Hello there!
I just thought I'd post because this blog seems thoughtless.
Unikoisermons is still going strong, and up-to-date posts are in the near future.
Unikoi's still going on, Friday nights, 7.30p sharp, worship, message, fun.
The new church year has started! Hello c/o 2014! Goodbye c/o 2010...
If you've given up on Unikoi Thoughts, have hope. We just might start posting again. In the meantime, check out unikoi.org and see what's going on. Join in. Have fun. Grow. Love.
Hope to see you on Fridays!
SDG
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Shifting Focus
Hello all!
It's been a long time since the last post on Unikoi Thoughts. After quite some thought, we have decided to shift our focus on Unikoi Sermons. You can visit the Unikoi Sermons site here.
The content on the Unikoi blog site will still be available.
Soli Deo Gloria!
It's been a long time since the last post on Unikoi Thoughts. After quite some thought, we have decided to shift our focus on Unikoi Sermons. You can visit the Unikoi Sermons site here.
The content on the Unikoi blog site will still be available.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Transitions (continued)
Hello all,
Here's a quick update.
Unikoi Sermons is going under a renovation, so things will be frozen for some time. Sermon notes are still being compiled and edited, and the sermon and sermon notes will be updated together.
The Unikoi Blog is also frozen for the moment, but we will begin blogging more as we begin to clear things up.
Sorry again for the delay.
Check back for updates!
Here's a quick update.
Unikoi Sermons is going under a renovation, so things will be frozen for some time. Sermon notes are still being compiled and edited, and the sermon and sermon notes will be updated together.
The Unikoi Blog is also frozen for the moment, but we will begin blogging more as we begin to clear things up.
Sorry again for the delay.
Check back for updates!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Transitions
Hey guys,
Just wanted to update you a bit. Sorry about the delay. We're trying to get sermon notes up and the blog on the http://www.unikoi.org website.
Stay tuned!
Just wanted to update you a bit. Sorry about the delay. We're trying to get sermon notes up and the blog on the http://www.unikoi.org website.
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Abortion in Politics
In recent news, the new president signed an executive order overturning the Mexico City Policy, which stated that the federal government would not provide foreign aid to clinics or groups offering abortion and/or abortion-related services. President Reagan instituted this policy in 1984, and his successor, President H.W. Bush kept the policy. President Clinton overturned it in 1993, but President George W. Bush restored it in 2001. In essence, the Obama administration promotes abortion, and Planned Parenthood and many abortion-rights activists expect him to keep his promise.
However, the consequences of abortion make abortion an unwise decision. When a woman decides to get an abortion, the woman effectively kills the fetus. After the abortion, the woman may feel depressed, and there is shame that she aborted, because a woman has a love for, a bond to her children, even the children who are not even born yet. Even thought the baby may not be visible, God is shaping the baby and He knows what the baby will become, as stated in Psalm 129:13-16.
As Christians, we cannot do much about President Obama’s decision, but we can pray that God will lead and we can ask Him to help us to trust His decisions. Also, we can SOUND THE HORN FOR THE UNBORN (as stated in Hanley’s message on The Christian Responsibility to Fight for the Lives of the Unborn) by sharing with peers and with others the truth about abortion when the moment presents itself. We should SOUND THE HORN because of what Psalm 82:3-4 says:
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
The babies in the womb are alive, and we must fight to save the lives of the unborn from abortions, because, as Hanley stated, when you save the baby’s life, there is a good chance that you save the mother’s life as well. Technically, abortion is really just passive murder, and we should all try to prevent the unnecessary deaths of the unborn and the causal slaughter of the lives of the unborn.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The True Focus of Worship: Revisted
This is the final speech of the series of speeches given by youth for the Youth Speaker Tournament...
___________
As we look to the stars in the space, we see God’s infinite glory and majesty; as we look back to the creation of the world, we see the timelessness of our Lord; and as we look to the cross, we see His love and mercy for us. However, in our repetitive Sunday morning worship services, we dumb down God to mere feelings in our own hearts: feelings that disappear as we leave the sanctuary. Our worship becomes self-centered, and we lose sight of the glorious and holy God that’s right before our eyes. Our worship also becomes trapped in the walls of the church, and we forget His sovereign plan of sanctification and missions outside of the church.
However, in a sermon in the mid 1720’s, the pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards said, “[The] glory of God [does not] consist merely in [man] perceiving His perfections.” Instead, he said, “The essence of glorifying … God consists … in [man’s] rejoicing in God’s manifestations of His beauty.” 1 In Romans 14:17, Paul says, “for the kingdom of God is …joy in the Holy Spirit.” In other words, at the very core of worship is joy: joy in his majesty, joy in his love, and joy in his justice. This joy, however, does not simply refer to earthly happiness. Rather, it is a supernatural joy that comes from a passion and zeal for God which is not just confined to Sunday worship but poured out into our lives.
Some of the most famous leaders of Christian history showed this passion and zeal in their ministries as they left a permanent mark on the church. Martin Luther preached almost daily; he lectured constantly as a professor; he was burdened with the care of all the churches; he was continuously harassed with controversies; and he was one of the most prolific writers of his day. John Calvin preached or lectured every day; he was a pastor, professor, and almost a magistrate; he was overwhelmed with letters from all over Europe; and he was the author of numerous works.2 John Wesley averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years and preached a total of more than forty-four thousand times; he traveled by horseback more than 200,000 miles; and he still found time to publish countless works on subjects ranging from Christian theology to English history.3 These three well-known theologians and reformers of the Church worked tirelessly for the Lord. They devoted their whole lives to His service with a passion and zeal that must consume our lives to the point that we “present [our] bodies as […] living sacrifice[s]” and allow God’s sovereign grace to mold and sanctify us.
Instead of simple songs in worship, these leaders’ lives were worship to God. In
1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul reminds the church of Corinth that every part of their lives should be devoted to the glory of God. He even goes as far as to say that while we are eating or drinking we should glorify God. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Together, these verses remind us that our deeds should not simply be actions but an act of worship. Works mean nothing without the heart, but where the heart is, works will follow. So, through our deeds, we proclaim the love and might of Christ working through our lives and sanctifying us day by day.
Let me conclude with this story, Dr. Charles Weigle, an evangelist and gospel songwriter, had the opportunity to walk through some of the famous rose gardens of Pasadena, California when the fragrance of the flowers filled the air. Later in the day he arrived at the hotel where a Bible conference was being held. As he took his seat, a man turned to him and said, “Dr. Weigle, I know where you’ve been. You toured one of our lovely gardens, for I can smell the pleasing aroma on your clothing.”
Dr. Weigle replied, “My prayer is that I may walk so closely with the Lord that the fragrance of His grace will pervade my being. I want them to know by my words, my actions, and my songs that I have been with Jesus.”4 And that is the true focus of worship.
1. Edwards, Jonathan. “Nothing Upon Earth Can Represent the Glories of Heaven.” The Works of Jonathan Edwards.
2. Tan, Paul Lee. “Luther and Calvin.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
3. Tan, Paul Lee. “John Wesley.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
4. Tan, Paul Lee. “Fragrance of His Presence.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
___________
As we look to the stars in the space, we see God’s infinite glory and majesty; as we look back to the creation of the world, we see the timelessness of our Lord; and as we look to the cross, we see His love and mercy for us. However, in our repetitive Sunday morning worship services, we dumb down God to mere feelings in our own hearts: feelings that disappear as we leave the sanctuary. Our worship becomes self-centered, and we lose sight of the glorious and holy God that’s right before our eyes. Our worship also becomes trapped in the walls of the church, and we forget His sovereign plan of sanctification and missions outside of the church.
However, in a sermon in the mid 1720’s, the pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards said, “[The] glory of God [does not] consist merely in [man] perceiving His perfections.” Instead, he said, “The essence of glorifying … God consists … in [man’s] rejoicing in God’s manifestations of His beauty.” 1 In Romans 14:17, Paul says, “for the kingdom of God is …joy in the Holy Spirit.” In other words, at the very core of worship is joy: joy in his majesty, joy in his love, and joy in his justice. This joy, however, does not simply refer to earthly happiness. Rather, it is a supernatural joy that comes from a passion and zeal for God which is not just confined to Sunday worship but poured out into our lives.
Some of the most famous leaders of Christian history showed this passion and zeal in their ministries as they left a permanent mark on the church. Martin Luther preached almost daily; he lectured constantly as a professor; he was burdened with the care of all the churches; he was continuously harassed with controversies; and he was one of the most prolific writers of his day. John Calvin preached or lectured every day; he was a pastor, professor, and almost a magistrate; he was overwhelmed with letters from all over Europe; and he was the author of numerous works.2 John Wesley averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years and preached a total of more than forty-four thousand times; he traveled by horseback more than 200,000 miles; and he still found time to publish countless works on subjects ranging from Christian theology to English history.3 These three well-known theologians and reformers of the Church worked tirelessly for the Lord. They devoted their whole lives to His service with a passion and zeal that must consume our lives to the point that we “present [our] bodies as […] living sacrifice[s]” and allow God’s sovereign grace to mold and sanctify us.
Instead of simple songs in worship, these leaders’ lives were worship to God. In
1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul reminds the church of Corinth that every part of their lives should be devoted to the glory of God. He even goes as far as to say that while we are eating or drinking we should glorify God. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Together, these verses remind us that our deeds should not simply be actions but an act of worship. Works mean nothing without the heart, but where the heart is, works will follow. So, through our deeds, we proclaim the love and might of Christ working through our lives and sanctifying us day by day.
Let me conclude with this story, Dr. Charles Weigle, an evangelist and gospel songwriter, had the opportunity to walk through some of the famous rose gardens of Pasadena, California when the fragrance of the flowers filled the air. Later in the day he arrived at the hotel where a Bible conference was being held. As he took his seat, a man turned to him and said, “Dr. Weigle, I know where you’ve been. You toured one of our lovely gardens, for I can smell the pleasing aroma on your clothing.”
Dr. Weigle replied, “My prayer is that I may walk so closely with the Lord that the fragrance of His grace will pervade my being. I want them to know by my words, my actions, and my songs that I have been with Jesus.”4 And that is the true focus of worship.
1. Edwards, Jonathan. “Nothing Upon Earth Can Represent the Glories of Heaven.” The Works of Jonathan Edwards.
2. Tan, Paul Lee. “Luther and Calvin.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
3. Tan, Paul Lee. “John Wesley.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
4. Tan, Paul Lee. “Fragrance of His Presence.” Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Next Generation Leadership
The continuation of the youth speaker series
________
Who are the next generation leaders? Is it the person sitting on your left or is it the person sitting on your right? When we think of the term “leader,” we imagine someone who is mature and is around the age of a young adult or older. This is a misconception that many of us young people believe. A leader can be a person of any age; it’s a person who is willing to step up and take responsibility of a group or to coordinate an event. Young people who want to take their faith to a whole new level should become leaders for God.
Many Christian teenagers do not take their faith and relationship with God seriously. Think about it; do your Christian friends strive to become more like Christ or do they succumb to the secular world? Many teens follow the behavior of a secular society. They want to feel popular and be accepted by their non-Christian friends, instead of being perceived as “Jesus Freaks”. I follow the behavior of the secular world many times in order to feel accepted, but I continue to strive to be more like Christ. We shouldn’t be ashamed of being God’s elect; we should be proud that God chose us and sent His son to be a propitiation of our sins.
A common belief that young people including me say to excuse ourselves in becoming a leader is the phrase, “Leaders are for people who are older than me.” It is a privilege to be a leader for God. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourselves an example of those who believe.” According to Paul’s letter to Timothy, the younger generation should act as mature as the older generations. Just because we don’t know as much as the adult leaders know, doesn’t give us the excuse to not become leaders.
This leads me to my next point; how do we become a leader? Being a leader means we must have humility because Christ Jesus was humble. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of man. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” Philippians 2:5-8. We must follow Christ’s example in order to become a spiritual leader that is fit for leading the church. Paul, a leader and follower of Christ, states in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” Paul was a great leader due to his faith in following Christ. He continuously preached God’s word and had faith in God’s plan for him. Despite Paul being imprisoned many times, he persevered through trials and was obedient to God’s commands. We too, can become leaders for Christ by imitating His attitude and characteristics.
Not only does a Christian leader have humility but they must also dwell in God’s word and have a close relationship with God. Moses was a prime example of someone who had a strong faith and relationship with the Lord. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt with the help of God. He trusted in God and obeyed God’s commands. Moses’ relationship with God was so close that the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 33:17 that he had found favor in the Lord and that God knew him by name. God’s elected children should yearn to have a closer relationship with God and yearn to become the leaders of the next generation.
The leaders of the next generation need to be rooted by the Bible and by the Holy Spirit. They must be blameless in speech and in conduct. One important quality a leader needs is the desire to love one another. In Titus 2, Paul asks the older men and women to remind the younger generation to love others because Christ loved them. Leaders need to interact with the people around them to understand what problems they are facing. Then they can address those problems by teaching the word of God through fellowship. These leaders are humble, loving, obedient and close with God.
The next generation leaders are us young men and women. We must step up and take our faith to a new level. We know more about this culture we live in today than the adults. Let us combine our knowledge with God’s infinite wisdom and address the problems teens are facing today. A.W. Tozer once said, “When God's sheep are in danger, the shepherd must not gaze at the stars and meditate on "inspirational" themes. He is morally obliged to grab his weapon and run to their defense.” We shouldn’t watch our brothers and sisters fall away from God. We must lead them in the right direction. Therefore, let’s not hide behind the curtain and watch today’s leaders from the background. Instead, we should emulate the leaders of our churches and learn from them. Do not worry about not having humility, obedience, a loving heart, or a close relationship with God now. God will give us these qualities of a leader as we continue to strive to be more like Him. Join me and many other Christian brothers and sisters as we strive to become the leaders of this generation and examples to those who believe.
________
Who are the next generation leaders? Is it the person sitting on your left or is it the person sitting on your right? When we think of the term “leader,” we imagine someone who is mature and is around the age of a young adult or older. This is a misconception that many of us young people believe. A leader can be a person of any age; it’s a person who is willing to step up and take responsibility of a group or to coordinate an event. Young people who want to take their faith to a whole new level should become leaders for God.
Many Christian teenagers do not take their faith and relationship with God seriously. Think about it; do your Christian friends strive to become more like Christ or do they succumb to the secular world? Many teens follow the behavior of a secular society. They want to feel popular and be accepted by their non-Christian friends, instead of being perceived as “Jesus Freaks”. I follow the behavior of the secular world many times in order to feel accepted, but I continue to strive to be more like Christ. We shouldn’t be ashamed of being God’s elect; we should be proud that God chose us and sent His son to be a propitiation of our sins.
A common belief that young people including me say to excuse ourselves in becoming a leader is the phrase, “Leaders are for people who are older than me.” It is a privilege to be a leader for God. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourselves an example of those who believe.” According to Paul’s letter to Timothy, the younger generation should act as mature as the older generations. Just because we don’t know as much as the adult leaders know, doesn’t give us the excuse to not become leaders.
This leads me to my next point; how do we become a leader? Being a leader means we must have humility because Christ Jesus was humble. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of man. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” Philippians 2:5-8. We must follow Christ’s example in order to become a spiritual leader that is fit for leading the church. Paul, a leader and follower of Christ, states in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” Paul was a great leader due to his faith in following Christ. He continuously preached God’s word and had faith in God’s plan for him. Despite Paul being imprisoned many times, he persevered through trials and was obedient to God’s commands. We too, can become leaders for Christ by imitating His attitude and characteristics.
Not only does a Christian leader have humility but they must also dwell in God’s word and have a close relationship with God. Moses was a prime example of someone who had a strong faith and relationship with the Lord. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt with the help of God. He trusted in God and obeyed God’s commands. Moses’ relationship with God was so close that the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 33:17 that he had found favor in the Lord and that God knew him by name. God’s elected children should yearn to have a closer relationship with God and yearn to become the leaders of the next generation.
The leaders of the next generation need to be rooted by the Bible and by the Holy Spirit. They must be blameless in speech and in conduct. One important quality a leader needs is the desire to love one another. In Titus 2, Paul asks the older men and women to remind the younger generation to love others because Christ loved them. Leaders need to interact with the people around them to understand what problems they are facing. Then they can address those problems by teaching the word of God through fellowship. These leaders are humble, loving, obedient and close with God.
The next generation leaders are us young men and women. We must step up and take our faith to a new level. We know more about this culture we live in today than the adults. Let us combine our knowledge with God’s infinite wisdom and address the problems teens are facing today. A.W. Tozer once said, “When God's sheep are in danger, the shepherd must not gaze at the stars and meditate on "inspirational" themes. He is morally obliged to grab his weapon and run to their defense.” We shouldn’t watch our brothers and sisters fall away from God. We must lead them in the right direction. Therefore, let’s not hide behind the curtain and watch today’s leaders from the background. Instead, we should emulate the leaders of our churches and learn from them. Do not worry about not having humility, obedience, a loving heart, or a close relationship with God now. God will give us these qualities of a leader as we continue to strive to be more like Him. Join me and many other Christian brothers and sisters as we strive to become the leaders of this generation and examples to those who believe.
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