The Gathering Sermons

Series: The Church Preacher: Ps. Gabriel with Jae Won KimDate: 18th January 2026Passage: Colossians 3:16-17

Series: The Church Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 11th January 2026Passage: Hebrews 10:24-25Sermon Summary:It is hard to love. We know this. Loving and looking beyond oneself is so antithetical to who we are, to what the world calls us to be, that we cannot hope to do it on our own. And yet, Scripture tells us we cannot flourish without human community. The Greatest Commandment compels us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind... Yet equally as important is the call to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matt. 22:36-40)This week’s passage of Hebrews 10:24-25 gives us encouragement for how we can do this, and why we should be doing this. Though the Mosaic law provided the Israelites with a system of sacrifices and offerings to atone for their sin, it would never be enough. (Heb. 10:11) Even the offerings themselves would serve as a reminder of the people’s sin that could never be fully wiped away. (v.3-4) But Christ, in His death upon the cross, acted as the perfect sacrifice to offer whole and complete forgiveness for all sin. (v.12-18) It is through His death for us and His gift of His Holy Spirit to us that we are fully reconciled to God, no longer slaves to sin but able to walk according to the ways and standards He has called us to. We know that sin only leads to death (Rom. 6:23; Jas. 1:13-15) and separation between man and God. We serve and follow a holy God who cannot tolerate sin, which is why the author of Hebrews urges the early church to consider how they can keep the habit of meeting continually, how they can stir each other up to love and good works. (Heb. 10:24-25) The day is drawing near, where each will be judged according to his deeds. (2 Cor. 5:10) As we gather, let us consider how we can encourage, edify, and exhort each other, knowing that we are called to love God, His Church, and His world.

Series: The ChurchPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 4th January 2026Passage: Acts 2:42-47

Series: / (End of Year Service)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 28th December 2025Passage: Lk. 24:13-35Sermon Summary:As you look back at 2025, what is it that you approach the end of the year with? Are you relieved that it’s over, or are you recovering from all that happened? Do you grieve not just our city, but the world with its injustices, crises, and natural disasters?It can be tempting to ask God where He is in the midst of all this. The two strangers in this week’s passage of Luke 24:13-35 certainly did. There are hints to tell us that they were part of Jesus’ disciples: they heard from the women who had visited Jesus’ tomb that His body had vanished. (v.22) They knew where the eleven were, even though they were probably in hiding at this point. (v.33b) Yet Jesus still approaches them as a stranger, with gentleness and curiosity. He meets there where they are (v.17, 19), and takes the time to explain how all of Scripture points ultimately to Himself. (v.27) Though He leaves them just as suddenly as He joins them (v.31), their hearts and minds are changed. Not only do they recognize Him for who He is, but they also get up and go straight back to Jerusalem. Rather than leaving and walking away with heavy hearts of doubt, they manage to find the eleven and witness to them what they had seen, heard, and experienced. (v.34-35)Church, when we meet Jesus—truly encounter Him, we are changed. Once we realize that Jesus is who He says He is—that He is the Son of God, sent down to die for our sins; that His death and resurrection changed everything—we become people changed. Even in the midst of the grief, we can have hope, peace, and joy because He is always with us. Church, as you look back at and reflect on 2025, would you allow Jesus to join you? Would you do so with the lens of His death and resurrection? Would you invite Him in to change you?

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 21st December 2025Passage: Isaiah 7

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 14th December 2025Passage: John 18:28-40Sermon Summary:We learned in the past two weeks that Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10), and to give life—life to the full. (Jn. 10:10) He tells us this week that He came to bear witness to the truth (Jn. 18:37), yet Scripture gives us an example of how the world behaves when it is confronted by the truth. Of how we can behave when we are confronted by the truth. John 18:28-40 shows us three examples through the Pharisees, Pilate, and the Jews who chose to save Barabbas. Although Jesus had borne witness again and again to His identity as the Son of God, the Pharisees chose to assume their own truth. They believed instead that He was doing evil (v.30), and that by proclaiming His identity, He was blaspheming against God. (Matt. 26:65) How can the truth be blasphemous unless we choose to assume otherwise?When Pilate had the chance to converse with Jesus, He had the rare opportunity to ask Jesus who He truly was. He does, in fact, ask Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, but this is said with the same dismissive attitude with which he asks Jesus, “What is truth?” Do we make the same mistake in today’s relativistic society, where truth is no longer absolute? Instead of pursuing truth and wrestling with all the discomfort it brings, have we grown comfortable and complacent with our own versions of the truth?Lastly, the Jews who chose to save Barabbas instead of Jesus show us that we don’t just assume our own truths or ignore truth. We actively despise the truth. They would rather save Barabbas, a known criminal and murderer, the instigator of a rebellion, over the actual Son of God. But don’t we do the same every time we sin? Every time we choose the pleasures but the dangers of sin over what is good, holy, pure, and true?

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 7th December 2025Passage: John 10:10Sermon Summary:One of the titles commonly attributed to Jesus is “Immanuel”, God with us. We heard last week that He came to seek and to save the lost. (Lk 19:10) This week, Jesus tells us that He came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly. (Jn. 10:10) Truly, Jesus came to give us abundant life. But He prefaces His statement with a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. While His words are directed towards the Pharisees who have missed the point completely, He refers also to Satan, the enemy, the adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the devil as a roaring lion, who prowls around seeking people to devour. He steals our identities, makes us forget that we are beloved children of God. He steals our love as he tricks us into focusing on ourselves instead of others. He came to steal, kill, and destroy our peace, joy, and hope—leaving even the followers of Christ bare and destitute, wondering at this so-called abundant life that we were given. But not all hope is lost. We have Jesus, who is at once the Good Shepherd (v.11) and the Door by which His sheep enter. (v.7) The Good Shepherd would lay His life down for His sheep (v.11b), and the sheep who belong to the Good Shepherd know His voice. (v.4) Anyone who enters in by Jesus will be saved, and they will go in and find pasture. (v.9)Church, do you know the Good Shepherd? Are you sheep who know Him? Who recognize His voice, who trust Him and follow Him to green pastures? He is the only One through which we can have life, and life abundant. He is the only One who will lead us there. Trust not in your work, your studies, your achievements, your health, your wealth, your family and friends—not anything. For He alone came to give us life, that we might have it to the full. 

Series: Advent & ChristmasPreacher: Ps. James TangDate: 30th November 2025Passage: Luke 19:10Sermon Summary:Do we know why Jesus came? As we step into the month of December and prepare our hearts for His first coming—do we know why He came, the fullness of God in helpless babe? Luke 19:10 tells us that He came to seek and save the lost, and Zacchaeus’ story reflects this so beautifully. As a rich chief tax collector, Zacchaeus no doubt helped himself to some of the funds that he overcharged and collected for the Roman Empire. He was not a man of morals, and would have been scorned and despised by his fellow countrymen. Yet we see Jesus’ enthusiasm towards Zacchaeus’ curiosity: as Zacchaeus tried to get a better view of Him, Jesus declares that He must stay at Zacchaeus’ house today!We see the effects of this received grace on Zacchaeus: immediately he chooses to give half of his goods to the poor,and to restore fourfold of what he has defrauded. (v.8) This goes far beyond the additional one-fifth that is demanded ofhim in the Law. (Lev. 6:5) Curiosity comes first, then grace, and finally repentance that leads to life transformation.While it can be easy for us to dismiss Zacchaeus’ story, the truth is that all of us, in some form or another, are Zacchaeus. All of us have turned aside; not one of us seeks God. (Rom. 3:10-17) We are lost, and we need Jesus who came to seek and to save.That is why He needed to come down to earth, to find and to pursue us. If He hadn’t, no one would have.Now, then—what will you do, church? Knowing that if left to our own devices, not one of us would seek God? Will you answer God’s call on your life, or will you remain silent and indifferent? Will you remain where you are, comfortable and complacent, or will you partner with God to share His good news with all who so desperately need it?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 23rd November 2025Passage: Acts 18:1-28

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 16th November 2025Passage: Acts 17:1-34

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 9th November 2025Passage: Acts 16:1-40Sermon Summary:Though the book of Acts tells the story of the early Church fulfilling the mandate of the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8), it also shows how God’s Holy Spirit works through His faithful. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in Acts 16, where we see numerous examples of Spirit-led detours: the Spirit’s guidance to Paul as He forbade them to speak the word in Asia (v.6) and a similar instruction to refrain from passing into Bithynia. (v.7) The Macedonian Call, a vision that Paul received of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to go and help (v.9-10); His softening and opening of Lydia’s heart to pay attention to the gospel. (v.14) The power of God prevailing over the slave girl as the Spirit cast out the spirit of divination inside her (v.18), and the supernatural peace and joy that God gave to Paul and Silas as they were worshipping Him from prison. (v.25) The same God that they worshipped set them free (v.26) and moved them to care for the jailer in both word and deed, causing him and his household to come to Christ. (v.27-34)Before Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the end of the earth, He first told them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 1:8) He told them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the promise of the Spirit, to be “clothed with power from on high.” (Lk. 24:49) Jesus knew that without the help of His Spirit, we would be powerless. And indeed, it is only because of the empowerment of the Spirit that the Church was able to be so effective for God.Do you lean on your own strength, church? Or do you surrender to Him daily and wait for His Spirit’s guidance? Learning to discern for the Holy Spirit may not come naturally, but it will point us to Jesus and bring life.

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 2nd November, 2025Passage: Acts 15:1-41Sermon Summary:“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)Verses 2:8-9 from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks wonderfully to Acts 15. As the early Church engaged in a fervent discussion about the role of circumcision in salvation, Paul reminds us that our salvation comes only through grace, by faith. Not by our own doing or as a result of works, but through the death of Christ Jesus alone.As Peter addresses the believers who are anxious about the purity of the faith (v.5), he speaks with truth and candour when he reminds them of the weight of the Law. Neither they nor their fathers were able to keep and obey the Law in its entirety, and the reason that Jesus died was to fulfill the Law, to make His people clean and set them free. Why, then, would the Church require its new believers, whether Gentile or Jew, to do what they could not? Why would they invite God’s judgment on themselves for such a thing? (v.7-11)As they argue for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the church with a completely new way of living, Peter appeals to his experience of direct guidance and intervention from God. Barnabas and Paul appeal to their experience of God’s confirmation of their work through signs and wonders. But James appeals directly to Scripture, believing that the words of the prophets agree with what has happened. (v.15-17)While Acts 15 can act as a beautiful guiding example for church politics and debate, our focus is on the heart of their discussion. Can we remember to live as children of God, who are saved by grace through faith? Can we also accept the Holy Spirit’s call for us to be higher, as He works and enables us to live transformed lives for Him?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 26th October 2025Passage: Acts 14

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 19th October 2025Passage: Acts 13Sermon Summary:We’ve seen the fulfillment of Jesus’ proclamation to the disciples in Acts 1:8, starting with the church in Jerusalem who first received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (2:1-11). Stephen’s death scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, (8:1) and Philip brought great joy to Samaria when he proclaimed the Messiah to its residents (v.5). He even had the chance to speak Jesus to an eunuch from Ethiopia! (v.35) But it doesn’t stop there: we saw the first Gentile believers in Cornelius and his household (10:47), and the first Jew-and-Gentile church in Antioch. (11:19-21) And yet, God still isn’t done! As the Holy Spirit asks for Barnabas and Paul to be set aside (13:2), He sends them on the first missionary journey to the island of Cyprus (v.4) and the city of Pisidian Antioch (v.14) (a city different to the Antioch they departed from). Here we see vastly different responses to the gospel: we see resistance from Elymas the sorcerer (v.8) and the jealous Jews in Pisidian Antioch. (v.45) Sergius Paulus the proconsul shows amazement (v.12), and the other Jews and devout converts to Judaism are curious. (v.43) The Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch stand out, as they received the gospel with gladness (v.48)!Although Paul and Barnabas were chosen to do this good work, we must remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who chose and sent them out. (v.2, 4) The Spirit showed them how to react, and what to say. (v.9, 43) He enabled them to shake the dust off their feet, despite the abuse that was heaped on them (v.45) and their expulsion from Pisidian Antioch. (v.50) Paul and Barnabas are filled with joy because they are filled with Him. (v.52)Do you know that the Holy Spirit has set you aside for the work He has called you to? Can you hear Him calling? Will you respond? And when you do, will you depend on Him, or yourself?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 12th October 2025Passage: Acts 12Sermon Summary:What can we say apart from praise be to God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think? (Eph. 3:20) The sharing from our Congo team set the scene as they talked about God’s supernatural providence with a specific SSD part that was missing, and doors opening for future opportunities to better care for and educate the people of the region. This week’s passage of Acts 12 echoes the same sentiment, as the apostle Peter was broken out of prison (at such a leisurely pace that he had time to dress himself and put on his sandals!) by an angel of the Lord (v.8), when neither he nor the early church expected to see each other again. (v.16) Although it can be hard to remember that the book of Acts is about real things that happened to real people because it is so action-packed and dramatic, Luke and our Congo team’s sharing remind us of the true power of faith and prayer.At the same time, Luke cautions us against the dangers of pride through Herod Agrippa I. Herod imprisons Peter after killing the apostle James because he saw how James’ death pleased the Jews (v.3). He wanted more fame and acclaim for himself. Unfortunately for Herod, he’s outwitted by God (v.18-19) and even meets his gristly end at the hands of an angel of the Lord (v.23), eaten by worms because he did not give God the glory.Our Congo team talked about how faith is a “life cheat”, but how many of us truly think or believe that? When we come across difficulties, is our first instinct to “stop, drop, and pray”, like Peter and the early church, or do we try to solve things using our means? When God answers our prayers, are we quick to give Him the glory, or do we enjoy a (literal or metaphorical) worm-y end by pointing back to ourselves?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 5th October 2025Passage: Acts 11:19-30Sermon Summary:Just as Jesus declared at the beginning of Acts (1:8), we’ve seen the gospel travel around Jerusalem (Acts 2), Judea, and Samaria (8:4-8, 14-17). It even started to break Gentile ground with the Holy Spirit’s descent on Cornelius and his household (10:44-46). But it’s in Antioch that it starts to explode amongst the Gentile believers, as the hand of the Lord was with those who brought the good news to the city, and “a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (11:21)It’s in Antioch that the gospel was first taken directly to Gentiles. (v.20) It’s in Antioch that Barnabas first established a ministry partnership with Paul (v.25-26), setting the scene for the gospel to make its way to the ends of the earth. And it’s in Antioch that we see a first display of missionary spirit, in the church that would eventually become an important base for Gentile missions (v.29-30).As the third largest city in the Roman empire, Antioch was surpassed in population only by Rome and Alexandria. It was at the crossroads for military and commercial traffic, making it a locus for eastern and western cultural exchange. Beyond that, it was the recipient of people who were willing to step out of their comfort zones for the sake of the gospel. Scripture tells us that the majority of those who fled to Phoenicia, Cyrus, and Antioch spoke the word to no one except Jews. (v.19) Only a few unnamed believers chose to preach to the Gentiles (v.20). Without their courage and the bravery of many more like them, we might not know Jesus today!True to their name, the first Christians (v.26) acted as “little Christs” when they went where God called them, obeying Him and what He asked of them. Will you do the same today, church, and allow the hand of the Lord to rest on you? To work through you and bring about a city-wide movement of the gospel?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 28th September 2025Passage: Acts 10:1-11:18Sermon Summary:In Isaiah 55:8-9, the prophet records God’s declaration that His thoughts and ways are nothing like ours. They are far beyond anything we could imagine! Acts 10 shows us an example of this as God orchestrates an encounter between Cornelius the centurion and the apostle Peter.Prior to this incident, the Holy Spirit has yet to fall on Gentile believers. Although Cornelius is a devout and God-fearing man, he and his household have yet to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Imagine his surprise when the Spirit falls on him and all those gathered with him as Peter shares with them the gospel! (v.44) They begin to speak in tongues and extol God, and they are baptized in the name of Christ. (v.47-48) What Moses dreamt of and hoped for a few thousand years ago has now become a reality: that the Spirit of the Lord would fall on the people, and they would receive it. (Num. 11:29)Nobody saw this coming, least of all Peter! In fact, Peter receives a strange vision as he is praying, before he receives the summons from Cornelius. In it, God commands him to eat of animals, reptiles, and birds that the Law had deemed unclean and forbidden. (Acts 10:11-15) Perplexed and confused, Peter has no idea what is in store as he responds to Cornelius’ request to meet him in Caesarea, but he comes to recognize his internal prejudice and bias towards the Gentile believers. (v.34) His understanding that God shows no partiality and favoritism is what launches him into a mini-sermon, and his sharing of the gospel acts as the catalyst for this outpouring of the Spirit. (v.44)Peter still struggles with the same sin and bias fourteen years later (Gal. 2:11-14), and we continue to see how he is a work in progress. He isn’t perfect, and neither are we. But he and Cornelius show us how God sees and hears, and how His heart is always for those who seek Him. (v.35)

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. Gabriel WongDate: 21st September 2025Passage: Acts 9:32-43Sermon Summary:What’s your reaction when you come across accounts of healing in Scripture, such as Aeneas who was healed from his paralysis, or Dorcas who was risen from the dead? Perhaps it’s yearning or longing for an injury to be healed, or relief for a friend or family member battling disease. Maybe it’s skepticism, because you prayed once—but God didn’t seem to listen or answer, so you’re left wondering if He even heals anymore.  Whatever your response, it can be hard to remember that the Bible is a collection of real-life accounts that happened, of people who existed and did the things written about them 2,000 years ago. We can sometimes approach Scripture the way we approach fairy-tales, like it’s too good to be true—but we know God does listen, and He does heal! Jackie and Florence’s testimonies point to the truth of that.  More importantly, while God does choose to heal physically, we have to remember that physical healing is not the end-all and be–all of all things. Yes, Aeneas was healed of his paralysis. Yes, Dorcas was risen from the dead. But they passed away eventually, as all must do on this side of heaven. What really matters, what really lasts, is the way that all the residents of Lydda and Sharon witnessed Aeneas’ healing and turned to God. (Acts 9:35) The way that Dorcas’ resurrection became known throughout Joppa, so that many believed in the Lord. (v.42) We know that miracles serve the message.The signs and wonders that Jesus and His apostles performed point to the very reality of who He is, what His Kingdom is like. Historically, the Church has not done a good job at tackling the issue of miracles and healing, but let us say this: the physical restoration of healing, of wholeness, points to a day where every tear will be wiped away. (Rev. 21:4) Come to Jesus for healing,friends—for He is faithful and mighty to save. (Zeph. 3:17)

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James Tang & Sam LeungDate: 14th September 2025Passage: Acts 9:1-19Sermon Summary:The story of Jesus’ confrontation with the apostle Paul is one of the most dramatic in Scripture: Paul, who then went by his Hebrew name Saul, was actively persecuting the church. He was breathing threats and murder against the followers of Jesus (Acts 9:1), and even obtained a permit from the high priest to capture any Christ-followers he found in Damascus. (v.2) But on the way to Damascus, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a flash of blinding light, posing the question “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v.4)Saul’s transformation from Saul to Paul happened because he was confronted by the gospel. He was confronted by Jesus Himself, confronted by the devastating news that there was nothing he could do to earn his salvation, nothing he could do to be righteous. For three days and three nights, Paul ate and drank nothing as he reflected on the truth of his blindness—that he had been pursuing God according to his own means, instead of chasing after Jesus whom God had set before him.The rest becomes history after Ananias obeyed God’s call to lay hands on Paul. Because of Ananias’ obedience, we have the most prolific church planter in history. Because Ananias listened, the gospel was taken beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to Rome. According to church history, it might even have made its way to Spain, which was Paul’s idea of the ends of the earth. All this couldn’t have happened without Ananias’ participation in God’s plan, but it wouldn’t have happened if Saul had not encountered the Person of Jesus in the first place.Who are you, church, in the story of this confrontation that becomes conversion? Are you Saul, needing to be confronted by the Person of Jesus? Are you following your own way instead of the Jesus way? Are you Ananias, whom God invited to participate in His plan of salvation? Or are you Paul, a story of God’s grace in progress?

Series: The Birth of the Church (Acts)Preacher: Ps. James TangDate: 7th September 2025Passage: Acts 8:26-40Sermon Summary:This week’s account of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40) shows us what can happen as we remain obedient and responsive to the Holy Spirit. It involves Philip, who we last saw bringing the word to Samaria (v.6-8; 14-17), and an Ethiopian eunuch, who seems to be searching for spiritual satisfaction in life. The Ethiopian was an official at the royal court in charge of all the queen’s treasure. (v.27) He likely castrated himself to reach his current level of power, as the royal family would not have trusted him otherwise.  Although he seemed to have everything—at least wealth and power—and had sacrificed much to get where he was, something was still missing. He still felt dissatisfied, so much so that he willingly journeyed from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. The journey would have been around five to six months, and he would have risked being replaced at the royal court whilst he was away. But all this would have been for nothing, as there was a huge possibility he would have been barred from entering the Temple due to his physical dismemberment. (Deut. 23:1) So imagine how distraught and rejected he would have felt, as Philip encountered him on the road back to Ethiopia! Imagine, at the same time, how loved he would have felt when Philip was whisked away, when he realized that God had organized this surprise encounter specifically for him! (v.39) Although we struggle greatly with the logistics of how we can scatter, sometimes being paralyzed by fear and anxiety, Philip shows us that it’s as simple and easy as being obedient to the Holy Spirit. The eunuch shows us that it’s worth the cost. We go wherever He takes us, and we share whatever He puts in our mouths.  So, church: will you go? Will you practice being familiar with God and His Spirit? Will you follow the Spirit’s guidance, and will you be obedient to speak as He works through you?