The Crown of Saving Grace (1) - Saved from 4 Enormous Sins

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11 

1. The depth of spiritual life and experience is given to us from verse 8-11 when a believer matures in his faith. Sadly there are those who have not experienced such spiritual growth and experience though they may be in Church and even baptised. 

2. Growth and grace will deliver us from 4 enormous sins. These are: 

(a) Spiritual idleness (barren) 

Spiritual idleness is not gaining knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. Spiritual idleness can be a mark of being busy in the wrong thing. The end of people who has only religion and not salvation will end up in destruction. However, there are also true Christian who are spiritually idle because these Christian do not attach the importance of the pursuit of Christ more than earthly pursuits such as money, education, career. The only way to be delivered from spiritual idleness is to learn the depths of the Bible with diligence and earnestly seek to know the Lord Jesus. 

(b) Spiritual unfruitfulness 

If there's no spiritual fruit at all, the person is an unbeliever. But here, we are dealing with the lack of spiritual fruits in believers. If God has given us spiritual birth, He will also give us the means for spiritual growth. To stay in the same way since we knew Christ is a major sin. Afflictions can't destroy fruitfulness. It is in our afflictions that we bare the most fruits because it is then that we seek God earnestly. It is sin that destroys fruitfulness. 

(c) Spiritual blindness (those who cannot see afar off) 

The blindness here refers to those who refuse to see, willingly ignorant and those who love darkness instead of light. These are also short-sighted who are blind to the things afar off. They are so occupied with the things on earth and the things at hand. They are incapable of living in sight of eternity. We need to pray for more faith in Christ. We are only impressed of this world, because we can't see the next. 

(d) Spiritual amnesia 

Those who have forgotten the purification of their former sins. Sometimes we have forgotten how near to hell we were until Christ saved us. The Lord's Supper is God's means to remind us again and again of the forgiveness we have received through Jesus Christ. May we never forget the divine pardon we received from God.

The progress of Grace in the Soul (7) - Love for Saints and Sinners (2 Peter 1:7)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11

1. Our Christian walk should be in love reflecting the love of God. Brotherly kindness is love towards brethren in the Lord and charity is love towards the unbelievers. 

2. Christians should not be bitter, spiteful and selfish. The fruit of the Spirit in the believer's heart will produce love for others. 

3. We are saved individually but once saved, we are in the family of God and members of one Body in Christ. Our bond to the brethren is spiritual and transcends race, nationality and personal relationships. 

4. Our badge as disciples of Jesus Christ will be seen when we have love one for another. We worship and serve the Lord together and evangelise to the lost together as one community in Christ. 

5. We are to love the unbelievers even though they may not respond in love to us. We show our love to unbelievers by living a separated life for the Lord. A genuine love for unbelievers is to show concern for their souls that they may come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

The progress of Grace in the Soul (6) - Godliness Part 2 (2 Peter 1:6)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11 

1. To be godly is to love God with all our soul (thinking right of God), with all all our heart (feeling right of God) and with all our strength (acting right before God). We must be able to say from our heart that our Heavenly Father is the true and living God and Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Saviour. 

2. The marks of godliness are: 

a) Conformity to God's ways 

b) Obedience to God's Word A true godly person is always a Bible believer. 

3. The marks of godliness are evidenced in 3 ways: 

a) Worship - This is most basic in which we are to know God, love God, fear God and trust God 

b) Walk - we are to seek to walk in fellowship with God and please Him always 

c) Works - we are saved for good works. Godliness always comes with good works which include our conversation not of this world. 

4. In 1 Tim 4:7, we are exhorted to exercise ourselves unto godliness. May the Lord give us the zeal, passion and discipline to strive to be holy as God is holy.

The Progress of Grace in the Soul (5) - Godliness Part 1 (2 Peter 1:6)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11

 

1. Godliness is the inevitable result of true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the climax of all the graces preceding it ie. virtue, knowledge, temperance and patience. 

2. The Bible tells us in 2 Tim 3:5 of those who profess a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. We must not live in word and tongue but in deed and truth. Living in union with Christ has the power to produce a godly life which is a life separated from the world. The Bible says godliness with contentment is great gain. 

3. Godliness is a taste of heaven on earth. Godliness is love for God with all our heart (feelings), soul (thinking) and might (action). Godliness is vital in our relationship with God. 

4. Godliness knows God is always right in His dealings with us though we may not fully understand everything that happens to us. Godliness believes and trusts God even though He may slay me.

 5. After we are saved, we ought to ask "Lord, what will Thou have me to do?" This is true godliness that we seek to live a life sanctified and glorifying to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is not how long we live but how we live that really matters. May our lives count for the Lord living in true godliness.

The progress of Grace in the Soul (4) - Patience (2 Peter 1:6)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11

1. The Bible teaches us to progress from temperance to patience. Patience deals with our response to trials and sufferings which are not easy to bear. 

2. The essence of patience is to remain courageous and persevering under the strain of painful circumstances. It is the quiet endurance of what we cannot remove. Patience looks beyond the present sufferings even as we wait patiently for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver us from all pains and sufferings on this earth. 

3. To be patient means to endure the wrong done unto us without retaliation. We must not be vexed and be revengeful for the evil doers will be judged by God one day. Our action to others must always be biblical and in love and kindness. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the example for us to learn and follow. 

4. The effect of having patience in our Christian life is that it will produce godliness in us and we will always look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our focus in life will be heavenly and our eyes are kept on the heavenly prize. 5. Let us learn to submit to God’s will in sufferings and trials and be patience to bear them knowing that patience has its perfect work in us. Take our burdens to the Lord and do not be overwhelmed by these burdens.

Preached by Dr Alan Cairns

The progress of Grace in the Soul (3) - Temperance (2 Peter 1:6)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11 

1. We ought to make progress in our Christian life and this is only possible when there is true saving faith in us. We need to grow in temperance which deals with the greatest enemy in the progress of the Christian life. Though the devil is a great enemy to our soul, the greatest enemy is self. 

2. In our society, self is always promoted and made to stand in great importance and prominence. But the Bible teaches us that self is to be crucified. Temperance will help us to deal with it. True spiritual knowledge is powerful as it enables us to conquer the self and be free to serve Jesus Christ. 

3. Temperance means: (a) Total abstinence from everything God forbids; (b) Avoiding excess in satisfying our own desires. We must abstain from all immorality and fornication and uncleanness. 

4. A person with temperance is in control of himself which includes his desires, thoughts and words. Even for things that may be permissible, we are not to be brought under their control. Do not let sin rule and reign in our lives. 

5. We must govern our thoughts lest it be vain and worldly. We must keep our thoughts in obedience to Christ. We must also have temperance to guard our words lest it takes God’s name in vain and also hurts others. A man who can rule his spirit is better than one who can conquer a city.

The progress of Grace in the Soul (2) - Knowledge (2 Peter 1:5)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1: 1-11

1. The faith the saves, as taught in the Bible, is a living faith which will produce a fruitful and faithful life pleasing to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2. True faith is a gift from God and we cannot add anything to it to be saved. However, true faith will not stand alone as a believer in Jesus Christ will grow and progress in Christian maturity. 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us of these graces that will develop in us to live a balance and harmonious Christian life. 

3. The 1st grace to progress is Virtue which is excellence, goodness and courage. The 2nd grace is Knowledge. We must supply Knowledge to Virtue. We can't know everything in this world but we must stock our mind with biblical information.

 4. Knowledge also implies wisdom that we have the ability to use biblical knowledge to good use for the Lord. It is very dangerous to have zeal without knowledge. 

5. The secret of godly living as taught in 1 Tim 3:16 is to learn Jesus Christ. This ought to be the yearning for every true Christian. We have to spend time and effort to abound in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The progress of Grace in the Soul (I) – Virtue (2 Peter 1:5)

Scripture Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11

1. When a person truly receives the grace of God in his life and is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, there will be a change and growth in his spiritual life. Salvation is never a one-time experience. When there is a real spiritual life in a person, there will be spiritual growth and fruit. 

2. In 2 Peter 1:5, a true believer will give diligence to have progress in his spiritual life. This diligence means an earnest effort and making haste in the action. To grow in the Lord, one needs to be diligent in our spiritual endeavor.

 3. We must add or furnish and supply to our faith all the necessary spiritual ingredients as listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 – virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. When we have all these areas, we will live a life in harmony pleasing to God. 

4. The first is Virtue which means excellence and courage. The excellence of a Christian is found in him to glorify God in everything. He follows Jesus Christ and reflects Christ in his life. 

5. Virtue also means courage that we are strong in the Lord. We will face afflictions and trials but we can remain strong in the Lord knowing He will help us to bear them and make us stronger in our faith in Him.

Tribulation And Cheer

Written by Rev (Dr) Prabhudas Koshy

Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

“In the world ye shall have tribulation”

No Christian is fully shielded from troubles. Jesus said it plainly, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Jesus has not promised His followers a life totally free from sorrows, poverty, toil, sickness, slander, persecution or any of the common ills of mankind. Instead, He promised every follower a “cross.”

You are not promised the admiration of the unbelieving world. In fact, you should not expect or accept much favour from the world. Worldly people will not gather around us to admire our piety or to appreciate our devotion to the Lord. The people of the world may like a Christian for some favours they can get out of him; but as a Christian they cannot love him. If the world does gather around a Christian in real admiration and support, it’s because either the Christian has compromised or it has made a mistake about him!

Beware of the kiss of Judas with which Christ was betrayed, and with which you will be betrayed unless you are well on your guard. In the world and from the world, ye shall have tribulation. When the world pretends to love, understand that it now hates you more cordially than ever, and is carefully baiting its trap to catch you and ruin you. The Apostle John cautioned us, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13). It’s no surprise that the world hates Christians, because it hates their Master. Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). He also said, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7).

The world’s hatred and opposition to Christians are a reflection of its prince’s hatred for Christ and His beloved ones. The enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman still continues. It is better that you understand that the serpent has not changed his nature. He is a vile deceiver and destroyer still. As soon as he sees in you a devotion to Christ and His truth, he hates you with passion.

We are all born into a measure of troubles. Now our Lord tells us that we, who are born again, are introduced to a second set of tribulations. I think almost all Christians would say that this prophecy of our Lord had been abundantly verified in their lives. If anybody shall have tribulation, it is the Christian. From the kingdom of this world whereof Satan is lord, we must expect fierce opposition; and we must contend against it even unto victory if we are to enter into everlasting rest.

Some Christians might have been enjoying a life of comfort and prosperity. Like Job, they might also have been increasing in riches and dwelling at ease with a hedge about them. They might be thinking, perhaps, they have no tribulation to bear. But may such Christians be forewarned that when the devil turns against them, great may be their trials.

Though there is tribulation in the world, many a Christian have grown very fond of the world. If we have no troubles in this world, we would become too comfortable with this world of sin. So through trials, the Lord stirs up our worldly tabernacle, that we may remember this world is not our eternal home. He allows trials to come our way that we may know we are not of this world, and that we are pilgrims here on earth. We are not to live here, but must soon be up and away to the glorious land. When tribulations in this world arrive, let our thoughts and desires be turned toward the heavenly city of our God. Thanks be to God for the tribulation which shakes our thoughts out of the things of the earth and directs them toward heaven.

“But be of good cheer”

To comfort all His beloved ones who are troubled in this world, the great Conqueror of the world says, “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Remembering Jesus as the overcomer of the world, will help us to be cheerful even in afflictions.

Our Lord was an overcomer both in life and death. No adversity was strong enough to distract our Lord from accomplishing all that His Father had appointed Him to do. Nothing could overcome Him, but He overcame them all.

If you take time to study the life that our Lord had lived while He was on this earth, you will see that He was a victor in all the circumstances of His life. A deep calm always pervaded His spirit whether it was the approbation or censure that He received from men around Him. He never lost His self-control. Nothing could frustrate Him that He might fail to perform His assignments perfectly to the pleasure of His Father. He conquered all circumstances and did everything perfectly. To hold Him in our view through our life’s journey, is indeed a wonderful experience.

Our Lord also overcame the world by His fearlessness of the world’s elite men. When the Pharisees, who had no regard for Him, and with sneer and disgust, confronted Him, He declared God’s truth, rebuking and disproving them. Like a true Master, He outwitted them with His wise answers and actions. Their opposition could only prove that He is all-powerful and all-wise. Even the threats of Pilate, the governor, could not intimidate Him. He remained calm and undisturbed within when He was tried by Pilate. Even in death, He was a victor, for He ministered divine comfort and hope to the repenting criminal who was crucified beside Him. Finally, He overcame death and grave in His resurrection. Thus, He has defeated our last enemy, even death!

Since the Lord Jesus has tasted the severity of earthly tribulations and also the exultation of victory, we can trust Him to give us cheer in this hostile world. He understands the agony of our sufferings. He knows what it means to be rejected by people. He empathises with all our problems, because He experienced them. Now as an overcomer of every tribulation that He had faced, He assures us that if we follow His Word, we can "be of good cheer."

Jesus wants us not to give up our resolve to live for God’s glory. Even as He had not neglected the work that His Father had given Him to do while He was on earth, despite being rejected and afflicted, we should also press forward. He wants us to set our eyes upon Him and follow His example.

We must look to Him not only as an example in overcoming our trials, but also as our strength and help to overcome our afflictions. He is able to see us through, for He is our victorious Captain. So, by trusting in Him, let's persevere; and He will see us through.

If we lose sight of our victorious Lord in our tribulations, we will lose heart. We need to remember that it is His desire that we will have joy even in our tribulations. He is neither ignorant nor inactive in our problems. He is with us, and He is actively at work through our afflictions and problems in making us better and happier Christians.

So let's persevere, and don't let our hearts be invaded by sorrows and fears. The problems are there in order to test our mettle and spirit in following Jesus. Fear not the troubles, for our Lord has walked that way ahead of us. Keep your steps behind Him, trusting and obeying Jesus through your troubles. Remember that as you endure, you are following the One who has overcome the tribulation of this world. If you keep your trust in Him, you can be of good cheer, because victory through Christ is in sight.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Knowing Your Spiritual Gifts

Scripture text: Romans 12:6-8

The Lord gives gifts to every member in His Church. To be part of His Church, we must first receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. Thus as a child of God, we serve Him out of gratitude and love for Him.

As children of God, we are all called to serve Him. Each member in the body of Christ has a function to play. Each is unique and fit in differently in this family. It is our privilege to serve Him. God does not need our service, we are not indispensable – “for without me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

To serve God, we must first be willing. God gives us “gifts differing according  to the grace that is given to us” (Romans 12:6a). There are seven gifts listed in verses 6 to 8:
1.    Prophecy – This refers to the ability to carefully appropriate God’s Word for edification and comfort.
2.    Ministry – Various service rendered in the church.
3.    Teaching – Teaching of God’s Word.
4.    Exhortation – Giving useful instructions, encouragement from God’s Word for the edification of His church.
5.   Giving – It is an expression of gratitude and stewardship and is a Christian’s duty. We are to give simply, wisely, cheerfully and liberally (2 Cor 9:6-7).
6.    Ruling – Supervision and maintaining discipline in the church.
7.    Showing mercy – Caring for the sick and fatherless.

When we come to God willingly, God will make us useful for His glory. We must avail ourselves, be responsible and faithful as His instruments. A Christian must not despise the talents or gifts entrusted by God or think highly of oneself because of the manifold gifts given. We are not to judge others because we do not know everything about someone but just to do our best and be useful for the Lord.

Our humility before God will keep us faithful and consecrated whatever our gifts, to the glory of His Name. May we reflect on the gifts entrusted to us and be faithful in how we are using them. 

Speaker: Pr John Loo

The Ministry of Marriage

Scripture text: Eph 5:25-33

Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Marriage is a very special union that God has designed. A wedding, no matter how grand and elaborate or simple, is only the beginning of the marriage journey, filled with many challenges ahead. Just as we put in time and effort to maintain a car or the function of any machinery, marriage has to be maintained and nurtured in order for it to be a happy and fulfilling one.

A Christian marriage is a life-long covenant of ‘till death do us part’ and thus the couple must look up to God, who has also provided us with a divine manual in His Word.

Each spouse must always seek to minister to the other in body and soul. This life-long ministry can be enhanced through the following areas.

1.    Wife’s submission (vs 22) – God in His wisdom gives mankind the best pattern of hierarchical authority and function in the family. To submit is not slavery or inferiority. It is the loving and willing submission of a wife to her own husband.

2.    Husband’s love for his wife (vs 25) – This is the emulation of the unconditional love Christ has for the church. The husband is also to love his wife as his own body (vs 28). Christ gave His life and to love involves giving – willingly and lovingly.

3.    Faithfulness to each other (vs 26 & 27) – Many marriages, even Christian marriages, fall apart because of unfaithfulness, as indicated by statistics. To maintain a marriage, the married couple must give prayer a priority in their life. They are to pray for faithfulness to God and keep close to Him. And when one fears God and is faithful to Him, he will strive to be faithful to his own spouse under all circumstances.

Christ is the supreme example of love and faithfulness. He will remain faithful to His church through eternity. This ultimate union between Christ and His church must be the married couple’s greatest motivation to minister to each other so as to keep the marriage in the Lord growing and glowing, for His glory.

The Heart of Missions (Psalm 142:4)

What is the heart of missions? In Matthew 18:11, our Lord Jesus tells us that missions is about lost souls. God is concerned for the lost. Are we? Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us that when a person dies, the body goes to dust. The soul, on the other hand, goes to heaven where God will determine where the soul will ultimately end up – heaven or hell. God’s desire is for all souls to go to heaven. That’s why Christ came, so that we may be saved.

Psalm 142:4 is David’s cry to God when he was a fugitive in the wilderness. He cried that there was no man he could trust who will fight for him. The word “know” in the verse means “caring for” in Hebrew. No one cared for David. Despite having hundreds of soldiers with him, David still felt all alone.

Do we care for the souls of others? Is there someone who feels lonely like David and is waiting for us to reach out to? Do we open our eyes to see the needs of others?

In Psalm 142:5, David confessed that even the safest place on earth cannot be compared to the safety of God’s refuge. When we are in God’s refuge, we will want to serve Him faithfully. We are to serve God with no conditions, without choosing, without demeaning any area of service. We are to serve according to His calling. God is concerned for the lost. Are we?

As a church, we ought to have the same heart and the same heartbeat for missions: to reach out to those who are crying out that no one cares for their souls. As God calls us to reach out to the lost souls, let us be provoked to do so. We must ensure that our heart is there. We must have the heartbeat of missions.

The Secret of Family Worship (Josh 24:14-15)

Although the church must teach the whole counsel of God, it is the home where our spiritual foundation must first be laid. In Joshua 24, Joshua made it clear that the man (as head of the household) must take the lead and be the one to make the decision to have family worship.   

In Joshua 24:14-15, there are 3 points to note:
1)    v 14: It is a command to fear the Lord and serve Him.
2)    v 15: It is a choice to worship God. Because of the hardness of heart, the Israelites failed to eliminate the enemies. Hence they had to choose whether to serve God or the idols of the land.
3)    v 15: Godly leadership will influence others. Joshua's influence is so effective that many followed him (v 31), at least till the next generation. God-fearing parents must rely on God for strength to raise their children in the godly manner, not carnal ways. Fearing God will make us draw closer to Him and to hate evil and sin.  

Service also means worship. We are to worship God in fear, for only then can we worship Him in spirit and in truth. The 2 extreme views to avoid are:
1.    adopting entirely a puritanical form of family worship
2.    adopting a cannot-be-bothered attitude, considering family worship as outdated.

Pointers for starting family worship:
¤   Who: at least 2 believers in the family
¤  Frequency: depends on individual family members’ commitment. Twice daily is ideal. If not, once daily, or a few times a week/month
¤    Content: singspiration, reading of Scripture, prayer
¤    Duration: short
¤    Venue: where there is least interruptions and distractions

2 Timothy 3:4-5 warns us about those who love pleasures more than God. Is that why we fail to have family worship? Family worship helps to knit the family together. It promotes family gathering in the name of the Lord and opens the way to coming to God as a family. May your home be the place where family worship is found.

The Path of Wisdom and Life

Scripture Text: Proverbs 2:1-9

By Rev. Daniel Khoo

The Bible always exhorts us to choose the right path, but the contemporary world thinks there are “many ways to God” and any path you sincerely follow will eventually take you there.

Jesus made it clear that in this life, we can take only one of two ways, and each of them leads to a different destination. Everybody has to make a choice and there is no middle way. You have to choose either the crowded road or the narrow road. The crowded road leads to destruction and the narrow road leads to life (Matt 7:13-14).
In the book of Proverbs, the words “path” and “way” (including their plurals) are found almost one hundred times. We must not only love Wisdom, but we must walk in the path of Wisdom. When we walk on Wisdom’s path, we will enjoy God’s blessings. The path of Wisdom leads to life, but the way of Folly leads to death. When we walk on the path of Wisdom, we have these 3 wonderful assurances: Wisdom protects our path (ch. 2); it also directs our path (ch. 3) and it makes your path perfect (ch. 4).
Proverbs give us an admonition to listen to God’s Word and take the Word to heart (3:1-12; 4:1-9), because that is the only way we can walk with God and live skilfully. 

There are 8 imperatives in this passage (2:1-9) that reveal our responsibilities towards God’s truth:
1. Receive (accept) God’s words (v. 1)
2. Hide them (store them up) in our minds and hearts (i.e. memorise God’s Word) (v. 1)
3. Incline the ear (v. 2)
4. Apply the heart (v. 2)
5. Cry after knowledge (v. 3)
6. Life up the voice for understanding (v. 3)
7. Seek for wisdom (v. 4)
8. Search after it (v. 4)

If we want wisdom, we must listen to God attentively (Matt. 13:9), obey Him humbly (Jn. 14:15), and ask Him sincerely (James 1:5). We are to seek Him diligently (Isa. 55:6-7), like a miner searches for gold and silver.

Obtaining spiritual wisdom is not a once-a-week hobby. Rather it is a daily discipline of our whole lifetime. But in our modern age, many people do not have the habit of daily investing time and energy in digging deep into the Scripture and learning wisdom from the Lord.
It seems that our attention span is brief and our spiritual appetite is feeble and small. Fewer people “take time to be holy,” and many have fallen prey to the enemies that lurk along the way.

If we do our part, to seek Him and His words, God will keep His promise and protect us from the enemy (vs 7-8).
People are willing to work diligently in their jobs because they know they will earn a paycheck, but what about applying ourselves diligently to God’s Word in order to gain spiritual riches that are more valuable than gold and silver and jewels, riches that will last forever? (2:4; 3:13-15: 8:10-21; 16:16)
There is a price to pay if we would gain spiritual wisdom, but there is an even greater price to pay if we don’t gain it. Hence, we must walk with God through the study of His Word.

The Twelve

   

Jesus called 12 disciples (Luke 6:12-16, Matt 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19). They were to become Apostles. The 12 originally chosen by Jesus were:

(1)    Simon Peter: The Gung-Ho Disciple

 

·       A fisherman (Luke 5:3-4).

·       Has a younger brother named Andrew (John 1:40-41).

·       Was named Cephas or Peter (i.e. a stone) by Christ (John 1:42)

·       Was married (Mark 1:30).

·       Jesus healed his mother-in-law (Mark 8:14-15).

·       Called to full-time service (Luke 5:3-11).

·       One of 3 disciples in the inner circle (Luke 8:51, Matt 17:1-4).

·       Walked on water (Matt 14:28-31).

·       Asked Jesus about the meaning of the parables (Luke 12:41).

·       Twice confessed Jesus’ deity and Messiahship (John 6:68-69, Matt 16:16).

·       Used by Satan to discourage Jesus from going to the cross (Matt 16:21-23).

·       Eyewitness to the transfiguration of Christ (Matt 17:1-4).

·       Sent by Jesus to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth (Matt 17:27).

·       Taught what it means to forgive by Christ (Matt 18:21-22).

·       Promised a reward for following Christ (Matt 18:27).

·       Assisted in the preparation of the final Passover meal (Luke 22:8).

·       Present with Christ in the upper room (John 13:6, 24, 36).

·       Told Jesus not to wash his feet (John 13:6).

·       Cut off Malchus’s ear in Gethsemane (John 18:10-11).

·       Followed Christ from a distance after His arrest (Mark 14:50-54).

·       Denied Christ thrice (John 18:15-18, 25-27).

·       Extremely sorry for denying Christ (Luke 22:62).

·       Ran to see the empty tomb with John (Luke 24:12, John 20:2-10).

·       Was visited by the resurrected Christ personally (Luke 24:34, 1 Cor 15:5).

·       Restored by Jesus after a miraculous fishing trip in the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23).

·       Told by Jesus that he would die by crucifixion (John 21:18). Tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside down.

(2)    Andrew: The Christ-Sharing Disciple

 

·       Younger brother of Peter (John 1:44).

·       A fisherman from Bethsaida (John 1:44).

·       One of the first disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:40).

·       Introduced his brother Peter to Christ (John 1:41).

·       Brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Christ in the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:12-22).

·       Tradition has it that Andrew was
the founder of the Byzantium/ Constantinople Church, and a missionary to Russia. He has been made the Patron Saint of Scotland. It is said that Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross.

 

(3)     John: The Beloved Disciple

·       A fisherman with his elder brother—James—also a disciple of the Lord, both sons of Zebedee (Matt 4:21).

·       Called the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17).

·       Among the inner circle of disciples (Matt 7:1-4).

·       Originally a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35).

·       Chided by Christ for his sectarian spirit (Luke 9:49-50).

·       Ambitious for high rank and power in Christ’s kingdom (Mark 10:37).

·       Asked Jesus to destroy a Samaritan village with fire from heaven (Luke 9:54).

·       Assisted in the preparation for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8).

·       Leaned on Christ’s chest during the Last Supper (John 13:23).

·       Only Apostle present at the crucifixion (John 19:26).

·       Jesus entrusted Mary to his care (John 19:27).

·       Ran with Peter to check the empty tomb (John 20:2-3).

·       Saw the last miracle of Christ by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:7, 23).

·       Exiled on the Isle of Patmos during the reign of Domitian when he was about 90 years old (Rev 1:9).

(4)    James: The Short-Lived Disciple

 

·       Older brother of John, and fishing partner with Peter and Andrew (Matt 4:21).

·       Nicknamed “son of thunder” by Christ (Mark 3:17).

·       First Apostle to die for his faith 18 years after Jesus called him to be His disciple (Matt 4:18-22, Acts 12:1-2).

·       Wrote Epistle of James before he was martyred.

(5)    Philip: The Approachable Disciple

 

·       One of the disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:43).

·       Introduced Nathanael to Christ (John 1:40-46).

·       Christ tested his faith in the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:5-7).

·       Certain Greeks who desired to see Jesus asked him for help (John 12:20-22).

·       Asked Jesus to show him the Father (John 14:8-9).

·       Tradition has it that he preached in Scythia (S Russia) and Asia Minor extensively. He died at Hierapolis, a city close to Laodicea and Colosse. It is also said that he evangelised France.

(6)    Nathanael/Bartholomew: The Transparent Disciple

 

·       Was brought to Christ by Philip (John 1:45-46).

·       First to identify Christ as Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49).

·       Christ promised him heavenly revelations (John 1:51).

·       He was there when Christ performed His final miracle by the Sea (John 21:2).

·       Tradition says that he ministered widely in Armenia and was martyred there; he was flayed to death.

(7)    Matthew/Levi: The Tax-Collector Disciple

 

·       A tax collector (Luke 5:27).

·       Jesus called him to full-time service (Matt 9:9).

·       Hosted a banquet to share his new faith (Luke 5:27-29).

·       Tradition has it that he preached in Asiatic Ethiopia (Persia) and finally suffered martyrdom there. A copy of Matthew’s Gospel found its way to India.

(8)    Thaddeus/Lebbeus/Jude: The  Disciple with Three Names

·       Brother of James the Less (Mark 15:40).

·       Also known as Lebbeus (Matt 10:3).

·       The Judas who was not Iscariot who asked Jesus how He would manifest Himself (John 14:22).

·       Wrote the epistle after his name. Jude 3 often quoted by fundamentalists.

·       It is reported that he preached in the capital city of Edessa in Armenia. Tradition has it that he healed King Adgar of Edessa from an incurable disease which resulted in the conversion of the whole country. He was martyred in Syria.

(9)    James the Less: The Chili Padi Disciple

 

·       Son of Alpheus (Matt 10:3).

·       Called “the less” or “the little” probably because he was small in size (Mark 15:40).

·       Tradition has it that he went all the way to Spain, Britain, and Ireland to evangelise. He was stoned to death in Jerusalem.

(10)  Simon Zelotes: The Militant Disciple

 

·       He was a Canaanite (Matt 10:4, Mark 3:18). Not that he was a Gentile, but that he was a Zealot (from Hebrew kana meaning “to be zealous”).

·       A member of a patriotic party called the Zealots (Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13).

·       Tradition has it that he became missionary to the West—Britain, and then to the

·       East—Persia partnering Jude. Simon was sawn into two in Persia (cf Heb 11:37).

(11)  Thomas: The Doubting Disciple

 

·       Also called Didymus (John 11:16).

·       He was willing to die with Jesus (John 11:16).

·       Asked Jesus about the way (John 14:5).

·       Absent when the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples the first time (John 20:24).

·       Said he could not believe the resurrection unless he saw and touched Jesus (John 20:25).

·       Present when Jesus made His second resurrection appearance to His disciples. Upon seeing Jesus, Thomas worshipped Him (John 20:28).

·       Was present during Christ’s final miracle by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:2).

·       Tradition has it that he became a missionary to India and was martyred in Bombay where he was speared while kneeling in prayer.

(12)   Judas Iscariot: The Treacherous Disciple

 

·       A treasurer for the group, but stole from the moneybag (John 12:4-6).

·       Jesus predicted that Judas would betray him (John 6:70-71).

·       Sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matt 26:15-16).

·       Jesus lovingly offered the sop to him (John 13:26).

·       Possessed by Satan (Luke 22:3, John 13:27).

·       Led soldiers to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus (John 18:2-4).

·       Betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Matt 26:49).

·       Remorsefully returned his blood money (Matt 27:3-4).

·       A type of the Antichrist (John 17:12, 2 Thess 2:3).

·       Committed suicide (Matt 27:5). All his bowels gushed out (Acts 1:18).