建立信仰，助長身邊人 Build Up Your Faith, Impact People Around You

2016 主題金句 Theme Verse

彼得後書2 Peter 1:3-11

3 神的神能已將一切關乎生命和虔敬的事賜給我們，皆因我們認識那用自己榮耀和美德召我們的主。4 因此，他已將又寶貴又極大的應許賜給我們，叫我們既脫離世上從情慾來的敗壞，就得與神的性情有份。5 正因這緣故，你們要分外地殷勤：有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知識；6 有了知識，又要加上節制；有了節制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；7 有了虔敬，又要加上愛弟兄的心；有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心。8 你們若充充足足地有這幾樣，就必使你們在認識我們的主耶穌基督上，不至於閒懶不結果子了。9 人若沒有這幾樣，就是眼瞎，只看見近處的，忘了他舊日的罪已經得了潔淨。10 所以弟兄們，應當更加殷勤，使你們所蒙的恩召和揀選堅定不移。你們若行這幾樣，就永不失腳。11 這樣，必叫你們豐豐富富地得以進入我們主救主耶穌基督永遠的國。

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductivein your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mission Statement of 2016

Using 2 Peter 1:3-11 as guideline to equip brothers and sisters to build a more sound and solid foundation of their faith and also motivate them to share their faith first with their family members to cultivate a spiritual atmosphere of the family and then to their friends, colleagues, schoolmates and people around them with the gospel message to bring them to Christ.

聖誕節的祝福 Christmas Blessing!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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：

1. 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。
2. 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。
3. 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。
4. 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。
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. We share the love of Christ. The love of Christ comforts us, and with this love, we love our brothers and sisters.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.