obedience to God’s Word even through trials, producing righteousness rather than anger & sin. Therefore, he forsakes anger and sin. Instead, he pursues righteousness in speech, in service & in sanctification.
- Illustration
James provides an example of the man in the mirror. He who sees and changes what he sees (his anger and sinful life) is wise and will be blessed. He who sees and does nothing about it (continues in anger and sin) is foolish and will not save his soul.
- Implications
True and False religion is not evidenced by mere profession, but by demonstration. The true Christian bridles his tongue, serves the poor & needy, and lives unstained in the world.
In trials, let us not be tempted by our own desires, but humbly receive God's Word and live our persevering obedience, for that is the way to save our soul and inherit the crown and life. This is religion pure and undefiled.
May we rejoice, request, reflect, receive and respond!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Moses stirs up Israel's faith and obedience by reminding them of three events in their history. They also highlight biblical motivations for the Christian life today.
1) THE COVENANT
God's favour is freely, graciously, and unwaveringly bestowed upon Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their offspring. The goodness of God should lead Israel to faith and obedience. And it is God's goodness to us in the gospel that motivates our obedience to Him too.
2) THE COLLAPSE
Israel collapsed in unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, and they were severely punished. Like Israel then, Christians today should also be warned of the danger of ongoing sin, for it may reveal hypocrisy (that one may be in church but not in Christ) and result in one's damnation.
3) THE CONQUESTS
God did not give up on Israel but blessed their second generation with remarkable victories over the powerful kings east of the Jordan. And Moses recounted their conquests to show that Canaan would be no different.
Christians today battle sin not in our strength, but in God's strength. The battle is the Lord's. We can do our ABCDs to trust and obey!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Moses held a kind of "Living Funeral" 40 days before he was to pass away. He gathered Israel to speak to them before they would soon cross into the Promised Land. His message was not to get them to sharpen their knives or brush up on their military tactics, but to obey God. He reminds them of God's:
PROVISIONS
God calls His people to love and obey Him—not to earn His love, but in response to it. His past provision reminds us: we love because He first loved us. The gospel fuels grateful obedience, unlike legalism or self-righteousness, which cannot save or glorify God.
PUNISHMENTS
Israel’s disobedience brought judgment. God, a consuming fire, warns that unfaithfulness leads to curses, symbolized at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Today, not all in the church truly belong to Christ—those who remain unrepentant may reveal themselves as hypocrites and face eternal punishment.
PROMISES
Obedience brings blessings—not as wages earned, but as gifts of grace. The greatest promise is a new heart (Deut. 30:6)—the New Covenant. When we fail, God does not. He will save and transform those who humble themselves and trust in Jesus.
May the words of a dying man (Moses) lead you to life! May Jesus' death lead you to eternal life!
By Pastor Nazario Sinon
For his final sermon before retiring from full-time ministry, Pastor Nazario Sinon teaches from Psalm 90.
Psalm 90, the only psalm attributed to Moses, is a sobering yet hope-filled prayer that brings us face to face with the eternal greatness of God and the fragile brevity of human life. It reminds us that our days are limited, our lives marked by sin and suffering—but that God is our eternal refuge and source of mercy.
Moses doesn’t just lament the shortness of life—he teaches us how to respond: with humility, repentance, and a wise, joy-filled dependence on God. In a world that rushes toward the temporary, Psalm 90 calls us to number our days, seek God’s compassion, and anchor our work and hope in the One who is from everlasting to everlasting.
By Pastor Jason Lim
When we face suffering, we need to go to God's Word (Jas 1:21), and we need to pray (Jas 5:12).
1) THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER When we face suffering, prayer should be our first response—not our last resort. But what do we pray for? We can pray for: A) the removal of suffering, B) the strength to remain steadfast through suffering, or C) the ability to rejoice in suffering.
2) THE POWER OF PRAYER The prayer of faith can bring healing—especially when elders pray for those who are sick due to sin, and who then confess and repent. God may use sickness to prompt repentance, and prayer becomes the means of restoration, bringing glory to God.
3) THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER Encouraged by this, believers should confess to and pray for one another in order to find healing. Confession exposes sin to the light of the gospel, preventing it from festering in secrecy. True holiness requires a community that fosters both accountability and grace.
By Pastor Jason Lim
James returns to the subject of suffering that he began with in this letter. He urges his readers to be patient in suffering.
1) THE MEANING OF PATIENCE Patience is enduring hardship without bitterness or sin. James warns against grumbling or swearing and calls believers to put away all wickedness—even in suffering. Trials are no excuse for sinful behavior.
2) THE MOTIVATION OF PATIENCE James doesn't promise relief in this life but urges patience because the Lord is coming. Present suffering points to future glory. Jesus’ return brings reward for the faithful—and judgment for the unrepentant.
3) THE MODELS OF PATIENCE The prophets and Job are examples of endurance. Their lives show that steadfastness in suffering is blessed and worth emulating.
Good things come to those who wait for the Lord. Patience reveals true faith, which God will reward. And above all, we follow the example of Christ, who suffered patiently and was glorified.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Many people train for sports, music, art, or work. But it is even more important to train for godliness.
THE EXPLANATION Godliness is devotion to God that leads to a life pleasing to Him. It is both inward and outward; it involves both attitude and actions.
THE EXERCISE Godliness is not automatic; one must train for it. It requires effort, hard work, and discipline. No pain, no gain. We need to work hard in the study of Scripture—to be built up in sound doctrine as we avoid silly myths. Besides that, using the acrostic S.P.A.C.E, we must also labour in Scripture, Prayer, Abstinence, Community, and Examples.
THE EXCELLENCE Bodily exercise is good, but training for godliness is even better! It benefits both this present life and the life to come.
Draw up a spiritual fitness plan today! Keep at it, and let this be Day One in your pursuit of godliness.
By Pastor Jason Lim
People exploit others for money—even in the church. James warns the wealthy who fuel their indulgence through injustice that their riches will one day testify against them. If unrepentant, they face coming judgment.
THEIR WANTONNESS They live for luxury and pleasure. They do not love the Lord.
THEIR WICKEDNESS They fund their indulgent lifestyle by defrauding the poor and withholding their wages. They even sue them. This has resulted in lives lost.
THEIR WITNESSES All the wealth they’ve accumulated will not bring lasting joy. Instead, it will serve as evidence against them on the final day of judgment.
THEIR WRETCHEDNESS Their doom is certain if they remain unrepentant. The Lord of Hosts (angelic armies) will judge them. One can be in church, but not in Christ. Judgment may fall on many in the church!
THEIR WARNING These words are written as a warning, so the sinner may turn back to God. While we do not know how James’ original readers responded, you can respond today—with repentance and faith!
By Pastor Paul Choo
Gospel Light Christian Church (GLCC) has always been missional—not just rooted in the community, but reaching the nations. From giving up to 90% of our budget to missions, to launching Asia’s largest seminary and training thousands of leaders, GLCC is committed to multiplying disciples and planting churches that transform lives.
Today, through GoFeed Philippines and the Goducate Training Centre, our teams serve in 10 countries—reaching the last, least, and lost.
Watch this sermon to hear how God is using GLCC Missions—and how you can be part of it: https://bit.ly/43Jpo2Z
By Pastor Jason Lim
THE SIN
James puts his finger on the people's arrogant presumption and boast that they can control their own destiny and plan without acknowledging God's sovereignty over them. This boast of arrogance is foolish, for no one knows what tomorrow brings.
THE SUBMISSION
There is nothing wrong with planning or profit. But it is important that our plans be made in humble submission to God's will. This involves prayer for guidance, thanksgiving regardless of the outcome, and faithful obedience in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
THE SIGNIFICANCE
So why this teaching? The purpose is to show that such arrogance and presumption may reveal an unregenerate heart—that contrary to their claims, they do not practice true religion. The true believer prays, "Not my will, but Thy will be done!"
By Pastor Jason Lim
THE SIN
Speaking evil is to accuse or slander with malicious or evil intent. It is using words to condemn. But this is not just a sin of the lips, for it is primarily a sin of the heart — a heart that bears a grudge, is filled with a desire for vengeance, or is driven by envy and jealousy. Therefore, speaking evil is murder with words.
THE SEVERITY
Whilst we often think speech sins are minor, unlike "bigger" sins like adultery or murder, James makes it quite clear they are serious and severe sins too — for they break God's family, make light of God's royal Law, and are, in effect, acts of rebellion against God.
THE SIGNIFICANCE
So why this teaching? The purpose is to show that such patterns of speech may reveal an unregenerate heart — that, contrary to their claims, they do not practice true religion if they constantly speak evil against one another. The hope is that they will not continue to do so, but will bridle their tongue and use it for words of blessing — thereby evidencing that they are truly born again as God's people. And for those who do not see this "sign" of salvation in you, may you repent and believe in Jesus to be saved, and He will give you a new heart.
By Pastor Jason Lim
THE CAUSE
Why do church people fight? Is it because of scarcity? Or is it because of personality? James identifies the source to be Hedones (wrongful desires for worldly pleasures) in our members.
THE CAUTION
And James raises the stakes to say that such strife, as a result of sinful desires, reveals a heart that does not really love God. He calls such people adulteresses and enemies of God! In other words, James is saying there is no middle ground or neutral state. You either love God or hate God! This is not a difference between a good Christian and a bad Christian. It's the difference between a true Christian and a hypocrite!
THE COMEBACK
So what can we do if we strive and find that we actually love the world? There is a comeback possible for you. God welcomes you back home. And James lays out the steps you can take. Discover his 10-step recovery process. It is not too late!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The world thinks that wisdom is primarily about knowledge and intelligence— or that wisdom is the ability to get things done or to get our own way. But according to James, true heavenly wisdom is seen in one's conduct—particularly in the trait of meekness.
James goes on to say that "wisdom" borne out of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, or that which results in disorder or wicked deeds, is from the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is selfish, splintering, and sinful. But the wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and productive.
James is therefore showing us that true religion—and heavenly wisdom—is marked by a life unstained by the world. It seeks purity, peace, and blessing in others. Wise people persevere in these works and lay for themselves a good foundation for the judgment to come. Salvation is received in a moment, but it is revealed over a lifetime!
By Pastor Jason Lim
James teaches us that the tongue is uncontrollable; no man can tame his tongue. He also teaches us that the tongue is destructive: it is a fire and can destroy lives. But it is also important to see that these are not the main lessons about the tongue.
The purpose James teaches about the tongue is understood from James 1:26. He says that true religion is seen when one bridles his tongue. In other words, the tongue is a test to reveal who you really are — do you have true or false religion?
James will teach us about the caution, the control, the consequences, and the contradiction of the tongue. But we will also see the cure for the tongue.
By Pastor Jason Lim
John wrote his gospel to prove Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He recorded several miraculous signs Jesus did so that we may believe Jesus is the Christ. (John 20:31). The last and perhaps the most spectacular of them all in the first 11 chapters must be the resurrection of Lazarus in Chapter 11.
Lazarus was dead and his body laid in decay (4 days in the tomb). His body was a picture of utter hopelessness. But Jesus used this dire situation to draw out the faith of Martha, and to coach her to believe that He IS God the very God, and IS the resurrection and the life.
The amazing resurrection was thus to glorify Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and also that He is the resurrection & the life. It also foreshadowed an even greater resurrection, when Jesus would take up His own life after He laid it down at the cross.
Today, we are faced with the question, "Who is Jesus Christ?" May the resurrection help you see that the Bible's witness is reliable- that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God, and that He is able to save us from our sins. May you turn to Him for life eternal.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Martin Luther, who began the Protestant Reformation, commented that the letter of James is a "letter of straw", meaning it had little value because he could not find the gospel there. Luther claimed James “mangles the Scriptures and thereby opposes Paul and all Scripture.” This is in no small part due to the statements in chapter 2 which we are looking at today. So, does James actually teach that a man is justified by works (Jas 2:21,24)?
This sermon seeks to answer the question. It looks into what true salvation is all about, and what it takes for a man to be saved. It reveals the relationship between faith and works. It provides clarity as to who is right- Paul James, both, or none!
But more than that, it helps you see what true faith and true religion is, so that you may live wisely and lay up for yourself a good foundation for the judgment that is to come. Do God's will, and when the storm of Final Judgment arrives, your house will stand.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jesus breaks down age-old barriers to form a united people—the church. There is now no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, in terms of how we should treat one another. Therefore, favoritism (which is unfair and preferential treatment of one person while despising another, due to self-interest and/or pride) is contrary to the work of God.
Instead of loving one another and showing mercy to the needy, favoritism is rooted in self-centeredness. This self-centeredness may reflect an unregenerate heart. A person may call himself a Christian and believe he is a Christian, but he may not actually be one. He may be practicing a false, empty, and vain religion.
This sermon will help individuals examine their lives and encourage true believers to grow in love and good works.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Instead of being angry and living in sin because of the pains of trials, the people of God should exude righteousness. But what does this righteous life look like? How can you and I practically live it? And why does this matter at all?
James teaches about living in righteousness during trials here:
1. Instructions - True faith is shown through obedience, not anger. A believer forsakes sin and pursues righteousness in speech, service, and sanctification.
2. Illustration – James compares a person to a man looking in a mirror. The wise see their flaws and change; the foolish ignore them and remain in sin.
3. Implications – True faith is not just professed but demonstrated. A genuine believer controls his tongue, serves the needy, and remains unstained by the world.
In trials, resist sinful desires, receive God’s Word, and live in obedience. This is true, undefiled religion—the path to eternal life. Let us rejoice, request, reflect, receive, and respond!
By Pastor Jason Lim
One of the easiest ways to deal with our mistakes is to blame others.
And we can even blame God for our sins. James writes to those who
blame God, or who are going to blame God, for their sin when they go
through trials. He says that no one should do so, and he furnishes 3 reasons why.
1.Incorruptibility of God.
God cannot be tempted with sin, and He Himself tempts no one. We sin because
of our own evil desire. God is not to be blamed for our sin.
- Invariability of God.
God invariably gives good and perfect gifts to His people. He doesn't change.
He will not tempt you to sin.
- Intentionality of God.
God's will from the beginning is for your glory and beauty. He will not sabotage
His own will by leading you to sin.
James defends that God is righteous even in the presence of evil and suffering.
This is theodicy. So why does God allow sin and evil? Is He truly good? And is
He truly great? Even when sin abounds?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Genesis 50 speaks of 2 deaths - of Jacob and Joseph.
It is like an echo from the Garden of Eden when God said, "In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
But even though the book of Genesis ends with death, it looks forward to life beyond death!
Genesis 50, together with the rest of Genesis, points to the Promise, Providence & Power of Faith.
- Promise.
The promise of the savior is the golden thread that runs through the entire book of Genesis.
God is a promise-maker and a promise-keeper. Though man dies, yet those who believe in the savior will live.
- Providence.
God purposely ordains and works all things to fulfill His promises and purposes.
Nothing is left to chance. Even painful and sinful things can be and are used for God's purposes.
- Power of Faith.
There are people who believe in God and His promises, and those who do have their lives changed as a result.
These are the main themes of Genesis 50, and also the whole book of Genesis.
In fact, these are the main themes even of the whole Bible!
So here we are, having explored the seedlings of Promise, Providence, and the Power of Faith in the book of Genesis (beginnings).
By Pastor Jason Lim
Fortune-telling, or clairvoyance, is fascinating to us. So it is interesting that Jacob would be able to tell the future of his children in Genesis 49. I suppose he could do it only because God had first revealed it to him. And so when he was about to die, Jacob would call his sons together to bless them, in order to encourage them regarding God's promise to flourish them.
We will take a quick look at the blessings of the 12 tribes of Israel in Genesis 49.
This is a sermon that continues to explore the thread of the promise of the Messiah.
This is also a message that reminds us of our own future.
By Pastor Sin Yu Fei
"The Book of Ruth is a story of loyalty, redemption, and God’s providence.
After losing her husband, Ruth, a Moabite, chooses to stay with her Israelite
mother-in-law, Naomi, declaring, “Your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16).
In Bethlehem, she gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s late
husband. Boaz fulfills the role of a kinsman-redeemer by marrying Ruth,
providing for her and Naomi. Their son, Obed, becomes the grandfather
of King David, placing Ruth in the lineage of Christ.
Through this story,
we see God’s providential care and His redemptive plan unfolding through
ordinary lives and faithful choices."
By Pastor Jason Lim
The wise look at and go through trials in a very different way.
Instead of wavering and doubting the worth of God, the wise see
further than the average man and:
- Rejoice
He counts it all joy, because he knows sufferings work steadfastness
or endurance, which then leads to growth and maturity. He is not
ruled by his feelings. He leads his life with deliberate thinking according
to God's Word to rejoice.
- Request.
With a heart fully loyal and committed to God, the wise asks for wisdom
as to how he can practically count it all joy and to endure.
- Reflect.
The wise reflects on the "Now" and "Forever." If he is poor, he rejoices in
the future glory. If he is rich, he also rejoices in his future death
(and subsequent glory). So, both the rich and poor look beyond the
"Now" to grasp the "Forever."
They who endure to the end, prove their love to God, and thus will receive
the Crown of Life.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The author of this letter is likely James, the half-brother of Jesus.
Let's get to know him.
- James the Saint
He was a believer of Jesus Christ. In fact, he was the leader of the
Jerusalem Church. But he did not believe in Jesus when he was
growing up. It was likely that it was only after the death and
resurrection of Jesus that he believed. And the miracle of
conversion is that his life is completely changed from a sceptic
to being a leader.
- James the Servant
Though he could have paraded himself as the brother of Jesus,
he'd rather be known as the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He gladly identified himself as a "doulous"- a lowly slave who exists
to do the will of his master. May God give us a church of servants who
will serve because Jesus gave His life for us!
- James the Sage
James soaked in the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs and of Jesus in
the Sermon on the Mount, and wrote to point people to spiritual wisdom
from God, amidst issues like sufferings, self-centredness, speech and
strife. Let us learn from the next few weeks and months how we can
skillfully live in wisdom for God's glory!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Our last message in Numbers will focus on God's Promise of Blessings regarding Canaan.
It is a picture of how God blesses His people with spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3) today. We see.
- The Compromise.
The 2½ tribes want to stay close to, but not in, the Promised Land.
People today can come close to God's blessings in Christ, but still remain outside due to unbelief.
- The Course.
The 40 years of journey across more than 40 places tells of God's faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness.
Thank God if He has led you from "Egypt" to "Moab". But don't stay there! Cross into Canaan!
- The Conquest.
Canaanites and their idolatrous practices will be a thorn and snare for Israel.
Sins and sinful influences not dealt with will shipwreck our faith as well.
- The Carving.
The land divided includes provisions of Levitical Cities of Refuge
There is pardon for the believer in Christ because of His priestly advocacy.
- The Confidence.
Israel had faith in God's promise to bless.
It is faith in God that motivates us to obedience.
By Pastor Jason Lim
People have a hard time believing God is wrathful and will exact vengeance. They want a God of love, and cannot accept a God of wrath. Yet the Bible speaks repeatedly about God's righteous wrath on sinful men. In fact, it speaks of God's wrath as one of His many glorious attributes.
But how do I reconcile a good God with someone who commands Israel to kill babies and commit near genocide? What about the total eradication of certain people groups? Why is God so wrathful?
The struggle lies in how differently God and us see sin. We underestimate sin's destructiveness and infectivity. This story of God's Holy war in Numbers 31 should help you see more clearly how God sees sin. May this help you avoid temptation, fight sin, and rejoice in His grace.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God will turn the disaster of Israel's rebellion into a teachable moment.
He will flip their flop around for their good.Numbers 26-30 records these
lessons captured in a census, appointment of Joshua, offerings & vows.
They teach about.
- Faithful Love.
Whilst our modern world questions the notion of commitment in love,
God loves His people steadfastly and faithfully.
May you find that faithful love of God in the good news of His Son.
- Faithful Leader.
Israel needs a faithful shepherd-king to lead them to God's promise.
Whilst Joshua and David fulfilled their roles to some degree, there is
only one who is the ultimate shepherd-king who can lead us to that
promised spiritual rest- our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Faithful Living.
Israel is called to consecration and commitment (via the offerings
and vows) as a response to God's love.
We too will find the ultimate joy of living in communion with God
By Pastor Jason Lim
Balaam and Balak could not curse Israel. But they successful plotted
to snare Israel in sin and brought God's righteous wrath and judgment
upon them.
Thankfully, Phinehas, the priest and chief officer amongst the priests
(1Ch 9:20), stood up and purged the sin in the camp by spearing
Zimri & Cozbi. He was jealous with a zeal for the Lord. And in his zeal,
he turned away the wrath of God from the people of Israel.
Our Great High Priest Jesus Christ also averts God's wrath due upon
sinners like us, but not by taking it out on His enemies, but by absorbing
it on Himself. He was nailed and then speared on his side. He now stands
before God pleading for us. He purged us from our sins by His zeal
for God's name.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The story of Balaam & his donkey is often puzzling to people.
Was Balaam a good guy or a bad guy? Why did the donkey
talk and what is this episode all about?
If one takes a closer look at the story in light of the context of
the book of Numbers (and the Pentateuch), one will then see
that the story is not really about Balaam nor the donkey, but
it is about God and His faithful love for a faithless people.
So, come and see how God mysteriously and powerfully turns
around the intended cursing of Balaam, to be encouraging
re-iterations of God's loving promises of blessings for His people.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The story of the bronze serpent is a classic example of God's
goodness to undeserving people.But it is not just about Israel
during Moses' time. It is also about you & me, for it points to
Jesus & Him crucified.
Discover how Jesus, like the bronze serpent, is a specific,
singular, sent, simple & successful cure for our sins!
And then take a step back & see how Numbers, & in particular
Numbers 21, is a book about the faithfulness of God, the
faithlessness of Israel, & the fulfilment in Jesus.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The man of faith is concerned about his testimony of faith.
Before he will die, Jacob was insistent that he must be buried in Canaan.
Like his grandfather Abraham, he wanted to stake a claim of faith in the land of promise.
He believed in God fully even though he had not possessed the land.
And he wanted all his family to know. And he ensured this message of faith in the burial arrangements.
So Jacob wanted to preach, even in his death, that God is trustworthy.
God's people should also be concerned about our testimony.
Someone said, "Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read."
By Pastor Jason Lim
Forgiveness is unilateral. Reconciliation is bilateral.
Forgiveness requires a change of mind for the offended. Reconciliation is that plus the change of ways for the offender.
Reconciliation = Forgivesness + Repentance.
The story of how Joseph tests his brothers is a lesson on this equation "Reconciliation = Forgiveness + Repentance".
It is also a story of how guilt brings great grief.
But most of all, it is a story of how God's providence always works out His promises.
Nothing in the life of the Christian is accidental. It is all intentional. It is all providential.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Pain and suffering can make people feel like God has forsaken them.
But the story of Joseph proves that God is with His people whether we are in prosperity or in pain.
As Augustine once put it, “God had one son on earth without sin; He never had any without suffering.”
We must then learn to "Interpret your circumstances by God’s love, not God’s love by your circumstances.”
The greatest proof of God's love is the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8).
And it's only when we are confident of God's love that we can be faithful in our station.
Perhaps one day, we will see the big "why" of our sufferings in this life.
That day may be during our lifetime here, or it may be in the life that is to come. But we can be sure that we will see that day.
Let us then suffer well and serve well.
After all, Jesus suffered and gave himself for God's will, and secured eternal glory for Himself, His Father, and for His people.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Sexual sin is like Covid-19- it's a pandemic. It strikes even the gathered church. But it is more devastating in that people generally do not like to talk about it, much less deal with it.
Joseph was however a model of sexual purity. Despite persistent temptations, he feared God and would not sin against God in any sexual compromise. The temptations he faced were difficult, but his deliberations were God-centred, and his response was decisive.
This is a sermon that gives you a handle on how you can resist sexual temptation. Whether it be pornography, pre-marital sex, affairs, or adulteries, you can access God's grace as you learn to Flee, Fight Fellowship, Fortify & Fulfil. Find out more in this sermon.
But most of all, realize that there is forgiveness in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You do not need to clean up before you can come to Christ (you cannot be clean by yourself anyway), but you can come to Christ and He can clean you up.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Numbers 20 records the close of 40 years of wandering,
and the passing of the old guard, as symbolised in the
funerals of Miriam & Aaron. God is going to lead a new
generation into the Promised Land.
The familiar themes of man's faithlessness and God's
faithfulness is repeated in this chapter. We see Israel's
and Moses' sins here, and God's mercy still to provide
and to lead.
God is merciful, not mean. That gives comfort when
we go through trials and pains. God is merciful, and
we can come to Him as sinners asking for mercy.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Korah (and gang), then Israel, grumbled against Moses & Aaron. This is because they despised the Lord.
Swift judgment was executed- in an earthquake, fire from the heavens and a plague. All in all, close to 15000 people died.
And to make sure they do not repeat this same defiance, 2 signs or objects were given to memorialise this tragedy.
1. Grip of sin
Israel is intractably sinful. They just kept sinning. Despite many punishments, and even pardons of mercy, they can not change. They are a picture of you and me- we are all stricken with an intractable disease called sin.
2. Gravity of sin
God judged all sin in Israel. And ours will be too. Eternal torment in hell awaits unrepentant sinners.
3. Grace for sin
Atonement and cleansing were available through the Levitical priesthood- priest and sacrifice. They point to the true priest and sacrifice Jesus, who pleads for us before the Father's throne, His finished sacrificial work on the cross. This is the ultimate good news of the Bible.
They who believe in Him will be saved.
And they who believe in Him can and will serve the living God.
By Pastor Paul Choo
Every Christmas season, our world is adorned with familiar symbols
that bring nostalgia and cheer—pine trees, Santa Claus, twinkling lights,
mistletoe, and scenes of shepherds in the fields. These traditions have
become beloved fixtures of the holidays, but their origins hold a much
deeper meaning than we often realize. The Church introduced many
of these symbols, rich with historical and spiritual significance, to point
people toward the hope and joy found in Jesus Christ. This article explores
the roots of these Christmas icons, uncovering how they were originally
intended to draw our hearts back to the true reason for the season:
the birth of our Savior.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Numbers 15 represents a fresh start for Israel. Despite how they have repeatedly rebelled against God (10x since the Exodus), God still promised the Land to their posterity. In this upcoming new year in 2025, let us remember the word about:
- Grace
God is a God of grace- He is not good to good people only, for there is none good before Him. He is good to undeserving sinners. Sinners can come to God as they are, and saints can approach His throne of grace.
- Giving
Christianity is not just about getting from God. We are also privileged to give to God- not to bribe Him, but to please Him.
- Guilt
We are to be alert and sensitive to sin. Not to be self-righteous, or self-condemning, for we must stand in the gospel of grace. But we are also to grieve over, confess and repent from our sins.
- Guidance
Tassels on their garments are to remind them to do God's will. Let's spend this year growing deep in His Word and in obedience to Him.
- God
Ultimately, our faith is to be a relationship with our God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Israel plunged to a new low when they refused to enter the Promised Land. This was the 10th time they had rebelled against God since the Exodus. God's patience had run out, and enough is enough. Their whole generation will not enter Canaan.
The issue with them is not just their mouths spewing complains. The main issue is their hearts of unbelief. The LORD Himself said that they despised Him.
The main message of Numbers 13 and 14 is therefore a warning- that people who are outwardly aligned with God can actually be filled with evil unbelief. Just because they were journeying with Moses did not make them God's people. God was provoked with them, and swore they will not enter into His rest.
So, church-goer- examine yourself whether you are in the faith. Real faith is seen in a life of obedience. We are not saying you become sinless. But you will sin less. It is not about sinless perfection, but there should be sincere progression.
The good news is that those who are willing to humble themselves can come to God freely for forgiveness and for a new heart. You don't have to clean up your act for God to save you. Come to Jesus, and He will cleanse and change you! This is the radical grace and good news of the Bible.
By Pastor Lim Kay Hong
This sermon, rooted in Matthew 17:14-20, highlights the transformative journey of faith, showing how believers can move from feeling powerless to becoming spiritually strong by trusting in Jesus Christ.
The disciples’ failure to heal the boy exposed their misplaced dependence—on their past experiences, skills, and self-reliance—rather than on Jesus. Like them, we often face overwhelming "mountains" of fear, doubt, pride, or self-sufficiency when we trust in our own abilities instead of Christ’s strength.
Jesus teaches us that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. The key is not the size of our faith but the object of our faith—Jesus Himself. Faith grows as we deepen our relationship with Him through prayer, worship, and trust in His promises.
In our journey of faith, challenges, trials, and temptations are the mountains we face. While Satan uses these mountains to discourage and break us down, God allows them to strengthen and build us up. True victory comes when we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. By relying on His strength and power, we can overcome life’s mountains and experience God’s glory, faithfulness, and transformative power in our faith journey.
By Pastor Paul Choo
The World’s Greatest Untapped Power is a believer because they:
- Are Created in the Image of God Genesis 1:27-28
- Have the Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8:9, Matthew 3:16, Acts 10:38
- Are Guided by the Word of God Psalm 119:105
Though we all know we should ‘Know, Grow, Go’, many of us do not ‘Go’ because Satan:
- Deceives
- Distracts
- Discourages
- Disunites
These tactics keep us from going forth as we are called to do.
We need to be equipped and empowered to ‘Go’ and make disciples of the nations! The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing!
By Pastor Nazario Sinon
The church of Ephesus was a thriving church in this bustling city.
Outwardly, no one may suspect that there was something amiss.
The church was steadfast in serving God in warding off false teachers
and sinful influences.
But, the church has lost her first love.
The outward faithfulness did not mean inward intimacy with God.
There was a spiritual slide that began by subtle neglect for they were
overwhelmed with busyness in doing good things.
God has a strong aversion towards them for only labors fueled by love
to Him matter unto Him.
But, Jesus is as a compassionate husband wooing his bride back to Himself.
The church will be restored only if she is going to remember where she fell,
repent and return to her labors at first prompted by love.
If not, the church’s witness will lost her effectiveness
By Pastor Jason Lim
Meek is not weak. Meekness is strength under control.
It's easy to hit back when provoked, but meekness is that strength to hold back.
When Miriam undermined Moses, Moses opened not his mouth (silence) at first,
but later open his mouth (supplication) later.
Instead of retaliating, he requested mercy for his "enemy."
But a greater Moses is here. Jesus is that greater prophet and that greater servant
who will display unfailing meekness in spite of insults, slander and assaults, for He
entrusted Himself to the Father. He gave His life willingly, to fulfill the Father's will
and to save us from our sins.
Christians are told to follow in the path of meekness.
May Christ's Spirit in you enable you to indeed do so.
By Pastor Jason Lim
In 1977, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew called Singaporeans "champion grumblers," a trait still true today and reflective of a universal human and sin issue. In Numbers 11, Israel’s complaints after a spiritual high showed their scorn for God’s provisions, straining Moses and provoking God’s wrath, resulting in judgment.
From this story we learn about:
Cause
Complaining stems from a sinful, distrustful heart that lacks reverence for God. Like a lemon producing juice when squeezed, a sinful heart yields complaints under life's pressures.
Cure
A heart transplant, not a mouth transplant, is needed to cure complaints. Only a changed heart can produce sweetness. Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises a new heart from God. Christianity begins with humbling oneself before God for His cleansing and transformation. With this new heart, we can overcome a complaining spirit.
Christ
Israel failed as God's son, but Jesus triumphed, fully submitting to God's will without complaint. He is our example of obedience, our atonement for sin, and the proof of God's love, showing He works for our ultimate good.
Find out what this all means and more, and may this message lead you to greater intimacy with God!
By Pastor Jason Lim
What does a healthy relationship with God look like?
Numbers 7-10 presents principles of closeness to God.
- Consecration
Israel willingly gave offerings to God on their own accord. They gave out of thankfulness to God for what they have received from Him. A healthy relationship with God will be reflected in our worship, sacrifices and giving.
- Commemoration
God commands Israel to keep the Passover. It is important that Israel will remember God's goodness in delivering them from the slavery in Egypt. And so, a healthy relationship with God needs to be consistently maintained by remembrances of God and His gospel- in scripture, community, tokens or practices.
- Compliance
Israel must follow God exactly as He ordains- through the pillar and the trumpets.
We too must pay attention to His leadership in His word today.
Nevertheless, we must not think that these 3 principles alone are enough. What we need most of all is the conversion in our hearts- that we will be born again by God's sovereign grace, and through faith in Jesus Christ. Only then, can we desire and, indeed, draw near to God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We want our things to be clean. And God wants His people to be clean.
An unclean people must be cleansed. Numbers 5-6 speaks of uncleanness in various ways.
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The Result of Uncleanness.
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The Repentance from Uncleanness.
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The Revealing of Uncleanness.
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The Reach of Uncleanness.
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The Removal of Uncleanness.
So, we will see that all have sinned, and none is righteous, no, not one. God alone sees all our sins, and there is none hidden from his sight. The sinner will be eternally cut off from God, unless he repents whilst the opportunity to is still available to him.
All that points to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone cleanses us with His shed blood.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The first 4 chapters of Numbers speak of the formation of Israel's camp during Moses' time. God is "painting" a picture of God-centredness for His people.
For Israel to inherit the Promised Land, they must learn to look to God. They must orientate themselves to God-centredness.
What then is God-centredness? In short, it is to be/have:
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Dependent on God.
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Directed by God.
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Delight in God.
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Dread of God
See how God-centredness is needed in our church and in our lives.
Check out the sermon to find out more!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The story of Numbers is a story of Israel's faithlessness and God's faithfulness.
- Faithlessness
The 1st generation of Israelites who followed Moses failed to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. Though they crossed the Red Sea, were under the Pillar of Cloud, and were identified with Moses, the majority did not believe God. As such, they repeatedly disobeyed God, and their carcasses died in the wilderness. All the good intentions at Mount Sinai, all the miracles they witnessed, all the association with Moses could not save them. Their hearts were evil and unbelieving.
- Faithfulness
In spite of their faithlessness, God remains faithful to His promise to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. He promised them that in a special offspring from their line (who the rest of scriptures revealed to be the Lord Jesus Christ), God will still bless Israel, and all other nations. Thus God still proceeded to work out His plans to bless by giving Israel a 2nd chance to enter the Promised Land 40 years later.
- Fulfilment
The Promised land was promised as an everlasting possession. No King, Prophet or Priest in the entire Old Testament can lead Israel into everlasting peace and joy. But in the New Testament, we learn that only Jesus can. Only He can be the perfect Prophet, Priest & King. Only He will lead us into the new Heavens and new Earth, that Heavenly city that God has promised.
Numbers is therefore an example against desiring evil. It is a warning to take heed, hold fast, and pay attention to the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we hold tight to God's promise and persevere to the end, for then, we will enter our rest in the Promised Land!
By Brother Hanniel Sinon
The Bible is no stranger to men who experienced feelings of depression.
Elijah was called by God to speak to a rebellious nation.
Yet despite his passion and achievements, nothing had changed.
Ahab and Jezebel were still on the throne. Israel was still in rebellion.
God's covenant was still being forsaken. And prophets were still sought and killed.
Call it unmet expectations, disappointment, or mere frustration, whatever it is,
it made Elijah feel depressed.
In this sermon, we'll follow Elijah through his darkest moments—in the wilderness,
in Sinai, and eventually back to God. What can we learn from this?
We must embrace that we will experience depression.
And so, like Elijah, we can be honest with ourselves and God about our thoughts,
feelings, and emotions. Yet, this should not be cause for resignation,
because God may be working in the quiet and unassuming,
way beyond our imagined expectations.
By Pastor Chee Keen
The book of Joshua records the fulfilment of God’s promises to Israel.
Their victorious conquest of the Promised Land did not lie in their military might
but in the promise that God will be with them.
What does this mean for Christians today?
How can we know God’s presence?
How can we have victory in Christ?
What is the key to victory?
Joshua 1:7-9 gives a clear answer.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The finale of Galatians is about boasting in the cross.
Paul exults and rejoices in the work of Christ on the cross, for it is the source of all spiritual blessings.
The cross brings about forgiveness, redemption, adoption, the indwelling Spirit and heirship.
Jesus paid it all! Jesus did it all!
In contrast, legalism of the world counts for nothing at all.
The false teachers preach legalism out of fear and pride, and did not care for the people. And so Paul would expose these false teachers too.
So, let us learn about the cross in its fully glory here with Paul
May we practice what it means to boast in the cross.
By Pastor Jason Lim
True faith works through love. And love involves sharing and doing good.
Those who truly believe will love, and their love for others will result in beneficent deeds.
As they sow these deeds of love, they can look forward to reaping eternal life.
But those who do not believe will not have love. They will not sow deeds of love.
Instead, they will live only to gratify their fleshly desires. As such, they will reap destruction.
This is the dichotomy of the believer vs the unbeliever.
Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. You will reap what you sow.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Real faith is seen in love, and love is seen in community. True spirituality is thus not isolating oneself, but availing oneself to serve others. Paul says we are to use our freedom in Christ to serve others in love.
In Galatians 6:1-5, Paul shows loving service to others is seen in how we restore a brother who has fallen into sin.
He teaches us what the issue is, who should do that restoration work, how we are to it, and why we are to do so. Or in other words, the ministry, the manner and motivation of restoration.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The works of the flesh are evidently sinful and destructive. And those who habitually practice them show they do not belong to the Kingdom of God.
The true believer instead lives differently. A true believer is one who has made a decisive break from the dominion of the flesh, in order that he will submit to the Lordship of Jesus. When he now walks by the Spirit, fruit is borne in his life. This fruit marks him as a child of God.
So what is this fruit? How is this borne in one's life? How is this different from the works of the flesh? The answers can be found in this message here.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Christian life cannot be lived on our own. We are weak in our flesh. But the third person of the Godhead lives in us! He is the Omnipotent Spirit of God. We must therefore live life in the Spirit.
Walking is a Hebraism (a Jewish expression) for how one lives one's life or conduct one's life. Walking by the Spirit is to live in the new realm of the Spirit's leadership, and not in the old existence of the flesh.
The million-dollar question then is, "How can I walk by the Spirit?" Should I utter a mantra, visit a holy site, ingest a religious relic, or press a magic button? No. Instead, the answer is found in the passage before us. Check out this sermon to find out how you can live a victorious Christian life for yourself today!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Not Legalism. Not Licentiousness. But Love. That is the way of freedom.
Spiritual freedom is to do what God wants- to serve one another in love.
This is the way of Jesus, who emptied Himself and became a servant.
His people are thus also to deny themselves so that we can serve others.
That is the truest form of Christian living- and the path to the greatest happiness.
It is in this giving and serving that we truly fulfill the Law.
And it is in this giving and serving that we actually love our own selves the most.
Find out what all this means from the sermon here.
May we not just talking about serving, but may we be a serving church!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Freedom is defined as "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants, without restraints or hindrances."
But what is freedom in the Kingdom of God?
In this passage, Paul reveals how freedom is secured by the Lord, and not by our works of the Law. And whilst we cannot secure freedom by ourselves, we can, and indeed must, stand in that freedom Jesus provides. Shifting from this freedom to turn to legalism will mean that we are severed from Christ, and His blessings.
And most importantly in verse 13, Paul reveals freedom to be yielding ourselves as slaves for one another in love! So, freedom is living free from legalism, and from licentiousness, to serving one another in love. Freedom is not doing what I want in the flesh, but doing what God wants in the Spirit- to serve one another. That's the freedom that will make you happy in a thousand years!
Discover what all this means, and may you find that true freedom in God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Apostle Paul has proven justification by faith from Abraham's life in Galatians 3.
Now, he proceeds to illustrate it with the story of Hagar & Sarah (Abraham's 2 wives).
Paul qualifies that this story is interpreted allegorically- he is using it to represent the meaning of the 2 covenants (Sinaitic Covenant and the Abrahamic covenant), though the 2 women are not exactly the 2 covenants!
The sermon will take you through the 9-10 contrasts between the 2 women (& their 2 sons), showing you very clearly then the difference between the 2 covenants.
You will learn how
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”Ishmaels" will not inherit.
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”Ishmaels" will persecute the "Isaacs”.
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”Ishmael" & "Isaac" cannot live together.
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”Isaac" is all of God's grace.
Find out what these statements mean, and come out crystal clear about justification by faith, by checking out the sermon here!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul loved the Galatians. Having explained justification by faith, he now writes to the Galatians in 4:12-20 with a much softer tone to plead with them. He urges them to stand in gospel freedom, and not be enslaved by legalism. He brings them down memory lane to recall the "good old days" by which they had loved him. He points out the "love bombing" tactics of the false teachers who are out to "abuse them". He expresses his desire to meet with them face-to-face.
In all this, we see the pastoral heart of Paul for the Galatians.
- He was Centred on the Gospel.
His love for them is not "empty calories" sentimentalism. It is rooted in truth. His goal is for them to live life in the Spirit, with the joy of the gospel, and not be enslaved in legalism.
- He was Concerned for their Good.
The false teachers were out to make use of the Galatians. Paul wanted only the best for them. Discover how we can tell spiritual leaders apart in our day and age.
- He was Committed in spite of Grief.
In spite of the betrayal and anguish, Paul did not give up on the Galatians. Real love persists.
By Pastor Jason Lim
According to Forbes, 1/3 of the billionaires in 2024 have fortunes handed down to them by their elders.These heirs inherit great wealth.
But the follower of Jesus Christ also inherits great wealth- of even greater and eternal things- because he is an heir & co-heir with Christ, who redeemed them.
In this passage, Paul shows from the example of the Jews that this blessing of inheritance is not obtained by their own works of the law, but by faith in the promise of Jesus Christ. He then reminds the Galatians that they likewise received the Spirit not by works of the law, but by the hearing of faith. Thus, he expresses his horror when they should turn to legalism (obeying the Law in their own efforts to secure their own justification), which is a religious principle of the world, and not from God. He considers this equivalent to returning to Paganism or idolatry, for both are weak & worthless, and which enslaves.
The Bible presents a message of love- that God has predestined His elect to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. May you look to Christ alone in repentance and faith to be saved.
May the believer find great assurance and joy in our identity as God's children.
By Elder Frederick Chew
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Brother Luzerne Cheng
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Law can easily be misused. Many people think that one should obey the Law to be saved.
But Paul says salvation is received by faith, and not achieved by works of the Law.
The Law reveals our sins, but it can never remove our sins.
To help us understand, Paul gave 2 examples of the Law.
- Prison Warden.
The Law imprisons us in a state of misery where we see our sinfulness and helplessness, so that we long for emancipation by faith in the promised savior, Jesus Christ. Once we come to Christ, we need not go back to the Law for justification, just as a freed man should not return to prison.
- Paidagogos.
A Paidagogos is a slave in rich ancient Greek-Roman households who has been tasked as the custodian of the master's son from age 6-16 years old. He is to prepare the son for adulthood. The Law thus prepares people for Christ by showing us our sinfulness and helplessness.
How should we use the Law? Preach it. Show people God's holy standards. Let them realise then we are condemned before God. Then point them to the Savior!
By Pastor Chee Keen
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Kay Hong
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Justification is by faith, and not by the works of the Law. So why then did God give the Law (of Moses)?
Has God changed His mind? Is the Law an alternative way to spiritual life? The answer is no. Let's learn why.
- The Independence of the Law.
The Law does not affect, change, nor nullify the Promise (that God blesses those who are of faith).
Even after the Law, justification is still by faith. The Promise still stands. God's covenant with Abraham remains.
- The Intention of the Law.
The Law was added because of transgressions- it was given not to remove sin, but to reveal sin (& our helplessness). It is given so that we despair of self-righteousness, and turn to Christ for life and righteousness.
- The Inferiority of the Law.
This does not mean the Law is lousy or useless! But the Promise is superior. The Law was given through angels and Moses. The Promise was given directly by God. The Law required the fulfilment of God and man (who is weak and who fails). The covenant is unilaterally fulfilled by God alone.
- The Impotence of the Law.
The Law cannot give life nor righteousness. It is not a viable alternative to life to God.
In all this, we see the primacy and superiority of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ is the solid rock we must stand on. All others are sinking sand. May your faith find a resting place in Jesus alone!
By Brother Simon Lim
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul proves justification is by faith via 3 facts in Galatians 3:1-12.
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Practical Experience- he reminded the Galatians how they received the Spirit by faith.
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Patriarchal Example- Abraham was declared righteous by faith.
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Practical Explanation- No one can keep ALL the Law to be made righteous by himself.
In verses 13 and 14, Paul then brings his proofs together and shows that it is Christ Jesus who can free us from the curse of the Law, grant us the Abrahamic blessing and send the blessed Spirit into our lives. Jesus redeemed us from the curse, by becoming a curse for us. He took our place and suffered for us.
So here, we learn about the very heart of God- He is the generous, merciful and loving blesser- He is so keen to bless, that He freely pays it all through His own Son's sacrifice. Let us then turn to Jesus in repentance and faith!
By Elder Jeffrey Pang
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul proves justification is by faith by reminding the Galatians how they received the Spirit by faith too.
He also emphasizes that having begun by the Spirit, they are not to be perfected by the flesh.
As such, we learn 2 things about "Life in the Spirit":
1.Discernment.
How can you know if the Spirit is in you? The Spirit is not visible. But like wind, His power and works are visible. From Galatians we see that the Spirit can be discerned by
A. Signs and wonders- The power to work miracles is endued by the Spirit.
B. Sureness- The Holy Spirit is sent into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father."
C. Sanctification- The Holy Spirit helps us to be holy. Grace is not just pardon, it's power.
2.Dependence.
“God helps those who help themselves" is a dangerous Christian cliche. Better is "God helps those who CANNOT help themselves." Christian living must be dependent on God for all things. So how can we practically depend on Him? What does living life in the Spirit really mean? It's as simple as ABCD!
A. Acknowledge- it begins with saying "I cannot do it!"
B. Believe- God can do it!
C. Call- pray and ask Him to grant grace!
D. Do- just obey and do it!
Living in the flesh is to go straight to D) do.
Living in the Spirit is ABCD!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jesus alone is our righteousness. He is the only one who can give us a right standing before the Holy God.
He died for us, and we died with him when He died. He has thus paid for our sins, and also set us free from the bondage of the Law. And not only that, He now lives in us by His Spirit, to enable us to live in righteousness on a daily basis. They who are saved by grace will be changed by grace. Grace is not just pardon, it's power. Jesus is the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us.
The Law, in contrast, can never give us righteousness. Whilst it has its purpose (as we will see later in Galatians 3), it can never save us. The more people depend on the Law for righteousness, the more self-righteous they become. And the Law did not love us nor die for us.
Let us then learn to steer clear of legalism and live the Christian life in dependence on Christ and Christ alone.
By Brother Hanniel Sinon
The Psalms is the songbook of God's people in gathered worship. The songs cover a range of experience and emotions, giving God's people the words to express them. The psalms also help shape the emotions of the godly. The Psalms provide guidance to approach worship, showing profound respect and uninhibited delight in Him. They enable God's people to fully enjoy His care, desire holiness and purity.
By Pastor Mike Redick
As believers, one of our greatest needs is to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian at the moment of salvation is permanently in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit, but sadly not every believer is empowered by the indwelling Spirit.
But being empowered is God's divine plan for everyone. The Word of God tells us what to do, but the Spirit of God enables us to do it. God never asks you to do something without giving us the power to do it. The power to live the Christian life and be the person God wants us to be - comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s power flows through a believer who is filled with and controlled by the Spirit; making the Spirit-filled life a vital topic and an important truth to live.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul brings the defence of the gospel he preaches to a climax, when he spoke of how he rebuked
Apostle Peter when Peter was not walking in step with the truth of the gospel. Paul would not allow anyone to misunderstand that Jesus alone is not enough for salvation, and that it must be supplemented with laws and regulations.
The gospel can be threatened in current times here in Singapore too, in at least these 3 ways.
- Testimonies
Instead of focusing on how Jesus forgives us and changes us in holiness, Christendom today is dominated by testimonies of health and wealth, success and prosperity. It is not that God cannot give His people health and wealth, but when our testimonies are predominantly rooted in success or prosperity theologies, it confuses the true gospel- for the gospel is not about "get rich" or "get well", but it's to "get right!" Jesus calls us to "lose our life" for His sake, & not "live our best life now." Let our conversations, teachings, prayer and thanksgiving therefore be more about "holiness", and not so much about "happiness" (in a superficial way).
- Tongues
There are some quarters who teach that if you do not speak in tongues, you are not saved (for they say, you do not have the Holy Spirit). This is wrong, and it confuses the gospel.
- Table of the Lord
A new teaching that taking the Lord's Supper heals you of physical ailments is sheer superstitious voodoo unsubstantiated by the Bible. It also distracts people from the remembrance of the gospel.
Like Paul's defence of the gospel, let's learn that we need clarity, commitment and courage in our day too. May God help us to keep in step with the gospel and to defend the gospel well.
By Pastor Jason Lim
“12 men testified they’d seen Jesus raised from the dead, proclaimed that for 40 years, never once denying it,” despite beatings and torture.
“In Watergate 12 of the most powerful men in the world couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks! [But] 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible!”
These were the words of Charles Colson. He and his people could not keep the lie going, and were eventually exposed in the Watergate Scandal. But the apostolic preaching that Jesus is risen from the dead is the consistent message in the early church, because it was no lie.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a most fundamental doctrine. Take away the resurrection, then there is no gospel. If there is no gospel, then there is no way for sinners to be saved.
But if there is the resurrection from the dead, then just as Jesus rose from the dead, so will you (those who believe in Jesus) when He returns.
May this message help you to know the gospel, and encourage you in your spiritual journey and service unto the Lord.
By Pastor Jason Lim
There are many races, many languages & many religions in the world, but there is only one gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
Whether you are a Jew, or a Greek (Chinese, Indian, Malay, Caucasian), we are all saved by this one worldwide gospel.
The gospel to the Jews is no different from the gospel to the Gentiles.
There is therefore no need to become a Jew to be saved.
There is no need for circumcision or festivals for salvation.
In fact, Baptism does NOT save.
The Lord's Supper does NOT save.
Tongues do NOT save.
Church attendance does NOT save.
Your good works do NOT save.
The gospel is simply "Jesus paid it all". Jesus alone died and rose again to save us from all our sins.
Jesus alone saves!
This worldwide gospel is for the world. And this worldwide gospel also unites the world.
The church is thus to display this unity in the gospel to God's glory.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Just because one possesses some spiritual gift does not mean that one can use it indiscriminately in the church worship services. Worship must be orderly. And spiritual gifts are therefore to be used judiciously.
Orderly worship allows for edification of the saints, a proper reflection of the nature of God- that He is the God of order, and not of chaos, and thirdly, a proper witness to the unsaved in our midst.
Disorderly worship, on the other hand, makes proper edification difficult, reflects poorly on who God is, and causes the unsaved to think Christians are out of their minds.
Thus, there are rules that God gives to ensure orderly worship, even with the use of gifts. Find out what they are in this sermon. You will also learn how you can better serve God with true humility and discernment.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Scams and hoaxes are commonplace in our day.
False teachers have also existed for a long time.
How can Apostle Paul assure the Galatians that his message is true and reliable?
He explains his message was a direct download from the Lord Jesus Christ in a supernatural revelation.
He also stated categorically that he did not consult with any man thereafter.
The fact that this persecutor will become a preacher, and that his message is consistent with the faith of the Jerusalem Apostles, show that his gospel is the one true and reliable message that broke from Heaven.
Paul's gospel is no man's gospel. It is from God alone.
It is the only message then we must depend on in order to be saved.
And it is the message we must defend at all costs.
May we determine to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Let us make the gospel explicit and central in all our ministries and relationships.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!
By Pastor Jason Lim
What exactly is the gift of tongues? Is it speaking a language? A heavenly language? Or gibberish?
What is the purpose of tongues? To draw near to God? To pray more effectively?
Are tongues to be freely used in church?
These questions and more are answered in the sermon.
Paul, in this passage, shows how spiritual gifts are used or not used in the spirit of love.
He does so by comparing the gifts of tongues & prophecy.
He helps us see how building up of other brethren is a central focus for the use of spiritual gifts.
And that is the way of love
By Pastor Jason Lim
God gives His people spiritual gifts to serve one another.
Instead of doing so, many in the Corinthian church flaunted their more prominent spiritual gifts and despised others.
So Paul now writes in 1Co 13 about love and how spiritual gifts are to be employed in love.
Paul speaks about the priority of love. Like a husband who gives flowers to his wife but who is also cheating on her, spiritual gifts without love is useless.
He speaks about a portrait- love is not just lived in the realm of good intentions. Love is about having the right motivation. It is also bearing the right manifestations. In 15 descriptions, Paul helps us grasp what true love is.
He then speaks about its permanence. Love is permanent, and contrasted with the impermanent spiritual gifts. So instead of lusting after spiritual gifts (the more prominent ones), pursue love instead, and serve one another.
By Pastor Jason Lim
If you discover a miracle cure for all cancers, I suppose you will do your best to confirm and protect the recipe. You will make sure the medicine is pure and unadulterated. You will share with the world that others may be helped by it.
Whilst we do not have a miracle cure for all cancers as yet, we do have an even greater cure- a cure from all sin! That cure is none other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is only one way man can be saved. It is in Jesus and His finished work alone. This is the singular message of salvation for all the world.
False teachers have corrupted this one gospel during the times of the Apostle Paul, bringing the Galatians into a bondage by adding to the gospel of grace legalism or self-righteous works like circumcision. Thus, Paul wrote vigorously and bluntly to remind them of the essence of the true gospel, and to warn of the high stakes of turning away from it when one adds to it.
Because there is only one gospel, may we learn to define it clearly (so that we may depend on it and delight in it), defend it courageously, and declare it consistently (with our life and our lips).
By Brother Hanniel Sinon
God is merciful even if we demand justice to be done. In Jonah 4, Jonah expresses his complaint before God. He is angry that God would be merciful to a people who didn't deserve it. But little did he know that it was precisely in his nature to act in such a way, for he is a merciful God.
The big question of Jonah 4 is... how can God be just and merciful at the same time? We know that it is not an either/or but a both/and. He is just to punish sin, and also merciful to invite people to repent and believe. He is just to punish his own Son who didn't deserve it, and merciful, that those who deserve punishment are spared.
Yet there will come a day where mercy will be withdrawn and justice will be served. Where will you stand on that day?
By Pastor Sin Yu Fei
n Jonah 3, we witness the imminent destruction of Nineveh because of their wickedness. Although they deserved it, God in His mercy, sends Jonah as a mediator to warn them, giving them opportunity to repent. If they do, God would relent of the judgment he was going to bring upon them.
Isn't this akin to the Gospel? Just as Nineveh faced judgment for their sins, we too stand under God's judgment due to our own sins. But praise be to God that He sent Jesus as our mediator so that through Him, forgiveness of sins is made possible by His sacrificial death. When we repent and believe, God relents from the eternal wrath we deserve. Praise be to God for His mercy!
By Brother Luzerne Cheng
The disobedient prophet who defied God in Jonah 1 finds himself tossed overboard and in the heart of the sea. In the belly of the fish, Jonah reflects on the judgement from the God who is just. And also, God's mercy for the undeserving prophet. Yet Jonah 2 ends off with a puzzling end, where Jonah sinks into self-righteousness. Jonah 2 confronts our hearts which are prone to self-righteousness even after receiving the great gift of mercy and grace in the Gospel. The Gospel of Grace (Ephesians 2) reminds us that there is no room for self-righteousness or pride because grace is a gift to the undeserving not a reward for the deserving.
By Brother Raynor Cheng
We have many surface reasons to disobey God, but the big root issue is that we do not fear God enough. How can we know we truly fear God? In Jonah 1, we see a prophet who fearlessly disobeys God, which results in God's supernatural storm.
Fearless disobedience towards God results in death, not just in this life, but in the life to come. How can we escape this impending death? Only by looking to God for help in Christ, who by His death and resurrection gives us rescue from certain doom.
By Pastor Paul Choo
The book of Leviticus is filled with Costly Sacrifices, Clean Living and Constant Awe.
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Costly Sacrifices - the sacrificial animals were first bled, then skinned, then chopped into pieces, then thrown into the endless flame of fire on the Altar to be completely consumed by the fire. This was a type of Christ’s bloody death at the hands of Jews and Romans (Isaiah 52:14) AND unimaginable sufferings at the Hand of God the Father (Lam. 1:12,13).
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Clean Living - the Israelites were given many rules/laws so that they could lead a clean life that differentiated them from the peoples around them. These laws were given in a seemingly haphazard manner (ie, sacred and secular laws alongside each other) suggesting that there should be no division between the sacred and the secular in our lives.
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Constant Awe - the pillar of cloud/fire was an awesome picture of the constant powerful presence of God (who lived in their midst).
Our Responses.
As Christians, do we offer costly service instead of convenient, casual and comfortable “service”? Do we strive for Clean living so that our lives “shine before men” and open the door for us to lead men to eternal life? Are we living in constant awe and awareness of God’s presence and power? May this sermon encourage us to confidently serve God and sacrificially serve men. (Mat. 28: 18-20)
Our final sermon in this 3-month Leviticus series ends with a call to obedience from God. We learn.
- The Premise.
The basis of obedience is a relationship with God, who delivered Israel from the Egyptian bondage.
- The Persuasion.
God offers rich blessings of prosperity, peace & His presence to His people if they should obey, with a language that resembles the Genesis account of life in Eden.
- The Punishment.
Disobedience will result in the reverse of all the blessings attached to obedience. And God will escalate them if Israel persists in stubborn rebellion. The threats turn out to be real, as the passage reads more like a prophecy when one knows the history of the nation.
- The Problem.
The root cause of their rebellion is the "pride of their power". They will forget God in the midst of their prosperity.
- The Promise.
God in His infinite mercy will still bless Israel, not according to the Mosaic or Old Covenant of self-righteousness that was established at Mount Sinai, but according to the Abrahamic Covenant of blessing through the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, the offspring through whom all nations will be blessed. Israel (and us all) can be saved if we confess our sins and humble our hearts, and ask God to circumcise our sinful hearts.
Leviticus is a book about drawing near to God. And the key is Jesus. It is a book jam-packed with Christology- from the offerings, to the priesthood, to the cleansing, to the Day of Atonement, to the Feasts, to the Jubilee, and to the Abrahamic Covenant. May you draw near to God through Jesus Christ!
By Pastor Sin Yu Fei
At the hill of Calvary where Jesus faced crucifixion, two criminals were also condemned to die alongside Him. While one scorned and ridiculed Jesus, the other acknowledged his own wrongdoing and repented.
This compelling story emphasizes Jesus' readiness to extend grace and forgiveness to those who humbly admit their sins, repent and turn to Him, regardless of their past deeds.
Today, just as then, forgiveness is available to all who turn to Jesus in faith.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the confirmation from God that Jesus successfully paid for our sins, and defeated death through His death. So how did Jesus die? And what did His death accomplish?
1.Painful Death.
He suffered immeasurably- at the hands of man and most of all, at the hands of God the Father. His greatest agony was being forsaken by the Father at the cross.
- Powerful Death.
He did not die in a whimper. God attended to His death with 2 powerful and supernatural phenomena- the tearing of the temple veil and the resurrection of saints with the breaking of the tombs. God is saying, "Pay attention!"
- Purposeful Death.
Jesus' death opened a Path of Reconciliation, and offered the Promise of Resurrection. So, we see His forsakenness leads us to forgiveness. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Him, we can be given eternal life.
This message is a message of hope for both seekers and believers.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jubilee is to be a celebration in Israel every 50 years. On this special day, the trumpet sounds throughout Israel, announcing the emancipation of all Hebrew slaves, the return of all land to the rightful owners, and the proclamation of liberty for all. It is also a continuation of another year of Sabbath for the land. Jubilee also falls on the Day of Atonement, whereby the High Priest seeks forgiveness for Israel.
The Jubilee reveals the heart of God- His compassion, generosity, kindness- for His people and especially for the poor. It tests the commitment of Israel- if they will love and care for one another, especially for the poor amongst them. And it is important in their calling to be a holy and distinct people in the midst of foreign nations.
Sadly, Israel never kept the Jubilee as far as biblical records go. But where they failed, the Son of God, Jesus, fulfilled. He alone is the one who can fulfill the prophecy of Isa 61:1,2 to set the captives free. Jesus is our Jubilee, for He died to pay for our debt of sin. May you turn to Jesus for true freedom and forgiveness of sin. May God's people live out lives of love!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 7 feasts of Israel mark 7 special times or periods for the nation to remember God by.
They help the people to rest and to remember how God saved them, led them, provided for them, & forgive them.
This yearly calendrical observance also marks them out as a holy people unto God.
But from another angle (informed by the New Testament authors/ apostles), we can see the 7 feasts from a Christological persepective too. In other words, these feasts are pictures that point us to Jesus Christ! Come and see how they manifest His person & work in both His 1st Coming and 2nd Coming, and learn that God honours His Son in the calendar of world history.
By Pastor Chee Keen
The grace of the Gospel is not intended for individual blessings alone.
The grace of the Gospel is meant to overflow into the communal life of the church.
By grace, believers can walk in the Spirit and enjoy victory over sin in daily living.
By grace, as believers walk together in the Spirit, we will also bear one another’s burden in the community.
This demonstrates that we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit together in the church.
This accomplishes the life the gospel creates in the fellowship of believers.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Levitical priests submitted to a higher standard in Leviticus 21, for they are to be holy, clean, sanctified and unblemished in their ministry unto God.
Whilst those specific prohibitions are uniquely for the Levitical priests, the principle of holiness in service is applicable for priests of God.
So we see the principle of being "sanctified to serve" in 3 groups biblically:
- Christ the Lord
Jesus is our sinless, holy, innocent and unstained high priest. His virgin birth and holiness in the face of the Temptation are crucial for our salvation and for God's glory. He alone, is "sanctified to serve" as our Great High Priest.
- Church Leaders
Church leaders or pastors/elders are given higher qualifications. And they are not qualifications regarding IQ, wealth, societal status or networks, but regarding character and holiness primarily. Church leaders are thus also to be "sanctified to serve."
- Christians
All Christians are priests- 1Pe 2:5,9. And we are to offer sacrifices of praise/generosity/lives and proclaim the excellencies of God. And in order to do just that, we are to abstain from fleshly passions and conduct ourselves honorably before the world. The church is therefore also called to be "sanctified to serve".
By Pastor Jason Lim
God's people are to be set apart from the world.
So God gave Israel the laws that should inform their conduct in Leviticus 19.
We see that these laws are good. They are good in and of themselves & they are good for human flourishing, for they flow from the good law-giver, the LORD.
These laws are also summarized in the 1st and 2nd great commandments, which speak of love.
And these laws are God-centered- that they are to be obeyed because of God Himself.
As we reflect on the laws in the Bible, we learn that the Law serves as:
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A Guardian- to lead us to Christ by showing our need for forgiveness.
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A Guide- to show us what it means to love God.
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A Gauge- obedience to God is the best evidence of true salvation
By Pastor Jason Lim
Beasts, Blood & Body.
Ancient laws given 3500 years ago regarding these things may seem very strange to us.
But the laws given in Leviticus 17 and 18 are designed to prevent idolatry in Israel.
God has committed Himself to Israel as the LORD their God. And Israel must be loyal to Him.
These laws are therefore gracious provisions to help them worship and serve God alone.
Check out this sermon here to find out more.
This sermon will also explore the question of eating blood, examine the relationship between immorality & idolatry, and provoke thinking on how we can safeguard ourselves against idols.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We celebrate the Lunar New Year here in Singapore.
It is one of the most important days for Chinese people all around the world.
But for the Jews, Yom Kippur is the most holy day of their calendar.
This is when they seek forgiveness from God as a nation.
And it has its roots all the way back in Moses' book of Leviticus.
God has ordained an elaborate ritual for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
It is, in light of Hebrews chapter 9, a pictorial instruction or even dramatization, of the atonement through Jesus Christ.
It is an enactment that teaches the person and work of Jesus Christ in securing our eternal redemption.
Find out how this is so, and what it all means in this sermon here.
May you also soon come to your day of atonement!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Leviticus 12-15 seem rather bizarre to some.
Why is menstruation, or childbirth or bodily discharge considered unclean?
But just like Leviticus 11 about kosher and non-kosher food, these are instructional tools from God to teach Israel about being clean and unclean, and how the clean can draw near to God, whilst the unclean cannot.
This passage also speaks about leprosy- an infections skin disease.
Leprosy renders a man unclean, turns him into an untouchable, and pretty much condemns him to lifelong misery and alienation.
It is often used as a symbol of sin or the judgment of God against sin, as seen in the cases of Miriam, Gehazi & King Uzziah.
But the narrative arcs of leprosy and even excessive menstruation find their solution in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"He can make us clean" was the confidence of those whom Jesus healed.
And Jesus today can also make you and I clean from our sins, and lead us back to God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Clean vs unclean. Kosher vs non-kosher. Lamb chop or pork chop.
Leviticus 11 makes a clear distinction between them.
- So what is clean and unclean?
- What is this distinction based on?
- Is it still binding for today?
- And what is the real spiritual lesson behind it all?
This is a sermon that takes us through the teaching of "Food & the Bible", and how it leads us ultimately to Jesus and the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
No man can draw near to God on his own.
We are so sinful that we can't.
God has ordained that we need a mediator.
The Levitical priesthood teaches the qualifications of that mediator for us all- he must be called, clothed & consecrated.
And Jesus absolutely fits the bill! He is called, clothed & consecrated to be our Great High Priest.
In fact, He is the superior priest after the order of Melchizedek.
He alone is the only one who can lead us back to God.
Besides that, He has also made us all a royal priesthood, to serve God and to serve a needy world.
By Pastor Jason Lim
"Sorry" & "thanks" are difficult words to say for many people. But they are vital to any relationship. It is also true regarding man's relationship with God. In order to draw near to God, we need to learn to "say" "sorry" & "thanks" to Him too.
Enter the offerings. The 5 offerings- burnt, grain, peace, sin & guilt- variously express "sorry" & "thanks" to God. This sermon will take you through a succinct overview of their purposes and processes.
So what does it all mean for a modern man today? The offerings teach the seeker how he or she can be reconciled with God. They also encourage the backslider that there is always a way back to God. And finally, they instruct the Christian on what true worship of God looks like.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Leviticus is like Cinderella, the forgotten sister of the Bible. Many people avoid it, thinking it is incomprehensible, irrelevant and weird.
So many are familiar with Genesis and Exodus, but will conveniently skip Leviticus. And I think it is a pity.
God has declared that all His Word is profitable (2Ti 3:16), and is written for our instruction and hope (Rom 15:4).
A Jewish child growing up in the Yeshiva actually reads Leviticus as his or her first book.
So, what is Leviticus all about?
- A Purpose.
Leviticus is a book about "drawing near to God". It is relevant for the seeker, the backslider or the follower.
- A Problem.
Leviticus reminds us that God is holy, but we are not. We are thus separated from God.
- A Provision.
Enter Leviticus! It presents the priestly services to ceremonially cleanse and purify God's people, that man can approach God.
- A Portrayal.
But the Levitical priesthood is not the ultimate thing- for it cannot cleanse man of their sins. It is a copy of heavenly things. It points us to Jesus, who alone is the Lamb and our Great High Priest who can save us.
Find out more in this sermon, and develop a gospel-centered lens to learn from this rich book! May you draw near to God in 2024!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Charles Wesley wrote
“Faithful to my Lord’s commands,
I still would choose the better part;
Serve with careful Martha’s hands
& loving Mary’s heart.”
The story of Mary and Martha reminds us that serving hands alone is not good enough. We need to have a loving heart.
Watch out for diligence without devotion, work without worship, or labour without love.
Let us learn to make good choices in the new year:
- Martha's Distraction
She was pulled away by much serving in many things, from the one that that is necessary, which is to learn from Jesus.
In the new year, we need to watch out for distractions that pull us away from Christ, lest we become self-centered and sour!
- Mary's Devotion
Mary was not lazy, nor blur. Jesus said she made a deliberate choice to sit at his feet to learn. In other words, she had to say no to many other tasks and responsibilities, good as they may be, so that she can devote herself to the best. Whilst people may criticise you for studying the Bible, remember that Jesus defended Mary's choice, and said it was for the good part, which will not be taken from her.
- My decision
If Mary chose to devote herself to Jesus, the question then is "what about you?"
Satan will throw 101 distractions your way in the new year- in your family, your job, your hobbies, your drama serials... but will you focus and prioritise the study of His word, so that you may know Him?
Maybe today, you are already distracted. Jesus tenderly calls to you today. Love Him. Sit at His feet. Make that a priority for 2024 and the rest of your life. The blessings will not be taken away from you.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Christmas is about Jesus Christ. He is the Christ of Christmas, the real reason for the season.
But who is Jesus? What did he do? Why is he the reason for the season?
Let's take a look at Jesus through Isaiah's eyes.
Isaiah wrote a lot about Jesus though he lived 700 years before Jesus.
And in Isaiah 7,9,11 & 53, he shows to us that Jesus is
- The Special Son of God
- The Sovereign Son of God
- The Successful Son of God
- The Suffering Son of God
Tune in to the sermon to find out what this all means to you.
May you receive the greatest Christmas gift of all!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Gospel magnanimity is the virtue of being great in mind and heart, refusing to be petty, because of the gospel.
Philemon is a short and personal letter by Paul to encourage Philemon to exercise gospel magnanimity. Instead of insisting on rights and justice, Paul calls Philemon to release, restore and reconcile his runaway slave, Onesimus.
We will see gospel magnanimity in the lives of Philemon, Paul and ultimately, Jesus Christ, in this message.
By Pastor Kay Hong
As we pursue success in our lives, Confidence seems one of the most important ingredients. It can be in your career, family, or even your ministry. However, what kind of confidence are we looking for? What kind of confidence does God want us to possess?
In Philippians 3:3, Apostle Paul writes that he put no confidence in the flesh. So what kind of confidence is in the flesh? Rather, how can we have confidence that is in Christ?
The title of this week’s sermon is “Where’s your Confidence?”. We will examine Paul’s life from Philippians 3:4-10 to learn about confidence that pleases God and empowers us to have a victorious Christian life.
By Pastor Paul Choo
On this 2nd service of GLCC’s 36th anniversary we assess how we are doing as a church.
Using the same five “P’s” that we used to thank God for his faithfulness last week, this is our 36th year “report card”
-
Purpose 9/10
-
People 5/10
-
Program 3.75/10
-
Place 2/10
-
Provision 9/10
Score: 5.75/10
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Purpose - we faithfully kept Gospel-centered by emphasizing the centrality of the Gospel as our “Source” of joy, good works, giving, etc.
-
People - we gradually have less servants and more spectators. Members will serve when it is convenient but not when it demands commitment. Leaders fail to expect, equip and empower members to serve.
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Programs - the Word is well preached but fails to produce good worship, wonder and works due to many reasons. Possibly the main reason is that many conveniently deceive themselves that their main Christian duty is to listen to God’s Word.
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Place - the common belief that church is a place rather than people has resulted in the obsession to keep the place neat and tidy. This results in fear to allow more activities that may mess up the “sacredness” of our “church.”
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Provision - thankfully God continues to provide all our financial needs, in spite of the common mind-set of “no budget, no ministry.”
Advancement is possible if we:
Dream Big (biblical)
Word Hard
Pray Much
Expect Abundantly
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21
By Pastor Paul Choo
In this thanksgiving message, we look back at how God has blessed Gospel Light in the five important factors needed to build a solid church:
1) Purpose
2) People
3) Program
4) Place
5) Provision
May this message help you understand how wonderful God is and how thankful we should be to him. May we give thanks for a good church to worship in.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The final greetings of Paul teach us about
- Gospel Partnership
Paul appreciated and needed fellow workers in the gospel ministry. He did not think that "solo practice" is the best way to see the gospel advance. God's people should therefore also realise the importance of gospel partnership. As some will say, "Teamwork makes the dream work." TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves More. Let us have gospel partnerships in our ministries, care groups, local church and in our city (& beyond)!
- Gospel Partners
Paul probably wrote these names down as an endorsement of their lives and ministry. This is to contrast with the false teachers lurking in Colossae. Because of this, we also get to learn a few things about the partners:
a. Quality- their one key characteristic is that they were faithful
b. Equality- there is no class divide. They were on the same team regardless of race, socio-economic status, or gender.
c. Diversity- they served according to their differing commitments and strengths. God gave them different roles.
- Gospel Priority
Paul could have written at length about himself in the letter. But he didn't. His priority was the Colossians and their spiritual well-being. His focus was on the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus in their lives. And that's what he wrote at length about- for their encouragement, their edification, and his endorsement.
We began this book with the words "grace to you". We end with "grace be with you." As we learn and obey the truths in Colossians, may God's grace stay with you through your life! Check out more in the sermon here.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The 1 thing we can't do in heaven, that we can do here, is to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in sin.
God has left His church on earth so that His gospel light can shine through us. So how can we do it? 3 things to note:
- Gospel-centred Lives
Our witness often begins with our walk. Godliness is the great apologetic for the gospel.
Thus, Paul says, "walk in wisdom", that is to say, "walk in a Christ-centred or gospel-centred way, where the gospel is pressed hard into and out of our lives."
- Grabbing in Love
Christian witness requires an intentional and proactive mindset, to be ever ready to seize opportunities to share the gospel.
Paul says we are to redeem or buy back the opportunities to evangelise, and not let them slip by.
- Gracious with our Lips
We need to answer each man with winsome speech. Gospel witness is sensitive to the needs of others, and is kind and gentle in delivery.
As we fulfill Col 4:5,6, we will effectively let the gospel light shine! Find out more in the sermon here!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The easiest thing to do in prayer is... to quit!
That's why Paul says, "continue steadfastly in prayer."
It means we are to have a gritty determination to persevere, to stick to prayer, and not give up in prayer.
Prayerlessness is often blamed on busyness or tiredness. But the reality is that prayerlessness is a form of pride.
This sermon will help you see exactly why we need to pray, and we hope it will reboot or encourage your prayer life.
This sermon will also help you see the importance of being watchful and thankful in prayer.
It will also direct you to the priority in prayer- the advancement of the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Worship is not limited to a building on Sunday mornings.We can, and should, worship God 24-7.Worship is therefore to be the goal of our work in the office.But why? And how is our work related to worship? Find out more about the Christian work ethic and the motivation behind it in this easy-to-follow and practical sermon here!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The new resurrected life of a Christian is reflected in his obedience to Christ in all areas of life.And one of these areas is that of the family life.He will be a different spouse, child and/or parent, even if the people around him remain the same.The difference is all because of Jesus.Tune in to this sermon where you can discover the "why", the "what" and the "how" of the Christian home.Find out God's will for your life as a husband, as a wife, as a child or as a parent today!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Anderson went about his royal procession without any clothes on.
The Christian however must have his clothes on, according to the Apostle Paul. But Paul is not talking about physical articles of garments, but spiritual qualities befitting the new life in Christ. In Col 3:12-17, Paul talks about:
- Grace
Before we look at what we are to put on, Paul reminds us of why we are to put on- that we are richly favored and graced by God.
- Garments
Paul shows us the 8 qualities that we should have. Just as we are to put away the grave clothes of sin, we are now to put on grace clothes of holiness and love.
- Goal
The goal is that God's people will be united in peace and thankfulness unto Him.
- Gospel
The word of Christ must saturate the people of God in order for us to arrive at the goal.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The Christian is raised to new life with Jesus. He should then seek things above.This is not dreaming about some future streets of gold, but it is pursuing obedience to Christ in daily living today.According to Paul, it involves purity in life, unity in the church, order in the household, faithfulness in prayer and wisdom & graciousness in testimony.In Col 3:5-11, Paul begins with the call to purity in life. And one can do so when he remembers:
1.His Position
The Christian is a man set free from the rule of sin. So "be set free" is Paul's call. You have been uncaged! Step out of the prison of sin!
2.His Purpose
The Christian is a man who has a new heart that truly loves God. He obeys, but not to earn God's love (for that is legalism). He obeys because he loves God!
3.His Practice
The Christian is a man who daily puts away or kills sin by the help of the Holy Spirit. He puts into practice who he is in position.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The basic religious principle of the world is "legalism." It means "I have to earn or deserve" the better life. It is a works-based religion where I have to do more. It is about self-righteousness.But the only way to God according to the Bible is via grace. This is the good news or the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of "do more", we are told "It is done!" Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross. Our debt of sin is fully paid by Him if we believe in Him. And the gospel says "Jesus alone is enough!"But it is always so tempting to combine these 2 (legalism and the gospel) together. It is easy to think Jesus alone is not enough, and that we need Jesus plus something else. This is the Jesus plus (Jesus +) religion.See how Paul argues against it in Colossians 2. And learn along the way what "the worship of angels" is in the Bible.May you discover true freedom in Jesus, and live lives of genuine worship unto the Lord.
By Pastor Jason Lim
False teachers in Colossae were teaching philosophies and empty deceit that are based on human traditions. They seek to "kidnap" Christians from Christ by their false teachings that are not according to Christ. They teach the elemental principles of works-based religion- consisting of food and drinks regulations; observances of festivals, sabbaths and new moons; and severity to the body and asceticism, amongst other things. These beliefs and practices are not in accordance to the gospel of grace, but are legalistic and self-righteous. These things do not save. They also do not confer "extra spirituality."Paul therefore warns them to watch out for these false teachings. In essence, he reminds them that in Christ, they have everything. But apart from Christ, they have nothing. Jesus is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. He is the reason why we can have power over sin, and how we are delivered from the penalty of sin.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Spiritual gifts are given by God so that we may serve the body of Christ.We should use them humbly, gratefully & faithfully.So when the Corinthians were flaunting their more prominent gifts and despising others who do not share the same gifts, Paul sets out to show them that error.Using the simple but most apt illustration of the human body, he shows the diversity, unity, synergy & interdependency of the local church. He proves that we need one another, especially those who have different spiritual gifts, and there is no place for pride or arrogance.I hope you will be encouraged to see spiritual gifts in a new light and find great joy in discovering and deploying your spiritual gifts for the good of the church and the glory of God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God has a "gifted program". And it is for all His children. Every Christian is gifted with at least a spiritual gift.His design is that we all may benefit and also serve one another.But there is also a danger that Christians can become proud and despise others because they do not have the same gifts. That was the problem in the church at ancient Corinth.Paul reminds them to use their gifts for the common good. He explains that it is the same Spirit who gifts us all differently, and one should not flaunt or be arrogant about his or her gift set.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Since COVID, many have taken a new interest in understanding the Lord's Supper.The Apostle Paul had to deal with the abuse of the Lord's Supper in the church at ancient Corinth.They were being elitist, separatist and selfish as the richer ones will gather to feast first, leaving next to nothing for the poor who came later for the Lord's Supper. Instead of a fellowship meal, they denigrate the Lord's Supper and cause unnecessary division in the church by despising and humiliating the poor. This sermon deals with the principles and purpose of the Lord's Supper and highlights the need for the people of God to live lives of love.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Adam was made first. Then God made Eve from Adam's rib.So Eve was made from Adam, and made for Adam.And this is the family order God has set from Creation- the husband is the head, and the wife is his help.Regardless of intelligence or competence, the wife's role is to be her husband's helper. She is to bring him glory. She is to submit to him.But naturally, this is not all easy for the woman."The Battle of the Sexes" is thus a constant family drama throughout history.In Corinth, the wives are publicly displaying their insubmission by uncovering their heads (contrary to their social or cultural norm).Paul thus addresses the issue-not just the act of putting the covers on, but also the attitude of submission.This is a technically difficult text. But there is something about the gospel we can also learn here.
By Pastor Jason Lim
There's a serious threat of false teachings causing the Colossians to trip up in their faith. Paul sees to it that they march on towards Christian maturity instead.
- Paul's Profession
He declares his love, his longing and his labours for them. He reveals how he ceaselessly prays that their hearts to be strengthened, so that being knitted in love, they may arrive at a rich and full confidence and assurance that Jesus is enough. In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. They do not need to listen to the false teachers that human traditions and worldly philosophies are required for spiritual life.
- Paul's Precaution
Paul warns them against leaving a door ajar for false teachings to creep in. There is no place for complacency, even if they have hitherto shown good order and firmness of faith in the gospel.
- Paul's Prescription
Paul commands them to keep living their lives in Christ- rooted, built up and established in Him. They are to continue in the firmness of faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope in the gospel.As such, we learn that a mature Christian is:
- Assured
- Aware
- Abiding
- Abounding (in thanksgiving)
and an immature Christian will demonstrate the opposite.We also observe that the ministry unto maturity consists of:
- Proclamation
- Prayer
- Protection
- Pronouncement
By Pastor Jason Lim
False teachers have propagated lies in the church at ancient Colossae. Paul therefore urges the Colossians to stand firm in the faith. And he rejoices in the gospel ministry that has been entrusted to him. He knows that the gospel is powerful to help them mature in Christ, in order for them to withstand these lies. He shares how he sees and goes about the gospel ministry:
- It requires sufferings
The messenger of the gospel must expect persecutions and sufferings. But he can also rejoice, for it is the life-giving message the world needs. It is a joy of love.
- It requires stewarding
The gospel ministry is an entrustment from God to be stewarded. The goal is to make the word of God fully know, that they may see in focus the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less.
- It requires striving
Paul describes the hard labour involved to present men and women mature in Christ. Overall, Paul gladly suffers, stewards and strives, for the gospel is the power to save, and to secure believers.
By Pastor Jason Lim
JESUS is the name above all names!He is Lord of all. He is supreme over creation, and also over the new creation.And this super VVVVIP is the one who will lay down his life, shed his blood, to give his body over to death on the cross, to reconcile a sinful people to Himself and to the Father.In the light of His greatness and His goodness, may we seek to persevere, to praise and to please God in all that we do.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Many people struggle with prayer. One way we can learn to pray is to study how Paul prays. In Colossians 1 v9-14, Paul writes about a prayer that is pleasing to God.
1. The Petition
Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in spiritual wisdom and understanding. He prays that they will not only know "what" God desires as described in His word, but also the "why" and the "how". He wants them to grow in the information, significance and application of God's word.
2. The Purpose
The knowledge that Paul prayed for is not for mere academic pursuit, but for their walk. He longs not just for their information, but also their transformation. He prays for the Colossians that they will walk in a way worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, having understood the counsel and wisdom of His Word.
3. The Picture
What does a life pleasing to the Lord look like?a. Fruitfulness- he or she will be full of good worksb. Fellowship- he or she will enjoy communion and intimacy with Godc. Fortitude- he or she will demonstrate patience/endurance with joy and thanksgiving in the midst of pain and difficulties.When was the last time you prayed like Paul?What is your chief concern in prayer? You or God?What is the content of your prayer? A shopping list of the mundane only, or the spiritual insight and obedience that Paul spoke of?What is your commitment to prayer like? Will it be regular and repeated like Paul's?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul started his letter to the Colossians with thanksgiving unto God. He praised God for 4 things regarding the Colossians:
1. Their Manifestation
The Colossians demonstrated faith and love. These are the evidences of life in Christ. There is a massive difference between someone who is only "in church (service)" versus being "in Christ". Faith and love are the marks of those who are truly in Christ.
2. Their Motivation
Their faith and love spring from hope. They were not motivated by peer pressure nor reciprocity. They were motivated by God's promise of reward. As such, they could sacrifice and serve, for they were secure and confident in the goodness of God set before them.
3. Their Message
Their hope is not plucked out from thin air, but it is rooted in the gospel. The gospel is like a seed that germinates, grows and blossoms into the fruit of faith, love & hope. It is the power of God unto salvation and glorious life change!
4. Their Messenger
The gospel was taught to them by Epaphras. He was no apostle. But he was faithful and servant-hearted. Thank God for faithful and servant-hearted gospel messengers today. Let us pray for more! May this teach us to praise God also for these spiritual realities in our own lives today.May we prove or work out (not work for!) our salvation.May we ponder the hope of the gospel.May we preach the gospel to one and all. And may you perceive and receive the gospel for yourself today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God is extremely patient with Israel. Despite their sins racked up over the centuries, He still appeals to them through Hosea to return to Him. He confronts them about their sins, warns of severe punishment, and offers the hope of salvation. And if only Israel will listen, they will not be ravaged by the Assyrians.God is also extremely patient with you and me! Despite our sinful rebellion against Him, He still appeals to us through the Bible. He confronts us with our sins, gives warning of His wrath and judgment, and offers the hope of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His son! And if only you will listen, you will be forgiven of your sin and saved from His holy wrath.So, what exactly has God done to save you? And how are you to be saved? All these and more can be found in the sermon here. Come and learn about God's love for you today!
By Pastor Jason Lim The nation Israel came from their father Jacob. And just as Jacob humbled himself and came to know God, Israel is now encouraged in Hosea 12 to do likewise, as their father Jacob did.Learn how Israel was like Jacob in "Character" & in the impending "Chastisement". See how God encourages Israel that "Change" is possible with Him, just as Jacob experienced. And observe the "Charge" that God will give Israel.Let us also see our own sinful "Character", understand how we may go through "Chastisement", and find out how we can experience a heartfelt and thorough "Change".
By Pastor Jason Lim
God's love for Israel is special. It is Hesed- a loyal love despite Israel's unfaithfulness. It is a love that endures even through betrayal like as from an unfaithful spouse.It is a love that never gives up like that of a father for a wayward son.This passage shows how God chose Israel to bless her. Not because of who she is. And not because she is worth it.God sovereignly and unconditionally set His love upon her to bless her and do good to her.And when she turns away in rebellion, God did not give up on her, nor give in to her, but disciplined her in love.And He assures her that He will ultimately bring her back to Himself in healing and restoring her.God's love for Israel is like God's love for His church. He adopts us into His family out of grace, to bless us and do good to us. He turns our gaze upon Him, using pain and trials if need be. And He is ultimately working out good for His people.
By Pastor Michael Redick One thing is absolutely certain - God wants to use you. It is sobering to think that God wants to use us today as he used men and woman of the past. When we think of Paul the Apostle and all that God did through him we are prone to say that he was one of a kind. When we think of the missionary to Inland China Hudson Taylor, or the evangelist D.L. Moody who led 750,000 people to Christ we often reason God could never use me today as He used them. But that is not true. God desire to use us today as He used these men and women of the past. The question is, ‘are you usable?’ Have you placed yourself in a position where God can use you?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Food is nothing. Idols are nothing. That much, Paul and the Corinthians agreed. But eating food offered to idols is something! Paul reasons that such an act constitutes participation with the demons.Such an act is tantamount to idolatry.And so, besides thinking about others (how they can be stumbled if we eat food offered to idols), and about ourselves (how our unwillingness to give up our rights may reveal a lack of love and therefore, a lack of the assurance of God's grace in our lives), Paul says we need to think about God- how this act of eating food offered to idols is idolatry and will provoke his jealous wrath.Instead of just saying no, Paul therefore lovingly and patiently reasons why this is wrong, so that they may understand the principles and implications and thereby obey from their heart. He also lays down the great fundamentals of loving God and loving man, and convinces most powerfully by his own life in servant leadership.
By Pastor Jason Lim "Going to Church" does not make you a Christian, just like going to Macdonald's doesn't make you a hamburger.This is a frequently quoted quip, but it remains true.Many people assume or presume they are Christians simply because of some external conformity to form and appearance.But the Bible says that a Christian is someone who is born again as a new creation, someone who is like the Father.In other words, he will practice righteousness, just as his father is righteous.Whilst he may not be said to arrive at sinless perfection, sincere progression (to holiness) is his pattern of life.He may not be sinless, but he will sin less.So this is a passage that warns church-goers not to assume or presume. We must not live in ongoing sin,We must all take heed lest we fall.Find out what this means and how you can fight sin, for a growing assurance of your salvation in God.May this sermon be a blessing to you.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Sports can be a good picture of the Christian life.Paul lifts up the self-control and sacrifices of competitive athletes to be the values all Christians should pursue.Christianity should not be lackadaisical and passive. It should be like an Olympian journey.This sermon on "Olympic Christianity" is a must-know for those who want to find assurance in their Christian life.May you pursue love.May you keep your eye on the prize- the imperishable wreath of glory.May you give every effort to make your calling and election sure.
By Pastor Jason Lim
"Fight for our rights!" That's the message of our day.But for Paul, he wanted to give up or waive his rights.In fact, he'd rather die than insist on his right to receive support.What motivates Paul to do so?And how is this even significant?This is a message that powerfully shows the way of the Christian faith-it is not about grabbing and getting, but about giving up."The Way" is a way of dying to self. It is the way of the cross.But the way of the cross leads home.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Repentance is one of the most important words in the Christian vocabulary.The message of repentance is what Jesus focused on both at the beginning and at the end of His public ministry.And one cannot really follow Jesus if one does not understand repentance.So, what is repentance? What does it look like? How do we know if we have really repented?We see the negative demonstration of repentance from the story of Israel in Hosea 6 and 7.They may say the right words, bring along animal sacrifices, but ultimately, their hearts are far from God.God sees right through to their hearts and provides evidences of their hypocrisy.But this sermon also helps us see what real repentance is.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Discipline is painful. But it is intended for good. The goal is for the offender to learn and turn.God pronounces His severe sentence on Israel, so that they may eventually learn and turn.In Hosea 5, we how God informs Israel about His discipline:
- Their Leadership is Culpable
- Their Traitorship is Visible
- Their Worship is Hypocritical
- Their Hardship is Intentional
- Their Fellowship is Conditional
Instead of leading Israel to know and love God, their leaders have led them astray. They have become a snare and a net.Israel's spiritual whoredom is all too visible to God.Yet they put up false pretences in hypocritical worship in spite of ongoing sin and idolatry.God now threatens to inflict severe hardship upon Israel, so that they may eventually learn & turn.The only way to have fellowship with God is when we humble ourselves, acknowledge our guilt, and seek His face.This sermon seeks to encourage the seeker to see God's hand in orchestrating all things in life, even painful things, to lead him to Himself. May this encourage you to seek and find the Lord!
By Pastor Jason Lim Idolatry is grievous. It is spiritual whoredom. It is committing adultery against God. God lays this charge upon the nation of Israel during Hosea's days:
- Their Faithlessness
Though Israel is outwardly known as the people of God, they do not keep faith with God. They do not love Him. They are not loyal towards Him. They do not really know Him. And because they are faithless, the land will be fruitless. There will be weakness and lack in the land. All who live in it suffer.God also reveals that the blame is also laid squarely on the shoulders of the priests. They are to teach people God's Word and God. But instead of being a blessing, they exploit the priesthood for personal greed. And because the priests reject the knowledge of God, the people will perish for the lack of knowledge.
- Their Fickleness
Faithlessness is "They do not love me." Fickleness is "They love everyone else but me."The people of God sought help from sticks and pieces of wood. They worship idols in high places.If faithlessness leads to fruitlessness, then their spiritual whoredom will result in whoredom amongst their children.They can only expect shame and punishment for their adultery.The book of Hosea was written as a gift of mercy. Yes, it has strong words for the sinner. But it is all out of love. It is written so that people can be confronted about their rebellion, so that they can then be called to repentance, and finally find comfort in the redemption. May you see the "Hesed" or loyal love of God, and seek & find the Lord today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Hosea is a book about the loyal love of God despite Israel's unfaithfulness. Hosea's anguish and pain from Gomer's betrayal offers a little glimpse into how our sins grieve God.Yet God's love exactly triumphs over the heart-breaking, gut-wrenching pain of sin and betrayal, to restore and bless Israel.In this sermon, we will see how even pain and punishment from God is not always from hatred, but can be from a heart of love.We will also see how He promises to sovereignly restore and bless His people.And finally, we will be given a graphic picture in Hosea-Gomer's union to lock these lessons in our minds.May this message help you understand the royal and loyal love of God! May it lead you to repentance and faith, and for Christians, a renewed walk with the Lord.
By Pastor Paul Choo The family is the basic building block of society. Man has been appointed to be the head of the family. If the head of the family is compromised, the family is affected, and the human race is destroyed. Looking at the condition of the world today, Satan has obviously done a good job in attacking the headship of fathers in the family. Though wives desire their husbands to lead the family, they often sabotage their headship by unknowingly demeaning their husbands by their comments and by their insubmission. So many fathers are discouraged and abdicate their headship roles. Many fathers also fail to do their fathering role by provoking their children with harsh, critical, unreasonable comments and failing to set good Christ-like examples to their children. Just remember these simple principles:1. Be thankful for your family.2. Look for opportunities to serve one another.3. Wives submit to your husbands.4. Husbands love your wives.5. Children obey your parents.6. Fathers disciple your children.
By Pastor Jason Lim Hosea is a book about the loyal love of God despite Israel's unfaithfulness. But just how great is this love?To help us appreciate it more, God gives a story of betrayal and adultery between Hosea and his adulterous wife, Gomer.Hosea's anguish and pain from Gomer's betrayal offers a little glimpse into how our sins grieve God.Yet God's love exactly triumphs over the heart-breaking, gut-wrenching pain of sin and betrayal, to restore and bless Israel.And it is this love that is available for God's people today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Hesed. It's a Hebrew word that means loyal or steadfast love. Psalm 136 is a song about the steadfast love of the Lord.And Hosea is a book about the loyal love of God despite Israel's unfaithfulness. Hosea is written to Israel and to us, the readers, to:1. Confront our RebellionThe number one problem of all humanity is that of sin. Hosea confronted Israel regarding her sin against God. They were unfaithful to Him, and have failed Him repeatedly. As such, Hosea warns of impending judgment. Today, the Bible confronts us about our sin, and of God's impending judgment too. 2. Call for RepentanceHosea was not written only to inform of sin, but to call Israel and us to repentance as well.Clearly, this represents a way back to God. It is not over for you. You can come back to God today!And it is a command you will have to obey (Acts 17:30).3. Comfort through RedemptionThough there is a threat of judgment for sinners, the Bible holds out the glorious hope of forgiveness and salvation.It will be accomplished through "David the King", which is a reference to the "Son of David" the Lord Jesus Christ.The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.May you find comfort and true salvation through repentance and faith today
By Pastor Chee Keen
The apostles at Jerusalem added nothing to the Gospel Paul preached. They only asked him to remember the poor. This brings the poor into focus together with the Gospel. It raises the importance of remembering the poor in the church. Christians must hold to the truth of the Gospel. We must not forget the poor either. We may have our misgivings and reservations. Yet, it doesn’t change what the Scripture calls our attention to. What is the relationship between the Gospel and the poor? How should we understand this exhortation?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Many people ask, "Am I really saved?" "How can I know if I am truly God's child?" And there may even be more people who "block out" questions like these, or worse still, have wrong answers and end up self-deceived! What about you? Are you saved? Do you really know? And is what you know really biblically based? Many have been bewildered, or even tormented by the lack of assurance of salvation. The good news is that you need not be! There are clear answers in the Bible for you.You can know how to be saved, and how to tell if you are saved. All this and more is explained in this final sermon in Corinthians.
By Pastor Jason Lim
God wants His church to be holy. Sin in the church must therefore be prevented, and dealt with.How do we do it?1. The Destructiveness of SinWe see the gore and pain in Paul's description of the sin issue amongst the Corinthians. We need to have a sense of the deadliness and severity of sin in our souls in order to pursue holiness.2. The Defence against SinThe Corinthians are mired in sin. This is in no small part because they have forsaken Apostolic teaching and wandered off into following false teachers. Conversely, the defence against sin involves teaching sound doctrine and avoiding false teachers.3. The Deliverance from SinWhen sin has seeped into the church, then we all have a responsibility to speak to the sinner/s, to restore him/them in the spirit of meekness. And the church also has a responsibility to "spank" or discipline if the sinner/s is/are unrepentant.
By Pastor Jason Lim It's time to wrap up.
Paul now concludes his defence of his apostolic authority. And he does so by repeating the themes of:
- The Signs of an Apostle
Paul reminds us that the true Apostle is identified by signs. Besides earlier mentioned signs like changed lives through his ministry, endurance through sufferings, godly character, love, truthful speech and so on, he also mentions signs, wonder and mighty works.
- The Sacrifice of an Apostle
The true Apostle is not looking to grab from people, but to give to people. He is willing to spend and to be spent for them. He is like a parent, looking only to lay up for his children.
- The Single-mindedness of an Apostle
Paul's defence was never for his own reputation per se. It was for people to be built up in the faith. His goal is that they will continue to grow in holiness.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Are you suffering and God does not seem to answer your prayers?Are you struggling with questions like "why me?", "why this?"Paul received a vision of the third heaven or paradise. And God followed that up by giving him a thorn in the flesh. Whilst it may seem strange to receive this huge blessing of the vision of heaven coupled with a debilitating pain, God's ways are higher and better than our ways. God is immunising Paul from pride.It is when we are weak (and really know we are weak), that God's power may be most manifest in us. Paul therefore rejoices in his sufferings and weakness. He trusts that God's grace is sufficient for him.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Instead of boasting about his accomplishments, Paul boasts about his weakness and sufferings. Why?He shows us that
- Suffering is the path for God's servant
The Christian call is not to fame, ease or comfort. It is a call to take up the cross. That means taking up suffering and shame. Remember, it is about present sufferings, future glory.
- Suffering is the preparation for God's servant
Suffering is not meaningless. It teaches us to look outwards and upwards. It develops empathy and compassion, and it forces us to rely on God.
- Suffering is the proof for God's servants
We are like jars of clay, so that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.And we are like captives in a Roman tirumphal procession- for we are the conquered enemies that bring glory to our new Lord and savior.The questions for you are "what do you glory in today?" and "what is your view towards suffering?"
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul had been accused of being a timid, weak and wimpy man by his enemies.They say that he is all bark but no bite. He is just a paper tiger. An empty threat. He doesn't carry out the discipline he writes to warn people about anyway.He is not forceful nor assertive like the other false teachers.So Paul sets out to explain that he is not weak, but meek.He clarifies that the gospel ministry is not to be undertaken in carnal, fleshly ways.And so, we learn about the true nature of spritual ministry or spiritual warfare.We also gather that the power for effective gospel ministry lies in the simple and plain preaching of the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
False teachers disguise themselves.They are described as wolves in sheep's clothing.So, what do they use to disguise themselves?And how can we identify false teachers?
By Bro Luzerne Cheng
Forgiveness does not come easy. It’s costly and never cheap. Just ask anyone who has been wronged or hurt. Likewise, the forgiveness of our sins did not come cheap or free. The bible reveals to us that we are sinners who deserve death. Rom 6:23 says that the “wages of sin is death”, the cost of forgiveness must be death. For our forgiveness, Jesus had to die an undeserved death at the hands of God to pay for the price we owed. Jesus' death for our life. God poured out his wrath on his son and Jesus willingly laid down his life for us. Good Friday screams out: “God loves you!”. Romans 5:8 sums this up: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What amazing grace, what amazing love!
By Pastor Jason Lim
False teachers are Satan's agents to lead people away from Jesus.They seem to preach Jesus, the gospel and the Spirit, but in reality, they are seducing people with a counterfeit Jesus, gospel and spirit. So what are the most dangerous false teachings in our world today?Who are these false teachers?Should we point these men and women out?And what should we do with false teachers?
By Pastor Jason Lim"Does God give financially to the giver who gives financially?""Is giving then a strategy for Christians to get rich?""What is the biblical understanding of the teaching of "sowing and reaping" in giving?"This sermon seeks to properly present a balanced view to a powerful motivation of "sowing and reaping" in financial giving. Discover how you can be a truly joyous or cheerful giver. And learn how your giving is not just about meeting needs, but is also the means to bring praise, worship and unity for God's glory.
By Pastor Jason Lim
"How much should I give?""And how do I know if the money is properly channelled to the intended recipients?"These are 2 questions regarding financial giving that Paul addresses.1. AffordabilityThough Paul used the churches of Macedonia as an example of grace giving, he is careful to also emphasise that it is not the benchmark for all churches. One should give according to what one has, and not what he does not have. In other words, there is not to be any competition regarding the exact amount of giving. He also explains that our giving should not be to the degree that the recipients are eased but we are burdened. And lastly, the goal or aim of giving is so that needs are met. 2. AccountabilityTo prevent any reasonable doubt or allegation of mishandling of funds, Paul implemented an open and accountable process with 3 godly men overseeing the collection of funds. Church offerings should also be managed in an open and accountable way. That way, people will be more encouraged to give.But most of all, let us remember that the greatest giver is our God, who sent His son to save us from our sins!
By Pastor Paul Choo
Christians have little concept of our Final Destination, the New Heaven and New Earth (NHNE). Few sermons are preached on the NHNE. Most Christians have only heard a sermon about “the spirit of our dearly departed brother is now with the Lord” at a funeral service.The concept of a resurrected body living eternally in a NHNE (which is a super version of the Garden of Eden) is hardly known to most Christians. Because of this lack of understanding, most Christians try to grab as much of this present world before “it is too late”!This is the reason why most Christians have very little time or resources to serve God because there are so many fascinating things in this world yet to experience. If they only knew that they have an eternity to enjoy a much better world than this one, they will certainly have more time/resources to focus on doing the things that they can never do in eternity (eg. evangelizing, disciple-making, praying for sick & lost, helping the broken & poor people around them).
By Pastor Jason Lim
Supernatural giving.
That's what Paul is talking about in 2Corinthians 8.
It is a giving that arises from extremity, that overflows into generosity, and is characterised by humility.
This kind of giving is not possible by human endeavour alone.
It must be the result of God's grace or gracious enabling.
Are you wondering how you can grow in gospel generosity?
Are you tired and wary of false promises of the prosperity gospel that lead to unhealthy motivations in giving?
Do you want to better evidence God's grace in your life?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Few things are as precious as the reconciliation of feuding Christians.
Yet many choose to walk away from conflicts or difficult relationships, and leave a trail of messy and broken relationships.
The Apostle Paul never gave up on the Corinthians. He reached out lovingly and patiently to them.
And his efforts were rewarded when they sincerely repented of their sins.
This passage speaks about Paul's great joy and comfort in reconciliation with the Corinthians.
This passage also speaks about the true meaning of repentance from the Corinthians.
Find out what repentance and reconciliation can mean to you in this sermon!
By Pastor Jason Lim
"Unequal yoke" is a common lingo amongst church-goers.
But what does it really mean?
And in what areas does it apply to? Marriage? Business? School?
This sermon will help you understand the real meaning of "unequal yoke" the Apostle Paul intended it to be.
It will also provide guidance for some of the decisions in your life.
Take some time to find out more about "unequal yoke" here!
By Pastor Jason Lim
"No one cares what you know, until they know that you care."
Before we confront or rebuke sin in others, it is important we assure them of our love for them.
That's what Paul did. He shared his heart to the Corinthians in 3 areas:
- His Concern
He was not convincing them to make himself look good. He was concerned for their spiritual well-being. He appealed to them that they will not receive God's grace in vain, but will live upright, self-controlled and godly lives. He was all for them, like a parent would for his or her children.
- His Conduct
He shared his "credentials" as a servant of God. His perseverance, piety, power & paradoxes are rock solid evidences that rubbish claims he is a fake or a charlatan. There is simply no basis to rejecting Paul as the man of God.
- His Confession
Paul made it abundantly clear that he loves the Corinthians, in spite of how they had despised or rejected him. He calls them to reciprocate his love.
What a shepherd Paul was!
By Pastor Jason Lim
A Christian is a miracle of God, for he is a whole new creation! It is all God's work. But what is a new creation?
Paul teaches us 3 things about the new creation:
- A New Perspective
A Christian is giving a fresh pair of spiritual eyes. He sees things differently. His perspective and worldview is radically changed. God has "turned on" the lights (shone in his heart) to enable the new creation to behold the glory and splendour of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that he gladly submits to Jesus as Lord. The new creation also sees people differently- and they seek to love and serve them.
- A New Position
The new creation does not sit under the wrath of God anymore. He is loved. He is forgiven. He is saved. He is reconciled.
All this is from God, who gave His son to be the sin-bearer, so that our sins will not be counted against us. The new creation can therefore come to God in tremendous assurance, security and comfort. He knows nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
- A New Purpose
Like the apostles, we are given the gospel message to be delivered to the world. The reconciled are to be reconcilers. We are like ambassadors, who represent our King Jesus, to call the world to humble themselves and repent before God. We tell them of the good news that the King is ready to pardon. We also must seek to reconcile wayward or sinning brethren.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We all need motivation to get things done. Figuring the "why" is as important as settling on the "what" we are to do. The Bible speaks quite a lot about the motivations of the Christian life. Paul gives us 2 motivations in this passage:
- The Fear of the Lord
In light of the Bema judgment by Jesus, Paul would not be complacent, but made it his life aim to please Him in faithfully preaching the gospel. He worked out his salvation with fear and trembling. He was intentional to evidence (not earn) his salvation in the fear of the Lord, who will render to every man according to his works.
- The Love of God
Paul carefully evaluated the love of God in sending Jesus to die for him. He concluded that his new life in Christ must be lived for His savior. And it is this love that motivates the Christian. We love Him, because He first loved us.
These two motivations are like two wings or the twin engines of a plane. Life will not take off without one or the other. May you progress in this new year to higher ground as you fight hard to keep the "Big Why" of Christianity fresh in your mind!
By Pastor Jason Lim
The preacher Charles Spurgeon said in 1865:
“We encourage our members to leave us to found other Churches;
nay, we seek to persuade them to do it. We ask them to scatter throughout the land
to become the goodly seed, which God shall bless.”
He believes that church-planting is the venture of faith that God will bless.
Indeed, when we look at the movement of the gospel in the book of Acts, we see that the Apostles believed that local congregations with qualified leaders is key to gospel expansion. They believe that the local church is the best vehicle to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
This sermon seeks to show why it is so. It also clears up some common misconceptions regarding church-planting, like an unhealthy obsession with property or real estate. This message will also clarify the pragmatics of church-planting- the who, what, where, when, why, & how.
By Brother Daniel Yip
The Word of God is given to us not just for our information but for our transformation. When we know Jesus personally and are growing in the faith, the next step is to 'Go' for Him through serving Him and His people.
God has gives us the means to "GO" by graciously giving us spiritual gifts. These are supernatural abilities believers receive to serve the body of Christ. Believers are mandated by God to serve as good stewards of these gifts, fully depending on God in the process.
Our motivation to serve others should not come from the desire for self-promotion or wanting God's favor. Instead, service should come from a grateful heart that understands God's grace and desires to bring Him glory. Service is the practical way we show love to one another in the body of Christ.
Going for Jesus is difficult and involves sacrifice. But remember Jesus is returning and no one knows the day or the hour. May we be found to be faithful and fruitful servants ready for His return.
By Pastor Sin Yu Fei
Sanctification is absolutely essential to the life of faith—so much so that Scripture frequently treats holiness as the identifying mark of a true and growing believer.
It is God’s will for all believers to grow in our sanctification process, to be set apart from sin and to become holy as God Himself is holy—to be like His Son Jesus Christ.
It takes time to grow and we each grow in unique ways. This is possible because of the work that God has done in our lives. So we must make every effort and train ourselves for godliness so that we can be transformed into His image.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Food offered to idols.
It was a problem in the Corinthian church because some of them are having fellowship meals over food offered to idols in temples!
This can stumble other Christians, especially former idol worshipers when they are encouraged to also now eat food offered to idols.
But the culprits allege that eating food offered to idols is no big deal because "they all know that there an idol has no real existence and there is only one God."
Paul, therefore, sets out to correct their thinking- It's not just "I can", but that "I care."
We must act in love towards others. We should aim to build up, and not tear down or stumble.
He points out that their knowledge has only made them puff up when they should build up (others).
This sermon helps us see how we can apply the principle to everyday issues like drinking, smoking, tattoos, religious rites, and funerals. We will also address how we are to channel our theological knowledge to help others and not bash others up. And finally, we will explore how we can act in love towards others, being mindful of how Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Having spoken to the singles and the marrieds, Paul now speaks to the betrothed.
After coming to know Christ, should they go ahead in marriage or should they remain single?
Well, some in the Corinthian church had taught that they should remain single.
But Paul's reply is a lot more nuanced and balanced.
He didn't speak of his preference as a command, to become a "noose" to trap or strangle lives.
But he gave an overarching principle in his response- undivided devotion to God.
What does this mean? And how can we apply it to life?
By Pastor Jason Lim
"The grass is greener on the other side" is the belief many people hold, even when it comes to serving God.
This sermon is meant to help you if you had thought "maybe I can only be an effective Christian if I'm..."
Paul, in this passage, shows that we can serve God right where we are, regardless of whether we are married or single.
Learn principles about
- Placement.
God has "assigned" us right where we are- instead of rushing in to change, may we recognise how he has placed us in life.
2.Purpose.
We are called to be "doulos" of Jesus Christ. May we seek to obey Him and do His will. And our Master will surely take care of us.
3.Priority.
We can serve God right where we are today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Singleness is stigmatized in many parts of the world today. Single people are made to feel as if there is something wrong with them.
So it is interesting that during the days of Paul, some Corinthians in the church believe singleness should be the ideal for Christians.
So, which is better? Singleness or marriage?
Paul sets out to answer this question, and much more, in the passage we read.
He addresses different groups of people- singles, widows, divorcees, marrieds (to fellow Christians), and those married to unbelievers. He covers all grounds so that we can all be clear.
Ultimately, however, the great question is not "to marry or not to marry?", but who are you living for.
By Hanniel Sinon
- Why do we need to know Jesus?
Paul tells us that, without Jesus, all humanity is dead in sin, dominated, and stands condemned.
- How can we know Jesus?
But God, because of the great love, has given us life on the basis of his Son. This reality is a gift from God purely devoid of any human contribution. It is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus.
- What happens to us upon knowing Jesus?
Hence, today, a person is saved only by grace through faith by virtue of being united with Christ. What the Father does to Jesus, for instance, in raising and enthroning him, He does to us. Therefore, we are revived, raised, and recreated with a new heart towards Him.
In this sermon, we are reminded that knowing God makes all the difference. He makes dead men live! And because He has done it all, we are driven to humility and thanksgiving for what He has done.
By Pastor Jason Lim
This title must have scared you! It sounds horrible, doesn't it? And it is exactly that. The Abomination of Desolation is a detestable act by a detestable man (probably somewhere in the future) who will also bring about a lot of destruction.
His rise to prominence will ignite a season of great tribulation, unparalleled in history. Many will die. So, if COVID-19 is scary, imagine what will it be like when this man arrives on the scene!
Yet, the Christian hope is that ultimately, Jesus wins! This man (Antichrist) will be destroyed, and Jesus will rule and reign in righteousness, peace, and joy. So, whilst Matthew 24 speaks of scary days, it is really more about hope and joy to come when Jesus returns.
You may have many questions about the end times. When will these things happen? What's the timeline like?
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jesus is the greatest gift of all.
"But why? I'm not even looking for Him. I don't need Him!" you may say.
There are 3 reasons why He is the greatest gift:
- Greatest Satisfaction
Perhaps you are thinking that if only you have the car, or the condo, or the baby, or the wife... you'll be happy.
But the question is "will you be absolutely satisfied forever with that car or condo?" The reality is that you won't.
We are created by God, and created for God. Nothing but God can fill the chasm in your heart.
People struggle in guilt, shame, fear, emptiness and an endless search for happiness today, because they are cut off from God.
Sin has separated man from His creator.
Enter Jesus! He came to give abundant life. He came to bring eternal life. He came to save us from our sins, so that we may be restored to our God and Creator. Knowing God is what truly satisfies! Jesus alone gives the greatest satisfaction.
- Greatest Savior-King
Jesus is not just a weak, helpless and vulnerable baby in a manger. He is the Greatest Savior-King.
Isaiah 9 shows that He alone brings hope, light, joy and freedom to a people sitting in darkness, gloom, anguish & contempt.
He is the great savior-king who is named "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!"
The gift of Jesus Christ is the gift of the Greatest Savior-King ever.
- Greatest Sacrifice
God gace His obly begotten Son to suffer and die for our sins. This is a most costly gift. This shows the generous heart of the Father for undeserving sinners. Jesus is the Greatest gift, because He represents the greatest sacrifice.
In conclusion, you and I are presented with this greatest gift. He is the only way to God (John 14:6). And you have a choice today to turn away from Jesus, or to repent and believe in Him. John 3:16 says whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. I pray you'll receive the greatest gift today! Here's wishing you a truly blessed Christmas!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Isaiah 7:14 is a popular verse during Christmas. And it should be! It promises the birth of Jesus, our Immanuel!
And it is also important to know the context of why and how the promise was given.
The promise was given in the midst of sin, rebellion & impending war.
In spite of Judah's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. He will not forsake His own, even if they should stray.
He promises a sign of "Immanuel" (God with us) to His people in spite of their sins.
This is our God- His love is so strong nothing shall separate us from His love in Christ Jesus.
The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a most unique event in human history. There is simply no other example of this.
It is one of the many proofs that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
Jesus is the one who will crush the serpent's head, who will be the everlasting Davidic King, and who is the mighty God.
Today, you can find peace with God through Jesus.
And dear brethren, your God is with you and for you, and not against you.
By Pastor Nazario Sinon
According to recent survey, less than 50% of millennials and Gen Z in the US are attending Church weekly. Is this one of the signs that belief, even reverence, unto God has waned? This trend might impact us here in Singapore sooner or later. How does this concern us? to you as a Christian parent? as a Christian teen or youth? How could we ensure that we would achieve the mission at GLCC? Is your desire to grow deeper in your reverence unto God? In what ways could we cultivate our reverence unto God.?
We ave no easy answers. But, the problem of lack of reverence isn’t new. The scriptures is replete with stories in the past, written for our instructions and to give us hope, like Psa 50:1-23.
Asaph, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote this psalm to express God’s indictment to His covenant people the Jews for our learning. God revealed Himself in three ways.
First, His Authority. God exerted His authority as the God[Elohim]. What’s the significance why Asaph expressed God as ‘Mighty One, God the Lord’ [vs.1]? How did Asaph picture God? Why did God exert His authority?
Secondly, His Accusations. There were two, namely; their dead ritualism[v.8-13] and double standard living[v16-21]. God commended their faithfulness in offering sacrifices[v.8]. What was wrong? [see v9-13] In what ways that cause a person to think that God is indebted to him? Among them, there is another group God called them wicked.[v16], Why they were wicked? [v.16-17]. What were the sins exposed by God that they did?[v.18-20]. What is the underlying reason? [v.21,22] How would you describe a Christian who knows a lot of scriptures and continues to live a sinful lifestyle because God is not disciplining him but even has been blessing his work and life with abundance of material blessings?
Thirdly, His Appeal. God’s judgment was not final. Since God initiated to reach out to them, how could we describe God? [ see v 2] What did God want them to do? [see v14-15 and 23]. Since God has no aversion with the offering of animal sacrifices, how are they going to do it continually that God would be pleased? We should be thankful today because of Christ, the complete sacrifice for our sins [the gospel]. How are we going to express our awe and reverence to God because of the gospel today? What is the correlation between obeying God’s law and performing their vows unto God?[see v 14] What is the implication about God’s appeal for them to call unto Him in times of trouble? [v.15] What troubles you the most – lack of relationship with God or losing you wealth, even health? Why?
We shouldn’t allow our hearts to loss our awe and wonder to the gospel. What God has done in Christ should cause us to offer our thanksgiving expressed in our involvement to the church ministries and faithfulness in doing our spiritual disciplines. Thus, we we’ll live to our slogan, that is, ‘drink in, live out and give out the gospel’
By Pastor Chee Keen
Times of sufferings, whether great or small, can wreak havoc on our lives. They can bring us much sorrow and fear. They can make us angry and bitter with life. They can cause us to withdraw or even give up on our faith. But I have found that sufferings don’t have to wreck my life. There will still be unexpected changes. They will still be painful to endure. But sufferings that embraces the God of all grace leads to his eternal glory in Christ. I know this is true. And I pray you will also experience His grace and glory in whatever sufferings you may face.
By Pastor Paul Choo
As Gospel Light celebrates its 35th anniversary we want to take time to look back, look up and look forward. GLCC has been characterized as a church strong in BIBLE Teaching, GOSPEL Preaching and SERVICE to others. We are a FAMILY church that has always been deeply reliant on God’s provision.
However these same strengths can become dangers:
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We may become proud of our superior BIBLE knowledge and “bash” others who have less knowledge as “ignorant,” “shallow.”
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We may cease to be GOSPEL preaching to our “community” and instead seek the COMFORT of our personal salvation.
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We may cease to be SERVING others and expect to be served by others.
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We may cease to be a FAMILY and desire to become an INSTITUTION where everyone is identical.
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We may forget GOD’s provisions and instead look to our organizational skills and large membership for our provisions.
By Pastor Paul Choo
Gospel Light’s vision is to be an ‘Acts Church For Today’, a church that proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and keeps multiplying. We also want to fulfil our mission of leading others into a life-changing relationship with Jesus through discipling new believers.
THE GREAT COMMISSION given by Jesus in Mat. 28:18-20 should really be called the GREAT COMMANDMENT. This therefore requires GLCC to be a MISSIONAL CHURCH not merely a MISSIONARY-SENDING CHURCH. A missional church is a church where everyone is on a mission to make disciples. A missionary-sending church is a church that is merely sending out missionaries.
TRADITIONAL Missions emphasize the following:
1) TRAIN a believer to be a missionary by teaching missionary METHODS.
2) SEND the missionary to PLANT a CHURCH/MINISTRY
3) SUPPORT the missionary (or other missionaries/ministries) financially.
4) SUPERVISE the missionary/church/ministry.
5) Send “MISSION TEAMS” to VISIT the missionary.
This traditional model of Missions after 2000 years has resulted in possibly less than 1% of the world knowing the Gospel. But as we come to the end of time, God has made the way for us to proclaim the gospel to the whole world. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” -Mat. 24:14
End-time Missions can be Scalable, Transferable, Global through the global coverage of Internet & widespread use of the smart-phone. We are so privileged to be possibly the LAST-LAP runners in the 2000-year “relay” to bring the Gospel to the whole world.
Let us be the true Gospel Light Church and bring the GOSPEL LIGHT to everyone! This life and death mission must be our Mission. This is the only mission worth living and dying for.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul was fearless, even in the face of extreme persecution. How is it possible?
- The Reasoning
His secret was in his perspective. He chose to focus on the unseen glory, which is eternal; and not on the seen affliction, which is transient. In fact, he sees his affliction as light and momentary, when compared with the eternal weight of glory that is to come. So, he was not afraid to die. He looked to the reward and joy that follow after death.
- The Resurrection
The eternal glory is inextricably tied to the glorious resurrected body. He knew that even if his current body was destroyed, he will be clothed again with a better, more glorious and eternal body from God. His confidence was in God, who has assured him through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- The Response
These spiritual realities require a response. It was not just emotional comfort for Paul, but that he would strive earnestly to please God in everything. Paul also highlighted another reason for his holy ambition- that he will stand before Jesus at the Bema judgment.
Today, you too can be freed from the fears that grip this world.
This is also a good time to reexamine our ambitions.
And lastly, may this message help you to be ready for the Bema judgment
By Pastor Jason Lim
Jars are fragile things. They break easily.
Jars of clay are also cheap things. They are not made of fine china or expensive ivory.
Paul says he and his Apostolic band are like jars of clay- lowly, humble, weak & vulnerable.
And he says this is God's design. God delights to use weak men, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not man.
- God's power to save
God uses jars of clay to carry the precious gospel of Jesus Christ. God uses ordinary men and women. This is so that no one will steal God's glory when people are being saved. God wants to use you!
- God's power to suffer
God enables weak men to suffer and yet remain faithful to the work of God. That enabling is the manifestation of the life of Jesus.
God is glorified when His people are strengthened to evidence the fruit of joy, hope and faith through trials.
- God's power to speak
Weak men boldly speak the gospel of Jesus Christ because of the power of faith.
Today, God wants to use you.
He will also strengthen you in your sufferings.
And let us also boldly preach the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
There are 3 important principles in the apostolic ministry according to Paul.
- The Privilege
Serving God in the gospel ministry is a privilege for Paul.
He sees it as God's mercy upon him, an unworthy sinner saved by grace.
He also sees the majesty of the ministry of the gospel- a ministry of life, of righteousness, and of glorified Christ-like lives.
- The Purpose
Paul understands that the minister of the gospel must teach and preach as men of sincerity- not being peddlers who use secret, shameful methods to corrupt or adulterate God's word. He must simply preach Christ! His goal is not to gather huge followings, but to speak the truth of the gospel regardless of results.
- The Paradox
Paul understands that God uses the weakness and sufferings of His servants to manifest His glory. In Paul's words, God's servants are jars of clay to show the all-surpassing glory of the power of the gospel.
These 3 principles are not new. They were sown (in seed form) in 2Co 2:14-17, and Paul now expands and enriches these principles in 2Co 4, and will indeed continue to do so till chapter 7. To Paul, these are important truths he wanted the Corinthians to be established in. May they also be established in you.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Satan’s strategy, when it comes to sex, is to do everything he can
to discourage sex within marriage, & encourage sex outside of marriage.
Many marriages break down or are eroded because of sexual frustrations.
What does God's word say about this?
How far should one go regarding how we satisfy one spouse's sexual needs?
Why is this even important?
Or how can we better honor God in the realm of marital sex?
By Pastor Jason Lim
There were Christians going to prostitutes in Paul's days.
And we will not be surprised if there are Christians who may do that in our day.
But what does the Bible say about this?
Why should we refrain from such sexual sins?
Is it because of fear of STDs/HIV/pregnancies?
In 1Co 6:12-20, Paul takes us to a gospel-centred approach to sexual immorality.
Discover his reasoning that is rooted in God's love and work for us.
We will also end off with some practical handles as to how we can resist sexual sins.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Can a Christian sue another Christian? Or a church sue another church?
What if stealing is involved? Or a failure to pay alimony? Or a breach of contractual agreement?
The church at Corinth experienced a legal dispute between 2 brothers play out in the civil courts.
We can learn much from Paul's writing regarding this painful and difficult situation.
Not only does he provide principles and guidelines, he also describes the posture or perspective a Christian needs to adopt. Most of all, he brings us to a gospel-centred appreciation of the situation that we may honour God with our choices.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Covid-19 spreads through close contact. Isolation and decontamination are required.
Sin also spreads through close contact. Isolation and decontamination are also required.
Paul, using the imagery of leaven in bread, talks about the contamination that 1 sinner can bring to the entire church.
He then goes deeper into the Passover Festival to draw out the gospel-centered implications to a decisive cut with sin.
But does this mean we are to withdraw from all sinners?
By Pastor Jason Lim
There are 2 major covenants in the Bible- the Old Covenant & the New Covenant. There are 2 approaches to God.
The Old Covenant is about self-righteousness- man earns his own way to God by obeying the 10 commandments.
The New Covenant is all of grace- that God will forgive and change us because Jesus paid it all!
Here, the Apostle Paul dives deeper into the New Covenant, and shows us 4 things:
1. Comparison
Paul says the Old Covenant is glorious. But he says the New Covenant far surpasses it.
The New Covenant brings life, brings righteousness, is the work of the Spirit, and is permanent.
So, it is fare more glorious than the Old Covenant.
2. Communication
The apostles are unreserved in preaching the gospel, because they are confident it is the message that brings righteousness and life. They know it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
3. Comprehension
People do not see the glory of the New Covenant because there is a "veil" over their hearts. This veil is removed only when one turns to the Spirit.
4. Confirmation
The glory of the New Covenant is seen in transformed lives. Instead of letters of recommendation written by man, Paul says the greatest proof of ministry is Christ-like lives!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Because the Corinthians questioned and challenged Paul as an Apostle, he wrote 2nd Corinthians to defend and to explain his ministry. In these verses, he revealed
1. The Proof of Ministry
Whilst the false teachers probably accumulated letters of recommendation, Paul was not interested in any of that. Instead, his confidence was placed on the people, and how their lives have changed. Whilst letters of recommendation are not wrong, the best proof of ministry is increasing holiness and Christlikeness in God's people.
2. The Power in Ministry
The false teachers might have vaunted their own eloquence, charisma, credentials and so on. But Paul reminded his readers that his sufficiency is of God alone. The true minister recognizes that except the Lord build the house, we labor in vain that build it.
3. The Premise of Ministry
The Apostles focused on the New Covenant- the agreement God had made to Israel that He will sovereignly, unilaterally and graciously forgive them of their sins and to give them a new heart (not of stone, but of flesh, with God's laws written therein). So instead of the Old covenant where one depends on his own strength to earn favor with God (which is doomed to failure because of our spiritual weakness), Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, whereby the Holy Spirit works in human hearts unto salvation. His was a ministry of life and freedom!
Today, this new covenant is also available to those who will repent and believe.
And this new covenant is also the basis for us to serve in the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Paul introduces the Apostolic ministry using 2 pictures- a triumphal procession and the spread of aroma.
- The Apostle is likened to a captive in chains in the Roman triumphal procession.
- A conquered enemy in captivity brings glory to the Roman General.
- An apostle is like that conquered enemy that brings glory to God.
- Paul says in effect the glory and power of God is displayed through the suffering and weakness of the Apostles.
- This is the Paradox of Ministry
- So, far from pomp and pride, the apostles realise they are jars of clay.
- God has chosen to amplify His power & glory through the weakness of His servants.
- Ministry is not where we "live it up", but where one dies to self for God's glory.
- As John said, "He must increase, and I must decrease."
- The Apostle is likened to the spread of aroma
- The Purpose of Ministry is to spread the knowledge of God.
- And whilst not all will repent and receive the gospel, one must be loyal and faithful to the message.
- The most important thing in ministry is faithfulness to God's word.
But finally, let us also note the Privilege of Ministry.
Far from being upset or discouraged by the sufferings, Paul gives thanks to God in v14 for the ministry.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" was a big hit in 1973, and has remained one of the most popular songs in the world today. It is a song about forgiveness and restoration. It tells of a man who has done his time in prison, and who is writing to see if he will be welcomed by his loved one upon his release.
In 2Corinthians, Paul also calls for the church to forgive and receive the penitent sinner. Yes, sin must be dealt with. But when there is repentance, the church should also be quick to forgive and receive, lest the brother sink into excessive sorrow, the people develop hard-heartedness and the church remains divided.
This quickness to restore should also be applied in our marriages and in our relationships.
And we can also be encouraged that the God of the Bible is quick to forgive and receive the penitent.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Integrity is vital to leadership.
People will not follow people they cannot trust.
So when the Corinthians accused Paul of being fickle and frivolous in his plans, Paul had to explain himself.
His assured them that he wasn't disingenuous towards them, but that the change of plan was for their genuine good.
His life and ministry had always been singular and sincere towards them, just as God is always faithful in the gospel.
The importance of integrity is not just for church leaders.
Every Christian is called to a life of integrity and truthfulness.
So what does this life of integrity look like?
And how can we live out such a life?
BY Pastor Jason Lim
Our church, like the Corinthian church, is plagued with sin. So, the study of the book of 1st Corinthians helps us approach the sin issue. As we wrapped up the problem of schism last time, we now progress to the problem of sexual immorality.
The sin is a shameful one- that one of the members of the church will commit immorality with his father's wife- something that even the unchurched will not be caught doing.
But instead of grieving and dealing decisively with sin, the Corinthian church prided themselves in their "toughness" or even in their "tolerance". Paul says, "quit it! Deal with it! Put that man out! Let him suffer in his sin... so that perhaps one day, he'll repent and be saved."
When should we exercise church discipline? How should it be done? Who should decide?
All these and more will be covered in the sermon.
But underlying all this is a wonderful promise that our God is a God of grace and mercy, who will forgive the sins of those who will humble themselves and repent. May this simple message also encourage you to do so, that you may be healed.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Much ink has been spilled over the division in the Corinthian church. We now come to the final appeal Paul made to the Corinthians to end their feuds. In this last segment, Paul appealed to them to look to his
1.Walk.
Paul was not someone who had all talk but no walk. He led by example. When he said to them not to be boastful or arrogant, he modeled a life of humility and servanthood. He was not "living it up", but was willing to be the refuse and scum of the world. So he says to them, "be imitators of me".
- Warmth.
He needed to use a harsh tone and harsh words to jolt them to their senses. But he also quickly reminded them of his warm affectionate love for them as their "spiritual father". Ultimately, we know he said these tough things for their own good.
- Warning. Paul was no softie. And he would not tolerate sin and schism in the church. Much as he'd loathe to do so, he would not hesitate to dole out discipline in the church if the prideful schisms persist when he should come.
The pastoral ministry requires a nuanced balance of firmness and gentleness.
Paul, at the end of the day, showed the great importance of exampling- "be imitators of me". And that is also what our Savior has done for us. The enduring images of His crucifixion and of His washing the feet of his disciples burn in our hearts the supreme importance of humble servanthood. May the gospel melt our stubborn pride away, and may it heal deep divides and unite the church of Jesus Christ.
By Pastor Jason Lim
People often assume that "Sufferings = not loved by God", and that prosperity = "loved by God."
Whilst it may be true at times, this is not true all the time.
In the Bible, we see that God uses the instrument of pain for the good of His beloved children.
Whilst the Corinthians despised Paul for his many sufferings, Paul reveals that they are instrumental to molding him to be the minister God wants him to be. He is afflicted, so that he may then be comforted, and so that he can comfort others too.
So we see that afflictions are not a good sign of God's favor or disfavor.
But afflictions is a good school for us to learn of the things of God.
And finally, this sermon will help you see that afflictions is like a seamstress to weave our lives together in the church.
Find out more from this sermon, and see how we can all rejoice in the Lord, in good times and tough times!
By Pastor Jason Lim
Someone said that the job of a university professor is to talk in other people's sleep! Well then, what is the job of a pastor?
Paul in 1Co 4:1-5 lays down plainly the job description:
- The Role.
The Pastor is not a celebrity or superstar- he is a servant. The word means galley-rower. It refers to a Roman slave pulling the oars in the lower decks of a ship. Pastors must not be filled with a sense of inordinate self-importance. He is satisfied when no one applauds him, as long as everyone applauds Jesus. He does not want to photobomb Jesus!
- The Responsibility.
The Pastor is likened to a steward who manages the household for his master. He dutifully dispenses what is needed to the workers so that they can do the work. A Pastor dispenses the mysteries of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he must do so with faithfulness- no modification, addition, or subtraction from the truth.
- The Review.
The job review is done only once when Jesus returns. But it will be a thorough and accurate review. And then everyone will receive his commendation from the Lord. Till then, we are to be faithful, and to keep our eyes fixed on that day. In Christ, we can be freed from the trap of performance before men.
By Pastor Jason Lim
In order to look good before others, there can be a temptation to compromise even in pastoral ministry. Instead of building people in faith with gospel-centered truth, pastors and church leaders can instead pump "humanistic steroids" to hasten artificial growth. We resort to worldly philosophies like pragmatism, materialism, traditionalism, sensationalism, and activism, instead of focusing on Jesus and Him crucified. So, instead of building with gold, silver, and precious stones, we readily grab and throw in wood, hay, and straw in church building.
But whilst it may look good for now, non-gospel-centered ministry with wood, hay, and straw will not last on the day of God's judgment. And there will be great regret on that day. Instead, whilst gospel-centered ministry with gold, silver, and precious stones is costly and difficult, it will pay off handsomely on that day of judgment.
There is nothing more sobering and serious than the work of church building. On this last Sunday service of 2021, let us all take heed of how we are to serve God and His people. Let us not take shortcuts, but be faithful in ministry.
By Hanniel Sinon
Students rebel against teachers. Civilians go against authorities. Christians defy God. One symptom of our culture is this: that when we’re not happy with something, we do something against it.
Likewise, the Jews of Malachi’s day weren’t happy with their lot. Considering their relationship as mere external, they openly defy God. They say, “What’s the point of serving God when I have gotten nothing out of it?” God responds by pointing them to a future Day. For God-fearers, this will be a Day of salvation and justice. Yet, for the unrighteous, those who persist in defying God, this will be a Day of immense wrath.
However, as what Malachi has said all along, God is gracious to offer salvation to these defiant Jews if they would return to Him before the great and terrible day comes. And likewise, there is salvation from our defiant hearts and attitudes if we would reorient our lives back to God through the gospel.
By Brother Luzerne Cheng
In Malachi 2:17-3:12, Malachi exposes Israel’s inner rebellion against God. Malachi sends a strong message to Israel. He exposes a heart that had no desire for God and was willing to continue living that way. He dealt with Israel’s excuses and accusation that God was unjust.
Yet Malachi too holds out a message of grace. God promises a fully restored relationship if Israel were to choose to return to God by making God their priority again. In light of the gospel, there is no shame in coming back to God after having our sins fully exposed. There is grace and love from a compassionate God.
By Pastor Yu Fei
In this sermon, we are going to explore how God exposed the hypocrisy of the leaders and the people of God in Malachi’s time. They were religious people who performed their religious duties dutifully, but their hearts were far away from Him. While they seemed to "worship God", they gave polluted offerings to God and were unfaithful in their marriages. They were so insensitive and hardened in their sins that even when God exposed them, they denied any wrongdoing. They were phony people -- hypocrites.
Let’s find out more about what God said about them and reflect upon it in our hearts as we listen to this sermon.
By Pastor Jason Lim
We start off our journey through the book of Malachi with a call from God to His people to return to faithfulness. The people of Israel had gone through hardship and were struggling to love God and live faithful lives. They had various excuses in their hearts to excuse their rebellious attitudes.
Malachi reminds the people of God's sovereign love upon them:
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relaying a proclamation of God's love for them
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showing proof of God's love through a comparison with their enemies
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allowing the people to conclude and profess that God is indeed great
God loves his chosen people, of which we as Christians are a part of. We can look to Jesus as the ultimate display of God's love for us. How we have been saved by grace serves as our motivation for loving God and living faithful lives.
By Pastor Jason Lim
After more than a year journeying through the book of 1st Corinthians, we come now to the last chapter.
Paul will sign off with
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a note about the collection of funds for the poor saints in Jerusalem,
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an update about his calendar for future travel plans, and
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instructions regarding how the church should relate with his co-labourers.
Though they may seem only administrative or logistical, they are also laden with spiritual principles and lessons for us.
Come and find out more from this sermon here.
Thanks for joining us all this while through this book.
May the lessons be sealed in our hearts and lives for His glory!
By Pastor Jason Lim
"Why do we need the new resurrected bodies in the new heavens and the new earth?"
"Will those who are alive when Jesus returns still get resurrected?"
"What's the process of resurrection like?"
"Is this a new teaching from Paul?"
"And how should this doctrine impact my life today?"
These questions and more are answered by Paul in these last verses of 1st Corinthians 15.
Come and find out from this sermon
May God help you to live with a crystal clear vision of the resurrection!
By Pastor Jason Lim
There is a dangerous celebrity syndrome in churches today, where pastors are elevated like super-stars.
This can only breed strife, contention and divisions in the church, exactly what the church in ancient Corinth faced.
Paul thus sets out an agricultural example to show that only God gives the increase, and if we boast, let's boast only in God.
Let us then be clear about:
- Our Roles.
There are no super-stars in the kingdom work, only servants.
- Our Responsibilities.
Like planting and watering, we are to teach, to pray, to disciple. God is the one who will build His church.
- Our Reward.
The future reward from God should shield us from the temptation to be a "somebody" today.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Whilst Christians are destined for glory, not all live God-glorifying lives all the time. We can slip into indulging the passions of the flesh and live in carnality. How can we tell? What's the problem? And how can we break free?
- Diagnosis.
Carnal Christianity is likened to spiritual infancy.
Carnal Christians have a simple diet- they can only tolerate simple foods.
Carnal Christians have a stunted development.
Carnal Christians have a self-centered disposition.
- Danger.
Whilst physical babies are messy, spiritual babies are plain destructive and dangerous.
They cause schisms and divisions in the church or body of Christ and bring shame and disrepute to Christ's name.
- Deliverance.
Whilst the way to deliverance is not in the text, it is a question that begs to be answered when we consider carnal Christianity. The sermon explores the principles: a. remember b. realise c. repent d. rely.
By Pastor Jason Lim
People think it is folly to believe "Jesus and Him crucified" is the only means to human salvation.
But actually, it is the very epitome of the wisdom of God. The gospel is the crystallization of God's wisdom.
- It is a Secret Wisdom.
This wisdom is not discoverable by even the "best" of men. Though devised before the ages for our glory, the gospel is not known by human endeavors or genius.
- It is a Spirit-revealed Wisdom.
The gospel cannot be known by observation, nor by rationalization; it can only be known by revelation. The Holy Spirit must reveal to man for him to know. God's wisdom in the Gospel is revealed by the Spirit to the Apostles, who will impart them to God's people via their teaching & their writings.
- It is a Spiritually-discerned Wisdom.
The value of the gospel can only be appreciated by the spiritual people (people indwelt by the Hoy Spirit as contrasted with the natural people). They need to have the "SIM card" of life.
So from the beginning (decree of the gospel before the ages) to the end (how we can see and believe), salvation is wholly God's work. Let us bow in humble adoration and praise Him. Let us unite behind the gospel. Let us pray for the lost. And let us preach the gospel so that men might be saved.
By Pastor Jason Lim
On this anniversary Sunday at Gospel Light, we must be reminded about important principles for Christian Ministry:
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Ministry Focus. Apostle Paul's singular focus was "Jesus and Him crucified". He does not mean he teaches absolutely nothing else but "Jesus and Him crucified", but he is saying that the gospel must be the central focus of all scripture and ministry. Everything must connect with Jesus and Him crucified. Everything must flow towards and flow from the gospel, for only the gospel has life-giving power. The church must not be distracted from this central message. "Get people to the cross, then they can find their way home."
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Ministry Feebleness.
Successful ministry is usually not by great men, but weak men who are intentional in staying away from the spotlight, so that God and His gospel takes centre stage. "The pastor is so tall that I can't see Jesus!" May that never be true of us. Aim to get out of the way!
- Ministry Foundation.
The goal of ministry is faith- for, without faith, it is impossible to please God, and the just shall live by faith. But this faith must not be built on man's wisdom, but it should be a faith that is based on the gospel of God, which is the power of God unto salvation. May our church be built to last!
By Pastor Jason Lim
"Should the bodies of Christians be buried or cremated after death?"
"What happens to Christians who have passed away already?"
"Is the resurrected body physical or ethereal?"
These are some frequently asked questions regarding the resurrection and the body.
Paul teaches that the resurrection body is formed after death.
Death is no hindrance to the resurrection.
In fact, it is the process or path to the resurrection.
He also teaches that the resurrected body is very different from the natural body.
He lists 4 ways this is so.
He also shows how this new resurrected body suitably represents us as the people of Jesus.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Knowing Christ died on the cross for us should change the way we live.
But knowing Jesus rose again (and that we will follow Him) should also change the way we live.
Paul says that preaching is vain if Jesus didn't rise.
Our faith is vain if Jesus didn't rise.
Our lives are most pitiful if Jesus didn't rise.
But in fact, Christ did rise!
And so gospel preaching is not vain, but most important.
Faith in Jesus is not futile. And we are a most blessed people.
Let this message help you understand the absolute certainty of your resurrection if you are in Christ.
And may this message encourage you to take steps of faith to attempt great things for God.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The church is God's masterpiece (Eph 2:10).
He is like that genius artist or sculptor that takes worthless materials and turns them into a great work of beauty.
There is nothing praise-worthy in the materials per se, and so the beauty of that artwork can only be attributed to God's glory.
In 1st Corinthians, we read of how God generally chooses the foolish, the weak, the despised of the world to form His church.
And in His power and wisdom, He turns them all around into a people full of beauty and glory.
So now, as the church, we must learn to boast in the Lord.
This is the best antidote to the poison of human pride, and the scourge of church division.
May we have a renewed vision of the supremacy of God in His gospel for His glory.
By Pastor Jason Lim
The gospel is foolish to many people.
How can God's Son die such a terrible & humiliating death? How can this be the only way to be saved?
Yet, this gospel is the very message God designed to cut down human pride.
And this gospel is also the message that displays the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Paul, in dealing with divisions in the Corinthian church, takes the people through a gospel-centered approach to dealing with pride.
It is a rich, fascinating and masterful insight into the beauty of the gospel.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Divisions happen everywhere. Whether in companies, or families, or even the church.
Apostle Paul wrote to arrest the problem of divisions in the Corinthian Church, and we will do well to learn.
The number 1 danger that threatens church unity is human pride. This carnal fleshly arrogance manifests in a superiority complex that parades itself in forming sects or gangs, thereby tearing the church apart. Instead of being one people in Christ, the church is broken up into different little pieces glorifying man.
So what is the solution? It will take us 4 chapters to discover more, but this sermon focuses on how the gospel must be the framework to the restoring of unity in the church.
By Pastor Jason Lim
Though we are called by God to the church, we are still a sinful people living in a sinful world.
Problems arise when sinners live together. And so, problems in the church are not unexpected.
In 1Corinthians, Paul seeks to tackle the many problems that plague the church.
And before he launches into them, he intentionally lays down the "ABC" grounds for dealing with them.
A- Authority.
Paul reminds them of the authority vested in him as an apostle.
We too have the authority to deal with the problems in the scriptures.
B- Blessings.
Before we are all tangled up in problems, we need to be reminded how we are richly graced and gifted.
May the love of God in the gospel melt our hearts as we deal with problems.
C- Coming of Christ.
We have a sure hope of glory when Christ returns. And may this hope encourage us to live holy and faithful lives.
These are important "ABC" grounds for dealing with church problems.
But the principles are also helpful for dealing with sin problems.
In this simple 4 part series, Pastor Jason walks us through the key steps to implementing effective, gospel-centered, and accurate studies of the bible for edifying others.
Life is filled with decisions, and every choice we make at every crossroads of life will determine who we will become. We can either make compromises and go with the flow, or we can stand our ground and live for the Lord. This week, we will be looking at the life of Daniel and see how he handled decisions that compromised his value and belief system.