Weekly Sermon Reflection Questions

How can Christians make a difference in society today?
Let us look at Nehemiah 5 by breaking it down into three parts.

Interspersed between two chapters on building, Nehemiah 5 deals with internal conflict and frustration and centres on Nehemiah’s work on justice.

Meeting opposition is a basic part of living out our faith every day. We should accept it and not be surprised by it. Jesus never faltered in his mission, despite strong opposition and even in the face of death.

In this sermon series on Nehemiah, it’s crucial to remember that we are designed to work from a place of rest. Neglecting regular Sabbath observance means rejecting God’s intended rhythm of work and rest.

God is in the business of working through people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

The people of Jerusalem came together to rebuild the city walls. Though God’s name isn’t mentioned, He was deeply involved, using different people in the rebuilding efforts.

Nehemiah’s plans worked from conviction to commission through contemplation.

In Nehemiah 1, we read about how Nehemiah received a compelling burden after hearing Hanani’s report of Jerusalem in ruin. Nehemiah was so moved that he mourned, fasted, and prayed. This week, we look at how Nehemiah acted.

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon. Years later, in 538 B.C., the Persian King Cyrus defeated the Babylonians and allowed the Jews to return to their land.

What a powerful story of faith, leadership and the incredible things that can happen when hearts are aligned with God’s purposes!

Psalm 111 is an acrostic Hebrew poem written for easily memorisation, with 22 lines corresponding to the Hebrew alphabet. It is a song of praise focusing on the covenant-keeping God and His works.

Psalm 111 was meant to be memorised by God’s people. It repeatedly taught the reader that it was imperative to study God’s work.

The verses on the Great Commission are well known. The fields are ripe for harvest. Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples, preach the Gospel, baptise and teach.

Mark 16:15 (NLT): “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” This verse encapsulates The Great Commission, a foundational text that has shaped Christian missionary work since the earliest days of the church.

We, as a church at Wesley, have a sacred responsibility to bear witness and reinforce collective memory of God’s almighty acts and faithfulness; warn every generation against repeating past sinful mistakes.

This Next Generation Weekend, we look at how to pass on Godly heritage from generation to generation.

On this Pledge Sunday, it is appropriate to consider how to counter our modern culture of getting and gaining with God’s Word to pledge and give. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul wrote to churches about raising funds for the poor and needy in Jerusalem.

New Testament, Paul urged us to give from our heart (2 Cor:6-8). Exodus 35 is a powerful example of giving as an act of worship in our discipleship when people give out of their hearts and commit their will to God’s cause.

What happens when biblical stewardship is observed? God can work through people who trust in him.

Salvation joy leads us to steward spiritual treasures that build God’s Kingdom.  

Walking in God’s confidence begins with faith in Jesus. Faith is not subjective philosophy or emotional experience that people seek to help overcome their pain and suffering.

In today’s world, enhancing productivity and managing time efficiently are key priorities. Resources such as articles and team management software offer guidance on organising time effectively for better productivity, but it’s crucial to pause and reflect on why productivity matters and its deeper purpose.

Jesus was criticised by the Pharisees (Luke 15:2) for dining with sinners. The Lord responded by telling three parables about the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. These parables reveal God’s heart for seeking the lost.

According to the dictionary, Prodigal can mean recklessly extravagant, very generous or lavishly abundant. This famous parable is not only about two sons, but also sheds spotlight upon the prodigal Father who lavishes extravagant love and abundant grace upon his wayward son.

After the reign of King Solomon, the people split into the Northern and the Southern Kingdom (between Israel and Judah).  This division led to frequent conflicts.  The Kingdom struggled to maintain its identity and to protect its territory from the surrounding nations. 

Unless we think like our LORD Jesus Christ – having tender, compassionate, selfless love for others, how can we imitate His example of humility?

As we usher in the month of June, it’s an opportune moment to conduct a mid-year review of our discipleship and walk with God. Let us draw inspiration and encouragement from today’s Scripture text from Luke 5. It presents us with three discipleship lessons.

The Bible does not portray aging as an issue. On the contrary, it shows that the elderly were respected and seen as bearers of wisdom. In Exodus 18, Jethro, who was Moses’ father-in-law, counseled Moses to assign judges and distribute his tasks to avoid exhaustion. Job 12:12 tells us “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.” (NLT)

Today, we observe Aldersgate Sunday, a day of celebration. This day is dedicated to remembering the profound spiritual encounter that John Wesley had, often described as a ‘strangely warmed’ experience with God.

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated each year to commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers. On that day, the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples in Jerusalem as rushing wind and tongues of fire, symbols of God’s presence and might.