SERMON SERIES | YEAR OF SABBATH-REST

REFLECT

31 JANUARY 2021 | TRADITIONAL SERVICE

Rev Lilian Ang

Scripture Passage: Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)

READ | SERMON NOTES

Summary | Lamentations, a sequel to Jeremiah, also looks to the fall of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon because of Israel’s sin. The message is a call to turn back to God (Lam 3:40).

Lamentations is a blueprint to examine ourselves that we may grow spiritually.

Life of Reflection has the following parts:

1. Review our ways:

• Regularly
• Honestly – Is there any lack of forgiveness? Is our life bringing others closer to Jesus or are we stumbling others?
• Thoroughly – Are we willing to go through painful examination and be prepared to accept results that we may not like?
• Carefully – Are we prayerless? Is our worship hollow?

2. Re-order our lives:

• Put things in order. Thomas Kempis – view life as a journey that leads to heaven…make sure that we are taking steps in the right direction.
• Re-order life under God. Test our actions against scripture. We reap what we sow.
• Put our relationships in order. How are we doing in our relationship with God, family, colleagues and others? What is God saying about our future in terms of our work and kingdom work? Are there hurts, habits, hangouts that may bring us down?
• Purposeful re-ordering of our lives. Self- examination serves no good if it does not lead to re-ordering.

3. Return to the Lord:

• Call to turn again to God.
• Call to commit ourselves afresh to God’s steadfast love. Our hope is in God.
• Call to be still before God (Lam 3:26, 28).

V19-42 conclude what we should do in a life of reflection- examine our ways, test them and return to the Lord.

Instead of blaming others and circumstances, we take time to reflect and take responsibility for our own behaviour. What is God saying to you and asking of you? May we lay before God our restlessness, lapses, failures and struggles, repent and seek His forgiveness in faith and ask Him to help us renew our lives.

(Sermon Notes by Woo Choi Yin)

PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How would you describe your current practice of doing reflections? Share how, when and what you usually do during your time of reflection.

2. What are some of the struggles you face in devoting time for reflections? How do you plan to “resolve” it?

3. Share a recent occasion which brought you joy or pain while doing your reflections.

4. Set aside 15 minutes every day this week to review your ways (your words, thoughts, action) against scripture.

5. What kind of relationship would like to have with God and your family? How can you achieve these desired relationships?