Message: Acts 13
Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles
13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Preaching in Cyprus
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
At Antioch in Pisidia
32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”
Blessing and Conflict at Antioch
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Message Next Week: Gospel Odyssey Corporate Meeting
Announcements:
- We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into this family of God.
- 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.
For those who open your home for hospitality or dinner, we have fellowship at lunch time.
On August 12 there is an English speaking gospel meeting. Please invite your friends to come (especially the English speaking ones).
- May all the brothers and sisters keep supporting the food service, cleaning service and children 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.
- Next week we will have breakfast together on the Lord’s Day morning.
Church Meetings/Time/Place
Home Meetings
Chinese Speaking Young People: 30/7 Mon. 7:00pm, Richard Cui (w/dinner)
@ Chatswood: 2/8 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan
@ North Region: 4/8 Sat. 7:30pm, Joe & Lili
@ Warrawee: 4/8 Sat. 7:30, Olsen & Likun
Pursuing of Uni Students:
31/7 Tue. 7:00pm, Yulin (w/ dinner)
Sisters Meeting: 1/8 Wed. 10:00am, Megan’s
Prayer Meeting: 1/8 Wed. 7:45pm, Meeting Hall
Pursuing for Ministering: Cancelled
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 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 young people
- Children: Supervisor – Tina
Singing & teaching – Chris & Jono
Serving Next Week: (Aug 5)
- Message: US Saints
- Breaking the Bread: Thomas Wu, Chuan Ma
- Serving Bread and Cup: Chuan Ma, Olsen Yu, Benchu Guo, Peter Zhang
- Cleaning: Group of David Tan
- Children: Supervisor – Hannah
- Singing & teaching – TBA
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