Author: Al Ngu, MDiv

Why we must not preach shallow sermon?

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It is impossible to build a superficial shallow worded church that is easily blown and tossed by the waves of the world. Why? because it’s disheartening and will not work in the long run, though in the short run, it may attract people. It is also disengaging when that happens, without going deep, there is not much impact. People’s lives are not changed. Not impacted. Not satisfying. People don’t feel fulfilled. It’s hollow. It’s shallow.

But we can do better. We must do better. Our people deserve that. The world needs that. We are reaching out to a broken world. It’s full of challenges. sometimes we forget how difficult it is, because we are kind of cocoon within a church culture that is somewhat disengaged from the world culture. That can’t penetrate into the culture of the world. We need a unique culture that will.

Sharing my thoughts in NY to fellow Malaysians

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Dear all,

Greetings from the cold New York…:) How are you? I am planning to visit Malaysia in July this year…God has blessed me with an amazing job with the Utility company (ConEdison) a bit like SESCO of Sarawak, except a lot bigger! 🙂 This job gives me much more energy and time and financial resources to do the work of God. I am blown away by the graciousness of our God and His love and faithfulness to me and my family. I can only give thanks and praise Him.
Building a church in America has proven to be harder than I thought with my naivety and zeal some 10 years ago when Doreen & I arrived in Los Angeles in 2001. I am not giving up. Even the brutal cold weather of -10C in NY will not deter me. In fact, I am powered up by the bigness of NYC and the strategic-ness of this great city! Above all I am totally pumped by the Lord Jesus our God!I want to say like Paul….I press on to reach the goal that God has captured me for. It may sound shocking to some, there were times I wonder if I am on the right track….after all the humbling pie, the so called seasoned church planter from Sarawak/Sabah.
But its about to crack…that big cultural barrier and gospel power will begin to dawn. Romans says “Gospel is the power of God”! It will break that bondage and hangups that bind the people from coming to Christ. I am trying my best to learn from all the resources from America outside my 40 hours week job + 3 hours commute/day. I believe the day of breakthrough is coming and though it tarries, it will surely come. I do not believe for one moment that the hardness will not break and crumble in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The tide will change. NY will be impacted. America too. I believe it. It will not be with raw power that the strong man be bound. It takes all our hearts and souls to capture what the Lord has captured us.
The Lord has truly blessed me and Doreen and children. Sarah has gotten into Columbia University-an Ivy League, then Rachel will be attending Columbia this Sept, following the footstep of her sister. Our other 2 younger kids are in middle and high school in Long Island, New York.
For the faithfulness of God reaches the sky, and the love of God beyond the highest heavens. I salute you all.
Faithful in Christ, Albert

Preparing the Understanding for Mission

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Sunday Service (11:00am) “Preparing the Understanding for Mission”- Acts 1:1-8

Acts 1:1-8 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We will study the early church dynamics and the power of Holy Spirit & the Truth

 

We are starting our bible study format kind of church service tomorrow in an effort to make it more friendly and conducive for small church like us to interact and participate and also invite more of our friends to come.
Sarah will be the MC tomorrow for this bible study format service and will lead the discussion group. I will rotate the MC and discussion leader.
There will be questions prepared before hand for discussion.  MC for service & discussion: Sarah
Word for Life (10:15am)- “How can You say There is only One Way to God?” What about other religions?
We will continue on our series on “Reason for God” by Dr Tim Keller DVD teaching. It will be a 20 min DVD and then split into small groups for discussion.
Questions will be prepared before hand & for this round Doreen will lead the discussion. Discussion leader: Doreen

Service roster:
MC: Sarah; Communion: Reera 

Have fun and enjoy God and one another folks!
See you tomorrow!

1/29/11 Post

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Good morning everyone,

Hope all is fine and you have found walking with the Almighty Creator of the universe this week been good. It’s been good and exciting for me this week.I have enjoyed my walk of 1 hour (round trip) for 3 miles from Penn Station to 14th St/Irving Pl daily…what an exercise! I am so feeling fit that I cancelled my Planet Fitness membership! Finished my 2nd week in ConEd, gotten good feedback from my boss and the folks around. I am believing God will prosper us and make us successful this year 2011. Already we’ve seen 1 salvation on the 1st month of the year on last Sunday worship service !! What a good sign moving forward.
We have never seen this before! Wow! 🙂 Yes! Hallelujah! Praise unto the Lord! I am learning much as well, dealing with all kinds of people in ConEd..I sense the Lord is teaching me more and more in dealing and handling all kinds of people and personality and sharpening leadership.
OK-The bible says
Reminding me of : Josh 3:4-6 And Joshua said to the people,”Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying,”Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.”
NKJV
Heb 10:22-25
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
NIV
The Lord Jesus who promised us heaven and eternal life is FAITHFUL!! SO let us STIR one another toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together!!! AMen!
This Sunday Sermon is “Spiritual Depression (Miserable Christian)
Rom 6:17
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
Come and expect the Lord to move with signs & wonders folks!
Have a blessed weekend & week ahead!

PRAYER (Heb 10)

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Hi everyone,

I trust you had a good week. God has been incredible for He made this world and continues to show His love, care & concern to the world He has made. We are so excited to resume our Sunday service this Sunday 1/23. This has been long awaited as all our students will be back by then. We are also excited to have a new family with kids with us now! We look forward to seeing what God will do this coming Sunday! Don’t miss out this Sunday. Invite a friend! 🙂
This Sunday we will talk about “Prayer” from Heb 10. It’s amazing how difficult it is to really approach God all those thousands of years and the high priest is the only one who can approach God in the holiest place and even then it’s only once a year! But now we see how this has been drastically changed in the time since Jesus came into the world. It’s really important to understand who God is and what does it take to approach God. This will change our lifestyle and how we relate with God. It will be a tremendous blessing.
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday. We will start at 11 am and prayer shall start at 10:30am. Our Word for Life class shall start in February.
Have a blessed weekend,
Al
PRAYER (Hebrews 10:10-25)

Heb 10:9-25

10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”   17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”   18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
—
Al

The power of meditation of God’s word

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Phil 4:9
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
I want to exhort us to meditate and think about the things that are praise worthy, pure, lovely and of virtue. Do them. God’s peace will be with you. Peace comes with the meditation of our thoughts. That’s amazing! Did you know that peace comes as we begin to meditate in God’s word?
If we think about negative things and there are just plenty of them in movies, media,etc etc, we can be discouraged. Or worse still be distracted without us even knowing it. The more dangerous enemy is when we don’t even realize they are one!! Ignorance is dangerous and therefore we need teaching to equp us and empower us to realize victorious living!
Or else Christianity becomes meaningless and ineffective People long to see the promise of “Abundant life” realized!
These days there are so many distractions that can pull us away so easily, and they become seed thoughts that will block the move of God or grieve the Spirit of God. The rivers of life will flow through vessels that are clean, that are of good heart and attitude. May the Lord be with you as you meditate on God’s word more and more.

John 4:13-14
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst . Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Word for Life/DMM Class will start February at 10:15 am.  It will cover different topics of interest and relevant to life. Wait for more update. We will have to raise leaders to move forward. Our vision is to fulfill the Great Commission and to do that we will have to do life with non believer friends and create spiritual conversation. Pray for them to know the love and power of Christ!
Plan to meet for prayer at 10am till 10:15am. Then we will start the equip class and will end discussion interactive manner by 10:50am.

Glorious Weekend Hope NY

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps

Jesus Culture-Kim Walker….more powerful than HillSong …according to Eric Herbert . Very powerful song. Jesus Culturte is part of Bill Johnson church in CA.

Eric Herbert led a team of 7 white Canadians over the weekend and spent time with us. We had a fantastic prayer meeting last night from 8pm all the way to 12 mid night. Great worship and great time in the Holy Spirit!

This morning our Sunday service was undoubtedly one of the best. The presence of the Holy Spirit was strong & joy of the Lord was there. Jonathan …moved in tremendous prophetic anointing and prophecized over me, Beth, Sarah, even over a non Christian seeker. Amazingly accurate and presence of God was thick! It was sooo uplifting and we are HUNGRY O God! Truly God’s super abundance is on the way and what a way to start our new year 2011…being the 1st service for 2011!! We encountered the Lord this weekend!!!  
I am inviting them to join us in Aug NA Camp…and I want this young prophetic man from Canada to come and do prophecizing over men & women. Anointing is real!
Thank you LORD!!
I am excited for 2011!!

Super Abundance 2011

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Dear everyone,

Happy New Year!
We are approaching the 1st church weekend of 2011 and snow has come down today, it’s beautiful.
We will be resuming our Sunday Church service this Sunday 1/9 at 11am.
Address: 144, E 44th St, New York, NY (Level 7).
www.hopenewyork.org
We are looking forward to meeting everyone and also we have a special team from Canada joining us all the way from Montreal led by our brother Eric Herbert who will also be leading worship. I am excited to resume our 1st service for 2011! Yay! 🙂
On Saturday 1/8, we will host our biweekly prayer meeting in my house at 1 Ava Dr, Syosset, NY 11791. It will be at 7:45pm. For those of you who can, please come and seek the Lord together! Our Canadian friends (7 of them) will be joining us. We encourage as many to fast one meal a week preparing for the weekend service to be with signs and wonders in our midst! He is our mighty God! He did it 2000 years ago, and He can do it again. He changed water into wine at the last minute in the wedding feast when requested to help! God can meet your needs and not only that, He can change you into a better person and more Christ like for 2011!
This Sunday our sermon will be:
SUPER ABUNDANCE
John 2:1-11
2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”  5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.   7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

A Blessed & Prosperous New Year,

Welcoming new year 2011-year of favor

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Dear all,

We are very thankful to God for this year 2010. We have all experienced ups and downs and He has sure taught us much. I have seen the beautiful provisions of God . In 2009, it was the toughest economic year during which I almost lost my job. In 2010 I got 2 new job offers. The Lord has been Jehovah Jireh our provider!  God will show us much more this coming new year!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for serving God together and growing together in Christ. I trust that you had a good year and want to thank God for what He has done and blessed you.
Now we are getting ready to welcome 2011!! Time flies, it’s 2011 soon!
This year 2011, I sense the Lord will give us favor like in the word if we walk in obedience to the Lord!
Lev 26:9-17
9 “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among youand be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. 14 “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.

The favor of God is fully rested in Christ Jesus.

Luke 4:18-19
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,   19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor .”
NIV
Acts 2:46-47
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Let’s pray together as we move together into the new year. I invite you to pray with me tonight.
The Lord bless you,
Al

AR Bernard

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Visited for the 1st time Christian Culture Center in Brooklyn, NY today. A 33,000 strong members church, pentecostal/Spirit filled church. What a blessing to listen to Dr AR Bernard preaching. Even my 13 years old daughter liked it. Its engaging, teaching with substance, and finally a faith solid word preacher in the mold of Pentecostal church. Very uplifting sermon on Jeremiah 29…I have plans to bless you not to harm you. Clear expounding iof the scriptures and connected with audience. Sermons that EMPOWERS the folks to have victory in life and enjoy the life of abundance in Christ without the extra luggage of blessing only kind of sermon.

Awesome.