Agape Baptist Church - Sermons: Recent Episodes
Agape Baptist Church | đžđŹ
Our vision is to be the catalyst in the city for the gospel to awaken and enliven believers and seekers. Visit our website at agape.org.sg to find out more about us.
One moment, your words sing like a melody. The next, they slice like a blade.
Why is that?
Some of us speak with blunt honesty. Some of us soften truth to protect or encourage.
But how do we speak with wisdomâwords that are both true and loving?
As Pastor Too concludes our Proverbs series, Wisdom Shaped by the Gospel Lens, with a sermon titled: Speech Purified by Love.
Join us as we explore Proverbs 4:23â24 and discover how our words can be shaped by loveâmore gentle, more life-giving, more wise.
What is the heart and why do we need to guard it?
Popular culture tells us to âfollow your heart,â to be free by listening to your feelings and emotions. But does the Bible teach the same about our hearts?
AS Wilson will begin a two-part series on Proverbs, Wisdom Shaped by the Gospel Lens, with the sermon: A Life Directed by the Heart.
Come and discover from Proverbs 4:20â23 how your heart reveals who you really are and why you do what you do.
For a church to truly fulfil its purpose - Christians need to submit to one another.
But how does this look like outside the âfour wallsâ of the church? How does submission work when relating to parents, children, bosses, colleagues who are not Christian?
As Pastor Johanan ends this series by looking at submission in the family and at work. Join us for SUBMITTING (PART 2) from Ephesians 6:1-9!
Submission. This word doesnât often come with the best connotations.
Yet we are told, that for a church to truly fulfil its purpose - Christians need to submit to one another.
This is radical. But how does it work? What does it look like? We have the example of marriage.
As Pastor Johanan brings us SUBMITTING (PART 1) from Ephesians 5:21-33.
Do you want to be successful? Of course you do! Success may not look the same for each person - it comes in many shapes and forms. But we all want to achieve what we believe will make us whole and happy.
But can pursuing success become dangerous? And what would it look like for the Church to pursue success?
We begin a new sermon series: How to âChurchâ: The churchâs building blocks from Ephesians 5.
As Pastor Johanan brings us answers, in INLIGHTENED from Ephesians 5:5-21.
The Bible teaches us that the Christian life is a life of freedom, but for many believers, it seems like the opposite. Christianity feels more like a system of rules and regulations.
But why? Why is our felt reality often so different from what is promised?
The answer lies in the lens through which we view life.
Pastor GL begins a new two-part series, Putting on the Gospel Lens (Not Just a Little Bit but Thick-Thick!)- with Free or Not Free? from Galatians 5:1-15.
Do you ever feel torn insideâlonging to be patient, kind, or self-controlled, yet finding yourself doing the opposite? Why is it that the very change we desire most seems so hard to reach?
In Galatians 5, Paul gives us precious insight into this very human experience. He describes how those who belong to Christ live with an inner warâour sinful desires pull one way, while the Holy Spirit leads us another.
Pastor GL completes the two-part series with the sermon The Gospel Warzone: Spirit vs Flesh from Galatians 5:16â26.
In his recent National Day Rally speech, PM Lawrence Wong called for Singaporeans to arise as a âwe-firstâ society.
Interestingly enough, in the Bible, it is the Church that is called to be emphatically âwe-firstâ.
But what does that look like?
Join us this Sunday, as Pastor Johanan closes his series From âIâ to âWeâ: The churchâs building blocks from Ephesians 4 â with BODY-BUILDING from Ephesians 4:25-5:5.
Do you need to change? Chances are - yes, you do (and so do I)!
But how does change happen? How do we go beyond just making external changes, to truly experiencing change?
Pastor Johanan brings us TRANSFORMING from Ephesians 4:17-24.
Are you a mature person? How would you answer that question?
Christianity celebrates childlikeness - but bemoans childishness. In this faith, maturity is a must.
Pastor Johanan opens with the first sermon series: From âIâ To âWeâ: The churchâs building blocks from Ephesians 4- with MATURING from Ephesians 4:1-16.
Ever found yourself comparing churchesâfeeling proud, discouraged, or even disconnected? Instead of building walls, what if we discovered Christâs heart for unity in Singaporeâs church family?
With Day of His Power approaching, letâs prepare by rediscovering what really matters to Jesus.
Daniel shares âThis Church, That Churchââa message from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 for all who long for oneness in the body of Christ.
âReligion is all about being a better person.â
This is often said to reduce Christianity to mere religion. Yet the way we Christians practice our faith can also reflect this statement! This is especially when we look to Christianity primarily to gain more knowledge, moral improvement, and greater self-mastery.
What is Christianity all about then?
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Johanan closes this series with BURN from Ephesians 3:14-21.
If you are not a Christian, come hear a perspective on Christianity you may not have heard before!
đ 10am | 1 Dorset Road (level 2)
đ Come early, eager, and expectant for God to show up!
đ„ Canât attend physically? Join the livestream! https://agape.org.sg/resources/watch/
We all go through suffering. But should Christians face suffering? And should our suffering diminish our God-given glory as His Church?
This Sunday, we begin a new series: SAVED FOR MORE: The Churchâs building blocks from Ephesians 3.
Join us as Pastor Johanan brings us the first instalment âSHINEâ from Ephesians 3:1-13. Invite a friend!
đ 10am | 1 Dorset Road (level 2)
đ Come early, eager, and expectant for God to show up!
đ„ Canât attend physically? Join the livestream! https://agape.org.sg/resources/watch/
Drawing Strength in Christ â Ps Guna | Agape Church Camp 2025
Spiritual exhaustion is realâespecially when we pour out without being rooted in the One who sustains us. From Colossians 3:1â4, Ps Guna reminds us that true strength, joy, and rest come only when our identity is placed fully in Christ. âïž
đ Listen now and learn how to draw strength in every season by setting your mind on things aboveâwhere Christ is.
đ§ NEW SERMON OUT NOW
Camp Called â Day 2 | Session 2
đïž "Called for the Gospel"
We are not here by chance. Like Paul, weâve been set apart for the gospel of Godâcalled to invest, devote, and live for something far greater than ourselves.
đ„ What does it mean to exist for the gospel?
đïž Why is it worth everything?
đ„ If not the gospel⊠then what?
Donât miss this powerful message from Pastor Johanan that will stir your calling, challenge your comfort, and re-anchor you in the mission of Jesus Christ.
In this Sermon, weâll be hearing from Torkis in a sermon titled âA Call for Compassionâ based on Luke 10:25-37.
He will dive deeper into the familiar and relevant topic of compassion. What does the Bible require of us as believers when we are placed in situations that call for us to be compassionate?
Through the story that Jesus told, Torkis will unpack practical steps on how we can respond differently in light of the gospel.
You Are CALLEDPaul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of Godâ Romans 1:1
âOur high and privileged calling is to do the will of God in the power of God forthe glory of God.ââ James Innell Packer
Itâs Youth Sunday!
Pastor Johanan brings us Living Larger Than Life from Romans 2:6-11 - to challenge not only the youth - but all of us!
Greetings from Camp Called, Batam!
Weâve been following through Paulâs introduction from Romans 1:1-4.
We will talk about the kind of church we want to be. What is our vision for our church?
Listen in as Pastor Johanan closes Camp Called with Called to God from Romans 1:5-7.
In this sermon, Pastor Guna preaches on what the Bible instructs parents to give to their children for their flourishing and what children should give to their parents for their blessing.
What kind of heart posture should we have when coming before God?
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus shares a parable about two people praying - one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Their different prayers are evaluated very differently by Jesus.
In this last sermon of the three-part series leading to church camp, Pastor GL unpacks the essential posture we must have in our relationship with God.
Don't miss the sermon, Two Postures, One For You!
Waiting for God involves more than just being in awe of His unique greatness. Active waiting also involves praying - not just for things but as an expression of our intimacy with God.
It is also this intimacy with God that prepares our hearts to meet with Him at our upcoming church camp.
Pastor GL unpacks Hebrews 4:14-16 and share three encouragements to deepen our intimacy with God through prayer during this season.
Don't miss the sermon, Welcome To The Throne Of Grace!
Waiting for God is a recurring theme in the Bible, but it isn't always easy. Yet through it, God often shapes our hearts and deepens our faith.
This Sunday, Pastor GL begins a new 3-part series: Waiting for God: Perspective, Prayer, & Posture.
In the first sermon, based on Micah 7:18-20, we'll see the perspective that gave the prophet Micah the desire and confidence to wait expectantly for God.
Don't miss this sermon, Who Is Like This God?
Jesus said more about money than any topic and yet we do not talk enough about it in church and amongst loved ones.
Is managing our money an indicator of our spiritual health? Jesus seems to suggest so. What can go wrong if we mismanage our finances? And how can we do it right?
Wilson preaches from the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16:1-13. Listen in and learn about this sensitive topic of money to better steward finances that God has entrusted us with.
Feeling apathetic? Does life seem mundane, mechanical, and meaningless? Do you feel like thereâs nothing that spurs you, nothing that fills you with purpose each day?
Do you feel like youâve already satisfied and explored the mystery and magnitude of God? That thereâs nothing more to God to behold and savour?
Does the Church seem limp and pathetic - and it feels like thatâs all there is to her?
This semron, Pastor Johanan gives us answers from Ephesians 2:18-22, in BUILT. Listen in to gain a renewed perspective and passion for life!
Are we the most divided people, ever? Some might say so. But even if we arenât, surely we do see the fractures and divisions along political, ethnic, social, religious lines (and many more).
What can we do about these divisions? Is there any hope beyond basic tolerance for one another? Will we ever see true unity among diverse people?
Pastor Johanan gives us an answer from Ephesians 2:11-18, in UNIFIED. Listen in - as we learn how we are NOT THE SAME because of Jesus!
Hypocrisy. Most people feel guilty of it, but Christians feel this guilt even more acutely. Over time, this guilt disillusions and discourages us from continuing in faith.
How do we move from hypocrisy to a glad pursuit of holiness?
Pastor Johanan begins a new 3-part series: NOT THE SAME: The Churchâs building blocks from Ephesians 2. Join us as he answers the questions above in his first sermon, âENLIVENEDâ from Ephesians 2:1-10.
How will you respond when grief overwhelms you? What can you do when your world seems to crumble? How do you cope when despair threatens to drown you?
In our struggles, we often seek refuge in methods, strategies, or coping mechanisms. Yet, the real solution lies in shifting our hope to the solid rock of Christ and discovering who Jesus is in the trenches of everyday life.
In this stand-alone sermon, âWho is Jesus?â, Pastor Too guides us through John 20:1-18, showing us how Mary Magdalene's grief and despair transformed into immense joy and hope when she heard Jesusâ voice and saw Him again.
This Easter Sunday, weâre confronted with the deep longings of our heartsâfor healing, for wholeness, for hope. In a world filled with brokenness, many of us ask: When will life be whole again?
Through the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus, and the bold declaration of Christâs resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, we discover that true wholeness begins with being born again. Itâs not a change we can make ourselves, but a transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. And it is possible because Jesus not only died but rose again.
If Christ is alive, then nothing is impossibleânot even wholeness for the most broken parts of our lives. This is the hope of Easter.
One people, one nation, one Singaporeââa familiar phrase sung almost every National Day, reminding us of our shared Singaporean identity.
But as Christians, we are also part of a spiritual holy nation. What does it mean to be a holy nation?
Join Daniel Loke to explore 1 Peter 2:9-10 in âChosen, Royal, Holy, Possessionâ and discover the richness of this spiritual national identity.
Christianity is all about getting the golden ticket to heaven.â
Ever heard that before? Ever thought that before?
Learn how faith in Jesus is so much more! Pastor Johanan brings us ENDOWED from Ephesians 1:11-14.
Website: www.agape.org.sg
Facebook: @agape.sg
Instagram: @agapebc
When it comes to âplanningâ, what is the principle you âdie-die mustâ live by?
âFail to plan, plan to failâ?
âPlay the long gameâ?
âDonât put all your eggs in one basketâ?
Pastor Johanan unpacks how God thinks about His plans - in CHOSEN from Ephesians 1:3-10.
The Church is ___. How would you fill in the blank?
âWHO WE ARE: The Churchâs Building Blocks from Ephesians 1â. We begin a new series to discover how the Bible fills that blank!
Ps Johanan begins with the first sermon, BLESSED from Ephesians 1:1-3. Hear just how good it is to be the people of God!
False security or true freedom?
In Galatians 4:21-31, the Apostle Paul tells an incredible story from the Old Testament about two women who represent these two radically different approaches to life. Amidst the tension, this story leads us to discover our true God-given identity.
Through this passage, Pastor GL uncovers three essential renewals we need to stand in gospel freedom.
Don't miss this last sermon in the Galatians series, The Story of Two Women.
It is highly possible for someone to believe the gospel theoretically, yet still drift away from it practically.
How do we guard against such gospel drift?
In Galatians 4:8-20, Paul expresses concern for the Galatians that they have drifted from the gospel they once cherished. Through this passage, Pastor GL draws out three diagnostic questions that we can use to examine our own hearts.
Don't miss this sermon, Do Not Turn Back Again!
We start a new three-part sermon series, Galatians 4: Adopted into God's Family.
In this first sermon based on Galatians 4:1-7, Pastor GL unpacks how the Apostle Paul's illustration of ancient Roman adoption reveals the beauty of the gospel. Through this sermon, we will learn how this overarching gospel story can shape the many stories we tell about our own lives.
Don't miss this sermon, From Slave to Heir.
Jesus. Is. KING.
This Sunday, we gather to make our Gift To The King. Are you ready?
We give as a response. We give to declare that our devotion is His. Our giving is our way of saying, âAs You are jealous for me, I want to be jealous for You.â
Ps Johanan bring us the final instalment of the series: âDEVOTED: Let the walls come crashing downâ. Join us as we hear how good it is, to be A Devoted People unto God (from Joshua 8).
Money is so important. But if you think about it, money in itself is useless. Money is the means to something else. Something thatâs important to us. Something we value.
Jesus once said, âWhere your heart is, there your treasure (your wealth) will be also.â How we use our money, reveals what we are devoted to.
What are you devoted to? Is there anything problematic with being devoted to anything? Or is it just âdifferent strokes for different folksâ? Should Christians be any different in what theyâre devoted to?
Ps Johanan brings us The Devoted Things from Joshua 7.
We all have something we want killed: A bad habit. A persistent sin. A toxic relationship. A debilitating obstacle. Whatever it is, we want it destroyed.
But how do we do that?
We begin a new sermon series from Joshua 6-8, titled âDEVOTED: Let the Walls Come Downâ. Ps Johanan brings us the first sermon: Devoted to Destruction from Joshua 6.
Jesus told his disciples to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). How can Agape be Jesusâs witness in 2025? How will you personally be a witness for Jesus in 2025?
Pastor Stephen Tan from Regeneration Church Monash (Melbourne, Australia đŠđș) shares about the Missionary Identity of the Church from Acts 1:1-11.
Nothing worthwhile comes without suffering. This is generally true for almost all things in life. And itâs no different when it comes to living for Jesus:
There is no worthwhile pleasure presented to Jesus, that does not come with some suffering.
Yet why do we resist and avoid suffering for Jesus?
Pastor Johanan answers this critical question in The Glorious Reward from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18.
Have you found that less and less people are making New Yearâs resolutions, with each year? Have you also brushed aside any thought of making any resolutions for 2025?
Was it perhaps because of how past years ended almost no different from how they began? There is a greater sense of jadedness and cynicism that has settled into our society - and even among us Christians.
How do we break out of such pessimism and fight for a 2025 that is NOT JUST ANOTHER YEAR?
Pastor Johanan brings us The Good Soldier from 2 Timothy 2:3-6, to find much needed answers.
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2025! Did you set your goals, make resolutions, or plan your year ahead?
What shaped your direction for this new year? What was the cause, the vision, or the reason driving you forward?
On this first Sunday of the year, we anchored ourselves in Godâs Word with the series NOT JUST ANOTHER YEAR.
Pastor Johanan kicked off with Part 1: The Grand Commanderâa powerful message from Joshua 5:13-15.
Catch the message and start your year anchored in purpose and faith!
What do you wish for in 2025? A dream job? Better health? A restored relationship?
As we stand at the edge of a new year, our deepest wishes reveal what we truly value. But what if even our best desires point to something greater?
This Sunday, we'll explore Psalm 137 with Daniel â a raw and honest prayer about loss, longing, and finding our highest joy. Listen to Pursuing Joy While In Exile!
Hope is one of the biggest themes in the Bible. Yet, it is often misunderstood. Many people recognise the importance of hope in life but fail to apply it correctly.
Pastor GL addresses the topic of hope in his sermon, Hope for the Hurting Heart. He will unpack Matthew 12:15-21 to show how Jesus brings the ultimate hope that all of us need in this broken world.
As we approach Christmas, we begin a new two-part evangelistic sermon series, What Are You Searching For?
Pastor GL addresses the topic of rest in his sermon, Rest for the Weary Soul. He will unpack Matthew 11:25-30 to show how Jesus provides the deep rest that all of us in Singapore ultimately need.
We live in a world that encourages a âme-firstâ, âlive in the nowâ kind of attitude. So it can be quite natural for us to apply our gospel-given courage in an immediate, therapeutic, and ultimately self-centered way.
We need a bigger vision for our courage.
Pastor Johanan closes the series on David: Unusual Courage with Facing Future from Psalm 63.
We often pray when we need something. But isnât it strange that when we need help to clear our self-made sinful messes - we often become silent?
It takes courage to pray - especially when we feel we have no right to ask God for a thing. How do we find that courage in the midst of guilt-fuelled fear?
Pastor Johanan brings us answers with Facing Fear from Psalm 3.
When was the last time you really felt you needed courage?
Davidâs courageous exploits are famous. But there is a dimension to his courage that is unusual and often overlooked. This aspect of his courage is most apparent when David was at his lowest, weakest, and most pathetic.
This is a courage we all need. And itâs a courage we need most days.
Pastor Johanan begins a 3-part sermon series âDavid: Unusual Courageâ, with Facing Fault from 2 Samuel 16:5-14.
In times of crisis, people cry out for help. When nothing seems to work, we cry out to God. This is true even for people who do not believe in God. Why? Because crisis exposes the limitation of finite human beings and the need for the infinite God.
Ps Too closes the 2-part sermon series âA Faithful God for Unfaithful Peopleâ with âA Deep Cry for Helpâ from Judges 6:1-10. We will see that sometimes what we cry for is not really what we need.
In the book of Judges, we see the people of God worshipping idols of their culture and getting trapped in a repeated downward cycle of disobedience and spiritual decline. This ancient book is relevant to us in Singapore because we are also tempted to follow the idols of our culture to our own detriment.
In this 2-part sermon series titled âA Faithful God for Unfaithful Peopleâ, Ps Too begins with the first sermon, âAn Unexpected Victoryâ from the story of Deborah and Barak in Judges 4, God fights for us when victory is totally unexpected.
In one more week, it will be Agape's momentous 40th anniversary celebration on 3 November!
To prepare our hearts to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness to Agape on Anniversary Sunday, we are in the midst of a two-part sermon series, The Heritage of Agape.
In this sermon Pastor Tom will guide us through the passage of Psalm 136, reflecting on his personal journey and the lessons learned as a pastor and member of Agape Baptist Church.
We are just over two weeks away from Agape's momentous 40th anniversary celebration on 3 November!
To prepare our hearts to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness to Agape on Anniversary Sunday, we are starting a new two-part sermon series, The Heritage of Agape.
In this series, Pastor GL and Pastor Tom will guide us through two different passages from Psalms, reflecting on Agape's heritage from their unique perspectives as pastors in our church.
Pastor GL delivers the first sermon from Psalm 103:1-5, titled "A Church that Blesses the LORD".
Have you ever felt like you were searching for something, but couldn't quite grasp it?
Weâll look at the human longing for fulfilment and see how the Gospel offers a truth deeper than any philosophy. In Acts 17, we'll discover how Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, engaged with a city full of philosophies and idols, revealing the truth of a God who created us and wants to be known by us. He shows us the power of the Gospel to bring hope and meaning to every corner of our lives, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Our guest preacher Pastor Huai Tze brings us âGospel to the Cityâ.
What do you think about our city? What are we called to do in this city? How do we find hope for tough city-living?
Ps Johanan begins a new 2-part series Catalyst in the City. Join us as he brings us answers in the first sermon: âExiles in the Cityâ from Jeremiah 29:4-14.
Everyone loves something. Love is what keeps us going and what gives us hope and meaning. Did you know that the love that grows from the desires of your heart is taking you to places? Because whatever your heart desires deeply has the power to chart the course of your life.
Is your life on the right path? Is it going towards the right destination? Are you walking increasingly towards freedom or slavery?
Ps Too brings us a standalone sermon titled âDangerous Loveâ, based on Exodus 20:1-6. He sheds light on how to redirect and reorder the desires of our heart so we may walk in freedom.
Weâve talked about the relationship between the eyes and the memory, with courage. This Sunday weâll talk about the heart. Courage is fundamentally a matter of the heart. And the heart that is not rested in God, cannot truly experience courage. Pastor Johanan brings our series on Joshua 3-5 to a close, with Covenanted Heart from Joshua 5:1-12.
We live in a world thatâs all about âprogressâ. But when we pursue progress at the expense of our roots - we end up lost, aimless, and anxious.
Pastor Johanan brings us the second ingredient to courage: Dedicated Memory from Joshua 4.
It has become impossible to survive in our world today, without courage. There may have been a slower, less connected, less pressurising time in the past where courage felt optional.
But not any more.
Courage is indispensable in such an anxious world. Where do we find such courage?
Pastor Johanan begins a three-part series On Jordanâs Stormy Banks: Joshua 3-5 and the Ingredients to Courage. Join us as he brings us the first installment, âConsecrated Eyesâ, from Joshua 3:5-13.
One of the most beautiful and distinctive realities of the Christian faith is that it is built on God's promise.
In Galatians 3:15-29, Paul explains how the Galatians are heirs of the promise as sons of Abraham. This is made possible through Abraham's offspring, Jesus Christ.
This passage has profound implications for our lives today. Only when we appreciate that we are heirs of the promise can we live out the gospel by faith in Christ.
Don't miss this sermon, Heirs of the Promise, as Pastor GL brings this Galatians sermon series to a close!
In Galatians 3:1-14, Paul sends a very strong message to the Galatians, rebuking them for their folly in returning to relying on the works of the law for acceptance before God.
In this sermon, Pastor GL will explore how Paul's sharp rebuke of the Galatians in this passage gives us fresh insights on how we are meant to live by faith in Christ.
Don't miss this sermon, Don't Be Foolish!
How does believing the gospel translate into living out the gospel? What stops us from effectively living out the gospel? In this second round of the Galatians sermon series, Grace Unchained (2) - Walking in Gospel Freedom, Pastor GL will share with us how God's grace practically fuels our walk by faith. He will draw out 4 important lessons on living out the gospel from Galatians 2:11-21.
âWorship matters.â Few Christians would disagree with this statement. But what we struggle with is: Does it matter how we worship? Isnât it enough to worship on principle - do we also need to get emotional? Isnât it more God-honouring to worship despite how we feel, versus to worship with how we feel? Ps Johanan answers these questions with Heartfelt Worship from Psalm 28.
Corporate worship has played a big part in Agapeâs 40-year history. But has our posture & the priority given to worship, changed?
Are we still excited to come together to worship? Do we still have a shared purpose, a shared vision for our corporate worship?
Ps Johanan begins a new series on WORSHIP, with the first sermon âHeavenward Worshipâ. Looking into the famous âheavenâ passages from Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, we will be brought back to the fundamental purpose of worship.
Should the wife submit to an abusive husband? What does the Bible mean when it calls for a wife's submission to the headship of her husband? How does this biblical call play out in today's world with wives just as capable (or even more so) than their husbands?
This final sermon on Marriage/Unmarriage, Ps Guna will unpack Eph 5:18-22 to explore the wife's role in a marriage for its flourishing.
The dating scene today is highly complex. Changes in technology. Changes in expectations. Changes in the ways we pursue romance.
Does Godâs unchanging word have anything to speak into the changing ways we pursue romantic relationships today?
Calling especially all singles & those romantically-interested! Listen in as Ps Johanan bring us Romantic Relationships Outside Marriage from 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.
Does the Bible encourage a husband's authoritative leadership at home? What does it mean when the Bible says the husband is the head of the wife? Is this biblical call still relevant today?
Ps Guna unpacks Ephesians 5:22-33 to show how the husband's biblical role brings flourishing to a marriage in the first of a three-part series, Marriage/Unmarriage.
What does it mean to be âradicalâ? Some would say being radical is about living an extreme life. Or about pursuing your feelings to the extreme.
Jesus is without question, one of the most radical figures in human history. What does He think being âradicalâ means?
This Youth Sunday, Pastor Johanan brings us RADICAL from Luke 11:37-41.
Is homosexuality a sin? How can one still be a Christian if one is struggling with same-sex attraction? How is the Gospel good news for all who struggle with sexual desire and sin?
In this standalone sermon, Wilson will touch on the sensitive topic of sexuality. Preaching from Romans 1:18-32, he will lead us to see what the Bible has to say on this topic, and more importantly, how we are to respond in light of God's redemptive plan for us.
Human relations are fraught with challenges and brokenness. While some of us are blessed with loving relationships, there are still too many relationships in families, churches, communities and nations which are filled with more hate than love.
What is the solution?
Conventional wisdom teaches us to write off our enemies or even plot against them. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges Christians to counter hate with love. He teaches His followers to display Godâs radical love for mankind which includes loving our enemies.
Listen to the fourth and final sermon in the series, as Pastor Too brings us "Radical Loveâ from Matthew 5:43-48.
Empty promises leave us disappointed and erode trust. In Jesus' day, casual oath-taking was a cultural norm, causing a crisis of integrity.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks directly into this issue with a radical teaching. What was the core problem he identified? And what is his surprising solution for living with wholehearted integrity?
Check out the third sermon in the series, "A Matter of Yes and No" by Daniel Loke from Matthew 5:33-37. Find out why it's so difficult to simply let your "yes" be yes, and Godâs plan for your human flourishing.
God's desire is for our human flourishing, but many times, we experience longings that are contrary to His will and plans for us.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus points out one such area, specifically regarding adultery. He reveals that at its root, adultery is driven by a certain kind of longing, which is far more pervasive and dangerous than we commonly imagine it to be.
Listen to the second sermon in the series, as Pastor GL brings us "Adultery Revisitedâ from Matthew 5:27-30.
How does one experience human flourishing? What does the Bible teach us on this topic?
In this new 4-part sermon series, âThe Wisdom of Jesus on Human Flourishingâ, we will consider what Jesus Himself teaches on this topic in selected portions of His famous Sermon on the Mount.
Pastor GL will brings the first sermon, âA Righteousness Beyond Expectationâ from Matthew 5:17-20. Come and hear what Jesus thinks about the life that we should all dream of living.
The mission of the church hasnât changed since the birth of the church but the expression of missions has dramatically evolved.
However, the church must remember the power of the Message, the persistence of the Messengers and the priority of the Mandate.
Pastor Thomas brings us the preached word from Matthew 28:18-20 in The 3Mâs of the Great Commission.
Most of us are quite comfortable to be with people who are alike but we are not so comfortable with people who are quite different. This uneasiness hinders relational unity wherever we are, including our families and our churches.
Ps Too will conclude the âGrace Unchainedâ sermon series with the sermon, âUnity in Freedomâ (Galatians 2:1-10). We will learn how gospel freedom results in uncanny unity in human relationships.
Many people are not satisfied with how they are and where they are in life. We are on a quest for change. We try things like a makeover, a new wardrobe, or a new career. Somehow these changes donât seem to go deep enough.
Ps Too addresses the need for change as he continues the âGrace Unchainedâ sermon series with the sermon, âFrom Persecutor to Preacherâ (Galatians 1:10-24). We will see how God is in the business of changing people outside in and from inside out.
We have been taught from a young age that to gain acceptance in the world, we must do the right things, establish the right connections, and achieve the right outcomes. In short, our future is completely in our hands. This underlying belief is pervasive among Christians and non-Christians alike.
In the 3-part sermon series, âGrace Unchainedâ, we will delve into the transformational truth of Godâs grace that impacts every aspect of our lives. Ps Too brings us the first sermon titled, âNo Other Gospelâ from Galatians 1:1-9. He reveals to us how the gospel frees us from the demands of everyday life.
We live in a world that celebrates freedom from the expectations of others. Yet this is also a world that heavily imposes its expectations on us. And so we find a âfear of manâ lurking in our most unexpected thoughts:
âI donât want to let others down.â âI donât want to be a burden to anyone.â âIâm a perfectionist - I donât want to reveal my flaws!â How do we overcome this fear of man?
Ps Johanan answers this question with the final instalment of the Saul series: âTears for a Cowardâ from 1 Samuel 15.
âWhatever works.â
For many of us (especially here in Singapore), these two words represent the way we live. At its best, it encourages a bold decisiveness. At its worst, it leads us away from God as the ultimate authority.
Is there anything wrong with being practical? When does âbeing practicalâ go to far? How does such practically keep us from true courage?
Ps Johanan brings âSaul of Singapore?â from 1 Samuel 13.
Christian belief involves taking a leap of faith - but itâs not a blind leap of faith. Such faith is undergirded by reasons and signs.
Yet sometimes we go to the other extreme. We try to remove any leap of faith whatsoever from Christian faith. Here we confuse faith with airtight reasoning and irrefutable signs.
How do we hold that tension? How does Christian belief lead to courage - not recklessness nor an aversion for risk?
Ps Johanan brings âNo Sign of Saulâ from 1 Samuel 10.
Sometimes courageous and cowardly actions are identical. For example, deciding not to retaliate in a fight can be both a cowardly and a courageous course of action.
Oftentimes we cannot simply categorise certain actions as âcowardlyâ or âcourageousâ. To distinguish between the two, we must go deeper: What feeds courage? What feeds cowardice?
In this sermon, Pastor Johanan digs deeper into these questions with a new 4-part series titled Saul the King: A cowardâs guide to courage.
Catch the first instalment: âA Worldly Kishâ from 1 Samuel 8:1-9:10!
Easter is here: Jesus is alive!
Christianity is a religion of hope. And this matters, because life is hard! Thereâs suffering, unfulfilled desires, and our fears never stop multiplying.
So what is this Christian hope? How does it connect with lifeâs difficulties? And how can we be sure of this hope?
This Easter Sunday Pastor Johanan brings us to the end of the Bible (Revelation 21:1-8) to share about this hope. Letâs Talk About Hope!
"I feel ashamed of myself whenever I think about this or experience this..."
When was the last time you felt ashamed?
Shame is a universal experience. It can be painfully intense in honour-shame cultures like here in Singapore. How should we respond when we feel shame? Does God even have a plan to help us when we feel ashamed?
Pastor GL will answer these questions and more especially for the seeker, as he draws out what the Bible teaches holistically about this topic.
Don't miss out this evangelistic sermon, âLetâs Talk About Shameâ!
Psychology Today cited a study that indicates we experience 5 hours of guilty feelings per week. While guilt is helpful in small doses to steer us toward appropriate actions, excessive guilt can result in anxiety, depression, insomnia and even detrimental to our overall well-being.
Ps Too kicks off the 2 part series of âZooming in on Guilt and Shameâ with the sermon âLetâs Talk About Guiltâ. Ps Too shows us what the Bible has to say about guilt. More importantly, the counterintuitive and effective remedies that can set us free.
Why do we witness? Why do we engage in the difficult, daunting task of evangelism? Why does God want us to witness? Ps Johanan closes this series on Courageous Witness, with In a World In Trouble from Acts 12:20-2.
Evangelism can be daunting. Is this the right time? What do I say? How will the person respond? We struggle because we donât know what to expect.
Evangelism is out of our control. So how can we still be a courageous witness for Christ, despite the fears and uncertainty?
Pastor Johanan begins Courageous Witness a 2-part sermon series from Acts 12, to prepare us for the outreach-opportune Easter season.
Listen the first part, In A World Of Trouble from Acts 12:1-19.
Itâs Gift To The King Sunday! As we come to give towards the Church Planting Fund (CPF), we want to return to a heart of true generosity: giving that is without presumption, humble, and from the heart. Ps Johanan brings us a familiar yet beautiful story from Matthew 26:6-13, in Giving From Grace.
Every sincere Christian desires to do something for God, to be of use to Him, and to somehow build His kingdom. One of the simplest ways we do that, is by giving financially to His kingdom work.
But what does it mean to âgiveâ to God? What is God looking for in our giving? And how does our giving truly build the Kingdom of God?
Ps Johanan begins a new series on giving, titled: LAVISH: Making a Gift Worthy of our King. Don't miss out as he brings us the first sermon, Building the Kingdom from 1 Chronicles 29:6-19.
âIâm not that bad!â We sometimes use this statement in response to feedback that we felt was unfair. But have we ever used this statement to also justify our sin? Have our hearts been dulled to the Word of God?
In a standalone sermon, âThe Cure for a Dull Heartâ, Daniel Loke will show us from Isaiah 6 the only hope for a dull heart to be made new.
Have you ever found yourself angry with God's decision? In Jonah 4, we see Jonah the pouting prophet so angry with God's decision to spare the Ninevites that he said he wanted to die. Why was he so angry? How did God help him to process his anger? Pastor GL will share with us how Jonah's interactions with God reveal God's plan to lead His people towards greater growth in compassion. Don't miss the sermon, "Angry Enough to Die"!
"Sometimes in life, your wrong direction is your coping mechanism." What do you do when you sense you are headed in the wrong direction, but you genuinely struggle to turn? In the book of Jonah, we find hope in the divine compassion of God who gives second chances to both Jonah the prophet, and the Ninevites. In this first sermon of the two-part series on Jonah, An Encounter with Divine Compassion, Pastor GL will show us from Jonah 3 how we too can successfully turn when God gives us second chances.
Did you know Agape Baptist Church hasn't always been at 1 Dorset Road? Guna Raman, the founding pastor of Agape Baptist Church, shares the history of Agape as sojourners and the amazing story of how Agape eventually settled at 1 Dorset Road.
The detour comes to an end. What is Godâs purpose for it? How is courage rewarded? While courage is itself noble and needed - what do we stand to gain by being courageous? Pastor Johanan closes this series with 'Whispering Courage into Flame' from Joshua 2:14-24.
We have many plans, many goals for 2024 - but life is full of detours. Detours are often frustrating yet humbling: we are not in control. How do we deal with detours? Pastor Johanan continues the opening series of the year with, Courage like a Mustard Seed from Joshua 2:1-14.
Courage is one of the most underrated qualities of life - especially with Singaporeâs relative safety & stability. But how far along can we get in life - especially the Christian life - without courage? Pastor Johanan begins the opening series of 2024 with, âBe Strong & Courageous!â Greeting 2024 as an Emboldened Church.
Many people, including Christians, struggle with the idea of trusting God. Furthermore, to obey His commandments may feel like wearing a straitjacket. We obey grudgingly when we think we have no choice. But this view of trust and obedience is not Biblical at all. In this standalone sermon, Ps Too will show us from Proverbs 3:1-12 that God calls His people to trust and obey Him not to restrict or take away our fun but to give us a better life. Come and discover the reward of trusting and obeying God.
Lillie O Rogers is a Southern Baptist Missionary who came to Singapore in the mid-90s. Among many of the churches she helped plant was Agape Baptist Church. Guna Raman, the founding pastor of Agape Baptist Church, shares her life and legacy with us in his own personal life and Agape's.
We all want manageable lives but how do you live a life that is often not within your control? The characters from the first Christmas found their lives suddenly going out of control but it was the very unmanageable nature of their situation that led them to experience joy and peace on earth. This Christmas Eve, discover how you can find stability amidst life's uncertainties as Pastor Guna brings us a sermon entitled "What's In A Name".
In John 3:16-18, we hear the most widely-known words from the Bible regarding Godâs love for the world through the gift of His Son for our salvation. Pastor GL will complete the three-part sermon series by unpacking for us how we should regard Godâs love for humanity in the sermon, âThe Gift Of The Saviourâ.
In Luke 2:1-20, we hear the story regarding the uniqueness of Jesus' birth that brought us "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). What can we learn from Jesus' unique birth? What implications does his birth have for mankind? Pastor Tom will unpack these truths about Jesus for us in the sermon, âThe Birth Of The Saviourâ.
This 3-part sermon series entitled: Christmas Chronicles: A Saviour Like No Other will explore the meaning of Christmas. Ps Too will begin with the first sermon in the series, âThe Promise Of The Saviourâ (Isaiah 9:6-7). Why is the promised Saviour, not a mighty warrior but a child? What is the implication of this child on the world and us? Ps Too answers these questions in this message.
âChristians are too nice to do justice.â In a world thatâs growing increasingly vocal on crisp, immediate justice - Christians still hold to âoutdatedâ values like mercy and grace.Is it true that thereâs no room for mercy when pursuing justice? We continue with part 2 of the aftermath of Davidâs bloody affair. Ps Johanan brings us God & His Justice from 2 Samuel 12:13-25.
Many of us struggle with advocating for justice - especially when itâs against those in authority over us. We dive into the aftermath of Davidâs bloody affair with Bathsheba. Weâll look at 2 Samuel 12:1-12, and see how Nathan confronts King Davidâs injustice. Ps Johanan brings us the second in this 3-part series: âThe King & His Injusticeâ.
We live in a world thatâs grown in concern for justice. This has had a mixed reaction from Christians: Should we (like the world) be interested in pursuing justice? Does the way we understand and address justice, be any different from the world? start a new sermon series On Justice: Insights into Justice from the story of David and Bathsheba. Ps Johanan opens with a topical, foundational sermon on justice in âRecovering Justiceâ.
In this first episode, Guna Raman, the founding pastor of Agape Baptist Church, gives insight into the beginnings of Agape Baptist Church. This podcast session was recorded live at Camp Honour in June 2023.
Agape turns 39! This Sunday, we celebrate the work of the gospel in our church family, and as we commit ourselves to grow further still in the gospel! Preaching from Philippians 2:1-11, Ps Johanan will bring us âStill In Need of the Gospelâ.
How do you view God primarily? How do you see yourself in relation to God? In Galatians 4, we learn that God is the Father of all who believe in Him. Understanding this truth deeply will transform our worship, prayers, and outlook of life. It will help us as His children to live the life that God is calling us to. Andrew will share these precious truths in his sermon, The Father Heart of God from Galatians 4:4-7.
How we wish life was black-and-white, uncomplicated, and simply straightforward! Unfortunately, itâs not. Life is utterly messy. How does God relate to such a messy world? How does God intervene in our messy lives? Ps Johanan makes sense of the interplay between the consistently holy God and our irregularly messy lives in 'Ehud and the Gospel' from Judges 3:12-30.
The good news of Jesus changes everything! Over the next two Sundays, we will look at the lives of the first 2 leaders from the Book of Judges. Their stories show the amazing steadfast love and mercies of God. We begin the first sermon âOthniel and the Gospelâ (Judges 3:7-11). We will see how quickly God comes to the rescue of His people from their self-inflicted troubles. This story is our story.
Is your prayer-life sporadic, inconsistent, and quite boring? What would it take to experience fervent, sustained prayer? Ps Johanan looks at Matthew 6:10 and brings us âThe Lasting Way to Prayâ. This is the final sermon in the series, Priestly Prayer: Savouring God-ward, God-centered, God-directed prayer.
âWhy doesnât God seem to answer my prayers?â âIs there something missing in my prayers?â âWhy does it feel like God is so far away when I pray?â Have you been asking yourself such questions? In Matthew 6, Jesus answers these questions for us. Ps Johanan brings us The Best Way to Pray.
Prayer is unfortunately viewed as a religious practice. Yet the truth is, to pray is to be human. How can we rediscover the privilege of prayer? What are the fundamentals to prayer? How can we experience how personal, beautiful, and powerful prayer is? Ps Johanan opens a new series titled Priestly Prayer: Savouring God-ward, God-centered, God-directed prayer. He starts with the sermon from Matthew 6:5-8, âThe Right Way to Prayâ. You donât need to be a Christian to find this sermon insightful & helpful.
What comes to your mind when you think about submission to authority? How would you respond if you were to suffer under unjust authority? In 1 Peter 2:18-25, Peter instructs the servants in the first century to submit to their masters â and rather surprisingly â even to the unjust ones. In Peterâs explanation, he focuses on the sufferings of Christ as the ultimate basis for such radical submission. Pastor GL reveals how Godâs people are given an unexpected responsibility in the third and final sermon of the 1 Peter 2 series, Your Responsibility â A New People Submitted.
How important is our sense of identity? How does our sense of identity impact our desires and our behaviour? In 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter reveals to the first-century believers three truths regarding their identity as Godâs new people. These truths remain very much relevant and applicable to us today. Pastor GL demonstrates how the gospel defines our identities and transforms our hearts in the second sermon, Your Identity â A New People Defined.
How would you comfort and encourage someone who has experienced deep rejection in this broken world? Does the gospel address this issue? In 1 Peter 2, Peter provides solace for the marginalised and slandered believers in the first century by pointing them to the amazing truths realised through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In verses 4-8, he specifically fleshes out three ways that Christ honours His new people. Pastor GL begins the new three-part sermon series, 1 Peter 2: A New People Shaped by the Gospel with the first sermon, Your Story - A New People Honoured from 1 Peter 2:4-8.
The sense of hopelessness can be debilitating. When the future looks bleak, who do we turn to? Where can we find a hope that can carry us through dark times? Ps Too addresses these issues from Obadiah 1:15-21 in this final sermon of the series: Hope of Deliverance for Godâs People.
We live in a world that is marred by violence. Families are not spared. How does a seemingly mild attitude of indifference descend into violence? What can we do to protect each other in our families? Ps Too unpacks Obadiah 1:10-14 in the series "Major Messages from a Minor Prophet", with the second sermon titled âViolence Against Your Brotherâ.
What is pride? How does pride deceive us? How can we find the remedy for this sickness? Come find out in this first sermon from a three-part series (Major Messages from a Minor Prophet) entitled 'The Deceptive Pride of Your Heart' by Ps Too Teh Hsin as he brings the word from Obadian 1:1-9.
In a nation well known for being over-worked & under-rested, how can the gospel show a better way? Ps Johanan brings the final sermon in the series: SABBATH | Priestly Privilege from Exodus 16.
Work is never just about âthe workâ. Desires, fears, ambitions - these drive (or derail) our efforts at work. How do we navigate the inescapable influence of our desires on our work? And as Christians, how can we safeguard our priestly purity at work? Ps Johanan leads us to look at the life of Jephthah from Judges 11, in DESIRE | Priestly Purity!
We spend so much of our lives at work (whether in school, in the office, or full-time at home). But do we enjoy a sense of âcallingâ about our work? Ps Johanan brings us the first sermon, CALLING | Priestly Priorities from 1 Corinthians 7:1-7, 13-17.
Anger is a powerful emotion. What is anger? How do we deal with anger? This is the third and final sermon in the series Overcoming Cravings, entitled Untamed Anger. Ps Guna will show us from Hebrews 12:12-17 how anger does not imprison and control us but how we can control it.
When does desire become lust? The second sermon in the series Overcoming Cravings is entitled Unbridled Lust. Ps Guna will help us to understand lust from Genesis 39:4-21 â as well as how to handle it and heal from it.
âShouldnât those who are wrong be judged? Shouldnât they be made to pay? And if they refuse to repay - shouldnât they be cancelled (ostracised)?â The culture we live in is quick to take offense and quick to crackdown. How should Christians respond to such a culture? What does God require of His people in matters of forgiveness? Ps Johanan brings Cancel Culture & Radical Forgiveness from Matthew 18:21-35.
We are all in the grip of some cravings. We all crave something, and we do it in such a way that it is bad for us. Our desires have been disordered in such a way that good and necessary things now drive us, and we crave them. How do we overcome these cravings? How does the gospel deliver us from them? Pastor Guna brings the first of a three-part series, titled, âInordinate Hungerâ from Joshua 7:19â25 & Hosea 2:13â15.
How do we form a culture of honour in our own lives, family, and church? Is the sabbath law from the Bible still applicable to New Testament Christians, and how do we apply it to our lives? In this final message that concludes Camp Honour 2023, Ps Johanan brings us 'Towards a Culture of Honour' from Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:15 to answer those questions and more.
Ps Johanan will be preparing us by providing a heart-diagnostic on the state of honour in our lives: How much does honour matter to us? How much do we think honour matters to God? How can we return to a healthier valuation of honour in our lives? Ps Johanan brings us A Parable on Honour from Luke 14:15-24.
What season of life are you in now? Are you enjoying victory and joy? Or are you facing a set of difficult trials, with heartaches and sadness? Or are you still recovering from the pain of previous seasons? Andrew Low brings us 'Wisdom for Every Season of Life' from James 1:2-12. Hear how every member of Agape can lead fruitful and flourishing Christian lives.
How do you know if you are really saved? Is faith all about knowing Jesus as Saviour - or is there more to it? How does works come in when we are saved by grace through faith? Letâs learn from the book of James on what practical Christian living is. Heed Jamesâ warnings against having a false or dead faith. And letâs use what God has given to every member in Agape, to lead a fruitful and flourishing Christian life. Wilson Tan brings 'At the Pearly Gates of Heaven' from James 2:14-20.
In Matthew 15:21-28, we hear the story of a desperate woman coming before Jesus. In the bizarre conversation that follows, Jesus indirectly labels her a dog but eventually commends her for her great faith. Why does Jesus speak like that to her? What is so commendable about this womanâs faith? What precious lessons can we learn from this story?  Ps GL shares with us rich insights from this passage in the sermon, Great Cry, Great Faith, Great God.
Hardships come upon us for many reasons. One of the hardest to stomach, is unjust hardships. What do we do in the midst of unjust suffering? Do we dare insist on our innocence before the holy God? And are there myths on suffering we might subscribe to â to our further harm? Ps Johanan concludes the sermon series HOPE: hard times as invitations to pray â with Hope for Saints from Psalm 26.
usechatgpt init success
Perhaps one of the reasons we struggle with faith, is because life is often one hardship after another. We are so busy trying to put out fires (or trying to prevent them), that we neglect matters of faith. But what if we are meant to face hardship with faith â rather than apart from it? What if hard times are invitations to find fresh hope in God? Ps Johanan begins a 2-part series HOPE: hard times as invitations to pray â with Hope for Sinners from Psalm 25.
Do you ever feel that you are starving inside your soul? You have tried many things to feed this hunger, but they are neither satisfying nor lasting. How can you find what truly satisfies? Ps Too will address these questions from John 6:1-15 as he concludes the 3-part sermon series on âPortraits of Jesusâ, with the sermon titled âJesus Feeds a Large Hungry Crowdâ.
What do you do when you are unable to fix a chronic problem in your life after many years? Is there still hope? Will anyone care enough to help you? Ps Too will address these issues from John 5:1-18 as he continues the sermon series on âPortraits of Jesusâ, with the second sermon titled âJesus Heals an Invalid Manâ.
This new 3-part sermon series entitled âPortraits of Jesusâ helps Christians and non-Christians get to know Jesus through His interactions with different people with different needs. Who can you turn to when you are in a desperate situation? Who has the compassion and the ability to help you? Ps Too brings us the first sermon in the series entitled âJesus Helps a Desperate Fatherâ from John 4:46-54 which would help answer those questions.
This Easter Sunday we address lifeâs final question: Death. When a loved one dies â itâs never just the loss of a life. Dreams once shared, now become shattered. Hopes that were delayed, now turn into disappointment. Is death the end? Is there hope beyond the death of a loved one? Ps Johanan brings us a Christian perspective to these questions in Death, Delay, & Disappointment. And hear from Maria, as she shares her journey of bereavement & faith.
Many people can readily give an answer regarding what they are working as, but the same people may hesitate when asked what they are truly working for. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus in describing the kingdom of heaven through a parable on the labourers in a vineyard, provides Godâs ultimate answer to this fundamental question. Ps Guoliang brings the second installment in the Questions & Answers series: What Are You Working For?
Last year, more than US$43bn was spent worldwide on Self-Help (just US$10bn less than what was spent on COVID-19 vaccines in 2021). Everyone is chasing some idea of âthe good lifeâ - whatâs yours? Ps Johanan brings the first installment in this new Questions & Answers series: How Good is âGood Enoughâ? (from Matthew 19:16-22).
We come to the last sermon in our series, âThe Enemy, the Excluded, and the Extraordinary Evangelistâ. In one sense, evangelism is straightforward: just do it. In another sense, evangelism prompts a host of questions - both individually and as a church. Must I evangelise? Canât someone else do it? Canât I just be a Christian who doesnât evangelise? Ps Johanan will clarify & challenge us towards evangelism, in The Church that Should Not Have Been from Acts 11:19-26.
Evangelism poses a challenge â not only for us as individuals â but for the church as a whole. Ps Johanan helps us see how Evangelism is one powerful way God transforms His church in âThe Gospel Unleashedâ from Acts 11:1-18.
There are many reasons why Christians might be reluctant to evangelise. But few would think that one of the core reasons for this reluctance, is pride. Ps Johanan helps us see Godâs gracious inclusion of all peoples in His plan for salvation. Let Acts 10:30-48 challenge the pride in our hearts!
Does evangelism often feel like lonely work to you? Is it a struggle to find meaningful opportunities to share the gospel? Ps Johanan encourages us from Acts 10:17-29, in Divine Appointment!
Have you ever been excluded and left out? When it comes to evangelism, are there people you exclude from hearing the gospel? Are there realities about God and about Evangelism, that could speak into such exclusion? Ps Johanan answers these questions from Acts 10:1-16, in Terrified and Perplexed.
Do you struggle with evangelism? Do you feel like you lack both a heart and an ability to bring others to Christ? Â Ps Johanan brings us Once Upon a Saul from Acts 9.
In last Sundayâs passage, Paul has shown how powerfully grace can fuel generosity. But practical questions do remain. This Sunday, Ps Johanan answers 3 of these questions from 2 Corinthians 8:8-15, in Not A Command.
What is generosity? How can I know if I am generous? And what does Christian grace have to do with generosity? As we prepare for next Sundayâs Gift To The King collection, we will see how we can Excel in Grace, in this first sermon of the series SAINTsational Generosity. Ps Johanan unpacks 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.
âBiblical hope is found ultimately not in how you see things, but in how you see God.â
This Sunday, as we celebrate the first day of Lunar New Year, we will consider the unique nature of biblical hope, and how it stems beautifully from the way we see God. Discover from the sermon by Pastor GL how Lamentations 3:22-24 reveals to us 3 key considerations about God â past, present and future â that culminate with hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in all circumstances.
âBut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nationâŠâ
1 Peter 2:9a
Is life just all of what we see and know? Is this all there is to the meaning of âbeing humanâ? Is this tangible existence all there is? Ps Johanan brings us the final sermon â Sacred People from Exodus 19:2-6 to hear how being priests provides unexpected answers to these questions!
âBut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation...â
1 Peter⏠â2âŹ:â9âŹa
Christians are probably more familiar with the kings and prophets of Israel - but less so the High Priests. Who are these guys? What makes them so special? Understanding the High Priesthood means understanding our priesthood. Ps Johanan brings the second sermon Sacred Calling (from various passages), of the opening series for the year: Godâs People, Godâs Priests!
âBut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possessionâŠâ 1 Peter⏠â2âŹ:â9âŹa
As 2023 comes around, we draw fresh comfort & encouragement from our identity as Godâs redeemed children, His precious people, and His Spirit-filled church. But how about from our identity as _priests_? Do we struggle to appreciate the beauty & excellencies of being Godâs priests? Ps Johanan brings the first sermon Sacred Spaces (from various passages), of the opening series for the year: Godâs People, Godâs Priests!
What do Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty have to do with the story of Christmas? How does the long genealogy leading to the Christmas story in Matthew 1 speak to us today? Ps Guna will unveil four lessons from the genealogy of Jesus in the sermon âThe Christmas Lineage.â
What do you do when you lose something? How long and how hard will you search for it? Will you eventually stop searching? The answer depends on what you have lost and how valuable it is to you. In Luke 15:1-10, Jesus tells 2 parables â finding a lost sheep and finding a lost coin to illustrate how He searches for the lost.Ps Too will conclude the âComing Home for Christmasâ series with the final sermon titled, âGodâs Lost and Foundâ.
The story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42 has many lessons and implications. Martha and Mary extended hospitality to Jesus by inviting him to their home. However, the way they served and attended to Jesus was different. Come and discover the truths from this passage in this Sundayâs sermon, âChoosing the Good Portionâ as Pastor Thomas shares insights on our priorities, our service and our devotion to God.
In Luke 6, we hear Jesus preaching a heart-stirring sermon to his listeners. At the end of the sermon, he emphasised his true identity with a profoundly insightful parable about two houses that were built â one of which stood firm, while the other was destroyed. Clearly, he intended this sermon not just for his original audience, but also for us today. But what is the significance of this parable on our lives? What did Jesus intend for us to learn? Ps GL will reveal the answers through his sermon, âWhy Do You Call Me Lord?â based on Luke 6:46-49.
Broken relationships are extremely painful. Unfortunately, too many families and friends are torn apart by strife, division, and even hatred. Is there still hope for reconciliation? Who is going to pay for the damages done? How do we right the wrong? Ps Too will conclude the sermon series âHow the Gospel Transforms Hearts, Relationships, and Societyâ, with the final sermon âThe Cost of Reconciliationâ, from Philemon 1:17-25.
The abuse of power has resulted in countless miseries throughout human history. What does it take for power to be used for good and not for evil? What does it look like when the use of power is motivated by the love of God? Ps Too will address these issues from Philemon 1:8-16 as he continues the sermon series on âHow the Gospel Transforms Hearts, Relationships and Societyâ, with the second sermon titled âThe Appeal For A Slaveâ.
Philemon is the shortest letter in the New Testament Bible. It is written by the Apostle Paul to his beloved friend named Philemon. It consists of only 25 verses in a single chapter. In this 3-part sermon series âHow the Gospel Transforms Hearts, Relationships, and Societyâ, Ps Too will unpack the hidden treasures from this intensely personal letter. In the first sermon, titled âThe Power of Love and Faithâ, we will see from Philemon 1:1-7 how the love and faith of one man has such a far-reaching effect when he commits his life to a higher calling.
CELEBRATING AGAPEâS 38TH ANNIVERSARY
Since March 2020, Agape has been experiencing the highs and lows of the pandemic. We faced limitations in congregating and interacting as the body and family we are meant to be. But after two and a half years, it feels like it is finally time to come home. Ps Johanan leads us from Psalm 122 to look back at Godâs faithfulness over the pandemic, with âGood to be Homeâ.
How do we stand strong through crisis and pain and boredom and the never-ending wait? Is it possible to be a durable person? Is it possible to endure? Is it possible in a culture that gives up so easily, to stick with something and to stand unshaken? This sermon on Mosesâ endurance answers these questions. Ps Guna brings us How To Stand Strong Till The End: The virtue of endurance from Hebrews 11:23-29!
Why do we obey God? Because it is right (what God desires), good (what helps us), purposeful (what we were created for), and beneficial (what blesses others).
But is obedience beautiful (what compels further obedience)? Ps Johanan answers this question in: âThe Beauty of Obedienceâ from Acts 8:26-40.
The reality is: our lives are not in our control. Unforeseen circumstances change lifeâs trajectory. What is a source of security today, fails us tomorrow. How did the earliest Christians deal with such a difficult reality? Ps Johanan brings us âThe First Missionaryâ from Acts 8:1-25.
In May 2019, the BBC published an article titled, âChristian persecution âat near genocide levelsââ.
Since the crucifixion of Jesus, an estimated 70 million Christians have been martyred â beginning with Stephen. Ps Johanan brings us âThe First Martyrâ from Acts 7, as we explore what it means to be a light in a hostile world.
âYou are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket⊠In the same way, let your light shine before othersâŠâ Matthew⏠â5:14-16âŹa
The spotlight shifts from Peter to Stephen. Is he Administrator, Apostle, or Angel? How do we make sense of this man & his brief ministry? Ps Johanan brings us a âA New Faceâ from Acts 6:8-15.
âBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.â Acts⏠â1:8âŹ. Ps Johanan begins a 3rd season into the book of Acts: âThe Delegation and Dispersion of the Disciples of Jesus Christâ! We begin with Never the Same from Acts 6:1-7. What happens when a dispute threatens to divide the church? How should Christians respond? And how is this response different from that of the culture? Ps Johanan addresses these questions in this sermon.
Johnâs disciples came to Jesus asking what seemed to be a question about the traditional practice of fasting. However, Jesusâ answer seemed to address a deeper issue of the heart. Come and learn what Jesus meant by His illustrations of the unshrunk cloth on an old garment and new wine put into old wineskins. Â Ps Thomas brings us A Matter of the Heart from Matthew 9:14-17. You can look forward to some updates on missions too.
Suffering is the greatest of human struggles and mysteries. It encapsulates our pain, catalyses our fears, and displays our need for comfort, strength, and hope. But how do we make sense of it? If God is real, why does He allow suffering? Is there a compelling Christian response? Max Jeganathan (guest speaker from Thinking Faith) answers the question âIf God is real, why is there suffering?â from Romans 8:31-39.
âMy flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.â (Psalm 73:26)
How do we actively embrace a life of passion for God? How do we sustain such a life? We come to the final sermon of the series, âPassion, Zeal, and Hearts Enflamedâ. Ps Johanan leads us to wrestle with a third question âHow would you pray?â from Psalm 73.
âOne thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek afterâŠâ (Psalm 27:4a)
Passion comes with a price. Athletes know this. Parents know this. Even students know this. Answering the question, âWhat do you want?â necessarily entails a second question, âWhat would you pay?â Ps Johanan leads us to wrestle with this question from Luke 12:13-21 as we continue with the series, âPassion, Zeal, and Hearts Enflamedâ.
âKeep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.â (Proverbs 4:23) Life is Singapore is intensely fast-paced. We blaze through weeks, months, and years with little pause or introspection. But whatâs been going on in your heart? What are you living for? What are you passionate about? And where is God in all your answers to the above questions? Ps Johanan begins a new 3-part series âPassion, Zeal, and Hearts Enflamedâ with the first sermon titled âWhat do you want?â from Numbers 25:1-11.
Joy we love, but trials we hate. It seems perfectly logical for us to maximize joy and minimize trials. What if this mindset actually short-changes us from the abundant life that God has planned for us? What if thereâs a positive connection between trials and joy which cannot be achieved any other way? Pastor Too will conclude the sermon series on âConfronting Pain and Sufferingâ with the sermon titled âWhy am I still suffering?â based on James 1:2-4.
We often respond to suffering by turning the focus to ourselves and look for relief somewhere and somehow. Where is God when we are in pain? Where can we find the comfort we so desperately need? Pastor Too continues the sermon series on âConfronting Pain and Sufferingâ with the second sermon titled âWhere Is God in My Suffering?â based on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. We will see how the God of all comfort is caring for us in and through our afflictions.
In a world that values comfort and security greatly, pain and suffering is often viewed as something to avoid at all costs. When bad things hit us, we can be totally disoriented. Our lives can be changed overnight. Our faith in God can be shaken at its core. Why is it happening? Why me? Why now? Why does a good and loving God allow such tragedies? Ps Too starts a 3-part sermon series on âConfronting Pain and Sufferingâ with the first sermon titled âWhat Happens When Suffering Takes You By Surprise?â based on Job 1:1-12.
Work is a major part of our lives and has a significant impact on the well-being of our marriage, children, family, and society. The Bible provides us the way to pursue flourishing at work, but more importantly how we can have a meaningful work life. Andrew Low closes our 3-part sermon series on âRefining Our Perspective of Workâ with the third sermon titled âPursuing Flourishing at Workâ based on Romans 12:1-2.
Work can often feel futile. Often, this is because of the presence of our own sins and our relationships with other sinful people at our workplaces. What does the Bible have to say about such situations, and how do we as Christians face such futility at work? Nick Chuan continues our 3-part sermon series on âRefining Our Perspective of Workâ with the second sermon titled âConfronting Futility at Workâ based on Ecclesiastes 4:1-16.
Most of us think of ourselves as hardworking and far from being idlers. Even if we are idled occasionally, we donât think of it as a sin. But the Bible has a surprisingly different perspective. Wilson Tan kicks off a 3-part sermon series on âRefining Our Perspective of Workâ with the first sermon titled âWarning Against Idlenessâ based on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15.
How should we view the youth in the church? How should we relate to them? What kind of culture in the church would help youth flourish? Ps Johanan brings us âSaved. Settled. Sent.â from John 8:1-11.
The Mosaic law is filled with unfamiliar rules and stipulations on how the Israelites were to live under Godâs rule as His people. One of these is the Nazirite vow, a voluntary oath of service that could be undertaken by any Israelite. How do we, as 21st century Christians living in Singapore, understand and apply this passage about grape products, dead bodies, and uncut hair? And how should that affect our discipleship in following Christ? Nick Chuan will unpack Number 6:1-21 to answer these questions in a standalone sermon titled âRadical Separationâ.
In the age of social media profiles, online followings and snap judgements, it is not unusual for oneâs honest private life to be heavily hidden beneath a thickly curated public front.
This is not only true for non-Christians, but for Christians as well. It is easy to hide behind all the right slogans and ministry activities and simply blend into the Christian-crowd. But if God were to rip off our facades â what would be exposed? Ps Johanan brings Camp ABANDONâs series of sermons to a close with, âABANDON in Spirit and Truthâ. Looking at Acts 5:1-11, we ask the question â is it possible to fake the ABANDONed life? Find out in this message!
What would be a balanced view of spiritual warfare? How do we fight the good fight of faith against the world, sin, and the devil? What can demons do and what canât they do? What can you do when the enemy attacks? What does victory in spiritual warfare look like? This second sermon on âUnderstanding Spiritual Warfareâ will seek to answer these questions using various scriptures.
How do you know you are in spiritual warfare? If the Christian life is about shalom and flourishing, why is there spiritual warfare? What does âthe battle belongs to the Lordâ mean? How do you remain âstrong in the might of the Lordâ as Ephesians 6 instructs? Pastor Guna answers these questions in âThe Battle is the Lordâsâ, the first of two sermons on âUnderstanding Spiritual Warfareâ.
We have spent the last 5 Sundays exploring how every member of Agape Baptist Church can be used by God to flourish the nations, the city, the community, and the family. But how do we sustain this movement? What is the foundational heart attitude that can turn us into life-long agents of flourishing? Pastor Too will conclude our 6-part sermon series titled âFramework of Flourishingâ with the final sermon entitled âFlourishing and Youâ. He will address the questions above by drawing from the teaching of Jesus in Mark 10:35-45. Discover how you can make a big difference however small your offering is.
The institution of family is Godâs design and masterpiece. When God spoke the galaxies into being, filled the oceans with water and formed the land with all its unique creatures, it displayed Godâs magnificence and majesty. When God formed the family, it revealed His passionate devotion towards us His bride and His compassionate patience towards us His children. Godâs purpose is for families to flourish, not only to reflect Godâs character but for members of the family to experience Godâs love and to share that love with others.
Pastor Thomas continues our 6-part sermon series titled âFramework of Flourishingâ with the fifth sermon entitled âFlourishing and The Familyâ. He will be preaching from Psalm 128:1-4 and Deuteronomy 6:1-9.
Most of us are associated with multiple communities of people. But do we have a positive impact on these communities? What does the Bible say about how each of us can personally make a difference for better communities? What if every member of Agape becomes Godâs hands and feet to restore His design of human communities? Ps Too continues our 6-part sermon series titled âFramework of Flourishingâ with the fourth sermon entitled âFlourishing and The Communityâ. He will address the questions above by unpacking Job 29:11-17. Come and discover how you can impact your communities in a way that is personally fulfilling and radically transforming.
Why is it important that every Christian is a person in mission? What does it mean to live a life that is in mission? An Every Member Church is a church full of members who are missional who care for what is happening around the globe and want to contribute to its flourishing. How do we picture Agape as a church in mission? Pastor Guna continues our 6-part sermon series titled âFramework of Flourishingâ with the third sermon entitled âFlourishing and The Nations.â He will attempt to answer the questions above by drawing from John 17:6-19.
What does the Bible have to say about cities? How is God calling us to live biblically in the city? How do we flourish in a broken city and how do we help the city flourish?
Pastor Guna Raman continues our 6-part sermon series titled âFramework of Flourishingâ with the second sermon entitled âFlourishing and The City.â He will attempt to answer these questions by drawing from Isaiah 26:1-6 and Jeremiah 29:4-7.
When we talk about flourishing, we often think about a better life, a better career, or better health. What does the Bible tell us about flourishing?
This sermon answers the question âWhat is Flourishing?â based on Genesis 2:8-15. How does it not only impact us personally but the world around us as well?
Together, we will discover that Godâs idea of flourishing for the world is far deeper and wider than personal success and a better life.
How do you relate to dead cold persons or situations? Jesus died that we may have life and that that life be poured out like His was poured out on us, for new life to sprout.
This Easter Sunday, come to celebrate the resurrection and rediscover what an every-member church full of resurrection power looks like.
We continue with part 2 of the sermon series âGetting To Know Jesusâ.
Pastor Too will bring us âJesus at a Funeralâ from John 11:17-37. Why didnât Jesus keep Lazarus from dying? Why did He weep when He was going to bring His friend back to life moments later? What does this story tell us about Jesus and His love for us? Find out in this message!
We will meet Jesus at a wedding party, at a funeral, and at a garden. With each encounter, we will get a closer appreciation of how Jesus is fully God and fully human. In this message, Pastor Too brings us âJesus at a Weddingâ from John 2:1-11. Why did Jesus use the power of God to perform His very first miracle at a social gathering? What is the purpose of solving a seemingly insignificant problem of insufficient wine? Find out from this sermon!
âFor by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boastâ
Ephesians 2:8-9
Andrew Low brings us âTransforming Graceâ from Ephesians 1:7-8 and 2:4-10. We will remember and rediscover the Amazing Grace of God â in that He fulfilled his own standards through the finished work of Christ. His grace makes it possible to stop striving for ourselves, even when serving Him. His grace is the catalyst He will use to produce fruits in us.
âWhoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, âOut of his heart will flow rivers of living water.ââ 39 Now this he said about the SpiritâŠâ
John 7:38-39a
We come to the close of the series, and the immediate aftermath of Pentecost. What does the Spirit-filled Church look like? Ps Johanan brings us âThe Church: A Busy Body Bornâ from Acts 2:41-47!
âWould that all the LORDâs people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!â Numbers⏠â11:29bâŹ
We continue looking into the events on Pentecost, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. What does His arrival mean for the world? Ps Johanan brings us 'The Holy Spirit: God Promises to Move!' from Acts 2:12-39!
"and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:5
The day of Pentecost arrives. And so does the Holy Spirit! What does His immediate arrival mean for the Church? Pastor Johanan brings us 'The Holy Spirit: God Loves to Move!' from Acts 2:1-11!
âAnd the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.â Isaiah 11:2
We come to part 2 of our Acts series. Here, the disciples wait for the Promise of the Father. Waiting is difficult â especially when waiting for God to fulfill His promises. What should we do, as we wait? Pastor Johanan brings us answers from Acts 1:12-26 with Waiting for God to Move.
Looking at Acts 1:1-11, Pastor Johanan brings us the first sermon in the series, 'A Matter of Time'. One of the most-asked question, is âWhen?â When will my longings be fulfilled? When will God come through for me? When does God intend for me to take action? Pastor Johanan leads us to how we can discern Godâs timing and will for us!
In this last sermon from the book of Malachi based on Malachi 3:13-18, Pastor Guoliang considers the last disputation of God against His people, and poses this question to us. Where do you stand in relation to this story? From this passage, we get to hear of a terribly negative example, an incredibly positive example, and God's declaration of the destiny for His treasured people.
In this sermon based on Malachi 3:6-12, Pastor Guoliang considers Godâs charge against His people for robbing Him. As God spells out the consequences for their actions, He calls them to give their tithes and offerings to Him, promising to bless them in return. Through this text, we can glean three precious insights on our giving to God, and how it is Christ Himself who ultimately leads us towards a proper posture for giving.
The book of Malachi reveals how far the people of God have drifted away from Him, and are desperately in need of a heart awakening. Through Malachi, God speaks strongly into their lives so that their hearts may be jolted back to faith, obedience, and hope in Him. In this first sermon based on Malachi 1:1-5, Pastor Guoliang begins by considering Godâs opening declaration of His mysteriously beautiful electing love for His wayward people, and its intended heart-electrifying impact on them.
âAs an Every-Member Church, Agape must become a body where every member utilises his/her God-given gifts for the flourishing of the church, the family, the community, the city, and the nations.â
We come to the last instalment of the Arise, Agape Arise! sermon series. This Sunday, Ps Johanan leads us through Romans 12:1-8, 11 with âAgape: An Every-Member Churchâ. Come and receive the plans God is leading us into, as a church!
Agapeâs vision is âto be the catalyst in the city for the gospel to awaken and enliven believers and seekers.â Oftentimes, the gospel is misunderstood as a crutch that enfeebles its believers. But does the gospel actually make us less useful? How can the gospel unleash every member of the church â whether young or old, blue-collar or white-collar skilled, and so on? Hear from Pastor Johanan as he leads us through Titus 2:2-14 to discover âYour Saving Packageâ.
Agape's vision is âto be the catalyst in the city for the gospel to awaken and enliven believers and seekers.â One of manâs most enduring searches, is the search for purpose. Even today, many wonder if purpose is self-made or God-given. But without purpose, life loses its vitality. Agape likewise must have a purpose. What is our purpose? How do we fulfill it? And what privileges await us as we pursue our purpose? Hear from Pastor Johanan as he leads us through John 15:1-12, 17 to discover âOur Purpose and Privilegeâ.
Agape's vision is âto be the catalyst in the city for the gospel to awaken and enliven believers and seekers.â The new year comes! Itâs an exciting time: fresh starts, fresh resolutions, fresh challenges, fresh strategies⊠Exciting, indeed! This is also true for Agape. Where is God leading us? What are the challenges ahead for us? What strategies will see us through this season? Arise, Agape Arise! is a 4-part sermon series to open the new year for us. Pastor Johanan kicks us off with âWelcome to Churchâ, from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
When God made the promise to bring his Son into the world, he didnât fulfill it immediately. It took centuries before Christmas happened. But Godâs delays are not necessarily his denials. In this message, Pastor Guna will unpack Mark 5 where Jairusâ prayer for his daughterâs healing looked like it was going unanswered. Jesus was interrupted by a woman, while making his way to the house of Jairus. Still, that delay didnât mean Jairus was denied his desperate request.
We have all been in situations where we have done wrong and desired forgiveness from a spouse, family member, friend, or even a co-worker. And then there are times when someone has asked us for forgiveness, and we had to look deeply in ourselves to offer it, with no strings attached. Itâs hard, especially during the holiday season! Perhaps what you need for Christmas is to find the courage for forgiveness. In this message, we look at a conversation Jesus had with his disciples about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35 and draw lessons that could help you cross from exhaustion to rejuvenation.
As many of us prepare to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, let us remember the people who are suffering from the pain of being excluded by their communities. In this sermon, Pastor Too unpacks Matthew 8:1-4 about a man who was completely excluded from his own community. He was shunned wherever he went. Come hear the good news that Jesus is willing and able to offer the gift of full inclusion to everyone who comes to Him.
In this sermon, Pastor Guoliang seeks to answer this question: "What should I do when I fail to achieve the success I desire?"
In Luke 5:1-11, Luke tells the story of a fisherman who had struggled to catch any fish for the night until he met Jesus and experienced an incredible miracle. This passage ultimately reveals Jesus as one who fulfills a deeper longing and provides a deeper meaning for all who have experienced the shame and disappointment of failure in their lives.
It was John Stott who said, âWithout the Bible, world evangelization would not only be impossible but actually inconceivable. It is the Bible that lays upon us the responsibility to evangelize the world, gives us the gospel to proclaim, tells us how to proclaim it, and promises us that it is Godâs power for salvation for every believer.â This is why we are going back to the Bible for the biblical mandate for missions. Thomas (an Elder at Agape) brings us The Mandate for Missions. Hear from Luke 19:1-10, on how the mission of Jesus in the story of Zacchaeus mandates our missions both in Singapore and Timor Leste.
In Isaiah 61, we hear the voice of a servant who declares that he has been anointed by the Spirit of God to bring good news. The effect of this proclamation is beautiful restorative justice for the poor, the oppressed, and the needy. In this message, Pastor Guoliang will expound Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 as he brings to us the significance of the beauty of justice as a motivation for our good works.
In Isaiah 58, God rebukes His people for how they have fallen short of true justice and charges them to live in accordance to His ways. Based on the passage from Isaiah 58:1-12, Pastor Guoliang will present Godâs call to His people for true justice which is surprisingly relational, radical, and reassuring. Come and discover what Godâs justice means for your life in this sermon, âSurprised by Justiceâ!
Agape Baptist Church turns 37! Another year has gone by - and what a year. With the bustle of life, and with so much uncertainty still hanging over us, it may not feel like the time for celebration. But it is precisely in times like this that we must remember God's goodness with thanksgiving! Pastor Johanan unpacks Psalm 30 with "The Blessings of Gratitude".
What is our identity when we introduce ourselves as Christians in Agape? In 1 Corinthians, when Paul urged us to consider our calling, why is it so special? How can the heart of the gospel be found in our identity and calling? In this stand-alone sermon, come and discover what it means to be a Christian in Christ and realise the significance of Godâs calling. With these biblical truths unpacked, let us take practical steps to glorify God so that no man may boast about himself.
Some of us work to climb the corporate ladder. Some of us work to acquire more wealth and power. Some of us work to secure our future. Some of us work just to make ends meet. Is this all that weâre working for? Do we work to benefit ourselves or for something else? Is there a greater purpose to our work? In the sermon Work and Us, Pastor Too will show us the purpose of work from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24.
We spend most of our lives doing work, either paid or unpaid. We have been doing work ever since we were children. Sometimes we want to escape from the unending drudgery. Other times we become too engrossed in our work at the expense of our health and families. Why is work so stressful? Are we meant to do work? Is paradise a place absent of work? In the sermon âWork and Godâ, Pastor Too will bring us the biblical view of Godâs design for work (Genesis 2:1-3; 15) to address these issues.
How does God look at singleness? What is Godâs plan for those who are single? In what ways do we all contribute to this plan? As a follow-up from the Song of Songs sermon series, Pastor Guoliang will consider 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 as he unpacks for us, in this stand-alone sermon, the biblical significance of singleness. Discover why marrieds and singles need not only a common vision of marriage, but also a common vision of singleness to do life together as God intends in the church family.
The majority of us have experienced some sort of sexual brokenness at some level. We've experienced betrayal. We've experienced sexual brokenness. We've experienced the weight of sexual sin. Some of us have even experienced sexual abuse. There is sexual brokenness all around us. How do we heal from sexual shame and guilt? In this last sermon in season 1 of the series, Songs from the Heart, we will look at Songs 4 for the healing that comes from our sexual brokenness. Pastor Guna brings the series (season 1) to a close with the sermon entitled, âHealing Sexual Brokenness.â
How do you bridge the emotional gap in a relationship? What does it mean to become vulnerable to another person, especially your spouse? How do you heal the emotional brokenness in a relationship? This sermon based on Songs chapter 3 will address issues related to emotional brokenness in relationships, and growing in our emotional intimacy with one another so that our marriage and relationships can flourish. This is the 4th sermon entitled, âEnjoying Emotional Intimacyâ in the series, âSongs for the Heartâ.
In the 3rd sermon, "Changing The Seasons of Your Marriage" from the series on Song of Songs, we look at how a dry and desert-like season in marriage can experience freshness and renewal. Marriages go through different seasons. The question is how do we navigate from winter to spring? Sometimes marriages are in winter where things are really hard. There's some distance you feel in the relationship. But the relationship does not need to remain in that place. Songs 2:8-17 shows us how.
How does a wife go from feeling lousy about her looks and herself, to becoming completely free and confident in her marriage relationship? What must a husband do to build up his wife? In the second sermon, âUsing Words To Power Relationshipsâ, in the series âSongs For The Heartâ, Ps Guna will unpack Songs 1:7-2:7 and draw lessons on how relationships flourish with words that build.
It may appear like God is putting a crushing weight on couples in the Song of Songs because most of us are not anywhere near the ideals played out by the pair in this book. But God is not saying, âThis is how itâs supposed to be in your life.â He is singing to you a song of what can be. He wants this song to heal you. He's saying, âLook, this is my gift to you. Yes, you're broken but I fix broken things. I am the God who is able to restore your broken past.â In this first introductory sermon to the Songs, âExpressing Pleasures and Desiresâ in the series, âSongs For The Heartâ, Pastor Guna will surface three fundamental truths about marriage, pleasure, desire, and intimacy (from the first few verses of the Songs) that could very well set you up for your own journey of healing and restoration.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the biggest concerns in the world today. Some believe that it is only right that if health permits, everyone should receive the vaccination, while others believe that vaccination has to be a matter of personal choice. How do we make sense of all the ongoing debates about COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the accompanying issues of differentiated measures and restrictions? Does the Bible provide us any clarity on this topic? How should the church or the Christian respond in the face of such diverse perspectives on this matter? In this sermon, Pastor Guoliang will address the issue of vaccination through gospel lenses, and also spell out how this impacts the plans for our church as we move forward with our physical services.
Christian fellowship is diverse. Different denominations. Different doctrines. Different practices. How can Christian fellowship continue? More importantly, how can Christian fellowship flourish? And where should we draw the line? Ps Johanan brings us the closing sermon of the series, Dealing with Controversial Opinions from 1 John 4:1-6!
Christian fellowship often divides over its involvement with âthe worldâ. One group advocates moving with the culture. Another warns against compromise. John weighs in on this issue with some bottom-line considerations. Pastor Johanan brings us 'Fellowship is One or the Other' from 1 John 2:12-17.
One of the biggest criticisms of Christian fellowship, is hypocrisy â not âwalking the talkâ, especially in the area of love. How should the church respond to such a charge? How should our Christian fellowship begin to root out hypocrisy? How can Christian fellowship grow in truly exuding the warmth of Christ?
We have all kinds of reasons for being in fellowship with one another in Agape Baptist church. Theological reasons. Social reasons. Practical reasons. The list goes on⊠1 John, however, provides another perspective on this matter. We begin a new sermon series titled, âThe Gospel & Small-Talk" with a message that features snapshots from 1 John on the specialness of Christian fellowship!
Over this week, we have been reminded in many ways that our city-state is far more broken than we could have possibly imagined. The spiritual truth that we are here in exile seems more real than ever before. What is God's answer to the brokenness we see in our city? How do we cope with the seemingly never-ending stream of bad news? In 1 Peter 1:22-25, Peter exhorts the believers, situated in a similar world of suffering, to love one another earnestly. This earnest love flows from the power of God's good news, which offers hope to everyone in this broken world.
Some of the best answers to the biggest problems in life are often unexpected ones. In 1 Peter 1:13-21, Peter provides such an unexpected answer to believers in their suffering. After having explained God's wondrous salvation to them earlier, he specifically calls the believers, in this passage, to be holy because God is holy. Why does Peter bring up holiness? What difference does holiness make to us in our suffering in this hostile world? What does holiness for a person even mean? Find out all these answers and more in this Sunday's sermon, 'The Marks of Holiness' by Pastor Guoliang!
One of the most common responses to hostility in this broken world is self-pity. Yet self-pity never helps, and always worsens the pain instead. What is Godâs answer to self-pity? In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter reveals two key insights on Godâs wondrous salvation that help to address the root issues undergirding self-pity.
It is absolutely vital to go through life with a sense of hope. Yet, oftentimes, many struggle to stay hopeful in adverse situations. What is the key to a life of hope? In 1 Peter 1:3-9, Peter addresses the topic of hope in a most refreshing way by unveiling the characteristics of this blessed, living hope found in God alone.
"The world we live in is so perfect that I wish we could all live here forever." Â Probably said no one ever. The world we live in is far from perfect, and thankfully, the Bible gives us answers on how to live in such a harsh world. In this sermon, Pastor Guoliang unpacks 1 Peter 1:1-2 and shows how Peter's greetings in this letter provide us foundational insights for life as believers of Christ.
Do you know that you could have perfect vision and still be blind? We all have blind spots that keep us from seeing the whole picture. We donât realise we see through distorted and coloured lenses. Come find out how we can see clearly as we journey through life. Pastor Too wraps up the 3-part sermon series on Samson with âVison That Was Blindedâ by looking at the famous story of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16.
Power can be used for good or for evil. Samson was given extraordinary super-hero power. But he used it to destroy those who got in his way, rather than to serve and protect. What kind of power have we been given? How can we use it for good rather than for evil? Pastor Too continues with this second sermon in the series, âPower That Was Wastedâ, by looking at Judges 15.
Samson is best known for his long hair, his raw super-human strength, and his fatal relationship with Delilah. He faced many of the same struggles that we face. He embodies many of the same flaws that we have. We will see how God uses Samson for His purpose despite all his glaring shortcomings. In this message, Pastor Too begins a 3-part sermon series with âDestiny That Was Lostâ by looking at Judges 13-14. What can we learn from Samson so our destiny wonât be short-changed?
âLife is a journey.â Life can be tremendously difficult. At different times, we have all felt longings for peace, unity, and rest. What do we make of these longings? Pastor Johanan concludes our series by looking at Genesis 3:14-24.
âLife is a journey.â We all wish that life would be an âup-and-upâ journey. But in reality, life is an âup-and-downâ journey. Why does life have to be this way? How can we face the downs of our journey? Ps Johanan answers these questions from Genesis 3:1-13, in Our Travels Are A Mercy!
âLife is a journey.â Journeying through life in the 21st century is complicated. We journey trying to âfind ourselvesâ, to make sense of purpose and meaning in life. In Genesis 2:4-25, we learn that God has created us with identity, purpose, and needs. And these are meant to guide us on our journey. Pastor Johanan brings us the third sermon in the series: We Werenât Always Travellers!
âLife is a journey.â These few days have proven just how true this statement can be. Plans change. Hope wavers. Nothing is for certain. The Bible is all too familiar with the journey that life is. In light of all the ups, downs, and turns in life - the Bible calls us to rest. In this second sermon, Ps Johanan brings us Rest Is A Must, from Genesis 2:1-3.
âLife is a journey.â This popular mantra has become all the more relatable due to the many transitions and adjustments over the past year. The Bible agrees that we are sojourners and exiles, perpetually on travel - until we arrive at our Promised Land. But how can we last the journey? Pastor Johanan kicks off the sermon series 'Truths for The Travels' with the message 'First Things First'.
Reverend Terence will bring to us a sermon based on Colossians 1:15-23, through which he will invite us to consider what brings us peace in and through challenging times of our lives. Through this sermon, we will come to appreciate the heart of the letter of Colossians, from which everything else flows, both in the letter and also in our lives. If we believe firmly what Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, we will be equipped for every threat and challenge that life may bring. Come and hear for yourself the sermon this Sunday titled, âSurpassing Everythingâ!
Why canât we simply watch Sunday worship services via Livestream in the comfort of our own homes? Does it really matter whether we join the worship service alone or with a group of believers? Is it worth the trouble to travel to someoneâs home or go onsite to Dorset?
In this sermon, Pastor Too addresses these questions and more by taking us through Hebrews 10:19-25 to see how God calls His people to gather for His glory.
In this sermon, Pastor Guoliang will examine the nature of worship from Psalm 34:1-3 and explain to us, based on related parts of Scripture, how true worship in its most fundamental sense, is about exalting God in our hearts and actions.
In this message, Pastors Guna will preach from 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 where the sermon will look at the evidence that proves the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how the resurrection changes our lives.
Have you ever thought about the kind of songs that Jesus had sung? What kind of songs had stirred His heart during His time on earth? As we look at the Holy Scriptures, we discover that Psalm 118 is one such memorable song that was profoundly meaningful for Jesus.
In the concluding sermon in the series 'Psalms of the Saviour,' Pastor GL will be preaching from Psalm 118, and he will reveal to us the rich significance of this beautiful hymn for our lives in the light of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. Our appreciation of this hymn will help us cultivate a heart of thankfulness to the Lord.
Injustice inhabits the world we live in. Whether itâs injustice experienced personally at the workplace, or genocide committed within a nation - we all wonder: âWill injustice go unanswered?" In this sermon, Pastor Johanan will unpack Psalm 110 to help us see that the cross is the assurance and guarantee that we will see justice.
What do we do with passages that talk about the âfullness of joyâ? Do we see such joy as being part of the Christian life? Or just something we hope to taste in heaven? In this sermon, Pastor Johanan will unpack Psalm 16 to help us see that it is at the cross that certainty triumphs over despair, life triumphs over death, and JOY triumphs over sorrow.
Many people would readily agree that they have experienced kindness from others in their lives. Yet clearly, not all expressions of kindness have the same impact. Some acts of kindness are easily forgotten, while some others are so impactful that they are literally life-changing. In 2 Samuel 9, we discover such incredible, life-changing kindness. In this story, King David very intentionally seeks out a man named Mephibosheth, who is lame in both his feet. He brings this lame man into his presence and invites him to feast at his table. In this sermon entitled God's Kindness in the Life of a Lame Man, Pastor GL will reveal to us how this story ultimately points to the beauty of God's covenant
n this final sermon on DESIRE, Ps Guna leads us to look at Psalm 73. There are seasons in our lives where we feel like the goodness of God is drying up on us because things are just so hard. But at the same time, we wonder why life is going so well with those who are not trusting the Lord like we are. The psalmist gives us the answers for such times of struggle in Psalm 73 by leading us to Desire For God.
God is not against wealth and riches. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 surfaces two dangers that come with the love of money - apathy and anxiety. In this message, Ps Guna will unpack both dangers and show us how to desire wealth without distorting our hearts.
It was Charles Spurgeon who said that, âHe who would be happy here must have friends; and he who would be happy hereafter, must, above all things, find a friend in the world to come, in the person of God.â
In other words, everyone needs friends both horizontally with fellow men and vertically with God. Do you know that having friends is not a luxury but a necessity? However, it is not something we prioritise. Yet friendship brings something into our lives that siblings, neighbours, and even romance canât bring.
In Luke 16:1-15, Jesus gives the parable about the dishonest money manager who was praised by his master for his shrewdness. In this message, Ps Guna will unpack this parable to show how the way we manage our wealth is so tied to the spiritual revival we seek for our life, family, church, and city.
God has placed many good desires in us but those desires have been distorted by sin. How do we redeem our desires? How do we desire what God desires for us? Taking from the two short parables in Matthew 13:44-46, Ps Guna opens this new series on four sermons called DESIRES. In Desiring the Kingdom, he begins by looking at how sin has distorted desire and how Jesus restores us to desire rightly.
Although most people know that life is not a bed of roses, we are not well prepared to deal with a bed of thorns. When we face challenges, we are not sure if God still cares about us. We wonder, if He is truly a good God, why doesnât He make things better. The current sermon series will conclude with the final sermon titled âChallenging Circumstances: God Still Caresâ. Ps Too will help us see how the Psalmist deals with the hard-knocks of life through Psalm 42.
âWould you consider serving the church?â
For some of us, this question provokes fear, inadequacy, and a desire to keep the church community at a safe distance. For others of us, this question makes us feel noticed, wanted - and we relish the opportunity for our skills or talents to be made known to the larger church. But how should we respond to this question? How is serving in the church, different from volunteering elsewhere or supporting a valued cause? Looking at 1 Corinthians 3:5-17, Pastor Johanan will seek to bring clarity to service in âService: God still callsâ!
The Christian life can often feel slow, uneventful, and unexciting. We often hope to look upon the Christian life and see fireworks - but sometimes it feels like watching grass grow. Is there any way around this? What encouragement can we receive from Godâs word? In the sermon titled âChristian Ordinaries: God Still Hearsâ, Pastor Johanan will unpack Mark 11:12-26 for us to see how vital & non-negotiable the Christian Ordinaries are.
Most communities are united by common interests. Members enjoy each otherâs company while pursuing their interests as autonomous individuals.
But Christian communities are united by the gospel. We come together even if the members have very little in common. In such a community, the members are highly interconnected, interdependent - like different members of a body.
In the sermon titled âCommunity: God Still Gathersâ, Pastor Too will unpack 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 for us to see how Christians live and grow as a covenant community.
Are you ready for 2021?
Most of us have some kind of plans for the new year. Personal. Career. Family. Spiritual. Yet what are the areas that God is calling us as His children, and as His church, to invest in? Pastor Johanan brings us The Word: God still speaks from Jeremiah 23:16-17, 28-29.
At the heart of the Christmas story, is life.
But whatâs the big deal about life? Some people live long, comfortable lives. Others live short, exciting ones. Length of days, quality of living - who is to say which kind of life is better?
Many of us feel that way - until we find ourselves staring down the jaws of death. Or, until we are presented with the very real offer of eternal life.
Pastor Johanan brings us the final sermon 'Christmas Life', of our Christmas series from Luke 1:26-38.
Did you know that the Christmas story is a love story?
For many people, love is a feeling and an emotion. It is something that we fall into or fall out of. With love, there comes immense joy and intimacy. But love is where we also open our hearts to intense pain and shattering betrayal.
But Christmas love comes from the God who so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. From this love we are given the greatest gift, at the highest cost.
In this message, Pastor Too brings us Christmas Love from John 3:16-17.Â
Why celebrate Christmas? The bible says that we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas because, through Him, we have a relationship with God. We celebrate because we enjoy the light, love, and life that Christmas often demonstrates. In this sermon, Thomas (an elder in Agape) will explore the reasons why God gave us Christmas the way He did, by looking at the gospel of John chapter 1 verses 1 through 13.
What happens after one has had a God-encounter? How does one change? What are the marks? In this sermon, we continue with the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5:2-3, 15-27 to see how he demonstrated the marks of one who has encountered God. At the same time, we look at Gehazi, Elisha's servant, who was religious but missed that God-encounter. And finally, we look at the 14-year old girl who had suffered so much under Syrian rule, yet rose up to be the instrument of Naaman's healing and conversion and becomes the hero of Naaman's story.
We all long to have God-encounters. The fact that we cannot worship together physically can make us feel like we are missing out on that touch from God or the privilege of hearing God speak powerfully to us in the midst of the assembly of God's covenant community. But God-encounters in the Bible came to men not necessarily caught up in a worship environment. People in the Bible came to certain particular realisations. In this message, we look at Naaman, the Syrian general with leprosy, and the four realisations that led him to encounter God.
This sermon will focus on âMistaken Roleâ. Parents play many roles in the lives of our children such as being teachers, coaches, cheerleaders, disciplinarians, and much more. If we assume the wrong parenting role, we are likely going to produce the wrong results. Come find out the God-given role that He has entrusted to Christian parents in shaping our next generation. Pastor Too Teh Hsin concludes the two-part parenting series with the message 'Mistaken Roles'.Â
Parents are on a mission in raising our children. What is our mission? How do we know whether we are on the right or wrong mission? Most importantly, as Christian parents, how do we ensure our mission is centered on God and our parenting shaped by the Gospel? Pastor Teh Hsin answers these questions from the sermon: "Mistaken Missionâ.Â
It's Agapeâs Anniversary Sunday! To celebrate the grace and faithfulness of the Lord, you will be blessed by a very special live stream service where we will take you on a journey with a panel of four speakers through the years. At the close of the service, we invite all Agapians and friends to a cake-cutting celebration in the homes that you gather in for the live-streaming. Â May the Lord be glorified as we recount how the Lord has blessed Agape through the years. Blessed Anniversary, Agape!
The closing sermon in this series is about courage. It is said that Christian courage is indispensable for both spreading and preserving the truth of Christ. If that is true, how do we grow in Christian courage? Thomas (an elder in Agape) will lead us through Acts 4: 13-22. This sermon will also look at what Christian courage looks like for the early followers of Jesus and what that means for us today.
Compassion is not a feeling. It is about reaching out practically; going where it hurts, entering into places of pain, sharing in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish of others. Yet ours is a diminishing compassion. Thomas (an elder in Agape) will lead us through Matthew 9:18-26, 35-38. In A Call to Compassion, we will see how the compassion of Christ embraces us, transforms us into His likeness, and then empowers us to the ministry of compassion.
Pastors Guna kickstarts our new sermon series, 'A Call to Christ-Centrality in Challenging Times', by looking at Commitment from John 12:1â8, 23â26. Come hear how commitment in the areas of marriage, ministry, and matters of life, deepens when we grow in our understanding of Christ's commitment to us!
What does it mean to be a covenant community today? How should our church respond to challenging circumstances?
Pastor Johanan brings us 'Together in Covenant Renewal' from Acts 2:40-47. Â Come and hear what God has in store for Agape Baptist Church!
What do we do with our regrets? The things we shouldn't have - and should have - done? What happens to the wasted years in our lives?
In this series finale, Pastor Johanan brings us 'When Barren Longings Have A Future' from Ruth 4. At the end of the story of Ruth, we see the end of our own stories: we are Never Beyond Hope!
What do we do when weâre backed into a corner? Does trusting God mean doing nothing? Does cunning and cleverness have any part in the Christianâs life? Pastor Johanan answers these questions (and more) in 'Taking Risks in the Dark' from Ruth 3.Â
Hardly anyone overcomes despair alone. We all need help. We all need favour. But where does favour spring from? And is favour something that is limited? Pastor Johanan unpacks Ruth 2 in the sermon âUnimaginable Favourâ.
Most of us know what despair feels like. Itâs surprising how full of despair life can be! The Bible understands how this feels like, how we are inclined to respond to despair, and even proposes an alternate remedy to deal with despair.
Pastor Johanan unpacks Ruth 1 in this sermon entitled 'From Despair to Hope'.
Whenever you commit yourself to build your life, family, work, ministry, or witness, and seek to make great the Name of the Lord, you will be opposed. This is what Nehemiah experienced in chapter 4. But the opposition did not stop him from continuing to build. What was Nehemiahâs secret? How do we keep on going when the going gets tough?
In this last sermon in the current series, Pastor Guna unpacks Nehemiah 4:1-13 in the sermon 'Steadfast Heart'.
Nehemiah was given new eyes to see old problems and the vision to building amid ruins drove him to pray over his big ask in chapter 1.Â
In Chapter 2, we will see that Nehemiah did not just pray but as he prayed he also planned. In the Bible, leaders in a crisis did both. This pandemic calls for both earnest praying and careful planning, if we are to build amid ruins.Â
Discover why prayer and planning are not mutually exclusive and how Nehemiah found the faith to do the impossible as Pastor Guna unpacks Nehemiah 2:1-8 in this sermon!
This sermon is based on Nehemiah 1:1-11. It will focus on Nehemiah's prayer and how his eyes got opened to see the realities that were always there, and how with persistence he made a big ask of God regarding what appeared circumstantially impossible.Â
From Colossians 4:2-6, Pastor GL will bring to us an encouraging word on how Singapore on her 55th birthday can receive her greatest gift through us.
In this sermon, Pastor GL considers what Paul teaches in Romans 13:8-10 regarding neighbourly love. Through this passage, we discover how we can be motivated to reach out and bless our very own neighbours in love.
In Exodus 32, we learn that the people of Israel turned to idolatry by making a golden calf while Moses was still up on the mountain. In doing so, they turned away from the true worship that the Lord had intended for them.
What can we as a covenant community today learn from Israel's history?
Through this passage, Pastor GL will reveal to us 4 precious lessons on how we can cultivate a heart of true worship today.
In Exodus 31, we hear God's commandments to Moses regarding the 2 areas of work and rest for His covenant community.Â
In this third sermon of the Exodus series, Pastor GL will unpack for us important insights on how worship is critically intertwined with our work and rest.
In Exodus 25:1-9, God instructs Moses to tell His people to build a distinctly unique sanctuary for Him.
In this sermon, Pastor GL unpacks for us what this sanctuary represents and what bearing it has for us as a covenant community in worship.
In this sermon based on Exodus 24:1-11, we see the significance of the covenant confirmed with God at Mount Sinai. This text reveals to us 3 things that are especially important for us as a covenant community moving forward in the midst of the pandemic.
Pastor Tze (lead Pastor of One Covenant Church) unpacks Habakkuk 3 and help us understand how to overcome fear through faith which is a trusting surrender to God and his promises.
Most people assume they have an intuitively good understanding of their own needs. But is that assumption true?
Through the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus helps his disciples to recognise what their deepest needs are.
In this last sermon in the four-part series on the Lord's Prayer, Pastor GL unpacks the three needs that must be brought before our Heavenly Father in prayer.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
In the Lord's prayer, after Jesus teaches his disciples to ask that they regard God's name as holy, he gives them these two petitions.
What significance do these two petitions have for our prayer lives? What effect does praying for God's kingdom and will have on us?
Pastor GL draws out three truths to help us understand how prayer can change not just things, but even us, leading us towards a spirit of submission.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Why did Jesus start the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 this way? What significance does this verse have for our relationship with God?
Pastor GL distils for us 3 wonderful truths from this verse regarding what it means to enjoy an intimate relationship with God in prayer.
In Matthew 6:5-13, we see Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray by offering a model of a prayer. Before He does so though, He explains to them how not to pray.
In this sermon, Pastor GL will draw out 4 precious lessons on prayer that we can glean from the context leading to the Lord's prayer.
In times of calamity, the ears of the heart are perked up and sensitive to what is on God's heart. This Sunday, God speaks to us from Joel 2:18-32 - on the matter of joy.
Join us this Sunday, as Pastor Johanan leads us to capture God's concern for our joy in this final sermon of the series: "Rejoice!"
Relationship is a 'two-way street'. In prayer, we bring our hearts to God. But how can we know what is on God's heart - especially in a time like this? And should the matters of His heart impact our prayers?
Over the next two Sundays, Pastor Johanan will lead us into the book of Joel to get a glimpse of what is on God's heart, especially in light of our present season of calamity. This Sunday, we look at Joel 2:12-17 in this first sermon titled, "Return!"
Invite a friend who is looking for answers! May the Cry of God's Heart Become the Cry of His people indeed.
This Sunday, Pastor Guna will wrap up the Lament series with the final step in the lamenting journey, 'Trust Deeply' by looking at Psalm 13.
Psalm 13 has only six verses. It begins with complaints but ends in worship.
In this fourth step, lamenting through the dark seasons is brought to a completion through trust in God.
How do you pray boldly when you are bruised badly? What does it mean to pray boldly? Has praying boldly got to do with raising your voice in authoritative praying? Can we pray boldly and yet be submitted to the sovereignty of God?
This Sunday, in the third instalment in the series, Lament, Pastor Guna will unpack Psalm 22 in the third step of the lamenting journey in the psalms through the sermon: Ask Boldly.
Is complaining always wrong?
This Sunday, Pastor Guna will preach on the second step in lament from Psalm 10. While we believe in God's sovereignty, we still live in a world of tragedy and this pandemic is showing that up starkly. How then do we navigate between the goodness of God and the grief of our hearts?
Discover the second step in lament this Sunday through the sermon, Complain Freely.
Lament is the only appropriate response to the fear and anxiety this pandemic is generating everywhere. Lament is a prayer that comes from a discouraged, despairing heart in pain that leads to trust in God.
For the next four Sundays, Pastor Guna will examine the four steps in lament that can lead us to transition from pain to promise, and heartbreak to hope amidst the covid19 pandemic.
This Sunday, in a sermon entitled Turn Quickly, he will unpack Psalm 77 and share four features on turning to God through lament.
What is so special about Easter Sunday? What significance does it hold in this COVID-19 season?
In John 20:19-23, we read that on the first Easter Sunday, the risen Christ appeared before His fearful disciples, and granted them peace. That same peace has been available for generations of believers thereafter.
Pastor GL shares 3 truths for everyone who is seeking peace during this season in his sermon: Encountering the Risen Christ: Finding the Peace That Truly Endures.
This pandemic is shaking the very core of our socio-economic foundations. On the first Good Friday, the disciples were shaken when their world went dark with the crucifixion of the One they had followed. What do you do when your foundations are all shaken?
On this Good Friday, Pastor Guna, Agapeâs founding pastor, will bring a message from Psalm 11 entitled 'The Covid, Crown and Cross' where he will share the four things we need to know when our foundations are shaken in a pandemic like this.
This Sunday, we continue to position ourselves to pray through our turbulent times. We continue to cry, "Lord, teach us to pray!"
But in a time like this, where is our hope? What does it mean to pray with hope? Join us on Sunday to find out, as Pastor Johanan leads us through Isaiah 6:1-8 to see 'The Hope of Glory'
In times like this, we can be especially sure that God is near. He is with us. He is working for our good. But it is also in times like this, that we are called to pray. This Sunday, Pastor Johanan will lead us through Psalm 143, to respond with âThe Cry for Mercyâ.
Holy Week is approaching!
We begin preparing our hearts by looking at the issue of sin in Genesis 3:1-13.Â
What is sin? Where does it come from? What makes it so bad? How did Jesus deal with it?
Hear these answers as Ps Johanan brings the first sermon, "He Became Sin".Â
In Exodus 23:20-33, God continues to speak to His people through Moses, giving them instructions on how they can enter Canaan, the land He has promised them.
Through this passage, we can derive 3 important faith steps in our journey today towards our Promised Land.
In Exodus 20:22-23:19, we see God giving very detailed, situational rules for conduct to Moses, who would then pass them on to the Israelites.
For many people today, these laws seem archaic and meaningless. Consider for example Exodus 23:19 "...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."
What can we learn from laws like these given to the Israelites? Do these laws still have any value or relevance for us today?
In Exodus 20:1-21, we see God giving the Ten Commandments to His people at Mount Sinai.
What is the significance of these commandments? What do they reveal about God and humanity? How exactly are they relevant for Christians today? This sermon seeks to address these questions.
In Exodus 19:1-25, we read the story of how Moses, having brought the Israelites out of Egypt and through various challenges, leads them now to Mount Sinai to an encounter with God.
At the foot of this mountain, the people tremble in fear as they experience the presence of God with thunders, lightnings, a thick cloud, and trumpet blast.
This memorable passage, that comes just before the giving of the Ten Commandments, teaches us precious truths that help us understand the reality of our God as a holy God who has set us apart for Himself.
When it comes to money, many Christians recognise the need to be givers and not hoarders. Yet in many of their minds, certain questions still continue to linger.
How should we give? In what way does our motivation matter?
To whom should we give? Can we just give to anybody who is needy? Why must we give to the church?
How much should we give? Must it really be 10% of our income?
What happens when we give? Does God promise to prosper us if we give?
Using 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 as the anchor text, Pastor GL will reveal to us through the chosen passage and other portions of God's Word, the answers to these questions and more.
"Relax, eat, drink, be merry!" Â
This is the counsel provided by many in the world today. Yet Jesus warns us against hoarding wealth for such a purpose.
In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus responds to a question directed to Him on money with brilliant spiritual insights through the parable of a rich fool who had focused on building bigger barns for himself.
We live in a world where many decisions revolving around money have to be made. Thankfully, the Bible offers much guidance for us. In fact, Jesus Himself addresses the topic of money more than any other topic.
In the famous Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus reveals 3 dangers of money that we need to be on guard against.
This festive season comes to us packed with familiarity. The visitations, the meals, the conversations - we know what to expect. But how are we expecting God to move?
In John 4, we see Jesus making (what should have been) an unremarkable journey into Samaria, where He crosses path with a Samaritan woman. She too was making (what should have been) an unremarkable trip to draw water from the well. But in that encounter, God's blessings abounded for both the woman and Jesus - it was anything but 'unremarkable'.
What does love that blesses look like?
In Luke 7:36-50, we see such love displayed through the story of a sinful woman with an alabaster flask of ointment. At the house of Simon the Pharisee, her radical actions in anointing Jesus at His feet stood in stark contrast to Simon who had invited Jesus.
In this third and final sermon of the series on agape love, Pastor GL reveals the quality of this love that blesses by considering this contrast between the woman and the host.
Most people would agree that it is good to be loving. Yet, many find themselves and others in their lives far less loving than they should be.
In 1 John 3:11-18, God reveals the shocking reason for this lack of love, and His plans to shape a loving community that far exceeds human expectations.
In this second sermon of the series, Pastor GL unpacks from the passage 3 key considerations in order to be radically shaped by love.
In this opening sermon, Pastor GL will expound on the words of Jesus' commandment for us to love from Mark 12:28-31.
Come and hear the biblical insights on this agape love, and how it should shape our church in 2020 in the sermon 'The Great Call to Love'!