Asking for a Friend - Why do bad things happen?

SPLAT | March 3rd, 2024

March 3, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • Romans 5:3–5, Habakkuk 3:17–18, James 1:2–4, Romans 8:28

Pastoral Intern Evan Ng

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

—Romans 5:3-5

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

—Habakkuk 3:17-18

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

—James 1:2-4

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

—Romans 8:28

Big Idea: God uses difficulty to grow us.

Graduation Celebration

June 23, 2024 • Agape High School Graduates

Kingdom Truths: Parable of Prodigal Son

June 16, 2024 • Pastoral Intern Evan Ng • Luke 15:11–32

Kingdom Truths: Parable of Prodigal Son Scriptures: Luke 15:11-32 Pastoral Intern Evan Ng What is a parable? A story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, told by Jesus. Why does Jesus use parables? Because it gives us as the listeners the invitation to respond back to Him. Prodigal: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with selfish ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. —C. S. Lewis Both brothers had wrong motives. But in this story we only see one of them repent. If God were to think about you, what would his first feelings be? Love and compassion, not disappointment or letdown. Big Idea: God wants us to rely on him, not because we already have everything together, but because we don’t. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Mark 2:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. —John 3:16-17 How should we live? Romans 12:9-21.

Kingdom Truths: Parable of Sower

June 9, 2024 • Pastor Alex Chan • Matthew 13:1–19, Matthew 18—23

Kingdom Truths: Parable of Sower Scriptures: Matthew 13:1-19, Matthew 18-23 Pastor Alex Chan