RHCCC DTM Latest Sermon

Good Friday Service: Into the Dark

Speaker: Rev. Kelly Tam

How does Jesus do this?

1. Jesus does this by empathizing with us.

a. He suffers on our behalf! (Peter 2:24)

b. He suffers because it is central to God’s plan (Isaiah 53:3)

2. Jesus does this by exchanging places with us. (Romans 5:6-9)

3. Jesus does this by empowering us. (John 14:26-27)

Story from the Cross: The Crowds

Speaker: Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Story from the Cross: Peter

Speaker: Pastor Angela Luk

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

• What does Peter’s story tell us about ourselves?

• What does Peter’s story tell us about Jesus?

• How does Peter’s story call us to respond in this season of Lent?

3 conditions for true discipleship: we must

1. Surrender ourselves completely to him,

2. Identify with him in suffering and death,

3. Follow him obediently wherever he leads.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

—1 Peter 1:6-9

Speaker: Pastor Joey Ling

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-16

1. What does Judas’ Story Tell Us About Ourselves?

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

—Matthew 26:14-16

What are you doing to control or eradicate the growth of the weeds?

How healthy is your soil?

2. What does Judas’ Story Tell Us About Jesus?

Friday is Good because Sunday is coming.

3. How does Judas’ Story Call Us to Respond in this Lent Season?When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.

—Matthew 27:3-4

Experience God through Repentance

a. Ask God for Mercy

b. Acknowledge the Sin

c. Confess Fully

d. Commit to Change

e. Embrace God’s Love

f. Seize the Hope

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

—Romans 6:23

Life Together in the Church:

Relationships that are Built on Servanthood

Speaker: Pastor Stephen Hsu

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

BIG IDEA: We love one another when we find our joy in considering others better by becoming a slave like our Lord Jesus Christ.

How to Love One Another

Find your joy in being one (‭1-2)

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness or compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

—Phil 2:1-2 NIV

Purpose of Philippians:

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

—Phil. 2:27 NIV

Consider others better than yourself (3-4)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

—Phil. 2:3-4 NIV

Become a slave like Jesus (5-8)

In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

—Phil. 2:5-8 NIV

CONCLUSION = Bow & Worship our Lord Jesus Christ

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

—Phil. 2: 9-11 NIV

PRAYER:

Lord,

You were completely humiliated, so we could be fully known, yet fully loved.

Please help us to decrease, so You can increase in our lives. Help us to not seek great things for ourselves, but to consider others better than ourselves. Help us not to care for our own needs, but rather, for each of us to care for others’ needs.

Instead of us humans trying to be god, help us look to the only God who became human, our Lord Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, to make Himself nothing by being the greatest slave of us all! Thank you, Jesus, for joyfully enduring the horrific cross til death, so that I could be completely forgiven and set free from my guilt and my many sins.

May we stand firm in one Spirit, striving together as one for the sake of the gospel, without fear of those who hate us, as a sure sign of their coming destruction but also of Your marvelous salvation.

Please help us by your Spirit to love others as You have loved us, by washing each other’s feet.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Life Together in the Church:

Everybody has Their Own Idea of Community

Speaker: Rev. Ho-Ming J. Tsui

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

1. Where does the idea of community come from?

Christian theology tells us that:

(a) God is a Trinity

(b) Human beings are made in His image.

2. What factors hinder community?

(a) Preconceptions: Unrealistic or unhealthy expectations of what community should be

(b) Preferences: Selfish desires that seep into community

(c) Projections: The illusion of community

3. How we can strengthen community?

Communities form and are strengthened through commonality

What do Christians have in common? We’re “in Christ Jesus”

It’s strengthened by:

(a) having the right expectation (seeing others the way Jesus would)

(b) making a meaningful contribution (serving others the way Jesus would)

Life Together in the Church:

Fellowship…What is it Really?

Speaker: Rev. Kelly J. Tam

Scripture: Acts 2 (NLT)

The idea of community stems from 2 Biblical truths:

1. God is a Trinity

2. We are made in the image of God

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[a]), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[b]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

—Acts 2:42-47

They united into a congregation (v42)

They shared to meet each other’s needs (v45)

They worshipped together (v46a)

They met in homes (v46b)

God added to their community (v47)

Common devotions in the morning should include Scripture reading, song, and prayer. Different fellowships will require different forms of worship; this is as it should be. A family with children needs a different devotion from that of a fellowship of ministers, and it is no means wholesome for one to be like another or for a company of theologians to be content with a family devotion for children. But every common devotion should include the word of Scripture, the hymn of the Church, and the prayer of the fellowship.

—“Life Together” P. 44, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Alone with the Spirit, Together with the Saints

Speaker: Rev. Reuben Foncardas

Scripture: Luke 6:12-19

How can we be a church community that lives “Life Together” as Christ calls us to do? The short answer to this question is this: by creating spaces where God can speak and act. Henri Nouwen refers to this as spiritual disciplines. There are three spaces we need to diligently create; three disciplines we need to faithfully observe.

1. Be with God alone in solitude.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. —Luke 6:12 NIV

• Take time to listen to and reflect on what God has to say to you through his Word (Bible) and through the Holy Spirit (prayer).

• Intercede for people and/or events that come to mind to bring your focus back to God.

2. Be in community with other believers.

When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: —Luke 6:13 NIV

• Learn to forgive; to have no expectation of being loved unconditionally by other believers.

• Learn to celebrate the beauty of humanity in others that is being changed from brokenness to fullness of life in Christ.

3.Be present in the lives of those who need “healing.”

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. —Luke 6:17-19 NIV

• Bring healing to people by leading them to gratitude and by showing them compassion.

Why Worship? : Sing and Praise

Speaker: Rev. Kelly Tam

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

5 Purposes:

At RHCCC, we believe that a maturing disciple grows in 5 areas:

Worship - are you growing in your love for God?

Fellowship - are you growing in your love for others?

Discipleship - are you growing in God’s Word?

Ministry - are you using your gifts to serve God?

Mission - are you sharing the Gospel in word and action? 

Christian Worship & Gathered Worship:

1. Christian Worship: Fellow, Discipleship, Ministry, Mission

2. Gathered Worship

Therefore, communal worship is God’s commandment and is necessary for spiritual growth.

Christian worship is when we acknowledge the presence of God through a liturgy (plan) that calls us to remember God’s acts and where the fruit of being in such presence is a transformed life. 

Why do we sing?

1. We sing the Scriptures (Col 3:16)

2. We sing in Community (Col 3:12-15)

Sermon Notes

Why Worship? : Confession and Repentance

Speaker: Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui

Scripture: Nehemiah 9

If we are going to experience God’s renewal in our lives, we must be honest about our spiritual condition; lean on God’s grace and love; and meet with God once again.

1. Confess our spiritual condition (v. 1-17a)

The 4 Stages of Renewal

You move to each stage through honest and bold confession

I. Personal Renewal: If God is going to renew your church, he’ll begin it with you.

II. Relational Renewal: After you get right with God, you’ve got to get right with others.

III. Missional Renewal: Without personal renewal, and relational renewal, a church has no unity to press forward on the mission to which God calls them.

IV. Cultural Renewal: If you work on the first three renewals, God will change the culture.

2. Lean on the compassion of God (v. 17b-31)

God’s compassion comes to us in two forms:

(a) His Presence: God walks with us

(b) His Confrontation: God works on us

3. Renew our commitment to Jesus (v. 32-38)

How serious are we about meeting with Jesus again? (Rev. 2:3-5)