Grace Christian Church of the Philippines

Checkmate #3: Toxic People // 1 Kings 2:1-46 // Dr. Stephen Tan

Any relationship can become toxic, including relationships with coworkers, in-laws, parents, siblings, and friends. So how do we detox from toxic people? Here are 4 things we need to watch out for as demonstrated by King Solomon in 1 Kings 2:1-46.

Checkmate #2: Outmaneuvered // 1 Kings 1:1-53 // Dr. Stephen Tan

When you feel you are being outplayed and outmaneuvered by those around you, as a follower of Jesus, how should you act and what should you do? We take a look at four biblical principles from 1 Kings 1:1-53.

Checkmate #1: The Selection // 2 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 22, 28 // Dr. Stephen Tan

Every follower of Jesus has an opportunity to be greatly used by God in this lifetime. How does God select those He will use for His glorious purpose? What is it that God is looking for to choose people to make an impact in this world? Here are four biblical principles.

Enjoy Life with a Purpose // Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

Unless you live intentionally, this year will be the same as last year. So how can you enjoy life with purpose? Here are three biblical principles from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Are We There Yet? Trusting God’s Navigation in the Journey of Life // Proverbs 16:1-9 // Min. Kenneth Sy

The book of Proverbs offers practical guidance for wise and righteous living. Here are three biblical principles from Proverbs 16:1-9 that you can follow to help you plan your year.

The Not-So-Perfect Perfect Christmas // Luke 2:1-7 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

The first Christmas more than 2000 years ago was far from perfect, but God had planned it out perfectly. As God was in control then, so is He working in your not-so-perfect life today.

Christmas Hope: The Sun of Righteousness // Malachi 4:1-6 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

The song Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and the book of Malachi reminds us this Christmas of four hopes Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, brings into a hopeless world.

Sexual Orientation: The LGBTQ+ Debate // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

In part 2 of our mini-series on gender and human sexuality, we explore issues surrounding sexual orientation and ways to lovingly engage a culture where the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is considered normal and acceptable.

Gender Identity: Can I Be What I Feel? // Genesis 1:27 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

It is important to understand the complex issue of gender identy from both the biblical and secular worldviews to engage in impactful conversations. Central to this issue is the question: Can I be what I feel? How would you answer?

War in Israel: A Biblical Perspective // Genesis 13, 15; Revelation 5, 12 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

As with all things and especially with passionate topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where differing perspectives and opinions can divide, it is very important for a follower of Jesus to look in the Bible and see these issues through the lenses of God’s attributes, to know what God has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future.

I Can, But Should I? // 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 10:23-33 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

For many followers of Jesus, the freedom we have in Christ is synonymous with the ability to make our own decisions and choose our own path in life and to do whatever we want, whenever we want. But Scripture reminds us that “All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NASB). We know that in matters of biblical truth, there can be no compromise. But how do we navigate the gray areas? When dealing with matters not directly addressed in the Bible such as the type of music you listen to, the movies you watch, smoking, gaming, or drinking alcohol, how do we discern the answer to “I can, but should I?”

Glimpses of Glory // Zephaniah 3:9-13 // Dr. Stephen G. Tan

Knowing God’s plans for the future teaches us how to live in the present. Scripture gives us glimpses of glory that God has in store for us in the future to encourage us to live rightly in the midst of earthly chaos and problems and to remind us that our eyes should be pointed heavenward.

Pursuing God’s Presence in Our Lives // Exodus 33:1-23 // Rev. Victor Ramoy

God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere; and for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, there is an assurance that God is with us always. But because God is also holy, it means that while we can never be out of God's reach, we can lose His favor and damage our relationship with Him if we sin, and this should be the greatest fear of a follower of Jesus. A profound and intimate encounter between Moses, the Israelites, and God in Exodus 33 serves as a powerful reminder of how we can pursue God's presence in our lives.

Four Mandates for the Christ Follower // Colossians 4:2-6 // Rev. Mike Van Prooyen

For people who call themselves followers of Jesus, God’s Word is not simply a book of guidelines. What is written is expected to be lived out. In Colossians 4:2-6 there are four mandates all followers of Jesus must follow.
 
*Correction on 16:14 - verse read is 2 Corinthians 11:3

When Your Dream Turns into a Nightmare // Genesis 37-40 // Dr. Tom Roxas

We all have hopes and dreams of how life should or could be, and expectations of how it will come to fruition. But at some point in our lives, our dreams seem to turn into nightmares. What can we do when our dreams turn into nightmares, especially as a follower of Jesus?