1

Speaker Rev Peter Teo

For internal circulation only

17 March 2019

2

There is a Sunday different from all others. Everyone dresses a little nicer than usual. People flock to church buildings early to beat the larger-than-normal crowds, and the energy in church buildings is at an all-time high. The worship services are decidedly upbeat, and everyone is in a good mood. Often someone stands up front and says, “He is risen.” The congregation replies in unison, “He is risen indeed!” As soon as the worship service ends, the church buildings empty quickly as faithful worshippers go to devour a celebration feast.

I am speaking, of course, of Easter Sunday.

While this Sunday was the height of excitement for so many, it honestly meant very little to me for most of my life. I know that may sound like a terrible thing to say, but it is true. Every year the story was the same: some women gathered spices for Jesus’ body, went to a garden, saw the stone was rolled away from the tomb and an angel said Jesus had risen.

As exciting as the pastor tried to make it, I knew the end of the story, and the punchline had less power year after year. Beyond that there was the Monday after Easter. What was celebrated just 24 hours earlier seemed to matter little. Everyone had gone back to work, and life was, well, completely normal. The resurrection all seemed quite shallow.

You may know exactly what I am talking about. The hype, the excitement, the candy, the eggs and even the

resurrection can seem to fall flat. Like any other holiday, it is here and gone before we know it. In this we have a choice: we can accept this is just how it is or we can move toward Easter differently.

Which brings us to Lent.

The word Lent comes from the Latin root meaning “to lengthen.” It reminds us that during the season of spring (which Lent falls into in the Northern hemisphere), the sun takes a little longer each evening to settle beyond the horizon. With this, the weather grows warmer, and life emerges once more. Lent is our connecting point to the season of life.

But this is a messy season. As the snows of winter lie on the ground, things get covered, trampled and windblown. Winter brings with it chilling winds that push things over, mess things up and even break things. As the snow melts we are left to discover the trash, the litter, the mud and the branches beneath the snow.

It’s much like our lives. Over time, our hearts and souls, when left unattended, get messy. Lent invites us to deal with the mess. This is not about quickly cleaning things up and pretending they were never there, nor is it about ignoring the mess. Lent invites to roll up our sleeves and sort through the debris of our lives.

We are confronted with our mess, and so on our foreheads we rub a little dirt reminding ourselves that just as Eden has gone to ashes, so, one day, we will too.

The first time I observed Lent over 10 years ago, I attended an Ash Wednesday service. Ashes were

3

applied to my head and words were spoken over me, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” I learned in a new way that I am a mere mortal, and at same time created in the image of God. In that moment, something new in my soul began to grow. At the same time, it was, for me, a difficult time of coming to grips with my brokenness, staring at my sin and searching my heart.

This is what Lent does. It allows us to see the parts of ourselves we’d rather leave covered up. It asks us to drag our full self into the light of day no matter how dark it may be. As we near the end of Lent, we encounter Good Friday. For centuries, the people of God mark this day by participating in the Stations of the Cross remembering the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

One station remembers the words Jesus cried while being crucified, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” That one phrase sums up the darkness of Lent. At the point of Jesus’ death, He experienced the abandonment of God. He was naked, beaten, bleeding, dying, nailed to an instrument of torture and death, crying for a father only to realize His dad was nowhere.

Lent and Good Friday invite us to brush up against the death of Jesus as we sort through the death in our hearts. Good Friday is the moment when Jesus’ death and our sin crash into one another. And in that moment we ache for Easter.

The difference between Easter feeling shallow and Easter meaning something is simple and painful: death. The reason the resurrection felt so shallow to me for so long was because there was never any death. And you cannot have a resurrection without a death. This is why Lent is so important. It brings us face to face with our mortality and the death of

Jesus.

A few years ago, I, along with several pastors from Denver, joined together for a sunrise service. There was the common story once again: some women gathered spices for Jesus’ body, went to a garden, saw the stone was rolled away from the tomb and an angel said Jesus had risen.

But this time when we read the words, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen!” Almost on cue, the first rays of sunlight broke over the skyline of Denver, and tears of joy welled up in my eyes.

The tomb was empty. And it meant something.

Easter reminds us that in the in the Kingdom of God, death doesn’t have the last word; life does. Ash Wednesday, Lent and Good Friday teach us the resurrection is something we desperately need—for our broken selves and our broken world.

And so, this Lenten Season, may we remember we are dust and to dust we shall return. May we examine our frail, flawed soul and, with Jesus, enter the darkness of our sin and death and journey with Him to the Cross. May we be crucified with Christ, and buried in the likeness of His death, so that when we hear the words “He is risen!” perhaps for the first time, we might truly celebrate the resurrection—because we have chosen to die so that we may have life.

Article by Michael Hidalgo (Relevant Magazine), lightly edited for context

4

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

Ladies Retreat: Give thanks for answered prayers regarding smooth immigration clearance on both sides of the border (quickest ever!), new ones at retreat felt comfortable and welcomed, and everyone made an effort to know someone new. Thank God for ministering to us where we are at through the scriptures, songs messages and prayer stations. From the oldest (80 years old) to the youngest (24 years), we had opportunities to tell our story, and to enjoy deep and sweet fellowship. Praise the Lord!

Children Ministry: Uphold the Sentosa Nature Trail Carmel Kids Excursion, this Wed, 20 March Ask God for good weather and safety for all children and adults. May He bless their time together with great fellowship, exercise and fun.

Neighborhood outreach (under MWS): Do remember the committee planning the Evangelistic Parents Day Dinner Celebration on Sat, 6 July at Ban Heng Restaurant. 40 tables have been booked. Pray for the publicity, logistics, sales of tickets, and for volunteers to serve at this event.

Overseas Missions Ministry: 1) Ps Peter and Samuel Lim give thanks to God for enabling them to teach to 38 Missions Secretaries of Manipur Baptist Convention from 5 to 6 March. Ps Peter also taught 29 missionaries and evangelists on two topics from 7 to 8 March. Pray for the attendees to return to their church with renewed zeal and a vision for the lost. 2) Pray for the Nepal Missions team of nine led by Ps Daniel. Ask God for journey mercy in air and land transport. Pray for the dedication of three church buildings on 15 March. Pray for the team’s ministry: Ps Assoc Lee Luang, assisted by Mui Hong with Isha as the translator, training 30 Sunday School teachers from 18 to 20 March; King Keong exploring possible business partnership at SOPM; Ps Daniel teaching 60 church leaders at SOPM with Ps Kiran as translator; Elder Kim Siang interviewing some leaders to write their stories, with Augustin and Collin recording videos in the process; Elder Kim Siang sharing gospel magic assisted by Stanley, Mui Hong, Orando, Collin and Augustine. Pray that the Holy Spirit would empower everyone.

Next Wednesday (20 Mar)

Chairperson: Eld Ho Peng Kee

Come, join our prayer warriors in

Room #03-06 on Wednesday, 7.45pm!

A terrorist group in Northeast Africa attacked Bible translators two weeks ago and burned the translation facility. They killed five members of the lead translator’s family and seriously injured the lead translator. Another 49 translators were abducted and are still missing. Despite this tragedy and the threat of extreme danger, the translators plan to carry on their work. Let us cry out to God for these brave translators and for God’s Word to continue to shine light in the darkness:

Pray for the safe release of the 49 translators who are missing.

Pray for the completion of translation projects so that 25 unreached people groups will have access to God’s Word in their native language. Pray for safety, wisdom, and courage for all translators.

Pray that God will bring healing and comfort to the lead translator who lost members of his family.

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

5

ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES

If you are a parent who would like to register your infant(s) for this year’s Easter

Infant Baptism, please inform Angie Leong (67795077, angie@carmel.sg) at

the church office. A class for parents will be held on Sat, 23 March, 2-4 pm

Registration closes on 17 March.

The Youth Catechism class will commence on 14 April. Youths who are

interested to seek Baptism or Reaffirmation of Faith, please inform Angie Leong

(67795077, angie@carmel.sg) at the church office. Registration closes on 25

March. The first interview will be on 7 April.

Date Speakers Topic Text

24 Mar Eld Bruce Lockhart Romans: God’s Sovereign election and mercy

Romans 9:1-33

31 Mar Rev Peter Teo God’s Plan of Salvation Romans 10:1-21

7 Apr Rev Oh Boon Leong A Life of Doxology Romans 11:1-36

14 Apr Rev Tan Soo Inn Lent/Palm Sunday

The 8-lesson New Life In Christ (NLIC) Class will commence on Sunday, 24

March, from 1.15pm-2.15pm in room #04-09. We would like to cordially invite

all newcomers, friends, seekers and new believers to join the NLIC Class to

know more about the Christian Faith.

24 Mar - Who is Jesus Christ?

31 Mar - Salvation

07 Apr - Quiet Time

14 Apr - Guidance

To register for the Class, kindly contact Lai San/the church office at 6770 5077

or l aisa n@carm el.sg.

21 Apr - Lordship of Christ

28 Apr - Victorious Christian Life

05 May - Good Works

12 May - Witnessing

6

NEXT SUNDAY 24 March 2019

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 1ST SERVICE

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 2ND SERVICE

Ushers Suyen & friends D’Vine CG

Refreshment Bt Batok CG

Worship Leader Aaron Chong

Congregational Prayer Rev Peter Teo

Musicians Week 4 Band

Welcome Corner Tan Choon Kiat/John Chua Dn Jonathan Lum/Sunny Yap

Scripture Readers Rumi Tan Tan Gek Kee

AVA Crew Chai Chin Loon/Fiona Chee Daryl Tan/Loh Kum Hoe/ Peter Liew

Librarians Cheang Siew Eng/Kristin Cheang

Please make all cheques, including those for the Development Fund, payable to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd (payee name must be stated on the cheque).

Please note that NO receipts will be issued for cheques received by the Church below $5,000 except upon request.

All offerings and pledges to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd are not tax-deductible.

7

Introduction: I. A prayer warrior gives people a choice of which god they want to follow

(18:21).

II. A prayer warrior challenges people to a contest to see which god will hear their prayer (18:22-26a).

III. A prayer warrior confronts the people when their god does not answer their prayer (18:26b-29).

IV. A prayer warrior invites people to observe what he is doing in the contest (18:30-35).

V. A prayer warrior calls on God to hear and answer his prayer (18:36-37).

VI. A prayer warrior sees God answering his prayer (18:38).

VII. A prayer warrior witnesses people acknowledging the true God (18:39).

1 Kings 18:20-39

Questions for Reflection:

Have you shared the Gospel to anyone who is engaging in idol worship? Is it easy or difficult for them to repent and believe in Christ? What is the reason for this?

Do you think there are many people wavering between the two opinions of following after an idol or the true Creator God of Heaven and Earth? Why do they waver? How can you reach out to them?

The speaker gives a 7-step outline to challenge people who are wavering between two opinions so that they can acknowledge the true God. In what way can you adapt Elijah’s prayer model for your situation? Do you consider yourself a prayer warrior?

8

Welcome! A warm welcome to all

newcomers and visitors with

us today. We hope that you

will have a meaningful time

of worship this morning. Do

join us for tea at the fellowship

hall after the service.

Worship Leader Chew Leong Ho

Speaker Rev Peter Teo

Prayer Rev Jabez Chia

Scripture Readers Constance Low Airika Takeguchi

Ushers Clementi Woods CG West Bay CG

Refreshment Jennifer Lim/Peck Har

AVA Michael Teo Alan Tan Low Ek Yong Tan Chay Hoon Andrew Ong

Thanksgiving Flowers Albert & Lina Joanne Ng Peter & Yvonne Liew Dennis & Felicia Goh

Worshippers are invited to come forward to the front

pew for personal prayer with our elders/pastors.

I Stand Amazed

Gloria Patri

Matthew 6:5-15

Our Father

Forgiven

Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean

Living Hope

Doxology

1 Kings 18:20-39

A Healthy Church Member is a Prayer Warrior

Onward Christian Soldiers

Three-Fold Amen

For a digital copy of this bulletin:

http://www.carmel.sg/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Weekly-031719.pdf

For recordings of past sermons, visit www.carmel.sg