Zion Bishan Bulletin 12 July 2020 English Services

12 July 2020
10.30 am Livestream

Call to Worship

Meditative Hymn: There is a Hope

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:24-29 ESV

Message: The Church's Priorities to The Final Frontiers

Response Hymn: Facing a Task Unfinished

Corporate Life & Prayer

Offering

Benediction

Announcements

Note: Holy Communion will be served at all in-person services

We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us! If you are new to Zion Bishan, do drop us a note on our contact form and our hospitality team will get in touch with you in the coming week. Please use the same contact form if you want to find out more about our faith, or about our activities and programmes.
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/about/contact-us/response-form/

Our Sunday services at a glance

Speaker: Pastor Alby Yip
Worship Leader: Elder Jeffrey & Dn Mervyn
AV: Ravi Shankar, Ewen Tjoeng,
Benny Ling & Jonathan Teo.
Pianist: Phua Qi Qi

Songs for personal worship and reflection:
www.zionbishan.org.sg/songs-for-reflection

English Services: Faith & Patience Cluster
Pastor: Pastor Dev Menon
Elders: Elder Say Chiang & Elder Jeffrey
Deacons: Dns Sherena, Dn Mervyn,
Dn Benjamin & Dn Timothy
Staff: Linus & Zhiwen

Speaker: Pastor Alby Yip

The Church's Priority to The Final Frontiers
Colossians 1:24-29 ESV

Introduction

Suffering

Proclaiming

Toiling

Conclusion

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1.       What do you remember about the sermon/passage?

2.      What does it mean for you now to suffer for Christ?

3.       How do you allow the “energy of Christ” to work in you and through you to the blessing of others?

Our Church

Missions Month – As we learn about frontier people groups, pray for labourers to be sent into this important mission field. Pray that as a church, we understand the role we play for the mission Christ has given to us: the great commission - to reach every tribe and nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ZB COVID-19 Ministry Initiatives – Continue to pray for these ongoing initiatives:

Food Aid Distribution – This continues through July, providing meals to needy families in Bishan and Shunfu community, with 3 lunches and 6 dinners weekly. Pray and thank God for our many volunteers who serve so faithfully.

Safe Sound Sleeping Place (S3P) – Praise God some of our guest stayers are able to join us at our in-person Sunday services. Do pray that they will be able to find solutions for long-term housing.

ZB CV-19 MRF – Pray that the fund will continue towards bringing relief to saints worldwide. Even as most international lockdowns have ceased, the effects of the pandemic still affect many churches and ministries. May the funds also help our fellow brothers and sisters in our church whose livelihoods have been affected (see Announcements).

Our People

Cluster Leaders and Pastors – As in-
person Sunday Services carry on through
July, pray for our Elders and Deacons who shoulder 4 services each week. Pray also for our pastors who have to preach multiple times each Sunday. Do uphold their health, and for all who serve each week in prayer.

Mission Partners and Speakers – Praise God for the work of our mission partners. Thank God for times when we can hear their stories that will challenge us to join in the work of sharing the gospel. Pray that the upcoming webinars (see Announcements), interviews and prayer meetings will be a blessing to both listeners and speakers.

Our World

Singapore – Let us uphold our newly elected government in prayer. Pray for continuing and newly elected MPs to serve the nation in a trustworthy and responsible manner. As our government seeks the betterment of every citizen in Singapore, may the church make good use of God’s blessings on our nation to share the good news of Jesus, love neighbours, reach the lost and to seek His kingdom first.

East India – With India’s lockdown continuing to 31 July, churches have not been able to meet. Many pastors who relied on part-time jobs before COVID-19 have also lost their jobs. Funds from our CV-19 MRF provided a small financial gift to 100 local pastors through one of our ministry partners. Pray for each pastor and their families to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit through these challenges.

1. Vernon will be on paternity leave until 22 Jul.
2. Ruth will be on maternity leave until 19 Oct.

Friday, 17 Jul
8 pm: Zoom Prayer Meeting (Registration required):
www.zionbishan.org.sg/friday-prayer-meeting

Sunday, 19 Jul
English Services: Hope & Peace Cluster
Pastor: Pastor Zheng Haoren
Elders: Elder David & Elder Sonny
Deacons: Dns Siew Choo, Dns Cerintha, Dn Chew Meng, Dn Joseph
Staff: Sharon, Tze Ming & June

July Missions Month Sermon Series: Final Frontiers
19 Jul “The Risky Buisness”
Pastor Dev Menon
26 Jul “Harvest Time Has Come!”
Mr Ng Zhi-Wen

Christianity: Religion or Mission

Written by Ps Alby Yip

I am a first generation Christian. I grew up with a staunch belief in another religion. Being a Christian now, with the experience of having followed another religion, enables me to see the comparative differences between that religion and Christianity. Perhaps that is why I am very sensitive when filling up forms asking me what my religion is.

I am convinced that Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a mission. It was firstly a God initiated mission to save humankind (Jn 3:16). It was Christ’s prerogative to lay down His life to atone for our sins (Jn 10:17-18). It was the Spirit’s power that enabled believers to understand and to further God’s mission (Ac 2:3-4).

Christianity as a mission can also be seen in the first, last and great commands of the Lord Jesus. The first command the Lord gave His disciples across the four Gospels was “Follow me!” (Matt 4:19; Mk 1:17; Lk 5:10-11; Jn 1:43) The greatest commandment the Lord gave His disciples was to love God and love neighbour (Matt 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31; Lk 10:27-28).

The great commission the Lord gave His disciples was to “go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Lk 24:46-49; Jn 17:18) The last command, which is also the last recorded words of the Lord Jesus, to His disciples before he was taken from their sight was, “Be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)

Most religions have the element of “bring unto me,” that is, to bring offerings in whatever forms. Some religions have the element of “go for me,” that is, to proselytize and make converts. But it is unique to Christianity that has the element of “be like me,” that is, Christians are to be like Christ (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 8:29; Gal 3:27; Phil 2:5; Col 1:27; 1 Jn 3:2).

Being a Christian is to embody Christ. We cannot be Christ-like unless we are like Christ, not only in the beauty of His spiritual embodiment, but also in the power of His spiritual endowment. It is very difficult to miss the fact that Christ is on a mission. What about us who are empowered by His Spirit to embody Christ?

Let us not just be religious adherents who fulfil religious obligations. This being Zion Bishan’s Missions Month, let us once again be reminded about the commands and commission of the Lord Jesus. Let us be like Christ; let us be on mission. Let us be His witnesses in Singapore and in all Asia, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Missions Month: “Final Frontiers”

Sign up for our Wednesday Webinars at www.zionbishan.org.sg/missions-month/

Webinar #1
“The Final Frontier at Home”
15 Jul, 8.00-9.30pm
The harvest is at our doorstep!
We've invited Jose Philip from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Asia- Pacific) and other guests to share about reaching the least-reached in our city.

Webinar #2
“The Final Frontier in our World”
22 Jul, 8.00-9.30pm
The harvest is also WORLDWIDE!
We've invited 3 Mission Agencies to come share with us the nature of the gospel work at the frontiers. Come hear stories and about how God is reaching out to these unreached communities.

For all the details on Final Frontier Prayer circles, visit www.zionbishan.org.sg/ffpc.

ZB CV-19 Mission Relief Fund
For The Relief of The Saints

We have already processed and disbursed relief funds for a number of ZB members. If you wish to apply for relief through this fund for yourself or for your household, please submit the online application here: http://tiny.cc/ZBrelief.

This is for members or regular attendees only. We will process each application on a case by case basis.
Contact your Cluster leader or email care@zionbishan.org.sg for inquiries.

Domestic Helpers’ Fellowship (DHF)
Care pack distribution

We want our foreign domestic helpers to know that our church remembers and cares for them.

We will soon be distributing care packs and Bibles to helpers employed by Zion Bishan members or regular attendees.

If your helper is not registered with or already attending DHF, we would be grateful if you could please help us by emailing us your contact details at ziondhf@gmail.com or filling up the form at www.zionbishan.org.sg/dhf.

Resumption of In-Person Sunday Services in July

If you wish to attend a Sunday Service in person in July, please register by the Friday before that particular Sunday using the following links (choose from the 4 available time slots)

Sun 19 Jul (Hope / Peace Clusters):
https://zb-hope-peace-19jul.eventbrite.sg

Sun 26 Jul (Mercy / Grace Clusters):
https://zb-mercy-grace-26jul.eventbrite.sg

Please note that each Service time-slot is subject to a cap of 50 worshippers only.

Communion will be served at all services.

Please visit our website at www.zionbishan.org.sg/phase-2
to view our Safety Management Plan and to check which Cluster your AG is in.