Queen's Road Cell

We spent no time on the book questions on this topic and instead focused on John 7:37-39 as well as some of the concepts in the introduction in our study guide. Jesus 'stood up' (Jewish rabbis customarily sat to teach) and 'cried out'. This draws attention to the importance of his teaching.  I noted that the Greek punctuation in v.37-38 can also be "If anyone thirst, let him come to me. And (let him) drink, whoever believes in me. As the Scripture has said...". This variant reading is found in the ESV as well as the NIV and makes Christ rather than the one who comes to Him the subject of the Scriptural reference. John 4:10-14 suggests that both readings are possible and true. Although there is no single OT verse that speaks of rivers of living water flowing out of hearts, there are numerous references (Zec 14:9, Is 55:1 Is 12:3 , Ez 47) to living water in the OT. Jesus then must be speaking of the entirety of what the OT teaches about the Spirit's coming...

Mr 2: 1-8, 16-18. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Mag ] from the east came to Jerusalem 2  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6  “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,      are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler      who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7  Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child...

At Amelia's workplace! We are grateful for some interest expressed by 2 ladies who thought of attending FFMC Christmas service afterwards. Followed by most people meeting for dessert at the basement of Tiong Bahru Plaza.

We met in Shaun and Wen Ai's place today. As I said, we had a rather morbid QC session where Selwyn shared his recent apparently paranormal experiences (phones ringing after office hours, objects on tables moving) in his office. We discussed briefly what the Bible taught about 'ghosts'. There is the story of the witch of Endor in 1 Sa 28 when the spirit of the departed Samuel seemed to appear to Saul. Some think that God would not have allowed the repose of a godly man to be troubled by being summonable by someone practicing forbidden magical arts. I personally think that God allowed this encounter specifically to pass judgement on Saul. In Matt 14:26 and Mark 6.49 the disciples think that Jesus was a 'ghost' ('phantasma'). But we are told no more about this, and we are left to surmise that there was certainly a belief in ghosts, but not taught anything about their nature. Given that people die and afterwards face judgement (Heb 9:27), it seems wrong that...

The previous lesson we learned how the apostles were transformed when the Holy Spirit entered into their lives. From a timid group attempting to escape from the Pharisees they became bold preachers and teachers. In the second sequel to the “Spirit-filled life” series we learned about the adverse impact when Holy Spirit is absent in churches (and individual Christians). The failings of the Corinthian and Galatian churches were attributed to the absence of the Holy Spirit amongst the believers. Without the Holy Spirit in their lives they become filled with jealously and strife (1 Cor 3:1-3), salvation through human efforts (Gal 3:1-3) and led by the desires of flesh (Gal 5:16-18). King Hee’s short article has expanded on the three failings. While these examples are not exhaustive, these passages illustrate specific instances of Christians without the Holy Spirit. Herein lies a stark contrast within the Christian community; those filled with the Holy Spirit are transformed while tho...

I had to run out of the house to hospital after cell, so I asked Kevin to pen his thoughts down for the blog. Anyway, I will write a truncated reflection on last night's cell lesson for my part. I thought that, for me, the key points to learn had to do with the character of the carnal (= 'fleshly') Christian. 1 Co 3:1-3 tells us that this involves jealousy as we compare ourselves to others, strife with brothers and sisters, and engaging in a cult of personality to gain a sense of place because we need to identify with individual leaders rather than to be secure in Christ.  Gal 3:1-3 and 5:16-18 show how easy it can be to try to sanctify ourselves with works when we thought ourselves justified with faith alone. We said that the Galatian heresy is like the "Confucian" heresy, because we Chinese feel we should always be paying for grace (which is impossible). Stated another way, it is not trusting in Christ alone, and nothing else, for salvation. Eph 5: 15-18 te...

(I) Divine contentment Phil 1:20-24. … as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. 21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Phil 4:11.   … for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 2 Cor 12:9-13.   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made ...