O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

LORD, BLESS OUR HOME

We thank God for the two marriage seminars conducted by Rev Gabriel Gan held on 4^th and 18^th November. Thank God for the Christ-centred messages that were preached. The importance of godly marriages and Christ-centred homes cannot be overemphasized.  A strengthened marriage in the Lord and a home that is a refuge from the world of sin are most needed today as we see increasing breaking up of marriages and families.

Committed to the Lordship of Christ

God’s children must first be committed to the Lordship of Christ. Jesus is not just our Saviour only but He is our Lord or Master. Paul reminded us, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). The importance of our consecration and devotion to the Lord and the love and obedience to His Word will certainly compel us to love those around us with the love of Christ. When our vertical relationship with God is right, our horizontal relationship with others (including our loved ones) will also be in place.

We ought to follow God’s Word to be committed to our spouse according to God’s ways (Ephesians 5:21-33).  In parental-child relationships, parents are to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The Bible is replete with instructions for parents on how to raise their children. For children, the fifth commandment of the Moral Law (Exodus 20:12, cf. Ephesians 6:2) still applies. Our parents, even though they are imperfect, are still God’s representatives to raise us up and to guide us as we grow in stature and wisdom. We therefore ought to obey them in the Lord and honour them.

Charity Begins at Home

Charity or love begins at home. This love is not a conditional but an unconditional one. When there is unconditional and selfless love in the family, there will be peace and harmony. How are we to love one another?  We must look at the love of God as our example (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). We can also refer to Paul’s great charter of love that is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

When we consider the demands of unconditional love that Jesus exemplifies, we have to ask the Lord for His grace to be committed to His Word and start loving our spouse, children and parents with the love of Christ.

Carrying Out Family Worship

Having a family time of worship should not be neglected. The old adage, “the family that prays together, stays together” still rings true today.

The husband/father must realize that he is the divinely appointed pastor and priest of the home.  The Christian husband/father delights to convey, even by reverent reading, “the sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2). He is the intercessor for his household. He comes daily before God to implore blessings on his wife and children (cf. Job 1:5). He is fully conscious that God has entrusted his children to him and his wife to raise them up to fear Him. The children are looking to their father for more than their material support, that he may be instrumental to their salvation in Christ.

Family worship helps to build up the family. It helps to shape the home. It fills it with wisdom, understanding of the Word of God and communion with Him. It helps children to learn to worship God in their young age and enjoy this spiritual relationship with Him. It also provides the opportunity for discipleship, that the children may become committed followers of Jesus (cf. 2 Timothy 1:5).

Parents ought to have bedtime Bible stories and prayers with their children. I used an illustrated children’s Bible and bought a few Arch Books Bible stories (they can also be borrowed from our church library, https://lifebpc.com/ministries/library) for family worship when my children were younger.

As children grow older and busier with schoolwork, it will be spiritually beneficial for parents to set aside weekend evenings to have a time of family worship with them. Joel Beeke’s 29-page book on “Family Worship” will be most helpful for parents who desire to know more of family worship and implementing it.

“As goes the home, so goes the church, so goes the nation” (Joel Beeke). May we see the urgency to take steps to strengthen our marriage and homes. May the Lord therefore bless and protect our home. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). May the words of this hymn be your prayer and encouragement to you:

Families all around us are crumbling every day,

Yielding to the enemy and throwing life away.
Bind our lives together, Guard us with Your truth;
When the struggle seems too great, Lord, keep our eyes on You.

Lord, bless our home, protect our home;

Let it be a refuge in this world of sin.
Lord, reign within, keep us strong and true;
And when we need You most, Lord,
draw us close, committed to each other.
Lord, bless our home; We give our home to You.

Thank You for Your goodness; our love was in Your plan.
Help us face the future always trusting in Your hand.
Keep us warm and tender; Keep us clean and pure.
Drive us to each other's arms, and make our love endure.

Lord, bless our home, protect our home;

Let it be a refuge in this world of sin.
Lord, reign within, keep us strong and true;
And when we need You most, Lord,
draw us close, committed to each other.
Lord, bless our home; We give our home to You.

-Ron Hamilton-

– Rev Quek KK 

Appointments for the Week

Tuesday, Nov 21

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Chia Ah Lak)

Thursday, Nov 23

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Nov 25

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

        4.00 pm     MM Thanksgiving Fellowship Meeting

Sunday, Nov 26

  8.00 am     Take Courage! Acts 22:25-23:35 (Rev Calvin Loh)

  8.00 am     Choir Practice

  9.15 am     Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Take Courage! Acts 22:25-23:35 (Rev Calvin Loh)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

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

Amendment to by-law to reduce frequency of membership roll updates

Members have been informed by letter that the Session has amended one of our Church by-laws so as to require membership roll updates only for the purpose of Annual Congregational Meetings where election of Session members will be held. Since this amendment is new, another membership roll update exercise will be carried out in January 2024. Thereafter it will next be carried out in January 2026 for the purpose of the ACM where election of the next Session will be held.

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Infant Baptism on Christmas Eve Sunday, 24 December 2023, 9.00am

Parents, please email the church office with your full names,

contact numbers, and your child's name and date of birth by 3 December 2023.

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 31 March 2024

will commence on 17 December 2023 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 10 December 2023.

Door to Door Evangelism 19 Nov 2023 (Today)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond  or Amos  

ERBL Evening Lectures

Two evening lectures offered from January-May 2024:

1) Old Testament Prophetic Books by Rev Charles Seet (Monday @ 7.30pm)

2) Bible Geography by Ms Lilian Lee (Thursday @ 7.30pm)

It will be conducted on-site at No. 10 Gilstead Road. It is compulsory for all Credit Students to attend lectures on-site and Audit Students can either attend lectures via Zoom platform or on-site. Interested parties can register for the courses online at https://www.lifebpc.com/erbl/

Deadline for registration: 1st January 2024.

MM Thanksgiving Fellowship Meeting 25 Nov 2023; 4-7 pm 

“My Three Pillars of Life” by Rev Daniel Khoo. All are welcome. Dinner is provided. RSVP if you are joining for dinner by contacting Bro Ignatius This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Closing date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sunday)

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Choong  or Bro Kelvin  if you are available.

Combined B-P Youth Conference 2023

8 Dec (Fri evening) & 9 Dec (Sat), Beulah MPH. “Jesus Christ, our Treasure” by Rev Mark Chen. Open to all teens & youth! Register at bpilgrims.com/cbpyc2023 by 26 Nov.

YF Camp 2023 

18-22 Dec @ Life B-P Church. “You’ve got a friend in me” Sign up at lifeyf.com before 26 Nov

YLM 2^nd Anniversary

31 Dec, 7pm @ Beulah MPH. “Christ our hope in life and death” by Eld M Ong. Sign up at tinyurl.com/ylm2ndanni

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