Newsletter 2017/2/19

Lord’s Day Message: Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵  For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶  I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²²  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Message Outline: The First Prayer of Paul for Ephesians

• The motivation of the prayer

1. Seeing the greatness of God’s eternal will in Christ and work toward the believers
2. Hearing the faith and love of the saints
3. Hoping the saints desire to know God more so that they eventually cen become the expression (the body) of Christ

• The content of the prayer – giving thanks to God and asking Him to give us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him

1. Knowing the hope of His calling
2. Knowing the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints
3. Knowing the immeasurable greatness of His power toward the believers

• The great might that God worked in Christ

1. It is the power of resurrection, power of ascension, and power of dominion
2. Today Christ also transmits the same power to the church that the church, His body, can become His bountiful expression

• Our application and discussion

1. How can we learn so that Paul’s prayer can become our prayer? For example

Learning to know, to appreciate and to give thanks to whatever the work of grace God has done upon us
Learning to pray for the saints when we hear their situation
Learning to confess that we are incapable to  know God, yet we desire His given spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him

2. What are three things that the spirit of wisdom and of revelation can help us to know? What are these related to our church life?

3.  What kind of power has God given to Christ? Can we experience the same power? Please chare your experience of feeling.

Message Next Week: Ephesians 2:1-10

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting/Chinese Speaking Young People:

19/2 Sun. 7:30om., Patrick & Lily’s

20/2 Mon., 7:30pm,  Richard & Flora’s, (Dinner @ 7pm)

Pursuing of Uni Students: 21/2 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 22/2 Wed. 10:00am, Pauline’s

Prayer Meeting: 22/2 Wed. 8:00pm, Richard & Lamee’s (Combined)

Pursuing of Words: 24/2  Fri. 8pm, David Tan’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：

25/2 Sat. 7:30pm, Olsen & Likun’s (Gospel group)

Joe & Lili’s (YP & other adults)

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 Lord’s Day meeting, Brother Frank Wang and Sister Yu-Rong Liu will be baptized in the name of the Lord. We would to like invite all brothers and sisters to come to support their testimony and give praise and prayer to God for them.
3. The financial report of January 22-24 young people camp: Income: $2750, Expense: $4108.5 ($3498 for the housing and $610.5 for food). The deficit is $1358.5. If any brother or sister has burden to offer, please put a note of “For 201701 YP camp” on the offering envelop.
4. This year the Collaroy conference will be held on April 14-17. Brothers Michael Samulak and Benjamin Sheu will be the speakers and they will cover the book of Jonah. This year all the brothers and sisters, young people and adults, can all join together. The registration form and the details of the conference are in preparation, however, we hope many brothers and sisters can set aside the time to join the conference.

<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 (15 brothers and sisters in 2016). 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.

Serving Next Week: (Feb. 26)

1. Message: Yulin Wang & Thomas Wu
2. Breaking the Bread: Yulin Wang & Chuan Ma
3. Serving Bread and Cup: San Li, Jason Wang, Sean Dong & Richard Cui
4. Serving before Meeting: John & Jessie
5. Cleaning:  Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Chris & Joyce, Joe & Lili Family, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Young
6. Kitchen: Lily & Mandy
7. Children: Supervisor –Jessie, Singing – Chris/Jono, Teachers – David/Chris

2017 Church Activities

1. Collaroy Conf. (Apr.14-17)
2. Mother’s Day  (May 14)
3. Visiting US for training (July-Aug.)
4. English speaking Gospel Meeting (Aug.)
5. Church conference (Sep.30-Oct.2)
6. Gospel Meeting with Hymns (Dec. 3)

Attending church conference in  US (YP) (Dec.)