First Class!

Good Morning Harvest South Bay!

I hope you’re looking forward to our very own Dr. Danny Lee sharing from this pulpit this coming Sunday! I always enjoy his clear and challenging exposition of God’s Word.

As Stephanie Liu said this last weekend in her announcement, November 20th at 7:30 PM will mark a Operation Christmas Child wrap party. If you have any more questions about shoeboxes or any of the contents that ought to go in the shoeboxes, let her know.

Byron

Operation Christmas Child
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 2009 National Collection Week is November 16-23.  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). For more info, contact Stephanie Liu.

10/10 Room
Many thanks to all who helped in setting up the storage room (Chris, Julie, Carsten and Annie) for our “10/10” program. Remember, bring any unused items so that someone else might benefit. Also peruse the room to see if there is anything you might put to good use!

EFC Winter Retreat
Dec. 31-Jan. 3
Registration is open for those interested in attending the EFC Winter Retreat at Pine Summit (Big Bear). Early registration ($175) is due Oct. 18 and can be done online at:

http://www.efcchurches.org/wr/2009

Welcome Baby Emma!
Welcome Emma Grace Huang into the world! Born Tuesday, Nov. 3rd at Little Company of Mary, she’s a healthy happy baby. Congratulations Richard, Yvonne, Joshua and Jacob.Harvest South Bay                November 8th, 2009

First Class Condition
Live Big: Ephesians 2:11-22

Background : Ephesus a Gentile dominated church. Gentiles Christians had an admiration for the Jewish holiness and discipline, but may have counted themselves as not included in having to aspire to an exceptional lifestyle.

Two Motives for Living a Life of Godliness

1. We are Not Second Class Citizens: God shows us that we are no longer held at a distance from Him to evoke a deeper appreciation for His calling.

2. We are Called to Live First  Class Lives: Paul reveals the new unity that God has won through Christ’s death not to address a schism in the church, but to encourage Gentile Christians to live worthy of their new calling.
Weekly Application Exercises
1. Imagine for a moment if you were suddenly installed as the full time pastor of Harvest South Bay. Would you feel you ought to change your current lifestyle or spiritual habits, and if so, in what ways? How might this reflect on a possible “two-tier” understanding of Christian behavior and expectations?

2. Recount the many blessings from God that we’ve studied in the past month in our study of Ephesians. Reflect on how your life would be different without those blessings. Take time to thank God for the different dimensions of salvation which He has provided.