Daily Bible Reading Show: Recent Episodes
Calvin Cheah
Surprise! Surprise! It turns out MOST Gen-Z's + Millenials prefer coming to church PHYSICALLY!But also, MOST of you guys search for discipleship resources ONLINE!Girl on Gold (Fern)IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlongold.co/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdCwCfF1EqNH4gAptHbjBQLydia: https://www.instagram.com/random_madam/Calvin: https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/St Paul's Theological CollegeWeb: https://sptc.myIG: https://www.instagram.com/sptcmy/Lydia's drink (not sponsored)Tao Binhttps://www.taobinmalaysia.com/
Is Digital the Next Wave for Christian Discipleship? Or is detoxing the way to go?Girl on Gold (Fern)IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlongold.co/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdCwCfF1EqNH4gAptHbjBQLydia: https://www.instagram.com/random_madam/Calvin: https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/St Paul's Theological CollegeWeb: https://sptc.myIG: https://www.instagram.com/sptcmy/Lunch (not sponsored)Shedazz Ayam Kunyit - Bukit Bintanghttps://maps.app.goo.gl/a6QbXV4bTkBdLkDaA
A candid chat with a friend about his experience visiting a local Reformed church in KL.Take part in the Reformed Church Exposure Survey=========================================Hi! My name is Calvin, and I am conducting a survey as part of my research project with St Paul's Theological College (SPTC). The aim is to understand people's exposure to and impressions of Reformed churches in Kuala Lumpur. Your insights will be incredibly valuable for my study.https://forms.gle/6BkibxbaESrnVfYL7Find out more about the survey: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7QUTtQpEaB/?img_index=1
Do extroverts do ministry better? Is Batman an introvert?Girl on Gold (Fern)IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlongold.co/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdCwCfF1EqNH4gAptHbjBQLydia: https://www.instagram.com/random_madam/Calvin: https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/St Paul's Theological CollegeWeb: https://sptc.myIG: https://www.instagram.com/sptcmy/
What is the BEST thing about going to Bible College? 👍(And what is the WORST!) 👎We share our honest and most candid thoughts as classmates and buddies spending 8.5 HOURS every week going to a Bible College in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!JOIN US AT THE UPCOMING OPEN DAY AT SPTCDATE: 23 MAY 2024 (THURSDAY)TIME: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM (GMT+8)VENUE: SPTC @ HTBB CHURCHRSVP below before 22 May 2024 https://www.sptc.my/opendaySCHEDULE6:30PM - 7:30PM Welcome, Registration, and Dinner7:30PM - 8:00PM Evening Chapel Service8:00PM - 9:15PM Open Lecture - Praying in the Wilderness 9:15PM - 10:00PM College Tour and Q&A session10:00PM ENDGirl on Gold (Fern)IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlongold.co/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdCwCfF1EqNH4gAptHbjBQLydia: https://www.instagram.com/random_madam/Calvin: https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/St Paul's Theological CollegeWeb: https://sptc.myIG: https://www.instagram.com/sptcmy/Fern's lunch (not sponsored): RoRo Coffee (Popiah and Lemon Sour Plum)https://www.instagram.com/roro.malaysia/
Mental health can be a taboo subject even amongst Christians. In this episode, Fern, Lydia and Calvin talk openly about their experiences dealing with mental health issues and discuss some positive roles a church community can play in providing guidance, love and support to those in need.
Any questions? Ideas for our next episode? Let us know in the comments and you might just see it in the next episode!
Girl on Gold (Fern)
IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlongold.co/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdCwCfF1EqNH4gAptHbjBQ
Lydia:
https://www.instagram.com/random_madam/
Calvin:
https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/
St Paul's Theological College
Web: https://sptc.my
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sptcmy/
Our lunch (not sponsored): Vinh City Vietnamese Cuisine
http://www.sungeiwang.com/stores/vinh-city/
First impressions of Hosea Chapter 3. Catch the full message at SPTC Chapel, 7:30pm, 22nd February 2024.
I'm speaking at SPTC Chapel on 22 Feb. If you're a student, don't miss it! If not, I'll be posting snippets of my prep along the way :)
Hang out in library
Drinking bubble tea
Last-minute essay
Use ChatGPT
Two weeks to deadline
No mood to study
Chinese New Year coming soon
Faster apply extension
Singing
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Hallelujah
Praising
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Hallelujah
Singing
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Hallelujah
Asking
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma
Mark Knight for extension
(Come, Ah Kong tell you about SPTC )
First year: Innocent like baby
Second year: Drinks lots of kopi
Third year: Fan kau in library
Master students go crazy!
Original Reddit post:https://www.reddit.com/r/malaysia/s/qOtNM2JbqZEddryll's response:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/malaysianchristiantalks/episodes/Why-I-left-the-PJ-Megachurch-in-Reddit-My-response-e2ecqto
My review of Name above All Names by Alistair Begg & Sinclair B. Ferguson (not sponsored) by Greenhouse Publishing, a gospel-centred book company based in Malaysia.https://store.greenhousepublishing.com/Use CALVIN10 at checkout to enjoy 10% off all purchases at Greenhouse Publishing 📘📕📙 until December 31, 2023 (this stacks with the current FREE SHIPPING promotion for December 🙌)ALSO "Name Above All Names" is selling for RM24.95 this December (RRP: RM29.95)Thanks to the folks at Greenhouse Publishing for this amazing offer!
Eddryll Teo (from Malaysian Christian Memes) and I sit down to recap the first day at the Gospel Community Conference organised by GCN Malaysia where Mark Dever from 9 Marks spoke on the church.
When you receive positive and negative responses to the same gospel, both may come from the same God.
AFTER MAKAN | GENESIS 18:16-21
God has a big makan (lunch) with Abraham and on the way to the next appointment, decides to share some big news with Abraham.
We learn how God thinks and why he wants us to get involved - and not ignore - injustice and evil in this world we live in.
It's partly to shape our understanding of morality and God's goodness.
But the bigger picture is God's blessing. God uses our obedience as a channel and means of his goodness, his grace and justice in this world.
I look at God's original command to Abraham to circumcise himself and everyone in his family, why this is important and whether Christians today should obey this specific requirement of God's People in the Bible.
What happens when you think you are smarter than God? We look at the story of Sarai, Hagar and Abram in Genesis 16 of the Bible.
Full YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/b4bJRUpfO-Y
IG: https://www.instagram.com/calvincamcheah/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4fusuCAx2ha9qT9WCpehtQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvin.cheah
This is how Easter begins - in sadness. The joy will come. Jesus Christ is raised from the dead.
But this great joy comes to this person who experiences this very great sadness on this first Easter morning.
Interview with Eddryll Teo from FES encouraging Christians in Malaysia to pray and vote in the upcoming General Elections in Malaysia.
Hating others. Hating one another. That is how the Bible pictures our relationship before Christ poured his Spirit into our hearts.
"Shall we receive good from God and not evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
How can Job still worship God? After losing everything he has of value and worth? Job worships the God who gives and takes away. He gives glory to God for all that he is worth.
Our faith may be personal but it isn’t private. Yet where do we draw the line? Between Instagram and idolatry. Between preaching the gospel and promoting our own egos.
Three friends (Eddryll, MJ & Calvin) share their journey - plus some tips - navigating faith in the virtual sphere.
Eddryll Teo https://www.instagram.com/eddryllteo/
MJ Gan https://www.instagram.com/mjganny/
There is clarity that comes from knowing that we will die one day. The question is: How many of us will choose to live today?
Such was the perspective of four lepers in our Bible passage today, who ask themselves, “Why are we sitting here until we die?”
Special thanks to Dan Khoo for this interview.
Subscribe to Dan Khoo's channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJSOdeLFHx1-TpYQf5G58NQ
Dan's interview with Faithour
https://www.faithour.com/dan-khoo/
Questions about God - GotQuestions.org
https://www.gotquestions.org
It isn't enough for creation to be torn apart, God himself needs to be broken for salvation to happen.
The Spirit helps us - though our experience of the Spirit - to see the centrality of the cross.
[PAUL THE INFLUENCER]
INFLUENCE equates to MINISTRY, at least according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 10, where he talks about MISSION - Paul wants to grow in the influence he has been given in the gospel. But also in terms of INTEGRITY - Paul does not boast of another’s area of influence.
How does that fit with our understanding and use of that word - INFLUENCE - today?
Ultimately, Paul is talking about our source of APPROVAL. It is tempting to seek approval, even applause, from our MINISTRY, from the FOLLOWERS we are ministering to - and to boast of such achievements. The Malaysian term for this is: SYIOK SENDIRI - commending ourselves instead of preaching the grace of God’s approval in Christ alone.
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
(2 Corinthians 10:17-18)
[Job Chapter 42] Job doesn’t get an explanation for his suffering. But what he receives - in the end - is God’s awesome presence in his word.
Ultimately, this is what Job was looking for all this while.
As a result, God restores to Job everything he has lost. In fact, every single blessing is doubled. God is no-one’s debtor.
But not before Job prays for his friends’ forgiveness.
Job is God’s servant.
As such, his life is marked by unjust suffering.
As such, his ministry is marked by forgiveness.
“And the Lord accepted Job's prayer.” Job 42:9
This thorn in the flesh is so painful, so overwhelming that Paul prays - three times - for God to remove it from him.
God doesn't. Why?
To humble him, yes. To keep him from boasting, yes.
But ultimately, so that Paul can boast - not in his strength - but in his weakness and in the sufficiency of God’s grace.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
For those of us who are quick to condemn and criticise others, well, Paul was accused of being harsh with his words, that’s true, but he was even more intentional in embodying Christ’s meekness, Christ’s gentleness, especially towards those who needed to turn back to God. Because Christ took our harshness and judgement on the cross, He shows us so much grace and patience in our stubbornness and unrepentance. But the point is, we should show that same gentleness towards one another. At least, Paul does here in 2 Corinthians 10.
And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Inspired by Bean.
https://says.com/my/entertainment/the-funny-meaning-of-mr-bean-choir-intro
And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”
I share my experience being at SPTC (St Paul's Theological College, Malaysia) 3 weeks into my first year.
Let's Get Real
===========
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LetsGetRealMY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetreal.my/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XAwgqyYB9S93Tfhnqn7B0
Contact KingdomeCast
Email: kingdome.cast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_KNB_QcLpRzd2JlIdfI2pQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Wy4hXyFGZiHxdD0nm5aSh
A hard word for high achievers:
Seekest thou great things for thyself?
Seek them not.
A reflection on Jeremiah 45
Despite all you’ve changed all these years, God has not changed.
Part 4 of Ruth Chapter 1.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/eu9uzOJEDrU
Thank God for stubborn friends.
Part 3 of Ruth Chapter 1.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bztmm5Eq9E8
Some people are not looking forward to church this Sunday. It's worth understanding why.
Part 2 of Ruth Chapter 1.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tc44N32kv-Q
When God is King but my life is in crisis.
Part 1 of Ruth Chapter 1.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hPmEyWeSmek
And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practises steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:24
Jesus came to take our sickness, our separation, our fears - essentially our death - upon himself.
Speaking joy to those who have only known sadness. Giving hope to those who have only known disappointment. Showing love to those who have been deserted.
That's what it means to preach the gospel.
At least, according to Isaiah 54.
"For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you... says the LORD, your Redeemer."
Recorded LIVE - 2nd impressions podcast of Psalm 139 in prep for this Sunday's message at LCCC.
Jesus carried our weakness
Bore our sins upon himself alone
His precious blood dyes the earth crimson
Flows for me
Our failures are crucified
Our shame is crucified
Our despair is crucified
Redeemed at Calvary
Our sickness is crucified
Crucified in agony
Crucified in the past
Redeemed at Calvary
Let all my sin be crucified
Let all my pride be crucified
Let all my brokenness be crucified
Buried together with You
All of me be crucified
All that I have be crucified
May I be crucified to the world
Buried together with You
Three days later
You were raised to life
All people will sing your praises
Oh Almighty God
Redeemer in Christ
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything we hold true about God, forgiveness and eternal life. It means we have a relationship with Jesus today. Right here and right now. It means this relationship will never, ever end.
My Dad used to define leadership by example as: Do what I tell you to do, not what I do.
Jesus calls such leaders hypocrites.
Reading the whole book of Revelation (1hr 15min), from beginning to end - no breaks, cuts, or edits.
In preparation for Philip Project talk in a couple of weeks.
Malaysian Christian Talks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2gXeWCuW0dnLrmDnrAyEw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malaysianchristianmemes/
Sometimes it's helpful to clarify what the Gospel is by clarifying what the Gospel is NOT.
This thorn in the flesh is so painful, so overwhelming that Paul prays - three times - for God to remove it from him.
God doesn't. Why?
It surprises me that what I miss a lot about Malaysia - aside from the food - is going to church.
Going to church in Malaysia.
Today is Pancake Tuesday, which, believe it or not, has its roots in a Christian tradition called Lent. How cool is that!
So Hannah Yeoh, Yes, the Hannah Yeoh, MP for Segambut posted this story on Instagram:
When you do spring cleaning and you managed to catch the garbage truck, it feels like striking the lottery
That’s just so funny and random!
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
https://says.com/my/news/perak-waste-collector-receives-ang-pows-rm809-packet-drinks-cny
God's ultimate favour is seen on the cross - where God's judgement is poured out on His Son.
Read your Bible on the LRT
Sing God’s praises while you’re showering
Preach the gospel to your family
It’s not strange to live authentically
Saying sorry to your enemies
Giving praise to those who disagree
Though we struggle with our frailty
It’s not strange to live transparently
Spend your weekends serving refugees
Welcome strangers in as your family
Though there’s pressure to live comfortably
It’s not strange to live sacrificially
It’s strange not to love him
With all of our hearts
With all of our strength and soul
The God whom we love
It’s strange not to worship
With every part
Our lives are the seed we sow
His kingdom of love
What strange love he showed when he gave
His Son on the cross
Our gain through his loss
What strange love he showed when he came
Not one be served
A servant of love
Happy Valentine’s Day!
My first impressions on a Bible passage dealing with love, longing and marriage.
This episode was (previously) recorded LIVE in Cambridge.
We were blind to our sin
We were lost from within
Nowhere else we could hide
Your rightful rule we denied
But you opened our eyes
Poured your Spirit within
Now we gaze on your Son
Of his love we will sing
Lord, where else can we run to?
Only to you
Only you have words of life
Lord, where else can we turn to?
For it’s from you
We receive eternal life
Prone to wander, I feel it
Take my heart, Lord
Seal it for your courts above
Prone to leave and forsake You
Draw me back to
Jesus, you’re my only Love
It’s Sunday, it’s time to go church day
To hear the Bible preached, to sing together and to pray
And in the afternoon, we have the opportune,
To hang together, brother, sister
Gather to commune.
Hey, bro, you seem to be new
It’s great you’ve come to join us
It’s so nice to meet you
What you doing after church, would you care to join in
We’re going for some makan
For some fellowshippin’
Let’s hang after church, don’t run away
We’ll go for lunch in the afternoon
Let’s hang after church, please, won’t you stay
Come join the gang, there’s always room
Let’s hang after church, don’t run away
There’s more to come in the afternoon
Let’s hang after church, please, won’t you stay
No? OK.
Well, see you very soon.
A Korean series called Squid Game is the number one show on Netflix. That is insane. The people watching it aren’t Korean, don’t speak Korean, nor have they been to Korea. Yet an estimated 132 million people have seen Squid Game to date.
Call it a fad but this much is clear: Netflix is serious about reaching Internationals.
The question for us as Christians is: Are we?
It's the 8th Day of Chinese New Year. I'm quarantining at home. Join me as I look at 2 Kings 5 and think about the temptation to greed, even in ministry.
This is practice for this afternoon when I have to lead a workshop on Bible Application.
This is an emergency sermon. If you are watching this, It means I have been kidnapped. Or on a secret undercover spy mission. Or worse! Stuck in the London underground!!
Don’t forget me, LCAC!!!!!
First impressions of passage I'm preaching on this coming Sunday at Leicester Chinese Christian Church.
So my friend says that people will remember a bad cup of coffee in church but not a bad cup of tea.
Which makes me wonder: How can I test this theory out in real life?
EZRA CHAPTER 3 😭
In 2012, an 81-year old lady tried restoring an old painting of Jesus Christ and ended up with this masterpiece.
You think it’s funny. But Matrix Resurrections, I’m looking at you, Keanu.
In Ezra Chapter 3, the 42,000 Israelites arrive in Jerusalem and the first thing they do is build an altar to God, a huge BBQ pit, to offer sacrifices to God.
This was worship. It would be great if worship today had BBQ - Nando’s peri-peri chicken - but this was Old Testament-style worship.
It’s only in Year Two when construction begins on the temple. The whole gang turns up at this construction site and what do they do?
They start singing: For He is good for His steadfast love endures forever!
They were so excited over this temple foundation. But the old-timers, they went Nani! (What?)
We remember the original and it blew our minds! So they start weeping while the kids are singing. It was a mess!
The point is: Worship points us upward to God and some of us will come to him singing but some of us, especially the old-timers, will come to God with tears in our eyes.
The Bible says (Revelation 21:4): He will wipe away every tear just as He will wipe away all death and all sin in the New Heavens and the New Earth when Jesus returns.
https://youtu.be/f2DBO5XjfU0
If you go to Trinity College, you will see a list of 400 names in the chapel, of students who died in World War II. Except for this guy who I think made it back OK so they rubbed off his name or something.
In Ezra Chapter 2, we get a long list of family names who travel to Jerusalem after 70 years in Babylon.
It’s like BBC’s travelling back to China after three generations of eating fish and chips in the UK. These kids are essentially going back to rebuild their grandfather’s temple.
We’re talking about 42,000+ people making a one-way trip to Jerusalem. This is not a church plant, it’s a church transplant.
Hence, the long list of names. Sons of this guy, that guy - numbering hundreds and thousands - describing whole families committing their lives to God.
Half the page is filled with priests and Levites even though there are not that many of them. That’s because they are essential to the worship of the temple.
Finally, if you couldn’t prove you were an Israelite, you were in trouble - you were considered unclean - and a priest had to check your status with God using the Umim and Thummim.
I know reading Ezra 2 is like reading the credits of a Marvel movie. Nobody pays attention.
Well, God pays attention because God knows each one of us by name and he writes it in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.
Imagine Boris Johnson paying for your church mission trip from the national budget.
That’s the surprising picture of Ezra Chapter 1 where a foreign king pays for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
Verse 1 says: It is to fulfil the word of the Lord and that the Lord moved the heart of the King.
God predicted this through the prophet Jeremiah and God made this happen through a foreign king.
Just think: This is not how we do things.
I have a couple of friends going on mission. They have to raise funds. The church is sending them. That’s mission.
But this is mission in reverse!
An ungodly nation pays for the temple. The people being sent back are foreign Israelites living in Babylon.
Verse 5: Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
Up to 5 million people from Hong Kong are expected to arrive in the UK. That’s 2500 people a week! And Chinese churches around the UK are seeing 100%, 200%, 300% growth.
During a pandemic!
Ezra 1 tells us: When God builds his church, He does it his way to remind us it is His church for His glory alone.
https://youtu.be/2ijkrIGh_Sg
Obadiah’s preface is, that he brought nothing human, but only declared the vision presented to him from above.
Why are so many church leaders so old, especially considering, many of them became leaders when they themselves were young?
I think it is because the longer we hold on to responsibility, the longer we hold on to our authority, no matter how godly our reasons for doing so, the harder it is to give it away.
Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/HZrPK_-QI10
Every POT will be HOLY (even the one you use to fry chow mein)
"And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 14:21
2 Chronicles 27-28 | Revelation 14 | Zechariah 10 | John 13
Recorded a year ago (but didn't upload, there was a whole bit in the beginning where I make mochi, haha, have edited this out!)
I chat with MCKL-alumni, Brendan Low, about the upcoming MCKL CF Camp, "Undefeated" and his experience going to camp when he was in college.
"If we stay here, we will die!"
A story of how certain death can bring us face to face with the promise of abundant life.
Philip Project begins this Saturday, 16 October 2021 at Eden Baptist Church. Sign up now for FREE!
What would it take for us to pray? To call out for God's help? Ironically, it might take an experience of judgement, and not blessing. Of darkness, and not love.
In order for us to realise: God really is good. God really can save.
God really is God.
I call Psalm 73 “Confessions of a Church Musician.” Why? Because, in verse 2, he confesses, “My feet had almost slipped.” He’s not talking about playing the wrong chord or reading the wrong verse. No, he is confessing - honestly admitting - that he doesn’t feel like worshipping God today.
It is one of the biggest festivals in the Chinese calendar. Back in Malaysia we call it Pesta Tanglung, which is Malay for Lantern Festival. But most know it as the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Mooncake Festival, named after the super-sweet lotus paste dessert called mooncakes, commonly enjoyed this time of the year. It is celebrated not just in China and Hong Kong, but also in Vietnam and the Philippines. In Korea, this weekend just happens to coincide with Chuseok, a major holiday marking the celebration of the autumn harvest.
So when I was choosing a passage for this Sunday, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be cool if the bible said something about the autumn festival?”
And you know what? It does.
First look at this passage I'm preparing to speak from at the Chinese Church next week.
What does it mean for Christians to pray for peace in Malaysia?
I suggest it means praying for three things: 1) For justice 2) For forgiveness 3) For our enemies
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
Repost of back when I used to do this LIVE.
This was from the CHILL episode recorded on 16 February 2021.
How do I respond to criticism? To my shame, my first instincts are to be dismissive and to be defensive.
This podcast has been helpful for my own reflection. Perhaps it could speak into your situation, too.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/
Some people are not looking forward to church this Sunday. It's worth understanding why.
Recording from a year back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmSORslx45k&ab_channel=CalvinCheah
God speaks to a kid calling him to life-long ministry to his frenemies (friends + enemies).
This is my dry practice run live-streamed and recorded 30 minutes before service starts!
200th podcast episode + 200th day of recording the Daily Bible Reading Show!
Thank you so much if you're listening to this for the first time or have been doing so for a while now!
Praise GOD!
"He is your praise. He is your God." Deuteronomy 10:21
Blessed be the God who has blessed us
With the blessings of Christ
Predestination
Chose us to be holy in him
Before creation was made
Predestination
In love adopted us in Him
To the praise of his glorious grace!
Break it down!
In him we have redemption
Through his blood: Propitiation
According to his riches of grace
With all wisdom, understanding
His plan to be uniting
Things in heaven and on earth under Christ
BRIDGE
Oh, we’ve been predestined in him
Who works all things through his counsel of will
So with you who have this gospel of truth
Might be sealed together
By his Spirit
As his guarantee
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Peter wants to remind us of two things. God's word produces godly character. And God's word is God's word.
We continue on in 1 Peter Chapter 5 looking at what the Bible says to elders, leaders, pastors of God's flock and God's church in Christ.
I think we might have a double-bill today if we can manage it. We'll start with this passage first in Numbers 27.
Back after a while. Hopefully, the new power cord fixed the problem with the streaming.
Noisy start to the morning as the street cleaners get busy cleaning in the Cambridge city centre. I'll be reading 1 Peter 3 in front of them, the ducks and King's college chapel.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
End of Sunday, late (at least for me) and just squeezing in a reading before the end of the day.
In this week’s study of Isaiah Chapters 3 to 4, we find God speaking to the men and women of Zion, confronting each gender with their respective struggles and sins, in terms that each could understand. It was picture language of course, as much of what God said to the men applied to the women as well, and vice versa. But as we learned in the previous chapters of Isaiah, identifying the idols of our hearts - the things which draw us away from loving God - is a tricky thing. It can be a very painful thing.
Burnt my pizza. Had ice-cream. Food coma descending on me. Decided to read Numbers 14. Almost forgot to vote.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/1nzRRSqQDBQ
Being the good news person doesn't mean people will appreciate or even believe you.
If anything Numbers 12 and 13 reminds us you might be rejected, envied and disbelieved precisely because of your humility and your integrity.
It was the case for Moses. It was the case for Caleb.
But isn't that an encouragement to speak out all the more and not to be silent?
So went back to church last Sunday. For what it's worth, this was what happened, what it felt like and why I think we should consider going back in where it's possible and safe to do so.
We're hearing a lot of Hebrews 10 being quoted - now especially as churches are opening up again and Christians being encouraged to come back physically to Sunday services. There is much that is good and right about this, especially from the text. But it is worth being cautious about pushing this agenda further than the author intends.
The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
A lot of complaining happens in this Chapter. One results in death (well, actually two deaths!). The other, in God's Spirit poured out on God's people.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD CONSPICUOUS IN THE CREATION, AND CONTINUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD.
Recorded LIVE at Midsummer Common, Cambridge on Instagram.
There is a strange appeal to rituals - whether it's priests in a temple or the kind of cups we use for communion. But Hebrews 8 points to rituals from the Old Testament, done by men here on earth, that point upward to something actually real, something actually happening even right now - done by Jesus, carried out before God, making us, somehow, acceptable as his people.
The rituals themselves have no value. The reality, however, now, that's a different thing altogether.
"If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law." Hebrews 8:4
Super sunny Sunday morning! ☀️☀️☀️☀️ Looked at Hebrews 7 in the Early Bible Reading Show - about Jesus as this perfect, permanent, forever priest who prays for us even right now before God in heaven. "Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
Hmm, I wonder if they'll let me read the Bible in Malay in church? (2 Chronicles 15)
Probably not:) But still, it might be interesting to have a look at the text I'm reading in tomorrow's Sunday service in church.
A reading of a sermon by John Sung, a Christian evangelist who played an instrumental role in the revival movement among the Chinese in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia during the 1920s and 1930s (Wikipedia).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sung
"I say again, when words fail us we can give tears—for words and tears are the arms with which gospel ministers compel men to come in."
A reading of Spurgeon's sermon based on Luke 14:23
Bank Holiday Weekend, yayyyy!!!!!! Let's look at Numbers & and Psalms 42-43. Woooooooo!!!
Good Saturday Morning!!! There are SO MANY things happening today - and I'll tell you about it - but we'll start the day looking together at Titus Chapter 3.
Most of us as Asians understand sacrifice. Whether it’s leaving home to come to Cambridge or burning joss-sticks during Ching Ming Festival, we understand what it means to make a sacrifice. From childhood, our parents drill that one important lesson into our heads: Nothing costs nothing. And so, we willingly sacrifice our todays - our money, our time, even our health and our happiness - so we can secure a better tomorrow. It’s an investment, an ethos in life that says: Don’t get comfortable. Sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.
If that’s true, then here in Leviticus Chapter 3 we see a sacrifice that does not make sense. It still costs us everything - that part we get - but God promises nothing in return for our sacrifice. Absolutely nothing.
And that’s important for two reasons. Number one, this is not a business transaction. God does not owe us blessing in return for our sacrifice. And number two, this is the basis of our giving as Christians today - not as a payment, not as a bribe - but offered up simply to please God; offered up simply to make him happy.
Daily Bible Reading Show
https://calvincheah.blogspot.com/2011/06/dinner-with-god-exodus-24.html
YouTube: https://youtu.be/zOTkU4s6fO4
Based on 1 John 1-2
Talk given to Cambridge Chinese Christian Fellowship on Saturday 6 February 2021
Genesis 45 | Mark 15 | Job 11 | Romans 15
Sorry, the last 5 minutes (of Romans 15) is clipped!
Just reading through 1 John to prepare for a talk this coming weekend, making some observations and thinking up some ideas, illustrations along the way.
Sorry about the poor audio quality. Preached at the Cambridge Chinese Christian Church on Sunday 31 January 2021.
Daily Bible Reading Show | Saturday 16 January 2021
https://youtu.be/P6-Lo4qBcU4
Genesis 17 | Matthew 16 | Nehemiah 6 | Acts 16
Daily Bible Reading Show | Friday 15 January 2021
https://youtu.be/jtAdT9ZM-zQ
Genesis 16 | Matthew 15 | Nehemiah 5 | Acts 15
In today's episode, we see:
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Intercession for unclean worshippers (2 Chronicles 30)
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Intensified judgement leading to intensified unrepentance (Revelation 16)
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Repenting especially after a triumph (Zechariah 12:1-13:1)
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Remaining especially when things get tough (John 15)
So excited! I found the Star of Bethlehem!!
(Unfortunately, I realised later, it might not be it after all, sigh)
A king who was struck with leprosy. A beast who comes out of the sea. A conqueror who rides in on a donkey. And the Son who draws all people to himself.
Skipping a few days sorry (might upload the backlog when I have time over the holidays :))
400 prophets. 140,000 sealed in heaven. A stone with 7 eyes. And the feeding of the 5000.
Sorry about the abrupt ending - forgot about a meeting I had right after this, aggghhhh!
2 Chronicles 17 | Revelation 6 | Zechariah 2 | John 5
Every day at 6pm live from Cambridge.
2 Chronicles 14-15 | Revelation 4 | Haggai 2 | John 3
I burnt my breakfast. Also, catch me live as I read through bits of the bible every day.
Sunday morning, I burnt my toast. Then I preached at the Chinese Church on Malachi Chapter 1.
Preparing for Sunday's message, I do a quick run-through of the first thoughts running through my head.
When you are faced with a sudden tragedy and dealing with tremendous loss, the hardest thing you can do is pray. And yet, the most honest thing you can do is pray.
Prayer is hard when you’re hurt. When you’re angry and you’re frustrated, prayer is just hard. At the same time, prayer is honest. Everything inside you says, “Help me, please. Help me.”
In our passage today, Jesus prays this kind of prayer. In verse 34, Jesus says, “My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death.” He falls to the ground and he prays.
So this is a practice run of the sermon I actually gave at the Chinese Church last week.
Not to be confused with the similar video/postcast I posted a couple of episodes before about my initial thoughts mapping out this talk.
Having a look at the passage I'm speaking on this coming Sunday - making some notes and thinking aloud about my first impressions from John Chapter 21, verses 15 to 25. Warning: A little rambly and a little long, sorry!
Happy Malaysia Day!
As Malaysians, we love our country. We love talking about the food and the politics. We love engaging in debates about the issues and weighing in on how we can move forward as a nation. We are not so great, however, at praying. At least not me.
Full article:
https://malaysiagospel.org/article/praying-for-malaysia-our-leaders/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCu5-GSST1g&ab_channel=CalvinCheah
Thanks for everyone who joined in the RANDOM bible study last night. This is a talk I wrote based on that discussion which I am preaching at the Chinese Church tomorrow, looking at two points, really - life-takers (Pilate, the chief priests, the soldiers) and the frustration that comes from constantly having to demand what is owed to you; and Jesus, the Life-giver - who has everything taken from him - his clothes, his dignity and not least, his life - but willingly and submissively and joyfully goes to the cross in obedience to the Father's plan to give his Son as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world!
This passage was suggested to me by a family friend and I can see why. It's problematic. If you're from Malaysia, this parable hits close to home. Jesus commends a dishonest manager for using money (that is not his own) to gain friends.
Dishonesty - in leaders, especially Christian leaders - should not be praised. And yet, Jesus says there is something Christians should learn from this man who uses his earthly wealth to gain eternal friendships.
Chose this article at random just because of the opening illustration about the time my roommate did the "Superman" on his motorbike. But as it turns out, I think this was God's way of instructing me and guiding my thoughts on a subject I've been thinking of lately regarding this podcast even.
Today’s passage is about losing control. It’s that feeling of helplessness, of powerlessness - like being on a rollercoaster about to fall off the edge - when there’s nothing you can do to change the situation. You’ve lost control.
For some, it happens in the blink of an eye - you lose a job, you fail an exam, you get hit by a car. But for others, it’s slow - a mid-life crisis, an illness, a strained relationship - that drags for years and years.
Dedicated to a couple of friends I know are going through a tough period in their lives now. Praying for God's presence and comfort to be made extra real in your lives.
Shout out to Malaysian Christian Memes - a great resource for fun theological reflections... through memes :) Today's talk was given at the Cambridge Chinese Christian Fellowship 6 years ago (at a Chinese New Year + Valentine's Day evangelistic event!)
I reflect on a conversation I had with an uncle who had "eaten more salt than I had eaten rice", on the surprising philosophy of LIFE from Ecclesiastes (EAT, DRINK, ENJOY LIFE TODAY) and the front-row seat every Cambridge student has to the WICKEDNESS in this world.
Malaysian Christian Memes (INSTAGRAM): https://www.instagram.com/malaysianchristianmemes/
Arrrggghh, I forgot to HIT RECORD!!!!! Oh well :) This is actually my second recording reading a message I prepared for a summer camp that happens every year in Cambridge (too bad we can't have it this year for obvious reasons). It's called BAD CHRISTIANS - I actually thought when I wasn't a Christian back in college that I was a better Christian than my Christian roommates! I wonder if I STILL have that same problem - setting up standards that make me look good, that make others look bad but actually have nothing to do with God's word, God's holiness or God's love. Have a listen and lemme know what you think!
Part of a VODCAST (if you want the full experience, head on over to my YouTube channel for the EXTRAS!)
I dunno about you, but heaven can seem pretty distant and abstract sometimes. I mean, we all love the IDEA and we all want some sort of fulfilment and meaning to our LIVES, but the version of HEAVEN we hear a lot about in RELIGION is often QUAINT at best. And at worst? INACCESSIBLE.
Jesus tells four PARABLES to give us a picture of HEAVEN that is much closer, more REAL and, dare I say it, more ATTRACTIVE than anything I could imagine or desire.
This is another OLD ONE from the archives, a sermon/blog I wrote 11 years ago. Hopefully, it's still fresh TODAY.
By the way, check out the VIDEO here on my YouTube channel (if you want to, no pressure): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4fusuCAx2ha9qT9WCpehtQ
So this is an experiment. I'll be releasing this (my first episode) as both a VOD and PODcast.
This is an old sermon I prepared 11 years ago (!!!) at the Chinese Church which I am just reading out again. Let me know if this is useful or weird or both!
Also, do check out the YOUTUBE version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LijwPSiqiMc