Category: Resources

  • Masters of the Heart

    Masters of the Heart

    Our hearts are central to our being, and God’s Word instructs us to guard them diligently.

    “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

    Our hearts are central to our being, and God’s Word instructs us to guard them diligently. Jesus spoke extensively about money as a significant threat to our hearts, describing it as the only thing, other than God, that seeks to sit on the throne of our hearts. Money, like power and sex, has both a dark and light side.

    Jesus taught us about where our treasure truly lies:

    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

    This calls us to choose between earthly and heavenly treasures. He also contrasted a “good eye” with a “bad eye,” referring to generosity versus stinginess. Ultimately, Jesus makes it clear: “You can’t serve two masters”—God or Mammon.

    Another challenge Jesus addressed is worry. He encourages us not to worry about daily needs, assuring us God will care for us, just as He cares for the birds. Jesus’ solution to worry is profound: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This challenges us to examine our values and where we place our trust.

    Consider two wealthy men who encountered Jesus with distinct outcomes. The rich young man went away sad, unwilling to part with his many possessions. In contrast, Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, declared he would give half his wealth to the poor and repay anyone he cheated four times over, leading to Jesus declaring, “Today, salvation has come to this home.”

    Biblically, the “heart” refers to the totality of our being—our mind, emotions, and will. We are called to bring all that we are to God.

    The Bible refers to only one person as “a man after God’s own heart”—David, the King of Israel. Despite his failures, David remained “a man after God’s own heart” due to:

    • Wholehearted Devotion: He was utterly devoted to God, determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and establish proper worship.
    • Genuine Humility: He recognized everything came from God, and his repentance for his sins was profound and sincere.
    • Faithful Trust: He demonstrated complete faith in God, as seen in his encounter with Goliath, declaring “the battle is the Lord’s.”
    • Worship: He was a profound worshiper, pouring out his heart in the Psalms and passionately dancing before the Ark.
    • Kindness: He extended kindness even to his enemies, seeking out Mephibosheth, Saul’s crippled grandson, restoring his inheritance.
    • Generosity: He was generous, giving extensively to the temple project and encouraging his people to give sacrificially.

    Today, Jesus knows our hearts intimately. He is gracious and loving, desiring for us to come to Him and find freedom. Our response might involve a step of faith like tithing, giving more generously, or repentance in a relationship. As we approach communion, we are invited to search our hearts and respond to God’s heart for us, remembering His immense grace and self-sacrifice.

    Reflect:

    1. What “thing” currently seeks to sit on the throne of your heart other than God, and how can you intentionally guard your heart against it?
    2. In what ways do you find yourself storing up “treasures on earth” rather than “treasures in heaven,” and what practical step can you take to shift your focus?
    3. Are you serving God or Mammon? When confronted with a tough choice, where does your true allegiance lie, and how does this make you feel?
    4. How does a “scarcity mindset” manifest in your daily life, and what does it mean for you to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness”?
    5. Reflecting on the examples of the rich man, Zacchaeus, and David, what aspect of having “a heart after God’s own heart” do you feel God is calling you to grow in right now (e.g., devotion, humility, trust, generosity)?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You alone are worthy of the throne of our hearts. Forgive us for allowing other things to distract us. Help us to guard our hearts, store up treasures in heaven, live with generous “eyes,” and seek Your Kingdom first. We pray for a heart like David’s—a heart of wholehearted devotion, genuine humility, faithful trust, fervent worship, deep kindness, and abundant generosity. May Your grace empower us to respond to Your call, finding freedom and wholeness in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube.

  • Stories of Miracles

    Stories of Miracles

    Trusting in a God of Miracles

    Zuko and Cavin experienced miraculous healing from life-threatening medical conditions. Zuko was given hours to live after a pulmonary embolism, while Calvin was diagnosed with a rare syndrome that left him paralyzed and ended his medical career. In both cases, doctors were left speechless by their complete and unexplainable recoveries.

    These stories challenge us to reflect on our own faith in the face of impossible circumstances. Both men emphasize that their faith was not in a guaranteed miracle but in a God who is present and caring, even in the midst of suffering. Their experiences remind us that we serve a God who can intervene in ways that defy human understanding.

         “O Lord my God,

                I cried out to you and you healed me” 

    Psalm 30:2

    Reflect:

    1. What “impossible” situation are you currently facing in your life? How do the testimonies of Zuko and Calvin encourage you in your own circumstances?
    2. Zuko and Calvin’s faith was in God’s presence, not just the outcome. How can you cultivate a faith that trusts God’s character, regardless of the results you see?
    3. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a moment where you felt God intervened in a miraculous way? If so, take a moment to share and reflect on that experience.
    4. The video mentions Psalm 30:2, which speaks of God as a healer. How does this verse, and the testimonies shared, shape your understanding of God’s power and love?
    5. What is one area of your life where you need to cry out to God for a miracle today?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we are humbled and inspired by the incredible testimonies of healing You performed in the lives of Zuko and Kelvin. We thank You that You are a God of miracles, and that nothing is impossible for You. For those of us facing our own mountains, we ask for the strength to place our trust not just in the miracle we desire, but in Your unwavering presence and love. Lord, hear our prayers and move in our lives in ways that only You can. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Watch on YouTube 

  • Redemptive Rhythms of Rest

    Redemptive Rhythms of Rest

    When we walk in step with Jesus, learning from Him, we find rest in the rhythm of our work.

    In our fast-paced world, the concept of rest often feels elusive and even peculiar. We are so ingrained in the “hustle” that productivity has become a modern idol, making a minute of doing nothing feel like an eternity wasted, or even immoral. Studies reveal that many full-time employees frequently skip lunch breaks or experience interruptions, leading to health complaints, even in countries where breaks are mandatory. Even high school students report feeling guilty about taking long breaks, indicating a widespread prevalence of hustle culture. This relentless pace leaves little room for the regular rhythms of rest, often making us feel awkward and out of place when we try to pause.

    However, the problem is not work itself. Work is a pre-fall construction, part of God’s original design for humanity. After creation, God blessed humans with the work of subduing the earth and having dominion over it. This work, exemplified by Adam naming creatures, wasn’t about God needing assistance, but about relational connection – God desiring to “Be with me, walk with me, do as I do”. Interestingly, rest was also introduced at the very beginning, with God modeling a rhythm of refreshment by resting on the seventh day from all His work. In both work and rest, God desired to be with His people.

    But sin entered the picture, distorting this beautiful design. Work, once a joyful connection, became about survival, cursed with pain, thorns, and thistles, requiring “the sweat of your face”. Similarly, rest was distorted; it was no longer for refreshment and connection but merely for recovery from cursed work, leaving us burnt out and weary.

    Recognizing this distortion, God introduced the Sabbath to His chosen people, Israel, after rescuing them from Egypt. The Sabbath was a taste of His pre-sin rhythm of rest and work, a day where all work ceased. This was not a secondary command; God took it very seriously, even making it a sign between Him and Israel that He sanctifies them, setting them apart. Beyond the weekly Sabbath, God structured their entire nation around elaborate rhythms, including yearly high sabbaths, sabbath years where the literal land would rest, and even a jubilee year for debt forgiveness and freedom. All these sabbaths were opportunities to escape sin-distorted work and reconnect with their Creator – to “be with Him, walk with Him, and do as he does”.

    However, the Israelites, influenced by the sin within them, often failed to enter this rest, desiring to have their own way rather than depending on God. They missed out on the true rest, as sin tempts us with the lie that we can be God, making us feel that we cannot stop working when there is so much to be done. Observance of Sabbath rest requires reliance and dependence on God, trusting that His work is finished.

    The good news is that there “remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God”. This rest is found in Jesus. He invites, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. Jesus fulfills the law, including the Sabbath, by doing what the law, weakened by our flesh, could not do. He finished His work on the cross, declaring “it is finished,” ushering in this Sabbath rest for us.

    When we accept Jesus’ invitation, we are yoked with Him. Just as a younger ox would be yoked with a seasoned one, with the older carrying the majority of the weight, Jesus bears the brunt of our burdens. His yoke is “easy” not because the load disappears, but because it fits perfectly and doesn’t chafe our neck. When we walk in step with Jesus, learning from Him, we find rest in the rhythm of our work.

    So, how do we incorporate this rhythm of rest into our lives? Don’t overthink it. The peculiarity others should notice in us is not just that we observe a particular day, but the perpetual rhythm of refreshment we walk in because we have “been with Jesus”. Pick a time – daily, weekly, monthly – make it regular, put it in your calendar, and go be with Jesus, walk with Him, and do as He does.

    Reflect:

    1. How do you personally feel about taking intentional time to do nothing, and what societal pressures contribute to those feelings?
    2. God’s original design for work was centered on relational connection, not just productivity. How might viewing your daily tasks or work through this lens change your approach or perspective?
    3. What practical steps can you take to “bake” spaces of reconnection with God into the fabric of your own daily or weekly calendar?
    4. Sin makes us desire to “be God” rather than “be with God,” leading to a struggle with stopping work and relying on Him. Can you identify times in your life when this desire for self-reliance has made true rest difficult?
    5. What does “taking Jesus up on his offer to be with him, walk with him and do as he does” practically look like in your life, especially when facing heavy burdens?

    What practical next step can you take based on this?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we confess that we often get caught in the hustle of this world, allowing productivity to become an idol and rest to feel elusive. Forgive us for striving in our own strength and for forgetting Your original design for work as relational connection and rest as refreshment. Thank You for Jesus, our ultimate Sabbath rest, who bore the full weight of our burdens on the cross and now invites us to take His easy yoke. Help us to accept His invitation daily – to be with Him, walk with Him, and do as He does. May our lives reflect a peculiar, perpetual rhythm of refreshment that points others to You. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube.

  • Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information.

    As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a “peculiar people”. This “peculiar” walk often means that our faith and life choices may appear “foolish” when viewed through the lens of popular culture. Our walk is not merely about adhering to a static set of rules, but about believing what Jesus says about who we are, who He is, and about others, profoundly shaping how we interact with the world.

    There is a distinction between living a “biblical life” and a “Christ-like life”. A biblical life, as exemplified by the Pharisees, often focuses on obeying rules and preserving identity through “boundary markers of purity and law”. They were deeply committed and biblically literate, believing their unwavering pursuit of obedience to the Torah would trigger God’s promised resurrection and restoration. However, their interpretation of scripture (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) led them to believe Jesus was cursed by God because he was hung on a tree, and his followers were seen as idolatrous sinners preventing God from saving the nation. This outlook, based on Scriptural reasoning, sometimes led to coercive power and even violence.

    The Apostle Paul, then known as Saul, was once a Pharisee deeply convinced he was serving God’s will by persecuting early Christians, even giving permission for the stoning of Stephen. He believed that the presence of “sinners” among God’s people was the main obstacle to salvation. This demonstrates how a deep understanding of scripture, when applied as a “static text without its broader context,” can lead to actions contrary to God’s ultimate will.

    Paul’s life took a radical turn when he had an intimate encounter with God’s presence on the road to Damascus. This encounter transformed him from a man living a “biblical life” to one pursuing a “Christ-like life,” motivated by love rather than the perfect preservation of biblical law. The irony is that Paul, who once despised foreign cultures and sought to purify Israel, was now sent by God to preach salvation to those very nations.

    It was this transformed Paul who later wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:1-6, declaring that even if one possesses spiritual gifts, knowledge, or performs great deeds, “but do not have love, I am nothing” and “I gain nothing”. This reveals that “all actions and beliefs are secondary to the command to love sacrificially”. Paul understood that “Jesus had become the ultimate revelation of all truth in the bible through the life he lived,” and following Him meant being “driven by love,” not just pursuing perfect obedience to law.

    Jesus Himself lived out this peculiar love, often appearing “peculiar and even improper” to those focused on the law. He didn’t let “theological problems in the lives of others become more important than a person to love”. Where the law condemned, Jesus showed grace: healing on the Sabbath, dining with prostitutes and tax collectors, and protecting a woman caught in adultery from stoning, while the Pharisees cited the law. He also ministered to a Samaritan woman, breaking traditional lines of separation.

    C.S. Lewis stated, “It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God,” and that the Bible should not be used “as a sort of encyclopaedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons”. Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information. The most important thing is “who you become,” as Dallas Willard believed. When we respond with love like Jesus, seeking to understand instead of judging like the Pharisees, we begin to “heal the root, not just the reaction”.

    Reflective Questions:

    1. Does my faith walk appear peculiar to popular culture?
    2. Where might my focus on rules hinder loving others?
    3. Am I pursuing a “biblical life” or a “Christ-like life”?
    4. How can I prioritize people over their theological problems or behaviors?
    5. What next step can I take to treat people as though Jesus died for them?

    What personal next step can you take?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to be a peculiar people, transformed by Your love. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized law over love, and judgment over grace. Just as You transformed Paul, we pray for transformed hearts, that we may truly become lovers of others, not just conform to Your word. Help us to filter all scripture through the life of Jesus and to walk as He walked, demonstrating His love and grace to everyone we encounter. May our lives reflect the way Jesus would live if He were us, seeing hearts, healing roots, and extending Your unfailing love. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube