Pastoral Messages (Page 77)

By Not Known In my childhood memories, there were lots of boasting. We boasted about who had more, whose dad was stronger, who had a better holiday, whose mom’s cooking was more delicious, etc. We boasted simply because we wanted power; we wanted to be better. Even though we knew we were not, we would still try to invent reasons to prove that we were better or more…

By Not Known It’s sometimes said that eating is our national hobby. Most of us enjoy choosing and consuming food, know restaurant ratings well and are delighted to give or accept invitations to dine. The Bible has a similarly positive appreciation of food. An initial vegetarian diet was soon replaced by freedom to eat just about everything (Gen 9:3). After Jesus,…

By Not Known Many of our adult members are the first generation in their families to be Christian. An increasing number of our rising generation were born into a Christian family. They were taught the faith at home and have grown through our various Christian education ministries for infants, children and youth. It’s a wonderful privilege to be raised in a Christian…

By Not Known The Chinese government has started work on a bridge to link Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau with a 50km siz-lane roadway. It will be the longest bridge ever. Bridges make connections God’s action in sending his Son Jesus into the world can be seen as the greatest act of bridge-building ever undertaken. The result is a connection between heaven and earth –…

By Not Known Christmas can be irritating. If you are travelling or live overseas, it can mean separation from family and loved ones. If you are working or serving in church, it means being busy while others relax. And then there’s the ceaseless pressure to work through ‘to do’ and ‘to buy’ lists. Meanwhile, the seasonal Bible readings and…

By Not Known people sometimes have a passive idea of what it is to be a Christian. Thus faith is seen as a static resting on Christ for salvation and then just plain resting. likewise, baptism can be seen as the end of a journey, rather than a mid-point on a journey that ends with our death. The bible shows us active followers of Jesus. Mary went on to follow her Son from…

By Not Known Anna wondered whether she could last the distance. Her seven year marriage seemed a lifetime ago and at 84 plus she knew that her days were numbered. Yet she waited with expectation. Every day she went to the temple and worshipped. Her eyes scanned the visitors … would this be the day when the redeemer came? (Lke 2:36-38) Someone else waited. Time was…

By Not Known Over the last few weeks we have met some Christian heroes of the second century: Polycarp, Felicitas and Justin. These all bore outward testimony to Jesus and were all martyred for his sake. Meanwhile the church grew in numbers and in its geographical spread. This was a church like any other in history: an imperfect company of imperfect saints. Problems soon…

By Not Known Christian heroism comes in many forms. Some are heroes in missions, evangelism or care of the needy. Others are heroes of the Christian mind. Justin (~ AD100-165) was born in Palestine of pagan parents. He pursued truth and meaning through Greek philosophy until his conversion to Christianity aged about 30. He writes: … I was delighted with the…