20071028

The Apostle Paul went to Corinth and worked with Aquila, Priscilla, Silas and Timothy to start the Church made up of Jews and Greeks. There was violent opposition from the Jews but the Lord gave the increase. He assured Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9, 10). With this encouragement from the Lord, “Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God” (Acts 18:11).
About 3 years later, while Paul was at Ephesus, news about the Church at Corinth came to him from the believers in Chloe’s household (1 Cor. 1:11) and from Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17). He wrote to the Church to offer corrections to the problems that were facing the Church. He reminded them that the work of the gospel must go on regardless of the problems and difficulties they were experiencing. Nothing must side-track them from sharing the good news that Jesus is the Christ – the Saviour of the world.
Paul wrote: “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved” (1 Cor. 15:1, 2). Even in their Church meetings unbelievers must be given the opportunity to be convinced of their sins and to “fall down and worship God, exclaiming ‘God is really among you'” (1 Cor. 14:25). For this reason believers must correct their “tongue speaking” abuses in their meetings for it will lead unbelievers to express “that you are out of your mind” (1 Cor 14:23).
We at Bethesda (Katong) can use our church meetings to let unbelievers come to know God. When we come together to worship God in the remembrance of what Jesus Christ has done for us we give unbelievers the opportunity to see their need for God in their lives. Salvation in Jesus Christ will come as they see that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33). You can invite your unbelieving relatives and friends to our meetings. Use this avenue to preach the gospel to unbelievers and to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet. 3:15).