SIBKL @Sg Buloh Sermons

It seemed a bit out of sync at first that we speak on missions during CNY. But if you think about it, they aren’t so dissimilar after all. In both, you leave your home to visit another’s. You arrive bearing gifts, greetings and blessings. While you’re there, you make their lives sweeter. And to host an Open House is like reaching the nations at your doorstep. So yes, God’s call to missions is very adjacent to bai nian-ing someone during CNY. This week, we’re talking about Go Things.

As maturing believers, we make the step up from being consumers to contributors. Jesus has invited us to join Him in the building of His kingdom. The precise expression will be stunning and varied, and we are committed to discovering it together. But it’s not a question of whether, but where. This week, we spotlight God’s call for us to Sow Things.

To live is to grow. And we grow when we learn, discover, adapt, explore, attempt, fail, overcome, toughen up and soften down, among a million other possibilities. God expects us to experience growth. Lots of it. This week, we want to say Yes to growing spiritually. If you’re saying Yes also, then join us so we can grow together.

New years tend to come with big hopes for new things. A new you, a new life. Often, the bubble is quickly burst and by March, you are left feeling like every year is same-mess, different-day. How then does God start and sustain new things?

We’re beginning the year by looking at a gorgeous passage of the Bible that is Isaiah 35 to explore how God sustains the new things He begins.

In our final installment of Advent, we look at Christmas as a form of rescue. God reaches through space and time and sends us the very one thing that can save us from our wretched circumstances — He sends His Son, but in the tiniest, most vulnerable form. Even in our own lives, do we have eyes to recognize how our God loves to work?

A central part of Advent is the eager anticipation of our Lord’s return. The very last prayer in our Bible says “Come, Lord Jesus”. Does this figure in the way we approach Christmas? (Or all of life?) Our guess is not really. Which is why, this Advent, we want to help you see the glorious hope that comes with the return of King Jesus.

When Jesus came to inaugurate His kingdom, He began the process of repairing our broken world. This restoration will find its glorious completion upon His second coming. We begin Advent this week by reflecting on how God makes right all that has gone wrong in our world.

What does kingdom authority look like and how do we manifest it? Clue: it’s got something to do with binding up the strong man of its rival kingdom. We’ve just gone through a roller-coaster week as a nation. What’s next for ordinary folk like us now? Manifest kingdom authority.

By the way, this marks the end of our year-long kingdom preaching series. Don't miss the finale!

Wait, did I read that right? Jesus is not fair? Maybe you’ve wondered that before. Or maybe you’ve read the Parable of the Vineyard Workers before — the one where workers labouring different lengths of time all get paid the same? Yes. It’s that sort of weekend at church, and we got our sister Mei Choon sharing this very panas sermon this week!

The call to show hospitality is among the more overlooked expectations that God has on us. “My house is too small” / “…too messy” / “I got kids” / “I’m an introvert” / “Hosting is expensive” — we’re quite good at this. But the Lord calls, and He will supply what we need. All He desires is a disciple who will reach out to another. And maybe the best starting point to fulfil the Great Commission is to start with something like the Plate Commission. You’re most welcome to join us!