n e w l i f e

Go and Do Likewise

2012-02-26T14:12:00.001-05:00

We come into situations in life just about every day where we have to live out our faith in a real and practical way, especially in the area of mercy, such as looking out for the "orphans and widows," epitome of people in need. While we cannot obviously meet every need every time, what are we doing with what we can do right now?
Jesus calls us to ‘live out’ our faith "in action" through our life just as He Himself lived out his love for us by dying on the cross for the sins of the humanity. We were the fallen man on the road from Jericho, beaten by the bandits called ‘sin’ and left for dead. But the love of Jesus lived out in action restored us to life and hope for the future. Now, as his followers, Jesus calls us to "Go and do likewise."

The Mourning After

2012-02-12T14:43:00.003-05:00

Audio : Document

Reflection
We are uncomfortable with crying. We are not sure what to do when a person cries. We try not to cry in front of others. When we cry we lose control and we feel helpless. But sometimes life hits us hard making us lose control and feeling helpless and the only way to respond is crying. And it turns out that God is moved by our crying for the exact same reasons why we are uncomfortable crying: God holds us more tightly when we loose control and God is quick to help us when we finally confess our helplessness. And when we cry, it allows us to process our pains and sufferings so we can be open to God’s love. When we tear off our sackcloth in mourning, God robes us with hope. When we wait out the night in crying, God grants us a new morning. Joy comes with the mourning/morning. When we cry out to God, we will also learn to sing praises to our God.

The Law

2012-02-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

Audio : Document

We see the need and the goodness of the laws of God, but we seldom take delight in the laws. But the Psalmist sees beauty in the laws and even sings about them. First, he sees the laws of God in the universe, the laws of nature, and how they give life and create beauty. Scientist and mathematicians are trained to see and so more appreciate of the beauty of the natural laws. But we sense it to when we see a snowfall or waterfall, in our silent admiration or proclamation of wonder. As natural laws govern the world to give life and to display beauty, the moral laws are also given by God to give life and beauty. Laws that tell us how to love each other and what sins to avoid are, like natural laws, given to create life and beauty. The laws of God, then, are forms of the love of God. God’s law is God’s love. So we can take delight in them and sing about them. Let us not just obey God’s laws. Let us delight in God’s laws.

Follow Me

2012-01-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

Audio : Document

Reflection
The call to “Follow Me” is first a physical calling. It is with our bodies that we follow Christ and so the calling for us is as physical as it was for the first disciples. This means that we are to love and care for our body as it is a gift from God. It also means that our discipleship always express itself in some form of physical act of care.
Secondly, the calling is an intimate calling. Following can only happen with close proximity. Only through deep relationships will we experience transformation. Only by getting close to another person (as in mentorship) can we grow. Intimacy has its pains, risks and disappointments. But it is the only way to discipleship.
Thirdly, the call is a personal one. We are not committed to a principle, a goal, an agenda or a philosophy. We are committed to a person. Even God’s Kingdom is not important for us except as it speaks of the whole world falling in love with Christ. The calling as a physical, intimate, and a personal one is a great and exciting call to an adventurous and joyous life.

Taking Up Our Cross

2012-01-22T15:04:00.000-05:00

Audio : Document

Reflection
It was a shocker to the first disciples to hear Jesus say that they have to take up their cross if they are to follow him. Sefer or the Book (God’s Word), was probably what they expected to carry. But Jesus says “take up the cross.” The cross was a contradiction of life dedicated to obedience to God’s Word. The cross was the Roman invention to control people. Cross was the threat of cruel suffering through a slow painful death. Yet, Jesus made cross-carrying central to the life of discipleship. What does the cross mean?
Cross means, first, the sufferings of others. Christ died on the cross not for his sins but for our
sins. The cross is not the sufferings in my life as consequences of my sins. It is the suffering of others. The fact that it is a cross to be carried means it is something that is not ours. We can choose to ignore the sufferings of others as it is not directly ours. Nevertheless, we are commanded to take their sufferings as our own, to make the alleviation and redeeming of the sufferings of others my life purpose.
Secondly, as it is “your” cross, it means that though we cannot fully redeem the sufferings of others, we have a crucial part to play in the redemptive work, a part only we can play with our singular life. The cross can be a massive issue like children dying of starvation or something more immediate like a chronically ill friend or family. When we give our life to help them in those sufferings and redeeming that experience, we are follow Jesus most intimately. Our cross becomes life for those we serve and for ourselves.

Daily Denial

2012-01-15T14:38:00.004-05:00

Audio : Sermon Doc

Reflection
Jesus says to us disciples, “deny yourself.” We all know the importance of denial, how it leads to self-discipline which is a key factor to greater joy and success. But the depth of denial Christ demands is more than self-discipline. Another way to translate this is “disown yourself.” Christ demands that we deny ourselves completely for the sake of others, even to the point of death, the end of self. The disciples did not get this and so they ended up arguing “who is greater” even as they got closer to the crucifixion of their rabbi. They thought they were living a life of denial when they were still living for themselves. Christ demands that we always put the other first, a true denial. Secondly, Christ demands daily denial. It is the constant denial of one’s own needs to those we meet regularly that marks us as true disciples. It is only this daily denial that will give us the strength to truly give our life to God.

Following Christ Daily

2012-01-08T14:45:00.002-05:00

Audio : Document

In life, there is no greater honor than for Jesus to tap us on our shoulders and say to us "Be my apprentice." Discipleship is Jesus calling us to “be his apprentice.” And Jesus teaches us the three essential practices of discipleship: denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following. And these practices have potency only when they are practiced daily. Discipleship is a daily living. Discipleship is not about a great time-specific task. It is about the daily habits and customs we form. Discipleship is not about accomplishments but about a way of living. Discipleship is not proven in dire situations but in ordinary situations. Daily disciples means that discipleship starts today. If we wait to be disciples, then we will never be disciples. Secondly, it means discipleship is ordinary. We follow Christ through small ordinary tasks. Thirdly, it means discipleship is disciplines. It is the practice of habits that keep me focused on Christ. Lastly, it means discipleship is faithfulness for it is faithfulness that becomes larger-than-life transformative events. When Jesus took up his cross, he was not doing anything new. He was only being faithful, doing what he did everyday.

Arise and Shine

2012-01-01T22:59:00.001-05:00

Audio : LG Study-Use Disciplines Small Group Booklet : Sermon Doc

Immanuel

2011-12-25T12:22:00.003-05:00

Audio : LG Study

Reflection

People come to give Jesus the nickname Immanuel which means God-is-with-us. When people meet Jesus, people feel that God is present with them. This is surprising because Jesus comes as a weak, unlearned peasant. We see this paradox in the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph come as a powerless couple, in midst of scandal and forced to travel by a Roman edict. They give birth in a manger and without family. Yet in that helpless messiness, they experience God-with-them as they embrace their newborn. God can come powerfully in earthquake and fire. But God chooses to come in whispering wind and quiet snow. God comes softly and quietly as not to overwhelm us. Humbly God comes to strengthen us and to be our support. Because God's presence is gentle, it is easy to miss. But if we pay attention we see that God has always been with us. And though God's presence is gentle it is powerful and changes everything, just as the newborn Jesus, in its helplessness changes everything for the couple.

Vows

2011-12-18T14:19:00.000-05:00

Audio : LifeGroup Study

Reflection/Response

Although it seems anti-climatic to end the book of Leviticus on the importance of vows and means of redeeming a vow, this placement makes a powerful point. It makes the point that vows are important and not to be taken lightly. That God puts such a high price on the act of redeeming something vowed to God means one cannot just go back on a vow. There are several ways to avoid this weightiness of vows. 1-One can abstain from vows. But nothing meaningful in life comes without vows. Marriage is possible only through the making of the vows. 2-One can make small vows that never really risk commitment. Some Israelites were in the habit of vowing what already belonged to God which is not a vow at all. Vows that are easy to keep or vows we are already keeping are not vows at all. Vows take courage to make and vows take strength to keep but vows made and kept are what makes life worth living. God honors us by demanding so much from our vows. And God does not merely demand vows but God himself makes vows. In Christmas, God keeps His vow to to send us the messiah to save us. Let us be grateful to God who keeps His vows, and let us complete the vows that remain as the year comes to an end.

Choosing Life

2011-12-11T21:39:00.001-05:00

Audio | LifeGroup Study

Reflections

The promise of blessing and the threat of punishment sound threatening and manipulative at first. But if we let go of our judgments we hear a different voice. First, drawing out of the two roads, that of obedience and disobedience, affirms that we human beings have choice. And choice is what comes to define us, giving meaning and weight to our lives. Life without choice is life emptied of meaning. And true choice always has consequences. Choice without consequences is no choice at all. Secondly, supporting our freedom to choose is the choice God has made, God choosing to love us. Even with the most terrible consequences of breaking God's command, God ends by saying cleary that His covenant, His decision to choose us, will never be broken. So let us choose obedience and choose life.

Jubilee

2011-12-04T14:23:00.001-05:00

Audio : LifeGroup Study

Reflection:
The year of the Jubilee is the 50th year in which every person’s debt is forgiven and everyone returns to their own land which they might have lost through misfortune or personal failures. This restoration to a person’s basic right to own a land and to eat of its produce is a protection against economic injustice. Due to human greed, the natural tendency for human society is to favor those who have and weaken, dis-empower, and finally dehumanize those who do not have. Jubilee bends towards justice by protecting against generational poverty which locks a family into insurmountable economic deprivation. This justice-restoration is based not on human-rights which can be manipulated but on divine-rights: 1-because the land always belongs to God, it must be restored; 2-because every human being belongs to God, no person is to remain slave to another human. God cares deeply for economic justice.The Kingdom of God is not simply salvation of soul; it is also the restoration of a society where everyone has a chance to care for a land of their own and to eat of the fruits of their labor.
Spiritual Disciplines
“Help me to use my money to honor your desire for justice.”

Camping

2011-11-27T14:47:00.001-05:00

Audio : Manuscript : LifeGroup Study

Summary:

The Feast of Tents was one of the three big holy-days in which all Jews were called to gather in Jerusalem. There, they were to make tents and camp-out for a week, remembering the 40 years of journey from Egypt to Canaan. It was a physical way of remembering the past so they can realize that their identity is not tied to the changes of life. Becoming a nation, it was dangerously easy for the Israelites to see their identity as the people of God tied to their political fortunes. The 40 years of wandering reminded them that they were people of God even if they were not to have a state or a temple. An identity separated from the situations of life gives us strength to face all situations with faith and not fear. Secondly, the Feast stirred the people to remember that God’s people are always on-the-move, as they go towards the Great Promise of the Messiah who would bring all nations to God. The celebration of this Feast always had messianic tones. Jesus used Feast to reveal himself. We Christians are in a similar state. We seek the complete revelation of Christ in the Kingdom of God. With a strong identity and a promised future, let us never tire of doing God-work!

Spiritual Discipline:

Start you day with "I am always God's child.

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

2011-11-23T23:30:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Day Prayer
by Walter Rauschenbusch (1861–1918)

For the wide sky and the blessed sun,
For the salt sea and the running water,
For the everlasting hills
And the never-resting winds,
For trees and the common grass underfoot.
We thank you for our senses
By which we hear the songs of birds,
And see the splendor of the summer fields,
And taste of the autumn fruits,
And rejoice in the feel of the snow,
And smell the breath of the spring.
Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;
And save our souls from being so blind
That we pass unseeing
When even the common thornbush
Is aflame with your glory,
O God our creator,
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Advent Conspiracy

2011-11-18T22:23:00.001-05:00

Christmas Sunday

2011-11-16T11:36:00.001-05:00

12/25 Christmas Sunday

Give Prescense. Invite 3 friends so they may experience how God is with them in Christ.

Royal Priests

2011-10-16T06:30:00.000-04:00

Understanding Sin, Understanding Grace

2011-09-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

Be Still

2011-04-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

Audio

The great promise

2011-01-02T14:10:00.001-05:00

sermon document : sermon audio

Reflection/Response

Though we come to the end of the book of Genesis we see that the story does not end. This truth teaches us several things about promise. First, as it relates to our community and permitting an inference application, though the year 2010 comes to a close and we move on as far as our focus from the theme of promise, it does not mean that we stop reflecting on the promise of God and stop practicing a life of promise-keeping. We move on only as now the life of promise has become a fundamental culture of our community and our own personal living. We strive to become promise-keepers fully assured that God is a promise-keeper. Secondly, and this is the greater truth, we see that the most important promise that becomes the power for living is the promise that goes beyond our own personal lives. We see this specifically in Jacob and Joseph. They were not driven thinking that they would see the promises of God fulfilled in their own life time. They were driven to do their part knowing that even after they end this life God will fulfill His promise of making Israel into a nation of blessing. All of the personal promises come under this Great-Promise of God. And the New Testament makes this one Great-Promise even more clear, it is the promise that God will redeem all creation through the seed of Israel, Jesus. What a great promise! We know this promise will be kept. So it gives us courage to live for it and even die for that Great-Promise! God will renew all of creation! Our church will never see the promise completed in it's organizational life time, nor will we see it in our own personal lifetime. But we have the privilege to participate and we know our participation will quicken the fulfillment of that Great-Promise.

1-what promise of God has been fulfilled in your life this year? (we shared through video interviews but please share face-to-face and share more details)

2-what do your believe is our church's part in the great promise of God?

3-what do you believe is your part in the great promise of God?

Spiritual Disciplines

Begin your days with this declaration "God renew your creation. Today, I participate in your Great-Promise."

The Promise Child

2010-12-19T00:56:00.003-05:00

Sermon Document : Sermon Audio

Reflection/Response

We have all been at the other end of broken promises and know well the great disappointment that ensues. When someone we trust breaks their promises, our heart can hurt for a long time. Perhaps that is how the people of Israel felt for as they were waiting for God to make them into a great nation through a messiah, all they experienced was one disappointment after another. They continued to be devoured by empires that were beyond their league. They were never an empire let alone a strong and independent nation for even two generations (Israel divided right after David consolidated). And in that unmet expectation and disappointments, God comes to save His people in the form of an infant and in it already foreshadowing the way in which God will save His people. In Jesus God saves His people not through power but weakness, not through conquest but abdication, not through divine immortality but human mortality. It is by the most fundamental fact of human life, birth and death and fragility, that God saves us. Jesus is the promise-child for Jesus the infant, Jesus the one crucified, is the one who saves from our own selves. We saved are from selfishness, self-importance, and self-preservation by the giving, helpless and absolutely fragile God-infant.

1-For those with children, share your experience when you had your first child? Did that child "save" you from some unhealthy habits/thoughts/life style?

2-If you have been baptized, what was the major thing (a specific sin, depression, loneliness, hurt) Jesus saved you from?

3-From what do you need saving today?

Spiritual Disciplines

We are called to share the God who saves in Christ by the same means of weakness and vulnerability. To whom can you lose this week?

A New Beginning

2010-12-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

A New Beginning from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

Jacob's life changes overnight by the good news that his son Joseph is alive and is actually a great ruler in Egypt. God is in the business of giving new life to His people, working to have them start anew in their journey of life. Though Jacob has had a hard life, he now begins a new chapter in his life in Egypt and has the fortune to have Joseph close his eyes. This new life is offered to us by God but we can miss out on it altogether. We can miss out because we do not believe the promise of new life. We can miss out because we are afraid of the new life. We can miss out because we think we do not need God's help. But Jacob had a need (people were starving) and was not afraid to seek help. Jacob believed in the good news. Jacob was willing to leave everything he knows (Canaan) to settle in a foreign place. He trusted God for new life and it led to the joyous reunion with Joseph.

1-What great reversal/renewal of life from God have your experienced?

2-What opportunities/beginnings did you avoid out of fear? What opportunities/beginnings did you seize by overcoming your fear?

3-When was your neediest time and how did you experience help from God and/or community?

Spiritual Disciplines

Start your day with the proclamation, "I will accept and not be afraid of the new opportunities God gives me."

Hyphenated-Existence

2010-12-05T21:10:00.002-05:00

Hyphenated-Existence from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

Joseph is forced to live a hyphenated existence, a man of two worlds and two cultures and two languages. He is a Hebraic-Egyptian which is symbolized by his marriage to a Egyptian women, and having two sons who are of two bloods. The society wants people to see the hyphen that connects two other cultures as a negative sign or a subtraction, that it somehow takes away the purity of a culture. So to a Jew, the Hebraic-Egyptian is not a real Jew and to an Egyptian, the Hebraic-Egyptian is not a real Egyptian. People of such "hyphenated-identity" is often ridiculed and is made to feel as an outsider. But the history of God's redemptive work shows us that God actually uses such hyphenated-people because to God the hyphen is a "plus" and an addition and not a subtraction. Moses, the great Jewish leader and the prototype of the messiah was a Hebraic-Egyptian just like Joseph. David comes down from the line of Boaz and Ruth making him a Moabite-Jew. And of course incarnation is all about the hyphen-life as Jesus is God-Man. And we see this redemptive work starting with the children of Joseph, Mannaseh and Ephraim, both born of two different ethnicities who become two of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Being of two cultures/ethnicities is not a negation and something to be shameful about but an addition something we can celebrate as God's gift. And of course, being Christian means that we should all embrace and celebrate the fact that we are people of two worlds, that we are "in this world but not of this world" just as Christ the God-Man was and still is.

1-Share a funny experience that came from you bi-cultural/ethnic life whether it was a misunderstanding of culture or language?

2-Did you ever hate the fact that you were a bi-cultural/ethnic person and if so what culture/ethnic person did you want to be and why?

3-When and how did you come to accept your bi-cultural/ethnic identity? As this acceptance is a process what are you doing now to celebrate your hyphenated-identity as a gift from God?

Spiritual Disciplines

Consider people you know who might be struggling their hyphenated-identity and affirm them throughout the week through deep and sincere friendship.

Planning for God's Plan

2010-11-28T12:08:00.002-05:00

Untitled from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

God certainly has a plan for our lives, but that does not mean that we should not draw up a plan for our lives using our "discernment and wisdom. " Having a plan for our lives is actually an act of trusting God will accomplishes His good plans in our lives. In fact, the spirit of God in the life of Joseph is recognized by Pharaoh not only in his ability to interpret dreams, but in his ability to draw up a good plan. And a good plan at least has these qualities: seeing the plan of God, a long-term perspective, recognizing the seasonal rhythm of time, and a complete buy-in by the team which translates to "obedient execution." Our ministry-team has a plan that we believe is the plan of God for our community which came out of our intense listening to our community. We want and plan to grow into a ministry that turns every visitor into a mission-minded disciple through the power of new life in Christ. The first step was this year as we reflected on the promise-keeping God and developed a membership covenant. Next year we want to grow into a God-revealing community mainly through the power of small groups. All of this, of course, depends on God and us continuing to execute the plan together. May we see God's great plan for our church become a reality with our own eyes! We also pray that God's plan for your personal lives become actualized as you develop or refine your life and family plans.

1-Share a funny or inspiring story of when some plan in your life (big or small) succeeded and/or failed and the reason for its success and/or failure.

2-What is thelong-term (5 to 7 years) plan for your life and/or family?

3-What do you think of the plan for New Life ministry you have been hearing for this past year and especially the plan you heard today?

Spiritual Disciplines

Write a 5 to 7 year plan for your life if you have not done so. Make sure it is concrete by writing it out. If you are married, write a plan for your family together with your spouse and even your children if they are old enough.

Proclaim God's Promise-Keeping

2010-11-24T11:59:00.002-05:00

What promise of God has been fulfilled in your life this year?

Joint Thanksgiving Service

2010-11-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

Sermon Document
This coming Sunday, back to normal schedule 9:30am. Happy Thanksgiving!

Being A Blessing

2010-11-14T17:29:00.003-05:00

Being A Blessing from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Documents

Reflection/Response

We see in Joseph's life the provisional fulfillment of the Abrahamic blessing. For God's promise was that God will bless the nation through Abraham. And through Joseph God blesses the people of Egypt. Even more, this blessing eventually extends to the whole nation of Egypt as they are able to leverage their seven years of blessings to be used during the seven years of famine. While other nations are suffering through the famine, Egypt is expanding because of Joseph. Through it we see that first, the places we already are, regardless of how we got there, are the places God has sent us. Secondly, when we seek to be a blessing, we will already find ourselves being blessed by God. Joseph believes that he was sent to Egypt though he was sold to Egypt. Joseph seeks to bless those he works for though he will never reap the benefit of those blessings. But eventually this attitude of Joseph lands him next to Pharaoh. Although this attitude of Joseph speaks to our whole life, it speaks most practically to our working life. What if we see the place we work as our mission field? What if in our work we seek to bless the co-workers and the company we serve? We would surely see the miracles we see in the life of Joseph.

1-What work have you done where you felt it was a dead-end job? Do you feel like your current work is a dead -end job? Why? What are some difficulties in your current work?

2-In what ways are you seeking to be a blessing in your places of work?

3-How has God blessed you when you sought the blessing of others first in your work?

Righteousness

2010-11-07T14:23:00.007-05:00

Righteousness from New Life Triangle on Vimeo

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

This story of Judah, Onan, and Tamar is not an easy read with all the sexual sins committed. But in midst of it we are taught a lesson about righteousness and of all people, it comes from Tamar. It is an important lesson for we see the impact it made in Judah's life. For until Judah was confronted, he thought he was leading a righteous life. We can hear that delusion in his anger when he finds out that Tamar is pregnant though she is a widow. He feels he has the right to burn her for her sin since he is convinced he is not in sin. Of course, he has sinned in seeking a prostitute and in selling his own brother Joseph into slavery and lying about Joseph's death to his father. But the conviction comes to him not from these atrocious sins but in the fact that he did not keep his promise to Tamar that he would give his third son. And that confrontation and conviction show us that the heart of righteousness is one's faithfulness to one's words, that is, the act of promise-keeping. Righteousness as promise-keeping actually is the main lesson of Genesis where the only person who is righteous is God who keeps His promise. And that Abraham is considered righteous actually is better translated as that Abraham trusted in God's righteousness, that God will keep his promise. And that trust in God as the promise-keeper, gives us the courage to keep our promises. And we see this change in Judah where he gives his life for Benjamin in order to keep his promise to his father Jacob.

This is our 2010 theme. As our year comes to an end let us reflect on how often we break our promises and let go of our false righteousness. And trusting only in God's righteousness let us forge ahead to become promise-keepers!

1-Has there been anyone who kept their promise to you and that promise-keeping impacted you positively? How did it impact you?

2-What are some promises you broke in 2010 (family, church, work, God)?

3-What promise will you focus on the rest of 2010 (family, church, work, God)?

Spiritual Disciplines

Focus on a single promise for the week and be mindful and keep that promise.

Bethel and Benjamin

2010-10-31T12:58:00.002-04:00

Bethel and Benjamin from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

Jacob's return to Bethel embodies what happens in a worship experience. We see, first, that God calls Jacob to worship. As such, worship is not what we volunteer to do, but an invitation we are privileged to respond to. Secondly, as Jacob goes to meet God, Jacob calls his household to throw away foreign gods. In worship, the real God constantly challenges the biases we have of God, the idols that Christians continue to hold. Thirdly, Jacob is reminded of his new name and at the same time God declares who he is. In worship, as we learn about who God is, we learn and are reminded of our true identity. Lastly, perhaps the most important lesson from Jacob's life, is that though worship does not make life easier it does give a new perspective, and perspective is reality. For right after this worship experience, Jacob loses the love of his live, Rachel. Facing suffering and death, Rachel names her second son "Ben-Oni" which means "son of my trouble." But Jacob, though not denying the tragedy, still sees God's redemptive presence and renames him "Ben-jamine" which means "son of my right hand." A powerful worship experiences helps us to see our daily lives from a new perspective, the perspective of God's presence.

1-What was one of the most powerful worship experiences in you life and how did it impact your daily life?

2-What are some of the idols you have given up recently? What are some images of God you grew up with that is being challenged currently?

3-What "troubles" are you going through right now and how can you rename your "troubles" in the light of God's presence?

Spiritual Disciplines

Whenever you face a recurring trouble this week, rename it, as Jacob renamed Ben-Oni to Ben-Jamine, through the perspective of God and the hope God's presence brings.

Healing Dinah

2010-10-24T14:53:00.003-04:00

Healing Dinah from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document-Healing Dinah by Samuel Son:Healing Dinah by Annie Hardison-Moody

Reflection/Response

Dinah suffers great violation of her humanity from the hands of someone who professes to love her. Indeed, statistics show that much sexual abuse and physical abuse happen in the hands of those we trust which makes the abuse that much more ugly and painful. How can one stop such violations? How can one find healing through such violation? Dinah's brothers chose revenge, violence to combat violence. And here we see an individual violence exploding into a tribal violence. Violence at every level is interconnected, and no violence at any level solves the issue of abuse and violation. And what is lost in all this is Dinah's healing. Dinah's brothers who seem to act in behalf of Dinah do not actually care for Dinah's healing. They only care for their shame and so they respond with violence for the violation. Redemption is found in the bigger story of God's work. The response to violation is truth and grace, truth to name the sin, and grace to stop the cycle of violation and violence through forgiveness. The way to healing is also the same. Truth to name the abuse and pain. Grace to see that the abuse does not define one's worth and that God can take even the worst scars and pains and use them for God's glory.

1-Have you been abused and how have you found healing (please share if you feel comfortable enough and have gone through the healing process)?

2-What do you think are some of the roots and causes of domestic and sexual violence?

3-What are some things you can do to end the cycle of violation and violence that is so prevalent in our society?

Spiritual Disciplines

If you have been a victim of sexual and/or domestic violence please speak to a pastor or to InterAct to go through the process of healing. Likewise, if you are have abusive tendency, please seek help through a pastor or InterAct.

For The Love of the Husband

2010-10-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

Sermon Document : Sermon Audio

Reflection/Response

In the messy relationship Jacob has his with his wives, we can clearly see that a wife desires to be loved by her husband, that a woman longs to be loved singularly by a man. Whereas a man might stake his identity in work and accomplishment and so need respect to strengthen his identity, a woman forms her identity in being desired and wanted and so needs love to strengthen her identity. But in an imperfect world with imperfect men, this desire can lead to unhealthy relationships and behaviors as evinced in Rachel and Leah. This calls for man to be able to deliver what is needed in woman since this was the commitment made in marriage. The husband is called to love faithfully and passionately the woman to whom he is now united.

But the story also shows that in midst of the struggle of Rachel and Leah for the love of Jacob who does not know to love, a woman can miss out on the one person who can be their ultimate source of their need to be loved. It is God who can and does love them unconditionally. This calls for all women to be dependent fully on God for love. This does not mean that a husband's love is unimportant. It only means that God's love is the only thing that is necessary and that the woman who accepts this love of God is free to receive the important love of the husband.

1-Share a story about a relationship or a date that went bad. What were the reasons?

2-We all have fear of not being loved. What are some things you do and did do to cope with that fear of not being loved?

3-Man: How can(will) you express your love more clearly to your woman? Woman: How can(will) you depend on God for your need of being loved?

Spiritual Disciplines

Start your days with this declaration. "I am loved by God and so I am free to receive love and give love."

For the Love of the Father

2010-10-03T14:15:00.002-04:00

For the Love of the Father from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

As grand as the story of Jacob and Esau is, we see that it is a story about every person; it is the common struggle to win the love of the father. And just as both go to extremes, we will do whatever it takes to win the father's love because it is what every human beings need. Of course, both already had the love of their father in their own way but they could not fully trust it.

Now every family dynamic is differently and all of us have various experiences with our fathers. Some have lost our father early in our lives. Some have experienced abandonment through divorce. Some have even experienced violence and violation from our own fathers. But even in midst of all that selfishness and brokenness we can trust that our father loved us. That our father loves us does not meant that the sins they committed was out of love and best of intentions so excusable, for they are not. That our father loves us means only that in the deepest part, if all that selfishness and self-hatred can be sorted out, there is a core love that a father always has for his own child.

More importantly, we can be certain about God the Father's love for us. All of our life experiences can leave that in doubt, but God proved it in really the only sure proof there can be. He sacrificed His only Son so He can say, "that is how much I love you and I want you." Our human father, despite his sinfulness, loves us. Our creator Father, despite our sinfulness, loves us.

1-How did you compete with your siblings for your father's love? How are you still competing or still striving for your father's love?

2-Share a moment when you thought your father hated you? Share a moment when you truly believed that your father loved you?

3-Share a moment when you truly experienced God the Father's overwhelming love for you deep in your identity?

Spiritual Disciplines

Begin you days with the prayer "Thank you Father for your love, thank you for my father who loves me." During the week, plan and speak to your father and tell him "thank you for loving me."

Healing Mind

2010-09-26T14:58:00.002-04:00

Healing Mind from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio

How To Get The Man or Woman of Your Life

2010-09-19T14:36:00.002-04:00

How To Get The Man or Women of Your Life from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

We see in today's story that God's faithfulness to Abraham carries over to even finding a suitable spouse for Isaac. Finding someone to share our lives is not a game but a serious matter in which God can help and will provide for us. But we must put aside the modern sense of romance where one "falls in love" or the platonic ideal that one must find his/her "soul mate." We see the servant's prayer for God's providence of meeting the right person is actually a practical test of character. One is not looking for a soul mate. One is looking for compatibility and character. Also, that Isaac's heart is described as "and he loved her" and only after hearing the story of the servant and marrying her tells us that love is not a swoon but a decision. One chooses to love. In short the two big takeaways about finding the man/woman of your life according to this story is: first, trust God and look for character, and when one sees a person of character, do not hesitate but commit and love that person.

1-If you are single, what is the most important character in the person you are looking for. If you are married, what is the most important character in your spouse that you are attracted to?

2-If you are married, share with the group when you knew that your future spouse was provided by God. If you are single, share some reasons why you are afraid to commit.

3-If you are single, write down the list of characters you are looking for and start praying for them. If you are married, write down the list of characters you cherish and tell them to your spouse.

Spiritual Disciplines

For singles: "Father, grant me the eyes to see the beauty of character and the courage to commit"

For married couple: "Father, grant me the eyes to see the beauty of my spouse and the commitment to love him/her more than yesterday."

Death: Burial

2010-09-12T12:21:00.003-04:00

Death: Burial from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

No one can escape death. And no one is absolutely fearless of death. Death as the dissolution of our selves, that the world will continue on even after the "I" no longer exists puts us in a terrible fright. As Christians we have resurrection that overcomes death but the doctrine of resurrection is often misunderstood and is used as a way to deny with death. As one can love a child passionately in a healthy way, but one can also love a child out of unhealthy need for a dependent, one can believe in the resurrection as a way of facing death or as a way of denying death. The latter, obviously, is not the biblical view. The bible is very clear that death is a real dissolution of our being. As there was a time when I was not, there will be a time when I will not be. Death is indeed the end of ourselves. Resurrection, then is not the continuation of our immortal soul for we do not have an immortal soul. We truly die. Resurrection is God reconstituting us in a new glorious body which at that point will be immortal. Death is both an end and a beginning. Abraham's story allegorizes this in that Sarah's burial is truly the end of Sarah but also a seed which is the beginning of the nation of Israel as they do come back to the land Abraham bought as Sarah's burial plot. Resurrection speaks not of the immortality of the human soul but the faithfulness of our God.
1-What is the one thing if you do not do before die, you will absolutely regret.

2-How often do you think about your death? When you do think about your death what is your thought process like? What do you feel? Who do you think of?

3-Do you believe in the resurrection? What gives you such firm conviction or what are some reasons for your doubt?

Spiritual Disciplines

A true resurrection-faith loves life but does not fear death. It hold in tension that in death there is both an end and a beginning. To understand this tension better, memorize and reflect on the words of Paul "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Life: Sacrifice

2010-09-05T13:34:00.005-04:00

Life: Sacrifice from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio : Sermon Document
Reflection/Response

Life is a continual sacrifice. From birth where we sacrifice the all-providing comfort of the womb, to death which is nothing less than the giving up of life. Sacrifice scares us. It seems like total loss, a complete negation of our desires and dreams. The road to fulfillment, we assume, is the road of gaining and addition a philosophy which is embedded in the word itself, "full-fill-ment." So the life of sacrifice is a fearful road. But it is that very place of fear where we think we loss it all that we truly gain. Just as the story of the sacrifice of Isaac takes place in Moriah which means both a place of fear and a place of providence, the place where we sacrifice is the place where God provides. We only get what we give up, we can only have what we let go.

1-If God demanded the sacrifice of your child, would you be able to do it?

2-What was the hardest thing you gave up when you came to you current life stage (i.e. when you became a college student/ a young professional/ a married person/ a parent)?

3-What was the best thing you gained when you came to your current life stage?

Spiritual Disciplines

Sometimes, the truest sacrifice are the ones that go unknown and unexpressed, what you do for the sake of sacrifice alone. This week, consider making one specific act of sacrifice to God on your own without sharing with anyone.

Nothing is Impossible in Christ

2010-08-29T13:49:00.005-04:00

Nothing is Impossible in Christ from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio

Ten Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered; Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish alterior motives; Do good anyway.
If you are successful you will win false friends and true enemies, Succeed anyway.
What you do good today maybe forogtten tomorrow, Do good anyway
Honest and frankness make you vulnerable; Be honest and frank anyway.
Biggest man with biggest idea by the smallest man with narrow-mindedness; Think big anyway.
People favor underdog but only follow topdogs; Fight for the underdogs anyway.
What you build for many years, maybe destroyed overnight; Build anyway.
People really need help and may attack you ifyou help them; Help them anyway.
Give the best you have to the world and you may get kicked in your teeth; Give the best you have to the world anyway.

Birth: Laughter

2010-08-22T13:00:00.004-04:00

Birth: Laughter from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

Laughter is a unique ability of human beings. As laughter is a recognition of the contradictions in human life, it is one way of recognizing the human limitation. In naming their son "Isaac," Sarah is recognizing that this contradiction came about by God's power. In their old age they had no power to create life and so no one expected them to have a child, least of all herself. But God, who keeps His promise, gives them a child and so the unexpected contradiction happens. The elderly who should not be with a child, has an infant waking them up every two hours. In actuality, this is true for most all of our life, whether things turn out good or bad, nothing much in life turns out as expected. It is faith to laugh even in things that seem to turn out for the bad. In such expected contradictions, we are not to laugh in derision and make it all a joke, but laugh in faith trusting that all of it will work out at the end. To laugh at our own contradictions, the contradictions we make on our own, and in our own plights is an expression of trust.

1-Share a funny memory (of an event, show, book) that you remember regularly and still gives you a good laugh today.

2-Consider some contradictions in your life that you find, from the perspective of faith, funny and joyous.

3-What hard experience are you going through. Take a step back to see the bigger picture and the faith picture and see if your can laugh about it with your connection group or during the coming week.

Spiritual Disciplines

Write down one event in your life you consider as great tragedy. Though you do not know the outcome, try to write it in a comic routine, how would you tell it to your friends so they can see the humor in it, so you yourself can see divine humor in it.

A Day with God

2010-08-15T08:15:00.003-04:00

A Day With God from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio : Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

A day with God starts like any other day. We can be open to divine visitation when we are willing to serve those we come into contact with. We also open ourselves to meeting God when we are willing to stand up for other people, that is, in deep prayers of intercession. Often our approach to God is introspection, focusing on our sinfulness or our needs. This inward focus leads to nearsightedness that prevents us from seeing God amongst us. When we focus on other's need, the other becomes the presence of God for us. The flip side of being prepared to meet God is of course God's willingness to meet us where we are. God does not merely deign to sit and spend time with us, but delights in meeting us at our level. In a meeting between God and man, more important than the human preparation is God's desire to meet us; more amazing than the hospitality of the host is the graciousness of the guest.

1-Share a time when you were floored by someone's hospitality or an organization's service?

2-Share a time when you were moved to enter into a deep time of intercession? Who were you praying for? Why were you so moved? What was the answer to your intercession?

3-Who will you intercede for this week?

Spiritual Disciplines

Start your days with this verse -- Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward -- and be open to visitations from God through life of all-out service of others.

Circumcision Covenant

2010-08-08T08:05:00.002-04:00

Untitled from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

A study of the first act of the covenant of circumcision reveals to us that the New Testament (what Paul and Jesus taught about it) understanding of the rite is not a new way of looking at circumcision but the very essence of circumcision. As a symbol of the eternal covenant of God to be the God of Israel, circumcision was always meant to be:1- a matter of the heart (the totality of person's life), 2-a way of being mindful of God for daily living and for the gift of living, 3-and an act and symbol of faith as an unconditional obedience. In short, circumcision was not meant to win the favor of God, but a daily reminder that one already belongs to God. In this way, circumcision also teaches us how to live our lives, not attempting to win God's approval, but in radical obedience as gratitude for God's acceptance.

1-Outside of your wedding and baptism, what were some covenants/vows you made with a ritual and/or item. Share the story behind such ritual/item and the covenant/vow.

2-Do you feel like you are living your life still seeking God's approval or as gratitude for God's approval?

3-What “circumcision of the heart,” an act of unconditional obedience is God calling you to take?

Spiritual Disciplines

Appoint a daily object as a reminder of God’s presence and approval. For the week be conscious so that daily reminder can open your eyes to the glory of God that fills your every day life.

Broken Promise, Broken Body

2010-08-01T14:23:00.004-04:00

Broken Body Broken Promise from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

To make a covenant means that there are consequences for broken commitments. After all, promises and the keeping of promises do matter. A careful reading of Abraham's story shows us that Abraham was actually not perfect at keeping promises. He broke many of them. But in the failures of Abraham we see the faithfulness of God for God is the one who pays for the consequences of broken promises so Abraham can continue to remain right before God. This is the heart of that great doctrine of "justified by faith," that we are made right by trusting God's faithfulness towards us. It is the faithfulness of God to us that gives us strength to admit the broken promises of our lives and to start again in attempting to keep those promises.

(since we did confession and communion today, share the following questions not as a way of confession but as a way of sharing the sins God has forgiven. At the end, end with prayer of gratitude for Christ who was broken so we can be made whole).

-What promise to God have you broken?

-What promise to a loved one have you broken?

-What promise to someone you are responsible for have you broken?

-Anything you felt during the communion?

Spiritual Disciplines

Reflect on this bible verse and grow in appreciation of Christ's sacrifice: Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Admiring vs Following

2010-07-25T21:18:00.002-04:00

Sermon Audio

NY Mission Team Sending Worship from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Reflection/Response
The difference between admirers and followers is that followers are willing to make commitments. Admirers applaud and respect while keeping their safe distance, but followers change their lifestyle to pursue. One of the dangers of the church today is that many people in the church simply admire Jesus Christ and his teachings, but only a few follow.
1 Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give up the one thing that occupied his heart: wealth. If Jesus were to stand before you today, what would he ask of you? What occupies your heart?
2 It almost sounds like Jesus is talking about earning salvation; the man had to DO SOMETHING (give away his wealth) in order to inherit eternal life.) Is this what Jesus is saying? Why is it important for this man to give away his wealth, and what does that have to do inheriting eternal life?
3 Examine your own hearts—are you an admirer of Christ or a follower of Christ? How can we as individual children of God and as a church become better, more committed followers of Christ?

The Vision The Promise

2010-07-18T13:53:00.002-04:00

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

When God Says "No"

2010-07-11T13:54:00.002-04:00

When God Says "No" from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

God sometimes stands against our plans and God certainly says "No" to us. God's "No" can be harsh and firm. However, God stands against us only so God can act for us. God says "No" only to be more clear with God's "Yes." The tower of Babel seems to portray God as big bully foiling human inventiveness and aspiration. But on deeper reflection and seeing the story in the light of who God is in the rest of the bible, we see that God is saying "No" their centralization of power symbolized by their towering cities so God can say "Yes" to diversity and freedom.

1-When have you said "No" to a person with the best of intention only to be taken the wrong way. How did that person understand your "No" and what was his/her response?

2-When have you experienced God being against you and stopping you from a plan or desire?

3-Are their systems you belong to (family, small groups, church, company) where you see yourself tending towards control and centralization?

Spiritual Disciplines

Every day this week, practice the art of trusting God's goodness in God's opposition by giving thanks to God for some specific "No"s you are experiencing in your life.

Leading as Followers

2010-07-04T14:08:00.005-04:00

Untitled from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio

Mark 1:16-20

Reflection/Response

Most people spend a portion of their time following and another portion leading. Emphasizing leadership to the exclusion of followership hurts the effectiveness of one’s work. However, all of us who follow in some area of our lives still ask if there is any value to being a follower. When Jesus called his disciples, he said, “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” Unfortunately when people are called to service in the church, the position is often mis-interpreted as a call to lead. His or her call to discipleship is to become followers first, then leaders. Our role is to work to become followers while Jesus equips and prepares us to lead people toward the kingdom of God. Therefore, the best leaders are the best followers of Jesus in the kingdom of God.

1. 1-Share your situations of being a follower and being a leader in your life. Which role do you prefer, following or leading?

2. 2-Does the statement, “the best leaders are the best followers of Jesus,” apply to your life outside of the church work too? If so, why? If not so, why not?

3. 3-Discuss how you can encourage and hold each other accountable in your development of followership. What are the potential roadblocks to continuing this process? Spend time in prayer asking God to knit you together as you work on the characters of exemplary followership.

Covering

2010-06-27T14:12:00.002-04:00

Sermon Audio / Sermon Document

Covering from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Reflection/Response

We see Noah as an ordinary man sharing in our faults which at first is a bit disturbing. Seeing Noah drunk and naked makes us uncomfortable. His three sons also was uncomfortable with their father being so unseemly. But the three had different responses. Ham went out and told his brothers while Shem and Japheth went in backwards covering their father. They are pictures of what we can do when we come face to face with the ordinary faults of our brothers and sisters and especially our leaders. We can gossip and expose them, as Ham. Or we can ignore them, a cover-up and continue on our way of idealization based on lies. Or we can accept them and help them by covering their weakness. A community is strengthened and blessed when we can be real with our faults because we have loving strength to cover each other's faults.

1-When was the first time you got disappointed with a leader or your parents seeing that they were, after all, human? Share the story.

2-What words of parents or spouse about your fault or weakness, though spoken in jest, has hurt you before?

3-What words do you speak in jest which might be hurting your loved ones?

Spiritual Disciplines

Memorize and recite the following proverb and live by it this week: Proverbs 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

How One Man Saved the World

2010-06-20T15:48:00.002-04:00

How One Man Saved the World from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
sorry for the choppy video - still working out the technological problems for the renovation
Sermon Audio Sermon Document Reading PowerPoint

Reflection/Response

The story of Noah shows us the importance of a single individual. As far as the Genesis narrative, the only thing that held God from destroying all living things in judgment of the sins of humanity was the righteousness of a single person. Noah did not save humanity and all creatures by building a boat. Noah saved us by constantly seeking to do the right thing for God. Noah changed our destiny when he sought to obey God in his every day walk.

1-Share an experience of an event or a group where a single individual made a great impact, whether positive or negative.

2-Share a time when you had great impact on an event or an organization, positive or negative.

3-Share one place/act of disobedience in your life you will change to obedience this week.

Spiritual Disciplines

Write down what you shared in question 3. Focus on it, daily trusting God's Spirit that is in you to be stronger than any disobedience and remembering Noah's life to see that your small acts of obedience always counts.

Song

I will be the one to walk by your side

All of my days and all of my nights

I will be the one to do as you say

No matter the cost

I will be faithful

You will be faithful

Walking with God Working for God

2010-06-16T11:18:00.002-04:00

Sermon Document
Sorry, no recording as worship took place at Education Building due to renovation. Thank you for your patience.

"Sovereign Lord" by Esther Yang

2010-06-13T22:45:00.006-04:00

Sermon Audio

East of Eden

2010-05-30T13:12:00.001-04:00

Sermon Document
sorry, sermon video not recorded due to technical difficulties

Reflection/Response

It is our distrust of God's goodness and our pride, that seeks only our own good, which drive us "East of Eden." And to go East of Eden is our way of running away from the presence of God. However, even in the place where we do not feel God, God is still present. We might go far away from Eden, the place and time where we had great intimacy with God, but we are never far from the love of God. God is where we are, even in our brokenness. In other words, right where we are, anytime and anywhere, we can always worship God.

Spiritual Disciplines

Think about the driest or hardest time of your daily routines. Then commit to "worshiping God" at those times everyday of this week by being aware of God's presence and proclaiming: "This is Holy Ground and I worship you Holy God."

God is Good

2010-05-22T15:31:00.002-04:00

God is Good from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

We break God's commandment (the promise between God and us) when we distrust God's goodness and when we doubt that we are good enough (sense of shame). We then take into our own hands the power to judge. But we are not good judges of good and evil as all our judgments are comparative and marred with suspicion. We judge all things to be deficient and bad which results in the three levels of brokeness we see in the first man and woman's brokeness: broken relationship with God, broken relationship with each other, and broken relationship with creation. The way back to restoration is to fully trust God's goodness and that all things are good as all things are entrusted in God's good hands.

1-When was the first time you felt ashamed of yourself? What happened and why did you feel ashamed?

2-Did you ever judge someone harshly (or were you ever judged harshly) which regretfully led to a breaking of that relationship?

3-What are some self-judgment words you want to let go this week?

Spiritual Disciplines

Memorize and recite every morning the following bible verse: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." And the following line from Julian of Norwhich: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well"

Prayer of Confession

You made us good and you delighted in us.

But we believed we were not good enough

and we became ashamed and began to hide.

You gave us our brothers and sisters

So we can know the goodness of love.

But we believed we were not good enough for them

And that they were not good enough for us

And so we complained to you about them.

We judged them and so judged your greatest work.

You gave us this world to enjoy with all our senses.

But we thought the world was not good enough.

And so we complained about the mess we are in,

About the difficulties and the ugliness of this world.

And in judging your creation we judged you, God.

We judged you as a God who is not good enough.

For such pride and sin that has led to all of our brokenness,

Forgive us.

And give us the faith to confess that we are not to judge

What is good and what is not good.

But only to trust that you are good. Amen.

Naming

2010-04-18T16:39:00.003-04:00

Naming from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Creation Covenant

2010-04-10T22:50:00.005-04:00

Sermon Audio:Sermon Document

Creation Covenant from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Reflection/Response

Creation shows us that we were not an afterthought to God but God had us in mind from the start. It is for this reason that God creates us at the end of His creation and looking down upon us says "very good." In that very act of creation God enters into a covenant with us. Firstly, that God is for us. Secondly that God continues His creation and that His faithfulness is literally "new every morning." Our part is to depend upon our Creator and then to enjoy this creation that is new every day and believe in our daily renewal.

1-What is one of the most amazing creation of God you have witnessed in your life and travels? What did that creation make you think and feel about life and about God?

2-Renewal is real and sameness is the illusion. Have you ever been surprised by an experience that everything is new whether it was through a good sleep or through some spiritual experience?

3-What creation of God will you give attention to this week?

Spiritual Disciplines

No sunrise is ever the same. Indeed, each day is "spanking brand new." Start your day with this bible verse: Lamentations 3:21-23 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Prayer of Confession

Lord you created this world so we can know your love.

You created the sun to warm us and the stars to guide us.

You created the trees to nourish us and the waters to refresh us.

And you have never stopped creating us as you have never stopped loving us.

You make the sun to rise every morning and the air to fill our lungs.

Yet we think that life is old and same.

We complain thinking that you do not care for us.

We waste our gifts thinking our life has no purpose.

We waste the resources of your creation,

Thinking that we are here only to consume.

Forgive us for believing in the lies that nothing changes,

When you are renewing our body every second.

Create in me a new heart that will honor you,

By depending on you and by renewing your creation.

To Be or Not To Be

2010-04-03T13:56:00.000-04:00

To Be Or Not To Be from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Document

The Last Temptation of Christ

2010-03-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

Untitled from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Document

Get Ready for the End

2010-03-21T14:17:00.000-04:00

Get Ready for the End from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Document/ Sermon Audio

Insanity of Ownership and the Joy of Stewardship

2010-03-14T14:07:00.000-04:00

Insanity of Ownership and the Joy of Stewardship from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Document

I Want To See

2010-03-07T14:49:00.001-05:00

I Want To See from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/ Sermon Document

Jesus Never Fades

2010-02-21T10:52:00.001-05:00

Jesus Never Fades from New Life Triangle on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio/Sermon Document

God and Traditions

2010-02-07T06:59:00.003-05:00

God and Traditions from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio Sermon Document
Reflection/Response

Pharisees respect for their tradition had turned into the worship of their tradition. Their tradition became their only way of seeing the world and it led to two deficiencies. First, the only thing they could see were petty differences in the disciples in midst of their common ministry for the common Jewish folks. Secondly, they could not see how their traditions were actually leading people to disobey God. We can never do away with tradition because we all live in streams of traditions. But we can best respect our traditions when they always fall at the feet of God. All traditions are relative and must be open to change and to other traditions and in this way be open to God.

1-Share a story when an ignorance of a tradition led to a humorous misunderstanding or incident.

2-Have you ever faced a tradition you felt it no longer connected to reality or even suffocated you?

3-Are there any traditions in your life (consider your cultural and/or modern traditions you follow) that might be keeping you from fully following God?

Spiritual Disciplines

Consider the following passage: Colossians 2:16-17 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

To have even a greater understanding of the given passage and how Christ relativizes all tradition s, read the whole letter of Colossians in one sitting. Better yet, read it every day for the whole week. It will give you great enlightenment and empowerment.

Sunday Family Worship Materials

2010-01-30T14:58:00.002-05:00

There will be no Sunday Services on 1/31 due to snow.
The following material is provided as an option for Sunday Worship at home.
We will be preaching on this passage the coming Sunday so it will be a good way of deepening our understanding of the text.

Read Mark 7:1-23
-Why did the Pharisees come from Jerusalem to see Jesus (v1)?
-Why did the Pharisees make a big deal about the disciples not cleaning their hands before they ate (v5)?
-What is the Corban tradition and how did it put aside the commands of God (9-13)?
-What is the place of true cleanliness and uncleanliness (14-15)?
-Why did the disciples not get what Jesus was teaching (17)?
-Is Jesus saying that all tradition is bad and against God?
-Is there anything good about having traditions?
-Can we observer traditions and also obey God?

Reflection/Response

Pharisees respect for their tradition had turned into the worship of their tradition. Their tradition became their only way of seeing the world and it led to two deficiencies. First, the only thing they could see were petty differences in the disciples in midst of their common ministry for the common Jewish folks. Secondly, they could not see how their traditions were actually leading people to disobey God. We can never do away with tradition because we all live in a stream of traditions. But we can best respect our traditions when they always fall at the feet of God. All traditions are relative and must be open to change and to other traditions and in this way be open to God.

1-Share a story when an ignorance of a tradition led to a humorous misunderstanding or incident.

2-Have you ever faced a tradition you felt it no longer connected to reality or even suffocated you?

3-Are there any traditions in your life (consider your cultural and/or modern traditions you follow) that might be keeping you from fully following God?

Spiritual Disciplines

Hard Hearts

2010-01-25T07:39:00.003-05:00

Hard Hearts from EM DPC on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

Mark says that it wasn’t just the enemies of Jesus who were hard-hearted and so could not understand him, but that the one who gave up everything to follow him, his own disciples who were hard-hearted and could not understand him. It means that we Christians who lift up his name can be the ones most ignorant about him because of our stubbornness. This should humble us and challenge us to always be repenting and ready to change our understanding of God. We believe that "Jesus is Lord," but there is still lot more to know about that truth.

1-Share a story when you realized that your opinion, statement or belief was wrong but refused to admit it to others.

2-Share a story when God amazed you going beyond your expectations with a work in your life.

3-If "mission is our exegesis" then what work of God will you give yourself to do this week in order to know God more?

Spiritual Disciplines

This about this confession in the book of Job.

Job 37:5 God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

Feeding the Many from the Few

2010-01-17T20:59:00.002-05:00

Sermon Audio Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

We are not numb to the needs of others. But it is often the apparent great mismatch between the need and our resources. Indeed, from a physical perspective, what we have to offer is dwarfed by the greatness of need. But Jesus does not call us to save the world but only to offer what we have to his hands. In his hands, our small resources are enough to feed the many.

1-Share a story when someone shared something small with you but meant a lot to you.

2-Share a story when you did a small service to someone which turned out to become a great service to the person served.

3-What great need has come to your attention recently and you feel Christ telling you, "you feed them?" What will you give to the hands of Christ this week?

Spiritual Disciplines

Meditate on the promise of grace that will fill those who give cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Sent With Authority

2010-01-10T23:47:00.002-05:00

Untitled from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio Sermon Manuscript

Reflection/Response

God always empower those he calls and sends out. All we need to do is follow our calling. Just as the airplane lifts only as it goes forward, so will the Holy Spirit lift up everything we do when we are doing the work of God.

1.Share a time when you felt you were not ready but when that event/work began, you did better than you expected.

2.Share a time when you were surprised at how powerfully God worked in your life.

3.What forward-steps will you take this week to experience God's power in your life?

Spiritual Disciplines

Memorize and Meditate on the following verse. Practice the verse.

1 Peter 4:11 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Holy Spirit, you are always in our lives,

Desiring to give us authority to live the life of Christ.

But too often we have been sitting idly in doubt.

For too long we have been waiting for you to work in us.

You work in us only when we walk with you.

You empower us only when we embark on your work.

Forgive us for not using the gifts you have given us.

Forgive us for not letting your power flow through us.

Forgive us for not letting your strength come out through our weaknesses.

Amazing Doubt, The Leap of Doubt

2010-01-02T08:27:00.002-05:00

Amazing Doubt from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio Sermon Manuscript

Reflection/Response

The people of Jesus' hometown had enough evidence about the power of God in Christ. Yet, they could overcome their own prejudices. They refused to go beyond what they knew of Christ as a child in their village. Doubt is what blinds us to truth that leads us to faith; doubt is an unhealthy commitment to one's own judgments. Faith is to doubt our doubts.

1.Share a story where you made a humorous misjudgment (i.e. a book or a movie that was better than expected, a person who was better than their first impression).

2.What judgments and doubts of you by others have you internalized that limits the power of God in you life?

3.How will you doubt your doubts (have faith) in a person in your life you might have been limiting?

Spiritual Disciplines

Memorize and meditate on the following verse and practice changing your perspective Christ, of yourself, and of the people closest to you. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us for doubting you and limiting your life in us.

Forgive us for doubting God in the people we love.

Forgive us for judging them in their worst

And not seeing you reflected in their best.

Give us strength of honesty

To doubt out doubts,

And to have faith that in you

All things are made new.

Jesus Loves Me

2009-12-27T11:51:00.002-05:00

Jesus Loves Me from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio Sermon Document

Reflection/ Response

Jesus' heart always moves towards the individual. He does not heal to display his power to the crowd, but because he deeply cares for the person. He is always more concerned about the individual than his own name, as in the case of today's story where after healing Jairus' daughter, his first instruction is to feed her. That attention to such little detail shows his great compassion.

1-Have you ever felt neglected or ignored by someone who seemed more interested in themselves even as they were seemingly helping you out?

2-When have you been touched by someone's attention to a small detail about you or your situation that others failed to see?

3-Is there an individual in your life you might have been neglecting? What will you do to pay attention to his/her needs?

Spiritual Disciplines

Reflection on this scripture for the week. 1 Peter 5:7 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Rest on the truth that Jesus cares for you as a unique individual and that he would leave the crowd to care for you.

Prayer of Confession

You left the Glory of Heavens to meet us where we are.

You left the praise of angels to hear the pleas of sinners.

You do not meet us merely as people but as a person.

You did not die for humanity. You died for me.

Yet, I live as if you did not love me. I neglect others as if you neglected me.

I do not pay attention the way you pay attention to me.

Forgive me from these sins of self-centeredness,

Free me from self-centeredness by the truth that I am your beloved.

How to Receive the Gift

2009-12-20T13:19:00.002-05:00

How To Receive The Gift from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio Sermon Manuscript

Reflection/Response

Receiving is not an automatic reflex but an active response. No matter how good the gift is, we can reject it for various reasons. John says that God's people rejected their own God in Jesus because they did not recognize Him. Our ignorance and pride gets in the way. May we all fully receive the gift of God in Christ this Christmas.

What was one the worst gifts you received (because there were strings attached or because it was not useful at all)?

Are there gifts in your life which you rejected but later in hindsight realized that you should have accepted (eg a friend's advice)? What helped you to finally see and recognize the good in what you formerly rejected?

What are you and what can you do to increase your knowledge of God so you can recognize Him in the many forms in which He comes to you?

Spiritual Disciplines

Practice the art of receiving the Great Gift more fully this year. Start your day with John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

Prayer of Confession

God you gave us the precious gift of your Son.

But we did not understand and so we did not receive Him.

We did not believe so we did not receive Him.

We rejected your Love as a form of control.

We rejected your Life as the death of our life.

Forgive us for our ignorance.

Forgive us for our pride.

Grant us understanding to know that your Love frees us to be your child.

Grant us faith to see that your Life gives us Eternal Life.

The Superman and The Disciple

2009-12-13T12:41:00.002-05:00

The Superman and the Disciple from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Document

Reflection/Response

The man was possessed by many evil spirits and the community left him to his own. Ostracism is one of the most severe form of social judgment. Jesus meets him eye to eye and rather than judging him for being possessed, Jesus frees him. In that freedom, the man, who before gave himself to the demons, now gives himself to Jesus. Jesus tells him to return to his family and community. This too is a call to discipleship. His calling is not to leave his place but to stay at his place and to testify to what God has done for him. All of us saved are all disciples, no matter where we are, and we are all called to testify.

1-What current possession has come to possess you?

2-Share your testimony of how Christ saved you.

3-To whom and how will you give your testimony of what Christ did for you?

Spiritual Disciplines

Sharing our testimony is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines we can practice. Write down your testimony. Then share it, with humble confidence, with someone you are close to who might not yet trust in Jesus.

Prayer of Confession

For seeking the possessions of this world

Only to be possessed by them

Forgive us and Free us.

For wanting to follow the passions of the flesh

Only to be imprisoned in addictions

Forgive us and Free us.

For desiring freedom from service to others

Only to be imprisoned in our isolation

Forgive us and Free us.

Calm in the Storm

2009-12-06T13:03:00.002-05:00

Calm In The Storm from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio
Reflection/Response

There is faith that sees God in the circumstances. There is faith that sees God who changes circumstances. Then there is faith that sees God despite the circumstances. This faith can give us peace even in midst of the greatest turmoil and storms in our lives. This is a faith that no longer sees God through our life experiences but sees our life experiences through the eyes of God. This faith can face death and have peace.

1-Share a great storm in your life where God pulled through and helped you through the storm

2-Share a great storm in your life where God did not do anything but you still had peace

3-What will you do to better hear the voice of Christ speaking peace and calm into your life?

Spiritual Disciplines

Whenever you get nervous or anxious, take three deep breaths saying the words Jesus speaks into your heart, "Peace. Be Still." Then take another look at your situation. You will no longer fear the storm.

Prayer of Confession

We have confessed that you are our comfort,

But we have sought comfort only in our accomplishments.

We have testified that you are our joy,

But we have sought joy only in the things our money can buy.

We have said with our lips that you are our peace,

But we have sought peace only in the calm.

For not knowing that you alone are our comfort,

For not believing that you alone are our joy,

For not resting in the truth that you are our true peace

Forgive us.

Command the waves of our hearts to be still.

Give us faith, to be unafraid and to have peace.

More on the sermon "I've Been to The Mountain Top"

Sermon Document

Kingdom Parables

2009-11-29T16:09:00.002-05:00

Kingdom Parables from EM DPC on Vimeo.
Sermon Audio Sermon Manuscript

Reflection/Action

We can be more confident about our work when we are absolutely confident in God's work. The seed parables teach us the power of the Kingdom:1- that the Kingdom expands even if we are not aware of it and 2- that even our smallest act for the Kingdom can produce great fruits. Thank God the Kingdom work does not depend on feeble human action, but also thanks to God that God would seek our participation.

1-Share a time when you felt like you were in the zone and everything you were doing felt natural and automatic (i.e. game of golf, cooking a dish, entertaining friends, working on a project, dating)?

2-Why is it difficult for us to accept the fact that what we do for God is, though significant, actually not that important? Why is it freeing for us to accept this fact?

3-What thought/habit will you give up this week that is stopping this inherent power of the Kingdom to be real in your life?

Spiritual Discipline

-Pray the prayer of confession

-Memorize and meditate on this quote by Mother Teresa, "We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." In every activity this week, do it with "great love."

Prayer of Confession

Leader: When you commanded the stars to stay their course, they obeyed.

But when you called us to faithfulness, we were faithless.

Congregation: Lord, Let your Kingdom come, Let your Will be done.

Leader: When you sent the angels to proclaim the good news, they declared your goodness.

But when you sent us to preach, we remained silent.

Congregation: Lord, Let your Kingdom come, Let your Will be done.

Leader: When you sent your Son to show your love, he laid down his life on the cross.

But when you called us to sacrifice, we laid down our crosses

Congregation: Lord, Let your Kingdom come, Let your Will be done.

Leader: Despite our weakness, your Kingdom continues to expand.

Forgive our sins and establish your Kingdom in our hearts.

Congregation: Lord, Let your Kingdom come, Let your Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Tilling Our Soil

2009-11-15T12:16:00.002-05:00

Tilling Our Soil from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Sermon Audio

How much the Word of God impacts my life and produces the fruits of the Kingdom is ultimately dependent on the state of our heart. The Word of God always gives life. We must till our soil to make it soft everyday and so the inherent power of the Word can do it work in our lives.

1-When has one word (from a sermon or from a person) produced great change and growth in your life?
2-What soil are you today? Why?
3-What will you do this week to make your heart an alluvium, a rich soil?

Spiritual Practice
Pray the prayer of confession (in the blog) everyday to lead you into a more focused prayer.
Take one verse that has been meaningful in your life. Make it the verse for the week and recall it five time daily (when you wake up, before your three meals, and before you sleep). Get that verse-truth deeply planted in your heart this week.

Prayer
Jesus, you always give me your Word of Life
that produces your Kingdom in my World
But my heart is hard and closed with pride
My heart is shallow filled with stones of distractions
My heart is choke-full of thorns of wants and desires
Jesus forgive me, break my pride with your humble love
Deepen my heart with your strong compassion
Remove the thorns with your nail-scarred hands
And make my heart soft to your loving truth
To produce the fruits of your Kingdom

Sermon Doc

The Family of God

2009-11-08T12:08:00.002-05:00

Sermon Audio

The physical family is a gift from God but it is a temporal calling. This unit of relationship is not eternal. The Church on the other hand is an eternal unit of relationship. Those who belong to God will be forever brothers and sisters. The local church is a provisional expression of the universal Church and as such we are called to live the truth that we are and will be the family of God. When we as the church family are more loving than our physical family, and when our physical family become more like the church family, we are getting a foretaste of heaven.

1-Are there ways (habits, ways of relating) in which we deify the physical, nuclear family to a point it works against the purpose of God?

2-What experiences in this church made/makes you feel that you are part of the family of God?

3-What can you do this week to make a person feel like the family of God?

Spiritual Practice for the Week
Our physical/nuclear family benefits when we remember the more fundamental reality that we are spiritual brothers and sisters. In your family, address each other as brother and sisters and also pray for them by calling on them as a brother and sister (e.g. I pray for my sister wife's-name) as a way to be mindful of this spiritual reality.

Sermon Document

Sabbath Was Made for Man

2009-11-01T08:56:00.002-05:00

Sabbath Was Made For Man from EM DPC on Vimeo.

God gives us Sabbath for our own sake. In seeing how God is completely for us, we do not become self-centered but God centered, just as we see that the earth benefits from the sun only in that the sun is the center of the earth's orbit. Indeed, we best experience God being for us when we are for others and serve them.
1-When the Israelites want to take a break and celebrate God, Pharaoh accused them of being lazy. Do you hear accusations of laziness (from your family, in your head) that stops you from truly resting?
2-How do you rest physically? How do you rest spiritually?
3-Sabbath is also a command for us to give rest to those around us (even the animals were to not work). What will you do to give rest to someone in your circle (family and friends) who needs that rest?

Spiritual Practice
Try to take Sabbath (Shabbat/Stops) on a regular basis. Set a time when you will simply stop, take three deep breaths and with each breath call upon your Triune God. Pray "Father my God, Son my Savior, Spirit my Comforter."

Sermon Document

Miracles Are Easier Than Forgiveness

2009-10-25T10:44:00.002-04:00

The friends bring the paralytic to be healed, but the paralytic not only gets what he wanted but also what he really needed, forgiveness. Forgiveness is what we need and what the world needs and what we can extend to them through our life of forgiveness and declaration of forgiveness.

When did you first realize that you are a terrible sinner and in great need of God’s forgiveness? Was there ever a time when a certain sin you committed (against family, friends) seemed so small at that time but later you realized the great magnitude of that sin? How?
Did you ever forgive somebody and found it liberating for your own soul? Share the story.
Did you ever speak God’s forgiveness to those who did not commit a sin directly against you? How do you feel about assuring pardon? Do you feel comfortable with it? If you have never done it, what keeps you from speaking the pardon?

Action

Start your prayers this week by 1-asking God to show you your sins 2-showing whom you should forgive this week and to 3-whom you should speak your pardon. Then open your eyes for opportunities to repent, forgive, and to speak pardon, and just do it. Share your experience of obedience.

Sermon Document

Too Busy Not to Pray

2009-10-18T13:18:00.002-04:00

Too Busy Not To Pray from EM DPC on Vimeo.

1-Have there been a prayer experience which renewed your purpose and/or changed your perspective that aided in rearranging/reordering your life? When and how?

2-What is your prayer habit (when do you pray, how do you pray)?

3-Do you at times find yourself compromising your prayer time? What things/business intrudes in your prayer time? If you are uncompromising in your prayer time, what do you do to protect that time?

Action

External action aids our interior actions. To make space for God, we should also practice making physical space for God. For this week (the 5 days of the week), designate a place as your prayer mountain (closet, living room, backyard, treadmill), and spend the first waking minutes (choose the time length that is comfortable to you 1 minute/30 minutes) simply praying and listening to God. Clarity might come instantaneous or as slow realization but the more important result of this practice will be that we will come to truly believe that we are "too busy not to pray."

Sermon Document

Knowing Jesus

2009-10-11T08:41:00.002-04:00

Knowing Jesus from EM DPC on Vimeo.

The demons knew who Jesus is as far as his identity, but they did not know who Jesus is far as his character which is actually essence of a person's identity. And because their testimony was false, Jesus silences them. We can also know much about Jesus and have the right theology, but not know the heart of Jesus. The one who truly knows Jesus knows that in Jesus, God's love is fully revealed.

-The demons were convinced that Jesus wanted to destroy them. We too also share similar fears. Did/Do you ever fear that God was/is against you?

-In your relationship with parents/loved one/friends, did you ever doubt their love for you? What evidences made you doubt their love? What evidences made you convinced of their love? What evidences of love do we see from God?

-Is the cross enough evidence that "God-is-for-us?" Why or why not?

Action

If the cross is not enough evidence for us, then it might mean that we have not fully understood the cross. Spend time this week, like the Centurion, "in front of Jesus" by memorizing/reading. Romans 8:31-39. Read/recite it every morning and evening this week. These verses will help you see the cross and know Jesus.

Sermon Manuscript

Follow Me

2009-10-04T15:42:00.002-04:00

We see that discipleship is not just one of many methods of Christ to build the Kingdom. It is THE PLAN. And we saw three aspects of discipleship: it is an invitation to do God-Work, it is invitation to intimacy and service, it is an invitation to lose oneself to find oneself.

Reflection
1-Do you have a mentor/discipler? Why or why not? Do you disciple somebody? Why or why not? What are some stumbling blocks and difficulties to discipleship?

2-Do you have someone you are intimate with? We can sometimes close ourselves off from those we are closest too. Do you have intimacy with your spouse? Do you have intimacy with God? How are your nurturing intimacy with God?

3-How are you serving Christ? What are the challenges in those services? If you are not serving what is keeping you from serving? Is there a place where Christ calling you to serve right now but you are hesitating? What are the reasons for hesitation

Action/Challenge:
1-Pray for a discipler and pray that you will have the opportunity to disciple.
2-If there is a calling to serve but you have not responded yet, respond this week trusting in God to help you in your service.

Sermon Manuscript

Timing is Everything

2009-09-29T15:08:00.002-04:00

the MARK series (part 4)

Mark 1:14-15

Of the two aspects of timing, that of waiting and that of acting, which is your default setting? Do you tend to wait and delay or to hasten and act? Why do you think that is?

Using the categories given in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as a way of seeing the seasons in your life, what season are you in currently? (i.e. currently I am in a time of planting for both my families (two little ones) and for this ministry (the type of pastor I want to be and the type of ministry I want to help grow)). Why do you see yourself in that season?

This week, what waiting or acting will you do (or did you do) to fully fulfill God's purpose in your current season (i.e. for planting I will write down in my journal what kind of father and what kind of pastor I would like to be known as).

Sermon Manuscript

Who Am I?

2009-09-23T09:54:00.002-04:00

Who Am I from EM DPC on Vimeo.

Mark Series (part 3)

In Baptism, we hear our Father remind us that we are His children, not because we earned it but because the Father, in His mercy, called us to be His own.

1-When did you first come to believe that you are God's beloved child?

2-When did you or when do you have serious doubts about your identity?

3-What will you do this week to daily remember your identity, that you are beloved child of God and pleasing to Him?

Additional:
Sermon Document

Lion King - Remember Who You Are - clip
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