| Newsletter for Church in Sydney
July 22, 2018
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Message: Acts 11:19-12
The Church in Antioch
11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
The Death of Herod
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Message Next Week: Acts 13
Announcements:
- We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into this family of God.
- Sister Tracy and Sophie will be baptized in the Lord after the Lord’s Day meeting. May all the brothers and sisters come together to support them in praises and prayers.
- May all the brothers and sisters keep supporting the food service and cleaning service in the Lord. Especially for the food service we do need more brothers and sisters to participate. If you have any suggestion for the food service, please fellowship with brother Ming Pan and sister Lily Li. If you have any suggestion for the cleaning service, please fellowship with brother Richard Cui or Sam Li.
- The Gospel Odyssey will be from August 3 to 14 this year and there are 12 brothers and sisters coming from North America. May we all begin to prepare and pray in the spirit so that the Lord can give us the fruits of gospel.
If you can open your home for hospitality or are willing to participate the gospel work, please contact Brother Thomas Wu.
On August 12 there is an English speaking gospel meeting. Please invite your friends to come (especially the English speaking ones).
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meetings
Chinese Speaking Young People: 23/7 Mon. 7:00pm, Richard Cui (w/dinner)
@ Chatswood: 26/7 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan
@ North Region: 28/7 Sat. 7:30pm, Joe & Lili
@ Warrawee: 28/7 Sat. 7:30, Olsen & Likun
Pursuing of Uni Students:
24/7 Tue. 7:00pm, Yulin (w/ dinner)
Sisters Meeting: 25/7 Wed. 10:00am, Pauline
Prayer Meeting: 25/7 Wed. 7:45pm, Meeting Hall
Pursuing for Ministering: 27/7 Fri. 8:00pm, Ben
Intercession:
- May the Lord bless our gospel friends so that they can know how precious the Lord is and become willing to believe in Him.
Pray for Aug. 3-11 Gospel Odyssey that the power of the gospel of God may be manifested among us.
- Pray for the new believers (5 brothers: Stephen, William, Yuan Liu, Yuan-Pei Zhao and Chao Ma as well as 16 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, Jean Hu, MinFang Wu, XiuQing Chen and Heidi Li. 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: (July 22)
- Message: Benjamin Lim (Downstairs)
Raymond Young (Upstairs)
- Breaking the Bread: Richard Chen & Patrick Li
- Serving Bread and Cup: Patrick Li, Olsen Yu, Benchu Guo & Peter Zhang
- Cleaning: Group of CS young people
- Children: Supervisor – Joe
Singing & teaching – Vasya & Angela
Serving Next Week: (July 29)
- Message: Richard Chen & Raymond (Downstairs)
Benjamin Lim (Upstairs)
- Breaking the Bread: Raymond Young & Olsen Yu
- Serving Bread and Cup: Chuan Ma, Ash Li, Sean Dong, Richard Cui
- Cleaning: Group of ES group
- Children: Supervisor – Tina
Singing & teaching – Chris & Jono
Church Activities in 2018
Aug.3-14: Gospel Odyssey (visiting of US young people)
English speaking gospel meeting (12/8)
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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