每逢聖誕節，我們都會寄贈聖誕賀卡或禮物給親友，表達心中的關懷和祝福。聖誕節真是一個充滿祝福的節日，因為神在這天祝福了全人類，使凡明白聖誕節的意義，又願意接納這個在聖誕節誕生的嬰孩的人，就得與神和人重建和好的關係，帶來人生最大的喜樂與平安。
正如天使和牧羊人向世人宣告和好的祝福，我們也在這個聖誕節的日子裡，向我們的親友報告神悅納人的好消息。
現在電子通訊很方便，我們可以從一些提供免費聖誕賀卡的網站中選寄聖誕賀卡，再加上幾句話，介紹聖誕節的真意，把這個大喜的消息繼天使和牧羊人在二千多年前所做的一樣接續下去。如果你不懂如何寫，可以直接把路加福音2:10～11和約翰福音3:16抄寫出來便可以了：「我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的；因為今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督」；「神愛世人，甚至將祂的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信祂的，不至滅亡，反得永生」。
During the Christmas season, we will send out Christmas cards or gifts to our friends and relatives to bless them a peaceful and joyful Christmas. Christmas is truly a very blessing season in the year, for God has blessed us with a baby savior to save those who know the meaning of Christmas and receive this baby as their redeemer. This is a good news to us because through Jesus, we are made reconciled with God and other fellows, and it brings the greatest joy and peace to life.
Following the angles and the shepherds who brought the good tidings to people, we will also tell our friends and relatives the good news of the forgiveness of God to all mankind.
We should take the advantage of the means of electronic media to send free Christmas cards to our friends and relatives to tell them such good news of Christmas, just like what the shepherds did in two thousand years ago. If you want to do that but don’t know what to write, you may just copy the Scripture from Luke 2:10~11, and John 3:16. These two passages will tell the full meaning of the Christmas story.
神與人同在的喜悅 The Joy of Emmanuel
十二月是聖誕節的月份，從街道上的商店，電視中的廣告，公司裡的派對，到每個人心中所計劃的節目、聖誕卡與禮物，都好像不斷在為聖誕節營造氣氛。隨著接近平安夜的來臨，聖誕節的氣氛漸漸濃厚起來，然而沒有多少人留意聖誕節的主角卻不在慶祝的人心中。
平安夜之所以充滿平安，聖誕節之所以使普世得以歡騰，今天在興奮地籌備節日的人心中已不願多提了。因此，人便在節日中醉生夢死，貪婪地呼吸著狂歡所帶來的麻醉，然後再一次無奈地等待狂歡過後的空虛。平安夜過後街道上將會顯得特別的蕭條。
天使在第一個聖誕節向約瑟宣告，神要與人同在了，因為這個嬰孩耶穌要將人類從黑暗中拯救出來！平安夜之所以充滿平安，因為人可以離開黑暗，進入奇妙的義光中。聖誕節之所以是歡樂的，因為我們的罪可以被神所赦免。神在基督裡與人同在了，這就是聖誕節的核心意義，我們為此而歡騰！
December is the season of Christmas, from the shops to the commercials on the television to parties in companies, people are planning for their activities, Christmas cards and presents, and with all these things, the feeling of Christmas is added more and more in the air. Following to the coming of the peaceful eve of Christmas, the feeling is higher and higher, but no one cares about whom they are going to celebrate for this birthday.
The reason for Silent Night to have such peaceful silence, and the joy for all people to share for Christmas, now seems to have no point in the hearts of those who are preparing for the season. Thus so, people make merry and die, and greedily take every breath of the breeze of laughter in the air to wait for another day of emptiness to fall. In the morning after the Christmas Eve all the streets are dead.
Emmanuel was the news that the angels announced to Joseph, for a child was going to be born into the world to deliver people from the dark! Silent Night is so peaceful to us is because people can leave the darkness and enter into the wonderful light of righteousness. We love to celebrate Christmas for God has forgiven us. God is with us in Christ, and this is the meaning of Christmas, for which we celebrate today with joy overflowing!
平安夜之所以充滿平安，聖誕節之所以使普世得以歡騰，今天在興奮地籌備節日的人心中已不願多提了。因此，人便在節日中醉生夢死，貪婪地呼吸著狂歡所帶來的麻醉，然後再一次無奈地等待狂歡過後的空虛。平安夜過後街道上將會顯得特別的蕭條。
天使在第一個聖誕節向約瑟宣告，神要與人同在了，因為這個嬰孩耶穌要將人類從黑暗中拯救出來！平安夜之所以充滿平安，因為人可以離開黑暗，進入奇妙的義光中。聖誕節之所以是歡樂的，因為我們的罪可以被神所赦免。神在基督裡與人同在了，這就是聖誕節的核心意義，我們為此而歡騰！
December is the season of Christmas, from the shops to the commercials on the television to parties in companies, people are planning for their activities, Christmas cards and presents, and with all these things, the feeling of Christmas is added more and more in the air. Following to the coming of the peaceful eve of Christmas, the feeling is higher and higher, but no one cares about whom they are going to celebrate for this birthday.
The reason for Silent Night to have such peaceful silence, and the joy for all people to share for Christmas, now seems to have no point in the hearts of those who are preparing for the season. Thus so, people make merry and die, and greedily take every breath of the breeze of laughter in the air to wait for another day of emptiness to fall. In the morning after the Christmas Eve all the streets are dead.
Emmanuel was the news that the angels announced to Joseph, for a child was going to be born into the world to deliver people from the dark! Silent Night is so peaceful to us is because people can leave the darkness and enter into the wonderful light of righteousness. We love to celebrate Christmas for God has forgiven us. God is with us in Christ, and this is the meaning of Christmas, for which we celebrate today with joy overflowing!
以馬內利 Immanuel
（馬太福音Matthew 1:18-25）
猶太人取名字一般都含有一些屬靈的意義，表達父母對孩子的一種祝願，或反映一些當時的屬靈光景。神也常常以名字來表示祂與人的關係。神為雅各起名為以色列，表示雅各並不滿足於物質上的安逸豐富，決心要得著神的最大的祝福，並且直到得著方願罷休。
耶穌在誕生前，天使便為祂起名為以馬內利，意思是神與我們同在。約瑟因為得到天使的報夢，也為他的孩子起名為耶穌，這就是耶穌降生的目的與使命。
從這兩個名字，我們就可以了解耶穌的救恩的意義，就是要把我們從罪中拯救出來，與神重建和好的關係，從此神就再次與人同在。
神與人同在，就是聖誕節最大喜的信息，也是耶穌帶給我們的真正喜樂和平安。基督徒喜歡聖誕節，並不是因為可以盡情狂歡或交換禮物，或有長假期去旅遊，乃是因為在這一天耶穌誕生了，為我們帶來神的愛和赦免，使凡接納這位救主的人，都獲得神同在的應許。
如何過一個有意義的聖誕節呢？我們可以邀請慕道朋友，或初信主的弟兄姊妹來家中吃晚飯，並與他們分享你的屬靈經歷。我們可以在團契中讓別人也經歷神的同在。
Naming a child in Jewish tradition is usually tied with some spiritual meaning to express the parents’ expectation or to commemorate certain spiritual experience. God also uses names to reveal His relationship to His people. God had named Jacob as Israel to recognize his eagerness to strive for the highest blessings from Him. Jacob would not satisfy for material goods or a smooth and stable live, he always wanted to get the highest blessings from God.
Before Jesus was born, the angel had given Him a name called Immanuel, which meant God with men. Joseph had also named his son Jesus after he dreamed of the angel talking to him. These two names tell exactly the purpose and the mission of the birth of this baby Jesus.
With these two names we can understand the meaning of Jesus’ redemption, which is delivering us from sin and reconciling us with God so that God can be with us again.
The greatest and most joyful message of Christmas is the message of God being with us. This is also the true peace and joy that Jesus has brought to us. We, as Christians, love Christmas not because of the endless parties, or exchanging gifts, or long holiday for vacation; but the birth of Jesus whom brought us the love and forgiveness of God so that for those who accept Christ as their savior will enter the fellowship with God.
How can we have a meaningful Christmas? We can invite friends, especially seekers or young Christians to have dinner fellowship at home to share God’s blessings with them, so that they will also experience the presence of God in this Christmas season.
猶太人取名字一般都含有一些屬靈的意義，表達父母對孩子的一種祝願，或反映一些當時的屬靈光景。神也常常以名字來表示祂與人的關係。神為雅各起名為以色列，表示雅各並不滿足於物質上的安逸豐富，決心要得著神的最大的祝福，並且直到得著方願罷休。
耶穌在誕生前，天使便為祂起名為以馬內利，意思是神與我們同在。約瑟因為得到天使的報夢，也為他的孩子起名為耶穌，這就是耶穌降生的目的與使命。
從這兩個名字，我們就可以了解耶穌的救恩的意義，就是要把我們從罪中拯救出來，與神重建和好的關係，從此神就再次與人同在。
神與人同在，就是聖誕節最大喜的信息，也是耶穌帶給我們的真正喜樂和平安。基督徒喜歡聖誕節，並不是因為可以盡情狂歡或交換禮物，或有長假期去旅遊，乃是因為在這一天耶穌誕生了，為我們帶來神的愛和赦免，使凡接納這位救主的人，都獲得神同在的應許。
如何過一個有意義的聖誕節呢？我們可以邀請慕道朋友，或初信主的弟兄姊妹來家中吃晚飯，並與他們分享你的屬靈經歷。我們可以在團契中讓別人也經歷神的同在。
Naming a child in Jewish tradition is usually tied with some spiritual meaning to express the parents’ expectation or to commemorate certain spiritual experience. God also uses names to reveal His relationship to His people. God had named Jacob as Israel to recognize his eagerness to strive for the highest blessings from Him. Jacob would not satisfy for material goods or a smooth and stable live, he always wanted to get the highest blessings from God.
Before Jesus was born, the angel had given Him a name called Immanuel, which meant God with men. Joseph had also named his son Jesus after he dreamed of the angel talking to him. These two names tell exactly the purpose and the mission of the birth of this baby Jesus.
With these two names we can understand the meaning of Jesus’ redemption, which is delivering us from sin and reconciling us with God so that God can be with us again.
The greatest and most joyful message of Christmas is the message of God being with us. This is also the true peace and joy that Jesus has brought to us. We, as Christians, love Christmas not because of the endless parties, or exchanging gifts, or long holiday for vacation; but the birth of Jesus whom brought us the love and forgiveness of God so that for those who accept Christ as their savior will enter the fellowship with God.
How can we have a meaningful Christmas? We can invite friends, especially seekers or young Christians to have dinner fellowship at home to share God’s blessings with them, so that they will also experience the presence of God in this Christmas season.
為意義而活 Men Live for Meaning
（路加福音2:25-32）
中國有一句老話說，人生之哀，莫大於心死。什麼是哀莫大於心死呢？就是說當人在極大失望的時候，便失去了生存的動力與勇氣。
Viktor Frankl 經過集中營的苦難後，體會了讓人有頑強求生力量的乃是盼望。盼望讓人產生生活的意義，提供求生的勇氣和力量，使人可以熬過最艱難的時刻。
當一個人有愈深刻的盼望，並且愈能體會它的實在，對生命就有更大的意義感，使他能面對更大的壓力、挑戰和困難。奧古斯丁經過半生的思考和體驗，發現上帝是人類最深刻的盼望，也是最真實可體會旳盼望，能夠使人那顆無法用任何事物去滿足的心靈獲得最大的滿足，讓他的下半生活在最大、最高的意義感中，為人類的思想史作出最偉大的貢獻。
公元初是猶太歷史最黑暗的時代，社會動盪，人心不安。一位老人名叫西面，心中懷著一個盼望，並且深信這盼望必成事實，便與死亡作最頑強的鬥爭。他要等候那位彌賽亞，就是先知早在六、七百年前所宣告的上帝的應許。他知道這位救贖主是上帝應許給以色列人和全人類的救贖。這位救主要解決全人類自文明開始便一直想解決但卻無能為力的問題，因此西面稱他為世界之光，是為萬民預備的救恩。
耶穌自誕生到今天已兩千多年了，真的如西面所宣告的，為人類帶來最大、最真實又可體驗的盼望，並讓千千萬萬的人獲得最大和最高的生活意義。普世都在預備迎接聖誕節的來臨，並認為它是盼望的節日，因為在兩千多年前的那一夜，為全人類誕生了一位救主，乃是上帝的獨生子耶穌基督。
There is an old Chinese saying, and it says that the most miserable thing is hopelessness. What does this saying mean? It means that if a person loses all his hope, he will also lose his will to live.
After surviving the concentration camp, Viktor Frankl came up with an understanding of the power of the will to meaning in life struggles. He maintains that hope will give meaning to life and provide energy to overcome challenge and difficulty.
If a person has a more profound hope, and he believes that it is real, that hope will give more meaning to his life situation to motivate him to face challenge and overcome pressure and difficulty.
After laboring for half of his life in thinking and reflecting, Augustine had realized that God was his most profound hope, and it was the truth that he could experience, which gave him the greatest meaning to satisfy his restless heart. Because of this hope had given him the sense of highest meaning in life, he made an excellent contribution in philosophy and theology in human history.
In the beginning of the century Israel went into the darkest era, and the whole society was so restlessly that every body was confused. A man named Simeon had a hope and he believed that his hope was about to fulfill so that he was struggling very hard to keep himself alive in his very old age. He was waiting for the Messiah whom the prophets had promised seven hundred years ago that God would prepare a savior. A savior would be given to all mankind to once and for all solve the problem that we cannot settle for thousand years since the dawn of human civilizations. Therefore, Simeon called this Messiah was the light of the world and he was coming for all peoples.
Jesus had come for more than two thousand years and fulfilled the word of Simeon to bring the real hope to all people to allow them to live the most meaningful lives. December is the month of Christmas, and the whole world is preparing a celebration to welcome the hope of Christmas because Jesus was born two thousand years ago to be our redeemer, the only begotten Son of God!
中國有一句老話說，人生之哀，莫大於心死。什麼是哀莫大於心死呢？就是說當人在極大失望的時候，便失去了生存的動力與勇氣。
Viktor Frankl 經過集中營的苦難後，體會了讓人有頑強求生力量的乃是盼望。盼望讓人產生生活的意義，提供求生的勇氣和力量，使人可以熬過最艱難的時刻。
當一個人有愈深刻的盼望，並且愈能體會它的實在，對生命就有更大的意義感，使他能面對更大的壓力、挑戰和困難。奧古斯丁經過半生的思考和體驗，發現上帝是人類最深刻的盼望，也是最真實可體會旳盼望，能夠使人那顆無法用任何事物去滿足的心靈獲得最大的滿足，讓他的下半生活在最大、最高的意義感中，為人類的思想史作出最偉大的貢獻。
公元初是猶太歷史最黑暗的時代，社會動盪，人心不安。一位老人名叫西面，心中懷著一個盼望，並且深信這盼望必成事實，便與死亡作最頑強的鬥爭。他要等候那位彌賽亞，就是先知早在六、七百年前所宣告的上帝的應許。他知道這位救贖主是上帝應許給以色列人和全人類的救贖。這位救主要解決全人類自文明開始便一直想解決但卻無能為力的問題，因此西面稱他為世界之光，是為萬民預備的救恩。
耶穌自誕生到今天已兩千多年了，真的如西面所宣告的，為人類帶來最大、最真實又可體驗的盼望，並讓千千萬萬的人獲得最大和最高的生活意義。普世都在預備迎接聖誕節的來臨，並認為它是盼望的節日，因為在兩千多年前的那一夜，為全人類誕生了一位救主，乃是上帝的獨生子耶穌基督。
There is an old Chinese saying, and it says that the most miserable thing is hopelessness. What does this saying mean? It means that if a person loses all his hope, he will also lose his will to live.
After surviving the concentration camp, Viktor Frankl came up with an understanding of the power of the will to meaning in life struggles. He maintains that hope will give meaning to life and provide energy to overcome challenge and difficulty.
If a person has a more profound hope, and he believes that it is real, that hope will give more meaning to his life situation to motivate him to face challenge and overcome pressure and difficulty.
After laboring for half of his life in thinking and reflecting, Augustine had realized that God was his most profound hope, and it was the truth that he could experience, which gave him the greatest meaning to satisfy his restless heart. Because of this hope had given him the sense of highest meaning in life, he made an excellent contribution in philosophy and theology in human history.
In the beginning of the century Israel went into the darkest era, and the whole society was so restlessly that every body was confused. A man named Simeon had a hope and he believed that his hope was about to fulfill so that he was struggling very hard to keep himself alive in his very old age. He was waiting for the Messiah whom the prophets had promised seven hundred years ago that God would prepare a savior. A savior would be given to all mankind to once and for all solve the problem that we cannot settle for thousand years since the dawn of human civilizations. Therefore, Simeon called this Messiah was the light of the world and he was coming for all peoples.
Jesus had come for more than two thousand years and fulfilled the word of Simeon to bring the real hope to all people to allow them to live the most meaningful lives. December is the month of Christmas, and the whole world is preparing a celebration to welcome the hope of Christmas because Jesus was born two thousand years ago to be our redeemer, the only begotten Son of God!
彌賽亞 Messiah
（彌迦書Micah 5:2-4）
彌迦書五章二至四節是有名的彌賽亞預言。彌賽亞的意思是被膏立的人。在希伯來文化和信仰上，受膏者是指那人被賦予一個特殊的位份，或被受權擔任一些重要的或神聖的事情等。在猶太人的文化和傳統裡，彌賽亞的身份往往與政治和軍事領袖相連在一起。在以色列亡國以後，彌賽亞更被賦予強烈的政治和軍事英雄的色彩，是以色列民族復國的盼望。
當耶穌出來傳天國的福音的時候，群眾甚至門徒一直都以為耶穌就是他們盼望已久的革命英雄，要帶領他們推翻羅馬政權，復興以色列國。這種誤解也成為耶穌被逼害，以至後來被釘十字架的一個重要原因。一直到耶穌復活，將要離開祂的門徒之前，門徒也還是抱著這個誤解，追問耶穌何時要光復以色列國。耶穌雖然多次向他們解釋，也坦白告訴他們關乎祂真正的使命，但門徒總是不能體會，也不能明白。直至五旬節聖靈降臨之後，他們才醒悟過來，明白神要藉著耶穌所成就的救贖計劃，並不是那麼狹隘的民族政治的目的，乃是關乎全人類的和好運動。
耶穌的救贖工作是和好的福音，先是神與人的和好，然後是人與人的和好。這個和好的福音能解決人類所有問題的最基本的辦法，不分種族和文化，因此它是普世的救贖，是傳福音和宣教的主要原因。
經文默想
我們已獲得了彌賽亞的救贖，並明白這個和好福音的意義與使命。我們也有先知的使命，向別人宣講神的審判與救贖。請你重讀這一段經文，思想自己在家人、朋友、同事和同學中間應擔負什麼角色，讓他們認識神的審判和救贖的信息？
Micah 5:2~4 is known as the Messianic prophecy. Messiah is the anointed one. In Hebrew faith and culture, the anointed person will be designated to a special position, or delegated with some important responsibility or divine task. In the Jewish culture and tradition, Messiah is always interpreted as the political or military leader. After the destruction of the Israel nation, Messiah was viewed as the future political and military hero who would liberate the Israel people from captivity and restore the Israel nation. Messiah was the national hope of the Israelite for more than a thousand years since then.
During the time of Jesus’ ministry of preaching the kingdom message, people, including His disciples, misunderstood Jesus as their national hero, whom they had been longing for ages to lead them to overthrow the Roman domination. They were expecting Jesus to restore the Israel nation for them, and this misconception put Jesus under persecution, and finally became one of the major reasons to hang Him on the cross. Until Jesus accented to heaven after His resurrection, His disciples were still asking Him about the date of the restoration of the Israel nation. Even though Jesus had explained to them many times, and told them His real mission, the disciples just did not get it. Until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they started to realize that the redemptive plan of God fulfilled in the life of Jesus is to bring the good news of reconciliation to all mankind. Since then, the disciples abandoned the narrow perspective of viewing salvation as a national political endeavor, and the global mission movement begun.
The salvation of Jesus is the gospel of reconciliation. It reconciles first between God and people, and then people with people. This is the ultimate solution to all human problems with no discrimination in culture or ethnicity, for God’s salvation is for all people. It is also the reason of evangelism and missions.
Meditation on the Scripture:
We have been saved by this Messiah, and understand the meaning and mission of this good news. We also share the role and mission of the prophet, and obligate to tell people about God’s judgment and salvation. Please read this Bible passage to meditate on our role and responsibility to share this good news of reconciliation with our family, friends, coworkers and schoolmates.
彌迦書五章二至四節是有名的彌賽亞預言。彌賽亞的意思是被膏立的人。在希伯來文化和信仰上，受膏者是指那人被賦予一個特殊的位份，或被受權擔任一些重要的或神聖的事情等。在猶太人的文化和傳統裡，彌賽亞的身份往往與政治和軍事領袖相連在一起。在以色列亡國以後，彌賽亞更被賦予強烈的政治和軍事英雄的色彩，是以色列民族復國的盼望。
當耶穌出來傳天國的福音的時候，群眾甚至門徒一直都以為耶穌就是他們盼望已久的革命英雄，要帶領他們推翻羅馬政權，復興以色列國。這種誤解也成為耶穌被逼害，以至後來被釘十字架的一個重要原因。一直到耶穌復活，將要離開祂的門徒之前，門徒也還是抱著這個誤解，追問耶穌何時要光復以色列國。耶穌雖然多次向他們解釋，也坦白告訴他們關乎祂真正的使命，但門徒總是不能體會，也不能明白。直至五旬節聖靈降臨之後，他們才醒悟過來，明白神要藉著耶穌所成就的救贖計劃，並不是那麼狹隘的民族政治的目的，乃是關乎全人類的和好運動。
耶穌的救贖工作是和好的福音，先是神與人的和好，然後是人與人的和好。這個和好的福音能解決人類所有問題的最基本的辦法，不分種族和文化，因此它是普世的救贖，是傳福音和宣教的主要原因。
經文默想
我們已獲得了彌賽亞的救贖，並明白這個和好福音的意義與使命。我們也有先知的使命，向別人宣講神的審判與救贖。請你重讀這一段經文，思想自己在家人、朋友、同事和同學中間應擔負什麼角色，讓他們認識神的審判和救贖的信息？
Micah 5:2~4 is known as the Messianic prophecy. Messiah is the anointed one. In Hebrew faith and culture, the anointed person will be designated to a special position, or delegated with some important responsibility or divine task. In the Jewish culture and tradition, Messiah is always interpreted as the political or military leader. After the destruction of the Israel nation, Messiah was viewed as the future political and military hero who would liberate the Israel people from captivity and restore the Israel nation. Messiah was the national hope of the Israelite for more than a thousand years since then.
During the time of Jesus’ ministry of preaching the kingdom message, people, including His disciples, misunderstood Jesus as their national hero, whom they had been longing for ages to lead them to overthrow the Roman domination. They were expecting Jesus to restore the Israel nation for them, and this misconception put Jesus under persecution, and finally became one of the major reasons to hang Him on the cross. Until Jesus accented to heaven after His resurrection, His disciples were still asking Him about the date of the restoration of the Israel nation. Even though Jesus had explained to them many times, and told them His real mission, the disciples just did not get it. Until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they started to realize that the redemptive plan of God fulfilled in the life of Jesus is to bring the good news of reconciliation to all mankind. Since then, the disciples abandoned the narrow perspective of viewing salvation as a national political endeavor, and the global mission movement begun.
The salvation of Jesus is the gospel of reconciliation. It reconciles first between God and people, and then people with people. This is the ultimate solution to all human problems with no discrimination in culture or ethnicity, for God’s salvation is for all people. It is also the reason of evangelism and missions.
Meditation on the Scripture:
We have been saved by this Messiah, and understand the meaning and mission of this good news. We also share the role and mission of the prophet, and obligate to tell people about God’s judgment and salvation. Please read this Bible passage to meditate on our role and responsibility to share this good news of reconciliation with our family, friends, coworkers and schoolmates.
數算主恩 Count the Blessings
（詩篇一百三十六篇 Psalm 136）
有一首詩歌名為「數算主恩」，提醒我們要常常數算主的恩典。歌詞說，我們數算主的恩典時，要仔細地一樣樣地數算，不應含糊敷衍了事。
我把這一個月定為感恩月，也是因為十一月是感恩節的日子。我們要回顧過去一年，數算神在我們身上所給予的各種恩典，並向祂表達我們的愛與敬拜。
在下一個主日崇拜中，我們會一同數算主恩。我們會在敬拜中向主感恩，仔細把祂在過去十個月中向我們所施的恩典一一數算。我們要回去把主的恩典列出來，下主日我們會在敬拜中，在神的殿中作見證。
每一個人都有一點時間來數算主恩，在主面前獻上感恩的祭。我希望弟兄姊妹不要單單數算神給你的好處，或幫助你解決了什麼困難之類的感恩。這些固然很好，的確要感恩。我希望大家能數算在屬靈的操練上，神對你的提醒和教導。這些恩典是我們不能忘記的。我也希望你能分享神並沒有答應你的祈求，但卻安慰了你，給予你更大的信心和盼望。許多時候神不答應我們所求的，才是神要賜給我們最大的恩典。我們要懂得分辨神的祝福，也要為神賜給我們的一切來感恩。
這一週的屬靈功課就是數算主的恩典，把今年領受的各種各類的恩典寫下來，列一個明細表，並預備在下週敬拜時與大家分享，獻上感恩的祭。
There is a very beautiful hymn named “Count the Blessings”, and it reminds us to count the blessings always. The lyric says that we should count the blessings and name them one by one. When we count the blessings we should do it sincerely.
I want to use this month to be a thanksgiving month, since we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving soon. Let us look back to the past, and count the blessings that God has given us, and we will offer Him the thanks offering in love and worship.
In the following Sundays, we will count the blessings together in our worship services. In the worship services, we will name all the blessings one by one to show our gratitude to the Lord. It is also our witness to the Lord and His love to us.
The church will give everybody some time to count the blessings and offer your thanks offerings. I pray that we will not only count those material blessings or blessings of delivery from our difficult life situations, but also the blessings of some spiritual disciplines and the lessons we have learned from His teachings. Those are the blessings we should not forget. I also pray that you will count the blessings of the unanswered prayers that God did not give what you wanted but gave comfort and peace to substitute them. Let us count the blessings of faith and hope that God has given us instead of fulfilling our requests and desires, for those blessings are the biggest blessings we can get from God. May we know how to recognize the true blessings from God and give Him our deepest gratitude.
Let us work on our spiritual homework in this coming week, and list out all the blessings. We are going to count the blessings and name them one by one in our coming worship service.
有一首詩歌名為「數算主恩」，提醒我們要常常數算主的恩典。歌詞說，我們數算主的恩典時，要仔細地一樣樣地數算，不應含糊敷衍了事。
我把這一個月定為感恩月，也是因為十一月是感恩節的日子。我們要回顧過去一年，數算神在我們身上所給予的各種恩典，並向祂表達我們的愛與敬拜。
在下一個主日崇拜中，我們會一同數算主恩。我們會在敬拜中向主感恩，仔細把祂在過去十個月中向我們所施的恩典一一數算。我們要回去把主的恩典列出來，下主日我們會在敬拜中，在神的殿中作見證。
每一個人都有一點時間來數算主恩，在主面前獻上感恩的祭。我希望弟兄姊妹不要單單數算神給你的好處，或幫助你解決了什麼困難之類的感恩。這些固然很好，的確要感恩。我希望大家能數算在屬靈的操練上，神對你的提醒和教導。這些恩典是我們不能忘記的。我也希望你能分享神並沒有答應你的祈求，但卻安慰了你，給予你更大的信心和盼望。許多時候神不答應我們所求的，才是神要賜給我們最大的恩典。我們要懂得分辨神的祝福，也要為神賜給我們的一切來感恩。
這一週的屬靈功課就是數算主的恩典，把今年領受的各種各類的恩典寫下來，列一個明細表，並預備在下週敬拜時與大家分享，獻上感恩的祭。
There is a very beautiful hymn named “Count the Blessings”, and it reminds us to count the blessings always. The lyric says that we should count the blessings and name them one by one. When we count the blessings we should do it sincerely.
I want to use this month to be a thanksgiving month, since we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving soon. Let us look back to the past, and count the blessings that God has given us, and we will offer Him the thanks offering in love and worship.
In the following Sundays, we will count the blessings together in our worship services. In the worship services, we will name all the blessings one by one to show our gratitude to the Lord. It is also our witness to the Lord and His love to us.
The church will give everybody some time to count the blessings and offer your thanks offerings. I pray that we will not only count those material blessings or blessings of delivery from our difficult life situations, but also the blessings of some spiritual disciplines and the lessons we have learned from His teachings. Those are the blessings we should not forget. I also pray that you will count the blessings of the unanswered prayers that God did not give what you wanted but gave comfort and peace to substitute them. Let us count the blessings of faith and hope that God has given us instead of fulfilling our requests and desires, for those blessings are the biggest blessings we can get from God. May we know how to recognize the true blessings from God and give Him our deepest gratitude.
Let us work on our spiritual homework in this coming week, and list out all the blessings. We are going to count the blessings and name them one by one in our coming worship service.
知足樂 The Joy of Being Content
（腓立比書 Philippians 4:10-13）
中國有句老話，說，「知足常樂」。我們都希望快樂，但知足卻並不容易。
什麼才是足夠呢？有一個小孩子，面對一大堆糖果，但媽媽說拿一點就夠了，不要多取。那小孩子感到很為難，什麼才是夠了呢？他有一雙小手，兩個口袋。他抓滿了一隻小手，卻覺得不夠，又抓滿了另一隻手，還是覺得好像不夠，於是把兩隻手滿滿的糖果放在兩個口袋裡，再抓滿兩隻小手。當媽媽催著要離去時，小孩的眼睛還盯著那堆糖果，很不甘心的被媽媽拖著走了。那堆糖果帶給他的並不是快樂，而是不甘心和不足夠的痛苦。
保羅為什麼能夠說，「無論在什麼景況，都可以知足」呢？而且他從知足中獲得「大大的喜樂」。保羅說，他可以在富足中知足，也可以在貧乏中知足。他在第十三節告訴我們那個讓他知足的原因：在基督裡的滿足。
保羅因為常常在基督裡，所以他有力量去適應任何環境，並且把所有的環境都轉變成為他事奉主的機會。當他富足的時候，他有更多的資源去事奉主，並且可以向那些富有的人傳福音。當他貧窮的時候，他可以進入貧窮人當中，與他們經歷神，安慰他們，帶領他們認識基督。他的名聲很好的時候，他可以在權貴人中做見證；他被捕坐牢的時候，就向獄卒和犯人分享耶穌。保羅在任何環境中，都得著滿足和喜樂，因為他以耶穌基督為最大的滿足。
經文默想
你在生活中滿足的時候多，還是不滿足的時候多？你為什麼滿足，又為什麼不滿足？你如何評價保羅的「知足常樂」的人生？請細讀腓立比書4:10～13，並默想保羅的秘訣。
There is an old Chinese saying, “contentment gives you joy”. We all want to have joy, but it is not easy to be content.
How can a person be content? Once there was a child who was tempted by a big amount of candy, but his mom told him not to take more than he needed. The child felt very difficult for he did not know how much was enough. He had two little hands and two pockets. He grasped a handful of candy with one hand, but he did not feel it was enough. He grasped another handful of candy with the other hand. He did not want to stop for he still was not content with what he got, so he filled his two pockets full of the candy he grasped with his two little hands. He then grasped two more handfuls of candy with his hands again. When his mom told him that they had to leave, the child left the candies discontentedly. To this child candies did not give him any joy, but only discontent and pain.
How could Paul say he was satisfied with what he had? He also said that from this contentment he had great joy. Paul said that he was satisfied with too much as well as too little. Verse 13 tells us the reason of his contentment: the contentment in Christ.
The reason for Paul’s strength in facing all conditions, and transforming them into opportunities to serve the Lord, was his constant abiding in Christ. When he was rich, he had more resources to serve the Lord, and was able to reach out to the rich people. When he was poor, he could go to the poor to help them experience the presence of God in poverty and sadness. He could lead the poor to Christ. When he was highly esteemed he took the chance to witness to the nobilities and authorities. When he was arrested he preached to jailers and prisoners. Paul was content and had joy in all circumstances, because the joy he had in Christ had surpassed everything.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Do you have more joy in life or less? Why are you content? If you are not content, why are you not? How are you going to evaluate the contentment of Paul? Please read Philippians 4:10~13 carefully, and meditate on Paul’s secret.
中國有句老話，說，「知足常樂」。我們都希望快樂，但知足卻並不容易。
什麼才是足夠呢？有一個小孩子，面對一大堆糖果，但媽媽說拿一點就夠了，不要多取。那小孩子感到很為難，什麼才是夠了呢？他有一雙小手，兩個口袋。他抓滿了一隻小手，卻覺得不夠，又抓滿了另一隻手，還是覺得好像不夠，於是把兩隻手滿滿的糖果放在兩個口袋裡，再抓滿兩隻小手。當媽媽催著要離去時，小孩的眼睛還盯著那堆糖果，很不甘心的被媽媽拖著走了。那堆糖果帶給他的並不是快樂，而是不甘心和不足夠的痛苦。
保羅為什麼能夠說，「無論在什麼景況，都可以知足」呢？而且他從知足中獲得「大大的喜樂」。保羅說，他可以在富足中知足，也可以在貧乏中知足。他在第十三節告訴我們那個讓他知足的原因：在基督裡的滿足。
保羅因為常常在基督裡，所以他有力量去適應任何環境，並且把所有的環境都轉變成為他事奉主的機會。當他富足的時候，他有更多的資源去事奉主，並且可以向那些富有的人傳福音。當他貧窮的時候，他可以進入貧窮人當中，與他們經歷神，安慰他們，帶領他們認識基督。他的名聲很好的時候，他可以在權貴人中做見證；他被捕坐牢的時候，就向獄卒和犯人分享耶穌。保羅在任何環境中，都得著滿足和喜樂，因為他以耶穌基督為最大的滿足。
經文默想
你在生活中滿足的時候多，還是不滿足的時候多？你為什麼滿足，又為什麼不滿足？你如何評價保羅的「知足常樂」的人生？請細讀腓立比書4:10～13，並默想保羅的秘訣。
There is an old Chinese saying, “contentment gives you joy”. We all want to have joy, but it is not easy to be content.
How can a person be content? Once there was a child who was tempted by a big amount of candy, but his mom told him not to take more than he needed. The child felt very difficult for he did not know how much was enough. He had two little hands and two pockets. He grasped a handful of candy with one hand, but he did not feel it was enough. He grasped another handful of candy with the other hand. He did not want to stop for he still was not content with what he got, so he filled his two pockets full of the candy he grasped with his two little hands. He then grasped two more handfuls of candy with his hands again. When his mom told him that they had to leave, the child left the candies discontentedly. To this child candies did not give him any joy, but only discontent and pain.
How could Paul say he was satisfied with what he had? He also said that from this contentment he had great joy. Paul said that he was satisfied with too much as well as too little. Verse 13 tells us the reason of his contentment: the contentment in Christ.
The reason for Paul’s strength in facing all conditions, and transforming them into opportunities to serve the Lord, was his constant abiding in Christ. When he was rich, he had more resources to serve the Lord, and was able to reach out to the rich people. When he was poor, he could go to the poor to help them experience the presence of God in poverty and sadness. He could lead the poor to Christ. When he was highly esteemed he took the chance to witness to the nobilities and authorities. When he was arrested he preached to jailers and prisoners. Paul was content and had joy in all circumstances, because the joy he had in Christ had surpassed everything.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Do you have more joy in life or less? Why are you content? If you are not content, why are you not? How are you going to evaluate the contentment of Paul? Please read Philippians 4:10~13 carefully, and meditate on Paul’s secret.
心存溫柔 To Have a Gentle Heart
（腓立比書 Philippians 4:1-9）
保羅從勸勉兩位爭吵的領袖要在主裡同心，到鼓勵我們心存溫柔（謙讓的心），到要求我們常常靠主喜樂；他為何把這些表面看來各不相關的東西串連在一起呢？
原來我們的喜樂都是從人際關係中來的。我們與人處不來，就不會有喜樂。但是要如何幫助人建立和諧的人際關係呢？保羅提出一個最有效，也最基本的方法，就是有基督耶穌的心腸。如果兩個人都同有基督耶穌的心腸，他們就能化解矛盾，可以相親相愛，享受和諧健康的人際關係，生活就必然充滿喜樂。
基督耶穌的心是什麼心呢？耶穌說，祂的心是柔和謙卑的心（太11:29）。這是一種什麼心呢？它所指的並不單是我們所理解的溫柔的言語和體貼待人的態度，當然這些都包括在內，而且是有了基督溫柔的心所必然產生的效果。耶穌基督的柔和謙卑是向著父神的，因為祂對父神和祂的旨意非常敏銳，而且充滿愛慕和順服。祂體會父神差祂來到人間的心意，甘心樂意體現神寬恕人的大愛，並為此而犧牲祂自己。這就是耶穌的柔和謙卑，也是保羅要求我們要有的基督的心，或在基督裡同心，而這樣的同心就會體現了基督的溫柔，有基督柔和謙卑的心。所以，保羅不是要求我們尋求人與人之間的同心，或同一的想法。這是很難的，是不可能的，也是不需要的。誰應放棄他的思想呢？誰有權要求別人放棄他的想法、委屈他的需要，來滿足另一個人的想法和需要呢？但是我們自己可以作出這樣的要求，要求自己放棄自己的思法，放棄尋求滿足自己的需要。然而這樣做實在太難，幾乎沒有人會願意這樣做的，因為所有人都是自私的，都是極自我中心的。
保羅不是向我們講人的道德和人的道理，他乃是要求我們被耶穌救贖的人，去體會耶穌的心，去體會神的愛。讓耶穌的生命影響我們的生命、讓耶穌溫柔的心成為我們溫柔的心。保羅說，我們當以耶穌的心為心（2:5）。
經文默想
當你重讀這主日的經文時，請你檢查自己的人際關係：在誰身上你是最缺乏基督的心的？保羅的教導能否幫助你有更多基督的心？
From urging two quarrelling people to have same mind in Christ, to encouraging us to be gentle, to urging again us to have joy in the Lord; why Paul had put three totally different things in one essay to teach the Christians in Philippi?
There is no surprise to know that our joy comes from our relationship with others. If we always have problem to relate to people, our life will be miserable. But how can we help people build good and healthy relationship? Paul told us a very effective and fundamental way, and it is to have the same heart of Christ. If two people have the heart of Jesus, they can resolve conflict and love each other again. Their relationship will be healthy and their lives will fill with joy and happiness.
What kind of heart did Christ have? Jesus said that he was gentle and humble in spirit (Matt 11:29). What does it mean to be gentle and humble in spirit? It does not only imply to soft words and compassion, of course they are included, but more important to a sensitive heart toward God and the obedience to His will. Jesus was so sensitive to God and filled with the Father’s love, that he could submit to God wholeheartedly with no reservation. His life was a manifestation of the forgiving love of God through His sacrifice. This is the gentleness of Christ that Paul urged us to imitate. This is the meaning of having the same mind or heart of Christ. Paul wanted us to have the same heart of Christ, so that we will also become a manifestation of Jesus’ gentleness. Paul did not mean that we should unify our thinking and needs, for it is not possible and unnecessary. Who has the right to overrule others thought and needs? Only we can ask ourselves to sacrifice for others, but not vice versa. But still it is too difficult to give up our perspectives and needs, because we are too selfish and self-centered.
Paul did not argue with us from morality or reason. He asked us, as a redeemed race, to have the same heart of Jesus to be sensitive to God’s love for people. Let Jesus’ life transform us to have the same compassion He has for others. Paul said that our hearts should be the same as that of Jesus (2:5).
Meditation on the Scripture:
When you reread the Scripture passage of this Sunday, please look into your relationships to find out to whom you have less Christ like compassion. Will this Bible passage help you to have the same mind of Christ?
保羅從勸勉兩位爭吵的領袖要在主裡同心，到鼓勵我們心存溫柔（謙讓的心），到要求我們常常靠主喜樂；他為何把這些表面看來各不相關的東西串連在一起呢？
原來我們的喜樂都是從人際關係中來的。我們與人處不來，就不會有喜樂。但是要如何幫助人建立和諧的人際關係呢？保羅提出一個最有效，也最基本的方法，就是有基督耶穌的心腸。如果兩個人都同有基督耶穌的心腸，他們就能化解矛盾，可以相親相愛，享受和諧健康的人際關係，生活就必然充滿喜樂。
基督耶穌的心是什麼心呢？耶穌說，祂的心是柔和謙卑的心（太11:29）。這是一種什麼心呢？它所指的並不單是我們所理解的溫柔的言語和體貼待人的態度，當然這些都包括在內，而且是有了基督溫柔的心所必然產生的效果。耶穌基督的柔和謙卑是向著父神的，因為祂對父神和祂的旨意非常敏銳，而且充滿愛慕和順服。祂體會父神差祂來到人間的心意，甘心樂意體現神寬恕人的大愛，並為此而犧牲祂自己。這就是耶穌的柔和謙卑，也是保羅要求我們要有的基督的心，或在基督裡同心，而這樣的同心就會體現了基督的溫柔，有基督柔和謙卑的心。所以，保羅不是要求我們尋求人與人之間的同心，或同一的想法。這是很難的，是不可能的，也是不需要的。誰應放棄他的思想呢？誰有權要求別人放棄他的想法、委屈他的需要，來滿足另一個人的想法和需要呢？但是我們自己可以作出這樣的要求，要求自己放棄自己的思法，放棄尋求滿足自己的需要。然而這樣做實在太難，幾乎沒有人會願意這樣做的，因為所有人都是自私的，都是極自我中心的。
保羅不是向我們講人的道德和人的道理，他乃是要求我們被耶穌救贖的人，去體會耶穌的心，去體會神的愛。讓耶穌的生命影響我們的生命、讓耶穌溫柔的心成為我們溫柔的心。保羅說，我們當以耶穌的心為心（2:5）。
經文默想
當你重讀這主日的經文時，請你檢查自己的人際關係：在誰身上你是最缺乏基督的心的？保羅的教導能否幫助你有更多基督的心？
From urging two quarrelling people to have same mind in Christ, to encouraging us to be gentle, to urging again us to have joy in the Lord; why Paul had put three totally different things in one essay to teach the Christians in Philippi?
There is no surprise to know that our joy comes from our relationship with others. If we always have problem to relate to people, our life will be miserable. But how can we help people build good and healthy relationship? Paul told us a very effective and fundamental way, and it is to have the same heart of Christ. If two people have the heart of Jesus, they can resolve conflict and love each other again. Their relationship will be healthy and their lives will fill with joy and happiness.
What kind of heart did Christ have? Jesus said that he was gentle and humble in spirit (Matt 11:29). What does it mean to be gentle and humble in spirit? It does not only imply to soft words and compassion, of course they are included, but more important to a sensitive heart toward God and the obedience to His will. Jesus was so sensitive to God and filled with the Father’s love, that he could submit to God wholeheartedly with no reservation. His life was a manifestation of the forgiving love of God through His sacrifice. This is the gentleness of Christ that Paul urged us to imitate. This is the meaning of having the same mind or heart of Christ. Paul wanted us to have the same heart of Christ, so that we will also become a manifestation of Jesus’ gentleness. Paul did not mean that we should unify our thinking and needs, for it is not possible and unnecessary. Who has the right to overrule others thought and needs? Only we can ask ourselves to sacrifice for others, but not vice versa. But still it is too difficult to give up our perspectives and needs, because we are too selfish and self-centered.
Paul did not argue with us from morality or reason. He asked us, as a redeemed race, to have the same heart of Jesus to be sensitive to God’s love for people. Let Jesus’ life transform us to have the same compassion He has for others. Paul said that our hearts should be the same as that of Jesus (2:5).
Meditation on the Scripture:
When you reread the Scripture passage of this Sunday, please look into your relationships to find out to whom you have less Christ like compassion. Will this Bible passage help you to have the same mind of Christ?
不要專顧地上事 Set Our Mind on No Earthly Things
（腓立比書 Philippians 3:17-21）
聖經常常用地上的事、世界的事，或情慾的事，來分別天上的事和屬靈的事。什麼是地上的事呢？地上的事跟天上的事應如何分別呢？
有人以為凡是屬於權力、名利、娛樂等東西就是屬世的。相反地，凡是教會的事，或傳福音佈道等，都是屬靈的事。其實這種劃分法不一定對的，也太簡化了實際的生活。固然在教會事奉神，做教會的事，或傳福音，或栽培信徒等，都是跟屬靈的事有關的，但也不能就確定這些事是屬靈的。尋求權力、追逐名利，或享受娛樂等，看來都是很世俗的，但也不一定跟屬靈的事全不相關。
其實，屬靈或屬世，不是事情本身，乃是做事的人的態度，和做事的目的。有人以做生意的才幹作為神賜給他的恩賜，以他的生意和其中的利潤來服事神。也有人為了天國的事工爭取一些權力，使工作能更有果效。另一方面，卻有人在教會中爭權奪利，以事奉佈道來滿足自己的名利慾。
那麼，是否屬地或屬天，應如何劃分呢？凡是為神做的，不是為了自己的，都是屬靈的。這是一種態度，不是所做的事的本身。這就是保羅前面說的，「活著就是基督」的意思。我們活著所做的任何事情，都是為了基督的，都是為了別人的得救或靈命成長的，不管我們是做生意賺錢，去教書或做研究，或與朋友消閒娛樂，都是屬靈的事，天上的事。
我們可以說，是屬靈的人把地上的事轉變成天上的事。保羅要求我們不要專注自己和自己的需要，要把頭抬起，把眼睛望向神，去做神喜歡的事，可以榮耀祂的事。
經文默想
請把這主日的經文重讀一遍，並檢查自己的生活是否太專注於地上的事呢？你如何才能把專注於地上的心態，轉成專注於天上的呢？
Earthly things, worldliness, or fleshly wishes are concepts that the Bible usually uses to separate from heavenly things or spiritual concerns. We may ask what exactly do those terms mean. What are the differences we can tell from these terms?
Some one may think that things that involve power, fame, money and pleasure are secular. On the other hand, whatever the church does is spiritual, especially if things are related to missions and evangelism. As a matter of fact, this division is not totally correct, and may oversimplify the case. Even though serving God in His church and doing ministry or sharing Jesus and training disciples are spiritual endeavors, they may not be spiritual to people with the wrong attitude. However, if we seek power, make money and participate in some entertainments for the Lord and His kingdom, they will not be as secular as they look.
In fact, things in themselves are neither secular nor spiritual; it is the attitude of Christians to make them one or the other. Some one uses his business skill as gift from the Lord to serve Him in business. Others use their power to make ministry effective. On the other hand, however, there are people that fight for power and privilege in the church, and use ministry as a way to gain their fame.
How should we distinguish spiritual from worldly? We should say that whatever people do for God and not for self is spiritual. It is a matter of attitude. It was what Paul had mentioned previously; the attitude of “to live is Christ.” It does not matter if we do business, or teach, or study, or even have fun with friends, they are all spiritual if we do it for the Lord and to lead people to Christ.
We believe that only spiritual people make things spiritual. Paul urged us to look upward not downward, to please and glorify God with things that we do. We should not focus so much on ourselves or our needs.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please reread this Bible passage and reexamine our lives to see if we focus too much on the earthly things. How should we change our attention from the below to the above?
聖經常常用地上的事、世界的事，或情慾的事，來分別天上的事和屬靈的事。什麼是地上的事呢？地上的事跟天上的事應如何分別呢？
有人以為凡是屬於權力、名利、娛樂等東西就是屬世的。相反地，凡是教會的事，或傳福音佈道等，都是屬靈的事。其實這種劃分法不一定對的，也太簡化了實際的生活。固然在教會事奉神，做教會的事，或傳福音，或栽培信徒等，都是跟屬靈的事有關的，但也不能就確定這些事是屬靈的。尋求權力、追逐名利，或享受娛樂等，看來都是很世俗的，但也不一定跟屬靈的事全不相關。
其實，屬靈或屬世，不是事情本身，乃是做事的人的態度，和做事的目的。有人以做生意的才幹作為神賜給他的恩賜，以他的生意和其中的利潤來服事神。也有人為了天國的事工爭取一些權力，使工作能更有果效。另一方面，卻有人在教會中爭權奪利，以事奉佈道來滿足自己的名利慾。
那麼，是否屬地或屬天，應如何劃分呢？凡是為神做的，不是為了自己的，都是屬靈的。這是一種態度，不是所做的事的本身。這就是保羅前面說的，「活著就是基督」的意思。我們活著所做的任何事情，都是為了基督的，都是為了別人的得救或靈命成長的，不管我們是做生意賺錢，去教書或做研究，或與朋友消閒娛樂，都是屬靈的事，天上的事。
我們可以說，是屬靈的人把地上的事轉變成天上的事。保羅要求我們不要專注自己和自己的需要，要把頭抬起，把眼睛望向神，去做神喜歡的事，可以榮耀祂的事。
經文默想
請把這主日的經文重讀一遍，並檢查自己的生活是否太專注於地上的事呢？你如何才能把專注於地上的心態，轉成專注於天上的呢？
Earthly things, worldliness, or fleshly wishes are concepts that the Bible usually uses to separate from heavenly things or spiritual concerns. We may ask what exactly do those terms mean. What are the differences we can tell from these terms?
Some one may think that things that involve power, fame, money and pleasure are secular. On the other hand, whatever the church does is spiritual, especially if things are related to missions and evangelism. As a matter of fact, this division is not totally correct, and may oversimplify the case. Even though serving God in His church and doing ministry or sharing Jesus and training disciples are spiritual endeavors, they may not be spiritual to people with the wrong attitude. However, if we seek power, make money and participate in some entertainments for the Lord and His kingdom, they will not be as secular as they look.
In fact, things in themselves are neither secular nor spiritual; it is the attitude of Christians to make them one or the other. Some one uses his business skill as gift from the Lord to serve Him in business. Others use their power to make ministry effective. On the other hand, however, there are people that fight for power and privilege in the church, and use ministry as a way to gain their fame.
How should we distinguish spiritual from worldly? We should say that whatever people do for God and not for self is spiritual. It is a matter of attitude. It was what Paul had mentioned previously; the attitude of “to live is Christ.” It does not matter if we do business, or teach, or study, or even have fun with friends, they are all spiritual if we do it for the Lord and to lead people to Christ.
We believe that only spiritual people make things spiritual. Paul urged us to look upward not downward, to please and glorify God with things that we do. We should not focus so much on ourselves or our needs.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please reread this Bible passage and reexamine our lives to see if we focus too much on the earthly things. How should we change our attention from the below to the above?
被基督得著了 Grasped By Christ
（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.
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?
你有一使命 You Have a Mission
基督徒的人生應該是一個滿有使命感的人生，因為當我們接受主耶穌作為救主和生命的主的時候，便被命令去做傳福音和栽培門徒的工作。
大多數的人都希望自己的人生是有目的的，因為有目的的人生才有方向，也才會生活得有意義。基督徒的人生是極有意義的，因為我們有一個使命，而且這個使命是極其重要的，關係到別人永恆的命運。傳福音和栽培門徒的工作是生命建造的工作，並且帶有永恆的影響力。這兩項工作之所以是每一個基督徒的使命，乃是因為在我們接受耶穌為主的時候，主便命令了我們必須做的事情。
我鼓勵大家在傳福音或栽培門徒的事工中選擇一項，作為你在教會生活中的一個使命，奉獻你旳時間和心思，參與生命建造的工程。請你與碧剛或單華聯絡，他們便會幫助你在門徒訓練或傳福音的事工中，找到你可以參與的工作。
Every Christian should have a mission in his or her life, because on the day we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, we were commanded to share the gospel and train disciples.
I believe that the majority of people hope to live a life with a purpose, for a purpose in our lives will give direction, and only if we have a life direction we will be able to live a meaningful life. Christian should live the most meaningful life, because we have a mission. This is a very important mission, for it will affect people’s lives eternally. This mission of sharing the gospel and training disciples is a life-building mandate, and we are all commissioned by the Lord on the day that we accepted Him as our Lord.
I encourage you to choose either to commit yourselves in sharing the gospel or training disciples as your participation in our church life. I pray that you will give your time and energy in this life-building mandate. Please contact Bigang and Shanhua to learn about this ministry, and they will be happy to involve you in this most meaningful work.
大多數的人都希望自己的人生是有目的的，因為有目的的人生才有方向，也才會生活得有意義。基督徒的人生是極有意義的，因為我們有一個使命，而且這個使命是極其重要的，關係到別人永恆的命運。傳福音和栽培門徒的工作是生命建造的工作，並且帶有永恆的影響力。這兩項工作之所以是每一個基督徒的使命，乃是因為在我們接受耶穌為主的時候，主便命令了我們必須做的事情。
我鼓勵大家在傳福音或栽培門徒的事工中選擇一項，作為你在教會生活中的一個使命，奉獻你旳時間和心思，參與生命建造的工程。請你與碧剛或單華聯絡，他們便會幫助你在門徒訓練或傳福音的事工中，找到你可以參與的工作。
Every Christian should have a mission in his or her life, because on the day we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, we were commanded to share the gospel and train disciples.
I believe that the majority of people hope to live a life with a purpose, for a purpose in our lives will give direction, and only if we have a life direction we will be able to live a meaningful life. Christian should live the most meaningful life, because we have a mission. This is a very important mission, for it will affect people’s lives eternally. This mission of sharing the gospel and training disciples is a life-building mandate, and we are all commissioned by the Lord on the day that we accepted Him as our Lord.
I encourage you to choose either to commit yourselves in sharing the gospel or training disciples as your participation in our church life. I pray that you will give your time and energy in this life-building mandate. Please contact Bigang and Shanhua to learn about this ministry, and they will be happy to involve you in this most meaningful work.
活出福音的生活 Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel
（腓立比書Philippians 1:27-30）
一個人的言談舉止應該與他的身份相稱。日本人在重要的社交場合上，都喜歡穿上傳統和服，因為他們以作為日本人而自豪。在保羅的時代，羅馬人無論到那裡，都會活出羅馬人的身份和尊嚴來。保羅勸勉腓立比的信徒，在生活的言談舉止上，要活出耶穌基督的門徒和天國公民的身份和尊嚴。
保羅在這一點上可以成為腓立比信徒和我們的榜樣，因為他不以作耶穌基督的門徒為恥（羅1:16）。保羅在所到之處都公開地傳講福音，也預備為所信的道和作為基督徒而受苦。
基督徒在當時的社會中要活出天國公民的身份，會惹來壓力甚至逼害。因此，保羅要求腓立比信徒在教會生活中保持合一的生活，在所信的真理上站立穩固，並在面對外在壓力時勇敢剛強。
保羅在要求別人的時候，不忘提醒他們，他也和他們一起同受挑戰與壓力，所以他明白他們的處境。保羅要把他得勝的秘訣告訴他們，這得勝的力量就是神的恩典和信徒的團契生活。
經文默想
請你嘗試把第二十七節用在自己的日常生活中，思想如何才能在行事為人上與基督的福音相稱。
One’s lifestyle and conduct should reflect one’s identity. Japanese loves to put on their traditional outfits in some important public events for they are proud of being Japanese. During the New Testament times, the Romans were traveling everywhere but they kept their Roman lifestyle and carried with their national pride. Paul exhorted the Philippians’ brethren to have the lifestyle that would reflect their identity as Christ followers and the dignity of the kingdom citizenship.
Paul’s life was shown to be the example for the Philippians, for he was not ashamed of being the disciple of Jesus (Romans 1:16). Wherever Paul went, he publicly proclaimed the gospel, and was ready to suffer for his faith and Christ.
At that time Christians would receive pressure and even persecution if they wanted to live the kingdom lifestyle. Therefore, Paul urged the brethren in Philippi to keep themselves in fellowship with the spirit of unity, and stand firm in faith, to allow them to be strong enough to take challenges from outside.
When Paul exhorted them to live a kingdom lifestyle, he also reminded them that they were not alone to face all those pressure and challenge for he had been struggling all along in the past. Therefore, Paul knew what they were facing and wanted to tell them the secret of overcoming hardships, which was the strength from God’s grace and Christian fellowship.
Meditation on the Scripture
Please use verse 27 in your daily life, and think of ways to live a life worthy of the gospel.
一個人的言談舉止應該與他的身份相稱。日本人在重要的社交場合上，都喜歡穿上傳統和服，因為他們以作為日本人而自豪。在保羅的時代，羅馬人無論到那裡，都會活出羅馬人的身份和尊嚴來。保羅勸勉腓立比的信徒，在生活的言談舉止上，要活出耶穌基督的門徒和天國公民的身份和尊嚴。
保羅在這一點上可以成為腓立比信徒和我們的榜樣，因為他不以作耶穌基督的門徒為恥（羅1:16）。保羅在所到之處都公開地傳講福音，也預備為所信的道和作為基督徒而受苦。
基督徒在當時的社會中要活出天國公民的身份，會惹來壓力甚至逼害。因此，保羅要求腓立比信徒在教會生活中保持合一的生活，在所信的真理上站立穩固，並在面對外在壓力時勇敢剛強。
保羅在要求別人的時候，不忘提醒他們，他也和他們一起同受挑戰與壓力，所以他明白他們的處境。保羅要把他得勝的秘訣告訴他們，這得勝的力量就是神的恩典和信徒的團契生活。
經文默想
請你嘗試把第二十七節用在自己的日常生活中，思想如何才能在行事為人上與基督的福音相稱。
One’s lifestyle and conduct should reflect one’s identity. Japanese loves to put on their traditional outfits in some important public events for they are proud of being Japanese. During the New Testament times, the Romans were traveling everywhere but they kept their Roman lifestyle and carried with their national pride. Paul exhorted the Philippians’ brethren to have the lifestyle that would reflect their identity as Christ followers and the dignity of the kingdom citizenship.
Paul’s life was shown to be the example for the Philippians, for he was not ashamed of being the disciple of Jesus (Romans 1:16). Wherever Paul went, he publicly proclaimed the gospel, and was ready to suffer for his faith and Christ.
At that time Christians would receive pressure and even persecution if they wanted to live the kingdom lifestyle. Therefore, Paul urged the brethren in Philippi to keep themselves in fellowship with the spirit of unity, and stand firm in faith, to allow them to be strong enough to take challenges from outside.
When Paul exhorted them to live a kingdom lifestyle, he also reminded them that they were not alone to face all those pressure and challenge for he had been struggling all along in the past. Therefore, Paul knew what they were facing and wanted to tell them the secret of overcoming hardships, which was the strength from God’s grace and Christian fellowship.
Meditation on the Scripture
Please use verse 27 in your daily life, and think of ways to live a life worthy of the gospel.
誠實無過 Free From Impurity and Blames
（腓立比書Philippians 1:10-11）
保羅為我們禱告，希望我們成為誠實無過的人。如果要成為誠實無過，必須先要能明辨是非，或者，要先能喜愛那美好的事。什麼是那美好的事呢？保羅指那美好的事，是神認為美好的事，就是聖經教導有關我們各種的屬靈操練。
這是值得讓我們思考的一個嚴肅的問題：聖經教導我們有關各種的屬靈操練，是否也是我們認為美好的事呢？保羅要我們不單能分辨出這些美好的事來，更要去喜愛它們。分辨只是知道。許多基督徒都知道聖經的教導，但不一定喜愛那些教導，因為喜愛那些教導就一定努力去遵行這些教導。
原來在生活中，有許多事情雖然是對的，但卻不一定是好的。更有發人深省的情況，就是有一些社會上眾人都認為是對的和好的事物，但聖經卻不一定認為是對的和好的。在這一點上，保羅要我們能分辨出來，所以在前一節要我們追求更強的分辨能力。基督徒應該接受聖經是我們行事為人和一切價值的標準。當我們的觀念或社會的觀念和聖經的觀念矛盾時，我們應該接受聖經的教導，用聖經的真理批判自己的想法和社會流行的觀念。
我們如果能夠辨明是非（什麼是聖經認為美好的事），又喜好那些聖經認為是對的和美好的事物，我們就是在過誠實無過（純潔無可指責）的生活，會慢慢結出公義（仁義）的果子了。
在這次崇拜中你有沒有聽見一些聖經的教訓，並知道它們是美好的呢？你如何在這星期的生活中去實踐它們呢？
Paul prayed for us to live a life being free from impurity and blame. If we want to be free from impurity and blame, we must first know how to differentiate good from evil (or to choose the best). How to define good? Good to Paul means good in God’s eye, which are the spiritual things that the Bible teaches us.
It is a very serious issue that demands us to think through it: Do we see all the spiritual disciplines as good as the Bible teaches us? Paul urges us not only just to differentiate good from evil, but to choose the best. A lot of Christians know that the Bible teaches us good things, but they do not necessary choose those good things, for if they choose them, they should also practice them.
As a matter of fact, many things in life are right but not good. Some situations even cause us a deeper thinking, which people in the society think right and good, but the Bible has a total different perspective. This is where Paul warns us to give caution to. Therefore, in the previous verse Paul urges us to increase our ability of discernment. Christians should take Bible as the standard measure for everything. Whenever there is a conflict between the social value and the biblical value, we should accept the biblical value and use it to evaluate our understanding and the secular perspectives. If we choose the best, and love whatever the Bible says right and good, we will be able to free from impurity and blame, and bear the fruit of righteousness.
Have you heard of any biblical teaching in this worship service and know that it is good? How may you put what you have learned into your daily practice in this coming week?
保羅為我們禱告，希望我們成為誠實無過的人。如果要成為誠實無過，必須先要能明辨是非，或者，要先能喜愛那美好的事。什麼是那美好的事呢？保羅指那美好的事，是神認為美好的事，就是聖經教導有關我們各種的屬靈操練。
這是值得讓我們思考的一個嚴肅的問題：聖經教導我們有關各種的屬靈操練，是否也是我們認為美好的事呢？保羅要我們不單能分辨出這些美好的事來，更要去喜愛它們。分辨只是知道。許多基督徒都知道聖經的教導，但不一定喜愛那些教導，因為喜愛那些教導就一定努力去遵行這些教導。
原來在生活中，有許多事情雖然是對的，但卻不一定是好的。更有發人深省的情況，就是有一些社會上眾人都認為是對的和好的事物，但聖經卻不一定認為是對的和好的。在這一點上，保羅要我們能分辨出來，所以在前一節要我們追求更強的分辨能力。基督徒應該接受聖經是我們行事為人和一切價值的標準。當我們的觀念或社會的觀念和聖經的觀念矛盾時，我們應該接受聖經的教導，用聖經的真理批判自己的想法和社會流行的觀念。
我們如果能夠辨明是非（什麼是聖經認為美好的事），又喜好那些聖經認為是對的和美好的事物，我們就是在過誠實無過（純潔無可指責）的生活，會慢慢結出公義（仁義）的果子了。
在這次崇拜中你有沒有聽見一些聖經的教訓，並知道它們是美好的呢？你如何在這星期的生活中去實踐它們呢？
Paul prayed for us to live a life being free from impurity and blame. If we want to be free from impurity and blame, we must first know how to differentiate good from evil (or to choose the best). How to define good? Good to Paul means good in God’s eye, which are the spiritual things that the Bible teaches us.
It is a very serious issue that demands us to think through it: Do we see all the spiritual disciplines as good as the Bible teaches us? Paul urges us not only just to differentiate good from evil, but to choose the best. A lot of Christians know that the Bible teaches us good things, but they do not necessary choose those good things, for if they choose them, they should also practice them.
As a matter of fact, many things in life are right but not good. Some situations even cause us a deeper thinking, which people in the society think right and good, but the Bible has a total different perspective. This is where Paul warns us to give caution to. Therefore, in the previous verse Paul urges us to increase our ability of discernment. Christians should take Bible as the standard measure for everything. Whenever there is a conflict between the social value and the biblical value, we should accept the biblical value and use it to evaluate our understanding and the secular perspectives. If we choose the best, and love whatever the Bible says right and good, we will be able to free from impurity and blame, and bear the fruit of righteousness.
Have you heard of any biblical teaching in this worship service and know that it is good? How may you put what you have learned into your daily practice in this coming week?
體會耶穌的心腸 Have the Same Heart of Jesus
（腓立比書Philippians 1:1-11）
腓立比書是保羅在獄中寫成的，但卻充滿著積極的精神，鼓勵信徒要常常喜樂，更熱心事主傳揚福音。保羅常常為福音和各人的屬靈成長而奔波，但他卻沒有絲毫埋怨，反而在為各人代禱時心中產生喜樂（1:3-4）。我相信保羅心中充滿著耶穌的愛，因為主也是為了愛我們而來到我們當中，也為我們嚐盡苦難。保羅因為分享了主的愛，所以他能夠體會主的心腸，以同樣的愛去愛人。
保羅對福音工作是極其執著的，也是他生存的最主要目的，以致在獄中仍不忘傳揚福音，也因為信徒能像他一樣熱心傳福音而高興（1:5-8）。這是因為保羅分享了基督的愛，所以也分享了基督福音的使命。耶穌是為了成就福音而來，保羅也是為了傳揚福音而活。耶穌極其關心門徒的屬靈生命，在與他們同在的三年中不斷教導他們，為他們祈求。保羅也極關心弟兄姊妹的屬靈生命，天天為他們的愛心、信心、智慧，並聖潔的生活禱告，又勞心勞力地教導勸誡他們（1:9-11）。從保羅的一生中，我們可以很清楚看出基督的形象，因為他深深體會了耶穌基督的心腸。
Even though Paul wrote this epistle in the prison, his spirit revealed in it as an encouragement to people became their joy and strength in preaching the gospel. Paul had labored very hard for the gospel and people’s spiritual growth, but he had no complaint. Instead, he kept praying for them and gained joy by doing it. (1:3-4) I believe that Paul must be filled with Christ’s love in his heart. Because of love Jesus came to us and suffered for us. Paul had shared Christ’s love, so that he also loved others with the same love.
The perseverance of Paul in preaching the gospel tells us that sharing the gospel had the top priority in his life, and therefore, even prison would not stop him. He was so pleased to hear that people shared his enthusiasm to preach the gospel which brought joy to his heart. (1:5-8) Because Paul had shared Christ’s love, so that he also shared His mission. The purpose for Jesus coming to us was to fulfill the salvation plan, and by sharing Christ’s life, preaching the gospel became also the purpose for Paul to live. Jesus cared about His disciples very much, and for three years He taught them and prayed for them. Paul also cared about his brothers and sisters, and prayed for their love, faith, wisdom and godly life everyday. He had labored very hard to teach and discipline them. (1:9-11) In Paul’s life, we can easily see the image of Christ, because he had shared the same heart of Jesus.
腓立比書是保羅在獄中寫成的，但卻充滿著積極的精神，鼓勵信徒要常常喜樂，更熱心事主傳揚福音。保羅常常為福音和各人的屬靈成長而奔波，但他卻沒有絲毫埋怨，反而在為各人代禱時心中產生喜樂（1:3-4）。我相信保羅心中充滿著耶穌的愛，因為主也是為了愛我們而來到我們當中，也為我們嚐盡苦難。保羅因為分享了主的愛，所以他能夠體會主的心腸，以同樣的愛去愛人。
保羅對福音工作是極其執著的，也是他生存的最主要目的，以致在獄中仍不忘傳揚福音，也因為信徒能像他一樣熱心傳福音而高興（1:5-8）。這是因為保羅分享了基督的愛，所以也分享了基督福音的使命。耶穌是為了成就福音而來，保羅也是為了傳揚福音而活。耶穌極其關心門徒的屬靈生命，在與他們同在的三年中不斷教導他們，為他們祈求。保羅也極關心弟兄姊妹的屬靈生命，天天為他們的愛心、信心、智慧，並聖潔的生活禱告，又勞心勞力地教導勸誡他們（1:9-11）。從保羅的一生中，我們可以很清楚看出基督的形象，因為他深深體會了耶穌基督的心腸。
Even though Paul wrote this epistle in the prison, his spirit revealed in it as an encouragement to people became their joy and strength in preaching the gospel. Paul had labored very hard for the gospel and people’s spiritual growth, but he had no complaint. Instead, he kept praying for them and gained joy by doing it. (1:3-4) I believe that Paul must be filled with Christ’s love in his heart. Because of love Jesus came to us and suffered for us. Paul had shared Christ’s love, so that he also loved others with the same love.
The perseverance of Paul in preaching the gospel tells us that sharing the gospel had the top priority in his life, and therefore, even prison would not stop him. He was so pleased to hear that people shared his enthusiasm to preach the gospel which brought joy to his heart. (1:5-8) Because Paul had shared Christ’s love, so that he also shared His mission. The purpose for Jesus coming to us was to fulfill the salvation plan, and by sharing Christ’s life, preaching the gospel became also the purpose for Paul to live. Jesus cared about His disciples very much, and for three years He taught them and prayed for them. Paul also cared about his brothers and sisters, and prayed for their love, faith, wisdom and godly life everyday. He had labored very hard to teach and discipline them. (1:9-11) In Paul’s life, we can easily see the image of Christ, because he had shared the same heart of Jesus.
關心主所關心的 Care What the Lord Cares
約翰福音第十七章是耶穌快要離世之前的禱告，內容充滿感情和深刻的屬靈教訓。我們從這篇禱文中認識到耶穌所關心的事，可以成為我們學習禱告的範例。
首先，耶穌在禱告時是舉目望天的，這也是猶太人常用的禱告姿態。我們在禱告時也不妨舉目望天，藉著這個姿態提醒自己，不要只著眼在地上的事。唯有當我們的禱告是向上的，向著神的事情的，我們才在禱告的操練上明白神的心意。從第一節到第十節，我們看見耶穌的禱告內容只有兩個，就是神的榮耀和門徒的靈命。耶穌要榮耀神，這是祂最大關心的事。祂知道遵行神的旨意，就是榮耀祂的方法，所以在禱告中祂求自己能完成神的事情，讓神在祂身上得著榮耀。
第二件最重要的事，就是門徒的屬靈生命，所以祂經常不斷為門徒禱告。在耶穌臨離世之前，祂迫切地為門徒的屬靈需要禱告。
我們要學習禱告，就應該學習耶穌的禱告。耶穌在禱告中最關心的事情，也應該是我們禱告中最關心的事情。我們願意在禱告中，經常為神的榮耀，並弟兄姊妹的屬靈生命禱告嗎？
John 17 is the prayer of Jesus before he was crucified on the cross. In this last prayer there are full of passion and teachings, and from it we will learn the things concern our Lord most. It is also the model prayer that Jesus has set for us.
First of all, looking toward heaven is a common gesture of how a Jew will pray, and Jesus prayed with this very gesture to remind us the divine dimension of prayer. When we pray let us pray with our eyes looking toward heaven not just focusing on earthly things. Only if we focus our prayer on the heavenly things, we can understand God’s will.
From verses one to ten, we find out that there are two things in Jesus’ prayer, which are glorifying God and caring about His disciples. Jesus wants to glorify God, and glorifying God actually is his deepest concern. He knows that there is only one way to glorify God, which is by obeying God’s will. Therefore, in His prayer, He asks God to give Him the power to accomplish His task in order through His service God’s name will be glorified.
The second important thing in His prayer is the spiritual life of His disciples. He has been unceasingly praying for His disciples even to the last minute of His crucifixion. He keeps praying for their spiritual healthiness and maturity in Him and God.
If we want to learn about prayer, we should learn from Jesus’ prayer. The things that Jesus cares most should also be the things we care most. Should we pray for God’s glory, and the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters?
首先，耶穌在禱告時是舉目望天的，這也是猶太人常用的禱告姿態。我們在禱告時也不妨舉目望天，藉著這個姿態提醒自己，不要只著眼在地上的事。唯有當我們的禱告是向上的，向著神的事情的，我們才在禱告的操練上明白神的心意。從第一節到第十節，我們看見耶穌的禱告內容只有兩個，就是神的榮耀和門徒的靈命。耶穌要榮耀神，這是祂最大關心的事。祂知道遵行神的旨意，就是榮耀祂的方法，所以在禱告中祂求自己能完成神的事情，讓神在祂身上得著榮耀。
第二件最重要的事，就是門徒的屬靈生命，所以祂經常不斷為門徒禱告。在耶穌臨離世之前，祂迫切地為門徒的屬靈需要禱告。
我們要學習禱告，就應該學習耶穌的禱告。耶穌在禱告中最關心的事情，也應該是我們禱告中最關心的事情。我們願意在禱告中，經常為神的榮耀，並弟兄姊妹的屬靈生命禱告嗎？
John 17 is the prayer of Jesus before he was crucified on the cross. In this last prayer there are full of passion and teachings, and from it we will learn the things concern our Lord most. It is also the model prayer that Jesus has set for us.
First of all, looking toward heaven is a common gesture of how a Jew will pray, and Jesus prayed with this very gesture to remind us the divine dimension of prayer. When we pray let us pray with our eyes looking toward heaven not just focusing on earthly things. Only if we focus our prayer on the heavenly things, we can understand God’s will.
From verses one to ten, we find out that there are two things in Jesus’ prayer, which are glorifying God and caring about His disciples. Jesus wants to glorify God, and glorifying God actually is his deepest concern. He knows that there is only one way to glorify God, which is by obeying God’s will. Therefore, in His prayer, He asks God to give Him the power to accomplish His task in order through His service God’s name will be glorified.
The second important thing in His prayer is the spiritual life of His disciples. He has been unceasingly praying for His disciples even to the last minute of His crucifixion. He keeps praying for their spiritual healthiness and maturity in Him and God.
If we want to learn about prayer, we should learn from Jesus’ prayer. The things that Jesus cares most should also be the things we care most. Should we pray for God’s glory, and the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters?
人生何求 What are you seeking in life?
小時候讀過很多童話故事，都圍繞在人生何求的主題上。有一個故事講述兩兄弟在河邊求一柄斧頭，弟弟只求他不小心掉進河裡的舊斧頭，而哥哥則求一個金斧頭，不是他先前有意掉到河裡的舊斧頭。你不一定讀過這個故事，但一定能猜到故事的結局。童話故事是很真實的，因為它們經常在現實人生中出現。
人生的智慧往往反映在我們對生活的所求或所不求上面。亞古珥對他的人生也有兩個祈求，顯出了他深刻的智慧。他求神給他正直的心，忠實於神的話語，不要因為私慾而扭曲聖經的教訓。他更求神不要讓他貧窮，也不要讓他富有，因為他要以神為他人生的至寶。
亞古珥的祈求不單顯出他的人生智慧，也表現出他的勇敢和信心。他祈求不要貧窮是人之常情，因為生存是很現實的。他不要為了現實的需要影響他屬靈的生命。他祈求基本生活的滿足，使他有時間追求屬靈生命的豐富。我想，這也是我們今天很大的提醒。
他的勇氣卻表現在祈求不要富有之上。懂得求什麼，固然顯出一個人的智慧來；但懂得求不要些什麼，更需要極大的智慧和勇氣。亞古珥祈求神不要讓他富有，這在今天的社會價值觀中是一件不可意義的事，即使是基督徒也不一定明白，不一定認同。當然亞古珥不要富有是有更深刻的原因的，並不是單單厭惡財富。亞古珥明白屬靈生命比物質生活更重要，因為前者才是幸福之源。他的智慧就顯在這個選擇上：他不要選擇次好而滿足，他要選擇最好的，即使要放棄次好的也不在乎。
請大家在這星期再讀一次箴言三十章一至九節，想思你要向神為自己的人生和生活求些什麼。
When I was little I had read a lot of stories and found out that many of those stories had a common theme, which was making life decisions. There was a story talking about two brothers. The little brother had dropped his old rusty axe into the river and prayed that he could get it back. The older brother, on the other hand, was praying for a golden axe even though he had intentionally dropped an old rusty axe. When we read these stories sometimes we find them so true that they actually happen in the real life.
Wisdom in life always finds its expression in our every day life decisions. Agur has two wishes and his prayer demonstrates his profound wisdom in life. He asks God to give him a truthful heart that he will handle God’s word faithfully, and won’t abuse the biblical teachings to justify his desires. He also asks God not to make him poor nor rich, because he gives God his highest priority in life.
Agur’s prayer reveals not only his wisdom but also his courage and faith. He asks God not to make him poor. His request is quite understandable for it is a real need. However, he also understands that real need sometimes will hinder us to pursuit our spiritual needs, and he chooses to minimize his physical needs to give room to enrich his spiritual life. I think he really gives us an important advice.
But his courage is expressed in his choice of not being rich. Knowing what to ask will reflect a person’s wisdom, but on the other hand, knowing what not to ask needs even greater wisdom and courage. Agur asks God not to make him rich, which is quite unthinkable in our society. I think even Christians may not necessary understand Agur or share his attitude. Agur does not want to be rich has deeper meaning, and it is not just some common criticism on rich people. Agur is convinced that spiritual richness is more important than material wealth. It is the former that will truly give him happiness. His wisdom expressed in this choice: to choose the best, even if he has to give up the second with no hesitation.
I encourage you to read Proverbs 30:1-9 again this week, and meditate on the things that we want to ask from God.
人生的智慧往往反映在我們對生活的所求或所不求上面。亞古珥對他的人生也有兩個祈求，顯出了他深刻的智慧。他求神給他正直的心，忠實於神的話語，不要因為私慾而扭曲聖經的教訓。他更求神不要讓他貧窮，也不要讓他富有，因為他要以神為他人生的至寶。
亞古珥的祈求不單顯出他的人生智慧，也表現出他的勇敢和信心。他祈求不要貧窮是人之常情，因為生存是很現實的。他不要為了現實的需要影響他屬靈的生命。他祈求基本生活的滿足，使他有時間追求屬靈生命的豐富。我想，這也是我們今天很大的提醒。
他的勇氣卻表現在祈求不要富有之上。懂得求什麼，固然顯出一個人的智慧來；但懂得求不要些什麼，更需要極大的智慧和勇氣。亞古珥祈求神不要讓他富有，這在今天的社會價值觀中是一件不可意義的事，即使是基督徒也不一定明白，不一定認同。當然亞古珥不要富有是有更深刻的原因的，並不是單單厭惡財富。亞古珥明白屬靈生命比物質生活更重要，因為前者才是幸福之源。他的智慧就顯在這個選擇上：他不要選擇次好而滿足，他要選擇最好的，即使要放棄次好的也不在乎。
請大家在這星期再讀一次箴言三十章一至九節，想思你要向神為自己的人生和生活求些什麼。
When I was little I had read a lot of stories and found out that many of those stories had a common theme, which was making life decisions. There was a story talking about two brothers. The little brother had dropped his old rusty axe into the river and prayed that he could get it back. The older brother, on the other hand, was praying for a golden axe even though he had intentionally dropped an old rusty axe. When we read these stories sometimes we find them so true that they actually happen in the real life.
Wisdom in life always finds its expression in our every day life decisions. Agur has two wishes and his prayer demonstrates his profound wisdom in life. He asks God to give him a truthful heart that he will handle God’s word faithfully, and won’t abuse the biblical teachings to justify his desires. He also asks God not to make him poor nor rich, because he gives God his highest priority in life.
Agur’s prayer reveals not only his wisdom but also his courage and faith. He asks God not to make him poor. His request is quite understandable for it is a real need. However, he also understands that real need sometimes will hinder us to pursuit our spiritual needs, and he chooses to minimize his physical needs to give room to enrich his spiritual life. I think he really gives us an important advice.
But his courage is expressed in his choice of not being rich. Knowing what to ask will reflect a person’s wisdom, but on the other hand, knowing what not to ask needs even greater wisdom and courage. Agur asks God not to make him rich, which is quite unthinkable in our society. I think even Christians may not necessary understand Agur or share his attitude. Agur does not want to be rich has deeper meaning, and it is not just some common criticism on rich people. Agur is convinced that spiritual richness is more important than material wealth. It is the former that will truly give him happiness. His wisdom expressed in this choice: to choose the best, even if he has to give up the second with no hesitation.
I encourage you to read Proverbs 30:1-9 again this week, and meditate on the things that we want to ask from God.
主祈求合 The Lord Prays for Unity
（約翰福音John 17:11-26）
主耶穌將要走上十字架之前，作了一個很長的禱告，其中一大半的內容是為了門徒的合一祈求。
「合一」在教會生活中是最基本又最重要的屬靈操練。主在離世前再三叮嚀門徒，要追求合一的團契生活。保羅在他的書信中，也多次論及合一的操練。從耶穌的禱告中，我們可以發現合一有三個很重要的神學含意：三位一體、基督的愛與神的榮耀。
三位一體：耶穌要門徒合一，好像祂和天父一樣（17:11）。三位一體的神學觀念強調父、子、聖靈是三個特殊的位格，卻又是一體共融的。這個意思是：雖然祂們是一體，卻仍然保存著各自的位格。在教會生活中的合一並不是同一，每個人的獨特個性不會被取消，但卻又和諧地一起團契事奉，如同一人一般。
基督的愛：合一的基礎是愛（17:26），但這種愛不是一般的愛，因為一般的愛是自私、為己的。使合一成為可能的愛是基督的愛，惟有基督那無私捨己的愛，才能夠把各人和諧地連成一體。
神的榮耀：合一的最終目的是榮耀神（17:22, 24）。在這個充滿矛盾、紛爭和自私的社會中，教會的合一見證會成為神的榮耀。
經文默想
你如何在教會生活中操練合一？你能否在這星期做一些事，讓教會更和諧合一？
Before Jesus was nailed on the cross, he made a very long prayer, and more than half of the prayer was interceding for the unity of the disciples.
Unity is the most important and fundamental spiritual discipline in church life. Jesus had reminded His disciples repeatedly to seek unity in fellowship. Paul, in his epistles, was also doing the same thing talking tirelessly about the unity issue. Interestingly in Jesus’ prayer, we find three important theological implications in the concept of unity: the Trinity, Christ’s love, and God’s glory.
Trinity: Jesus urged disciples to keep the unity, which was demonstrated by Him and the heavenly Father (17:11). The concept of Trinity maintains that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three different and unique persons but in one substance. What the concept of Trinity implies in church life is that unity is not conformity and the unique personality of every individual should be respected and nurtured, but at the same time, everybody can live harmoniously in one fellowship and ministry.
Christ’s love: The foundation of unity is love (17:26). This is not an ordinary love, but the selfless and sacrificial love of Christ, for ordinary love is selfish, and egotistic. Only the love of Christ will bring everybody into one fellowship.
God’s glory: The ultimate purpose for unity is the glory of God (17:22, 24). In this society with all the conflicts, selfishness and egoism, the unity of church life with bring glory to God.
Meditation on the Scripture
How will you discipline yourself to keep the unity in our church? Can you do something for our church to promote unity in this following week?
主耶穌將要走上十字架之前，作了一個很長的禱告，其中一大半的內容是為了門徒的合一祈求。
「合一」在教會生活中是最基本又最重要的屬靈操練。主在離世前再三叮嚀門徒，要追求合一的團契生活。保羅在他的書信中，也多次論及合一的操練。從耶穌的禱告中，我們可以發現合一有三個很重要的神學含意：三位一體、基督的愛與神的榮耀。
三位一體：耶穌要門徒合一，好像祂和天父一樣（17:11）。三位一體的神學觀念強調父、子、聖靈是三個特殊的位格，卻又是一體共融的。這個意思是：雖然祂們是一體，卻仍然保存著各自的位格。在教會生活中的合一並不是同一，每個人的獨特個性不會被取消，但卻又和諧地一起團契事奉，如同一人一般。
基督的愛：合一的基礎是愛（17:26），但這種愛不是一般的愛，因為一般的愛是自私、為己的。使合一成為可能的愛是基督的愛，惟有基督那無私捨己的愛，才能夠把各人和諧地連成一體。
神的榮耀：合一的最終目的是榮耀神（17:22, 24）。在這個充滿矛盾、紛爭和自私的社會中，教會的合一見證會成為神的榮耀。
經文默想
你如何在教會生活中操練合一？你能否在這星期做一些事，讓教會更和諧合一？
Before Jesus was nailed on the cross, he made a very long prayer, and more than half of the prayer was interceding for the unity of the disciples.
Unity is the most important and fundamental spiritual discipline in church life. Jesus had reminded His disciples repeatedly to seek unity in fellowship. Paul, in his epistles, was also doing the same thing talking tirelessly about the unity issue. Interestingly in Jesus’ prayer, we find three important theological implications in the concept of unity: the Trinity, Christ’s love, and God’s glory.
Trinity: Jesus urged disciples to keep the unity, which was demonstrated by Him and the heavenly Father (17:11). The concept of Trinity maintains that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three different and unique persons but in one substance. What the concept of Trinity implies in church life is that unity is not conformity and the unique personality of every individual should be respected and nurtured, but at the same time, everybody can live harmoniously in one fellowship and ministry.
Christ’s love: The foundation of unity is love (17:26). This is not an ordinary love, but the selfless and sacrificial love of Christ, for ordinary love is selfish, and egotistic. Only the love of Christ will bring everybody into one fellowship.
God’s glory: The ultimate purpose for unity is the glory of God (17:22, 24). In this society with all the conflicts, selfishness and egoism, the unity of church life with bring glory to God.
Meditation on the Scripture
How will you discipline yourself to keep the unity in our church? Can you do something for our church to promote unity in this following week?
寬恕與被寬恕 To Forgive and To Be Forgiven
（馬太福音 Matthews 5: 23-24; 6:14）
耶穌為什麼一而再，再而三地論及寬恕和被寬恕，因為神極重視關係，而福音的核心信息，就是重建破碎的關係，先是神與人，然後是人與人。
人類的苦難除了來自於自然災害之外，大部份都是由於不健康的關係而產生的。我們常常因為關係的矛盾而受傷害和傷害別人，因此就生活得不快樂，也不能夠完成應該完成的事情。人生的意義就是在工作和人際關係上獲得滿足，而工作中的快樂，也常常跟人際關係有關。在種種的關係中，神與我們的關係是最重要的，也是最基本的。但有趣的是，神與我們的關係，卻會直接被我們跟別人的關係所影響！這就是為什麼耶穌要我們先跟人和好，才能與神有真正和好的關係。同樣地，我們如果要去愛神，就得首先去愛人（約壹4:20～21）。
耶穌更說，如果我們不能寬恕別人，或不尋求別人的寬恕，神就不悅納我們的敬拜（馬太福音5:23～24）。
寬恕和被寬恕都不容易，因為當中帶著許多情緒和自尊。我們也經驗過，不願意寬恕和不尋求被寬恕，會使我們生活得很不開心，甚至破壞我們的身、心、靈的健康。神希望我們活得快樂又豐盛，所以祂要我們去愛和寬恕。
經文默想
請你仔細地重讀文中所列出的經文，並默想其中的教導。請你作一個禱告，求聖靈幫助你去寬恕和尋求寬恕。
Why did Jesus talk about the issue of forgiving and being forgiven so many times? It’s because God is very serious about our relationship with him and also the core of the gospel is to rebuild broken relationships; first God and human beings, and then people to people.
Our sufferings come mostly from unhealthy relationships rather than from natural disasters. When we get hurt or when we hurt others in conflicting relationships, it makes us very unhappy and we are unable to function fruitfully. A meaningful life must come from the satisfactions of work and relationship. In fact, the joy of work is also affected by relationship. With all of our relationships, our relationship with God should be the most important and fundamental one. Interestingly enough, however, our relationship with God will be directly affected by our relationship with people! This is the reason that Jesus asks us to make peace with people first before God will make peace with us. Likewise, if we say we love God, let us first love our fellows (1 John 4:20~21).
Jesus even goes a step further, and says that if we choose not to forgive, or not to seek forgiveness, God will not be pleased by our act of worship (Matt 5:23~24).
It is not easy to forgive or to seek forgiveness, for it involves a lot of emotions and pride. However, we have all experienced at least once how miserable life can be if we choose to live with an unforgiving heart. This kind of unhappiness will destroy our health in body, soul, and spirit. God wants us to have a happy and abundant life, so He demands us to love and forgive.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please read carefully the Bible verses listed in this article and meditate on their teachings. Please pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength to forgive and to seek forgiveness.
耶穌為什麼一而再，再而三地論及寬恕和被寬恕，因為神極重視關係，而福音的核心信息，就是重建破碎的關係，先是神與人，然後是人與人。
人類的苦難除了來自於自然災害之外，大部份都是由於不健康的關係而產生的。我們常常因為關係的矛盾而受傷害和傷害別人，因此就生活得不快樂，也不能夠完成應該完成的事情。人生的意義就是在工作和人際關係上獲得滿足，而工作中的快樂，也常常跟人際關係有關。在種種的關係中，神與我們的關係是最重要的，也是最基本的。但有趣的是，神與我們的關係，卻會直接被我們跟別人的關係所影響！這就是為什麼耶穌要我們先跟人和好，才能與神有真正和好的關係。同樣地，我們如果要去愛神，就得首先去愛人（約壹4:20～21）。
耶穌更說，如果我們不能寬恕別人，或不尋求別人的寬恕，神就不悅納我們的敬拜（馬太福音5:23～24）。
寬恕和被寬恕都不容易，因為當中帶著許多情緒和自尊。我們也經驗過，不願意寬恕和不尋求被寬恕，會使我們生活得很不開心，甚至破壞我們的身、心、靈的健康。神希望我們活得快樂又豐盛，所以祂要我們去愛和寬恕。
經文默想
請你仔細地重讀文中所列出的經文，並默想其中的教導。請你作一個禱告，求聖靈幫助你去寬恕和尋求寬恕。
Why did Jesus talk about the issue of forgiving and being forgiven so many times? It’s because God is very serious about our relationship with him and also the core of the gospel is to rebuild broken relationships; first God and human beings, and then people to people.
Our sufferings come mostly from unhealthy relationships rather than from natural disasters. When we get hurt or when we hurt others in conflicting relationships, it makes us very unhappy and we are unable to function fruitfully. A meaningful life must come from the satisfactions of work and relationship. In fact, the joy of work is also affected by relationship. With all of our relationships, our relationship with God should be the most important and fundamental one. Interestingly enough, however, our relationship with God will be directly affected by our relationship with people! This is the reason that Jesus asks us to make peace with people first before God will make peace with us. Likewise, if we say we love God, let us first love our fellows (1 John 4:20~21).
Jesus even goes a step further, and says that if we choose not to forgive, or not to seek forgiveness, God will not be pleased by our act of worship (Matt 5:23~24).
It is not easy to forgive or to seek forgiveness, for it involves a lot of emotions and pride. However, we have all experienced at least once how miserable life can be if we choose to live with an unforgiving heart. This kind of unhappiness will destroy our health in body, soul, and spirit. God wants us to have a happy and abundant life, so He demands us to love and forgive.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please read carefully the Bible verses listed in this article and meditate on their teachings. Please pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength to forgive and to seek forgiveness.
財富 Fortune
俗語說，「人為財死，鳥為食亡。」大部份人的一生大概就只追求兩樣東西：愛情和財富。兩者都是和生存和生命延續有關的，而錢財往往又比愛情重要，因為許多人為了財富可以放棄愛情和家庭的幸福。
人對財富的態度，也可以用來衡量他的價值觀，知道在他的一生中什麼才是最重要的。這就是耶穌所說的，「你的財寶在那裡，你的心就在那裡」。（太6:21）聖經要我們作十一奉獻，一方面可以藉此反映我們對神和祂的國度的態度，另一方面也讓我們操練過以神為主的生活，不把錢財放得比神還要高、還要重要的地位。
聖經並沒有禁止我們賺錢，更沒有禁止我們經營致富。聖經，特別在舊約，經常以地上物質的豐富來應許愛神守律法的人。但聖經也很清楚把愛神和遵行祂旨意放在首先，地上物質的祝福放在第二。先有第一才會有第二，不然，有了財富我們也不會運用，反而被財富所害，使自己更遠離神，把祝福變成詛咒。
我們到底有多愛神和祂的國度呢？很簡單，我們可以馬上意識到的，看看我們每星期向祂所作的奉獻便大概明白了。
In a Chinese saying, “Man will die for money and bird will be captured by chasing food.” Majority of people chase after only two things in their lives, and these things are love and money. They both have one thing in common, which is the motivation of survival. Between money and love, money is always more important than love, for many people are willing to sacrifice love and family happiness for money.
Our attitude toward wealth can also be used as a measure to check the priority in our lives to reveal things that have more value. Therefore, Jesus once said, “For your heart will always be where your riches are.” (Matt. 6:21) Bible requires us to tithe to reflect our attitude toward God and His kingdom, and on the other hand, to allow us to practice not putting money higher than God.
Bible does not prohibit us to earn money or do business to create wealth. In the Old Testament, especially, is using material goods as blessing to those who love God and obey His word. However, Bible does make it very clear that, loving God should be put first, and the material blessings will follow. Or otherwise, we don’t know how to use wealth correctly, further more to depart us from God, and turn blessing into cursing in our lives.
Do we really know how much we love God? It is very simple, and we can find out immediately by seeing how we give to God in every worship service.
人對財富的態度，也可以用來衡量他的價值觀，知道在他的一生中什麼才是最重要的。這就是耶穌所說的，「你的財寶在那裡，你的心就在那裡」。（太6:21）聖經要我們作十一奉獻，一方面可以藉此反映我們對神和祂的國度的態度，另一方面也讓我們操練過以神為主的生活，不把錢財放得比神還要高、還要重要的地位。
聖經並沒有禁止我們賺錢，更沒有禁止我們經營致富。聖經，特別在舊約，經常以地上物質的豐富來應許愛神守律法的人。但聖經也很清楚把愛神和遵行祂旨意放在首先，地上物質的祝福放在第二。先有第一才會有第二，不然，有了財富我們也不會運用，反而被財富所害，使自己更遠離神，把祝福變成詛咒。
我們到底有多愛神和祂的國度呢？很簡單，我們可以馬上意識到的，看看我們每星期向祂所作的奉獻便大概明白了。
In a Chinese saying, “Man will die for money and bird will be captured by chasing food.” Majority of people chase after only two things in their lives, and these things are love and money. They both have one thing in common, which is the motivation of survival. Between money and love, money is always more important than love, for many people are willing to sacrifice love and family happiness for money.
Our attitude toward wealth can also be used as a measure to check the priority in our lives to reveal things that have more value. Therefore, Jesus once said, “For your heart will always be where your riches are.” (Matt. 6:21) Bible requires us to tithe to reflect our attitude toward God and His kingdom, and on the other hand, to allow us to practice not putting money higher than God.
Bible does not prohibit us to earn money or do business to create wealth. In the Old Testament, especially, is using material goods as blessing to those who love God and obey His word. However, Bible does make it very clear that, loving God should be put first, and the material blessings will follow. Or otherwise, we don’t know how to use wealth correctly, further more to depart us from God, and turn blessing into cursing in our lives.
Do we really know how much we love God? It is very simple, and we can find out immediately by seeing how we give to God in every worship service.
藉著信 Through Faith
（腓立比書Philippians 3:1-11）
在保羅的書信中，經常為了守護信仰的純正而辯護，而其中一個問題就是教會內部的猶太主義。
初期教會的第一批基督徒大多數是猶太人，帶著濃厚的猶太信仰傳統和習俗加入教會。他們了解耶穌基督的信仰是透過猶太人的傳統和習俗，因此常常把耶穌的教導，和他們拉比的教導混合在一起。有些熱心的猶太化基督徒，甚至抱著猶太主義的立場，攻擊教會和使徒，保羅就經常要寫信到各教會，澄清這些混亂和對抗攻擊。
其中一個嚴重的混亂就是得救的問題。人如何才能得救呢？猶太主義者堅持，除了信耶穌之外，還要守律法，並遵行猶太人的傳統習俗。他們對自己選民的身份很驕傲，並要求凡信耶穌的外邦人也要接受割禮，不然就不算是義人。保羅在這問題上大力反對，並替耶穌基督的福音辯護。有關這方面更詳細的辯論，可以詳讀羅馬書和加拉太書。保羅在腓立比書只是順帶再提一次（3:1b），並沒有打算深入討論。
耶穌基督的救贖，就是神向背叛祂的人伸出寬恕和接納的手，呼召人與祂重建關係，做祂的兒女。耶穌基督的救贖既然是重建關係的問題，而神又先賜下赦罪的恩典，向人伸出接納的手，人的回應就只需要接納這恩典，並承認耶穌是救主和生命的主，他便被神稱為義，或與神和好了。耶穌所要求的只是人在態度上的轉變，重新藉著接納耶穌，接納神作為他們的神和生命的主。這種態度的轉變是首先的，而且是最重要和必要的，跟人的道德或宗教成就完全無關。這就是保羅多次強調的藉著信靠恩典而得救稱義的道理。
經文默想
我們決志信耶穌就是立志改變我們人生的態度，接納耶穌是我們生命和生活的主，因此保羅便說了從7至11節的一番話。請你在這一週反省你信耶穌的經歷，並比對一下自己的人生態度和保羅的有何不同。為什麼有這些不同處?
In Paul’s letters, he always defended Christian faith against Judaisers’ influences in the church.
The majority of the first generation Christians in the early churches were Jews, who brought with them the tradition and customs of Judaism into the church life. Their understanding of Christian faith was most likely with the perspective of the Jewish rabbinic teachings. Some Christian Judaisers might enthusiastically argue with churches and apostles with their Judaic biases. This was the reason for Paul to write letters to different churches to teach the correct doctrines and respond to challenges.
There was one very confusing issue among others and it was the issue of salvation. How should a person be saved? The Judaisers argued that in addition to having faith in Jesus, one must keep the Jewish law, and observe the Jewish customs. They were very proud of their identity as the chosen people, and required every non-Jewish believer to observe circumcision, or otherwise, they would not be called a righteous person. Paul fought restlessly against such judaized opinion, and prevented the gospel of Christ from corruption. In the epistle of Philippians, Paul only mentioned lightly again this issue (3:1b) and did not want to go any further, but we can find the detail discussions in Romans and Galatians.
The salvation of Jesus is the extended hand of the forgiveness of God to people, and calling them to reconcile with Him to become His children. Since Jesus’ redemption is to bring back a reconciled relationship, and God has already forgiven us and welcomes us to be His children, therefore, the response people need to make is to accept this gift and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord in their lives, and then they will be claimed righteous and make peace with God. Jesus just asks us for an attitude change, and through Him, we receive God to be the Lord in our lives. This attitude change is the most fundamental and necessary, and has nothing to do with any moral or religious achievement. This is what Paul has asserted so many times in his writings the doctrine of “salvation through faith by grace”.
Meditation on the Scripture:
When we make our decision to accept Jesus, we make the decision to change our life attitude, and take Jesus as the Lord in our lives. This is exactly the situation Paul mentioned in 3:7~11. Let us reflect on our conversion experience, and compare our lives with Paul’s life mentioned in this paragraph.
在保羅的書信中，經常為了守護信仰的純正而辯護，而其中一個問題就是教會內部的猶太主義。
初期教會的第一批基督徒大多數是猶太人，帶著濃厚的猶太信仰傳統和習俗加入教會。他們了解耶穌基督的信仰是透過猶太人的傳統和習俗，因此常常把耶穌的教導，和他們拉比的教導混合在一起。有些熱心的猶太化基督徒，甚至抱著猶太主義的立場，攻擊教會和使徒，保羅就經常要寫信到各教會，澄清這些混亂和對抗攻擊。
其中一個嚴重的混亂就是得救的問題。人如何才能得救呢？猶太主義者堅持，除了信耶穌之外，還要守律法，並遵行猶太人的傳統習俗。他們對自己選民的身份很驕傲，並要求凡信耶穌的外邦人也要接受割禮，不然就不算是義人。保羅在這問題上大力反對，並替耶穌基督的福音辯護。有關這方面更詳細的辯論，可以詳讀羅馬書和加拉太書。保羅在腓立比書只是順帶再提一次（3:1b），並沒有打算深入討論。
耶穌基督的救贖，就是神向背叛祂的人伸出寬恕和接納的手，呼召人與祂重建關係，做祂的兒女。耶穌基督的救贖既然是重建關係的問題，而神又先賜下赦罪的恩典，向人伸出接納的手，人的回應就只需要接納這恩典，並承認耶穌是救主和生命的主，他便被神稱為義，或與神和好了。耶穌所要求的只是人在態度上的轉變，重新藉著接納耶穌，接納神作為他們的神和生命的主。這種態度的轉變是首先的，而且是最重要和必要的，跟人的道德或宗教成就完全無關。這就是保羅多次強調的藉著信靠恩典而得救稱義的道理。
經文默想
我們決志信耶穌就是立志改變我們人生的態度，接納耶穌是我們生命和生活的主，因此保羅便說了從7至11節的一番話。請你在這一週反省你信耶穌的經歷，並比對一下自己的人生態度和保羅的有何不同。為什麼有這些不同處?
In Paul’s letters, he always defended Christian faith against Judaisers’ influences in the church.
The majority of the first generation Christians in the early churches were Jews, who brought with them the tradition and customs of Judaism into the church life. Their understanding of Christian faith was most likely with the perspective of the Jewish rabbinic teachings. Some Christian Judaisers might enthusiastically argue with churches and apostles with their Judaic biases. This was the reason for Paul to write letters to different churches to teach the correct doctrines and respond to challenges.
There was one very confusing issue among others and it was the issue of salvation. How should a person be saved? The Judaisers argued that in addition to having faith in Jesus, one must keep the Jewish law, and observe the Jewish customs. They were very proud of their identity as the chosen people, and required every non-Jewish believer to observe circumcision, or otherwise, they would not be called a righteous person. Paul fought restlessly against such judaized opinion, and prevented the gospel of Christ from corruption. In the epistle of Philippians, Paul only mentioned lightly again this issue (3:1b) and did not want to go any further, but we can find the detail discussions in Romans and Galatians.
The salvation of Jesus is the extended hand of the forgiveness of God to people, and calling them to reconcile with Him to become His children. Since Jesus’ redemption is to bring back a reconciled relationship, and God has already forgiven us and welcomes us to be His children, therefore, the response people need to make is to accept this gift and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord in their lives, and then they will be claimed righteous and make peace with God. Jesus just asks us for an attitude change, and through Him, we receive God to be the Lord in our lives. This attitude change is the most fundamental and necessary, and has nothing to do with any moral or religious achievement. This is what Paul has asserted so many times in his writings the doctrine of “salvation through faith by grace”.
Meditation on the Scripture:
When we make our decision to accept Jesus, we make the decision to change our life attitude, and take Jesus as the Lord in our lives. This is exactly the situation Paul mentioned in 3:7~11. Let us reflect on our conversion experience, and compare our lives with Paul’s life mentioned in this paragraph.
靈裡的選舉 Election in the Spirit
浸信會的體制是採取會員治會制的。它的精神是由全體信徒同心尋求神對教會的旨意，並按著彼此所領受的恩賜來事奉。我們相信，在教會的生活中，神對教會的旨意，在正常情況下，會向大多數人顯明，因為神要我們同心合意，按著所領受的恩賜服事祂，建立教會。
我們進行同工的選舉就是基於這一信念，在聖靈裡透過選舉，尋求合主心意的教會領袖。所以，當我們進行選舉時，務必認真嚴肅，切切為選舉禱告，一同尋求聖靈的引導，選出合神心意的人來。
每一次進行選舉前要先為自己禱告，求主指引你未來要擔任的服事。如果聖靈要感動你出來服事，就應與弟兄姊妹分享你的呼召，並請大家為你禱告。然後再為別人禱告，求聖靈也呼召別人一起參與事奉。當你有具體的代禱對象，便應與那人分享，一同尋求聖靈同印證的感動。在提名的時候，便憑著這些聖靈的感動推選候選人，有相同感動的人便可以附議。若有兩個或以上的附議，便接納提名人為候選人。當候選人已經齊備，全教會就應同心為候選人禱告，求聖靈進一步指引，選出新的同工來。
教會選舉是沒有什麼當選不當選，都是神按著祂的心意，呼召人在不同的崗位上服事。每一個崗位都同樣尊貴，也同樣重要。教會的選舉也是一種屬靈的操練，讓我們學習在事奉上尋求主的旨意，也學習聆聽聖靈的聲音，順服祂的呼召。
Baptist polity adopts the congregational system in church management. They believe that God intends the whole church to seek His will together in church business and uses our gifts to serve the body. In the normal situation, when God reveals His will to the church, He will bring the consent to the majority to confirm a particular insight, and use different gifts to build up the body, for He wants us to serve Him in one accord.
Based on this belief, we elect our church leaders. We try to administer our election in the Holy Spirit to seek His will in calling our council leaders. Therefore, we urge our brothers and sisters to take our election seriously and prayerfully to seek God’s will together to elect those who are called by the Lord.
Every time before the nomination and election, we should pray for ourselves first to wait for God’s calling to the ministry. If the Holy Spirit calls you to a ministry, you should share that calling with other brothers and sisters, and ask them to pray for you. Secondly, you should pray for others, and ask the Holy Spirit to call people to serve in the church. Once if you have some one in your prayer, you should share your seeing with that person, and pray together to wait for the confirmation from the Holy Spirit. When we come to the day of nomination, we should nominate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and also wait for at least two people to give the confirmations to second the motion. Any motion for a nominee should be carried with two seconds from the congregation. When the nomination is closed and a pool of nominees is established, the whole church should pray for all the nominees, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the election.
There is no loss or win in church election, for it is God who chooses His people to serve in different positions. Every position is equally important and noble in God’s perspective. Church election is also a kind of spiritual discipline to allow us to learn to serve the Lord and seek His will. It is also the opportunity to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His calling.
我們進行同工的選舉就是基於這一信念，在聖靈裡透過選舉，尋求合主心意的教會領袖。所以，當我們進行選舉時，務必認真嚴肅，切切為選舉禱告，一同尋求聖靈的引導，選出合神心意的人來。
每一次進行選舉前要先為自己禱告，求主指引你未來要擔任的服事。如果聖靈要感動你出來服事，就應與弟兄姊妹分享你的呼召，並請大家為你禱告。然後再為別人禱告，求聖靈也呼召別人一起參與事奉。當你有具體的代禱對象，便應與那人分享，一同尋求聖靈同印證的感動。在提名的時候，便憑著這些聖靈的感動推選候選人，有相同感動的人便可以附議。若有兩個或以上的附議，便接納提名人為候選人。當候選人已經齊備，全教會就應同心為候選人禱告，求聖靈進一步指引，選出新的同工來。
教會選舉是沒有什麼當選不當選，都是神按著祂的心意，呼召人在不同的崗位上服事。每一個崗位都同樣尊貴，也同樣重要。教會的選舉也是一種屬靈的操練，讓我們學習在事奉上尋求主的旨意，也學習聆聽聖靈的聲音，順服祂的呼召。
Baptist polity adopts the congregational system in church management. They believe that God intends the whole church to seek His will together in church business and uses our gifts to serve the body. In the normal situation, when God reveals His will to the church, He will bring the consent to the majority to confirm a particular insight, and use different gifts to build up the body, for He wants us to serve Him in one accord.
Based on this belief, we elect our church leaders. We try to administer our election in the Holy Spirit to seek His will in calling our council leaders. Therefore, we urge our brothers and sisters to take our election seriously and prayerfully to seek God’s will together to elect those who are called by the Lord.
Every time before the nomination and election, we should pray for ourselves first to wait for God’s calling to the ministry. If the Holy Spirit calls you to a ministry, you should share that calling with other brothers and sisters, and ask them to pray for you. Secondly, you should pray for others, and ask the Holy Spirit to call people to serve in the church. Once if you have some one in your prayer, you should share your seeing with that person, and pray together to wait for the confirmation from the Holy Spirit. When we come to the day of nomination, we should nominate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and also wait for at least two people to give the confirmations to second the motion. Any motion for a nominee should be carried with two seconds from the congregation. When the nomination is closed and a pool of nominees is established, the whole church should pray for all the nominees, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the election.
There is no loss or win in church election, for it is God who chooses His people to serve in different positions. Every position is equally important and noble in God’s perspective. Church election is also a kind of spiritual discipline to allow us to learn to serve the Lord and seek His will. It is also the opportunity to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His calling.
快樂階梯 The Pyramid of Happiness
神要我們活得充滿喜樂，所以保羅說要常常喜樂。在舊約的書卷中，到處都可以看到神應許人快樂的話。然而，聖經對喜樂有不同的看法，因此也要求我們以不同的方法去追求快樂。
我們可以用一個快樂階梯來說明基督徒追求快樂的方法，同時也顯出我們對快樂的深刻認識。基督徒也是人，也有物質的需要，所以我們也追求物質的豐富，但同時也認識到物質的豐富不必然帶來心靈的快樂。其實，在我們日常生活中，曾經看見過有人賺了許多錢但不快樂，也看過有人事業很成功卻也不快樂，我們也看過有人交友滿天下也不快樂。
聖經已告訴我們快樂的源頭在神裡面。保羅直接告訴我們，在主裡是喜樂的泉源：「你們要因為與主連結而常常喜樂。我再說，你們要喜樂。」（腓4:4）我們可以從聖經中找到喜樂的階梯，知道喜樂的源頭，和喜樂最高的境界，而這一切都在乎我們與主的關係。
God wants us to live happily. This is the reason why Paul tells us to be joyful always. We can find in the Old Testament books full of God’s promises of giving happiness to His people. In Bible, however, happiness has its unique definition, and therefore, God also requires us to acquire happiness in a unique way.
We can use a pyramid to illustrate how Christians should pursuit happiness, and reveal our profound understanding in this issue. Christians are also human beings, so we have physical needs. We will pursuit earthly wealth, even though we understand that material goods won’t necessary quarantine happiness, especially spiritual joy. As matter of fact, we see rich people and professionally successful people are unhappy in their lives. Sometimes, we also see people are unhappy even though they have a lot of friends.
Bible tells us that the ultimate source of happiness is in the Lord. Paul tells us with no hesitation that we will have joy in the union with Christ, “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!” (Phil 4:4) We can find the ladder to happiness in the Bible, and know that the ultimate source of joy and its highest contentment is in the relationship with the Lord.
靈修樂 The Joy of Devotion
教會自從推動每日靈修以來，聽到有弟兄姊妹查詢靈修的方法，也聽到有人抱怨靈修沉悶，很想做，卻提不起勁。這些問題不單初信主的人會遇到，就是信主多年的人也會有這些困惑。我想在這裡提出兩點來回應這兩個問題。
第一個原因是讀不懂。許多人讀聖經的時候讀不懂，就覺得沉悶讀不下去，於是無法堅持每天靈修。有一個很好的辦法來回應這個現象，就是找一些能讀得懂的靈修輔助讀物，作為開始的靈修材料。教會近來介紹了許多這類的靈修課程或讀物，我大力鼓勵你去選購，馬上開始每天的靈修生活。除了使用靈修課程來做每天的靈修外，參與或自組小組靈修是另一個非常好的辦法，透過小組分享，便更容易明白聖經的教導，使靈修更有趣味。
第二個原因是沒有實踐。靈修最精彩的地方，也是靈修的目的，就是實踐每天讀到的聖經教訓。許多屬靈的道理，讀的時候貌似簡單，但實踐的時候才能體會個中的滋味。實踐靈修時所學到的聖經教訓，會讓你體會靈修的重要和功用，也會增加你靈修的興趣和動力。實踐也會幫助我們認識聖經的教訓，或幫助我們更深入地了解聖經的話。有些人讀了許多年的聖經，卻連一些很簡單的聖經道理都不明白，就是因為他們不實踐所學到的教訓。屬靈的真理既是知而後行，也是行而後知的。
我鼓勵大家每週實踐最少一個聖經的教訓，讓我們的靈修更精彩，也更有用。
Since the church has promoted daily devotion, I heard many brothers and sisters asking methods of how to do devotion, and also complaining the boredom of doing it. Many said that they have tried but because of the tedium of reading the Bible that they lost the enthusiasm eventually. It does not only happen to young believers, but also to old Christians. I would like to address these issues with two points:
First, Bible to some people is hard to understand. Many people have hard time to comprehend the teachings of the Bible, and feel bore in their devotional reading. They will very soon give up their daily practices. To respond to this situation, I would recommend some easy reading devotional materials. Our church has introduced many devotional materials or books recently that can help improve this situation. I encourage you to order or buy one or two such devotional materials to help you start your daily quiet time with the Lord. Besides, you can join or create one small group to do devotion together, which will help you understand what you read in the Bible, and add more fun in your quiet time.
Second, people do not practice what they learn from the Bible. Practicing God’s word is the most exciting thing in your devotional reading, and it is the purpose of daily devotion. While many biblical teachings look simple when you read them, but practices will bring out their richness. Practices will also help us understand the biblical teachings deeper. Many Christians have been reading Bible for many years but still are very ignorance even in many simple teachings, because they never put God’s word into practices. Definitely we need to learn the spiritual truth first in order to practice it, but the truth will not reveal its depth to us if we don’t practice them.
I strongly encourage you to learn by heart one biblical teaching every week and put it into practice to enrich your quiet time with the Lord, and make your devotional reading more practical and useful.
第一個原因是讀不懂。許多人讀聖經的時候讀不懂，就覺得沉悶讀不下去，於是無法堅持每天靈修。有一個很好的辦法來回應這個現象，就是找一些能讀得懂的靈修輔助讀物，作為開始的靈修材料。教會近來介紹了許多這類的靈修課程或讀物，我大力鼓勵你去選購，馬上開始每天的靈修生活。除了使用靈修課程來做每天的靈修外，參與或自組小組靈修是另一個非常好的辦法，透過小組分享，便更容易明白聖經的教導，使靈修更有趣味。
第二個原因是沒有實踐。靈修最精彩的地方，也是靈修的目的，就是實踐每天讀到的聖經教訓。許多屬靈的道理，讀的時候貌似簡單，但實踐的時候才能體會個中的滋味。實踐靈修時所學到的聖經教訓，會讓你體會靈修的重要和功用，也會增加你靈修的興趣和動力。實踐也會幫助我們認識聖經的教訓，或幫助我們更深入地了解聖經的話。有些人讀了許多年的聖經，卻連一些很簡單的聖經道理都不明白，就是因為他們不實踐所學到的教訓。屬靈的真理既是知而後行，也是行而後知的。
我鼓勵大家每週實踐最少一個聖經的教訓，讓我們的靈修更精彩，也更有用。
Since the church has promoted daily devotion, I heard many brothers and sisters asking methods of how to do devotion, and also complaining the boredom of doing it. Many said that they have tried but because of the tedium of reading the Bible that they lost the enthusiasm eventually. It does not only happen to young believers, but also to old Christians. I would like to address these issues with two points:
First, Bible to some people is hard to understand. Many people have hard time to comprehend the teachings of the Bible, and feel bore in their devotional reading. They will very soon give up their daily practices. To respond to this situation, I would recommend some easy reading devotional materials. Our church has introduced many devotional materials or books recently that can help improve this situation. I encourage you to order or buy one or two such devotional materials to help you start your daily quiet time with the Lord. Besides, you can join or create one small group to do devotion together, which will help you understand what you read in the Bible, and add more fun in your quiet time.
Second, people do not practice what they learn from the Bible. Practicing God’s word is the most exciting thing in your devotional reading, and it is the purpose of daily devotion. While many biblical teachings look simple when you read them, but practices will bring out their richness. Practices will also help us understand the biblical teachings deeper. Many Christians have been reading Bible for many years but still are very ignorance even in many simple teachings, because they never put God’s word into practices. Definitely we need to learn the spiritual truth first in order to practice it, but the truth will not reveal its depth to us if we don’t practice them.
I strongly encourage you to learn by heart one biblical teaching every week and put it into practice to enrich your quiet time with the Lord, and make your devotional reading more practical and useful.
眾樂樂 The Joy of Making People Happy
這兩個主日在崇拜和主日學都會談論到夫妻相處之道，其實夫妻之道也不外是建基在一般人際關係的原則之上。中國對夫妻有一句古老的忠告，就是「相敬如賓」，是很有智慧和道理的。它的意思是，不以親而疏於禮。
人與人之間的相處，很多時候是親而無禮。這是什麼意思呢？它的意思是，當人與人之間的關係漸漸親近了，就不再注重人際關係中的原則，自私的念頭就慢慢增強，常常委屈別人來滿足自己。於是，我們常常看見，兩個熟識的朋友，矛盾反而增多，往往在認識久了之候，朋友就做不成了。這個現象背後有很多原因，而且都是非常有趣和諷刺的，但我不打算在這裡談論。我只想提出一點和大家一起思考的，就是「獨樂樂不如眾樂樂」的交友之道。
在交友的前期，我們都會為了建立友誼，爭取友誼，都會為對方著想及考慮，以對方的快樂為自己的快樂，才有可能成功地建立起友誼。然而一旦成為朋友，友誼深了，人就從他利的態度，漸漸轉變成自利的態度，經常要求朋友滿足自己的需要，而不想再像以前一樣去遷就對方。人從自我中心（自私）的心態中走出來，是性格和屬靈生命成長的重要過程，朋友以至夫妻的關係便成為人自我成長的重要助力。如果我們要享受人際關係的快樂，不管是一般的友誼、或情侶，甚至是夫妻，都要以獨樂樂不如眾樂樂的態度來交往。
On these two Sundays, we will talk about husband and wife relationship in our worship service and Sunday school. Some principles of marital relationship are also principles for building healthy relationship among friends. One ancient Chinese saying has some truth to advise a married couple to treat each other like friends. What it means is that, husband and wife should not abuse their relationship simply because they are married and have a very intimate relationship.
In people relationship, sometimes, we see the closeness will be used as an excuse to abuse friendship. What does it mean? It means that when two persons become close friends, they tend to ignore the principles that they used to observe to build their friendship, and allow their selfish desires have their own ways. Therefore, it will not be surprised to see two persons once become good friends to start fighting and arguing, and eventually to break the friendship.
Of course, we know there are a lot of reasons contributing into this issue, and it is no way to discuss them in this little article. I just want to bring out one thing for discussion, and it is the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship.
In the earlier stage of building friendship, we are more eager to be considerate and to make people happy for it will make us happy too and secure the friendship. However, once the friendship is built and the relationship is getting closer, our attitude will also change, and become more self-centered and selfish. We will be less eager to give in and more demanding.
Going out of our self-centeredness or selfishness is the process of maturity, and friends or our spouse are the biggest helpers in this process of growth. Therefore, if we want to enjoy relationship, no matter, they are friendship or husband and wife relationship, the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship is always the golden rule.
人與人之間的相處，很多時候是親而無禮。這是什麼意思呢？它的意思是，當人與人之間的關係漸漸親近了，就不再注重人際關係中的原則，自私的念頭就慢慢增強，常常委屈別人來滿足自己。於是，我們常常看見，兩個熟識的朋友，矛盾反而增多，往往在認識久了之候，朋友就做不成了。這個現象背後有很多原因，而且都是非常有趣和諷刺的，但我不打算在這裡談論。我只想提出一點和大家一起思考的，就是「獨樂樂不如眾樂樂」的交友之道。
在交友的前期，我們都會為了建立友誼，爭取友誼，都會為對方著想及考慮，以對方的快樂為自己的快樂，才有可能成功地建立起友誼。然而一旦成為朋友，友誼深了，人就從他利的態度，漸漸轉變成自利的態度，經常要求朋友滿足自己的需要，而不想再像以前一樣去遷就對方。人從自我中心（自私）的心態中走出來，是性格和屬靈生命成長的重要過程，朋友以至夫妻的關係便成為人自我成長的重要助力。如果我們要享受人際關係的快樂，不管是一般的友誼、或情侶，甚至是夫妻，都要以獨樂樂不如眾樂樂的態度來交往。
On these two Sundays, we will talk about husband and wife relationship in our worship service and Sunday school. Some principles of marital relationship are also principles for building healthy relationship among friends. One ancient Chinese saying has some truth to advise a married couple to treat each other like friends. What it means is that, husband and wife should not abuse their relationship simply because they are married and have a very intimate relationship.
In people relationship, sometimes, we see the closeness will be used as an excuse to abuse friendship. What does it mean? It means that when two persons become close friends, they tend to ignore the principles that they used to observe to build their friendship, and allow their selfish desires have their own ways. Therefore, it will not be surprised to see two persons once become good friends to start fighting and arguing, and eventually to break the friendship.
Of course, we know there are a lot of reasons contributing into this issue, and it is no way to discuss them in this little article. I just want to bring out one thing for discussion, and it is the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship.
In the earlier stage of building friendship, we are more eager to be considerate and to make people happy for it will make us happy too and secure the friendship. However, once the friendship is built and the relationship is getting closer, our attitude will also change, and become more self-centered and selfish. We will be less eager to give in and more demanding.
Going out of our self-centeredness or selfishness is the process of maturity, and friends or our spouse are the biggest helpers in this process of growth. Therefore, if we want to enjoy relationship, no matter, they are friendship or husband and wife relationship, the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship is always the golden rule.
保護語言環境 Conserving the Environment of Words
今天已有許多人意識到環保的重要，從政府到民間團體及個人，都熱心參與環保的工作。我們如果要生活得健康，居住得快樂，就要保護大自然，不要讓土地、河海和空氣受到污染與破壞。
大多數人認識到地理空間會影響我們生活的質素，但卻很少人留意心靈空間也一樣會影響我們的生活，尤其是影響我們的屬靈生活和品格的成長。語言環境就屬於心靈空間的一部分，直接影響著我們的屬靈生命。我們要保護生活中的語言環境，讓自己和身邊的人活得更開心、更健康。
若要保護空間環境，第一不要濫用和污染它，第二要藉著淨化和綠化，還原神創造時的美好。同樣地，我們要保護語言環境，首先不要濫用自己說話的權柄，用言語污染我們和別人共同分享的心靈空間。第二，我們要積極地使用言語來淨化美化這片心靈的天地，例如多說鼓勵的話，或用言語安慰憂傷的人等。
箴言裡有許多論及說話和語言的教導，因為神要我們善用自己的舌頭。你可以一一把它們找出來嗎？
Nowadays, people are more conscious about conserving our environment, from government to voluntary organizations, to individuals; everybody enthusiastically joins in the force of conserving the nature. If we want to live a healthy and happy life, we have to protect the nature, and don’t pollute the lands, rivers and seas or the air.
As matter of fact, many people have realized how geographical environment affects our living quality, but still ignore the impact that mental environment gives to our life, especially to our spiritual well being and character. Verbal environment is part of this mental environment, which will affect our spiritual well being. We should be responsible for conserving our verbal environment to allow others and ourselves to live happily and healthily.
If we want to conserve the natural environment, first of all, we should not abuse and pollute it; and then, through purifying and greening we restore the beauty of the creation. Likewise, if we want to conserve the verbal environment, we should not abuse our right of speech to pollute the shared mental environment. However, we should use our tongue positively to add beauty into the world of words, for instance, words of encouragement or comfort.
God has given us a lot of lessons regarding words and speech in the book of Proverbs. Can you list them out from the book to learn what God wants us to do with our tongue?
大多數人認識到地理空間會影響我們生活的質素，但卻很少人留意心靈空間也一樣會影響我們的生活，尤其是影響我們的屬靈生活和品格的成長。語言環境就屬於心靈空間的一部分，直接影響著我們的屬靈生命。我們要保護生活中的語言環境，讓自己和身邊的人活得更開心、更健康。
若要保護空間環境，第一不要濫用和污染它，第二要藉著淨化和綠化，還原神創造時的美好。同樣地，我們要保護語言環境，首先不要濫用自己說話的權柄，用言語污染我們和別人共同分享的心靈空間。第二，我們要積極地使用言語來淨化美化這片心靈的天地，例如多說鼓勵的話，或用言語安慰憂傷的人等。
箴言裡有許多論及說話和語言的教導，因為神要我們善用自己的舌頭。你可以一一把它們找出來嗎？
Nowadays, people are more conscious about conserving our environment, from government to voluntary organizations, to individuals; everybody enthusiastically joins in the force of conserving the nature. If we want to live a healthy and happy life, we have to protect the nature, and don’t pollute the lands, rivers and seas or the air.
As matter of fact, many people have realized how geographical environment affects our living quality, but still ignore the impact that mental environment gives to our life, especially to our spiritual well being and character. Verbal environment is part of this mental environment, which will affect our spiritual well being. We should be responsible for conserving our verbal environment to allow others and ourselves to live happily and healthily.
If we want to conserve the natural environment, first of all, we should not abuse and pollute it; and then, through purifying and greening we restore the beauty of the creation. Likewise, if we want to conserve the verbal environment, we should not abuse our right of speech to pollute the shared mental environment. However, we should use our tongue positively to add beauty into the world of words, for instance, words of encouragement or comfort.
God has given us a lot of lessons regarding words and speech in the book of Proverbs. Can you list them out from the book to learn what God wants us to do with our tongue?
控制舌頭 Control Our Tongue
說話的能力是神賦予人的恩賜。人需要說話，也喜愛說話。說話不單為了溝通，也是一種自我表現和舒緩或發洩情緒的重要手段。說話也好像其他屬靈的操練一樣，要我們經常留意，也要明白聖經的教導。我們要學習把說話的能力奉獻給主，讓祂使用我們所說的話，既能表達自己，讓自己有好的、正常和健康的情緒與感受，也能造就別人，祝福聆聽的人。
我以前在講道中曾提及語言是一種力量，它可以是建立生命的力量，也可以成為破壞生命的力量。基督徒必須重視自己的言談，因為我們是諦造和平的使者，也是與神同工的生命建造者。我們如果因為亂說話，破壞了一個人的信心，甚至影響一個人因此不接受耶穌，就形同犯了破壞生命的罪。
然而，如果因為善於說話，鼓勵了一個人屬命成長，或帶領了一個人接受耶穌，就善用了語言的恩賜，建立了生命。
Speaking is a God given ability to human beings. People need to speak and love to speak. The purpose for speaking is not only to communicate, but also to express our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Like other spiritual disciplines, speaking is also a discipline to Christians, and we should be consciously practicing it according to the biblical teaching in this area. We should dedicate our tongue to the Lord, and let Him use it to bless and build people up, and correctly and healthy to express our thoughts and emotions.
I have once preached that speech is a form of power, which can build up life as well as destroy life. Christian must be very cautious in speech, for we are messengers of peace, and working with God to build up life. If we speak carelessly, we may destroy people’s faith, and push them away from receiving Jesus. This is a sin of harming people’s spiritual life.
However, if we can make good use of our tongue to encourage a person to grow or to lead another person to Jesus, then we are good stewards in speech, and people’s life will be blessed.
我以前在講道中曾提及語言是一種力量，它可以是建立生命的力量，也可以成為破壞生命的力量。基督徒必須重視自己的言談，因為我們是諦造和平的使者，也是與神同工的生命建造者。我們如果因為亂說話，破壞了一個人的信心，甚至影響一個人因此不接受耶穌，就形同犯了破壞生命的罪。
然而，如果因為善於說話，鼓勵了一個人屬命成長，或帶領了一個人接受耶穌，就善用了語言的恩賜，建立了生命。
Speaking is a God given ability to human beings. People need to speak and love to speak. The purpose for speaking is not only to communicate, but also to express our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Like other spiritual disciplines, speaking is also a discipline to Christians, and we should be consciously practicing it according to the biblical teaching in this area. We should dedicate our tongue to the Lord, and let Him use it to bless and build people up, and correctly and healthy to express our thoughts and emotions.
I have once preached that speech is a form of power, which can build up life as well as destroy life. Christian must be very cautious in speech, for we are messengers of peace, and working with God to build up life. If we speak carelessly, we may destroy people’s faith, and push them away from receiving Jesus. This is a sin of harming people’s spiritual life.
However, if we can make good use of our tongue to encourage a person to grow or to lead another person to Jesus, then we are good stewards in speech, and people’s life will be blessed.
有人需要你 Someone Needs You
近來我深深感受到人生走來極不容易，因為眼看許多人面對沉重的壓力和挑戰、人際間的矛盾衝突、身體受到疾病的煎熬、家人染病或過世，再加上工作壓力等等，讓教會有一種喘不過氣的感覺。然而，我們也看見神在苦難和壓力中依然與我們同在，祂的愛和鼓勵沒有離開過我們。我們感謝神，因為有些人熬過了苦難，有些人從軟弱中站了起來，也有些人成為別人的安慰。
我走過了五十多年的歲月，一直在問人生是什麼？什麼樣的人生最美、最好呢？我想，答案顯然不是無苦無痛、一帆風順、輕鬆省力的人生；乃是有力量承擔壓力和挑戰，在苦難中有安慰與鼓勵，當苦難和壓力過去後，能成為別人的幫助。
假如我有必須要經過的苦難和挑戰，我將不祈求神把它們拿去，但我懇求祂賜我力量去勝過，並在苦難中有安慰。這就是我曾體會過的基督徒團契的情誼，也是我願意努力在這個群體中經營的生活。我認為在苦難中獲得別人的安慰是一種祝福，而能安慰受苦難者的人便是神的使者。我盼望在教會中有隨時願意祝福別人的神的使者。
Recently, I have deeply realized that life is not easy, because I saw so many people suffered from a lot of stress and hardships. Conflicts in relationship, sickness, and loved ones passed away or being sick, plus work stress and challenges, all make our church out of breath.
However, we also saw God was with us even in suffering and stress, and His love and encouragement would never leave us. I thank God for I saw people have managed their lives through sufferings, and others stood up again from the bottom of the valley of life, and even more that some became others’ comfort.
I have just gone through a little more than fifty years in life, and am still asking the old question. What is life? How can I live a beautiful and good life? Easy and smooth life should not be the answer. But a life that is strong enough to pick up challenges and handle stress, and willing to be comforted when in suffering. A life that is eager to help others especially after going through suffering.
If I must go through suffering and challenge, I pray that I will not ask God to remove it, but for strength to overcome it, and comfort in the midst of it. This is what I have tasted in Christian fellowship, and what I am trying to build among us. I truly believe that it is a great blessing to receive comfort in suffering, and those who comfort the sufferer are angels from God. I pray that we will have a lot of comforting angels in our church.
我走過了五十多年的歲月，一直在問人生是什麼？什麼樣的人生最美、最好呢？我想，答案顯然不是無苦無痛、一帆風順、輕鬆省力的人生；乃是有力量承擔壓力和挑戰，在苦難中有安慰與鼓勵，當苦難和壓力過去後，能成為別人的幫助。
假如我有必須要經過的苦難和挑戰，我將不祈求神把它們拿去，但我懇求祂賜我力量去勝過，並在苦難中有安慰。這就是我曾體會過的基督徒團契的情誼，也是我願意努力在這個群體中經營的生活。我認為在苦難中獲得別人的安慰是一種祝福，而能安慰受苦難者的人便是神的使者。我盼望在教會中有隨時願意祝福別人的神的使者。
Recently, I have deeply realized that life is not easy, because I saw so many people suffered from a lot of stress and hardships. Conflicts in relationship, sickness, and loved ones passed away or being sick, plus work stress and challenges, all make our church out of breath.
However, we also saw God was with us even in suffering and stress, and His love and encouragement would never leave us. I thank God for I saw people have managed their lives through sufferings, and others stood up again from the bottom of the valley of life, and even more that some became others’ comfort.
I have just gone through a little more than fifty years in life, and am still asking the old question. What is life? How can I live a beautiful and good life? Easy and smooth life should not be the answer. But a life that is strong enough to pick up challenges and handle stress, and willing to be comforted when in suffering. A life that is eager to help others especially after going through suffering.
If I must go through suffering and challenge, I pray that I will not ask God to remove it, but for strength to overcome it, and comfort in the midst of it. This is what I have tasted in Christian fellowship, and what I am trying to build among us. I truly believe that it is a great blessing to receive comfort in suffering, and those who comfort the sufferer are angels from God. I pray that we will have a lot of comforting angels in our church.
進入安息年 Enter Into A Sabbatical Year
在十誡的第四條是守安息日，每工作六天之後要分別第七天出來，定作安息日歸神為聖日。什麼是分別出來歸神為聖日呢？我們必須明白什麼是分別為聖，才能明白安息日的意義。這樣我們便明白神為什麼要定第七日為安息日，嚴格要求人來遵守，並指定那是聖日。
神創造人來與祂同工，作祂的管家管理地上一切，也包括人自己的生命和每天的生活。因此，人便在工作中獲得了快樂和滿足。然而，人也很容易在工作中迷失，誤以為工作就是一切，也以為自己的手可以創造自己的人生和世界，便忘記了管家的職份，也忘記了神才是人類和世界的主。
神告訴人創造已經完成了，第七天便定為安息日，要提醒人作為管家的身份，以神為主來與祂同工，作祂的管家。因此安息日並不單單是給人來休息的，乃是要人在工作中停下來，每七天就作自我檢討，調整自己的屬靈生命和日常生活的態度。神在六天已創造完畢了，所以人不要以為自己可以創造些什麼。人只能當管家，也只勝任作管家，越過界就會造成混亂和破壞，破壞大自然也破壞自己的生命和人關係。這就是為什麼神那麼嚴格要求人守安息日。
讓我們好好地調整自己的生活；從屬靈的生活到家庭的生活，從日常的工作到教會的事奉，學習做一個健康快樂的管家，享受與神同工的樂趣。
Observing Sabbath as the holy day is the fourth commandment that God commands us to keep for Him after six days of work and labor. What does it mean by “keeping it holy unto the Lord”? We should understand its meaning before we can fully grasp the meaning of observing the Sabbath. Hence, we will appreciate the reason that God gives to this commandment, and commands us to keep the seventh day as a holy day.
God has created us to work with Him as His stewards to manage this creation including our life and daily activities. We, therefore, find satisfaction and happiness in work. Unfortunately, however, we are very easily lost in work, and mistakenly think that we alone can create the world and master our life, so much so that, work becomes everything in our life. We forget our role as stewards and disguise ourselves as the masters of our life and the world and God has no place in our hearts. God sets aside the seventh day as the Sabbath day for He has finished His creation, and reminds us that He is the only Lord and we are His stewards. Therefore, Sabbath day is not only for us to rest from work, but also a day to refocus and adjust our spiritual life and attitude toward our daily living. We have no part in any creation for God has done all the creation by Himself alone. We are only stewards, and cannot create anything except manage what have been entrusted to us. If we want to lord over God’s creation, we will bring damage and chaos to the nature, our life and relationships. This is the reason why God strictly commands us to observe the Sabbath day.
Let us examine our life, from our personal spirituality to family life, from our daily work life to church life and ministry, to readjust our focus, and learn to be a happy and healthy steward to work with the Lord.
神創造人來與祂同工，作祂的管家管理地上一切，也包括人自己的生命和每天的生活。因此，人便在工作中獲得了快樂和滿足。然而，人也很容易在工作中迷失，誤以為工作就是一切，也以為自己的手可以創造自己的人生和世界，便忘記了管家的職份，也忘記了神才是人類和世界的主。
神告訴人創造已經完成了，第七天便定為安息日，要提醒人作為管家的身份，以神為主來與祂同工，作祂的管家。因此安息日並不單單是給人來休息的，乃是要人在工作中停下來，每七天就作自我檢討，調整自己的屬靈生命和日常生活的態度。神在六天已創造完畢了，所以人不要以為自己可以創造些什麼。人只能當管家，也只勝任作管家，越過界就會造成混亂和破壞，破壞大自然也破壞自己的生命和人關係。這就是為什麼神那麼嚴格要求人守安息日。
讓我們好好地調整自己的生活；從屬靈的生活到家庭的生活，從日常的工作到教會的事奉，學習做一個健康快樂的管家，享受與神同工的樂趣。
Observing Sabbath as the holy day is the fourth commandment that God commands us to keep for Him after six days of work and labor. What does it mean by “keeping it holy unto the Lord”? We should understand its meaning before we can fully grasp the meaning of observing the Sabbath. Hence, we will appreciate the reason that God gives to this commandment, and commands us to keep the seventh day as a holy day.
God has created us to work with Him as His stewards to manage this creation including our life and daily activities. We, therefore, find satisfaction and happiness in work. Unfortunately, however, we are very easily lost in work, and mistakenly think that we alone can create the world and master our life, so much so that, work becomes everything in our life. We forget our role as stewards and disguise ourselves as the masters of our life and the world and God has no place in our hearts. God sets aside the seventh day as the Sabbath day for He has finished His creation, and reminds us that He is the only Lord and we are His stewards. Therefore, Sabbath day is not only for us to rest from work, but also a day to refocus and adjust our spiritual life and attitude toward our daily living. We have no part in any creation for God has done all the creation by Himself alone. We are only stewards, and cannot create anything except manage what have been entrusted to us. If we want to lord over God’s creation, we will bring damage and chaos to the nature, our life and relationships. This is the reason why God strictly commands us to observe the Sabbath day.
Let us examine our life, from our personal spirituality to family life, from our daily work life to church life and ministry, to readjust our focus, and learn to be a happy and healthy steward to work with the Lord.
生命影響生命 Life Impacts Life
什麼是生命影響生命呢？我們的生命會在日常生活中彰顯出來，並且影響生活在我們四週的人。這就是所謂生命影響生命。當我們在生活中與另一個人接觸時，一定會在他的生命中造成影響。我們會在別人的生命中造成好的影響，也會造成壞的影響。正如父親一定會影響兒女，而老師會影響學生，就算是朋友也會互相影響。我們願意為別人，特別是身邊的人，帶來好的影響嗎？
當我們閱讀保羅的生平和他所寫的書信時，讓我們仔細地思想保羅的生命和他每天的生活，好讓他的生命慢慢地影響我們的生命和生活。
當我們了解生命影響生命的重要時，就應意識到自己的責任很重大，因為我們正在每天影響身邊的人。這也是一個很重要的原因，鼓勵我們好好學習保羅的榜樣，希望我們在影響別人的時候，好像保羅影響我們一般。我們要學習保羅，因為保羅學習基督，所以透過學習保羅，我們也在學習基督。我們就可以很確定地知道，當我們的生命影響別人的生命時，乃是讓基督透過我們的生命來影響他人，使他們也經歷耶穌基督的生命。
What does it mean to have life impacting life? We are impacting people by our life which is manifested in our daily living. This is the way how life is impacted by others. It is inescapable that we must impact other’s life in every contact. Just like the father will impact their children, teachers will impact their students, and even among friends impacts are explicit. Do we want to give a good impact on people’s lives, especially on those who are around us?
When we read the epistles of Paul, we should focus on his life and lifestyle, and be ready for any impact made on our life.
If we realize the importance of life impacting life, we will understand why we are held accountable for others, for we are impacting their lives everyday. It is the very reason to motivate us to learn from Paul’s life, and hopefully in return, we will impact people’s lives just like Paul does on us. Paul urges us to learn from him, for he is learning from Christ, so that we will also learn from Christ. If we learn from Paul, we can be sure that the impact we make on people’s life is the impact from Christ, so that they will also be able to experience Christ’s life in us.
當我們閱讀保羅的生平和他所寫的書信時，讓我們仔細地思想保羅的生命和他每天的生活，好讓他的生命慢慢地影響我們的生命和生活。
當我們了解生命影響生命的重要時，就應意識到自己的責任很重大，因為我們正在每天影響身邊的人。這也是一個很重要的原因，鼓勵我們好好學習保羅的榜樣，希望我們在影響別人的時候，好像保羅影響我們一般。我們要學習保羅，因為保羅學習基督，所以透過學習保羅，我們也在學習基督。我們就可以很確定地知道，當我們的生命影響別人的生命時，乃是讓基督透過我們的生命來影響他人，使他們也經歷耶穌基督的生命。
What does it mean to have life impacting life? We are impacting people by our life which is manifested in our daily living. This is the way how life is impacted by others. It is inescapable that we must impact other’s life in every contact. Just like the father will impact their children, teachers will impact their students, and even among friends impacts are explicit. Do we want to give a good impact on people’s lives, especially on those who are around us?
When we read the epistles of Paul, we should focus on his life and lifestyle, and be ready for any impact made on our life.
If we realize the importance of life impacting life, we will understand why we are held accountable for others, for we are impacting their lives everyday. It is the very reason to motivate us to learn from Paul’s life, and hopefully in return, we will impact people’s lives just like Paul does on us. Paul urges us to learn from him, for he is learning from Christ, so that we will also learn from Christ. If we learn from Paul, we can be sure that the impact we make on people’s life is the impact from Christ, so that they will also be able to experience Christ’s life in us.
愛與管教 Love and Discipline
做父母的難處，許多時候就在愛與管教之間，不知如何兩者兼得。我們都希望孩子才貌出眾、品學兼優、愛神愛人，又孝親敬長。然而，我們也知道，孩子生出來並不必然具備這些條件和美德，都需要做父母的，費盡心力來教導栽培，才或有可能獲得一點點果效。我們因此常常感到做父母真不容易，再加上對人生和兒女的期望常常有誤差，就更難栽培出上述的孩子了。我願意和大家一同在這事情上作些思考，希望產生啟發作用，讓我們從聖經中學習些方法，幫助孩子建立美好的人生。
首先，我們必須先審視自己的人生觀，因為我們只會把自己看為重要的處事待人的態度和技巧教導孩子。原來我們遺傳給孩子的，不單單是生理的素質，也有品格個性和屬靈的氣質，而後者往往比前者更重要，更能影響他們的一生。父母在教導孩子時，第一個難處就是同時要求自己也成長。因此，自己的基督徒品格與靈命成長，便多了一項家庭教育的目的和功能。
第二，人人都需要負起教育的責任，但不是每一個人都有足夠的知識和正確的技巧。做父母的第二個難處，就是找時間去學習教育兒女的知識和技巧。父母都是愛兒女的，但不一定懂得如何去愛。如果我們不懂得去愛兒女，就無法給與兒女正確的管教。
聖經裡有許多我們應該學習的人生觀，也有許多談論神對我們的愛，並祂因為愛我們而作出的管教。基督徒在理論上應該比較懂得做父母，因為我們有新的生命，也在不斷地成長，而且經常經歷神的愛和管教，再加上聖經有許多教養兒女的教導。我們做父母的要經常互相鼓勵，按著聖經的教導來教養兒女，為他們提供全人的培育。
Parenting is not an easy job for most parents for we don’t know how to maximize the advantages of love and discipline in raising children. We want our children to be healthy and talented, to be good in both academia and character, and they are also loving God and caring about people, plus knowing how to respect their parents and elderly. On the other hand, we also realize that those virtues won’t come naturally in kid’s life. Parents sometimes pay extra effort but get very little result in teaching kids. Even worse, we, as parents, don’t necessary have the correct concept of life and always expect wrongly our kids in their growth and development, which minimize the educational effort of bringing them up to such ideal persons. I want to share two fundamental ideas with our parents to inspire us if we can learn something from the Bible.
First of all, we need to examine our understanding of life, because we will only teach our kids what we think important in life, and how we handle things and relationships. As matter of fact, we do not pass on to our kid only genetic traits, but also our characters, personalities, and spiritual qualities; and we also know that such personality and spiritual qualities are more important in their life formation. The first difficult thing in parenting is to require us to grow in our personal and spiritual characters as we nurture our kid to grow. The purpose of Christian character formation and spiritual growth to us as parents, therefore, goes beyond personal spirituality and has a very important function in family education.
Secondly, even though everybody should have responsibility in educating others, we may not have adequate knowledge and right skills to educate them. The second difficult thing in parenting is to make time to learn the knowledge and skills in raising kids. Parents love their kids, but they may not know how to love them correctly. If we do not know how to love them correctly, we may not be able to discipline them with good result.
Bible has a lot of good things for us to learn to build healthy personal and spiritual life, and it also tells us God’s love and discipline. Christian parents should have more advantages to be good parents for we have a new life, and have always been experiencing God’s love and discipline. We can also easily consult the Bible for knowledge and skills in raising kids. I encourage Christian parents to have fellowship constantly to encourage each other, and to learn from the Bible the ways to nurture their kids with God’s word, and to provide them a more sound and holistic family education.
首先，我們必須先審視自己的人生觀，因為我們只會把自己看為重要的處事待人的態度和技巧教導孩子。原來我們遺傳給孩子的，不單單是生理的素質，也有品格個性和屬靈的氣質，而後者往往比前者更重要，更能影響他們的一生。父母在教導孩子時，第一個難處就是同時要求自己也成長。因此，自己的基督徒品格與靈命成長，便多了一項家庭教育的目的和功能。
第二，人人都需要負起教育的責任，但不是每一個人都有足夠的知識和正確的技巧。做父母的第二個難處，就是找時間去學習教育兒女的知識和技巧。父母都是愛兒女的，但不一定懂得如何去愛。如果我們不懂得去愛兒女，就無法給與兒女正確的管教。
聖經裡有許多我們應該學習的人生觀，也有許多談論神對我們的愛，並祂因為愛我們而作出的管教。基督徒在理論上應該比較懂得做父母，因為我們有新的生命，也在不斷地成長，而且經常經歷神的愛和管教，再加上聖經有許多教養兒女的教導。我們做父母的要經常互相鼓勵，按著聖經的教導來教養兒女，為他們提供全人的培育。
Parenting is not an easy job for most parents for we don’t know how to maximize the advantages of love and discipline in raising children. We want our children to be healthy and talented, to be good in both academia and character, and they are also loving God and caring about people, plus knowing how to respect their parents and elderly. On the other hand, we also realize that those virtues won’t come naturally in kid’s life. Parents sometimes pay extra effort but get very little result in teaching kids. Even worse, we, as parents, don’t necessary have the correct concept of life and always expect wrongly our kids in their growth and development, which minimize the educational effort of bringing them up to such ideal persons. I want to share two fundamental ideas with our parents to inspire us if we can learn something from the Bible.
First of all, we need to examine our understanding of life, because we will only teach our kids what we think important in life, and how we handle things and relationships. As matter of fact, we do not pass on to our kid only genetic traits, but also our characters, personalities, and spiritual qualities; and we also know that such personality and spiritual qualities are more important in their life formation. The first difficult thing in parenting is to require us to grow in our personal and spiritual characters as we nurture our kid to grow. The purpose of Christian character formation and spiritual growth to us as parents, therefore, goes beyond personal spirituality and has a very important function in family education.
Secondly, even though everybody should have responsibility in educating others, we may not have adequate knowledge and right skills to educate them. The second difficult thing in parenting is to make time to learn the knowledge and skills in raising kids. Parents love their kids, but they may not know how to love them correctly. If we do not know how to love them correctly, we may not be able to discipline them with good result.
Bible has a lot of good things for us to learn to build healthy personal and spiritual life, and it also tells us God’s love and discipline. Christian parents should have more advantages to be good parents for we have a new life, and have always been experiencing God’s love and discipline. We can also easily consult the Bible for knowledge and skills in raising kids. I encourage Christian parents to have fellowship constantly to encourage each other, and to learn from the Bible the ways to nurture their kids with God’s word, and to provide them a more sound and holistic family education.
你們當追念 You Should Remember
（彌迦書Micah 6:5）
「我的百姓阿，你們當追念…好使你們知道耶和華公義的作為」。這一句話是先知常向百姓說的。先知要求百姓不要忘記過去的歷史，因為這是我們認識神的作為的重要材料。
神賜給人一個很重要又極寶貴的能力，就是記憶力。有了記憶能力，人就有時間感，人生就有延續性，歷史才會出現。我們可以說，記憶造就了我們的歷史和文化，把人的世界從動物的層面提升至人文的高度。
一個人對自己的過去的認知和解釋，直接影響他對自己的現在和將來的掌握。神經常透過幫助我們對過去的事情進行記憶、反省和詮釋來啟示我們，並賜我們智慧來面對今天與明天的挑戰，並作出正確的抉擇。先知要求百姓在反省歷史時，必須看出神的作為。神常常感動祂的僕人，為以色列人提供詮釋他們的過去的原則和屬靈的角度，讓他們看見神在歷史中的作為。
我們也要學習反省和詮釋自己所走過的人生道路，不然就無法看見神在人生中的帶領。當我們反省和詮釋自己的人生時，也需要使用聖經所提供的原則和角度，讓我們的人生離開一大堆純粹生活或求生存的雜亂瑣事，提升至屬靈的高度，看見神在我們個人生命中的作為和旨意。
經文默想
請你嘗試回憶過去的人生，並從中理解神在你的過去的作為。使用這些理解來思考你的現在和將來，尋求神在你的人生中的旨意。
“My people, remember …that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord”. It was the statement that the prophets always used to remind the Israelites. They reminded them not to forget their history, for in their past had stored the richest treasure of God’s actions and revelations.
God has given us the most important and valuable power, and it is the power of memory. Once if we possess the ability to remember, we have the sense of time which gives the continuity in our life to make history possible. That is our memory which gives birth to our history and culture, and our life will be ascended from the animal world to the human civilizations.
How a person understands and interprets his past will determine the way he handles his present and future. God always inspires us by helping us to reflect on and interpret our past to give us wisdom to handle challenges and to make right decisions. When the prophet reminded his people to learn from their history, he wanted them to see God’s righteous acts. God often through revealing to the prophets teaches His people the spiritual principles and perspectives to interpret their past to realize His acts in history.
We must learn to reflect on and interpret our past, or otherwise, we cannot see how God leads our way in life. When we reflect on our past, we should use the biblical principles and perspectives to do the interpretation, so that we won’t be lost in the midst of the massive fragments and happenings, and be able to lift our eyes to the spiritual level to see the will of God in our life.
Meditation
Let us reflect on our past and find out the guidance of God in our life. With such understanding we may know God’s plan for us.
「我的百姓阿，你們當追念…好使你們知道耶和華公義的作為」。這一句話是先知常向百姓說的。先知要求百姓不要忘記過去的歷史，因為這是我們認識神的作為的重要材料。
神賜給人一個很重要又極寶貴的能力，就是記憶力。有了記憶能力，人就有時間感，人生就有延續性，歷史才會出現。我們可以說，記憶造就了我們的歷史和文化，把人的世界從動物的層面提升至人文的高度。
一個人對自己的過去的認知和解釋，直接影響他對自己的現在和將來的掌握。神經常透過幫助我們對過去的事情進行記憶、反省和詮釋來啟示我們，並賜我們智慧來面對今天與明天的挑戰，並作出正確的抉擇。先知要求百姓在反省歷史時，必須看出神的作為。神常常感動祂的僕人，為以色列人提供詮釋他們的過去的原則和屬靈的角度，讓他們看見神在歷史中的作為。
我們也要學習反省和詮釋自己所走過的人生道路，不然就無法看見神在人生中的帶領。當我們反省和詮釋自己的人生時，也需要使用聖經所提供的原則和角度，讓我們的人生離開一大堆純粹生活或求生存的雜亂瑣事，提升至屬靈的高度，看見神在我們個人生命中的作為和旨意。
經文默想
請你嘗試回憶過去的人生，並從中理解神在你的過去的作為。使用這些理解來思考你的現在和將來，尋求神在你的人生中的旨意。
“My people, remember …that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord”. It was the statement that the prophets always used to remind the Israelites. They reminded them not to forget their history, for in their past had stored the richest treasure of God’s actions and revelations.
God has given us the most important and valuable power, and it is the power of memory. Once if we possess the ability to remember, we have the sense of time which gives the continuity in our life to make history possible. That is our memory which gives birth to our history and culture, and our life will be ascended from the animal world to the human civilizations.
How a person understands and interprets his past will determine the way he handles his present and future. God always inspires us by helping us to reflect on and interpret our past to give us wisdom to handle challenges and to make right decisions. When the prophet reminded his people to learn from their history, he wanted them to see God’s righteous acts. God often through revealing to the prophets teaches His people the spiritual principles and perspectives to interpret their past to realize His acts in history.
We must learn to reflect on and interpret our past, or otherwise, we cannot see how God leads our way in life. When we reflect on our past, we should use the biblical principles and perspectives to do the interpretation, so that we won’t be lost in the midst of the massive fragments and happenings, and be able to lift our eyes to the spiritual level to see the will of God in our life.
Meditation
Let us reflect on our past and find out the guidance of God in our life. With such understanding we may know God’s plan for us.
與神同行 Walking With God
(彌迦書Micah 6:1-8)
彌迦書第六章記載了神傳召以色列人對質公堂一事。雖然以色列人矢口否認犯罪，但世人都犯了罪是不證自明的事實。一切宗教的起源最少有一個普遍而深刻的內在原因，就是人自覺或潛意識地感到罪疚，而向神尋求赦免的手段。
於是，種種尋求神的赦免和保佑的宗教手段，便出現在人的宗教活動和文化中。殊不知，這些宗教手段不單無法為他們賺取神的赦免和祝福，更把人推向自義自大的罪裡，使人離開神越來越遠。
先知很清楚以色列人會如何向神狡辯：神呀，祢指責我們犯罪，無非是要我們向祢多獻祭。我們就把千千萬萬的牛羊獻給祢吧。如果祢還以為不夠的話，我們就把長子也獻給祢好了！這樣，祢也應該滿足了吧！祢就賜給我們內心的平安，賜福給我們，讓我們可以安心放手去為所慾為。
先知代表神向他們發出既是慨嘆又是鼓勵，說，「世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善；祂向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。」神要我們不是奉行什麼宗教的禮儀，也不是獻什麼祭牲；神所要的是我們樂意與祂同行。
什麼是與神同行呢？從先知的這句話中，我們可以發現最少有三點意思。第一，認識並堅守聖經的真理（行公義）；第二，彼此相愛，建立和好的關係（好憐憫）；第三，向神存著開放的心，順服祂的帶領（存謙卑的心）；以這三種的態度來過我們的生活，並在生活中事奉祂，就是與神同行了。
經文默想
讓我們把彌迦書六章八節背起來，並默想自己如何每天與神同行。
彌迦書第六章記載了神傳召以色列人對質公堂一事。雖然以色列人矢口否認犯罪，但世人都犯了罪是不證自明的事實。一切宗教的起源最少有一個普遍而深刻的內在原因，就是人自覺或潛意識地感到罪疚，而向神尋求赦免的手段。
於是，種種尋求神的赦免和保佑的宗教手段，便出現在人的宗教活動和文化中。殊不知，這些宗教手段不單無法為他們賺取神的赦免和祝福，更把人推向自義自大的罪裡，使人離開神越來越遠。
先知很清楚以色列人會如何向神狡辯：神呀，祢指責我們犯罪，無非是要我們向祢多獻祭。我們就把千千萬萬的牛羊獻給祢吧。如果祢還以為不夠的話，我們就把長子也獻給祢好了！這樣，祢也應該滿足了吧！祢就賜給我們內心的平安，賜福給我們，讓我們可以安心放手去為所慾為。
先知代表神向他們發出既是慨嘆又是鼓勵，說，「世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善；祂向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。」神要我們不是奉行什麼宗教的禮儀，也不是獻什麼祭牲；神所要的是我們樂意與祂同行。
什麼是與神同行呢？從先知的這句話中，我們可以發現最少有三點意思。第一，認識並堅守聖經的真理（行公義）；第二，彼此相愛，建立和好的關係（好憐憫）；第三，向神存著開放的心，順服祂的帶領（存謙卑的心）；以這三種的態度來過我們的生活，並在生活中事奉祂，就是與神同行了。
經文默想
讓我們把彌迦書六章八節背起來，並默想自己如何每天與神同行。
生活的智慧 The Wisdom of Living
在中國的傳統認識中，智慧是指著人善用知識的能力，所謂「聖智才之善也」。這種善才之智，都是與修身有關的道德功夫，跟箴言論智慧不謀而有小合的之處。
以前讀書人追求知識學問，首要目的是修身，學做一個有德的人。今天的教育，把讀書和做學問只停留在增進知識上，學生讀了許多書，但仍然不懂做人的道理，更不用說要追求做一個有德之人了。因此在今天的社會裡，需要大力提倡研讀箴言，讓我們擁有許多知識的人，懂得一點生活的智慧，更重要的是讓我們基督徒學習過聖潔的生活。
箴言中論及的智慧，當然不只是生活的技巧或手段，她是一種敬畏神、親愛人的屬靈生命表現。如果沒有敬虔的生命，生活的智慧便會流於狡猾虛偽的手段。基督徒所追求的生活智慧是什麼呢？正如箴言九章十節所說，「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端」，一切生活的智慧和技巧，必須建立在敬畏神的基礎上。我們需要學習生活的技巧，因為唯有透過生活，才能實踐屬靈的真理。而這種日常生活的智慧，是聖靈在我們生活中的啟迪與引導，幫助我們活用神的話語，為自己和別人帶來最大的益處，也同時能夠榮耀神的名。
In Chinese culture, wisdom is the ability to handle knowledge to serve the good purpose. Quite similar to Proverbs, wisdom in the Chinese literature is usually used in ethical cause for building up a moral person.
In the olden days, when a person pursued knowledge or education, he or she was pursuing a moral life. However, education in today is almost totally limited in acquiring information and book knowledge, and no one seems to care about morality or ethics, not to say building up a moral person. Therefore, studying Proverbs is very important in today society, which will help people with head full of knowledge gain some wisdom and know how to live a godly life.
Wisdom in Proverbs is not only a skill or a tactics of life, but the quality of a God-fearing life. Without such spiritual life quality, wisdom will be downgraded as skill of manipulation. What kind of wisdom should a Christian seek after? All the wisdom we want should spring from the fear of the Lord, just as proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Christian should have some skills to handle life situations, for in which we can put biblical principles into practices. Holy Spirit wants to give us wisdom to live out God’s word to glorify His name, and to bring good to our lives and other people’s lives.
以前讀書人追求知識學問，首要目的是修身，學做一個有德的人。今天的教育，把讀書和做學問只停留在增進知識上，學生讀了許多書，但仍然不懂做人的道理，更不用說要追求做一個有德之人了。因此在今天的社會裡，需要大力提倡研讀箴言，讓我們擁有許多知識的人，懂得一點生活的智慧，更重要的是讓我們基督徒學習過聖潔的生活。
箴言中論及的智慧，當然不只是生活的技巧或手段，她是一種敬畏神、親愛人的屬靈生命表現。如果沒有敬虔的生命，生活的智慧便會流於狡猾虛偽的手段。基督徒所追求的生活智慧是什麼呢？正如箴言九章十節所說，「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端」，一切生活的智慧和技巧，必須建立在敬畏神的基礎上。我們需要學習生活的技巧，因為唯有透過生活，才能實踐屬靈的真理。而這種日常生活的智慧，是聖靈在我們生活中的啟迪與引導，幫助我們活用神的話語，為自己和別人帶來最大的益處，也同時能夠榮耀神的名。
In Chinese culture, wisdom is the ability to handle knowledge to serve the good purpose. Quite similar to Proverbs, wisdom in the Chinese literature is usually used in ethical cause for building up a moral person.
In the olden days, when a person pursued knowledge or education, he or she was pursuing a moral life. However, education in today is almost totally limited in acquiring information and book knowledge, and no one seems to care about morality or ethics, not to say building up a moral person. Therefore, studying Proverbs is very important in today society, which will help people with head full of knowledge gain some wisdom and know how to live a godly life.
Wisdom in Proverbs is not only a skill or a tactics of life, but the quality of a God-fearing life. Without such spiritual life quality, wisdom will be downgraded as skill of manipulation. What kind of wisdom should a Christian seek after? All the wisdom we want should spring from the fear of the Lord, just as proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Christian should have some skills to handle life situations, for in which we can put biblical principles into practices. Holy Spirit wants to give us wisdom to live out God’s word to glorify His name, and to bring good to our lives and other people’s lives.
禱告的操練 Spiritual Discipline of Prayer
有人用呼吸空氣來表示禱告的重要，就好像生命需要呼吸才能生存，屬靈生命需要禱告才能成長。
為什麼屬靈生命需要禱告才能成長呢？禱告不是向神要東西的手段嗎？沒事就不需要向神禱告了。很多人都是這樣了解禱告，也有很多人在有事向神求的時候才禱告。當禱告好像蒙應允了就高興，得不到所求時就埋怨神。這樣錯誤的看待禱告，使很多基督徒越禱告就越遠離神，越禱告靈命就越幼稚，也把神看作是偶像，把基督的信仰看作是另類的巫術。
然而，禱告如果不是求神做事的一種手段，又是什麼呢？禱告是尋求認識神，明白祂的旨意，讓我們可以遵行祂的教導，服事祂和服事別人。當門徒問耶穌有關禱告的問題，主就給了他們一個原則，把禱告成為屬靈成長的一個重要的操練。在主的教導中，我們可以看見禱告跟認識神的旨意和祂的國度，並與人相交團契有著重要的關係。主耶穌要我們經常禱告，因為禱告可以使我們明白神的旨意，給我們力量遵行主的教導，努力完成天國的責任，懂得與信徒相交團契，並追求簡樸榮耀神的生活。
如果我們明白主在禱告上的教導，並努力去遵行，禱告就能使我們的屬靈生命成長堅強，更能榮耀神及祝福別人。
I heard some one uses breathing as an analogy to talk about the importance of prayer. Like breathing will sustain life, prayer will grow our spiritual life.
But why does spiritual life need prayer to grow? Is prayer only a means to get what you want from God? If I need nothing from God why should I pray? This is how most people see prayer, and they will pray to God only if they need something from Him. When prayer is so called “answered” they are happy, but if not, they will blame God for not answering as they asked. With such wrong understanding of prayer, “prayer” makes many Christians distance from God further and further away. Their spiritual lives will be weakened as they pray, and God becomes their idol, and therefore, Christian faith is viewed as another kind of witchcraft.
If prayer is not a means to make God work for us, then, what is prayer? Prayer is a spiritual discipline to allow us to seek deeper understanding of God, and to know and obey His will and teaching. Prayer is also a service or ministry that we can use to minister others. When the disciples asked Jesus about prayer, our Lord gave them a principle of prayer, and made it clear that it was a very crucial spiritual discipline.
In Jesus’ teaching, we can see the important relationship between prayer and the understanding of God’s will and His kingdom, and how we can fellowship with each other. Jesus taught us to pray unceasingly because prayer will bring understanding of God’s will, and give us strength to obey His teaching, and motivate us to fulfill the kingdom mission. It will also teach us how to build fellowship with our fellow Christians, and to live a simple life to glorify God.
If we understand the teaching of our Lord in prayer, and do it accordingly, prayer will build us a strong spiritual life so that we can bless others and glorify God.
為什麼屬靈生命需要禱告才能成長呢？禱告不是向神要東西的手段嗎？沒事就不需要向神禱告了。很多人都是這樣了解禱告，也有很多人在有事向神求的時候才禱告。當禱告好像蒙應允了就高興，得不到所求時就埋怨神。這樣錯誤的看待禱告，使很多基督徒越禱告就越遠離神，越禱告靈命就越幼稚，也把神看作是偶像，把基督的信仰看作是另類的巫術。
然而，禱告如果不是求神做事的一種手段，又是什麼呢？禱告是尋求認識神，明白祂的旨意，讓我們可以遵行祂的教導，服事祂和服事別人。當門徒問耶穌有關禱告的問題，主就給了他們一個原則，把禱告成為屬靈成長的一個重要的操練。在主的教導中，我們可以看見禱告跟認識神的旨意和祂的國度，並與人相交團契有著重要的關係。主耶穌要我們經常禱告，因為禱告可以使我們明白神的旨意，給我們力量遵行主的教導，努力完成天國的責任，懂得與信徒相交團契，並追求簡樸榮耀神的生活。
如果我們明白主在禱告上的教導，並努力去遵行，禱告就能使我們的屬靈生命成長堅強，更能榮耀神及祝福別人。
I heard some one uses breathing as an analogy to talk about the importance of prayer. Like breathing will sustain life, prayer will grow our spiritual life.
But why does spiritual life need prayer to grow? Is prayer only a means to get what you want from God? If I need nothing from God why should I pray? This is how most people see prayer, and they will pray to God only if they need something from Him. When prayer is so called “answered” they are happy, but if not, they will blame God for not answering as they asked. With such wrong understanding of prayer, “prayer” makes many Christians distance from God further and further away. Their spiritual lives will be weakened as they pray, and God becomes their idol, and therefore, Christian faith is viewed as another kind of witchcraft.
If prayer is not a means to make God work for us, then, what is prayer? Prayer is a spiritual discipline to allow us to seek deeper understanding of God, and to know and obey His will and teaching. Prayer is also a service or ministry that we can use to minister others. When the disciples asked Jesus about prayer, our Lord gave them a principle of prayer, and made it clear that it was a very crucial spiritual discipline.
In Jesus’ teaching, we can see the important relationship between prayer and the understanding of God’s will and His kingdom, and how we can fellowship with each other. Jesus taught us to pray unceasingly because prayer will bring understanding of God’s will, and give us strength to obey His teaching, and motivate us to fulfill the kingdom mission. It will also teach us how to build fellowship with our fellow Christians, and to live a simple life to glorify God.
If we understand the teaching of our Lord in prayer, and do it accordingly, prayer will build us a strong spiritual life so that we can bless others and glorify God.
主為何要復活 Why Must Jesus Resurrect from Death?
在基督徒的信仰中，有兩個日子是非常重要的，第一個是聖誕節，第二個就是復活節。在一般人的心目中，聖誕節似乎比復活節要受歡迎和重要得多。聖誕節可能是因為慶祝耶穌的生日，再加上聖經對當時的情景的描寫，使人有一種喜悅、平安和快樂的感覺。復活節卻與耶穌的苦難和死亡、並門徒的困惑緊密連在一起，給人們帶來許多悲傷和深沉的感想。因此，人們喜歡慶祝聖誕節多於復活節，甚至連基督徒也是如此。
保羅在哥林多前書中卻有不同的看法，並且指出耶穌的復活是我們信仰的基礎（林前15:17-19）。我們可以說，聖誕節之所以有意義乃是因為復活節，因為基督如果沒有復活，祂便不過是眾多的智者或宗教家中的一位。如果耶穌沒有復活，他給人類的貢獻就不是拯救，最多不過是留下一個聖人的榜樣，或一些發人深省的箴言和教訓等。
然而耶穌必須要復活，證明祂不只是一位智者、道德教師或宗教家，祂乃是祂所說的神的兒子。門徒因為經歷了復活的耶穌，改變了他們對耶穌的認識，確信祂就是神成為了人的彌賽亞。
耶穌必須要復活，不然祂便無法拯救我們，因為拯救包括兩個結果：第一是罪得赦免；第二是得著新的生命（約3:16）。在天下人間，除了神沒有人有能力和權柄赦免人的罪，也沒有人能賜人新的生命。耶穌必須以復活來證明祂是神，可以赦免信靠祂的人，又可以賜與我們新的生命，正如祂曾創造了我們的生命一樣。
耶穌必須要復活，因為祂應許要與我們同在。我們雖然因信耶穌而得救，但我們還沒有成為完全，新的生命需要成長，祂的復活是要應驗同在的應許。我們在人生的掙扎中不至於絕望，乃是因為復活的主今天仍然活著！
There are two important dates in our Christian faith, which are Christmas and Easter. But to the publics, Christmas seems to be more important and welcomed than Easter. There may be reasons that Christmas is the season of celebrating Jesus’ birthday, together with the beautiful images that the Bible gives to the birth of Jesus, which give people the feeling of peace and joy. Easter, however, is so closely related to the death and suffering of the Lord, and the agony of His disciples that gives people the feelings of sadness and depression. Therefore, people like to celebrate Christmas more than Easter, and it is sometimes even true to many Christians.
Interestingly, however, that Paul gave us a quite different perspective when he wrote the First Corinthians, and has clearly confirmed that the resurrection of Jesus was the foundation of our faith (1 Cor 15:17-19). Christmas, from this perspective, gains its significance from Easter, for if Christ did not resurrect He was only just one of many wise men or religious leaders. If Jesus did not resurrect from death, His contribution to us was not salvation, but only leaving us with a model of a sage or some inspiring sayings.
Jesus had to resurrect from death for He needed to prove himself not being only as wise man, a moral teacher or a religious leader, but also as what He said to be the Son of God. The disciples, because of having experienced Jesus’ resurrection, had changed their perception on Jesus, and were convinced that He was the God-incarnated Messiah.
Jesus had to resurrect from death, or otherwise, he is not able to save us, for salvation will bring two consequences, and they are sin being forgiven and new life (John 3:16). No person under heaven is able to forgive sin and give new life to anybody except God. Jesus had to resurrect from death to prove that he is God, and has the power and authority to forgive our sin and give us new lives just as God had created us lives.
Jesus had to resurrect from death to fulfill His promise of being with us always. We are saved when we have received Jesus as our Savior, but we are not perfect yet. For helping us to grow, Jesus has promised to be with us. It is because He lives, we will not be despaired even though we have so many struggles in life.
保羅在哥林多前書中卻有不同的看法，並且指出耶穌的復活是我們信仰的基礎（林前15:17-19）。我們可以說，聖誕節之所以有意義乃是因為復活節，因為基督如果沒有復活，祂便不過是眾多的智者或宗教家中的一位。如果耶穌沒有復活，他給人類的貢獻就不是拯救，最多不過是留下一個聖人的榜樣，或一些發人深省的箴言和教訓等。
然而耶穌必須要復活，證明祂不只是一位智者、道德教師或宗教家，祂乃是祂所說的神的兒子。門徒因為經歷了復活的耶穌，改變了他們對耶穌的認識，確信祂就是神成為了人的彌賽亞。
耶穌必須要復活，不然祂便無法拯救我們，因為拯救包括兩個結果：第一是罪得赦免；第二是得著新的生命（約3:16）。在天下人間，除了神沒有人有能力和權柄赦免人的罪，也沒有人能賜人新的生命。耶穌必須以復活來證明祂是神，可以赦免信靠祂的人，又可以賜與我們新的生命，正如祂曾創造了我們的生命一樣。
耶穌必須要復活，因為祂應許要與我們同在。我們雖然因信耶穌而得救，但我們還沒有成為完全，新的生命需要成長，祂的復活是要應驗同在的應許。我們在人生的掙扎中不至於絕望，乃是因為復活的主今天仍然活著！
There are two important dates in our Christian faith, which are Christmas and Easter. But to the publics, Christmas seems to be more important and welcomed than Easter. There may be reasons that Christmas is the season of celebrating Jesus’ birthday, together with the beautiful images that the Bible gives to the birth of Jesus, which give people the feeling of peace and joy. Easter, however, is so closely related to the death and suffering of the Lord, and the agony of His disciples that gives people the feelings of sadness and depression. Therefore, people like to celebrate Christmas more than Easter, and it is sometimes even true to many Christians.
Interestingly, however, that Paul gave us a quite different perspective when he wrote the First Corinthians, and has clearly confirmed that the resurrection of Jesus was the foundation of our faith (1 Cor 15:17-19). Christmas, from this perspective, gains its significance from Easter, for if Christ did not resurrect He was only just one of many wise men or religious leaders. If Jesus did not resurrect from death, His contribution to us was not salvation, but only leaving us with a model of a sage or some inspiring sayings.
Jesus had to resurrect from death for He needed to prove himself not being only as wise man, a moral teacher or a religious leader, but also as what He said to be the Son of God. The disciples, because of having experienced Jesus’ resurrection, had changed their perception on Jesus, and were convinced that He was the God-incarnated Messiah.
Jesus had to resurrect from death, or otherwise, he is not able to save us, for salvation will bring two consequences, and they are sin being forgiven and new life (John 3:16). No person under heaven is able to forgive sin and give new life to anybody except God. Jesus had to resurrect from death to prove that he is God, and has the power and authority to forgive our sin and give us new lives just as God had created us lives.
Jesus had to resurrect from death to fulfill His promise of being with us always. We are saved when we have received Jesus as our Savior, but we are not perfect yet. For helping us to grow, Jesus has promised to be with us. It is because He lives, we will not be despaired even though we have so many struggles in life.
七項關乎耶穌復活的事實 Seven Facts of the Resurrection of Jesus
- 耶穌預言祂的復活
Jesus predicted His resurrection (Matt 16:21; Mark 9:9-10; John 2:18-22). - 舊約預言祂的復活
The Old Testament prophesied it (Psalm 16:10; compare Acts 2:25-31; 13:33-37). - 墳墓是空的，如果有人要禁止使徒的宣講，只要把屍體拿出來就可以了，但沒有人能這樣做
The tomb was empty and the grave clothes vacant. if those who opposed Christ wished to silence His disciples, all they had to do was produce a body, but they could not (John 20:3-9). - 有許多人親眼看過復活的耶穌；他們看見祂的面容，摸過祂的身體，聽過祂的聲音，又跟祂一同吃過飯
Many people saw the resurrected Christ. They looked on His face, touched Him, heard His voice, and saw Him eat (Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:13-39; John 20:11-29; John 21:1-9; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Cor. 15:3-8). - 門徒的生命因為經歷了耶穌的復活起了革命性的轉變。他們雖然在耶穌被捉拿時怕得要死，逃跑了、躱起來了，甚至否認跟耶穌的關係，但不到兩個月他們竟然不怕死，開始宣揚耶穌復活的事。
The lives of the disciples were revolutionized. Though they fled and even denied Christ at the time of His arrest, they later feared no one in their proclamation of the risen Christ (Matt 26:56, 69-75). - 耶穌的復活是初期教會宣講的主題。教會雖然不斷增長，但卻沒有改變對基督復活的信念，並以這位復活的基督作為教會的主。
The resurrection was the central message of the early church. The church grew with an unwavering conviction that Christ had risen and was the Lord of the church (Acts 4:33; 5:30-32; Rom. 5:24). - 今天依然有成千上萬的人見證這位復活的基督如何改變了他們的生命。我們知道耶穌是活著的，不單是擁有大量的歷史和聖經的證據，更是因為祂奇妙地改變了我們的生命。
Men and women today testify that the power of the risen Christ has transformed their lives. We know that Jesus is alive not only because of the historical and biblical evidence but also because He has miraculously touched our lives.
把信仰帶回家│Take Faith Home
耶穌基督的復活應許了我們生命更新變化的可能。我們要靠著祂復活的大能來改變自己的不良習慣或生活方式。在這一週請你找出一樣你想改變的習慣放在禱告和實踐中，求主以復活的大能幫助你。
The resurrection of Jesus to us is also a promise that He will empower us to transform our bad lifestyle and habits. Please find one thing either from your lifestyle or habits that you want Him to transform and put it into your prayer and work on it this week.
逾越節 Passover
逾越節是以色列人記念出埃及的經歷。神以一隻羊羔的血，拯救以色列人離開埃及的奴役，而這隻羊羔便成了逾越節的羊羔，象徵了耶穌的死和為全人類帶來的救贖。
在逾越節的時候，以色列人只能吃無酵餅，而無酵在新約成了無罪的象徵，那餅便象徵了耶穌的身體。人類的罪如果要能被赦免，除非來自一個無罪又有能力赦罪的人。耶穌的一生沒有犯過罪，因為他的一生都遵行著天父的旨意。他是神成為人，替人類作出犧牲，來拯救在罪中受苦的人。因此，耶穌便把以色列人的逾越節，轉化成為他的最後的晚餐，宣告他救贖人類的工作完成了，他就是那隻逾越節的羔羊。他將在十字架上捨棄他的身體，而那塊無酵餅便成了他的身體的象徵，為人類而擘開。
逾越節已成了我們今天每月第一個主日所守的主餐。主耶穌把凡接受祂作為救主的人，都從罪的奴役中拯救出來。下一個主日就是復活節，讓我們在這星期預備好，一同慶祝主的復活，和我們因祂的復活而獲得的新生命。
Passover is a festival for Israelites to celebrate the Exodus experience. God had prepared a lamb and used its blood to deliver them from the slavery, and that lamb became the Passover lamb. This Passover lamb now becomes the symbol of Jesus Christ and His death to bring salvation to all mankind.
During the Passover meals Israelites can only eat unleavened bread. In New Testament, the bread unleavened symbolizes no sin, and that bread becomes the symbol of the body of our Lord Jesus. Our sin can be forgiven unless by some one who has no sin and has the power to forgive. Jesus has committed no sin in his entire life, because he obeyed the heavenly Father. Jesus was the God incarnated who came to sacrifice for saving us from sin. Therefore, the Passover meal has transformed into the Lord’s Supper, and during the Lord’s Supper he revealed His work of redemption. Jesus is that Passover Lamb. His body was hung on the cross, and the bread is the symbol of His body broken for all human beings.
Passover has transformed into the Lord’s Supper that we have been observing on the first Sunday of every month. Jesus has saved those who accepted Him as their Savior and Lord from the bondage of sin. Next Sunday will be the Easter Sunday, and I encourage you to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and our new lives in Him.
在逾越節的時候，以色列人只能吃無酵餅，而無酵在新約成了無罪的象徵，那餅便象徵了耶穌的身體。人類的罪如果要能被赦免，除非來自一個無罪又有能力赦罪的人。耶穌的一生沒有犯過罪，因為他的一生都遵行著天父的旨意。他是神成為人，替人類作出犧牲，來拯救在罪中受苦的人。因此，耶穌便把以色列人的逾越節，轉化成為他的最後的晚餐，宣告他救贖人類的工作完成了，他就是那隻逾越節的羔羊。他將在十字架上捨棄他的身體，而那塊無酵餅便成了他的身體的象徵，為人類而擘開。
逾越節已成了我們今天每月第一個主日所守的主餐。主耶穌把凡接受祂作為救主的人，都從罪的奴役中拯救出來。下一個主日就是復活節，讓我們在這星期預備好，一同慶祝主的復活，和我們因祂的復活而獲得的新生命。
Passover is a festival for Israelites to celebrate the Exodus experience. God had prepared a lamb and used its blood to deliver them from the slavery, and that lamb became the Passover lamb. This Passover lamb now becomes the symbol of Jesus Christ and His death to bring salvation to all mankind.
During the Passover meals Israelites can only eat unleavened bread. In New Testament, the bread unleavened symbolizes no sin, and that bread becomes the symbol of the body of our Lord Jesus. Our sin can be forgiven unless by some one who has no sin and has the power to forgive. Jesus has committed no sin in his entire life, because he obeyed the heavenly Father. Jesus was the God incarnated who came to sacrifice for saving us from sin. Therefore, the Passover meal has transformed into the Lord’s Supper, and during the Lord’s Supper he revealed His work of redemption. Jesus is that Passover Lamb. His body was hung on the cross, and the bread is the symbol of His body broken for all human beings.
Passover has transformed into the Lord’s Supper that we have been observing on the first Sunday of every month. Jesus has saved those who accepted Him as their Savior and Lord from the bondage of sin. Next Sunday will be the Easter Sunday, and I encourage you to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and our new lives in Him.
為何不可含怒到日落 Why not to stay angry all day
人是不可能沒有怒氣的。當我們遇到不如意的事，又無法改變那事，我們的情緒就會高漲，甚至生氣發怒。不管我們為什麼生氣發怒，就是以為自己所發的是義怒，對自己的身體、情緒和靈性都有損害。
保羅要求我們不可含怒到日落。他沒有說不可含怒，但不要含怒到日落，不要帶著怒氣睡覺。我們如果帶著怒氣就不能安睡，健康就一定會受損害。一個人生氣到睡不著，一定會胡思亂想，就很容易犯罪。所以保羅警告說，不要給魔鬼留地步。我們如果生氣到不能睡，就會給魔鬼機會來引誘或攻擊我們。我們如果從日落到日出都在生氣，如何能禱告靈修呢？心中一定有很多苦毒和怨恨，必定不能達成和解，就無法體現基督的赦免和愛。
我們求聖靈在情緒上幫助作屬靈的操練，並以耶穌為榜樣，有祂的柔和謙卑。基督徒最大的見證就是寬恕的美德，再加上喜樂與平安的生活，別人就會認識在我們身上所反映的主了。
It is impossible for us to avoid anger in our life. When everything goes against our will, and we lose control, we will easily lose temper. No matter what cause our anger, even if we can justify our anger with good reason, anger will definitely hurt our body mind and spirit.
Paul said, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. He did not say that we cannot be angry, but do not let ourselves stay angry too long. We should not go to bed with anger for it will hurt our sleep and eventually our health. When we are tossed and turned on bed with anger, we will be easily tempted to sin. Paul warned us not to give the devil a foothold. If we are too angry to sleep, we will give devil opportunities to tempt or attach us. If we stay angry until the next morning, how can we pray and have devotions? Our hearts will be filled with pains and hatred. Then we can not experience and show the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
We ask the Holy Spirit to help us with our emotions and to learn from Jesus’ examples of being gentle and humble. We can be witness for God through our forgiveness of others and through the peace and joy in Christ Jesus.
保羅要求我們不可含怒到日落。他沒有說不可含怒，但不要含怒到日落，不要帶著怒氣睡覺。我們如果帶著怒氣就不能安睡，健康就一定會受損害。一個人生氣到睡不著，一定會胡思亂想，就很容易犯罪。所以保羅警告說，不要給魔鬼留地步。我們如果生氣到不能睡，就會給魔鬼機會來引誘或攻擊我們。我們如果從日落到日出都在生氣，如何能禱告靈修呢？心中一定有很多苦毒和怨恨，必定不能達成和解，就無法體現基督的赦免和愛。
我們求聖靈在情緒上幫助作屬靈的操練，並以耶穌為榜樣，有祂的柔和謙卑。基督徒最大的見證就是寬恕的美德，再加上喜樂與平安的生活，別人就會認識在我們身上所反映的主了。
It is impossible for us to avoid anger in our life. When everything goes against our will, and we lose control, we will easily lose temper. No matter what cause our anger, even if we can justify our anger with good reason, anger will definitely hurt our body mind and spirit.
Paul said, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. He did not say that we cannot be angry, but do not let ourselves stay angry too long. We should not go to bed with anger for it will hurt our sleep and eventually our health. When we are tossed and turned on bed with anger, we will be easily tempted to sin. Paul warned us not to give the devil a foothold. If we are too angry to sleep, we will give devil opportunities to tempt or attach us. If we stay angry until the next morning, how can we pray and have devotions? Our hearts will be filled with pains and hatred. Then we can not experience and show the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
We ask the Holy Spirit to help us with our emotions and to learn from Jesus’ examples of being gentle and humble. We can be witness for God through our forgiveness of others and through the peace and joy in Christ Jesus.
敬畏神 Fear God
箴言的主旨就是教導我們如何過敬畏神的生活，因此它有多處直接說，敬畏神能讓我們活得有智慧，這也是生活的第一原則。
今天的人並不缺乏知識，但卻常常活得沒有智慧。在日常生活中，我們常常不懂得分辨是非，也不知道什麼是應該或不應該，甚至不懂得孰重孰輕，活得本末倒置。現代人有一個困擾，就是知識日飛猛進，但卻又製造更多更複雜的問題，帶來更多的災難。人們只追求知識，卻藐視智慧，也嘲笑信仰，特別是基督的信仰。
人如果離開那位創造他們的神，不愛聽祂的話，也不願意遵守祂的教導，有可能把自己的人生和社會，甚至世界管理得好嗎？
箴言提醒我們，特別是我們稱自己是神的兒女，不要過糊塗的生活。智慧是從敬畏神開始的。我們如果勤讀神的話語，又樂意遵行，生活就必定能過得有智慧。
The theme for Proverbs is to teach us to live a godly life, therefore it repeatedly points out that only if we fear God (take God seriously or have reverence for God) we can live wisely, and in fact, fear God is the first principle in life.
Today we don’t lack of knowledge, but we always live unwisely. We don’t know how to discern between right and wrong, or don’t know what should or should not do, or even follow the wrong priority to mess up our daily life.
In this knowledge explosion era we are confused by more and more complicated problems and chaos that knowledge has brought to us. But unfortunately, people only hunger for knowledge but despise wisdom, even ridicule Christian faith.
If we exclude our Creator from our life, and don’t want to listen to Him, and hate to follow His instructions, how can we manage our life and society well?
Proverbs reminds us, especially if we call ourselves children of God, not to live an unwise living. Fear God is the beginning (the first principle) of all wisdoms. If we diligently study God’s word and are willing to follow His instructions, our life will be full of wisdom.
今天的人並不缺乏知識，但卻常常活得沒有智慧。在日常生活中，我們常常不懂得分辨是非，也不知道什麼是應該或不應該，甚至不懂得孰重孰輕，活得本末倒置。現代人有一個困擾，就是知識日飛猛進，但卻又製造更多更複雜的問題，帶來更多的災難。人們只追求知識，卻藐視智慧，也嘲笑信仰，特別是基督的信仰。
人如果離開那位創造他們的神，不愛聽祂的話，也不願意遵守祂的教導，有可能把自己的人生和社會，甚至世界管理得好嗎？
箴言提醒我們，特別是我們稱自己是神的兒女，不要過糊塗的生活。智慧是從敬畏神開始的。我們如果勤讀神的話語，又樂意遵行，生活就必定能過得有智慧。
The theme for Proverbs is to teach us to live a godly life, therefore it repeatedly points out that only if we fear God (take God seriously or have reverence for God) we can live wisely, and in fact, fear God is the first principle in life.
Today we don’t lack of knowledge, but we always live unwisely. We don’t know how to discern between right and wrong, or don’t know what should or should not do, or even follow the wrong priority to mess up our daily life.
In this knowledge explosion era we are confused by more and more complicated problems and chaos that knowledge has brought to us. But unfortunately, people only hunger for knowledge but despise wisdom, even ridicule Christian faith.
If we exclude our Creator from our life, and don’t want to listen to Him, and hate to follow His instructions, how can we manage our life and society well?
Proverbs reminds us, especially if we call ourselves children of God, not to live an unwise living. Fear God is the beginning (the first principle) of all wisdoms. If we diligently study God’s word and are willing to follow His instructions, our life will be full of wisdom.
向神守時 Be Punctual to God
屬靈生活的操練，並不單單是讀經、禱告、事奉或奉獻。這些個人或教會的生活都很重要，但也不能忽略從生活中的小節上作屬靈的操練。我們生活小節上的操練，也可以看作是屬靈生命成熟的另類指標。耶穌曾提醒我們，「人在最小的事上忠心，在大事上也忠心；在最小的事上不義，在大事上也不義。」（路16:10）
我鼓勵大家重視敬拜的生活，因為敬拜是基督徒屬靈生活的中心。如果說我們愛神，又以祂為我們的主，但卻在敬拜祂的聚會中藐視祂，不尊敬祂，那麼我們的屬靈生活會如何呢？
我很高興最近常常聽到弟兄姊妹要追求靈命成長，追求聖靈的更新和屬靈果子，卻看見敬拜生活的遲到現象越來越嚴重，使我感到很困惑。我祈求主，不要讓我們的屬靈追求只停留在嘴邊，或只在讀經禱告上，卻沒有把神的話語應用在生活的情景中。
敬拜聚會是我們一週的屬靈操練的開始，讓我們互相勉勵，一起重視敬拜，從準時開始做起。我們的主日學是早上九點半開始，崇拜是十一時正開始。
Spiritual discipline is not only limited to Bible reading, prayer, serving in ministry or giving. They are the disciplines in our personal life and church life which are very important. However, we should also be careful of our little daily habits to witness that our spirituality is not just for showing and has no impact in our real life. They are in fact another measure stakes to our true spirituality. Jesus has once reminded us that, “whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.” (Luke 16:10)
I urge you to take worship service seriously for it is the center of our spirituality. If we say we love God and have accepted Him to be our Lord, but despise Him in His worship service, what kind of spiritual life that we have demonstrated?
I am so glad and encouraged recently when I have heard people making efforts in their spiritual disciplines. People have told me that they wanted to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and to bear spiritual fruit, but at the same time, I saw people despised the worship service. It makes me very confused. I pray to the Lord to let not us to pay lip service to the Lord in spiritual disciplines, and think that spirituality is only Bible reading and prayer and nothing else. Without letting the biblical teaching impact our life there is no real spirituality.
Worship service is the beginning of our weekly spiritual discipline, may we encourage each other to take it seriously to start with punctuality. Our SUNDAY SCHOOL starts at 9:30am and our WORSHIP SERVICE starts at 11:00am.
我鼓勵大家重視敬拜的生活，因為敬拜是基督徒屬靈生活的中心。如果說我們愛神，又以祂為我們的主，但卻在敬拜祂的聚會中藐視祂，不尊敬祂，那麼我們的屬靈生活會如何呢？
我很高興最近常常聽到弟兄姊妹要追求靈命成長，追求聖靈的更新和屬靈果子，卻看見敬拜生活的遲到現象越來越嚴重，使我感到很困惑。我祈求主，不要讓我們的屬靈追求只停留在嘴邊，或只在讀經禱告上，卻沒有把神的話語應用在生活的情景中。
敬拜聚會是我們一週的屬靈操練的開始，讓我們互相勉勵，一起重視敬拜，從準時開始做起。我們的主日學是早上九點半開始，崇拜是十一時正開始。
Spiritual discipline is not only limited to Bible reading, prayer, serving in ministry or giving. They are the disciplines in our personal life and church life which are very important. However, we should also be careful of our little daily habits to witness that our spirituality is not just for showing and has no impact in our real life. They are in fact another measure stakes to our true spirituality. Jesus has once reminded us that, “whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.” (Luke 16:10)
I urge you to take worship service seriously for it is the center of our spirituality. If we say we love God and have accepted Him to be our Lord, but despise Him in His worship service, what kind of spiritual life that we have demonstrated?
I am so glad and encouraged recently when I have heard people making efforts in their spiritual disciplines. People have told me that they wanted to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and to bear spiritual fruit, but at the same time, I saw people despised the worship service. It makes me very confused. I pray to the Lord to let not us to pay lip service to the Lord in spiritual disciplines, and think that spirituality is only Bible reading and prayer and nothing else. Without letting the biblical teaching impact our life there is no real spirituality.
Worship service is the beginning of our weekly spiritual discipline, may we encourage each other to take it seriously to start with punctuality. Our SUNDAY SCHOOL starts at 9:30am and our WORSHIP SERVICE starts at 11:00am.
讚美與敬拜 Praise and Worship
讚美與敬拜這個觀念在今天聽來好像很新潮，仿佛是現代年輕基督徒的一種新時尚，以對比三四十年前的崇拜方式。傳道者說，「在日光之下並無新事」，在敬拜與讚美的形式上也是這樣。
我們隨便翻開詩篇，便馬上發現以前以色列人的敬拜是很新潮的，不比我們今天的讚美敬拜「古老」！
在敬拜中讚美是人向神表達的情感和愛慕，是真正敬拜的必然表現和行為。敬拜不是純智的活動，要聽好的演講；或單為鼓勵行善的聚會，學做個好人。敬拜其實最重要還是真誠地讚美神，向祂表示敬畏、感恩、順服和愛慕，因為神就是我們的主。
今天我們要再次強調讚美的敬拜是對的和應該的，因為我們的心靈已枯乾了很久很久了，對神已沒有感覺了，使敬拜成為只是人的活動，與神好像沒有關係。我們如果發覺自己不能投入在敬拜中讚美神，盡情歌唱，那麼就要好好反省和禱告，看自己的靈命出了什麼毛病，我們與神的關係為什麼那麼無情無感。
請你在敬拜前默默禱告，預備歡喜快樂地歌唱讚美神。
The worship style of Praise and worship seems to be very new, and is used to divide the old from the contemporary, that our younger generation Christians embrace as their style of worshipping God to reject the old folks’ style that was used for more than hundred years. But interestingly enough that the old sage in the book of Ecclesiastes said, “There is nothing new under the sun!” And it is so true even to our ways of praise and worship.
Surprisingly if we turn to Psalms, we will find it full of praise and worship and they look very contemporary. The old style of Israelites’ praise and worship is very new to us!
The function of singing praises in worship is to express our love and affection to God, and it is the act of a genuine worship. Our worship service is not just an intellectual activity to listen to a good speech, or a moral teaching and learning gathering to learn to do good. What is the most important thing for us to do in a worship service? It is the sincere praise that we love to sing unto our Lord. In singing praises, we express our fear, thanksgiving, submission, and love to God, because He is our Lord.
Today we should once again emphasize that our worship service must be fully filled with praises and singing, for our heart is dried for so long that we feel nothing in our worship service. Worship service becomes totally human activity, and has nothing to do with God. If for some reason that we cannot enjoy singing in worship service, we need to reflect on our spiritual life to see what is going wrong in our relationship with God.
I want to encourage you to pray for yourself and be prepared to enjoy singing praises in our worship service.
我們隨便翻開詩篇，便馬上發現以前以色列人的敬拜是很新潮的，不比我們今天的讚美敬拜「古老」！
在敬拜中讚美是人向神表達的情感和愛慕，是真正敬拜的必然表現和行為。敬拜不是純智的活動，要聽好的演講；或單為鼓勵行善的聚會，學做個好人。敬拜其實最重要還是真誠地讚美神，向祂表示敬畏、感恩、順服和愛慕，因為神就是我們的主。
今天我們要再次強調讚美的敬拜是對的和應該的，因為我們的心靈已枯乾了很久很久了，對神已沒有感覺了，使敬拜成為只是人的活動，與神好像沒有關係。我們如果發覺自己不能投入在敬拜中讚美神，盡情歌唱，那麼就要好好反省和禱告，看自己的靈命出了什麼毛病，我們與神的關係為什麼那麼無情無感。
請你在敬拜前默默禱告，預備歡喜快樂地歌唱讚美神。
The worship style of Praise and worship seems to be very new, and is used to divide the old from the contemporary, that our younger generation Christians embrace as their style of worshipping God to reject the old folks’ style that was used for more than hundred years. But interestingly enough that the old sage in the book of Ecclesiastes said, “There is nothing new under the sun!” And it is so true even to our ways of praise and worship.
Surprisingly if we turn to Psalms, we will find it full of praise and worship and they look very contemporary. The old style of Israelites’ praise and worship is very new to us!
The function of singing praises in worship is to express our love and affection to God, and it is the act of a genuine worship. Our worship service is not just an intellectual activity to listen to a good speech, or a moral teaching and learning gathering to learn to do good. What is the most important thing for us to do in a worship service? It is the sincere praise that we love to sing unto our Lord. In singing praises, we express our fear, thanksgiving, submission, and love to God, because He is our Lord.
Today we should once again emphasize that our worship service must be fully filled with praises and singing, for our heart is dried for so long that we feel nothing in our worship service. Worship service becomes totally human activity, and has nothing to do with God. If for some reason that we cannot enjoy singing in worship service, we need to reflect on our spiritual life to see what is going wrong in our relationship with God.
I want to encourage you to pray for yourself and be prepared to enjoy singing praises in our worship service.
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