The Word on Worship Order of Worship Volume 27, IssuE 47 18 Jan 2015 John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Scripture Memorisation Debt, Spiritual Psalm 116:12-13 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Call to Worship Hymn 8: Holy, Holy, Holy* Invocation & Gloria Patri* * Congregation Standing Dn Arvind Pawa Responsive Scripture Reading* Psalm 25:1-14 Hymn 352: All the Way My Saviour Leads Me Collection of Offerings Doxology & Prayer* Hymn 339: When I Fear My Faith Will Fail Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Sermon The Law of Retaliation? Matthew 5:38-42 Hymn 405: Have I Done My Best for Jesus?* Benediction & Threefold Amen*
duty roster Today, 18 January 2015 Next Lord s Day, 25 January 2015 9.00 10.00 am CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR 10.30 am 1.30 pm 3.30 pm 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: Pr Kelvin Lim Pr Kelvin Lim Sarah Yap Roscelle Lim Gan Sheu Hoong Chan Tuck Whye, Jerry Chan Dn Arvind Pawa Eunice Choy, Jasmine Low Cornelius Koshy, Edwin Quek Jason Low, Low Chip Hung Marcus Lim, John Peh Mah Lean Choo Crew No. 3 Diana Chan Roscelle Lim, Stella Tan Edeliza Ballega Lee Kim Lei, (Mabel Ng) Mong Jee Pawa, (Esther Quek) Stephanie Lee Eric Delina Pr Dennis Kabingue Ayn Tindaan Anthony Evangelista Jean Tindaan 487 Bedok South Ave 2 Elder Mah Chin Kwang Pr Kelvin Lim MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP Musician: Flowers: Ushers: Musicians: Ushers: Greeter: AV Ministry: Flowers: Junior Worship: Musician: Usher: Venue: English Speaker: Dialect Speaker: Pr Daniel Lim Pr Daniel Lim Eunice Choy Lee Kim Lei Magdalene Lim Robert Ooi, Sam Cheah Dn Kelvin Lim Ellyzabeth, Chloe Pawa Jerah Tan, Stephen Yap Theodore Wang, Ng Kwan Teng David Ng, Randy Laurencio Low Siew Lian Crew No. 4 Carolyn Koshy Catherine Choy, Lena Chan Pansy Ng Melissa Neo, (Jenice Choy) Neo Kian Seng, (Sarah Yap) Pr Samson Hutagalung Norefel Resuma Pr Dennis Kabingue Dorcas Koshy Jomart Tindaan Edeliza Ballega 41 Toa Payoh Rise Elder Ng Poh Kok Pr Jeremiah Sim 2
18 January 2015 The Word Key to Victory over Temptation Prabhudas Koshy In Psalm 119:11, we read the confession of David which gives us understanding to the secret of His victorious life over sin Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. This confession to the LORD reveals to us that he was very conscious of the possibility of being overpowered by temptation of sin. Temptation of sin is a terrible evil that lurks around every man to seek to destroy his testimony, peace and spiritual well-being. There is also a propensity in man to fall into this evil. So David sought for an effective precaution against sin. It was a very wise act by David to safeguard himself against sin. What a good desire it was to fight off sin! Sin will weaken and degrade every man. Sin will ruin his nature, and destroy his happiness. We are all in danger of falling into it, especially if left to ourselves, and to our own ideas, inclinations and desires. We need to be ever on our guard. We must always be vigilant and pray for the Lord s help to safeguard ourselves against sin s assault. David had found for himself an excellent precaution against sin in the Word of God. By its very nature, the Word of God is a counter-remedy against sin. Because it is God s revelation of His truth and wisdom, it promotes holiness and prevents sin. It is the source of everything good and holy, which equips us to stand against sin. 3 Like David, we must hide God s Word in our hearts. Having a copy of the Bible or occasionally listening to its preaching is not enough. We must lay it upon our hearts. It must be allowed to cast its light upon our desires, passions, motives and ambitions. If we give it the most prominent place in our hearts, it will teach us what is holy and acceptable to God, and thus will fortify our resolve against every sin. God s Word hidden in our hearts will alert us to sins stealthy invasions. If we know God s Word well, we will be able to recognise those things that God abhors and detests. It will not only reveal what God s will concerning us is, but will also expose the presence of sin. In fact, it will warn us before sin starts its assault. It will sound the alarm before rudes into our life so we will have enough time to resist and thwart its attack. It will also teach us how to avoid sin and escape before it strikes. It will point us to the secret door of escape through which we may flee and be safe. God s Word will also strengthen and steel our resolve in times of sin s threats. So, let us hide God s Word in our hearts like a sword in its sheath, ready to be drawn out at a moment s notice to fight off sin s attacks! Pastoral Exhortation
Dear Pastor Koshy, Testimony We Have Sinned, O Lord! A testimony of a youth who regularly participates in the prayer meeting I would like to give thanks to the Lord for enabling you to preach His Word in Gethsemane, which has been edifying to me. On occasion, your words seem to rebuke my spirit, and so it has been for today s prayer meeting (16 th December 2014). Testimony Pastor, you asked the church if we were prepared to die for the Lord Jesus Christ. I was dismayed to find that I hesitated to raise my hand. I was ashamed of myself when I was reminded that the Lord had humbled himself and was so self-emptying that He came down to this sin-filled world to serve us! When I went back to hostel, I could find no desire to study - I wanted to understand where I had gone wrong. And in my prayer, the Lord showed to me sins which I have not yet repented of - sins which stop me from saying, Yes Lord, I will obey Thy will with all joy in spirit, no matter how difficult it will be in the world. But the Lord is merciful unto me, and I thank Him for His forgiveness, and that I am reminded to be constantly watchful against my own sins. Pastor, I thank the Lord for the Word which you have preached to us. I am sure it has spoken not only to me, but to many of the youths in the church as well. I pray that they too would reflect on their hesitation and come to seek the Lord without fear of this world. Truly, nothing can be more difficult than going through what the Lord went through - the pain and humiliation. Jesus suffered and endured it all, in order to fulfil the Father s plan! Pastor, I thank the Lord for sustaining you throughout your ministry in the church, and granting you perseverance and strength to overcome persecutions. Praise be to the Lord! 4
Prayer O Lord, we have sinned. We are not prepared. We look to Thee with hearts of joy but solemn we are not. When Thou come to call us, are we prepared? In dismay, we find not. I look within, and I find not. I have sinned, O Lord, and so I dare not work in Thy name. But merciful art Thou that Thou shall cleanse us on the cross, that Thou stepped from Heaven s glory, to save us; nay, to serve us! O Lord, what undeserved grace Thou give to us! When it comes, Lord, shall we come in meekness and Thy will obey, as the Son of man did on the cross? Shall we refuse to be intimidated by worldly authority, as the Lord Jesus opposed the Jews who jeered and mocked? O Lord, guide us. Save us. Redeem us. We are prideful men. We are sinful men. We cannot do without Thee. Help us. Amen. 5 Poem O Lord, O Lord! So sinned, O Lord, this man of dust and clay. So sinned, O Lord, this man whose heart has swayed. So sinned, O Lord, this man who s not prepared. So sinned, O Lord, this man who wrongly fared! So cry, O Lord, this man whose heart repents. So cry, O Lord, this man who yearns amends. So cry, O Lord, this man who searches through. So cry, O Lord, this man who holds Thou true. So guide, O Lord; this man shall learn to serve, So guide, O Lord, as Thou had come to serve. So guide, O Lord, this heart to cleanse itself, So guide, O Lord, this heart whose pride it shelves! Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou reject proud men, Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou moved not Thy plan! Thank Thee, O Lord; for Thou their hearts found fault. Thank Thee, O Lord, for the Cross Thou came down not. Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou looked up to Heav n. Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou art gladdened to save! Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou died so meek and still. Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou Thy will fulfilled! Thank Thee, O Lord, for love so undeserved. Thank Thee, O Lord, for grace Thou showed and served. Thank Thee, O Lord; for Thou showed mercies still. Thank Thee, O Lord, for Thou have us renewed. Amen. - Tan Yeh Wen - Testimony
Beware of Being Like Sheep that Go Astray junior worshipper s text page Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Illustration by Melissa Neo Sheep tend to wander away from the flock, thinking that there are better pastures elsewhere for them to graze on. So, they may wander off from the flock and away from the safety of the shepherd. But such wandering away would lead them into great dangers. They can be easily attacked and hurt by the wild animals roaming about. Worse, they often do not know how to return to the flock and thus put their very lives in danger! The prophet Isaiah describes the whole of mankind as sheep (that) have gone astray. Every man is like a sheep that is prone to wander away from its shepherd and its flock. He thinks that his ideas and desires are better than the Lord s commandments and promises. Man foolishly wanders into the world and its temptations of sins, endangering his own soul. However, our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down to earth to rescue sinners wandering into the eternal peril of hell. He took our sins on Himself and died, so that we may be delivered from all foolish and hurtful ways. Let us be thankful and praise our Lord for coming to save us from the peril of our own sinful wandering. Prabhudas Koshy 6
Collections LORD S DAY on 11 Jan 2015 Tithes: 5,220.00 Offerings: 5,794.55 Bldg Fund 2015: 1,000.00; 440.00; 200.00; 52.00; 50.00; [3,000.00; 50.00 (Chinese Svc)]; [400.00; 372.00; 100.00; 100.00; 50.00 (Filipino F ship)] Designated Gift: Mission 50.00; GBPC (Pangasinan) 400.00; Lok Kwok Wah 150.00; Eric Delina 150.00 Sale of Bibles A 40% discount will be given on the sale of all Bibles at the book table. Gethsemane ADULTS FELLOWSHIP Date & Time: 24 Jan at 4.00pm Topic: Book Study of Colossians Speaker: Pastor Koshy Chairperson: Dn Francis Lee Venue: Home of Mr & Mrs Andrew Teong Compass Heights Clubhouse, Level 2, 9 Sengkang Square Singapore 545075 Bible Witness-GAF Retreat Divine Adoption: Our Sonship Speaker: Venue: Thistle Johor Bahru Date: 18th - 20th March 2015 Wednesday - Friday Please sign up at the reception table. NON-SUNDAY GIFT General Fund: 5,000.00 Bldg Fund 2015: 15,000.00; 2,000.00; 560.00 400.00; 300.00 Designated Gift: TGCM 37,000.00 BUILDING FUND 2015 Total as of 11 Jan 2015 572,081.00 Give generously towards our Church Building Fund. S$5 million by the end of 2015! Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Pastoral Visitation Bedok North Region Date & Time: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 @8.00pm Venue: Home of Sister Sally Lum 5 Siglap Road #04-38 Mandarin Gardens Singapore 448908 Members and regular worshippers who live in this region are encouraged to attend this meeting. Please check that your name is in the list placed on the reception table. If it is not, please add it in. 7 FEBC BOOKROOM RELOCATION SALE 50% off everything (except Bibles, textbooks and new arrivals at 10% off) 9A Gilstead Road, Singapore 309063 Tel: 6254 9188 Opening hours: 10.30am to 7.30pm (Mon-Fri) 10.30am to 5.00pm (Sat). Pastor s New Residence Address: Block 826 #02-92 Tampines St 81 Singapore 520826 Contact numbers remain unchanged. announcements
announcements Gethsemane B-P Church Camp Date: 15 19 Jun 2015 Theme: Have Faith in God Preachers: Rev Prabhudas Koshy & Rev Tan Kian Sing Children s Teachers: Eld & Mrs Ortega & Pr Edsel Venue: Holiday Inn Resort, Batam, Indonesia (45 mins by ferry from HarbourFront, Singapore) *Camp fees: $470/- Quad sharing in a 2-room unit $510/- Triple sharing in a 2-room unit Register NOW! $570/- Twin sharing in a 1-room unit Child under 12 with bed S$350/- Child under 6 without bed S$220/- Child under 3 without bed S$60/- Extra bed at $40/- a night *Camp fees include food, accommodation and transport. Foreign passport holders visa expenses are not included. Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI Online) A series of lectures on Theism (Systematic Theology I) will be taught by Pastor Koshy. These lectures will be recorded in order to make them available on GBI Online at a later time. The lectures will be held in TGCM premises every Wednesday night (7.45pm-9.15pm) from 21 Jan 2015 till 6 May 2015. Only 25 seats available, please register at the reception table today if you would like to attend these lectures. The cost of lecture notes that will be given during the course is $8. Transport from Punggol MRT station at 7.30pm. Post-Worship Activities Please stay back after worship to join us for: Refreshment & Fellowship 12.30pm 1.30pm Bible Study (Adults, Youths & Children) 1.30pm 3.00pm Tuesday Night Bible Study & Prayer 8.00pm @ L5 Auditorium, SingPost Centre Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study 1.00pm @ Bible Witness Bookroom Wednesday Campus Bible Study 2.30pm @ NAFA Thursday Seniors Ministry 11.00am (Please contact Pr Jeremiah Sim) Friday Morning Prayer 7.45am 8.30am @ Church Resource Centre Friday Campus Bible Study SUTD (Meeting time to be confirmed) Bible Witness Magazine 8 Weekday Activities For more information, please call the church office at 6741 1910. Bible Witness Web Radio Church Weekly Time & Place of Worship 10.30am Level 5 Auditorium Singapore Post Centre 10 Eunos Road 8 Singapore 408600 (next to Paya Lebar MRT station) Prayer Hotline 8138 8139 SMS or Whatsapp your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06 Singapore 389466 Tel: 6741 1910 Fax: 6741 1016 Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Mobile: 9001 1119 Email: pastor.gbpc@gmail.com Our Session Elder Mah Chin Kwang Elder Alan Choy Elder Ng Poh Kok Deacon Arvind Pawa Deacon Daniel Lim Deacon Lok Kwok Wah Deacon Kelvin Lim Deacon Francis Lee