“What is the appropriate level of intimacy before marriage?” “What does Matthew 5:31 mean where it says, ‘Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery?’” “Should there only be one disciplinarian in the family?” In this first Q&A session for CHC’s inaugural CityFamilies (CFAM) Conference with Pastors Kong Hee and Sun Ho, these and other questions are answered truthfully in love. 

What makes for a happy, thriving family? God Himself models for us the cycle of elements that a Christian family is meant to enter. In this sermon, Pastor Kong Hee takes us through these four elements, starting with covenant love. Just as God’s love for us is covenantal and not transactional, family members enter a covenant to love one another, even if their needs are not met. Two, grace is the atmosphere that must fill a family, mercy and forgiveness must triumph over law. Three, empowerment of your family members to grow up and grow strong. And ultimately, intimacy—to know and be known by your family, to be fearlessly vulnerable with one another. Listen to this important message and learn to build a happy and healthy family.

Does it feel like God is taking a really long time to fulfil the promise He has given you? Be encouraged by this sermon by Pastor Lin Jun Xian. Some of God’s promises come to pass immediately, most take longer than we like—there is a process in the promise. When we go through this challenge of waiting, the evil one tries to break our relationship with God and His promises. Pastor Jun Xian shares three ways to hold on to God while we wait. One, release our past to God. The past has to pass before the future God has in store can come. Two, rebuild our present in God by returning to the ways of God. Finally, rejoice in the timing of God. Continue praising Him even through hard times, knowing our God will never lose sight of us. Listen to the testimonies and be reminded that God’s heart is always for you.

Koinonia means communion, partnership or joint participation. In this sermon, Pastor Bobby Chaw unpacks what koinonia or fellowship in the Holy Spirit is: it is having everything in common with the Holy Spirit and the body of the Church. Where there is koinonia, there is unity and peace. Pastor Bobby teaches there are three things that we share as believers: one, we have a common inheritance and that is Jesus Himself. It is crucial not to lose our fellowship with God, but to participate in what He is doing and celebrate when God blesses a fellow believer. Two, we have a common ministry, and that is to preach the Gospel to all the world and experience the joy Jesus felt seeing sinners saved and redeemed. Finally, we have a common duty which is to receive and give to one another, to remain in the house of God and in cell group, to gather and build one another up. Let this message encourage you to enter into koinonia with the Holy Spirit and your church family.

Faith may take you far in your quest with God, but love is what sustains you in your journey with Him. In this sermon, Pastor Aries Zulkarnain teaches us that as we mature in our walk, we may have to endure tests of love, just as Abraham did when God instructed him to sacrifice his son Isaac. God never gave a reason why, but Abraham reasoned that the Lord could raise his son from the dead. How can a Christian reach that level of trust in God? Pastor Aries spells out two things that are necessary: one, we must be fully convinced of God's love, even when He is silent. Jesus' death on the cross speaks of God's love louder than words can. Two, we must be awakened by God's love, even when He seems to be asleep. We may understand with our mind that our suffering is not a sign God doesn't love us, but our hearts may still hurt. In such times, only a genuine encounter with the love of God can turn head knowledge into a revelation of the heart.

What does it mean to be on fire for God? An on-fire Christian is one who is consumed with zeal for God and His house. Fire spreads and sets everything it touches ablaze. In this message, Pastor Wu Yuzhuang teaches two ways to catch the fire of God. One, stay close to the fire. Having time alone with God is important, but it is equally crucial to be in the body of Christ to stay on fire. Two, watch out for wood that is wet. We cannot be on fire for God if our hearts as "wet" with a sinful lifestyle or unforgiveness. Furthermore, fire naturally dies out if it is left unattended. Three ways to keep the fire burning are to feed the fire with prayer, worship and Word; to fan the fire even when you don't feel like it; and to guard the fire against busyness and distractions. Let us remember all that God has done for us, and set up our altar so that He will set us ablaze once more.

Do you feel discouraged by the bad things that have happened in your life? Are you emotionally trapped by the pain of the past? In this encouraging sermon, Pastor Aries Zulkarnain reminds us to surrender our pain to God, for He will use our past failures as ingredients for our future success. Teaching from Joel 2, Pastor Aries teaches that God wants to bring restoration to us in two areas: first, He will restore to us the years that the swarming locust has eaten: by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will have power to do new things, break through new ground, experience divine intervention and miracles. How will He do this? By drawing us to a deeper communion with Him, until we realise He alone is enough for us. Second, God will restore to us our fruitfulness. Even if you feel you have lost everything, do not lose heart; keep planting and God will bring you the harvest. Listen to this message and the powerful testimonies within, and turn to the God of restoration.

On this Father’s Day weekend, Ps Bobby Chaw exhorts all fathers to observe four ways in which they can bless their children. The first is by teaching them to see life through the Father’s eyes; that no matter what life throws at us, we can still bring forth the fruit of the Spirit because God is always working behind the scenes.

Secondly, fathers can teach their children to live out the reality of God in their lives. Children imitate what they see, not what they hear. As a father encounters God, his children will also be drawn to Him. 

The third way in which fathers can bless their children is to speak words of affirmation over them. Just as how God never spares words of affirmation over Jesus and over His children—fathers, speak words of blessings over your children!

Finally, fathers can show the way by setting their hearts on eternity. Fathers, let’s believe God for our children’s future and for their eternity in the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of love, holiness and power. As we pursue love and holiness, God will empower us to live victoriously in Christ. But the power we receive—abilities, influence, authority and enablement—is on loan to us and we are to exercise it as faithful stewards of God. We are blessed to be a blessing to others! 

When God’s people do not steward the power of God, a perversion of power takes place, resulting in dire consequences.

As believers, let us look to Jesus, our perfect example of a good steward of the power of God. After fasting 40 days, the devil tempted Him to abuse His power. But Jesus withstood the devil and remained secure in who He was as the Son of God. 

When we are tested in our love for God and our pursuit of holiness, can God trust us to reject the lusts of the flesh? When we know who we are in Christ and have our character rooted and submitted to God, we can become channels of His power to be a blessing to our world.

Two millennia ago, the Church was born on the Day of Pentecost. In this Pentecost Sunday sermon, Pastor Kong Hee explains that Pentecost is the divine reversal of the curse of Babel when He confused the language of the whole world, by restoring to His people a pure, heavenly language that Satan cannot understand. Pastor Kong gives five reasons why every believer should speak in tongues: one, tongues is for edification, for building yourself up in faith. Like recharging a battery, praying in tongues recharges your spirit man, and you become sensitive to God and your prayers become powerful. Two, tongues is for praise. We are called to sing songs from the Spirit to the Lord. Three, tongues is for intercession. When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. Four, tongues is for spiritual warfare. When we face demonic oppression, tongues is a weapon against the evil one; demons are afraid of tongues. Five, tongues is for spiritual rest. Neuroscience shows that when speaking in tongues, one’s frontal lobe is quiet unlike when one speaks in a known language. Above all, we are commanded by Jesus to pray in tongues. Let this sermon encourage you to pray in tongues daily and live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.