Pastoral ministry – Page 2

Category: Pastoral ministry

Yishun Christian Church (Anglican): A Space for God’s Word to Form You

5 September 2024 blogpastor Leave a comment

When I received an invitation to preach at Yishun Christian Church (Anglican), I was happy to accept. I heard of this church long ago, when the church I served was searching for a permanent church facility. This was the first example of two churches sharing one building facility in a HDB land tender in a housing estate. It made a lot of sense as it halved the development cost and doubled the usage. As it turned out the Lutherans, being a mainline, liturgical church, is a good match in terms of the sanctuary design, nave and altar, pews and culture. A few other churches have followed suit and improved on this model: Clementi Bible Centre, another building in Yishun shared by Tabernacle of Christ and Life Centre Church (formerly Smyrna Assembly), and in Jurong West a church building shared by Victory Family Church and Centre of New Life. In fact, the government had plans for more churches to share buildings similarly but there had been no updates thus far.

Passionate about forming members in Christlikeness

The present vicar is Rev Daniel Teo. I was quite impressed with his broad experience. He was with Youth With A Mission for a season and served as ordained priest with St John’s-St Margaret’s for many years. He loves learning and holds a Master of Divinity (Greek track) and Master of Christian Studies from BGST, Singapore. Currently, he is close to completing his Masters in Theology. It became obvious he carries a passion for the Word of God and expository preaching. I noticed that the vicar and staff team had been preaching through the book of James. More importantly, they desire to see transformation towards Christlikeness as the word is applied in the members’ lives. I noticed that the English congregation pastors Japheth and Richard were likewise passionate about teaching God’s Word.

I was happy to see Beth, a former church leader who married pastor Japheth. I was pleased that she had integrated into the church well as a ministry staff. It was painful for the church I still attend to lose her, but I take comfort that she will bloom wherever she is planted and she is happily married to a pastor. She led the praise and worship songs in the monthly family worship service where the children and youth joined the adults in an inter-generational service. I believe such integration is healthy for the church, even if it is done monthly. This church had also experienced the charismatic renewal and unlike other churches, members are permitted to flow with the Spirit during the worship service.

I preached on the topic, “Being Single and Fulfilled” and placed the accent on being “fulfilled” because there were many married couples, young families and empty nesters. The attendance was over 200. I surprised myself because I preached for thirty minutes. I usually preach for forty minutes. On the Sunday before, I preached for an hour in my home church! It helped that I knew that after the 8:30 am Anglican service, the Lutherans would hold their worship service, so I was motivated to keep to my allotted time.

After the service, I caught up with Hedy Chua and her husband Christopher. We lived in the same neighbourhood in Princess Elizabeth Estate. Many decades back, I got to know that she attended this church. It was good to see her still rooted in the same church. These days loyalty, gratitude and faithfulness are rare qualities. People leave churches for the weakest reasons: a misunderstanding or dissatisfaction. Many left their home church simply because they unknowingly acted like consumers, searching for what was best for themselves, and not thinking of how they could contribute to the church they were dissatisfied with. This is a generalization of course but it is true for a sizeable percentage of church migrants.

When I left, I received a gift book, “The Bible’s Grand Story” written by the vicar himself. This was published in 2019 before the covid pandemic. I scanned it and felt it would be a good addition to the many books that local Christian writers have written in the past two decades. It’s another reminder to finish editing my book draft, which halted abruptly in the past month when I came down with pain in my back shoulder. This is the Lord’s nudging that I must finish editing my book draft.

MFIS Conference 2024: Shepherding God’s Flock

9 August 2024 blogpastor 4 Comments

I arrived early for the conference. Pastors were around several tables, having their nasi lemak and coffee for breakfast. I sat down with Dora and Pastor Timothy Chow and had casual conversations that normal people have. I feel relaxed and a sense of belonging. The conference began with singing and prayerful worship. The presence of God can be felt. I needed it. The Presence. I am sure other shepherds were drawing down the graces too. These are ministers who carry heavy responsibilities. Some may be discouraged, weary and heavy-laden, and some may be hurt, fearful or frustrated. Only the Chief Shepherd knows their specific needs. We pray the Holy Spirit will expertly tend to each one uniquely.

The fear of the Lord

I was blessed by the first session, “Shepherding God’s Flock in the Fear of the Lord” delivered by Pastor Gabriel Han. Gabriel mentioned how in recent decades the church had flirted with a different gospel: hyper-faith, self-centred favour, prosperity, and pampering emphases, but these days are over and the time has come for the church to heed the message of holy love and holy fear. He talked about what a church with the fear of the Lord would look like, expounding on how Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit with offerings were met with death. “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things.” (Acts 5:11) As shepherds we need to serve in all aspects of ministry with a sense of holy reverence before God. One statement that struck me was: Perfect love casts out all fear of man and inspires a godly fear of the Lord.

I believe the Spirit underlined his concluding words. He appealed to pastors to grow in the fear of the Lord so that their lives would impact the congregation, causing God’s light to shine upon them and inspire growth in the church. “The God of Israel has spoken: the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. (2 Samuel 23:3,4) I could sense the Spirit stirring in the pastors a desire for the fear of the Lord in their lives.

Saint and sinner simultaneously

The second session was a surprise for me. However, it demonstrated the openness of the MFIS leadership team to have invited a Presbyterian pastor, Keith Lai, to speak on the topic of “Understanding Leadership Failures and Avoiding Common Pitfalls”. I have known Keith for some time. He is one of the seven wonders of the Presbyterian church! I wondered how a Presbyterian minister who exercises the charismatic gifts managed to survive, indeed, thrive, in a denomination generally known to be doubtful, if not suspicious, of all things charismatic. In fact, he is open to all the Lord had for him and shared how he learned from the Baptist, the Methodist, and the Catholics, not just the charismatics. Fascinating and mind-opening.

Many notable ministers and ministries have fallen into disrepute and brought shame to the Lord’s name. However, Keith challenged the common reaction of shock and surprise of many Christians when they hear of notable preachers who have fallen into sin. They should not be surprised because theologically all believers are “simul justus et pecator” (“simultaneously saint and sinner”). All believers, including pastors and leaders, are like sheep and are susceptible to falling if not for the grace of God keeping us. We are all works in progress and are still being sanctified. Only in our glorification will we be finally free from the “presence of sin”. In the meantime, we notice the struggle of the desires of the Spirit with the desires of the flesh.

Seven times seven

By the end of the second session, I was full. I had received much to chew on and digest. But in typical Singaporean style, we had to pack in more! This session however was very encouraging. It showed MFIS intention of “connecting the generations and growing together in the 5-fold gifts” (from MFIS mission statement). Seven young ministers will each preach for seven minutes enlarging from the text in Psalm 78:72 “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.”

Straightaway, I happily recognized one of my home church pastors Tom Cannon, and my pastor friend’s son, Jireh Chee. The seven young ministers were clear communicators infused with life and I was blessed as they turned around the verse like a diamond and let the conference see different aspects of shepherding, drawn from the life of David. My brain by this time was bursting with content and I was thankful that lunch was next, and what a sumptuous buffet it was – comparable to the spiritual food we just had.

Afternoon workshop

Now the lunch has put me on screensaver mode, and I wondered how to keep alert during the workshop. There were three workshops on offer: “Your Church is a House of Prayer: From Prayer Meeting to Prayer Movement” by Lai Kheng Pousson; “Shepherd from Rest” by Eugene Seow; and “Staying Fresh in the Ministry” by Pastor Calvin Lee. I have not seen or heard from Eugene for many years so I went for his workshop. It helped that I was in front – it kept me awake.

Eugene Seow shared with us that he was no longer in F.C.B.C. and is now a pastor with Living Sanctuary. That’s news to me. I was happy to hear him talk about the meaning of sabbath rest for pastors. One thought that resonated with me was that God created man on the sixth day. Then on the seventh day, which God separated as holy sabbath, was Adam’s first day, a day of rest, of being with God. God wanted man for himself. It goes against some common notions we have of the sabbath. It’s not the last day but the first day. It’s not time to wind down but to wind up. It’s not arriving but taking off. It’s not leftovers but first fruits. It’s not closing but a new beginning. This is a refreshing perspective. He ended with two practical applications: Remember (Exo 31:12), and Listen (Isaiah 55:P2,3 Hebrews 3:15, 4:7).

Corporate prayer

The session ended and we sang and prayed in the truths we heard all day. My upper back was aching and Pastor Isaiah noticed it and he prayed for me. That was so good. One more plenary session to go. Can this aching body and saturated mind take in more? Come on!

The grand finale

The new chairman of MFIS is Pastor Samuel Gift Stephen. I heard his father preach long ago in the late 1970’s when he was the pastor of a Finnish Mission church called Praise Evangelical Church. It was wonderful then to see the son on the stage and the dynamism of his preaching.

The topic was “Recognizing False Ministries and Teachings” and he was the right person to carry the last session. He was constantly reaching out and drawing responses from the pastors. He connected and engaged us effectively. He taught about the identifying traits of false teachings and ministries: conflict with Scripture, focus on material gains, lack of fruit, and authority without accountability. He also shared strategies he uses to vaccinate his members: equipping and biblical training, promoting open dialogues and forums, establishing clear doctrinal stands and practices, and fostering a culture of accountability. Effective communication within the time allotted. Great, what a full day! Homeward bound.

As I reflected on the conference the next day, I concluded that the speakers had communicated highly relevant and helpful subjects to the pastors. I wish I had such input earlier in my pastoral ministry. I was glad there were 150 participants from 58 churches in the conference. May these pastors and leaders shepherd their flocks with integrity and skilful hands. Amen and amen!

Authenticity in Preaching

3 July 2024 blogpastor 2 Comments

The world of fashion is estimated to have lost US$2 to 3 trillion a year to counterfeiters of their branded products, usually fashion and luxury goods like clothing, shoes, watches and leather items. I wonder how much is lost in the kingdom when there are counterfeit or fake preachers in the pulpit. Probably, it can never be quantified. There were false prophets in the Old Testament, wolves in sheep clothing in the New Testament and they are not absent from Christendom today. Authenticity in preachers is super important for effective communication.

Authentic preaching changes lives

Effective sermons are forged in the furnace of authenticity. Authenticity in preaching is power-packed, not in a spectacular flourish, but in a quiet way. There is no lightning or thunder, no fire nor earthquake, but the Spirit’s work in connecting the speaker with the hearer and penetrating their hearts with the unvarnished truth.

Authentic preaching facilitates a connection with the hearers and engages them. Such sermons seem to come from the heart of someone who seeks to practice the truth in everyday life, even though the preacher is far from perfect. With the qualities of openness and transparency, such sermons make the preacher relatable to ordinary people with common struggles. There is a bond of trust as the congregation senses that the preacher is for real and not wearing a mask.

If the preacher is also their pastor it is even better because he or she cannot escape scrutiny and the church grapevine, and if what they hear from the pulpit is congruent with what they see in the life of the pastor, that word has tremendous power to inspire changes in values and beliefs and upload new operating systems in people’s lives. The reverse is also true: inconsistency or incongruence between what is preached and what is practised cannot be hidden and will undermine the credibility and power of the message.

An authentic preacher is someone with the qualities of being genuine, true to oneself and not pretending to be something other than what one is, and living a life that seeks to be congruent to the values, beliefs, and convictions one holds dear and proclaims. There is honesty, integrity, and transparency present in the authentic preacher and this potent mix inspires trust and accelerates personal connections with others.

Jesus and Paul on authenticity

Are there scriptures that highlight the importance of authenticity in life and preaching? Take a look at a few of them below:

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisee sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach ‘”. (Matt 23:1-3) The people feared the teachers of the law and Pharisees because they wielded religious power, but were despised because they did not practice what they preached. Jesus saw through their masks of hypocrisy and exposed their deceit. St Paul warned the church in Corinth of the fakery of the so-called apostles who had fooled them. He underlined the importance of integrity in apostleship and ministry: “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways: we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor 4:2). St Paul claimed the high moral ground in both the character of the messenger and the substance of the message. In his letter to Titus, he enjoined authenticity in leadership and preaching: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us”(Titus 2:7-8).

One of my favourite books on preaching is John Stott’s “Between Two Worlds” and in this concise gem he wrote: “Communication is by symbol as well as speech. For ‘a man cannot only preach, he must also live. And the life that he lives, with all its little peculiarities, is one of two things: either it emasculates his preaching or it gives it flesh and blood'(John here quotes J.H. Bavinck). We cannot hide what we are. Indeed, what we are speaks as plainly as what we say. When these two voices blend, the impact of the message is doubled. But when they contradict each other, the positive witness of the one is negated by the other. This was the case of the man Spurgeon describes as a good preacher but a bad Christian: he ‘preached so well and lived so badly, that when he was in the pulpit everybody said he ought never to come out again, and when he was out of it they all declared he never ought to enter it again.” (John quotes from Spurgeon’s book) It is at this point that a practical problem presents itself to us. Pastors are told to be models of Christian maturity.”

The how of authentic preaching

How then can one preach with authenticity? First, the preacher has to engage with the Bible He has to cultivate a life of prayerful, systematic study and meditation of God’s word. He approaches the Bible with an openness that allows the truths of God’s word to penetrate his mind and heart. He allows the Word to affect his thinking, affection, and action. Little by little he incorporates truth into his lifestyle and it becomes the dominant operating system of his life. One verse that inspired me and that I hold dear is in Ezra 7:10: “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” This one verse summarizes the three essential habits of the authentic preacher. First, he studies – eats, digests, and assimilates the word. Second, the truth points him to the reality of the Living Word, and he relates intimately with Jesus himself. This faith relationship releases the grace to do what the word says, and to experience the fruit of obeying God. Finally, this growing confidence in the power of truth enables the preacher to boldly proclaim the truth he has incorporated into his life. This growth in congruence is “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Second, the preacher is humble and transparent when he or she struggles to live out the topic being preached. Admitting lack, mistakes, and struggles or that one do not have all the answers displays authenticity. Preachers can ask the congregation for prayers so that they may grow continually in the particular facet of Christian life that they are preaching about. St Paul called on the believers in Ephesus to pray for him “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).

Third, authentic preachers speak from the heart and are not hesitant to talk about their personal experiences of struggle or success. Sharing personal, real-life examples that illustrate the truth they are preaching about is inspiring and memorable. Personal stories are engaging, disarming, and moving. They have a way of touching the affective and volitional domains of listeners, moving them to make decisions that lead to change in their lives. St Paul, in his legal defence against his accusers, chose to share the personal story of his conversion encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Fourth, during the preparation of the sermon, the preacher engages personally with the passage or topic to experience its power and to notice how it moves him or her. The preacher reflects on how those insights and truths have impacted him or her in the past and in the present. He or she prays for a deepening of the application of the truths in their own life and congregation.

Fifth, the authentic preacher is open to feedback from the congregation and is in dialogue with them so that he or she knows whether their preaching is connecting with their needs, questions and struggles. They hear their perspectives on how the sermon was received by them so that they can be of greater help to them in the future.

Heavenly Father, to preach is a sacred invitation to share your truth and my life with the congregation I serve. Help me to be true to your word in the way I live, and the way I communicate your truth. I want to dedicate myself to prayer and the preaching of your word. Grant me great grace to do so. Amen.