Pulpit Message Introduction for Dec.30

Pulpit Message Introduction for 1st Sunday after Christmas
The center message of Christmas is the Word made flesh. God took the form of a man and lived amongst us. In human history human beings had desecrated the image of God which was put in them during creation. God could not refrain Himself from this disaster. He had to do something. He got Himself involved in the depraved humanity. He worked out His process of re-creation. This Sunday guest speaker Rev. Dr. Gerald Fuller Adjunct Professor of Environmental Engineering Department, University of Regina and Chaplain of the Gideon camp is preaching at our pulpit. He will speak on Isaiah 55:11. This verse has a great influence on his life. We thank God for his message.
講壇信息介紹
聖誕節的核心是道成了肉身，上帝親自取了人身降臨在我們中間。在人類歷史中，人不斷把他俏乎神的形像削弱。上帝再不能袖手旁觀，祂要親自介入人類的歷史，修補破損了的人性，在人類中施行再創造。本主日嘉賓講員Rev. Dr. Gerald Fuller Adjunct Professor of Environmental Engineering Department, University of Regina and Chaplain of the Gideon camp將蒞臨擔任講道，他用以賽亞書55章11節與我們分享神如何改變他的生命。感謝主今天給我們這美好的信息。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Dec.23

Pulpit Message Introduction for 4th Sunday of Advent
The fourth Sunday of Advent is also known as Mary’s Sunday. When the angel told Mary she was going to bear the child of God and call his name Jesus, Mary was troubled. She said, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” After the angel explained, she understood and said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.
In order for God to fulfill His will, Mary did not care too much about her own reputation. In order to protect our own name we so often don’t want to do the thing that Mary did although it will benefit others.
Then Mary sang the famous song called the Magnificat saying this:
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has bought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.
Because Mary humbled herself, she saw the great works God was going to do through Jesus. This is the lesson Christians and leaders of the church nowadays need to learn--the lesson to humble ourselves and obey.

講壇信息介紹
將臨節第四主日又稱為馬利亞主日。當天使向馬利亞報信，傳遞上帝要她懷孕生耶穌的訊息時，她非常惶恐，“我是一個還沒有出嫁的閨女，這樣的事怎能發生呢？”。經過了天使的解釋，馬利亞答應了，她說：“我是主的婢女，願你的話成就在我的身上。”
為了成全上帝的旨意，馬利亞並不計較自己的名聲。多少時候，我們為了保住自己的名聲，不肯做一些有益於別人的事。
馬利亞唱出著名的尊主頌說：我心尊主為大；我靈以神我的救主為樂。因為他顧念他使女的卑微，從今以後，萬代要稱我有福。那有權能的，為我成就了大事，他的名為聖。他憐憫敬畏他的人，直到世世代代。他用膀臂施展大能；那狂傲的人正心裏妄想就被他趕散了。他叫有權柄的失位，叫卑賤的升高；叫饑餓的得飽美食，叫富足的空手回去。他扶助了他的僕人以色列，為要紀念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔，施憐憫直到永遠，正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。
因著馬利亞自甘卑微，她看到了耶穌將要施行的奇妙作為。今天的基督徒和教會領袖所當努力學效的，正是馬利亞的謙卑和順服。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Dec.16

Pulpit Message Introduction for 3rd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist is in prison about to be beheaded by King Herald. Jesus seems helpless in the situation. He is disappointed with Jesus. He sends some of his followers to talk to Jesus, to ask him if he is really the Messiah they have been waiting for, or if they should keep looking. Rather than getting into a bunch of theological jargon, which God's Son could probably do even better than most preachers, Jesus simply tells them to look around at what they see going on and decide for themselves. What they see is amazing; the blind are receiving sight, people who haven't walked in years are dancing, untouchable lepers are hugging and kissing their children, deaf people are listening to Jesus stories, some dead people are up walking around, and the poor are hearing a sermon that makes them smile. The book of Isaiah has predicted the coming of this reign of God. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This Jesus most definitely is the Messiah! To the people whose hearts are filled with disappointment they will see nothing but disappointment. But to the people whose hearts are filled with love, they will see everything God is doing to fulfill his promise on Christmas day.
講壇信息介紹
施洗約翰在監裏很快就要被希律殺頭了。耶穌對這個情況好像是無能為力。施洗約翰對耶穌大失所望。他打發他的門徒去問耶穌說：那將要來的彌賽亞是你嗎？還是我們等候別人呢？耶穌回答說：你們去把所聽見所看見的的事告訴約翰。就是瞎子看見，瘸子行走，長大麻瘋的潔凈，聾子聽見死人復活，窮人有福音傳給他們。其實先知以賽亞早已經預言過，這個上帝要治理祂國的情況：在黑暗中行走的百姓，看見了大光。住在死陰之地的人有光照耀他們。。。因有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上。他名稱為奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君。這耶穌就正是這個彌賽亞了。對於那些心裏大失所望的人，他們永遠只會看見失望。但對那些心裏有愛的人，他們很快就要看見上帝在今年的聖誕節裏，如何把祂答應過我們的諾言一一應驗出來。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Dec.9

Pulpit Message Introduction for 2nd Sunday of Advent
Once a frustrated parishioner asked his pastor “is Christmas coming? How come I don’t feel it coming?” The pastor replied, “Christmas means peace. Do you have peace? If you don’t have peace, you can not feel peace even though it is coming your way.”
This is precisely what happened to George Frederic Handel. Before he wrote the Messiah he was an angry man. Before Christ brought peace to his anguished spirit, he was frustrated with himself, cut off from other people, and at odds with god. He was sick; his eyes were beginning to fail him. He was out of money. He felt empty, dejected, lonely, hopeless and miserable, his creativity had disappeared. Then one day Christ was born anew in his heart and Christ stilled those storms in his life that were tearing him apart, and he became a new person. Where there had been strife, now there was peace. Where there had been fear, now there was courage. Where there had been emptiness, now there was incredible creativity. He grabbed his pen and paper and composed one of the most beloved pieces of music ever written—the Messiah.
Christmas has some wonderful things to say to us. Christmas has some wonderful things to do to us. Christmas has some wonderful things to give to us. But we have to have the ears of faith to hear them, the eyes of faith to see them, the heart of faith to feel them, and the grace and peace of Christ to accept them.

講壇信息介紹
一個很失意的教友到他牧師面前發問：聖誕是不是又要來了？為甚麼我一點也不感覺它來臨的呢？牧師回答說：聖誕代表平安，你有沒有平安？如果你沒有平安，就算平安來到，你也不會感覺到它的。
這正是佐治佛德烈韓德爾的生活寫照。在他未寫彌賽亞神曲之前，他是一個非常失意的人。在基督把平安帶進他那憤怒的靈魂之前，他對自己憤恨，對人割絕，對神敵視。他生病；他的眼睛模糊；他的錢快用光了。他覺得空虛，沮喪，寂寞，失望和痛苦。他的創作能力已經消失凈盡。這樣之後，有一天基督在他的心裏再次新生出來，基督使那曾弄到他生命撕裂的驚濤駭浪平靜下來。他於是成了一個新造的人。以前他爭戰，現在他和平；以前他懼怕，現在他勇敢；以前他空虛，現在他充滿創意。他拿起筆和紙，寫成了舉世不朽的音樂傑作--彌賽亞神曲。
聖誕有一些奇妙的事情要告訴我們。聖誕有一些奇怪的事實要做在我們身上。
聖誕有一些奇特的事件要賞賜給我們。但我們要有信心的耳朵去聽這些事，我們要有信心的眼睛去看這些事，我們要有信靠的心去領受這些事，再加上基督的恩典與平安，我們就必能感覺到聖誕的確是來臨了。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Dec. 2

Pulpit Message Introduction for 1st Sunday of Advent
Christmas is coming. Are we anticipating it with hope or are we enduring it with despair? Look at Mary. She has so much to teach us about real hope. The mission God chose her to fulfil was not an easy task. What she went through was incredibly difficult. She was just a teenage girl from a poor family who lived in an obscure village in a tiny nation. Then one day an angel came to her with a message from the Lord: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold you will conceive and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great. He will be the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world…” And all this was going to happen when she was still a virgin. It was a tough situation for Mary. If we were she most of us would have asked the Lord to find someone else to do this job. But not Mary. Her answer to the angel was a model of real faith and real hope. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant; let it be to me according to your word.” Here in Mary we see the powerful witness of Christian hope.

講壇信息介紹
聖誕節快來臨了。我們是用一個仰望的心去期待它，還是一個失望的心去應付它呢？請看馬利亞。她給我們一個很好學習仰望的功課。上帝給她的差使是一個不容易的差使。她所經歷的是不好受的經歷。她是一個十多歲的女孩子，在一個小國窮鄉長大。一天天使帶來上帝的信息，對她說：“馬利亞不要怕！你在神面前已經蒙恩了。你要懷孕生子，可以給他起名叫耶穌。他要為大，他要做彌賽亞，是神的兒子，是世界的救主。。。”而這一切事成就是要在她還沒有出嫁之前發生的。這是一件令馬利亞最難接受的事。如果我們是她，很多人會叫神另找賢能，我就無能為力了。但馬利亞並不是這樣。她的回應能夠顯出真信心和真仰望的品質，她對天使說：“我是主的使女，情願照你的話成就在我身上。”在馬利亞身上我們看見了基督徒仰望神最有力的見證。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Nov. 25

Pulpit Message Introduction
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
We are all concerned about how to find life. Sometimes we thought we will find it by preserving it and maintaining it. But this is not what Jesus says. Jesus tells us if we want to save life, we will lose it. If we lose it for him we will find it.
A candle has to be burned before it gives out light. Salt has to be dissolved before it sends out its saltiness. Similarly a person has to lose himself/herself before he/she finds life.
The following is an excerpt from the sermon Martin Luther King, Jr. preached at Ebenezer Baptist Church on February 4, 1968, two months before he was assassinated, and which was played at his funeral.
“Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life’s final common denominator—that something we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral. And I don’t think of it in a morbid sense. Every now and then I ask myself, “What is it that I would want said?” And I leave the word to you this morning.
If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.
I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try, in my life, clothe those who were naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace, I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. I just want to leave a committed life behind.
And that’s all I want to say…if I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, if I can bring salvation to a world over wrought, if I can spread the message as the Master taught, then my living will not be in vain.”
講壇信息介紹
於是，耶穌對門徒說：“若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得著生命。”馬太16：24-25
我們都想得著生命。我們以為保存生命，維持生命就能得著生命。但這不是耶穌所說的。耶穌告訴我們如果我們想救自己生命，我們就會喪掉生命；如果我們為主喪掉生命，我們才會得著生命。
正如蠟燭要燃燒自己才能發出亮光；鹽要消失自己才能發出鹹味；人要盡用生命才能找著生命。
以下是一篇馬丁路德金博士講章的摘錄，是他於1968年2月4日在Ebenezer浸信會崇拜的講道，之後兩個月他被刺身亡，在喪禮中這講章重播出來：
“久不久我們都會現實地想到每人都難逃一死之那天的光景。久不久我也想到我自己的死和我自己的喪禮。我毫無忌諱的想：“那一天我喜歡人講些甚麼呢？”今天早上讓我把這些話告訴你們吧。
倘若那天你在場的話，我不想喪禮太長。如果你要找人述說生平的話，請叫他們不要講得太多。久不久我會想我喜歡他們講些什麼呢。告訴他們不要說我是諾貝爾和平獎的得主，那是不重要的。告訴他們不要說我得過三四百樣其他的獎項，那是不重要的。告訴他們不用提我在那間學校讀過書。
我希望有人在那一天說馬丁路德金曾用他的生命去服侍別人。我希望有人在那一天說馬丁路德金曾嘗試去愛人。我想你那一天說我嘗試在戰爭的問題上做對的事情。我想你那一天說我的確有嘗試給饑餓的人吃。我想你那一天說我的確曾在我的生命中嘗試給赤身露體的人穿。我想你那一天說我的確曾在我的生命中嘗試看在監裏的人。我想你會說我曾嘗試去愛和服侍人類。是的如果你要說我是個鼓樂隊隊長，請你說我是個鼓吹公道的鼓樂隊隊長。請你講我是個鼓吹和平的鼓樂隊隊長，我是個鼓吹正義的鼓樂隊隊長。至於其他淺薄的事，也無關重要了。我不會有錢留下。我沒有生活上豪華講究的東西留下。我只想留下一條盡忠職守的生命而已。
這就是我所要說的。。。如果我可以在生命過程中幫助別人，如果我可以用說話或歌聲鼓勵別人，如果我能在人走錯路時引領他返回正途，那我就是不枉此生了。
如果我能做基督徒應該做的事，如果我能把救恩帶給一個走錯路的世界，如果我能把主耶穌教我的道理傳開，那我就是不枉此生了。”

Pulpit Message Introduction for Nov. 18

Pulpit Message Introduction
We are “the salt of the earth” (vs. 13). In days before refrigerators were invented, salts was used to keep meat from going bad. Christians are called to keep society from decay. More positively, we are called to be “the light of the world” (vs. 14) and to light up the darkness around us. Jesus, of course, is our model. He described himself as “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and here tells His disciples that they are “the light of the world.” Jesus was the most influential person who has ever lived. The historian K. S. LaTourette wrote, “Measured by His effect on history, Jesus’ life is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.”
In order to have an influence on society it is vital, first of all, for Christians not to withdraw from the world into a Christian sub-culture but to get involved in our society. God sent Jesus to get involved in society. He could have remained aloof and safe in heaven, but He chose to get His hands dirty and become immersed in our world. Being “the salt of the earth” (vs. 13), we should not conserve ourselves inside the four walls of our church. Since we are called to be “the light of the world” (vs. 14), we must not put the light in a valley where it cannot be seen, but on a hill (vs. 14). We do not put lamps under bowls but on stands, so that they can give light to the whole house (vs. 15).
So, Jesus says, we must be out there in society letting our lights shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and give praise to God (vs. 16).
講壇信息介紹：我們是世上的鹽（13節）。在雪櫃還未發明之前，人們是用鹽來防止肉類食物腐爛的。同理基督徒是被呼召做社會的防腐劑。積極方面來說我們是世界的光（14節）並且要光照周圍的黑暗。主耶穌祂是我們的榜樣。祂說我是世界的光（約翰8章12節）這裏經文祂告訴門徒他們是世上的光。主耶穌是世界上最有影響力的一個人。歷史學家K. S. LaTourette也承認人類歷史中能夠影響世界最深的，除了耶穌之外再沒有別人了。基督徒要對世界有影響力，首先必須不能回避世界或離群獨處。他們必須參與社會。神差耶穌來世是要祂溶入社會。主耶穌本可以留在天堂不吃人間煙火的。但祂選擇了參與世情。作為世上的鹽（13節）我們不應該躲在教會的裏面。（14節）我們的光不是在谷底而是在山上的。我們點燈不是放在斗底下而是放在登臺上的。好叫能夠照亮一家的人。所以耶穌說我們一定要把光照在人前，叫人看見我們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給我們在天上的父（16節）。

講壇信息介紹

Pulpit Message Introduction
Jesus said, “ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” We might well think that if we live the kind of life that Jesus advocated we would be universally popular. In fact this is not the case. Jesus never guaranteed popularity. In fact, He warns us to be on our guard if everyone thinks highly of us and says that there is bound to be opposition. He never said, “Come to me and your troubles will be over.” We are the conscience of mankind and that can be very unpopular. We may have to endure insults and ridicule or even worse.
Jesus said, “ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you..
Jesus never told us to seek persecution, but He did say that when it comes, we are to regard it as a blessing. We are “to rejoice and be glad” (vs.12) . Jesus gives three reasons for doing so. First, because of our reward in heaven. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness are “blessed” because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 10), and in a similar way He says to His disciples, “Great is your reward in heaven” (vs.12). Secondly, our joy comes from identifying with Jesus. It is “because of me” (vs. 11) that they are persecuted. Thirdly, it is a sign that our faith is genuine, since the prophets were persecuted in the same way (vs. 12).
講壇信息介紹
耶穌說：為義受逼迫的人有福了因為天國是他們的。我們或以為如果我們照耶穌教我們的方法做，我們必受歡迎。但事實並非如此。耶穌從來沒有保證我們備受愛戴。相反他警告我們當眾人都讚賞我們的時候，我們要特別小心。因為必有反對。耶穌從來沒有說：來我這裏，你的麻煩就會消失得無影無蹤。我們既是人類的良心，就會常常不受歡迎。我們可能要忍受辱罵，逼迫，毀謗，或者更甚的事情。
耶穌說： 人若因我辱罵你們逼迫你們，捏造各樣壞話毀謗你們，你們就有福了。應當歡喜快樂，因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的。在你們以前的先知，人也是這樣逼迫他們。
耶穌沒有叫我們去自找逼迫。但當逼迫來臨時，我們可以看它是福。我們要歡喜快樂（12節）。這裏耶穌給我們三個快樂的原因：第一，因為我們在天上的賞賜。為義受逼迫的人有福了，因為天國是他們的（10節）。同樣地祂告訴祂的門徒：你們在天上的賞賜是大的（12節）。第二，我們快樂因為我們與主認同。人若因我。。。（11節）意思是說門徒是因主而受苦的。第三，這是真正信仰的明證，因為以前有真誠信仰的先知也是這樣受逼迫的啊（12節）！

Pulpit Message Introduction for Nov. 4

Blessed are you when people speak evil against you

Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Why did Jesus disciples have to be hated so?
The writer of the book of Peter gives us a good explanation.
In I Peter 4:1-4 it says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.”
True followers of Christ are hated by the world because they do not conform to the world. Their unconformity makes the world feel uncomfortable. That is why they are insulted, persecuted, and falsely said all kinds of evil against. If you are a true follower of Christ you are bound to receive such abuse in the world and in the church as well.
What? In the church as well? Yes, in the church as well! This is because the church has been conformed by the world unaware. Many people who join the church are originally people from the world. They were born and raised in the world. After they joined the church they brought with them worldly thoughts and worldly standards. This is called secularization of the church. A secularized church hates true followers of Christ. Martin Luther described the Roman Catholic Church in the middle ages as that kind of a church. It was the church in exile and was taken captive into Babylon.
Have you been said falsely all kinds of evil against in the church? If so, rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.
In the Nov- Dec issue of our Chinese devotional the ‘Proclaim’ bimonthly, there is an article entitled, “Building a loving community” by Xiao Dao Sheng. It talks about how church secularization has hampered the building of a loving community. I have made 50 copies of it. I hope each and every one of us will take a copy and read it carefully at home.
Hatred rings out in the world like the shrill clash of metal against metal; the hammer against the nail. Hatred is the force of darkness that covers the face of the earth, reaping destruction where it goes. Hatred is most often aroused by our self-righteous resentments. It is easier to shoot the bad guys, to seek retribution for the satisfaction of our moral feelings, than to get at the root of the bad guys or to transform them. It is easier to kill bad people than to build loving community to embrace them. The actions of that hatred often create judgment, condemnation and church division. What a difference it would make if our hatreds were redirected to love. Hatred grows out of a limitation which is forced upon us by having to live with one another even with people we don’t like. Hatred is the force and power of destruction. It leads away from happiness to living hell. The world loves to tell us that what is most important is what makes "me" most important. The world loves to tell us that value is measured by the strength of my voice, the size of the group which will come and hear it; the world loves to tell us that value is determined by success, not meekness. Success is the ability to stand while others fall, the ability to climb over and above the others. Christ came preaching a different message. "Deny yourself," he said. In humility count others better than yourself. Look not merely to your own interest, but to the interests of others. Be even like me ... who came not among you to display power and glory, but to empty myself, to take the form of a servant. Does the world like this standard? No, it loves only those who abide by the world's standards. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I choose out of the world, therefore the world hates you." "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Anger, resentment, bitterness; slander; power, conflict, hatred ring out like a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal; the harsh sound of metal against metal; the hammer against the nail-disrupting, bleeding, destroying human relationships. But the power that heals, that reconciles, that blesses us is more like the silence of happiness, interpreted by LOVE.
Amen.

被毀謗之福
主耶穌說：人若因我辱罵你們，逼迫你們，捏造各樣壞話毀謗你們，你們就有福了。應當歡喜快樂，因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的。在你們以前的先知，人也是這樣逼迫他們。
為甚麼做耶穌的門徒會被人憎恨，毀謗的呢？原來是因為耶穌的門徒不效法這個世界，世界便辱罵他們，逼迫他們，捏造各樣壞話毀謗他們。如果你是基督的真正門徒，你也必會受到同樣的來自世界和教會而來的逼迫和毀謗的。
為甚麼教會也會逼迫毀謗基督徒呢？這是因為教會的人都是從世界來的，他們不知不覺地把世俗的思想和標準也帶進教會來。教會變成世俗化就憎恨那些價值觀與他們不相同的人。
蕭道生在今期的傳遞生命雙月刊裏有一篇文章叫做【建立愛的群體】提及教會世俗化是妨礙建立愛的群體之最大阻力。
世界所用的方法是辱罵，逼迫，毀謗，憎恨。
基督門徒的方法是溫柔，憐恤，和睦，相愛。
耶穌說為義受逼迫的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。
阿門。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Oct.28

Pulpit Message Introduction
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” What is the good of being called sons of God? The good is to be His heir. We Chinese know better that inheritance is to be passed on to heirs. Once there was a rich man. He was old and had no sons. He said to himself. Since I have to let people take away my things after I die, I will give them away now so that I know who take what before I die. He called in many people and said to them, “Find whatever you like and you can take it!” Some took the piano, refrigerator, computer, hi-fi system, others took the watch, diamond, gold, pearl etc. But there was a little boy who took nothing. He said to the rich man, “Can I take you as my dad?” The rich man said, “Yes, of course!” Then the little boy said in an affectionate tone, “Daddy!” The rich man was very happy. He said, “From now on I have a son.” And he passed an order stating that from then on people could not take things from his house anymore. It was because he had to leave them all to his son. Likewise, if we are God’s sons and daughters, we are His heirs. All that is His is ours. How do we become God’s sons and daughters? We do that by being peacemakers. In II Corinthians 5:18 Paul said, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” The Ottawa Chinese United Church has been doing the ministry of reconciliation in this capital city for 45 years. Today on this anniversary Sunday let us celebrate how blessed we are to be called sons of God.
講壇信息介紹
耶穌說使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為上帝的兒子。作上帝的兒子有什麼好處呢？它的好處就是作後嗣。我們中國人的習慣，遺產都是給兒子的。從前有一個財主，老而無子，他想到，與其死后，不知甚麼人分享我的財產，不如趁我在生，由我分送好了！他便召集了許多人來，對他們說： “你們喜歡我的甚麼東西，只管拿就是！”于是有人拿了鋼琴，冰箱，電腦，音響系統，也有拿了手表，鑽石，黃金，珍珠等等，唯獨有一個小孩子，甚麼都不拿，只對那個財主說：“我想拿你做爸爸，可以嗎？”那財主說：“當然可以！”於是小孩子便很親熱地叫了一聲爸爸，財主就無限歡喜地說：“從今以后我有兒子了。”便吩咐說：“你們不能再拿我的東西了，全部都要留給我的兒子啊!” 照樣我們若是上帝的兒女，若是上帝的後嗣，則所有的都是我們的。我們如何才能做上帝的兒女呢？使人和睦的人，就可以了。哥林多後書五章18節說：“祂藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與祂和好的職分賜給我們”。所以耶穌說使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為上帝的兒子。加京華人聯合教會45年在渥太華宣傳和好的福音，我們做了使人和睦的工作，今天我們要慶祝我們必成為上帝的兒子的福氣。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Oct.21

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preaches the Constitution of the Kingdom. Jesus preaches what he practices. His life proves his words. Measured by His effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was 30, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away, one of them betrayed Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth—His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Many centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. We are far within the mark when we say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
講壇信息介紹
耶穌講登山寶訓，耶穌不單是講，祂也把這個天國的大憲章，切切實實的行了出來。這位溫柔謙卑的耶穌，出生在很少為人所知的小村落，母親是一個農家女。祂在另外一個小村莊長大，在父親的木匠店裏工作。三十歲后開始旅行佈道，先后三年之久。祂沒有寫過一本書，也沒有擔當過甚麼職務，也沒有一個屬於自己的家。他從沒有進過大學，也沒有涉足大的城市。足跡所到的地方，離祂出生地最遠不逾兩百公里。一切和偉大的人有關的東西，祂全沒有；祂連一張證書也沒有，有的只是祂自己。年紀很輕的時候大家就看不起祂，反對祂。祂的朋友拋棄祂，其中有一個更出賣了祂。祂被交在敵人手中，受審判，為人戲笑，嘲弄。祂被釘在一個十字架上，在兩個強盜當中。祂在世上擁有唯一的一件外衣，被執刑的士兵拈鬮來分。祂死后被人從十字架上取下來，埋葬在一個朋友讓出來的墳墓里。可是死亡沒有勝過祂，祂的復活給一切信他的人帶來了無比的希望和力量，祂愛的福音從祂生活的小城開始，逐漸傳遍全地球，改變了千萬人的生命。今天，祂已成為人類的中心，世界進步的動力。我們可以絕對不誇張地說，把全世界所有的陸軍海軍，所有議會的議員，所有統治過人類的皇帝，通通加起來，對地球上人民生活的影響力，還遠逺不及這個溫柔謙卑的耶穌哩。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Oct.14

Pulpit Message Introduction
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them…
Since fall our church has been preaching on the subject about challenging Christian lifestyle in the secular world. The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7 also known as The Magna Carta of the Kingdom gives a good imperative to that kind of lifestyle. The standards of lifestyle that Jesus sets are very high. Jesus chose to give this sermon from a mountainside as a parallel to the mountain that Moses received God’s commandments in the Old Testament. The difference between the two mountains is that the former speaks about law and the latter speaks about grace. There is some debate as to whether the sermon is addressed to His disciples or to the crowds. He appears to begin with His disciples (Matthew 5:1) and to finish with everyone listening (Matthew 7:28). The teaching would seem to be primarily for the disciples, the equivalent today of those who are already Christians. But it is clearly appropriate that it be heard by the crowds—comparable, perhaps, to those who are not yet Christians. Jesus continually contrasts the two. He says, “Do not be like them.” His disciples should be different both from the non-religious, the gentiles and pagans (the equivalent today of the secular world), and also from the religious, the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus was not laying down a new law to replace the Old Covenant of Moses; He was teaching His followers how to live out the Christian life. The law sends us to Christ to be justified and Christ sends us back to the law to be sanctified. It is not easy to make good Christians in the contemporary world. But with Christ’s grace we can make it.
講壇信息介紹
耶穌看見這許多的人、就上了山、既已坐下、門徒到他跟前來。。。從秋季開始本堂的講臺信息將集中在基督徒生活在世界所面對的挑戰。馬太福音第五章至第七章稱為登山寶訓，正好對這個問題提出了最實際可行和有效的指示。登山寶訓也叫天國的大憲章。它是耶穌上山（馬太5：1）到耶穌下山（馬太8：1）所講的天國子民要聽的信息。這個信息的聽眾最初是門徒（馬太5：1） 后來是眾人，因為他們都希奇他的教訓（馬太7：28）。耶穌上山頒佈這憲章，就好像摩西上西乃山頒佈十誡一樣。所不同者是摩西講律法；耶穌講恩典。我們基督徒是天國的子民，但仍然住在這個充滿邪惡的世界上。我們要入世而不屬世。正如耶穌最初是講給門徒聽的，后來眾人也一起來聽了。耶穌說你們不要像他們。意思是說基督徒不但與不信的人有分別，更要與那些只有宗教外表但沒有信仰實質的經師和法利賽人有分別。耶穌來不是要廢掉律法，乃是要成全律法。律法把人帶到耶穌的面前去求恩典得憐憫，耶穌就把我們帶回律法那裏去實現成聖的工夫。面對世界的挑戰，作基督徒是不容易的，但靠著耶穌的恩典我們可以得勝有餘。