Newsletter 2016/11/20

Lord’s Day Message:Galatians 3:1-14

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? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith– ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

⁷ Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” ¹² But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”– ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

1. Jesus Christ crucified: the content of the gospel
2. Works of the law or hearing of faith: two different ways

• However, our experiences can testify that hearing of faith is the way for us to be justified

3.  Be cursed or be blessed: two results from these two ways

A.  All who rely on works of the law are under a curse (10) because

1)  You need to abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.
2)  No one can be justified before God by law

B.  Those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham

1) The crucifixion of Christ has redeemed us from the curse of law
2) Through faith we have received God’s blessing – the promised Spirit. This is the beginning of the Christian life and its continuation (being perfected)

Message Next Week:Gal.3:15-29

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting:   20/11 Sun. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily

21/11 Mon., 7:30pm,  (7:00 dinner)  Richard & Flora’s

Chinese speaking YP meeting :  22/11 10:00 Am., Yulin

Pursuing of Uni Students: 22/11 Tue. 7:30pm,

(7:00 dinner) Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 23/11 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s

Prayer Meeting: 23/11 Wed. 7:45pm,

David Tan (Warrawee)

Lydia Xu (Chatswood)

Pursuing of Words: 25/11  Fri., Yulin’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：26/11 Sat. 7:30pm, Bill & Christine’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. There are gospel calendars available for the saints to purchase, $5 dollar for each copy. Please put the cost into the offering box.
3. On Dec. 11 the church plans to have a gospel meeting of singing hymns and testimonies. We do encourage all brothers and sisters to form a group and participate. You can either sing hymns or give testimonies, but please the details to Brother Yulin Wang for arrangement as soon as possible. If you need more fellowship, please also contact 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 that the Lord may lead them into university and help them to grow in Him in the future.

Serving Next Week: (Nov. 27)

1. Message: Patrick Li & Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Patrick Li
3. Serving Bread and Cup:  Richard Huang, John Ji, Jason Wang & Benchu Guo
4. Cleaning:  Brett & Linda Family, Sean Dong & Wei Qiong Family, Jessie, John & Peter, Lisa Tao Family, Bill & Christine Family
5. Kitchen: Lisa & Pauline
6. Children: Supervisor – Joe, Singing – Sarah/Vasya, Teachers – Elsa/Lian