Date : 18-03-2007
Venue : Hope Place Penang
Time : 10:30am to 12:30pm

Today's Sunday service was special one as it's our mission Sunday which we usually have it twice in a quarter. The theme for this mission Sunday was " Finish the race....complete the task."

Before our dear pastor Laurence starts his preaching, he showed us a short video clip, it is called the 10/40 window. So what does this 10/40 window means?10/40 means the temperature of between 10C to 40C, so 10/40 window is about the countries which has the temperature of between 10/40 Celsius, which is the center region of our earth. ( look at the picture for a more detailed understanding). So why are we talking about this 10/40 window? Well, this region has the most unreach people in the world, some of the cities in this area even never has a church before!

So the scripture from the bible of the day is 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, " 6 For I am being already pour out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is install for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day - and not only me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."

These are the points taken out from what our pastor has preached.

1. Give it everything you've got, v6
The Americans always like to say this, especially in movies. Paul submitted to God's will, he gave his life fully to God, he takes his death penalty as a giving to God. God calls Christians to fulfill the  great commission, therefore, we must give ourselves fully to God so that we can fulfill the great commission. Many people think that it is OK just to give part of our life to God, but Paul did not think so. To plant a church, we need to submit to God and do it joyfully, like Paul. The great commission only can be fulfilled when people submit and be obedient to God.
1a.. Submit to God's will, v6a
Everything starts with a small response at first.
1b.. Sense of urgency, v6b
Time is short, time flies, time will catch up on us, so, the time is NOW!

2. Finish the work completely, v7
Paul finish his work completely, with no regrets, no looking back, just like Jesus. He lives a way just to complete the work.
2a.. A fighter, v7a
We are called to fight a good fight, when you are down, get up, get up and beat the devil down! Paul had the ability to get up and fight.
2b.. A runner.
A runner always finishes the race, have you ever seen a runner who started the race but never wanted to finish the race? A runner always has to stay on the right track to be a winner, because if a runner run out of his track, he will be disqualified! So, you and I need to stay in the course, don't give up, keep going! The distance is long, but there IS a finishing line!
2c.. A manager, v7c
God has given you a lot, gifts, spiritual gifts. Therefore, use it to glorify God, use it for God. Maybe our role might be small now, but we are important, everyone is important, imagine this, can you cut off your little finger? No! You can't! Because all your fingers are important to you, even your little finger! So everyone of us are important! The training of a church planter starts from a CG!

3 Eagerly anticipate the reward, v8
When I finish the race, I know what I want to get, for example, if I have just finished a marathon, I know I will want to get a drink on 100Plus. When you work, you know that you will be rewarded with bonus, increment... You have confidence that you will get the rewards, so waiting in anticipation.
3a.. Seek for heavenly reward, v8a
If you start investing today, start investing in the kingdom of God, then we can anticipate the reward in heaven! We don't just live this life to get increment, get married, get bonus, get a house... but we are born to complete the great commission!