Newsletter 2017/12/17

Lord’s Day Message: Matthew 18

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷ “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. … ¹² What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴ So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Questions for Discussion

1. When the disciples argued who is the greatest, how did Jesus help them? What kind of character should Christians have based on His answer? Please also share how this can apply to you and become your experience.
2. From verses 15-20, when one brother pointed out another’s wrong doing, what was his purpose? How does this enlighten you when someone sins against you?
3. From verses 21-35, how do the scriptures help you to forgive someone else?

Message Next Week: Matthew 19

Bible Reading Schedule: Mat. 19; Lev.13-16

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meetings

Chinese Speaking Young People: 18/12 Mon. 7:30pm, Richard Cui’s  (7:00 dinner)

@ Kingsgrove: 19/12 Tue. 10:30am, Shanwon Chow’s

@ Chatswood: 21/12 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan’s

Pursuing of Uni Students:

19/12 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s  (7:00 dinner)

Sisters Meeting: 20/12 Wed. 10:00am, Hannah Dong’s

Prayer Meeting: 20/12 Wed. 7:45pm,

Lydia’s (Chatswood), David Tan’s (Warrawee)

Pursuing of Words: 22/12 Fri. 8:00 pm, David Tan’s

Saturday Home Meeting：23/12 Sat. 7:30pm,

Young People & Parents: Joe & Lili’s

Gospel Group: Olsen & Likun’s

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. To prepare the new phone list of the church, please come to brother Yulin Wang to update your contact information.
3. If any gospel friend is willing to be baptized recently, please fellowship with Brother Yulin Wang and join the lesson after lunch today.
4. On December 24 after the Lord’s Day meeting, we plan to wrap the dumplings for lunch. We welcome all to stay and enjoy.
5. December 31 will be our last combined meeting in 2017. After the Lord Table, the meeting will open to all the brothers and sisters to share what the Lord’s grace we have experienced this year. If anyone has valuable photos or videos of the church life, you can send to Brother Yulin Wang to share those on that day.
6. 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.

There are also bookmarks for all to take freely.

<Reminder>

1. For the brothers and sisters, please come on time and 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. Please keep the play field and rooms tidy and put all equipments in place after use.
4. 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 (6 brothers: Vincent Tai, YuMing Liang, Zylen Liang, Frank Wang, Stephen, and William as well as 10 sisters: Vanessa Lu, Li Zhou, XiaChun Li, YuRong Liu, Lili Chen, Jenny Zhu, Yun-Yue Lin, Li-Qin Wu, Yun Zhu, and Joies. May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
3. May the Lord bless the 8 brothers and sisters who plan to go to the US for the church conference. May they receive abundant supply in the Lord as well as peace and joy in their travel.
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: (Dec. 17)

1. Message: Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: David Tan & Richard Cui
3. Serving Bread and Cup: Benchu Guo, San Li, Jason Wang & Chuan Ma
4. Cleaning: Richard & Flora Family, Lydia, Olsen & Likun Family, Pauline Zhang, Ben & Fony Family
5. Kitchen: Lydia & Hannah
6. Children: Supervisor – Tina

Singing – Esther & Holly

Teachers – Chris & Jono

Serving Next Week: (Dec. 24)

1. Message: Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Chuan Ma
3. Serving Bread and Cup: Sean Dong, Sam Li, Richard Cui & Chuan Ma
4. Cleaning: Richard & Flora Family, Lydia, Olsen & Likun Family, Pauline Zhang, Ben & Fony Family
5. Kitchen: Pauline & Lisa
6. Children: Supervisor – Jessie

Singing – Chris & David

Teachers – Elsa & Holly