Announcements etc!

Hi Harvest!

By popular request, every week I’ll be including not only the SERMON notes from the last Sunday’s sermon but also the announcements. I know that we have a cadre of tireless workers teaching our children downstairs who don’t get much opportunity to come to service and so this will keep you up to date on all of the most recent news as well as give you the liberty to listen to the sermon on line.

1. remember to register for the retreat!
2. remember to ask someone to the retreat: this is a great time for outreach!

Byron

What’s the Big Idea?
Great Expectations: Book of Mark Conclusion

THE Big Idea

The Gospel is Enough: Writing to BELIEVERS, Mark chooses to encourage them with the details of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. These are details with which they are familiar, however Mark reminds these Christians of Christ because regardless of our spiritual state, we need to return to Jesus and His story.

A. It gives our lives Purpose: Returning to the life of Christ reminds us of His singlemindedness and our need to have our lives be about one thing: spreading the news of the Kingdom of God.

B. It gives our lives Power. Familiarizing ourselves with the gospel shows us the limitless power of Christ, bidding us to lean on Him instead of ourselves.

C. It gives our lives Perseverance: seeing the example of Christ (and the negative examples of Pilate, the disciples, the crowds and just about everybody else) helps us to persevere under the inevitable pressure that the world exerts on those trying to live godly in Christ Jesus.
Weekly Application Exercises
1. If you were to paint a mental picture of someone who is spiritually mature, what would it look like? How would someone arrive at that place of maturity? What stands in the way of you being that picture?

2. As you have aged, how has your appreciation for the gospel increased or decreased? What other sources of spiritual advancement have lured Christians you have known away from the simplicity of the gospel?

Announcements:
Small Groups
Torrance/PV- Fri. June 19th @ the Hsus’
Torrance – Thurs. June 18th @ 6:30 PM at M/R Huangs’

Youth Group (Junior High/High School/College)
Fridays –  @ Harvest South Bay 7:30PM
Contact Carsten or Chris for more information/rides

Career Fellowship
Fridays –  @ Harvest South Bay 7:30PM
Contact Makoto for more information

Harvest Retreat 8/6-9, 2009
Registration forms are available for the Harvest Summer Retreat! We are excited to have Dr. David Timms come and share the Word of God with us as he encourages our congregation with the theme “Vital Signs.” He will be teaching about diagnosing our spiritual condition and helping us have more vibrant Christian lives.

Amdo Trip 2009
Please ask for more information concerning this trip.

40 Days of Fasting and Prayer
EFCSB is in the midst of  40 days of fasting and prayer to seek God’s will in  discussing the future organization and operation of the church. This prayer chain stretches from 6/8 to 7/17; If you are interested in participating please contact Elder Paul Huang.

Parking Lot
Our parking lot construction project has finally won approval with the city of Torrance! If you have reliable referrals who are licensed contractors, please bring them to the attention of Shawn Kuo in the Taiwanese congregation.