Series: Advent & Christmas

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 7th December 2025

Passage: John 10:10

Series: Advent & Christmas

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 30th November 2025

Passage: Luke 19:10

Sermon Summary:

Do we know why Jesus came? As we step into the month of December and prepare our hearts for His first coming—do we know why He came, the fullness of God in helpless babe? Luke 19:10 tells us that He came to seek and save the lost, and Zacchaeus’ story reflects this so beautifully.

As a rich chief tax collector, Zacchaeus no doubt helped himself to some of the funds that he overcharged and collected for the Roman Empire. He was not a man of morals, and would have been scorned and despised by his fellow countrymen. Yet we see Jesus’ enthusiasm towards Zacchaeus’ curiosity: as Zacchaeus tried to get a better view of Him, Jesus declares that He must stay at Zacchaeus’ house today!

We see the effects of this received grace on Zacchaeus: immediately he chooses to give half of his goods to the poor,and to restore fourfold of what he has defrauded. (v.8) This goes far beyond the additional one-fifth that is demanded ofhim in the Law. (Lev. 6:5) Curiosity comes first, then grace, and finally repentance that leads to life transformation.

While it can be easy for us to dismiss Zacchaeus’ story, the truth is that all of us, in some form or another, are Zacchaeus. All of us have turned aside; not one of us seeks God. (Rom. 3:10-17) We are lost, and we need Jesus who came to seek and to save.That is why He needed to come down to earth, to find and to pursue us. If He hadn’t, no one would have.

Now, then—what will you do, church? Knowing that if left to our own devices, not one of us would seek God? Will you answer God’s call on your life, or will you remain silent and indifferent? Will you remain where you are, comfortable and complacent, or will you partner with God to share His good news with all who so desperately need it?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 23rd November 2025

Passage: Acts 18:1-28

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 16th November 2025

Passage: Acts 17:1-34

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. Gabriel Wong

Date: 9th November 2025

Passage: Acts 16:1-40

Sermon Summary:

Though the book of Acts tells the story of the early Church fulfilling the mandate of the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8), it also shows how God’s Holy Spirit works through His faithful. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in Acts 16, where we see numerous examples of Spirit-led detours: the Spirit’s guidance to Paul as He forbade them to speak the word in Asia (v.6) and a similar instruction to refrain from passing into Bithynia. (v.7) The Macedonian Call, a vision that Paul received of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to go and help (v.9-10); His softening and opening of Lydia’s heart to pay attention to the gospel. (v.14) The power of God prevailing over the slave girl as the Spirit cast out the spirit of divination inside her (v.18), and the supernatural peace and joy that God gave to Paul and Silas as they were worshipping Him from prison. (v.25) The same God that they worshipped set them free (v.26) and moved them to care for the jailer in both word and deed, causing him and his household to come to Christ. (v.27-34)

Before Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the end of the earth, He first told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 1:8) He told them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the promise of the Spirit, to be “clothed with power from on high.” (Lk. 24:49) Jesus knew that without the help of His Spirit, we would be powerless. And indeed, it is only because of the empowerment of the Spirit that the Church was able to be so effective for God.

Do you lean on your own strength, church? Or do you surrender to Him daily and wait for His Spirit’s guidance? Learning to discern for the Holy Spirit may not come naturally, but it will point us to Jesus and bring life.

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 2nd November, 2025

Passage: Acts 15:1-41

Sermon Summary:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

Verses 2:8-9 from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks wonderfully to Acts 15. As the early Church engaged in a fervent discussion about the role of circumcision in salvation, Paul reminds us that our salvation comes only through grace, by faith. Not by our own doing or as a result of works, but through the death of Christ Jesus alone.

As Peter addresses the believers who are anxious about the purity of the faith (v.5), he speaks with truth and candour when he reminds them of the weight of the Law. Neither they nor their fathers were able to keep and obey the Law in its entirety, and the reason that Jesus died was to fulfill the Law, to make His people clean and set them free. Why, then, would the Church require its new believers, whether Gentile or Jew, to do what they could not? Why would they invite God’s judgment on themselves for such a thing? (v.7-11)

As they argue for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the church with a completely new way of living, Peter appeals to his experience of direct guidance and intervention from God. Barnabas and Paul appeal to their experience of God’s confirmation of their work through signs and wonders. But James appeals directly to Scripture, believing that the words of the prophets agree with what has happened. (v.15-17)

While Acts 15 can act as a beautiful guiding example for church politics and debate, our focus is on the heart of their discussion. Can we remember to live as children of God, who are saved by grace through faith? Can we also accept the Holy Spirit’s call for us to be higher, as He works and enables us to live transformed lives for Him?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 26th October 2025

Passage: Acts 14

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 19th October 2025

Passage: Acts 13

Sermon Summary:

We’ve seen the fulfillment of Jesus’ proclamation to the disciples in Acts 1:8, starting with the church in Jerusalem who first received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (2:1-11). Stephen’s death scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, (8:1) and Philip brought great joy to Samaria when he proclaimed the Messiah to its residents (v.5). He even had the chance to speak Jesus to an eunuch from Ethiopia! (v.35) But it doesn’t stop there: we saw the first Gentile believers in Cornelius and his household (10:47), and the first Jew-and-Gentile church in Antioch. (11:19-21)

And yet, God still isn’t done! As the Holy Spirit asks for Barnabas and Paul to be set aside (13:2), He sends them on the first missionary journey to the island of Cyprus (v.4) and the city of Pisidian Antioch (v.14) (a city different to the Antioch they departed from). Here we see vastly different responses to the gospel: we see resistance from Elymas the sorcerer (v.8) and the jealous Jews in Pisidian Antioch. (v.45) Sergius Paulus the proconsul shows amazement (v.12), and the other Jews and devout converts to Judaism are curious. (v.43) The Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch stand out, as they received the gospel with gladness (v.48)!

Although Paul and Barnabas were chosen to do this good work, we must remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who chose and sent them out. (v.2, 4) The Spirit showed them how to react, and what to say. (v.9, 43) He enabled them to shake the dust off their feet, despite the abuse that was heaped on them (v.45) and their expulsion from Pisidian Antioch. (v.50) Paul and Barnabas are filled with joy because they are filled with Him. (v.52)

Do you know that the Holy Spirit has set you aside for the work He has called you to? Can you hear Him calling? Will you respond? And when you do, will you depend on Him, or yourself?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. Gabriel Wong

Date: 12th October 2025

Passage: Acts 12

Sermon Summary:

What can we say apart from praise be to God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think? (Eph. 3:20) The sharing from our Congo team set the scene as they talked about God’s supernatural providence with a specific SSD part that was missing, and doors opening for future opportunities to better care for and educate the people of the region. This week’s passage of Acts 12 echoes the same sentiment, as the apostle Peter was broken out of prison (at such a leisurely pace that he had time to dress himself and put on his sandals!) by an angel of the Lord (v.8), when neither he nor the early church expected to see each other again. (v.16) Although it can be hard to remember that the book of Acts is about real things that happened to real people because it is so action-packed and dramatic, Luke and our Congo team’s sharing remind us of the true power of faith and prayer.

At the same time, Luke cautions us against the dangers of pride through Herod Agrippa I. Herod imprisons Peter after killing the apostle James because he saw how James’ death pleased the Jews (v.3). He wanted more fame and acclaim for himself. Unfortunately for Herod, he’s outwitted by God (v.18-19) and even meets his gristly end at the hands of an angel of the Lord (v.23), eaten by worms because he did not give God the glory.

Our Congo team talked about how faith is a “life cheat”, but how many of us truly think or believe that? When we come across difficulties, is our first instinct to “stop, drop, and pray”, like Peter and the early church, or do we try to solve things using our means? When God answers our prayers, are we quick to give Him the glory, or do we enjoy a (literal or metaphorical) worm-y end by pointing back to ourselves?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)

Preacher: Ps. James Tang

Date: 5th October 2025

Passage: Acts 11:19-30

Sermon Summary:

Just as Jesus declared at the beginning of Acts (1:8), we’ve seen the gospel travel around Jerusalem (Acts 2), Judea, and Samaria (8:4-8, 14-17). It even started to break Gentile ground with the Holy Spirit’s descent on Cornelius and his household (10:44-46). But it’s in Antioch that it starts to explode amongst the Gentile believers, as the hand of the Lord was with those who brought the good news to the city, and “a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (11:21)

It’s in Antioch that the gospel was first taken directly to Gentiles. (v.20) It’s in Antioch that Barnabas first established a ministry partnership with Paul (v.25-26), setting the scene for the gospel to make its way to the ends of the earth. And it’s in Antioch that we see a first display of missionary spirit, in the church that would eventually become an important base for Gentile missions (v.29-30).

As the third largest city in the Roman empire, Antioch was surpassed in population only by Rome and Alexandria. It was at the crossroads for military and commercial traffic, making it a locus for eastern and western cultural exchange. Beyond that, it was the recipient of people who were willing to step out of their comfort zones for the sake of the gospel. Scripture tells us that the majority of those who fled to Phoenicia, Cyrus, and Antioch spoke the word to no one except Jews. (v.19) Only a few unnamed believers chose to preach to the Gentiles (v.20). Without their courage and the bravery of many more like them, we might not know Jesus today!

True to their name, the first Christians (v.26) acted as “little Christs” when they went where God called them, obeying Him and what He asked of them. Will you do the same today, church, and allow the hand of the Lord to rest on you? To work through you and bring about a city-wide movement of the gospel?