71 King Street Hamilton, Victoria, Bulletin & News. Sabbath January 21st, We WELCOME you to our Worship Services Today

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1 Issue No Taking the Three Angels Messages to the whole world King Street Hamilton, Victoria, 3300 Bulletin & News Sabbath January 21st, 2017 We WELCOME you to our Worship Services Today Song Service Sabbath School Church Service 9:45 am 10:00 am 11:30 am The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14, NKJV, NASB)

2 ~ Weekly Announcements & Upcoming Events ~ Welcome - We welcome Peter Tung to the pulpit today and his wife Lynette for Sabbath praise and worship with us. May God bless you and lead you in His truth always. Prayer Meeting, January 25th at 5pm - Please join us each fortnight for prayer and a short Bible study. Let s always keep the communication channels to heaven open through our prayers. C.A.R.E. Group meeting, January 27th - It s held every Friday. (See page 11 and Krystal for address and further details.) Combined Lunch - There will be a combined lunch next Sabbath January the 28th in the church dining room as Dudley House will be joining us again. All are welcome to join us for fellowship and a light meal. Recipe Club Planning Meeting - There will be a planning meeting for the Recipe Club for This will be on Wednesday January 25th at 6pm after the prayer meeting. All those who would like to see the Recipe Club continue this year are invited to attend. ~ Prayer Requests ~ This Week s Prayer List: Please remember Milan Kelemen's sister in Belgrade, Joan Ruthven, Johnny and David Mocilac, Dale Mea, Olga Novak, Kezia Derksen, Simon Novak, Shaun s daughter Keryn and family for accommodation, (still no luck there), Marilyn McDonald, John Tyack, Suzi, Roger Pearce, Peter Tyzack and family, Maria and John Franjic and John s brother and his family, the Recipe Club, Sunday Market Stall and our Pastor. Special Prayer Request - Please pray for Joan Ruthven, who had a fall and is in real need of prayer and healing from above. Special Prayer Vigil - Please set aside the time on Wednesday, January 25th, 5:45pm for a special prayer season. The aim is to pray for a Personal Revival and for an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Time is short and we need to be ready now! 2

3 ~ Bible Promises ~ Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. [ Hebrews 13:20-21 (WEB) ] Don t bicker with each other, love one another instead... ~ Memory Verse ~ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. [ Luke 15:31 ] ~ Reflections ~ We spend far too much time fighting and bickering with our family and friends. Even those we don t even know join the throngs of war. Jesus said Love one another as I have loved you Is all the wars, fighting, bickering, assailing and turmoil worth the hatred that it creates? NO! Love is the foundation of life so let us all love one another as Jesus loves us. Life is really worth it!... 3

4 ~ Adventist Review ~ UNITED AIRLINES PILOTS BRIGHTEN LLU CHILDREN S HOSPITAL PATIENTS DAY Adventure Bear program brings joy to children s hospitals across country Posted January 13, 2017 By BRIANA PASTORINO, LLU Health Five United Airlines pilots made a special landing at Loma Linda University Children s Hospital (LLUCH) last month just before Christmas. The pilots visited with patients Thursday, Dec. 22 as part of their Adventure Bear program, which supports children s hospitals throughout the United States. United Airlines pilot Fabio Silveira visited with LLUCH patient Ryan Byrne, 2, of Apple Valley on Thursday, Dec The holiday season is a time for reflection, compassion and love; and it's also a time for giving The pilots visited with kids and gave them an Adventure Bear known as the Flyin Ben Bear, to keep. United Airlines pilot Fabio Silveira visited with LLUCH patient Ryan Byrne, 2, of Apple Valley. The holiday season is a time for reflection, compassion and love; and it's also a time for giving, Silveira stated. One can't begin to fathom the pain and suffering these children endure. To be able to bring them joy and cheer is the biggest gift one could ask for. The smiles we receive from the children and their parents when we gift those bears and say hello are the reason why we come out. Silveiro attributed the success of the program to the selfless help of the amazing pilot group, as well as his wife Caren, who donated their time during the holidays to help in this noble cause. The other pilots who attended were Rosely Netrefa, John Oros, Ken Kirkpatrick and Bob Pflibsen. The pilots agree that delivering the bears to the little angels at LLUCH was an amazing experience, which will not be forgotten. We look forward to doing it again next year, Silveira said.

5 ~ Victorian Conference ~ Dear Pastors and Elders: Below is a link to a Record article outlining the background/needs of the upcoming January 28 Offering. Further, Nick Kross from the SPD DMT has sent the following supporting paragraph that provides further information: - It will go towards more bibles for the Young adults across the Pacific. We are getting continual requests for more bibles even from Australia. IT will work in with our overall strategic plans for the SPD as it forms apart so the harvest cycle. Regarding the results from the previous offerings, The funds were used in part to sponsor Specific initiatives across the South pacific ranging from Tertiary students funding requests, Sponsoring Mission events for Pathfinders e.g., camporees. Specific outreach focus programs such as resource development for etc Book mark Bible Project. Regarding a key message for the next offering, you can use the following statement. The youth Of the SPD are in dire need of more Bibles as it has been 4 years since the last Bible distribution in Through your donations and offerings the SPD has seen the largest baptismal count in it s history (2014-5). Young adults are ready to serve and in fact by them serving and sharing their faith, they become excited about being a disciples of Christ. - Feel free to pass this on to your churches to assist in promoting this offering. Kind regards, Pr. Cristian Copaceanu Director of Personal Ministries/Sabbath School/Stewardship Australian Union Conference P M Maroondah Hwy (PO Box 4368) VIC, 3134 auc.adventist.org.au 5

6 USE THIS MAP IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BULLETIN LESSON 6

7 The Life of Christ Sabbath School Quarterly January February March 1 st Week of the Quarter 7

8 LIFE OF CHRIST FIRST QUARTER 1899 INTRODUCTION. SINCE the days of Abraham, the promises of God to men have been confined to the "Seed of Abraham." The record tells us that the promises were not to the seeds or natural descendants of Abraham but to, and through, one Seed, who is Christ. Galatians 3:16, 29. While in the fleshly line Christ was to be counted as the "seed" of Abraham, in His divinity He was before Abraham (John 8:58), and was therefore his Lord and Saviour, the same as He is ours. But the fact that Christ was to be born in the flesh of Abraham's seed, and so to become possessor of the " promised land," made it necessary for Him to be born in that land, from whence was to flow to all nations the promised blessings to Abraham's seed. Gal. 3:7-9, 13, 14. The scenes of the life of Christ are therefore confined to the land of " Canaan," also termed Palestine. Allowing these names to apply to the entire territory covered by the twelve tribes of Israel, it embraces a sort of parallelogram of country with an area of nearly 12,000 square miles, or a territory about the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. If, however, we confine Palestine to the country between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, between Mount Lebanon on the north, and the desert on the south, as is often done, we contract it to about 6,600 square miles in dimensions, or to a territory smaller than the state of Massachusetts by 1,200 square miles. In this narrow compass of territory was the earthly work of Christ accomplished. To become familiar with each locality of this limited region ought not to be a large task, yet even this will require considerable patient research. But this should not be the principal object in studying the life of Christ. Every student of His life should study Christ Himself, His character, His quiet demeanour, His methods of labor for the uplifting of humanity, and His bearing under the stroke of persecution. In this way alone can the Student of the following lessons hope to be benefited. Study well the side texts in conjunction with the lessons. Study them at home all through the week, and the life of 8

9 Christ will shine with new luster in your minds. They may not all of them seem to have direct bearing on the subject, but they will be found very helpful to all who desire to dig for hid treasures. The plan of placing these texts in the margin is a new one, which we trust will prove satisfactory and useful to students. Another new departure in this number of the LESSON QUARTERLY is the publication of a map of the country and places mentioned in the lesson scripture. We believe this feature will give added value to the QUARTERLY, and be greatly appreciated by our schools. LESSON I.-BIRTH OF CHRIST. JANUARY 7, Nazareth and Bethlehem, B. C. 5. (Matthew. 1:1-25; Luke 1:26-35; 2:1-7.) 1. How is Christ introduced to the student of the New Testament? Matthew. 1:1. See note I. Side Texts to be studied with questions Rom.9.:4,5;1:3,4; Gal. 4:4 2. How did the birth of Christ come about? Verse Who had previously visited Mary? Luke I : 26, By what name was she then instructed to call this promised Son? Verse As the descendant of David, what was Jesus to receive? Verse By what other name was Jesus to be called? What is its meaning? Matthew. 1: Learning the apparent state of affairs, what did Joseph think of doing? Verse 19. See note While in this state of mind, who appeared to Joseph? and how? Verse By what words did the angel assure Joseph? 10. Why was the child's name to be Jesus? Verse In all this, what prophecy was fulfilled? Verses 22, What effect did this word from God have upon Joseph's mind? Verse Isa.7:14 Dan.8:16:9:21 Luke 2:21: Acts 4:27 2Sam.7:12; Jerm.23:5 Ps.132:11; Rev3:7 Deut. 24:1 Acts4:12 John 1:14 1Tim.3:16

10 13. Shortly after these things, what decree was issued by the Roman Emperor? Luke 2 :1. See note Where did Joseph and Mary therefore go to be registered? Verses 3, What soon took place after their arrival in Bethlehem? Verses 6, 7. See note What humble resting-place was assigned to Jesus? Verse 7. Why was this? Luke1:27; 1Sam.16;4-13; John7:42 Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6 2Cor.8:9; Matthew 8:20 READING. "Desire of Ages," pp. 43, 44. NOTES 1. Inasmuch as Christ was to be manifested to the world as the "promised Seed" of Abraham (Gal. 3 : 16), it was absolutely necessary, in giving an account of His life, for the evangelists first to trace His ancestry on the fleshly side, back to Abraham, and so stablish His identity as the Messiah. Matthew, therefore, begins with Abraham, and follows the genealogy down through David to Joseph, the reputed father of Christ. Matt. I: By this he attempts to prove that Jesus is the heir of the everlasting covenant made with Abraham, and renewed to David. Gen. 17 : 7; 2 Sam.7 : 12-17; Isa. 9: 6, 7. To this end he shows that Jesus stood in such family relations to Joseph as to have claim to all that belonged to him as the lineal descendant of Abraham. Luke, however, presents the ancestral line of Mary, inverting the order followed by Matthew, and tracing her lineage from Heli, her father, back through David and Abraham, to Adam, who was the son of God. Luke 3: This record says that Christ was the "supposed " son of Joseph, but He was, in reality, the son, that is, the maternal grandson, of Heli, the son of Matthat, etc. It will be noticed that both genealogies unite in Abraham, making it doubly sure that Christ was the promised " Seed " of that patriarch. 2. It seems that a divorce was easily obtained at that time. The form of such a bill among the Jews was called " Gett," and was written upon parchment by a Jewish notary, in the presence of one or more of the rabbis, and was to contain no more than twelve lines. It was not supposed to state the reason or reasons why the separation was 10

11 decreed, but simply to say that the woman was discharged from all obligation to her former connection, and was free to marry whomsoever she pleased. 3. The word " taxed " in the text comes from a word meaning to register or enrol, In such registrations it was necessary for each person to report for enrolment in the ancestral town. Joseph and Mary being both 'lineal descendants of David, they must repair to the "city of David" to be enrolled, according to the decree of the Roman emperor, whose subjects they were. 4. " And so it was " that Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in fulfilment of the prophecy, when His mother was a resident of Nazareth in Galilee. This is but one of many examples of how decrees of nations or kings have been steps to the fulfilment of prophetic utterances. Not that God made kings issue such decrees, but He, seeing the " end from the beginning," could fully state beforehand the results of these mandates. ADDITIONAL NOTES HAMILTON CHURCH WEBSITE Website: Church info@hamilton-adventist.net recipeclub@hamilton-adventist.net Facebook: Mobile App: Recipe Club: 11

12 ~ From the Spirit of Prophecy - Think About: ~ Testimonies for the Church Volume III by (E.G. White) The Health Reform (chapter 14, pp ) It is impossible for man to present his body a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, while, because it is customary for the world to do so, he is indulging in habits that are lessening physical, mental, and moral vigour. The apostle adds: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Jesus, seated upon the Mount of Olives, gave instruction to His disciples concerning the signs which should precede His coming. He said: "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." {3T 163.1} The same sins exist in our day which brought the wrath of God upon the world in the days of Noah. Men and women now carry their eating and drinking to gluttony and drunkenness. This prevailing sin, the indulgence of perverted appetite, inflamed the passions of men in the days of Noah and led to general corruption, until their violence and crimes reached to heaven, and God washed the earth of its moral pollution by a flood. {3T 163.2} The same sins of gluttony and drunkenness benumbed the moral sensibilities of the inhabitants of Sodom so that crimes seemed to be the delight of the men and women of that wicked city. Christ thus warns the world: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." {3T 163.3} Christ has here left us a most important lesson. He does not in His teaching encourage indolence. His example was the opposite of this. Christ was an earnest worker. His life was one of self-denial, diligence, perseverance, industry, and economy. He would lay before us the danger of making eating and drinking paramount. He reveals the result of giving up to indulgence of appetite. The moral powers are enfeebled so that sin does not appear sinful. Crimes are winked at, and base passions control the mind until general corruption roots out good principles and impulses, and God is blasphemed. All this is the result of eating and drinking to excess. This is the very condition of things which He declares will exist at His second coming. {3T 164.1} Will men and women be warned? Will they cherish the light, or will they become slaves to appetite and base passions? Christ presents to us something higher to toil 12

13 for than merely what we shall eat, and what we shall drink, and wherewithal we shall be clothed. Eating, drinking, and dressing are carried to such excess that they become crimes, and are among the marked sins of the last days, and constitute a sign of Christ's soon coming. Time, money, and strength, which are the Lord's, but which He has entrusted to us, are wasted in needless superfluities of dress and luxuries for the perverted appetite, which lessen vitality and bring suffering and decay. It is impossible to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God when they are filled with corruption and disease by our own sinful indulgence. {3T 164.2} Knowledge must be gained in regard to how to eat and drink and dress so as to preserve health. Sickness is caused by violating the laws of health; it is the result of violating nature's law. Our first duty, one which we owe to God, to ourselves, and to our fellow men, is to obey the laws of God, which include the laws of health. If we are sick we impose a weary tax upon our friends and unfit ourselves for discharging our duties to our families and to our neighbours. And when premature death is the result of our violation of nature's law, we bring sorrow and suffering to others; we deprive our neighbours of the help we ought to render them in living; we rob our families of the comfort and help we might render them, and rob God of the service He claims of us to advance His glory. Then, are we not, in the worst sense, transgressors of God's law? {3T 164.3} But God is all-pitiful, gracious, and tender, and when light comes to show who have injured their health by sinful indulgences, and they are convinced of sin, and repent and seek pardon, He accepts the poor offering rendered to Him, and receives them. Oh, what tender mercy that He does not refuse the remnant of the abused life of the suffering, repenting sinner! In His gracious mercy He saves these souls as by fire. But what an inferior, pitiful sacrifice, at best, to offer to a pure and holy God! Noble faculties have been paralysed by wrong habits of sinful indulgence. The aspirations are perverted, and the soul and body defaced. - {3T 165.1} Forgive each other and live... We are not just another small group meeting weekly to read the bible and hang out together - we are a C.A.R.E. Group! C.A.R.E. stands for Christ's Attitude Reflected in Everyone - and that is exactly what we are all about. Our group meets on Friday nights from 6:30pm every week at Amber and Krystal's House. Next gathering - Friday, January 27th. ~ C.A.R.E. Group ~ EVERYONE is welcome to join in the fun of sharing and caring for one another and there is plenty of floor space. For more information contact Krystal/Amber (03) or visit / care_group.htm or find us on Facebook - Hamilton CARE group. See Amber or Krystal for more information. 13

14 ~ For The Kids ~ We are currently going through the Books of the Old Testament. What things can you think of that are in this Bible book? Write your answers below... 14

15 ~ Weekly Devotional ~ January 21st - As Our Example Christ Is All And In All In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 The ethics inculcated by the gospel acknowledge no standard but the perfection of God's mind, God's will. God requires from His creatures conformity to His will. Imperfection of character is sin, and sin is the transgression of the law. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole. Everyone who receives Christ as his personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. This is the science of holiness. How glorious are the possibilities set before the fallen race! Through His Son, God has revealed the excellency to which man is capable of attaining. Through the merits of Christ, man is lifted from his depraved state, purified, and made more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir. It is possible for him to become a companion of the angels in glory, and to reflect the image of Jesus Christ, shining even in the bright splendor of the eternal throne. It is his privilege to have faith that through the power of Christ he shall be made immortal. Yet how seldom he realizes to what heights he could attain if he would allow God to direct his every step! God permits every human being to exercise his individuality. He desires no one to submerge his mind in the mind of a fellow mortal. Those who desire to be transformed in mind and character are not to look to men, but to the divine Example. God gives the invitation, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." By conversion and transformation, men are to receive the mind of Christ. Every one is to stand before God with an individual faith, an individual experience, knowing for himself that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. For us to imitate the example of any man--even one whom we might regard as nearly perfect in character --would be to put our trust in a defective human being, one who is unable to impart a jot or tittle of perfection. As our Example, we have One who is all and in all, the chiefest among ten thousand, One whose excellency is beyond comparison. He graciously adapted His life for universal imitation. United in Christ were wealth and poverty; majesty and abasement; unlimited power and meekness and lowliness which in every soul who receives Him will be reflected. In Him, through the qualities and powers of the human mind, the wisdom of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known was revealed. Before the world, God is developing us as living witnesses to what men and women may become through the grace of Christ.--Signs of the Times, Sept. 3, (Reflecting Christ Ellen G White - page 35) 15

16 ~ Sabbath Services ~ Service This Week Next Week January 21st January 28th Divine Service Peter Tung Dudley House Sabbath School Peter Tung Peter Tung ~ Sunset Times ~ Sunset Sabbath (Tonight) 8:53 pm DST Sunset Next Friday 8:49 pm DST This Week: Next Week: ~ Church Offering ~ Education Adventist Youth Offering ~ Church Cleaning ~ January 15th January 28th 2017 Koh Family January 29th February 11th 2017 Neff Family ~ Garden Maintenance ~ January 15th January 28th 2017 Youn Koh January 29th February 11th 2017 Jay Neff ~ Church Website ~ Website : info@hamilton-adventist.net - Contact Details - Pastor Justin Bone