SERMON SERIES
7 January 2018
Welcome to
ST ANDREW’S
Thanks for coming along to church today. At St Andrew’s, we want to welcome everyone; Christian believers, those seeking faith, skeptics, all who are looking for a spiritual home in Hong Kong. At each Sunday service we seek to learn more about the truths of God from the Bible, and encourage one another in our faith in Jesus. If you’re new, come along to the red welcome table in the north entrance foyer after the service. We’d love to be able to meet you, welcome you personally, and answer any of your questions.
SPIRITUALLY GROWING A FAMILY What is highly valued in your family? Is it money? Is it academic results? Is it career? Is it trust? Is it sharing? Is it God? I had parents who were not church going Christians. They had met at church when they were young but, in the end, for them God was only reserved for when they needed him and an occasional Christmas Carols Service, just as their parents did. God was not anywhere near the top value in my home when I was growing up. So for me becoming an active Christian took longer because God was not a priority in my life as part of the family. We learn a lot from our family of origin. What values about God and Jesus did your family pass on to you? What are you as a parent, passing on to your children about the Lord Jesus? (For those of us who are not parents, here is something to pray about for those who are.) The Bible clearly teaches that parents are to be the primary spiritual mentors of their children. But most parents are too tired or feel inadequate to undertake what can seem like an impossible task. But with God nothing is impossible. The first step is to pray for and with our children and the second is to set an example ourselves. Family devotions (that is bible reading and prayer) is a good habit that we had as a family. But it is something that needed to be developed and for us as parents, to persevere with and change as circumstances changed. It has not always been easy to maintain, but it is now a habit – that we feel deprived without it, even now that our daughter is 23 years old. It is never too late to start with your children, no matter how old they are. You can still be an influence for Christ in their lives. It might mean lots of patience and apologies, but our children are worth it, their eternity is worth it. This month on the 18 & 20 Jan (just chose one night to attend) there are two Parenting with Purpose Training nights as part of our TnT events. Come and be inspired, equipped and encouraged in your God-given role of bringing your children up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. Register on our website: www.standrews.org.hk/tnt-conference Rev. Ian Hadfield Associate Minister
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the North Lobby or church website
TODAY MISSION SPOT: CEDAR FUND
Today we welcome Grace Lai from Cedar Fund to speak at our mission spot across all services. Go to https://cedarfund.org to find out more about their work.
9 JAN-27 FEB CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED This is an informal course for anyone who wants to explore what life is all about, what the essential message of Christianity is and why it matters. It gives you time and space to ask plenty of questions or just simply listen. The course goes for 7 sessions, plus a daylong retreat. Tuesday, 7:30 - 9:30pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/christianity-explored Enquiries: explore@standrews.org.hk
18, 20-21 JAN PARENTS, YOUTH & CHILDREN TRAINING TnT conference has something for everyone! Are you a parent, youth or children’s worker? Parents, rather than feeling tired or inadequate come and learn how to parent with purpose. Youth and Children’s Workers, rather than feeling disheartened or wanting to throw in the towel, come learn how to teach the Bible to children and teenagers that will keep them coming back for more! For more information go to the church website www.standrews.org.hk/tnt-conference
21 JAN 8:30AM & 9:30AM CONGREGATION TEA A good opportunity to get to know others who come to the same service. We especially welcome newcomers to join. A simple breakfast and tea will be served. A donation of HK$20 towards the tea is welcomed. Mark your diary now and come on the day! Sunday, after 8:30 & 9:30am services
Seeds Garden, Life Centre
28 JAN & 4 FEB MANAGING CHRISTIAN HOMES WITH DOMESTIC HELPERS Join this 2-week seminar to explore some biblical principles and practical advice on how best to select and integrate your foreign domestic helpers in your homes, especially homes with young children. Spaces are limited, first come first serve. Sunday, 9:30-11:00am
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/mch_dh Deadline: 21 January 2018 Our pastoral worker Diana Barnett, a mother of four young children and with over 12+ years experience in employing foreign domestic helpers, will be leading this interactive seminar.
CHINESE NEW YEAR RED PACKET FOR SALE Chinese New Year is just over a month away. A great way to communicate the gospel at this time of year is through our red packets. There are 7 designs to choose from, each with bible verses. Each set contains 12 packets. Available from the North Lobby, Life Centre.
Bible Reading Esther 3:1-11, 6:1-10 1
After these events, King Xerxes honoured Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honour higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honour to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour. 3
Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, ‘Why do you disobey the king’s command?’ 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behaviour would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. 5
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. 7
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ‘There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.’ 10
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 ‘Keep the money,’ the king said to Haman, ‘and do with the people as you please.’ 1
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3
‘What honour and recognition has Mordecai received for this?’ the king asked.
‘Nothing has been done for him,’ his attendants answered. 4
The king said, ‘Who is in the court?’ Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him. 5
His attendants answered, ‘Haman is standing in the court.’
‘Bring him in,’ the king ordered.
6
When Haman entered, the king asked him, ‘What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?’ Now Haman thought to himself, ‘Who is there that the king would rather honour than me?’ 7 So he answered the king, ‘For the man the king delights to honour, 8 let them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!”’ 10
‘Go at once,’ the king commanded Haman. ‘Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.’
Notes
The Man the King delights to honour - Esther 3:1-11, 6:1-10
Next Sermon The courage of the Queen - Esther 4:1-17
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Sunday
Clergy
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH BUILDING
Alex McCOY, Vicar Ian HADFIELD, Associate Minister Sok Han YONG, Associate Minister Alistair GIBBS, Associate Minister Darren POLLOCK, Associate Minister
(Weekly Communion) 8:30am Early Morning Lord’s Supper 11:30am Putonghua Lord’s Supper LIFE CENTRE - AUDITORIUM (Lord’s Supper 2nd & 4th Sundays) 9:30am Mid Morning Church 11:30am Late Morning Church 5:00pm Evening Church
Directors Juliana WONG, Community Relations Director Carol STRYDOM, Children’s Ministry Director Ryan RUDOLPH, Youth Ministry Director Evan BROWN, Creative Ministry Director
FACEBOOK You can also find us on social media.
facebook.com/standrewkln
www.standrews.org.hk 2367 1478 / info@standrews.org.hk 138 Nathan Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong