Chinese for Christ Church of San Jose
English Worship Service
Worship Service: 10:00 –11:10 am followed by snacks in the Fellowship Hall.
Call To Worship* – Alison Law
Praise & Worship*- Praise Team and Congregation
Welcome & Announcements – Daniel Chen
Sermon “Be Strong and Stand” Ephesians 6:10-20 (page 979)- Kenny Chan
Communion – Baptized Believers
Song(s) of Response* – Praise Team
Doxology (Words of Praise)*- Congregation
Prayer & Benediction (Lord’s Blessing)* – Kenny Chan
*Please stand, if physically able. Also, please set your cell phones to “silent.”
Please exit through the ‘front’ of the sanctuary at the end of service. Thank you.
We are glad you are here this morning to worship God together with us! We hope that through this service you would experience God’s blessings to you — and know His love for you through Jesus Christ and the presence of His Spirit!
If this is your first time here, please fill out one the pink cards in the pew and pass onto any of our ushers if you would like us to contact you with more information about our church.
Announcements
- 5th Grade Graduation: We will be celebrating our current 5th graders graduation this afternoon at 1:30pm in the Church Sanctuary. You are invited to come and join us on that day! Our 5th graders over the summer will be joining our Sunday School classes as well as our worship service – please make sure to welcome them!
- EM Prayer Meeting: Come join us this Wednesday evening (8:00-9:15pm) at Jeff & Ruth’s house as we gather together to pray for our English ministry and congregation.
- Summer Retreat (6/17-6/19): Retreat is just around the corner! Next Sunday is the last day for the early bird registration. For more information, contact Daniel Chen (dantchen83@sbcglobal.net)
- Community Groups: Our small group fellowships for college/post-college (working, single/married, etc) meet weekly on Saturday mornings (10am-12pm) as well as Sunday afternoons (4-6pm). Please contact Pastor Joey for more information.
- Saltshakers: We will be gathering for Large Group this Saturday (6/11) from 7-9pm in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact Daniel Chen (dantchen83@sbcglobal.net).
Prayer Requests & Praises
- Praise God for the baptisms last week of Bryan Ku, Samuel Dai, Alex Wan, and Jasmine Han along with 11 others from the Chinese congregation. Pray that they would continue to grow in their faith as they understand God’s grace and follow Him.
- Praise God for our high school seniors who graduated (Ashley Chen, Dee Gao, Jasmine Han, Theodore Leung, Brian Huang, & William Yang) this past week!
- Pray for our summer retreat! For our speaker (Stephan Williams), our praise & worship leader (Jeff Gee), and our Retreat Committee as they coordinate and plan. Pray that through the retreat we would be strengthened in our faith & emboldened to share/defend our faith.
- Pray for Pastor Joey as he guest-preaches this morning in Missouri as well as at a week-long youth discipleship camp/retreat (6/4-11). Pray that through the messages & workshops that the Holy Spirit would encourage, challenge & equip the students in their faith.
- Pray for our English ministry as we prepare for Pastor Joey’s sabbatical (July-September) as well as Pastor Kenny’s transition later in the fall.
Background & Resources on Ephesians
Who? The Apostle Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians
To Who? Unlike some of Paul’s other letters (1 Corinthians, Galatians, etc.), the letter of Ephesians does not seem to address specific issues but appears to be more a general letter. Most likely, the letter was passed around to different house churches which gathered throughout the city of Ephesus — a major city and trading center (port).
When? 60-61 AD
Where? Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome.
Why? To remind and encourage Christians in Ephesus of the gospel message. The first half of the letter (chapters 1-3) focuses on the Gospel, while the second half (chapters 4-6) focuses on the implications and application of the Gospel.
Recommended Commentaries on Ephesian
The Letter to the Ephesians (The Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Peter T. O’Brien
& Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Frank Thielman
– The two best “technical” (in depth) commentaries on Ephesians which explores the original Greek language, historical background as well as theological terms. While technical, both these commentaries also point readers to a deeper love of God.
Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) by Tony Merida, David Platt
– Probably the best “user-friendly” commentary on Ephesians. Short, concise, but packed with helpful insights as well as how Ephesians points us to Jesus.
New City Catechism (from www.newcitycatechism.com/intro.php)
We hope that this will be a tool for us to use in disciplining our children, one another and ourselves as a church community. The New City Catechism is also available online and for your smart phones.
Question 36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
Answer: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
Passage(s): John 14:16-17