ENGLISH SERVICE
22 June 2025
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Genesis 33:1-11
Rev Jacob Lim
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 22 June 2025
What is the ultimate purpose of every person in the sight of God?
In Genesis 33, we see a radical change in Jacob. He accepted personal responsibility for his past wrongs against Esau, demonstrated by his repeated acts of humility as he bowed before Esau. Until that moment, Jacob had not taken responsibility for his actions in the accounts of his life. In plotting to deceive his father Isaac, he was concerned about being found out. It was Rebekah who was willing to bear the responsibility should the deception be discovered. We are responsible for our own behaviour and action.
From birth, Jacob was always striving – he seized Esau’s birthright and Isaac’s blessing, and wrestled with God for His blessing. Perhaps it was a deep-seated insecurity that had driven him to seek such external validation. In bowing to Esau seven times, Jacob acknowledged Esau’s lordship over him, and was in essence returning the blessing that belonged to Esau.
Jacob has transformed from one who seized Esau’s blessing to one who humbly sought his favour. Favour is extended by one person to another solely at the giver’s discretion. The recipient of the favour can set the right conditions for the favour to be extended, but there isn’t any guarantee that the giver will grant it. The first mention of the word favour can be found in Genesis 6:8-9 where Noah’s obedience to God set the right condition to obtain God’s favour. In Exodus 33:12-15, Moses pleaded with God for His favour after the Israelites sinned against God. In both instances, God alone decides if He would decline or withdraw His favour. Likewise, even though Jacob had returned the blessings to Esau and created the right conditions, he did not assume Esau would grant it.
Jacob’s transformation from one who is always striving to one humbly seeking favour was because he met God, knew who God is, and found security in Him. Similarly, regardless of your circumstance, you can decide how you would respond. Put your security in God, and free yourself from strife to glorify and enjoy Him. Get to know God anew by going through The Good and Beautiful God – Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows. This series introduces God’s characteristics and addresses misconceptions that might hinder you from embracing Him.
The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Let God be at the centre of your life. You will find yourself secure and content. Let His word guide your actions, regardless of your circumstance or outcome. Glorify Him in all things, enjoy Him forever.
Reflection Questions
1. How has knowing God transformed your life? Share a turning point in your walk with God that drew you closer to Him.
2. What has been the hardest thing you’ve tried to change about yourself before God stepped in to help?
3. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. What has been drawing your attention away from Him, and how will you turn back to Him? Take time to pray for one another after sharing.
活石华语崇拜
22 June 2025
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出埃及记 31:1-55
讲员: 李沙龙传道
21 June 2025
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Genesis 29:1-30:24
Rev Joey Chen
ENGLISH SERVICE
15 June 2025
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Genesis 32
Mr Eugene Cheong
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 15 June 2025
We may have seen the phrase, Prayer Changes Things, before so how should we pray? In Genesis 32, Jacob’s prayer did change things for him in his view of God and his situation.
Jacob lived up to the meaning of his name, which in Hebrew sounds like the word for heel” or treachery, carrying connotations of deceit and cunning. Filled with fear and uncertainty about how Esau would receive him upon his return to Canaan, Jacob could no longer depend on his own strength. At this lowest moment in his life, he turned to God in prayer. This is how you can pray to God when you find yourself at the end of your rope:
Be Direct – When praying, keep it short and sweet. God wants to relate with you as you present your needs to Him. Jacob’s prayer in Hebrew contained only 60 words, yet it was heard by God. Jesus instructed the disciples not to babble and use empty repetition in prayer, because God already knows their needs before they ask. Jesus rescued a drowning Peter when he cried out, “Lord, save me!”. Make short prayers to God through the day.
Argue your case – Cite reasons in support of your case. Jacob based his petition to God on the covenant God had established with Abraham, Isaac and himself. He knew God would keep His Word. We have a new covenant with God through Jesus Christ that comes with a wealth of promises. Let God’s promises guide your prayers, helping you remember His character and His ways.
Remember God’s faithfulness – Your life is part of God’s bigger story that ends in victory. In his prayer, Jacob recounted God’s kindness and faithfulness to him in the years he was away from Canaan. Just as the hymn declares, God has been our help in the past—and is our hope for the future. Recount the times God showed His goodness and faithfulness to you. You can be sure He will continue to be good and faithful to you. He won’t go back on His promise to love and do what is best for you.
Expect an answer – You may need to wait for His answer rather than take matters into your own hands after praying. Prayer is a conversation with God, not a one-way download. Good things happen when God speaks. Learn to listen and wait patiently for Him to respond. God may say ‘no’ to what we ask for. Jacob did not wait for God’s reply and he struggled with God. God only spoke to Jacob after he had wrestled with God. Wait for God because He will speak and reply you.
Like Jacob, we can DARE to pray – to be Direct, Argue our case, Remember God’s faithfulness and Expect God to answer. Jacob may have lost his wrestling match with God, but he won God’s favour and blessing. God gave Jacob a new name, Israel, which became closely associated with the 12 tribes of Israel and ultimately with the nation of Israel—a legacy that continues to this day. Prayer changes things. D.A.R.E to pray.
Reflection Questions
活石华语崇拜
15 June 2025
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出埃及记 20:12
讲员: 谢文兴弟兄
14 June 2025
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Genesis 28:10-22
Rev Emanuel Goh
ENGLISH SERVICE
8 June 2025
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Genesis 30:25-31:55
Rev Joey Chen
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 8 June 2025
How should we view adversity in our lives?
Jacob’s stay with his uncle Laban became a 20-year-long period of slavery. Leban tricked Jacob into working 14 years to marry his daughter Rachel. Laban schemed to prevent Jacob from having his own flock when Jacob wanted to leave. But God intervened and delivered Jacob from his unfair exploitative situation against all odds. God also appeared to Jacob and reaffirmed His promise to Jacob made 20 years ago.
As followers of Christ, we have been adopted into the line of Abraham and inherited God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants. God’s blessings are part of His plan for us. We are to steward His blessings faithfully according to God’s purposes.
God is our ever-present help in times of need. Even when we cannot see His hand, we need not despair – we can put our trust in His character, and in the truth of His unfailing Word that reveals His faithfulness.
God refines us through adversity. Jacob’s character needed to be transformed. Adversity brought him to the end of himself to trust in God. God’s hand was upon him throughout, shaping him and preparing him for more. God protected him over the 20 years he was with Laban, preserving him even when Laban made a hostile pursuit after Jacob’s hasty departure. God protects us when we follow Him and do what is right in His eyes. When our soul is rightly ordered in God, seeking and submitting to Him, we can handle anything.
God did not overlook Laban’s exploitation of Jacob. Laban lost his wealth, daughters, grandchildren and even his household gods. God judges those like Laban who exploit others. Laban initiated a treaty with Jacob, recognising he had no power over Jacob and feared Jacob would take revenge.
God looks after even the unfaithful like Jacob, because of His love and grace. God’s grace for us is as much as we are willing to surrender. As we respond to His grace by following Him, He pours out more and more grace into our lives. When we align with His will, we become more like Christ, are assured that all is well and get to be part of God’s plan. We do not need to be perfect to inherit His promises that we will bless the nations. God will work in us to achieve His glorious purposes. Are you willing to take the step of faith and trust God to take care of the rest?
If you have wandered away from God, He is calling you to return to Him because He has more in store for you, like He did Jacob. For those who may be following God conditionally like Jacob (Gen 28:20-21), or confining God to just one part of your life, will you fully surrender your life to God to enjoy a grace-filled life? Don’t miss out on much more that God wants to give. Let go of self-dependency and depend on God instead. You may have regrets over mistakes made. God is a promise keeper, and He wants to restore His promises to you. Return to Him. He can make beauty out of the ashes of your life.
If you have a child or loved one who has wandered from God, keep praying. God is faithful through generations. He will be faithful to them because of the covenant you have made with Him.
Reflection Questions
活石华语崇拜
8 June 2025
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约翰福音 14:25-27
讲员: 杨姿英姐妹
7 June 2025
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Genesis 27:1-46
Ps Andrew Leong
ENGLISH SERVICE
1 June 2025
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Genesis 29-30
Mr Low Kwang Meng
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 1 June 2025
How can we steward God’s blessings to us and live out our God-given mission to be a blessing?
As God’s people, we have received a promise of blessing that comes with a mission. Last week, we read about God affirming Jacob with a promised blessing while entrusting him with a mission (Genesis 28:13-15). This is a perpetual promise of blessing and continuous stewardship of God’s mission that is intergenerational, handed down from his grandfather Abraham to his father Isaac and to him.
PLMC’s God-given promise of blessing and mission can be found in the church mission statement: We are a family blessed to bless the community and the nations. This promised blessing and mission should last through the generations, since the time when BE Dr Wee Boon Hup was the Pastor-in-charge.
The expression of the blessing and mission in this season of PLMC’s history is to be a safe space for everyone. A safe space holds the tension of the varied concerns of members across different generations, abilities, gender orientations and causes. It begins with the family of every PLMC member, extending to the cell groups and ministries.
As leaders at home or in church, we should lead visibly. Leadership should start in the home. In Jacob’s family, he was largely absent and struggled to hold the tension between Rachel and Leah. When we learn how to hold the different parties at home in proper tension, we become better at holding the tension in the church family. Get trained, be mentored and form leadership partnerships or teams to grow our leadership capacity to steward this mission. Set aside our preferences for particular groups or people and be intentional to engage the different parties. Guard against favouring one over another, like Jacob did. Leaders acknowledge God’s role and sovereignty and refrain from taking matters into our own hands. Jacob acknowledged God’s role and sovereignty in Rachel’s barrenness but failed to recognise God’s signs and discern God’s actions in causing Leah to conceive but not Rachel. Grow our ability to discern where God is working. Develop discernment by cultivating a close relationship with God, asking Him for wisdom. Know the word of God, seek godly counsel and listen to the Holy Spirit.
As followers, pray for our leaders before we criticise, complain and compare them with others. Recognise we are partners together as one body of Christ in this mission and build bridges with other parties. Be peacemakers as we serve Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Commit to seek God and hold back our criticism of other members or leaders from our church community. Give our allegiance to God and His appointed leaders. Take heed from the Apostle Paul’s warning in his letter to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 6). Yield to God’s leading. Discern and recognise God’s hand on the other party, even when it runs counter to our own agenda.
When we as a church comes together, we see that God’s kingdom extends so much more beyond ourselves. So be careful not to let our actions destroy the body of Christ. When we LEAD and PRAY, we will find ourselves in a better place to steward God’s blessing and mission for us to become a safe space for everyone.
Reflection Questions
1. What is one thing that God is speaking to you from the sermon?
2. How safe and welcoming do you feel PLMC is for everyone, on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest)? What is one strength that we can build on? What is an area of improvement? How can you help to make the change?
3. In what area would you like to grow in discerning God’s guidance over the next six months? Pray for one another at the end of the sharing.
活石华语崇拜
1 June 2025
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创世纪 28:10-22
讲员: 吴声亮牧师,
翻译: 李园园姐妹
31 May 2025
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Genesis 26
BE Dr Wee Boon Hup
ENGLISH SERVICE
25 May 2025
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Genesis 28:10-22
Rev Emanuel Goh
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 25 May 2025
Do you need a change in perspective at this point in your life?
When we are faced with a challenging situation, we may not be able to change our circumstances, but we can change our perspective and recognise the presence of God in it. In Genesis 28, homebody Jacob found himself on a difficult journey to Uncle Laban without the comforts of home and fearful of brother Esau’s pursuit in vengeful anger. An encounter with God in a dream changed his outlook. The lowest point in our lives can become holy ground with an encounter with God. When Jacob stopped, he met God. Are you ready to pause and meet God?
Jacob’s meeting with God at Bethel was a significant moment in his life. He realised God was at work in his life, and that God was interested in him. God assured Jacob and released His promise to Jacob instead of rebuking him for deceiving his father, Isaac. Like Jacob, we can have a fresh perspective of God. Our disappointments, loss or fear may make us feel as though God is not with us. But Jacob’s encounter reminds us that He is ever-present in our lives, more than we can comprehend.
This meeting with God changed Jacob’s perspective about life, even though it did not change his circumstance. Jacob poured oil to consecrate the stone he slept on. It was an act of worship and devotion to God. A change of our perspective after an encounter with God often involves the surrendering of our lives and the resolve to trust Him.
God reached out to Jacob when he was in the wilderness. We have access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He is the stairway, and He has come to show you the way to God.
Do you feel far from God? Do you sense confusion, unsure of the way to go? Let God meet you at your Bethel to change your perspective and exchange your plans for His eternal purpose. Pray for a fresh perspective of God in your situation.
Reflection Questions
1. In what ways can you relate to Jacob’s experience in the wilderness?
2. How has God changed your perspective about life or your view of Him in recent times?
3. What is an area in your life that you desire God’s answer or direction? Will you take a pause to hear from Him? Pray for one another at the end of the sharing.
活石华语崇拜
25 May 2025
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创世记 27章
讲员: 高时敏牧师博士,
翻译：李沙龙传道
24 May 2025
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Genesis 25
Rev Emanuel Goh