Bulletin Announcements – 19 October 2014
- ‘Tea for a cause’: Strathfield 9am will be hosting a women’s event on 29th Nov! This high tea event aims to raise funds for children living in poverty. Tickets are $30/person with all funds raised being donated to Compassion Australia. Kirsty Kurilowicz will also be sharing a message on compassion. For tickets, please see Betty Wong or Joanne Cheng. For more information on Compassion Australia, please visit http://www.compassion.com.au.
- Announcement from the Diaconate. Following the election of deacons for the new 2014-2016 term, these office bearers have been appointed: Chairman – Desmond Chu (E); Vice-Chairman – Joseph Chan (C); Secretary – Kris Tan (M); Assistant Secretary – Anthony Choong (E); Treasurer – Louis Chan (C); Assistant Treasurer – Simon Wu (M). During the next 2 Sundays, the deacons will be introduced with a dedication in each service. Please pray for this new leadership as they seek God’s grace and wisdom in their ministry.
Ariel writes – a weekly Scriptural devotion:
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)
False doctrines, myths, and genealogies which promote controversies and aren’t by faith. They must be by works then, but how? Well, it seems false works aren’t just physical deeds but deeds of the mind too. One can exercise one’s brain into thinking you’re saved by your knowledge of God. Indeed, which Christian hasn’t looked down on another thinking maybe they weren’t saved because of their simple understanding of the gospel? In Ephesus it was just wrapped up in different kind of speculations. One’s that promoted controversies. We must ever be on our guard not to promote false doctrines. They can be so subtle at times. They can creep into our songs, our order of service, our prayers, and our language about unity or baptism. Yes, they can even creep into our pastor’s sermons if they’re not careful. And if someone ever confronts us and commands us not to teach these false doctrines may we ever be so humble to see it and repent!
from Pastor Ariel