WELCOME (15 minutes)
Choose one of the following icebreakers:
(If you have first-time guests, begin with a round of introduction and warmly welcome the new visitors.)
1. Shape Shift
This is a quick and easy game that is sure to bring smiles to faces.
- Everyone turn off their camera.
- Leader announces that everyone will have a short and specific amount of time (~3 minutes is good) to complete the activity and return (Leader may also share their screen with a countdown timer on it).
- During “cameras off” time, everyone has to go and find a disguise/costume for themselves. They must also change their Zoom “display name” to a new name, which corresponds to the disguise/costume.
- When time is up, leader counts down 3… 2… 1… and instructs everyone to turn on their cameras all at once. Hilarity ensues as everyone sees everyone else’s silly disguises.
2. Most Recent Photo
In this activity, have members pull up the Photos app on their phone and look at the most recent photo they took. Have each member share their photo, and briefly tell the story behind the photo. This is a great way to get members to share how they have been spending their time over this social distancing period!
Transition to Worship:
Lord thank You that there is power in the mighty name of Jesus and we will see the victory You have promised us in our lives. For the battle belongs to You. We commit all we have into Your hands and we are going to proclaim that no weapon formed against us will prosper in Jesus name! Amen!!!
WORSHIP (20 minutes)
You may use the following worship songs:
- See A Victory (C)
- What A Beautiful Name (D)
- The Blessing (C)
Let the Lord minister to everyone through the release of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Pause and wait upon the Lord, and if there is a word of knowledge, a vision, tongues and interpretation of tongues – release it to minister to each other.
Transition to Word:
Thank You, Lord, for blessing us and for being gracious to us. May Your favour be with us through all generations. Keep us safe, O Lord, in this pandemic and allow us to be the light and salt of this world, so that many will come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Help us to live above our situation and circumstances to emerge victorious in Your name! Amen!
WORD (45 minutes)
Memory verse of the week: Jeremiah 33:3 (NIVUK)
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Sermon Title: A Beacon to the World: It Starts At Home
By Senior Pastor Daniel Khong on 12 & 13 Sep 2020
Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7 (NLT)
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
7 In the same way, you husbands must give honour to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
Introduction
Last week we heard the message called “Not Fair” and learnt that Life is Unfair but:
- God Is Good
- God is God
Peter called Christians in Asia Minor to submit and honour the Roman Emperor despite being persecuted. This is an important lesson for us to learn as well, as we do have to struggle through things in life that just do not seem fair.
Next, Peter goes on to write how to show the world a different way to do things, in the basic unit of a family – husbands and wives, so as to be the light of the world; especially when either the husband or wife is not a believer yet. Thus, to be a beacon of light, we need to start with the family. The two attitudes to bring transformation to our homes are:
- A Heart that Serves
- A Heart that Surrenders
So that through our actions and attitudes, others can see the Christ that is in us.
Discovery and Understanding Questions:
Q1. What is the best way to be a beacon of light at home?
A1. The best way is not just in speech but with a heart that serves. To always to put their needs before ours and to demonstrate the love of Christ through our actions.
1 Peter 3:1-2 (NLT)
Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
1 Peter 3:1 (NIVUK)
...if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives...
Q2. How then do we have a heart that is willing to serve at all times and cost?
A2. We need a heart that is surrendered in order to have a heart that is willing to serve at all times and at all cost. We can’t submit because we can’t trust the person we’re submitting to and will be difficult to serve. But we can trust the God who placed that person in our lives. Thus, we need to surrender our lives to God and trust Him who put all things and people in our lives for a purpose.
1 Peter 3:5 (NIVUK)
5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.
Application Questions
Break into smaller groups, share, pray and minister to one another.
Q1. Reflect and think of ways in which you can be a better beacon of light to your family or friends by serving them so that they can they can see Christ in you.
Q2. Discuss and pray for each other for any areas that are not surrendered to God to serve others better. Do set a time to pray for each other’s family members/friends who do not know Jesus.
Transition to Works:
Dear God, thank You for allowing us to be Your witnesses here on earth. Grant us the wisdom and boldness to be a beacon of light to our family and friends so that others will see the Christ in us, In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
WORKS (15minutes)
1. Continue to Connect
a) With cell group members
- Hold your cell members accountable to watch the Livestream Service or download the message to listen later.
- Seek ways and means to stay connected with each other, especially those who’ve been impacted by COVID-19. For example:
- Synchronize prayer times.
- Discuss devotional thoughts through WhatsApp.
- Create a cell group hashtag - Post uplifting messages, sermon videos and notes, or even bookmark pretty verse images that you like on Instagram by leaving these in your cell group hashtag as a comment. Everything that has been tagged with your cell group hashtag will be available for the entire group to see!
- Video call each other.
- Continue with your cell group meetings online. Help your members to set up their online meeting account (if not done already) and teach them how to use it for online meeting (if need be). Ensure that none of your members fall through the cracks. Continue to monitor the attendance of your online meetings
b) With Potential BESTs / Pre-Believers
- Evangelism need not take a back seat with livestreaming or COVID-19. Invite pre-believing friends/Bests/3x3 contacts (depending on their comfort level) to join you in watching our livestream service. Connect online with them and spur other members to do so.
- When the salvation altar call is made during livestreaming, a Response Form link will be screened over the livestream for those who have responded or want to respond, to fill in. The livestream links are:
- For English -- www.fcbc.org.sg/connectwithus
- For Chinese -- www.fcbc.org.sg/zh/connectwithus
Encourage your pre-believing contacts to fill up the Response Form or you can help them fill it up. When filling up the Form, try to provide as much of the information needed as possible. Encourage them to fill up the Response Form immediately after the livestream service.
2. 3x3 Prayer
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the strongholds that bind the people. Ask Him to set up divine appointments for us to minister His power over them (words of knowledge, healing, helps, etc.). Pray for one another to have boldness, courage and obedience to follow through.
3. Consolidation of New Converts
Assimilate them! Let them have a sense of belonging with our faith community! Connect with them via phone calls; introduce them to cell members via WhatsApp and invite them to join in our livestream services and your online cell group meetings.
Announcements:
For the latest announcements, please visit www.fcbc.org.sg/announcements or our social media platforms – we can be found on Facebook and Instagram @fcbcsg.