Newsletter 2017/12/24

Lord’s Day Message: The concept of man versus the will of God

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)

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. (Eph. 4:22-24)

Matthew 19

³ And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” ⁴ He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

⁷ They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” ⁸ He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” ……

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ……

Questions for Discussion

1. Regarding divorce, what is the concept of Pharisees? And how does it compare to today’s concept about marriage? How does Jesus answer their question? And how does His answer help you to see marriage?
2. Today, many people also have a concept that doing good can earn their entrance into the heaven. However, what are the revelations from Jesus’ answer? – Who is good? And can human beings really do good?

When the disciples were astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” How did the Lord Jesus answer?  And how does His answer help you?

Message Next Week: Reflections of the Lord’s Grace in Year 2017

Bible Reading Schedule: Lev.17-22

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meetings

Chinese Speaking Young People: 25/12 Mon. 7:00pm, Jessie’s  (w/ dinner)

@ Kingsgrove: 26/12 Tue. 10:30am, Shanwon Chow’s

@ Chatswood:  28/12 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan’s

Pursuing of Uni Students:

26/12 Tue. 7:00pm, special dinner, TBA

Sisters Meeting: 27/12 Wed. 10:00am, Hannah Dong’s

Prayer Meeting: 27/12 Wed. 7:45pm,

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

Pursuing of Words: 29/12 Fri. 8:00 pm, cancelled

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

Young People & Parents: Richard & Lamee’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. Today after the Lord’s Day meeting, we welcome all to stay to wrap the dumplings and enjoy the good food. If you are willing, you can enter the kitchen after 11:30 when the message ends. And please listen to Sister Lily and Brother Patrick for directions.
4. 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 or Ash Li to share those on that day.
5. 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.

6. The young people will have a summer camp organsied by the uni students on January 21st to the 23rd of 2018. The camp will be held at Wisemans Ferry on the topic of “What is the Bible?” Please contact Sister Elsa or Angela for details.

<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. 24)

1. Message: Yulin Wang
2. Breaking the Bread: Shanwon Chow & Richard Cui
3. Serving Bread and Cup: Richard Cui, Sam Li, Jason Wang & Sean Dong
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

Serving Next Week: (Dec. 31)

1. Message: Yulin Wang & All B/S
2. Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Thomas Wu
3. Serving Bread and Cup: Patrick Li, Chuan Ma, Jason Wang, Benchu Guo
4. Cleaning: TBA
5. Kitchen: YuRong & Vanessa
6. Children: Supervisor – Vic

Singing – Christine & Angela

Teachers – Lilian, Leonie & Grace