“How to Dialogue?” by Rev Dr. Su Chii Ann on 23rd June 2019

Salvation is not a one-time event, but a life time journey according to Rev. Dr. Su Chii Ann. In his sermon, he touched on what John Wesley defined as “Christian Perfection”  or “Perfect love” which is loving God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind and with all your strength. And loving your neighbour as yourself. The bible verse Mark 12:28a sets the scene for the dialogue which happened in the Bible of which one of the Scribes came to ask Jesus, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” There were three results from the outcome of the dialogue: (i) Jesus saw that the teacher answered wisely. (ii) Jesus said he was not far from the Kingdom of God. (iii) And no one dared to ask him any more questions. When Jesus said that, the teacher of the law was not far from the Kingdom of God, it meant that the Scribe didn’t know who Jesus Christ was. Hence, answering wisely is important but understanding who Jesus is, would be the most important. Even though the Scribe knew that in obeying the most important law and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices, he still doesn’t know who Jesus was.  That was the reason why Jesus replied that, he was not far from the Kingdom of God.