The Spiritual Discipline of Reading the Bible

On 10th January, we gathered together to learn about the Spiritual discipline of reading the bible.
Why must we read the bible? Jesus says in Matthew 4:4 : "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Mouth of God = the bible.

Some ways we can receive the Word of God
1. Listening to Sermon (one of the easiest ways,yet,we have to discipline ourselves to get up early)
2. Studying God's word

After receiving the word of God........
we are called to OBEY
Luke 11: 28 Jesus says "Blessed rather are those who receive the Word and keep it"

Where does faith to obey comes from???
Hint : Romans 10:17

What is Scripture used for?
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

We are encouraged to memorise scripture...why?.
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you.

And we have to meditate on Scripture. It allows us to think deeper and put them into practice.

Join us this Sunday, 17th January for an Amazing Race @ Orchard Road! Support Joey Chen~
The next Spiritual discipline on prayer will be coming up in 2 weeks time. Come along and learn more about what prayer can do :D

2009 is coming to the end soon (:
What MHI had been doing for the past few weeks:

Alpha Celebration, after 10 sessions of Alpha course.

Most of us are filled with Holy Spirit strongly after these courses, especially the Alpha Weekend Away Retreat at Changi Hotel (:

MHI Christmas Party 2009 - 12 December !

It was a success ! !
A big clap to Ignyte team and all volunteers who organised and helped out in this party! (:
Glory to the Lord !

Wesley small groups' Christmas Dinner at Fort Canning Centre - 19 December 2009
MHI was invited & we had a great fellowship together.
Praise to the Lord ! (:


What's coming next?


31 December 2009
- Thanksgiving Dinner at Wesley Plaza at 6pm
- Watchnight service at Wesley Santuary at 10pm
Join us!
Interpretation should be provided.

3 January 2010
- Interpreted church service 930am as usual
Join us!
First church service of 2010(:
- Prayer meeting 1130am at MHI DIC
Join us in a time of prayer for a new year(2010) and thanksgivings for 2009!
And also, find out what's the schedule for next SF sessions.


Events coming up:

- Chinese New Year 2010
(to be updated)

Stay tuned ! Updates will be revealed soon !

MHI Centre Cleaning Day - 20 Dec

Dear all,

There will be a change in SF schedule for this Sunday to prepare for a special day next Sunday.

Christmas is coming and let's all join hands together to clean up the MHI Centre - the centre which God have blessed us with over so many years, using it as a time of fellowship, studying, learning and so much more!

See you this Sunday and let's enjoy a time of cleaning!

Christmas Party 2009

Counting down...
1 day left to MHI Christmas Party 2009!

Venue : Rendezvous Hotel, Straits Ballroom Level 2 (between the Cathay and SMU)
Date : 12th December 2009, Saturday
Time : 1 P.M.
Dress Code : Smart Casual ( Make sure you look pretty/handsome!! )

Excited???

There are 100 lucky draw tickets for first-comers only so please come and grab it at 1pm punctually. Otherwise you will miss this very oppportunity. Have a lot of fun and games! Forward to see you all coming on that day. Your presence time will be great appreciated for our Christmas Party.

Alpha Session 11: Why and How Should We Tell Others

Why And How Should We Tell Others

Why should we tell others

Jesus told us to. In the bible, Jesus says

• Go and feed My sheeps...
• Go and make disciples...
• Go and tell...

Everyone has a built-in need for Jesus

• We know of people who are searching for answers in life. Jesus is the best answer and if we don't tell them about Him, it will be very selfish

It is good news (the gospel means good news)

• It is natural to want to tell people about good news and good news travel fast

Dangers:

• Being insensitive to others
• Being fearful of telling others

Key:

• Trust God
• Befriend the person you want to share the gospel with
  

How should we tell others

1. Presence - Live the message

• The way we live is important (Matthew 5:13-16)
• Actions speak louder than words - we can make a difference to the people around us in our small actions
• Put others first

2. Persuade - Talk the message

• Persuade not pressure - pressure may scare people off
• You don't need all the answers - sharing the gospel with someone can be simple, not complicated. The gospel is for everyone including the children and illiterate (You can use John 3:16)

However, people will ask question and we should be ready to answer (reading the Bible helps). You can always ask your leaders if you are unsure about the answers

3. Proclaim - Present the message

• Invite them to come and listen to someone talk about Jesus (John 1:39-42)
• Tell them about your own testimony

4. Power - Empower the message

• God uses miracles to back up the message
• We shouldn't be afraid to ask God to show His power to people

5. Prayer - Pray the message

• Pray for opened eyes for the people listening to the message (2 Cor 4:4)
• Pray for boldness for yourself as you share the message (Acts 4:29)
• Tap on the power source (God)

Never give up...
We might never know the effect of what we have done but God can use what we have done.

Alpha Session 10 - How Can I Resist Evil

How Can I Resist Evil?

1. Why should we believe the devil exists?

o Because the Bible speaks of him in the Old Testament and the New Testament. (Job 1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Isaiah 14), (Ephesians 6:11–12; 1Peter 5:8–11)
o Because Christians have believed in his existence down the ages.
o Because it is clear from the horror and evil in our world that he is at work.

o BUT!!! It is just as dangerous to take too much of an interest in the devil as to doubt he even exists.

2. What does the devil have to do with me?

o The devil aims to destroy all humans

• The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (humans) may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

o To blind our eyes so that we cannot see God. The devil doesn’t want us to believe in God.
o He tries to feed doubts into our minds.
o He tries to tempt us to do wrong.


3. Should I be worried?

o No! Jesus has won a complete victory over the devil.

• Submit yourselves, then, to God.


• Resist the devil, and he WILL flee from you.


• Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:7-8a)


• I (Jesus) have given you (His disciples /Christians) authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (the devil); nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)

o We can live in Jesus’ kingdom and not the devil’s kingdom.

Jesus' Kingdom	Devil's Kingdom
Forgiveness	Sin
Freedom	Slavery
Lift	Death
Salvation	Destruction

4. How do we defend ourselves?

i. The belt of truth-knowing Jesus’ truth to counter the devil’s lies. (Eph 6:14)

ii. The breastplate of righteousness- believing Jesus can protect us from guilt. (Eph 6:14)
iii. The boots of the gospel of peace- being ready to speak about Jesus (Eph 6:15)
iv. The shield of faith- being sure of God’s promises. (Eph 6:16)
v. The helmet of salvation- protecting our minds from doubts. (Eph 6:17)
vi. The sword of the Spirit- getting to know the Bible and attacking the devil with its truth. (Eph 6:17)


• Christians call all these, the armor of God.

• How do we attack?

• By praying- the devil trembles when we pray. (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• By action- we attack the devil by doing the things that Jesus told us to do. (Luke 7:22).

Conclusion:
The devil is real and so is his influence in the world, but he is no match for God. We have no cause to fear the devil because we are now in Jesus’ kingdom. There is no reason for great interest in the devil.

Why worry about a loser?

Alpha Session 8 - How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit

Alpha Session 8: How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit?

To be strong Christians, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

1. What happens when people experience the Holy Spirit?
At Pentecost: There was great hunger and the disciplines were filled for the first time. It was an overwhelming experience.

Ephesians 3:18
“..power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ"
Therefore, know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

In Samaria:

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them;
they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:14

The Holy Spirit’s work was so dramatic that the local magician tried to buy His power.

On the road to Damascus:
When Paul received the Holy Spirit, he received his sight back.
- A complete turnaround

in Ephesus :
- those who believe but have not heard of the Spirit
- They were filled and began to speak in a new language

In the house of Cornelius the Roman
• The Gentiles were seen as outsiders.
• Everyone was given a new language of praise.
This new language is sometimes called the gift of tongues - it is a language for prayer

We can use it to
• pray for ourselves,
• for others
• to worship God.

2. Can anything stop us from being filled?
God wants to fill all his children with His Holy Spirit
but sometimes ..
we put up BARRIERS that make it difficult
We doubt that God wants to give us such good gifts
……but He does!
because ..

He loves us.
We get scared but fail to see that God gives only good things!
We doubt we’re unworthy of the gift…
but God promises to give to anyone who asks him!

Matthew 7:11 “...How much more, Will your father in heaven, Give good things to those who ask Him”

Alpha Session 7 - What does the Holy Spirit do?

ALPHA Session 7 -WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?

We are all born into a human family. What benefits will we enjoy as children of our parents?
In the same way, the HOLY SPIRIT gives us a new birth into God's family.
What does it mean to be Sons & Daughters of God.
-We have complete forgiveness
In Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
-We can be open and honest
Romans 8:16

For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children
-The Spirit helps us to be sure that we are His children

2. Getting to know God better
-The Holy Spirit is able to help us understand God.
-The Holy Spirit helps us as we pray
-The Holy Spirit helps us to understand the Bible

3. Growing in the family likeness
In a study "dogs do resemble their owners" *insert picture*

What are the characteristics of God's family: Love Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness... (the fruit of the spirit)
So what's the ultimate goal? - TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS

4. One Big Family
We are one family, the same Holy Spirit lives inside of every Christian - regardless of nationality, church, age, location, HI, HH or Hearing.

5. God loves to give us gifts.
Each of God's children are different, so He gives different gifts to each child.
But don't waste it, instead, use these gifts to help the rest of the family.

6. A growing family
The Holy Spirit is the breasth of God and helps God's family to grow
He gives us the power to live for Jesus
He gives us courage to tell others!

We know that every Christian has the Holy Spirit in them, however not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit BUT
the Bible says " Be filled with the Holy Spirit... "
How can we be filled?
Lets learn about that in the next session.

Summary:
The Holy Spirit:
1.Assures us we are God’s children.
2.Helps us to get to know God better.
3.Helps us grow to become more like Jesus.
4.Helps Christians live together as one family.
5.Has gifts for each of us to use to help others.
6. Helps to make the Christian family grow

God loves us …
So much … unconditionally
There is nothing we could do more that would make Him love us more or nothing we could do too wrong to make Him loves us less.
He is our Heavenly Father …


He gave us the Holy Spirit so that He would be with us always and we would grow to be like Him
We only need to obey & desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Alpha Session 6 - Who is the Holy Spirit

ALPHA Session 6 - Who is the Holy Spirit

Many people think the Holy Spirit is a ghost but NO
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person in the Trinity - The Father, Son & Holy Spirit

It is easier for us to know who God the Father is, or Jesus Christ the Son but how do we imagine who the Holy Spirit is?

What can we understand from the Bible?

1. He was involved in the creation of the universe
Gen 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Genesis 2:7
In the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

2. He is our source of Power
In the old testament, the Holy Spirit gave people power: Leadership Ability, Prophecy, Strength
Judges15:15
Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, …"We've come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines."
So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.
But ..this was temporary

3. The Holy Spirit was promised by the Father
God promised that the Holy Spirit would come in a new way
Ezekiel 11:17
"Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.”
Ezekiel 19-20
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Not for one person but for everyone at any time.
Joel 2:28-32
"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

4. Jesus and the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist announced that someone was coming who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit
Luke 3:15-16
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the throngs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire

At Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit came down on him and he received power
Jesus predicted that his disciples would receive the Holy Spirit, but still they had to wait

Luke 3:15-16
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
John 7:37-39
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
Finally…
After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven the Holy Spirit finally arrived
On the day of Pentecost the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in a completely new way. The disciples spoke in new languages, received new boldness and new power.
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Today the Holy Spirit is available to all of us, He can breathe new life into us, and give us power to live for God.

Alpha Session 5 - How does God guide us?

How Does God guide us?

Guidance is typically more of a step-by-step process
• God has a specific plan (a good plan) for EACH of us. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 12:2).
• It is wise to involve God in ALL our decisions (Isaiah 30:1–2).
• Without God we are likely to get into a big mess

God guides us in many different ways….
1. Through the Bible
• In the Bible, there are general guidelines we should always follow. (2 Timothy 3:16).
• God also speaks to us through the Bible about specific situations.
• If we make it a habit to read the Bible regularly, then God will often bring a particular verse to light just at the right time to help guide us in a decision. (Psalm 119:105, 130–133).


2.Through the Holy Spirit (The still small voice in our hearts)
• The Holy Spirit helps us recognize God’s voice.
• God speaks to us as we pray or when reading the Bible. (Acts 13:1–3)
• Sometimes He speaks through our feelings, desires and thoughts. (Philippians 2:13).
o We must test our feelings:
- Is it loving towards others?
- Will it bring God’s peace?
- We should also ask for confirmation
• Sometimes in more unusual ways like prophesies, dreams, visions, angels, audible voice (Acts 11:27, Matthew 1:20, Acts 16:10, Genesis 18, 1 Samuel 3:4–14).



3. Through Common Sense
• God wants us to use our brains to think about the consequences of our choices. (Psalm 32:8–9).

4. Through advice from others
• The wiser you are the more aware you will be that you need help to make the most of life (Proverbs 12:15; 15:22; 20:18)

5. Through Circumstances
• Our eyes should be open to opportunities and closed doors.
• But sometimes we need to keep going in spite of difficulties. (Proverbs 16:9).

Our job is to do what God has placed before us- be in that school, relationship or service- as best we can; using our brains and our energy to the full.
• If God has other plans or ideas then we can be confident that he will step in to put us back on course.

Conclusion:
• Don’t rush to decisions- sometimes we have to wait for God to lead us to the treasure
• Remember we all make mistakes but that God forgives us and gives us a second chance (Joel 2:25).

Alpha Session 4 - Why And How Should We Pray?

Why And How Should We Pray?

What Is Prayer?
• Prayer is one of the most important activities in our lives
• It is like having a 24-hour ‘hotline’ to God. You can speak to Him anytime and anyplace
• We pray > In the Holy Spirit > Through the Son (Jesus Christ) > To the Father


Why Do We Pray?
• To build and develop our relationship with God
• God loves to spend time with us
• Prayer changes our situations
• Prayer brings us joy and peace

Does God Always Answer Prayers?
• Yes, God give you as you have asked
• No, God knows this is not good for you
• Wait, God will answer you in the right time

How come God does not answer our prayers sometimes?
• Because our disobedience creates a barrier between us and God.
Examples include when:
1. Our motives are wrong
2. We don’t forgive others
3. Haven’t told God about the things we have done wrong


We can pray in any language we want to. God is a God of all nations

How Do We Pray?
• Thank You
• Sorry
• Please

You can pray anytime, any place and while doing anything. However, it is good to have a regular time to pray alone so that you do not get distracted. It is also good to learn to pray with other people

Alpha Session 4 - Why and How should I read the Bible

Why and How should I read the Bible?

• According to the Guinness Book of Records, The Bible has been the biggest bestseller of all time.
• The Bible is also the most powerful book around.
o Many people have had their lives changed by reading the Bible
• It is ALSO the most precious book around.
o Many people risk their lives to keep a copy of the Bible.
• The Bible is really a whole library of short books slipped into one cover
• It is divided into two sections:
o The Old Testament covers the history of the Israelite people up to the birth of Jesus.
o The New Testament covers the life of Jesus and his first followers who set up the church.
• If we combine both sections there are 66 books in total.
o Some of these books are like history books; others are full of poetry and love songs.
• It is full of stories…
o Stories of amazing people and amazing events
o Romance, war, revenge, love, sacrifice, murder, sex etc.
o And they are true stories!
• Key fact: It is no ordinary book
o It is God’s Book
o Christians believe that the Bible was written through an amazing partnership between God and its human authors

1. An instruction manual for life. (2 Timothy 3:15–17).

• We all need instructions- not everything comes naturally
• Just like the activity just now, many people live lives clueless of what to do and what the purpose of life is. I’m sure you felt that you could use some instruction.
• Because God created us, he knows what is best for us, how we can get the best out of life.
• The Bible can show us how to live for God.
• The Bible can correct us when we are living wrongly.
• Sometimes we humans want to be free from any instruction and we think the Bible correcting us and instructing us is boring. We want freedom. Not realizing that the instruction and correction is for our own protection. Just like the goldfish.
• But you may say...it’s so old? How would it apply to me?
• It provides us with principles that won’t change with time.

2. A way of relationship

• Written communication can also lead to real relationship.
• The Bible is about relationship with God. It is like a love letter, SMS, email, MSN all rolled into one. It is how we will get to know Him. Through the Bible we hear from God and we get to know Him.
• God speaks through the Bible before we are Christians to bring us to Jesus.
o And when we are Christians, God speaks through the Bible
to build the relationship
• The Bible-
o Helps us become more like Jesus
o Helps us when the going gets tough
o Helps us to know what is right
o Helps us towards health and healing
o Helps us beat evil
o Helps us to be clean on the inside
o Helps us by giving us power

3. How do we hear God speak through the Bible?

• In any form of communication, the right conditions are important.
• Choose a time when you are not rushed or stressed-if possible make it a regular habit
• Choose a place where you are relaxed and where you won’t be disturbed. (Mark 1:35)
• Begin by praying: Ask God to speak to you through what you read.
• Don’t switch of your mind and wander.
Ask yourself: what does it say about God?
What does it say about me?
What does it say about what I should do?
• Put what you have read and learned into practice

• God speaks to us in many different ways. The most common way is through the Bible.
• The Bible is an instruction manual for life
• It’s a way of relationship with God.

HI EVERYONE!
Ever wonder what's coming up this December?
If so, fret no more! =D
Here's the programmes, haha.

Sat 5 Dec - Alpha celebration weekend
Sun 6 Dec - Prayer Meeting & Alpha celebration weekend
Sat 12 Dec - Christmas Party
Sun 13 Dec - SF takes a break from Christmas Party!!
Sun 20 Dec -Bible Giants
Wed 23 Dec - Candlelight Service
Fri 25 Dec - Christmas Service!
Sun 27 Dec -Christmas Celebration

More details will be given nearer the dates, so stay tuned and keep a lookout for the posts as they come rolling in!
Those doing worship, don't forget to prepare for it ya!
See ya guys around! *winks

Hi everyone!

Don't forget that 29th November is Family Life Worship!
YWCA Ballroom level 2
Do come for it because...
children's ministry is leading worship! XD

Alpha Weekend Away

Hi SFers!

I'm sure everyone had a wonderful time at the ALPHA Weekend Away !!!!

We learned much more about the Holy Spirit..
1. Who is the Holy Spirit
2. What does the Holy Spirit do
3. How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit
4. How can I make the most of the rest of my life

I was touched to see such a spontaneous turnout and I am sure everyone who was at the weekend away was revived in a very special way!

Some may feel like this was a once in a lifetime experience but don't forget that the HOLY spirit dwells in us and we just need to invite our Almighty God into our hearts and into our lives!
Some of us felt God speaking personally to us, some were touched by worship, others had a time of reflection and many felt a revival and renewal in their walk with God.. Praise God for that!

As we continue coming back for the last few weeks of Alpha, let us unite as 1 body of Christ, as 1 body in MHI to be God's army.
To Grow deeper in Knowledge of His word and to step forward to spread this Gospel of our wonderful Lord and Saviour!

I thank God for all of you and I pray that He will continue to use each and everyone of us, both in our strengths and weakness to encourage each other in this Ministry, to the HI's and to the world!!!

The Great Commission
Matthew 28: 16 - 29

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Weekend Away!

Date : 14 - 15 November 2009 (Sat & Sun)
Time : 9.45am
Venue : Changi Village Hotel, Cube 3 (function room)

The buses that stops at Changi Village bus interchange are: 2, 59, 109

The bus that stops beside Changi Village Hotel is: 29

You can take Bus 2 from Tanah Merah MRT Station
Or
Bus 29 from Tampines Bus Interchange

Remember to sign your forms and hand them up before Saturday!

Hello all,

It was the Deaf Awareness yesterday, 1 Nov.

Thanks those who wore yellow/black MHI shirts, to support the ministry during our usual 930am interpreted service in Wesley!

And also, those who turned up for our monthly prayer meeting too!
We learnt about Fruit of Spirit under God's nature from Wei Nurn's teaching.

Next Sunday(8 Nov),
Our Alpha course will be resumed, as usual 1130am at MHI DIC.

Updates about upcoming events:

1) Youthacts Camp (3-5 Nov) (If you read this update in time)
They will be having BBQ on 3 Nov, you're welcome to join us!
It's at National Service Resort & Country Club
Free shuttle bus from Tanah Merah MRT station, Exit A (last bus: 830pm).
BBQ is from 6pm onwards.
Do contact Anthony for further quries. Thanks!

2) Alpha Weekend Away Camp (14-15Nov) - *only for Alpha members
Consent forms are just released.
Please get one from Anthony if you are interested!
Fees for the camp:
Non-working person: $25 each
Working person: $50 each


See you all around during all these activities! (:

Alpha Session 3: How can we have faith?

Alpha Session 3: How can we have faith?

We used to ask ourselves questions relating to our faith in God and sometimes even asked doubtful questions about Jesus existence.
However later on we found ourselves asking these qns:

1. People asked me to pray for peace in my heart but I don't think anything will change even if I pray
2. My family is going through Financial ($$) problems , I need God to help but He's taking too long
3. I need to spend time studying for exams and don't have time to go for Church service and have quiet time with God, it's ok right?

When we ask such questions , do we place our faith in

GOD or Personal Feelings?

Let's take a look at the : Cola Challenge
We test the different Colas on the table but did we all get the same answers? ?
Some groups had similar answers but still not every group was sure of their answers although they tasted the colas.

In our Christian walk, some of us have already tasted what Christianity is like but we still have difficulty being sure. Do we base our beliefs in our Personal Feelings or what people tell us? Or do we base it on factual knowledge?

What about placing our faith in GOD ?
Specifically - THE HOLY TRINITY – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Think about what our beverages 3-in-1 coffee or tea..
These have been specifically researched and measured to fit the average consumers taste. It is an almost perfect mix with all 3 elements, coffee, creamer and sugar.

THE HOLY TRINITY is an even more perfect 3-in-1.
How can we base our faith on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

1. God the Father offers us promises
(of authority) John 10: 27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand

(of love) Isiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"says the LORD,
who has compassion on you
Jeremiah 31:3
I have loved you with an everlasting Love, I have drawn you with
Loving Kindness

(of Reassurance)
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart -
Deuteronomy 31:23 Be strong and courageous, for …I myself will be with you.

Let’s Discuss:
a) Do you think u can believe these promises of God??
b) Which would you rather believe in, feelings only or God? Why?
c) What would it take for you to believe in God? Think about someone u know who is a non-believer, do u think the person will believe in God after understanding all of this??

2. What Jesus did?
This is so simple to be told and yet so difficult to feel.
We watched a segment from the movie “Passion of Christ” and saw how Jesus carried the cross after being whipped and eventually very painfully nailed to the cross. Jesus cruxificion was a sign of God’s love for us. That God the Father sent His son to die for us so that we are forgiven.

3. What the Spirit does?
The Holy Spirit as a person of God and a presence within you.

Romans 8:9 “ When we invite Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us.”

The Witness of the Spirit frees us from our sinful self.
Romans 8:2-4
“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering .And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”


This verse also tells us that we are set free from a spirit of bondage.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

The Spirit bears fruit when we invite Jesus into our hearts and the fruit is seen in the verses in Galations, Love, Joy, Peace Patience, Kindness etc.. Remember how some of us went to Philippines and we were able to do God’s work with a sprit of love, joy, peace, patience.

The Fruit Of The Spirit
Galations 5:22 - 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

The Spirit is able to work within us, to transform us, relationships change and we start being conscious about being a better person, being better brothers and sisters in Christ and we start touching lives around us.

Let’s Discus:

1. Does faith have to be a leap in darkness or are there reasons we can be sure of our faith??
2. The talk mentioned that being a Christian changes us, what sort of a person would u like to be.. (Which of those maybe from Galations?)
3. Do you think you can do it on your own or do you think you need God’s presence in your life?

Alpha Session 2 - Why did Jesus Die?

Why did Jesus Die?

The Four 'P's of sins

1. The Pollution of sin

It pollutes us and makes us unclean. Sins are not just external acts but they come from within, which is our hearts.

Mark 7
²⁰He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' ²¹For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'

2. The Power of sin

When we continue to sin, we allow the devil to have control over our lives.

The Bible says that we become a slave to sin and it has power over us.

John 8:34 – Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

3. The Penalty of sin

This is like how the referees give a red card to the player for diving, injuring other opponent's legs – it is called penalty. What happened to the players who are penalized? They are out for the next match.

Every bad thing we have done has a penalty or a punishment that we cannot pay on our own. If God does not punish us for the sins we have done, he is not a good and holy God. When God is not good or holy, he is not worth following or worshipping.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. The Partition of sin

Sin separates us from God and creates a high wall between God and us. This makes us feel far away from God.

Isaiah 59

² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

This is how we commonly don’t know God due to the separation.

Demonstration - Water (Us), Iodine (Sins) and Bleach (Jesus)

• When God first created us - we are like the clear water, pure and clean.
• We started to sin (stealing, lying, cheating, gossiping etc.) - the water becomes light brown with the introduction of iodine.
• In the beginning, we think it is fine to play with our sins since we know that our sin become part of us. But what happened if playing with sins suddenly became serious burden?
  
• Growing sins began to chain us and we became slaves to our sins. The water becomes darker and darker brown in colour. We find it impossible to break the chains.

• We do good works like donating money to the needy and poor, obeying our parents etc
• We go to the church to worship every sunday or even if we go to temples and offering something to the gods,
• We study hard for a good degree, become a successful businessman, manager, actresses,
• What would happened to us? Sadly there is still a bad new for us that we still fail to reach GOD because of our sins despite of good works, good religions and personal achievements.
• God’s holiness can’t be denied as this is why God declares his stand as a holy God.

God sent Jesus to die in our place and to suffer the results of our sins. God loves us much!

Jesus is our substitute and because of Him, we do not need to pay the penalty of our sins and die. Jesus’ death on the cross took care of the results once and for all.

Romans 5:8

“God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinner, Christ died for us”

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Perish mean lost

Eternal life do not mean up to 100 years old. It means after our death, we go up to the heaven with Jesus!

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Once you believe Jesus, what happened to you?

Congratulations to you, you able to walk closer to God through Jesus Christ as a Bridger.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When you believe Jesus, you are set free.

When you have that freedom,

1. Pollution of sin removed – cleansed (set free to be holy)
2. Power of sin broken – redeemed (set free to obey God)
3. Penalty of sin paid – justified (set free from condemnation)
4. Partition of sin destroyed – reconciled (set free to fellowship with God)

God gave you a gift - His Son, Jesus, to die for you so that you will be saved and have eternal life).

Will you accept this gift today?

Alpha Session 1 - Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?

Historical Facts about Jesus

These are facts that everyone agrees on, historians, not just Christians.

1. We know he was a Jewish Man born in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago.
2. Famous as great teacher and miracle worker
3. He was crucified by the Roman Authorities.
4. His followers believed He was the Son of God and he rose from the dead and he took the good news throughout the world.

Jesus was fully Human

Jesus was fully human. He had a body, emotions and experiences just like ours.

• Jesus was tempted in the desert.
• He was hungry after 40 days.
• He was angry when people were doing evil things in the name of God.
• He was sad and cried when his friend died.

Let’s look at What he said about himself

1. “I AM” the bread of life: People are hungry for significance.’ Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” In other words, `If you want that spiritual hunger satisfied, come to me.
2. “I AM” the light of the world: Many people are depressed, disillusioned, in despair—they’re in a dark place. Jesus said: “I’m the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
3. “I AM” the resurrection and the life: Mother Teresa was asked before she died: `Are you at all afraid of dying?’ And she said, `How can I be? Dying is going home to God. I've never been afraid. No, on the contrary,’ she said, `I'm really looking forward to it!’
4. “I AM” the truth: The world has been confused. We think if we have the latest phone and the best clothes, we’ll be happy. But when we get it, strangely…we’re still empty. Jesus said: “I'm the truth. I’m what will satisfy”
5. He claimed to be able to forgive sins (Mark 2:5).
6. He claimed to be Son of God (Mark 14:61).

Let’s think…

1. A good man | 2. Tell the truth | 3. God

6. A mad man | 5. Disillusioned | 4. Not God

9. A bad man | 8. Lies | 7. Not God

• If Jesus was a good man, a good teacher as everyone says he was
• then he would tell the truth
• If he told the truth and he said he was God, then he must be God.

• If Jesus is not God,
• One possibility is that he could’ve really believed he was God, so he was disillusioned
• That makes him a mad man.

• Now, if Jesus is not God, there’s another explanation.
• He lied about being God, just to be popular,
• If he lied to be popular, then he was not a good man or good teacher but a bad man
• then, he couldn’t have been a good teacher or a good man, because he was a bad man

He was either a Con Man, Mad Man, or the one and only God.
So, why do Christians believe that Jesus was not a mad man or a con man but the one and only God man?

Well, we look at some evidence

1. Well, the first area we cant look at: what did he teach? His teachings formed the foundation of Western Civilization. Many of our laws were originally based on the teaching of Jesus. We're making progress in every field of science and technology—but no one’s ever improved on the moral teaching of Jesus. They're the greatest words ever spoken. They're the kind of words you'd expect God to speak.
2. Then what about his lifestyle—what about the things that he did. Miracles: Healed the sick, women with haemorrhage, fever, leprosy, made the lame walk again, gave sight to the blind. And this guy was simply a carpenter by profession.
3. His Character: He was kind, compassionate, welcomed those rejected by society, treated them with respect. Look at Jesus’ courage. When he was being tortured, he said: “Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing.” Could such a person really be evil or mad?
4. Fulfilment of Old Testament Prophecies: He fulfilled over 300 prophecies. Maybe you think he was a kind of conman who went to read all these prophecies and he thought, `Right, I’m going to go through all these and I’m going to fulfil them in my life.’ …. It would be really difficult! Because firstly, there were so many prophecies, and secondly, he had no control over many of these things—there were prophecies about how he would die and even about the place of his birth – he couldn’t have controlled that!
5. His Resurrection: How do we know the resurrection really happened?

• His absence from the tomb
• He appeared to many people at different times – Some people say it was hallucinations. It is highly unlikely that even two people would have the same hallucination. Jesus appeared 11 times, once to 500 people. 500 people cannot possibly have the same hallucination at the same time!
• The immediate effect – here was a group of disciples who were discouraged, depressed, fearful, hiding—and something occurred that totally changed them such that they went around telling everybody – it’s a phenomenon, the way the church grew
• Christian experience through the years. Millions of people down the ages have experienced the risen Jesus Christ. And it’s people of every ethnicity, continent, nationality, every economic, social, intellectual background, from all walks of life. They have this common experience of the risen Jesus

Few of those who are famous now will be remembered next year, let alone next century. 2000 years after Jesus lived not millions, but billions of people follow him.