house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green. On my sixtieth birthday, some twenty-one years ago, I took these verses as my own special companion for whatever years were yet marked out for me. While most other older saints and I are constantly reminded that our outer [man] is wasting away, according to the promises of Psalm 92, we also experience the reality that our inner [man] is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). GROWING IN GRACE Pentecost was a singular epochal event in redemptive history. However, the flood of spiritual life and power sent down from the enthroned messianic King continues to come upon the emerging and growing church, often as a steady, gentle shower. Awakenings and revivals, when they are the work of God, are periodic intensifications of the ordinary work of the Holy Spirit in which, instead of a gentle and steady rain of heavenly life and power, Christ sends upon His church an intensified localized deluge. As the old gospel song puts it, mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead. What was the result of that initial Pentecostal deluge? Did the 120 disciples remain in the upper room, repeatedly rehearsing to one another the thrilling experience of hearing the sound like a mighty rushing wind, seeing the divided tongues of fire, and experiencing the linguistic miracle of speaking in other languages? No. Their risen Lord had told them that when the Spirit came upon them, they would receive power to bear witness to Him and to His saving work in ever-widening circles, even to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8, Luke 24:45 49). The biblical account of the Spirit s work subsequent to that initial deluge is focused upon bringing more sinners to conviction and conversion, and then incorporating those converted sinners into an organized community of the people of God, called the church. Luke informs us that the three thousand who were converted were added to the 120 and devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42). The subsequent record indicates that the church formed on that day did not meet in a perpetual celebration of the events of that day, but grew in the corporate graces of brotherly love, practical benevolence, and demonstrable unity, which validated the power of the gospel that was being preached by the Apostles (Acts 2:43 47; 4:32 36). The book of Acts, the Apostolic letters, and church history contain irrefutable evidence that true revivals and awakenings give birth to churches and bring renewed life to dying churches. May the Lord do so again, for His glory and praise. Albert N. Martin, The Journey of Faith, Tabletalk, 2016, https:// tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2016/02/journey-of-faith/ The Journey of Faith Oh God, do it again! Do it in our day! Do it for your glory and praise! Such are the prayers that instinctively rise from the hearts of serious Christians when they read or hear accounts of true conversions and of Spirit-wrought seasons of awakening and revival. We find such records in our Bibles, in the annals of church history, and in contemporary reports of these gracious works of God occurring in various parts of the world. However, it is crucial that we recognize that both conversion and seasons of awakening are never to be looked upon as the arrival at a destination a destination that we repeatedly describe and for which we yearn, nostalgically regarding them as capturing the good old days. Rather, they are to be regarded as the beginning of a wonderful journey a journey of ongoing communion with God and obedience to God that grows richer and deeper with the passing of time. CONVERSION 笃信圣经长老会怀恩堂 Volume V, Bulletin No. 09 第五期,09 号刊 26th August 2018 2018 年八月二十六日 Sunday Worship Service: 2:00 pm 主日崇拜 : 下午二点, Sunday School: 2:30 pm 主日学 : 下午二点半 Worship at: 聚会地址 : 247 Main North Rd, Sefton Park, South Australia 5083 Mailing Address 邮件地址 : 169 Brougham Dr, Valley View, South Australia 5093 Email 电邮 : pastor@providencebpchurch.org, Church Website 教会网址 : www.providencebpchurch.org Pastor:, Advisory Pastor: Rev. (Dr) Edward Paauwe 牧师 :, 顾问牧师 : 包爱华牧师 ( 博士 ) Landline 电话 : 08 8263 9689, Mobile 手机 : 0408 8068 65 Acts 26:20 and 1 Thessalonians 1:9 10 are two texts that demonstrate the truth that conversion is the start of a journey. In the first of these texts, Paul emphasizes that conversion begins with a radical turning to God in repentance that issues in a lifetime of living out the implications of that turning by performing deeds in keeping with [that] repentance. The second text describes the conversion of the Thessalonians as consisting in a radical turning to God from idols, issuing in a life of bondservice to the living God, and an eager waiting for the completion of salvation to be bestowed at the return of Jesus. Our initiation into spiritual life by conversion occurs in different ways. God has no detailed conversion blueprint to which His saving work must universally conform. But, if any professed conversion is indeed God s saving work, it always issues in the following: a life of growing communion with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9; Phil. 3:8 10); a life of increasing conformity to Christ (2 Cor. 3:18); a life of continuous abiding in Christ (John 15:1 11); and a life of principled obedience to Christ (John 14:21, 1 John 2:3 4). The life of a true child of God shaped by these realities will become a blessed and beautiful fulfillment of the promise of Psalm 92:12 14: The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the
Prelude 序乐 Call to Worship 宣召 Opening Hymn 唱诗 Invocation/Gloria Patri 祷告 / 荣耀颂 ORDER OF WORSHIP 主日崇拜程序 The Lord is in His Holy Temple 主在圣殿中 Ring the Bells of Heaven 天钟齐鸣 Responsive Reading 2 Peter 1:1-15 Michael Noble 启应经文彼得后书 1:1-15 马益明弟兄 Hymn 唱诗 Pastoral Prayer 牧祷 Sermon 证道 Closing Hymn 诗歌 Benediction/Threefold Amen 祝祷 / 阿们颂 We re Marching to Zion 同往锡安 Walking in Confidence 活在有信心的生命中 Messenger: 讲员 : Interpreter: Sister Michelle Yan 传译员 : 闫晓蕾姐妹 I am Resolved 坚决立志 Rev Edward Paauwe 包爱华牧师 Tithes & Offerings 奉献 Doxology & Offertory Prayer 三一颂和感恩祷告 Silent Prayer & Postlude 默祷散会 Announcements 报告事项 The Lord Bless You and Keep You 愿主赐福看顾你 Scripture Reading 1 John 5:13-17 读经约翰一书 5:13-17 沈政赢弟兄 Theme for 2018: Rejoice in Hope (Romans 5:2) 2018 年的教会主题 : 在盼望中喜乐 ( 罗马书 5:2)
ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Welcome to Providence Bible-Presbyterian Church! If you are a visitor here, please fill up the visitor's card so we can get in touch with you. 2. There is sermon reflection (English), Adult s Sunday (Chinese) and Seeker s Class after the service. 3. There is Annual Congregational Meeting next Sunday on 2nd September 2018 after the worship service so there will be no Chinese Adult s Sunday School and sermon reflection next Sunday. 4. If you would like to know more about today s message or the Christian gospel, please feel free to approach. MEMORY VERSE Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) WCF SHORTER CATECHISM Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation? A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. [1] [1] Nehemiah 8:8-9 NEXT LORD S DAY (02/09) TITLE RESPONSIVE READING/TEXT MESSENGER The Bread of Life John 6:1-23/John 6:24-40; 60-69 Pastor Weng THIS WEEK S MEETINGS & NEXT LORD S DAY (27Aug 2 Sep 2018) DATE MEETING/ACTIVITIES TIME & VENUE Wed 29 Aug Prayer Meeting (How to Interpret your Bible) 7-8pm, 169 Brougham Dr, Valley View Thur 30 Aug Ladies Fellowship (thematic) 10-12pm, 21 Ferrier Ave, Fairview Park Sun 2 Sep Sunday Worship Service 2:00-3:25pm, Church Sun 2 Sep Children s Sunday School Susan 2:30-3:45pm, Church Sun 2 Sep Annual Congregational Meeting 3:30pm, Church LAST SUNDAY S ATTENDANCE AND OFFERINGS (19th August 2018) Sunday Service Attendance 23 General Offerings $106.25 Mission Fund $20.00 Anniversary Gifts $500, $300 Building Fund Total: $1520.00 PRAYER ITEMS & SUPPLICATIONS 1. Thanksgiving: For God s providence, protection and provision in the past week. 2. Pray for forgiveness of sins, our personal walk with the Lord and grace to live a sanctified life. 3. Pray for the Australian government to rule our country with justice and equity and for God s guidance in the parliament. 4. Pray for God s protection upon Israel and the salvation of the Jews. 5. Pray for missionaries around the world for protection, provision and for God s grace in the ministry and guidance: Brother Haiseng Lim and Evangelist Juniar and Helmi s ministry in Mentawai islands West Sumatra. 6. Pray for those who are involved in the ministry of Providence B-P Church in 2018:Pulpit, Scripture reading, sermon interpreting, music ministry, ushering, logistics & PA, Adult s/children s Sunday School, Wed Prayer Meeting Family Fellowship, Ladies Fellowship, church bulletin and etc. 7. Pray for evangelistic work and outreach in and around Sefton Park. 8. Pray for the salvation of family members, loved ones and friends. 9. Pray for students studying: Shaun Shen,Esther Lim, Ziqi & others. 10. Pray for God s guidance and provision to start Youth Fellowship. 11. Pray for God s guidance on John and Michelle s plans for the future. 12. Pray for those who are distressed over various issues in life and are discouraged for different reasons. 13. Pray for God s guidance for those who are looking for jobs. 14. Bethel Jung s Australia PR approval. 15. Health and healing: Rev. Edward Paauwe, Bro. Kuan Pang Loh.
报告事项 1. 欢迎您前来本堂参加崇拜 如果您是第一次来参加敬拜, 请填妥新朋友联络卡, 以便我们能与您联系 2. 散会后有信息的回思 ( 英语 ), 成人主日学 ( 中文 ) 与慕道班 3. 下礼拜天九月二日在聚会后有会员大会 因此下礼拜天没有中文成人主日学与信息的回思 4. 若您想更了解今天的信息或基徒教的福音, 请向牧师寻问 金句背诵所以你们要彼此认罪, 互相代求, 使你们可以得医治 义人祈祷所发的力量是大有功效的 ( 雅各书 5:16) 威斯敏斯要理问答问 89: 圣经怎样有救人的效力? 答 : 神的灵时常藉着人诵读, 和听讲圣经使罪人醒悟, 认罪回转, 并藉着信心在成圣与安慰上被建立, 以致得救 [1] [1] 尼西米记 8:8-9 下主日 (2018 年九月二日 ) 题目启应经文 / 讲道经文讲员 生命之粮 约 6:1-23/ 约 6:24-40; 60-69 这周的聚会与下主日崇拜 (2018 年八月二十七日至九月二日 ) 日期聚会时间与地点 上主日聚会人数与奉献 (2018 年八月十九日 ) 主日崇拜人数 23 主日崇拜奉献 $106.25 宣教奉献 $20.00 四周年记念奉献 $500,$300 建堂基金 总额 : $1520.00 星期三, 八月二十九日祷告会 ( 解经学概论 ) 晚间七点,169 Brougham, Valley View 星期四, 八月三十日姐妹团契 / 查经 ( 主题 ) 上午十点,21 Ferrier Ave, Fairview Park 星期天, 九月二日主日崇拜下午二点至三点二十五分, 教堂 星期天, 九月二日儿童主日学 翁师母下午二点半至三点四十五分, 教堂 星期天, 九月二日会员大会下午三点三十分, 教堂 代祷事项 1. 感谢事项 : 神过去一周对我们的看顾, 保守及供应 2. 求神赦免我们的过犯, 使我们与祂的关系密切与恩典来过着分别为圣的生活 3. 为澳大利亚的官员能以公义来治国, 国会有神的带领祷告 4. 为着色列国有神的保守及犹太人的救恩祷告 5. 为世界各地的宣教士祷告 求神保守, 供应他们一切的需要和在事工上有神的引导 : 林海成传道 Juniar 和 Helmi 在西苏门达腊的福音工作祷告 6. 为教会 2018 年的事工祷告 : 讲台 讲道传译 读经 司琴 招待员 音响 成人 / 儿童主日学 祷告会, 家庭团契 姐妹团契和其它事工 7. 为在 Sefton Park 和邻近地区的传福音工作祷告 8. 为还未得救得家人, 亲戚与朋友祷告 9. 为着以下就读的学生祷告 : 沈政赢弟兄, 林慧婷姊妹,Ziqi 与其他的学生 10. 为青年团契的事工有神的带领祷告 11. 为益明弟兄与晓蕾姐妹前面的计划有神的带领祷告 12. 着那些在生活上面对挑战而需要鼓励的弟兄姐妹祷告 13. 为在找工作的弟兄姐妹与朋友有神的带领来祷告 14. 为 Bethel Jung 弟兄的澳洲永居签证的批准来祷告 15. 身体健康与不适 : 包爱华牧师与罗宽邦弟兄
Walking With Confidence 活在有信心的生命中 (1 John 5:13-17 约翰一书 5:13-17) Questions for Discussion: I. Confidence in God s Will 对神的旨意有信心, 14-15 1. What confidence do we have in prayer? (14-15) 2. George Muller prayed confidently for the salvation of specific individuals. Was he presumptuous? How can we know that God will save specific people? II. Pray for the Sinning brethren 着犯罪的弟兄祷告, 16-17 3. Does praying, Your will be done, nullify praying in faith? Why/ why not? 4. If we can t know with certainty God s will, how can we pray in faith? How can we know that He has granted our requests? II. PRAY FOR THE SINNING BRETHREN, 16-17.