SERMON SERIES
21 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.
WHAT’S A MISSIONARY’S FAVOURITE TYPE OF CAR? A convertible. It’s good to laugh at church, but one of the serious jobs of the church is getting on with the fairly large task that Jesus gave us - which was the great commission ‘…to go and make disciples of all nations…’ Matt.28:19 But what on earth does this commission look like? Often we can caricature the missionary as standing under a palm tree, wearing a pointy helmet and proclaiming the gospel to a group of ill-clad “natives” sitting respectfully around them. We often think that it’s only a task just for the special few. But Jesus makes it absolutely clear that this task is for each and every one of us. We are all called to missionary service both in the broad sense of evangelising those around us as well as serving Hong Kong so it flourishes. John Stott suggests we understand mission as “everything the church is sent into the world to do.” That covers a lot more ground than just preaching to the nonChristians in remote parts (however this is of great importance). It speaks to you and me right where we are, for if sharing the gospel and Christian service are part of mission, then the whole of life becomes starts to become missional right where God has us; at home, in the office and through our relationships. We want Every Member Ministry at St Andrews both in proclaiming the gospel and in serving the city. Three opportunities I am most excited about are the recently started Christianity Explored Course where we can share the gospel with non-believers. The second is the monthly visits to the elderly in To Kwa Wan to show God’s love to the vulnerable and finally our regular Prison Ministry visits across Hong Kong both in English and Chinese to share the gospel with prisoners. All three events are excellent ways to explore mission and live out our faith. Please speak to myself or Juliana Wong for more information. In Christ, Rev. Darren Pollock Associate Minister
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the North Lobby or church website
TODAY 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. Come Today! Sunday, after 8:30 & 9:30am services
Seeds Garden, Life Centre
WELCOME TEA FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO 11:30AM SERVICE If you are new to St Andrew’s, come and join us for some light refreshments after the service today. Sunday, after 11:30am service
North lobby, G/F Life Centre
There is an option to join Rev. Ian Hadfield for lunch after the welcome tea.
28 JAN & 4 FEB MANAGING CHRISTIAN HOMES WITH DOMESTIC HELPERS Join this two-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 young children. Spaces are limited so be quick! 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.
4 FEB PRISON MINISTRY INTRODUCTION & TRAINING Conducted by HK Christian Kun Sun Association, our global partner Sunday, 2:30-5:30pm
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
Our Prison Ministry teams (Stanley & Lai Chi Kok) are looking for MALE mature Christians who can speak Cantonese or English or Spanish to join their monthly visit. It’s a very rewarding and meaningful ministry. To find out more or to join the Introduction & Training, please write to volunteer@standrews.org.hk by 29 January 2018.
CHINESE NEW YEAR RED PACKET FOR SALE Chinese New Year is just under 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.
Community News 2-3 FEB HK TRANFORM OUR WORLD CONFERENCE 2018: EKKLESIA Rising
Guest Speaker Dr. Ed Silvoso will teach from his new book Ekklesia (Friday Evening & Whole Saturday)
www.harvestevan.org.hk
Bible Reading Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-23 1
So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, ‘Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’
3
Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.’ 5
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is he – the man who has dared to do such a thing?’ 6
Esther said, ‘An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!’
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realising that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banqueting hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, ‘Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?’ As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, ‘A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’ The king said, ‘Impale him on it!’ 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. 20
Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout 21 the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, that they should celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote to them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23
So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them.
Notes
Sorrow turned to joy - Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-23
Next Sermon Exodus - The Great Rescue: The God Who Remembers - Exodus 1:6-22, 2:11-25
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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