Five (5) Lessons That I Learned from Dr. Thomas Chung Kim Sun a.k.a. Tommy (16 August 1942 - 28 April 2023)

The late Dr. Thomas Chung Kim Sun (80 years old, 16 August 1942–28 April 2023) is widely known as Dr. Thomas Chung and, for those who are close to him, as Tommy. I think I'm close to him, not in the sense of the frequency of meetings but in the sense of emotional and spiritual intimacy. You see, Dr. Tommy has the ability to make us — those who have known him long enough - feel special. I feel like I'm his favourite staff in FES, but I know that that is NOT entirely true. I've observed his casual interactions with Timberland Hospital staff when he was a laboratory chief there. He would speak professionally at times and then turn into a father figure, asking about their well-being, interests, and family members. I've witnessed how people in the church were so comfortable sharing their lives with him and thanking him for the spoken word he preached. He would suddenly burst into laughter, then cry, then sing, then encourage, then end with prayer. The whole thing was fascinating for me to see. Some people might think it's an old man's behaviour, no doubt, but more than that, he is a man "who had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). He loves all of us genuinely (although not equally; he was just a man), just like the Master he serves.

Before I share further, I would like to first share his weaknesses and shortcomings, just to demythologize some ideas about him. Here are some: He was not a good Monopoly game player, he was easily distracted, perhaps not the best driver in town, and some jokes were not funny but delivered with confidence (that's funny!), forgetfulness (where are the books that you promised to give me?), overcommitting, over-giving, being physically weak, keeping most of his struggles to himself, impatient, having self-doubt at times, his Bahasa is bad, a bit secretive, and more. These are what make me identify with him. If we were the same age, maybe we could be best friends forever (BFF). Except I'm the dumbest one. Now, here are five (5) lessons that I learned from Dr. Tommy:

1. Loving God and His Word. He was a biochemist, a gemmologist, and a doctor. But first and foremost, he was a preacher, expositor, and teacher of the Word. He was a man of God on the pulpit as well as in the workplace. There were a couple of times when I visited him in the laboratory office, and once I asked if I could take a look at his personal Bible. It was a very worn-out Bible, and it reminds me of Charles H. Spurgeon's quote, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." Full of notes and quotes. He would read some and ask, "What do you think of this, Richard?" I said a few words, and then he immediately launched into a mini-sermon. Once I told him about my doubts about the existence of God, he would just listen, ask questions, and then proceed to encourage me through the Word and personal stories based on his experience with God. There are many things that I don't know about his personal life, but I know that he knows God not just intellectually but also emotionally and personally. He speaks from the depths of his heart. "Knowing God," writes J.I. Packer, "is a relationship calculated to thrill a man's heart."
   
   
2. 
   Passion to Preach the Gospel. It was in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, during the FES 5th National Conference in 2010, my first year as a staff, he was the main Bible expositor and speaker. Honestly, I don't remember much about the conference except for the fun I had in the swimming pool during leisure time and the burning within me when Dr. Tommy preached the Scripture from 2nd Timothy. As if he were Paul talking to me, Timothy, urging me to "preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2 has become my life verse and also for LEGASI.tv ministry). Out of the pulpit, he was like a lamb, but in the pulpit, he was a lion. "Light yourself on fire with passion," said John Wesley, "and people will come from miles away to watch you burn." Literally, I heard testimonies, some people came from miles away to hear him preach — and burn. I'm confident that others can also testify to the same thing about his passion for Christ. The power doesn't lie in his rhetorical skills or the wisdom of man, but in the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
3. A Man of Prayer and Tears. His opening prayer is like his closing prayer, and his closing prayer is like an open conversation with God. He cannot do what he does—fierce preaching and teaching many times a week—unless he is also disciplined in prayer on a daily basis. His favourite words to me are, "Bathed in prayer"; "Soaked in prayer"; "Love and prayers always"; "With you in prayer"; "Pray for His blessing and enabling." I believe they are not only words of comfort. They were his genuine prayers. He was a spiritual giant and a man of intellect, but he was also an emotional, sensitive, and compassionate man. He was man enough to weep for the lost and the brokenhearted.
   
   
4. Always Read Books, especially the Classics. I've figured there is only so much that can trigger Dr. Thomas's interests: God, the Bible, the Church, preaching, Bario Revival or Revival stories, classical music and hymns, gems and beads, our concerns and prayer requests, and books (or lately, YouTube videos!). "What book are you reading now, Richard?" he would ask. "John Stott's Between Two Worlds," and then he talked about his relationship with John Stott back in London. "Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Preaching and Preachers," and then he recalled his memories of sitting under the Biblical preaching of Dr. Jones. "David Pawson's Unlocking the Bible," and then he reminisced about the day Mr. Pawson invited him to dinner during the student's day. There were times when I would just mention names such as Calvin, Tyndale, Spurgeon, John Sung, J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, Michael Green, and William Barclay and sit back to listen to his takes on them. This was his WhatsApp message to me back in 2019: "The Lord continues to bless all you do to promote the reading of spiritual classics as well as books that inform and broaden the sphere of thinking of young people in the work of FES." One of the last times I met him, he said to me that he was reading the Christian mystics. I didn't get to know how it was going, and I'm curious about his book recommendations.
   
   
5. Last but not least, the Simplicity of Living. I'm not really sure exactly why he was so thin. Probably due to a health problem that I'm unaware of. But I sensed that he was practicing prayer and fasting continuously. Maybe, maybe not. Every time I would ask him about this, he would quickly change the subject (taking seriously Jesus' warning in Matthew 6:16–18?). Regardless, he was the embodiment of "godliness with contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6). He can be famous (he is!) but he doesn't want to; he could write books or compile all his sermons (someone should do this!) into books, but he didn't; he could just stay in London and pursue a high-income medicine career, but he returned home to Malaysia and became a humble itinerant preacher. In Christ, Dr. Tommy has two things that comprises inward simplicity (as Richard Foster puts it): the Divine Centre and Holy Obedience.

There are many things that I've learned from him. These five are the most impactful for me. I was shocked when I received the news about his sudden death, but somehow it didn't surprise me. Expected. I have no regrets or am sorry for any words that I said to him. Nothing but love, admiration, and respect. He was somewhat of a father figure, a grandpa, a mentor (actually, this year we planned to meet one-on-one every two months. So, we've met twice already), a teacher, a brother in Christ, and a friend to me. Like I said, he can make those who are close to him feel special. I feel special. But so do others - even more - who are closer to him. As for the living, I have words of wisdom from Dr. Tommy for all of us. In his slightly annoying British accent, the Queen's English says, "Press on, bebeh!" I think he was referring to Philippians 3:14, "I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." If you received it, type AMEN.

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #DrThomasChung #MyEulogy #FESMalaysia #HeroOfFaith #Preacher #ManOfGod #JesusIsLord #GodOfTheLivingAndTheDead #Goodbye

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been (2018) by Jackie Hill Perry, Audiobook Review

Regardless of who she is becoming or her theology may have been shifted a bit today, objectively speaking, judged by this book alone, I love it! Jackie Hill Perry writes in a very poetic way. It is not just beautiful but also truthful too. With compassion and conviction. Lots of vulnerability and yet not self-centered. As a poet and rapper, Jackie is no doubt an expert storyteller. Although a bit preachy in the end and in between, as a reader, I know her origin story as an ex-gay girl a.k.a. lesbian but above all, I know the good God that she is writing about, "To tell you about what God has done for my soul is to invite you into my worship."

Jackie grew up fatherless, a marijuana user, a pornography addict, and experienced gender confusion. The back cover states: "She embraced masculinity and homosexuality with every fiber of her being. She knew that Christians had a lot to say about all of the above. But was she supposed to change herself? How was she supposed to stop loving women, when homosexuality felt more natural to her than heterosexuality ever could?" This book tells her journey toward change and wholeness. I can imagine what the LGBTQ+ people might think about this book: it's a cliche. A gay girl found a good God, let go of her old lifestyle and married a man, etc. But it's more than that. For one, Jackie admits that temptation does come and go. Yet "I don’t believe it is wise or truthful to the power of the gospel to identify oneself by the sins of one’s past or the temptations of one’s present but rather to only be defined by the Christ who’s overcome both for those He calls His own." Amen!

I have a few unresolved issues about the book though: What happened to her girlfriend after she ended the relationship? After a few years of marriage with Preston, does same-sex attraction (SSA) occur again? How about non-practice SSA who wish to be celibate, any words for them? (or maybe I missed it). Overall, it is a good book to understand how one person can be changed by the good God. "Because a good God made the woman, then being a woman is a good thing." For sure, Jackie writes from the 'tradition' view, not from the 'progressive' view. Some people might disagree with her interpretations, and some will affirm her Biblical view (I'm one of them). This is a story of one person, so, don't use this book to be the standard to measure and judge all SSA or LGBTQ+ people. There is no one size fit when it comes to the sexual issue. It's messy. Continue to listen, learn and explore - and read the Scripture, that is, the Word of God, rightly.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GayGirlGoodGod #JackieHillPerry #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Spirit-Filled Life: Restoring A Biblical Understanding and Experience of the Holy Spirit (1895, 2019) by John MacNeil, Book Review

To listen to the audiobook of this book, go to Aneko Press YouTube Channel

 The Spirit-Filled Life: Restoring A Biblical Understanding 
and Experience of the Holy Spirit (1895, 2019) by John MacNeil

If I want to listen to or read Bible-saturated Christian classics, the first place I go is the Aneko Press website and YouTube. So many good titles, sound authors, and the best is - it’s free! Although it's an old book, the heart of MacNeil’s message is timeless. Aneko Press has done a good job of updating and revising it. This book can be scary to read because it sometimes emphasized heavily the teaching of ‘inner life’ like that of Andrew Murray’s books. In fact, he, Murray, and others were parts of the controversial Higher Life Movement. If not careful, it will make you feel spiritually inferior. But with prayerful reading and Scripture meditating, your eyes will be open to how much God desire for His children to be filled with the Holy Spirit - and to know Him. “The fullness of the Holy Spirit,” writes MacNeil, “is the birthright of every believer.”

The author begins this book by quoting Acts 19:1-2, “Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said to him, ‘On the contrary, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.’” MacNeil comments on this situation, “Many - oh, so many - of God’s dear children are living on the wrong side of Pentecost, living on the same plane as that on which the disciples were living before they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and thus by their lives they practically make the sad confession, ‘We did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given or whether there is any Holy Spirit.’” Indeed, this is a sad confession. I have said it before too. Chapter 3: A Command to Be Obeyed; Chapter 4: Something Different from the New Birth; Chapter 7: The Time Between Regenerating and Filling; and Chapter 8: Other Words for Being Filled With the Spirit; are very helpful chapters to understand the distinction between being filled with the Spirit from being born (again) of the Spirit. The Scripture examples and passages that MacNeil used to support his writings are very persuasive. Don’t take it all at face value, of course, but do consider it seriously.

We need to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). I find that if I don’t, my spiritual life will be dry. There were times when I preached the Word of God, it was all rhetoric but no power. Bones with no skins. iPhone 13 software with short battery life. At one-third of the book, MacNeil gave a very valuable reminder: “[Be] on guard against desiring such an important blessing from wrong motives. We must seek it for the one supreme reason - the glory of God. If self is at the root of our motives at all, God will most surely block our way to fullness of blessing... there is a need for the refining fire to go through our hearts. God must be Alpha and Omega in the matter. ‘For God’s glory, and for God’s glory alone’ must be our motto as we proceed with our search for the fullness of the Spirit.” Amen. Read it!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheSpiritFilledLife #TheHolySpirit #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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On the Future: Prospects for Humanity (2018) by Martin Rees, Book Review

 On the Future: Prospects for Humanity (2018) by Martin Rees

I enjoy watching the YouTube Originals series on The Age of A.I. eight science-documentary episodes covering the ways how Artificial Intelligence is and will change the world in various fields such as robotics, health, food, space travel, relationships, and others. It is narrated and hosted by Robert Downey Jr. with the vibe of Tony Stark’s coolness and humor (actually it is more interesting if J.A.R.V.I.S. or F.R.I.D.A.Y. be the one who narrated the series). I’m always fascinated by how fast we humans have progressed in terms of knowledge, science, and technology. It is both creates excitement and anxiety. When I watched the series, I realize that the producers want to highlight the wonderful positive aspect of A.I. implementations in many areas of our human experiences, but I still can’t help to think realistically (with a mix of negative thinking), of “what if” this or that happened. What if we create evil Ultron with the good intention to protect ourselves? What if there are powerful but bitter people like Magneto who decided to choose only special people like them to survive? What if there are people with the Thanos ideology that in order to bring peace and order there must be wars and necessary sacrifices needed to be made?

These existential questions and more leads me to this book. Martin Rees, an Astronomer Royal, renowned scientist, and futurist, examines the critical issues that will define the future of humanity on earth and beyond. His insights into cutting-edge science and technology and global trends are very helpful. His main argument is that if we approach the future with short-term thinking, polarizing debates, alarmist rhetoric, and pessimism, we are doomed to extinction (my language). But if we take responsibility for the future NOW with long-term thinking, rational discussions, solution-oriented partnership, globally, collectively, and optimistically, we can flourish. “This book offers some hopes, fears, and conjectures about what lies ahead,” said Martin who doesn’t claim to be a prophet of the future but trying to act like one anyway due to the urgency of the subject at hand. “Surviving this century, and sustaining the long-term future of our ever more vulnerable world, depends on accelerating some technologies, but responsibly restraining others. The governance challenges are huge and daunting.” I agree. As a Christ-follower, I wholeheartedly believe that the future is in the hand of the sovereign God. But from the humanistic perspective, as the author seems to be one (he said he is a ‘cultural Christian.’ It doesn’t matter what he meant, for this book is not a Christian book anyway), the future is in our hands.

Overall, On the Future is an excellent read. The author’s careful and brief treatments on the issues like nuclear threats, eco-threats, climate change, biotech, cyber technology, human consciousness, robotics, A.I., and spaceflight are both encouraging and alarming for obvious reasons. Of course, a book like this is not without speculations such as the possibilities of our dominion outside our planet (for example, colonization of Mars), and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence. I find that it is interesting when Martin also discusses the limits and future of science. By the way, I want to share one thing that probably going to spark your interest. This book is published in 2018 and about two years after that, in March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This is a glimpse of one of Martin’s worst nightmares coming true when he wrote: “Pandemics are an ever-present natural threat, but is it just scaremongering to raise concerns about human-induced risks from bio error or bio terror? Sadly, I don’t think it is. We all know too well that technical expertise doesn’t guarantee balanced rationality. The global village will have its village idiots and they’ll have a global range… Bio error and bio terror are possible in the near term - within ten or fifteen years. And in the longer term, they will be aggravated as it becomes possible to ‘design’ and syntheses viruses - the ‘ultimate’ weapon would combine high lethality with the transmissibility of the common cold.” 10 to 15 years, huh? How about 1-2 years?!

After I finished reading this book, I still have the “what if” questions about the future of humanity from the humanistic perspective. The difference is that I have moved from some (Oh, there are many!) of my ignorance to more informed “what if” questions.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #OnTheFuture #ScienceAndTechnology #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

[P. s: Two other issues/topics that are important, in my opinion, that should be covered in a book on the future like this one are cryptocurrency and the metaverse. Check it out!]

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The Message of 2 Timothy: Guard the Gospel (1973, 1984) by John R. W. Stott, Book Review

The Message of 2 Timothy: Guard the Gospel (1973, 1984) by John R. W. Stott

 

“During the gestation of this book, I seem to have lived inside this second letter of Paul to Timothy. In imagination I have sat down beside Timothy and have tried myself to hear and heed this final charge from the aging apostle,” writes John Stott in the introduction. As for me, I imagine myself sitting down under the teachings of ‘Uncle’ Stott (1921-2011) as I read this commentary and take notes of his excellent exposition of the words of God in 2 Timothy. He also writes, “I have been impressed afresh by the timeliness for today what the apostle writes, especially for young Christian leaders. For our era too is one of theological and moral confusion, even of apostasy. And the apostle summons us, as he summoned Timothy, to be strong, brave, and steadfast.” Stott was 51 years old when he writes this and surely he had witnessed many ups and downs of Christianity in Europe particularly and the world generally during the five decades of his life. If it was true about 49 years ago when this commentary was originally published, how truer it is today!

He continues, “The words which crystallize the letter for me are the two little monosyllables su de (‘but as for you’), which occur four times. Timothy is called to be different. He is not to yield to the pressures of public opinion or conform to the spirit of his age, but rather to stand firm in the truth and the righteousness of God. In my judgment, nothing is more needed by Christians in today’s world and church than this same courage.” I couldn’t agree more. A call to be different is not a call to be a weirdo or taking it as merely a motivational talk. It’s about to be different from the world who don’t know the truth, the false teachers who distort the truth, and the unfaithful who neglect the truth. It’s about guarding and standing firm in the truth of the gospel. “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me - a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus,” remind the apostle Paul to Timothy when he was in prison in Rome waiting for his death sentence (see 4:6), “Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:13-14). When I decided to accept God’s calling for me to enter the full-time student ministry about a decade ago, 2 Timothy is where I always go to draw encouragement from, to remind me of the mission, and to be a solid foundation for me to stand firm in the truth. My life verse - and not surprisingly, the purpose for LEGASI.tv ministry - to “Preach the Word” is taken from 2 Timothy 4:2.

In the previous article, I already shared why The Bible Speaks Today is one of the best expository ‘commentaries’ series out there and how to use it [CLICK HERE to read]. But here I would like to zero in and declare with no apology that John Stott’s The Message of 2 Timothy is one of the best and important books in this series. I highly recommend this book to every Christian minister, especially the young leaders, who aspire to serve God in this high risk but also high reward calling in their lives. Stories of fallen ‘celebrity’ preachers nowadays shouldn’t be a surprise for us. In fact, Paul has warned us about this and more in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 and 4:3-4. Thus, we all have the potential to be in the statistic. We must with all our might and rely on God’s grace to “fully carry out the ministry God has given [us]” (2 Timothy 4:5, bracket mine) faithfully till the end. I think (although I cannot confirm with surety) the late Dr. John Stott end his ministry well. Paul’s statement can be his’ and ours’ in the near future: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7). Amen 😉✌💡

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#BibleCommentary #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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I Believe In The Holy Spirit (1965) by Maynard James, Book Review

 I Believe In The Holy Spirit (1965) by Maynard James

A good and sound Biblical book on the Holy Spirit is very hard to find. There are chapters on the subject in my systematic theology textbooks but it is either too technical or too Western-minded to appreciate the personality and work of the Holy Spirit in all phases of human life. And most of the popular modern-day books on the subject are very shallow and too self-centered (and sometimes heretics!) for me to take their words seriously. I agree with Norman P. Grubb in his foreword when he writes: "The range and aptness of [Maynard James'] Biblical references, the breadth and scope of his quotations from theological authors through the centuries, and the pungency of his facts and illustrations collected from all kinds of courses, grip my attention." Yes, it sure did grip my attention too! I opened my Bible as much as I turned the pages of this book as I read it.

In my observation, there is a good steady development in the interest of honoring the most neglected person in the Trinity, namely, the Holy Spirit today - even this year. For example, in October 2021, The Reformed Seminary of Latin America have organized a 6-day virtual conference The Person & Ministry of the Holy Spirit (I've watched most of the sermons on YouTube). Also, there was a 2-day Holy Spirit: Mantles conference held on January 2021 organized by Project ETV by well-known Charismatic preachers. Again, since last year, a popular pastor, Philip Mantofa, has made "Holy Spirit, My Best Friend" tagline known in both Indonesian and Malaysian churches through his book, song, and sermon series. For all of this exposure to bring awareness to God the Spirit (although we must acknowledge there are weird and false teachings out there), we should be deeply thankful. But overall, to the church worldwide, the reality of the person of the Holy Spirit remains neglected down the centuries until today. This is, as the author would call it, "The sin of neglect." I'm guilty of this sin too.

"It has been pointed out that the Holy Spirit is directly mentioned not less than 86 times in the Old Testament and at least 261 times in the New Testament," explained Maynard. "Some Christians would be quite surprised if told that 25 different names or titles are given to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures." Here are just ten names: The Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4), The Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), The Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), The Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2), The Spirit of Truth (John 14:1, 17), The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29), The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15), The Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4), The Comforter (John 14:26), and The Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4:14). Needless to say, the Holy Spirit is a prominent character in the Scriptures and just because He is called the Third Person of the Trinity, it doesn't mean that He is the third in terms of importance. The Holy Spirit is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. Maynard has done a good job explaining in each chapter the matchless operations of the Holy Spirit in the creation, the written Word, the incarnate Word, and the human experience. He also discusses the sanctifying power, the gracious regeneration miracle, the three baptisms*, the emblems or symbols, and the gifts of the Spirit. I find that anecdotes that he used to illustrate his points are very helpful and not as annoying as some books that always make themselves the heroes of the story!

I can sense that the author was trying his best to be as balanced in his judgment and theology as possible. But a book on this subject - often gets the critical treatments by the Reformed, often misrepresented by the Charismatic, often treated mystically by the Catholic - will always arouse internal debate among the well-meaning Christians. For sure, I have some disagreements with the author who (but not mentioned directly) comes from the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement background and is thus biased especially in his assessments involving the gifts of the Spirit and his understanding of Spirit baptism(s). I believe in both but differ from some of his interpretations. Let's say, I have my own biases. Other than that, I'm very pleased and edified by the book. Surely, both of us would agree with Charles H. Spurgeon: “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” Amen!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #TheHolySpirit #TheTrinity #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Supremacy of God In Preaching (1990, 2004) by John Piper, Book Review

The Supremacy of God In Preaching (1990, 2004) by John Piper

 

“There are always two parts to true worship,” writes John Piper, one of the role models who taught me to delight in God, to love the Scriptures, and to proclaim the truth with passion, “There is seeing God, and there is savoring God. You can’t separate these. You must see him to savor him. And if you don’t savor him when you see him, you insult him. In true worship, there is always understanding with the mind, and there is always feeling in the heart. Understanding must always be the foundation of feeling, or all we have is baseless emotionalism. But the understanding of God that doesn’t give rise to feeling for God becomes mere intellectualism and deadness. This is why the Bible continually calls us to think and consider and meditate, on the other hand, and to rejoice and fear and mourn and delight and hope and be glad, on the other hand. Both are essential for worship.” This is one of the most critical passages in the book. If you get this - especially the preachers - you will see why the work of preaching is not just informing but also transforming the mind and the heart of the (listening) hearers to look Godward. Piper continues by saying that the reason that preaching is so essential is that “it is uniquely suited to waken seeing God and savoring God… with the exposition of the Word of God and exultation in the God of the Word.”

Few people like John Piper understand the real goal, purpose, and high calling of preaching today. Perhaps the other preacher is the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones (I’m currently reading Preaching & Preachers by Dr Lloyd), who said: “To me, the work of preaching is the highest and greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called.” It is always dangerous, in my opinion, to compare previous faithful preachers with contemporary preachers because times have changed. But if the truth is unchanged, then the means to declare the truth is unchanged too, namely, through preaching. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). But many of the so-called preachings nowadays is nothing more than just a motivational talk or an inspirational sharing or a psychological counselling session. Sprinkling Bible verses here and there, exciting the audiences with music and dramatic actions, delivering TED talks-style man-centred teachings, which people call preaching today. Far from the truth! As much as the judgment of God goes to the modern-day false preachers, the people also play the role and are held responsible for lifting them to celebrity status (read 2 Timothy 4:3). Preachers must teach the truth, and the people must hunger for the truth. How do you know if the preacher is teaching the truth? He will point you to SEE God. How do you know if you are hunger for the truth? You will be longing to SAVOR God.

Read what Pastor John said about the supremacy of God in preaching: “The dominant note of preaching be the freedom of God’s sovereign grace, that the unifying theme be the zeal that God has for his own glory, that the grand object of preaching be the infinite and inexhaustible being of God, and that the pervasive atmosphere of preaching be the holiness of God.” It is God from beginning to end. God reign! There are many gems in this book, and I highly recommend it to every pastor, teacher, preacher, and growing Christian. Although I’m not particularly called to be a preacher but a staff worker, I find this book helps me to remind myself that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever. [Note: The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes the chief end of man by using the word “and” to connect the two statements, but John Piper has suggested that the word “by” would be more consistent]. I have read this book for the third time. The first time I was in the FES Penang office during my visit many years ago, the second time I moved back to FES Sarawak, and again this year. Read it!

#ServeToLead #GrowingLeaders #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #JohnPiper #TheSupremacyOfGodInPreaching

To read my previous #1Book1Week book reviews, CLICK HERE  

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

 

Romans 1:28-32 The Breakdown of Human Society (#LetterToTheRomans)

As I observe the current world events and study the Word of God, especially Romans 1, I see the inevitable breakdown of human society. As we move further away from God, we move nearer to our self-destruction. More than ever, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (see Romans 1:18). The question is, WHY? And is there any hope amidst all of this?

To watch my previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans, CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 


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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Romans 1:21-25 The Origin of Idolatry (#LetterToTheRomans)

"Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). There are three stages involve from suppressing the truth about God to idolatry. What are they? ⛔ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheOriginOfIdolatry

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Romans 1:18-20 Bad News: The Wrath of God (#LetterToTheRomans)

"The wrath of God." Many people, including Christians, are either confused or afraid or denying this truth in the Bible altogether. But I would like to submit: If you don't understand the wrath of God, then, you can't appreciate (or perhaps don't know) the gospel of God. Let's start with, what is the wrath of God? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheWrathOfGod

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE  http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding The Basics (2016 Edition) by R.C. Sproul, Book Review

 

What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding The Basics (2016 Edition)
by R.C. Sproul

One day a group of Muslim students approached me with interest. I was obviously (and intentionally wanted to be seen) reading my Bible at the canteen while waiting for Christian Fellowship to start. The spokesperson said to me that he doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. After I asked him why and patiently listening to his explanations, I replied, “In that case, I also don’t believe in this ‘Jesus.’ Let me tell you the real Jesus of Alkitab...” So I opened the Bible and planted the seed of the Gospel in their hearts [The rest of the story? Censored. This is Malaysia, remember?]. In the same way, when I heard some people said, “I think the Reformed Theology is wrong,” “This theology is divisive,” “The Reformed people don’t believe in the Holy Spirit...”, etc. and then asked them to explain it, I noticed that they have many misconceptions regarding the basics. I think many things in the world are unworthy to dig deeper or invest our time and energy, but I beseech you to consider learning more about Reformed Theology. At least the basics. And at least if you reject it or speak against it, you’re not doing it out of ignorance. In this book, the late Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939-2017) as if replying to the disagreements, “Let me tell you what Reformed Theology is...” So he opened the Scripture, The Westminster Confession of Faith, and the writings of the Reformers and planted the seed of the grace of God in our hearts.

One of the terms that many Christians are allergic to is THEOLOGY. They look the other way whenever they come across books or events with “theology” as its title. Let me deal with this first before I go through the book review. Theology simply means the study of God (Greek, theo means ‘god,’ and the suffix -logy means ‘the study of’). Informally, when we talking about God, discussing about God, having ideas about God, we engage in theology. Of course, some people are formally and academically called Theologians. But basically, we are all theologians either consciously or unconsciously, good ones or bad ones. I say, be a good one! Don’t fear the term anymore; embrace it. Now, let’s go to what is REFORMED THEOLOGY? R.C. Sproul wittily said, “Reformed Theology is a Theology.” By this, he means it is driven first and foremost by its understanding of the character of God, not just the study of religion. “When we engage in the quest to understand God, it is theology,” he continues, “When our quest is limited to understanding how people react to theology, it is religion.” The centrality and the supremacy of the triune God of the Scripture is the hinge of the Reformed theology. “For this reason, it is often called ‘God-centered’ theology,” said Joel R. Beeke, co-author of Reformed Systematic Theology. Although it is not utterly unique from the other branch of theological systems such as it is systematic (attempts to discern the coherent and unified teachings of the Scripture), catholic (refers to ‘universal’ truths of the Christian faith), and evangelical (part of the Protestant reformation) but has its own distinctiveness. In the two parts of this book, R.C. Sproul slowly made the distinctions:

Part 1: Foundations of the Reformed Theology

a) Centred on God
b) Based on God’s Word alone
c) Committed to Faith Alone
d) Devoted to Jesus Christ (The Prophet, Priest, and King)
e) Structured by Three Covenants

Part 2: Five Points of Reformed Theology

a) Humanity’s Radical Corruption
b) God’s Sovereign Choice
c) Christ’s Purposeful Atonement
d) The Spirit’s Effective Call
e) God’s Preservation of the Saints

When people think of Reformed Theology, the Five Points with the familiar acrostic TULIP always come to mind: T stands for Total Depravity, U stands for Unconditional Election, L stands for Limited Atonement, I stands for Irresistible Grace, and P stands for Perseverance of the Saints. But if you noticed the lists in Part 2, Sproul suggests another way of saying the same points with different wordings to avoid misleading. Of course, the acrostic TULIP is easy to remember. Still, it seems very forceful to insert the meanings that can lead to misunderstanding (like when Reformed is equating to Calvinism. It is a misleading term, in my opinion, because although John Calvin was a principal figure in the development of this theology, he was not the sole originator and contributor). So I really appreciate what Sproul did here. After reading this book, three thoughts came to mind: 1) I praise God for His providence. My group weekly Bible Study on the Book of Isaiah and the series of studies on the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and the Epistle to the Romans that I create for LEGASI.tv have helped me tremendously understand the big picture of the Word of God. So when I read this book, I can connect to a large extend to what Sproul is writing here; 2) I found that there are thoughts that came to my mind when I read the Word of God but couldn’t put it into words are explained effortlessly by Sproul throughout the book. Just wow! and 3) I’m still reluctant to either calling myself a Reformed or not. There are more questions to discover and some interpretations that I’m still skeptical about. There are strengths and weaknesses in every form of a theological system. And, there is no Biblical mandate or obligation to make the decision (although it is helpful to know where one stands theologically). For sure, I’m more REFORMING than I was before reading this book. If it’s good, then Soli Deo Gloria!

Here are some helpful YouTube videos to help me comprehends this book further:

1) Teaching Series on What Is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul at Ligonier Ministries [12 parts], CLICK HERE 

2) Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism [4 hours 18 minutes documentary], CLICK HERE

3) Why I Think Calvinism Is Unbiblical by Mike Winger, CLICK HERE  (Check out Dr. Leighton Flowers’s YouTube Channel Soteriology 101 too for more videos challenging Calvinism teachings. I encourage you to read and watch the other videos and debates by those who have opposing beliefs than you. This is a constructive way to learn and test your beliefs.)

 
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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.