Hello, world! Smile 'cause here's a new post to occupy you for the next 2 minutes (or 20 seconds if you only browse through the photos; I hope you don't).
And so we begin a recap of fireBRANDS' youth service on the 7th of January, 2012. Our very first this year.
In preparation for our monumental (exceptionally great!) service we haveeeeeeee:
1. Chair-arranging
(that's Joyce doing work while Jesher looks on)
2. LCD-prepping
(LCD's like that behind-the-scenes service we sometimes take for granted, init?)
(init as in 'isn't it', not that program for Unix-based computer operating systems that spawns all other processes that we're all so familiar with)
3. Guitar-strumming cum singing
(that's why his shoes are in such a... jazzy (?) pose)
4. Hanging around
(If your powers of observation are anywhere near Sherlock Holmes's or Hercule Poirot's, you would've noticed that here's the same person as the LCD prepper just now)
6. Birds of a feather flocking together
(Converse)
(Heyyy, did you notice that number should've been 5?)
6. Sitting around
(in anticipation for...*)
*pre-service prayer!
Led by the wearer of this pair of tropical flip-flops.
So we hear what Eulene has to say, and...
...speak out what God wants us to say.
In groups, of course.
'Cause "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," - Prov 27:17.
And to wrap it all up, a closing prayer by the facilitator herself.
Okay! So unless your observation powers are as bad as, uh, Patrick Star's, you probably would've noticed that all the photographs are centred on (anchored by?) shoes!
Why?
Just because I can.
But well if you don't like this kind of eccentricity then don't worry 'cause we're going back to relatively normal pictures next week.
Now that that's cleared up, moving on!
More people arrive...
...just in time for icebreaker!
And everyone sits in groups for the BOMB game!
Listening to explanations by the two icebreakeresses.
Ready or not?
All together now!
And to turn up the heat (slightly melted ice is easier to break, no?), the rule of standing up was introduced.
(explains why she's squatting)
With the carnage of broken ice still clearly felt, we welcome new faces to the fireBRANDS!
Hope to see you all again next week!
(and the week after, and after, and after, and after...)
It was kinda different that day (night?), with just an acoustic guitar; no full band. Songs weren't really planned out either.
Sometimes different is good, and this was definitely a sometime.
"No matter what price I pay,
I choose to give this life away."
Do you really mean 'no matter what'?
Do you know what it means to actually give your life away?
So that's how the next part of service connects.
From Pr Cowan, we've God's message for the night:
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
it's not easy.
How do you become a disciple?
The decision to follow Jesus Christ is the beginning of a Christian fellowship.
(and if you went for AYC '11, you'd know the 5 marks of a disciple that Pr Palan spoke on: supreme love for Christ, a cross: live like a dead person, a tower: consider the value of a good finish, a war: surrender to the stronger king, salt: stay pure to preserve goodness)
In every testimony, the process is never easy.
Like how delivery (of a baby, not of your mail) is a painful experience.
But there is joy!
Like how a baby having toes like peanuts is a source of joy.
CoD = quite tough.
(that meant Cost of Discipleship btw. not some videogame you're thinking of xP)
Discipleship is NOT...
...easy. It's not a bed of roses.
...a way of constant success and prosperity.
...a use of spare free time.
...just going to church.
...a compromise.
...an excuse of doing whatever you like.
So what IS discipleship?!
1. Cross-bearing
i.e. suffering, humiliation.
*all passages quoted in NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. - Matt 16:24
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. - Matt 10:38
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Gal 2:20
2. Self-denial
3. Leaving everything
You cannot have anything that's more important to you than God.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:26
Take note: In Jewish culture it's very important to honour your father and mother.
Also, 'does not hate' means to put Christ first before your family. Pls don't misinterpret:)
In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. - Luke 14:33
4. Abiding in His words and teaching
You cannot have anything that's more important to you than God.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. - John 8:31
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7
NOT just the 2nd part of the verse!
5. Fruitfulness
i.e. not barren
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Gal 5:22-23
Some guy sitting on a chair even though he's not wearing a skirt.
When God gives us a test and we fail, we have to re-sit, regardless of age.
(like driving test, or BM in SPM)
Like how in bodybuilding, you tear muscle sometimes to rebuild it stronger, so God has to tear us to rebuild us stronger.
So, think. What's something God wants you to change?
Maybe it's your communication with your parents.
Or it could be submission to authority (not just someone you like but even submitting to people you dislike).
Choose to be a disciple, but make sure you know the price to pay.
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