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* – Hannah Lee
Praise & Worship*- Praise Team and Congregation
Welcome & Announcements – Daniel Chen
Sermon “The Final Charge” 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (page 996)- Kenny Chan
Communion – Kenny Chan
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.
Sermon Notes
“The Disciple’s Journey” (Matthew 16:24-28)
How to Be a Disciple (v.24)
To be a Christian is to be a Disciple – no “levels” or “tiers.” Christian = To Be Like Christ (cf. Acts 11:26) = A Disciples = “Follow Christ”
1) Deny Self: The movement from being self-centered to Christ-centered.
2) Take Up One’s Cross: The cross entailed suffering and shame.
3) Follow Jesus: Not a one-time decision but a regular, daily following of Jesus. To follow Jesus means to obey and to become more like Jesus.
Reason #1: Only When We Lose Life Do We Find Life (v.25)
What gives life? Jesus reminds us that only in Him do we find life as a disciple.
Reason #2: Realizing what is Temporary vs. What is Eternal (v.26)
What really matters? Jesus reminds us to keep perspective of what is only temporary and what is eternal.
Reason #3: Coming Judgement (v.27)
What have you done with your life? Jesus reminds us that we will all have to give an account of our lives and how we have lived.
Reflection/Application:
Do a spiritual check-up this week by re-reading this week’s passage as you prayerfully consider the questions: “What gives me life? What really matters to me? What have I done with my life?”
Go online to www.persecution.com or www.opendoorusa.org and pray for those suffering for the Gospel as they faithfully follow Jesus – and that we as a church would do likewise.
Pray that you and our church might begin (or continue) to grow as a disciple of Jesus for His glory!
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
- Cardboard Needed: Have any leftover boxes or cardboard sitting around? We need them for our upcoming Family Night event. Please drop them off at the duplex garage by Sunday (10/30). For more information, please contact Jay Sha (euguene.sha@gmail.com).
- Saltshakers: We will be continuing our series on “Relationships” this Saturday (10/30 from 7-9pm in the Church Sanctuary. For more information, please contact Daniel Chen (dantchen83@gmail.com).
- Family Night: Our church’s Halloween alternative will be on next Monday (10/31) from 5:30-8:00pm at church. Please invite family, friends, and coworkers with elementary school aged children. Also, we will be giving out candy as game prizes, so if you would like to make a monetary donation towards prizes, please specify “Family Night” on your donation. If you have any questions, please contact George Sya (georgesya@gmail.com)
- Pastor/Minister Severance Benevolence Fund: Based on the established policy, the severance benevolence fund for Pastor Kenny Chan is opened up for donations from the congregation for two months beginning today (10/16-12/16). If you would like to give, please write a check to CFCCSJ and specify the donation for “Pastor/Minister Severance Benevolence Fund.”
- Scholarship applications for full-time students: CFCCSJ provides a limited number of scholarships to full-time seminary students who intend to go into full-time ministry upon graduation. The scholarship deadline for the Spring semester (2017) is November 30th. For more details, please contact George Sya (gsya@hotmail.com)
Prayer Requests & Praises
- Praise God for our church’s annual care package making event this past weekend. Pray that these care packages would be a blessing to our college and grad students. Pray for Sunday evening group as they prepare for their care packing making event tonight.
- Pray for Pastor Kenny as he transitions from pastoral service at our church at the end of October. Pray for him and his family as they go through this season of transition.
- Pray for Pastor Joey as he’s having an annual reunion with his former seminary pastor friends up in Spokane, WA.
Recommended Resources on Discipleship
“The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Considered the classic book on discipleship, this book is worth reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading esp. considering the author ended up dying in a concentration camp for his faith.
“Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream” by David Platt
A powerful, convicting read on what it means to die to ourselves and follow Jesus. His follow up book, “Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live” further explores this theme.
“Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus” by Mark Dever
Short, concise book on what does it look like to “make disciples” – help others become more like Christ.
“The Gospel-Centered Life” by Bob Thune & Will Walker
One of the “core” books for our church on growing as a disciple.
“Discipleship Defined” by Eric Russ
Very clear and convicting book on what is discipleship, why is discipleship central to the Christian faith, and how do we go about making disciples.
“What Jesus Demands from the World” by John Piper
A longer book which can be read daily (50 chapters) on what it means to follow (i.e. obey) the commands of 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 & for your smart phones.
Question 2: What is God?
Answer: God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in his power and perfection, goodness, and glory, wisdom, justice, and truth. Nothing happens except through him and by his will.
Passage(s): Psalm 86:8-10 & 15