Reformation Sunday. The Word on Worship. Scripture Memorisation

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1 Volume 28, IssuE OCT 2015 The Word on Worship Worship Etiquette Come early and be seated 10 minutes before worship. Prepare yourselves in silent meditation, prayer and self-examination. Switch off your mobile phone and other electronic devices, that the solemnity of the service may not be disrupted. Refrain from unnecessary conversation and movement during the service. Do not leave the worship till the end (only after the benediction). Scripture Memorisation Diligence Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Reformation Sunday Gethsemane Youth Choir Call to Worship Elder Mah Chin Kwang Hymn 35: Through All The Changing Scenes of Life* Invocation & Gloria Patri* Responsive Scripture Reading* Psalm 79 Gethsemane Children s Choir Voices of Gethsemane Hymn 256: The Bible Stands Collection of Offerings Doxology & Prayer* Hymn 347: Under the Care of My God, The Almighty Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Sermon Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Show Thyself for a Testimony Matthew 8:4 Hymn 105: I Will Praise Him!* Benediction & Threefold Amen* * Congregation Standing

2 duty roster Today, 25 October 2015 Next Lord s Day, 1 November am CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR 10.30am 1.30pm 3.30pm CHINESE SERVICE ENGLISH SERVICE FILIPINO SERVICE LIONS HOME MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP Musician: Flowers: Ushers: Musicians: Ushers: Greeter: AV Ministry: Flowers: Junior Worship: Musician: Usher: Venue: English Speaker: Dialect Speaker: Gan Chin Hwi Pr Daniel Lim Sarah Yap Francis Tan Jennifer Goh Cayson Chok Sam Cheah Eld Mah Chin Kwang Pastor Koshy Eunice Choy, Ellyzabeth Andy Lee, Marcus Peh Lawrence Ng, Chan Tuck Whye Ho Kee How, Randy Laurencio Mah Lean Choo Crew No. 4 Diana Chan Karen Quek, Nancy Lau Rachel Teo Sarah Yong, (Mabel Ng) Melissa Mah, (Esther Quek) Pr Samson Hutagalung Norefel Resuma Pr Dennis Kabingue Duaine Kabingue Randy Laurencio Edeliza Ballega 487 Bedok South Ave 2 Elder Ng Poh Kok Pr Jeremiah Sim MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP Musician: Flowers: Ushers: Musicians: Ushers: Greeter: AV Ministry: Flowers: Junior Worship: Musician: Usher: Venue: English Speaker: Dialect Speaker: Elder Alan Choy Pr Daniel Lim Eunice Choy Winnie Yap John Peh Lawrence Ng Eld Ng Poh Kok Pastor Koshy Chloe Pawa, Jollyn Low Samuel Yong, Andrew Teong Benny Skariah, Cayson Chok David Lau, Julius Del Rosario Sally Lum Crew No. 1 Choy Luan Kheng Cecilia Siah, Chomg Shu Mun Davina Lim Pr Kelvin Lim, (Jenice Choy) Stefanie Wong, (Sarah Yap) Pr Ho Kee How Eric Delina Pr Dennis Kabingue Dorcas Koshy Jomart Tindaan Juvy Lynn Anaviso 487 Bedok South Ave 2 Elder Mah Chin Kwang Pr Jeremiah Sim 2

3 25 October 2015 Why Reformation Sunday? Prabhudas Koshy Every year, we set apart the last Sunday of October as Reformation Sunday. We take time to remember the persons and events that were part of the 16th Century Reformation. Why do we commemorate something that happened almost 500 years ago? Today, we remember the Reformation for the following reasons: 1. To acknowledge and to give thanks to God for the mighty work of His Spirit that brought about the Reformation. 2. To recognise and to give thanks to God for Martin Luther, whose nailing of his ninety-five theses against the errors of Roman Catholic teachings and practices to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517 set ablaze the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. 3. To give thanks for all the leading Reformers and their supporters, and God s chosen servants, who bravely fought for Christ and His Word even unto death. Some of the forerunners of the Reformation were John Wycliffe ( ), John Huss ( ), Jerome Savonarola ( ). Some of the Reformers were Martin Luther ( ), Ulrich Zwingli ( ), Thomas Cranmer ( ), William Tyndale ( ), Patrick Hamilton (died 1528), John Calvin ( ), John Knox ( ), John Foxe ( ). Many who stood for Christ and His Word against the Roman Catholic errors were martyred. In England, among those burned at the stake were William Tyndale, Thomas Cranmer, John Rogers ( ), Nicholas Ridley ( ), Hugh Latimer ( ), John Hooper ( ), Thomas Bilney ( ), John Bradford ( ), John Philpot ( ), Rowland Taylor ( ). Many more suffered martyrdom in other parts of Europe as well for being part of the Reformation movement. Because of their unflinching stand for the Word of God, we today have the light of the Gospel in our hearts and minds. Let us be thankful to God Pastoral Exhortation 3

4 Pastoral Exhortation for raising and empowering such men of faith, knowledge and courage, such as the Reformers. 4. To gratefully affirm the monumental significance and necessity of the truths of the Scriptures, even the reformed doctrines, which have been expounded and propagated around the world for the salvation of sinners and the edification of the church. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone): The Bible alone is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice Sola Gratia (Grace alone): Salvation is by the grace of God alone Sola Fide (Faith alone): Salvation is through faith alone in Jesus Christ Solus Christus (Christ alone): Jesus Christ alone is the Saviour, Mediator and Head of the church Soli Deo Gloria (To the glory of God alone): Our faith and life are for the glory of God alone Justification by Faith Priesthood of Believers (not just the priests of the Catholic church) The Sacraments Baptism and Holy Communion as Means of Grace Five Points of Calvinism: (i) Total Depravity, (ii) Unconditional Election, (iii) Limited Atonement, (iv) Irresistible Grace, and (v) Perseverance of Saints To have a better insight of the wonderful truths of the Scriptures that emerged out of the Reformation, one should refer to the Westminster Confession of Faith (our church s doctrines are in accordance with this Confession of Faith). In 33 chapters, WCF expounds the great doctrines such as the Holy Scripture, God, and Holy Trinity, God s Eternal Decree, Creation, Providence, Fall of Man, Sin, and Punishment, God s Covenant with Man; Christ the Mediator; Free Will; Effectual Calling, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Saving Faith, Repentance unto Life; Good Works, Perseverance Of the Saints, Assurance Of Grace and Salvation, Law Of God, Christian Liberty, and Liberty Of Conscience, Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day, Lawful Oaths and Vows, the Civil Magistrate, Marriage and Divorce, Church, Communion Of Saints, Sacraments, Baptism, Lord s Supper, Church Censures, Synods and Councils, State Of Men after Death, and Resurrection Of the Dead, and Last Judgment. 5. To gratefully avow ourselves to safeguard and propagate the truth of salvation and all of God s good will and purposes revealed in the Bible: 4

5 The modern protestant Christians hardly know or appreciate the battle fought and won by the Reformers. In fact, many churches are in danger of forgetting the truths for which the Reformers gave their lives. We must avoid that danger. We must continually tell the story of the Reformation and declare the truths that were discovered, lest our generation and the next might once again lose them. 6. To rouse the present church to be vigilant and also to be ever battle-ready against all forms of attack launched against the church by Satan and his cronies: Just as the church of yesteryear fought her battles, the church of our time must also valiantly and steadfastly fight her battles against all unbiblical teachings and ungodly practices that creep into the church. The Reformation has been a battle for the Gospel and the Bible. For many years since the Reformation, the protestant churches everywhere had a steadfast faith and commitment to the truth of Scripture. But in recent times, the church is again called to join the fray to defend the Bible as God s perfect Word for ever. By the end of the 17th Century, the attacks against the Bible began with what is then known as Higher Criticism. Scholars in institutions of higher learning and seminaries started to question the truthfulness and authority of Scripture. This continues to plague many institutions of higher learning and has crept into some protestant denominations and taken deep roots. There is also a more treacherous situation in the modern protestant churches. Among those who say the Bible is the Word of God, there is a growing trend to refer to the Bible as God s Word only in a superficial manner, and deny its present perfection, absolute trustworthiness and indisputable authority over our faith and practice. Such an attitude toward God s Word is very sinister and insidious. Such low and mean view of the Bible gives rise to false doctrines, materialism, fornication, homosexuality and all other ungodly behaviour. It must not be tolerated among us. We must always have high reverence and utter submission to God s eternal Word. 7. For the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9)! Mission Report 5

6 Work Like the Ants! junior worshipper s text page Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Illustration by Melissa Neo The nature around us is like a school, in which God teaches us many lessons. He uses even a little creature, like the ant, to teach us precious lessons. God tells us that if we will consider how the ant lives and works, we can be wise. Thousands and thousands of ants crawl around. They are always in action, busy looking for food. There is not a lazy ant. Everyone is hard at work, not expecting others to do its part. Ants do not waste time. They make use of every opportunity to gather food. When the rainy season arrives, they can no longer gather food. So they work hard in the summer season. God expects all His children to work like ants. He does not want us to be lazy, doing nothing. We must also do our duties on time. If we do not do our work promptly, we will have many failures and troubles in life. When it is time to read the Bible and pray, you must do it at once. When your parents ask you to do something, you must do it without delay. If you do your homework and revise your lessons, you will do well in your studies. If you are learning to play a musical instrument, be diligent to practise, then you will succeed. Be diligent and determined like the ants and you will be wise! Prabhudas Koshy 6

7 Collections LORD S DAY on 18 October 2015 Gethsemane Youth Fellowship Evangelism Gethsemane Young Adults Fellowship Tithes: 3, Offerings: 4, Bldg Fund 2015: 2,000.00; 1,500.00; 1,000.00; ; ; ; ; ; 50.00; 50.00; 10.00; 4.00; [ (Chinese Svc)]; [70.00 (Filipino F ship)] Designated Gifts: Donald dela Cruz ; Daniel Lim NON-SUNDAY GIFT Bldg Fund 2015: 1,800.00; 1, SPECIAL FUND UPDATE (as of 18 October 2015) Building Fund 2015: $1,359, Give generously towards our Church Building Fund. S$5 million by the end of 2015! Date & Time: Sat, 31 Oct, pm Venue: Meet at Mountbatten MRT Station Your cooperation for Sunday Live webcast In order for a smooth LIVE webcast of the Sunday Service over the web, we would like to request worshippers to switch their mobile devices to airplane mode throughout the worship. Sunday Evangelism There will be an evangelism session today. Please meet Bro Andrew 1.30pm at the foyer. Thoughts of A Cheerful Giver Church Building Fund Date & Time: Sat, 7 Nov, 7.00pm Venue: 9 Sengkang Square Compass Heights Singapore , BBQ Pit 1 Activity: BBQ dinner fellowship Please sign up at the reception table or reply to invitation to facilitate ordering of food. Gethsemane Youth Fellowship Topic: Theism - The Sevenfold Will of God (1) Speaker: Bro Andrew Koh Chairman: Bro Amoz Choy Date & Time: Sat, 7 Nov, pm Venue: Home of Mr & Mrs William Teo Blk 835 Woodlands St 83 # Singapore announcements And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God Deuteronomy 26:10 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 18 October 2015 Sunday fellowship LUNCH Those who would like to have packet lunch after worship service for the month of November, kindly place your order and make payment to Sis Aileen Tan. 7

8 announcements GETHSEMANE CHILDREN S MINISTRY DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOl Daily Vacation Bible School for children will be held from 9th-12th Dec 2015 (Wed-Sat). Volunteers are needed for craft sessions, games time and other areas. If you are able to help, kindly contact Dn Kelvin More details will be made known later. Calling all members to Fast & Pray In view of our need of about S$3.5 million more for the Church Building Fund by the end of this year, Pastor exhorts all members and friends to dedicate a time of prayer every week, even with fasting, if possible. The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build (Nehemiah 2:20). Sermon CD/DVD The following sermons will soon be available in CD/DVD for purchase: 1. Divine Adoption: Our Sonship (Bible Witness Retreat) 2. Benefits of Our Sonship (Bible Witness Retreat) 3. Esther: Prodigy of Providence (GLF Seminar) You may place your orders from Bro John Peh at the reception desk. Post-Worship Activities Please stay back after worship to join us for: Refreshment & Fellowship 12.30pm 1.30pm Bible Study (Adults, Youths & Children) Cancelled in view of Evangelism Weekday Activities Monday Campus Bible Study 826 Tampines St 81, #02-92 Tuesday Night Bible Study & Prayer L5 Auditorium, SingPost Centre Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study Bible Witness Bookroom Wednesday Night GBI-Online TGCM Thursday Seniors Ministry 11.00am (Please contact Pr Jeremiah Sim) Thursday Campus Bible Study NAFA Campus Friday Morning Prayer 7.45am Church Resource Centre Friday Campus Bible Study SUTD Campus For more information, please call the church office at Time & Place of Worship 10.30am Level 5 Auditorium Singapore Post Centre 10 Eunos Road 8 Singapore (next to Paya Lebar MRT station) Prayer Hotline SMS or WhatsApp your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06 Singapore Tel: Fax: Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Mobile: pastor.gbpc@gmail.com Our Session Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Elder Mah Chin Kwang Elder Alan Choy Elder Ng Poh Kok Deacon Daniel Lim Deacon Lok Kwok Wah Deacon Kelvin Lim Deacon Francis Lee Deacon Low Boon Siang 8