Newsletter 2017/4/09

Lord’s Day Message: Eph.4:17-32

¹⁷  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰  But that is not the way you learned Christ!– ²¹  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷  and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³²  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Message Outline: The walk of Christians (2)

Learning Christ

• The walk of the Gentiles

1. The futility of their minds and darkening of their understanding
2. Alienated from the life of God
3. Ignorance, hardness of heart, and becoming callous
4. Giving themselves over to sensuality and indulging in every kind of impurity,

• The walk of Christians

1. Learning Christ
2. Putting off the old man
3. Being renewed in the spirit of their minds
4. Putting on the new man

Examples of Christian walk

1. Putting away falsehood and speaking the truth
2. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil
3. No longer steal but rather labor to share with anyone in need
4. No corrupting talk but speak good for building up
5. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
6. Put away all bitterness and wrath and anger…
7. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another

Application and Discussion

1. In verses 17-24, Paul compared two different living between Gentiles and Christians. What are the differences between them? From your experiences or understanding, what were you touched most from pre-salvation and post-salvation?
2. In verses 25-32, which is the most impressionable teaching or the point which you want to learn the most?

Message Next Week: Jonah (Collaroy conference)

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting/Chinese Speaking Young People:

9/4 Sun. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily’s

10/4 Mon., 7:30pm,  Richard & Flora’s, (Dinner @ 7pm)

Pursuing of Uni Students: 11/4 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s

(7:00 dinner with Ben & Johanna)

Sisters Meeting: 12/4 Wed. 10:00am, Lili’s

Prayer Meeting: 12/4 Wed. 8:00pm, Olsen & Likun’s (Combined)

Pursuing of Words: cancelled (Collaroy Conf.)

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：

cancelled (Collaroy Conf.)

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. We do encourage brothers and sisters to join this week’s prayer meeting. Let’s pray together for the Lord’s blessing in the coming Collaroy conference.
3. In this coming weekend (14-17) it is the Collaroy conference. We will enter the book of Jonah. Brothers Michael Samulak and Benjamin Sheu will help us to know how to put down our opinion and yield to God’s will when we follow the Lord.

Now we do have 85 participate the conference full time. We thank God for His moving among us. We would like to ask brothers and sisters to remember the finance burden. We hope that through our offering the Lord can bless His church more. If anyone is still willing to join, either full time or part time, please contact sister Hannah.

There will be no Lord’s Day meeting at the hall on April 16. The brothers and sisters and gospel friends need to go to Collaroy conference centre. Because of the rule in the camp, whoever can come must register for the day trip.

For all details of the camp please contact Sister Hannah Cui or Brother Yulin Wang.

4. On April 23 there will be an English speaking gospel meeting. We welcome the brothers and sisters to invite friends to join.
5. On July 9-15 the church plans to join the Chinese speaking conference in Cleveland, USA. If any brothers and sisters are interested, please register with Brother Yulin Wang.

<Reminder>

1. For brothers and sisters please bring your own Bible and hymn book for the Lord’s Day meeting.
2. 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 loud in the kitchen.
3. 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 (Brother Frank Wang, Sisters XiaChun Li & YuRong Liu, and the 15 brothers and sisters in 2016). May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
3. May the Lord bless the camp of the senior group as well as the Collaroy conference so that the brothers and sisters can desire to participate and joyfully receive the supply of God’s word and love of brothers and sisters.
4. 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 This Week: (Apr. 9)

1. Message: Yulin Wang & Richard Chen
2. Serving before Meeting: Jane & Didy
3. Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Chuan Ma
4. Serving Bread and Cup: Sam Li, Sean Dong, Patrick Li & Richard Cui
5. Cleaning: Steven Wang, Joe & Lili Family, Lian, Richard & Lamee Family, Chuan Ma & Maggie Family
6. Kitchen: Susan & WeiQiong
7. Children: Supervisor –Christine & Jessie

Singing – Combined

Teachers – Angela, Tina & Leonie

 

Serving Next Week: (Apr. 16, Collaroy)

1. Message: Michael Samulak and Benjamin Sheu
2. Serving before Meeting: N/A
3. Breaking the Bread: Raymond Young & Yulin Wang
4. Serving Bread and Cup: TBA
5. Cleaning: N/A
6. Kitchen: N/A
7. Children: N/A (serving in the conference)

2017 Church Activities

1. Collaroy Conf. (Apr.14-17)
2. Mother’s Day / Special lunch (May 14)
3. US Visit and training (July 9-15)
4. English speaking Gospel Meeting (Aug.)
5. Church conference (Sep.30-Oct.2)
6. Gospel Meeting with Hymns (Dec. 3)
7. US church conference (YP) (Dec.)