True Believers

Hope you’re having a good week Harvest South Bay! Here are the notes for this week AND if you haven’t heard via the grapevine (or the interwebs) our annual Harvest Summer Retreat has been canceled (boo!). Hope you are all enjoying the summer weather that has finally arrived!

Byron
Harvest South Bay July 25th, 2010

True Believers
Jesus’ I Am Statements: John 8:31-59

Exposition: 3 Conversations

The Challenge: If these listeners were to become Jesus’ disciples they needed to continue in His Word (obey and embrace Jesus’ messiahship)

The Uncovering: These listeners, instead of embracing Jesus, were resistant because of their sin.

The Claim: Jesus’ Lordship and authority stems from the fact that He is God in human flesh, the I AM.

3 Tests

1. The Hearing Test: Our faith is true if we listen to God’s Word with a heart to obey.

2. The Following Test: Our faith is proven real as we see ourselves actually obeying God against our own tendencies.

3. The Heart Test: Faith that is real is a faith that changes what we desire.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Our passage this morning follows a path where we are convicted by God’s Word, have our values changed, and then have our practical, day to day lives changed. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being never, 10 being consistently) rate yourself in terms of how often this process is occuring in your life. Where areas of your life prove the most difficult to change?

2. This week, during your daily Bible reading, write down an application every day that you will follow through with that day and commit to doing it.

Harvest Summer Retreat.
Due to low registration this year, our annual Harvest Summer Retreat has been cancelled. Mark your calendars for next year’s retreat (August 4-7th, 2011)!

Baptism Class
Our last baptism class is today. We will meet in the room with the couches!

Vacation Bible School 7/30-8/1
The Children and Youth Ministry will be conducting Vacation Bible School from 7/30 (Thurs) to 8/1 (Sun). Invite your friends and your children’s friends as we seek to reach our community with the message of the Gospel! Registration is $10. Kids 4-11 are welcome!
7/30 Fri 7:30-9:pm
7/31 Sat 9am – 4pm
8/1 Sun 10am to 12:30

Online registration at:
www.vacationbibleschool.com/efcsb2010

Gift for the Hsus
We will be taking a collection in order to buy a Target gift card and other “wish list” items for Danny and Lillian for when the come stateside for a visit. Please give your contributions to Willis Shu.

Local “Perspectives” Course
Gardena Valley Baptist is hosting the Perspectives on World Missions course. Be challenged concerning God’s worldwide plan and vision. Visit Perspectives.org (“Find a Class”) to sign up or call Tommy Park at 310-938-9979.

Welcome our new member!
Mia Tokudome was born last Sunday at 5:30 PM to Amy and Makoto. Let’s support our new family with prayer and practical help this week!