By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

As CG Month comes to a close, let’s be honest: Rebuilding CG life is not easy. Sometimes momentum feels slow. Sometimes people are tired. Sometimes it feels like we’re starting all over again.

 

But here’s the good news: We are not rebuilding CG on our own strength. Christ is our Builder. He is our Anchor. He is our Rock. He is the centre of our lives—and He must be the centre of our CGs. When just two or three gather in His name, He is right there with us (Matthew 18:20). It’s not about how big the group is. It’s about whether Christ is present and exalted among us.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

When we think about CG, it’s easy to imagine a cozy, safe place where we study the Bible, pray, and catch up with friends. And while that is part of it, it is not the whole picture. CG is not just a safe place to study the Bible. It’s God’s training ground for mission.

 

It’s the place where we practice love when patience is tested. Where we exercise forgiveness when hurt happens. Where we build unity even when personalities clash. CG is where we prepare to serve beyond the CG - in our families, workplaces, and neighbourhood.

 

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

Today, as we celebrate Parents' Day, we are reminded of a powerful truth: Love grows through commitment. So does faith. Faith grows best when we grow together—but only when we commit.

 

Commitment really matters! It’s not just a “nice-to-have” for our Care Groups—it’s what makes real community possible. Think about it: in a family, love does not deepen because everything is perfect. Love deepens because family members stay, show up, and carry one another’s burdens—through joy, struggle, and every messy moment in between. It’s the same with our spiritual family. Without real commitment

Family suffers.

Trust stays shallow.

Care feels mechanical.

 

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

After the pandemic, many of our CGs have faced a new and unexpected challenge: how to recommit. Once, CG was not just another appointment—it was something that grounded us spiritually every week. Now, for many, CG attendance feels more casual. Priorities have shifted. Schedules have gotten busier. And sometimes, without meaning to, CG gets quietly replaced by “something more urgent”.

 

Maybe you’ve seen it:

A last-minute text — "Sorry, I can’t make it tonight."

Or sometimes... no text at all, just an empty chair.

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

How would it impact my life if I have 1 million dollars?

 

Yes, first, I would thank God for His provision. Perhaps I would like to slow down my pace. Perhaps I would love to serve as I like to serve. Perhaps I would free myself from the institutional structure of a church. Perhaps…

 

Perhaps, some of us here—who have worked very hard in our adult years—are already living such a life. Perhaps, among them, some were called to serve full-time when they were younger. But they told God, “Wait till I am older. Perhaps when I retire, I will commit all my time to You.” But when they grow older, and retired, they just want to live a carefree life. Serve as they like to serve. No pressure. No stress. Not much cost to pay. Just a bit of time here and there. Perhaps, they are satisfied with what they have right now. Perhaps…

By Rev Dr Forest Koh

 

As God’s missional disciples, we’re called to live out our faith in ways that reflect Christ’s love and purpose. This year, with our focus on knowing God intimately, serving sacrificially, and showing grace whole-heartedly, it’s important to understand the difference between volunteering and serving. While the two words might seem similar, they come from entirely different heart postures—one rooted in self, and the other in worship.