Date: 14-09-25
Preacher: Rev Lawrence Seow
When I asked Bro Swee Nam (translator for the week) for the title to Ps Lawrence’s Sunday message, he replied he had none. Then after listening to his message, I could understand why, for when God speaks there is no need for a title. Like what Bro Swee Nam said, it was an evangelical message reaching out to both Christians and non-Christians alike. To put it bluntly, a message of eternal life or death doesn’t require a title.
As a lead-in, he distributed corn seeds to illustrate John 12:24. That was the main biblical reference.
Then he spoke to the Christians first and he pointed out that for a church to grow, its members must first be disciples of Jesus. Then having been disciples, they are then to disciple someone. It is a life-long process for when you disciple someone, you take that someone under your wing for the rest of your life.
Next, he spoke to the non-Christians. Everything else aside, he said the only difference between the two groups would be the Christians are Heaven-bound.
In developing the evangelical theme, he quoted the following:
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Romans 3:23: |
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, |
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Romans 6:23: |
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, |
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John 3:16: |
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, and |
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John 11:25: |
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. |
It is important to note the order above for its evangelical build-up. Based on the order above, Ps Lawrence brought up what he termed as the ‘bad’ news first under Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23. Then under John 3:16 quoted above, Ps Lawrence spoke of God’s love being unconditional, unchanging and unrivalled. Finally, under John 11:25, he said that once the human soul is stained, it can only be washed clean by the blood of Jesus. In other words, the only way to a resurrected life is through Him.
He ended with a question ‘if you die now, are you sure you are going to Heaven?’
