Rev Ying Yee on discipleship

Rev Ying Yee being interviewed
Some candid shots of Ying Yee

Ying Yee and CS

Reverend Ying Yee of Chinese Christian Church was the guest speaker at Cornerstone@north today (13th May 2007~ Mother's day). He spoke on discipleship and based his talk on Colossians 1:24-29.

It was a really powerful exhortation on discipleship and here are some excerpts to his talk:

Rev.Ying Yee quoted Winston Churchhill:

"The main thing is that the main thing remains the main thing"

What are the main things for us? What is the main thing that drives us, motivates us, and is our goal and priority?

"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me" (v 28-29)

Paul's priority was to present people perfect in Christ. He would not be content, short of seeing people becoming more and more perfect in Christ. Neither should we, as individuals, and as a church.

Perfection in Christ is not defined by culture, personality, circumstance nor experience. It is defined by God Himself. Perfection and growth are to be defined in Jesus Christ.

So often, culture or the work place, can take precedence over Christ. It is dangerous to define ourselves by our work, before our status before God. Instead, we should have a godly discontentment, if we are not like Christ, or in Christ.
We should be ministering to one another, regardless of who we are or where we are. Growth in Christ-likeness is not individualistic, but corporate (ref Ephesians 4: 11-13).

We are to "prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ"

This vision is God's. He want us to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:28). In the ultimate grand scheme of things, God is constructing a nation for Himself, so that Christ can be the head. Proclaiming Christ, is the key to perfecting people in Him. Christianity is about Jesus from beginning to end. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are bound up in Jesus.

We are to "admonish" each other. To call people to transformation and repentance. Admonishing is hard to do and requires great courage, as there is always a danger of losing relationships. We are also called to "teach". We are to instruct with much wisdom, to be wise in the way we apply scripture. (1 Timothy 5:1)

Presenting each other perfect in Christ is by no means an easy task. The mind set and value system of the world has infected the church and Christian ministry. So many "good things" can distract us from the Best thing! Sometimes, achieving our best can become idolatrous. We look for ministries where we will be valued, honoured, recognised.

However, ministry should be difficult, tortuous and hard work. Everything that Paul does and struggles with, is brought together, and synchronised, to bring people perfect in Christ..."to this end I labour"...and "I rejoice in what was suffered for you". Paul was in prison countless times! It takes much energy to present someone perfect in Christ.

We need to pray for ourselves and each other to endure the hardships, for strength to stay focused and to trust in the One who is the reason why we do all things.

The main thing, that is the main thing...is therefore to labour and strive with all of our energies, to present each other perfect in Christ, for the glory of God!