with Rev Jason Phua

Differences in views between the world we live in and the world of God:

1) Popularity 

2) Superficiality 

3) Prosperity

What is Jesus' view on the above? How can we align with the view of God when we minister to others? What resistance can we expect from the world when we align with Jesus, in the above 3 areas?

During this season of Lent, what is one thing in your life which you would like to go deep with the Lord? How would you like God and the community of saints to help you in this area of your life?

1) What ways has God been considering your needs? What little things has God done for you each day that shows that He loves you so much?

2) Discipleship is not only about serving God, but learning to allow God to serve us. What are some examples of allowing God to serve us? Are open to receiving God's blessings today, if not, what may be preventing us from doing so? 

3) What is Jesus' idea of leadership, that is different from the world's view of leadership? Why is it essential that we serve those we are leading and those entrusted to us?

How is our worship to God? 

- When we worship in church on Sundays, how is our heart for God? What are our intentions and motivations when we choose between coming onsite or online to worship? 

- When we start our devotions, do we grumble or do we look forward to a sacred time with God? 

- When we sing in worship to God, do we do so in genuine adoration and reverence, or do we sing to make ourselves feel good? 

- When we carry out our work, do we do so in excellence and out of reverence for Christ, or do we do it as how the world does it? 

- When we serve in ministry, do we do so in humility and love for others, or are we sometimes like Judas, having a critical spirit that harbours the wrong motivation for service?

1) Are you struggling right now with embracing a certain truth in your life? If you are, are willing to talk to God about it today, and trust that He will listen and point you to the right direction?

1) What is the main role of our church, towards our members? Are our decisions in addressing others driven by a need to please and retain, or by how much we care deeply for their souls? Think of a situation where you very much desire to address a person's spiritual walk, but in doing so, fear the person may leave or be offended. What happened? What would Jesus have done?

2) How do we fill the void in our lives today? What are the indulgences we always run to, be it to de-stress or to get a quick gratification? Are these indulgences healthy and if it is not, do we do them because we don't think God can fill our void? How will leaning on God and filling our hearts and minds with Him set us free?

1) Are there times when we judged others like the Pharisees, condemning others of their sin and even avoiding fellowship with them? If so, what is God telling us to do today?

2) Christ our Lord has shown Himself to be merciful and yet speak the truth in love. He cares so much for our spiritual well-being that He was willing to even die on the cross for our sins. How have we, as a people of God, followed in His footsteps? How have we shown mercy and truth to the people around us?

1) When we do kind acts or acts of piety, what is the motivation behind them? Is it driven by how others see us, or is it driven by the needs of others? What are some good questions we can ask ourselves, when we do good work or kind acts, that shift the focus away from ourselves to the needs of people?

2) What does it mean by having "rivers of living water flow out of our hearts"? What are some things that could be clogging our hearts today, such that God's love could not flow to us and through us? Why do these feelings that clog our hearts linger? What can we do to allow the Holy Spirit to gradually remove these clogs?

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst..." (John 6:35) 

1) What does it mean to "come to" Jesus? What does it mean to "believe in" Jesus?

2) What are some of your most worrying needs today? Who or what do you run to for these worries and needs? Do those things we turn to make us acknowledge and say "Jesus, I need you"? How can we release control of our own lives and submit more to Jesus? 

Five areas that God sees differently from the world:

1) Sees the invalids, in a multitude of healthy, "more favoured" people

2) Sees solutions that we cannot see 

3) Rejoices in the good work, while the world focuses on the offences

4) God is self-effacing (not seeking attention for oneself; modest)

5) God sets people free, while the world lives by intimidation

What is our perspective today in these areas and how does that drive our decisions and actions? How can we pray for God to change our eyesight, to see things more through His eyes?

1) What is Jesus' attitude towards non-believers? What deficiency about the Jews' worship did Jesus acknowledge to the Samaritan and why was it considered a deficiency? Are there any deficiencies you can identify in our religion today? What is considered true worship? 

2) What sustains Jesus? Do we have the same motivations as Jesus, in all that we do? Think of the common things you do in a typical week. Write them down in a list. Run through each action and reflect on your motivations of each action. Is that motivation according to God's will? If not, ask how would Jesus have done it in your context? 

1) In our ministry for God, what do we focus on to define the success of our ministries? What are some statistics (for e.g. numbers, % attendance, etc.) that may distract us from the essence of our work for God? What possible undesirable mindsets could occur if we view these statistics as most important, or when we do well or badly in some these statistics?  

2) If the markers mentioned in Q1 should not be our focus, what then should be the focus of our ministries? What attitudes did John the Baptist display, that we could adopt in our ministry? As a result of such attitudes, what are some concrete actions you can start doing differently, or perhaps start emphasising in your ministry?

1) Was there a time in your life when you are forced to choose between your relationship with God and your relationship with your parents, or siblings or someone dear to you? What happened? What did you do? How can you do better?

2) The signs that Jesus demonstrated in the gospels point to His divinity and purpose. In your journey with God, are there signs where you believe God has given to you? if so, what are these? How have these encouraged you in your own walk with God? In your own situation right now, as you recall all these things, is it helping you to cope with a difficult time?