Issue 1 (2 Jan 2005)

Building Up a Godly Family 

The church’s theme for the new year is “Making Christ Known”.  One of the ways we make Christ known is the way we conduct ourselves as Christians.  Remember, we are to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). With this in mind, as believers, we are to exhort and build each other up to walk worthily of the vocation we are called.  Hence, this year, the theme of the Lively Stones will be “Building up the Godly Family”.

Building Up vs. Tearing Down

As believers, we are to grow in grace.  A children’s song goes, “Read your bible, pray everyday if you want to grow”.  When we are growing, our spiritual health is good, we can testify of God’s goodness by our conduct alone.  When other brethren see us so, they are in turn spurred to grow too.  That is building up in one way.

Contrary, when we are not spiritually well ourselves, our thinking and perception are not of God and we will manifest characteristics unbecoming as believers.  This can sometimes result in strife, discouragement to the walk of others etc.  This is tearing down. 

The Godly Family

The godly family will span from our own family unit to the big family in church.  Our family unit can be as small as just two persons, namely husband and wife to include children and grandparents etc.

With the individual family units combined, we will have the big family unit.  Thus it is important to first build up strongly our own small family unit so that we can be better and stronger instruments to work on the bigger church family.

God willing, with the above two points in mind, there will be articles focusing on the different ages, (the toddlers to the seniors), and the different stages and roles in life (singles, married, parents, grandparents, children, husband and wife).  You can also read of the testimonies of our brethren and be encouraged.  Let us all learn how we can play a role to nurture the young and to encourage and exhort our peers and seniors in this earthly pilgrimage.

Although we try to include as much scope in the articles, the areas we focus on are not exhaustive.  But it is the prayer of the editorial team that we can all benefit from the testimonies and the biblical knowledge of our fellow brethren.  In addition, we can spur each other to read and study the bible more so as to gleam much into God’s Word ourselves.

Let us remember that each day we are living Coram Deo, before the face of God.  So may we all strive and encourage one another to walk well in the Lord and work towards building up the godly family.

Julia Koh
Editorial

Feature Article of this issue:       Making Christ Known