Whole Whole 611 Bread of Life Church was commissioned by its mother church on June 12, 2022, and immediately began worship services in Cheung Chau, inheriting the vision of the mother church, 611 Bread of Life Church.
Pastor Joshua Cheung, the founding pastor of the mother church, returned to Hong Kong in 2001 to establish the church. The Holy Spirit gave the vision from Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." This verse became the church’s vision, and the name "611 Bread of Life Church" was divinely inspired.
Statement of Faith
We often emphasize truth, believing that mistakes deserve punishment. We tend to think in terms of truth but struggle to think in terms of grace. In the parable of the prodigal son, the son squandered his father’s wealth, yet the father welcomed him home with love, slaughtering a calf for him. The father thought in terms of grace, following the model of the Tree of Life. The older brother, however, thought in terms of truth, following the model of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, comparing his father’s treatment of himself and his brother. God desires us to adopt the Tree of Life model, which prioritizes grace before truth.
Urban dwellers prioritize speed and efficiency, constantly seeking self-improvement. Valuing work is part of God’s original calling for humanity: “God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” (Genesis 1:26) However, when ministry moves too quickly, conflicts often arise in relationships, as relationships and ministry are inversely related. Prioritizing relationships slows down efficiency and productivity. How do we balance the two in God’s eyes? “Relationship before Ministry” emphasizes valuing people as God values them. Though God is almighty, He was willing to pay the ultimate price for relationships, even sacrificing His only Son. Similarly, the Great Commission is not the end goal; making disciples of all nations is. The Great Commission demonstrates our relationship with Jesus Christ and the relationship of all nations with Him. Ministries and careers will pass away, but human souls and relationships with God are eternal, so we must prioritize these lasting relationships.
Both faith and reason are gifts from God, and we must use them wisely. Faith begins with God’s Word and promises, as faith comes from hearing the Word.
Abram (later Abraham), the father of faith, was instructed by God to leave his country, people, and father’s household without knowing his destination. To follow God, he had to abandon his own plans and take the first step. The path of faith is walked step by step, with God’s revelations coming one after another. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” God gave Abraham an eternal blessing. Though he had no son initially, because he followed God, God blessed his descendants to be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Thus, faith must lead, with reason following, and miracles will abound, for with faith, all things are possible. God is a good God and takes full responsibility for those He calls, so we must prioritize faith before reason.
We must prioritize God as the center, then consider the needs of people, and finally address the needs of the earth. God is the source of all things, and when we put Him first, everything else will fall into place under His divine order.
God calls us to be good stewards of our gifts to build up and expand His kingdom. The Bible warns against “false prophets” (Matthew 7:15). Does accuracy in prophecy make someone a true prophet? No! Even if you have gifts, without life, God considers it false.
Those who hear and obey God’s Word are wise, like a house built on rock, able to withstand storms and remain standing in difficulties. Conversely, those who hear but do not obey, or fail to hear God’s Word, are foolish, like a house built on sand. Without life, one cannot withstand storms and will collapse under pressure. Thus, we must choose “Life before Gifts.”
When educating children, we should not focus solely on academic achievements but also nurture their character and life. When hiring employees, prioritize their integrity and character over their abilities. May we value both life and gifts but always prioritize refining our life first.
When facing difficulties, how do we make the right decision? An obedient person asks, “Who instructed me to do this?” A revelation-driven person asks, “What is my thought? What is my revelation? What is my idea?” Both obedience and revelation are important. God desires us to be believers who are both obedient and receptive to revelation.
Obedience is a responsibility to be accountable to authority, doing what must be done. Revelation comes from God, doing what we can do. Obedience is God’s command, and disobedience brings self-imposed judgment. Revelation, however, can be mistaken and requires confirmation. Obedience is about faith; revelation is about method. Revelation without obedience implies the authority’s revelation is wrong and ours is right, placing us under the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Obedience before revelation follows the path of the Tree of Life, as seen in David, who, despite being pursued by Saul, chose to rely on the Lord. When we choose obedience, God fulfills our revelations through authority. Be patient and wait; do what authority instructs, and in due time, God will exalt you.
What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Bible?
Isaiah 59:21: “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. God makes a covenant with His people: “My Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit, and “my words” refers to the Bible. How precious this is, even passed down to Israel’s descendants. Thus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible are equally important. Without the Bible, the Holy Spirit alone risks deviation or heresy. Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible’s words are dead, unable to produce power, and life becomes rigid. A sword is useful only when sharpened; likewise, only the Holy Spirit can activate God’s Word. The Holy Spirit comes to help us enter the Bible, respond to truth, embrace truth, and glorify Christ! (John 16:7-11)
Doing holy work without the Holy Spirit is exhausting and ineffective, making evangelism difficult. The church needs both holy work and the Holy Spirit in balance. The Book of Acts, called “Acts,” is about preaching as we go. It is also known as the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” with no ending, as the Holy Spirit continues to work today, and so do we. We must wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) to grant us timing and strategy, preaching the gospel wherever we go, bringing the Holy Spirit into our daily lives. With the Holy Spirit, we must also have holy work, bringing revival to the church and workplace!
The God we believe in is holy. The first prayer of a believer is to confess their sins, needing the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross for cleansing.
Holiness has three stages: First, do not sin by doing what God forbids. Second, do what God commands. Third, become righteous, reflecting God’s image. The more we follow God, the more we bear His image and glory. Paul teaches, “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ.” (Galatians 5:4) Walking by the Spirit prevents us from gratifying the desires of the flesh and enables us to bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit opposes sinful desires, stems from the Spirit, not the flesh; from loving others, not self-interest; from being God-centered, not self-centered. We cannot achieve true holiness through the law; only the Holy Spirit enables us to enter holiness.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) We were once enslaved, unable to recognize or overcome sin, trapped in sin without freedom. Thanks be to God, Christ has freed us, empowering us to overcome sin’s bondage, live free from worldly customs, and lead a holy life—this is freedom.
“With Love” comes from authority, using love to embrace, accept, and bear with others. In healthy relationships, leaders prune their members with love, where there is no fear. Leaders help members grow healthily with love, correcting what is crooked. “With Trust” means members believe their leader loves them, trusting that the leader’s pruning is for their good, allowing their lives to be closely connected to the leader. Together, they grow into a vibrant, abundant, and unified Tree of Life.
Sunday 10:30 AM
Phone: 5605 9611
Email: info@wholewhole611.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WholeWhole611
