Church of Christ Pasir Panjang 347, Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118688 (T) 67788259 (F) 67765278 admin@ppcoc.org www.ppcoc.org facebook/PPChurchofChrist

Please address all correspondence to Pasir Panjang P.O. Box 74, Singapore 911123.

21.JAN 2018

CHURCH OF CHRIST - PASIR PANJANG

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http://bit.ly/2uhat0H

Owning Faith: Reimagining the Role of Church and Family in the Faith of Teenagers

BY ACU NEWS

Youth may grow up in the church, going to Sunday school or mid-week youth groups, but getting teenagers to keep growing their faithbeyond adolescence is a challenge youth ministers continually face.

Addressing the challenge, five alumni and two professorscontributed to Owning Faith: Reimagining the Role of Church andFamily in the Faith of Teenagers.

The book, published by Leafwood Publishers, a division of AbileneChristian University Press, invites parents and adults to learn how tobuild fruitful relationships with teenagers seeking their own faith.

Edited by Dr. Ron Bruner (D.Min. ’10) and Dr. Dudley Chancey (M.A.’93), Owning Faith was released on 2017 January 10.

“The book is a primer for parents and caring adults who want to helpyoung people in the spiritual aspect of their lives, but really don’tknow how to go about doing it,” said Bruner, who serves asexecutive director for Westview Boys’ Home in Hollis, Okla.

Bruner and co-editor Chancey, associate professor of youth andfamily ministry at Oklahoma Christian University, have experiencedsimilar challenges in working with youth.

“For years we as youth ministers have tried to play the spiritual roleof the parent, but it doesn’t work,” Chancey said. “Kids aren’t stayingin church after they leave high school, so we wanted to give rolesback to the parents and equip them on how to spiritually form theirkids.”

In selecting contributors to the book, Bruner and Chancey chosepeople with backgrounds in youth ministry whose uniqueexperiences and expertise would bring wisdom and difficult subjectmatters to light.

ACU contributors include Robert Oglesby, director of the ACU Centerfor Youth and Family Ministry; Dr. Houston Heflin, (M.A. ’97),assistant professor of ministry; and alumni Ryan Fraser (M.Div. ’02),Monty McCulley (’98) and Cari Myers (M.A. ’97). Other contributorswere Brad Childers, David Fraze, Earl Lavender, Johnny Markham,Dave Pocta, Beth Robinson, Walter Surdacki and Scott Talley.

“The book is a wonderful resource for the church and parentsbecause it’s written in a manner accessible to anyone sitting in apew,” Bruner said. “You don’t have to be a theologian or have aPh.D. in counseling to understand it.”

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This Sunday WorshipTheme

I Will Not Let My

Church Be

about My

Preferences

and Desires

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS

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21 Jan (Sun)

8.00am & 11.00am WorshipSpeaker: Winston Chong

9.30am Combined Adult Class

6.00pm Worship

Speaker: Lim Cher Kiat

FAMILY NEWS

24 Jan (Wed)7.30pm Bible ClassDaring FaithFacilitator: Terry Wan

25 Jan (Thu)5.00pm – 6.00pmWeekly Devotion@ AG HomeSpeaker: Catherine Leow

23 Jan (Tue)9.00am Ladies ChapelFilipinos Class roomSpeaker: Cindy Zheng

For this current worship series, our elders are encouraging members to affirm one anotherand to make personalized pledges to the Lord Almighty. Two trees have been set up bySister Eunice in the church lobby:

Affirmation Notes Tree:Purpose: Members to write a note of encouragement or offer emotional support and/or word of praise toanother member. This is a good opportunity for members to affirm and strengthen one another in their dailywalks with the Lord.

Personalized Pledge Tree:Purpose: Members to share their personal commitment to be more involved in the Lord’s work this year,seeking opportunities to use their talents and resources to reach out to others and sharing the gospel ofChrist.

A Big Thank You!

The leaders are grateful and appreciative that more than 60 of you had taken the time to share at the Focussession last Sunday afternoon. We value your presence, time and effort to share why, what and how we aregoing to keep and pass on in term of our traditions, values, practices and spirit of those who have comebefore us. The feedback from the younger generation was also useful when they shared on what they wouldlike to receive and keep in those aspects too. We went away discussing how we would want to share ourfaith, especially on how we would want to express our faith in worship.

For those who could not join us, we thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. All glory to our LordAlmighty!

Prayer Requests

Julie Wee – Pray for smooth house shifting for Johnsten & Jasmine’s new house. God bless their new home.Pray that God heals my flu.

Teck Su – Pray for the continuous work in India.

Patrick – Thank God for the safe return of the PPCOC India team on 20 Jan (Sat). Pray that God may open adoor for the gospel message to reach the children and the people in India.

2018 CHURCH DIRECTORY NEWSAll members please submit your photo & profile update to sister Annie

before you leave the church today.

Or email: anniekoh2013@yahoo.com before 9.00am on Monday 22 Jan.

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CURRENT EVENTS

21 Jan (Sun)

9.30am Young Adult Class

Parents-Leaders of Youth

Session

All parents of Youth are encouraged toattend and discuss the plans for theyouth. Please text your attendance toJoel Yeo @ 91548155 or Darryl Law @98537433

UPCOMING EVENTS

2 Feb (Fri) 7.30pm – 10.00pmPrimaries 123 ClassroomAwareness (Leaders) Meeting

24 Feb (Sat) 10.00am - 4.00pm CNY Elders' Open House

17 Mar (Sat) 12.00 – 4.00pmChinese Church HallYoung & Older Leaders’ Huddle

25 Mar (Sun)9.30 – 10.30pmWorship AuditoriumWorship Workshop led by Young Adults

25 Mar (Sun)12.30 – 3.00pmPPCOC Ladies’ DayWorship and teaching by the ladies of SIBI – Singapore.All ladies are invited.12.30pm Lunch Program will begin followingContact: Terilee Harrison

30 Mar (Fri)9.00am – 12.00pmWorship AuditoriumChurch Retreat

Owning Faith was featured at the 2017 National Youth Minister’s

Conference and received positive feedback. “We’ve already had

quite a number of church and youth ministers who have said they

plan to incorporate it into their work,” Bruner said. “Youth

ministers can use it to better reach their kids, but more importantly

to teach parents how to take part in their children’s spiritual lives.”

About the authors:

Ron Bruner has served as the executive director of Westview Boys’

Home in Hollis, Okla., since 1999. Because of his interest in

practical theology – especially in the fields of intergenerational,

children’s and youth ministry – Ron edits the eJournal Discernment:

Theology and the Practice of Ministry.

Dudley Chancey has served as professor of youth ministry at

Oklahoma Christian University since 1998. He is involved in several

professional organizations, including the National Council on Family

Relations, Groves Conference on Marriage and Family, Association

of Youth Ministry Educators, and the National Conference on Youth

Ministries.

To order the book, please contact (+6596393008) Beng Chuan.

FOCUS 21 JAN 201804

Ministers

Deacons

Elders

2018 Theme:GROW in the Lord!

God

Put God first in our lives and in all that we do

Redeem the time

needed to steward wisely this precious resource that God has

given to ALL of us

One body

Realise that we are the one body of our Lord Jesus and that

we need each other to grow healthily and function

effectively

Witness for Christ

Sharing God’s word is part of the growth process, individually

and together as the body of Christ

Ministers

Patrick Ong 82005250Tan Beng Chuan 96393008

Elders

Winston Chong Simon GohLim Swee Aun Tan Beng Chuan

Deacons

Lim Li Chhoan Peter LimVincent Lim Patrick OngTerry Wan

FACTS FIGURES8AM 9.30AM 11AM 6PM

$10,204

$0

$550

GIVING

MF

117 150 223 52

LAST SUNDAY

GIVING FYTD $ 414,568

MF FYTD $182,107

3Rs FYTD $34,900

3Rs

FY Budget May ‘17 – Apr ‘18

GIVING $670,000

MF $248,000

3Rs $70,000

LESSON OUTLINE 3 FOR SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY

I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires

Text: Mark 9:35

I. Introduction: Demanding childrena. Children can be selfish, demandingb. Adults can be selfish, demandingc. Church members can behave the same way

II. Sermon text: Mark 9:35

III. Point 1 - The servant motifa. The word "servant" occurs fifty-seven times inthe New Testament (serve fifty-eight times)b. Jesus said we must be a servant to all- Mark 9:35c. Paul said we must be servants as well- Eph. 3:7

IV. Point 2 - A survey that said a lota. Survey of dominant characteristics of churches thatwere inwardly focusedb. Worship warsc. Prolonged minutia meetingsd. Facility focuse. Program drivenf. Inwardly focused budgetg. Inordinate demands for pastoral careh. Attitudes of entitlementi. Greater concern about change than the gospelj. Anger and hostilityk. Evangelistic apathy

V. Point 3 - The mind of Christa. The attitude we should embody (Jesus Christ)- Phil. 2:5-11b . What did Jesus do?i. He "did not consider equality with God as somethingto be used for His own advantage.”ii. "He emptied Himself by assuming the form ofa slave."iii. "He Humbled Himself."iv. He became "obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross.

VI. Conclusion: Take the third pledge

I Am A Church Member(Small Group Bible Study)

Session 3: “I Will Not Let My Church Be About My Preferences & Desires”Opening Illustration & Introduction

Imagine for a moment that you are sitting in the stands of a high school football game. Here is what you see:

The team breaks out of the huddle but instead of lining up against the opposing squad, they break into groups of twoor three, arguing with each other. Soon they start shoving, and two of them actually get into a fight. One of theplayer’s storms off the field and you can hear him say, "That bunch of idiots can't agree on anything.” He continues,"Those two over there are arguing over the color of the uniforms. A couple of others are fussing over the right way tokneel in the huddle. Those two guys are arguing because one believes in what he calls 'personal' football, and theother believes in 'social' football. They can't agree whether the individual or the team is more important. Some of theplayers say the less talented players should go play on their own field, and some of the guys don't like the musicplayed by the band. A few are fighting over whether the other football team has more players. And I'm quittingbecause I can pass a lot better than that other guy, and they won't let me be the quarterback.”

This situation seems absurd and yet there are times when this is exactly what happens in the local church. People,who are on the same “team,” spend more time focused on their preferences and desires than playing the game.

Can you describe a time when someone (maybe you) was more focused on his or her own preference and desire thanin the best interest of the group?

Lesson Summary

In this session, we will see that Scripture emphasizes that church members must be willing to yield their preferencesand desires in order to serve others. We will encounter Jesus’ challenge to his disciples to seek to serve instead ofbeing served. Ultimately, we are called to recognize that church membership is not about our preferences anddesires; it is about serving others! Rainer wrote:

“The strange thing about church membership is that you actually give up your preferences when you join. Don’t getme wrong; there may be much about your church that you like a lot. But you are there to meet the needs of others.You are there to serve others. You are there to give. You are there to sacrifice.”

The Call To Serve OthersServing others is probably not something we think about often but it was at the very heart of Jesus’ ministry. In fact he said that he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). One of the clearest pictures of Jesus’ servant heart can be found in John 13:1-­­17:

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

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13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

I’m not sure about you but feet are not my thing. In fact, I think feet are only appropriate when socks and shoescover them! Take some time to think back to the dirtiest your feet have ever been at a particular point in time. Doyou think someone would have been willing to touch you feet…much less wash them with their bare hands? Don’tforget that the disciples’ feet would have been absolutely disgusting.They would have been sweaty and caked with dirt. They most likely would not have smelled too good. But, Jesus tookeach of their feet into his hands and washed them.

Washing someone’s feet back in New Testament times would have been the ultimate picture of humility and service.That is why Peter makes such a commotion about what Jesus is doing. He recognizes that his Teacher should not bedoing anything close to this. This was the job of a servant, not a respected Rabbi.

Why do you think it is so difficult to serve? How does Jesus’ example in this passage help you think about the call toserve others?

Jesus was not the only person in Scripture that discussed the idea of serving others. Paul saw himself as a servant ofJesus Christ and was willing to do whatever was necessary to spread the gospel. After he became a Christian hewrote, in Ephesians 3:7

Of this gospel I was made a servant according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of hispower.

Why do you think Paul was willing to call himself a servant of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you have that sameperspective?

The willingness to serve others is not natural in our world and it was not natural for people in Jesus’ day either. Infact, the focus on position and authority had crept into the minds of several of his disciples. Consider the ironic storyin Matthew 20:20-­­28:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him forsomething.21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at yourright hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” Theysaid to him, “We are able.”23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is forthose for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their greatones exercise authority over them.26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wouldbe first among you must be your slave,28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The mother of two of Jesus’ disciples (James and John) actually had the audacity to come to Jesus and ask him toshow favor towards her two sons. Just imagine if your mom showed up at your place of work and asked your boss toshow favoritism towards you. This may work in little league but it would most definitely not work in your career.

Let’s be honest, Jesus is very gracious with this well-­­meaning mom. He does not rebuke her or chastise her. Hesimply says that she really doesn’t comprehend the scope of what she is asking. For Jesus, this is a great opportunityto remind his disciples that they have been called to serve and not to be served. Whose example are they to follow?Jesus’ example – the King of kings came “not to be served but to serve.” Rainer wrote:

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“We will never find joy in church membership when we are constantly seeking things our way. But paradoxically, wewill find the greatest joy when we choose to be last. That’s what Jesus meant when He said the last will be first. Truejoy means giving up our rights and preferences and serving everyone else. And that’s what church membershipmeans as well.”

Why does the world view the idea of serving in such a negative light? How can we combat the prevalent ideas ofbeing first and being served in the church?

Serving Others Should Push Us Outside The Walls Of The Church

I’m sure all of us have heard the church referred to as a “holy huddle,” a place where believers can gather togetherand focus on one another. Recently, I heard a pastor say that the only problem with this idea is that the world aroundus has a very different perspective of a huddle. When they see a huddle they see a bunch of backsides and the view isnot pretty! The church was never called to be a holy huddle or a hotel for saints. The church and its members werecalled to be a hospital for sinners. To accomplish this mission, we must be willing to serve someone beside ourselves.Consider the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-­­20:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the endof the age.

Jesus’ commission to the church and to believers is that we are to go and make disciples of all nations. We mustrealize that making disciples does not take place primarily within the walls of the church. In fact, the early church didnot have a building where they met each week (they usually met in homes or in the temple) and most of their timewas spent fulfilling their regular responsibilities. It was in fulfilling these responsibilities (work, etc.) that they were tomake disciples. The same is true for us. However, we often think of making disciples only in the context of thegathering of the church. Rainer, as a result of his research, offered ten dominant behavior patterns of churches thatare inward focused:

Worship Wars. One or more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation is met withanger and demands for change. The order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation is required whileothers are prohibited.

Prolonged minutia meetings. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. Most of themeetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarelythe topics of discussion.

Facility focus. The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church is the protectionand preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and grounds.

Program Driven. Every church has programs even if they don’t admit it. When we start doing a ministry a certainway, it takes on programmatic status. The problem is not with programs. The problem develops when the programbecomes an end instead of a means to a greater ministry.

Inwardly focused budget. A disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of themembers instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.

Inordinate demands for pastoral care. All church members deserve care and concern, especially in times of need andcrisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters.Some members expect the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have membership status.

Attitudes of entitlement. This issue could be a catch-­­all for many of the points named here. The overarchingattitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.

Greater concern about change than the gospel. Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many;but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.

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Anger and hostility. Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff andother members.

Evangelistic apathy. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are concerned about their ownneeds rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and community in which they live.

Do you think our church struggles with any of these behavior patterns? What are some ways that we can focus ourattention outside the walls of the church?

3. Cultivating The Mind Of Christ (“He Came To Serve”)

As we have said before, serving others is difficult and it is not usually our natural response. Paul understood thisperfectly, which is why he encouraged the believers in Philippi to cultivate the mind of Christ. Consider Philippians2:1-­­11:

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection andsympathy,2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did notcount equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born inthe likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on across.9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at thename of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rainer wrote: “So what did Jesus do?”

He “did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.”

“He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave.”

“He humbled Himself.”

He became “obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross.”

“Keep in mind that Philippians 2 is not only a description of the obedience of Christ; it is an example for us to follow.We are to be servants. We are to be obedient. We are to put others first. We are to do whatever it takes to keep theunity in our church. So if we approach church membership from the perspective of entitlement, we have it upsidedown. You always ask first what you can do for your church.”

Describe someone in our church that best fits the description of having the mind of Christ and a servant attitude?

Questions for Study

1. Show from key Bible verses the difference between church membership and country club membership from theperspective of personal preferences and desires. Of course, the Bible doesn’t speak of country club membership, so you willneed to assume the benefits of belonging to one.

2. Find and explain key passages in the Bible that talk about Christians being like servants. How would you describe aservant as it applies to being a member of a church?

3. Why do many churches have “worship wars”? What does that have to do with the right or wrong attitude about churchmembership?

4. Describe someone in your church that best fits the description of having the mind of Christ and a servant attitude. Findkey New Testament passages that would fit him or her.