Words by Elisha A. Hoffman. Music by Anthony J. Showalter.

Public Domain. Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches.

All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.SovereignGraceMusic.org

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,

3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.

8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.

13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.

15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law - settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things."

16 So he had them ejected from the court.

17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.

This coming Sunday we will be starting a new series on 2 Corinthians, which I am very excited to be studying with you. God’s word remains timeless, and He always helps us see our lives and this world from his perspective. Why not read 2 Corinthians in your own personal devotion.

Many of our Growth Groups will be studying 2 Corinthians. If you are not apart of you, why not considering signing up to one at www.surreyhillspresbyterian.org.au/adults

You can email to admin@shp.org.au for the Bible study guide to 2 Corinthians for your own personal devotion.

The Session met this week and spent considerable time with the members of our Board of Management. We would like to express our deep appreciation for each Board member, for their faithful service and diligence in managing the financial and property affairs of our church. We are thankful to God for how God has gifted each one and how they are a blessing to our church. We also spent some time discussing the challenges our church will face in the next year, and recognise how difficult this season is for many of you. Please be assured of our love and continued prayers, that together with you, we remain on our mission of making and maturing disciples of Jesus together.

Finally, in a time when we are restricted from meeting physically, it’s all the more important we do not give up meeting completely, so we would like to encourage each one of you to make every effort to remain in fellowship with each other through the Growth Groups, prayer triplets and personal contacts. You may never know how God may use you to be a blessing to others during this time.

Are you wrestling with questions about the meaning of life? Are you trying to figure out what life is all about, and how to make your life worthwhile? Or do you have friends who are trying to understand the purpose of life?

If so, then we have a course for you: ‘Life Explored’ - a 7 week course designed to help people think through the meaning of life. It’s particularly aimed at those exploring or new to Christianity, and seeks to share the hope and meaning that we have as people known and loved by God. Please prayerfully consider who you could invite along.

We’ll meet via Zoom every Tuesday night (starting on the 18th August), from 7.30-9pm.

For more info, see the trailer "Life Explored Teaser" on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xghL-8RrSac and website

Please RSVP to Oli (0430 421 537) by Sunday 16th August.

It’s back! Join us as we meet with one another to be encouraged and challenged by God’s Word, pray with one another, and delight in fellowship. We’ll meet over zoom on Saturday 22nd August, 10-11.30am. To register your attendance, please send an email to Michelle (michelle.gerungan@shp.org.au).

This year we are moving our church camp online, and won’t be visiting Philip Island. But it will still be a great weekend of learning, fellowship and fun. Save the date and set aside the weekend.

Camp Speaker: Peter Adam

Theme: Enriching our prayers: Enriching our relationship with God

Date: 12th-13th September

More details and registration to come.

a. YOSHi every Friday at 7:30pm. Email Oli for details.

b. Prayer Meeting every Sunday at 9am Zoom.

c. Morning Tea every Sunday at 11:30am Zoom

d. Watch the Evening Service together at 5:50pm. Zoom

e. Q&A Live on Facebook at 7:15pm. Facebook page

You can email to admin@shp.org.au for all the Zoom link.

a. Conference: Moore Colllege "Can we live without sex?" Wed 19 Aug 8pm ($10). Listen to two single theologians speak about this topic from a Christian perspective. Register at https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=635397

b. Conference: Single Minded “Friendship: Beyond the Superficial” Wed 7 October. For more information and registration at https://www.singlemindedconference.com

c. If you would like to pray for the missionaries of the Australian Presbyterian World Mission, you can email admin@shp.org.au for an updates.

In your prayers, do pray for the Age Care facilities around our State, and in particularly the Kirkbrae facility in Kilsyth, where there was an outbreak. It has been a distressing time for the residents, their families and the staff, and many have been evacuated. So please pray for the situation, that God may protect and comfort all those involved.

While we are still meeting online, why don’t you consider taking every opportunity to invite your friends and family to join us for our Sunday service. There never has been an easier time. Just send them the link to our website www.shp.org.au, and church comes to them in the most unintimidating way, right into their lounge room.

If you are new and would like to find out more about Jesus, please get in touch with our pastor minister@shp.org.au.

It is important that we continue to be generous with all that God has given us. This time calls for generosity with our neighbours, those in need, and we want to continue to be generous towards the work of the gospel. If you are not already giving electronically, you can find the details below.

would like to encourage you to meet in triplets to pray and share in fellowship. Many of you were a part of a triplet from Church Camp. If you are not in one but would like to, please let Michelle know, michelle.gerungan@shp.org.au.

It is important that we take every opportunity to stay in fellowship and be nurtured by the Word of God, and spend time in prayer. Please stay connected. If you are not in a group, but would like to, please contact Grace ms.gwong@gmail.com.

Let this difficult season in Australian life be the season where we as Christians shine for the glory of God. Let us all be conscious of how our love for our community can reflect the love of Jesus for us. You may like to consider being in touch with your neighbours and offering help and service.

This Life I Live, Emu Music,

© 2009 Michael Morrow, CCLI Song No: 5592986

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

God’s Power and Human Weakness - 2 Corinthians

Emu Music, CCLI Song No. 7145086

© 2019 Liv Chapman and Michael Morrow