Synod Training and Exposure Programme

Reflection & Thanksgiving I have to admit that prior to attending STEP, I was very indecisive and apprehensive about joining. I have heard positive things about the programme from my peers but I thought to myself “Is it really that great?” After realising that I was going to be the only one from my home church, it just made me more hesitant in wanting to go. However, I am very glad that I made the decision to join. I find it amazing how on the first day, I was able to interact with everyone so comfortably. It was as if we knew each other for a really long time and I thank God for that. :’) Also like to thank God for the pastors and synod staff for organising this programme for us, not forgetting the speakers who have taught us on various interesting topics.  (I thank God I had the opportunity to meet each one of you! :) ) Through these 3 weeks, so much has been covered and taught and I have learnt so much. It has also strengthened my conviction and made me realise the importanc...

  Warmth In Church: Are We Losing The Personal Touch?   Introduction According to the Oxford dictionary, wa rmth can be best defined as “ enthusiasm, affection, or kindness.” How then is the term “warmth”applied to church? In Revelation 3 : 15-16, Jesus calls the church of Laodicea out for it’s lukewarmness , being neither hot nor cold and for that, they will be metaphorically “spit” out of Jesus’s mouth. Even though, this letter to the Laodicea Church was written in AD 90, the lack of warmth within the church is still prevalent today with many churchgoers feedbacking that they do not feel a sense of belonging when they attend church services. This issue, if left unanswered and unaddressed could lead to members weakening or even leaving this faith altogether. Therefore, this essay wishes to present the author’s observations based on various non structured conversations with youths within the church, explore and address this issue of a “lack of warmth” in our modern chur...

As STEP comes to its close and I reflect on everything I’ve gleaned these past three weeks, not disregarding the importance of theology and history that holds its rightful place in our Christian walk, the biggest thing that stood out to me this internship was not just how we came to be Christians, what sound doctrine is or the meaning of Presbyterianism, but instead the only reason why we even have the opportunity to search deeply for meaning in ourselves, our history and stories: it boils down only to God and His love, in whom we find an abundance. For He is love. And because He is in all things, everything needs to begin and end with Him. For while sacraments, Christian leadership, worship, and missiology is important in themselves and have their place, without God, none of that would have a reason for existing, none of that would even exist. So I want to take this final assignment to hopefully explore what that love looks like, and how we who have been called to walk in His image ...

 

DISCLAIMER: ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE PURELY THAT OF THE AUTHOR, AND DO NOT REFLECT THAT OF THE STEP PROGRAMME AND ITS ORGANISING COMMITTEE OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS, OR THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SINGAPORE AND ITS MEMBER CHURCHES. A Comparison/Review of Service Styles Between 3 Wildly Different Churches Throughout STEP, we were given the opportunity to visit several Presbyterian churches throughout Singapore. We were also given the chance to attend Mass at a Catholic church, and Sunday service at a megachurch. Having grown up in a Presbyterian church, attending those two services were truly eye opening and allowed me to see just how different church services can be. Having attended those two services only once each, I am certainly unqualified to make a judgment on whose service is “the best”, whatever that means. So, rather than trying to see which style of service is “the best”, my aim is to analyze those two services and see what we can learn from them. Presbyterian Church ...

Listen to the Word of God   Content During STEP 2022, I have learnt many things that can be summarized in four points listed below. Worship God to glorify God A reminder of the Mission of Christian which is to spread the gospel Read and understand the Bible with context to reduce misinterpretation Learn Church leadership to serve the church and the Lord our God Concept of the Poster The background of the poster consists of some icons that represent the lessons we have attended along the STEP 2022 program. Besides, the colors I used inspired by the five-color caterpillar (五色毛毛虫), listed as follows. Yellow represents glorifying God (Worship God) Green represents life (Mission) Red represents the blood of Jesus (Church leadership) White represents Holy (God) Black/Grey represents sin (Listen to the ... of ...)

God’s Grace is Sufficient Which is greater? The grains of sand by the Deserts, the drops of water in the Oceans or the number of stars in the Universe. We are surrounded by vastness everywhere, high and low, and either way we cannot fathom the sheer magnitude of it. Magnitude that is still lesser than God’s Grace and Love for us. More accurately, God’s Grace is more so qualitative than quantitative, which is why this verse stuck with me: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Greater than all the vastness in the Universe, God’s Grace is enough for us to sanctify ourselves and lead us back to God. In Ephesians 2:8-9, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (TULIP) The grace of God’s calling is over...

  Reasons for poem One big reason why I came, was to satiate my intellectual hunger for spiritual knowledge. To know more deeply about the faith, theology, history etc. Despite all the theology lessons, although I was satisfied in the head, my heart was not satisfied. Because I realised that the end goal is not merely to fill my head , but to fill the headcount in God’s kingdom. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Ie, all theology leads to missions. That has been a crescendoing clanging cymbal in my head over the weeks as STEP progressed. (Key lessons were election and predestination, Presbyterian Care Serv...