Hope Presbyterian Church -Singapore

10/12/2021

You can now set a reminder on Youtube for the live broadcast of our Sunday online service.

Welcome to Hope Presbyterian Church, Singapore! Thanks for joining us for online church today, we are very thankful and glad you are with us! We are a local ...

01/11/2021

Last Sunday's Sermon:
We had the privilege of having "Agent Koh Chin Gay" & "Agent Jon Loh" deliver a special message titled "No Time to Die" from Joshua 13-17, at church last Sunday.

The agents reminded us that we too are God's special agents to show Christ to the world who does not know Him.

Listing examples from the aspect of Christians at work, Jon challenged us to show Christ in our daily lives and choose to be bigger for God. We can do so by choosing to be gracious instead of ruthlessly pursuing the rat race, by choosing not to be anxious or overwhelmed by stresses of work, by choosing to share about Christ instead of gossiping of the colleague next door, by choosing to let His word be the first thing we read in the morning, taking it seriously before any message on the phone.

Indeed, we can all choose to show Christ in our daily living, through what we think, say and do. Let us choose today, to be the special agent for God.

31/10/2021

Hope’s special agents Pr Chin Gay and Dn Jonathan Loh co-delivered the sermon today.
Missed it? Replay the service on our youtube channel to hear their sharing.

27/10/2021

JOSHUA - #23 (LAST SESSION)

✨THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE CAN DO ✨

📕Read Joshua 24:1 – 33

🎧Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Xh3jevYQs

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (15)

✅1. Not by our might, but by God’s power (24:1 – 13)
Through Joshua, God reminded his people of his grace. He began with Abraham, who was brought out from his idol worshipping people to live by faith. God blessed his descendants. After four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, God led his people out under Moses’ leadership. He protected them and brought them into Canaan. He helped them to defeat the fortress of Jericho. He drove out nations. None of this was by their own strength. It was by the power of the Lord God Almighty who was with his people and helped them settled there. God gave them vast fields with cities. They ate fruit they did not plant. It was a hard road, but God led them into abundant blessings. God wants to bless his people. We can never pay him back. All we can do is thank him and commit our lives to him.

✅2. God made Joshua’s life a blessing (24:14 – 33)
Joshua was about to die. How could he bless the Israelites, prone to disobedience? He can’t control everything. But he could decide not to follow idols, but serve the Lord. He dedicated his family to serve the Lord. He set the example of faith for the whole nation. When the people declared their eagerness to serve the Lord, Joshua reminded them that they couldn’t (19). But he told them what they could do. They could throw away their idols and yield their hearts to the Lord.
Joshua was a faithful leader through whom God worked. Though the nation had its problems, the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua. His faith is a blessing to us even today. Joshua’s presentation here reveals a sad truth: God’s people have great difficulty giving up their old ways of life and resisting the temptations of their new surroundings. The “old” gods are comfortable. The “new” gods that are still worshiped by their neighbours are distracting and alluring.
When Joshua died, his burial in the promised land signalled the end of their earthly pilgrimage with God. We will all die, but we will not all be buried in the same place. Some will be buried in a cemetery—and others in a variety of other places. But all who begin their pilgrimage with God on this earth and then die—they will be remembered by God, no matter what happens to their present bodies.
When their earthly journey comes to an end, no matter when or how that happens, all who have followed Christ on this earth will be buried in him. We will remain with Christ until the day when death will reign no more, and we will rise to a new life.



☝🏻One Word: Dedicate our lives to God

🙏🏼Prayer:
Lord, you have been going on before us and constantly delivering us. It is not our feeble efforts but by your power that got us here. Lord, we want to serve you. We can’t do much, but we dedicate our life and our household to serving you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

🎹As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wz61tlXlAM

26/10/2021

Last Sunday's Sermon – Recounting the battles in Joshua 10-12, Ps Ron reminded us that it was the Lord who led and guided Joshua and the Israelites, it was Him who gave them victories after victories.

Like Joshua, God is also actively working in our lives. Can you see and taste the goodness of God? God in His great mercy has chosen us and rescued us into this marvellous life.The LORD is OUR salvation, our stories are His story to tell.

Perhaps we can start to think about the ways we can share our stories with someone this Christmas (which is really just weeks away). Plan for it, so that when the opportunity comes, we are prepared and know what to say. To get us started, PS Ron suggested the following structure:

20/10/2021

✨REMEMBER GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE HIM ✨
📕Read Joshua 23:1 – 16

🎧Listen to the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCgEjxaY2DU

“One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” (10-11)

✅ 1. The call to a covenantal life (23:1 – 11)

Joshua had led God’s people across the Jordan, against Jericho and many other cities, and had supervised the distribution of their inheritance. Now that Israel was facing the future on its own, Joshua reminded them to keep the law of the Lord, the instructions that Joshua himself had followed all those years.
Joshua was now old and wanted to bless Israel. He reminded them of God’s grace. God fought for them and would help them to take root, just as he promised. Joshua told them to be separate from the nations, by courageously standing as God’s people; by obeying God’s word; holding fast to God and rejecting idolatry. They were to be careful to love the Lord their God (11). God would help them.

✅2. Consequences of turning from God (23:12 – 16)

If the people compromised with pagan nations and worshipped their idols, the Lord would not go ahead of them as they continued the conquest. They would suffer if they didn’t repent, even perishing from the land. Though God is full of grace, there are consequences to disobedience. We must not depend on ourselves, but on the Lord who is able to help us remain faithful to him and love him.

This would also be the key to Israel’s future: “Hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.” Joshua was telling God’s people to imitate him, to submit to God’s instructions in their future, as he had done in their past.

When Christ gave his disciples the Word of the Father (John 17:14), he was teaching them to imitate him: to submit their lives to the Word of God, knowing that their future depended on it. And by the power of his Spirit, God’s Word is with us to the end of the age.

☝🏻One Word: Carefully love the Lord

🙏🏼Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your grace and your call to hold fast to you and love you. We are weak but you are strong. Help us to hold fast to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

🎹Here is love, vast as the ocean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8YOPj5TnUM

18/10/2021

Sunday’s Sermon:
In Joshua 9, Ps Lay Nah reminded us that God’s mercy towards the Gibeonites lead Israel the nation to become a merciful people.

God's desire is for us to be a merciful people. But are we?

In our daily living, do we often use our judgement to decide who is right or who deserves mercy? Are we more ready to judge others vs ourselves?

If we must look at the sins of others, we must be aware that we have also sinned. That said, there is still a place for rebuking though not easy. When done right, confronting sins should be done with tears and a broken heart rather than anger and condemnation.

This week as we go about our lives, let us be ready to show grace and mercy to those around us rather than judgement and disapproval, because our God is a merciful God and He is building us up to be a merciful people.

13/10/2021

Joshua #21
✨A REMINDER OF OUR TOP PRIORITY✨

📕Read Joshua 22:1 – 34

🎧Listen here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msgkGxirx-Q

“But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (5)

✅1. Keeping our spiritual direction in life (22:1 – 9 )
It was time for the 2 1/2 tribes to return to their families. More than just building up their cities, they needed to keep their spiritual direction. Joshua reminded them of the importance of maintaining their relationship with God, which involved keeping the commands of God, loving and holding fast to him; obeying him and serving him wholeheartedly. Our relationship with the Lord must be our top priority in a world that competes for our attention.
They received Joshua’s blessing as they set off to their homes. They acquired cities, livestock, precious metals, iron, and clothing. All this was plunder given to them by their gracious Lord.

✅2. Seeking to find out the truth (22:10 – 34)
The 2 ½ tribes had built an imposing altar. Israel assumed it was used as a place for sacrifice. They sent a group to find the truth. They warned them of what would happen if they set up alternatives to worship. They gave them a chance to explain themselves. They heard rumours and were ready to fight, but they were still ready to investigate. The truthfulness and justice of God was revealed.
The eastern tribal leaders stated their motive. They feared that, as time passed, the other tribes would reject them, stating that they have no part in the Lord. This might have caused future generations to stop fearing the Lord (24-25). The altar was a witness that the eastern tribes are indeed part of Israel. God was with them and saved them from war.


It’s true what a cartoon character—Pogo—once said: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” It’s not so much what others do to us but what we do to ourselves that gets us into trouble.
God’s people need to be watchful, that sin may not enter in and cause division and trouble, as the Israelites experienced when Achan sinned (see Joshua 7). The apostle Peter writes that the enemy of God prowls constantly, “looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
At the same time, we need to realize that jumping to conclusions can lead to trouble as well. People can sometimes be their own worst enemies.
☝🏻One Word: Keep your spiritual direction always

🙏🏼Prayer:
Lord, help us to love you, obey you, hold fast to you and serve you, help us to receive your gifts of grace alongside your people everywhere. May we all see your cross as the sign of our unity in you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

🎹He will hold me fast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNi3ejUCYrY

11/10/2021

Last Sunday's Sermon:
From Joshua 8, Ps Ron from Katong Presbyterian Church shared that in times of chaos and uncertainties, Joshua was intentional in listening to God's voice.

He listened not with any biasness nor personal agenda, and definitely not with his own wisdom.

How then can we too read God's word and discern His will correctly? Ps Ron suggested that we read God's word together with the community of God to discern the voice of God together.

Are you reading the word with a community of fellow believers, if not, perhaps you may consider joining a Care Group?...Drop us a message anytime and we will link you up with these communities. Let's discern God's will through His word together:)

06/10/2021

Joshua #20
✨GOD’S JUDGEMENT AND MERCY MEET✨
Read Joshua 21:1 – 45

🎧Listen to the session here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xITqeyI0AEc


“So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:” (3)

✅1. God solved a dilemma (21:1 – 43)

The Levites were not allotted territory. According to a prophecy given through Jacob, Levi’s descendants would be scattered (Gen 49:7) because of the slaughter of the Shechemites. Yet, they were blessed by Moses (Ex 32:28-29). Moses commanded that they be given towns (Num 35:2-3). How can God fulfill all of these factors? He gave them a priestly mission; scattering them in towns. Now the Levites were blessed, provided for, and made a blessing to the entire nation. The judgement and the mercy of God meet together. It is revealed in God’s treatment of the Levites

✅2. God fulfilled all of his promises (21:44 – 45)

Israel had won many battles, but it was the Lord who gave them rest from their enemies. After years on the battlefield Israel could serve God without interruption from the enemy. The nation was settled. There was a time of rest from war. Fulfilling these promises took time. But the Lord works in his own time, not on our timetable. He is our faithful, sovereign Lord. We can trust him.


God’s only Son, our ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, brings us into God’s presence. In that way Christians, no matter where they live, share the inheritance Jesus gained on the cross on which he died for our sin. He stands before God on our behalf, and we are credited with his righteousness (Romans 3:22; Hebrews 10:1-14). We all live in God’s presence!
We may be buffeted on all sides by the old enemies of pride, or lust, or greed, but, having been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and the armour of God, we can resist and deflect the darts of the evil one. No enemy can withstand the righteousness of God through Christ our Lord.

☝🏻One Word: God’s faithfulness and mercy

🙏🏼Prayer:
Lord, you are a God of justice and mercy. We can see it with the Levites. Clothe us this day with the righteousness of Christ so that no enemy can overwhelm us. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


🎹Mercies (New every morning)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rpC-dTewHaI

04/10/2021

Hello Hopers,
How was your Monday?
Did you start your day with God?
Last Sunday, preaching from Joshua 7, Reverend Tan expounded on the reasons for Israelites’ defeat at Ai, the mistakes they'd made. The Israelites relied on their own strength rather than God, they did not seek God prior to battle, nor did they seek the power and presence of God during the battle.
What about us? How many times did we start our day without God?
When we leave God out of our days, our lives, our struggles, we can be sure we are in for a tough time. Many of our failures can be avoided if we first go to God in prayer.
So, remember to start your day with God, everyday!

29/09/2021

#19 Joshua

✨GOD CONCERNS ABOUT JUST TREATMENT✨

🎧listen to the session here ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGAxwH8vNE

📕Read Joshua 20:1 – 19

“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” (2-3)

✅ 1. God established the cities of refuge (1-6)

God was concerned about upholding justice. God understands our tendency to seek revenge. He makes a way for people to be saved from injustice.
An unjustly accused murderer—an Israelite or a foreigner who lived among them—could find safety in any of six cities in the promised land. The rulers and other residents of those cities had the responsibility of giving shelter and securing justice. They would provide a fair trial and give the unjustly accused person a place to live, until the death of the high priest. Only then could the falsely accused person go home. That could take a long time!

✅2. God wants equal access to this refuge (7-19)
Six cities of refuge were evenly distributed throughout the land. People from every tribe would have equal access to refuge. No one tribe would have an advantage. God is a refuge from those suffering from injustice. In a world that is full of revenge, God’s mercy and grace shines forth.
There are many similarities between the cities of refuge and Jesus. Like the cities, Jesus is within easy reach of the needy person, and is open to all, not just the Israelite. Also Jesus is the only alternative for the one in need.


There is, however, one crucial distinction between Jesus and the cities of refuge. The cities were only a safety for the innocent, but Jesus is where the guilty can run to find refuge and forgiveness. Still today no one needs to fear that they will be turned away from their place of refuge in their time of need.
Today we can be thankful that our sins—intentional or not—are covered. God’s just anger at our sin was turned away through Jesus Christ.
Let us live peaceably with all our neighbours while we wait to enter the heavenly city, where sin and anger are no more.

☝🏻One Word: Run to God, our refuge

🙏🏼Prayer:
Lord, we praise you that you are a God who cares about those who are unjustly treated. Help us to care about those suffering from injustice like you do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

🎼🎹I will run to You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpNruT1t_t