The Beatitudes: God s Manifesto

Transcription

1 The Beatitudes: God s Manifesto "Anyone who piously and earnestly ponders the Sermon on the Mount - as we read in the Gospel according to Matthew - I believe he will find therein the perfect standard of the Christian Life. (St Augustine of Hippo) Introduction This section of the Beatitudes is one of the most loved portions of the Gospel. It forms the beginning of what has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount which is recorded in Matthew 5-7. The preaching of this Sermon may have come a little later in the chronology of the life of Christ; but Matthew placed it here at the beginning of Jesus ministry because it forms such a grand proclamation of the kingdom that He was preaching at the beginning of His public ministry. In order to reach a wider audience, Jesus moved from Nazareth to the city of Capernaum, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, but more importantly, on the main highway through the nation of Israel. His declaration of the Beatitudes would come, but not until He called for true repentance, as this is the pre-requisite to answer His heavenly calling. Background This is the first of the 5 major sermon discourses by Jesus recorded by Matthew. It is also the longest. Jesus has been announcing that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and He has been calling for people everywhere to repent. In what has been described as the manifesto of His kingdom, Jesus unveils the foundations and character of life in that kingdom. Here He teaches the ethical guidelines for life in His kingdom; and the guidelines point to the quality of righteousness that characterizes life in the kingdom, now in part, but fully in the future. For internal circulation only Vol 29 No May, 2017

2 The sermon begins with the Beatitudes. These qualities give a picture of the character of the true people of God, those who are a part of His kingdom and have the full blessings of the heavenly kingdom to look forward to. Taken together, they give the picture of the true disciple of Christ as the recipient of God s promises. Here, Jesus does not tell the listeners how to become like one; that will come in His subsequent teachings. In the Beatitudes, Jesus is referring to the divine proclamation in Isaiah 61:1-3, a passage which is certainly eschatological in its orientation, meaning this proclamation will only find its complete fulfillment in Christ's Second Coming. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the year of the Lord s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.(isaiah 61:1,2). Matthew constantly reminds us how Jesus has come to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and Jesus opening lines in the Beatitudes fit in with this reminder of the Messiah and a foretaste of the Messianic kingdom that is to come. Application The Beatitudes, as the manifesto of Christ s coming kingdom, are spiritual signposts to help us live the blessed and fulfilled life that God desires of us. The starting point is the call for true repentance, as illustrated by those who are poor in spirit. Only those who are poor in spirit will humble themselves before God and acknowledge that they bring nothing of their own power, possessions or merit to gain entrance into His kingdom. The Beatitudes also challenge us to manifest the traits of a true disciple of Christ, as exemplified by Christ s hunger and thirst for God s righteousness, His mercy shown to those who betrayed and crucified Him and His meekness (strength under control) in the face of torture and false accusations by His enemies. It also challenges us that we will face persecutions for the sake of the Gospel (Matthew 5:10), but we can take comfort in Christ s promise in John 16:33 when He says, I have said these things to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world. May the Lord grant us the inner peace and strength to shine for Him as salt and light to those around us, even in the face of rejection and hardship. Amen. Eld Elgin Chan (Editorial Writers: 14 May Dr Lenith Cheng; 21 May Ps Daniel Tan) 2

3 PRAYER ITEMS Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 CHURCH Youth Ministry Pray that our youths will be able to handle their workload at school and that they may find strength and help in the Lord. Ask the Lord to grant them wisdom and stamina in their studies. Pray that they will not neglect Him in their busyness. HCYM Staff Meeting on 13 May Pray for Dn Sim Chow Meng and team as they meet to review the programmes and plans for the Children and Youth Ministry. Ask the Lord to guide their deliberation and lead them in the way He wants them to go. Pray for wisdom and discernment to execute all the plans in a way that honors and pleases Him. 29 th ACM We thank God for a good turnout of 150 members at the ACM last Sunday. It went well. The leaders and members were able to communicate and share their concerns and views for Hermon s direction. May God give the leaders a clear vision and direction for Hermon. WORLD Escalating tension in Korean peninsula Continue to pray for the world leaders in the region to co-operate well and exercise wisdom in handling the situation. Pray that North Korea will restraint further provocations to avert a major conflict. Singapore economy Pray for our leaders to have the foresight and wisdom to steer the country forward, pray that our people will be equipped with the needed skill sets so that they can fit into positions of emerging industries both locally and globally. PASTORAL CARE Health Pray for good recovery for mothers who have just given birth and strength and patience for the family as they adjust to God s bundle of joy. For all are facing health challenges, pray for God s healing hand and His sustaining grace to be upon them. Birthdays (06-13May) We rejoice with Doris Mui-Chia whose birthday falls within this week. 07 May: JennyLeng/14 May: Christine Lei NO PRAYER MEETING on Wed 10 May in view of Vesak Day 3 2

4 A warm WELCOME to all who are here this morning. If this is your first time with us, please complete the Visitor s Card and drop it into the offering bag during the Offertory. We invite you for fellowship over refreshment after Service at the Visitors Table on the ground floor. ANNOUNCEMENTS VESAK DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY. Church Office will be closed on Wed. CATECHISM/MEMBERSHIP CLASS. Last Lesson today: Our Strategy & Structure Teacher: Ps Daniel Tan Time: 1.30pm-2.30pm Venue: #02-03B. Catechumen interview is scheduled on next Sun s (14 May) morning at church office. Please come 5 mins before your appointed time. SESSION. We thank God for the following leaders who are being reelected/elected as Deacons at last Sun s ACM: Dn Sim Chow Meng, Dn Simon Toh and Dn Richard Yew. The installation of the Session members will be held next Sun, 14 May. Pray for each Session member as they prepare their hearts for the installation. May God grant them wisdom, passion and strength as they serve in their various ministries. CHURCH CAMP June. We have committed and are trusting God for 217 pax to register for the camp (157 from Hermon and 60 from Gerizim). To-date we have 108 pax from Hermon registered. Have you signed up? Come and join us. Message: Learn from the book of Jonah. Venue: Thistle Hotel, JB Camp Speaker Rev (Dr) Desmond Soh teaches homiletics, missions and Practical Theology at Singapore Bible College. He is also the Senior Director of Strategic Development for SBC. He served as a tentmaker in Indonesia for nine years with his wife Wendy. They were involved in indigenous church-planting, crisis relief, theological education and strategic education development on a national level. BETHANY METHODIST NURSING HOME VISITATION. You are welcome to join us on this quarterly visitation to the residents of Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (No 9 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4) on Sat 20 May. We ll meet at the Home Lobby at 1.45pm. 4 2

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS YOUTH MINISTRY. We will meet at church premises at 12.30pm on Sat 20 May, and then adjourn to visit Bethany Methodist Nursing Home. The following week, May, we will join the BB and GB for an overnight cycling. Please let the Youth Committee know if you're keen! THANKSGIVING FLOWERS CHART (July-December 2017) is displayed on the Notice Board at Love Fellowship Hall. You may wish to offer thanksgiving flowers as a gesture for an answered prayer, an expression of thanks to God or for a happy occasion. Each bouquet per week is $ Please make cash payment to the floral arranger. NEW BABY & THANKS. Congratulations to John Chua & Sora who become new parents to their first born daughter Elise Chua So Eun on Sat 29 Apr. We also rejoice with Keng Chay & Dns Elizabeth as grandparents. Thank you for the many prayers and well wishes throughout Sora s pregnancy and birth of Elise. We thank God for the safety of both mother and child and look forward to bringing Elise to church soon. - John CAR LIFT FOR VIVIEN NG. If you can pick Vivien from Sasco Senior Citizen s Home to church on Sundays at 10.30am or send her back after Service, please fill in the roster at Love Fellowship Hall Notice Board. wailan@hermon.org.sg for details. STAFF MOVEMENTS. 1) Peggy Tan and Tsang Wai Lan will be on leave tomorrow. 3) Tang Lai Kin will be attending a GB training workshop at Redemption Hill Church on 09, 10 and 13 May. Every Sun Today Today, 14 May, 04, 18 Jun 14 May MEETINGS Vocal Team Practice 8.45am 9.30am Paul #04-14 Worship Practice 8.45am 10.30am Ebenezer Chapel Bible Study 9.30am 10.30am Titus #04-16 Video Interview 1.30pm 3.00pm # & # Session mtg 1.30pm 3.00pm Peter#04-02 CG Leaders Equipping 1.45pm 3.45pm Room #02-03B DSG practice 1.45pm 3.00pm Gideon/Samuel #04-07/08 Catechumens Interview 9.00am 10.30am Resource # & Ps Daniel s room Pulpit Ministry mtg 1.30pm 3.00pm Resource #

6 COVENANT GROUP MEETINGS CG & Leader Date Venue / Occasion Agape Lester Cheng 13 May, Sat, 7.30pm Dn Pang Wee & Christina s home CCK Open Care 11 May, Thu, 7.30pm Gideon/Samuel rooms #04-07/08 de Vine Tan Swee Sin 12 May, Fri, 9.00am Eld & Mrs Tan Kim Ping s home El Shaddai Sally Chan 13 May, Sat, 9.45am Peter room #04-02 Jehovah Jireh Dns Malar Thomas 20 May, Sat, 7.30pm Dean & Ramona Martin s home Jehovah Shammah TBA TBA Klema Eld Ho Hian Chye 19 May, Fri, 8.00pm Moriah Sanctuary Koinonia Dn Simon Toh 19 May, Fri, 8.15pm Joseph room #01-07 Living Water Daniel Woon 20 May, Sat, 7.30pm Peter room #04-02 Morning Glory Ladies Jeanette Ler-Lee 30 Jun, Fri, 9.30am Peter room #04-02 Oxley Lee Yew Mun 19 May, Fri, 8.00pm Noah room #01-08 Paideia Gene Tan 13 May, Fri, 7.30pm Dn Sandor & Serina Wang s home Young Adults Dn Luwin Wong 19 May, Fri, 7.30pm Peter room #04-02 YOUTH BIBLE CLASS Time: 11.30am 1.00pm Upper Level Youths (S3 & above) Lower Level Youths (P6 S2) YOUTH & CHILDREN ROOM Peter #04-02 Gideon/Samuel (#04-07/08) LEADERS MAY Youth Teaching Leaders: Dn Luwin Wong Youth Group Leaders: S3-S4 Girls Gillian Lim Post Sec Girls I Dawn Tan Post Sec Girls II Priscilla Chan S3/PS Boys Philip Chan S4/PS Boys Tan Jiayi Youth Teaching Leaders: Jeremiah Chan Youth Group Leaders: P6-S2 Girls Leticia Chan P6-S2 Boys Mark Chia CHILDREN BIBLE CLASS Time: 11.30am 12.30pm ROOM MAY Faithfulness (P4/P5) Nehemiah (#02-04) Florence Yip / Ng Zhe Hui Goodness (P1-P3) Abraham (#01-04) Kenan Ng Peace (3 s K2) Jacob (#01-06) Corina Oon / Celestine Liow ATTENDANCE (Last Week) Adults 246 Children 21 Total 267 OFFERING / PLEDGES Last Week Month-To-Date General Fund $10, $52, Development Fund - $7, Please issue cheques to Mount Hermon BP Church (for General Fund) Mount Hermon BP Church Development Fund (for Development Fund) Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:7, 12) 6

7 GOD S MESSAGE Date: 07 May 2017 Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Title: A Life God Blesses Scripture Text: Matthew 5:1-12 Matthew thus far Life in the Kingdom Beatitudes Full dependence on God (v3-v6) Outworking of that dependence (v7-v9) Outrage at that dependence (v10-v12) Concluding Reflections In the light of the beatitudes, if you were standing on trial for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to prove you guilty? How would looking at the beatitudes in the light of the Cross, encourage you on your faith journey instead of crushing your spirit? 7

8 Pastoral / Ministry Staff Rev Daniel Tan (Pastor) /O-Extn 11 danieltan@hermon.org.sg Ms Tang Lai Kin /O-Extn 13 laikin@hermon.org.sg Dn Luwin Wong /O-Extn 12 luwinwong@hermon.org.sg Mr Zebedee Lee (HP) zebedeelee@hermon.org.sg Mrs Lee Kok Eng /O-Extn 19 leekokeng@hermon.org.sg Board of Elders Eld Peter Seah (Moderator) Rev Daniel Tan Eld Elgin Chan Advisory Pastor Rev (Dr) David Wong Session Dns Elizabeth Chua Dn Mike Fong Dn Lee Pak Choon Dn Lee Pang Wee Dns Justina Ng Dn David Oh Dn James Quek Dn Simon Toh Dns Malar G. Thomas Dn Sandor Wang Dn Luwin Wong Administrator Ms See Siew Kee /O-Extn 18 siewkee@hermon.org.sg Sunday Service 11.00am Children & Youth Bible Class 11.30am 12.30pm Prayer Meeting Every 2 nd & 4 th Wed 8.00pm 9.30pm 10 Choa Chu Kang St 52 #04-01 CCKBC Singapore Tel: church@hermon.org.sg Order of Worship 07 May, 2017, am Church Theme 2017: "A Community Making Disciples Welcome & Announcements Prelude Call to Worship Titus 3:5-6 Opening Hymn Opening Prayer Responsive Scripture Reading Worship in Songs Offertory/ Doxology Pastoral Prayer My Savior s Love Psalm 119:65-80 It Is Glory Just to Walk with Him There Is A Higher Throne He Hideth My Soul YOUTHS & CHILDREN LEAVE FOR THEIR BIBLE CLASSES Scripture Text Matthew 5:1-12 Message Closing Hymn Benediction/Three-Fold Amen Postlude A Life God Blesses I Will Sing of My Redeemer Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Worship Leader: Eric Chan Pianists: Rebecca Li & Chantel Vocalists: Hannah Ee (ic), Natalie Chong, Naomi Ee, Abigail Wong, Angela Wong and Amos Wong Scripture Reader: Ng Oi Fah Announcer: Dn Mike Fong Pastoral Prayer/Benediction: Eld Elgin Chan Projectionists: Chew Kian Chong and Bornson Wong PA: Samuel Chan and Joel Mak Stewards: Dn Mike Fong & Team A Thanksgiving Flowers: Eld Choo Yoo Keong, Amy & Angela Floral ic: Jennifer Seah Chrysalis: James Chan, Elisabeth Toh and Sharon Thomas Refreshment: CCK Open Care CG NEXT SUNDAY S SERVICE (14 May 17) Sermon: Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16) Speaker: Eld Dr Tan Kim Ping Worship Leader: Tan Jiahan Pianists: Rebecca Li and Chantel Vocalists: Lydia Li (ic), Gladys Lim, Gloria Phua, Gladys Phua, Divina Thomas, Phoebe Li and Meghan Ng Scripture Reader: Angela Choo Announcer: Dns Justina Ng Pastoral Prayer/Benediction: Ps Daniel Tan Projectionists: Samuel Chua and Chang Bing Chuen PA: Daniel Woon, Benson Fong and Edward Lim Stewards: Nelson Chong & Team B Thanksgiving Flowers: Aji and Dns Malar Thomas Floral ic: Lee Hwee Mei Chrysalis: James Chan, Elisabeth Toh and Tan Swee Sin Refreshment: CCK Open Care CG