Week of September 28

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Taking Christ as Our Subjective Pattern for Our Daily Salvation

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5)

“Even though He was a Son, learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8)

“…Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12b)

In order to experience Christ and live Christ, we must know Him as our pattern and take Him as our pattern. The principle of this pattern is that someone with the highest life and position would be willing to live in a lowly way. (Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (3), msg. 2, I, C)

This pattern is the standard of our salvation. The salvation here in Philippians is salvation of another kind, or of a different degree…The salvation in 2:12 is actually a living person. This person is the very Christ whom we live, experience, and enjoy. A pattern that is only objective could not be our salvation in this way. The fact that salvation is a living person and that this person is our pattern indicates that the pattern is subjective as well as objective. (Life-study of Philippians, pp. 84, 86)

Christ is not only an outward pattern for us; He is also the life within us. As this inner life, He would have us experience Him and thereby live a crucified life. In this crucified life there is no room for rivalry, vainglory, or self-exaltation. On the contrary, there is self-emptying and self-humbling. Whenever we experience Christ and live Christ, we automatically live such a crucified life. This means that when we live Christ, we live the One who is the pattern of a crucified life. Then we also will empty ourselves and humble ourselves. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 3492)

ITERO Follow-up

The September 2025 International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones was held September 25 to 27 in Malaysia. The general subject of the nine messages was “Crucial Aspects of Matthew 5 through 7.” Approximately 1,800 brothers attended live; many are now participating in various blending trips in the region while other brothers back home get into the messages by video training over the next month.

On Lord's Day, September 28 there was a blending conference meeting in the same venue attended by nearly 2,500 saints. Brothers James Lee and Minoru Chen spoke about “Life Is the Source, Love Is the Condition, and Fruit-bearing Is the Goal for the Multiplication and Propagation of Christ as the True Vine, the Organism of the Triune God.”

Please pray that the brothers receiving the ITERO training will digest the words spoken and enter into the reality of the kingdom of the heavens to be the kingdom people.

UCLA – Week 1

We thank the Lord for a fruitful Welcome Week at UCLA, with many new students joining our Bible study, large group fellowship, and campus worship meeting. The fellowship, testimonies, and messages were full of life and encouragement, and many first-time students connected with us through these gatherings. As we begin our small group Bible studies this week with many student sign-ups, please pray:

• That each time would be filled with mutual speaking, participation, and the building of lasting connections and companionships.
• For much grace in following up with all the new ones, that the Lord would release meaningful appointments and guide our conversations.
• For our returning students to develop the heart to shepherd the younger ones, bear remaining fruit, and grow as living channels of life.

SCYP Fall Conferences

Registration is open for the Fall 2025 Southern California Young People's Conferences. The Junior High Conferences will be October 10 to 12 with sisters in Diamond Bar and brothers in Huntington Beach. The High School Conferences will be October 24 to 26 with sisters in Cerritos and brothers in Irvine. Please pray:

• That the Lord will release many young people to register and attend these conferences.
• For the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the young people over the next few weeks.
• That the young people in Los Angeles will continue to be built up together among the halls

Germany – Farsi-speaking Conference

All Farsi-speaking saints who have been in contact with us in recent years have been invited to a conference from October 3 to 5 at our blending center in Germany. The subject will be “The Restoration of God's House and God's City.” It is notable that this conference will be in-person, since many of the Farsi-speaking saints who came as refugees usually fellowship via Zoom since they are physically scattered around the country. Lord, bless this gathering with Your presence and fresh words!

Germany – October Gospel Trips

Gospels trips are set to take place October 5 to 19 in Germany, mainly to contact students at the start of the academic year. These trips will have visiting saints from around the earth combined with as many local saints as can be available. Please pray:

• For the Lord to prepare many university students and community residents in the target cities as open vessels to be contacted by the saints.
• For the participating saints to prepare for the trips by praying, dealing with the Lord, and being filled with the essential and economical Spirit.
• For a joyful and impactful one accord among all the saints involved, so that they command the Lord's blessing and go out with His authority.

Middle East

Pray that the situation in Israel and the surrounding region will be under the ruling of God's throne so that He will work out the counsel of His will. Pray for the saints there to be strengthened into their inner man, so that they live a life that expresses God and cooperates with God's move.

Announcements

1. Morning Revival: Week 26 of Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (3), vol. 5.
2. Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The weekly ministry series resumes this Wednesday 7:25 pm on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Philippians and Colossians.” Saints are invited to attend at the MCC in Anaheim; the meeting will also be live-streamed at lsmwebcast.com.
3. December 2025 Semiannual Training: December 22 to 27 in Anaheim. For LA saints, the firm registration deadlines are October 31 (live) and December 7 (video) at tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla. As a reminder, past issues of LSM's digital newsletter contain helpful fellowship on the burden for semiannual trainings, the need for training and regulations, and the purpose of training donations.
4. Thanksgiving Conference: This year's conference will be held in Indianapolis, November 27 to 30. Childcare for K–6 will be provided during the meetings. Saints from LA interested in attending can get more information on hotel group rates and RSVP at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
5. SCYP Fall Conferences: Junior High from October 10 to 12; registration due September 28. High School from October 24 to 26; registration due October 12. Contact serving ones for more info.
6. France Shepherding Trips: An invitation letter to participate in ongoing short-term shepherding trips throughout France is posted at lme.org/reports.html.
7. Italy 2026 Winter Olympics: A letter of fellowship and a letter with instructions on how to apply and participate in gospel trips are posted at lme.org/reports.html.
8. Bibles for America has developed materials to help unbelievers receive the Lord, as well as to help believers understand the Bible and grow in their faith and the divine life. A recent blogpost “What Can the Story of the Magi Teach Us About Knowing Jesus?” is available to read and share at bfa.org/blog. Many insightful videos are at bfa.org/videos.
9. Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.