1 Feb 2024
As the curtains drew to a close on the year 2023, CERC found themselves gathered once more, this time not for a sermon or a bible study session, but for something special – the first Combined Growth Group (Combined GG) of 2024.
The Combined GG marked the culmination of the “Jesus And…” sermon series and the “Life For God” series in GGs.
With anticipation buzzing in the air, the church community gathered for an afternoon of fellowship and reflection. For the 39 GGs, along with the youth group, this gathering was a precious opportunity to share their learnings and insights from the concluded series before moving on to a new series together. Creativity abounded as members poured their hearts into freshly penned songs, humorous skits, and heartfelt prayers aimed at uplifting and edifying the larger church body.
The Combined GG is also an important time to pray together as a church to give thanks for the series past and at the commencement of a new year, to pray for God’s continual nurture of His church to accomplish His purposes.
The bilingual Growth Groups from Wangsa Maju and Kepong joined forces to produce a bilingual song, true to the linguistic make-up of their GGs. Members sang their hearts out, their lyrics echoing their learnings gleaned from both series, including translations of their lyrics (see an excerpt from their song’s chorus below) to ensure that all present could share in the encouragement and exhortation regardless of language barriers (pictured below).
先知律法說耶穌是人的珍寶
神的道香在他身上达到
微微笑我們如今听见真道
The prophets and the law saw that Christ is man’s greatest treasure
He is God’s word
Be comforted as we are now hearing the truth in Him
Meanwhile, the Bandar Kinrara Growth Group took a playful yet profound approach, rewriting the lyrics to Taylor Swift’s hit song “Look What You Made Me Do.” Their rendition, encapsulating their learnings from the “Life For God” series, served as a powerful reminder of where the Christian’s true confidence and hope lie – in Christ alone.
Now we can hope and we can boast in God, and God alone
We will suffer for Christ and wear our armour all the time
For we know suf-fer-ing produces hope in Christ alone
Where does your confidence lie? It is found In Christ, oh!
(a snippet of the pre-chorus from their song)
Suet Ling, one of the members of BKGG, shared how it was a combined effort from all the GG members: “We split into groups to write each paragraph. Our inspiration was from the Life For God series.”
Bandar Kinrara Growth Group in their best “gangsta” garb, encouraging the church to persevere and stand firm in trials and persecution, rejoicing in the Lord.
Not to be outdone, Growth Groups from Sunway 1, USJ 11, and West Cheras delivered soul-stirring performances, crafting lyrics that mirrored their transformative journey through the “Life For God” series. From reflections on their old lives of rebellion to the gift of a new life in Christ, each act resonated with the rest of the church, provoking introspection and encouragement in the Gospel.
It’s my life
Gotta live it my way
Why’d I gotta live for YHWH?
I just want to live out my own life
(Snippet from Act 1, to the tune of “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi)
Act 2 of their performance, entitled “A Whole New Life” conveyed Life For God’s study 11, on 2 Timothy 3. To the familiar tune from the Disney movie, Aladdin, the Growth Group members sang:
This (holding up the Bible) can open your eyes,
Make you wise for salvation,
Complete, sacred, and God-breathed
It will guide you to true life
A whole new life
Renewed, enlightened point of view
It’s the life you forgot
A Life for God
The life we should be living
Sunway 1, USJ 11 and West Cheras Growth Group members performing together.
Even the Virtual Growth Group, catering to those temporarily relocated due to work or studies, made their presence felt with a special video presentation, bridging the physical distance with heartfelt reflections and shared experiences.
The church waving to the camera to record a video in return for Virtual Growth Group!
In addition to musical performances and skits, Growth Groups like TGG MonSun showcased a poignant drama, inspired by their reflections on the “Jesus And” sermon series and depicting the struggles and triumphs experienced during the series. Through tears and laughter, these enactments served as mirrors reflecting the complexities of faith and the relentless pursuit of understanding Christ.
Set in France, eager art students gave their best attempts at producing their best representations of the male model (pictured above, in toga). The Master painter is disappointed each time as their finished paintings look nothing like the real thing! The students are frustrated as well and want to give up, one of them breaking down after many attempts. On the final attempt, however, her Master painter is pleased because she finally gets it!
For Chloe, a student in TGG MonSun (pictured above), this was something deeply personal because it was something that happened to her in GG. As she explains, “The breakdown that my character had actually happened in my GG itself. I realised I had not been wanting to work hard in the Scriptures but wanting things to only be easy to understand. Jesus is not as simple as I want to make Him to be but I have to understand Him on His own terms.”
For Shah Alam Growth Group, Christie and Prem represented their GG to share their reflections as young working adults. “I hope that as they share their lives with you and how the sermon series and Life For God series have changed them, some of you might see yourself in their struggles and be encouraged by their faith. For the students, it will offer an insight into what working life is like and what struggles you can expect,” said Sam U, the leader of the GG, and proceeded to pray for the younger working adults of the church at the end.
Left to Right: Christie, Prem, and Sam U
As the gathering drew to a close, the church sang a fitting song to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” to end the old year and begin a new one. As in the lyrics we sang, may our prayer as a church for 2024 continue to be:
All glory be to Christ our King,
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign will ever sing
“All glory be to Christ!”
