Discipleship - Pastor Matthew Foo

Pastor Matthew Foo is the youth pastor from Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC), Kuala Lumpur. He has been a youth pastor since 1998. Our church has the privilege of Pastor Matthew to lead in our youth camp starting 16th March in Lundu.(outskirt of Kuching)

This morning his sermon was on discipleship. It is timely for our church as we are embarking on the discipline of discipling our people.

He started with reference to Isaiah 58:11-14, in particular verse 12 "aged old foundation", he said this is about disciple making.

There are two methods in winning souls, one is by massive evangelism like Billy Graham crusade, and the other is one-on-0ne discipling. The result of one-on-one is better than mass evangelism.

Examples of discipling in the Bible:

Paul and Timothy 2Tim 3:10-11
a. Paul opening his life ti Timothy
b. Timothy followed Paul wherever he went
c. Involved in hand-on ministry

Barnabas and Paul Act 9:26,27, 11:22-26
a. Enccouagement
b. Correcting with right teaching

Jesus and His disciples Mark 3:14, Act 4:13
Jesus intruded in His disciples' lives in a positive ways.
a. Intruded into their lives
b. Holistic approach to every part of daily life

Moses and Joshua Ex 17:14, 24:13
Re-hearse into his ears
a. Modelling a lifestyle
b. Looking out for next generation

Abraham and Lot Gen 12:4, 13:5-9
Not all will turn out well.
a. Disappointment part and parcle of discipling
b. Keep on keeping on

How do we disciple ?
a. Engage him in Scripture
b. Disciple him life-on-life
c. Equip him to multiply his life
d. Maintain the centrality of Christ

Alpha Classic 2011

Last evening our church, FBC had our first week session on "Is there more to life than this?".

Praise God that the session went very well! We had about 14 guests attending. Some could not make it last evening, and about 8 teachers trainees were on holiday, they will join from third week. Therefore we had two groupings. I was the host of one of the group and I was apprehensive of the response of the group discussion, but praise God that it went very well, and most of the guests shared their feelings. A number of them shared that despite their material gains, they felt something was missing inside. They came to the right course! One guest of about 60 years said everyone will come to a stage where he or she will search deep inside, and find something missing. He said he had been searching since his student days. We all pray for him to discover Lord Jesus in this course. One former believer said he has not been to church for many years. Sometimes while working, he questioned himself whether what he is doing has any meaning. We pray he will continue this course to discover the meaning of life for himself. Another guest said he was baptized as a child, but now he believes in all religions. he wanted to know how can he be sure he will be saved by Jesus. Again we pray and encouraged him to continue this course and he will find the answers.

Overall, a very encouraging session. Both groups reported that the discussion were lively and interesting.

We pray that all our guests will come back for the following weeks sessions.

Glory to our Almighty God, who made this Alpha session a success!

Bird Cage

An inspirational video of what the Lord has done for us sinners.

Watch it.

God Has Big Surprises For Middle East

Just like Soviet Union and Berlin in 1989 where the Holy Spirit worked amongst the population to overthrow unpopular governments. Editor of Charisma J Lee Grady said we are witnessing similar patterns in Middle East.

He said we are facing Youthquake - freedom movements in the Middle East engineered by young Arabs. This youth movement has spread from Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran and Libya. Social Network site like Facebook has helped with the spread of information.

People are saying, the chaos in Middle East will result in militant Islamists taking power to enable Anti-Christ to emerge, but Grady believes that the Bible is a positive Book.

He said "My Bible says Christians are called to take the gospel to every nation—and Jesus calls us to bravely preach His message no matter what obstacles we face. He does not call us to be wimps, pessimists or fear mongerers. My Bible says Christ’s kingdom will increase, and that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (see Hab. 2:14). God wants us to have a victorious mindset about the future. After all, we are on the winning team!"


Looking at situations in the Middle East it is easy to be pessimistic, but God has His ways which are better than human ways.

In any case, let us pray for peace in the Middle East.

To read more click on the title of this post.

Crazy Mission - Francis Chan

About a year now since Pastor Francis Chan left his mega Church, Cornerstone, Simi Valley, California.

Many thought that he was crazy to leave his church and to so what he said was God's leading. He said it may seem crazy to people but to God what he has done was not crazy at all, but just following the leading of God to serve poor and needy people. Since leaving his church he has been to China, India and walking the streets of America to observe and serve the poor and needy.

In a recent interview he expressed that he was uncertain of God's leading in leaving his church, bu he said he knew he had to leave and that his congregation than was expecting his leaving.

If one said he is weird and his theology is incorrect, he said:

“If we say, ‘That’s a weird person, that’s a weird theology,’ it automatically excuses us from doing anything similar. And to me, I don’t see it as strange,” Chan says. “Honestly, when I read the Scriptures, I really believe the Lord puts a heart in us when we become believers. And when the Spirit comes in us, there is this concern for the poor and for those who are in need, and this love for them to where you go: ‘Man, I would happily give you the shirt off my back. I would happily give up my future retirement to help you guys stay alive.’”

Nearer to home, we in FBC has experienced someone whose walk is similar to Francis Chan, he is non other than Pastor Ben Wong from Shepherd Community Church, Hong Kong. Pastor Wong had come to help us on five occasions over the one year or so because we do not have a pastor. His church started with three people about 25 years ago, now they have 2,500 members. It is not the number that counts but his trust in the Lord every step he takes. Hudson Taylor is his model, trust the Lord in everything we do.

To echo his mentor, "Keep the main thing, the main thing". Meaning get into the basic of the Bible, and really follow all commands of Jesus our Lord.

To read more about Francis Chan click on the title of this post.

Good Book Blog

This new blog is started by 30 seminary professors from Biola University's Talbot School of Theology, California, USA.

Their objective is to help all Christians to understand the Bible better, as well as educate us in subjects related to Christianity. Subjects range from Apologetic to Theology. According to the professors Biblical literacy is low and this blog will certainly help.

The past two days I have been reading this blog and I find it useful, it has subjects in different categories.

Quote : "At a time when biblical literacy is at an all time low and there are so many muddled, uninformed views of the Bible, something like The Good Book Blog is such a breath of fresh air," said author of Hipster Christianity and blogger Brett McCracken.

This blog is for everyone. Quote "Overall, the Good Book Blog aspires to be a resource for anyone seeking solid biblical scholarship and a vital addition to the online evangelical discourse."


Start reading, you will find this blog a source of valuable Biblical information.

Wow! where can you get the works of 30 professors in one place! Praise God and thank all the professors for their passion to impart their knowledge free of charge!

Here is the internet address:

http://thegoodbookblog.com/

To read more click on the title of this post.

God Is Shaking the Arab Nations

Mission workers are saying that God is shaking the Arab nations as seen by the up rising in many of these nations. Latest news is that in Oman people are also rising up against their autocratic government.

Abdul Al-Latif an Egyptian Christian admitted that the uprising caused difficulties, but in these difficulties can bring blessings.

He said “Usually we say hardship is difficult and we are scared of it. But hardship has brought blessing, it has made us stronger in our faith,” he said.

Another Christian Moklis Amin said in the past people dare not share the Gospel, but now there is an opportunity.

People are now turning to God, they are praying for the Christians, Muslims, and their countries. Many are also going to Church.

The situation in many of these countries may be difficult for many yet Christians are rising to proclaim the Words of God.

However, all Christian elsewhere should not be naive but continue to pray for peace in the Middle East.

"The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous". Prov 15:29

To read more click on the title of this post.