O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

Easter’s done. Now what?

Good Friday and Easter are always an important season of remembrance. Christians around the world prepare earnestly for this, some observing Lent and specially giving up something that they would normally enjoy so that they may focus on Christ. Many will commemorate Easter with a sunrise service. So many wonderful hymns, so rich in theology, are sung during this time.

But what happens now that Easter has come and gone?

You may remember that at the end of the recent Easter message, Rev Seet issued a challenge - “Can we ever do too much in the Lord’s work?”

To amplify that challenge we might say - Having understood the full measure of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, how shall we then live? How shall we build the church of Christ?

I’m sure you have come across this frequent admonition to be “Christ-centered”. Synonyms are “Christ-focused”, “Gospel-centric”, “Gospel-focused”, etc. One of the challenges of this almost reductionist group of statements is the difficulty defining what they mean. The other challenge is how we will know that an individual or a church is Christ-centered.

There’s a lovely succinct article by Paul Tripp (undefined) in which he lists what is means to live a Christ-centered life. First, that Christ is the SOURCE of everything we are (including our daily righteousness). Second, that Christ is the MOTIVE for all we think, say or do. Third, that Christ's glory is the GOAL of all we do and finally that Christ is our HOPE for now and for eternity.

This is a helpful framework as we consider the impact of Good Friday and Easter, as we think about the mission of the all believers (and of the church) to make disciples of all nations, to present every man perfect in Christ.

If Christ is the SOURCE of everything we are, then He is the source of the power of the gospel. If you remember the Easter message, we were also reminded that our efforts at evangelism are not measured in the number of people who are converted but by how faithfully we use every opportunity available to us to preach the gospel. The work of evangelism is Christ's power working through earthen vessels. Our labour in the mission field is Christ-powered, for He has called the various individuals and equipped them and prepared the storehouses with the needful for this work. Our efforts to teach the Bible do not depend on sagacity, erudite scholarship, eloquent speech, or engaging preaching of charismatic leaders. Praise God if we do have some. But we do well to remember that their abilities come from God. Without Christ, we are nothing.

If Christ is the MOTIVE for all we think, say or do, then we had better spend long soul-searching hours to determine if we are indeed labouring because we love Christ. It is all too easy to have other related motives creep in and take the place of Christ. It is all too easy to chant "For the sake of the Gospel" as a slogan without first seeking the Lord that He might cast out any selfish motive, any pride, any well-meaning but not Christ-centred desires.

If Christ's glory is our GOAL, then as a church, surely we must regularly examine whether we defend the various traditions of the church out of loyalty to tradition or because they (still continue to) promote Christ's glory. Similarly, we must examine if our desire to change traditions stems from a desire that Christ be magnified and not from mere desire to change what is old. And we must preach Christ, not just the right behaviours associated with being Christ's people. We must proclaim Christ, not just the benefits associated with faith in Him.

If Christ is our HOPE, can we be “… stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”? 1 Corinthians 15:58. Are we able to humbly serve and patiently wait, though no one praise us, though we face opposition, though the work of the Lord is difficult and we are weary? Are we able to boldly witness to others, head out to the mission field, commit resources and time to fellowship and Bible study groups? We are very good at counting the cost - but are we equally good at trusting God?

As we remember with gratitude that the life, death and resurrection of Christ means freedom from condemnation, freedom from slavery to sin, a hope of a glorious eternity and the promise of a salvation that we cannot earn but once applied to us, we cannot lose, I pray we will respond to the Lord's call with courage and fortitude. Not that which we drum up within ourselves, but that which we pray earnestly for the Lord to bestow so that we serve Him, always looking to Jesus - the author and finisher (SOURCE, MOTIVE, GOAL and HOPE) of our faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 – “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

– Elder Clement Tan

 * * * 

DISBURSEMENT OF CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING 2022

At our Christmas Eve worship service that was held on 24 December 2022 we collected an offering that was designated to help the poor, needy and underprivileged through Christian ministries in Singapore and overseas. We thank God for the generous giving at this worship service which amounted to S$83,623. This has been distributed as follows:

Local:

1.  Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled ………………………………….     S$2,000.00

2.  Breakthrough Missions Ltd ……………………………………………………..     S$2,000.00
(A Christian drug rehabilitation half-way house)

3.  Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens ………………………………………...     S$2,000.00

4.  Prison Fellowship Singapore Ltd ……………………………………………....     S$2,000.00
(A Christian ministry to help inmates of prisons in Singapore)

5.  The Hiding Place (Christian Home Mission) Ltd ……………………………..     S$2,000.00
(A Christian home for the rehabilitation of anyone who is in need of help.)

6.  Wicare Support Group ………………………………………………………….     S$2,000.00
(A ministry for the widows and the fatherless.)

7.  The Turning Point ……………………………………………………………….     S$2,000.00
(A Christian half-way house helping women recover from substance abuse and crime.)

8.  Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens ……………………………………………...     S$2,000.00

9.  The Helping Hand ……………………………………………………………….     S$2,000.00
(A Christian half-way house for the rehabilitation of all ex-offenders.)

10. Grace Mission Agri Pte Ltd ……………………………………………………..     S$2,000.00
(A Christian ministry that reaches out to the marginalized and disadvantaged.)

11. Singapore Christian Home ……………………………………………………...     S$4,500.00
(A not-for-profit outfit caring for destitute and persons from very low income families requiring long term medical and nursing care.)

12. Christian Outreach to the Handicapped ………………………………………     S$2,000.00
(A not-for-profit organization providing care for people with special needs.)

13. Needy families of students in Life SCC Ltd …………………………………..     S$2,622.70
(Our student care ministry in Yishun)

14. St Luke Eldercare ……………………………………………………………….     S$2,000.00

Overseas:

15. Operation Hope Foundation Ltd ……………………………………………...    S$2,000.00
(A Christian charity that helps orphans and the poor in developing countries.)

16. Filadelfia Shelter Home in Batam, Indonesia ………………………………..    S$2,000.00
(A ministry of Filadelfia B-P Church, Batam for abandoned children.)

17. Mercy Children’s Home, Myanmar …………………………………………...    $1,000.00
(A ministry of sister Rody Lal Nun Chhiar)

18. Blind ministry in Medan ………………………………………………………..    S$4,500.00
(A ministry of sister Roska Choi.)

19. Children of poor Christian families in Cambodia …………………………….    S$4,500.00
(A ministry of Rev Moses Hahn, our Partner-in-Missions in Cambodia)

20. Rev Dr Edward Paauwe, a retired pastor in Australia ……………………...    S$1,000.00

21. Rev David Weng, pastor of Providence B-P Church in Australia …………    $3,000.00

22. Rev Joseph Ng, an independent Singaporean missionary who conducts
theology courses at Life University, Cambodia ……………………………..    S$1,000.00

23. Rev David Yan, a pastor in New Zealand …………………………………...    S$1,500.00

24.  Preacher Mok Chee Cheong, serving at New Life BPC, London ………….    $2,000.00

There is a surplus of S$30,000 left from this offering after apportioning the above amounts. The Church Session has decided to use it to help 16 of our own members with financial needs: One member with $10,000, four members with S$2,000 each, two members with S$1,500 each, and nine members with S$1,000 each. – Pastor

Appointments for the Week

Monday, April 17

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

Tuesday, April 18

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Chia Ah Lak)

Thursday, April 20

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

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

Saturday, April 22

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

  3.00 pm YAF / MM

Sunday, April 23

  9.00 am Let Us Rise Up And Build Nehemiah 1:1 - 2:18 (Eld Ng Beng Kiong)

  9.00 am Chinese Service

  9.40 am No Sunday School

10.45 am Annual Congregational Meeting cum Election

  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

There are very limited rooms available. You can register by emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and allocation is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Passport details can be submitted via the same email address, or at the dropbox before entering the sanctuary. Love gift to defray the cost of the camp is welcomed.

Gospel Sunday

30 April 2023, 8.00am & 11.00am

When Death gives way to Life

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Door to Door Evangelism

16 April 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.

Thanksgiving

From Sister Esther L: I wish to thank the Pastors, Session members and brothers and sisters for their presence, love gifts, encouragement and prayers for my family and me during my mother's wake. Thank God for His mercy and grace that my mum eventually rests in God. Thank God for grace and mercy showered upon my family and me during this difficult time. All glory be to God.

GAF Tackling the common Dental Issues of the Adult Population

Date: 29 April 2023

Time: 3pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speakers: Prof Loh Fun Chee & Dr Nicholas Lim

Contact Lee CW, Sim SH, Ong BH

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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