HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE!
How time flies! We are now in the year 2017. Another year of learning, another year of labour for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is also the year of the 30th Anniversary of Tabernacle Bible Presbyterian Church. Truly the Lord has been good unto us. Great is His faithfulness!
The church theme this year is Holding Forth the Word of Life taken from Philippians 2:16 – “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
Holding Forth the Word of Life was the title of the sermon preached by Rev. Timothy Tow on October 20, 1950, at the inauguration of Life Church English Service at 144 Prinsep Street. This English service will soon become Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in 1955, from which the Singapore Bible-Presbyterian movement was born. Holding Forth the Word of Life became the theme verse of the early Bible-Presbyterians, reminding all believers of the centrality of God’s Word in their lives.
The word “holding forth” (epechontes) in Philippians 2:16 has the meaning of holding firmly onto God’s Word while proclaiming it faithfully to others in the world. “Holding forth the Word of Life” thus requires us to be the following:
1. Word Believers. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)
2. Word Lovers. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)
3. Word Practitioners. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
4. Word Defenders. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
5. Word Proclaimers. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, say-ing, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
By the grace of God, may the year 2017 herald many more years of Tabernacle BPC “holding forth the Word of Life”!
MEMORY VERSE 2017
During the church camp in 2016, the speaker exhorted us to read the book of Proverbs daily for heavenly wisdom in our conduct, relationships and affairs. We were also encouraged to commit the Proverbs to memory so that we may meditate and live in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.
As a follow-up, we will be memorising verses from the book of Proverbs in 2017. Most of the verses are pithy and thus easier to memorise. We hope this would encourage more to participate in the quiz at the end of every month. Most importantly, we hope everyone would grow in wisdom by taking heed to the book of Proverbs. It is pointless to memorise God’s Word if we do not obey!
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
(Psalm 119:11)
Lovingly in Christ,
Preacher Clement Chew