Apr 24 2011 dcfc english Worship [The Master & The Disciple] Luke 24: 28-36



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CHRIST, CORNER STONE




Rock of my Salvation

Date: 12/2008.101


Personal - grand Canyon
We drove to Grand Canyon on a road trip to California in 2008. Climb down to a pointed cliff and walked right onto it. I was feeling a little nervous as I sat down on the edge, feet dangling over. I didn't dare to walk to the pointed end, so I sat down on the side edge of the cliff. My wife came along and walked till the very edge and sat down. Now I was really nervous. I cried out, "Be careful OK?" Suddenly my world seem to be collapsing. I was so paranoid that she would fall over and my world would end. I suddenly realize how important she was to me. Even though rationally, I know it wouldn't happen and the cliff had enough space, it was about 2 feet wide right at the tip. The chances of her falling over is really really slim, though possible. But I was so afraid and yet didn’t want to make her afraid, so in the end I just walked away and didn’t want to see her sitting there, all the while, heat beating quickly. finally she came back and I sighed in relief. I asked her, "Aren’t you afraid?" "Yes, initially. Then I thought, I am standing a on a solid rock and it won't shake our anything. As long as I had faith in the rock I won't fall over. I am ok!" :That's easy for you to say!" I retorted.

But later as I reflected on what she said. It makes perfect sense. She wasn't trembling as much as me because she had full faith in the rock, while I did not. Isn't this what the Psalmist said, "The Lord has planted my feet on the rock of my salvation" The image is of the psalmist standing at the edge of a deep muddy pit which was formerly used to collect water. If he falls, over, he can't get out. But around the edge of this pit, they put solid rocks so that one would not lose one's footing easily. The Lord is akin to this rock. Steady & sure. As long as we have faith in Him, it is fine.

In life, Christ is my rock of salvation. I have sure footing on Him. he is the Lord that bears my daily burdens (Psalms 69)

CHRIST, DOMINION




In the shadow of the Cross

Date: 7/2008.101


31 August 2008 DCFC English - Heb 11:24-29 - Moses the Man who withstood Pharaoh

2009 OK Retreat - Heb 11:28-31 Faith 2 Finish: Choose, See, Do

2011 FCCD Retreat - Heb 11:28-31 Faith 2 Finish: Choose, See, Do
Personal - German Trip 2008
An artist was told to design some art pieces in a popular square in Berlin. In the square was a statue of Marx sitting down facing a tall radio tower, one of the most popular landmark in Berlin. The artist designed some blocks of concrete with holes in it to look at this radio tower from various angles - contemporary art. This new art piece drew many people to the square. It’s so beautiful and well designed. Unknown to the communist party, this artist was a Christian. At a certain time of the day, when the sun strikes the silver radio tower, together with the concrete blocks, it will cast the shadow of a cross on Marx. Later this artist was arrested as a result.

In the years of Communist domination of East Germany there was a symbol which brought hope and comfort to believers in Jesus. A huge TV tower had been erected to broadcast atheistic propaganda. Near the top of the building was a globe-shaped structure housing a restaurant. The remarkable thing was that the sunlight always reflected off the globe in the shape of a cross. The authorities were embarrassed and tried everything they could think of to prevent this optical phenomenon, even covering the dome with paint. But nothing worked. A pastor commented wryly, "No matter how hard they try, they can’t get rid of the Cross!" Paul would agree and would say, "God forbid that we even try to do that!"

Where to take it:

Even the greatest human system, lives in the shadow of the Cross. man will pass away but not Christ.

Sometimes like the communist, we are well pleased with the plan of salvation until we discern that in it is the cross of self-denial.

CHRIST, GREATNESS




1809

Date: 4/2007.101


Youth Specialties - Hot Illustrations
Had you picked up a daily newspaper in 1809, you would have read the big news that Napoleon I, emperor of France, had conquered Austria at Wagram, annexed the Illyrian Provinces (now part of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), and abolished the Papal States.

But in that same year, in France...

Louis Braille, who devised a way for the blind to read, was born.

And in Germany...

Felix Mendelssohn, the great composer of symphonies, was born.

And in England...

William Gladstone, the four-time Prime Minister and the father of public education, was born.

Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet laureate of Great Britain, was born.

Charles Darwin, the most influential scientist of the nineteenth century, was born.

And in America ...

Edgar Allen Poe, the master poet and storyteller, was born.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, the writer and physician who developed surgical techniques still in use today, was born.

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States, was born.

But at the end of the year 1809, the only event anyone thought to be important was Napoleons conquest of Austria. That was the big news.

Today, who remembers the big news of 1809? Hardly anyone. Napoleons conquest is just a tiny blip on the big screen of history. But the world was changed forever by a few seemingly insignificant births which took place that same year.

Where to Take It from Here...

The year Jesus was born, most people missed it. Only a few were aware of the cosmic implications of his presence in a manger in Bethlehem.

And so it is with all of God's work. Most of it is behind the scenes hardly ever visible. It rarely make headlines; instead it makes a huge difference in the lives of people because it is eternal.


CHRIST, GREATNESS

Salvation

Date: 3/1998.1781


22 Feb 2009 DCFC English Worship - [Heart for the Nations] Acts 9:1-22 What is so amazing about grace?

07 Mar 2010 DCFC English Worship – [Building a Community in Christ] Eph 3:1-13 What is the Church called to do?

2-4 Apr 2010 ACBC Revival Meeting (Mandarin) – [Growing in Love, Building the Church] Eph 3:1-13 The Calling of the Church

10 July 2011 DCFC Chinese Worship – Eph 3:1-13 What is the Church called to do?


John Newton is remembered for his hymn "Amazing Grace." In his later years, he often lost his memory in the pulpit and had to be reminded of the subject about which he had been preaching. He said, "My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Jesus is a great Savior."

-- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

See: Philippians 2:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 2:11-13



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