Man on the Run

This Sunday: Man on the Run

Pastor Dennis Brown

 We launched a new series last Sunday titled “Meeting Jesus in the Old Testament.” Rather than a specific book of the Bible, we will be exploring Old Testament narratives that point to Jesus. This week, we are looking at Jonah. It’s a rather unflattering picture of the prophet. What is more surprising is that he must have written it or at the least provided the information for it. It is a massive loss of face.

 Why do people in the Bible who either write or give testimony to their failures not seek to gloss it over? That’s what most secular histories do. That’s what we do. Their “supreme leaders” are made to look better than they are. The reason is because the Bible is about grace and a God of grace. In short, we can fail. We can lose face because our ultimate dignity and security is not in our performance, our ability to save face, but to be redeemed by his grace.

 Jonah is also a story about compassion—God’s compassion, and how Jonah runs from compassion. We also run from compassion. God spoke to Jonah one time and Jonah ran the other way. He spoke to him again and Jonah obeyed. Do you think He can still speak to you today? Do you think His Word can make you into a person of compassion?  The Bible and the experience of multitudes is that does.

Engagements, conversions and the growth of the gospel at FPC

 Right now, I am involved in pre-marital counseling with four couples. Another couple, Josh Lee and Tina are to be married in Taipei in early June. As I have reflected on their stories, several of them came to Christ slowly by hearing the gospel again and again in worship, small groups and interactions with other believers until they heard God speak in their lives until they responded.

 And then recently, one of our young students asked to meet with me. We had talked in the fall and he was not a Christian, and found the Bible difficult to read. He sometimes got lost in the Old Testament. I encouraged him to read the Gospels first. He asked to see me recently and said that by reading the Gospels and interacting and observing the lives of several Christians here that his doubts had vanished, and he was professing faith in Christ. It reminded me of another young man in our midst who told me not so long ago that essentially the same thing had happened to him. In C.S. Lewis Narnia tales you have this frequent line, “Aslan is on the move.” Aslan is the lion-like figure of Jesus. He is definitely “on the move.”

Dr. Vern and Diane Poythress Summer Ministry

Sometimes, we say that if you are looking for an answer to a difficult question check out the Frame-Poythress website: http://frame-poythress.org.  Together, Frame & Poythress represent brilliant, Biblically and theologically solid commentary on almost any subject. Dr. Poythress teaches at Westminster Seminary, has degrees in mathematics and theology, has written many books (most of which you can read on the website), and comes to Taiwan every year to teach a couple of classes at Reformed Seminary. His wife, Diane is equally formidable and loves Taiwan. Recently, they e-mailed to say they would be available to minister in our church from around June 10 to July 10. We are working on their schedule to maximize their time with us. Along with Dr. Poythress preaching, we hope some special informal gatherings in a home where he can discuss matters of science and faith.

Taipei Family Counseling Center

 Taipei Family Counseling Center is a ministry connected with Reformed Theological Seminary where Dr. Tim Yates is the dean. It is difficult to get qualified, Biblical counseling in the city. We need to support this ministry. A small fund-raiser is taking place that can benefit the center as well as raise its profile. Every year the center participates in the Bethany Flea Market. This year it is being held on Saturday, May 7, from 9:00 to 1:00 pm at Bethany School. If you have any good condition used items to donate, please bring them to FPC on Sunday, May 1 or e-mail Tim Yates for home pick-up for larger or multiple boxes of items. Just e-mail him at tpyates@gmail.com or call 0912578984.

Long Story Short: Companion Devotional to Sunday school curriculum.

 The children are currently using the Gospel Story Bible curriculum in all three classes. They are systematically working through the Bible starting from Genesis. Recently they finished the story of Joseph and have moved on to Moses. We have recently purchased the companion devotional to this curriculum for the Old Testament called Long Story Short. The readings follow along with what the children are learning on Sundays, but because it’s a complete look at the Old Testament it can be used indefinitely. Broken down into short sections, family devotions become easy to manage. Long Story Short can help busy parents share with their children how every story in the Old Testament points forward to God’s story of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s a wonderfully focused family devotional that coincides with the learning the children receive during their Sunday school lessons.

 “Clever stories and good moral lessons may entertain and even help children, but the gospel will transform children. The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to transform the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read. Ten minutes a day, five days a week is enough time to pass on the most valuable treasure the world has ever known.”

 This devotional is suitable for preschoolers through to high school and we highly recommend it. It is available for purchase in the church office. Please come see Anna if you would like to pick one up.

Membership and Baptism Class - Sunday, May 15 and 22

 We encourage anyone who has been attending the church for some time to consider becoming a member. It’s Biblical and will help you to feel like you are part of a real family all growing in Christ together. Two sessions will be offered on Sunday, May 15 and 22 from 1:15 to 3:15 pm in room 501. Also if you haven’t been baptized, this is a good preparatory step for baptism. Get your lunch and join us.

A Story & a Meal to Save Your Life

 

A Story and a Meal to Save Your Life. 

The curriculum we are using in Sunday School is taking the children through the Biblical story. They have been in Genesis and recently the story of Joseph. The curriculum is designed to show that the Bible isn’t so much a list of rules and good advice but a story where every part points to Jesus. It’s like putting together a puzzle over a long Christmas vacation that is laid out on the table, and different family members finding how the pieces go together so a single image arises. One of our children Tilly said to her Mom (in paraphrase) in almost bated breath, “What is next? How will the story end?” 

Those of us who grew up in the church get overly familiar with the story. It becomes a bit dull. We might find ourselves like the little child saying after hearing the story of the three bears, “Dad, can you give me a new story.” When it comes to the Bible, there is only one story. It is ever new. 

This Sunday, we look at Luke 24 where some disciples feel their hopes are dashed, the story around which they were going to build their lives has been shattered. With downcast faces, a mysterious stranger joins them. He explains to them the story that they didn’t “get.” Then they sit at a table, and he breaks bread with them and their eyes are opened to the true meaning of the story and the story teller. We want our children to “get” the story—to build their lives around this amazing story and the even more amazing person. Wouldn’t it be great if you “got” the story as well—not just the children? Come and see! 

Life At Friendship: 

Newcomers Luncheon. If you are new to the church in the past couple of months, you are invited to a newcomer’s welcome at Pastor Dennis’ home this Sunday, April 10 at 1:00 pm. Just gather at the main doors of the church, and we will walk together to the apartment. At the last gathering, we started a new small group from this gathering. If there is interest we may begin a new Christianity Explored group from those of you who attend.

Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God? How are we to understand Islam?  How can we be a community like Jesus who respond with both grace and truth? Christianity and Islam are two of the three Abrahamic faiths, and have a shared history of key figures. An Islamic caliphate was recently re-established in the Middle East by ISIS, the first serious effort at rebuilding a global political Islamic government since the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920’s. Come and discuss this important question and how we can reach out to our Muslim neighbors. This discussion will be led by Jason Warren this Sunday, April 10 in room 501 from 1:15 to 2:30 pm. Get your lunch and join us.  

Sunday School Teacher Dinner and Appreciation. We never underestimate the value of joining us in serving our children here at Friendship. We would like to show our appreciation to all those who have served on the Children’s ministry team recently. Come join us for dinner and fun, as a way of saying thank you. We will meet at Pastor Dennis’ house, from 6:30pm. If you are serving as a teacher or assistant we would like you to join us! Thank you for serving our children and their families! An email invitation will also be sent out today.

What's the Pastor Reading? “Seriously Dangerous Religion” by Iain Provan. Somebody said that they loved the New Testament, but that they said the Old Testament was like a haunted house. They didn’t know how to enter it or make sense of it. As we mentioned we are asking the children to enter the Old Testament and find that instead of it being a “haunted house”, it is actually the story of how God decides to redeem the world by a family.
 
Many modern people think the Old Testament is a haunted house and that it might be even dangerous. Iain Provan is a professor of Old Testament at Regent College. He shows how the Old Testament is the story that unlocks the story of our own lives and humanity in general, that instead of it being a “dangerous” story, it is the story that brings liberation.

Easter at Friendship

Easter Sunday

Pastor Dennis Brown

When Jesus suddenly appeared in his resurrection body, the disciples hid behind locked doors for fear of arrest. Suddenly Jesus came through the doors in his resurrected body. It was an OMG (“Oh my gosh”) moment. Actually all the resurrection stories have that quality about them. When he meets some women on the road, he says, “Ni-hao-ma!”  What I mean is the term used as the common greeting of the day. Imagine, Jesus is dead. There is no thought that he could be resurrected. Suddenly, Jesus shows up and says “Hi.” It blew them away. Have you had an OMG moment? Why? Jesus is on the loose, looking for people, to draw them to himself!

This Sunday, the international students will lead worship. They will rock the house with love for Jesus.  I will share a message from John 20 on “Jesus Finds Thomas.” Thomas had said eight days earlier that he wouldn’t believe without objective evidence. Well, Jesus is listening to him and eight days later shows up and takes him “on.” It was a real OMG moment. Also during Sunday School, the children will have an Easter Egg hunt. Come and join us for this high day of celebration.

Good Friday Service

Join us Friday for the Good Friday Service on the fourth floor chapel at 7:30 pm. It’s a simple service of hymns, readings from the crucifixion, a message and the Lord’s Supper. The title of the message is, “Why did Jesus have to die?”

Newcomer’s Luncheon, April 10

If you are new to the church in the past couple of months, you are invited to a newcomer’s welcome at Pastor Dennis’ home on Sunday, April 10 at 1:00 pm. Just gather at the main doors of the church, and we will walk together to the apartment. At the last newcomers welcome we started a new small group from this gathering. If there is interest we may begin a new Christianity Explored group from those of you who attend.

“Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?”

How are we to understand Islam?  How can we be a community like Jesus who respond with both grace and truth? Christianity and Islam are two of the three Abrahamic faiths, and have a shared history of key figures. An Islamic caliphate was recently re-established in the Middle East by ISIS, the first serious effort at rebuilding a global political Islamic government since the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920’s. Come and discuss this important question and how we can reach out to our Muslim neighbors. This discussion will be led by Jason Warren on Sunday, April 10 in room 501 from 1:15 to 2:30 pm. Get your lunch and join us.

Children’s Ministry Social, April 16

If you are part of the children’s ministry, come join us for a social evening at the Pastor’s house on April 16. More information to come.