Hello Harvest!
Again, here are the announcements from last week AND the sermon notes. I’ve been floating around the idea of publishing daily devotional material for our congregation to use, let me know if that would be helpful for you all to get in your inbox! It would be for a limited time… maybe 2 months. But it would be so that for those of you who have fallen out of doing devotionals, that it would get you back in!

Just shoot me off an email indicating of that would be of help!

Byron

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
Chris, Julie, Peter, and Jessie will be traveling through central China as they build relationships and spread the seeds of the gospel among the Amdo Tibetans this summer (first two weeks of July).  If you would like to prayerfully or financially support the team, there will be a special opportunity on June 21st.

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 intrerested 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

Harvest South Bay                June 21st, 2009

How was the Sermon?
Follow My Lead: 1 Timothy 1:1-11

Introduction: Paul introduces himself and his credentials as an Apostle of Jesus: one who was personally commissioned by Christ. This is in case anyone challenges the authority of the commands given in the letter. He refers to Timothy as his “true child in the faith” to validate Timothy’s authority in enforcing the contents of the letter.

Purpose: To guard the church from worthless teaching and discussion. Instead, to promote “love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Elaboration: Those who have strayed from the original intent of teaching have done so because of reasons which would build themselves up personally: they want to “become teachers of the law”

The Test of Teaching
How was the sermon, or how is the teaching at a certain church? Ask this question:
Am I Becoming a More Loving Person?

Good teaching
1. Makes us Purer (more unconflicted in our motives).

2. Gives us a Positive understanding of the Gospel (isn’t just about providing ethical boundaries).

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Reflect - perhaps even enumerate- in what ways you have grown in your love for both God and people in the last year? How has God’s Word changed you in this area of love?

2. How has God unmasked your heart and helped you have a more pure love for Him and others? What are some of the conflicting motivations you have had in your service to God?

Hello Harvest!

A midweek reminder that we will be taking a SPECIAL OFFERING this coming Sunday for the AMDO Tibet team. Please be prepared! (Prayer letters are available in the meeting room!)

Byron

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.

Hi Harvest South Bay!

MANY MANY MANY thanks to everyone who not only brought guests to our “Bring A Friend Sunday” but also to all of you who took special effort to make our visitors feel at home! Keep praying that God speaks to the hearts of everyone who came and continues to work in us to make  us an outward focused, evangelistic congregation!

I’d also like to thank all of you who prayed for our retreat speaker for our upcoming Harvest Summer Retreat. Thankfully he has responded positively and has agreed to preach the Word of God to our congregation! His name is Dr. David Timms and this is his brief bio:

Australian by birth, and born into the home of a pastor, David has planted churches, pastored churches, and trained pastors for churches since 1983.

His initial commitment to Christ came in 1970. For several years after High School, he worked in banks and construction before sensing the call to ministry, traveling to the United States in 1982 to undergo formal ministry preparation—doing his undergraduate studies at Johnson Bible College, and Master’s degree work at Emmanuel School of Religion (both in Tennessee).

In 1985, David married a California girl (Kim). After completing his graduate studies in 1988, they relocated to Australia and spent nearly 13 years doing church planting and then Bible College teaching. He also earned his PhD (in New Testament studies) from Macquarie University during that period.

Shortly after the 2000 Olympics, David, Kim, and their three sons returned from Sydney to the United States where David continues to teach in the graduate school at Hope International University, Fullerton, California and supervise the ministry training program.

Over the past 6-7 years, David’s spiritual mentors have included Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, Brennan Manning, Eugene Peterson, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, and David Benner. These, and others, have nurtured the deep yearning of his soul for authentic spiritual formation—being with Christ, to become like Christ, to better live for Christ.

Since 2001 David has also published numerous articles in The LOOKOUT magazine, and produced a regular e-zine titled “In HOPE” which shares his reflections on Christian leadership and spiritual formation. As part of that journey, he recently authored Living the Lord’s Prayer (Bethany House, June 2008). His latest book, Sacred Waiting: Waiting on God in a World that Waits for Nothing, is due for release on September 1, 2009.

Annnnnd…. Here are the notes from last Sunday’s sermon!

Byron

A Dose of Reality
Great Expectations: Mark 15:42-16:8

The Purpose of the Passage:

To tell us of the Reality of the Resurrection.

2 Responses:

1. Believe in the Resurrection: Mark’s account is spare in order to emphasize the factual nature of the resurrection: that it is a historical occurrence, not some religious fable.

2. Be Changed by the Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus, as the firstfruits of what will be to come revolutionizes how we think and act on a daily basis.

4 Fundamental Beliefs in Following Jesus

1. God is Holy

2. We are Imperfect

3. Jesus died to Rescue us and Free us of sin.

4. We need to personally Respond to God.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Take some time to review your investment of resources, a resource a day: one day reviewing your time, one day your finances, one day your storage space, one day your emotions, etc… How are your investments different or the same in light of the reality of the afterlife?

2. Regardless of where you are in your faith, review the fundamental beliefs above. To what degree does your life conform to those realities? How do you see them reflected in what you see from day to day?

Hey Harvest South Bay!

We’re finally up and running with the new computer  in the office! YAY! Here are the notes to last week’s sermon. REMEMBER to invite friends, acquaintances, co-workers, people you meet on the street, to our Bring a Friend Sunday this coming Sunday. Our service will include a gospel message and instead of Sunday School we’ll have an extended time of interaction.

Byron

Here are the notes from this Sunday’s message: pretty simple, as is the message of the Cross!

Just Watch Me
Great Expectations: Mark 15:16-41

Only One Point!:
When Christians Die Well People Know Jesus:

The point of the passage and the book of Mark is to challenge us to die well: whether figuratively or literally. When we die, we echo the sacrifice, love, strength, hope, faith and character of Jesus. This was reflected in the Centurion’s remark. He believed in the supernatural nature of Jesus simply by seeing how Jesus died.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Contemplate being at the Crucifixion (this is a little ruined if you have seen The Passion of the Christ). What would strike you as you observed Jesus? How is the method in which we die telling of who we are?

2. Take some time to ponder this week what ways you are starving your selfishness and feeding God-induced desires? How might your life stand in stark relief to those around you in respect to self control and sacrifice? How have you denied yourself materially because of a love for God’s kingdom?

For everyone who helped Seaside Preschool move their furniture during the replacement of their floor, they have lost a hard drive in the shuffle. If you remember seeing it (members say that it may have last been seen in the Fellowship Hall) or know where it might be, please let us know!

Thanks!
byron

Good Morning Harvest South Bay!

I don’t know how I just “Good Morning Harvest South Bay” as big and bold as I did (my finger just slipped on the keyboard) but since it IS a good morning, I think that I’ll just leave it as it is.

If you were NOT on service this last Sunday, please know that our Mothers’ Day service will be taking place in the SANCTUARY at 10:30 AM with our Taiwanese and Mandarin Congregations. Mrs. Joanna Su from Overseas Campus Magazine (a missionary publication) and Bread of Life Church will be speaking on related motherhood topics. I think this is the first and last time I’ll ever post this, but: DON’T BE TOO EARLY!

Here are the notes from this last week’s sermon!
Byron

Harvest South Bay: May 3rd, 2009
Be Prepared
Great Expectations: Mark 14:53-65

The Trial of Jesus
The first attempt to convict (55-59)
The Sanhedrin tries to convict Jesus through false testimony.
The second attempt to convict (60-64)
The High Priest, Caiaphas, convicts Jesus of claiming to be the Messiah, which He actually IS!

3 circumstances to be prepared for:

1. Be prepared to be persecuted with lies.
We need to be prepared to have lies told about ourselves, Jesus and Christianity to discredit the work of the gospel.
2. Be prepared to be persecuted for the truth.
We need to be prepared to be hated, prosecuted and persecuted for the true principles in the Gospel.
3. Be prepared to be convicted.
We need to be prepared NOT to be delivered from the hands of those who are opposed to God’s work.
1 Encouragement:

Know justice will be served: Our one encouragement in light of all of the abovementioned difficulties is to know that Jesus will be the ultimate judge in the end- and while we will not be vindicated here on earth, that final vindication and justice will come.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Take some time this week to reflect on how different your obedience to God might be if your life were lived without fear? Who would you speak to and what would you say? How would you live life differently? What are the potential consequences?

2. How would your life be different (or would it be different) if you did not know the future beyond this life? Does Jesus’ future kingdom and judgement impact your decisionmaking and testimony?

Hey Harvest!
Thanks again for all of your great participation in our picnic last week! Hospitality is a key character quality in the kingdom (1 Tim 3:2) and you all served as warm hosts (it helped that it was a record breaking hot day, too!)

Here are the notes from last week’s sermon as we near the end of our study in the book of Mark! Have a great week!

Harvest South Bay

April 26th, 2009

Unguarded Moments
Great Expectations: Mark 14:43-52

Exposition
Background
This is the climax of Jesus’ predictions of His betrayal and arrest. The disciples now know how literal Jesus has been in telling them about His betrayal and arrest.

The Contrast of Jesus and His Attackers:
He is set up by a crowd with swords and clubs, while He Himself does not resort to attack. In fact, He does the opposite by actually healing the ear of the slave who is struck by Simon Peter.

3 principles to be able to submit in the face of persecution

1. Subdue our Impulses: work against our natural impulses to retaliate when we are oppressed or attacked.

2. Shadow Jesus: follow the example of Jesus in how He balanced the need to be graceful yet challenging.

3. See God’s Greater Plan: understand how the impact of not retaliating or escalating advances the cause of Christ.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. How can you be involved in the ministry of discipleship/mentoring either as an example or as a follower? If you have been involved in this type of ministry in the past, how has it impacted your life and the lives of those around you?

2. Argument and retaliation is the status quo of our interaction with others in the face of conflict. How would quiet submission transform your relationships at work, at home and with your friends? How can you work on being more quietly submissive like Christ?

According to many reports, apparently our feedburner is working and everyone who subscribes to the announcements are getting them fairly faithfully (keep our technology in prayer… yes, you can even pray for computers to work!).

FIRST OF ALL: Thank you ALL who made last Sunday’s picnic such a big success! Thanks for all of you who got food, got drinks, got disposables, got the park, got the cotton candy, got the bouncehouse, set up, cleaned up, went out of your way to speak to people you didn’t know, held other people’s children while they spoke to new people, planned, prepared, prayed and generally were agreeable and helpful! THANKS!!!!

Here are our notes from last week’s sermon. Can you believe that we’re coming to the close of our study in the book of Mark? What an accomplishment! May God bless His Word implanted in our hearts!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                April 19th, 2009
Take Courage
Great Expectations: Mark 14:32-42

Exposition
Background: We are coming to the end of the book of Mark. This study reflects the turning point where Jesus makes the final commitment to go to the cross. It is written to the heavily persecuted first century church who will need to learn what it means to have courage with their faith.

The Contrast of Jesus and Disciples: The passage reflects the strength of Jesus relative to the weakness of the disciples. Through the contrast, God shows us principles toward becoming strong and courageous with our faith.

3 principles to increase our courage

1. Find Strength in Compassion: that Jesus has endured far worse persecution than we will and He willfully met it.

2. Find Strength in Confidence in God: that if all things are possible with God, and yet we are in the situation that we are in with the choices that He has given, then we can stand firm knowing that He has prepared us for the test at hand.

3. Find Strength in Communion with God: Prayer empowers us because it draws us closer to a great God who is on our side.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. As our announcements suggest and as we’ve mentioned in the sermon, take some time in prayer to ask God who He would like you to invite to Harvest- either for Bring a Friend Sunday or some other time. Begin a discipline to pray for 2-3 people on a daily basis to ask God how He would want to use you in those people’s lives.

2. Reflect on what brave steps that God has called you to accomplish in recent memory. What is He calling you to do in life which require faith and courage in Him right now?

Happy Post-Easter Week!
In accordance to our lesson a few weeks ago,  I hope that you are done “rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s” even as we ponder rendering our lives to God during this time of Christ’s resurrection!

Just a reminder that this coming Sunday is our joint picnic with South Bay Cornerstone Presbyterian. I hope we all have a great time of fellowship as we connect with our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Have a great week!
Byron

Harvest South Bay                April 12th, 2009
In Remembrance of Me
Great Expectations: Mark 14:12-31

Exposition:
The Passover Prelude
The Passover Prediction
The Passover Progression
The Passover Postlude

The One Principle to Reflect Upon

The Centrality of Jesus: The Lord’s Supper, and all of our current Christian traditions, turn us to the one theme of remembering Jesus and His role in our daily lives.

3 topics in particular

1. Jesus and Our Sin: The purpose of Judas is not for us to wag an accusatory finger at. The purpose of Judas is to expose our own penchant to betray God.

2. Jesus and Our Smallness and Significance: That the plan of Salvation through Christ makes our own lusts and wills insignificant while magnifying the importance of our lives because God uses us.

3. Jesus and Our Security in the Future: All thoughts of Jesus and His role in our lives need to include the hope that He secures for us in heaven.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Take some time, post-Easter eggs and bunnies, to reflect this week on the whole passion week of Jesus, reading Mark 11-16. Instead of simply observing the events, place yourself in the shoes of the disciples, the crowds and even the Romans. How are we like them in their failings and how has God triumphed over those failings?

2. Ponder for a few minutes each day this week what heaven will be like. What in particular do you anticipate and what biblical themes resonate with your heart?