Advent: This Child is Mighty God

“I am for you”

Speaker: Pastor Stephen Hsu

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

—Isaiah 9:6 NIV

BIG IDEA = This child is Mighty God, the Son given to us is King, Jesus the Word.

Intro:

1. child = God

a. “I will wait for the Lord,” —Isaiah 8:17a

b. “For to us a child is born” —Isaiah 8:6

c. “Mighty God” —Isaiah 8:6

2. The Son = King

a. “to us a son is given” —Isaiah 8:6

b. “The government will be on his shoulders” —Isaiah 8:6

c. “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,” —Isaiah 9:7

3. Jesus = Word

a. “In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word WAS God.” —John 1:1

b. “If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” —Isaiah 8:20b

Application: LOOK AT THE BOOK

Look to God’s Word

—Isaiah 8:20a

1. John 1:14 The Word became flesh & made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one & only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.

2. BIG IDEA: child = GOD = Son = King = Jesus Christ = Word

What did this Word do?

Advent: Eternal Father

His pathway of grace that leads us home

Speaker: Rev. Susie Choi

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-16

Grace meets us exactly where we are and it doesn’t leave us where it found us.

—Anne Lamott

Genealogy - 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 legacy

Genealogy 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 legacy

Earthly 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 Peace

Speaker: Rev. Kelly Tam

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6 NLT

For 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 NLT

What are People Afraid of?

The Fear of the Unknown

The Fear of the Unclear

The Fear of the Uncontrollable

Peace (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 6:34

Fear 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 14:6

Fear of the Uncontrollable

Let 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 Out

Discipleship across Generations

Speaker: Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12-13, 5:1-8

Introduction - TGIF Step by Step Sitcom

Let 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 NIV

1. 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 NLT

Conclusion

Discipleship across generations is not going to be easy… but we have a greater promise from Christ.

—Matt 28:18-20

Gender Conversations

Speaker: Rev. Ho-Ming Tsui & Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Discipleship: Faith Lived Out

Taking Ownership of Your Faith

Speaker: Pastor Angela Luk

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11

1. Recall the roots of your faith

2. Persecution is an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus in your life

3. This is a call to action…not procrastination!

4. Live a life that is consistent to following Jesus

a. Preserve your sanity

b. Preserve your prayer life

c. Preserve your love

Big 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 Out

Building Up Disciples in Community

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10 (NIV)

Speaker: Pastor Stephen Hsu

BIG 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 6:1-2

2. 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 the

word should share all good things with their instructor.

—Galatians 6:3-6

3. 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 6:7-10

Conclusion:

Especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

—Galatians 6:10b

Compassion: Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name

Speaker: John Atkinson

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

—Galatians 2:10

To 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 28:19-20

If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.

—D.L. Moody

And 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 16:18

You may never truly understand the impact of your generosity

The 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 Beasts

Speaker: Pastor Stephen Hsu

Scripture: Luke 15:11–32 (NIV)

Sermon Notes

BIG 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 Son

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.—Romans 5:8

Created in His Image

Our Bodies: An Act of Worship

Rev. Kelly J. Tam

Scripture: Psalm 28:1-2, 1 Timothy 2:8

What 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 mercy

as I cry out to you for help,

as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.

—Psalm 28:1-2

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

—1 Timothy 2:8

Hands Reflect the Heart:

1. Surrender

2. Dependence

3. Unity and Peace