ENGLISH SERVICE
1 June 2025
–
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
–
创世纪 28:10-22
讲员: 吴声亮牧师,
翻译: 李园园姐妹
31 May 2025
–
Genesis 26
BE Dr Wee Boon Hup
ENGLISH SERVICE
25 May 2025
–
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
–
创世记 27章
讲员: 高时敏牧师博士,
翻译：李沙龙传道
24 May 2025
–
Genesis 25
Rev Emanuel Goh
ENGLISH SERVICE
18 May 2025
–
Romans 5:1-2, Philippians 4:7
Ms Carol Loi
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 18 May 2025
How can we be better ambassadors of Christ?
God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciling others to Him; we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
There will be times of difficulty in this mission. We ourselves may have walked away from God wilfully. Yet, God in His mercy is able to steer us back to Him through life’s circumstances and the witness of faithful followers of Christ.
We can be faithful in praying for pre-believing or backslidden loved ones (Philippians 4:5-7) and our prayers will not be in vain. God in His time can bring about restoration and reconciliation, even across generations.
If our spouse is not yet a believer, our conduct – a gentle and quiet spirit, purity and reverence in our lives – may win him or her over to Christ without words (1 Peter 3:1-3).
Is there a hurt that you are nursing, something inflicted by a parent, sibling, child or even yourself? You can let go of the hurt or unforgiveness that can weigh you down. Bring them to Jesus and seek His forgiveness. Let Him soften your hardened heart so that the Holy Spirit can work through you. We are all a part of God’s grand story of restoration and reconciliation that brings hope and joy. May we be salt and light of the world for Him.
Reflection Questions
1. How have you been involved in God’s ministry of reconciliation ministry?
2. From a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the least and 10 being the most, how would you rate yourself as Christ’s ambassador? Name one area of your strengths as an ambassador of Christ and one area for improvement. What do you need to let go of to travel lighter as Christ’s ambassador?
3. What is an area in your life where you need God’s help to bring about reconciliation?
活石华语崇拜
18 May 2025
–
加拉太书 2:20
讲员: 李沙龙传道
17 May 2025
–
Genesis 24:1-67
Rev Joey Chen
ENGLISH SERVICE
11 May 2025
–
Genesis 27
Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 12 May 2025
How can the chains of Discrimination, Deception and Deluding be broken in our lives?
👉🏻 Chains of Discrimination
Though twins, Esau and Jacob were very different, not only in their appearance but also in their personality. (Genesis 25:19-28). The different characteristics affected how their parents Isaac and Rebekah related to them, with Isaac loving Esau while Rebekah loved Jacob. Playing favourites deprived both children of the love of the other parent. Children from single-parent families may similarly be deprived. God can redeem these less than desired situations of our lives. Bring up your children to fully depend on God and His love so they can live their lives to fulfil God’s purposes for them.
Our children may follow the discriminatory behaviour we model for them. Indeed, later on, Jacob loved Rachel but not Leah (Genesis 29:30). In God’s family, there is no place for discrimination as we are all one in Christ. Not discriminating does not mean everyone is treated the same way. Given that every person has different abilities and talents, we should relate to each person such that he can receive God’s best for him.
👉🏻 Chains of Deception
Rebekah instigated Jacob to deceive Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. Similarly, we cultivate deception in our lives when we do what we want to get what we want, such as telling our children to honour God yet allowing them to skip church during the exam season or taking more free gifts than is intended.
👉🏻 Chains of Deluding
To delude someone is to mislead his judgment, manipulatively mixing true and untrue statements so the listener believes the entire conversation to be true, This was how Rebekah misled Isaac into sending Jacob away.
These chains can be broken only by the power of the cross.
👉🏻 Repentance
Confess to God how you have discriminated, deceived or deluded others. Revealing your brokenness is the beginning your healing.
👉🏻 Redemption
Only the power of the cross can break the chains that bind your family and you. Seek redemption from Jesus our risen Saviour.
👉🏻 Request
Pray for your family to encounter Jesus, and in experiencing the living Christ in their lives, He can break the chains that bind them.
The chains that have bound you and your family can be broken only by the transformation power of Jesus Christ. Will you turn to Him and seek His help to deliver you?
Reflection Questions
1. How has your parent shaped your behaviour or values?
2. In what way has discriminatory, deceptive or deluding behaviour crept into your family relationships or your life? What steps will you take to address them?
3. What key truth from the sermon is God urging you to address?
活石华语崇拜
11 May 2025
–
创世记 25, 路加福音 1:28-31, 诗篇 139
讲员: 韩秋华姐妹
10 May 2025
–
Genesis 23
Mr Eugene Cheong
ENGLISH SERVICE
4 May 2025
–
Genesis 26
Rev Jacob Lim
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 4 May 2025
What is the role of the family in nurturing the faith of the next generation? How does one born and raised in a Christian family own their faith?
God refers to Himself in the Bible as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. By doing so, God is saying He is the God of all. He is the God of Abraham, the God-fearing one who is a blessing to others. He is the God of Jacob, the schemer and supplanter who is redeemed and restored. He is the God of Isaac, who represents everyone between the Abraham and Jacob archetypes. We can identify with all three at different junctures of our journey through life. Every person’s journey is significant to God, for God is the God of our story.
Most people can identify with Isaac’s quiet and uneventful life, or as one born and raised in a Christian family inheriting their parents’ faith in God. We can learn two lessons from Genesis 26 about passing down the faith to the next generation.
Family as the First Source of Influence
Isaac repeated the mistake of Abraham by lying to the men in Gerar that Rebekah was his sister and not his wife. Isaac may have been taught how Abraham acted, learning from stories he had heard, or he could also have caught Abraham showing this self-preservation mindset. Our response in crisis reveals the values we hold, the God we trust in, and the hope we have. Our next generation will observe and imitate us. Likewise, our children can be influenced through our own discipleship journey and spiritual practices – the time spent in prayer, reading the Word and serving in ministry – just as how Isaac likely learnt the value of worship from Abraham (v25).
Children are God’s gifts to parents. Will you build your walk with God as you bring them up in God’s ways? That is your gift to God. Partner with the church and avail yourself to the various avenues offered to grow as parents and nurture the faith of your children.
Faith that is Passed Down and Owned
The faith that is passed down must be owned by those born into a family of faith.
Isaac was blessed because God was faithful to His promise to Abraham. When Isaac built the altar (v25), he truly worshipped God and owned his faith, putting his trust in God despite the challenges he faced and circumstances he was in. If you have been baptised as a child or grew up in a Christian family, you too can own your faith by recalling the truths you have learnt about God and the experiences you have with Him. These will anchor your faith journey.
May we pass on our personal faith in God to our children as we commit to live for Him. May we point the next generation to Jesus as we share our lives with them.
💬 Reflection Questions:
1. Which aspect of Isaac’s life resonate with you?
2. What is one vivid encounter with God that has anchored you in your faith journey?
3. What is one Christian value, trait or practice you would want to pass to someone in the next generation? How may you do so?
活石华语崇拜
4 May 2025
–
创世纪 24:1-27
讲员: 陈思如牧师
3 May 2025
–
Romans 8:31-39
Mr Low Kwang Meng
ENGLISH SERVICE
27 April 2025
–
Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 67
Dr Scott Tey
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 27 Apr 2025
What is the Great Commission about?
A person’s last words are likely their most important, to set things right before they leave. Jesus’ final words to the disciples before He ascended to heaven was a command to go and be a blessing.
The Great Commission came after Jesus gave the Great Affirmation that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (v18). Though He was crucified as a state criminal by the Roman authorities, His resurrection affirmed His authority even over death. The Great Commission (v19) rests on this authority. He followed it up with the Great Promise that His empowering Spirit and presence will always be with His followers as they obey Him (v20).
Commission, Not Omission
The original Greek for the word ‘go’ in the Great Commission is that Jesus’ followers are already going. In other words, as believers, we are all fulfil the Great Commission. And in our going, believers are to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. This is our purpose. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be His witnesses and penetrate Satan’s stronghold to those who need to hear it, discipling them as they follow Jesus (Acts 1:8). God honours those who honour him with their time, talents and treasures. Let us invest on that which will last for eternity, which are the souls of people.
Blessed to be a Blessing
Believers are to go with His presence and promise. God wants to bless His people through a covenant established first with Abraham and later through Jesus. God blesses us with His presence, peace and grace so that we can bring His blessing to those who have yet to experience it. The purpose of being a blessing is for the nations will know and fear God and to be glad under His lordship (Psalm 67:2, 4, 7).
We live in a remarkably blessed nation. The blessings we have received are not just for us to enjoy. God invites us to be involved in the worldwide movement of bringing the Gospel and hope to the nations. Up to 4,000 people groups are still considered unreached. Make going to the nations to preach the Gospel a part of your rhythm of life, as an expression of your love for Christ who loved and died for you.
The Gospel is the only hope for a world in troubled times. In this Year of Expansion, there are many opportunities for you to be a blessing to the nations. Will you go?
💬 Reflection Questions:
1. How have you been blessed by God?
2. What is holding you back from going to be a blessing? Pray for one another.
3. Which mission opportunity are you considering for the coming months? If you have gone for a mission trip already, how can you continue to be a blessing to the nations? How can you support each other to make missions part of the rhythm of life in your cell group?
活石华语崇拜
27 April 2025
–
约翰福音 15:1-8
讲员: 李沙龙传道
26 April 2025
–
Romans 8:28-30
Mr Joseph Quek
ENGLISH SERVICE
20 April 2025
–
Luke 22:42
Pastor Judith Halim
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 20 Apr 2025
Have you ever pleaded with God to answer your heart’s desire, only to have Him invite you to surrender your will to Him?
In Luke chapter 22, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The word, Nevertheless, that Jesus uttered (v24) marked the transition to embrace and submit to God’s greater purpose and plan.
There are four key aspects to the ‘Nevertheless’ moment:
– Jesus was in deep agony physically such that blood appeared in His sweat. He also dreaded the spiritual separation from the Father that would come when He bore the weight of the world’s sin on His shoulders.
– Jesus’ struggle was between will and obedience.
– He showed His commitment to God’s plan by setting aside His own desires.
– His choice was a model of submission and trust in God’s higher purpose, even in the most trying circumstances.
– Jesus’ obedience was the key to humanity’s salvation. By His obedience to death on the cross, He secured the path to redemption for all who believe in Him.
A ‘nevertheless’ mindset is a declaration that despite the circumstances, God’s purpose will be fulfilled through our obedience. Rather than plead for a change in our circumstances, pray until submission happens instead.
Where once we lived according to the flesh, as believers in Jesus, we can experience the resurrection power of God when we adhere to, trust in and rely on Him to live a purposeful life in God’s will (Romans 10:9-11 AMP).
Jesus’ ‘Nevertheless’ led to His death but it didn’t end there. He resurrected so all who believe in Him can be raised to life eternal as well. What seemed like an end became a beginning. Similarly, when we surrender our desires and embrace God’s will, we too can experience God’s resurrection power that opens up a new season that He has planned for us.
Are you still searching for your purpose in life? What is God calling you to surrender and exchange for something beautiful? Will you say today, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done”?
💬 Reflection Questions
活石华语崇拜
20 April 2025
–
马太福音 25:40-45
讲员: 王洁生牧师
ENGLISH SERVICE
18 April 2025
–
Matthew 27:35-54
Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 18 Apr 2025
Can anyone be spared from going through dark moments? How do you walk out of the darkness?
Darkness came over all the land on the afternoon Jesus Christ was crucified, and is also over our world today, with physical wars escalating, threats of trade wars on the horizon and wars of nature occurring frequently. Darkness may be over our personal lives, as some of us are affected by the loss of our jobs, a health crisis or an emotional plague of worry, grief, fear or anxiety.
Darkness is unexpected
Darkness came over the land at noon when the sun was expected to shine the brightest on the first Good Friday. Darkness often comes into our lives when we least expect it.
Darkness is unavoidable
Jesus spoke about the certainty of trials, sorrow and trouble while we are on earth (John 16:33). We are either in darkness or coming out of it in our journey of life.
Darkness is universal
Darkness comes to all persons without exception. While dark moments may be a result of our actions or poor life decisions, rain comes to those who are righteous and unrighteous alike (Matthew 5:45).
Darkness is unenduring
The darkness we face will end. We may suffer for a little while and for a moment (1 Peter 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:17) but it won’t last forever.
There are five things we need to do to overcome darkness:
Prepare for the coming darkness
Be prepared for the trouble that will come – and it will, as Jesus told us.
Persevere through the darkness
Jesus was taunted by many as He hung on the cross. He could have saved Himself and asked God to send angels to rescue Him (Matthew 26:53). But He persevered because of His love for us. He persevered to complete the God-given mission to redeem mankind from our sin and restore our relationship with God. Persevere through the darkness in our lives.
Pursue God’s purpose in the darkness
God causes everything (including darkness) to work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). God uses the dark days to transform you to be like Christ and to enable you to shine like Jesus (Romans 8:29). God uses the darkness in our lives to form Christ in us. Jesus persevered through His suffering because He pursued the joy of fulfilling God’s purpose (Hebrews 12:2). We too can experience pure joy when we persevere through the testing of our faith (James 1: 2-4).
Petition for God’s help in the darkness
The curtain in the temple tore in two when Jesus died, opening the way for us into God’s presence forever. We have access to all of God’s resources (Romans 8:32). Ask Him for the resources you need to overcome the darkness (James 4:2). Jesus, the light of the world, can drive away the darkness in our lives. (John 8:12). Come to Him and submit your life to Him.
Picture your future with God
The chains of death were broken when Jesus died on the cross. Those who died trusting God came out of their tombs on Easter Sunday (Matthew 27:52-53). Jesus is preparing a place in God’s house for those who believe in Him (John 14:1-2) It is a place of release and relief (Revelation 21:4). A great future awaits us on the other side of darkness.
Reflection Questions
活石华语崇拜
18 April 2025
–
路加福音 23:32-45
讲员: 林建成牧师
ENGLISH SERVICE
18 April 2025