We are starting our new sermon series this weekend on the Rhythms of Grace. Each Sunday as Christians, we gather at the church building. In that gathering, we have different elements of the service that we go through – we sing, we pray, we give, we serve, we listen to preaching, etc. Going through all that becomes a rhythm in our lives, like a constant beat for a piece of music. It keeps our Christian lives in sync and provides a pattern for the rest of our lives. However, if we do not re-examine why we do what we do weekly, we can become complacent or lose sight of the purpose of each element. That is why it is important we come again to explore why we do these things on a weekend. We will be going through each element, starting this weekend with preaching. Why do we gather together each week, just to sit and listen to a person “monologuing” for 30 minutes? Do we not have better things to do? Some churches have made it their practice to skip one Sunday each month, so that they can spend that time serving the community. Is that a better idea? Once we dig into what the Scriptures, we will find that sitting under the preaching of God’s word weekly is too important to give up. In fact, this rhythm or pattern has been going on for almost all of 2000 years of church history – there has to be a good reason for that. Let’s explore that this weekend. Preacher: Chin Wee Ang

Less than 200 years ago, Australia was in the grip of gold fever. People from all walks of life were infected with gold fever and ran off to the goldfields, hoping to strike it rich. A little over 2000 years ago, the prophets of the Old Testament were also inflamed with something more precious than gold – they were searching intently and with the greatest care trying to uncover the message and the mystery of Christ. It was something so valuable that even the angels in heaven longed to understand it fully. This message and mystery of Christ is now fully revealed to us and it is a message of far more value than gold. We are called to set our hearts on this treasure in heaven, and to let the hope of it completely transform our lives. Preacher: Peter Kossen

How do you respond to good news? How about great news? How about the best news you'll ever hear? In Psalm 33, we see David shouting for joy and singing the praises of God because he's heard the greatest news imaginable: God has forgiven his sins, and is counting him among the righteous. On hearing this news, David feels compelled to write this psalm of praise, so that his readers would know why we can trust in this good news, and have the same joyful hope that David has. Preacher: Jordan Gommer

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. It is a psalm that is all about loving, celebrating, and delighting in the commands, laws, and word of God. That can sound really strange to our modern ears – who would ever describe themselves as “loving” the laws of our land? The laws of our land are considered by many as an impersonal, regulatory, and necessary part of a functioning society. It’s not something we “love” as much as something we live “under”. However, that is not the case with God’s laws and word. Psalm 119 calls us to delight in God's word. It makes us wise as it teaches us about God's world and how it operates. God's word also brings us joy and delight as it tells us about God's love and heart for us. It reveals to us our sins, so that we can run to Christ, through whom our sins are forgiven. Through God's word, we know a God who has loved us and cared for us. God's word also helps us in our sufferings. We know through God's word that we are not alone - God is our refuge and shield. Ultimately, God did not just send a "letter" to us, but he sent his own Son who perfectly shows us his love for us. Through Christ, we know that God is not aloof, but he is near us and has come to us personally. We delight in God's word, Jesus Christ - the one who makes us wise, the one whom we delight us, and the one who is with us in our suffering. Preacher: Chin Wee Ang

God is speaking continuously – both through his creation and in his word. Are we listening? God is speaking through his creation. Since the beginning of creation, the whole creation is displaying God’s power and divine nature. We often leave marks of who we are in the things that we create, and it is the same with God and the whole creation. We see marks of who this Creator is by noticing and “listening” to creation. They speak of God’s immeasurable power and his unlimited creativity. God is also speaking through the word that he gave us. This is the only way that we can know more about this God and what he is like. God’s word tells us about even more characteristics of this creator God. That is why David describes God’s word as perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, and firm. That is why it is important we read our Bibles. It is only through that word that we know this God who has loved us in Christ – the word that was made flesh. Ultimately, the greatest revelation of God is in the Word that was made flesh. In Christ, we see God’s loving, merciful, gracious, and justice in our salvation from our sins.

The Gospel is clear and Christ Himself could not have made it more understandable. Jesus said, "No-one comes to the Father but through me". (John 14:6). When confronted by Jewish leaders and asked by what authority they had performed the healing of a man crippled for more than forty years, they replied concerning Jesus; "There is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved". Such a claim proclaimed by the Christian Church today could be potentially classified as 'hate speech' or either 'misinformation' or 'disinformation'. When commanded by the authorities to no longer teach using Jesus' name, the disciples made it clear they could not stop speaking of what they had seen and heard. They asked the authorities whom they thought the disciples should obey, God or man? With respect, compassion and patience, the Church today must remain true to God's call to proclaim that the way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ ALONE. This sermon reveals this is a message of the love of God, who "so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life". It is the same truth that is sung in the Carols at Christmas time... the timeless truth of the Gospel, that in Christ ALONE are God and men reconciled. Preacher: Geoff van Schie

We all long for a good and loving ruler to lead us. We can see this in the turmoil in all the political realm throughout the world. The baby Jesus that we celebrate and worship each year at Christmas is the everlasting king who will bring peace to all on earth. He promises a new beginning for those who follow him. Preacher: Chin Wee Ang

Welcome to our Carols Service this morning. Preacher: Chin Wee Ang