PLMC 93rd Anniversary
Combined Service
13 July 2025
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Luke 10:1-2, 17-20
Pastor Dr Daniel Ho
Interpretor: Mr Ho Ting Xuan
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 13 July 2025
What a joy that as a church family, we can celebrate our 93rd Anniversary! As we mark another milestone, we are reminded that as God’s beloved children, we are called to be on His Majesty’s service; to be a vessel of his blessing to the community and the nations.
1. The Lord’s Commission
Just as the disciples were sent on the great commission, God has called us all to serve him by going to the nations. This is an awesome privilege, a purposeful call and a powerful call. It is a privilege as we are called by our Lord Jesus, purposeful as we are on a mission and powerful as we are filled and led by the Spirit. What an honour and blessing!
2. The Lord’s Compassion
There are many out there who are harassed, helpless and lost. Our Lord’s heart aches for those lost without a shepherd and calls us to be agents of real change and blessings to them (Matt 9:35-38). We can be sensitive to the needs of the marginalised and despised just like how Jesus Christ reached out to Zacchaeus. The life of Zacchaeus was changed forever by that momentous encounter. God can use us as agents of His love and compassion to touch the lives of those in need and give them hope and a future.
3. The Lord’s Conclusion
We are not to rejoice that we can do all the amazing signs and wonders through the power of God in Jesus’ name. Instead, we are to rejoice that our names are written in heaven, in the book of Life. Most importantly, we want to share in the same heart and mission of Jesus, which is to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:19). and share the Gospel with those who have yet to hear. We can make an eternal difference as lives are touched, changed and transformed.
No one is too bad or too good for God. We all need Him! Let us share in the same heart and mission as our Lord Jesus Christ!
Reflection Questions
PLMC 93周年庆联合崇拜聚会
13 July 2025
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路加福音 10:1-2, 17-20
讲员: 何强赞博士牧师
翻译员: 何廷轩弟兄
ENGLISH SERVICE
6 July 2025
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Genesis 35:1-15
Rev Emanuel Goh
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 6 July 2025
God calls us—like Jacob—to return to Him. No matter how far we’ve drifted or what we’ve faced, He invites us back into a renewed relationship marked by repentance, worship, and purpose.
1. Returning to Bethel = Returning to God
The phrase “home sweet home” is one that resonates with many of us. It represents the comfort and peace we feel when we return to a familiar and safe place—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In Genesis 35, this phrase takes on deeper meaning as God calls Jacob back to Bethel. Bethel was not just a location; it was where Jacob first encountered God, and returning there signified a renewal of his relationship with Him.
2. Renewal Involves Repentance
Jacob cleansed his household from idols. He built an altar, symbolising thanksgiving, rededication, and covenant remembrance. Jacob named the place El-Bethel which literally translates to “God of the House of God”. It showed that Jacob recognised the importance of a relationship with God over anything else.
3. Discerning God’s calling
We are called to a relationship first, then to purpose—to live intentionally where we are called at home, work, church, etc. Are you answering His call? God often confirms our calling through community and His Word. Staying close to God helps us hear Him. Like sheep who know the shepherd’s voice, we discern God’s voice and hear Him better the closer we walk with Him.
4. Challenges Still Exist After Obedience
Even after returning to God, Jacob faced grief and family failure (Gen 35:16-22). These incidents remind us that God does not promise a life without pain; He promises His presence with us through it all.
God is calling you back home to a relationship with Him. Just like Jacob, you can return. Whether we feel lost, overwhelmed, distant, or numb, God’s call is unchanging. Through Jesus, we are able to return to find forgiveness, grace, restoration and peace.
Reflection Questions
1. Is there a place or time in your life where you once encountered God deeply? What’s keeping you from returning to that spiritual attitude today?
2. Is there anything or anyone competing with Jesus for the throne of your heart?
3. How can you intentionally build a spiritual memory—a “Bethel”—to mark God’s work in your life?
活石华语崇拜
6 July 2025
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创世记 33:1-11
讲员: 林建成牧师
5 July 2025
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Genesis 32
Mr Eugene Cheong
ENGLISH SERVICE
29 June 2025
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Genesis 34:1-31
Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming
❣️ Sermon Reflections & Discussion // 29 June 2025
How should we respond when we feel wronged or unfairly treated?
We’ve all felt unjustly treated at some point, rightly or wrongly. However, we may not be able to see situations clearly because of our natural self-serving bias. A community, such as a cell group, is good sounding board to check our perceptions. It provides space for humble reflection and helps us acknowledge the reality of the situation, freeing us from any bitterness we may carry. Genesis 34 offers important lessons on how not to respond when confronted with injustice.
Don’t disobey God – We may be tempted to choose a path that is not God’s way when we feel unjustly treated. Any path that is not God’s is a path of disobedience.
Don’t deceive others – Jacob’s sons saw Hamor’s proposal as an opportunity for them to exact vengeance against Shechem. They came up with a plan of revenge through deception.
Don’t desecrate God’s gifts – Jacob’s sons desecrated the covenantal sign God had given to them through their plan to deceive Hamor to get all males in his city circumcised.
Don’t destroy the offender – The vengeance exacted on Shechem resulted in the destruction of the city, which was unjustly caught up in the conflict. Don’t give in to the insatiable demands of revenge, which destroys you in the process too.
Don’t dignify your actions – Jacob’s admonishment of his sons (v30) showed he did not count on God to protect him against the people of the land, while Simeon and Levi tried to rationalise away their excessively harsh actions (v31).
In contrast to their response to injustice, here are seven things God calls you to do when you feel wronged:
Decide not to take matters into your own hands – This is an essential step to make sure that the actions you take aren’t solely driven by your own intentions.
Direct the injustice to God – Surrender the situation to God who sees and knows perfectly. Share with Him your emotions and trust that He will bring justice to your situation.
Discern how God wants you to respond – Discern the response God would like you to take. God invites you to partner with Him to bring justice into the unjust situation. He may lead you to do nothing, just as Jesus didn’t retaliate when He willingly went to the cross.
Discuss what you discern –Seek counsel from godly brothers and sisters attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit to affirm if you have discerned correctly (Prov 11:14).
Discipline yourself to do all that God tells you – God’s favour is upon those who obey Him (Deut 28:1-2). You can be assured His blessings will accompany you as you do what He tells you to.
Display love and humility – God is love and He requires us to love and be other-centred. Seek God’s best for the other party.
Depend on God to mete out justice – Your loving and humble actions may not result in justice being meted out here and now. Trust our God of justice to do so in His way and in His time.
Which path will you choose? Will you trust God to take care of you and your situation?
Reflection Questions
活石华语崇拜
29 June 2025
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路加福音 1:78-79
讲员: 林荣敲牧师
28 June 2025
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Genesis 30:25-31:55
Mr Timothy Tay
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