One Covenant Church Sermons

Sermon series: Means of Grace: God's Help for Sinners and SufferersWe often think of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as rituals—but they are so much more. They are visible signs of God's invisible grace, given by Jesus Himself to assure us of His love. In our doubts, struggles, and failures, the sacraments speak louder than words. Through them, God says to us, “I am your God, and you are my people”.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 11 May 2025

Sermon series: Means of Grace: God's Help for Sinners and SufferersPrayer is one of the gifts God has given us to increase and strengthen our faith. In this passage, we see that prayer is possible only because of Christ, that it is for the Spirit to move our heart's gaze to Christ and His blessings, and that we might have power to live as God's people in all areas of life.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 4 May 2025

Sermon series: Means of Grace: God's Help for Sinners and SufferersGod has given us His authoritative Word, the Bible, so that we may know salvation in Jesus Christ, as well as how we can please our Lord. On top of that, He has blessed us with the gift of preaching so that we may hear what God has to say to us today. All of these point us to the greatest treasure Himself, Jesus Christ, who was the Word made flesh and in whom is eternal life.Preacher: Joel SimDate: 27 April 2025

Sermon series: Making Sense of Jesus' Death and ResurrectionThe resurrection of Jesus is a fact attested by historical evidence. Yet more than just a historical event, it is a compelling truth that has the power to renew our hope, remove our fear, and redefine our lives in such a way that we no longer just live for ourselves but for something and someone bigger. The resurrection helps us become truly useful, using all that we have and all that we do to go and tell of the glorious things that God has done.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 20 April 2025

Sermon series: Making Sense of Jesus' Death and ResurrectionIn the final moments of Jesus' life before His death, the supernatural darkness of God's judgment fell on Him. It was a judgment He did not deserve as the sinless Son of God. Yet, the darkness fell on Him as our substitute. And because Jesus took our place, His death, dispels our darkness, draws us near to God, and defeats our death so that we might truly live.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 18 April 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9In our concluding story for this sermon series, Jesus' disciples argued among themselves as to which of them was the greatest in the kingdom of king Jesus. Their dispute reveals how deeply rooted their unbelief was. Greatness is not something we earn, but a gift from God which we receive and is expressed through humble service. Through this, we participate in the work of our great God, who does more than we ask or think.Preacher: Joel SimDate: 13 April 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9After their mountaintop experience with the transfiguration, Jesus and His disciples returned to the throes of ministry as they encountered a young boy, possessed by an unclean spirit. The disciples' failure to heal the boy exposed their unbelief concerning what Jesus said about their authority over demons. In light of their unbelief, Jesus exhorted them to pay careful attention to His words, especially with regards to His impending suffering as Messiah.Preacher: Joel SimDate: 6 April 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9In the account of The Transfiguration, Jesus shows His glory. In doing so, He reveals that He supersedes Moses and Elijah who were the greatest of Israel's prophets. He is the divine Son, the Chosen One. Through His death, He brings about a new exodus, delivering God's people from slavery to sin and death.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 30 March 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9In a society where there were various ideas of who Jesus Christ is, He clarifies what it means for Him to be the Messiah. In light of His identity, Jesus calls His disciples, saved by grace, to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. What we have in Jesus is satisfaction that is greater than anything or anyone on earth can possibly give us.Preacher: Joel SimDate: 23 March 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9Jesus took 5 loaves and 2 fishes from His disciples and multiplied it to feed a multitude numbering the thousands. From this account, we learn that Jesus provides because His heart is filled with compassion for people, when they are weak and cannot provide for themselves, and by multiplying what they already had. All of this points forward to Jesus' greatest act of provision, the giving of Himself on the Cross. If we are assured of what He has already provided, we will be assured that He will provide for everything we need to follow Him.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 16 March 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9Jesus sends his 12 apostles out with the power and authority to preach the gospel and to heal. The apostles have a unique role (Ephesians 2:20) and are therefore endowed with special gifts (2 Corinthians 12:12). While we do not have the same role, or have the same gifts, there are similarities. We too are sent by Jesus, sustained by Jesus, and shaped like Jesus in our ministry of Word and deed, proclamation and demonstration, evangelism and mercy.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 9 March 2025

Sermon series: Luke 7-9: Trusting the SaviourJesus heals a woman who had suffered from a 12-year illness and raises the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, from death. Both Jairus and the woman reached the limits of their own power, yet Jesus demonstrates His superior power over sickness and death. He does for them what they could not do for themselves. These remarkable miracles not only reveal His divine compassion but also foreshadow the greater healing and resurrection that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. We can access this saving power through faith in Him.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 2 March 2025

Sermon series: Luke 7-9: Trusting the SaviourThe story of the demon-possessed man is well-known to many yet it can often feel far removed from modern readers. While demon possession is a central feature, the story is really about how Jesus' compassion and authority meet the oppressed and needy. This story challenges us then to consider how we would respond in light of this.Preacher: Chua Si YangDate: 23 February 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9In this story, Jesus and His disciples set out across Lake Gennesaret on a boat. What seemed like an ordinary event turned into a lesson on faith. This story shows us that Jesus is the Almighty Lord who is also our Redeemer. We can trust in Him and find the strength to face the storms in our lives, knowing that He is with us.Preacher: Joel SimDate: 16 February 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9Jesus wants His followers to both hear and obey His Word. He shows us that His Word is light that shines into our darkness. It brings us into a life of knowing more and more of God. And it makes us part of God's family.Preacher: Tan Huai TzeDate: 9 February 2024

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9 Those who have encountered Jesus and been changed by Him join Him in bringing the good news of God's kingdom into the world. This is out of a deep sense of gratitude to God, involved both proclaiming and showing the kingdom and comes with sober, though hopeful outcomes. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 2 February 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9 In the encounter between Jesus, the sinful woman and the religious teacher, we see that true saving faith in Christ leads to forgiveness that produces radical change in us: we become devoted to Christ, filled with gratitude, and at peace with God. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 26 January 2024

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9 In this passage, we see that the kingdom of God is already here, though not quite according to the expectations of John the Baptist and his messengers. Though John was the greatest of the prophets, yet the least in God's kingdom would be greater than he because of its momentous significance. As significant as this is, there are those who would reject the message of the kingdom because its nature goes against our natural, sinful selves. Preacher: Aaron Akins Date: 19 January 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9 In this story that is unique to Luke's Gospel, Jesus Christ raised up the dead son of a widow. Despite the widow coming to the end of herself, Jesus did not turn away from her, which is what the society of her day would do. Jesus saw her sorrows and showed her sheer compassion by bringing her son back to life. Through this, we see that Jesus is no mere prophet or healer, but the Lord God who has come to redeem His people and is deserving of all praise. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 12 January 2025

Sermon series: Trusting the Saviour: Luke 7-9 Through the faith of the centurion, we learn that the faith that Jesus commends involves sensing a need that only Jesus can meet, seeing you are truly unworthy of Jesus, and yet, trusting completely in His willingness and power to save. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 5 January 2025

Sermon series: Topical The Bible is made up of 66 books by over 40 authors with one storyline, and one main character, Jesus Christ. From creation, fall, redemption and new creation, the Bible answers the big questions of life: “Where do we come from?”, “What went wrong?”, “What will put things right?” And, “Where are we heading?” Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 29 December 2024

Sermon series: Christmas 2024 -- Longing for Peace on Earth Jesus' birth is good news of great joy that brings peace on earth. But we don't have peace because we all function in a self-centered, self-serving way, saying, ‘Your peace for the sake of mine.' Jesus comes and gives us peace by saying, ‘My peace for the sake of yours'. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 24 December 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life In Paul's concluding words in the book of Romans, the apostle sends greetings to the church at Rome and from his co-labourers. By doing so, he affirms them as fellow believers in the Lord. However, the dangers of church division are real because of the ongoing work of sin and Satan. Yet, God's people can be hopeful because the God of peace will soon crush Satan completely, as well as bring an end to conflicts and divisions. In all of these, God deserves the utmost glory. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 22 December 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Plan As Paul shares his travel plans to Spain, via Rome and before that Jerusalem, he reveals to us what gospel partnership is like. It's about embracing our distinct and different callings, giving of ourselves generously, and praying earnestly. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 15 December 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life Paul now circles back to where he began, sharing with the Roman Christians about his gospel ministry. He shows them that it involves commending the good we see in others, and speaking candidly because we care, and because we want to see the nations come to Christ. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 8 December 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life The apostle Paul addresses the issue of Jew-Gentile relationships in these verses. The reconciliation of these deeply divided groups is only possible in Christ through His salvation of both Jews and Gentiles, which was God's plan of salvation all along. In this fallen world, hope is only possible and enduring for those of the faith because of its source: the God of hope. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 1 December 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life As the apostle Paul begins to conclude his exhortation to the Roman Christians, he points them to the example of Jesus Christ as a model for loving one another. By following Christ's sacrificial model of love, we are building up our fellow believers and moving towards unity in the faith. We are to welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed us for God's glory. Such embrace is not dependent on what the other believer does, but it's grounded in the Gospel of God's sheer grace. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 24 November 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life Paul considers the issue of eating certain foods, which is not essential to the Gospel, as a case study of not causing another believer to stumble in the faith. In such secondary issues, one needs to consider how righteousness and peace are pursued in the church, rather than insistence on being right, so that Christ may be honoured. Through this, others may see the true nature of Christ's kingdom. Preacher: Aaron Akins Date: 17 November 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life Paul addresses a conflict in the Roman church between the ‘weak,' who observed Jewish dietary laws and festivals, and the ‘strong,' who did not. Paul emphasizes that through Christ, God has welcomed both groups, and they should therefore welcome each other. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 10 November 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life The Apostle Paul concludes his discourse on “genuine love” by telling us why we should live a life of genuine love. He also gives an indication of what that life looks like. We're to live this live because we have been forgiven much and so owe a debt of love to others. We're also to live this way because Christ is coming again soon. The life of love is one where we turn away from the unloving deeds of darkness, embrace Christ, and live the life He has for us. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 3 November 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life The way that Christians relate to the governing authorities reflects the genuine love that we have received in Christ through the Gospel. The Gospel gives us a lens to evaluate all authority and relate to it wisely and winsomely. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 27 October 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life This passage shows us that genuine love is what we need to live in Christian community with all its shortcomings, sins and imperfections. It's a love expressed through genuine affection, zealous action and gracious restraint. It's a love that reflects God's love for His own in Christ. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 20 October 2024

Sermon series: Romans 12-16: God's Good Life For the first 11 chapters of his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul focuses on God's work of redemption in the Gospel. In Romans 12:1-8, Paul transitions to how we are to live in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to live as living sacrifices, offering our whole selves to God. In the life of the church, this involves loving one another in humility, as well as to labour cheerfully with our spiritual gifts. We do all these "by the mercies of God" in Jesus Christ (verse 1). Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 13 October 2024

Sermon series: Habakkuk--Honest to God Habakkuk concludes his conversation with God in a prayer that moves from fear to faith. He retells the story of God's mighty and merciful dealings with them in the past, remembers the unchanging character of God and rejoices in God's saving power and sustaining strength. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 6 October 2024

Sermon series: Habakkuk--Honest to God Our hearts long for justice to prevail in the world and in our lives. This passage shows us that we can be sure of that because the God who holds the moral universe together speaks, saves and sanctions. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 29 September 2024

Sermon series: Habakkuk -- Honest to God Habakkuk is perplexed by God's answer to his first complaint. In his second prayer to God, he clings to what he knows about God and seeks to clarify his doubts about what he doesn't. He also takes an attitude of watching and waiting for God's answer. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 22 September 2024

Sermon series: Habakkuk -- Honest to God Much of Habakkuk consists of an honest dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk 1:1-11 records Habakkuk's first complaint and God's first answer. Through this, we learn that we can pour out our pain to God, and that He will answer for our good, though not as we expect Him to. Preacher: Tan Huai Tze Date: 15 September 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard In the final words of his letter to his protege Timothy, the apostle Paul mentions various names of people that he had the opportunity to serve with in ministry. Through this, we find principles and lessons for Timothy, as well as God's people, with respect to dealing with different kinds of people in ministry. Invariably, there will be people who oppose the work of Gospel ministry, but there are others who will demonstrate themselves to be faithful, whether in front-facing or back-end ministries. Yet, at the end of the day, we are called to look to Jesus Christ, the true and faithful one who will preserve us to the very end. He is our only source of hope in this life. Preacher: Joseph Tern Date: 8 September 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard This passage captures the essence of Paul's letter to Timothy, which is to endure with faithfulness. This is accomplished through sitting under the preaching of sound words and demonstrated through suffering in life. At the same time, we can live with hope because of what Christ has accomplished for us in the Gospel. What awaits us is the crown of righteousness that was obtained for us by our Saviour. Preacher: Edward Sim Date: 1 September 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard The apostle Paul encourages Timothy to learn from those who live out the Word of God. These are precious friends who would help to shape the inner functions of our hearts through their godly examples. In addition, we are to learn from those who breathe the Word of God. As they had received the Word of God themselves, they are more than able to encourage us in our spiritual walk. Preacher: Gideon Teo Date: 25 August 2024

Sermon series: Transforming through Community This is the third of four messages that were shared at our 2024 church retreat: Gospel Transformation is not merely something we experience individually but something we proclaim to others and live out in community. In that proclamation of good news that we can be made a new creation there is also a call to belong to a community of those who have been transformed. Preacher: Tim Mountfort Date: 10 August 2024

Sermon series: Transforming through Community This is the second of four messages that were shared at our 2024 church retreat: Ancient Hebrew wisdom compares a foolish or wicked man to chaff that is blown away and forgotten but a wise or righteous man has an eternal legacy. Redemptive history shows us that God's people fail, time and again to be wise. The result is eternal condemnation. But ancient Hebrew prophecy pointed to the eternal wise man who rescues the foolish from their foolishness and heals them of their wickedness. Preacher: Tim Mountfort Date: 10 August 2024

Sermon series: Transforming through Community This is the first of four messages that were shared at our 2024 church retreat: God's pattern for transformation involves recovering the original trajectory of transformation that was set forth for humanity in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, who were made in God's image, departed from this plan through their rebellion, putting them on a course resulting in death, and God's eternal wrath. In Christ the image of God in humanity can return to a state of reflecting God's glory destined for eternal glory. Preacher: Tim Mountfort Date: 9 August 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard There's a real danger of hypocrisy in the life of the church, which is often hidden from sight. In order to combat this, we need Gospel clarity that exposes religious hypocrisy. This is achieved in the context of the church community, where the idea of believers doing life together takes place. Preacher: Aaron Akins Date: 18 August 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard The apostle Paul encourages Timothy to remind the church about the Gospel of Jesus Christ concerning His life, death, and resurrection. This is crucial when purity and unity are threatened and disrupted from within the church. The solution is to cultivate true humility that has been humbled by the Gospel of grace. Preacher: Tim Mountfort Date: 11 August 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard In this passage, the apostle Paul provides a theological basis for the work of perseverance. We're called to remember Jesus Christ, the fulfilment of God's covenant promises who was risen from the dead. As we go through suffering in life, the experience presents an opportunity for us to encourage one another through witnessing to the Gospel of Christ. Though we are often faithless, Christ remains faithful as He cannot deny Himself as the faithful God. This gives us confidence as we go through life on this side of the cross. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 4 August 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard The apostle Paul reminds Timothy, and by implication all believers, that the Christian life and ministry are only possible by the grace of God. His gracious preservation enables us to persevere through the means of pondering over His Word. This is how we arrive at the finish line, one limping step at a time. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 28 July 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard In the second half of 2 Timothy 1, Paul continues with a sobering charge for Timothy. Timothy should not be ashamed of our suffering Saviour and His suffering servant and not be tempted to desert them especially when persecution gets hard. Timothy is also to share in the suffering for the gospel despite knowing that it can be ugly, heart-wrenching, and even lonely at times. This is what it means to guard the good deposit of the gospel but Timothy is not alone. God will empower him in his suffering and the Holy Spirit will help him guard the gospel until the end. Even if everyone turns away, God will send individuals like Onesiphorus who will refresh him and keep him going. Preacher: Chua Si Yang Date: 21 July 2024

Sermon series: 2 Timothy -- The Things You've Heard 2 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to his beloved protégé, Timothy, as an encouragement to be faithful in ministry. In the opening to this letter, Paul connects his apostleship with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which grounds everything that he does. He is thankful for the unhypocritical faith of Timothy, which was passed down to him by his grandmother and mother. In the face of opposition, Timothy is urged to depend on the work of the Spirit so that he may be empowered to be faithful in what he is called to do. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 14 July 2024

Sermon series: Topical Sermons As believers in Jesus Christ, our first calling is to follow our Lord, who has saved us by His grace. From this, we consider the specific work that Christ has called us to do as our second calling. Through our abilities, burdens, and the critical defining moments in our life, we gain a better picture that will help to guide us in discovering our calling. This cuts against the sacred-secular divide and recognises that all of us are called to live faithfully in all aspects of life. We are to do this without taking our eyes off Jesus. If this is the case, then the topic of vocation is one of real importance to us. Preacher: Tan Soo-Inn Date: 7 July 2024

Sermon series: Reflections on the Psalms Psalm 107 calls us to give thanks to God for His work of redemption, which is rooted in His steadfast love towards us. As He helps us in various situations, we come to understand more of Him through the various ways in which help and rescue are given. This points us to the fact that He is a sovereign God who is in control of all things, and since He knows what we need and grants them accordingly, this gives us every reason to praise and thank Him. Preacher: Joel Sim Date: 30 June 2024