ENGLISH SERVICE
22 March 2026
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Ephesians 4:17-5:4
Rev Emanuel Goh
“Begin with the end in mind” is a popular modern leadership principle but the call to live with eternity in mind has always been central to Christian life (vv 22-24). In this passage, Paul encouraged believers to live daily in view of God’s end goal, which is to form a new humanity in Christ. Paul went on to explain the importance of living a life worthy of the end goal through a three-part transformation process.
What we were (Eph 4:17-19)
These verses remind us of our ‘old humanity’ before God came into our lives, marked by ‘futility of thinking’ (purposeless striving), ‘darkened understanding’ (spiritual blindness caused by sin), and ‘hardened hearts’ (loss of sensitivity to God). We were people disconnected from God’s end goal and eternal purpose.
What we are now (Eph 4:20-24)
As the ‘new humanity in Christ’, believers are called to a transformed life in both thought and deed. We are to strip off our old self to be freed from our past sinful patterns of behaviour. Through the Holy Spirit, we are continuously being renewed in the mind by practising the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, worship and prayer as well as being in Christian community. Putting on the new self, we can live in righteousness and holiness, reflecting God’s image and character to the world.
How we must now live (Eph 4:25-5:4)
The new humanity requires a new lifestyle demonstrated by being imitators of Father God by walking in love, just as Christ did when He gave Himself up for us. It would entail speaking truth, getting rid of anger, bitterness and malice which can cause us to sin, honest labour, generous sharing, and being kind, compassionate to each other, forgiving and building each other up
God is continually shaping us to be like Christ. Will you live today with God’s end in mind, daily putting on our new self and reflecting His love and character?
💬 Reflection Questions:
1. In what areas of your life do you still see patterns of the “old self”? What practical steps can you take this week to “put on the new self”?
2. If you truly lived with God’s end in mind—becoming more like Christ—what is one decision, relationship, or priority you would change starting today?
3. Which area of renewal (Bible study, prayer, worship, or Christian community) do you need to strengthen? How will you intentionally take a step to do so this week onwards?
活石华语崇拜
22 March 2026
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以弗所书 2:11-22
讲员: 黄雅春传道
21 March 2026
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Ephesians 2:1-10
Rev Emanuel Goh
ENGLISH SERVICE
15 March 2026
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Ephesians 4:1-16
Rev Joey Chen
In the preceding chapters, Paul outlined how God chose, adopted and redeemed us, creating a new humanity – the Church – in Christ. Rather than a collection of loosely connected people, the Church is called by God fulfil His mission to restore all of creation. Our unity is key if we are to be God’s instrument of redemption, to bless that world and to gather the nations.
The reality, though, is that the church is made up of imperfect people, and the temptation is to give up on church. But this is not an option for us. The church is where we are nurtured in our faith, where we attain to the fullness of Christ. And it is an indispensable part of what is means to be a Christian.
Our unity as a church is founded on the unity of God (vv4-6). Division, unhappiness and conflict amongst God’s people is not new and we can see it numerous times throughout the Bible. But unity is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are now united under one name, the name of Jesus. What Jesus made possible, the Holy Spirit makes actual.
What does unity look like in practice? We must be humble, gentle, patient and bear with one another in love, bonded through peace (vv2-3). But peace does not mean sweeping all conflict under the carpet; rather, it involves confronting and working through issues of conflict to resolve them with both parties willing to hear each other out, let go of past baggage and desire a new and better relationship.
All of us have a part to play to build each other up. We are to help each other to know Christ, follow Jesus together, and to mature to become like Christ. All of us have been given gifts to bless the body and to build one another up into mature disciples of Christ (vv11-13, 16).
How can we help each other grow in maturity? Firstly, we need to be in community, where we can be accountable to one another as we grow in maturity. Secondly, if we are to help others grow in maturity, we ourselves need to be growing in faith and knowledge in Jesus Christ. And lastly, we are called to speak – and receive – the truth in love (v15).
There are different churches, but one body. Different churches are expressions of the Body of Christ in a particular locality. When we forget that there is only one body, we may fall into the trap of comparison and criticism and unwittingly hurt the whole body of Christ (1Cor 12:26). Let us work towards greater unity in the church – , one body, united in one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
💬 Reflection Questions:
活石华语崇拜
15 March 2026
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马可福音 2:1-12
讲员: 林建隆会督
ENGLISH SERVICE
8 March 2026
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Ephesians 3:1-13
Pastor Simon Lam
Some plans remain hidden for years before they are revealed. When long-classified documents are finally opened, people suddenly see the bigger story unfolding behind the scenes. In Ephesians 3, Paul describes God’s Gospel in a similar way—a “mystery” that had been hidden for generations but has now been revealed through Jesus Christ. This mystery, hinted at throughout history in the Old Testament, is the Church itself, where people from every background are united as one humanity in Christ to display God’s glory.
1. The Church is the Mystery Made Visible (vv3-6)
Paul explains that the “mystery of Christ” is that Gentiles and Jews are now fellow heirs, fellow members of the same body and fellow partakers in the promise of Christ. In a world that divides people by race, culture, and status, God has created one new family in Christ. The church therefore becomes the living demonstration of God’s grace of unity in diversity, where former barriers are broken and reconciliation becomes visible. Whenever believers gather as one body and serve together in Christ, this once-hidden mystery is revealed to the world.
2. The Church is the Wisdom Made Known (vv7-10)
Paul emphasised that the Church is God’s instrument to display the manifold wisdom of God at work to even the heavenly and spiritual realms. When people who were once divided are reconciled in Christ, we show proof of Christ’s victory over sin and over Satan’s strategy of division. As God’s people live in unity and love, the church proclaims to the cosmos that God’s plan of redemption has triumphed. This is an ongoing victory as the Holy Spirit, poured out on all who believe, continues to bind us as one and empower us to fulfil God’s purposes.
3. The Church is the Purpose Made Eternal (vv11-13)
Paul reminds us that the Church is not an afterthought nor a response to sin. The Church is God’s eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. Before creation itself, God intended that His people would reveal His glory and wisdom to the world, and accomplish His purposes. This truth calls believers to take the church seriously, to invest and participate in it – not as a secondary part of life, but as a priority because the Church is where God’s eternal purposes continue to unfold.
💬 Reflection Questions:
1. How does seeing the church as God’s revealed mystery change your view of your role in the church community?
2. What is one thing you can do to actively contribute to the unity and witness of the church in your everyday life?
3. What are you prompted to change in order to prioritise, participate and invest in the church? Share and pray for one another.
活石华语崇拜
8 March 2026
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以弗所书 2:1-10
讲员: 李沙龙弟兄
7 March 2026
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Ephesians 1:13-23
BE Dr Wee Boon Hup
ENGLISH SERVICE
1 March 2026
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Ephesians 2:11-22
BE Dr Wee Boon Hup
As believers, we all have new life in Jesus Christ, not just eternal life, but abundant life. After knowing and accepting Christ in our lives, we now must handle a dimension of the new Christian life – the Church. Paul explains in this passage that the Church is one new humanity with far richer understanding than just a physical place of gathering.
The Roots of Disunion: Alienation
Paul reminds us of who we were when we were apart from Christ – outsiders and alienated (v11-12). There are different ways in which we were alienated. Firstly, we were separated from Christ with no new life and no relationship with God because of our sin. Falling short of His original plan of holiness, we were outside of the plan that God had for us when He created mankind.
But God did not leave us alone. His rescue plan involved the Israelites who were called to be a light to the world. The laws and commandments meant to prepare the people did not work out. And still, we were estranged from God’s people as Gentiles. We were also outside of His covenants of promise.
The Seeds of Union: Christ our Peace
This metaphorical tree of the original plan had to be uprooted for new seeds to be sown that was centred around Jesus Christ. And in Christ, God was making one new humanity. When a person believes in Jesus, he is a new creation and God comes to make him His home. Corporately, all believers are one temple of God, the Church.
However, what was originally meant as a standard of distinction of God’s chosen people was turned into a position of prestige for the Jews that grew into discrimination against Gentiles. Jesus Christ, in his ministry, broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles, so that we can all be one. God brought all believers together into one new man, and we are now reconciled to Him.
The Fruits of Union: Dwelling Place of God
One blessing of being part of this new humanity is that everyone who comes to Christ has immediate and direct access to God the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Another blessing is that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone for the new humanity, As individuals and collectively as a church, we take our cue from Jesus Christ, our standard and marker, on His purpose for our lives and for the church.
The third blessing is that in this new humanity, we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven and members of the family of God. We are also the temple of God, where He lives and abides in.
With this gift of a new identity as a new humanity, we must be careful not to turn this mark of distinction into discrimination by thinking of ourselves better than others. As a Church, we must think ourselves as one, each with different gifts that we can use to bless others. Outside of church, we need to be like Jesus, who thought us worth giving His life for. May we be His humbled servants, taking our cue from Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve out of love and not pity.
💬 Reflection Questions:
1. In what area of my life do I need to take my cue from Jesus Christ this week?
2. What walls has He torn down in order to build you up as His new creation? How has He brought newness in you?
3. How can we collectively humble ourselves and show love to others in and out of the community?
活石华语崇拜
1 March 2026
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以弗所书 1:15-23
讲员: 戴国宾弟兄
28 February 2026
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Ephesians 1:1-14
Rev Jacob Lim