Lord’s Day Message: James 3
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (ESV)
Message Outline:
- The words of burden: The importance of a teacher in the church life
- In today’s living, inevitably we will influence others’ thoughts, concepts and living through our speaking and action
- “Teacher” is one of the gifts given by the Spirit to build up the church (Eph. 4:11)
- The real teacher is the Lord Himself, the Spirit who dwells in us (John 14:26; 1 John 2:21)
- The teacher (1)
- Not everyone can become a teacher
- The responsibility of a teacher
- The human talk (which the teacher should avoid) (2~12)
- It is easy for man to stumble in what he says
- The tongue without controlled brings in sins and uncleanness
- We praise God and so we should not curse man in the same mouth
- The wisdom (which the teacher needs) (13~17)
- There is wisdom from above as well as earthly, unspiritual, and demonic wisdom
- The different source brings in different results: pureness and peace versus jealousy and selfish ambition
Next Topics: Special Topics (Combined meeting)
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meeting: 31/8 Mon., 7:30pm, (Dinner @ 7:00pm) Richard & Flora’s
Young Professions Meeting: 1/9 Tue. 7:30pm, Thomas & Lena’s
Sisters Meeting: 2/9 Wed. 10am, Anne’s
Prayer Meeting: 2/9 Wed. 7:30pm, Meeting Hall
Pursuing of Words: 4/9 Fri., 8:00pm, David’s
Young People Meeting/Pursuing for Adults：5/9 Sat. 7:30pm, Thomas & Lena’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.
- In the afternoon of September 13 (Lord’s Day) the church plans to have a spring cleaning. We hope many brothers and sisters can participate. Brothers Patrick and Sam will arrange the details.
- On October 3~5 (Saturday to Monday) there will be a church conference. We will invite Brother Rex Beck. He will share “the faith and the science” for the gospel message and the parable of sowing in Matthew 13 for the growth of the Christians. We encourage all brothers and sisters to join and to invite friends to come.
<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.
Serving Today: (Aug. 30)
- Sharing: Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Richard Cui
- Serving Bread and Cup: Sam Li, Sean Dong & Patrick Li
- Pianist: Nelson Chen
- Cleaning: Steven Wang Family, Sarah, Cindy, Richard & Lamee Family, Chuan Ma & Maggie Family
Serving Next Week: (Sep. 6)
- Sharing: Raymond Young
Testimony: Thomas and Lena
- Breaking the Bread: Raymond Young & Olsen Yu
- Serving Bread and Cup: Benchu Guo, Sam Li & Jason Wang
- Pianist: Hannah Cui
- Cleaning: Steven Wang Family, Sarah, Cindy, Richard & Lamee Family, Chuan Ma & Maggie Family
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