April 8 Message: Death of Christ

I began the message by asking the question "What makes you think you can approach a holy God?".  My systematic theology professor repeatedly asked this question in his class.  There are many ways to phrase this question, but there is only ONE answer to this question.

We believe that the death of our Lord Jesus Christ satisfied all the demands of God’s law, redeeming us by shedding His blood and assuming our curse, men and women can have a just standing before God.



We then read the whole chapter of Mark 15.  Here is a summary of what happened:

Jesus before Pilate: sinless and innocent
Soldiers mocked Jesus: tortured and humiliated
Crucifixion: further insults and punishment
Death of Jesus: darkness and forsakenness from God

Total Depravity:   “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).   Sin is not just big things like murder or blasphemy but also includes lying, lusting, and stealing. Even the love of money or hatred of enemies is sin, according to the Bible. Good works cannot make up for wrongs against the holy God.

God is Holy:  Having sinned against God, we deserve His punishment. A judge who pardons lawbreakers isn’t a good judge.  God is justice.  Likewise, God will not overlook sin. He pours out His righteous wrath against sinners.

Atonement for sin:  In the Old Testament, innocent lambs were sacrificed as a substitute for the punishment men deserved.  Sacrificing an animal acknowledges that sin required death.  Only a sinless person can sacrifice once and for all.  Jesus finished paying the punishment for sin as the perfect Lamb of God.


Authenticity of God's witness:  The prophets foretold Jesus’ death.  From Adam to Jesus, God sent prophets to mankind, warning them of sin’s punishment and foretelling the coming Savior. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah described Him: The prophet compared the coming Saviour to a lamb, slaughtered for the sins of others.

Conclusion: We hope that with a deeper understanding and conviction.  You can confidently approach God because of what Jesus Christ has done for you.

The take away is:  How are you responding to the love of God?

Structure of Crossroad

Structure and committed disciples are absolutely necessary for obeying the great commission of making disciples.  The following are an outline of the roles and responsibilities of leaders in Crossroad.

Planning committee: Setting the direction of PGC
(Expectation: Multiplying Disciple)

Coaches: Providing spiritual direction to student leaders
(Expectation: Growing Disciple)


Parent Relation: Communicating and caring for parents (Expectation: Growing Disciple)

Worship Leaders: Leading brothers and sisters to praise God through music and God’s Words.

Fellowship captain: Overseeing Crossroad so that Crossroad remains faithful to the vision of PGC

Outreach Assistance: Reaching out through personal visits and volunteering initiatives.

Small Group captain: Pastoring/shepherding a small group

Expectations of student leaders

Goal: Moving  from being a connecting disciple towards a growing disciple

-Declares faith in Jesus Christ to friends and family

-Faithful participation in PGC Worship, Crossroad, and equipping classes 

-Monthly leader’s prayer/planning meeting

-Bi-weekly discipleship with a coach (In small groups or individually, various setting: worship practice, visits, fun activities)

Vision and Strategy of Crossroad

Peoples Gospel Church exists to glorify God as a cell-based church by passionately multiplying disciples locally and worldwide.

What does this mean?

Glorify God: A person repents from worshipping idols to worshipping Jesus Christ.

Cell based church: Sharing of Gospel and mutual building up take place in cell groups.

Passion: Deep love for God -> Deep love for one another -> Burden to win friends to Christ

Multiplying Disciples: Equipping leaders to lead more people to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Being a missional church, we equip disciples when we gather.  Members in the church are all missionaries who bring the Gospel to wherever they go.  We bring to Gospel to our schools, to our work place, and to our community.

How are we doing it?


We do so by the slogan. 
"We Grow.  We Love.  We Proclaim"


We Grow to love God and His Words deeper through personal prayer & devotion, worshipping God together, and learning more about God through equipping classes.


We love one another by pastoring one another.  We do so by encouraging each other to do God’s will, praying with one another, and caring for one another.



We proclaim the good news of Christ to friends and family.  We do so by praying for friends and family member's salvation.  We are witnessing Christ in school.  We are inviting friends to Crossroad and Worship.  Last but not least, we are sharing the Gospel with our friends.

            

Spiritual Growth Path

Jesus Christ calls all believers to make disciples.  All followers of Jesus Christ are on the journey of spiritual growth.  How does a person who is away from God journey to become a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ?  Is getting spiritual high at conferences enough for a person to become disciple of Christ?  Obviously NOT!  The following is a process of how an interested seeker grows to become a multiplying disciple.

The process begins with interested seekers.  People who used to be hostile towards Christ or indifferent towards Christ become interested through the friendship of believers.

An interested seeker drops into fellowship and worship occasionally.  He/she may attend special conferences or camps.  They may make their first time decision for Christ through one on one evangelism with his/her friend.  They may make a decision through conferences and/or camps.

Once a person makes a decision for Christ, he/she becomes a connecting disciple.  The following describes the behaviour of a connecting disciple:
-Declare to friends and family of his/her faith
-Attend Worship and Fellowship Regularly
-Personally followed up
-Plan to be baptised
-Pray 5 times a day (morning, 3x meal, bedtime)
-Engage in basic personal devotion

As a person matures spiritually, he/she grows in the love for God.  The person's love for God is reflected through how he/she relate to brothers and sisters in Christ.  Also, the passion to witness Christ to friends and family grows stronger.  The following describes the behaviour of a growing disciple.


In addition to the behaviours of a connecting Disciples:
-Training in Biblical foundations, evangelism and follow-up
-Praying and caring for brothers and sisters
-Consistent in personal devotion
-Able to personal follow up and Gospel sharing
-Engage in discipleship initiatives


It is true that a person's life change can impact many.  The impact for the Gospel is multiplied when growing disciples are willing to sacrifice more of themselves for the glory of God.  The following describes the behaviour of a multiplying disciple.


In addition to the behaviours of a growing Disciples:
-Leading discipleship initiatives
-Advanced Biblical Training
-Praying and caring for ministry
-Engage in strict spiritual discipline
-Actively engaging in personal follow up
-Actively seeking to sharing of the Gospel

April 1 Message Mark 14:12-26

Here is the summary from Cecil's message on the Lord's supper.  The message is based on Mark 14:12-26 as this month's theme is the passion of Christ.

Passover and the Fest of Unleavened Bread became a festival celebrates the escape of the Jews from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. At Passover, the Jews celebrated their ancestors’ escape from Egyptian bondage (salvation).  Jesus, with bread and wine, instructed the disciples that these elements would serve to remind them of the significance of His death (which would bring salvation to ALL of us).


The blood of covenant is an unconditional covenant God has made promised to forgive sin because of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has done all that is necessary for the forgiveness of sins by His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. The bread and the cup are symbols and reminders of Jesus in His death and resurrection.  It remind God’s new covenant to us as we anticipate of the Second Coming of Jesus.

Why do Jesus ask us to remember him with the Lord’s supper?

Jesus Christ desired fellowship and bonding with us and fellow disciples.
Jesus is teaching us that he is the ultimate sacrifice for the world.
Jesus Christ made the Lord's supper as remembrance of His work for many for the forgiveness of sins.


As we approach the passion week of Jesus, reflect on the love that Jesus has for you.

Upon reflection, if you are living in a way that falls short of Jesus' love for you, pray and ask Him for forgiveness. (Note: the sacrifice of Christ is effective for all past, present, future sins).

We are to come to Christ continually for cleansing.

March 18 Message: Rejoice Always

I am glad to hear requests to post sermon notes and worship songs online so brothers and sisters can reflect on them.

We sang Give us clean hands, All for you, and worthy is the lamb.

The message is taken from Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.



Reflection Notes:

1. What is the meaning of rejoice?  How is it different from happiness?
2. What is gentleness?  How is it different from weakness?
3. What is the benefit to being anxious?
4. What is the cure to anxiety?
5. What are sources of suffering you are facing? External? Personal sin? Because of doing God's will?
6. How are you rejoicing in the midst of your suffering?

Book of Hebrews

It seems that many people find the book of Hebrews difficult.

The overall message of the book is that Jesus Christ is superior to everything that has gone before.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate priest.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice.

The book is written to a community who is discouraged because of the suffering and perhaps doubts about whether Jesus really took care of sin.