TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - April 24, 2019

Easter Reflections

Today is April 24, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

This past Sunday our church celebrated Easter together in the Main Sanctuary. We had KM and EM; youth and children; pre-school and the Love ministry all together worshiping the risen Lord.

Despite the differences we might have had coming in - with our church being a multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-lingual congregation - it was the work of Christ that brought us all together in worship.

Looking back on it now, I was deeply blessed by it.

I pray that Easter was also a blessing to you, that it was a great time for you to reflect on the work of Christ, and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Apr 25 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep, 6pm @ Kitchen
• Apr 26 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group, 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• Apr 27 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission. Van leaves at 6:20am
• May 1 (Wed) – All Generation Cell Group, 7pm @ Benedicts
  • Topic: Internal Biblical Corroboration (Undesigned Coincidences) in the New Testament Narrative
• May 2 (Thu) – YMF Cell Group, 6:45pm @ Dan & Janice's place.
• May 3 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group, 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• May 5 (Sun) – PV Cell Group, 1pm
• May 5 (Sun) - Children's Day, @ Elim Cafe
• May 10 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group, 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• May 12 (Sun) - Mother's Day, EM Hosted Mother's Day Lunch
  • Sign-ups will be THIS Sunday!

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - April 17, 2019

Palm Sunday Reflection

Today is April 17, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on 'Palm Sunday', the crowd of disciples praised Jesus so much that the whole city of Jerusalem was stirred. They were stirred so much that they began to ask "who is this?"

Now, please note, Jesus had come several times before this. They knew who he was. However, the way that his disciples praised him made the city question their original opinion of Jesus. It made them do a double take. 

And there, in the disciple's actions and the city's reaction, is our challenge.

With this being Holy Week, I believe those of us who are a Christian need to reflect whether we are like the city of Jerusalem. Are we stirred at all by this week? Especially for those of us who have been Christian for decades. Does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean anything? And, if not, who is Jesus to you?

At the end of the last letter that Apostle Paul sent to the church of Corinth he writes:

2 Corinthians 13:5 
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Palm Sunday and Passion Week is a great time to examine our personal faith. Am I like the city of Jerusalem? Who is Jesus to me?

And, if we are stirred and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, then are we like his disciples on that day? Are we following God and praising him in our life to the point where it makes an impact in the various Jerusalems in our lives? Are we causing people who are not Christian; who have their own judgement and pre-conceived notions of who Jesus is, to question their false belief and see Jesus as he truly is?

Because, ultimately, that is what following Jesus should lead to. It should lead others to Christ.

God's blessing upon you as you reflect on who Jesus is to you and how you are following as his disciple, and I look forward to seeing you all this Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the last Sunday's message: HERE
Powerpoint Show of Last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Apr 18 (Thurs) – CPG Cell Group, 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• Apr 19 (Fri) - SBT Good Friday Service at EM Chapel. 7:30pm
• Apr 21 (Sun) - Easter Joint Service @ Main Sanctuary. No 9:30am Service.
• Apr 25 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Apr 26 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group
• Apr 27 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• May 1 (Wed) – All Generation Cell Group
• May 2 (Thu) – YMF Cell Group
• May 3 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group
• May 5 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• May 10 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group

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Education Advertisements

• Youth Ministry
  • TFPC Youth Summer Missions Team is having a Bake Sale on April 21. Please support our students as they prepare to serve God's people this summer.

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - April 10, 2019

Faith that Follows

Today is April 10, 2019

Welcome to  your mid-week!

Mark 10 tells us of Jesus' encounter with the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. Here was someone on the side of the road, an outsider, a marginalized, sidelined bystander.

And yet, by faith, Bartimaeus saw more clearly who Jesus was than his own disciples.
By faith, Bartimaeus courageously spoke up and didn't give up when discouraged.
By faith, Bartimaeus believed Jesus to be the Messiah and chose to do what all disciples are suppose to do. He chose to get up and follow Jesus.

True faith follows. True faith leads to discipleship. True faith is active and persistent and follows Jesus...even if that means going on the uphill road to the cross.

God's blessing upon you this week as you wrestle with what true faith is in your life, and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the last Sunday's message: HERE
Powerpoint Show of Last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Apr 11 (Thurs) – YMF Cell Group
• Apr 12 (Fri) - Women's Cell Group
• Apr 18 (Thurs) – CPG Cell Group
• Apr 19 (Fri) - SBT Good Friday Service at EM Chapel. 7:30pm
• Apr 21 (Sun) - Easter Joint Service @ Main Sanctuary. No 9:30am Service.

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Education Advertisements

• Elementary Ministry
  • Easter Candies and Plastic Egg Shell Donations needed to make 150 goodie bags for all our children
  • Please turn them in by this Sunday, April 14.
• Youth Ministry
  • TFPC Youth Summer Missions Team is having a Bake Sale on April 21. Please support our students as they prepare to serve God's people this summer."r all our children

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Volunteers Needed

Love Festival 2019

• When: Saturday, April 27 , 10am-3pm
• Where: Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
• Volunteers needed for BBQing, Face Painting, Balloon Making, Mascot/Costume Wearing, and Cotton Candy Machine. Please sign-up in the back of the chapel on Sunday

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - April 03, 2019

A Willing to Lose Christian

Today is April 3, 2019

Welcome to April and your mid-week!

One of the reasons the disciples abandoned and denied Jesus at Gethsemane was because they had a wrong expectation of Jesus as the Messiah. To them, Jesus was suppose to be the conquering Messiah. And, to them, they wanted to belong to that image of Jesus in order to reap the benefits of that Jesus. They wanted to rise above their station and sit at the left and right hand side of Jesus after he was victorious. 

This was not the messiah Jesus was. And so, to clarify their expectation, Jesus calls the crowd together and tells them and the disciples this, in Mark 8:34:

"...“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Jesus was not the conquering messiah. He was the sacrificial messiah. And to be his disciple was to do the same. To be Jesus' disciple was to be willing to lose everything for the sake of following Christ. 

...

I think, often times, we make the same mistakes as the disciples. We want to belong to Christianity to reap the benefits of Christianity but we don't want to lose anything for the sake of following Christ. We want the community. We want the security. We want the identity. But when it comes to losing our reputation or pride or career or friendship or family for the sake of following Christ? Then, we don't do it.

Being a true Christian is more than just belonging and reaping the benefits of Christ. It's about being willing to lose for the sake of following Christ.

Because, if we only do the former than we will end up just like the disciples after Jesus didn't meet their expectations - abandoning and denying the one they once called Lord.

God's blessing you as wrestle with what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the last Sunday's message: HERE
Powerpoint Show of Last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• ​Apr 3 (Weds) – All Generations Apologetics Cell Group 
  • Topic: The Evidence for the Resurrection
• Apr 5 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group. 7pm @ Pastor Frank's Office
• Apr 6 (Sat) - PV Cell Group, 4pm @ the Hong's Residence
• Apr 7 (Sun) – CPG and CNB Mixer, 12:15pm @ Elim Cafe
• Apr 11 (Thurs) – YMF Cell Group
• Apr 18 (Thurs) – CPG Cell Group
• Apr 19 (Fri) - SBT Good Friday Service at EM Chapel. 7:30pm
• Apr 21 (Sun) - Easter Joint Service @ Main Sanctuary

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Philippians 3:7-8 - "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ"

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - March 27, 2019

More Valuable

Today is March 27, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

During his sermon on the mount, Jesus connected two things for the reason why we worry: our perceived value and our faith. 

Often we measure ourselves by those things around us, whether that be our culture or our family or the various friends we see on social media.  And, if we measure up, we feel accomplished. But, if we don't, we feel undervalued. And that is what Jesus is teaching us against.

What Jesus is teaching us is that you are valuable to God. Right now. As you are. You are valuable to God.

Ephesians 1:4 tells us he chooses us before the creation of this world, in love.
Deuteronomy 7:6 & 14:2 tells us we are his treasured possession.

We might be sinners but, in Christ, we are offered continued forgiveness.
We might struggle with desires and temptations but, in Christ, we know we are free from the bondage of sin and death.
We might struggle with our sinful flesh but, in Christ, we are God's beloved children; completely known, completely forgiven, completely secure, and whole fully loved.

In Christ we are made holy. In Christ we measure up. And God sends us Jesus Christ despite us being sinners because, we are valuable to God.

It is false to believe that we need to appease God or that we are not valued by Him. That, if we don't do 'X', 'Y', or 'Z', he will pass on his 'favor.' No, that is false. We are more valuable and more beautiful than the birds in the sky and the greatest bloom Southern California has ever seen. 

If God can take care of those things not made in his image, then how much more will he take care of you.

God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday. 

- Frank Kim

Recording of the last Sunday's message: HERE
Powerpoint Show of Last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE
Cell Group Testimony - Aaron: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Mar 29 (Fri) - Skid Row Prep. 6pm @ the Kitchen
• Mar 30 (Sat) - Skid Row Mission. Van leaves 6:20am
• Mar 30 (Sat) – 1 Day Mexico Mission
• Mar 31 (Sun) - Last Day for Baptism Registrations
  • The form is found in the Main Office
  • Baptism Registration Ends April 7 (Sun)
  • Baptism Interviews will be April 13 (Sat) & April 20 (Sat)
  • Baptisms will be done during Easter Service, April 21 (Sun)
• ​Apr 3 (Weds) – All Generations Apologetics Cell Group 
  • Topic: The Evidence for the Resurrection
• Apr 5 (Fri) – Women’s Cell Group
• Apr 7 (Sun) – CPG and CNB Mixer
• Apr 11 (Thurs) – YMF Cell Group
• Apr 18 (Thurs) – CPG Cell Group

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