| Newsletter for Church in Sydney
May 20, 2018
|
Message: Acts 4
Peter and John Before the Council
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’– 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
They Had Everything in Common
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. ……
Message Outline:
- The Lord we believe
- The cornerstone (11)
- There is salvation in no one else (12)
- How the apostles faced persecution
- With wisdom and boldness by being filled with the Holy Spirit (8-12)
- Listen to man or listen to God? For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard (19-20)
- The response of their company (friends)
- Pray and praise with one accord (24-30)
- Being filled with the Holy Spirit
Questions for Group Discussion
- What is the cornerstone in Peter’s answer and what is its spiritual meaning? How can we declare that “there is salvation in no one else” to others today?
- How can we apply the case of “listening to man or listen to God” today? If we face some persecution or challenges, would we keep silent or speak of what we have seen and heard in a proper way?
Message Next Week: Acts 5
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meetings
Chinese Speaking Young People: 21/5 Mon. 7:00pm, Richard Cui (w/ dinner)
@ Kingsgrove: 22/5 Tue. 10:30am, Shanwon Chow (w/lunch)
@ Chatswood: 24/5 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan
@ North Region: 26/5 Sat. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily
Gospel Group: 26/5 Mon. 7:00pm, Olsen & Likun
Pursuing of Uni Students:
22/5 Tue. 7:00pm, Yulin (w/ dinner)
Sisters Meeting: 23/5 Wed. 10:00am, Pauline
Prayer Meeting: 23/5 Wed. 7:45pm,
Ming Pan (Chatswood), Olsen (Warrawee)
High Schooler Meeting: 25/5 Fri. 7:30pm, Yulin’s
Pursuing for Ministering: 25/5 Fri. 8:00pm, David Tan’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 (20/5) afternoon there will be a meeting for the food service. If you are serving, please come to the meeting.
27/5 the Lord’s Day afternoon we will fellowship on the service of breaking bread and cleaning.
- There will be a full time serving brother, Stephen Hao, visiting from the church in Chicago next Thursday. He will stay with us for two months to preach the gospel and to grow in the Lord together.
In these two months, if any home of the brothers and sisters is willing to be opened for hospitality (stay or meals), please contact brothers Yulin or Thomas.
- The dates of the US trip for the Cleveland training: 23-28/7 (1st week), 30/7-3/8 (2nd week). If you are willing to go, you can choose to go for the first week or join for the entire two weeks. Please fellowship with Brother Yulin Wang for details.
Intercession:
- May the Lord bless the gospel meeting next week and may the Spirit touch people, leading them to know how precious the Lord is and become willing to believe in Him.
- Pray for the new believers (4 brothers: Stephen, William, Yuan Liu and Yuan-Pei Zhao as well as 13 sisters: Lili Chen, Jenny Zhu, Yun-Yue Lin, Li-Qin Wu, Yun Zhu, Joies, Ariel Chen, Lu Gan, Lan-Xiu Zhang, Li-Fang Ge, Kelie Wei, Li-Yuan Xu and Jean Hu. May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
- 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.
- May the Lord bless those year 12 students (Holly, Crystal and Zylen etc.), give them wisdom and guide their future steps.
Serving This Week: (May 20)
- Message: Yulin Wang (Downstairs)
Ben Lim (Upstairs)
- Breaking the Bread: David Tan & Richard Cui
- Serving Bread and Cup: Richard Cui, Sam Li, Jason Wang & Sean Dong
- Cleaning: Sam & Hannah Family, Tina & Fiona Jiang, Hannah Dong & Vic, Patrick & Lily Family, BaoLin Lei, Vanessa Lu
- Kitchen: Hannah & YuRong
- Children: Supervisor – Lydia
Singing & teaching – Vasya & Angela
Serving Next Week: (May 20)
- Message: Patrick Li & Yulin Wang (Downstairs)
Raymond Young (Upstairs)
- Breaking the Bread: Yulin Wang & Sam Li
- Serving Bread and Cup: Chuan Ma, Ash Li, Jason Wang & Richard Cui
- Cleaning: Sam & Hannah Family, Tina & Fiona Jiang, Hannah Dong & Vic, Patrick & Lily Family, BaoLin Lei, Vanessa Lu
- Kitchen: Didy & Ling
- Children: Supervisor – David
Singing & teaching – Esther & Tina
Church Activities in 2018
July 23 – Aug. 3.: Training in US Cleveland (Chinese Speaking)
Aug. Gospel Odyssey (visiting of US young people)
Oct.: Spring Conference
Dec.: Gospel Meeting with hymns
Conference in US (English Speaking)
Please check the activities,
messages, and other news
on the church web site
christiansinsydney.org
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church web site
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