Community Church HK Podcast

Flourishing in 2024

As we step into the new year, let us embrace the promise of flourishing and the abundant blessings that await us. Just like the beautiful feet that bring good news, we are called to be messengers of hope, peace, and salvation. Indeed, in Isaiah 52:7, it says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
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================This Week's Scripture:// Isaiah 52:7 (NIV) //How beautiful on the mountains    are the feet of those who bring good news,who proclaim peace,    who bring good tidings,    who proclaim salvation,who say to Zion,    “Your God reigns!”

What the World Needs: Love Comes Near

As we approach Christmas Eve, let us pause and reflect on the profound truth encapsulated in these words. As Luke 2:11 shares, love came near to us, not in grandeur or splendour, but in the humble form of a baby: Jesus, our Saviour, Messiah, and Lord. The birth of Jesus is a divine reminder of God's immeasurable love for humanity. It is a love that reaches beyond the boundaries of time and space, offering hope, forgiveness, and eternal redemption. This love knows no limits, embraces the broken, and brings healing to our souls.
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================This Week's Scripture:// Luke 2:4-12 (NIV) //So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

What the World Needs: Peace

In a world that is longing for and, at this time especially, needs peace, let us look to the Prince of Peace: Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross reconciles all things, bringing true and transformative peace to our lives. Indeed, in Colossians 1:19–20a, it says, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross."⁠
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================This Week's Scripture:// KEY VERSES //Isaiah 9:6–7 (NIV): For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 11:1–9 (NIV): A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

What the World Needs: New Hope

In the midst of life's many challenges and uncertainties, we find solace in the promise of new hope this Sunday. Revelation 21:5 reminds us that God, in His infinite grace, is continually making all things new as it recounts, "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" It's an invitation to embrace transformation, restoration, and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.⁠ Indeed, as we begin our journey through Advent with a new series, we consider this ever-changing world and hold on to the assurance that God is at work, bringing forth beauty from ashes and breathing new life into every situation. He is the author of redemption, and in His hands, our brokenness can be transformed into a masterpiece.⁠
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 21:1–5 (NIV) //Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The Beginning & the End: The Lake of Fire

This Sunday, in the midst of the fiery imagery of the "Lake of Fire," we are reminded of our role as ambassadors for Christ. As His representatives, we carry His message of love, redemption, and salvation to a world in need. As we enter a weekend of reflection and gratitude, let us be grateful for the privilege of being chosen as God's messengers. We are called to be difference-makers, agents of transformation, and bringers of His grace wherever we go. As it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:20:"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) //Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Beginning & the End: The Church as Witness

In a world longing for hope and truth, we, the Church, are called to be witnesses of God's love and grace. Join us this Sunday as we dive into a service that looks into how we, as the Church, are called to be His witnesses. Revelation 13:10c reminds us that this task "calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people".⁠
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 11:1–4, 9–13, 15 (NIV) //I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[...]For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.[...]The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become     the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,     and he will reign for ever and ever.”
================Action Items for This Week:1. Contemplative Practices Gathering: https://bit.ly/cc-cpg2. Adoption Awareness Resources: https://communitychurch.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Positive-Adoption-Language.pdf3. ROAD Through Revelation: https://communitychurch.hk/road-through-revelation4. Questions on Revelation: https://bit.ly/cc-qa-be
================General Links:1. New to Community Church? Let us know: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect2. Join our WhatsApp Community: https://bit.ly/cchk-whatsapp3. Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter (eGoodNews): https://bit.ly/cc-egn4. Gifts and Offerings: https://communitychurch.hk/give5. All Our Up-to-Date Links: https://bit.ly/cc-links6. Serve @ Community Church: https://bit.ly/cchk-serve
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The Beginning & the End: Babylon

From chaos to beauty, and brokenness to restoration. This is how Revelation reminds us to find hope as we reflect in our "Babylon." Just as God transformed the ancient city, He can bring beauty out of our brokenness. Let us trust in His redemptive power and embrace His promise of a new beginning. From Revelation 21:2, we read, "I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.” Let's hold on to that hope, trust in God's love, and embrace the transformation He desires to bring into our lives.
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================This Week's Scripture:ABOUT BABYLON// Revelation 18:1–3 (NET) //After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance. He shouted with a powerful voice: “Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast. For all the nations have fallen from the wine of her immoral passion, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have gotten rich from the power of her sensual behavior.”
// Revelation 18:11–13 (NET) //Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer—cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives.
CALL TO THE CHURCH// Revelation 18:4 (NET) //Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues...”

The Beginning & the End: The Day of the Lord

In the book of Revelation, we catch a glimpse of the future—the Day of the Lord: a time when His glory will be revealed, and every knee will bow before Him in awe and reverence. Let us meditate upon Revelation 15:4 with hearts filled with anticipation and hope, as it declares, "Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 6:9–11 (NIV) //When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

The Beginning & the End: The Unholy Trinity

In Revelation 13, we encounter the chilling concept of the unholy trinity—a deceptive alliance that seeks to oppose God's truth and authority. As we delve into this revelation, let us find solace and strength in the words of Isaiah 46:5 as it reminds us that there is no equal to our Almighty God. The verse reads: "To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!” Showing that our God stands unrivalled in power, wisdom, and sovereignty; and in the face of the unholy trinity's schemes, we can trust in the unchanging nature of our Heavenly Father.
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 13 (NET) //Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!
If anyone is meant for captivity,into captivity he will go.If anyone is to be killed by the sword,then by the sword he must be killed.
This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.
Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.

The Beginning & the End: The Dragon, the Woman, and the Child

This Sunday, Pastor Brenda will give a message of hope for us who continue to put our faith in God, and hold fast to Him. ⁠Be encouraged as she explores how we overcome through the blood of the Lamb. Colossians 2:15 gives us this assurance: "Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross." ⁠
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================This Week's Scripture:// Revelation 12 (NET) //Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels. So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,
“The salvation and the powerand the kingdom of our God,and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come,because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,the one who accuses them day and night before our God,has been thrown down.
But they overcame himby the blood of the Lamband by the word of their testimony,and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!But woe to the earth and the seabecause the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!”
Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time. Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, but the earth came to her rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.