One of the role of the deacon in the BPC is to attend the Elders & Deacons Court. At this meeting, members discuss over many issues concerning the church affairs and in particular how money is being used. If you look at the statment of income and expenditure for year ending 2007, it would be shocking to find that the Chinese/Hokkien Service had a deficit of $11,539.83. This is about 2-3% of their collection. To some, this may not be a big amount. But for a church that is dependent on worshippers' contribution, this is down right poor mismanagement of the good-will offering that people give to the church. Yet for this year 2008, we hear of renovation, buying of new electronics gadgets, and many things to make the church more conducive for worshippers. With this thoughtless spending, it will be another year of deficit.
There are at least 3 ordain ministers & preacher in this Elders & Deacons Court. I wonder whether they are mindful of how money given to the church is to be used? Most likely, they feel that money used for beautifying the church is well spent. Granted, but why do it till the account ends in deficit, going into the red?
Quite scary, isn't it? I wouldn't want to join them in this Elders and Deacons court and be held accountable for it one day, on earth or in heaven. We have just completed the study of 1 Timothy. I wonder how many is heeding the warning:
"... and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure." (1Tim 5:22)
When money is concern, every members want a say...
Mark Lim
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Organ Trading, the dilemma
The big discussion that is going for the past 2 weeks is should organ trading be made legal. Those who are suffering from organ failure or have loved ones going through such a struggle will know how it feels. Others, who are healthy will try to make a moral judgement. The best way out is to have altrustic donors. But in this world where 'money rules' - oran trading is seen as giving the seller (usually a poor healthy chap) a better life financially and giving the recipient a second life, so to speak, abeit the financial gain of the middle-man, runner, doctors, etc. If legalise, human body will now have a price tag. If not, sufferers will continue to hope for compassionate and altrustic donors or go abroad searching for their needed organs.
The lesson learnt:
(1) Keep myself healthy - eat right, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle. if this still doesn't help, then it is God's will for me.
(2) Be a willing donor - yes, if any of my family members do come to such a state that need an organ, I must be mentally prepared to donate with LOVE (1 Cor 13:3 - If I deliver my body to be burnt but have not LOVE, I gain nothing)
(3) Life is precious - From the Christian perspective, the body, soul and spirit is the most precious creation of God. Encourage healthy lifestyle - physically, socially, and spiritually to people around me.
Mark Lim
The lesson learnt:
(1) Keep myself healthy - eat right, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle. if this still doesn't help, then it is God's will for me.
(2) Be a willing donor - yes, if any of my family members do come to such a state that need an organ, I must be mentally prepared to donate with LOVE (1 Cor 13:3 - If I deliver my body to be burnt but have not LOVE, I gain nothing)
(3) Life is precious - From the Christian perspective, the body, soul and spirit is the most precious creation of God. Encourage healthy lifestyle - physically, socially, and spiritually to people around me.
Mark Lim
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Preparing two messages for one sermon
“God or Money, Who is LORD? What a title!” the worship leader announced the sermon title on 29th June 2008 during the Sunday Service, before I stepped up the pulpit to deliver the sermon. Why did I choose such a title, indeed?
During the first week of May, Pastor David sent me an email requesting me to preach on the last Sunday of June. Since I have done a lot of studies on the Epistle of 1Timothy, I gladly accepted it. As I started to prepare the sermon on 1Timothy chapter 6, I realized that key theme of the passage is on godliness and also with money/wealth. This is going to be a sensitive topic best avoided. Godliness, yes! Money, no! After many hours of preparation, praying, reflecting and meditating, I managed to come out with a simple outline:
Title: Directions for Christian Growth
(1) Good conduct (v 1-2),
(2) Godliness (v 3-16);
(3) Generosity (v 17-19)
By mid June, I have completed preparing the sermon, including the introduction and illustrations, except the conclusion, which I usually leave it to the last week after much prayer.
On 15th June during Sunday Worship, before the invited speaker started his message, I was staring at the title of the sermon for 1Tim 3:14-4:16: Protocol of God household. “What does it mean to the congregation, can they understand that? Can it be simplified, or make clearer and more personal? It doesn’t seem to make any impact on me.” I mused over the title, trying to come out with a better title for his sermon.
It was then, that inside me whispered: “God or Money, God or Money”. I realized then that my spirit was telling me that it is not for me to judge others sermon’s title but my sermon should be God or Money. “Why, this title?” I asked myself. The answer was very simple: Jesus Christ said it in Matthew 6:24. I wrote on the church bulletin: 1Tim 6: God or Money, who is more important? Introduction: Matt 6:24. I knew then that the effort of preparing the sermon during the last five weeks was going to be wasted if I were to change the title and look for another outline. Then, the amazing thing happened, the sermon outline just flew through my mind, as if the message just drop from nowhere, I started to write: (1) … in the workplace (v 1-2); (2) … in the way of life (v 3-16, 20-21); (3) … in the wealth (v 17-19). Within a minute or two, I had a new title, outline and even an introduction! All this happened so fast that I could still hear the speaker making his introduction and protocol greetings. It’s time to refine the title and made it more personal and Christian-like:
Sermon Text: 1Timothy 6:1-21
Sermon Title: God or Money, who is LORD … ?
Introduction: Matt 6:24
Outline:
(1) … in my WORKPLACE (vv 1-2)
(2) … in the WAY I live (vv 3-16, 20-21)
(3) … in my WEALTH (vv 17-19)
Conclusion:
Preparing the second message for the same Bible text was more spirit-led and soul searching. Many beautiful memories of how God provided for my financial needs, especially the bursary and scholarship that I received for my undergraduate studies convinced me that this would be a far more meaningful message than the first one I had prepared. My routine nightly 9:15pm prayer walk became a time of close fellowship with the Lord. It is time to throw away the first message. Did God want me to change my sermon? If it was from God, what was His intention? I remember the time when we are looking for another pastor and many responded with “no money, no additional pastor” arguments. Perhaps, this notion of money decides how the church is to run should be corrected.
There was still a nagging fear of how the congregation would feel after reading the sermon title. I then sent the sermon outline to Pastor David for him to print onto the worship bulletin. Hopefully, this would soften their anxiety on such a sensitive title after reading the outline. Just like the worship leader has said, “What a title!”
Serving Him with you,
Mark Lim Teng Lye
1st July 2008
During the first week of May, Pastor David sent me an email requesting me to preach on the last Sunday of June. Since I have done a lot of studies on the Epistle of 1Timothy, I gladly accepted it. As I started to prepare the sermon on 1Timothy chapter 6, I realized that key theme of the passage is on godliness and also with money/wealth. This is going to be a sensitive topic best avoided. Godliness, yes! Money, no! After many hours of preparation, praying, reflecting and meditating, I managed to come out with a simple outline:
Title: Directions for Christian Growth
(1) Good conduct (v 1-2),
(2) Godliness (v 3-16);
(3) Generosity (v 17-19)
By mid June, I have completed preparing the sermon, including the introduction and illustrations, except the conclusion, which I usually leave it to the last week after much prayer.
On 15th June during Sunday Worship, before the invited speaker started his message, I was staring at the title of the sermon for 1Tim 3:14-4:16: Protocol of God household. “What does it mean to the congregation, can they understand that? Can it be simplified, or make clearer and more personal? It doesn’t seem to make any impact on me.” I mused over the title, trying to come out with a better title for his sermon.
It was then, that inside me whispered: “God or Money, God or Money”. I realized then that my spirit was telling me that it is not for me to judge others sermon’s title but my sermon should be God or Money. “Why, this title?” I asked myself. The answer was very simple: Jesus Christ said it in Matthew 6:24. I wrote on the church bulletin: 1Tim 6: God or Money, who is more important? Introduction: Matt 6:24. I knew then that the effort of preparing the sermon during the last five weeks was going to be wasted if I were to change the title and look for another outline. Then, the amazing thing happened, the sermon outline just flew through my mind, as if the message just drop from nowhere, I started to write: (1) … in the workplace (v 1-2); (2) … in the way of life (v 3-16, 20-21); (3) … in the wealth (v 17-19). Within a minute or two, I had a new title, outline and even an introduction! All this happened so fast that I could still hear the speaker making his introduction and protocol greetings. It’s time to refine the title and made it more personal and Christian-like:
Sermon Text: 1Timothy 6:1-21
Sermon Title: God or Money, who is LORD … ?
Introduction: Matt 6:24
Outline:
(1) … in my WORKPLACE (vv 1-2)
(2) … in the WAY I live (vv 3-16, 20-21)
(3) … in my WEALTH (vv 17-19)
Conclusion:
Preparing the second message for the same Bible text was more spirit-led and soul searching. Many beautiful memories of how God provided for my financial needs, especially the bursary and scholarship that I received for my undergraduate studies convinced me that this would be a far more meaningful message than the first one I had prepared. My routine nightly 9:15pm prayer walk became a time of close fellowship with the Lord. It is time to throw away the first message. Did God want me to change my sermon? If it was from God, what was His intention? I remember the time when we are looking for another pastor and many responded with “no money, no additional pastor” arguments. Perhaps, this notion of money decides how the church is to run should be corrected.
There was still a nagging fear of how the congregation would feel after reading the sermon title. I then sent the sermon outline to Pastor David for him to print onto the worship bulletin. Hopefully, this would soften their anxiety on such a sensitive title after reading the outline. Just like the worship leader has said, “What a title!”
Serving Him with you,
Mark Lim Teng Lye
1st July 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Sermon Outline for 1 Timothy 6 on 29 June 2008
This was suppose to the be printed into the worship bulletin for the Sunday worship on 29 June 2008, but somehow it didn't appear:
Sermon Text: 1 Tim 6
Sermon Title: God or Money, who is LORD ...?
Introduction:
Jesus Christ said, “No one can serve two masters …
You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Mat 6:24)
“There are 3 conversions necessary:
The conversion of the heart, mind and the purse”
- Martin Luther
Sermon Text: 1 Tim 6
Sermon Title: God or Money, who is LORD ...?
Introduction:
Jesus Christ said, “No one can serve two masters …
You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Mat 6:24)
“There are 3 conversions necessary:
The conversion of the heart, mind and the purse”
- Martin Luther
1. … In my Workplace (vv 1-2)
Be respectful, not complacence
Why? God’s name not be slandered (v1)
2. … In the Way I live (vv 3-16, 20-21)
· Be contented, not avarice
Why? (1) we can’t take money out of this world (v 7)
(2) love of money is a root of all evils (vv 9,10)
3. … in my Wealth (vv 17-19)
· Be generous, not arrogance
Why? God is the provider of everything (v 17)
Conclusion:
“… I will bless you; … and you will be a blessing. …
and all people on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:2,3)
Be a blessing …in my workplace, in the way I live, in my wealth
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Set up a Party for Caring Evangelism
The same speaker who spoke last Sunday (22nd June) is also conducting Caring Evangelism in July. He wanted to set up a surprise (as usual) by having a party immediately after his first class. I am supposed to prepare the party (and not to tell anyone). This is one area that I am the weakest. I am thinking over this the whole week, what material to get and how to do the decoration. It is lunch time but the kind of food is not for lunch but just finger food and cakes, etc.
One more week to think!
One more week to think!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Don't fall into trick by sermon
Last Sunday (22nd June 2008), the speaker put a quote on the power-point and asked the congregation which verse was the quote found in the Book of Proverb. It seemed that the verse was advising people not to lend others money. His eagerness to get the congregation to reply seem to good to be true and I guess many tried to jolt through their memories on the Book of Proverb. After a while. he replied (with a smile to indicate that he is setting up a trick) that, "no, it is not from the Bible" but one of secular quotation.
I am not surprise that this speaker would pull such a trick at the congregation. What if one member did reply (and wrongly did so). Wouldn't it bring shame to such a listener and strick fear into the rest. What good is there to pull such a stance? Sermon should be delivered in such a way that it allows the Holy Spirit to convict the congregation and convert them to God and not to keep them on the toe of any trick or false quotation. After that incidence, I totally lost track of his sermon.
This is one lesson learnt for me about sermon delivery
Mark Lim
I am not surprise that this speaker would pull such a trick at the congregation. What if one member did reply (and wrongly did so). Wouldn't it bring shame to such a listener and strick fear into the rest. What good is there to pull such a stance? Sermon should be delivered in such a way that it allows the Holy Spirit to convict the congregation and convert them to God and not to keep them on the toe of any trick or false quotation. After that incidence, I totally lost track of his sermon.
This is one lesson learnt for me about sermon delivery
Mark Lim
Saturday, June 14, 2008
BPCES Church Camp 8-11 June 2008
Met a Singapore Bible College classmate on Thursday, 12 June and we started talking about many churches in Singapore going to Malaysia during this period. I believe his church retreat would be very difference from Bethany, as he started to ask me about conducting workshops and Bible Studies. ...
Bethany Church Camp is very relaxing when compare to other churches. The programmes are packed with BS, Workshop, Messages and alot of equipping and training. For us, it is just a message and group discussion. Even then, very few shared and made applications from the messages.
What is one thing in this camp that make a difference from me?
The movie, Facing the Giants. It taught me to trust in God and do all things to glorify Him. Like Grant Taylor, we face an uphill task to get his team to work and give their best, I too daily faces technical problems. My job is to solve technical problems. It is a trying job that what customer requires, I must try to fulfill them so as to get the business. Many times, I live in fear and I pray for everything that I am assigned to do. God has been good to me. Sometimes, when I am doing some troubleshooting (solving) technical problems, I had to stop and pray in the midst of my job. Watching this movie make me empathise with the coach, Grant Taylor as I am almost in the same situation as him.
Mark Lim
Bethany Church Camp is very relaxing when compare to other churches. The programmes are packed with BS, Workshop, Messages and alot of equipping and training. For us, it is just a message and group discussion. Even then, very few shared and made applications from the messages.
What is one thing in this camp that make a difference from me?
The movie, Facing the Giants. It taught me to trust in God and do all things to glorify Him. Like Grant Taylor, we face an uphill task to get his team to work and give their best, I too daily faces technical problems. My job is to solve technical problems. It is a trying job that what customer requires, I must try to fulfill them so as to get the business. Many times, I live in fear and I pray for everything that I am assigned to do. God has been good to me. Sometimes, when I am doing some troubleshooting (solving) technical problems, I had to stop and pray in the midst of my job. Watching this movie make me empathise with the coach, Grant Taylor as I am almost in the same situation as him.
Mark Lim
Christian Discipleship is not an option
Am I a disciple of Christ?
The message during the Church Camp @ Cinta Ayu, Pulai Spring Resort in JB on 8 June 2008 was on John 15:1-17. Abiding in Christ is not an option. In verse 6, Jesus said that whoever does not abide in Him is thrown away. Without abiding in Him, we can't bear fruit. Only by bearing fruits would we prove to be His disciple (v8). These words tingle in my mind - abiding in Christ, bear fruits, what fruits?
What is abiding in Christ?
One that lives in obedience to Christ and follow Him (Mt 4:19). Am I obeying Christ? In what ways and how obedient am I?
Bearing Fruits
What fruit is Jn 15 refering to? It is bringing non-believer to come to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord? Or Spiritual Fruits? Or both? Reflecting on this, it is harder to get people to accept Christ now than when we were students. Try as I may, the respond from colleagues are usually apathy and disinterested. I have tried to invite them to church, talk to them about our lives but they don't see the need for God. This is because there are no problem in their lives. Perhaps, it is good that crisis does occur to make us see how vulnerable life is and we need God. I just have to pray for them. So, still no fruits!
Discipleship loves one another (Jn 13:34,35)
Yep, I need to love other Christians in speech, thoughts and action.
Mark Lim
The message during the Church Camp @ Cinta Ayu, Pulai Spring Resort in JB on 8 June 2008 was on John 15:1-17. Abiding in Christ is not an option. In verse 6, Jesus said that whoever does not abide in Him is thrown away. Without abiding in Him, we can't bear fruit. Only by bearing fruits would we prove to be His disciple (v8). These words tingle in my mind - abiding in Christ, bear fruits, what fruits?
What is abiding in Christ?
One that lives in obedience to Christ and follow Him (Mt 4:19). Am I obeying Christ? In what ways and how obedient am I?
Bearing Fruits
What fruit is Jn 15 refering to? It is bringing non-believer to come to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord? Or Spiritual Fruits? Or both? Reflecting on this, it is harder to get people to accept Christ now than when we were students. Try as I may, the respond from colleagues are usually apathy and disinterested. I have tried to invite them to church, talk to them about our lives but they don't see the need for God. This is because there are no problem in their lives. Perhaps, it is good that crisis does occur to make us see how vulnerable life is and we need God. I just have to pray for them. So, still no fruits!
Discipleship loves one another (Jn 13:34,35)
Yep, I need to love other Christians in speech, thoughts and action.
Mark Lim
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Finishing the race, keeping the faith
Many a times when we want to get a person to LEAD in any activities for BPCES, we look around and see so few men available to do so. It used to be 5 of us. One has left for oversea posting and another is heavily involved in his work. That leaves 3 of us – Tony, KC and yours truly. Take for example the up and coming Church Camp in June. Tony finds it hard to get any man to be the camp commander when he decided not to be the camp commander this year.
However, many of the wives are still very involve in the church ministry. In fact, if we were to see any new faces that join the BPCES committee, it is very likely that the women will come forward and not any men, even though they have the capability to do so. Many of them are managers, senior professional in their own field of expertise. Why do men don’t see the need to finish the Christian race well? Those who have served in the English committee or worship leading during their younger days (I am told by Pastor David) are not in any leading role for the church now.
There are also people in the Bible who finish poorly. The first 3 kings of Israel – Saul, David, and Solomon all ended their lives poorly for the LORD. This serves as a warning for all of us. It is not how well we start or serve during our journey on earth, but most importantly, how well we end in our Christian faith.
Let learn from Jesus’ example. Though He reached to the masses, in teaching, healing and feeding the mass, he also disciples 70, 12 and mostly important His 3 closest disciples, Peter, James and John. For BPC, the pastor minister mostly to the masses by his preaching and teaching. What is lacking for him is that he did not invest his time and energy to groom some “Peter, James and John”. By that, I don’t mean the youth but the men. Likewise, as BSG leaders, we should not only encourage and nurture those in our group, but to concentrate on finding a Peter, James or John. When the time for us to move out of the BSG, these Peters, James, or Johns can then stand up and lead.
Let all of us think how we can help one another to finish the race well, not just warming the pew. For those of us who are still in the race, let’s us also be a catalyst to others. It is my hope that there are more than just the 3 of us but more men whom we can tape on in time of need – for worship leading, BS leading, English Committee, or organizing any activities for the church like Church camp and outings.
PS: Chee Seng is coming join our church! Praise the Lord!
Mark Lim
However, many of the wives are still very involve in the church ministry. In fact, if we were to see any new faces that join the BPCES committee, it is very likely that the women will come forward and not any men, even though they have the capability to do so. Many of them are managers, senior professional in their own field of expertise. Why do men don’t see the need to finish the Christian race well? Those who have served in the English committee or worship leading during their younger days (I am told by Pastor David) are not in any leading role for the church now.
There are also people in the Bible who finish poorly. The first 3 kings of Israel – Saul, David, and Solomon all ended their lives poorly for the LORD. This serves as a warning for all of us. It is not how well we start or serve during our journey on earth, but most importantly, how well we end in our Christian faith.
Let learn from Jesus’ example. Though He reached to the masses, in teaching, healing and feeding the mass, he also disciples 70, 12 and mostly important His 3 closest disciples, Peter, James and John. For BPC, the pastor minister mostly to the masses by his preaching and teaching. What is lacking for him is that he did not invest his time and energy to groom some “Peter, James and John”. By that, I don’t mean the youth but the men. Likewise, as BSG leaders, we should not only encourage and nurture those in our group, but to concentrate on finding a Peter, James or John. When the time for us to move out of the BSG, these Peters, James, or Johns can then stand up and lead.
Let all of us think how we can help one another to finish the race well, not just warming the pew. For those of us who are still in the race, let’s us also be a catalyst to others. It is my hope that there are more than just the 3 of us but more men whom we can tape on in time of need – for worship leading, BS leading, English Committee, or organizing any activities for the church like Church camp and outings.
PS: Chee Seng is coming join our church! Praise the Lord!
Mark Lim
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