Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Hymns: RHC 314 Nearer, Still Nearer, 313 O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go, 311 Does Jesus Care PSALM 40 1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David)I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard …
Reformation in Switzerland
From Germany, the Protestant Reformation progressed to Switzerland, where in the northern part the people were mostly German in language and customs, in distinction from those parts which were geographically and in certain other respects linked with France.
Ulrich Zwingli led the Reformation movement in the northern part of Switzerland. He was born in the village of Wildhaus in 1484. Like Luther, he was of lowly birth, but he was brought up in more favourable circumstances than Luther and was educated in a school at Basel and at the University of Vienna. He was an altogether different type of man from Luther, but the teaching of the Spirit of God led both of them in the same direction. Zwingli became more and more convinced of the sad condition of the Church, and as he was a very earnest and diligent student of the Bible, he also became convinced that between many of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and those of the Scriptures there was a world of difference. At the same time, he read the writings of the early Fathers and the books of Wycliffe and Huss. When a colleague of Tetzel, Bernardin Samson, sold indulgences in Switzerland, Zwingli raised a protect, but he was not as bold as Luther, nor was Samson as boisterous as Tetzel, so there was not such a violent clash in Switzerland as there was in Germany.
Day by Day – Hymn Story
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
The waves of revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter half of the nineteenth century were greatly influenced by the wealth of fine hymns which flowed from the pen of Linda Sandell, born on October 3, 1832 at Fröderyd, Sweden. She was a daughter of the pastor of the parish church of that community. Being a frail youngster, she usually preferred to spend her time in her father’s study rather than to join her comrades in play. When she was twenty-six years of age, she accompanied her father on a journey to Gothenburg, but tragedy occurred before the destination was reached. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina’s father fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter. She was the author of this hymn – Day by Day.
Although she had written hymns prior to this tragic experience, more songs began to flow out of her broken heart which reflect a simple, child-like trust in Christ and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life.
If the Foundations Be Destroyed!
The psalmist cried out in Psalm 11:3 “3If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? ”(Ps. 11:3 KJV)
On 25 September 2018, I read with great trepidation on the Straits Times “Opinion” page Professor Tommy Koh’s article “Section 377A: Science, Religion and the law” what seemed to be a public appeal to repeal Section 377A of the Singapore law.
As a citizen of Singapore and a Christian pastor, I felt the urgent need to give a response because the very structure of the family consisting of father, mother and children coming out of that blessed union is about to be overturned. I write to emphatically emphasize that this societal order from time immemorial must not be compromised.
(1) O Happy Day!
We thank the Lord for a blessed Baptismal Service last Lord’s Day. “O Happy Day!” was the message of rejoicing from:
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
The thoughts summarized in our message were:
(1) Coming to the Lord/The Lord is coming to you (v1-16a)
(2) Cleansing from the Lord/The Lord cleansing you (v16b)
(3) Calling on the Lord/The Lord calling you to service and devotion (v16c)
This sermon can be assessed @ https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninf o.asp?SID=9301872421