The brokenness we see in our world today has a common root system, and that is the wickedness of the human heart. Sin does not just have a personal effect; it has a corporate effect and ripples out through the land. Do we carry in our hearts a sense of responsibility for the brokenness in our world? - @andrejosiah

Pastor Andre continued our Vision Series with a sharing from Ezekiel 22 - in a time of great spiritual decline, God sought for a man to stand in the gap as an advocate for the land—but He found no one. As we reflect on the state of our world and church today, are we similarly missing God’s call?

In modelling after Jesus, our perfect advocate, the church can live out the calling of God to to stand in the gap for the brokeness of our world. As we reflect on God’s word today, may we resist indifference and rekindle our heart’s desire for God and the outpouring of His spirit.

“In a world devoid of absolute moral truths, we, as Christians, assert that the gospel embodies the utmost truth—that life in its fullness can only be found in Jesus and His kingdom. Any other attempt to find life is destined to fail.” - @andrejosiah

Pst Andre continued our Vision Series, with a sharing on Recovering Gospel Urgency.

While many Christians today struggle with embracing evangelism, with some deeming it unacceptable to share the gospel with others, Pst Andre called for us to reflect on how we define the gospel and if this aligns with the gospel that Jesus called us to believe in.

Specifically, the good news that God, in His great love for us, has rescued us from sin, death and hell, through the works of Jesus on our behalf, with the ultimate aim of establishing His kingdom through His people and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

May we desire to say Yes to God’s call of evangelism by first rediscovering the good news of the gospel in our own lives, with trust that God is able to work through our acts of obedience, no matter how small they may be.

“The message of Jesus is not to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses; rather, it is in your weakness that God’s strength is made perfect within you.“ - @andrejosiah

We started on our Vision Series, with an overarching theme of A Holy Discontent, challenging us to confront the shallowness of our spiritual discontent in a culture that craves immediacy and the temporary. Ps. Andre spoke on the very heart of discipleship today, which is to take our spiritual formation seriously. A dangerous fallacy in our approach to life with God occurs when we believe that being strong in one area will somehow compensate for weakness in another, but God wants us be like Christ in all aspects of our lives.

Let us take some time to reflect on this question: “Where am I unlike Jesus?”Our formation must address the areas where we are not formed in Christ. We pray that we will approach our spiritual growth with intention, taking active steps to be molded into the image of Christ and live out our faith daily.

“The call to live into a more mature and resilient discipleship is in the wilderness where God longs to lead us to experiences that bring revelation and intimacy which is just not possible any other way.” - @janicechinchern

Janice brought a sermon titled “In the Wilderness” where she taught from Mark 1 and Luke 4. Using Jesus’ example of testings yet deep reliance on God’s provision and mercies, how Jesus retreated to solitude repeatedly to seek God’s face in His time of ministry, he modelled for us a life of not resisting that seemingly desolate place.

She invited us to abide in the place of wilderness, where silence is the ultimate furnace of transformation, allowing God to cut through the noise of our lives and lead us gently to a place where we can heal in greater depths, where in His presence our joy is found.

The question for us to reflect on this week is “What is God speaking to you about?”. As we contemplate and reflect on our wilderness, may we remain in that place with Him, inclining our ears towards His voice and abiding with greater surrender and trust.

“As we approach the end times, God wants us to reconnect with two realities - the gospel of the Kingdom proclaimed to all nations, and Israel embracing Jesus as their Messiah.’ - @jasonchua.sg

Jason’s sermon on The Antioch Community expounds on God’s desire for His people to be a royal priesthood unto Him, that we may be a sign of His glory and dominion here on earth as we await His return.

As we continue to walk with God in these tumultuous times, may we remember to live in sobriety, and with intentionality to behold God and know the desires of His heart.

“Between wasting our gifts and burning ourselves out, Jesus calls us to a more excellent way: a joyful life of service fuelled by His abundant love” - @timothyshaun

This morning, Tim brought us a sermon titled “A More Excellent Way”, where he spoke on how we can best steward the gifts of the Spirit that we’ve been given by God to serve others. He reminded us that serving & loving the body of Christ come hand in hand - when we abide in and are filled with God’s love for us and for His Church, the overflow of that love looks like serving His people.

To serve is to love; and to love is to serve. As we continue on this journey of spiritual formation, we pray that we will mature both in love and service, where the spiritual gifts that God has given us are neither wasted, nor will we feel burnt out serving the body of Christ.

“A large part of our discipleship rests on fending off cynicism and pursuing wonder; keeping our hearts anchored in hope, joy, and faith in God despite life’s setbacks.“ - @andrejosiah

Pst Andre shared about Small Beginnings at our first service of 2024, where we celebrated a new milestone in our journey as a church family with our official move to Nexus.

Sharing from the life of Caleb, and his different response, in contrast to the doubt, despair and contempt that others had for God’s promised land, Pst Andre reminded us that God often chooses the small, weak, and unseen for His purposes. Insignificant as they may appear to us, they often are how God shows His power and goodness in our lives.

As we enter into a new week, may we think about how we may see as God sees, and how we may rejoice in the small beginnings that He wants to use in our lives. Be blessed!

“The joy that God calls us to is one that is bold and courageous - one that is able to look at death and suffering as temporary.” - @timothyshaun

Tim concluded our Advent series, Rumours of God, with a sermon on Joy. A condition of the heart and a posture of the soul, Tim shared about how the eternal joy that we have because of the good news of the gospel: Jesus’ birth, and the promise of His second coming.

Even in the midst of sorrow and disappointments that we navigate in this life, may we seek to cultivate the fruit of Joy through drawing from God’s presence, plugging into community and embracing the discipline of celebration.

“Hope is the confident expectation of good based on the person and promises of God.” - @andrejosiah

Ps Andre continued our Advent series, Rumours of God, with a sermon on Hope.

Sharing from Luke 1:5-7 and the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah who waited in long-suffering, resilience and obedience for a child, Pst Andre shared about the disappointment and unfulfilled longings we experience on this side of eternity, and how this can become our meeting point with Jesus when we bring our desires and longings to Him.

In our waiting, will we be righteous and holy, or will our hearts be bitter and lead us to sin? And if our desires are not fulfilled, will we still trust in God?

Even in the face of disappointment, may we remember that God is faithful, and remembers every prayer we utter. We can have a defiant and unwavering hope in Him.

“Seeking to act in our own time, rather than waiting on God’s, doesn’t accelerate the work of God in our lives; it corrupts it. Rather than seizing our destiny, we sabotage it.” - @andrejosiah

Pst Andre kicked off our Advent series today with examining the contrasting responses of Joseph and Herod to the impending birth of Jesus.

He invited us to reflect and ask ourselves: how do we respond to uncertainties in our lives? Do we gravitate toward seeking control like Herod did, or do we submit our outcomes to God, and to His will, like Joseph?

In disruption, we learn that we are not in control of our lives, but that we can relinquish this burden to God who gives us peace as we surrender and trust in Christ, our true King.

As we journey toward Christmas, may we prayerfully reflect on areas in our lives where we can enter greater surrender to Jesus through acts of obedience and trust.