Pulpit Message Introduction for Feb. 3

Pulpit Message Introduction for last Sunday of Epiphany
Christ-light spreads as Christ’s power and presence are made known in the world. On Transfiguration Sunday, we remember the mountain-top experience of those closest to Jesus, for whom holy light blazed into a blinding revelation of who Jesus actually is. In a vision, they see Jesus “transfigured” before them, standing with Moses and Elijah—suggesting that both law and prophesy affirm the mission of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
Jesus is affirmed on the top of a mountain. Then he comes down from the mountain to enter once more into the suffering and sin of the world. Jesus looks down from his mountain-top glory and sees into the valley of shadow. Ahead lies Jerusalem where Israel’s prophets have been betrayed, and where Jesus’ own role as the “suffering servant” comes into play.
Jesus has already begun to speak with his disciples about his sorrow-filled path down the mountain. The unavoidable question for the disciples—and for us—is “Will we follow?” Will we “save our life” or “take up the cross”? Will we stand before the rage of the world bearing only our love? What do we fear?

講壇信息介紹
基督的光輝在基督顯能力和與人同在的生活中不斷彰顯。今天易容顯光的主日，我們看見基督如何在山上向祂最愛的門徒變像，榮光把他們的眼睛也弄瞎了，他們就了悟到耶穌真正是誰。在異象中他們看見摩西，以利亞同耶穌說話。意思是說耶穌完成彌賽亞使命是得到律法和先知的印證的。
耶穌在山上得到肯定後，便下山返回這個痛苦和罪惡的世界。從榮耀的山峰到死陰的幽谷。在祂面前是耶路撒冷，是以色列先知被出賣的地方，也是耶穌擔當受苦僕人角色的場所。
耶穌已經開始對門徒講解下山所要走的痛苦之路。門徒和我們今天要面對的，就是這些不可避免的問題：“我們願意跟從嗎？”“我們要救自己生命”還是“背起十字架”？我們願意只憑著愛面對這個兇殘的世界嗎？我們害怕的是甚麼？

Pulpit Message Introduction for Jan.27

Pulpit Message Introduction for 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
This Sunday we meditate on Jesus’ miracle of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish. After people had all had enough to eat, the disciples gathered the pieces. They filled 12 baskets with the left over. This was Jesus’ fourth miracle as recorded in the Gospel of John. It was the time of the Jewish Passover Feast. The theme of the feast has to do with life and salvation. The angel of the Lord “passed over” the Jewish household but entered the Egyptian household to kill their first born. Thus Pharaoh had to let the Israelite go. The Jews were then set free from the land of slavery. This story involves our understanding on the meaning of sacrifice and deliverance. That day a little boy sacrificed his small meal and the whole multitude had enough to eat. Later Jesus sacrificed His life and the whole mankind was saved. The multiplying of loaves and fish is still happening today. There is more than enough food to feed everyone who hungers in the world. The problem is that are we willing to sacrifice and distribute God’s abundance to the world?
Jesus steps into our lives and brings the Old Testament past to present life situations. He is the Law and Prophets incarnate. When Jesus knows that people want to make him king by force, he withdraws. His crown is not made of gold but thorns. What we learn from Jesus is that at times we are confronted with small resources, but God can turn a small fact into a big miracle. He does this because he is the real messiah, God’s anointed One to save us.
講壇信息介紹
本主日我們思想的，是環繞著約翰福音所記載，耶穌所行的第四個神蹟—以五餅二魚餵飽五千人，而且所剩下的零碎還裝滿了十二個籃子。耶穌行這神蹟時正值逾越節。逾越節的主題乃生命與救贖。耶和華的使者【逾越】以色列的家戶，保存他們兒子的生命，因耶和華擊殺埃及家庭的長子，令法老王准許以色列人離開埃及為奴之地。因此逾越節包含了犧牲和拯救的意義。現在，耶穌以一位小孩所犧牲和奉獻的餅和魚，餵飽五千人；日後，祂更犧牲自己的生命，拯救全人類。
五餅二魚是小孩子的一個小午餐，但當耶穌把它祝謝之後，卻成了五千人的食糧。我們日常所享受的都比這小午餐豐富，我們可曾以感恩和信靠的心懷去回應上帝這麼豐盛的賜予呢？耶穌在餵飽五千人後，因為知道群眾要強迫祂作王，他便退到山上去。耶穌知道祂作王的冠冕不是用金造成的，而是用荊棘編作成的。祂來世界的目的是要完成舊約預言彌賽亞的工作。祂確實是我們的救主。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Jan.20

Pulpit Message Introduction for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus’ third miracle is the healing of an invalid for 38 years. John 5:2-17. Why is this man an invalid for 38 years before he gets healed? His explanation is that when the water is stirred no one helps him into the pool. While he is trying to get in some one else goes down ahead of him. The Jews believe that when the water is stirred, the first one into the pool will be cured of whatever disease he has. Is this an excuse for the invalid for not getting healed? Although being invalid for such long time is no fun, yet he feels comfortable lying on his mat doing nothing. The mat has been an obstacle to him for 38 years. It keeps him from getting well. For this reason, when Jesus heals him, Jesus needs say one word: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man is cured; he picks up his mat and walk. Are we like this invalid for 38 years? Are we afraid of situations we don’t feel comfortable with? Do we make all sorts of excuses to avoid challenges?
When Jesus sees us, he will command us to pick up our mat and walk. He will urge us to live up to life’s challenges. No matter what our situations may be, we can face them courageously. We don’t need to escape with excuses.
Our God is always at work. Jesus works miracles. He heals the 38 years invalid for this reason. That’s why he says, “My father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” As Christ followers, God expects us to work like Jesus does. Let us join in his work of healing, of helping and of saving all mankind.
講壇信息介紹
根據約翰福音，耶穌第三個神蹟是醫好一個患病長達38年的人。約5：2-17.那人為甚麼病了38年才被醫好？他解釋說每當池水動的時候，總有人比他先進去（猶太人相信畢士大池水動的時候可起治療的功效），這是否只是他的藉口呢？雖然長期病倒了並不好過，他卻習慣了躺在褥子上。原來那褥子成了阻礙那患病38年的人，使他不能康復。為這原故，當耶穌醫治他的時候，只用了一句說話：“拿起你的褥子走罷。”那人果真照耶穌的吩咐起來，並且立刻痊愈了。我們是不是那個長年患病的人？我們是否害怕自己不習慣的境況，以各樣藉口逃避不去面對？
然而當我們與耶穌相遇時，祂便好像吩咐那個38年患病的人拿起他的褥子站起來一樣，催促我們要好好地活出我們的生命。無論我們的境況如何，我們都可以勇敢面對，不需作任何推搪。
我們所相信的神是一個作事的神，耶穌施行神蹟，醫治那個患病38年的人，正要表明這道理：“我父作事直到如今，我也作事。”作為基督徒，神也期望我們好像耶穌一樣，參與祂在這世界上繼續不斷的醫治人，幫助人，拯救人的工作。

Pulpit Message Introduction for Jan.13

Pulpit Message Introduction for 1st Sunday after Epiphany
In the Gospel according to John Jesus’ second miraculous sign was performed in the healing of the son of a royal official. This is recorded in John 4:46-54. We all need healing. If we want healing from Jesus we have to have faith in Him. Faith in God gives us life. It is life restored and renewed by the power of God. In the story we see how the royal official had faith in Jesus. He was a man of high position and authority. He could have sent for the best doctor to heal his son. But he trusted no one but Jesus. He went a long way to see Jesus. Not to order Jesus around but to beg Him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. Jesus did not go right a way but said, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. He later found out his son was healed at exactly the time Jesus said his son would live. So he and all his household believed. Jesus works miracles not for any other reasons but for the fact that He is God. When God acts miraculous signs are manifested. Blessed are those who see the acts of God and believe. Are you one of them?
講壇信息介紹
約翰福音所載第二個神蹟是耶穌醫好一位羅馬大臣的兒子（約翰四章46至54節）。故事中有一點值得我們反思的：我們都需要醫治，若我們要得到耶穌的醫治，對耶穌的信心是不可少的。對上帝的信心可使我們的生命獲得重整，重新得力。
在這醫治的故事中，我們首先看到那位大臣對耶穌的信心，貴為有權有勢的人，他可邀請醫術精湛的醫生去醫治他的兒子。可是他卻獨自信靠耶穌，親自到耶穌跟前，不是吩咐耶穌，而是請求耶穌到他家中醫治他病重的兒子。然而，耶穌沒有照大臣所求前往他的家，只是對大臣說，“你回去吧，你的兒子活了”。大臣相信，便趕回家，果然在耶穌說話的時候，他的兒子便痊愈了，於是他和他全家都信了耶穌。耶穌施行神蹟不為甚麼，只因為祂是掌管一切的主，所以祂所行的，就是神蹟，是上帝的作為。那些看見耶穌的神蹟而信的人有福了。你是其中一個嗎？

Pulpit Message Introduction for Jan.6

Pulpit Message Introduction for Epiphany Sunday
Epiphany is the season to celebrate the good news of Christ’s birth being spread to the ends of the earth. Jesus’ birth is part of God’s plan. God comes and works among us to bring about His glory. God in Jesus does many wonders and signs. The miracle in Cana turning water into wine is the first of His miraculous signs. Jesus cares about people’s feelings both in their times of sadness as well as in their times of happiness. The guests in the wedding need wine. So Jesus provides them with good wine. Jesus can change ordinary water into extraordinary wine. To make the ordinary into the extraordinary is the nature of Jesus’ work. When we see people with needs, do we just ignore them by making excuses that it is not our custom to do such uncomfortable things? Or do we try the hard way and respond to the request? Sometimes traditions and customs restrain us from doing things we want to do. But Jesus addresses people’s need and take it as His first priority, even preceding customs and traditions. Epiphany is the time to preach the good news of Jesus’ work. Jesus can do works of extraordinary goodness despite constraints from traditions and human limitations. Can we?
講壇信息介紹
顯現節是慶祝耶穌降生的好消息已向全世界的人傳揚開了。耶穌的降生乃上帝工作的一部分，上帝要親臨人間工作以彰顯祂的榮耀。上帝在耶穌基督裏做了許多神蹟奇事，迦拿婚筵以水變酒，是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟。耶穌重視人在憂傷時也在快樂時的需要，這需求重要過人的制度與習慣。婚筵的賓客需要酒，耶穌便為他們提供好酒。耶穌把普通的水變成不普通的醇酒。把普通的變成不普通的，是耶穌施行神蹟的方式。當我們遇到需要幫助的人，我們是否總喜歡以沒有時間或不習慣為藉口，拒絕施以援手呢？即使我們定意回應，卻發現沒有足夠的能力，因為我們被傳統所牽制而無所作為。我們是否尊重傳統過於人的需要呢？顯現節是一個傳揚與見證的節期，我們所傳揚，所見證的，乃是主耶穌—祂能夠在任何境況中有所作為，因為祂決心跨越人的限度，而不是只顧退縮於人關心的範籌與限制。