Monday, June 7, 2010

The Bible - least read?

by Rev. James Wong
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”
(2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV).


I once met a young manager who told me he was not a Christian but he had read the Bible many times. I was wondering why would a non-believer read the Bible a few times ? And if he had read the Bible many times over why was he not a Christian yet? Many years later I heard that he has become a follower of Christ. This must be the case because the bible is ‘God-breathed’ that gives new life to those who read it.

Today is United Bible Society Sunday on our church calendar. The United Bible Societies (UBS) is a fellowship of 145 national Bible Societies working to place God’s Word in the hearts and minds of the people they serve across 200 countries and territories. The following information is an extract from http://www.bible.org.my/about/.

“In Malaysia, organized Bible Society work has been going on since 1815. Then, on 15 October 1985, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) was officially formed after becoming independent from the Bible Society of Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei. We continue our work today as a member of the United Bible Societies Fellowship - the international body for Bible Societies.

BSM serves the Malaysian Church by proactively advocating and being a partner-resource for the Word of God in Missions. We work with churches and organizations to fulfill the Great Commission by making the Word of God easily available and accessible to all.

BSM has also spearheaded and coordinated numerous projects to further the Bible Cause in Malaysia. Such projects have resulted in the Bahasa Malaysia Alkitab - the complete Bible in the Malaysian national language. We have also partnered with other mission agencies to translate the Scriptures into various ethnic dialects so the natives of Malaysia (such as the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak) may come to know Christ through the Scriptures in their own language.”

Are we reading our bible daily to gain understanding and grow in our faith?

God's Owner's Manual

B.I.B.L.E.—BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH!

Mary Jones, a 15-year old Welsh girl who walked more than 40 Km to buy her Bible is at the heart of the founding of the initial founding of Bible Society and the global network that now exists.

Reasons why Christians don't read their Bible
Wrong attitude— not related to life
Old book—hard to understand it
Don’t know how to read it
Don’t have time

Benefits of the Bible

1. It is essential for spiritual growth.
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” ~1 Peter 2:1-3 NIV

2. It is essential to spiritual maturity.
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” ~Heb 5:11-14 (NIV)

3. It is essential to spiritual effectiveness.
16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
~2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Your Action Plan?

Mission Trip 2010


Brigade Anniversary Dinner

Our BB and GB will be celebrating together their 25th and 22nd Anniversary respectively with a fund raising dinner on 26 June 2010 at Sanbay Hotel

We urge all brothers and sisters to give your full support to this ministry by purchasing tickets for their anniversary dinner. Tickets are priced at RM100 each.

The fund raised will be used for the BB & GB evangelistic camps held annually and retreats for their members as well as the Officers with the objective of leading members to follow Christ and to strengthen the faith of those who have believed. Please contact Captain Raymond Wong or Captain Carol Lai for the tickets.

God's Owner's Manual

Case Study
Mei Li is a Christian. She works as an executive in an International firm. Her job is very demanding and she is required to fly to Indonesia and Singapore quite often. She has two active kids to take care of. She usually cooks in the evening and sends her children to tuitions. Her husband is very understanding and accommodating.

Mei Li goes to church every Sunday but she does not have the habit of morning devotion. She knows that she is not going to grow much just listening to a sermon once a week. She seldom goes to cell group meeting because she finds it boring. She comes to you for help. She wants to have a consistent daily devotion. She would not be able to do it in the morning because she needs to prepare the children for school and do some house work before going to her office. How would you advice her?

Children Holiday Camp


Sunday, June 6, 2010

Bible Facts - The Books of the Bible


Church Concerns


Church Activities For This Week


A Fisher of Kids

by Rev. James Wong
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ~Matt 4:19-20 (NIV)

The first image that Jesus gave to this first disciple was ‘being a fisher of men.’ They were to follow him and their mission included ‘fishing for men.’ They must be able to win people to the Kingdom of God. The last image that he gave to his disciples was that, they were to go and make disciples of all nations.’ The life mission of a disciple of Jesus Christ is to win others into the Kingdom of God through their lives.

Fishermen are knowledgeable people. The type of fish they wish to catch will determine their methods and their fishing tools. To catch sharks you need to have a tool-set that is suitable for catching sharks. This tool-set is totally irrelevant for catching ikan bilis. A different tool-set, skill-set and mind-set are needed to catch the different types of fishes. “Change to adapt” is the key.

I once went fishing with KFC chicken and the fish never bite because fishes like worms. If I wish to catch fish, I must get into the messy business of hooking up the worms and getting my hands dirty. I must see things from the fishes’ point of view and not my point of view. I must give to the fishes what they like and not what I like. This is uncomfortable. But if I want to catch any fish I must catch them according to their terms and not according to my terms. Simple and obvious? Yet this is one of the greatest revelation I receive concerning reaching people for Christ and church evangelism.

There are effective methods and non-effective methods. The effectiveness of winning people for Christ lies in our knowledge of their needs; their aspirations, their likes and dislikes, their habits, their successes and failures, their fears, their pain and struggles. Different age groups have different needs and tastes.

The most challenging ministry in the church is the children ministry. After growing old for many years, it is so hard for me to ‘think’ like a kid and to see the world through their eyes. Many researches have shown that this is the age group that most readily accept Christ but it is also the easiest group that the church can lose without understanding their needs and tastes.

The Bible says: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30 NIV). It takes wisdom to win souls. May God grant us wisdom to reach a child. Take the challenge to invite a child to the coming children camp. I know Christ because someone invited me to church when I was a kid. I am thankful for that. Be a fisher of kids.

A Fisher of Kids

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
~Matt 4:19-20 (NIV)


1. Someone Brought Children To Jesus
Choices of the children are made by adults. They are young and they need guidance. They will go where we lead them.

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. ~Mark 10:13 (NLT)

2. There Were Hindrances to the children
Many people don't see the importance of Children in the church. Let us be an encouragement to the children in the church.

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. ~Mark 10:13 (NLT)

3. Jesus Welcome The Children
We are preoccupied with our own life and have little time with children, and even less for someone else children.

14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. ~Mark 10:14 (NLT)

4. Jesus Teaches About Children's Humility
Children do not boast like adults do. They readily receive God’s love into their lives. Never think that the children are not important.

15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." ~Mark 10:15 (NLT)

5. Jesus Blessed The Children
You can bless a child by being a friend; fun to play with and joy to talk to. What about be a fisher of kids?

16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. ~Mark 10:16 (NLT)

Vision: Are you moving forward... or in circles?


A Fisher of Kids

Read Mark 10:13-16 and answer the followings:

1. If you come to know the Lord when you were a child, share what impacted you most as a child to follow Christ?
2. Do you see the attitude of the disciples in the church today? Describe in more details.
3. What can you do to win more children to Christ today?
4. What are some of the needs of children today?
5. What can we do in the church to attract more children today?
6. How many children would you invite to the children camp?

Brigade Anniversary Dinner

Our BB and GB will be celebrating together their 25th and 22nd Anniversary respectively with a fund raising dinner on 26 June 2010 at Sanbay Hotel. We thank God for the BB & GB ministry in our church for the past 20 over years where many young hearts had been touched by the Word of God. To celebrate this special occasion, the Brigades have invited their first Chaplain, Rev Lee Tak Vui to be the Guest of Honour for their anniversary dinner.

We urge all brothers and sisters to give your full support to this ministry by purchasing tickets for their anniversary dinner. Tickets are priced at RM100 each. You can also sponsor a table starting with RM800.00 per table and above. In this case you will be given two complimentary tickets.

The fund raised will be used for the BB & GB evangelistic camps held annually and retreats for their members as well as the Officers with the objective of leading members to follow Christ and to strengthen the faith of those who have believed.

Please contact Captain Raymond Wong or Captain Carol Lai for the tickets.

Children Holiday Camp


The Marriage Course




Church Concerns


Church Activities For This Week