Gospel @ Work

by Pastor Calvin Lee

On Sunday, the church gathers. But from Monday to Saturday the church scatters

Daniel 6:1-2

We are to go as He went to penetrate human society, to mix with unbelievers....
- John Stott -

Powerful lessons that we can learnt from Daniel's life :
(1) Be Devoted (Daniel 1:8)
(Person) We must be reminded our primary calling is relationship to God, know and experience, serve and worship Jesus more.
(Purpose) Where you are may not be where you want to be but it's where the Lord in His sovereignty allows you to be there... therefore submit and surrender to God and ask how you can fulfill God's purpose for you while you are there.

(2) Be Dedicated (Daniel 2:48; Daniel 6:3)
Daniel stood out by his :
- Excellent Attitude
- Exceptional Qualities
- Exemplary Work Life

(3) Be Different (Daniel 6:4-5)
"We cannot make a difference if we are not different"
"It is our works that matters most, not words"

"Being different doesn't mean we must always be holy holy. We are not holy. In fact, we have many holes. We are holy because of the grace of God. Change is the word that makes us different. That change itself becomes the testimonial to others in our lives. We are not perfect, in fact we are all very imperfect. People says Christian are hypocrite, tell them there is room for one more. Jesus says only the sick requires to see the doctor. We are all sick people that's why we go to the church. Don't put up a front, be real. Meet your shortcomings, say sorry. Be humble to people around you. Show others that we are all constantly santified by the works of the holy spirit.

(4) Be Determined (Daniel 6:10; Colossians 4:2-6)
Prayer & Posture

BE WISE in the way you act towards outsiders. Learn to engage them. Bear in mind you have a purpose and a plan.

BE DISCERNING. Make the most of every opportunity.

BE GRACIOUS IN YOUR SPEECH. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.

Kingdom of God

Matthew 3:1-2
Mark 1:14-15
Luke 9:1-2
Acts 1:3
Acts 19:8
Acts 28:31
John 3:3
Luke 12:32
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 11:12
Matthew 13:44-46
Luke 18:28-30

Romans 14:17-18
The kingdom of God is meant to be experienced, not just theory

Matthew 13:31-32
The revelation of the kingdom of God grows

Luke 17:20-21
The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in you

Matthew 6:9-10
Matthew 24:14
Matthew 4:23
Matthew 12:28
Matthew 10:7-8
Matthew 28:18-20

I can't do anointing, I can't do gifting, but I can do obey. You can never fail praying for somebody, even though nothing happens, just say "Thank you Jesus"

John 14:12
1 Corinthians 4:20

According to experts, one of the best ways to identify counterfeit money is to be familiar with real money. Anything different is courterfeit. Jesus Christ gave us a test to identify counterfeit teachers. He said, "You can know them by their fruit - their character." In other words, we should be skeptical of teachers whose lifestyle contradicts their message. We can apply that test not only to teachers, but also to anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. Not that anyone is perfect, but if a person's lifestyle habitually contradicts biblical values, we might wonder whether that person is a follower of Christ. We also know that when we seek to live by biblical values, our lifestyles may conflict with those of people around us. When it happens, we can remembers the words of our Lord from Matthew 10. He said, "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves." Jesus said His followers serve as salt in society - we are to help preserve our society from moral chaos. He also said we are to serve as lights - we are to show people the way to God. Of course, when we stand for righteousness and justice, we can expect opposition. But Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven."

Isaiah 48:17
I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like the waves in the sea." We do ourselves a great favour when we listen to God's Son, Jesus Christ, and when we aim to follow God's will as revealed in the Bible. Doing so not only gives us peace and satisfaction during this life, it will give us a sense of fulfillment when we come to the end of our lives.

When we humble ourselves, admit our wrong, and come to God on the merits of God's Son, God forgives us. Of course, the foolist choices we have made may have consequences, but God will restore our relationship with Him.

Calling @ Work

by Pastor Alvin Lim / Brother Min Yang

What is my calling?
- there must be a caller (God) who calls
- primary calling : call to relationship (Being)
Matthew 7:23
Mark 3:14-15
Luke 12:13-21
# Jesus said, "for I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners"
- secondary calling : call to respond (Doing)
# Everyone everywhere in everything should think speak live and act entirely for him
# context is unique to each individual

Tension of calling
1. supernatural vs ordinary calling

2. core vs peripheral calling
# apostle Paul peripheral calling is tent making. His core calling is apostle to his people

3. individual vs corporate calling

4. clarity vs mystery of calling
# our calling can be for different seasons. It doesn't mean when you leave a place, you have heard God's calling wrongly.

Colossians 3:22-24
- to glorify God through our work

1. Your relationship to Being (God)

2. Your work is a vocation
# Catholic distortion
- sacred ministry : clergy
- secular job : worker
- idleness of work
# Calling
# Job

# Protestant distortion
- secular career : worker
- sacred ministry : clergy
- idolatry of work
Calling - Vocation

- Redefining work
@ it is just a job
@ seeing work as a career
@ seeing work as a vocation (work that carries a sense of calling)
@ your attitude in your vocation

3. YOUR calling in life is more than your work (vocation)
- our calling is not just a destination but a journey
Eccles 9:10
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 4:1
- family
- church
- community
- vocation

4. Your vocation is unique
# 3 things that ought to give us a clue of what you should do :
- should
- can
- want

Trekking through transitions

by Pastor Henson Lim

Cross Over

Before or after crossover is a period of transition
- change of leadership
- change of environment
(doubts, anxiety, fear. The more all these things we go through, the more God is with us)

A crossover is over once you have crossed the crossover

Deuteronomy - Joshua
- Strong and of good courage (mentioned 7 times from Deuteronomy 7 to Joshua 1)

Past
Deuteronomy 31:3-6
(Look at God's faithfulness in the past)
We can be strong and courageous because God is the one who goes before us. Keep our eyes on Him not on man. He has been faithful in the past, He will be faithful again and again.

Purpose
Deuteronomy 31:7-8
We have to be strong and courageous because our obedience will bless and impact others. Our faithfulness to our assignments are for the benefit of serving others.

Personal
Deuteronomy 31:22-23
It's one thing to hear it from others. It's totally another to hear it directly from the Lord. Write it down. Read it again. And again. Holding on to what he has said directly and personally enables us to be strong and courageous.

Promise
Joshua 1:6
We can be strong and courageous because we have a God who keeps His promise. Trace it all the way back to Abraham and know that we are partakers of the same promise as faith descendants of Abraham, in Christ.

Precepts
Joshua 1:7-8
We must be strong and courageous because living out the word of God without compromise requires strength and courage. In times of transition, the tendency and temptation to justify and compromise is the greatest.

Presence
Joshua 1:9
We can be strong and courageous because we know that God not only goes before us, He also promise to go with us. And His presence enables us to work from a position of rest.

People
Joshua 1:16-18
We can be strong and courageous because God will bring others to journey with us, to co-labour alongside us. Don't fall for the "I'm all alone" lie and trap. Stay in community, draw strength and courage from one another.

This is a season that God is repositioning His people. Time has become very urgent and short. But not every christian is aware of that. Begin to realise that you can't do it without transition.