The Promises Easter Brings

Luke 24: 1-12

1) Promise of sins forgiven

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.                                            ~Romans 5:8

2) Promise of eternal life

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. ~John 3:16

3) Promise of a relationship with Jesus

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ~Revelation 3:20

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The Alpha Invitation

by Rev. James Wong

Would you invite a friend to the coming Alpha  Introductory Dinner and Fellowship on Thursday, 12 April 2012? We have included an Alpha Invitation Card in the Weekly Bulletin for the past two weeks for your use. What you need to do is to send out the invitation card and invite your friends to come to the dinner. The following are some useful information.

What is the Alpha Introductory Dinner and Fellowship night all about?

It is a night we invite our friends to church for dinner. After dinner there is a brief talk about the Alpha Course that helps us to explore the meaning of life, dealing with question like, “is there more to life?” So, we encourage the people to sign up for the course.

Who can attend the Alpha Course?

Alpha is for everyone. Non-Christians, non-church going Christians, new believers and also believers. However, for our church members we encourage you to bring your friends to attend.

What are some of the issues that the Alpha Course will deal with?

Alpha gives us a chance to explore the big questions of life such as ...

1. Is there more to life than this?

2. What are the purposes of life?

3. Why does God allow so much suffering?

4. How can I know God really exists?

5. Why do I need God?

6. What really happens when I die?

7. Is there really one true faith, one true God?

What would be the regular weekly session look like?

7:00pm Makan Time

7:45pm Sing along . Ice-breakers

8:00pm Life Talk (In English and Cantonese)

8:45pm Small group discussion

9:30pm End

Last year we had 92 people who attended the Alpha Introductory dinner. 52 of them were guests and after the dinner 24 guests signed up for the Alpha Course.

A research has shown that 75%-90% of people come to know Christ through their friends or relatives. A friend inviting a friend is the most effective way to share the love of God. Inform sister Yet Far at 215615 if you are bringing your friends.

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Becoming Perfect

by James Wong

Becoming perfect is a process working towards improvement and a better end. A perfectionist  is a person who believes that work or anything less than perfect is unacceptable. If you don’t know, very few people can live with a perfectionist!

Jesus teaches about being perfect but not being a perfectionist. He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). To understand the meaning of this verse we need to read the preceding verses starting from verse 43. It is a passage that contains the most concentrated expression of the Christian ethic of personal relationships. What does “Be perfect” mean?

1. To be perfect is to be like God. Our heavenly Father is perfect (see v.48). How can we imperfect mortals match up with the standard of God? We sometimes even hate ourselves because we know we are not perfect human beings. No one is. What is Jesus asking us to strive for when he says “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” How can we can become perfect like God? Is this possible?

2. God is perfect because he is gracious. God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45 NIV). God is a perfect God because he makes no distinction between the evil and the good, the righteous and the unrighteous. He gives them equal opportunity to survive by providing them sunshine and rain. Our ethical thinking demands that the good be rewarded and the evil be punished. Not so in the eyes of God. Then God must be unfair! God is not unfair, he is just good and full of grace. He gives to those who do not deserve it. This is grace!

3. To be perfect is to love our enemies. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:24). The great Jewish tradition and law taught one to love one’s neighbor and hate one’s enemies. It is a fair deal. To love one’s enemies and pray for them is contrary to all cultures. The Greek Word for love, ‘Agape’ used here means a determination of the mind. It is an unconquerable goodwill even to those who hurt and injure us.  To love our enemies is an act of the will. It is a decision we have willed ourselves into doing. It is a victory over that which comes instinctively to the natural man. This is possible only when Jesus Christ enables us to conquer our natural tendency to anger, bitterness and revenge.

4. To be perfect is to do more than conventional belief. There is no need for a religion to teach us to love those who love us. Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matt 5:46-48). Robbers, thieves, extortionist, extremist, murders, sexual perverts, human traffickers, drugs dealers, law breakers, jail breakers,  … they love those who love them. To love like them is just human. To do more is to be perfect like our heavenly Father. Are we doing more?