Reflecting on Faith: Embracing Hope for 2025
Summary
As we gather on this last Sunday of 2024, we reflect on the journey of the past year and look forward to the new year with gratitude and hope. We begin by acknowledging our sins and seeking God's forgiveness, confident in the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. As we transition into 2025, we commit ourselves and our loved ones into God's hands, trusting in His guidance and provision.
Reflecting on the recent Synod meeting, we are reminded of the vastness of our Reformed Evangelical movement and the importance of our mission. Dr. Stephen Tong's emphasis on family and the command to "be fruitful and multiply" challenges us to consider the legacy we leave behind. The movement's growth, particularly in Taiwan, exemplifies the spirit of dedication and sacrifice that drives our mission forward.
Our journey through the Wisdom Literature series concludes with Ecclesiastes, a book that challenges us to find meaning in life. The preacher's exploration of life's various aspects—wisdom, pleasure, work, and morality—leads to the conclusion that without God, all is vanity. Yet, the ultimate message is one of hope: true wisdom and meaning are found in fearing God and keeping His commandments.
As we face the new year, we are reminded of the certainty of our salvation in Christ. Despite life's ups and downs, our path is secure because of God's grace. We are encouraged to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not rely on our own understanding. This journey of faith is marked by growth and transformation, as we strive to live lives that reflect God's love, joy, and peace.
In the coming year, we are called to deepen our commitment to God's work, both individually and as a community. Whether through church planting, translation efforts, or personal spiritual growth, we are to be active participants in God's mission. As we move forward, let us embrace the opportunities to serve and glorify God, knowing that our efforts for Christ will have eternal significance.
Key Takeaways:
- Confession and Thanksgiving: As we close the year, we are reminded of the importance of confessing our sins and giving thanks for God's guidance and blessings. This practice helps us recognize our dependence on God and His grace in our lives. [00:00]
- Legacy and Growth: The Synod meeting highlights the growth of our movement and the importance of leaving a legacy of faith. Dr. Tong's emphasis on family and multiplication challenges us to consider how we contribute to the future of the church. [35:02]
- Meaning in Life: Ecclesiastes teaches us that without God, life is vanity. True meaning is found in fearing God and keeping His commandments. This perspective shifts our focus from worldly pursuits to eternal values. [49:45]
- Certainty in Christ: As believers, our salvation is secure in Christ. Despite life's challenges, we are assured of our ultimate victory and are called to trust in God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. [01:24:15]
- Active Participation: In the new year, we are encouraged to actively participate in God's mission, whether through personal growth, community involvement, or global outreach. Our efforts for Christ have eternal significance and contribute to His kingdom. [01:31:23]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [33:07] - Reflections on the Synod Meeting
- [35:02] - Growth and Legacy in the Movement
- [36:47] - Translating Reformed Teachings
- [38:57] - The Importance of Truth
- [41:37] - Understanding Song of Solomon
- [45:02] - Love and God's Design
- [47:21] - Ecclesiastes and Life's Meaning
- [49:45] - The Vanity of Life Without God
- [52:30] - The Frustration of Knowledge
- [54:19] - Reflections on Time and Life
- [59:16] - The Role of Luck and Providence
- [01:03:35] - The Unpredictability of Life
- [01:09:10] - The Perception of Time
- [01:16:00] - The Conclusion of Ecclesiastes
- [01:20:20] - Trusting in God's Wisdom
- [01:24:15] - The Certainty of Salvation
- [01:31:23] - Active Participation in God's Mission
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
2. Proverbs 3:5-6
3. John 10:11
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 say about the duty of man and the role of God in judgment? How does this relate to the sermon’s conclusion about finding meaning in life? [01:16:00]
2. In Proverbs 3:5-6, what are we instructed to do with our hearts and understanding? How does this instruction align with the sermon’s message about trusting in God’s wisdom? [01:20:20]
3. How does the imagery of Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11 connect with the sermon’s emphasis on God as the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance? [01:16:00]
4. Reflect on the pastor’s story about the unpredictability of life and the role of luck or providence. How does this story illustrate the sermon’s point about the vanity of life without God? [01:03:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the preacher in Ecclesiastes view the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge? What might this suggest about the limitations of human understanding without God? [49:45]
2. The sermon discusses the importance of leaving a legacy of faith. How does Dr. Tong’s emphasis on family and multiplication challenge the congregation to think about their own contributions to the future of the church? [35:02]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our efforts for Christ have eternal significance? How does this perspective shift our focus from worldly pursuits to eternal values? [01:31:23]
4. How does the sermon address the certainty of salvation in Christ despite life’s challenges? What does this assurance mean for believers as they face the new year? [01:24:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own understanding rather than trusting in God. What was the outcome, and how might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [01:20:20]
2. The sermon encourages active participation in God’s mission. What specific steps can you take in the coming year to deepen your commitment to God’s work, whether through personal growth, community involvement, or global outreach? [01:31:23]
3. Consider the legacy you are leaving behind. How can you intentionally invest in your family or community to ensure a legacy of faith and dedication to God’s mission? [35:02]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of confession and thanksgiving. How can you incorporate these practices into your daily life to recognize your dependence on God and His grace? [00:00]
5. How do you find meaning in your life through your relationship with God? What changes can you make to ensure that your pursuits align with eternal values rather than worldly ones? [49:45]
6. Reflect on the ups and downs of your faith journey. How can you use these experiences to grow and transform, trusting in God’s grace and guidance? [01:24:15]
7. Identify one area of your life where you feel called to serve and glorify God. What practical steps can you take this week to begin or continue this journey? [01:31:23]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Confession and Thanksgiving: A Path to Renewal
As we close the year, we are reminded of the importance of confessing our sins and giving thanks for God's guidance and blessings. This practice helps us recognize our dependence on God and His grace in our lives. Confession is not merely an acknowledgment of wrongdoing but a profound act of humility and trust in God's mercy. It is through confession that we open our hearts to receive God's forgiveness and cleansing, allowing us to start anew with a clear conscience. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, shifts our focus from our shortcomings to God's abundant grace and provision. By cultivating a heart of gratitude, we become more aware of God's presence and work in our lives, fostering a deeper relationship with Him. As we reflect on the past year, let us embrace confession and thanksgiving as vital spiritual disciplines that lead us to renewal and transformation. [00:00]
"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: 'We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.'" (Lamentations 3:40-42, ESV)
Reflection: What specific sins do you need to confess to God today, and how can you express your gratitude for His forgiveness and blessings in your life?
Day 2: Legacy and Growth: Building a Future of Faith
The Synod meeting highlights the growth of our movement and the importance of leaving a legacy of faith. Dr. Tong's emphasis on family and multiplication challenges us to consider how we contribute to the future of the church. As we reflect on our role within the Reformed Evangelical movement, we are called to think about the legacy we are building for future generations. This legacy is not just about numerical growth but about nurturing a community rooted in faith, love, and commitment to God's mission. The growth in places like Taiwan exemplifies the dedication and sacrifice required to advance God's kingdom. We are encouraged to invest in our families and communities, ensuring that the values and teachings of our faith are passed down and multiplied. Let us be intentional in our efforts to leave a lasting impact that glorifies God and inspires others to follow Him. [35:02]
"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children." (Deuteronomy 4:9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the spiritual growth of your family and community, ensuring a legacy of faith for future generations?
Day 3: Meaning in Life: Finding Purpose Beyond Vanity
Ecclesiastes teaches us that without God, life is vanity. True meaning is found in fearing God and keeping His commandments. This perspective shifts our focus from worldly pursuits to eternal values. The book of Ecclesiastes challenges us to examine the various aspects of life—wisdom, pleasure, work, and morality—and recognize their futility when pursued apart from God. It is a call to seek a deeper understanding of life's purpose, grounded in a relationship with the Creator. By fearing God and adhering to His commandments, we align our lives with His divine will, discovering true fulfillment and significance. This shift in perspective encourages us to prioritize what is eternal over what is temporary, leading to a life of purpose and joy. [49:45]
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking meaning apart from God, and how can you realign your pursuits with His eternal values?
Day 4: Certainty in Christ: Trusting in God's Wisdom
As believers, our salvation is secure in Christ. Despite life's challenges, we are assured of our ultimate victory and are called to trust in God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. This certainty in Christ provides a solid foundation for our faith, enabling us to navigate the ups and downs of life with confidence and peace. Trusting in God's wisdom means surrendering our limited perspective and embracing His divine plan, even when it seems unclear. It is an invitation to rely on His guidance and provision, knowing that He works all things for our good. As we face uncertainties and trials, let us hold fast to the assurance of our salvation and the promise of God's unfailing love. [01:24:15]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's wisdom, and how can you begin to surrender it to Him today?
Day 5: Active Participation: Engaging in God's Mission
In the new year, we are encouraged to actively participate in God's mission, whether through personal growth, community involvement, or global outreach. Our efforts for Christ have eternal significance and contribute to His kingdom. This call to action invites us to be proactive in our faith, seeking opportunities to serve and glorify God in every aspect of our lives. Whether it's through church planting, translation efforts, or personal spiritual growth, we are to be active participants in God's redemptive work. By engaging in His mission, we not only fulfill our purpose but also experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving others. Let us embrace the opportunities before us, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. [01:31:23]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's mission this year, and what specific steps can you take to serve and glorify Him in your daily life?
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Quotes
Let us pray Let us pray together We thank you God for your guidance all through this year and now we have come to the last Sunday of the year 2024 and so we ask that you grant us a heart that is appreciative of the fact that we are mere temporal beings in the passage of time and by your great grace you have given us so much in our life and may we be reflective today in our Sunday worship service and that we will be humbled to be a part of your love for us to listen to your voice, hear it and turn and follow you May everything we do bring glory unto your name in Jesus' name we pray, Amen This morning our brother, Yosah will be leading us [00:03:55]
And Pao, for us, is a lot about the spirit and all that. But this year, there's a little bit different. Something that Dr. Tong pushed this year is children. He kept pushing that you all have to have a lot of children. He has this thing about how other races and other religion people have a lot of kids. You guys have no children. And he said that it's the very first commandment that God gives to us. Be fruitful and multiply. So, yeah, over here, only Patrick kind of fulfilled that. Nobody else. Because to him, two or three is not good enough. Okay, you must have four, five, six. Then you kind of fulfill. Because he himself had four. So he used four as an example. [00:36:09]
And I always use the excuse that I'm an English educator. So, you know, I will tell you what I think right away. But that's important, right? I mean, if we think about the ministry and what I've been sharing with you all these years, the truth is everything because God is true. So we want to be very careful that we are followers of the truth. And that includes objective truth. Of course, you need wisdom because sometimes the thing you think is true end up not true too, right? So humility is important. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. But we must always adhere to biblical truth whatever we do and not because somebody is your charismatic founding leader. Therefore, he always is right. [00:38:07]
And when we think about Ecclesiastes, the thing that everybody, if you have read it, know that it actually explores life from the angle of a wise person, supposed to be a wise person, trying to seek meaning in life. So Ecclesiastes is like a guy who was thinking through all the many, many parts of life. What is it all about? And he does go through all the different aspects of life. And this guy then gives a very brief... Brutally honest assessment as to what life is all about. [00:49:08]
Apostle Paul, when he wrote, he was already an apostle. So by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he's teaching us many, many things that God revealed to us. Ecclesiastes, of course, we believe the Holy Spirit inspired the writing as well. However, much of Ecclesiastes is about a guy who is looking at the world without the idea of God, not leading, is like a person using his best mind, especially King Solomon. We know he's like the wisest man who will live, ever live and ever will live. And so from that angle, he looks at life and he tries to find meaning throughout Ecclesiastes from many, many areas. [00:49:41]
The preacher says that you must remember that true wisdom comes from that one shepherd. Everything else is meaningless. You go study all, you go and study philosophy, you go and study Socrates or Plato or Lee Kuan Yew, whatever it is. And the preacher said those are meaningless. And at the end of the matter in verse 13, all has been heard. And what is the end thing he said? Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. [01:19:46]
So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Ecclesiastes points out the fact that without God, everything you do from the big to the small, from the grand to the minor, from the insignificant to the greatly offshaking significant are meaningless and vanity without God. Therefore, with God, everything will change. And when we went through the wisdom literature series, I keep hammering this verse into your skull. Proverbs 3, 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. [01:20:31]
For us as people of God, I want to tell you without a doubt, that we are people who have been saved. And so our pathway is a sure pathway. It's a certainty in Christ Jesus. And I want to make sure that all of you understand this deeply. Because even I don't understand it deep enough. A couple of weeks ago, I saw somebody wrote an article in Chinese. And in the article, the guy said, which means we are people who have, we have received great grace. 蒙大福民 We have received tremendous grace. And all of a sudden, it struck me that, oh my, I don't quite understand this, you know, how much grace that I have received in my life. [01:24:00]
I suspect that we all need scratch, the surface, including me, of the great grace that is given to us. But scripture is very clear. We are all people whose destiny is set. No matter what happened in your life, in reformed understanding, when you belong to God, you will never not belong to God. You are beloved. He has you in his hand. And that's certain and sure. The victory is already won. So for us Christians, when we come to the end of the year and we think about resetting our life and all that, yes, we will reset our life. And yes, maybe like the rest of the world, sometimes we will feel. [01:25:02]
And when we think about holiness and all that kind of thing, I know all of us have the same experiences. Like Paul says, you try and then you fall. You've tried, you fall. Guess what? The difference between us and the rest of the world is that we go up and up and down, no doubt. However, we certainly will reach perfection. We won't go this way, you know. And so for us, all of us, we make resolution and all that, fine. And we fail, fine. We say that we want to serve God, you fail, fine. You say you sin, you don't want to sin your whole life, then you sin, fine. So it is up and down. The difference is no matter what happens, you will always reach the final goal because this is promised. This is promised by Jesus Christ himself. It's not about you. It's about him. [01:25:46]
In the meantime, we must not give up. We must keep getting up every single time we fall and trust in the Word of God and not our own understanding, right? Because your own understanding plus the whispering of the devil is that you are never good enough. Why do you bother? Give up. Nobody is good enough. Yeah, you are right. Nobody is good enough. But you must trust the Lord with all your heart for Jesus Christ came to die for us on the cross and understand the whole teachings of the Word of God that will deliver us from our mistakes. [01:31:23]
That's why you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. The truth is that at the turning of the year, remember what the great missionary Charles III said, only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. May we devote our life to the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ, not perfect but continue to improve on and on and on until we shall see him face to face. Let us pray. We thank you God for speaking to us at the turning of the year, at the last Sunday of 2024. The big wheel of time rolls forward for every single one of us. No escape. [01:32:39]
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