SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10TH JUNE 2012
The service was led by the Worship Team and the sermon was delivered by Local Pastor V. Nenglian. Despite the heat and uncomfortable weather the spirit and enthusiasm of the Worship Team motivated the congregation to have a blessed time of fellowship with the Lord.
Niangsuanching, Esther Thianhoih and Goukhannem: Three young church members who had received baptism in the past week were given their certificates by the pastor.
EBCC missionary Samuel Lal Guite gave a brief PowerPoint presentation and report of his evangelistic work in Bangladesh. He is serving the Lord with his wife and two children among Muslims in our neighbouring country. He spoke of the various methods of evangelisation that he and his wife practised in order to reach out to the Bangladeshi non-believers. Along with the trials and tribulations faced by them he also recounted many amusing anecdotes of his stay there and has also issued an invitation to our youth to come and spend some time with them in Bangladesh.
The sermon was derived from Romans 10: 1-13 which speaks about the nature of righteousness and true salvation. The passage explains in great detail the burden in Paul’s heart about his fellow Jews who are extremely devout and rigid in complying with the rituals and laws of their faith.
“...their zeal is not based on knowledge. since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10: 2, 3)
The pastor pointed out that many of us today are like the Jews mentioned in the Bible. We are so caught up in observing the laws of our faith that we have forgotten or have not grasped the true essence of God. We have become like these Jews who are all about superficial adherence to dogma and dictum without understanding and experiencing the true love of God. Their devotion and loyalty to their God is indeed very commendable but the conflict arises in the execution of their faith which is in complete contradiction with God’s plan. Jesus Christ also criticised these laws and its rigidity. The pastor gave an example of how Christ healed the sick on Sabbath which proved that even He did not endorse such inflexible and intolerant adherence to rituals and laws.
In verses 9-10 the notion of Lordship is discussed which implied a term of respect and class distinction. The Lord, for the Jews, implied Yahweh and all the laws associated with his worship. It was therefore impossible for them to conceive of Christ as their Lord. The pastor spoke of how true rebirth and renewal in our faith would come only if we were able to accept Christ as our Lord. This acceptance and understanding comes with a humble and repentant heart. Once we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Saviour our deeds and words must imbibe this renewed spirit. Our faith needs to be supplemented by our voice and testimony. He pointed out that the missionaries who embark into hostile land to preach the word of God or a declaration of our faith through baptism are all ways and means by which our renewed faith and love in God is publicly exemplified. He challenged us to rethink the degree of our faith and if we were strong enough to take up a stand for our God. This is the core essence of true redemption and salvation promised to us in a rebirth in Christ.
By- Grace Siamlianvung
(Media Team)
