Dearly beloved Gethsemaneans,

As I was reflecting on the present ministries of our beloved church, the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:9 came to my mind – “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Those words of Paul were about the ministry that God had entrusted him in Ephesus. Though there were many difficulties and opposition, Paul still regarded the ministry as a “great door” opened before him.

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:34-35).

My beloved Gethsemaneans,

I can’t think of a greater joy that we can receive than the joy we experience when someone is saved by turning to Christ in faith. This joy reaches a greater height when it is one of our own family members or a close friend that turns to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

An Exposition of 1 Peter 3:1-6

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A chaste wife is one who is meek and of a quiet spirit. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4). The study of this text will bless Christian women with a good understanding why they should be preoccupied with their spiritual beauty and not with their external beauty. It also teaches them how to adorn themselves with it.

An Exposition of 1 Peter 3:1-6

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Today, we shall consider the second aspect of a chaste wife.

A chaste wife is one who is modest. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel” (1 Peter 3:3). This verse confronts women who are seeking after immodest appearance, and forbids them from doing so. Though it does not provide a detailed list of what constitutes immodest appearance, it sufficiently advises ladies how to be modest.

An Exposition of 1 Peter 3:1-6

To be a chaste wife is the highest calling of a Christian wife. It is God’s will that she will be blameless and pure in her attitude to her husbands, in her outward appearance, in her behaviour at home, in the church and in the outside world.

This study is a short exposition of 1 Peter 3:1-6. Today, we shall study the first aspect of what it means to be a chaste wife. We will learn more next week.

Will you praise the Lord, or hold your peace?

If you would not praise Him, then the stone would cry out His praise.

“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:37-40).

Donald dela Cruz's testimony of his calling to the ministry

I came to Singapore on August 30, 2004 and, like most Filipinos working overseas, I was focused on the goal of earning and saving much so that I can provide a comfortable life for me and my family. It has always been my dream to retire early and enjoy the fruits of my labour – to buy a vast tract of land and view its boundaries on horseback and see many of God’s creation living in it. To me, the best thing in life was to have my own farm, growing fruit-bearing trees and rearing domestic animals, especially horses. So I laboured day by day with this objective in mind. I was a new believer back then, having received the Lord only a month earlier on the 18th of July 2004.

Thanksgiving to God for the youth retreat 2009 (16th Dec to 18th Dec)

Praise God for this year's youth retreat, 2009. Praise God for the youths who took time to attend the retreat!

Praise God for Uncle Jeremiah who taught us God's Word. Indeed, it is very important to have a godly and persevering Christian fellowship, even amongst our fellow church friends and other believers.

Happy New Year! Blessed 2010!
As we are brought by the Lord to the dawn of another New Year, let us arise with great joy and enthusiasm to do all His will concerning us.

In this New Year, many Gospel doors are opened before us to go in and achieve great things for the Lord; among these the chief is our 2010 Ethiopian project. We must prayerfully rise up with all our might to accomplish this project for the glory of our great Redeemer. Herein we have a wonderful opportunity to make a mark for Christ in the continent of Africa through this project in Ethiopia.