Masters

Good Morning Harvest South Bay!

Hasn’t it been encouraging to see all of the new and returning faces in our congregation? Take some time to meet and re-meet all of those who have been increasing our numbers as of late! We’re also encouraged by the new, joint career fellowship with Cornerstone Presbyterian: keep your ears open for even more events with Cornerstone in the near future!

Here are the most recent announcements and the notes from week before last!

Taiwan Typhoon “Morakot” Disaster
Harvest is taking part in an EFC-wide effort to fund relief from the August typhoon: already over $11K has been sent from our church for disaster assistance to be distributed through the denomination. Please pray for those in need and consider donating financially. For all contributions, please designate Typhoon Relief in your check’s memo.

Love In the Name of Christ
(Love INC) Backpack Ministry
Many thanks to all who participated in the backpack ministry! Love INC distributed almost 2000 backpacks this year to kids in need throughout the South Bay area!

Parenting Seminar
October 10, 2009 8:45-2:30
“Cooperation, Consequences, and Keeping Your Sanity.” Learn practical ideas from the National Center for Biblical Parenting. Register online at biblicalparenting.org. $25/couple and $10/individual, at Bread of Life Church.

Operation Christmas Child
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 2009 National Collection Week is November 16-23.  Each shoe box offers a child the opportunity to know the Good News of Christ – pray that the shoe box can open hurting hearts to God’s love. Also begin to collect empty shoe boxes and gift items (school supplies, toys, hygiene items, hard candy, mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips).

The Tsengs’ Care Package
Esther (Choi) Min is going on a medical missions trip Oct 10-25 to the same city where Mike and Nancy are so she is bringing them items from a list that was published two weeks ago. She will also be coming this coming Sunday (Sept. 20th) to share about her trip. Contact Amy and Makoto to coordinate getting items for the Tsengs.

General Assembly Meeting 9/27
We will be having an all church meeting after service on 9/27 to approve of next year’s leadership and other matters of business. Please make it a point to attend!

RE: Masters
Follow My Lead: 1 Timothy 6:1, 2

Exposition
1/3 people in the 1st century roman culture was a slave. Slaves were economically above day laborers. Mistreatment did occur but there were some protections for slaves.

Commands to Believers
Honor Masters for the sake of the Gospel

Serve Christian Masters all the More
Responding to Authority

1. Honor Authority for the Sake of the Gospel.
Submission is a key component of the Christian message so our submission shows forth the message of the gospel.

2. Serve Christians More.
The more we love someone, the more we ought to serve them: familiarity should not breed contempt but deeper love, reverence and respect.
Weekly Application Exercises
1. Take a few minutes in the morning before encountering all of the authority figures in your life. Think through how you will respond to and regard them, even in the toughest situations. Remember them all in the context of a desire to share the gospel with them.

2. Evaluate all of your relationships that could be described as close or insular. How does familiarity figure into how you treat those relationships? How can you better apply the equation that closeness increases respect, love and service rather then diminishes those qualities?