Special Sunday & HOT-Adventure I
Jan 28, 2024
Praise the Lord for His leading !
We were excited for today’s Sunday Service, which focused on the topic of “Understanding God’s Will through the Israel-Palestine Relationship.”
In the Refreshing Moment, Pastor Gavin, with brother Jun as interpreter, preached on Ephesians 2:12-13, reminded us that God’s desire is to bring everyone near to Him.
Then brother Sing led the congregation in a spirit-filled praise and worship. After communion and brother Jack’s inspiring testimony about God’s guidance in his life journey of growth, the sermon began.
Pastor Gavin further shared from Ephesians 2:14-16, explaining that the new covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-33 applies to both gentiles and Israel. Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, our relationship with God is reconciled. Despite the complexities of the current Israel-Palestine relationship and the dynamics surrounding the promised land, Pastor Gavin provided a concise analysis of the key terminologies, the historical timeline, and critical events over the past two thousand years. The root of hostility can even be traced back to the relationship between Ishmael and Isaac, and Esau and Jacob, as stated in Genesis. The sermon concluded by emphasizing that the new covenant can bring peace to the world through the blood of Jesus Christ.
HOT-Adventure I
After lunch, we joyfully gathered again for our first HOT-Adventure in 2024, concluding the 3 months of studying the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua !
Around 100 brothers and sisters from the 23 studying groups returned to Hope Oasis at 3:30pm. Sister Elaine led the congregation in a starting prayer with sister Stephanie being the interpreter. Then sister Pai Sai invited all the studying groups to participate in an online Bible quiz game. The game consisted of 26 questions, each with a tight 20-second time limit. The groups aimed to achieve the highest score by giving correct and quick responses. After each question, the game displayed the top-scoring groups and their cumulative scores, keeping everyone engaged. The quiz ended with excitement and joy, with gifts rewarded to the top 2 groups.
Following the quiz, sister Penny guided us to the Seal of Breakthrough session. Each of the studying groups was assigned a biblical event from Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua to depict the contents through drawings. The finished artworks of all 23 groups were displayed on the screen, showcasing the creativity of our brothers and sisters.
Looking ahead to the upcoming HOT-Adventure in April 2024, sister Janelle announced the next focus of study: the books of Judges and Samuel. With the aid of slides, she explained the structures, key events, and critical historical timelines of each book. She also recommended a 3-month studying schedule in detail, encouraging brothers and sisters to complete the study of Judges by February 2024, 1 Samuel by March 2024, and 2 Samuel by 21 April, 2024.
Afterward, we had a question-and-answer session for today’s sermon. Brothers and sisters not only raised meaningful questions, but also expressed their hearts of thanksgiving for the love and amazing grace from Jesus Christ. While addressing the questions, Pastor Gavin recapitulated the prophecy in Psalm 83:3-8, describing the complex dynamics in the Middle East. He emphasized again the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-33, urging us to focus on God’s desire for salvation and peace through the new covenant. The event finished at 5:30pm.
Thank God for the wonderful time ! May our life adventure continue to be directed by His words !
