Dear BPCWA worshipper, Having completed the recap of the morning devotion messages, we will go on to the summary of the first 4 thematic sermons preached. I hope these will reiterate the lessons. The Consequence of Not Watching (Matt 24:42-51). The call to “watch” in v42 refers to the Lord’s return to rapture His church, where “that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matt 24:36). This message is hence for us, professing believers. 1) The deliberate consequence (vv42-44). “Watch” means to rouse, because our mission is in jeopardy if we neglect this watching. The call to watch refers to our holy testimony which Satan will target to ruin. We must be more careful about this as we get older since
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, In this pastoral, I will continue with the morning devotion messages preached from Prov 27:7-8. I hope you will read it to refresh and reaffirm key lessons to be learnt. Necessary Hunger to Keep Growing. “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Pr 27:7). Isn’t being full a good thing to be desired? Not always so. It can remove appreciation of what is good and needed. The honey in the honeycomb is full of protective antioxidants and comes with many other health-promoting qualities. One who is hungry will be grateful to have it. But despite all this goodness, the foolish full soul wants nothing of it! What is
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, Beginning this week, I will be summarising the salient points of the messages preached at the family camp. I will begin with the morning devotion sermons, summarising 2 in today’s pastoral. This will be followed by the thematic sermons thereafter. Detrimental Emotions. Pr 27:3, 4. “A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” 1) Wrath is an emotion of being vexed, annoyed, unhappy, and irked. Foolish wrath is, for example, when we get upset or irritable because it doesn’t fit my view or go my way, or because we are physically uncomfortable. But
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, In last week’s pastoral, we saw how while He was on earth, Christ had a particular concern for the temple, the place of worship prior to the New Testament church age. He referred to it as “my Father’s house” and “my house”. Today, the church is called “the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Tim 3:15). We know that theologically, but it often doesn’t strike our minds that it means that Bible-Presbyterian Church of WA is, therefore, God’s house. If this is truly the case in our hearts, then what should that mean or do to us practically? Care for God’s heritage. In the Old Testament, God gave the children of
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, The recent passages from Philippians have shown to us the minds and hearts of Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus when it came to having a care and love for the church. Such an extent of interest and passion for the church may seem alien, if not even extreme, to some of our contemporary Christian thinking. To many, “the church exists to love me, care for me, and serve me. What? I am supposed to love and care for the church?” Some feel that online worship from the comforts of home is better and there is no need to be involved in the church. I would like to pose this question to you – how do you view the
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