Newsletter 2018/11/25

Newsletter for Church in Sydney   Nov. 25, 2018

 

 

Messages: Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

¹ Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ² And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, ³ asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. ⁴ Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. ⁵ “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

⁶ After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. ⁸ Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” ⁹ But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” ¹⁰ But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” ¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

¹³ Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. ¹⁴ And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, ¹⁵ and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. ¹⁶ I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. ¹⁷ So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. ¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. ¹⁹ Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. ²⁰ Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. ²¹ But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” ²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

²³ So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” (Acts 25)

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Phil. 2:15)

Message Next Week: Acts 26

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. Today at the end of the meeting we will discuss the food service. May we all fellowship in a spirit of mutual supporting to bring more blessings to our church.
3. Concerning the gospel meeting of hymns on December 9, we would like to encourage all brothers and sisters to invite gospel friends to join our meeting. Next Lord’s Day (2/12) afternoon we will have rehearsal. The combined meeting (and the breakfast) in December will be delayed from the 2nd to the 9th.
4. The 2019 Gospel Calendars have arrived. You can purchase each copy for $6 (if you are willing, you can offer more in the Lord.) It is for every brother and sister to use at home or as a gift to the gospel friends.
5. If any gospel friend is willing to be baptized or desires to know the meaning of salvation and baptism, please contact Brother Yulin Wang.

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meetings

Chinese Speaking Young People: 19/11 Mon. 7:00pm, Richard & Flora (w/dinner)

@ Chatswood: 22/11 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan

@ North Region: 24/11 Sat. 7:30pm, Patrick & Lily’s

Pursuing of Uni Students:

20/11 Tue. 7:00pm, Yulin’s (w/ dinner)

Sisters Meeting: 21/11 Wed. 10:00am, Megan’s

Prayer Meeting: 21/11 Wed. 7:45pm, Meeting Hall

Highschooler Meeting: 23/11 Fri, 7:30pm, Yulin’s

Pursuing for Ministering: 23/11, 8:00pm, David’s

Intercession:

1. May the Lord bless our gospel friends so that they can know how precious the Lord is and become willing to believe in Him.
2. Pray for the gospel meeting of hymns on December 9. May the Lord exhibit His power of the gospel and make people know and accept His salvation.
3. May the Lord bless brothers Thomas Wu, Vincent Tai and sister Sarah Wang who will join the Vision Week and pursuing in Cleveland Ohio US on December. May the Lord bless them to gain more of His riches, and become the blessings in our church life.
4. Pray for the new believers (5 brothers: Yuan Liu, Yuan-Pei Zhao, Chao Ma, Lyon Yang and Jack Zhou as well as 13 sisters: Ariel Chen, Lu Gan, Lan-Xiu Zhang, Li-Fang Ge, Kelie Wei, Li-Yuan Xu, Jean Hu, MinFang Wu, XiuQing Chen, Heidi Li, Tracy Lin, Sophie, AnJie Lin. May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
5. 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. Please pray for Brother Michael Lin and Sister Ah Seng Chow

Serving This Week: (Nov. 25)

1. Message: Richard Chen & Yulin Wang (Downstairs)

Benjamin Lim (Upstairs)

2. Breaking Bread: Yulin Wang & Peter Zhang
3. Serving Bread & Cup: Peter Zhang, Michael Qiu, Ash Li & Chuan Ma
4. Food: Group 1
5. Cleaning: English speaking young people
6. Children: Lamee, Angela, Priscilla & Leonie

Serving Next Week: (Dec. 2)

1. Message: Yulin Wang (Downstairs)

David Tan (Upstairs)

2. Breaking Bread: Richard Chen & Chuan Ma
3. Serving Bread & Cup: Richard Cui, Chuan Ma, Kevin Zhu, Joe Zhou
4. Food: Group 2
5. Cleaning: Group 3
6. Children: David/Joe, Sarah & Tina Jiang

 

 

 

 

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