Monday, November 9, 2009

Session 9: The Hope of Christ’s return (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Hey my dearest ROR..
sorry for my lateness.. yup this is the notes for Session 9.. thousand apologies!! -- (Rachel)
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Set down individual short term (ST) goal and long term (LT) goal before the start of discussion.


1) What is our perception of death before receiving Christ:
- Influenced by Taoist beliefs:
o People go to hell after death
o the concept of reincarnation
o spiritual bondages
- influenced by other false teaching
- current system: to earn their way towards good life (heaven) after death (similar to the Jewish Sadducees)

2) Then how Christianity differs from the current world system in viewing death?
- There is hope after death ( eternity)
- And this hope is assured in Christ

3) How can we then share this assurance and hope with non Christians?
- Take the initiative to share and invite them to find out about God (to have the personal experience with God)

4) How do you live a life that is in the hope of Christ return daily?
- It’s always a struggle; we must set our vision on God daily
- Is’t necessary must be in the circumstances of suffering?
- To die to ourselves daily – to be still and to be in His presence; it does not need to be a session of conversation but rather we can always be quiet in His presence.
- If we know Jesus is coming in a later time we will plan life according to our way, seeking earthly treasures before His coming.

We should look back at Jesus’ life, his close intimacy with God allows Him to have the hope and drives him in his ministry. He sets His vision on things that are eternal not that of temporal.
2 Cor 5:1
2 Cor 5:9-10

The true reward of heaven itself is the true intimate relationship with God, the restored kingship and worshipper relationship.

Philippians 3: 13
We may be crippled in the past or let things cloud our vision towards God’s true calling. We need to have an upward perspective in our life. So we then should set our goal in perspective of Christ return.

5) Look back at the ST and LT goals we set ; how then should the hope of Christ’s return affect the way we measure opportunities, set priorities and use our resources?

For example: to bless children that are suffering
Realign our goal from God's perspective.

6) Reflection: Is our goal more self centered rather than God-centered?

There could be increased ‘worldly appetite’ in people, especially Christians and it has become a distraction to live a life for God. It is then only through God can He reveal to us how we can realign back to Him.

We agreed that material things cannot satisfy our heart desire. If we used the resources that God bless us with for God’s glory and ministry, then the void in our heart can only be fulfilled by God.

7)Reflection: Is it wrong to have worldly craving? Or should we ask rather what is the intention behind these craving?

We should then come in humility to lift our goals into God’s hands and ask Him to help us re-align ourselves to His purpose.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Session 12: Spiritual Boy Scouts

1 Nov 2009 Cell group meeting (Leader: Serene)
Last lesson of 1 Thessalonians Part 2 book!


Recap of last 5 lessons:
YX, Paul & Sarah (Lesson 7 & 8)
Lesson 7 (1 Thess 4:1-8):
- Recognizing that our body belongs to God
- Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us
- 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
- Decide who we are going to live for
- Decide against any kind of sexual immorality
- Decide to learn self-control
- Decide it’s not worth the price
Lesson 8 (1 Thess 4:9-12):
- Lead a quiet life, MYOB, Work with your hands
- Application: Upcoming Mission Trip to Karimun!
- Reach the dying world for Christ!

Wilson, Jon, James & Derrick (Lesson 9)
Lesson 9 (1 Thess 4:13-18):
- Jesus will come back!!!
- Re-evaluate life’s priorities: Put God first!
- Do not be sucked into the world so much… (Satan’s ploy to distract us from God!)
- Re-affirm our faith about God that He will come back for us!
- We have HOPE in Christ

Susan, Emma & Kenny (Lesson 10 & 11)
Lesson 10 (1 Thess 5:1-11):
- Live like Sons of the Light & become more Christ-like
- Our purpose & calling are different when we become reborn in Christ
Lesson 11 (1 Thess 5:12-15):
- Pay for cell leaders to go for Hawaii trip! Juz kidding!
- Follow our leaders!
- Cell group is just like family life: Need to get along with each other.

Values of our cell group:
1. Clear Purpose – fellowship & spiritual growth
2. Group Attendance – give priority for cell group
3. Safe Environment – where ppl can be heard & feel loved
4. Be Confidential – keep anything shared strictly confidential within the group
5. Spiritual Health – give each other permission to help us lead a healthy spiritual life
6. Welcome Newcomers – invite others & warmly welcome them
7. Building Relationships – get to know each other & pray for each other regularly

Lesson 12 (1 Thess 5:16-24):

Spiritual Partnership between us & God
1. Our Part (v. 16-20) – we have the free will to choose and the responsibility to do so
2. God’s Part (v. 23-24)

My Part in Preparing for Christ’s Return (v.16-20)
1. Be joyful always – remember that we do not deserve anything, but view everything as a gift from God.
(Paul: Also manage our expectations, because we are nothing apart from Christ, we are all sinners. Who are we to treat others with contempt when they don’t meet our expectations? Susan: So should we have expectations of others? Paul: Nothing wrong in having expectations, but must learn to be ready to forgive & accept when they fall. Serene: Have expectations but leave everything to God, and accept God’s will & plan for us & whatever He decides to give us. Paul: We can expect things from God, but we must learn to trust in Him & learn to hear from Him before we expect, not expect out of what we think)
2. Pray continually – carry a running conversation with God like you would a friend. Tell Him everything, there is nothing too small for Him. Be specific & tell God exactly what you want. Learn to be silent at times.
(Emma: Being aware of God & can pray at any moment. Paul: Can be in the context of speaking in tongues. Live a life of speaking in tongues. Attune your spirit & won’t be limited by English vocabulary.)
3. Give thanks in all circumstances – not for all circumstances, when we have gratitude & thanking spirits, people will listen! Believe, claim & embrace Romans 8:28 in order to have a spirit of gratitude!
4. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire – by being rebellious against God, self-centredness vs. God-centred life.
(Serene: Any other things that we can quench the Spirit’s fire? Or what does it mean to quench? Emma: Impedes His work in & thru’ us. Being unteachable. Serene: One way is to reflect on how we have been leading our life. Doing things according to our own plans or spending time to listen from God to what He wants to do in us. Jon: 2 examples to “pssst” the Holy Spirit. One is to fail to be disciplined to do QT by choosing to do something else eg. Play computer games. End up feeling dry. Second is to take care of your health, because it affects the spirit & soul. Emma: We do things with purpose. But we need to qn ourselves what is this purpose. Jon: Know the purpose but don’t hv discipline. Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.)
5. Do not treat prophecies with contempt – be open & have a teachable heart to what God wants to do in & thru’ you
6. Test everything – we need to discern what we hear by examining their teachings & lifestyle with scripture & if it aligns with the Word of God, check if what he say is what he does
(Serene: From today’s sermon, look at the fruits. But first thing is that we must know the Word of God to know if what others teach is aligned with the Word. Emma: media is scary because it propagates such things. Jon: Even false prophets can use the bible to quote. Every verse has to have another verse to support in line with it. Serene: Taking things out of context. Jon: Does fruit always mean the fruit of the spirit or also the by-product eg. their actions? Paul: We are the fruit of the spirit & good fruit will point & draw ppl to Jesus and not anything else and not even themselves. James: We need to spend a lot of time with others to know their fruit. Paul: Tele-evangelists in the past preached about God but drew ppl to themselves. Kenny: Purpose of fruit is to propagate more trees with fruit.)
7. Hold on (aggressively) to that which is good – love, purity, grace, etc.
8. Avoid every kind of evil – fend them off every day with the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own power

God’s Part in Preparing Me for Christ’s Return
1. God’s power to sanctify us & set us apart for His purposes
2. He has fashioned us and shaped us for His purposes
3. God is faithful & will do it (v.23)

Power verses:
1. Deut 7:9 - God keeps his covenant to a thousand generations.
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 - His compassions never fail. His mercy is new each day.
3. 2 Tim 2 - God remains faithful (because of His character) even when we are unfaithful
4. Philippians 1:6 - God who started a good work & will sustain us & see it through to the very end.