The Complacent Church
Topical (Alan Catchpoole)
Serving the lord when the going get tough
1. An historical reflection Psalm 129
Today?
Continuity between the witness of Israel and our witness as Christians.
2. Our Lord’s warning and assurance John 16:33
“spoken … peace”
“in the world”
“I have overcome”
3. Paul’s advice II Corinthians 3:4-6, 4:1-15
3.1 We are not sufficient in ourselves. 3:4
3.2 We faint not – do not lose heart! 4:1
3.3 Three things to avoid lest we become disheartened. 4:2a
3.4 One thing – above all others – that we must do. 4:2b
4. Paul’s analysis of our situation II Corinthians 4:7-15
4.1 The problems faced. 7-9
4.2 The life and death of Christ. 10-15
Col 3:12-17 (CChong)
Grow through CoVid (2) –Reconnecting with Family
To reconnect with our families, we seek to live out…
a. The love of Christ (3:12-14)
b. The peace of Christ (3:15)
c. Thankfulness in view of Christ (3:15-17)
d. The word of Christ (3:16)
e. The name of Christ (3:17)
Key question for consideration & discussion:
What is one loving thing I can do for each member of my family?
Acts 6:1-7 (CChong)
Grow through CoVid (1) – Taking Another Perspective
a. The church had a conflict (6:1)
b. The church chose seven helpers (6:2-6)
c. The church continued to increase (6:7)
Key question for our consideration & discussion
How do I see God accomplishing His purpose in & through me even through the current situation?
Mark 14:43-15:15 (Sermon)
When Men were at their Worst
c.f. Mark 14:41
The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinner
1. The Loyal Friends didn’t contend for Jesus
a. The Deception of Judas (14:43-45)
b. The Desertion of Jesus’ Followers (14:46-52)
c. The Denial of Peter (14:66-72)
2. The Lawless Foes showed contempt for Jesus
a. The Defamation of the Religious Leaders (14:53-65)
b. The Dissociation of Pilate (15:1-15)
c.f. Acts 2:23; Rom 5:6, 8, 10
Questions for consideration & discussion
a. Recall a situation when it brought out the worst in me. From this incident, how has God surfaced for me what is in me or lacking in me?
b. If I were to take on the same perspective as Paul in 1 Tim 1:15-16, how would it affect the way I look at, relate & serve God & others?
Mark 14:1-42 (Sermon)
A Death That Meant Much More
Main point: The stage was being set for the Saviour’s sacrifice; it meant salvation for us & suffering for Himself
1. A woman’s anointing is contrasted against the others’ plotting of Jesus’ death (14:1-11)
2. The Passover event & the Last Supper are correlated to Jesus’ death (14:12-25)
3. The disciples’ unpreparedness is compared to the Master’s readiness for His own death (14:26-42)
Questions for consideration & discussion
a. For friends of our church:
Will you live under Jesus’ rule & receive His offer of salvation?
b. For followers of Christ:
i. How valuable is Jesus to you & what are you willing to give Him?
ii. What does Jesus’ death mean to you in your daily living?
Mark 12:28-44 (Sermon)
Truly Spiritual vs Merely Religious
1. A scribe questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment (12:28-34)
2. Jesus explained about the identity of the promised Christ (12:35-37)
3. Jesus warned of the pretence of the scribes (12:38-40)
4. A poor widow offered everything that she had (12:41-44)
Questions for consideration & discussion
How can I be truly spiritual in my life (especially with regards to my response to the rightful authority of God & my basic duty & genuine piety to Him)?
Mark 14-16 (Study)
Mark 11:27-12:27 (Sermon)
That’s Just What You Say!
Mark 11 begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem, being hailed as King (a descendant of David)
The crowd’s welcome was quickly met with the Jewish leaders’ opposition which would subsequently lead to Jesus’ death
a. (i) The religious leaders questioned Jesus regarding His supreme authority from God (11:27-32)
(ii) Jesus narrated a parable regarding the senseless hostility of the evil tenants (12:1-12)
b. The Pharisees & Herodians questioned Jesus regarding the secular duty to Caesar (12:13-17)
c. The Sadducees questioned Jesus regarding the spiritual reality of resurrection (12:18-27)
Questions for consideration & discussion
How does my life show that how I live & what I think are different from what the bible actually says? How do I go about reconciling the differences?