MESSAGE: The Witness of the Blind Man

SPEAKER: TAN SENG KUAN
MESSAGE: The Witness of The Blind Man
TEXT: John 9

The story of Jesus healing the blind man by the Pool of Siloam really begins with Jesus declaring himself to be the light of the world in John 8. Jesus illustrates the truth in his words by giving sight to a blind man. Beyond the miracle is a message to bear witness to Jesus who is the Light of the World.

We are told in v1 that Jesus first noticed the blind man, which caused the disciples to ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The question reveals the mindset of Jesus’ followers. Where the disciples saw a problem, Jesus saw a person. Where Jesus showed compassion, his followers showed judgment seeing the blind man’s problem as a possible consequence of his parents’ sin or his own.

In answering his disciples’ question Jesus shows us that what is decisive is not the cause of our problems, but the purpose of God. ““Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

Jesus’ reply is echoed in another way in Romans 8:28 where Paul writes:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

But God’s purposes will mean nothing unless we agree that God’s work has greater value than everything else. It means that more than anything else, we desire that God is glorified, above the desire for physical health, or even life itself.

As the Psalmist says in 63:3, “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”

Is God’s love truly better than life itself? 

Inability to see God’s glory and to see the greater value of his love is spiritual blindness. We are said to have seen the light when we recognize and acknowledge that the glory of God is greater than all that the world has to offer. We are worse than the blind man when we cannot see this.

The Pharisees reaction to the healing of the blind man is an illustration of spiritual blindness. They were more concerned with keeping the rituals of Sabbath and completely ignored the display of God’s glory. There is a stark contrast in the response of the blind man who is now healed, and the legalistic Pharisees. Where the blind man’s estimate of Jesus grows from surprise to worship, the Pharisees’ view of Jesus move from shock to rejection.

In v25, we see that the personal testimony of a man who has encountered Jesus is hard to object – even by those like the Pharisees who bring up theological arguments. As Christians we must be able to talk about our own personal encounters with Jesus and share them frequently with unbelievers. Siloam means ‘Sent.’ Just as the blind man was sent to the Pool to wash the mud off his eyes, so believers are now sent to bear witness to Jesus our Saviour and Light of the World. (Pix: Pool of Siloam today)

In v35, it is Jesus who seeks out the blind man. Jesus often seeks us out when we are in complete helplessness and not before – so that ultimately it is God who receives glory. And like the blind man, when we are healed, it must lead us to worship Jesus and glorify him alone. 

This is evidence that we have indeed seen the light.

...........................................................................................

Tan Seng Kuan is a lecturer in Math and Statistics in a private college, and an Elder of Setapak Gospel Centre in Air Panas.

IDOLATRY - THE SIN BENEATH THE SIN

VIDEO MESSAGE: GOSPEL IN LIFE 3 

SPEAKER: TIM KELLER 
SUNDAY SERVICE 21 JULY 2013



The background text to this week’s message is Romans 1:18-25. This portion of Scripture points to humanity’s sinful nature that wilfully ignores the Creator in favour of the created. This is what the Bible calls idolatry.

Idolatry is therefore anything and everything that takes the place that only God should occupy. “An idol is anything which is more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life, or identity.”

“Whatever controls us is our Lord. The person who seeks power is controlled by power. The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people he or she wants to please. We do not control ourselves. We are controlled by the lord of our life.” Rebecca Pippert 

If we want to know what our idols are, Keller says we need to ask: “What is my worst nightmare? What thing, if it were absent, would take away my desire to live?”

Whatever that is, even if it were a good thing that God has created or given, if it becomes our ultimate thing, it has become an idol. At the moment when that thing - person, status, possession, emotion or sensation, family, etc - becomes the thing we pursue or cling to at all cost instead of God, that is our idol.

What then should we do to put away idols?

We need to make Jesus our overriding passion. Keller compared this passion to the love Jacob had for Rachel in Gen 29. So great was Jacob’s love, he willingly submitted to 7 years of labour to win her hand. The years simply 'flew by' because Rachel was Jacob’s overriding passion.

The lesson for us is to always keep the Gospel in view and constantly examine ourselves as we do the following:

Repent: put those things to death (recognising and leaving behind idols)
Rejoice: set our mind on things above (what we have, who we are in Christ)

May God help us to keep away from idols and their devastating effect on life and living.

HOMESCHOOL DIALOGUE: Homeschool in the Christian Family

What is homeschooling all about? 

Why do families choose to educate 
their own kids at home? 

Has the Bible anything to say about 
educating your children at home? 

How do you begin to homeschool 
your own children?

If you are among the many 
who are asking these questions, 

this Homeschool Dialogue is for you. 

 Date: Saturday 3 August 2013 
Time: 3.00pm ~ 5.00pm 

Venue: Hope Evangelical Free Church, 
Wangsa Link, Kuala Lumpur
(Click here for Hope EFC location on Google map) 

Click to enlarge image for details to register your attendance

PRESENTERS

David and Sook Ching are parents of 2 adult sons who were homeschooled all through their years. Ethan will complete his double major in Political Science and English in Texas end of this year. Elliot has left for Perth to complete his twinning programme in Mass Communications. David and Sook Ching are founders of the homeschooling network, HOMEFRONTIER.

Joseph and Debra have been homeschooling for the past 6 years and their primary motivation is in building a Biblical worldview into the raising of their two daughters - aged 10 and 14. As a family, they have started Answers Academy - an apologetics ministry focusing on equipping believers with real answers for skeptical questions in today's world.

Weng Hou and Gaik Suan are active members of Full Gospel Tabernacle. They have 3 children who were homeschooled after their early years in government schools. Natalie 22, is doing an online degree course while helping with the family business. Nicholas 19, is in Pre-U, MCKL, while Stephanie 17, has just completed her SAT and preparing for her O Level exams.

This Homeschool Dialogue is the 2nd in a series of occasional sessions hosted by Hope EFC as part of its ministry towards families and the homeschooling community. As a family-friendly church, we are advocates of strong families and support homeschooling as a viable option for Christian parents. 

Message: Where is the Areopagus today?

SUNDAY SERVICE 14 JULY 2013 

SPEAKER: Dr Tan Keng San 
MESSAGE: Where is the Areopagus today? 
TEXT: Acts 17:16-34

This episode in Paul’s life at the Areopagus in Athens is revealing in many ways. We see Paul in action as he engaged the people he met in the city, the marketplace, and the synagogue. Dr Tan Kang San reminded us that our present society is not that different from the Areopagus where Paul boldly preached. Indeed, if anything, people have become more religious than ever before, as recent surveys suggest. As religiosity increases, it is natural to expect followers of each religious system to protect and defend their faith. 

How does this affect our Christian witness? 

• A religious conversation therefore does not take place in a neutral context. For instance, the history of Christianity includes many periods of wars and injustices. These incidents influence negatively the way the church is viewed even today. We need to learn how to engage with listeners more sensitively. 
• Paul knew what the Jews believed; he could engage knowledgeably with the Epicureans and Stoics. We need to learn what others in our community believe. 
• Paul appealed to common ground ie, he presented God as the God of all nations, as all people came from a common ancestor. 
• We need to actively build bridges across various faith communities. We need to recognize our common humanity and learn to put away fears and racial prejudices. 
• Other religious communities are growing in number. Christianity seems to have reached a plateau in global numbers although it still has more believers than other major religions.
• Many more people claim to be religious but have rejected ties or formal association especially in the so-called ‘Christian’ west.
• In Asia, only 13% of the religious population knows or have met a Christian. This means a large number of people do not really know what a Christian is, what he believes, and how he lives his life. 

Dr Tan Kang San and his wife Loun Ling

The Areopagus is the very city where God has placed us. We humbly pray that God may help us to be wise as Paul as we bear witness to Jesus in our community.

Putting the Gospel back in the centre.

Tim Keller's Gospel in Life sessions are part of our church focus on advancing the gospel together in our life and community. To begin with, our assumption as we understand from Scripture is that the gospel of Jesus is the right and proper foundation for the way we live, love and labour. 

Often, problems or issues we face get more challenging because their starting point to grapple with the problem at hand is not the all-sufficient Christ but something else.  Such a misstep may just as well occur when we consider our motive or rationale for ministry or church programmes.  When our worldview is not bible-based or gospel-centered, it is not surprising we arrive at conclusions or resolutions that are not helpful or pleasing to God.

I believe changing all that is what Paul wrote about in Romans 12:2

"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This is why I think Keller's Gospel in Life series will help us rethink our perspective and renew our mind for good. Keller touches on the following:

1. City – The World That Is
2. Heart – Three Ways to Live
3. Idolatry – The Sin Beneath
4. Community – The Context for Change
5. Witness – An Alternate City
6. Work – Cultivating the Garden
7. Justice – A People for Others
8. Eternity – The World That Is To Come

May God's grace be with us all as we learn and grow together.

Gospel In Life Screening on Sundays

We're screening Tim Keller's Gospel in Life as part of our Worship Service starting 23 June 2013. I think it's a nice change and a thought provoking series so far. It's amazing how much Keller packs into an 11-minute message! 

We began with the first session titled, CITY - The World That Is. 

Last Sunday was, HEART - Three Ways To Live. 

 How do we do this? 

Well, we have our regular worship service. When it's time to start, David Tan (Chairman) introduces the topic by referring to some background thoughts mentioned in the Gospel In Life Study Guide. Then the lights are dimmed, and the video comes on. 

The congregation is broken into small groups after the screening to discuss and comment on the message. Our discussion questions are taken from the same Study Guide. 

 If you want to join us, you're more than welcome. 

However, this coming Sunday 14 July 2013 we interrupt the Keller sessions with a guest speaker Dr Tan Kang San. Kang San is the Executive Director of CMS, a training network of Asian mission movements.

 Service begins at 9.00am. See you!