Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 2

Pulpit Message Introduction for fourth Sunday in Lent
Last Sunday we heard Jesus calling us to carry our cross daily and follow him. This call has a lot to do with our spiritual growing. Jesus wants us to carry our own cross. Our own cross demands our acceptance to accusation, condemnation, and abandonment from other people. Carrying our own cross means we willingly give up our right to defend ourselves even when others do such unreasonable things to us. But unfortunately due to our self righteousness, lack of love, mercy and forgiving, we often times force others to carry their cross instead of us carrying the cross ourselves. Carrying our own cross means we crucify our own sinful nature with its passions and desires all together. By the power of the Holy Spirit we put to death our old self. We condemn our old sinful nature. This is a lesson we have to learn everyday and practice for life.
Crucifying ourselves on the cross also involves a total change of our value, outlook, and relationship to the world. Paul said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14) It is therefore of crucial importance that when brothers and sisters set off to preach the gospel, they do not mix up the value of the world with the value of the Kingdom. We should not use prosperity and success in this world to prove God’s faithfulness. God is our Father in heaven. We are His children. We are His inheritance. We are called to be set apart from the world. As such we crucify our own value, our self interests, and our world onto the cross.
Thus the cross gives us four meanings: 1. the cross reminds us of the horror of our sin, 2. the cross reminds us of the heart of God’s love, 3. the cross heals the broken relationship between us and God, and 4. the cross leads us home to God.
講壇信息介紹
上星期我們聽到耶穌對我們說“天天背起自己的十字架來跟從我”。這話與我們的靈命長進有密切的關係。主耶穌首先要求我們背起自己的十字架。十字架是公開的定罪，嚴懲和棄絕的意思。背自己的十字架是要自己肯公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。不是叫別人公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。可惜的是我們可能因自義，沒有愛心，憐憫的心和包容的心，把別人的罪公開的定了，並且把別人釘在十字架上。
背自己的十字架是把自己和自己的邪情私欲同釘在十字架上。是依靠聖靈治死老我；對付自己個人的罪性。這是我們既是終生也是天天要學習的功課。
把自己釘在十字架上，還包括我們對世界的價值觀，我們所追求的目標，並且與世界之關係的徹底改變。保羅說：因這十字架就我而論，世界已釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已釘在十字架上。（加拉太書6：14）為此傳福音的弟兄姊妹，要分清楚甚麼是世界的福音和甚麼是天國的福音。千萬不要用世界的福去證明神的信實。因為神是天父，我們是天父兒女， 是天國的子民。我們是神從世界上呼召出來的，是捨己，把個人，世界都釘在十字架上的人。
十字架今天給我們四個意義：1.十字架告訴我們罪的可怕。2.十字架告訴我們神的慈愛。3.十字架恢復我們與神的關係。4.十字架帶我們回家。