Luke records the progress from the foundation laid in the Gospels, to "the conversion experience" process, and the building of churches. The Book of Acts serves as the bridge between The 4 Gospels & The Epistles. Tells us how Paul, faithfully carried out his missionary journeys. Shows us the blueprint of a model church & missionary based on the Word of God. For us today, this book has a lot of importance, this is about God, Jesus Christ, & the Holy Spirit.

Lesson 4: Humans need 2 Births. | Lesson 5: Blind leading the Blind.

Have you asked yourself this question: “How can I be born again?” This is the most important question you can ever ask in your life. Ignorance of the answer is a sure way to go to hell!

This book is written for 21st Century Asian Christians who live in the fast-paced progress and excitement of this age but find themselves in a faith that seems stuck in the past. This book is not written to promote any church or denomination but to help us to know & love Jesus more. 

About the Author: Dr. Paul Choo was born in Singapore in 1947. He graduated as a Medical Doctor from the University of Singapore (now renamed National University of Singapore) in 1971. He received his Doctor of Divinity from Bob Jones University (USA) . Dr. Paul Choo is the founding Pastor of Gospel Light Christian Church in 1987, and was the Senior Pastor for the first 18 years. He currently chairs the Missions Board, and is actively pouring his life into overseas missions. A man of wisdom, faithfulness and compassion, he is also well-loved for how he genuinely “walks the talk.” He has preached in hundreds of churches and Christian conferences in Asia, USA, Europe, Australia and Africa. For his services to the poor in Asia, he was selected by Channel News Asia in 2012 as one of the “Asians of the Year”. 

Enjoy this and enjoy your journey with Jesus! 

Read by: Nehemiah Paul U. Gaas

We come to the Gospel according to Luke, a physician & a co-traveler of Paul. Luke was the only gentile author in the Bible, documents how Christianity started with Jesus in Jerusalem. Luke presents Jesus as the Saviour of the World (2:8-13) to see the gospel spread through all nations that Jesus came to save all. This stretches our mission field to all levels of people, particularly to the outcasts, oppressed, the sick, those mostly neglected by society & religion as highlighted in this book. Only in Luke we can read about the childhood of Jesus, Parables of The Good Samaritan & The Prodigal Son.  I hope you see the beautiful way God puts in all these, from Matthew, Mark, and now in Luke -Jesus, Saviour of the world. Are you bringing that message? As you expand your ministry & go beyond your circle of friends, living a simple life, a generous life- may you bring this message to the whole world.

Thank God for our Journey of the Old Testament, it laid down the foundation for us Christians and keeps pointing to the day when God will build its glorious kingdom with Jesus as King. Son of God. Savior of Man.  Today, we move to the New Testament. Of the 27 Books, we have 4 Gospels (biographies of Jesus) the declaration of the good news that The Messiah, The Lamb of God has come. It focuses on the passion, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. The love of God. The judgement of God. The rest are 23 epistles, written for people who believe in Jesus, how to live out their lives into Christ-likeness, to make disciples for all nations.

Malachi was a contemporary of Haggai & Zecharia, the last Post-Exilic Prophets. This period was 100 yrs after they returned from Babylon & the situation while rebuilding their lives & the City of David was not as they had anticipated- discouraging, oppressing, & tithing was neglected. God was telling them to return to Him through Malachi.

"In the Old Testament, the Jews were commanded to pay 10% of tithes (sometimes taken totally out of context). In the New Testament we are not commanded to Tithe but to "GIVE OUR WHOLE LIVES! YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, therefore, GLORIFY GOD with your body, spirit & mind -which are God’s. It's not 10% -everything I own is God’s, I'm a steward. If you understand that His son died & suffered for you- you were Redeemed by God. We are not tithers but willing givers-what an amazing privilege to serve God."

Malachi revealed the coming of both John the Baptist & Jesus(4:5). God fulfilled His promise (Matt:17:11-19).

"I hope as we end Malachi, we learned a lot about God, His judgements are sure. Despite we can't see the hand of God in our myopic eyes: Remember He is God, respect Him, give Him your best, NOT 10% - YOUR ALL IN ALL! He wants you! Now as we end the Old Testament, we enter a new phase, it's 400 yrs. later in God's time frame.”

Zechariah was a priest whom God used in post-exiled Jerusalem after Haggai. There's a lot of apocalyptic visions in Zechariah that show mysteries we humanly will not understand, unless God reveals it to us, show us the future, the eternal kingdom we have never seen. God’s hand is truly at work, guiding history towards Jerusalem’s future glory.

This book revealed the first coming of Jesus Christ as a humble servant King & the second time as a conquering King to be described more in Revelation. What can we learn? We may seem to be confused, we can’t tell exactly how the last days will come to be. God purposely wrote it this way, He doesn't want us to spend all our time being experts on the future. "GOD WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT."

"I hope that every day you will live a life more like Christ. I'm not saved FOR heaven, I’m saved TO BE Christ-like. That's the goal of my salvation- To be more like Christ, shine for Him on this earth & the future. I am very confident, it's in the hands of a good God. Every day of the future is in His hands. Every moment of the present is in my hands, to be responsible. I hope you get it. Our mind, our time, just doesn't allow us to do too many things. I have enough problems for today, to be faithful for today. Enough of the future to give you peace, not to make you proud."

Haggai was a post-exilic prophet, during the time of King Cyrus (Persian King) who conquered Babylon. Haggai's prophetic ministry narrates the Jews’ journey when they were allowed to return from exile (70 yrs in Babylon) to rebuild Jerusalem & the House of the Lord. He warned the Jews who neglected the building of the temple when they got discouraged with results, distracted with their own interests, & led unclean lives. At the same time, God promised to exalt Zerubbabel, the last descendant of the royal line of David through whom the promised Messiah would be fulfilled.

The Book of Haggai helps us set our priorities to put God first, and “all these things shall be added unto you.” To be watchful & be not just concerned in doing holy projects. God is more concerned about us, having holy lives. Do you realize that all your hard work always falls short? Something's always missing in your life? You're not satisfied in every area of your life because -God has put a ‘drought’ on it. Consider your ways. As we apply the principles taught in this little book, may our lives be changed. May we respond properly & become pleasing before God who loves us and wants the best for us.

There was 70 yrs. of silence from God since the martyrdom of Isaiah by King Manasseh. Zephaniah was the last chance prophet who warned that the day of the Lord is near(1:7) to the Southern Kingdom during King Josiah's time. It may seem as a repetition, but the truth is, the sins that the Jews committed after countless warnings, have become a part of us, woven into our lives, thinking it's all but normal. Sounds very familiar.

God poured out His indignation & anger on Jerusalem and surrounding nations (3:8) using the Babylonians. After destruction came the purification, a new generation of people who shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord (3:12) Israel's restoration and joy.

What is God's justice for? To destroy us? No, but to cleanse us, have mercy on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. As we hear God's judgement to the "people" who carry his name, it's for us "Christians" to repeatedly examine & correct ourselves. God judges His people because He's preparing us for a time of great rejoicing in that beautiful kingdom (3:17-20). May God bless you!