Table of Contents
RSVP to Jesus' Birthday: All I Want For Christmas
Matthew 2:13-23
Mr Jimmy Kuswadi
Order of Service
Welcome >> Worship in Songs
Announcements >> Community Spot: Open Doors
Congregational Prayer
Scripture Reading >> Sermon
Response Song >> Benediction
Sermon Outline
RSVP To Jesus' Birthday: All I Want For Christmas is...
Matthew 2:13-23
Let’s see how 2 different people answered that question: Joseph the husband of Mary, and king Herod.
Joseph
- Mary’s husband
- was a righteous man – Matt 1:19
- 1st dream – Matt 1:20
- 2nd dream – Matt 2:13
- 3rd dream – Matt 2:19
- 4th dream – Matt 2:22
What Joseph wanted for Christmas was for God to be No. 1
King Herod the Great:
- great builder including temple in Jerusalem
- was an Idumean, made king y Rome
- reigned from 37 – 4 BC
- killed numerous people including family members
Application:
- 6th Commandment: You shall not murder… but anyone who is angry… will be subject to judgement Matt 5:21,22
- First go and be reconciled – Matt 5:24
- In your anger fo not sin – Eph 4:26
What Herod wanted for Christmas was to be No. 1 for his whole life
God’s faithfulness; 3 fulfilments:
- v15 quoting Hosea 1:1
- v18 quoting Jeremiah 31:15
- v23 quoting unnamed prophet
Application:
- For non-Christians:
- Accept Jesus and make Him No. 1
- Start by asking someone to read the Bible with you
- For Christians
- Is He No. 1 in all areas of our life?
- Humbly review our priorities
- Spend more time with Him each day
Making God No. 1 is not easy
Jesus is the ultimate example of making God No. 1
Announcements
Christmas Carols Service
A Combined English and Mandarin Christmas Carols Service will be held at church on the 25th December 2022 at 9:30am – 10:45am.
All are welcome! A special Christ Day morning tea will served afterwards in the fellowship hall.
English and Chinese-language flyers are available at church for you to help invite friends and family to come and hear the story of how God has come near to us in Jesus Christ in order to bring us hope and joy.
Christmas Day Morning Tea
A special Christ Day morning tea will be provided after the Christmas Carols service on the 25th December. If you would like to contribute to the morning, please contact elder Arnold (arnold.tan@esccc.org.au)
Every Friday night from 8-9pm we meet over Google Meet and Sunday morning 9:00-9:30am over Zoom or in-person at church.
ESCCC Mailing List
Email admin@esccc.org.au to be added to the church’s email list to be notified of various things happening around the church.
Electronic Giving
We give to what we love. Due to the restriction of our physical Sunday meetings as a loving precaution against the spread of COVID-19, we will not be able to collect a cash offertory as usual. Electronic giving instructions can be found on the Giving and Offerings page.
Missions Support
In support of God’s mission, we encourage all members to give regularly to the ESCCC Missions Fund, according to your means. The EFT details can be found on the Giving and Offerings page.
The Missions Fund will be allocated by the Missions Committee to bless ESCCC and our Mission Partners in missions work.
Baptism Service
Our next baptism service will be postponed to late Q1 2023. Further details will be published closer to the date.
Individuals wishing to baptized or confirmed should get in touch with Ps Jose and must apply in writing to the ESCCC Board of Elders (info@esccc.org.au).
Individual classes for men and women wishing to be baptised or confirmed at ESCCC are run as needed throughout the year. These cover the matters of personal faith, church membership and public testimony over the course of three sessions.
All baptism and confirmation candidates also participate in two group sessions in the two weeks leading up to the baptism and confirmation service, presenting their testimonies and learning about the baptism and confirmation service liturgy.
Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC)
A second 1.5-hour session for the Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) is planned to commence in T1 2023.
The Board of Elders commends the PTC as a worthy benchmark for elders and leaders of the church to aspire to and attain as a significant step in furthering your theological education. We would want for you to aspire likewise towards further theological education.
You can join PTC sessions purely to learn the course content, or you can enrol for exams which are administered online. Further information may be found at the PTC website:
https://moore.edu.au/courses/
Express your interest in joining the second session which will commence in term 1 next year, starting with the subject ‘Introduction to the Bible’. The day and time is TBC depending on people’s interest and availability. Please contact Ps Jose or send an email to info@esccc.org.au.
Prayer and Praise
Next Week 25 December 2022
RSVP to Jesus' Birthday: The Angels And The Parents
9 Lessons
Pastor Jose Lam
About ESCCC
We long to see the Church being loved like Christ loves the Church.
As such we strive to care for people with the love of Christ and to prepare people to love like Christ.
The Pastors and Elders would love to serve you and help you to belong to God’s community here at ESCCC.
Please direct all questions, comments and concerns to: BoE@esccc.org.au
Please visit www.esccc.org.au for more details and the church’s calendar.
