Grace Bible-Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Volume 42 Issue No April 2017 Grace Bible-Presbyterian Church Our Mission: Passion for Christ, Heart for the Lost (Phil. 1 : 21; Matt. 28 : 18 20) ORDER OF WORSHIP Pre-Worship Hymns How Deep the Father s Love, 314 Sis Lim Sue San & Sis Cheryl Chiu Prelude Silent Meditation Call to Worship Opening Hymn 78 Strong in Salvation *Gloria Patri Hymn By Faith Responsive Reading Proverbs 6:1-19 Offerings ** Doxology Scripture Reading Genesis 18 Hymn 320 Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior Pastoral Prayer Bro David Leong Message ABRAHAM: A MAN OF INTERCESSION REV TAN ENG BOO Closing Hymn 548 Servant s Heart Benediction Threefold Amen Welcome & Announcements 5 Jalan Haji Salam, Singapore URL: Tel: Fax: admin@gracebpc.org.sg Grace to you and Peace from God * Gloria Patri ** Doxology Glory be to the Father and to the Son Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the Praise Him, all creatures here below; beginning, is now and ever shall be, Praise Him above, ye heav nly host; world without end. Amen, Amen Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

2 WE NEED MORE PARLOUR PREACHERS. By Erik Raymond Do you have a burden for people to know and love Jesus more? If you are a Christian the answer here is certainly, Yes. This is the great cry of our hearts. Though, we admit, the cry is often muffled and not attended with appropriate zeal. For a host of reasons, we neglect the work of speaking of Christ and his gospel to others. This is not a new problem. As long at there have been Christian witnesses there have been temptations toward evangelistic apathy. The 19thcentury English pastor and author Charles Bridges writes in his book The Christian Ministry that we need more parlour preaching. He defines this as the ability to introduce the subject of religion seasonably and acceptably into social intercourse. This, Bridges says, is one of the most valuable talents to the church. Some today have used the term Gospel Fluency to describe a similar work (see Jeff Vanderstelt s Gospel Fluency). In short, ones who are fluent in the gospel have their mother tongue in the gospel. They see and hear the world through the gospel filter and demonstrate an ability to speak the gospel into the everyday stuff of life. It is important to note here that one is a parlour preacher simply to the unconverted but also to confessing Christians. We have a responsibility to speak the Word of God to one another, not simply to those outside the church (Eph. 4:15; Heb. 3:12-13). Bridges provides some helpful instructions toward this important task. I ll update his language a bit and offer his thoughts below. The discipline is cultivated. Those who excel at this gift are not necessarily endowed by nature with an ability to speak the gospel to others but rather diligently stir up the gift of God in them.

3 Maintain seriousness but not a tone of personal authoritativeness. Bridges warns against a pompous and abrasive authoritativeness in the parlour. Instead, blend your seriousness with Christian cheerfulness. Be careful not to be rude and abrupt. Pick your spots and attempt to swing from natural conversation to spiritual (gospel) matters. Pray for opportunities and for faithfulness. We tend to see what we pray for a lot more than if we did not. Make and take opportunities. When you have a burden, you will be more likely to see and take the opportunities God is providing you. Utilize Christian conversation in public. Talk with your brothers and sisters about spiritual matters in mixed company; it s not a secret. Be humble when you speak. This is particularly the case among people who think they are something and you are not. Let the Word carry the authority and do the work. Pay attention to the news and cultural conversation. Some familiarity with what is going on in the world may buy you some time, which will allow you the opportunity to slide your pulpit into the parlour. Ask and answer how the gospel answers the fundamental problems and questions people are facing. Be courageous and trust God. In this spirit of consideration, diligence, and faith, the feeblest efforts will be abundantly honoured; while the best -ordered conversation, in our own spirit, will prove ineffectual for the desired ends. I love that Bridges was wrestling through this issue nearly 200 years ago and that he was exhorting pastors toward it. This discipline is hard but important work. It requires us to be praying, prioritizing, and practicing our parlour preaching.

4 Prayer Page Men Ought Always To Pray and Not To Faint (Luke 18: 1) Praise and Prayer Items Pulpit Ministry 7 May 2017 Pray for the Lord s anointing on the Lord s messenger - Pastor. Chairman - Eld Victor Goh. Pray for our instrumentalists: Sis Lim Sue San and Sis Loretta Wong. Usher Ministry 7 May Pray for Sis Lynna Seah, Dn James Chen, Dn John Chen and Bro Benjamin Lian. Pray for their safety in the Lord s work. Filadelfia, Batam - Shelter Home and Kindergarten: Pray for the Lord s leading as the committee considers a candidate for ordination in due time. Thank God for pastor s ministry last Sunday with the brethren. Catherine Ng: Pray for her as she plans to come back for a month in July. She is also planning a training in August for children and teenagers who are keen to know God s Word. Church camp 2017: Pray for: the number of campers to be met; those applying for annual leave to be approved; Rev Oh Boon Leong as he prepares for the messages. MS Outing on May 1: Pray for safety, good weather, a fruitful time of learning & fellowship. Pray for pastor as he prepares to preach next Sunday on Genesis 19: Angels at Work in a Bad Town. Please read the chapter. Bible class: Pray that all the students apply the lessons learnt every Sunday. May they exhibit love and care for one another. Church giving in tithes and offerings: Thank God for the opportunity to participate weekly in giving of our tithes & offerings. May we give generously. Church PA crews: Thank God for those who give their time to manage the PA system. Pray for wisdom to handle it. Ushers: Pray for God s blessings on the ushers gathering on 20 May. Thank God for faithful men and women who want to serve the Lord in this area. Personal outreach: Pray for wisdom to communicate the Gospel to our loved ones and friends. Pray for opportunities to do so and for us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit s leading. Our Christian life: Pray that we will be men and women who will exercise godliness, compassion and care in a world where people bully and take advantage of the weak in society.

5 ABRAHAM: A MAN OF INTERCESSION (GEN. 18) Introduction: Message Outline A visit from God I) The Divine Guests (Gen. 18:1-22) A) Showing hospitality to the 3 men (vv.1-8) * God appeared (v.1) * The other 2 guests were angels (v.22: 19:1) B) Sarah will bear a son (vv.9-15) * The words of the LORD and Sarah s reaction (vv.9-12) * Nothing is hidden from God (vv.13-15) * Nothing is too hard for the Lord (v.14) Purpose of the visit: 1) To reaffirmed the covenant promise of the birth of Isaac 2) To indicate to Abraham the imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, hence the intercessory prayer of Abraham C) Abraham informed of the intention of God (vv.16-22) * God told Abraham and the reason for doing so (vv.16-19) * The condition of Sodom and Gomorrah (vv.20-22) II) Pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.18:23-33) Conclusion: * What is the intercessory ministry? (see Acts 12:5) * Will God destroy the righteous with the wicked? (vv.23, 25) * The intercessor bargains with God (v.33) The intercessor prays and let the Judge of the earth do right to His glory and honour Pastor

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7 Devotion for Kids Should I tell on other kids? Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. Ephesians 5:11 If a law will be broken or someone may be hurt, then it is right to tell a grown-up. God puts adults in positions of authority to protect you and others against wrongdoing. If those adults don t know about a problem, they can t provide protection. Tell a parent, teacher, coach, counsellor, police officer, or another caring adult if someone is stealing, vandalizing, doing drugs, selling drugs, drinking, planning to break the law, talking about committing suicide, or making threats. There s nothing wrong with telling on kids like that. But there is something wrong with telling on kids you don t like just to get them in trouble. Also, if you need to tell on someone, don t brag about what you did. God s purpose for us is to serve him and help others, so bragging is out of place. Quietly pray for that kid and his or her family. ACTIVITY Have you ever written a letter to God? He doesn t have a real mail box, but you can still write out your thoughts and feeling. Take pen and paper and do it. Tell on yourself. That is, tell God that you know you are a sinner. Be honest about the ways you sin and disobey him. Then thank him for Jesus, who is bigger than your sin. ~ by Betsy Elliot

8 CHURCH ACTIVITIES WED Prayer Meeting 8.00 p.m. SAT Adult Fellowship 5.30 p.m. (Last Saturday of every month) SUN Worship Service 9.30 a.m. Junior Worship 9.30 a.m. Bible Class a.m. Last Week s Collections Offerings $ 1, Tithes $ 3, APPOINTMENTS Prayer Meeting Wednesday Attendance on 26 Apr: 12 Pastor takes devotion on 3 May. Worship Service Next Sunday: Speaker: Rev Tan Eng Boo Chairman: Eld Victor Goh Pianist: Sis Lim Sue San Organist: Sis Loretta Wong Ushers This Week: Dn Daniel Tan/Dn John Chen Bro Lee Kee Min Next Week: Sis Lynna Seah, Dn James Chen Dn John Chen/Bro Benjamin Lian P A This Week : Sis Janice Lee/Sis Carol Lee Next Week: Bro John Tang/Sis Evonne Tee Junior Worship (7-10 years old) This Week: Sis Chen Ching Huey Next Week: Sis Margaret Teo Pre-Primary Worship (3-6 years old) This Week: Sis Tabitha Tan Next Week: Sis Hannah Yeo Flowers and Refreshment This Week: Sis Jasmine Blundell (Refresh) Next Week: Refreshment Duty This Week: M/M Kevin & Doreen Tan Next Week: M/M Chea Oei Kiang/Ee Wen NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Kindly turn off your mobile phones or put them on silent mode! The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him. Sign up for the church camp quickly. You may want to invite your Christian friend/s to join you. Eld Seah Soon Huat is on MC from 26 Apr to 5 May Mandarin Service : Gospel Sunday today at am in church. Outing to Botanic Gardens on Mon, 1 May from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm. Location is opp. Swan Lake, nearest gate is Tanglin Gate. For more details please contact Sis Jenny Chin. Floral & refreshment for May 7, 14 & 28 still available. The Elderly Fellowship is organising a 2day/1night retreat to Batam on Wed/Thur, 17 to 18 May If you are available to help please contact Sis Chew Gim for more details. Ushers Gathering on Sat 20 May 5.00 pm in the Chapel. Pastor: Rev. Tan Eng Boo : (Hp) revteb@rocketmail.com Elder: Seah Soon Huat : (Hp) shseah1418@gmail.com Elder: Victor Goh : (Hp) victorgohys@gmail.com