Introduction: A Vision of a Watchful Church

I composed the theme for that picture, and my friend “Gemini” helped generate it. The base picture is my photo of Oamaru town as seen from the Oamaru Lookout Point. I was thinking: what would represent a watchful church?

So, there’s a family there representing the men and women; we’ve got toddlers, a baby, and little children—a boy and a girl—and that represents our church. And we’re looking over the town, watching the sun rise. For me, that’s an image of a watchful church. That’s us, Oamaru Baptist Church, looking, watching, praying for the town on a cold August morning.

Every moment of our lives is sustained by a simple, unconscious freedom: inhaling and exhaling. And I put an emphasis on that because it’s winter; it’s the time when we can see our breath, okay? And when your breath is warm enough, you create a wider cloud — as if I go and jog in the early morning, for example, people may mistake me for “Oh, the pastor’s vaping.” And that’s the breath that comes out of us.

Do you recall having—especially mums, having a baby, and even dads—and you’ve got a baby in a cot? The sleep is so sound. The baby is sleeping so soundly that you cannot hear the breath, okay? Then you try to listen; you try to feel if any air is coming out of the baby’s nostrils. Have you done that? I’ve done that. Because I’ve read about SIDS, which is the sudden infant death syndrome, and I was afraid our daughter might be having that one, but I just prayed.

And praise God for couples who have stayed together for many, many years. Because when you’re sleeping soundly as a baby, you can’t hear any sound. One grows up, accumulates some fat and cholesterol, and suddenly one is snoring. Thank you for sticking it out. Thanks to my wife for bearing with me because I’m a snorer. That’s what love is all about.

The Rhythm of Spiritual Breathing

But for a breathing church, we need to find that rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. To live as a community of faith, we must learn what to inhale and what to exhale.

Today we explore this rhythm in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:28, discovering that we are called to inhale the hope of Christ’s return and exhale encouragement and practical love to those around us. That’s the inhale-and-exhale cycle we need to learn and practice.

Inhaling the Hope of the Resurrection

Our spiritual life begins with a deep intake of the gospel of hope. Paul writes to a community that was deeply unsettled by the loss of their loved ones, and he tells them clearly that he does not want them to be uninformed or to grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). During the time of the Thessalonian church, people were dying under dire circumstances.

This hope is centred on the historical and future reality that Jesus died and rose again (1 Thessalonians 4:14). And not only that: he rose again, went up to heaven, and is coming back again. And this hope is not a dim or clouded vision, or even a vague wish. It is a firm guarantee that when the Lord returns with a loud command and the trumpet call of God, the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

After that, those who are still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This promise ensures that we will be with the Lord forever, a reality that should give us profound comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). That is why, at a believer’s funeral, what you see is not grief alone, but the hope in the hearts of every believer.

Paul reminds us that this hope of salvation should be worn like a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8), protecting our minds from the world’s despair and darkness. And what the world is doing to us is clouding our minds, especially the young people, the children—clouding their minds and putting doubts about the reality of God and the hope of eternal life. Therefore, as mature believers, it is our responsibility to share the truth and hope with our children.

The Character of a Watchful Church

So, what is the character of a watchful church? We talk about the breath of a watchful church. We know we inhale the hope of eternal life and the hope of Jesus’ return and being with him. What should be the character of a watchful church?

Paul shifts from the hope of the resurrection to the need to remain alert (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). He notes that while the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2), believers should not be surprised because they do not belong to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

And we hear all about people telling us that the Lord is coming soon, the Lord is coming soon. And they would say, “Oh, look at what is happening today. He is coming soon.” But for a confident Christian who believes that he is with the Lord already, well, let the Lord come.

A watchful church is a community that lives intentionally in the “daylight” of God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:5). People talking about the Lord’s coming with all these signs and death—examine it in the truth of God, refusing to be lulled into the spiritual slumber of the surrounding world (1 Thessalonians 5:6). It’s so easy to be complacent and to be lazy about our faith (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6).

A watchful congregation is characterised by alertness and sobriety (1 Thessalonians 5:6), where members actively “build each other up” rather than waiting for external instruction or professional leadership to spark faith (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 11).

Such a church understands that while the day of the Lord may come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, it does not come in darkness because Christ’s light shapes its character and future (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4-5). Being watchful means embracing the “armour of faith and love” and maintaining constant spiritual discernment, testing everything and holding fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:8, 21). That is the watchful church.

The Anatomy of Watchfulness

Let’s talk about the anatomy of a watchful church, and we can gauge ourselves to see whether we are this kind of church.

A watchful church has members who are proactive in the faith. Members actively build each other up rather than waiting for somebody to spoon-feed them (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Paul commended the Thessalonian believers with this phrase in verse 11: “just as in fact you are doing.” Build each other up just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

We are also in constant discernment, testing everything and holding fast only to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Discernment is the ability to judge well, see what is not obvious and tell the difference between right and wrong—that is wisdom—or to know the difference between truth and falsehood.

To test everything means carefully examining spoken messages, teachings, and prophecies to see whether they align with God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Discernment is based on God’s truth. It’s not based on your prejudice, your culture, or your tradition. It is based on what the Bible says.

And so, when they find a teaching that is true and good, do you remember that term for those believers who examine the word? The Berean believers, right? Like them, we must hold on to it (Biblical truth) tightly while rejecting anything false or evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

Sure enough, in the history of the church, not everything was good, was it? I believe there were conflicts, disagreements, and everything. But did we (the church) hold on to it and let those conflicts and disagreements govern our life as a church? No. We hold on to what is good and honourable before the Lord.

We must be fully armoured, embracing the armour of faith and love as the primary defence against the spiritual slumber of the surrounding culture (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

The devil and the world want those who are sleepy and lazy in their faith. They just want to wait and wait. And you know what? Those who don’t study the Word, don’t even pray—what would happen? They hear a word here, a word there, and before they know it, they are following a questionable group or a cult.

Don’t let those things happen to us. We need to be fully armoured in the first place, but we should also clothe ourselves (protecting with a breastplate) with faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Honouring Our Local Heritage

Peter (Rodwell) has mentioned this last year (during our 142nd Founding Anniversary) and earlier this morning—the nine-year wait. We see a beautiful historical example of this watchfulness in the early days of the Oamaru Baptist Church.

For the first nine years, this small group of 23 believers had no official pastor. In such a situation, it would have been easy to grow lazy, lose hope, or simply give up. Yet they chose to stay spiritually awake (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Instead of waiting for a leader to arrive, the members took turns preaching, teaching, and caring for one another, literally building each other up in many ways (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And so, when the first minister finally arrived in 1892, he found a healthy, active church because the members had spent nine years keeping watch over their own souls.

And under the vigorous ministry of Reverend Arthur Dewdney, the young Baptist church forged ahead.

Watchful members and the pastor’s vigorous ministry produced a lively, growing church. And that is what we are doing, and what we are trying to do better.

Exhaling Encouragement and Practical Duty

If hope is what we breathe in, then encouragement and practical duty are what we must breathe out. Paul gives the church a series of instructions for maintaining this healthy exhale.

We are called to acknowledge and hold in high regard those who work hard among us and care for us in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). We must live in peace with one another and always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 5:13, 15).

Paul specifically urges us to warn the idle, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and practice patience with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

It sounds easy to say, but it’s hard to do. But for the sake of a breathing church, we need to do it. There is risk in doing that. People might get hurt, but if you come in the name of the Lord, if you come fulfilling the command to exhale these actions based on what you inhaled—the hope of eternal life—then that would be something that must be accepted by a faithful person.

Furthermore, he identifies three personal habits that should be as constant as our breathing.

• Rejoicing always (1 Thessalonians 5:16);
• Praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) (in some translations, pray without ceasing); and
• Giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us, and it keeps us spiritually vibrant (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

As a child, I wondered, “How do I pray without ceasing?” And I had this illustration by our professor when I was studying theology. It’s something like this: he said, “Two friends were walking, and they were nearing one’s home, and it was burning. So, what do they do? One said, “Let’s hurry up and help.” But the other fellow said, “No, let’s stop and pray.” But the other friend said, “We can pray while we hurry up and help.”

So that’s a simple illustration of praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You can do your work, but you’re still praying because your mind and heart are attuned to the Lord.

Praying isn’t limited to what we do before we sleep. And some would pray while lying down and end up saying their “amen” the following morning—well, I’m guilty of that sometimes. Those are prayer habits we grew up with.

In our daily walks, we breathe in a continuing cycle of rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It’s like entering an ICU where the respirator rhythms are normal until you hear a plain flatline sound, as they say. Something’s wrong (with a patient); we need to resuscitate.

But the breathing and living church has that continuing cycle of rejoicing, praying continually, and giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

God’s Faithful Provision

And because of that, the Lord has been so good to the Oamaru Baptist Church.

One illustration is that the pioneers were praying, “Let’s build a gathering place,” because they’d been moving between many buildings around town at the time. “Let’s build a simple wooden shed.”

But Gideon Rutherford had a different idea. He donated a section there in town, and they built a magnificent church of Oamaru white stone that stood for generations.

And in 2012, we had another lesson in faith, because the church is not the building. That beautiful white stone is no longer there, but the church is the people, and we are still here worshipping the Lord.

143 years later, in 2026, Oamaru Baptist Church received unexpected financial assistance from the Tabernacle Trust to help us renovate our toilets, kitchen, and, God willing, other areas of the church building. The Hopewell Trust continues to support this church’s pastoral ministry.

God has provided holistic provisions for Oamaru Baptist Church over the years. And that is made possible because of our rejoicing always, praying continually—a continuing faith, a living, breathing church (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

A Challenge to Breathe Together

So, my earnest and emphatic challenge to you this morning, as I conclude. I want to speak directly to those of you who feel as though your spiritual breathing has become shallow or strained for whatever reason.

Perhaps you are walking through a season of intense grief, and the promise of the resurrection feels like a distant melody rather than a present hope for us (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Or perhaps you feel disheartened or weak, and the command to rejoice always feels like a heavy burden you cannot carry (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16). You cannot find ways and means to come back to rejoicing.

My challenge to you as an individual believer is this: do not try to catch your breath alone. We need to be breathing together. Paul instructs us to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And if you are weary, let this community, the OBC community, help you.

If you are strong today, look for someone who is struggling and offer them the breath of encouragement you have received from Christ.

Do not quench the Spirit by isolating yourself (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, let us commit this week and every day to being children of the light (1 Thessalonians 5:5) who actively seek out the weak and disheartened among us to breathe life into them (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

And oftentimes, the sharing of burdens leads to having that feeling of comfort that somebody is sharing your burden in prayer.

Trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed you to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 24).

The Challenge for Oamaru Baptist Church

The call to Oamaru Baptist Church, for us, and my challenge, is to live as a truly watchful church by reclaiming the proactive legacy of our early pioneers, who, during a nine-year wait without an official pastor, refused to lapse into spiritual slumber and instead stayed awake by preaching, teaching, and caring for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 11).

We shouldn’t stop. Just because we have these numbers now doesn’t mean we should stop and relax. Our situation could be gone at any moment if we try to slumber (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

The respect and honour they showed to those who worked hard, cared, and admonished brought about a breathing, living Baptist church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Just as Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to encourage the disheartened and help the weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14), you are challenged to move beyond passive faith and actively exhale the hope of the resurrection in your daily practical duties—rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

This is our challenge. Let us put God’s agenda before ours, yield control, and trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation that is given to all and not to a select few (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Put His agenda before ours. YIELD CONTROL. Trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation that is given to all and not a select few.

Guardians of the Spirit’s Fire

Another piece of advice, and a challenge, is that we should be guardians of the Spirit’s fire. The Church must not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) by allowing human control, pride, immaturity, and disrespect to take over from God.

We must not allow personal agendas to flourish. But in acknowledging God’s all-knowing power, we must put His agenda before ours so we do not stop, stifle, or put out the Holy Spirit’s work (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

The church must move forward in faith, making it a dedicated house of prayer, worship, and service. We must not trust in human cleverness but instead walk and wait humbly for God’s power and direction.

Let us trust that as we remain faithful in these daily acts of service, the God who provided an “unexpected upgrade” for our church building in 1889 will be equally faithful to sanctify us completely and sustain our spirit, soul, and body until the return of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

A Living, Breathing Church

What that teaches us: we might have a beautiful, functional building, but we can’t take it with us when we depart this world.

But what we can take with us is our living, breathing soul that inhales hope and breathes out love and faith to His people.

We inhale the historical hope of the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14). We stand on the solid foundation of God’s past faithfulness to this congregation. We live actively in the daylight of watchfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6), and we exhale encouragement and practical love into our community (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14).

May the God of peace himself sanctify you through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23). May your spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless until the return of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Inhale the hope, exhale the love, and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all (1 Thessalonians 5:28). Amen.

Closing Prayer

Let me pray. Father God, when we look at you, we are always coming short of the right breath. As your believers, as your followers, we need your help, dear Lord. And as we continue to celebrate your goodness, may your Holy Spirit continue to work in us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Amen.

Ball bearings play a crucial role in minimising friction, allowing for smooth movement and efficient load transmission in countless machines, from cars to everyday household items!

They enable machines to operate more efficiently, resulting in reduced wear and tear, lower energy consumption, and fewer maintenance requirements.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 4:2 to “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Bold letters for emphasis mine).

I find inspiration in the humble ball bearing, which beautifully illustrates the concept of “bearing with one another in love.”

Although small, it offers remarkable support, allowing a larger body, such as the shopping cart in the photo, to move seamlessly. I still have to see a ball bearing that is bigger than the load it carries.

To pursue unity and establish our identity in Christ, through bearing with one another in love, we must play a crucial role in minimising friction, facilitating smooth movement, and efficiently transmitting load (ministry tasks).

Operating like a ball bearing, members must enable the church to operate more efficiently by helping one another in humility and gentleness. This way, no one becomes burned out and discouraged, thereby maintaining enthusiasm and requiring less attention.

In conclusion, it’s essential to remember that the shopping trolley requires four ball bearings to function optimally. Ensuring these components are in place will enhance its efficiency and performance.

Let us unite as one in our church community, coming together in purpose and spirit, and each of us in places where we utilise our gifts and passions.

Together, we can achieve great things for God’s glory and honour. Amen!

I titled the first part “The Good, the Bad, and the Life,” which sounds like the famous 1960s movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. However, ours is a real-life version that doesn’t get ugly but results in a beautiful life.

Before discussing the “Good” part, do you know why chickens scratch the ground?

God created man and woman to be very GOOD (Genesis 1:26-27; 31)

The notion of being created in the “likeness” of God beautifully emphasizes the profound dignity and immeasurable worth of every human being.

The two critical trees in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:8-9)

Genesis 2:8-9 says:

⁸ Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 

⁹ The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In most illustrations and depictions of the creation in our Sunday schools or church presentations, we see only one tree with red fruits, often labelled as “apples” to simplify things.

The trees in God’s garden were pleasing to the eye and good for food. And yes, there were two trees in the middle of the plantation.

The BAD Fall

How the serpent tempted the women

• It casts doubt on the woman (3:1)
• It gave a dishonest affirmation (3:4-5).

MAN AND WOMAN – How the woman and man fell (3:6)

• By her senses, eyes and taste (3:6)
• By their ambition to be “like God” (3:6)
• By sharing the fruit of the forbidden tree (3:6)

How God responds to the bad fall

• Confronts them (3:9-13): Where are you?
• Stipulates the consequences (3:14-20)

The LIFE – “Redemption 101”

The Lord God is our Almighty Creator, and He cannot destroy what He created in His image.

So, God made garments of skin to clothe Adam and his wife. He affirmed that “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil,” but He took away the privilege of eternal life.

Rediscovering the “LIFE” we lost

We are on a quest to rediscover and regain the “life” we lost because of Adam and Eve’s bad fall in the Garden of Eden.

Returning to our chicken story, we have had a similar experience to the chickens. In nature, chickens diligently scratch the ground to uncover nourishment for themselves and their young.

Isn’t this a reflection of most people today? They labor tirelessly, striving to carve out a living, yet many find themselves falling short of the rich, fulfilling life that God intended for them.

In contrast to chickens, which a lurking and preying hawk may hunt, we are embraced by the Almighty God, who longs to redeem us.

Ever since we fell from the garden, we have been engrossed in dealing with the good and evil of this world. Many are happy to be stuck believing life is about knowing what is good and bad for them.

The true meaning of life is not merely about identifying what is good and evil and choosing the good, but rather about being empowered to “reach out our hands, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

Let us not neglect our need to focus on finding true life. We will conclude this series next Sunday.

Four days after celebrating Christmas Day and three more days before New Year’s Day, let us bring these critical takeaways as we start 2025.

Who doesn’t love takeaways? For those unfamiliar, a takeaway is where you can buy food to eat somewhere else or just the food you buy to take away. People love takeaways because they’re super convenient and usually cheaper than a sit-down restaurant. Fish and chips are the most popular takeaway food in NZ.

I am also thinking of the bountiful foods we prepared to celebrate Christmas, either on noche buena if you are Filipino or Hispanic, or on Christmas Day lunch, and sharing it as takeaways for family and friends who have joined us.

But that is as far as physical food is concerned. As the New Year comes, we must carry crucial takeaways to meet all the challenges that 2025 will bring.

Based on Matthew 2:1-12 narrative of the Magi’s visit to the Messiah, let us discover the lessons we must possess as we celebrate and live through the new year 2025.

1. Faith and Commitment

• The birth of Jesus Christ ignited fervour among the faithful community, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.
• The time of Herod helps us figure out when Jesus was born. Jesus came into the world sometime before Herod the Great died, probably around 4 BC. The exact date of Jesus’ birth is still a bit of a mystery.
• Wise men from the East came: These travellers are called wise men, derived from the ancient Greek term “magi.” There are many misconceptions and legends surrounding these individuals. They were not kings; instead, they were wise men and astronomers.
• While it is commonly believed that there were only three of them, likely, there was a larger group. Furthermore, they probably did not visit the newborn on the night of his birth but several months later.
• There was a strong expectation of the Messiah’s arrival among the Jews, yet the wise men realized they were among the few genuinely excited to find the newborn Messiah. There was a notable lack of enthusiasm in Jerusalem.

The dedication and bravery of the Magi from the East are extraordinary, considering the challenges of their journey and the dangers they faced while travelling. They left their comfort zones to seek and worship the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

2. Earnestness

In Matthew’s narrative, we have two character types who are insincere.

First, the chief priests and teachers of the law were aware of the prophecy regarding the birth of the king of the Jews (verses 5-6), yet they failed to recognise and accept that the Messiah had indeed been born.

This makes me reflect that there are Christians who are only Christians by name. These Christians have vast knowledge of the Bible but don’t have the capacity or refuse to follow what the Bible says. There are many Christians who are insincere in their faith, Christians in name but not by heart.

Second, Herod plotted to kill Jesus by pretending he wanted to worship him.  Ironically, Herod believed the prophecy, perhaps out of fear that the “king of the Jews has been born” and will replace him. Having been outwitted by the Wisemen, he ordered the massacre of children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).

There are Christians who are like Herod; they believe in God’s prophecies but detest the thought of surrendering fully their lives to Him. Instead, it is their SELF that reigns in their hearts. These insincere Christians will not hesitate to cut off any Godly influence and leadership in their hearts, but they are satisfied to pretend to be Christians.

Let us be like the Wisemen who earnestly sought the born king of the Jews, followed his star when it rose, and worshipped Jesus when they found him.

Devotion

I am presenting the four elements of the Magi’s devotion to Jesus, which we can follow.

The Magi followed the star of Jesus (or the Start of Bethlehem) as it seemingly persisted in its guiding role, appearing at pivotal moments along the Wisemen’s journey like an ethereal beacon in the night sky. Its initial glow graced them months prior, subtly steering their quest toward the broader region they sought.

Following this, their travels led them to the ancient city of Jerusalem, where they gathered vital knowledge and insights. As their search unfolded, the star reemerged, radiating luminous intensity to offer precise directions through the darkened paths ahead.

Its appearances were nothing short of a supernatural marvel, leaving them in awe of the divine guidance that seemed to transcend the ordinary realm of understanding.

The Star of Bethlehem is widely regarded as more than just a natural phenomenon, remaining a mystery that science has yet to unravel. This extraordinary light is described as leading the Magi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, ultimately hovering directly above the location where Joseph and Mary were residing. Notably, no documented celestial event is known to follow such a specific and purposeful path.

Jesus Christ embodies God’s glory, which was revealed on earth 2,000+ years ago. In our devotion to God, we follow Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Wisemen exemplified the importance of seeking and following Jesus relentlessly.

The Wisemen were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10) – Overjoy means “to cause someone to feel extremely happy or joyful, or to fill someone with great joy.”

The Magi were overjoyed seeing the star “stopped over the place where the child was.”  Overjoy is a feeling when you think you are going nowhere or you are considering whether you are on the right track or not, and suddenly you see from afar something that assures you that you’re on the right path.

Overjoy is like driving the Central Otago’s “Pigroot” (or a few call it the “Pig Route”) for the first time. The name “Pigroot” applies to the section of SH85 between Palmerston and Ranfurly.

I have driven through the Pigroot many times, and during my first trip, I kept wondering when it would end. It feels disorienting to see the natural scenery until you ascend from the valley and see the towns dotting from the distance. That gave me an overjoyed feeling.

When the Magi saw the star settle over the place where the child Jesus was, they were so happy. At last, we know where the King is!

They bowed down and worshipped him (Matthew 2:11)

In verse 11, the arrival of the wise men at their home reveals that Joseph and Mary transitioned from the manger to a residence after Jesus’ birth. This suggests they remained in Bethlehem or nearby Jerusalem, allowing Mary to fulfil the 40 days of purification mandated by Jewish law.

Jesus is referred to as a young child, likely between 6 and 18 months old. Notably, the child is mentioned before the mother, contrary to custom, indicating that the child’s status as the Saviour takes precedence.

How did the Wiseman worship?

• Bowed down –  (Gk pesontes) fall down;
• Worshipped – (Gk prosekynēsan) prostrate oneself in homage;

Yes, they worshipped HIM (emphasis mine). The Magi did not worship Mary, Joseph, or the child with Mary and Joseph. They worshipped only him!

They worship in deep reverence by falling prostrate before the child King.

They gave generously to Jesus.

 Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• TREASURES – a storehouse for precious things;
• GIFTS – many and not only one of each kind;

Because the Magi brought a storehouse of gifts, there is no way that only three of them travelled to find Jesus. I imagined the Magi bringing with them servants to carry and guard the treasures they got for the newborn King.

The valuable gifts were given directly to Jesus, not Mary or Joseph. While the infant Jesus did not use these gifts, Joseph and Mary, responsible and Godly parents, wisely used them for His benefit. Presumably, the family spent their gifts of gold as they went and lived in Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution.

We also practice generosity in our devotion to God. When we give to Jesus today, we channel it through the church to the people He called to serve, with the confidence that the leaders will use your gifts wisely on His behalf.

Conclusion

Let me briefly share my encounter with a fruit grower association leader from Hawke’s Bay on a plane from Auckland to Singapore, an 11-hour flight. I was in the middle seat, and he was in the aisle, meaning Jewel and I had to “bother” him whenever we went to the toilet.

When I introduced myself, that I’m a pastor and we’re on our way to attend a conference in Malaysia and hold a seminar in the Philippines, he said he’s a born-again Christian.

Then, he shared how God carried him, and co-farmers rose from Cyclone Gabrielle’s destruction to their region. He said that his faith and their church’s prayers and support encouraged him to lead the farmers despite their hopelessness and defeat by Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastations.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle was a destructive tropical cyclone that devastated parts of the North Island of New Zealand and affected parts of Vanuatu and Australia in February 2023. It is the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere, with total damage estimated to be NZ$14.5 billion (US$9.2 billion), of which NZ$3.18 billion (US$2 billion) are insurance losses. The cost of the cyclone in Hawke’s Bay alone was estimated to outstrip NZ$5 billion (US$3.17 billion).

Source: Wikipedia

You might ask what this testimony has to do with the “Christmas takeaways for the New Year” we’re talking about.

Isn’t it that unforgettable events, such as severe natural calamities, tend to be remembered and talked about for centuries?

I could imagine the wise men travelling leisurely on their journey back, feeling more at ease. They eagerly shared their transformative experiences with everyone they met, and, in every place, they rested for the night.

I can easily envision the Wisemen, surrounded by their families, servants, friends, and community, captivated by their compelling stories of encountering and worshipping the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

F.A.C.E.D. – Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the important Christmas takeaways we must always bring in 2025 and the many New Years to come.

Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the non-consumables and everlasting takeaways we carry along as we share our personal encounters and life experiences with Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed 2025. Happy New Year!

I derived these reflections from the two-year ministry journey we have embarked on since June 2022.

1. Jesus Christ is the owner and head of the church. It is not ours. We are only stewards of God’s ministry. We are accountable to him.
   
   
2. The church’s ministry is not a solitary endeavour by the pastor but a shared responsibility and accountability that we all bear together.
   
   
3. Like anyone else, the pastor is limited and can only do some things. We must serve one another because we believe that the greatest in God’s Kingdom is the one who serves all.
   
   
4. The church is not like a local business driven by the goal of monetary profit at the end of each year.
   
   
5. As outlined in Acts 2:42, the church’s purpose is to teach Biblical doctrine, provide a venue for worship and fellowship, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and pray — driven by faith, hope, and love, with love as the greatest of the three.
   
   
6. This purpose gives us a sense of belonging and significance in our shared journey and inspires and connects us to the heart of the church’s mission.
   
   
7. Because love is patient, we are on a marathon, not a race. In a marathon, we train for it, pace ourselves, endure, and finish strong. This is how we will achieve the church’s goals.
   
   
8. The success of God’s ministry does not rest solely on what the Pastor does for the local church but more on what the local church members do for themselves because pastors come and go, and the local church is the mainstay.
   
   
9. As your Pastor, my role is to equip, guide, and empower you to serve the Master more and more.
   
   
10. I am here to support you, to encourage you, and to walk alongside you in our journey of faith and works, ensuring you feel supported and empowered in your service to the Master.

Thank you, Oamaru Baptist Church for entrusting me with the role of your permanent pastor. With the help and guidance of God, and by working together, we aim to fulfil our potential for His glory and honour.

Team Castillon – Jonan, Jewel, and Jadyn

Let me share the outline of the sermon I delivered on Sunday, 4 February.

I took this photo when we stopped at Shag Point’s southern end because of road works. I noticed the new house built on the hilltop. We were following a moving van. Someone or a family might be moving.

We visited Jadyn’s accommodation in Dunedin on 31 January. She begins university next week, a big, fresh start for us as a family.

Yes, there are many fresh beginnings around us. We only need to look around, observe, and ask, “What are the new things around?”

Jesus had impactful fresh beginnings in Galilee after his Baptism and when Herod arrested John.

Fresh beginnings at Capernaum (Matthew4:12-27)

1. Jesus went to Galilee to start His itinerant ministry in that region to continue John’s ministry.
2. Galilee offers a safer place for ministry.
3. Jesus left Nazareth to live in Capernaum because
   • People rejected Jesus in his hometown (Luke 4:16-30)
   • Matthew and Peter live in Capernaum (Matthew 9:1-9; Matthew 8:14)
   • Fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. (Isaiah 9:1-2)
4. Jesus came to preach, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near.”

Fresh beginnings with Jesus’ first disciples (Matthew 4:18-22)

1. Jesus called, “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4:19)
   • Brothers Simon (called Peter) and Andrew
   • Zebedee’s siblings, James and John
2. His calling came to busy people.
   • Simon (Peter) and Andrew were casting a net into the lake (v.18)
   • James and John were in a boat preparing their nets (v. 21)
3. The immediate response of these disciples is an excellent example to us.
4. Following Jesus means leaving some things behind.

Fresh beginnings of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-25)

1. Teaching in their synagogues (Matthew 4:23)
2. Preaching (proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (v.23)
3. Healing every disease and sickness among the people (v.23), as far as Syria (v.24)
4. Large crowds followed him – people from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across Jordan. (v. 25)

A growing church always faces fresh beginnings, especially when we are deeply engaged in following our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Following what Jesus started in Galilee, we as a church or individuals must be able to preach the Gospel of repentance, make disciples, teach them to obey, and bring them to holistic healing in Jesus’ name.

Previously, I talked about OBC’s faith wisdom in 1883, 1889, 2008, and 2012, which led us to discover the church’s founding values.

• steadfast faith,
• indomitable courage,
• noble vision,
• hope, and
• generosity

This message will discuss the faithful, indomitable, noble, hopeful and generous people of Oamaru Baptist Church and the faith-wisdom discovery map in the past three years.

The flow chart above indicates that we are still on “Faith-Wisdom Discovery.” Next, we will tackle “Testimony Writing and Sharing.” All the tools we discuss and learn are integral to our church planning.

Basic Biblical Principle

Between 1883 and 2023, Oamaru Baptist Church had many faith-wisdom waiting to be found.

The basic principle of faith-wisdom discovery is to search for and find God in all the events of the church’s life.

The faith-wisdom statement above is taken from the 1983 article “In Retrospect” on “Turning Back the Pages: Oamaru Baptist Church Centenary 1883-1983,” which mentions the founding values.

During all the years of its witness in Oamaru, the Church has been steadfastly loyal to the foundation principles of the Evangelical faith. The distinctive and historic Baptist witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the absolute authority of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God, the freedom of the individual personality before God, and the right of all to freedom of conscience have been maintained with vigour and without compromise.

Today we thank God for those early pioneer members who, with indomitable courage, steadfast faith and sanctified vision, established the Baptist Cause in this town. We bless our God for every remembrance of them. ‘Their faith and their hopes we share as a glorious heritage. God grant that we prove worthy of the trust they have left us.

“Turning Back the Pages, Oamaru Baptist Church Centenary 1883-1983

Applying the faith-wisdom principles

The slide below shows some events in OBC’s life from 2020 to 2023. The listing is not exhaustive. I selected a few for illustration purposes only.

Now that we have listed the events, you may ask how we search for and find God in these events in OBC’s life over the last three years.

Remember the basic Biblical principle I showed earlier (Slide No. 3), found in James 1:22 and 1:26 and summarized by the phrase, “Faith without works is dead?”

As believers, the church continues to perpetuate works of faith because we have been born again in Jesus Christ.

The same faith moved the early pioneers, “who, with indomitable courage, steadfast faith and sanctified vision, established the Baptist Cause in this town.”

Looking at OBC’s Faith-Wisdom Discovery Map above and reflecting on the events listed from 2020 to 2023 takes us to two questions.

• One is hypothetical. Could those who left have stayed if they knew of OBC’s faith-wisdom statement?
• The other question is reflective. Now that you know OBC’s faith-wisdom statement, how does it impact your commitment to be part of OBC?

As I have mentioned in my previous explanation, faith-wisdom discovery must lead to the formation of a mission statement.

So, based on the faith-wisdom statement, we create a mission statement needed in planning programs for the church.

Oamaru Baptist Church must plan and implement programs that teach, train, and track the founding values of every member (dynamic discipleship).

• steadfast faith,
• indomitable courage,
• noble vision,
• hope, and
• generosity

John 12:12-19

We are celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem once again.

It is well-known as “Palm Sunday” because when Jesus rode on to Jerusalem, people carrying palm leaves, some waving and others spreading along the ground, greeted him.

To be exact, it was John who specified that “they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him” (John 12:13). Matthew (21:8) and Mark (11:8) mentioned that the people got leafy branches of trees Luke only said “cloaks” that the people spread on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:36).

Whether you would like to call it “Palm Sunday” or “Cloaks and Branches Sunday” is not the focus of our reflection.

Here, we see Jesus proceeding on a critical mission to enter Jerusalem.

Jesus proclaimed the righteousness of God.

Jesus entered enemy territor Word was out that anyone who would see Jesus must report to the priestly authorities so that they would arrest Jesus.

Jerusalem was the seat of the religious hierarch Jesus pushed through because God called upon him to proclaim His righteousnes Where is righteousness fitting to be declared than among unrighteous people?

What we need today is COURAGE TO PROCLAIM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. 

It begins when we have been put right with God from within ourselves.

How?

Romans 3:21-31 explains how we have been put right with God in Jesus Christ.

Yes, God makes us right by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Roman 3:22 points out:

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And h s is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

ROMANS 3:22 (NLT)

And because we have experienced the righteousness of God, we aren’t comfortable seeing unrighteousness done before us.

We become restless and can only relax when we have proclaimed what is right. 

What hinders us from seeking and proclaiming God’s righteousness?

However, some of us tend to only focus on seeking the “Kingdom of God” but aren’t keen on finding and proclaiming “His righteousness”, as the first statement in Matthew 6:33 mentions.

I have thought of three things that hinder us from seeking and proclaiming God’s righteousness.

1. Proclaiming God’s righteousness puts us outside of our comfort zone

Seeking and proclaiming God’s righteousness will not only take us out of our comfort zone, but most of us dread the thought that we would make others uncomfortable.

Yes, we are uncomfortable thinking that our proclamation will cause others to be uncomfortable.

Our thinking would be like…we have everything we need and live in a peaceful and secure community; why should we bother?

2. The world and some believers accuse us that we aren’t righteous enough

“Oh, let us leave them alone because we too are sinners” is the statement that Christians often hear discouraging Christians from speaking what is right and just before God.

Going through the triumphal entry narrative in Luke 19:28-44, we read in verses 36 and 37 that…

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke His disciples, but Jesus replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (vs. 39-40).

Not everyone in the crowd of disciples is righteous enough based on the Pharisees’ standard (or on the world’s standard), for they told Jesus to rebuke His disciples.

The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t stop them from proclaiming God’s righteousness.

It’s not the world or some ignorantly righteous persons who call the shot when it comes to who would proclaim God’s righteousness. Only Jesus Christ!

3. We are compromising and serving two masters

A lot of us today are what we call TIRED AND WEARY Christians. What causes it is “SIN. 

The most tiresome part of sin is when the Christian compromises. TO BE LUKEWARM is the most tiresome thing to a faithful Christian. 

Serving two masters will eventually wear us out.

We cannot serve both God and money, Jesus said. We must serve the one and only Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us to take off all that hinders our race.

Therefore, since such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

He also exhorts us not to conform anymore to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2).

How can Jesus’ triumphal entry lead us to our triumph?

I want to close this sermon with some reflections on the relevance of the triumphal entry of Jesus to our present situation.

1. Let us welcome the Lord in our “Jerusalem.”

Remember, when we read Acts 1:8, where “Jerusalem” is mentioned, we would interpret it as starting our witness in our place “Jerus lem” could be our hearts, homes, and families.

I don’t know if your culture has this saying: “Clean your backyard first before cleaning the backyard of others.”

Then we have Jesus Christ saying in Matthew 7:5, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Therefore, let us welcome the Lord Jesus Christ into our own “Jerusalem”, but unlike the people in Jesus’ time who received him with external objects (palm leaves, leafy branches, and cloaks), let us welcome him with all our hearts, mind, and soul.

2. A grim reminder – If we choose to remain silent, “the stones will cry out”.

Okay, I may appear like a doomsday prophet ere. Som theologians will challenge my statement based on a deeper hermeneutical basis.

My reflection is a simple analogy here. As I’ve mentioned, many church people are satisfied with seeking His Kingdom but not keen on seeking His righteousness.

Not many are proclaiming the righteousness of God because it’s easy to raise and clap hands in worship, recite our prayers, sing and shout praises, and play the instruments within the comfort of the church.

It wasn’t a long time ago when the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and their uncertainties caused us to be more prayerful, more trusting and more dependent on God’s grace and mercy.

I recalled that during the height of the pandemic when the number of positive cases and deaths were announced, I saw a flood of posts on social media channels (FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Mix, etc.) about the righteousness of God.

Still, I can confidently say that God’s people calling out to God, showing kindness, and encouraging one another in this pandemic have become exponentially more viral than the coronavirus.

A virus, a microscopic non-living organism like a non-living stone, has caused God’s people to proclaim His righteousness louder than ever before.

As we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, let us once again shout with louder voices starting within our own “Jerusalem”:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Read the details of this illustration by click on this link –> 3 Meaningful Life Lessons from a Boy Scout Orienteering Course