Weekly Sermon Reflection Questions

Waving Palm leaves this Sunday, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” – in the name of Jesus the Messiah, the Saviour whose power shows through humility, whose strength is without tyranny.

Jerusalem was prepared to praise Jesus the King; creation could not remain silent, and even stones would proclaim his glory.

As we reflect on the fifth sermon in this series we see how Jesus turns meals into opportunities for Enacted Mission through presence, humility and hospitality.

Today’s passage touches on a meal gathering during which Jesus enacted the mission of His kingdom. Jesus’ meals were never just social gatherings – they were living expressions of the mission of God’s kingdom.

Meals are never just about food. Jesus is always welcoming the outsiders and restoring the community. This is the largest recorded meal in the Gospel – the feeding of the 5,000.

Whenever we host people, there is often a quiet worry; will there be enough food? No one wants to run out. In Gospel of Luke 9, Jesus feeds more than 5,000 people. Including women and children, the crowd may have been closer to 20,000. This miracle appears in all four Gospels, showing its significance in revealing who Jesus is.

As a redeemed people, what does it mean to be an enacted community where God’s love is acted out in our workplaces, interest groups, social networks, church, small group, family?

The shared meal is the emblem of real community, until we find ourselves eating together in one another’s home, we do not fully belong to one another. Nothing fills our heart than having meals with the ones we love. Who belongs to Jesus’ community?

A typical wedding dinner banquet in Singapore has many tables which guests are assigned to. Such dinners are not only about food and drink but are opportunities for bonding with relatives and friends. It could also be a time of seeking reconciliation.

In Biblical times, sharing a meal was far more than a social event – it was a public statement of one’s identity and belonging. Your meal companions revealed your values, social standing and whom you accepted.

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | Lent is a season of reflecting on the life, ministry and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days and overcame temptation in preparation for

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | Lent is a season of reflecting on the life, ministry and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days and overcame temptation in preparation for

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | Every year, Wesley Methodist Church gathers to celebrate another anniversary. Counting the years is easy; 141 of them now. But making every year count Is far harder. Today we thank God for His faithfulness

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | Every year, Wesley Methodist Church gathers to celebrate another anniversary. Counting the years is easy; 141 of them now. But making every year count Is far harder. Today we thank God for His faithfulness

Paul preached the message of Christ crucified to the Jews and Greeks. He did this in a simple, non-eloquent way. The message was rejected by the Jews who could not accept a Messiah who was crucified. Similarly, the Greeks could not accept a powerless and humiliated Saviour.

There is a close relationship amongst the Cross, Wisdom and the Spirit. God’s wisdom is revealed in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This wisdom is revealed by the original witnesses through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit.

READ | SERMON NOTES For Sermon Notes, please visit https://tidings.wesleymc.org/sermon-reflection/upside-down-god-pp/ PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

It is often said that we have an upside-down God whose kingdom values stand in stark contrast to the values and priorities of the world.

Paul brings us to a divided church in Corinth. The problem was not bad theology or false doctrine, but misplaced attention. The Corinthians believed in the gospel, but had rallied around certain leaders rather than the cross of Christ. Their focus had shifted away from surveying the cross, toward admiration for those who spoke about Christ

The Corinthian church was quarrelling amongst themselves and Paul stepped in and appealed to a community who was hurting and divided. The church was not divided over doctrine; the disagreements were personality and preference driven and rooted in pride.

God is faithful. He will keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The start of a new year invites reflection on past lessons and future goals. This often inspires resolutions, new habits, and systems to optimise productivity. It can be exhilarating and sometimes even addictive when we start new productivity protocols or utilise productivity apps. But while personal discipline and productivity are good things, we can also pursue them to the detriment of our relationships.

Our identity is tied to our traits and determines our purpose. Who you are determines what you do.
The baptism of Jesus reveals His identity and invites us to respond as His disciples.

READ | SERMON NOTES For Sermon Notes, please visit: https://tidings.wesleymc.org/sermon-reflection/righteous-anointed-beloved-traditional/ PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians starts with a thanksgiving prayer. The 12 verses in today’s text is actually one long sentence in Greek.

The redemptive work of God reflects His glory and involves all persons in the Holy Trinity.

The longest prayer by Jesus as recorded in John 17 reveals what was fundamentally crucial to Him before He was betrayed and crucified. It should cause us, as we end the year, to reflect on how we are to worship Immanuel in whose loving, compassionate presence we have received mercy and every good thing.

An avid runner, Pastor Ben began by sharing his experience completing a full marathon 15 years ago. What sustained him through the long race was a simple yet powerful resolve: keep on keeping on. Hebrews 12:1-2, which he memorised and wrote on his bib, reminded him that life is more like a marathon than a sprint.

Advent is a season of waiting, and waiting can be hard because our hearts long for hope, peace, joy and love. Today we celebrate the truth that God does not wait for us to be ready. For God’s love comes anyway.

In New Testament period, a couple is considered legally married after their marriage has been arranged by their parents, is sealed with a formal agreement and the bride price paid by the groom.