Lord’s Day Message: Galatians 4:1-20
1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
- To become God’s son and heir or to be a slave under the law (1-7)
- The metaphor of the growth of an heir – before Christ came or before we were saved, we were guarded as a slave
- When the fullness of time had come, the Son of God came to redeem us
- When we believed, the Spirit of God’s Son entered into our heart
- The concern and serving of Paul (8-20)
- To be afraid of labouring over the saints in vain
You have come to know God and to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world?
- To be again in the anguish of childbirth
a. The intimacy relationship between Paul and the saints
b. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
c. Christ formed in us
- Our application or experience
- When you become a Christian, what did you feel at the moment to call God “Abba! Father!”?
- What are the elementary principles of the world (and the weak an worthless one)? What it means for Christ to be formed in us? Any difference or comparison between these two?
Message Next Week:Gospel meeting of hymns and testimonies
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meeting: 4/12 Sun. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily
5/12 Mon., 7:30pm, (7:00 dinner) Richard & Flora’s
Chinese speaking YP meeting 6/12 10:00 Am., John Ji
Pursuing of Uni Students: 6/12 Tue. 7:30pm, (7:00 dinner) Yulin’s
Sisters Meeting: 7/12 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s
Prayer Meeting: 7/12 Wed. 7:45pm,
David Tan (Warrawee)/Lydia Xu (Chatswood)
Pursuing of Words: 9/12 Fri., David Tan’s
Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：10/12 Sat. 7:30pm, Sam & Hannah’s
Announcements:
- We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into this family of God.
- Today after the meeting there will be baptism for three brother and sisters (Brother Hui Li, Sister Tina Zhang & Chrystal Lin). Please come together to bless and pray for them and give praise to God.
- The combined meeting and Lord’s day breakfast in December will be delayed to next week (11, the gospel meeting).
- Next week (Dec. 11) the church will have a gospel meeting of singing hymns and testimonies. We hope all participants can stay after the love feast for a rehearsal.
Please invite your friends to join this gospel meeting of hymns and pray for it. If you need a electrical invitation card, please contact Brother Yulin Wang.
<Reminder>
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- Pray for the new believers (David Hu, Gerald Huang, Bangde Liu, Peter Zhang Michael Qiu, and Hui Li 6 brothers and Li Li, Mandy Zhou, Leonie, Berry Fei, Jessica Li, Hennah Dong, Grace Li, Tina Xhang and Chrystal Lin 9 sisters) May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
- 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.
- 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. 11)
- Message: All brothers and sisters
- Breaking the Bread: N/A
- Serving Bread and Cup: N/A
- Cleaning: Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Joyce & Chris, Joe & Lili Family, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Yang
- Kitchen: Shirley & Weiqiong
- Children: Supervisor – Lydia, Singing – Combined, Teachers – Angela/Tina
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