From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. Intro Have you ever heard of fake noodles? According to a video I watched, some people in an Asian country found a way to make imitation beef noodles, including fake meat. By adding water and sauce to a powdery substance, the result looks and tastes like real meat. People sell this fake food because the ingredients are cheaper and they can make more money. A lab test showed that eating this fake food can cause cancer and other problems. The scary thing is that customers don’t realize it’s fake! I was reminded of this video
1 Kings 12 sermon, Part 1 of 2: “Despite Human Folly”
From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. Intro Last time, we read a sad story about how the wise king Solomon turned away from God in his old age. As a result, God declared that Solomon’s kingdom would be split. Today, as we read 1 Kings chapter 12, we see the kingdom of Israel beginning to split. Two messages from today’s story: First, despite human foolishness, God is in control. Second, despite human foolishness, God is gracious. Let us pray. [Read 1 Kings 12:1-24] There are two important characters here: Rehoboam and Jeroboam. It’s easy to confuse them because their names sound the same. To recap: Rehoboam
Asia Covenant Conference 2017
The Asia Covenant Conference is a gathering of churches from the Evangelical Covenant denomination that meets every few years. Christians gather to share reports of their ministries and how God has worked in their countries. The conference takes place in a different host country each time. This year, Japan played host. The conference took place at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Shibuya, Tokyo, November 1-3, 2017. Delegates came from several countries: Thailand, Philippines, India, Nepal, Taiwan, China, Japan, and the U.S. In addition to giving conference reports, the foreign guests enjoyed cultural activities. They experienced a koto concert, and some participated in a traditional tea ceremony
1 Kings 11 sermon, Part 2 of 2
From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. Intro Just 2 months ago, there was a nation-wide alarm when North Korea fired its missile across Hokkaido. Everyone wondered what Kim Jong-Un is thinking. Would he truly be willing to engage in war? More recently, people in Japan were preoccupied with the national elections. It is not just Japan, but all over the world, people worry about who will take control of their country. Or they wonder how long a bad situation will last in their country. For Christians, it’s natural to wonder: Is God going to make things better in our country? Today,
1 Kings 11 sermon, Part 1 of 2
From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. Intro The first 10 chapters of the book of 1 Kings talk about the rise and success of King Solomon. God blessed him with wisdom and wealth. The nation of Israel prospered under him and enjoyed peace. Then comes chapter 11. Everything sweet begins to turn sour. Today, we’ll read about the reason behind Solomon’s decline. [Read 1 Kings 11:1-13] There are 3 topics I want to focus on today: 1) the gradual tragedy of Solomon; 2) affairs of the heart; and 3) God’s jealousy. Main A Gradual Tragedy Solomon’s decline wasn’t overnight. Verse 4
1 Kings 9 sermon, “Solomon and the Temple, Part 3”
From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. We have been studying the story of King Solomon for the last few months. Today we will read 1 Kings chapter 9, which is near the end of his story. Solomon had spent the last 20 years building the first permanent temple, a magnificent building he dedicated to God. Chapter 9 is about how God responded to Solomon after he completed this grand achievement. Let us pray before we begin. [Read 1 Kings 9:1-9] I’d like to reflect on 3 ideas today: First, God desires our faithfulness. Second, sin is costly. Third, our salvation is
1 Kings 8 sermon, Part 1 of 2, “Six Qualities of God”
From a sermon series on 1 Kings by See Huang Lim, a missionary at IBF. Today we will read 1 Kings chapter 8, which is the final chapter about King Solomon’s Temple. The temple has been built, and now Solomon will dedicate it to the Lord. Since this chapter is long, we will only read half today and half next month. Today, let’s explore six of God’s qualities. One Old Testament scholar has suggested that this chapter reflects many qualities of God which can be seen in pairs. First, God’s mystery and clarity. Second, His loyalty and sovereignty. Third, His immensity and intimacy. [Read 1 Kings 8:1-30] Mystery and clarity