Suang-Lien Presbyterian Church
English Ministry News October 2010
Volume I, Issue 7
“Spiritual Growth” Sermons Available discipline, love, and so much more. Imagine their surprise if after twenty years of receiving everything, and we are still no bigger than a little toddler, who can hardly run around without stumbling and speak words without stuttering. Would you be a little disappointed, confused, and concerned if you were one of these parents? Sure!
Inside this issue: September
2
Review Splashes of
2
Colors Outreach Night 2 (佈道會) October
3
Preview “Holiness
“Explanation… I demand one.”
3
Schedule” EM At Your
3
Service! EM Calendar /
4
TAWG
From the Pastor’s Desk
4
After repeated sermons on “Spiritual Growth” in the last few months, can you think of a good reason why not to grow? If so, don’t go and tell it to your pastor, go and tell it to God! Sometimes we forget that our parents invest so much in each one of us in so many ways in order that we may grow up to be mature, responsible adults. Parents give us food, clothing, shelter, education,
Thankfully, our heavenly Father has a bit more patience and understanding than our parents. However, we should not abuse God’s loving kindness and fall into the traps of laziness, busyness, or lack of self-esteem. Christians, it’s not too late to grow up… but it’s not too early either. As such, the best way is to grow now by growing together in the EM Family. To assist in growth, Ps. Peter’s sermon series will be available on the EM website: www.slpcenglish.org/sermons.
Learn more about:
Did anyone get saved at Outreach Night?
Why so colorful?
How can I serve at EM?
What is one way I can draw closer to God?
Pastor’s TAWG It’s especially important—and difficult—to see what’s going on in people’s hearts. Is that person serving out of love or some other motivation? If some other motivation, then it can hardly be a good thing (although some people may benefit, it’s unlikely to be of significant impact). Such a pity when people’s hearts are not filled with love as it makes the world a “tougher” place.
(9/24/10, James 3:14-17) How to gain love in our hearts? I believe we need to be humble, which begins a whole lot of changes in a person. If humble, the heart is like plowed soil (it may hurt at first getting plowed!) as it absorbs and can grow in the right way as the farmer takes good care of it (with proper sunshine and rain). It’s a bit ironic, too, that an individual no longer wants to be “loving” because s/he fears being hurt
in this “tough” world. People, as a whole, have learned to “toughen up” in order to survive in a “tough” world. What a pity though. Fortunately, Jesus Christ shows us otherwise. Though beaten up by “tough” people with hardened hearts, Jesus refused to give in to them and refused to give up on love. Jesus kept on loving, and so shall I.