Queen's Road Cell

We considered what it was that made an organization  (like the OCF or VCF) different from a church. Although these gatherings of Christians are also part of the universal church, these organizations are called parachurch organizations. True churches are characterized by 'true preaching' and by administration of the sacraments. Parachurch organizations may have the former, but not the latter. Parachurch organizations also usually make it explicit in their goals that they exist to come alongside and assist the church. We listened to an excerpt from a sermon from a preacher who noted that many OT saints were very rich, said that God gives wealth and happiness ( "The blessing of the Lord makes rich   and he adds no sorrow with it" Pr 10:22) and that poverty is a curse that God does not desire His children to suffer. His thesis was that Jesus was rich. This seems very unlikely from the testimony of scripture: His parents offered 2 birds rather than a lamb at his dedicat...

In this chapter Edmund Chan defines "philosophy of ministry" as the foundational ministry values ("Why") that give rise to the ministry vision ("What") that gives focus, as well as the ministry vehicles ("how") that function to fulfill that vision. Values are what we regard as really important to us: they establish clarity about our identity and conviction. They give us passion and purpose, inspiration and motivation to face discouragement, and a focus on what really matters. If we share values, we will have resonance even though the outward expressions of those values can differ. Vision is looking beyond the present to a greater future. Fulfillment of spiritual vision always requires God for success, so we learn to depend on Him. Vision must be realistic (based on reality), credible  (believable to be relevant), attractive (inspiring and motivational), and future-oriented (drawing people to see what lies ahead). Vehicles are specific ways ...

Laity Sunday 2019: Word 27  As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28  He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Lk 11:27-29) 19  Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20  Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21  He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (Lk 8:19-21)                 We conclude from these parallel passages that: 1.        It is more blessed to hear and obey God’s word than to be Jesus’ mother. 2.        Jesus regards those who hear and obey God’s word as His true family. 3.     ...

Following up from Winnie's sharing about one of her former students receiving the Lord but being forbidden to be baptized by her parents, we asked whether it was right for a new believer to "obey God rather than men" (Ac 5:29) and to make a stand for Christ, even at the cost of losing family relationships. After all, this was Jesus' comment: " “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,     a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. (Mt 10:34-36). We  said that the intent of not pushing immediately for baptism (or church attendance) should not be fear, but the desire to make our faith winsome to parents so that they too would come to see the goodness of the gospel. There would also be an extended opportunity for younger believers to grow in maturity and to ...