Newsletter 2016/11/27

Lord’s Day Message: Galatians 3:14, 15-29

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.

¹⁵ To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

• Through faith we received God’s blessing and promise – the Spirit (14)
• God’s promise, like a human’s covenant, cannot be changed after it has been ratified  (15-18)

1. The law cannot annul God’s promise
2. By God’s promise, Abraham (believers) received the inheritance

• The reason for law and its function (19-25)

1. The law was added because of transgressions
2. The law cannot give men life
3. The law (scripture) imprisoned everything under sin and captivated us so that the promise might be given to the believers
4. The law was our guardian until Christ came (to bring us to Christ, KJV)

• The effects of faith (26-29)

1. That we can become sons of God
2. That we can put on Christ
3. That all believers can be one in Christ
4. That we are of Christ and become Abraham’s heirs

Message Next Week:Gal.4:1-20

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting:   27/11 Sun. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily

28/11 Mon., 7:30pm,  (7:00 dinner) Richard & Flora’s

Chinese speaking YP meeting

29/11 10:00 Am., John Ji

Pursuing of Uni Students: 29/11 Tue. 7:30pm, (7:00 dinner) Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 30/11 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s

Prayer Meeting: 30/11 Wed. 7:45pm,

Michael Lin (Turramurra)

Lydia Xu (Chatswood)

Pursuing of Words: 2/12  Fri., Yulin’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：3/12 Sat. 7:30pm, Olsen & Likun’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 meeting there will be a fellowship for children service.
3. Next Lord’s Day there will be baptism for two sisters (Tina Zhang & Crystal Lin). Please pray for them. If there is any gospel desiring to be baptized , please fellowship with Brother Yulin Wang.
4. The combined meeting and Lord’s day breakfast in December will be delayed to the second Lord’s Day (11, the gospel meeting).
5. On Dec. 11 the church will have a gospel meeting of singing hymns and testimonies. Can one brother or sister from each group please come to Brother Yulin Wang after meeting to confirm the hymns and names of participants.

Please invite your friends to join this gospel meeting of hymns and pray for it.

<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. May the Lord bless and lead our young people who are entering into university that they can get into a university fit for them and help them to grow in the Lord.

Serving Next Week: (Dec. 4)

1. Message: Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Chuan Ma
3. Serving Bread and Cup:  Richard Cui, Sean Dong, Patrick Li & Chuan Ma
4. Cleaning:  Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Joyce & Chris, Joe & Lili Family, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Yang
5. Kitchen: Terri & Likun
6. Children: Supervisor – Flora, Singing – Jono/Pris, Teachers – Betty/Berry