Taking Ownership of Your Faith

Advent: Eternal FatherHis pathway of grace that leads us homeSpeaker: Rev. Susie ChoiScripture: Matthew 1:1-16Grace meets us exactly where we are and it doesn’t leave us where it found us.—Anne LamottGenealogy - Ancient CV (Curriculum Vitae)• Highlights significant people and their stories of accomplishments• Reminder of identity and belonging by merit• Establishes trajectory of purpose and meaning to continue human legacyGenealogy recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:• Highlights significant people and their failures• Reminder of identity and belonging by grace• Establishes trajectory of purpose and meaning to continue kingdom legacyEarthly parents who begets in contrast to Eternal Father who begets• The tapestry of grace that holds the human family narrative• Grace is the Eternal Father’s pathway to guide us home

Advent: Do Not be Afraid, Jesus is our Prince of PeaceSpeaker: Rev. Kelly TamScripture: Isaiah 9:6 NLTFor a child is born to us,a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.—Isaiah 9:6 NLTWhat are People Afraid of?The Fear of the UnknownThe Fear of the UnclearThe Fear of the UncontrollablePeace (Shalom) means “whole” or “restore”.Fear of the Unknown:So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.—Matthew 6:34Fear of the Unclear:Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.—John 14:6Fear of the UncontrollableLet the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.—Colossians 3:16

Discipleship: Faith Lived OutDiscipleship across GenerationsSpeaker: Rev. Shu-Ling LeeScripture: 1 Timothy 4:12-13, 5:1-8Introduction - TGIF Step by Step SitcomLet us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.—Galatians 6:9-10 NIV1. Discipleship is a Family Endeavour.2. You can only disciple someone as far as you have been discipled.Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.—‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭12-13 NLTConclusionDiscipleship across generations is not going to be easy… but we have a greater promise from Christ.—Matt 28:18-20

Gender ConversationsSpeaker: Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui & Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Discipleship: Faith Lived OutTaking Ownership of Your FaithSpeaker: Pastor Angela LukScripture: 1 Peter 4:1-111. Recall the roots of your faith2. Persecution is an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus in your life3. This is a call to action…not procrastination!4. Live a life that is consistent to following Jesusa. Preserve your sanityb. Preserve your prayer lifec. Preserve your loveBig Idea: We are a people called to bear witness to the saving grace of the gospel in our lives, so let us live lives that are consistent with what it means to follow Jesus.

Discipleship: Faith Lived OutBuilding Up Disciples in CommunityScripture: Galatians 6:1-10 (NIV)Speaker: Pastor Stephen HsuBIG IDEA: To bear one another’s burdens, we must live by the Spirit to love one another.BEARING EACH OTHER’S BURDENS:Why?How?HOW TO BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS:1. LIVE BY THE SPIRIT (1)[1] Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. [2] Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.—Galatians 6:1-22. DON’T THINK YOU’RE THAT IMPORTANT! (3)[3] If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. [4] Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, [5] for each one should carry their own load. [6] Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in theword should share all good things with their instructor.—Galatians 6:3-63. REMEMBER YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW (7)[7] Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [8] Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. [9] Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.—Galatians 6:7-10Conclusion:Especially to those who belong to the family of believers.—Galatians 6:10b

Compassion: Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ nameSpeaker: John AtkinsonAll they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.—Galatians 2:10To have compassion, by definition, is “to move.”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.—Matthew 28:19-20If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.—D.L. MoodyAnd I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.—Matthew 16:18You may never truly understand the impact of your generosityThe King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’—Matthew 25:35-40

The Compassionate Father:Beauty & the BeastsSpeaker: Pastor Stephen HsuScripture: Luke 15:11–32 (NIV)Sermon NotesBIG IDEA: To LOVE others with compassion, you must first know & LOVE the wastefully extravagant Father.Who is the Beast? (SPOILER ALERT: Plot twist ahead) 1. Younger son (11-19)2. Older son(25-30)3. ME But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.—Luke 6:35-36“Cheer up! You’re a worse sinner than you ever dared imagine, and you’re more loved than you ever dared hope.”—Jack Miller Who is the main character?  Who is the Father?1. The Prodigal God (12, 31)2. Compassionate (20-21, 28)3. Rejoicing over you (22-25, 32) “Whether you are the younger son or the elder son, you have to realize that you are called to become the father.”—Sue Mosteller of L’Arche Daybreak (11339 Yonge St, Richmond Hill) to Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal SonBut God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.—Romans 5:8 

Created in His ImageOur Bodies: An Act of WorshipRev. Kelly J. TamScripture: Psalm 28:1-2, 1 Timothy 2:8What would your body say to you if it could speak?1 I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.Do not turn a deaf ear to me.For if you are silent,I might as well give up and die.2 Listen to my prayer for mercyas I cry out to you for help,as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.—Psalm 28:1-2In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.—1 Timothy 2:8Hands Reflect the Heart:1. Surrender2. Dependence3. Unity and Peace

Created in His ImageOur Bodies: We Are OnePaster Stephen Hsu1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Mark 14:22-25