（腓立比書Philippians 3:12-16）
保羅在大馬色路上，獲得一次被得著與得著的經歷。這種「得著」與「被得著」的經驗，完全改變了他的人生。這到底是一種什麼經歷呢？
保羅在腓立比書3:12說，「我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得著基督耶穌所以得著我的。」首先，保羅體會在信耶穌的那一刻，被主得著了。保羅使用了一個很生動又強有力的字，就是「被捉住了」。這種「被捉住了」的體會是很深刻的。正如一個初戀的人被愛情捉住了，或一個愛國者被國家徵召的感覺一樣。他有所屬了，生命可以安頓，才華有了發揮的機會，深刻嚐到生存的意義。這些就是被捉住了的體驗。
因此，被耶穌捉住了的人，同時當下領會了一個使命感。保羅信了耶穌之後，很快就體會新的人生方向；他知道為何而活，也知道要做些什麼。保羅說，「我要竭力成就被基督捉住了要我去完成的生存目標。」保羅深深愛著耶穌，也被這位主深深地愛著；並深深體會被這位主所差遣，去完成一項極高貴榮耀的使命。這是一種怎樣的感覺呢？這就是保羅在加拉太書二章二十節所描寫的，「我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活著」。這就會像保羅一樣，一心一意、死心塌地來完成從基督裡領受的使命。保羅如此就同時捉住了他的人生、捉住了最充實和最有意義的生活。
經文默想
你有沒有好像保羅一樣，有被捉住了、同時自己也捉住了的體會呢？請你在本週內重讀腓立比書3:12～16，及加拉太書2:20。
On the road to Damascus, Paul had experienced being grasped and grasping of his life. This experience of “being grasped” and “grasping” had changed the course of his entire life. What is this experience exactly like?
In Philippians 3:12, Paul says, “But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” First of all, Paul had realized that the moment he accepted Christ, he was grasped by the Lord. Paul used a very vivid and powerful word to describe his experience, which was “being grasped”. This experience of being grasped is very profound. A closer illustration will be like a lover being grasped by love, or a patriot being called by the army to serve in defending his country. He will have a feeling of belonging, a satisfaction in life, a place to fully utilize his potential gifts, and a taste of deep meaning with full scale in his life. This is the experience of being grasped in life.
Therefore, a person is grasped by Jesus will at the same time immediately receives a mission. After accepting Christ, Paul has apprehended immediately a new life direction, for he realized the reason of his existence and the mission to fulfill in his life. Paul said, “I have to press on to fulfill the reason of being grasped by Christ and my life destiny.” Paul deeply loved Jesus, and in Christ, he was also deeply loved. He was very sure of being sent by the Lord to accomplish a highly noble task. What is then this experience Paul had? This is what Paul told us in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” With such experience, a person will be like Paul to devote his life single-mindedly and whole heartedly to fulfill his mission in Christ. By that way, Paul had grasped his life, and also grasped the fullest meaning of his existence.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Do you have this sense of being grasped like Paul, and at the same time grasping something in your life? Please reread the passages of Philippians 3:12~16 and Galatians 2:20 in this following week.
敬重主僕 Respect God’s Servant
（腓立比書Philippians 2:19-30）
保羅在差遣以巴弗提回腓立比時，特別要求腓立比信徒敬重以巴弗提，因為他為主勞苦幾乎至死。保羅在哥林多前書也提到類似的話（9:6～14），雖然他是要為自己辯護，因為有人攻擊保羅傳福音是為了得著物質的好處，但卻有一個很重要的屬靈教訓在其中，就是要求信徒敬重神的僕人。
我們為什麼要敬重神的僕人呢？除了人本應要互相敬重，或中國人傳統的尊師重道精神外，更有豐富的屬靈功課。
先知與牧人的角色：今天的傳道人在身份上承擔了舊約先知的角色，因為他們經常講道或解釋聖經。先知就是神的發言人，向百姓宣講神的道。神要求百姓服從先知和他們的教導。在正常的情況下，百姓接待先知就是接待神的使者，以他們代表著神的臨在。神藉著先知的宣講而臨在百姓中，但在關懷上神卻藉著牧人與百姓同在。
他們是全時間為主勞苦的：有人願意放下一切專心為主作工，就應該得到信徒們的敬重；況且他們的勞苦都是為了信徒們屬靈生命的好處。
在我們屬靈的操練上，首先應該在對待神的僕人身上做起。這是我們學習愛心、接待、甚至順服等屬靈功課的開始。在聖經中，從舊約先知門徒對待先知，到新約使徒的助手，例如提摩太、以巴弗提、西拉、馬可和路加等，對待使徒的態度，都是我們美好的榜樣。
經文默想
請大家重讀這主日講道的經文，並默想我們應如何敬重在教會中為主勞苦的弟兄姊妹。
When Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi, he particularly requested Christians in Philippi to receive him with respect, for he had risked his life for serving the Lord. In First Corinthians, Paul had also expressed the similar idea (9:6~14), even though he was defending himself against the accusation of his motivation in preaching the gospel, he gave us a very important spiritual lesson, which is to respect God’s servant.
Why should we respect God’s servant? Besides the mutual respect we should give to one another, or the Chinese tradition of respecting our teachers and their teachings, there are also very rich spiritual lessons for us.
The roles as prophet and shepherd: Post-biblical ministers have assumed two different roles from the Bible, and they are prophet and shepherd. As prophet, they will preach God’s word to the congregation, just like the prophets in the Old Testament proclaiming God’s word to the Israelite. They are the spokesmen of God. God requires His people to listen and obey to the prophets and their teachings. Usually in the Old Testament times, receiving the prophets was receiving God’s messengers, and people treated them as if God was presence among them. Through the prophets and their proclamations God was with His people. In the same way, through preaching and pastoral care given to people by the minister, God is present with His people.
They are laboring for the Lord for their lives: If anyone is willing to give his or her life to serving the Lord, he or she should be given respect, not to mention that, he or she is laboring for our spiritual welfare.
Our spiritual lesson should begin with respecting God’s servant. It is the first lesson to learn to love, respect, and even obey God’s servant. There are a lot of beautiful examples in the Old and New Testaments to show how the disciples of the prophets treated the prophets, and how Timothy, Epaphroditus, Barnabas, Silas, Mark and Luke treated the apostles.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Let us reread the Scripture passage for the sermon for this Sunday, and think of something we can do to show our respect to our brothers and sisters who are laboring in the church.
保羅在差遣以巴弗提回腓立比時，特別要求腓立比信徒敬重以巴弗提，因為他為主勞苦幾乎至死。保羅在哥林多前書也提到類似的話（9:6～14），雖然他是要為自己辯護，因為有人攻擊保羅傳福音是為了得著物質的好處，但卻有一個很重要的屬靈教訓在其中，就是要求信徒敬重神的僕人。
我們為什麼要敬重神的僕人呢？除了人本應要互相敬重，或中國人傳統的尊師重道精神外，更有豐富的屬靈功課。
先知與牧人的角色：今天的傳道人在身份上承擔了舊約先知的角色，因為他們經常講道或解釋聖經。先知就是神的發言人，向百姓宣講神的道。神要求百姓服從先知和他們的教導。在正常的情況下，百姓接待先知就是接待神的使者，以他們代表著神的臨在。神藉著先知的宣講而臨在百姓中，但在關懷上神卻藉著牧人與百姓同在。
他們是全時間為主勞苦的：有人願意放下一切專心為主作工，就應該得到信徒們的敬重；況且他們的勞苦都是為了信徒們屬靈生命的好處。
在我們屬靈的操練上，首先應該在對待神的僕人身上做起。這是我們學習愛心、接待、甚至順服等屬靈功課的開始。在聖經中，從舊約先知門徒對待先知，到新約使徒的助手，例如提摩太、以巴弗提、西拉、馬可和路加等，對待使徒的態度，都是我們美好的榜樣。
經文默想
請大家重讀這主日講道的經文，並默想我們應如何敬重在教會中為主勞苦的弟兄姊妹。
When Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi, he particularly requested Christians in Philippi to receive him with respect, for he had risked his life for serving the Lord. In First Corinthians, Paul had also expressed the similar idea (9:6~14), even though he was defending himself against the accusation of his motivation in preaching the gospel, he gave us a very important spiritual lesson, which is to respect God’s servant.
Why should we respect God’s servant? Besides the mutual respect we should give to one another, or the Chinese tradition of respecting our teachers and their teachings, there are also very rich spiritual lessons for us.
The roles as prophet and shepherd: Post-biblical ministers have assumed two different roles from the Bible, and they are prophet and shepherd. As prophet, they will preach God’s word to the congregation, just like the prophets in the Old Testament proclaiming God’s word to the Israelite. They are the spokesmen of God. God requires His people to listen and obey to the prophets and their teachings. Usually in the Old Testament times, receiving the prophets was receiving God’s messengers, and people treated them as if God was presence among them. Through the prophets and their proclamations God was with His people. In the same way, through preaching and pastoral care given to people by the minister, God is present with His people.
They are laboring for the Lord for their lives: If anyone is willing to give his or her life to serving the Lord, he or she should be given respect, not to mention that, he or she is laboring for our spiritual welfare.
Our spiritual lesson should begin with respecting God’s servant. It is the first lesson to learn to love, respect, and even obey God’s servant. There are a lot of beautiful examples in the Old and New Testaments to show how the disciples of the prophets treated the prophets, and how Timothy, Epaphroditus, Barnabas, Silas, Mark and Luke treated the apostles.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Let us reread the Scripture passage for the sermon for this Sunday, and think of something we can do to show our respect to our brothers and sisters who are laboring in the church.
效法基督 Imitating Christ
（腓立比書Philippians 2:5-11）
耶穌基督是三位一體的神當中的第二位。在基督論中，我們肯定耶穌具有完全的神性和人性，其含意是祂既是完全的神，也是完全的人。我們在這一項基督論的神學認信上面，有一個很重要的屬靈操練的教導，就是效法基督的榜樣。耶穌基督的人生就是我們的生活榜樣，也是神向我們啟示，並要求我們追求的敬虔生命。
保羅要求腓立比教會的基督徒，要以耶穌基督的心為心。什麼是以耶穌的心為心呢？它的意思是要我們體會、認同和效法耶穌的生命。其實，在門徒的操練中，最重要也是最主要的功課，就是以耶穌基督的心為心。
以耶穌基督的心為心，就是盡量去體會和認同耶穌的想法，祂對事物和人的感受和態度，祂的生活方式，並祂的使命與嚮往。當我們慢慢以耶穌的心為心，便會很自然地效法祂的生活和祂所示範的正常健康的人生，就是神要我們獲得的新生命和新生活。
教會為我們提供的一切團契、小組、主日學、崇拜和門徒訓練等，目的是要多方面讓我們去體會耶穌基督，並以祂的心為心。簡單地說，門徒訓練或學習做耶穌基督的門徒，就是學習以耶穌基督的心為心，去效法基督。
經文默想
請你使用這段經文，默想耶穌的生平和祂待人處事的方法與態度，並體會祂的心腸。
Jesus Christ is the second person of the triune God. In Christology, we confess that Jesus has the total nature of God and man, which means that He is wholly God and wholly man. In this Christological confession there is a very profound teaching in spirituality, and that is the discipline of imitating Christ. Jesus is our role model, and His life and deeds have set us the example to imitate. It is also the revelation of God given to us regarding our spiritual pursuit in godly living.
Paul asked the Christians in Philippi to have the same mind in theirs as it was in Jesus. What does it mean to have the same mind in us as it is in Jesus? It means that we share the same perspective and compassion of Jesus, and identify with His lifestyle. As a matter of fact, it is the purpose and goal of discipleship training.
Having the same mind of Jesus is to share and identify with the perspectives and compassion of Jesus. We share and identify with the things Jesus did, and the ways He handled things and relationships as well as His lifestyle. If we share more and more Jesus’ heart, we will be naturally imitating the right and healthy lifestyle that he has revealed to us, which is also the new life that God wants us to put on.
Our church has been providing different fellowships, small groups, Sunday school classes, worship services and discipleship training opportunities for us to imitate Christ and to share His heart. To put it in a straight and simple expression, the purpose and goal for any discipleship training is basically to learn how to share the heart of Jesus and to imitate His life.
Meditation on the Scripture
Please use this Scripture passage to meditate on the life and work of Jesus to share His heart and His passion.
耶穌基督是三位一體的神當中的第二位。在基督論中，我們肯定耶穌具有完全的神性和人性，其含意是祂既是完全的神，也是完全的人。我們在這一項基督論的神學認信上面，有一個很重要的屬靈操練的教導，就是效法基督的榜樣。耶穌基督的人生就是我們的生活榜樣，也是神向我們啟示，並要求我們追求的敬虔生命。
保羅要求腓立比教會的基督徒，要以耶穌基督的心為心。什麼是以耶穌的心為心呢？它的意思是要我們體會、認同和效法耶穌的生命。其實，在門徒的操練中，最重要也是最主要的功課，就是以耶穌基督的心為心。
以耶穌基督的心為心，就是盡量去體會和認同耶穌的想法，祂對事物和人的感受和態度，祂的生活方式，並祂的使命與嚮往。當我們慢慢以耶穌的心為心，便會很自然地效法祂的生活和祂所示範的正常健康的人生，就是神要我們獲得的新生命和新生活。
教會為我們提供的一切團契、小組、主日學、崇拜和門徒訓練等，目的是要多方面讓我們去體會耶穌基督，並以祂的心為心。簡單地說，門徒訓練或學習做耶穌基督的門徒，就是學習以耶穌基督的心為心，去效法基督。
經文默想
請你使用這段經文，默想耶穌的生平和祂待人處事的方法與態度，並體會祂的心腸。
Jesus Christ is the second person of the triune God. In Christology, we confess that Jesus has the total nature of God and man, which means that He is wholly God and wholly man. In this Christological confession there is a very profound teaching in spirituality, and that is the discipline of imitating Christ. Jesus is our role model, and His life and deeds have set us the example to imitate. It is also the revelation of God given to us regarding our spiritual pursuit in godly living.
Paul asked the Christians in Philippi to have the same mind in theirs as it was in Jesus. What does it mean to have the same mind in us as it is in Jesus? It means that we share the same perspective and compassion of Jesus, and identify with His lifestyle. As a matter of fact, it is the purpose and goal of discipleship training.
Having the same mind of Jesus is to share and identify with the perspectives and compassion of Jesus. We share and identify with the things Jesus did, and the ways He handled things and relationships as well as His lifestyle. If we share more and more Jesus’ heart, we will be naturally imitating the right and healthy lifestyle that he has revealed to us, which is also the new life that God wants us to put on.
Our church has been providing different fellowships, small groups, Sunday school classes, worship services and discipleship training opportunities for us to imitate Christ and to share His heart. To put it in a straight and simple expression, the purpose and goal for any discipleship training is basically to learn how to share the heart of Jesus and to imitate His life.
Meditation on the Scripture
Please use this Scripture passage to meditate on the life and work of Jesus to share His heart and His passion.
聖靈裡團契 Fellowship in the Holy Spirit
腓立比書Philippians 2:1-4
保羅勉勵腓立比信徒，不要因他在監牢裡就氣餒，之後便轉而教導他們，要保守教會和團契的生活。建立教會是神的命令，也是基督徒成長與事奉的地方。沒有教會就無法讓天國降臨，也不能讓神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。
教會的生活或團契生活，就是在聖靈裡的團契。保羅在第一節中已教導我們教會生活的內涵：
同時，當我們有了第一、二、三和五項時，第四項就得以圓滿地實現在我們中間。我們被聖靈充滿，是指著上面五項的生活，都充充實實地在我們教會的生活中出現的意思。讓我們一同追求聖經教導的聖靈裡的團契生活，就是聖靈充滿的生活。
經文默想
你想追求聖靈充滿的教會生活嗎？保羅在這段經文如何教導你過教會的生活呢？你要如何回應聖經的教導呢？
Paul exhorted the disciples in Philippi not to be discouraged, but keep the church life intact. Building church life is ordained by God to allow Christians to grow and serve in a body. The kingdom cannot come to us, and God’s will cannot be done on earth without the existence of His church.
Church life or fellowship is the communion in the Spirit. Paul told us very clearly the contents of church life:
At the same time, when we have the first, second, third and fifth, the fourth will then be completely fulfilled among us. When we say we are spirit-filled, we are talking about the above biblical teachings, and all those five conditions are fully filled in our church life. Let us pursue such Bible taught spirit-filled fellowship in our church.
Meditation on the Scripture
Do you want to have a spirit-filled church life? What does Paul teach you on church life? What are you going to respond to this Bible teaching?
保羅勉勵腓立比信徒，不要因他在監牢裡就氣餒，之後便轉而教導他們，要保守教會和團契的生活。建立教會是神的命令，也是基督徒成長與事奉的地方。沒有教會就無法讓天國降臨，也不能讓神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。
教會的生活或團契生活，就是在聖靈裡的團契。保羅在第一節中已教導我們教會生活的內涵：
- 我們必須在基督裡。我們接受基督，分享了祂的生命，才能夠成為祂的身體，就是教會，的一部份。
- 我們要接受和遵行基督的教訓。聖經的教導可以勸勉我們，賜力量給我們過符合神心意的生活。
- 我們要分享基督的愛。基督的愛安慰了我，我便以基督的愛去愛弟兄姊妹。
- 在聖靈裡的交通。我們在聖靈的指導和力量底下，與弟兄姊妹一起操練主的教導，並用基督的愛互相照顧與建立，就生活在聖靈的團契裡，也被聖靈所充滿。
- 因此，我們各人的心便充滿了基督的慈悲憐憫，教會或團契的生活就出現第二至四節的情況了。
同時，當我們有了第一、二、三和五項時，第四項就得以圓滿地實現在我們中間。我們被聖靈充滿，是指著上面五項的生活，都充充實實地在我們教會的生活中出現的意思。讓我們一同追求聖經教導的聖靈裡的團契生活，就是聖靈充滿的生活。
經文默想
你想追求聖靈充滿的教會生活嗎？保羅在這段經文如何教導你過教會的生活呢？你要如何回應聖經的教導呢？
Paul exhorted the disciples in Philippi not to be discouraged, but keep the church life intact. Building church life is ordained by God to allow Christians to grow and serve in a body. The kingdom cannot come to us, and God’s will cannot be done on earth without the existence of His church.
Church life or fellowship is the communion in the Spirit. Paul told us very clearly the contents of church life:
- We have to be in Christ. When we have accepted Christ, we share His life, and become parts of His body, which is His church.
- We learn and obey Christ’s teachings. God’s word in the Bible will exhort us and give us strength to obey His will and to live a God-pleasing lifestyle.
- We share the love of Christ. The love of Christ comforts us, and with this love, we love our brothers and sisters.
- We have fellowship in the Spirit. Under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we, together with our brothers and sisters, exercise the spiritual disciplines, and build up our fellowship to love and care about each other. This is what the Bible means a spirit-filled life.
- Therefore our hearts become tendered and are filled with Christ’s compassion. With such heart, the contents of the first four in church life will become a reality in our fellowship.
At the same time, when we have the first, second, third and fifth, the fourth will then be completely fulfilled among us. When we say we are spirit-filled, we are talking about the above biblical teachings, and all those five conditions are fully filled in our church life. Let us pursue such Bible taught spirit-filled fellowship in our church.
Meditation on the Scripture
Do you want to have a spirit-filled church life? What does Paul teach you on church life? What are you going to respond to this Bible teaching?
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