Lord’s Day Message: John 20 (ESV)
1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”–and that he had said these things to her.
19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Message Outline:
- The importance of the resurrection of Lord Jesus
- To justify the believers (Rom. 4:25)
- To regenerate the believers (1 Pet. 1:3)
- The experiences of knowing the resurrection of Lord Jesus
- Mary – In seeking the Lord in her love and sorrow, she knew the resurrection of the Lord by hearing His calling. Then she delivered the message of resurrection to the brothers of the Lord
- Peter and the disciple whom the Lord loves –Being puzzled for the future, they believed the resurrection of the Lord by looking into the empty tomb. However, they did not understand the scripture and went back to their homes.
- Disciples – In the fear of persecution, they received the peace and joy when the resurrected Lord appeared to them. Then they also received the Holy Spirit and was sent by the Lord
- Thomas – In doubts of mind, he believed by seeing resurrected Lord and called Him “my Lord, my God.” The Lord also revealed that blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed
- The purpose of the gospel
- To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
- By believing we may have life in His name
Next Topics: Review
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meeting: 20/7 Mon., 7:30pm, (Dinner @ 7:00pm) Richard & Flora’s
Young Professions Meeting: 21/7 Tue. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Sisters Meeting: 22/7 Wed. 10am, Anne’s
Prayer Meeting: 22/7 Wed. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Pursuing of Words: 24/7 Fri., 8:00pm, David’s
Young People Meeting/Pursuing for Adults：25/7 Sat. 7:30pm, Shirley’s
Announcements:
- We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today and hope that you can leave your information for us to contact you in the future.
- Next Lord’s Day message will open to the brothers and sisters to share what have received in the gospel of John. We hope many brothers and sisters can prepare to supply the riches to others.
- On August 1 Saturday morning, the church plans to go to Chatswood to preach the gospel. We hope many brothers and sisters can prepare and participate.
- The church needs a transportation service for the Lord’s Day meeting. If any brother or sister is willing to give others a ride, or is willing to coordinate the service, please contact Brother Richard Chen.
<Reminder>
- Please take the Bible Reading Supplement for your daily Bible reading.
- Please come on time for the meeting. During the meeting, please turn off your mobile phone or put the volume on silence.
- When you prepare the love feast for Lord’s Day lunch, please do not prepare any food containing nuts as someone may have food allergy. After the love feast, please remember to bring back your plates.
Intercession:
- Pray that the Lord will keep us fervent in spirit to preach the gospel and to serve the Lord so that the church may receive more blessings. Especially may the Lord bless the gospel friends among us (including our young people and family members), that they can receive salvation and become a member in God’s family.
- Pray for those who are newly baptized. May the Lord lead them to grow and be built in the church life so they may become a blessing and testimony for the church.
- Pray for those young people in year twelve. May the Lord give them wisdom and grace in their preparation for exams.
- Pray for the brothers and sisters who are weak in body or spirit. May the Lord care for them and give them grace. Also pray for some relatives of our brothers and sisters (Jack, Susan, Brett) that the Lord may heal and care for them.
- Brother Thomas, Sister Lena and Brother Yulin Wang will attend the training in Cleveland in August. May the Lord bless their pursuing and fellowship with the saints.
Serving Today: (July 19)
- Sharing: Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: David Tan & Patrick Li
- Serving Bread and Cup: Sam Li, Olsen Yu & Jason Wang
- Pianist: Nelson Chen
- Cleaning: Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Joyce & Chris, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Yang
Serving Next Week: (July 26)
- Sharing: All brothers and sisters
- Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Jason Wang
- Serving Bread and Cup: Sam Li, Jason Wang & Richard Cui
- Pianist: Hannah Cui
- Cleaning: Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Joyce & Chris, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Yang
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