O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

THE LABOURERS ARE FEW

In a sermon that was preached last Sunday, Pastor Charles mentioned the need to constantly prepare for church leadership renewal. This concern arises from the fact that our church pastors are already in their 50s and 60s. This problem is not unique to our church but also to many B-P churches. As they age, they will not be able to do as much as they could. Eventually, they will have to retire from the ministry. The church is therefore in need of God’s people to be called into the gospel ministry. Otherwise, the gospel will be hindered and God’s people will not have shepherds.

Concern for the Harvest

Our Lord Jesus expressed His concern that the workers are few.  We read in Matthew 9:36-38 that Jesus showed compassion for the multitudes because they were physically weary and discouraged, cast aside or helpless (scattered abroad) and shepherdless. He remarked to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Jesus sought to awaken a similar compassion in His disciples. He impressed upon them that the harvest (which is a common biblical theme associated with the kingdom of God) will be plentiful. Before the final judgement comes, many people will be ready to be “reaped” into the kingdom of God. The problem is that there are too few labourers.

Life is just too busy and there is little or no time to serve God. If God’s people are finding it difficult to serve Him, it is even more difficult for them to serve full-time. Since the inception of Emmanuel Reformed Bible College, we have more students from other countries than those from Singapore to be trained for the harvest field.

The Privilege of Full-time Ministry

Ever since I responded to God’s call to full-time ministry 25 years ago, the Lord has been loving towards me and even to my family. Despite the challenges faced in the Lord’s ministry, He has always been faithful to lead, guide and help me. Was it a sacrifice on my part to give my life full-time for the Lord? Not at all. I like what David Livingstone said when he was addressing the students of Cambridge University. He testified that responding to God’s call to full-time service is not a sacrifice but a privilege:

“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”

Serving God is not a sacrifice but a privilege. However, not many view serving God as a privilege. Most people regard it as a burden rather than a blessing. Therefore, the problem of the scarcity of God’s workers still persists today. As the Lord of the harvest, Jesus wants us to pray to Him, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.

As we pray for more labourers in His harvest, do we realize that we are His labourers? Will we be willing to be sent forth by Him? The clarion call to Isaiah, is a call to us also, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”  May we respond like the prophet Isaiah, “Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

– Rev Quek Keng Khwang

Appointments for the Week

Monday, March 20

        7.30 pm     ERBL: OT Historical Books (Rev Charles Seet)

Tuesday, March 21

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Dn Benedict Sim)

Thursday, March 23

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: History of Presbyterian & B-P Churches (Rev Lee Hock Chin)

Friday, March 24

        7.30 pm     MM BS

Saturday, March 25

        2.30 pm     Ladies’ Tea Fellowship (Rm 1-6)

        3.00 pm     LTF / YAF

Sunday, March 26

  8.00 am Philip - A Light in Darkness Acts 8:4-8  (Rev Ho Chee Lai)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Philip - A Light in Darkness Acts 8:4-8  (Rev Ho Chee Lai)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.00 pm Session Meeting

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Church Camp 2023 13-16 June 2023

Anchoring Our Faith In A Postmodern World

Speaker: Pastor Tan Soon Yong

Radisson Golf & Convention Center, Batam

Registration for church camp 2023 is now open. You may go to the church's website at www.lifebpc.com/church-camp-2023 to register online. Please register early!

Infant Baptism on Easter

Sunday, 9 Apr 2023. Parents, please email the church office with your full names, contact numbers, and your child's name and date of birth by 26 Mar 2023 (next Sunday).

Door to Door Evangelism

19 March 2023 (Today)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30 pm

Contact: Amos

Vacation Bible School 2023

Theme: Mission Himpossible.

Calling all children aged 4-12 years old (N2-P6)! Registration for Vacation Bible School (31 May-2 Jun) is now open! Lifers are still needed for the available areas of service: teaching, logistics, craft, games, F&B and photography. Register now @ lifebpc.com/vbs !

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Yeo HS if you are available. 

Gospel Sunday

30 April 2023, 8.00am & 11.00am

When Death gives way to Life

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Zheng WT on the birth of a baby boy,  on 14 March 2023.

Our condolences to Mr Chiang MY and family on the homegoing of his father, Mr Chiang M on Wednesday, 15 March 2023. 

GB Enrolment Service

Date: 15 April 2023 Sat 11am-1230pm

Lunch Reception to follow.

RSVP https://gg.gg/sss-gb13

Street Evangelism @ Ion Orchard

7 April; 7-9pm. Contact Tan MS / Lee CW

Mental Health Seminar

Date: 6 May 2023

Time: 3-6pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speakers: Rev Lee Hann Yang & Dr Daniel Kwek

Register at https://forms.gle/Dax8umTHXtXEY9go6

Deadline: 30^th Apr

Exploring Christianity

Exploring Christianity is a course that looks at how the Bible addresses these pertinent questions about life. It is a 5-part series and is suitable for (1) Non-Christians searching to know who God is (2) Christians who would like to understand the basics of what it means to be a Christian.

The seminar will be held on 1 May 2023, from 9am-12.30pm at Beulah Centre. Lunch will be provided. All Lifers are encouraged to bring their non-Christian friends and family members to this introductory course on the Christian faith.

To register, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ExpChr2023 

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