Context & Introduction I read and studied the Book of John chapter 9 when I was in hospital recently and decided to write and expound upon this heart-warming episode. Prior to this, Jesus had begun His ministry and confounded his critics and listeners alike. He spoke of himself “before Abraham was I” (John 8:58). He had cleansed others of demon possession and gave several warnings to those who opposed his divine message. Their response was to attempt to stone him (John 8:59).

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing,And their eyes they have closed,Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them.’ (Matthew 13:15) Many people today, including some who claim to be faithful in their religion, choose to side with scientific explanations over biblical proofs regarding matters such as the origin of the universe and life t

Key Verse: Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV): “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Each time I read verses about parenting, I struggle with a sense of guilt, wondering whether I had failed to do my part when my child fell away. During bro. William Chen’s visit to Skudai in June this year, he shared Proverbs 22:6 with us and explained that his instructor had warned him to teach this verse as a principle, not a guarantee. This teaching s

The kings of Israel and Judah are fascinating, representing a large part of Israel’s history and taking up most of the books in the Old Testament. Most of them were bad kings, especially in the case of Israel - But in this article, I want to focus on a good king, King Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa, and like his father, he did what was right in the sight of God. He purged idols from the land, sent his leaders, the Levites, and priests throughout the land, all of

We are often burdened by the guilt of sin weighing heavily in our hearts. Most of the time, many will not tell others of their sins because of this guilt and shame. The guilt hurts the sinner together with his or her loved ones in many senses. However, there can be great joy when one acknowledges and confesses his sins to God. Psalm 32 tells us of David’s joy which came about as a result of his confession. There is great joy in those whose sins are forgiven (Psalm 32:1). When

After 27 years of being off the shelves, pig blood products have made a comeback to supermarkets and restaurants in Singapore. Animal blood food products had previously been prohibited in Singapore due to the 1999 Nipah virus outbreak. With the comeback of such food, what should be the Christian response? Can we eat such? Symbolism of Blood Under the Law of Moses, the Israelites were prohibited from eating blood. They were warned that those who ate blood would be cut off from

World Cup season is upon us. I myself am personally invested in the Volleyball Nations League and have been following for a few years. I’ll be travelling to Japan to watch a few matches live for the very first time. As I watch some of the exciting matches and rallies that are ongoing now, I am reminded that volleyball (and sports) offers more than exciting rallies and dramatic victories. It can also provide us with valuable lessons that can resonate with our Christian walk.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." There is a war being waged for your mind. Do you know that? Our culture. Mainstream media, news and TV. Social media. All of those are carefully engineered experiences designed to make you feel like you don't have enough. The algorithm knows your insecurities better than your closest friend. It shows you everyone else's daily travels around the world, the cool cars that 12 year olds

I wonder sometimes how well we really know each other. We gather every Sunday, sit together, worship together, and yet how much do we actually know about what the person a few rows away is going through? People can live in the same block of flats for years, seeing each other in the lift, at the letterboxes, or along the corridor, exchanging a greeting now and then, and still know very little about each other’s lives. One neighbour may be caring for an ageing parent, another d

Water is essential to life, and this has not changed over the times. Be it in the olden days, or even now, we all need water to survive. A quick Google search actually reveals that about 71% of the Earth’s surface is made up of water, further emphasizing the significance water has on our lives. In the Bible, various water bodies are also mentioned, each recorded a different moment of history. The Sea of Galilee The Sea of Galilee is a water body that has been mentioned in th

To honour someone is to place weight and value on them. Scripture reminds us that God alone is worthy of all honour, glory, and power (Revelation 4:11; 7:11–12). Honour is the inward value we give while glory is the outward expression of that value. The question, then, is not whether God deserves honour as He does. The real question is: Do our lives reflect it? Building a God-honouring home is not just about marriage or family life. It applies to all of us. Before we build a

Throughout history, there have been countless individuals who were, at the same time, both (1) materially wealthy and (2) faithful servants of the Lord. Job and Abraham fit into that category. On the other hand, some individuals who had a very limited amount of material resources also were faithful children of the living God. Perhaps we recall the widow who gave her only two coins or the Christians in the churches of Macedonia who were described as living in deep poverty (2 C

Happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers! Many of us recognise that mothers play an important role in our lives and in taking care of the household. The selfless love of a mother has been demonstrated by many. We see such an example in the Bible through Jochebed, the mother of Moses (Exodus 6:20), and note some lessons from the biblical account. Jochebed was a mother of great faith. The Israelite nation, at that point in time, was living in Egypt with a pharaoh who “knew not Joseph”

I recently went on a trip to Japan, and I can tell you that it was great. I had a lot of fun there and the scenery was good, but as I was pressed against the bodies of other people on the bus in Kyoto, I could only think of going back home. I think it is very common for humans to complain; it is in our very nature, and it makes sense. After all, who doesn’t want their own quality of life to improve? However, especially in Singapore where we are very blessed, it is easy for us

Colossians 3:1-4 says: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” In these verses, we are exhorted to be focused on Christ, to have our affections tuned to Christ. It is a command, not a request,

I came from a humble family. My parents had nine children, and as the youngest, I was well protected and loved by my siblings when I was young. In our home, we knew what it meant to be close. I do not remember how it started, but we were always looking out for one another. We worked things out together and filled in the gaps for each other. We ate together and laughed together. As we grew older, things changed as everyone pursued their own careers and formed their own familie

Imagine steering a canoe toward a harbour. To move forward in a straight line, you must paddle in rhythm — left, right, left, right. Each stroke balances the other. If you paddle only on one side, no matter how hard you try, you will simply go in circles. This simple picture reflects an important truth about our spiritual lives. Many of us are faithfully carrying out our responsibilities — caring for our families, working diligently, and pursuing the tasks set before us. Thes

Last month, we considered two reasons why I study God’s Word. They were for getting to know God and His will, and guidance for godly living. We will consider another two reasons this month. Growth and Transformation In encouraging Christians who were going to face tribulations, the apostle Peter wrote of the need for them to continue to desire the word, just like how newborn babies will desire milk. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow ther

Christ has no hands but our hands, to do His work today, He has no feet but our feet, To lead men in His way; The lyrics of The World’s Bible remind me of tracting. For a long time, I would excuse myself from tracting, feeling it was meant for young people, or it would hurt my knees, or that my life is fully filled on Sunday afternoons. However, deep down, the Lord could see my unwillingness. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his

Tomahawks fly . On 28 February 2026, people in Singapore woke up to news of conflict in the Middle East (thousands of miles away from home). Perhaps because of its distance, it might not have felt “real” at the time. Nonetheless, report after report came in of missiles and drones striking targets on all sides of the battlefield – the world had entered another war, another time. Trouble flies . Coincidentally, these missiles flying seemed to echo the struggles brewing on the