Weekly Sermon Reflection Questions

READ | SERMON NOTES (Sermon notes and recording available after 1 Apr 2025.) PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

John teases the reader to discover who Jesus really is, through the great miracles He performs. In today’s passage, Jesus heals the lame man at the pool on the Sabbath. He had been an invalid for 38 years. The Sabbath is the time set aside for reverence and devotion. The preparation for the Sabbath, sets the tone for the devotion that we have on the Sabbath. We step away from our busyness and adopt a posture of reverence and devotion.

In this third session in Lent, we continue reflecting on the signs in the Gospel of John. John presents seven key miracles to help us recognise Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. These signs provoke belief and encourage us to understand who Jesus truly is. One of these miracles occurs at the pool of Bethesda, where Jesus heals a man who has been invalid for 38 years.

John’s Gospel, written 50-60 years after Jesus’ death, reflects on His life and signs, emphasising faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the giver of abundant life.

God is calling us to a faith beyond what we see. The example of a father’s obedient, all-consuming faith in Jesus encourages us to perseveringly seek God’s blessing of overcoming victory for ourselves or someone we love.

Signs play an important role in pointing us to something important. John records only seven signs (miracles) which reveal the deity of Jesus. These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in Him (Jn 20:31)

John documents that Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in this book. These seven were written so that people may believe that Jesus is the Messiah and have life in His name (John 20:30-31).

On Transfiguration Sunday, we recount a special event in Christ’s life. May we be enlightened about who Jesus is, and worship Him as our Lord and Saviour.

The scripture passage in 1 Samuel 2:11-36 contrasts the sons of Eli to Samuel. They all grew up in the Temple under Eli’s tutelage but their lives were lived very differently. While the sons of Eli acted wickedly (vs. 13-17) , Samuel grew in favour with the Lord (vs 26).

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). God’s heart and plan for redeeming the world includes the least, the last and the lost.

The legacy of any church depends on (1) God’s unchanging love & faithfulness upon His church and on the (2) disciples’ obedience to fulfil God’s call upon His church. The early churches were marked by their hospitality as read in 3 John 5-11. v5-8 especially tells that Christians are called to be hospitable to those around because it is considered honouring God.

Wesley Methodist Church was founded in 1885. Dr James Thoburn preached the first Methodist service in Southeast Asia based on Zechariah 4:6 — Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. Since then, the church has blossomed and grown. This is the work of God as we are only His instruments.

Wesley Methodist Church was founded in 1885. Dr James Thoburn preached the first Methodist service in Southeast Asia based on Zechariah 4:6 — Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. Since then, the church has blossomed and grown. This is the work of God as we are only His instruments.

A tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable, illustrating life’s contradictions. Similarly, our mission involves being rational yet believing in the supernatural, and being contentious yet blameless in presenting the Gospel.

The most powerful story of transformation is the hope in darkness. Acts 19 shows Paul’s mission in Ephesus, challenging idols, transforming lives and revealing God’s power, inspiring the Church’s mission.

READ | SERMON NOTES (Sermon notes and recording available after 4 Feb 2025.) Summary 1) The Spirit of Mission (V1-13) Acts 2 begins with the story of the Holy Spirit descending unexpectedly on 120 believers including Peter and the 11 apostles

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, moving in power, bringing the presence, purpose and passion of God to us. Acts 2:1-4 relates how the Spirit fell upon the early church on the Day of Pentecost. (Shavuot), which was one of the seven Jewish festivals occurring 50 days after Passover. It was a harvest festival of first fruits promising more to come. Therefore, it was deeply symbolic as God foretold that by His Holy Spirit countless more souls would be added to the Kingdom.

Society’s view of freedom contrasts with the freedom that Jesus speaks about – a freedom that is spiritual, wholistic and transformative. The freedom that Jesus gives is integral to the theology of mission.

Jesus’ mission was to redeem mankind from sin, and free us for joyful obedience to God. Find out how we can fulfill our mission as His disciples in society.

Being missional is integral to who we are as Christians. Isaiah 49 provides a snapshot of what God’s people are supposed to be, and where we are currently at.

God’s servant is His agent, called to do His work in the world. This passage in Isaiah also pertains to us, as we are also called to proclaim His message of hope and restoration to our society.

Scripture passage records Moses’ parting words to the generation that was about to enter the promised land as he handed over the leadership to Joshua. The people felt privileged and very special as they were going to possess the promised land and claim their blessings.

Rev Gladwin Lee elaborates on what it means to be a People of God in today’s society.

Mission is at the heart of our Christian faith because God is a missional God. It’s not that the Church has a mission, but the Mission of God has the Church (Chris Wright)

Mission is at the heart of our Christian faith because God is a missional God. It’s not that the Church has a mission, but the Mission of God has the Church (Chris Wright)

God’s promised blessing bestows eternal abundance and fullness of life. Should we not consider the impact of His blessing upon persons and creation around us? Is blessing the goal of our faith, or the means of our mission? Either view will determine the way we live.

Today we put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples of Jesus and reflect on who is Jesus to us.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and Mary with life changing messages. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth would bear a child in her old age and he was to name him John. The angel visited Mary later to pronounce she had found favour with God and would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. The child will be Jesus, the long-awaited Son of God, the Messiah.

Expectations can shape so much of our lives. It influences how we approach our relationships, jobs, holidays and faith. When our expectations are unmet, it can leave us feeling disappointed, frustrated and even doubting God.