TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - April 03, 2019

A Willing to Lose Christian

Today is April 3, 2019

Welcome to April and your mid-week!

One of the reasons the disciples abandoned and denied Jesus at Gethsemane was because they had a wrong expectation of Jesus as the Messiah. To them, Jesus was suppose to be the conquering Messiah. And, to them, they wanted to belong to that image of Jesus in order to reap the benefits of that Jesus. They wanted to rise above their station and sit at the left and right hand side of Jesus after he was victorious. 

This was not the messiah Jesus was. And so, to clarify their expectation, Jesus calls the crowd together and tells them and the disciples this, in Mark 8:34:

"...“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Jesus was not the conquering messiah. He was the sacrificial messiah. And to be his disciple was to do the same. To be Jesus' disciple was to be willing to lose everything for the sake of following Christ. 

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I think, often times, we make the same mistakes as the disciples. We want to belong to Christianity to reap the benefits of Christianity but we don't want to lose anything for the sake of following Christ. We want the community. We want the security. We want the identity. But when it comes to losing our reputation or pride or career or friendship or family for the sake of following Christ? Then, we don't do it.

Being a true Christian is more than just belonging and reaping the benefits of Christ. It's about being willing to lose for the sake of following Christ.

Because, if we only do the former than we will end up just like the disciples after Jesus didn't meet their expectations - abandoning and denying the one they once called Lord.

God's blessing you as wrestle with what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the last Sunday's message: HERE
Powerpoint Show of Last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• ​Apr 3 (Weds) – All Generations Apologetics Cell Group 
  • Topic: The Evidence for the Resurrection
• Apr 5 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group. 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• Apr 6 (Sat) - PV Cell Group, 4pm @ the Hong's Residence
• Apr 7 (Sun) – CPG and CNB Mixer, 12:15pm @ Elim Cafe
• Apr 11 (Thurs) – YMF Cell Group
• Apr 18 (Thurs) – CPG Cell Group
• Apr 19 (Fri) - SBT Good Friday Service at EM Chapel. 7:30pm
• Apr 21 (Sun) - Easter Joint Service @ Main Sanctuary

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Philippians 3:7-8 - "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ"