Pulpit Message Introduction for second Sunday of Easter
Now on that same day two of the followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. They described what happened 3 days ago. How Jesus was crucified and buried. But this morning the tomb was empty. As they approached the village they urged him to stay. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Walking with Jesus will eventually lead us the way to God. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” There are four roads a Christian travels in order to walk with the Lord, to go to the Father and recognize Jesus.
1. the road to Damascus—road to faith.
2. the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho—road to serve and help others.
3. the road to Golgotha—road to suffering and the cross
4. the road to Emmaus—road to eternal fellowship.
講壇信息介紹
正當那日，門徒中有兩個人往一個村子去；這村子名叫以馬忤斯，離耶路撒冷約有二十五里。他們彼此談論所遇見的這一切事。正談論相問的時候，耶穌親自就近他們，和他們同行；只是他們的眼睛迷糊了，不認識他。耶穌對他們說：“你們走路彼此談論的是甚麼事呢？”他們就站住，臉上帶著愁容。他們把耶穌三天前被釘，被埋葬，今天墳墓空了，的事情說一遍。到了村子，他們請耶穌同他們住下。到了坐席的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他們。他們的眼睛明亮了，這才認出他來。跟從耶穌就找到上帝，因耶穌說：我是道路，真理，生命，若不藉著我 沒有人能到父那裏去。作為基督徒我們要學習走擺在我們面前的四條路，才稱得上與主同行，到父那裏，認出他來。
（一） 通往大馬色之路—信仰之路。
（二） 從耶路撒冷下耶利哥之路—服務，助人之路。
（三） 各各他之路—通往痛苦的十字架道路。
（四） 以馬忤斯之路—永恒團契之路。
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 23
Pulpit Message Introduction for Easter Sunday
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
From this passage we know Jesus really died and really came back to life. His death and resurrection are not there for remembrance only once in a year. They are there to be the blue prints for our daily living. We have to die with Christ and live with Christ every day. Death must occur before the bondage of sin can be broken. Resurrection must occur before abundant life in God’s kingdom can be realized. We have been Christians for quite a while now. Have we really been dying and living with Jesus Christ our Lord. I pray the Holy Spirit to help us not to look for the living among the dead any more.
講壇信息介紹
七日的頭一日，黎明的時候，那些婦女帶著所預備的香料來到墳墓前，看見石頭已經從墳墓滾開了，她們就進去，只是不見主耶穌的身體。正在猜疑之間，忽然又兩個人站在旁邊，衣服放光。婦女們驚怕，將臉伏地。那兩個人就對他們說：“為甚麼在死人中找活人呢？他不在這裏，已經復活了。當紀念他還在加利利的時候怎樣告訴你們，說：‘人子必須被交在罪人手裏，釘在十字架上，第三日復活。’”
從這段經文，可以知道耶穌真真正正的死了，又真真正正的復活。祂的受死與復活，並非只叫我們每年紀念一次就算了，乃是要做我們的榜樣，叫我們與他同死同復活。因為必定要死，才可以脫離罪惡的綑綁；必定要復活，才可以享受天堂的永福。我們做了基督徒的人，曾否與耶穌同死同復活呢？聖靈幫助我們不再在死人中找活人啊。
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
From this passage we know Jesus really died and really came back to life. His death and resurrection are not there for remembrance only once in a year. They are there to be the blue prints for our daily living. We have to die with Christ and live with Christ every day. Death must occur before the bondage of sin can be broken. Resurrection must occur before abundant life in God’s kingdom can be realized. We have been Christians for quite a while now. Have we really been dying and living with Jesus Christ our Lord. I pray the Holy Spirit to help us not to look for the living among the dead any more.
講壇信息介紹
七日的頭一日，黎明的時候，那些婦女帶著所預備的香料來到墳墓前，看見石頭已經從墳墓滾開了，她們就進去，只是不見主耶穌的身體。正在猜疑之間，忽然又兩個人站在旁邊，衣服放光。婦女們驚怕，將臉伏地。那兩個人就對他們說：“為甚麼在死人中找活人呢？他不在這裏，已經復活了。當紀念他還在加利利的時候怎樣告訴你們，說：‘人子必須被交在罪人手裏，釘在十字架上，第三日復活。’”
從這段經文，可以知道耶穌真真正正的死了，又真真正正的復活。祂的受死與復活，並非只叫我們每年紀念一次就算了，乃是要做我們的榜樣，叫我們與他同死同復活。因為必定要死，才可以脫離罪惡的綑綁；必定要復活，才可以享受天堂的永福。我們做了基督徒的人，曾否與耶穌同死同復活呢？聖靈幫助我們不再在死人中找活人啊。
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 16
Pulpit Message Introduction for Palm Sunday
I Corinthians 1:22-25, it is written, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Jews want miracles. They want to see exciting things to happen before their eyes. Greeks want wisdom, they love knowledge. But Paul told us we preach only one fact one message i.e. Christ crucified.
Many people preach about Christ and say they are following Christ. But some want Christ of their own taste only. They do not preach the Christ crucified or the Christ in the Bible. I pray God to help us understand what Christ we preach. In I Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” To Paul nothing is more important than Jesus crucified. On this Palm Sunday let us recall that important event that Paul talked about.
Luke 23:33-46: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shinning. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. God help us treat this event the most important message in our life.
講壇信息介紹
哥林多前書一章22-25節說：“猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧；我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督。在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人，希臘人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。因神的愚拙總比人智慧，神的軟弱總比人強壯。”這裏說，猶太人要的是神蹟，他們要看得見，讓人興奮的事物。希臘人追求智慧，研究學問，但使徒保羅說：我們卻傳一件事，不是傳一個道理，而是傳‘那一位釘十字架的基督。’
很多人傳基督，講基督，追求基督，然而很遺憾地，有些人所要的基督，不是釘十字架的基督，也不是聖經裏的基督。我們何等需要主幫助我們知道，我們所追求的是甚麼。哥林多前書十五章3-4節說：“我當日所領受又傳給你們的，第一，就是基督照聖經所說，為我們的罪死了，而且埋葬了，又照聖經所說，第三天復活了。”第一原文是第一要緊的意思。保羅說他所領受，要傳給我們的，最要緊的是甚麼呢？就是照著聖經所記載，基督為我們的罪死了，埋葬了，而且第三天復活了。在保羅的心目中，沒有一件事比主耶穌被釘十字架更緊要。
路加福音二十三章33-46節記載當時的情況：到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，就在那裏把耶穌釘在十字架上，又釘了兩個犯人：一個在左邊，一個在右邊。當下耶穌說：“父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。”兵丁就拈鬮分他的衣服。百姓站在那里觀看。官府也嗤笑他，說：“他救了別人；他若是基督，神所揀選的，可以救自己吧！”兵丁也戲弄他，上前拿醋送給他喝，說：“你若是猶太人的王，可以救自己吧！”在耶穌以上有一個牌子寫著：“這是猶太人的王。”那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他，說：“你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們把！”那一個就應聲責備他，說：“你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。”就說：“耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你紀念我！”耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。”那時約有午正，遍地都黑暗了，直到申初，日頭變黑了。殿裏的幔子從當中裂為兩半。耶穌大聲喊著說：“父啊！我將我的靈魂交在你手裏。”說了這話，氣就斷了。但願這個事實成為我們一生中最要緊的信息。
I Corinthians 1:22-25, it is written, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Jews want miracles. They want to see exciting things to happen before their eyes. Greeks want wisdom, they love knowledge. But Paul told us we preach only one fact one message i.e. Christ crucified.
Many people preach about Christ and say they are following Christ. But some want Christ of their own taste only. They do not preach the Christ crucified or the Christ in the Bible. I pray God to help us understand what Christ we preach. In I Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” To Paul nothing is more important than Jesus crucified. On this Palm Sunday let us recall that important event that Paul talked about.
Luke 23:33-46: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shinning. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. God help us treat this event the most important message in our life.
講壇信息介紹
哥林多前書一章22-25節說：“猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧；我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督。在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人，希臘人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。因神的愚拙總比人智慧，神的軟弱總比人強壯。”這裏說，猶太人要的是神蹟，他們要看得見，讓人興奮的事物。希臘人追求智慧，研究學問，但使徒保羅說：我們卻傳一件事，不是傳一個道理，而是傳‘那一位釘十字架的基督。’
很多人傳基督，講基督，追求基督，然而很遺憾地，有些人所要的基督，不是釘十字架的基督，也不是聖經裏的基督。我們何等需要主幫助我們知道，我們所追求的是甚麼。哥林多前書十五章3-4節說：“我當日所領受又傳給你們的，第一，就是基督照聖經所說，為我們的罪死了，而且埋葬了，又照聖經所說，第三天復活了。”第一原文是第一要緊的意思。保羅說他所領受，要傳給我們的，最要緊的是甚麼呢？就是照著聖經所記載，基督為我們的罪死了，埋葬了，而且第三天復活了。在保羅的心目中，沒有一件事比主耶穌被釘十字架更緊要。
路加福音二十三章33-46節記載當時的情況：到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，就在那裏把耶穌釘在十字架上，又釘了兩個犯人：一個在左邊，一個在右邊。當下耶穌說：“父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。”兵丁就拈鬮分他的衣服。百姓站在那里觀看。官府也嗤笑他，說：“他救了別人；他若是基督，神所揀選的，可以救自己吧！”兵丁也戲弄他，上前拿醋送給他喝，說：“你若是猶太人的王，可以救自己吧！”在耶穌以上有一個牌子寫著：“這是猶太人的王。”那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他，說：“你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們把！”那一個就應聲責備他，說：“你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。”就說：“耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你紀念我！”耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。”那時約有午正，遍地都黑暗了，直到申初，日頭變黑了。殿裏的幔子從當中裂為兩半。耶穌大聲喊著說：“父啊！我將我的靈魂交在你手裏。”說了這話，氣就斷了。但願這個事實成為我們一生中最要緊的信息。
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 9
Pulpit Message Introduction for fifth Sunday in Lent
Lenten period is a period for Jesus followers to practice Christian piety. Our observance of the season of Lent has its roots in the early church. Two early church fathers, Augustine and Tertullian, related that the Lenten fast originated with the Apostles. However, the fast of which they wrote was neither the season nor the fasting that we know. What the fathers were undoubtedly referring to was the desire of the early Christian community to sense anew the deep sorrow and pain they experienced during the period that our Lord lay in the tomb. The time was calculated as forty hours and was suggested, therefore, to be the appropriate span for fasting. There also appears to be some evidence that even prior to the suggested forty-hour fast, Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday. The first fast was a reminder of our Lord's betrayal, and the second the remembrance of his crucifixion.However, each Sunday was regarded as the Lord's Day, a little Easter, in which both the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord were observed. In time, however, as people fixed more and more on the need to consider why our Lord was crucified, the stress was placed on the need for contrition and repentance. Soon the Lenten period was extended to a week, then to two weeks. Ultimately, the forty hours were extended to forty days. At one time this was a period of eight weeks of five days of fasting. By the seventh century the time was calculated as six weeks, not counting the Sundays, which were excluded as days of fasting. That is how we still reckon the period for our observance which began 5 weeks ago with Ash Wednesday.
講壇信息介紹
大齋節是跟隨基督的人用來操練敬虔最好的時間。大齋節溯源自初期教會。奧古斯丁和特土良兩位教父都提及大齋節禁食是緣起於使徒。那時使徒和信眾為紀念耶穌被放進墳墓裏的悲傷，實行四十小時的禁食。有證據顯示基督徒在此之前是逢星期三和星期五禁食的。第一個禁食是紀念我們的主被賣；第二個禁食是紀念祂的被釘。
但每一個星期天都是主日，是一個小的復活節，是慶祝主復活的日子。慶祝時禁食可以暫停，漸漸信徒卻又問為甚麼我們的主要被釘呢？原來是因我們的罪過，我們實在需要悔改和自省。於是禁食延長由一週延長至兩週；最後由四十小時延長到四十天。在第七世紀時大齋節確定為期六個星期，減去其中的主日，就是我們現在奉行的主被釘前四十天的大齋節了。
Lenten period is a period for Jesus followers to practice Christian piety. Our observance of the season of Lent has its roots in the early church. Two early church fathers, Augustine and Tertullian, related that the Lenten fast originated with the Apostles. However, the fast of which they wrote was neither the season nor the fasting that we know. What the fathers were undoubtedly referring to was the desire of the early Christian community to sense anew the deep sorrow and pain they experienced during the period that our Lord lay in the tomb. The time was calculated as forty hours and was suggested, therefore, to be the appropriate span for fasting. There also appears to be some evidence that even prior to the suggested forty-hour fast, Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday. The first fast was a reminder of our Lord's betrayal, and the second the remembrance of his crucifixion.However, each Sunday was regarded as the Lord's Day, a little Easter, in which both the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord were observed. In time, however, as people fixed more and more on the need to consider why our Lord was crucified, the stress was placed on the need for contrition and repentance. Soon the Lenten period was extended to a week, then to two weeks. Ultimately, the forty hours were extended to forty days. At one time this was a period of eight weeks of five days of fasting. By the seventh century the time was calculated as six weeks, not counting the Sundays, which were excluded as days of fasting. That is how we still reckon the period for our observance which began 5 weeks ago with Ash Wednesday.
講壇信息介紹
大齋節是跟隨基督的人用來操練敬虔最好的時間。大齋節溯源自初期教會。奧古斯丁和特土良兩位教父都提及大齋節禁食是緣起於使徒。那時使徒和信眾為紀念耶穌被放進墳墓裏的悲傷，實行四十小時的禁食。有證據顯示基督徒在此之前是逢星期三和星期五禁食的。第一個禁食是紀念我們的主被賣；第二個禁食是紀念祂的被釘。
但每一個星期天都是主日，是一個小的復活節，是慶祝主復活的日子。慶祝時禁食可以暫停，漸漸信徒卻又問為甚麼我們的主要被釘呢？原來是因我們的罪過，我們實在需要悔改和自省。於是禁食延長由一週延長至兩週；最後由四十小時延長到四十天。在第七世紀時大齋節確定為期六個星期，減去其中的主日，就是我們現在奉行的主被釘前四十天的大齋節了。
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