The Word on Worship

Volume 28, IssuE 31

27 SEP 2015

Worship Etiquette • Come early and be seated 10 minutes before worship. • Prepare yourselves in silent meditation, prayer and self-examination. • Switch off your mobile phone and other electronic devices, that the solemnity of the service may not be disrupted. • Refrain from unnecessary conversation and movement during the service. • Do not leave the worship till the end (only after the benediction).

Scripture Memorisation Diligence

Romans 12:8 He that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Order of Worship Call to Worship

Elder Alan Choy

Hymn 8: Holy, Holy, Holy* Invocation & Gloria Patri* Responsive Scripture Reading*

Ezekiel 13:10-16

Gethsemane Youth Choir Hymn 106: Christ Liveth in Me Collection of Offerings Doxology & Prayer* Hymn 87: I Know Whom I have Believed Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Sermon

Pastor Prabhudas Koshy “Two Builders” Matthew 7:24-27

Hymn 328: How Firm a Foundation* Benediction & Threefold Amen* * Congregation Standing

Today, 27 September 2015 9.00 – 10.00am

ENGLISH SERVICE

du t y ro st e r

CHINESE SERVICE

10.30am

CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN’S CHOIR

CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN’S CHOIR

MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP

MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP

Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Flowers: Refreshments: Ushers:

Gan Chin Hwi Pr Daniel Lim Sarah Yap Francis Tan Gan Sheu Hoong Cayson Chok Jonah So

Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Flowers: Ushers:

Elder Alan Choy Pr Daniel Lim Eunice Choy Winnie Yap John Peh Lawrence Ng

Worship Leader: Preacher: Musicians: Ushers:

Eld Alan Choy Pastor Koshy Sarah Lee, Ellyzabeth Andy Lee, Marcus Peh Lawrence Ng, Chan Tuck Whye David Lau, Randy Laurencio Aileen Tan Crew No. 4 Pansy Ng Violet Quek, Jolyne Cho Misty Lee Kim Lei, (Sally Lum) Carolyn Koshy, (Violet Quek) Dn Lok Kwok Wah

Worship Leader: Preacher: Musicians: Ushers:

Eld Ng Poh Kok Pastor Koshy Chloe Pawa, Dorcas Koshy Samuel Yong, Andrew Teong Benny Skariah, Cayson Chok Ho Kee How, Julius Del Rosario Lee Kim Lei Crew No. 1 Angela Ang Yeo Geok Hien, Esther Quek Lim Hua See Kamala, (Lok Qian Hui) Mong Jee, (Cecilia Siah) Pr Kelvin Lim

Greeter: AV Ministry: Flowers: Refreshments:

FILIPINO SERVICE

3.30pm

Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Usher: Refreshments:

LIONS HOME

Junior Worship: 1.30pm

Next Lord’s Day, 4 October 2015

Venue: 41 Toa Payoh Rise English Speaker: Elder Ng Poh Kok Dialect Speaker: Pr Jeremiah Sim

Greeter: AV Ministry: Flowers: Refreshments: Junior Worship: Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Usher: Refreshments:

Cancelled in view of ACM

Eric Delina Pr Dennis Kabingue Dorcas Koshy Jordan Ballega Joy Del Rosario

Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Elder Mah Chin Kwang Dialect Speaker: Pr Kelvin Lim 2

27 September 2015

Effective Church Leadership Prabhudas Koshy

After being in the pastoral ministry of Gethsemane for more than 20 years, I am fully convicted that no leader has complete mastery over the work, challenges, temptations and trials that he will encounter in the ministry. Constant vigilance is necessary from the leadership, individual leader and every member of the church to maintain an effective leadership in the church.

The Leadership’s Collective Responsibilities

The Church Session (Pastor, Elders and Deacons) and Preachers of the church must assume a collective responsibility to safeguard and guide the church in the truth and holiness of the Lord. They must be cooperative and accountable to one another to provide mutual encouragement, correction and support. They must remain united and harmonious as they serve the Lord together. The failure of a leader to submit, collaborate and join forces with others will affect the efforts of the rest of the leadership. The apostles had been blessed with responsible men who maintained a reciprocal relationship with them in the ministry. The apostle Paul often expressed his boundless joy in men who served along with him in the ministry with great camaraderie: 3

• “Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you” (2 Corinthians 8:23). • “Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier” (Philippians 2:25). • “Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer” (Philemon 1:1). • “Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ” (Colossians 1:7). • “Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). The church leaders are not in a competition among themselves. There should be no rivalry among the leaders of the church. When those in the leadership are like-minded, the church will greatly benefit from their congenial spirit and efforts. This is well

Pa st o ra l E x h o r t a t io n

It has always been my earnest prayer that the Lord will grant our dear church, Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, an effective leadership. We cannot cease from praying and constantly working towards developing and maintaining a church leadership that is efficient and fruitful. Even for those who have been in the church leadership roles for a long period of time, this must be a constant desire and aspiration in the Lord.

Pa st o ra l E x h o r t a t io n

demonstrated in Paul’s testimony about Timothy: “For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state” (Philippians 2:20). Together, they must give of themselves to protect and to feed the church. In Acts 20:28, Paul commanded the elders of the Ephesian church, “Take heed therefore . . . . to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The apostle Peter advised the elders, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, … Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:1-3).

The Leaders’ Individual Responsibilities

Every church leader must be diligent in ensuring his daily growth in the Lord. Every church leader’s maxim ought to be “grow or die”. In the church leadership, when one stops

growing spiritually, he has started to die. Every leader must also be cautious to discipline himself in order to remain holy before the Lord. He must examine himself to recognise and avoid everything in him that could damage his testimony and effectiveness as a church leader. The apostle Paul did just that, for he said in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible … But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (Please read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 and learn from Paul’s firmness of purpose and tenacity as a devout leader of the church.) Here is a checklist for all in the leadership on appropriate conduct that befits effective church leaders: • Am I godly in character, manifesting the life of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit? 4

• Do I pray fervently, and commune with the Lord? • Have I been leading my family in the Lord? • Have I cultivated the good relationship with fellow leaders in the service of the Lord? • Have I increased in faith, knowledge of God’s Word and service? • Have I been responsible, prompt and devoted to the Lord’s work that is assigned to me? • Have I been self-sacrificial in being generous and helpful concerning the needs of the church? • Do I stir my heart to give my very best for the Lord? • Do I encourage others in the church to love and serve the Lord? • Have I shown resilience in the face of difficulties and even setbacks? • Have I patiently endured my trials with an unflinching spirit? • Have I given myself to improve and build up the areas of my responsibilities and the lives of those who are under my care?

The Church’s Cooperation with the Leaders

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Baptism of Alex Thum Alex Thum, a recent participant of our worship, has been critically ill with stage 4 stomach cancer. He has received Christ as his Saviour and Lord during Pastor’s visit in the hospital last Monday (14 Sept). As he has been eager to be baptised, Pastor and Elder Mah visited him and affirmed his faith, and thereafter baptised him in the ICU of National University Hospital on Friday, 25th Sept. Please continue to pray for Alex’s spiritual growth and God’s special grace during his chemotherapy. Pray also for his wife, Sis Cassy and daughter, Joanne.

Pa st o ra l E x h o r t a t io n

To have an effective church leadership, members of the church have an important role to play. Hebrews 13:17 reminds us that our leaders will have to give an account to the Lord about our souls; hence, we must not oppose or bring hardship and grief to their spirit. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Disregarding divine counsels, as is warned in Hebrews 13:17, is to be a hindrance to the work of God’s appointed servants in the church. Unnecessary criticism, rude remarks, disrespect, an uncooperative attitude, threatenings and all such conduct that would bring sadness and struggles in the leaders’ hearts, are spiritually dangerous to oneself and to the church.

Giving your leaders cause for groaning is of no advantage to you. If they struggle with the burden of the ministry, please patiently and lovingly avail yourself to help them in a Godhonouring manner. Let every member of Gethsemane be a great joy to our church leaders, be it pastor, elder, deacon or preacher. May our leaders truly be able to say of our dear church, such glorious things as the apostle Paul wrote about the early churches. He said of the Thessalonian church, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). So brethren, I would like to beseech you with the words of Paul to the Corinthians, “Wherefore shew ye to them (the fellow-labourers like Titus), and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf” (2 Corinthians 8:24). ■

The Lord is My Strong Refuge Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

text junior worshipper’s page

A

r efuge is a shelter from harm and danger. A fortress is a place which is fortified or strengthened to provide security and protection in times of attack from the enemy. When people are threatened with destruction, they can run into such a place. Inside a fortress, which is also guarded by soldiers, they will feel safe and peaceful. God’s people can always run to Him in prayer to seek refuge. He is always a strong refuge to those who trust Him. When we are troubled or fearful, we must teach ourselves to quickly pray and believe that God will hear our prayers and guard us. When temptations attack us, we must pray that the Lord will keep us from falling into sin. We must trust the Lord fully for our safety from the assaults of sin and trouble. If you trust the Lord, He will be like a strong wall around you. His strong arms will surround you, and He will keep you from all the wiles of the devil. Our Lord is a strong refuge and fortress, which none can break through.

Illustration by Melissa Neo

Prabhudas Koshy 6

Collections LORD’S DAY on 20 September 2015 Tithes:

3,010.00

Offerings: 5,171.90 Bldg Fund 2015: 2,000.00; 1,900.00; 1,000.00; 1,000.00; 1,500.00; 400.00; 200.00; 177.00; 100.00; 100.00; 100.00; 55.00; 50.00; 50.00; [700.00; 100.00 (Chinese Svc)]; [1,400.00; 60.00; 50.00 (Filipino F’ship)]

SPECIAL FUND UPDATE (as of 20 September 2015)

Building Fund 2015

$1,175,430.60

Give generously towards our Church Building Fund.

S$5 million by the end of 2015! “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Topic: Theism - The Works of God (2) Speaker: Bro Andrew Koh Chairman: Bro Christyasto Date & Time: Sat, 3 Oct, 4.00-6.00pm Venue: Home of Pastor & Mrs Koshy Blk 826 Tampines St 81 #02-92 Singapore 520826

Gethsemane Young Adults’ Fellowship Time: Sat, 3 Oct, 4.00pm Venue: Home of Elder & Mrs Mah Chin Kwang 45 Jalan Senang, Singapore 418335 Chairman: Bro Ng Kwan Teng Activity: Song Presentation Practice

Pastoral Visitation Jurong East/West/Clementi Date & Time: Fri, 9 Oct @ 8pm Venue: Home of Mr & Mrs Chan Tuck Whye Blk 114 Clementi Street 13, #04-61 Singapore 120114 If you live in this region, please check that your name is on the list placed on the reception table. If it is not, please add it in.

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Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship

Speaker: Pastor Koshy Chairman: Bro Kenneth Wong Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2015 Time: 4.00pm Venue: TGCM Premises 202B, Ponggol Seventeenth Avenue Transport from Punggol MRT station at 3.45pm.

Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship 14th Anniversary

Gospel Meeting “Look to The Saviour”

Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Date: Lord’s Day, 25 Oct 2015 Time: 2.00pm Venue: SingPost L5 Auditorium Please start inviting your non-Christians friends to this Gospel Meeting.

Come, join us for our Tuesday Night Bible Study & Prayer Meeting.

a n n o u n c e me n t s

Designated Gifts: Pastor Koshy 720 Rupees; Eric Delina 50.00

Gethsemane Youth Fellowship

Church Camp 2016 The Church Camp for 2016 will be held at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur from 6th June to 10th June 2016 (Monday-Friday). Please pray for this major church event for next year and make plans to join this Church Camp by taking your leave as soon as possible. More details will be made known later.

Post-Worship Activities Please stay back after worship to join us for:

Refreshment & Fellowship 12.30pm – 1.30pm Bible Study (Adults, Youths & Children) Cancelled in view of ACM

Weekday Activities

a n n o u n c e me n t s

Calling all members to Fast & Pray In view of our need of about S$3.5 million more for the Church Building Fund by the end of this year, Pastor exhorts all members and friends to dedicate a time of prayer every week, even with fasting, if possible. “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20).

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING & Election Date: Today, 27 Sept 2015 Time: 1.30pm Venue: SingPost L5 Auditorium All communicant members (18 yrs old and above) are required by the Constitution to attend. The Electoral Register will be opened @ 1.15pm. All communicant members are advised to be seated in the auditorium as soon as they have registered.

Monday Campus Bible Study 6.00pm @ 826 Tampines St 81, #02-92 Tuesday Night Bible Study & Prayer 8.00pm @ L5 Auditorium, SingPost Centre Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study 1.00pm @ Bible Witness Bookroom Wednesday Night GBI-Online 7.45pm-9.15pm @ TGCM Thursday Seniors’ Ministry 11.00am (Please contact Pr Jeremiah Sim) Thursday Campus Bible Study 12.30pm @ NAFA Campus Friday Morning Prayer 7.45am – 8.30am @ Church Resource Centre Friday Campus Bible Study SUTD Semestral Break For more information, please call the church office at 6741 1910.

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Time & Place of Worship 10.30am Level 5 Auditorium Singapore Post Centre 10 Eunos Road 8 Singapore 408600 (next to Paya Lebar MRT station) Prayer Hotline 8138 8139 SMS or WhatsApp your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06 Singapore 389466 Tel: 6741 1910 Fax: 6741 1016 Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Mobile: 9001 1119 Email: [email protected] Our Session Pastor Prabhudas Koshy Elder Mah Chin Kwang Elder Alan Choy Elder Ng Poh Kok Deacon Arvind Pawa Deacon Daniel Lim Deacon Lok Kwok Wah Deacon Kelvin Lim Deacon Francis Lee