Lord’s Day Message: The Parable of the Sower – How Do You Hear?
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Mat. 13:1-23)
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. (Pro 20:12)
Message Next Week: Matthew 14-15
Bible Reading Schedule: Mat. 14-15; Exo.35-37
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Meeting of Chinese Speaking Young People:
13/11 Mon. 7:30pm, Richard Cui’s (7:00 dinner)
Pursuing of Uni Students:
14/11 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s (7:00 dinner)
Sisters Meeting: 15/11 Wed. 10:00am, Hannah Dong’s
Prayer Meeting: 15/11 Wed. 7:45pm,
Lydia’s (Chatswood), Olsen’s (Warrawee)
Pursuing of Words: 17/11 Fri. 8:00 pm, David Tan’s
Saturday Home Meeting：18/11 Sat. 7:30pm,
Young People & Parents: Sam & Hannah’s
Gospel Group: Olsen & Likun’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 sister Joies and brother William will be baptized in the Lord. Please come together to support them and give them prayer and blessings.
- The 2018 Gospel Calendar has arrived. We welcome all to purchase them. They are $5 dollars per copy. Please put the amount to offering box and write “Gospel Calendar” on the offering envelope. If you are willing, you can use this chance to offer more.
- The hymn singing gospel meeting will be moved to November 26 from December 3. We hope all the brothers and sisters can participate. Each group should choose a coordinator and give the name list and hymns to brother Yulin Wang today.
Each group can stay after lunch to practice with piano, violin and flute. Next week after Lord’s Day lunch we will have rehearsal together.
<Reminder>
- For the brothers and sisters, please come on time and bring your own Bible and hymn book for the Lord’s Day meeting.
- 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.
- Please keep the play field and rooms tidy and put all equipments in place after use.
- 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 coming Gospel meeting with hymns. May the Lord bless each gospel friend who comes to our meeting so that through our singing, testimonies, and message they may be touched and would let the Lord enter into their heart.
- Pray for the new believers (5 brothers: Vincent Tai, YuMing Liang, Zylen Liang, Frank Wang, and Stephen as well as 9 sisters: Vanessa Lu, Li Zhou, XiaChun Li, YuRong Liu, Lili Chen, Jenny Zhu, Yun-Yue Lin, Li-Qin Wu, and Yun Zhu. May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
- May the Lord bless the 9 brothers and sisters who plan to go to US for the church conference. May they receive abundant supply in the Lord as well as peace and joy in their travel.
- 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: (Nov. 12)
- Message: Benjamin Lim
- Breaking the Bread: David Tan & Sam Li
- Serving Bread and Cup: Sean Dong, Patrick Li, Richard Cui & Jason Wang
- Cleaning: Brett & Linda Family, Sean Dong & Wei Qiong Family, Jessie, Peter, Lisa Tao Family, Bill & Christine Family
- Kitchen: YuRong & Vanessa
- Children: Supervisor – Hannah
Singing – Combined
Teachers – Lilian, Leonie & Grace
Serving Next Week: (Nov. 19)
- Message: Richard Chen & Yulin Wang
- Breaking the Bread: Yulin Wang & Jason Wang
- Serving Bread and Cup: Olsen Yu, Benchu Guo, Jason Wang & Chuan Ma
- Cleaning: Raymond & Lucy Family, Thomas & Lena, Joyce & Chris, Joe & Lili Family, Michael & Mandy Family, Margaret Yang
- Kitchen: Julie & Megan
- Children: Supervisor – Lydia
Singing – Chris & David
Teachers – Vasya & Sarah
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