English Service Sunday at 8.30am

Chinese Service Sunday at 8.30am

Other Meetings

CGC MARRIAGE MINISTRY

The group has decided to re-name the couple support group to CGC Marriage Ministry. There were 5 couples who came for the meeting. We had an interesting time sharing our experiences with one another. We had questions like "Is there such a thing as a "perfect" marriage? What is your idea of a "perfect" marriage? Our next meeting will be on May 21, 2009 (every 3rd Thursday of the month) at the home of Mr & Mrs Lim Seok Hoay. We limit our time to one and half hours (i.e. 8.30 pm to 10.00 pm ). We would love to see more couples coming for the meeting.

SPECIAL EVENT

Emmaus Night in JIC

Emmaus committee invites us to join them for the Emmaus Night in JIC on Monday May 4, 2009 at 8.30 pm . You will have the opportunity to listen to the testimonies of people who have taken the Emmaus courses. You will also be updated on what the Emmaus has planned for year 2009. Come and meet the Emmaus delegates from other countries .

    May  2009   Personal Bible Study

The above audio Bible passages (MP3) CDs are available on loan from the office

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INTRODUCTION

The first of these two appearances took place on the evening of Christ's resurrection, the second, one week later. Bar a few exceptions – the two from Emmaus and others were the first, Lk.24.33; Thomas was only present at the second – they were to the same group of people. A secure room provided suitable privacy on both occasions.   It is difficult to determine when Mark and Luke's accounts actually finish. However, because John's record includes teaching on evangelism and the Holy Spirit   the latter verses in Mark and Luke have been included in this study.

THE LORD'S BODY

Christ's resurrection body is not subject to the same physical limitations that we experience. Therefore, He did not enter through the doors – they were shut, Jn.20.19,26 – and this supernatural appearance terrified the disciples who “supposed that they had seen a spirit” Lk.24.39. Though now glorified, He still retains the wounds of Calvary , Lk24.40; Jn.20.27; Zech.12.10; rev.5.6 – Thomas' intention to thrust his hand into His side suggests a very large wound. Incidentally, only here are the nails that pierced Christ's hands and feet mentioned, so fulfilling the prediction “they pierced My hands and My feet” Ps.22.16. His resurrection body could be touched and had the capacity to eat Lk24.39,42,43. The Lord's identity was concealed, Lk24.16, or made known, Lk24,31, at will.

THE LORD'S WORDS

Several vital issues were mentioned by the Lord.

a) Comfort and Correction

The disciples' fear of Jewish reprisals was answered with the promise of peace, Lk.24,36; Jn.20.19,21,26. Their “unbelief and hardness of heart” were “upbraided” Mk.16.14, Thomas being particularly challenged, Jn.20.24,27.

b) Principles of Evangelism

The Lord Jesus sent forth His disciples, just as the Father had sent Him, Jn.17.18; 20.21. The gospel of Christ is to be universally proclaimed. For this reason the disciples were commanded to go” into all the world” and to “all nations” preaching to “every creature”, Mk 16.15; Lk.24.47. That such witness began at Jerusalem , Lk.24.47, the place of the Lord's rejection, was a wonderful reminder of the richness of God's grace. This message, that centers on Christ Himself and hence is preached :in His name”, Lk.24.47, offers salvation, Mk.16.16, and remission of sins, Lk.24.47;; Jn.20.23. In return, it demands repentance, Lk.24.47, and belief without sight, Mk.16.16; Jn.20.29; 1 Pet.1.8; and following these, baptism. Woe to those who reject it. Their sins will be retained, Jn.20.23, and they themselves condemned because of unbelief, Mk.16.16. Let us remember the high price that many have paid for faithfulness to Christ: “witnesses”, Lk24.48, translates .24.33, for believers must  called to lay down their lives for their witness. Several miraculous signs were to accompany “them that believe”, these signs, except drinking poison, is recorded as having taken place in the early church but are now all obsolete:

            “cast out demons”, Acts 16.18.

            “speak with new tongues”, Acts 2.4, 10.46; Acts 19.6.

            “take up serpents”, Acts 28.3-6.

            “lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”, Acts 19.11,12.

c) Scriptures Fulfilled

Christ is the key that unlocks the Old Testament, Lk.24.44. With unmistakable accuracy it predicted Christ's suffering and resurrection, Lk.24.46. Just as these Scriptures received literal fulfillment, so shall those relating to His future glory. It is, however, only by Divine revelation that such Scriptures can be understood properly. Even the disciples, having accompanied the Lord Jesus for several years, and listened to His expositions of the Old Testament in relation to Himself, Lk.24.44, only rightly appreciated the prophesies when He “opened their understanding” Lk.24.45.

d) The Holy Spirit

He was promised by the Father and sent by the Son to cloth the disciples with heavenly power for, amongst other things, witnessing, Lk.24.48,49. Since the Lord commanded His disciples to wait at Jerusalem for the Spirit's coming, Lk.24.49, His breathing on them on this occasion did not give the Holy Spirit, but rather anticipated the Pentecostal coming, Jn.20.22, when “suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” Acts 2.2.

THE LORD'S DISCIPLES

Both occasions give a helpful example for Christians in local church fellowship. The eleven, and those with them, gathered together, Lk.24.33, for believers must never be isolationists. We are warned against “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” Heb. 10.25. This simply leads to spiritual apathy and bitterness. By appearing to His disciples on subsequent Sundays, the Lord Jesus set apart the day of resurrection, rather than the Sabbath, as a new special day for believers. From then on New Testament saints broke bread weekly on the first day of the week, Acts 20.7. Just as the doors were shut, to protect from Jewish hostility, so a local assembly should be a place of security from sin and doctrinal error. “Jesus came and stood in the midst” Lk.24.30; Jn.20.19,26. In like manner, He must be central to every church gathering. Joy filled the disciples' hearts when they saw His wounds, and recognized Him, Lk.24.41; Jn.20.20, because Christian joy is most fully experienced when contemplating Christ. Thomas was especially impressed by the Lord's deity, Jn.20.28 – perhaps especially His omniscience, since He knew exactly Thomas' demand one week earlier for tangible proof of the resurrection, Jn.20.25,27. For whatever reason, Thomas was absent, and as such he missed a sight of Christ. We too lose much if we fail to have regular fellowship with the saints.

By J. C. Gibson ( England ) Assembly Testimony Jan/Feb, 2009