Sola Fide SUNDAY W ORSHIP COM BINED SERVICE. HOP 20 A Mighty Fortress Is My God. *Invocation/Gloria Patri

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1 November 4th, 2012 Vol. 28 No. 45 SUNDAY W ORSHIP COM BINED SERVICE Preparatory Hymn Claude Yiu Prelude Winnie Lim Call to Worship Mark Heath/Yew Jinn Chieng *Hymn HOP 20 A Mighty Fortress Is My God 1 *Invocation/Gloria Patri Responsive Reading Proverbs 23:12-22 Hymn HOP 181 Faith of Our Fathers Presentation of Tithes & Offerings 2 *Doxology /Offertory Prayer Scripture Reading Romans 1:14-17 Hymn HOP 280 My Faith Looks Up to Thee Pastoral Prayer/Message Pr Joseph Poon/Kong Vui Yip Sola Fide *Hymn HOP 420 For All the Saints *Benediction/Threefold Amen Announcements 3 *The Lord Bless You and Keep You *Congregation Standing RHC Front Inner Cover 3 RHC Back Inner Cover 1 & 2

2 PASTORAL CHAT My dear readers, 1. Thinking the Unthinkable The current war talk involving USA, Iran and Israel must raise the possibility of nuclear war breaking out in the Middle East, which will inevitably cause deadly contamination worldwide. If the recent Fukushima power plant incident had created serious radioactive contamination of marine and plant life, and widespread concern beyond Japan, the outbreak of nuclear war anywhere on Planet Earth will undoubtedly cause extensive life-threatening radioactivity on our Planet. In the words of Bertrand Russell (in his book Has Man A Future? ), the contaminated areas will become an oven of silent death. When we speak of a nuclear World War, inevitably we conjure up a scenario of lethal radioactive contamination of the life-sustaining environment and water and foodstuffs. A nuclear war of global proportions, with unthinkable devastation of the environment, has suddenly become a thinkable possibility, much though we would like to dismiss it from our thinking. 2. Our Lord s return even at the doors In Matthew s Gospel Chapter 24, our Lord Jesus spoke of signs of His coming back to earth. Here we enumerate the signs mentioned: 1) deception of false Christs; 2) wars, and rumours of wars; 3) famines; 4) pestilence; 5) earthquakes; 6) sign of the fig tree (revival of modern Israel). Our list concludes with verse 33 of the same chapter: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Then our Lord added, But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matt 24:37). In Luke s Gospel 17:28, Jesus gave one additional sign: return of the days of Lot and Sodom (the homosexual capital of the world during Lot s time). All the above signs have appeared in unmistakable fashion, every one of the signs mentioned by our Lord. Should we not believe that our Lord s return to earth is imminent? Why then has the Lord not come? The Apostle Peter explains the Lord s apparent delay in 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

3 3. Atheist Huxley defended Flood Account! English biologist Thomas Huxley (who coined the word agnostic ) was an aggressive advocate of evolution in his day, and a most prominent humanist and defender of Charles Darwin. But, surprisingly, while he was hostile to Christian theology, he strongly advocated that all children, including his own, should be taught the Bible! In an 1870 essay he wrote: But my belief is, that no human being, and no society composed of human beings, ever did, or ever will, come to much, unless their conduct was governed by the love of some ethical ideal. and if I were compelled to choose for one of my own children, between a school in which real religious instruction is given, and one without it, I should prefer the former, even though the child might have to take a good deal of theology with it. Hence, when the great mass of the English people declare that they want to have the children in the elementary schools taught the Bible, I do not see what reason there is for opposing that wish. Certainly, I, individually, could with no shadow of consistency oppose the teaching of the children of other people to do that which my own children are taught to do. Huxley concluded his support for Bible reading by recalling his own experience as a boy: I know that some of the pleasantest recollections of my childhood are connected with the voluntary study of an ancient Bible belonging to my grandmother. What come vividly back in my mind are remembrances of my delight in the histories of Joseph and of David; and of my keen appreciation of the chivalrous kindness of Abraham in his dealing with Lot. And I see, as a cloud, pictures of the Book of Revelation. I enumerate, as they issue, the childish impressions which come crowding out of the pigeon-holes of my brain, in which they have lain almost undisturbed for forty years. I prize them as an evidence that a child of five or six years old, left to his own devices, may be deeply interested in the Bible and draw sound moral nourishment from it. Huxley was well aware of the theological importance of Genesis to the truth of the gospel, even though he himself did not accept it. He therefore despised compromising churchmen who did not believe what the Bible said, and wrote: I am fairly at a loss to comprehend how any one, for a moment can doubt that Christian theology must stand or fall with the historical trustworthiness of the Jewish Scriptures. Concerning theologians who said the Flood was not world-wide, he wrote, A child may see the folly of it I venture to ask what sort of value, as an

4 illustration of God s methods of dealing with sin, has an account of an event that never happened? If no Flood swept the careless people away, how is the warning of more worth than the cry of Wolf where there is no wolf? (This is common wisdom from the pen of an uncommon atheist! Ed.) Yours faithfully in Jesus our Lord Dr SH Tow ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRAISE & PETITION 1. Preacher Joseph and Sister Sharon Poon: This morning we would like to warmly welcome Pr Joseph and his wife Sharon back into our midst. We thank God that Pr Joseph is taking up the role as Preacher of BPCWA. They will be residing at Jeremiah Place, and can be contacted by Telephone No: Condolences to Sister Hui Ling Cheng on the passing of her grandfather last Saturday in Miri. May the Lord comfort her and her family. 3. English Basic Knowledge Class: If you are interested to know about Our Church s belief and doctrines, seeking baptism or just wanting to know more about Christian s faith, please see Brother Mark Heath. 4. Words of Life memory verse: See below for this week s memory verse. Collect your memory verse card in the foyer. 5. Thanksgiving & Prayer: 1. Thank God for the safe return of Preacher Joseph and Sister Sharon Poon. Please continue to pray for their ministry at BPCWA. 2. Pray for the students who are sitting for their examinations. 3. Pray for all the brethren who are sick and requiring treatment. 4. Pray for the spiritual, emotional and physical well being of all members and worshippers. 5. Pray for safety and security in and around the church. WORDS OF LIFE MEMORY VERSE PROGRAM Habakkuk 3:17-19 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. When I was going through a great deal of difficulties, this verse reminded me that even though everything was going wrong, still I would choose to rejoice in the Lord and find joy in Him. It speaks very closely to me that God is my strength and to choose faith despite suffering hardship. -Ruth Wong

5 Service Duty (4/11) Combined (11/11) Combined Speaker Pr Joseph Poon/Kong Vui Yip Pr Joseph Poon/Sonny Lim Worship Leader Mark Heath/Yew Jinn Chieng Dn Adrian Chieng/Joel Wong Prep Hymns Claude Yiu Yew Jinn Chieng Musician Winnie Lim Lydia Pui Welcomers Jonathan & Bonnie Woo Dn Michael Lee Eddie Foo, Carol Wee, Albert Ho Jonathan Woo, Eddie Foo, Offering Stewards Dn Stephen Chia, Albert Ho, To Help Counting Offering Dn Michael Lee, Joel YY Wong Yew Jinn Chieng, Caleb Cheng Ushers Joel YY Wong, Ruth Wong Caleb Cheng, Christina Soon P.A. System Kenny Chia Terry Chong Yi Min Chieng, Yi San Chieng Lisa Ho, Andy Ho, Barry Palm Kitchen Duties Nancy Chai, Tammy Hsu Christine Chia, Margaret Ng Victoria Lew JSS Singspiration Hui Ling Cheng, Terry Chong Camilia Sin, Yi Jye Chieng Toddler Class Assistant Christina Soon An Ning Van Drivers Old Folks Home Ministry Eugene (M) Shie Tian, Caleb (C) Edward, Terry (U) Eugene (M) Shie Tian, Caleb (C) Edward, Terry (U) Subiaco Yew Jinn Chieng (Christina Soon) Joseph Poon (Karen Yap) Hall A: Mark Heath Hall A: Jason Tey South Perth Hall B: Barry Palm Hall B: Dn Adrian Cheng Bayswater Caleb Cheng Yew Jinn Chieng APPOINTMENTS OF THE WEEK Tuesday 6/11 7:30pm Prayer Meeting Pr Joseph Poon, Dn Stephen Chia, Karen Yap Wednesday 7/11 7:30pm Bible Night Class: 1 Kings Friday 9/11 7:30pm Fellowship Meetings: Regen/Youth 180 /CYAF/CYPG 8:30am Pre-Service Prayer Meeting 9:00am Sunday School/Basic Bible Knowledge Class 10:00am Combined Sunday Worship Service Sunday 11/11 12:00pm Mandarin Choir 12:15pm Church Van Depart 2:00pm Concorde (Nursing Home) 25 Anstey Street, South Perth Onslow Gardens (Nursing Home) 39 Hamersley Road, Subiaco 3:30pm Ben Ritcher Lodge (Nursing Home) 480 Guildford Road, Bayswater ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS (28/10) Attendance: 180 (Combined-136; JSS-44); Prayer Meeting: 44 Offerings in Total: $ General Fund: $ Mission Fund: (10% of General Fund is set aside for missions) VERSE OF THE WEEK Habakkuk 3:17-19: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.