Lord’s Day Message: Galatians 4:21-5:15
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
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 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Message Next Week:Galatians 5:13-26
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meeting: 18/12 Sun. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily
19/12 Mon., 7:30pm, (7:00 dinner) Richard & Flora’s
Chinese speaking YP meeting 20/12 10:00 Am., John Ji
Pursuing of Uni Students: 20/12 Tue. 7:30pm, Elsa’s
Sisters Meeting: 21/12 Wed. 10:00am, Anne’s
Prayer Meeting: 21/12 Wed. 7:45pm,
David Tan (Warrawee)/Lydia Xu (Chatswood)
Pursuing of Words: 23/12 Fri., David Tan’s
Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：24/12 Sat. 5:00pm, BBQ, Yulin & Jessica’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.
- For the gospel meeting last week we give thanks to the Lord. Not only did He bring many gospel friends to our meeting, but also put the gospel seeds into their hearts through our serving (hymns, testimonies, food and fellowship, etc.). We pray that the Lord can continue His work in their heart as well as encourage us for His gospel work.
- Sisters Angela and Sarah has safely arrived in Chicago, US for visiting the churches and attending the training. May the Lord bless their trip that they can be encouraged in their spirit and receive bountiful supply of life.
- The church plans to have a BBQ in the upcoming Saturday (24) at 5:00pm at Brother Yulin’s home. We welcome all brothers and sisters, as well as gospel friends to come.
- In January there will be a camp planned and served by the young people themselves. For details please contact Sister Elsa Young.
<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. 25)
- Message: Thomas Wu & Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: David Yu & Olsen Yu
- Serving Bread and Cup: Sean Dong, Patrick Li, Richard Cui & Jason Wang
- Cleaning: Sam & Hannah Family, Sean Dong & Wei Qiong Family, Jessie, John & Peter, Lisa Tao Family, Bill & Christine Family
- Kitchen: Lily & Mandy
- Children: Supervisor – Jessie, Singing – Jonathon/GAP, Teachers – Elsa/Lillian
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