Newsletter 2016/10/16

Lord’s Day Message:Galatians – overview

• The background – a different gospel affecting the churches in Galatia

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– ⁷ not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (1:6-7)

1. What is this different gospel? – circumcision and works of the law

³ But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. ⁴ Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in–who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery– ⁵ to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (2:3-5)

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (3:1-3)

2. Why does it matter?

a. it separates us from Christ and grace

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (5:2-4)

b. It makes men boast, though lacking any spiritual reality

¹² It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (6:12-13)

• The real gospel

1. We are justified by faith only

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (2:16)

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (3:11)

2. The salvation of the cross –

a. For Christ – who died for our sin

³ … the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. (1:3b-4)

b. For us – to be crucified with Christ

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (2:20)

c. For the world – make the separation

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (6:14)

3. The Spirit

a. Who gives us the spiritual beginning and perfects us continuously (3:2-3)
b. Who makes us sons of God

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (4:6)

c. We live by Him and walk by Him

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. … ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (5:16. 25)

• Our application

1. Today we may not pay attention to circumcision or OT regulations; however, we do have our standards for being a Christian. How can we prevent these requirements from carrying us away from Christ and His grace? Or in a different view, how can we trust in Christ and receive more of His grace under these requirements?
2. Do you see that the works of the cross are more than what people usually think? Can you see the value of us dying with Him and being separated from the world through the cross?
3. How can we experience the works of the Spirit in our daily living? How can we receive His perfecting and walk by Him?

Message Next Week:Galatians 1:1-10

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting: 17/10 Mon., 7:30pm,  (7:00 dinner)

Richard & Flora’s

Pursuing of Uni Students: 18/10 Tue. 8:00pm,

(7:30 dinner) Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 19/10 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s

Prayer Meeting: 19/10 Wed. 7:45pm,

David Tan, Warrawee

Lydia Xu, Chatswood

Pursuing of Words: 21/10  Fri., 8:00pm, David’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：

22/10 Sat. 7:30pm, Yulin & Jessica’s

Announcements:

1. We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into this family of God.
2. Today after the meeting, Sister Grace Li will be baptized. May brothers and sisters come together to give prayers and thanksgiving to the Lord for our sister.
3. From this week (19/10) the church will have two places for prayer meeting, one in David Tan’s house and another in Lydia Xu’s house. We encourage more brothers and sisters to participate.
4. Two sisters (Angela Li & Sarah Wang) will visit US and attend the conference in Cleveland in the year end. If there is any other brother or sister is willing to go, please contact Brother Yulin Wang.
5. On Dec. 11 the church plans to have a singing gospel meeting. All brothers and sisters can form a group to sing hymns and to give testimonies. For details please fellowship with Brother Yulin Wang.

<Reminder>

1. During the meeting, please turn off your mobile phone or put the volume on silence and not to walk around or to wonder/talk too laud in the kitchen.
2. 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.

Please refrain from bringing uncooked food for the love feast so we may lighten the work for the serving ones in the kitchen.

Intercession:

1. May the Lord bless the gospel friends among us that they can know how precious the Lord is and are willing to believe in Him.
2. Pray for the new believers (David Hu, Gerald Huang, Bangde Liu, Peter Zhang and Michael Qiu, 5 brothers and Li Li, Mandy Zhou, Leonie, Berry Fei, Jessica Li, Hennah Dong & Grace Li 7 sisters) May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
3. Pray for the brothers and sisters or their relatives  who are weak in body or spirit. May the Lord care for them and give them sufficient grace. Pray especially for the health of Brothers Shanwon Chow and Sister AhSeng Chow.
4. Pray for those year 12 students among us as they are in the examines now. May the Lord give them wisdom and timely help as well as lead them in the future.

Serving This Week: (Oct. 16)

1. Message: Patrick Li & Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Patrick Li
3. Serving Bread and Cup:  Richard Cui, Jason Wang, Sam Li & Chuan Ma
4. Cleaning:  Richard & Flora Family, Lydia, Olsen & Likun Family, Pauline Zhang
5. Kitchen: Christine & Lili
6. Children: Supervisor – Lily, Singing – Jono/Pris, Teachers – Elsa/Lian

Serving Next Week: (Oct. 23)

1. Message: Richard Chen & Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Olsen Yu
3. Serving Bread and Cup:  Sam Li, Sean Dong, Patrick Li & Richard Cui
4. Cleaning:  TBA
5. Kitchen: Lisa & Pauline
6. Children: Supervisor – Peter, Singing – Chris/David, Teachers – Betty/Berry