The Gathering Sermons

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 14th June, 2026Passage: Genesis 12

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 7th June, 2026Passage: Genesis 10-11

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 31st May, 2026Passage: Genesis 8-9Sermon Summary:Genesis 6 tells us that every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually, so much so that the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. (v.5) Genesis 7 shows us the de-creation as God blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, except for Noah and those who were with him in the ark. (v.23) Still, things are not made right—Noah as the second Adam is far from perfect. Noah  received God’s favor upon him and was blameless in his generation as he sought to walk with God (Gen. 6:9). However, Genesis 9 sees Noah discovering and drinking wine and becoming naked and ashamed in his drunkenness, just as Adam before him became naked and ashamed in his sin. (v.20-21) Right before He establishes His covenant with Noah, God acknowledges that “the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” (Gen. 8:21) His covenant with Noah reveals how the world has changed and been made broken as a result of sin. From then on, the fear and dread of man would be upon every beast of the earth, every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. (Gen. 9:2)Romans 8 addresses this brokenness that the world was subjected to. The apostle Paul writes that “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (v.22) But we can have hope, because there was a last Adam who came to redeem the world and everything in it. Unlike Adam and Noah, He came and did all things right—yet willingly subjected Himself to being naked and ashamed upon the cross as He died to make all things right. Like all of creation, we wait eagerly for that day when Jesus will return for good. Until then, church, let us find our hope and joy only in Him.

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 24th May, 2026Passage: Genesis 6-7Sermon Summary:While Genesis 3 describes the line of Cain, Genesis 4 devotes itself to the line of Seth. Seth’s line includes Enoch who walked with God and was not, because he was taken by God. (v.23) Enoch fathered Methuselah, who is widely believed to be the oldest person in the Bible, and Methuselah fathered Lamech, who fathered Noah. Unfortunately, Noah’s time is when it all starts to go wrong: those from the line of Seth (the sons of God) see that those from the line of Cain (the daughters of man) are attractive, and they intermix and mingle. Because of their compromise, the wickedness of man became great in the earth, and “every intention of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) Their sinfulness is so great that it caused God to regret that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. (v.6) Thus the Lord commands Noah to make for himself an ark as He intends to bring about a reset of all humanity. (v.13-14) The Hebrews 11 hall of fame applauds Noah for his faith (v.7), and Scripture tells us that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation, who walked with God. (Gen. 6:9) Though Noah’s trust in and submission to God are things we must emulate, let us remember that before all these, Scripture already says that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (v.8) He did not earn God’s favor through good moral conduct, and God did not see fit to choose Noah because of what he had done. Instead, God’s favor was lavished on him, the same way that God’s grace and mercy are lavished on us through Christ today—and Noah responded in holy fear by building the ark, just as God had commanded. As for us, church: will we remain in our sin or where we are when God calls, or will we be faithful to obey, no matter how far-fetched things seem?

Reading Genesis 5 can feel a bit like reading a math textbook, just a long list of names, ages, and numbers. It’s tempting to skip it, but we believe that there’s value in all of Scripture. God speaks to us in this genealogy.Adam and Eve rebelled in Genesis 3, and sin spread quickly. By chapter 4, not only does Cain murder his brother, but several generations later, Lamech even boasts about it. Genesis 5 shifts our focus to Seth’s family line. These people decided to live differently and "call upon the name of the Lord."As we search for patterns and breaks from the pattern in the genealogy from Adam to Noah, this phrase is a constant refrain: "...and he died." It’s a repetitive reminder of the consequence of turning away from God. We die because of our sin.But right in the middle of this list, someone breaks the pattern. Enoch "walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." In a difficult culture, Enoch chose a different path. He reminds us there is something beyond the grave. It makes us ask: what kind of legacy do we want to leave? If you were remembered for just one thing, what would it be?Then we meet Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible. His name means when he dies, it shall be sent. If you do the math, Methuselah died the exact year the flood came. His long life of 969 years shows God's patience, waiting to give people time to turn back to Him.Lamech names his son Noah, meaning "rest" or "relief." While Noah brought rescue through the ark, this entire family line ultimately points forward to the final Deliverer: Jesus. While Adam failed at the tree in the garden, Jesus succeeded on the cross. He took the curse of sin upon Himself so we could find real rest.

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: May 10, 2026Passage: Genesis 4In Genesis 4, we see how quickly the rebellion of the Garden spirals out of control. Genesis 4 is "Genesis 3+1"—the fallen falling further. The tragedy begins at the very first worship service. Abel gives God his first and best, but Cain merely offers his leftovers. God's rejection of Cain's offering reveals that the root of all sin is defective worship. When we mistrust God, we also misvalue God and devalue His glory. Because we were made with a God-shaped hole, holding back our best from the Creator doesn't just insult Him—it leaves us restless, anxious, and deeply unsatisfied.God graciously warns Cain that "sin is crouching at the door." We cannot manage, control, or domesticate our sin. If we crack the door open even a little, it will pounce. We must kill sin, or sin will kill us. Tragically, Cain ignores this warning. He kills his brother and shows absolutely no remorse, complaining only about his punishment. Because sin always leads to more sin, this sets off a generational downward spiral. By the seventh generation, Lamech is actively boasting and singing songs about his own violence. Unchecked sin hardens our hearts and completely alienates us from God and one another.If the story ended with our sin, we would be utterly hopeless. Like Cain, we are all guilty, and no amount of human effort can wash the stain away. The blood of Abel cries out from the dirt for justice, declaring us condemned and unclean. But God provided a Savior. On the cross, Jesus shed His blood to crush the serpent’s head. Where Abel's blood cries out for condemnation, Jesus’s blood speaks a far better word over us today: justified, spotless, redeemed, and fully forgiven.Right now, there are two knocks at the door of your heart. Sin is crouching, waiting to destroy you; but Jesus is knocking, eager to restore you. May we shut the door on sin and open our hearts to the Savior.

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 3rd May, 2026Passage: Genesis 3

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 26th April, 2026Passage: Genesis 2Sermon Summary:As God finishes His work of creation, He gives to mankind a blueprint for perfect and good living. The rest and restoration of the Sabbath is part of this blueprint as God Himself rests on Adam’s first day (Gen. 2:2-3). From verse 4 onwards, Genesis 2 zooms in to give us a micro view of creation: it tells us how God formed Adam from the dust and dirt of the ground and breathed life into him. (v.7) It tells us how He planted a garden in Eden and put Adam to work there. (v.8, 15) It tells us too that God created Eve to be Adam’s companion, a helper fit for him. (v.18)Genesis 2 shows us that God’s blueprint for perfect and good living includes good relationship with God, with work, and with community. An example of this is the usage of God’s personal name from verse 4 onwards, Yahweh Elohim instead of God’s title only, which is Elohim. The triune God who exists in perfect community desired relationship with man and saw that it was not good for him to be alone. Thus He established relationship with His creation and created Eve, the first woman, as a companion for Adam. (v.21-22) Adam receives Eve with perfect joy as he bursts into a poem of delight. (v.23) Together, they are tasked with the work of filling the earth and having dominion over it (Gen. 1:28), work that Adam is seen doing as he names the animals. (Gen. 2:19-20a) His work echoes what God was doing in creation and is meant to point back towards Him. Sadly, the curse of sin and brokenness in Genesis 3 changed everything. Nothing is what it was meant to be.But we who hold fast to Christ have the good news of the gospel. As we long for more, let us look towards the One who will make all things new. (Rev. 21:1-5)

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 19th April, 2026Passage: Genesis 2:1-3Sermon Summary:On the seventh day of creation, God finished all the work He had done. He finished, and rested—then He blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because of His rest. This idea of rest is central to the Sabbath: in Exodus 16 (its first mention), Moses tells the people that the Sabbath is a day of “solemn rest.” (v.23) The same idea is echoed in Deuteronomy 5, where the people, their children, their slaves, and even their animals are commanded to refrain from doing any work to rest. (v.14) This rest is combined with remembrance—while they were slaves in Egypt, the Israelites could never rest. But now they rest and remember God, who brought them out of slavery in Egypt. Because of Him, they can finally rest. (v.15)While the Sabbath requires physical rest, we shouldn’t stop there. The rest commanded in Deuteronomy included physical rest such as refraining from work or catching up on sleep, but the heart behind it is to be still—to stop, drop, and know that He is God. (Ps. 46:10) Just as the Israelites were commanded to worship weekly on the Sabbath, so too should we spend that time meditating and reflecting—resting in the presence of God. For some people, rest may be stillness of movement. Others may enjoy moving their bodies! Ask yourself what brings you joy and delight as you reflect on God’s majesty and glory. Ask yourself what helps to remind you of His goodness and His promises. As long as we slow down and practice a stilness of heart to know that He is God, we may Sabbath in unique ways well-suited to how we are made. In Genesis 2, the phrase “and there was evening and there was morning” is missing from the seventh day of creation, denoting that it has not ended. As you set out to Sabbath, ask God to remind you of His rest and reign, and the rest you can have in Him. 

Series: The Book of GenesisPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 12th April, 2026Passage: Genesis 1Sermon Summary:In the beginning, there was nothing but God. He created the heavens and the earth ex nihilo, out of nothing—brought order to the earth that was without form and void. Scripture tells us that God created the world in six days: time (the evening and morning) on the first; the land and sky on the second. On the third, He made earth and sea and brought forth vegetation. On the fourth day, God made the sun, moon, and stars, and on the fifth day He made the creatures in the sea and the birds in the skies. On the sixth day, He made the beasts of the earth, the livestock, and other creeping, crawling things—and the pinnacle of His creation, mankind, whom He created in His image.As God surveyed all of His creation on the sixth day, the author of Genesis tells us, behold, it was very good. (1:31a) And as God finished the work of creation, He blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all His work that He had done in creation. The Hebrew name for the book of Genesis translates to “in the beginning”, and as we go back to the beginning, we see that God intended for His creation to be very good. He was pleased by what He had made, but we can hardly reconcile what was pictured in the first two chapters of Scripture with what we see today. Everywhere we look, we can see wars, famine, disease, injustice, and violence. This is hardly the world that God intended to bring into being! But although we grieve alongside the rest of creation, we who follow Jesus have the privilege of understanding the beginning with the expectation of the end. For we look forward to the day when Jesus will return for good, and set us free once and for all as He makes all things new in Him.

Series: /Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 5th April 2026Passage: Colossians 1:13-14Sermon Summary:“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 3:4-5a, 8-9)The story of Easter is the story of a God who loved us so much, He did the impossible. He sent His beloved Son on a rescue mission for all mankind. He was scorned, betrayed, and mocked all the way to the cross. He subjected Himself—the Creator at the hands of His creation—to unbearable abuse. He was separated from His Father when he took on the sins of all mankind, and He died for us to come home. But the good news of Easter Sunday is that it doesn’t stop there. The apostle Paul tells us that by sending Jesus on this rescue mission and by dying on the cross, God rescued us from the domain of darkness. He brought us instead to the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Him, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13-14)—an act that no one apart from God could accomplish, a gift given freely by Him and Him alone.The death and resurrection of Jesus is the most powerful act in human history, but it also doesn’t stop there! We read last year of Jesus’ ascension at the beginning of Acts, after which He sent to us the gift of His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), He who now dwells in His children as He sanctifies us day by day to be more like Him.There is a time to grieve, but also a time to rejoice and celebrate because of what Christ has done—so will you listen and obey, church? And allow the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to move and transform you?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 29th March 2026Passage: Acts 27-28Sermon Summary:The finale of Acts ends in a whirlwind: after being caught in a storm, Paul and those with him are lost at sea and without food. (27:14-26) When they finally land, shipwrecked, on the island of Malta, Paul is then bitten by a viper as he helps to start a fire. (28:2-4) But because God’s will is for Paul to reach Rome and to stand before Caesar, all those on the ship with Paul are alive and well (27:23-24). Though the native people of Malta were expecting Paul to swell up or to suddenly fall dead from the viper’s bite, nothing happened. (28:4-6) In fact, Paul’s treatment as a prisoner in Rome isn’t bad at all. Though he was perpetually chained to a soldier who guarded him, he was allowed to stay by himself with his own earnings. (28:16, 30) For two years Paul lived in Rome, welcoming all those who visited him and proclaiming the kingdom of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (v.31) This is where the book of Acts ends—Luke doesn’t say that Paul had the chance to meet Caesar, and it’s likely he didn’t meet his end here. Church tradition maintains that Paul visited Spain after Rome, which for him would have been the ends of the earth. Dogged, determined Paul had fought the good fight. In 2 Timothy, which is believed to be the final letter he ever wrote, Paul describes himself as having been “poured out as a drink offering”, having finished the race and kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:6-7) How many of us can say the same?Though the ending to the book of Acts may seem abrupt, it tells us two things: firstly, that the protagonist of Acts was always God, not Paul or Peter, nor anyone else. Secondly, Acts 28 now points towards us and asks—will you go? Will you follow in Paul’s footsteps, church? Will you obey and go?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 22nd March 2026Passage: Acts 23-26Sermon Summary:Though he continues to be in chains—though more than forty Jews bound themselves by an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had killed him (Acts 23:12-13)—Paul continues to speak about faith in Christ Jesus wherever he goes, whether by word or deed.Ananias, Felix, and King Agrippa display three very different responses to what Paul shares. The high priest Ananias was known and hated for his cruelty, ruthlessness, and corruption. It’s no wonder that even Paul loses his temper when dealing with Ananias (v.3), though he apologizes once he learns who Ananias is. (v.5) While Paul’s actions reflect the integrity and righteousness of his Lord Jesus Christ, Ananias and the Jews continue to hunt him down as they vow to kill him, showing no softness in their hearts for Jesus. (Acts 24:1)For his part, Felix had heard about the followers of the Way (v.22), and so knew that the charges raised against Paul were false. When he finally hears Paul speak, Paul does not shy away from declaring God’s righteousness and self-control, and the coming judgment of Jesus Christ. (v.25) This unsettles Felix, who was in an illicit marriage with his wife Drusilla, having convinced her to divorce her Jewish husband to marry him, a Gentile. Instead of being moved to repentance, Felix became alarmed (v.25) and left Paul in prison as a favor to the Jews. (v.27)King Agrippa, who was of Jewish lineage, recognizes all that Paul has done, and he believes him—he even says that Paul had done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. (Acts 26:31) But when it comes to following Christ, he counts the cost after receiving Paul’s invitation to know Christ (v.28-29) and finds the world more compelling than Jesus.We will receive such responses when we set out to shareJesus, church, but do not be discouraged. Only invite theHoly Spirit to move as Paul did, and let Him lead and guideyou.

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 15th March 2026Passage: Acts 21:17-22:22Sermon Summary:What a 180-degree change from how Paul was treated in our last two passages of Acts!While the brothers received him gladly as he arrived (Acts 21:17), the Jews at Jerusalem had gotten the wrong message. They believed that Paul was teaching them to forsake the way of Moses and the Law. (v.22) As a gesture of goodwill, Paul was advised to prove his observance of the Law, but his actions were interpreted otherwise.Instead, the Jews who saw him at the temple stirred up the crowd on false charges of defilement against the temple. (v.28b) Not only those in the temple, but the whole city was stirred up to the point where the Roman tribune and soldiers had to intervene. Despite all this—despite the people seeking to kill him, the violence and viciousness of the crowd—Paul insists on speaking to them. (v.39) He speaks to them in the Hebrew language, not primarily to prove his innocence, but to defend the way of Jesus and God’s call for him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Yet the crowd’s heart is unchanged.Church, were you ever falsely accused or wronged, not just by people around you, but by a brother or sister in the faith? Did you feel upset, unseen or unheard though your intentions were good? Our own hearts demand justice, but Paul wasn’t looking for vengeance or retribution. He had come to expect this kind of treatment from the warnings the Holy Spirit had given Him, and he only wanted a chance to defend the gospel.Paul was calm and collected in the face of danger because he was focused on the One who had sent him there. He understood the immense weight of what he had received, and he was determined to make it known. Will you do the same, church? The next time you feel unjustly wronged—will you focus on the grace of God that you have received, and choose to let that move you instead?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 8th March 2026Passage: Acts 21:1-16Sermon Summary:What does it cost you to follow Christ? Constrained as he was by the Holy Spirit to visit Jerusalem (Acts 20:22), Paul knew very well that imprisonment and afflictions awaited him there. He was told by the Spirit that suffering awaited him in every city he visited. In Acts 21, the prophet Agabus even comes down from Judea to visit him at the house of Philip the evangelist. (v.10) Agabus takes Paul’s belt and binds his own hands and feet with it as a gesture of what the Holy Spirit has told him, that Paul would be thusly bound by the Jews at Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. (v.11) Still, Paul perseveres. Though Paul suffers, he is also blessed with great friendships in Christ—the elders of the Ephesian church pray and weep with him as he departs from them. (Acts 20:36-37) They embraced and kissed him, and were sorrowful because they knew they would not meet face-to-face again. (v.37-38) In Acts 21, the disciples in Tyre persuade him through the Spirit not to go, as they know the fate that awaits him there. (v.4) At Caesarea, not only the people there but Paul’s own travelling companions urge him to refrain from heading towards Jerusalem, because of their great love for him (v.12)—and Paul says to them, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?” (v.13a) He knows and is blessed by their great love for him, but he is ready and determined to do the will of the Lord. (v.13b)We are blessed to be in a city so sheltered that we can forget or be ignorant of what goes on outside it. So much so that we forget the brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who are undergoing intense persecution and suffering for Christ’s sake. As the world is increasingly drawn into conflict, will you count the cost and stand with them?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 1st March 2026Passage: Acts 20:1-38Sermon Summary:At this point in Acts, Paul is nearing the end of his life. Thegospel has made its way through Jerusalem, Judea, andSamaria—even swaths of Asia, just as Christ promised.(Acts 1:8)—and yet Paul shows no sign of slowing down.If anything, this week’s passage of Acts 20:17-38 speaks to Paul’s immense love for Christ and his impeccablecharacter: he admits that he knows nothing about whatawaits him in Jerusalem (v.22), yet recounts the constanttrials he has faced in his attempts to preach the gospel.(v.19) It is almost certain that Jerusalem will be nodifferent, as the Spirit testifies to him in each city of theimprisonment and affliction that await him (v.23), but hecares not for his own life. He wants only to complete themission God has given him. (v.24)Even so, there is immense love in his heart for the peopleGod has called him to. Knowing that it would be the lasttime for those from the church of Ephesus to see him, Paulgathered the elders of the church to him and shared withthem his final testimony. (v.17) As he recalls how he servedthe Lord amongst them with all tears and humility (v.19),how he did not hesitate to speak to them the truth (v.20-21), and how his heart and mind were focused fully on thethings of God and His commandments (v.33-35); he urgesthem to be “imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1)And what of you, church? As you set out to follow Christ,can you say that you have sought to imitate Paul—or evenbetter yet, Christ—in all things? What is the call or missionthat God has given you to shepherd or steward? Have youlistened? Have you obeyed? How are you being calledhigher to know, love, obey, and enjoy Him in all things? Will you listen? Will you obey?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 22nd February 2026Passage: Acts 19:1-41Sermon Summary:We’ve been tracing as a church the movement of the gospel and the Holy Spirit through the book of Acts. We witnessed their movement through Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria—in some ways, they even reached the (then-known) ends of the earth! If your memory of what we’ve gone through is a little hazy, no worries. Acts 19 will be the perfect refresher for you.Apart from the movement of the gospel and the Holy Spirit, one of the key themes in the book of Acts is God’s power exemplified through His Spirit. We see examples of this in how Paul lays hands on some disciples in Ephesus to receive the gift of the Spirit. (v.6) God also does extraordinary miracles through Paul, so much so that people were taking away handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin to heal the sick and to free the demon-oppressed. (v.11-12)There may be some reason why God chose to perform such extraordinary miracles in the city of Ephesus, which was a spiritual stronghold where supernatural practices were exceedingly common. However, we must remember that as far-fetched or far-removed from our current context in Hong Kong these examples sound, there are parts of the world where similar practices remain common and ongoing today.Even if it isn’t the supernatural fight between good and evil, can we honestly admit that we have never made gods or idols for ourselves with our own hands? Have we never turned to other things instead of God, or used God to get what we want? For Demetrius the silversmith, it was the silver shrines of Artemis that he made (v.24)—and perhaps it was the unseen idols of wealth and reputation as well. (v.25, 27) For the seven sons of Sceva (v.13-14), it could have been success in their work and livelihood. What is it for you, and are you willing to search your heart, confess these things, and repent and turn to God?

Series: Chinese New Year ServicePreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 15th February 2026Passage: Acts 17:22-34Sermon Summary:What would the apostle Paul say to us today if he were at the dinner table with us? What would he make of our customs, such as dressing in red, passing out lai see, or our Chinese New Year’s blessings? How might he respond to the anxiety felt at big family gatherings when someone asks an insensitive question or comments negatively on our appearance?Remember that in Acts 17, Paul was in Athens only because he was waiting for Silas and Timothy. Yet he became so provoked by the idols in the city that he chose to dialogue with people from different faith backgrounds while he was there. If Paul were here in Hong Kong today, he might do the same!Let’s remember that these fears might not be altogetherirrational. Beneath the Chinese obsession with wealth might be a desire to provide for one’s family, especially when people were unsure where their next meal would come from. To this, Paul reminds us that God is the One who made the world and everything in it. (v.24) He alone gives to all mankind life and breath, and He will provide for us what we need. (v.25) To those feeling anxious about meeting with family and what they might say, Paul reminds us that God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth. (v.26) God’s intention was and is for every one of us to seek and to find Him. (v.27) Instead of being preoccupied about what others might say, why not take the opportunity to point back to the one God who is Father of all?As for those who cling on to superstitions and remain bound by fear—if you repent and turn to the Lord Almighty, there will be nothing you need fear. God has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness (v.31), but He alone is mighty to save.

Series: The ChurchPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 8th February 2026Passage: 1 Peter 2:1-12Sermon Summary:We commonly assume that God’s priesthood is reserved for those called to full-time or vocational ministry. Like the Levites before them, God must have set these people aside for a special calling. This couldn’t be further from the truth: the call for all of God’s people to be part of His holy priesthood has remained the same over the ages. The heart of the priesthood is to create and maintain a space for people to encounter God. We see this in Genesis, where God called the first man and the first woman to rule over and subdue the earth, to have dominion over every living thing on it. (Gen. 1:28) We see this in the Israelites after they were brought out of Egypt, where they were asked to obey God and to keep His covenant. (Exod. 19:5-6) The apostle Peter tells us in the New Testament to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. No longer do we need to offer up animal sacrifices to God like the Levites did, since Christ’s sacrifice did this once for all when He offered up Himself. (Heb. 7:27) But Peter tells us to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Pet. 1:1-5), and the apostle Paul tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1)We might not associate the call to God’s priesthood with the command to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28L16-20), but the two are shockingly similar—in both, there is the command to observe everything Jesus taught us. We are to dedicate God’s people to Him by baptizing them in the name of the triune God. Because we are people ransomed by Him, we are to live holy, set-apart lives, lives that are different from those around us. Will you obey the command of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations? Will you heed the included call to become part of God’s priesthood?

Series: The ChurchPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 1st February 2026Passage: Ephesians 2:18-19Sermon Summary:Before the apostle Paul talks about the household of God in verse 19, he tells the early church that because of Christ’s sacrifice, they now have access through His Spirit to God the Father. (Eph. 2:18) That is why the church is now the household of God, no longer strangers and aliens but adopted into His family to become fellow citizens with the saints, members of the household of God. (Eph. 2:19; Rom. 8:15-17) That’s good news for us who were exiled from God’s presence, but what does it mean to be a member of the household of God?First we must determine where we are: are we a guest, a friend, or a full-fledged member of God’s family? The church must be a family that warmly welcomes guests, like Christ before us. Some guests might stop by for various reasons, while others want to know more about Him. Eventually as those guests stick around longer so that they are known by the community, they become friends whom we get to know and spend time with. But still—as Paul shows us, the pre-requisite for becoming part of the family is adoption by God through Christ and His Spirit. That entails knowing not just His people, but also God Himself by abiding in His Word (Jn. 8:31-32) and becoming His follower, His disciple. And what about the household of God? Now that we are family, how do we commit to one another and uphold our responsibilities to each other? We can begin by loving one another with the same sacrificial love that Christ showed us. (Jn. 15:12-14) Moreover, we must be just as committed to human flourishing as the head of our household is. We can display that commitment by keeping Jesus’ commandments to us (v.10), and by seeking to bear His good fruit. (v.8)

Series: The ChurchPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 25th January 2026Passage: 1 Peter 2:1-12Sermon Summary:“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:22)We were always meant to have full communion with God. From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, there was no temple: the Lord God walked with man, and the fullness of His presence was with them. But because of sin—because we chose ourselves, chose control over His providence and paradise—we were chased out of the Garden. Chased out of His presence, because sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God. There have been multiple iterations of the temple ever since: the tabernacle which traveled with the Israelites through the wilderness. The temple which David yearned to build, that Solomon brought to fruition. The smaller version of the temple that Zerubabbel rebuilt after it was torn down. The same system of elaborate offerings and sacrifices that God devised was used in each one, but it could only do so much to atone for our sin, to allow for God’s nearness and presence—that is, until Jesus. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2 that we are now like living stones being built up as a temple. (v.5) Because of Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross, we can now take on the tasks and responsibilities that Adam and Eve were given: to be stewards of His creation, to help fill the earth with His presence. To proclaim His excellencies (v.9), and to glorify Him especially on the day when He returns for good. (v.12)John tells us in the book of Revelation that there will be a day when the temple exists no more. Just like the Garden of Eden before it, this new garden-city of the new Heaven and Earth will have no temple, because its temple is the Lord God the Almighty. What are you doing, church, to prepare for that day? What can you do to point others towards that reality?

Series: The Church Preacher: Ps. Gabriel with Jae Won KimDate: 18th January 2026Passage: Colossians 3:16-17

Series: The Church Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 11th January 2026Passage: Hebrews 10:24-25Sermon Summary:It is hard to love. We know this. Loving and looking beyond oneself is so antithetical to who we are, to what the world calls us to be, that we cannot hope to do it on our own. And yet, Scripture tells us we cannot flourish without human community. The Greatest Commandment compels us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind... Yet equally as important is the call to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matt. 22:36-40)This week’s passage of Hebrews 10:24-25 gives us encouragement for how we can do this, and why we should be doing this. Though the Mosaic law provided the Israelites with a system of sacrifices and offerings to atone for their sin, it would never be enough. (Heb. 10:11) Even the offerings themselves would serve as a reminder of the people’s sin that could never be fully wiped away. (v.3-4) But Christ, in His death upon the cross, acted as the perfect sacrifice to offer whole and complete forgiveness for all sin. (v.12-18) It is through His death for us and His gift of His Holy Spirit to us that we are fully reconciled to God, no longer slaves to sin but able to walk according to the ways and standards He has called us to. We know that sin only leads to death (Rom. 6:23; Jas. 1:13-15) and separation between man and God. We serve and follow a holy God who cannot tolerate sin, which is why the author of Hebrews urges the early church to consider how they can keep the habit of meeting continually, how they can stir each other up to love and good works. (Heb. 10:24-25) The day is drawing near, where each will be judged according to his deeds. (2 Cor. 5:10) As we gather, let us consider how we can encourage, edify, and exhort each other, knowing that we are called to love God, His Church, and His world.

Series: The ChurchPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 4th January 2026Passage: Acts 2:42-47

Series: / (End of Year Service)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 28th December 2025Passage: Lk. 24:13-35Sermon Summary:As you look back at 2025, what is it that you approach the end of the year with? Are you relieved that it’s over, or are you recovering from all that happened? Do you grieve not just our city, but the world with its injustices, crises, and natural disasters?It can be tempting to ask God where He is in the midst of all this. The two strangers in this week’s passage of Luke 24:13-35 certainly did. There are hints to tell us that they were part of Jesus’ disciples: they heard from the women who had visited Jesus’ tomb that His body had vanished. (v.22) They knew where the eleven were, even though they were probably in hiding at this point. (v.33b) Yet Jesus still approaches them as a stranger, with gentleness and curiosity. He meets there where they are (v.17, 19), and takes the time to explain how all of Scripture points ultimately to Himself. (v.27) Though He leaves them just as suddenly as He joins them (v.31), their hearts and minds are changed. Not only do they recognize Him for who He is, but they also get up and go straight back to Jerusalem. Rather than leaving and walking away with heavy hearts of doubt, they manage to find the eleven and witness to them what they had seen, heard, and experienced. (v.34-35)Church, when we meet Jesus—truly encounter Him, we are changed. Once we realize that Jesus is who He says He is—that He is the Son of God, sent down to die for our sins; that His death and resurrection changed everything—we become people changed. Even in the midst of the grief, we can have hope, peace, and joy because He is always with us. Church, as you look back at and reflect on 2025, would you allow Jesus to join you? Would you do so with the lens of His death and resurrection? Would you invite Him in to change you?

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 21st December 2025Passage: Isaiah 7

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 14th December 2025Passage: John 18:28-40Sermon Summary:We learned in the past two weeks that Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10), and to give life—life to the full. (Jn. 10:10) He tells us this week that He came to bear witness to the truth (Jn. 18:37), yet Scripture gives us an example of how the world behaves when it is confronted by the truth. Of how we can behave when we are confronted by the truth. John 18:28-40 shows us three examples through the Pharisees, Pilate, and the Jews who chose to save Barabbas. Although Jesus had borne witness again and again to His identity as the Son of God, the Pharisees chose to assume their own truth. They believed instead that He was doing evil (v.30), and that by proclaiming His identity, He was blaspheming against God. (Matt. 26:65) How can the truth be blasphemous unless we choose to assume otherwise?When Pilate had the chance to converse with Jesus, He had the rare opportunity to ask Jesus who He truly was. He does, in fact, ask Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, but this is said with the same dismissive attitude with which he asks Jesus, “What is truth?” Do we make the same mistake in today’s relativistic society, where truth is no longer absolute? Instead of pursuing truth and wrestling with all the discomfort it brings, have we grown comfortable and complacent with our own versions of the truth?Lastly, the Jews who chose to save Barabbas instead of Jesus show us that we don’t just assume our own truths or ignore truth. We actively despise the truth. They would rather save Barabbas, a known criminal and murderer, the instigator of a rebellion, over the actual Son of God. But don’t we do the same every time we sin? Every time we choose the pleasures but the dangers of sin over what is good, holy, pure, and true?

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 7th December 2025Passage: John 10:10Sermon Summary:One of the titles commonly attributed to Jesus is “Immanuel”, God with us. We heard last week that He came to seek and to save the lost. (Lk 19:10) This week, Jesus tells us that He came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly. (Jn. 10:10) Truly, Jesus came to give us abundant life. But He prefaces His statement with a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. While His words are directed towards the Pharisees who have missed the point completely, He refers also to Satan, the enemy, the adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the devil as a roaring lion, who prowls around seeking people to devour. He steals our identities, makes us forget that we are beloved children of God. He steals our love as he tricks us into focusing on ourselves instead of others. He came to steal, kill, and destroy our peace, joy, and hope—leaving even the followers of Christ bare and destitute, wondering at this so-called abundant life that we were given. But not all hope is lost. We have Jesus, who is at once the Good Shepherd (v.11) and the Door by which His sheep enter. (v.7) The Good Shepherd would lay His life down for His sheep (v.11b), and the sheep who belong to the Good Shepherd know His voice. (v.4) Anyone who enters in by Jesus will be saved, and they will go in and find pasture. (v.9)Church, do you know the Good Shepherd? Are you sheep who know Him? Who recognize His voice, who trust Him and follow Him to green pastures? He is the only One through which we can have life, and life abundant. He is the only One who will lead us there. Trust not in your work, your studies, your achievements, your health, your wealth, your family and friends—not anything. For He alone came to give us life, that we might have it to the full. 

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 30th November 2025Passage: Luke 19:10Sermon Summary:Do we know why Jesus came? As we step into the month of December and prepare our hearts for His first coming—do we know why He came, the fullness of God in helpless babe? Luke 19:10 tells us that He came to seek and save the lost, and Zacchaeus’ story reflects this so beautifully. As a rich chief tax collector, Zacchaeus no doubt helped himself to some of the funds that he overcharged and collected for the Roman Empire. He was not a man of morals, and would have been scorned and despised by his fellow countrymen. Yet we see Jesus’ enthusiasm towards Zacchaeus’ curiosity: as Zacchaeus tried to get a better view of Him, Jesus declares that He must stay at Zacchaeus’ house today!We see the effects of this received grace on Zacchaeus: immediately he chooses to give half of his goods to the poor,and to restore fourfold of what he has defrauded. (v.8) This goes far beyond the additional one-fifth that is demanded ofhim in the Law. (Lev. 6:5) Curiosity comes first, then grace, and finally repentance that leads to life transformation.While it can be easy for us to dismiss Zacchaeus’ story, the truth is that all of us, in some form or another, are Zacchaeus. All of us have turned aside; not one of us seeks God. (Rom. 3:10-17) We are lost, and we need Jesus who came to seek and to save.That is why He needed to come down to earth, to find and to pursue us. If He hadn’t, no one would have.Now, then—what will you do, church? Knowing that if left to our own devices, not one of us would seek God? Will you answer God’s call on your life, or will you remain silent and indifferent? Will you remain where you are, comfortable and complacent, or will you partner with God to share His good news with all who so desperately need it?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 23rd November 2025Passage: Acts 18:1-28

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 16th November 2025Passage: Acts 17:1-34

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 9th November 2025Passage: Acts 16:1-40Sermon Summary:Though the book of Acts tells the story of the early Church fulfilling the mandate of the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8), it also shows how God’s Holy Spirit works through His faithful. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in Acts 16, where we see numerous examples of Spirit-led detours: the Spirit’s guidance to Paul as He forbade them to speak the word in Asia (v.6) and a similar instruction to refrain from passing into Bithynia. (v.7) The Macedonian Call, a vision that Paul received of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to go and help (v.9-10); His softening and opening of Lydia’s heart to pay attention to the gospel. (v.14) The power of God prevailing over the slave girl as the Spirit cast out the spirit of divination inside her (v.18), and the supernatural peace and joy that God gave to Paul and Silas as they were worshipping Him from prison. (v.25) The same God that they worshipped set them free (v.26) and moved them to care for the jailer in both word and deed, causing him and his household to come to Christ. (v.27-34)Before Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the end of the earth, He first told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 1:8) He told them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the promise of the Spirit, to be “clothed with power from on high.” (Lk. 24:49) Jesus knew that without the help of His Spirit, we would be powerless. And indeed, it is only because of the empowerment of the Spirit that the Church was able to be so effective for God.Do you lean on your own strength, church? Or do you surrender to Him daily and wait for His Spirit’s guidance? Learning to discern for the Holy Spirit may not come naturally, but it will point us to Jesus and bring life.

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 2nd November, 2025Passage: Acts 15:1-41Sermon Summary:“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)Verses 2:8-9 from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks wonderfully to Acts 15. As the early Church engaged in a fervent discussion about the role of circumcision in salvation, Paul reminds us that our salvation comes only through grace, by faith. Not by our own doing or as a result of works, but through the death of Christ Jesus alone.As Peter addresses the believers who are anxious about the purity of the faith (v.5), he speaks with truth and candour when he reminds them of the weight of the Law. Neither they nor their fathers were able to keep and obey the Law in its entirety, and the reason that Jesus died was to fulfill the Law, to make His people clean and set them free. Why, then, would the Church require its new believers, whether Gentile or Jew, to do what they could not? Why would they invite God’s judgment on themselves for such a thing? (v.7-11)As they argue for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the church with a completely new way of living, Peter appeals to his experience of direct guidance and intervention from God. Barnabas and Paul appeal to their experience of God’s confirmation of their work through signs and wonders. But James appeals directly to Scripture, believing that the words of the prophets agree with what has happened. (v.15-17)While Acts 15 can act as a beautiful guiding example for church politics and debate, our focus is on the heart of their discussion. Can we remember to live as children of God, who are saved by grace through faith? Can we also accept the Holy Spirit’s call for us to be higher, as He works and enables us to live transformed lives for Him?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 26th October 2025Passage: Acts 14

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 19th October 2025Passage: Acts 13Sermon Summary:We’ve seen the fulfillment of Jesus’ proclamation to the disciples in Acts 1:8, starting with the church in Jerusalem who first received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (2:1-11). Stephen’s death scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, (8:1) and Philip brought great joy to Samaria when he proclaimed the Messiah to its residents (v.5). He even had the chance to speak Jesus to an eunuch from Ethiopia! (v.35) But it doesn’t stop there: we saw the first Gentile believers in Cornelius and his household (10:47), and the first Jew-and-Gentile church in Antioch. (11:19-21) And yet, God still isn’t done! As the Holy Spirit asks for Barnabas and Paul to be set aside (13:2), He sends them on the first missionary journey to the island of Cyprus (v.4) and the city of Pisidian Antioch (v.14) (a city different to the Antioch they departed from). Here we see vastly different responses to the gospel: we see resistance from Elymas the sorcerer (v.8) and the jealous Jews in Pisidian Antioch. (v.45) Sergius Paulus the proconsul shows amazement (v.12), and the other Jews and devout converts to Judaism are curious. (v.43) The Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch stand out, as they received the gospel with gladness (v.48)!Although Paul and Barnabas were chosen to do this good work, we must remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who chose and sent them out. (v.2, 4) The Spirit showed them how to react, and what to say. (v.9, 43) He enabled them to shake the dust off their feet, despite the abuse that was heaped on them (v.45) and their expulsion from Pisidian Antioch. (v.50) Paul and Barnabas are filled with joy because they are filled with Him. (v.52)Do you know that the Holy Spirit has set you aside for the work He has called you to? Can you hear Him calling? Will you respond? And when you do, will you depend on Him, or yourself?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 12th October 2025Passage: Acts 12Sermon Summary:What can we say apart from praise be to God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think? (Eph. 3:20) The sharing from our Congo team set the scene as they talked about God’s supernatural providence with a specific SSD part that was missing, and doors opening for future opportunities to better care for and educate the people of the region. This week’s passage of Acts 12 echoes the same sentiment, as the apostle Peter was broken out of prison (at such a leisurely pace that he had time to dress himself and put on his sandals!) by an angel of the Lord (v.8), when neither he nor the early church expected to see each other again. (v.16) Although it can be hard to remember that the book of Acts is about real things that happened to real people because it is so action-packed and dramatic, Luke and our Congo team’s sharing remind us of the true power of faith and prayer.At the same time, Luke cautions us against the dangers of pride through Herod Agrippa I. Herod imprisons Peter after killing the apostle James because he saw how James’ death pleased the Jews (v.3). He wanted more fame and acclaim for himself. Unfortunately for Herod, he’s outwitted by God (v.18-19) and even meets his gristly end at the hands of an angel of the Lord (v.23), eaten by worms because he did not give God the glory.Our Congo team talked about how faith is a “life cheat”, but how many of us truly think or believe that? When we come across difficulties, is our first instinct to “stop, drop, and pray”, like Peter and the early church, or do we try to solve things using our means? When God answers our prayers, are we quick to give Him the glory, or do we enjoy a (literal or metaphorical) worm-y end by pointing back to ourselves?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 5th October 2025Passage: Acts 11:19-30Sermon Summary:Just as Jesus declared at the beginning of Acts (1:8), we’ve seen the gospel travel around Jerusalem (Acts 2), Judea, and Samaria (8:4-8, 14-17). It even started to break Gentile ground with the Holy Spirit’s descent on Cornelius and his household (10:44-46). But it’s in Antioch that it starts to explode amongst the Gentile believers, as the hand of the Lord was with those who brought the good news to the city, and “a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (11:21)It’s in Antioch that the gospel was first taken directly to Gentiles. (v.20) It’s in Antioch that Barnabas first established a ministry partnership with Paul (v.25-26), setting the scene for the gospel to make its way to the ends of the earth. And it’s in Antioch that we see a first display of missionary spirit, in the church that would eventually become an important base for Gentile missions (v.29-30).As the third largest city in the Roman empire, Antioch was surpassed in population only by Rome and Alexandria. It was at the crossroads for military and commercial traffic, making it a locus for eastern and western cultural exchange. Beyond that, it was the recipient of people who were willing to step out of their comfort zones for the sake of the gospel. Scripture tells us that the majority of those who fled to Phoenicia, Cyrus, and Antioch spoke the word to no one except Jews. (v.19) Only a few unnamed believers chose to preach to the Gentiles (v.20). Without their courage and the bravery of many more like them, we might not know Jesus today!True to their name, the first Christians (v.26) acted as “little Christs” when they went where God called them, obeying Him and what He asked of them. Will you do the same today, church, and allow the hand of the Lord to rest on you? To work through you and bring about a city-wide movement of the gospel?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 28th September 2025Passage: Acts 10:1-11:18Sermon Summary:In Isaiah 55:8-9, the prophet records God’s declaration that His thoughts and ways are nothing like ours. They are far beyond anything we could imagine! Acts 10 shows us an example of this as God orchestrates an encounter between Cornelius the centurion and the apostle Peter.Prior to this incident, the Holy Spirit has yet to fall on Gentile believers. Although Cornelius is a devout and God-fearing man, he and his household have yet to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Imagine his surprise when the Spirit falls on him and all those gathered with him as Peter shares with them the gospel! (v.44) They begin to speak in tongues and extol God, and they are baptized in the name of Christ. (v.47-48) What Moses dreamt of and hoped for a few thousand years ago has now become a reality: that the Spirit of the Lord would fall on the people, and they would receive it. (Num. 11:29)Nobody saw this coming, least of all Peter! In fact, Peter receives a strange vision as he is praying, before he receives the summons from Cornelius. In it, God commands him to eat of animals, reptiles, and birds that the Law had deemed unclean and forbidden. (Acts 10:11-15) Perplexed and confused, Peter has no idea what is in store as he responds to Cornelius’ request to meet him in Caesarea, but he comes to recognize his internal prejudice and bias towards the Gentile believers. (v.34) His understanding that God shows no partiality and favoritism is what launches him into a mini-sermon, and his sharing of the gospel acts as the catalyst for this outpouring of the Spirit. (v.44)Peter still struggles with the same sin and bias fourteen years later (Gal. 2:11-14), and we continue to see how he is a work in progress. He isn’t perfect, and neither are we. But he and Cornelius show us how God sees and hears, and how His heart is always for those who seek Him. (v.35)

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 21st September 2025Passage: Acts 9:32-43Sermon Summary:What’s your reaction when you come across accounts of healing in Scripture, such as Aeneas who was healed from his paralysis, or Dorcas who was risen from the dead? Perhaps it’s yearning or longing for an injury to be healed, or relief for a friend or family member battling disease. Maybe it’s skepticism, because you prayed once—but God didn’t seem to listen or answer, so you’re left wondering if He even heals anymore.  Whatever your response, it can be hard to remember that the Bible is a collection of real-life accounts that happened, of people who existed and did the things written about them 2,000 years ago. We can sometimes approach Scripture the way we approach fairy-tales, like it’s too good to be true—but we know God does listen, and He does heal! Jackie and Florence’s testimonies point to the truth of that.  More importantly, while God does choose to heal physically, we have to remember that physical healing is not the end-all and be–all of all things. Yes, Aeneas was healed of his paralysis. Yes, Dorcas was risen from the dead. But they passed away eventually, as all must do on this side of heaven. What really matters, what really lasts, is the way that all the residents of Lydda and Sharon witnessed Aeneas’ healing and turned to God. (Acts 9:35) The way that Dorcas’ resurrection became known throughout Joppa, so that many believed in the Lord. (v.42) We know that miracles serve the message.The signs and wonders that Jesus and His apostles performed point to the very reality of who He is, what His Kingdom is like. Historically, the Church has not done a good job at tackling the issue of miracles and healing, but let us say this: the physical restoration of healing, of wholeness, points to a day where every tear will be wiped away. (Rev. 21:4) Come to Jesus for healing,friends—for He is faithful and mighty to save. (Zeph. 3:17)

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James Tang & Sam LeungDate: 14th September 2025Passage: Acts 9:1-19Sermon Summary:The story of Jesus’ confrontation with the apostle Paul is one of the most dramatic in Scripture: Paul, who then went by his Hebrew name Saul, was actively persecuting the church. He was breathing threats and murder against the followers of Jesus (Acts 9:1), and even obtained a permit from the high priest to capture any Christ-followers he found in Damascus. (v.2) But on the way to Damascus, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a flash of blinding light, posing the question “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v.4)Saul’s transformation from Saul to Paul happened because he was confronted by the gospel. He was confronted by Jesus Himself, confronted by the devastating news that there was nothing he could do to earn his salvation, nothing he could do to be righteous. For three days and three nights, Paul ate and drank nothing as he reflected on the truth of his blindness—that he had been pursuing God according to his own means, instead of chasing after Jesus whom God had set before him.The rest becomes history after Ananias obeyed God’s call to lay hands on Paul. Because of Ananias’ obedience, we have the most prolific church planter in history. Because Ananias listened, the gospel was taken beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to Rome. According to church history, it might even have made its way to Spain, which was Paul’s idea of the ends of the earth. All this couldn’t have happened without Ananias’ participation in God’s plan, but it wouldn’t have happened if Saul had not encountered the Person of Jesus in the first place.Who are you, church, in the story of this confrontation that becomes conversion? Are you Saul, needing to be confronted by the Person of Jesus? Are you following your own way instead of the Jesus way? Are you Ananias, whom God invited to participate in His plan of salvation? Or are you Paul, a story of God’s grace in progress?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 7th September 2025Passage: Acts 8:26-40Sermon Summary:This week’s account of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40) shows us what can happen as we remain obedient and responsive to the Holy Spirit. It involves Philip, who we last saw bringing the word to Samaria (v.6-8; 14-17), and an Ethiopian eunuch, who seems to be searching for spiritual satisfaction in life. The Ethiopian was an official at the royal court in charge of all the queen’s treasure. (v.27) He likely castrated himself to reach his current level of power, as the royal family would not have trusted him otherwise.  Although he seemed to have everything—at least wealth and power—and had sacrificed much to get where he was, something was still missing. He still felt dissatisfied, so much so that he willingly journeyed from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. The journey would have been around five to six months, and he would have risked being replaced at the royal court whilst he was away. But all this would have been for nothing, as there was a huge possibility he would have been barred from entering the Temple due to his physical dismemberment. (Deut. 23:1) So imagine how distraught and rejected he would have felt, as Philip encountered him on the road back to Ethiopia! Imagine, at the same time, how loved he would have felt when Philip was whisked away, when he realized that God had organized this surprise encounter specifically for him! (v.39) Although we struggle greatly with the logistics of how we can scatter, sometimes being paralyzed by fear and anxiety, Philip shows us that it’s as simple and easy as being obedient to the Holy Spirit. The eunuch shows us that it’s worth the cost. We go wherever He takes us, and we share whatever He puts in our mouths.  So, church: will you go? Will you practice being familiar with God and His Spirit? Will you follow the Spirit’s guidance, and will you be obedient to speak as He works through you?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 31st August 2025Passage: Acts 8:1-25Summary:Although Stephen’s death sparked great persecution against the church (Acts 8:1b), it was also the catalyst for a great scattering. One of those who scattered was Philip, a fellow deacon who had served alongside Stephen. (6:5) Philip willingly entered enemy territory—Samaria being home to the Samaritans, the sworn enemy of the Jews—and because of his faithfulness, unclean spirits were driven out. Many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. (8:7) Philip’s obedience in preaching the gospel caused there to be much joy in the city as Samaria received the word of God and believed.   However, among those who believed and were baptized was Simon the magician. (v.13) Simon practiced magic in the city and amazed the people (v.9). He himself was amazed upon seeing the signs and great miracles that Philip performed through the Holy Spirit (v.13), and desired the Spirit’s power for himself. He offered to pay the apostles if they would teach him what they were doing, and was rebuked harshly by Peter for it because his heart was not right before God. (v.21) Peter saw straight through Simon’s intentions: he could see that Simon was in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. (v.23) He could see how Simon had focused on the gift instead of the Giver, and how he had missed the point entirely.  Church, are there moments where we do the same? Where we’ve entirely misunderstood the heart of God? What does it mean for us to seek, serve, and scatter? What heart postures do we approach these three things with? Rather than approaching Him only when we want something from Him, or because we are afraid of the consequences of failing to seek Him—let us seek God because He is the one thing we desire. Let us serve Him from a place of love and gratitude. Let us scatter because we know there is no other name (4:12), and to Him should all glory be given. 

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 24th August 2025Passage: Acts 6:8-7:60Sermon Summary:Highlighted in last week’s passage as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5a), the deacon Stephen was “doing great wonders and signs among the people.” (v.8) But there were those who “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which [Stephen] was speaking”, so they secretly instigated men to lay three charges against him: (1) blasphemy against God; (2) against the Law; and (3) against the temple.  Stephen responds with an impassioned speech that exposes the twisted heart of these accusations. As he points back to the history of Israel, to the founding fathers, to Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, he shows them how God was with them every step of the way. But instead of accepting God’s undeserved gift of grace and mercy, the Israelites chose to commit various evils—Joseph’s own brothers sold him into slavery. Twice the people rejected Moses, sent by God to rescue them from slavery. They even betrayed and murdered His Son, committing the ultimate evil and blasphemy against God.   Stiff-necked people that they are, the Israelites behaved the same way when they first received the Law. Instead of rejoicing at God’s gift of instruction, they turned to and worshipped a statue of a golden calf made by their own hands. (v.41) They accused Stephen of blasphemy (v.14), but he points out their failure to receive and keep the Law. (7:53) Similarly, he quotes God’s declaration in Isaiah 66: heaven is His throne, and the earth His footstool. (v.49) Who are the Israelites to think that they can put God in a box? Who are they to confine the Lord of heaven and earth to the Temple and its religiousness? Stephen’s words are harsh, but they are meant to encourage reflection and repentance. The Holy Spirit means to convict, not condemn. What will you choose today, church? Will you also be enraged as your heart condition is exposed? Or will you turn to Jesus, and ask for forgiveness and mercy?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 17th August 2025Passage: Acts 6:1-7Sermon Summary:This week’s passage of Acts 6:1-7 introduces us to the first deacons, “seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and…wisdom.” (v.3) All seven of the deacons have Greek names, suggesting a Hellenistic (Greek) background. This was perfect for the complaint that the Hellenistic Jews had lodged against the Aramaic-speaking ones (the Hebrews), as the Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily food distribution. (v.1) Scripture isn’t clear on whether this was a simple language barrier problem, or if other cultural factors were at play. What is clear is the injustice within the church that needed to be addressed. Before we proceed, let us be clear on one thing: there should be no hierarchy in church. We are a priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2:9), brothers and sisters who together make up the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:15-16) The reason for the deacons’ appointment was the twelve’s recognition of their duty to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:4) The differentiation in the way that they served reflected God’s unique assignments for them.  What does that mean for us today? Firstly, we see that God cares for those on the fringe. He cared for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner (Zech. 7:10), and He asks His church to do the same. Secondly, we should make an effort to know those who are different from us, even if they are people we don’t naturally click with. God sent His Son down to destroy the dividing wall of hostility between us and Himself. (Eph. 2:14) As His church, shouldn’t we strive to do the same with our brothers and sisters? Lastly, God asks us all to serve. Together, we make up the body of Christ. It might not be preaching or teaching, and it might not be serving tables—but how can you contribute to the body of Christ? How might you step out of your comfort zone and serve?

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 10th August 2025Passage: Romans 8:18-30Sermon Summary:If God is good, then why is there still suffering in this world?It’s not as straightforward as we think it is—on the one hand, God could eradicate terrorists, murderers, and criminals with just a snap of His fingers. But the problem of suffering would still exist. We exist, and we continue to hurt each other daily.  On the other hand, suffering is part of what it means to be human—we will have to face death at some point. We’ve gotten sick before. The tragedy of cancer may not be something that we’ve personally gone through, but it’s close enough that we hear stories of others facing it.  There are no quick and easy answers to this question, and if we claimed to have them, you shouldn’t believe us. But we do know that part of human suffering exists because we were given a choice, and we chose to turn away from God. Romans 8 tells us that instead of setting our minds on the Spirit of God, we chose to focus on ourselves. Instead of choosing life and peace, we chose death (v.5-8). Romans 8 also tells us that death and disease were never meant to be part of the human landscape. Instead, all of creation was subjected unwillingly to futility, and it waits with groans and longing for the day it will be set free. (v.19-22)  When Paul writes that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (v.28a), he’s not referring to what we think of as good. Instead, he’s referring to God’s plan for His children to be increasingly conformed to the image of His Son (v.29), so they can take part in His rescue mission for all of creation. Suffering might be a universal problem, but only in Christianity does it become temporary, transformative, and redeemable. So let us face it with grief and endurance, but also hope and joy, because we have a good God who has a unique purpose for His children.

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 3rd August 2025Passage: Romans 1:19-22aSermon Summary:Since the popularization of science during the Enlightenment era, faith and science have been pitted against each other. Reason replaced theology as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. Influential thinkers started to argue for a complete rejection of religion and religious authority. But the thing is, there’s no real reason to reject faith in favor of science. Science helps explain why things work the way they do, but it is faith that tells us why they even bother to work in the first place. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul makes it clear that God has revealed Himself to all mankind through His creation. (1:19-20) We see how true this is as we spend time in nature: from the dragonflies that migrate each year from India to Africa; to the enyzmes that start to denature once the human body raises its temperature above 37°C, there is an entire world that runs without our interference. The creation requires no involvement from us to keep itself going. Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer and mathematician, once stated that he was simply “thinking God’s thoughts after Him” in his research. Kepler is best known for his three laws of planetary motion, and yet he acknowledged that he wasn’t coming up with anything new. He was merely discovering the intricacies that God had already embedded into His design. Kepler recognized what many of us have yet to grasp—that science serves as a signpost to God. It is in itself vastly insufficient to save. God the Father sent Jesus the Son down to point specifically back to Him: Paul writes that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15) By Him “all things were created, in heaven and on earth…all things were created through him and for him.” (v.16) Only through Him did God reconcile to Himself all things; only by His blood shed on the cross are we saved. (v.20)

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 27th July 2025Passage: Isaiah 43:1-13Sermon Summary:According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the meaning of life—or the chief end of man—is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Only God alone is everlasting, only He will truly satisfy. But what does it mean for us to glorify Him? How is this related to our enjoyment of Him?  To fully understand God’s glory, we must first understand His holiness. In Isaiah 6:3, the seraphim declare God’s holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” God alone is holy, He is set apart. There is no One like Him—before Him no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Him. (Isa. 43:10b) He is the absolute source and standard of goodness. He alone is perfectly just, perfectly loving, unique in His majesty. Holy. John Piper tells us that God’s holiness is His infinite value as the “absolutely unique, morally perfect, permanent person that [He] is”. His glory is the “manifest beauty of [His] holiness.” Romans 11:36 and Isaiah 43:7 attribute all the glory to God. It tells us that we were made for God’s glory—therefore it is right for us to praise and to worship Him, to make known who He is. Some may balk at the idea that we live to praise and glorify God, as if He lives off our worship. But we must understand: even without God, we naturally search for things to praise and glorify. We find that when we do so, our expression of praise and adoration completes the experience of worship. It heightens, not takes away from it. It is right for us to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If God is the greatest good, if we cannot understand what “good” means apart from Him—all attempts to divert this praise would be unjust deprivation. Thus, church, we implore you: sing to the Lord, make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! (Ps. 95:2) Glorify His name forever.

Series: /Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 20th July 2025Passage: Mark 4:35-41Summary:How familiar are you with the account of Jesus calming the storm? You might remember how He steers His disciples across the Sea of Galilee, but falls asleep at the crucial moment. (Mk. 4:35-38a) His disciples panic and try to shake Him awake—and they were filled with great fear after witnessing Jesus rebuke the wind and the waves. But do you remember how He rebuked them for their lack of faith? Did you notice the other boats caught in the storm with them? (v.36) As we reflect on this week’s passage, we realize that we can mistakenly assume the Jesus way to be like the first half of Psalm 23. It should involve lying down in green pastures and being refreshed beside quiet waters (v.2). The Good Shepherd is here to take care of us! However, we forget that following the Good Shepherd includes being led through the valley of the shadow of death. The only difference between us and those who don’t yet know Jesus is that He promises He will be there for us. His rod and His staff comfort us. (v.4) Just like the disciples, we panic when we shift our gaze away from Him. In their desperation, they questioned if Jesus even cared that they were about to die (Mk. 4:38b). The truth is that they were always safe because Jesus was in the boat with them. When God asks His people to be still in Psalm 46:10, He means not for them to leisurely make space, to quiet down and be still. Instead, He’s asking them to freeze, to stop, to drop everything and focus on Him. That is when we have peace, because we know He is God.  But what about the other boats caught in the storm? What, then, will they do? That is a question we must ask ourselves, church, as we re-evaluate what it means to be caught in the storm with Jesus, and whether we truly have our eyes fixed on Him.

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 13th July 2025Passage: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Series: Questions About FaithPreacher: Ps. Johnny WongDate: 6th July 2025Passage: John 14:1-7