Rev. Wilson Chan's farewell report to the church council meeting 2009/7/15
For three years I have come and served in the Ottawa Chinese United Church. I believe strongly that God has a purpose for me here. I fulfilled it. His name has been glorified. I concede I have handicap and weakness. Nevertheless God’s will was done through my handicap and weakness. I have no regrets for these three years well spent. There were hard times for sure. But I praise the Lord and thank him all the more for these hard times. My feeling co-inside with Paul’s feeling when he shared his testimony with the Corinthians.
Paul said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” II Cor.12:7.
There are so many handicapped people in God’s ministry we cannot count them all. Let us recall how Paul handled his. Paul prayed that his trouble be removed. He besought the Lord diligently that he be delivered. How much better that a man ask the Lord for help than to try defiantly to beat his way through life alone. It is no shameful thing to admit weakness. But you say, “God did not answer Paul’s prayer that his handicap be removed.” Indeed, you are right. But follow Paul. See him trudging along some lonely road on a missionary tour, that “thorn in the flesh” pricking him at every turn, furnishing irritation, suffering, and misery. Behold, there walks beside him the Savior, his comrade of the cross, saying in accents of infinite tenderness, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (II Cor. 12:9).
Paul not only prayed about his disadvantage; he kept plodding on in spite of it. He called it a “messenger of Satan to buffet” him. But in spite of all the buffeting, he battled on; he kept going. That is important. Perhaps you are someone who started out in the Christian life with much promise, but one by one the years seem to have stolen away your gifts; one by one your opportunities have vanished. You feel life has sadly handicapped you. Yet have you not one string on which you may play some melody of triumph? Play! Paul did. How we play is important. One man gets only discord out of his piano; another, harmony. No one claims the piano is at fault. Life has discord and harmony. Work hard to play it correctly; it will give forth beauty.
Paul not only prayed and kept going, but he also achieved a great triumph. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”(II Tim. 4:7-8.) This brave apostle carried his handicap with him through thick and thin to the end. The end was as glorious as the journey. Are you handicapped? Of course you are. So were Paul and countless other Christians who lived victoriously. Let us do as they did: pray, struggle on, and finally achieve the crown.
Yesterday I received a surprise letter in the email. It came from a lady called Cindy Kirk. When I first saw the name I had no idea who that lady was. But the first line refreshed my memory. She wrote:
Hi Pastor Chan
If you remember, I am Hayward's spouse and met you at the OCUC when you showed us (and Joanne) around the building when the daycare was but a dream.
I heard that you are leaving the OCUC and wanted to send you this email to thank-you for making a difference in the lives of the people in the Glebe community. You provided us, and Joanne, with great hope that the church would be open to the daycare idea and your support was greatly appreciated! Without that hope, I am not sure what would have happened. So although you may not realize it, you were the right person, in the right place, at the right time (perhaps a greater power made that possible). Now, because of some of your efforts, many children are enjoying their days in a secure, loving environment (including my son) within the church. This is a great accomplishment for anyone!
So on behalf of myself and my son, thank-you for making a difference in our lives.
Best Wishes,
Cindy Kirk
After reading it, I couldn’t help but reply her right a way. I said:
Dear Cindy,Thanks for this lovely letter. I am glad I can be of help to you and your dream. It wasn't me that make your dream come true. It was God's good will for you, for myself and for this church. Your service is a great blessing not only to the Glebe community but also to this church. I am going away to minister in the Winnipeg Chinese United Church. I will always remember you and Hayward and all the nice people in the daycare. God bless you.Wilson Chan
Three years was not a long time. But three years was long enough to achieve what I have achieved. It was not a happy three years. But I am happy for the achievement. Jesus spent also three years in his ministry. It was not a happy ministry. He had been wounded and bruised. But it was exactly because of his wounds and bruises that made him accomplish what he accomplished. “Because of his wounds we are healed; by his stripes we are made whole” (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus ministry did not make people happy. It made them angry instead. That’s why they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” But it was the wounded hands that once were nailed to the cross that heal the world today.
I hope you will remember me with this my last benediction to you all:
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in every one you meet; and may everyone you meet sees the face of Christ in you.
Amen and God bless you.
End
Friday, July 17, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/7/12
DATE: 2009/7/12 Sermon:
SCRIPTURE READING: Matt. 18:21-22
SERMON: Our Story Has Not Finished…
講道題目: 我們的故事還沒有完…
Peter asked Jesus the question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Peter was expecting Jesus to give him a limit so that he can terminate his relationship with his brother who sins against him. But Jesus answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus corrected Peter’s misconception. In Jesus understanding there is no limit for you to forgive your brother. In other words you can not terminate your relationship with your brother once he becomes your brother in Christ.
In another occasion Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not insist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matt. 5:38-39) Christians are called to a style of life that is totally free of vengeance. A wrong done to you does not give you license to inflict a wrong on someone else. The wisdom behind this counsel is visible from many angles.
I. Vengeance is harmful to the avenger as well as to the avengee. (1) Jesus absolutely negates hatred as inhuman, and vengeance always rises out of hatred. Vengeance produces in the human heart a disorganizing anxiety and displaces those positive and constructive dispositions where our well-being lies. (2) For the man of vengeance, every sunset is bleached of color; every meal is rendered bland and tasteless; every dream is cankered; every relationship is soured. Vengeance stops prayer, represses joy, misdirects energy, robs the middle years of their productivity, and crowns old age with a thorny wreath of bitterness.
II. Vengeance is futile. Evil is not the true answer to evil. It never was and it never will be. Vengeance simply perpetuates the cycle of sin-against-hate; hate-against-sin; Better that we should meet the one who offends us with kindness, even on pragmatic grounds. As Paul rightly said, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-22)
III. Vengeance reduces, when you think about it, to a denial of trust in God. When we take matters into our own hands and seek to execute judgment, we are in effect saying that we can’t trust God to do this for us.
IV. Vengeance is wrong because something else is right. And that something else is forgiveness. (1) Some people keep picking at their scar tissue so that the wounds will stay. Others massage their scars so that every trace may vanish. (2) “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Not that there is a condition that God only forgives as we forgive. Rather, the assumption is that, unless we have learned how to forgive another, we haven’t learned to receive forgiveness for ourselves. Francis Bacon said: “By taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy; but by passing over it, he is supreme.
Today is the last day of my preaching in this church. After today my relationship with you will no longer be pastor and parishioners. But our relationship as brothers and sisters will go on for ever. The memories I leave with you will be those of love and forgiveness. There will be no grudges and bitterness. It is because our love story has just begun. I love you all. God bless you.
Amen.
Synopsis:
In Jesus understanding there is no limit for you to forgive your brother. Christians are called to a style of life that is totally free of vengeance.
I. Vengeance is harmful to the avenger as well as to the avengee.
II. Vengeance is futile. Evil is not the true answer to evil.
III. Vengeance reduces to a denial of trust in God.
IV. Vengeance is wrong because something else is right. And that something else is forgiveness.
After today I will no longer see you. The memories I leave with you will be those of love and forgiveness. Our love story has just begun. I love you all. God bless you.
講道大綱
在耶穌的教訓裏，我們饒恕我們弟兄的次數，是要無限量的。基督徒的生活方式是完全解除報復的心理。
甲．報復是有害的。無論對報復者或被報復者，害處都是一樣。
乙．報復是沒有用的。以暴易暴不是解決問題的答案。
丙．報復只能消極地表示我們不信任上帝。
丁．報復是錯，因為另外有一個對的做法，那就是饒恕。
今天之後，我要離開你們了。我留給你們的回憶，就是愛與饒恕。我們的故事還沒有完。我愛你們。神祐你們。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty God, gracious Father, in the presence of your bounty keep us humble, in the presence of all people’s needs make us compassionate and caring.
Give us faith in our praying and love in our serving, knowing that by your power all may find a new balance in living and a new victory in adversity.
We pray for all unhappy lives, those who are bitter and resentful, feeling life has given them an unfair deal, those who are sensitive to criticism and quick to take offense, those who desire their own way, whatever the inconvenience or cost to others. May your judgment and mercy be for their healing.
We pray for those who are lonely, who are shy and self-conscious, who find it hard to make friends; those who are nervous and timid, who ever feel themselves strangers in a world they can scarcely understand. May your presence inspire confidence and ensure companionship.
We pray for those who live with bitter regrets, for loving relationships brought to ruin, for opportunities freely given and woefully abused, for the bitterness of defeat or betrayal at another’s hand, or for failure in personal integrity. May your grace give new hope to find victory in the very scene of failure.
We pray for all in illness and pain, weary of the day and fearful of the night. Grant healing, if it be your will, and at all times through faith the gift of your indwelling peace.
Bless the company of Christ’s folk, the church in every land. Make her eager in worship, fearless in proclamation of the gospel, and passionate for caring.
Bless our country. Bless our leaders. Bless our children and grant us peace within our borders. Grant us a nation to be found effective in establishing peace throughout the world.
Bless us, each one, in the communion of the saints, and keep us ever mindful of the great cloud of witness that, following in their steps, as they did in the steps of the Master, we may with them at the last receive the fulfillment promised to your people.
Now, O great God, bless us also in the life and work of this church, in our fellowship and in our Christian education, in our outreach and in our pastoral ministries. Where we fail to be attentive to the voice of your Spirit even as we profess to be focused on you in worship, forgive us. Still, touch us this day so that we will feel the energy we need to press on in faithful discipleship in the week ahead. Lift our sight higher so that we can strive toward loftier goals in the coming days. Remind us of your abiding love and grace so that we can become beacons of love and grace to coworkers, neighbors, friends, fellow students. Anoint our eyes to see your image residing deep within each person we meet. Anoint our ears to hear the cries of all who surround us, especially the needy. Anoint our hands to do gospel work. Anoint our lips to speak gospel peace so that in all ways, in all times, in all places, we may glorify you.
Now teach us to pray like the way you taught your disciples praying...
SCRIPTURE READING: Matt. 18:21-22
SERMON: Our Story Has Not Finished…
講道題目: 我們的故事還沒有完…
Peter asked Jesus the question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Peter was expecting Jesus to give him a limit so that he can terminate his relationship with his brother who sins against him. But Jesus answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus corrected Peter’s misconception. In Jesus understanding there is no limit for you to forgive your brother. In other words you can not terminate your relationship with your brother once he becomes your brother in Christ.
In another occasion Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not insist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matt. 5:38-39) Christians are called to a style of life that is totally free of vengeance. A wrong done to you does not give you license to inflict a wrong on someone else. The wisdom behind this counsel is visible from many angles.
I. Vengeance is harmful to the avenger as well as to the avengee. (1) Jesus absolutely negates hatred as inhuman, and vengeance always rises out of hatred. Vengeance produces in the human heart a disorganizing anxiety and displaces those positive and constructive dispositions where our well-being lies. (2) For the man of vengeance, every sunset is bleached of color; every meal is rendered bland and tasteless; every dream is cankered; every relationship is soured. Vengeance stops prayer, represses joy, misdirects energy, robs the middle years of their productivity, and crowns old age with a thorny wreath of bitterness.
II. Vengeance is futile. Evil is not the true answer to evil. It never was and it never will be. Vengeance simply perpetuates the cycle of sin-against-hate; hate-against-sin; Better that we should meet the one who offends us with kindness, even on pragmatic grounds. As Paul rightly said, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-22)
III. Vengeance reduces, when you think about it, to a denial of trust in God. When we take matters into our own hands and seek to execute judgment, we are in effect saying that we can’t trust God to do this for us.
IV. Vengeance is wrong because something else is right. And that something else is forgiveness. (1) Some people keep picking at their scar tissue so that the wounds will stay. Others massage their scars so that every trace may vanish. (2) “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Not that there is a condition that God only forgives as we forgive. Rather, the assumption is that, unless we have learned how to forgive another, we haven’t learned to receive forgiveness for ourselves. Francis Bacon said: “By taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy; but by passing over it, he is supreme.
Today is the last day of my preaching in this church. After today my relationship with you will no longer be pastor and parishioners. But our relationship as brothers and sisters will go on for ever. The memories I leave with you will be those of love and forgiveness. There will be no grudges and bitterness. It is because our love story has just begun. I love you all. God bless you.
Amen.
Synopsis:
In Jesus understanding there is no limit for you to forgive your brother. Christians are called to a style of life that is totally free of vengeance.
I. Vengeance is harmful to the avenger as well as to the avengee.
II. Vengeance is futile. Evil is not the true answer to evil.
III. Vengeance reduces to a denial of trust in God.
IV. Vengeance is wrong because something else is right. And that something else is forgiveness.
After today I will no longer see you. The memories I leave with you will be those of love and forgiveness. Our love story has just begun. I love you all. God bless you.
講道大綱
在耶穌的教訓裏，我們饒恕我們弟兄的次數，是要無限量的。基督徒的生活方式是完全解除報復的心理。
甲．報復是有害的。無論對報復者或被報復者，害處都是一樣。
乙．報復是沒有用的。以暴易暴不是解決問題的答案。
丙．報復只能消極地表示我們不信任上帝。
丁．報復是錯，因為另外有一個對的做法，那就是饒恕。
今天之後，我要離開你們了。我留給你們的回憶，就是愛與饒恕。我們的故事還沒有完。我愛你們。神祐你們。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty God, gracious Father, in the presence of your bounty keep us humble, in the presence of all people’s needs make us compassionate and caring.
Give us faith in our praying and love in our serving, knowing that by your power all may find a new balance in living and a new victory in adversity.
We pray for all unhappy lives, those who are bitter and resentful, feeling life has given them an unfair deal, those who are sensitive to criticism and quick to take offense, those who desire their own way, whatever the inconvenience or cost to others. May your judgment and mercy be for their healing.
We pray for those who are lonely, who are shy and self-conscious, who find it hard to make friends; those who are nervous and timid, who ever feel themselves strangers in a world they can scarcely understand. May your presence inspire confidence and ensure companionship.
We pray for those who live with bitter regrets, for loving relationships brought to ruin, for opportunities freely given and woefully abused, for the bitterness of defeat or betrayal at another’s hand, or for failure in personal integrity. May your grace give new hope to find victory in the very scene of failure.
We pray for all in illness and pain, weary of the day and fearful of the night. Grant healing, if it be your will, and at all times through faith the gift of your indwelling peace.
Bless the company of Christ’s folk, the church in every land. Make her eager in worship, fearless in proclamation of the gospel, and passionate for caring.
Bless our country. Bless our leaders. Bless our children and grant us peace within our borders. Grant us a nation to be found effective in establishing peace throughout the world.
Bless us, each one, in the communion of the saints, and keep us ever mindful of the great cloud of witness that, following in their steps, as they did in the steps of the Master, we may with them at the last receive the fulfillment promised to your people.
Now, O great God, bless us also in the life and work of this church, in our fellowship and in our Christian education, in our outreach and in our pastoral ministries. Where we fail to be attentive to the voice of your Spirit even as we profess to be focused on you in worship, forgive us. Still, touch us this day so that we will feel the energy we need to press on in faithful discipleship in the week ahead. Lift our sight higher so that we can strive toward loftier goals in the coming days. Remind us of your abiding love and grace so that we can become beacons of love and grace to coworkers, neighbors, friends, fellow students. Anoint our eyes to see your image residing deep within each person we meet. Anoint our ears to hear the cries of all who surround us, especially the needy. Anoint our hands to do gospel work. Anoint our lips to speak gospel peace so that in all ways, in all times, in all places, we may glorify you.
Now teach us to pray like the way you taught your disciples praying...
Sermon Date: 2009/7/5
DATE: 2009/7/5 Sermon:
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 10:25-37
SERMON: The Good Samaritan is Jesus
講道題目: 好撒馬利亞人是耶穌
Introduction. (1) To speak of Jesus as a Samaritan is really a contradiction in terms. Jesus was a Jew, and the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. Yet both the Jews and the Samaritans traced their ancestry back to a common stock. Generations before, they had been one. (2) To speak of Jesus as a Samaritan is not to emphasize his genealogy. He was the only begotten Son of God. In one sense of the word, he was neither Jew nor Samaritan. He was a citizen of the universe. (3) To speak of Jesus as the Good Samaritan is to speak of him in reference to his own parable.
What did the Samaritan do?
I. He had compassion on the dying man. That is always the first step. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes. Out of compassion he wept over Jerusalem. Out of compassion he healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, restored sight to the blind. When Jesus lived in Galilee, he was the healer of men’s bodies and souls. He was the forgiver of their sins. He was the Good Samaritan; he is the Good Samaritan still.
II. The Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounds of the man by the side of the road. The oil and wine may well represent justice and righteousness, medications that still heal the world’s ills. These can turn the world right side up once again.
III. The Samaritan put the wounded man on his beast. Justice and righteousness can never completely alleviate the sufferings of humanity. Mercy must be added. Mercy is best portrayed in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Just as the Samaritan put the man on his beast, so Christ took the sins and burdens of humanity and carried them to the Cross. On that Cross divine mercy made up for the lack of justice and righteousness in the world.
IV. The Samaritan took the wounded man to an inn and took care of him. The inn is the church. We are taken care of in the Church. When Jesus has called the sin-sick people, it is to his Church that he takes them. There they find asylum. There they can be taken care of, even though the “Samaritan” (Jesus) must needs be absent for a time.
V. The Samaritan had to leave before his patient was fully recovered, but he left him in the good hands of the inn-keeper. Jesus said to his disciples in the upper room, “It is expedient for you that I go away” (John 16:7). The inn-keeper is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. And the innkeeper was just that to the unfortunate man-he comforted him and nursed him back to health. Even so the Holy Spirit works in and through the Church, continuing the work which Christ began while on earth. Today, the work of healing goes on in those people who open themselves to the indwelling of the Spirit.
VI. The Samaritan left two pennies for the innkeeper, till he should come. When Christ went away from the world, he left us Holy Baptism and the Holy Communion of his body and blood. Whenever rightly received, they minister to the healing of humanity. The Holy Communion is the seal of Christ’s perpetual presence in the Church through the Holy Spirit. These two pennies, given to the innkeeper, represented to the convalescing man the continuing presence of his benefactor. So are the Christian sacraments to us today.
VII. The Samaritan gave the money until he should come again. Here is another striking resemblance to the Communion. Paul said, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:26). Just as the Samaritan promised to return to the bruised man, so the Lord has promised to return to the world for a final healing. That healing of the world ought to be going on-yes, is going on-right now. It ought to be going on in your life and mine. Christ would be the Good Samaritan to you and me, and through us, to the world. He always works that way.
Conclusion. So we say, “May the Christ who walks on wounded feet, walks with you on the road. May the Christ who serves with wounded hands, stretch out your hands to serve. May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart, open your hearts to love. May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet. And may everyone you meet sees the face of Christ in you.
Amen.
Synopsis:
Jesus was not a Samaritan. Jesus as the Good Samaritan is to speak of him in reference to his own parable.
I. He had compassion on the dying man.
II. The oil and wine may well represent justice and righteousness, medications that still heal the world’s ills.
III. Just as the Samaritan put the man on his beast, so Christ took the sins and burdens of humanity and carried them to the Cross.
IV. The Samaritan took the wounded man to an inn and took care of him. The inn is the church.
V. The Samaritan had to leave before his patient was fully recovered, but he left him in the good hands of the inn-keeper.
VI. The Samaritan left two pennies for the innkeeper, till he should come. When Christ went away from the world, he left us Holy Baptism and the Holy Communion of his body and blood.
VII. Just as the Samaritan promised to return to the bruised man, so the Lord has promised to return to the world for a final healing.
Conclusion: Christ would be the Good Samaritan to you and me, and through us, to the world. He always works that way.
講道大綱
耶穌不是撒馬利亞人。但耶穌是他自己所講的比喻中那個好撒馬利亞人。
甲．他對那個垂死的人動了慈心。
乙．油和酒代表了公平和正義，是這世界最需要的藥方。
丙．那個撒馬利亞人扶他騎上自己的牲口，基督也是把人類的罪擔背起擺在十字架上。
丁．那個撒馬利亞人帶他到店裏去照應他。這店就是教會。
戊．那個撒馬利亞人必需離開，便把他交託店主照料。
己．那個撒馬利亞人拿出二錢銀子來，交給店主。同樣基督離開世界時，他留給我們兩個聖禮—洗禮和聖餐。表示繼續與我們同在。
庚．那個撒馬利亞人答應必會再回來幫助受傷者。同樣主答應祂必再來，給我們完全的醫治。
結論：基督就是那個好撒馬利亞人，為你和我，也透過你和我，使世界得到完全的醫治。祂的工夫，往往都是用這方法達成的。
Pastoral Prayer:
O God, our heavenly Father, renew in us the sense of your gracious presence, and let it be a constant impulse within us to peace, trustfulness, and courage on our pilgrimage. Let us hold you fast with a loving and adoring heart, and let our affections be fixed on you, so that the unbroken communion of our hearts with you may accompany us whatsoever we do, through life and in death. Teach us to pray heartily; to listen for your voice within, and never to stifle its warnings. Behold, we bring our poor hearts as a sacrifice unto you: come and fill your sanctuary, and cast out any impurities to enter there. O God you are love, let your divine Spirit flow like a river through our whole souls, and lead us in the right way till we pass by a peaceful death into the land of promise.
O Jesus Christ, lover of all, you are the Good Samaritan who have compassion on the dying man, bring healing, bring peace to our world full of pain and suffering. Christ our Lord, long ago in Galilee, many who were sick and suffering needed friends to bring them to your side. Confident of your goodness, we now bring to you those who need your healing touch. We bring before you those who are ill in body, those who suffer restless days and sleepless nights. We bring before you those who are troubled in mind, distressed by the past, or dreading the future, those who are trapped and cast down by fear. We bring before you those for whom light has been turned to darkness by the death of a loved one, the breaking of a friendship, or the fading of hope. We ask your guidance for those who are engaged in alleviating pains in the world, that they may persevere with vision and energy; help us to live like the Good Samaritan, and bring hope and salvation to the world.
We pray for people who are departing from this church. Brother David Li and Sister Auyan Yan Hong, who will be traveling back to China. We thank you for Sister Amy Deng who has found a promising job and has started working for a week now. We pray for a new pastor for this church as the old pastorate will end within this month. As we continue our worship to Word and sacrament, encounter us with your very self. Be glorified in all we do. We pray it ever and only in Jesus precious name. Amen
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 10:25-37
SERMON: The Good Samaritan is Jesus
講道題目: 好撒馬利亞人是耶穌
Introduction. (1) To speak of Jesus as a Samaritan is really a contradiction in terms. Jesus was a Jew, and the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. Yet both the Jews and the Samaritans traced their ancestry back to a common stock. Generations before, they had been one. (2) To speak of Jesus as a Samaritan is not to emphasize his genealogy. He was the only begotten Son of God. In one sense of the word, he was neither Jew nor Samaritan. He was a citizen of the universe. (3) To speak of Jesus as the Good Samaritan is to speak of him in reference to his own parable.
What did the Samaritan do?
I. He had compassion on the dying man. That is always the first step. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes. Out of compassion he wept over Jerusalem. Out of compassion he healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, restored sight to the blind. When Jesus lived in Galilee, he was the healer of men’s bodies and souls. He was the forgiver of their sins. He was the Good Samaritan; he is the Good Samaritan still.
II. The Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounds of the man by the side of the road. The oil and wine may well represent justice and righteousness, medications that still heal the world’s ills. These can turn the world right side up once again.
III. The Samaritan put the wounded man on his beast. Justice and righteousness can never completely alleviate the sufferings of humanity. Mercy must be added. Mercy is best portrayed in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Just as the Samaritan put the man on his beast, so Christ took the sins and burdens of humanity and carried them to the Cross. On that Cross divine mercy made up for the lack of justice and righteousness in the world.
IV. The Samaritan took the wounded man to an inn and took care of him. The inn is the church. We are taken care of in the Church. When Jesus has called the sin-sick people, it is to his Church that he takes them. There they find asylum. There they can be taken care of, even though the “Samaritan” (Jesus) must needs be absent for a time.
V. The Samaritan had to leave before his patient was fully recovered, but he left him in the good hands of the inn-keeper. Jesus said to his disciples in the upper room, “It is expedient for you that I go away” (John 16:7). The inn-keeper is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. And the innkeeper was just that to the unfortunate man-he comforted him and nursed him back to health. Even so the Holy Spirit works in and through the Church, continuing the work which Christ began while on earth. Today, the work of healing goes on in those people who open themselves to the indwelling of the Spirit.
VI. The Samaritan left two pennies for the innkeeper, till he should come. When Christ went away from the world, he left us Holy Baptism and the Holy Communion of his body and blood. Whenever rightly received, they minister to the healing of humanity. The Holy Communion is the seal of Christ’s perpetual presence in the Church through the Holy Spirit. These two pennies, given to the innkeeper, represented to the convalescing man the continuing presence of his benefactor. So are the Christian sacraments to us today.
VII. The Samaritan gave the money until he should come again. Here is another striking resemblance to the Communion. Paul said, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:26). Just as the Samaritan promised to return to the bruised man, so the Lord has promised to return to the world for a final healing. That healing of the world ought to be going on-yes, is going on-right now. It ought to be going on in your life and mine. Christ would be the Good Samaritan to you and me, and through us, to the world. He always works that way.
Conclusion. So we say, “May the Christ who walks on wounded feet, walks with you on the road. May the Christ who serves with wounded hands, stretch out your hands to serve. May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart, open your hearts to love. May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet. And may everyone you meet sees the face of Christ in you.
Amen.
Synopsis:
Jesus was not a Samaritan. Jesus as the Good Samaritan is to speak of him in reference to his own parable.
I. He had compassion on the dying man.
II. The oil and wine may well represent justice and righteousness, medications that still heal the world’s ills.
III. Just as the Samaritan put the man on his beast, so Christ took the sins and burdens of humanity and carried them to the Cross.
IV. The Samaritan took the wounded man to an inn and took care of him. The inn is the church.
V. The Samaritan had to leave before his patient was fully recovered, but he left him in the good hands of the inn-keeper.
VI. The Samaritan left two pennies for the innkeeper, till he should come. When Christ went away from the world, he left us Holy Baptism and the Holy Communion of his body and blood.
VII. Just as the Samaritan promised to return to the bruised man, so the Lord has promised to return to the world for a final healing.
Conclusion: Christ would be the Good Samaritan to you and me, and through us, to the world. He always works that way.
講道大綱
耶穌不是撒馬利亞人。但耶穌是他自己所講的比喻中那個好撒馬利亞人。
甲．他對那個垂死的人動了慈心。
乙．油和酒代表了公平和正義，是這世界最需要的藥方。
丙．那個撒馬利亞人扶他騎上自己的牲口，基督也是把人類的罪擔背起擺在十字架上。
丁．那個撒馬利亞人帶他到店裏去照應他。這店就是教會。
戊．那個撒馬利亞人必需離開，便把他交託店主照料。
己．那個撒馬利亞人拿出二錢銀子來，交給店主。同樣基督離開世界時，他留給我們兩個聖禮—洗禮和聖餐。表示繼續與我們同在。
庚．那個撒馬利亞人答應必會再回來幫助受傷者。同樣主答應祂必再來，給我們完全的醫治。
結論：基督就是那個好撒馬利亞人，為你和我，也透過你和我，使世界得到完全的醫治。祂的工夫，往往都是用這方法達成的。
Pastoral Prayer:
O God, our heavenly Father, renew in us the sense of your gracious presence, and let it be a constant impulse within us to peace, trustfulness, and courage on our pilgrimage. Let us hold you fast with a loving and adoring heart, and let our affections be fixed on you, so that the unbroken communion of our hearts with you may accompany us whatsoever we do, through life and in death. Teach us to pray heartily; to listen for your voice within, and never to stifle its warnings. Behold, we bring our poor hearts as a sacrifice unto you: come and fill your sanctuary, and cast out any impurities to enter there. O God you are love, let your divine Spirit flow like a river through our whole souls, and lead us in the right way till we pass by a peaceful death into the land of promise.
O Jesus Christ, lover of all, you are the Good Samaritan who have compassion on the dying man, bring healing, bring peace to our world full of pain and suffering. Christ our Lord, long ago in Galilee, many who were sick and suffering needed friends to bring them to your side. Confident of your goodness, we now bring to you those who need your healing touch. We bring before you those who are ill in body, those who suffer restless days and sleepless nights. We bring before you those who are troubled in mind, distressed by the past, or dreading the future, those who are trapped and cast down by fear. We bring before you those for whom light has been turned to darkness by the death of a loved one, the breaking of a friendship, or the fading of hope. We ask your guidance for those who are engaged in alleviating pains in the world, that they may persevere with vision and energy; help us to live like the Good Samaritan, and bring hope and salvation to the world.
We pray for people who are departing from this church. Brother David Li and Sister Auyan Yan Hong, who will be traveling back to China. We thank you for Sister Amy Deng who has found a promising job and has started working for a week now. We pray for a new pastor for this church as the old pastorate will end within this month. As we continue our worship to Word and sacrament, encounter us with your very self. Be glorified in all we do. We pray it ever and only in Jesus precious name. Amen
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/7/5
DATE: 2009/7/5
本周默想分享
有人曾經提出在好撒馬利亞人的比喻中，我們可以看到四種人生觀。（1）那個強盜相信，“你的就是我的。”（2）那個祭司奉行的哲學是，“我的就是我的，你的就是你的。”（3）那個客店主人期待的報酬是，“我的可以就是你的，只要你給我一個公道的價錢。”（4）好撒馬利亞人的看法是，“我的就是你的，並且我們可以有更多的分享。”
當我向我四周看時，我發覺有一樣東西可以令生命更深刻，更得著回響，更令我有大喜樂的。那就是把自己放在自己之外，而進入別人的自己和別人的品格之中。
我需要吃飯，對我自己來講，只是一個物質的問題。但我的鄰舍需要吃飯，這個問題，對我來講，就是一個靈性和宗教的問題了。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Someone has suggested that in the story of the good Samaritan there are four ways to look at life. (1) The robber believed, “What is yours is mine.”(2) The priest acted on the philosophy, “What is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours.”(3) The innkeeper held the prospect that “What is mine is yours for a price.”(4) The Samaritan acted on the viewpoint that “What is mine is yours and more in sharing.”
As I look around me, I seem to find that one thing which deepens life, which gives it resonance, which brings it great joy, is the putting of one’s self outside one’s self into another self or personality.
The question of bread for myself is a material question, but the question of bread for my neighbor is a spiritual and religious question.
本周默想分享
有人曾經提出在好撒馬利亞人的比喻中，我們可以看到四種人生觀。（1）那個強盜相信，“你的就是我的。”（2）那個祭司奉行的哲學是，“我的就是我的，你的就是你的。”（3）那個客店主人期待的報酬是，“我的可以就是你的，只要你給我一個公道的價錢。”（4）好撒馬利亞人的看法是，“我的就是你的，並且我們可以有更多的分享。”
當我向我四周看時，我發覺有一樣東西可以令生命更深刻，更得著回響，更令我有大喜樂的。那就是把自己放在自己之外，而進入別人的自己和別人的品格之中。
我需要吃飯，對我自己來講，只是一個物質的問題。但我的鄰舍需要吃飯，這個問題，對我來講，就是一個靈性和宗教的問題了。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Someone has suggested that in the story of the good Samaritan there are four ways to look at life. (1) The robber believed, “What is yours is mine.”(2) The priest acted on the philosophy, “What is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours.”(3) The innkeeper held the prospect that “What is mine is yours for a price.”(4) The Samaritan acted on the viewpoint that “What is mine is yours and more in sharing.”
As I look around me, I seem to find that one thing which deepens life, which gives it resonance, which brings it great joy, is the putting of one’s self outside one’s self into another self or personality.
The question of bread for myself is a material question, but the question of bread for my neighbor is a spiritual and religious question.
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/6/28
DATE: 2009/6/28
本周默想分享
朋友你是否有感到灰心失望，徬惶無告的時候？ 每當我感到凄涼失敗，孤單喪志的時候，我會用聖經的說話，得著安慰。“我的心哪，你曾對耶和華說，你是我的主，我的好處，不在你以外。”（詩16：2）
世人都願意得到好處。並且竭力追求要得到好處。但甚麼是真正的好處呢？有人以吃喝玩樂享受為好處；有人以知識，友誼，愛情為好處；有人以名利地位為好處；有人以家庭，事業，成功為好處。但這一切有時是好處，有時卻成為害處。許多人為這一切終日奔忙，思慮，煩惱，這已經先受了害處。同時有這些情慾，愛好，渴望，就沒有平安和喜樂，這又是先得了害處。也許得了所想望，所追求的東西，但又怕失去，也是害處。其實得著了，心中仍不會滿足，得著還要再得，反而感到更加饑渴，否則會感到極為空虛，所以它的結果又是害處。何況就是真覺得快樂，但想到不久世界要改變，自己壽命也不長，一切終要歸於無有，這更能引起悲傷，痛苦，失望，哪裏會有什麼好處呢？
真正的好處，必須是使內心有長久的平安喜樂，沒有失去的危險。並且能永久的享受，那轉眼就消逝的好處都不是真正的好處。神愛我們，祂不會留下好處，不給我們（詩84：11），尋求神的甚麼好處都不缺（詩4：10）。若想在神旨意之外找好處，只是捕風捉影而已，毫無所得，得著了也是損失，將要為之後悔。我們當滿足於神所指定的，別無所求，這就是我們的好處。總之我們的好處不在神以外，如保羅所說的：“我將萬事都當作有損的”（腓3：7）。
其實有神就夠了，一切福分，快樂，好處都在神里面。在祂以外的確沒有甚麼好處，也不應當在神以外想有所得。凡在神以外，與神不合的東西都是有害的，我們當以神自己為中心，以神的旨意為範圍，以神的命令為衣歸。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever felt despair and resignation? When I feel bad and sad, I turn to the Bible and seek consolation. “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.””(Psalm 16:2)
People in the world want to have good thing. They try hard to get good thing. But what is good thing? Some think eat drink and be merry are good things. Others think knowledge, friendship and love are good things. Still some others think to have fame and prestige are good things. Still some others think family, career and success are good things. Although these good things bring good feelings nevertheless they bring bad feelings and bad results. For instance people pursuit these things so eagerly they cause them anxiety and stress. This is bad thing. The desire to get these things expel peace and joy in a person’s heart. Even if you get what you desire. The fear of losing it causes you worry. Even if you can secure it, you won’t be satisfied. You want some more. The feeling of empties still exists. And that is bad thing. Even if you can get all you can get, your limited life span will remind you all is vanity. So what good can these good things bring you?
The real good thing has to be one that gives eternal peace and joy. It should be one that no one can take away from you. It should be one that you can enjoy for ever. The temporal thing can never be the good thing. “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he with holed from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11) Only those who seek the Lord will have nothing to lose in their pursuit. Outside of God all our pursuit is like catching the wind and chasing after shadows. Let us be satisfied with what God has prepared for us. All the others are trash. Like what Paul said, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”(Philippians 3:7-8)
It is sufficient to just have God. All blessings and joy are found in God. Apart from Him we can find nothing good. We should not think of things outside of God. Let us put God in the center. We live inside the bound of His good will. We take orders from Him alone.
--End—
本周默想分享
朋友你是否有感到灰心失望，徬惶無告的時候？ 每當我感到凄涼失敗，孤單喪志的時候，我會用聖經的說話，得著安慰。“我的心哪，你曾對耶和華說，你是我的主，我的好處，不在你以外。”（詩16：2）
世人都願意得到好處。並且竭力追求要得到好處。但甚麼是真正的好處呢？有人以吃喝玩樂享受為好處；有人以知識，友誼，愛情為好處；有人以名利地位為好處；有人以家庭，事業，成功為好處。但這一切有時是好處，有時卻成為害處。許多人為這一切終日奔忙，思慮，煩惱，這已經先受了害處。同時有這些情慾，愛好，渴望，就沒有平安和喜樂，這又是先得了害處。也許得了所想望，所追求的東西，但又怕失去，也是害處。其實得著了，心中仍不會滿足，得著還要再得，反而感到更加饑渴，否則會感到極為空虛，所以它的結果又是害處。何況就是真覺得快樂，但想到不久世界要改變，自己壽命也不長，一切終要歸於無有，這更能引起悲傷，痛苦，失望，哪裏會有什麼好處呢？
真正的好處，必須是使內心有長久的平安喜樂，沒有失去的危險。並且能永久的享受，那轉眼就消逝的好處都不是真正的好處。神愛我們，祂不會留下好處，不給我們（詩84：11），尋求神的甚麼好處都不缺（詩4：10）。若想在神旨意之外找好處，只是捕風捉影而已，毫無所得，得著了也是損失，將要為之後悔。我們當滿足於神所指定的，別無所求，這就是我們的好處。總之我們的好處不在神以外，如保羅所說的：“我將萬事都當作有損的”（腓3：7）。
其實有神就夠了，一切福分，快樂，好處都在神里面。在祂以外的確沒有甚麼好處，也不應當在神以外想有所得。凡在神以外，與神不合的東西都是有害的，我們當以神自己為中心，以神的旨意為範圍，以神的命令為衣歸。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever felt despair and resignation? When I feel bad and sad, I turn to the Bible and seek consolation. “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.””(Psalm 16:2)
People in the world want to have good thing. They try hard to get good thing. But what is good thing? Some think eat drink and be merry are good things. Others think knowledge, friendship and love are good things. Still some others think to have fame and prestige are good things. Still some others think family, career and success are good things. Although these good things bring good feelings nevertheless they bring bad feelings and bad results. For instance people pursuit these things so eagerly they cause them anxiety and stress. This is bad thing. The desire to get these things expel peace and joy in a person’s heart. Even if you get what you desire. The fear of losing it causes you worry. Even if you can secure it, you won’t be satisfied. You want some more. The feeling of empties still exists. And that is bad thing. Even if you can get all you can get, your limited life span will remind you all is vanity. So what good can these good things bring you?
The real good thing has to be one that gives eternal peace and joy. It should be one that no one can take away from you. It should be one that you can enjoy for ever. The temporal thing can never be the good thing. “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he with holed from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11) Only those who seek the Lord will have nothing to lose in their pursuit. Outside of God all our pursuit is like catching the wind and chasing after shadows. Let us be satisfied with what God has prepared for us. All the others are trash. Like what Paul said, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”(Philippians 3:7-8)
It is sufficient to just have God. All blessings and joy are found in God. Apart from Him we can find nothing good. We should not think of things outside of God. Let us put God in the center. We live inside the bound of His good will. We take orders from Him alone.
--End—
Friday, June 19, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/6/21
DATE: 2009/6/21
本周默想分享
在父親節的今天，我們不但要紀念父親，也要尊敬父神。正如瑪拉基書1章6節說：“兒子尊敬父親，僕人敬畏主人，我既為父親，尊敬我的在哪里呢？我既為主人，敬畏我的在哪里呢？” 人間的關係， 和世界上的事物，能說明與神的關係，和靈界的事物。人世的一切如同影兒，屬靈的一切才是實體。對於信徒來說，應當更注意與神的關係和屬靈的事物。因為那是真實而永遠的，但以今生屬世的問題可以得教訓，神也常用此講明真理。
這段經文特別提到我們與神的關係，如父與子，主與僕的關係。這在聖經中說的很多，神是我們的天父，是我們的主宰，我們是祂的兒女和僕人。但事實上，許多信徒都沒有對神如同兒子對父親，僕人對主人一樣。因為沒有尊敬和敬畏祂，這使神時常不悅，甚至發怒。有的信徒對神還不如對世上的父親，和有權位的主人那麼尊敬和敬畏。對神沒有事奉，對神的話也沒有聽從，與神沒有親近，也不求討神的喜悅，這都叫神極為難過，正如以賽亞書上所說的。
“天哪，要聽，地啊，側耳以聽，我養育兒女，將他們養大，他們竟悖逆我。牛認識主人，驢認識主人的槽，以色列人卻不認識，我的民卻不留意。。。你們屢次悖逆，還要受責打嗎？”（賽1：2-5）又如耶利米書上說：“可見你離棄耶和華你的神，不存敬畏我的心，乃為惡事，為苦事”。（耶2：19）
如果我們不認識神的慈愛和恩典，真是牛驢都不如。若不尊敬，不敬畏神，不聽神的話乃是惡事，也是苦事。神今天在那裏尋找誰尊敬祂，要賜大恩典，福氣給他。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
On this Father’s Day Sunday, we honor not only our earthly father but also our heavenly father. God asks us the question, “A son honors his father and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the respect due me?” (Malachi 1:6) Human relationship is parallel to divine relationship. Earthly relationships are shadows. But divine relationship is the real thing. As Christians we pay attention to our relationship with God. It is because it is real and eternal. Nevertheless earthly relationship reminds us of our relationship with God. Like today’s passage for instance God is making an analogy to us.
Our relationship with God is analytical to that of the father and his son or that of the master to his servant. The Bible tells us many times that God is our heavenly father. He is our lord. We are his children and servants. In fact many believers do not treat God like a son to his father, or a servant to his lord. We do not give him the fear and respect. This up sets God and causes his wrath. Some believers honor their earthly fathers and their company’s bosses more than they do to God. They do not serve God; they do not hear his words. They do not come close to God. They do not seek God’s favor. This makes God very sad. Just like what the prophet Isaiah said.
“Hear O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand…Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion?”(Isaiah 1:2-5) Prophet Jeremiah also said,: “how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,”(Jeremiah 2:19)
If we do not recognize God’s mercy and grace, we are worse than ox and donkey. If we do not honor God, fear God, obey his words, we are doing evil and bitter deeds. God is searching everywhere today. He is looking for people who would respect him and fear him. When he finds them he blesses them with great gift of blessing and grace.
本周默想分享
在父親節的今天，我們不但要紀念父親，也要尊敬父神。正如瑪拉基書1章6節說：“兒子尊敬父親，僕人敬畏主人，我既為父親，尊敬我的在哪里呢？我既為主人，敬畏我的在哪里呢？” 人間的關係， 和世界上的事物，能說明與神的關係，和靈界的事物。人世的一切如同影兒，屬靈的一切才是實體。對於信徒來說，應當更注意與神的關係和屬靈的事物。因為那是真實而永遠的，但以今生屬世的問題可以得教訓，神也常用此講明真理。
這段經文特別提到我們與神的關係，如父與子，主與僕的關係。這在聖經中說的很多，神是我們的天父，是我們的主宰，我們是祂的兒女和僕人。但事實上，許多信徒都沒有對神如同兒子對父親，僕人對主人一樣。因為沒有尊敬和敬畏祂，這使神時常不悅，甚至發怒。有的信徒對神還不如對世上的父親，和有權位的主人那麼尊敬和敬畏。對神沒有事奉，對神的話也沒有聽從，與神沒有親近，也不求討神的喜悅，這都叫神極為難過，正如以賽亞書上所說的。
“天哪，要聽，地啊，側耳以聽，我養育兒女，將他們養大，他們竟悖逆我。牛認識主人，驢認識主人的槽，以色列人卻不認識，我的民卻不留意。。。你們屢次悖逆，還要受責打嗎？”（賽1：2-5）又如耶利米書上說：“可見你離棄耶和華你的神，不存敬畏我的心，乃為惡事，為苦事”。（耶2：19）
如果我們不認識神的慈愛和恩典，真是牛驢都不如。若不尊敬，不敬畏神，不聽神的話乃是惡事，也是苦事。神今天在那裏尋找誰尊敬祂，要賜大恩典，福氣給他。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
On this Father’s Day Sunday, we honor not only our earthly father but also our heavenly father. God asks us the question, “A son honors his father and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the respect due me?” (Malachi 1:6) Human relationship is parallel to divine relationship. Earthly relationships are shadows. But divine relationship is the real thing. As Christians we pay attention to our relationship with God. It is because it is real and eternal. Nevertheless earthly relationship reminds us of our relationship with God. Like today’s passage for instance God is making an analogy to us.
Our relationship with God is analytical to that of the father and his son or that of the master to his servant. The Bible tells us many times that God is our heavenly father. He is our lord. We are his children and servants. In fact many believers do not treat God like a son to his father, or a servant to his lord. We do not give him the fear and respect. This up sets God and causes his wrath. Some believers honor their earthly fathers and their company’s bosses more than they do to God. They do not serve God; they do not hear his words. They do not come close to God. They do not seek God’s favor. This makes God very sad. Just like what the prophet Isaiah said.
“Hear O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand…Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion?”(Isaiah 1:2-5) Prophet Jeremiah also said,: “how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,”(Jeremiah 2:19)
If we do not recognize God’s mercy and grace, we are worse than ox and donkey. If we do not honor God, fear God, obey his words, we are doing evil and bitter deeds. God is searching everywhere today. He is looking for people who would respect him and fear him. When he finds them he blesses them with great gift of blessing and grace.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/6/14
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever thought of the characteristics of a Christian? Now that we are Christians, is there any distinction that makes us different from others in this world? Paul tells us a Christian is one who lives only for Christ. “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.”(Romans 14:8) The basic characteristic of a Christian is that he/she confesses Jesus Christ as Lord. We are saved by the Lord. We belong to him. We are no longer that old, self possessed person who belongs to himself and lives to himself only. We no longer use the Lord to meet our own ends, and to satisfy our own demands. For not letting Jesus be Lord is wrong. Our direction in life is wrong. This is because our past life has been crucified and we cannot live in the past any more.
The Lord’s salvation is to free us from the bondage of sin. In fact it is to rid us from the old person which is the old Adam. For that life was rotten corrupted and defiled. It was adversary to God. It was inconsistent to people. Only through dying together with the Lord on the cross we can find a new way out. This is the only route to righteous living before the pleasing sight of God.
If any one should believe in Christ let him live no longer for himself but live a life holy and acceptable to the Lord. Otherwise we can not call ourselves Christians. And our lives will lead to the wrong direction. It will give no meaning or value. All it can do is nothing but offending and showing unworthiness before God. But living for the Lord gives us peace and strength. We can bear witness to men and give glory to God.
Men are used to live for themselves only. Christians have to learn to live for the Lord. Our life belongs to him. He died for us. He rose from the dead for us so that we can live for him. It is only fair and right that we live a life that belongs to him. As Paul said, “For Christ’s love compels us,” (II Corinthians 5:14) And he admonish us, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (I Corinthians 6:20)
--End—
Have you ever thought of the characteristics of a Christian? Now that we are Christians, is there any distinction that makes us different from others in this world? Paul tells us a Christian is one who lives only for Christ. “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.”(Romans 14:8) The basic characteristic of a Christian is that he/she confesses Jesus Christ as Lord. We are saved by the Lord. We belong to him. We are no longer that old, self possessed person who belongs to himself and lives to himself only. We no longer use the Lord to meet our own ends, and to satisfy our own demands. For not letting Jesus be Lord is wrong. Our direction in life is wrong. This is because our past life has been crucified and we cannot live in the past any more.
The Lord’s salvation is to free us from the bondage of sin. In fact it is to rid us from the old person which is the old Adam. For that life was rotten corrupted and defiled. It was adversary to God. It was inconsistent to people. Only through dying together with the Lord on the cross we can find a new way out. This is the only route to righteous living before the pleasing sight of God.
If any one should believe in Christ let him live no longer for himself but live a life holy and acceptable to the Lord. Otherwise we can not call ourselves Christians. And our lives will lead to the wrong direction. It will give no meaning or value. All it can do is nothing but offending and showing unworthiness before God. But living for the Lord gives us peace and strength. We can bear witness to men and give glory to God.
Men are used to live for themselves only. Christians have to learn to live for the Lord. Our life belongs to him. He died for us. He rose from the dead for us so that we can live for him. It is only fair and right that we live a life that belongs to him. As Paul said, “For Christ’s love compels us,” (II Corinthians 5:14) And he admonish us, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (I Corinthians 6:20)
--End—
Sermon Date: 2009/6/14
DATE: 2009/6/14
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 16:24-28
SERMON: What are the characteristics of a Christian?
講道題目: 甚麼是基督徒的特質
How do you spot a Christian in a crowd? What makes a Christian different from any other person in his behavior? If you were to make a list of things which are distinctive of a Christian’s behavior, what would they be? (a) We would eliminate from our list the habit of going to church, saying our prayers, and making our pledge, because these things we would take for granted as the normal activity of a Christian. (b) What we would want to indicate would be the things that this kind of religious activity might be expected to produce, the attitudes and qualities that are the natural result of such religious beliefs and practices.
These are the things which to me are most noticeable in Christian behavior and things which I should most like to cultivate myself.
I. There is a quietness about a Christian that you cannot miss. (1) By quietness I do not mean necessarily that he is any less noisy than other people, although he may be. By quietness I do not mean that a Christian is necessarily any more placid by way of temperament than any other person. He may be, or he may not be. I mean rather that he is less jittery, more at peace with himself, his world, and his God, less anxious, less fretful, less fearful of the future than the rank and file of people that he lives with. (2) There are two kinds of quietness. (a) One comes from resignation. It is really more like dumbness than quietness. You see it in people who have been so badly beaten by life that there is nothing left in them. They are silent because they have neither the strength nor the will to say anything more. (b) Another comes from a confidence in God. It is a willingness to trust in resources that are beyond your own and a certainty that after you have done your best there is God who will carry forward what you have begun, supplement your inadequate efforts, and correct your mistakes. It is the sense that whiles everything depends in you, nothing depends on you. Therefore, there is a stillness about Christians that is like the stillness of water that runs deep.
II. There is an unworldliness about a Christian that is very noticeable, particularly in our society which is worldly and materialistic to the extreme. (1) The average Christian has not withdrawn from the world, and he has not renounced the world; he loves the world because God loves it and gave himself for it. A Christian enjoys the food on his table, but he doesn’t live to eat but eats to live. He makes money to live on, but he doesn’t live for the money he makes. (2) The things God has given us to make life beautiful are not to be scorned and are surely too precious to lose. Yet you realize the minute you go into a Christian’s home that he is not smothered by things he doesn’t need, and that he has left himself room to be aware of the things that other people do need. If he should lose all his possessions tomorrow, he would have lost nothing essential to himself. (3) This is the kind of freedom from the things of the world that Jesus had. I suppose that is why he makes such an enormous appeal to the world at his particular time, because he moves through life traveling so lightly and so unencumbered by the things that weigh us down.
III. A Christian is gentle, not because he is weak and not because he doesn’t care one way or the other, but because he is strong and cares so much about another’s life that he would sooner die than violate, crush, or inhibit it. (1) He believes that love can do things that nothing else can do. He has learned that you can fight your way through a crowd, but you can never fight your way into another person’s life. You can only win your way. And that is love. (2) He believes that there is something stronger than physical force to bring about the things that he wants to bring about for the people that he knows and loves. He is not the kind of person who puts on pressure, who is high-powered and quick to resort to temper, force, and violence. He is the sort of person who tries to cultivate in himself the gentleness he sees in Jesus, the strong Son of God, yet who would not lay hands on another’s life, even to save his own, inasmuch as that life too is a child of God.
IV. A Christian is the kind of person that other people like to have around. (1) He quickens them. They are more alive when he is there. He draws something out of them that they didn’t know they had. He communicates to them something of his own extraordinary vitality, and they are aware of what they call his good character. (2) He possesses real joy, and he enjoys life. A person has real joy only to the degree that he is really unselfish. If you are trying to spot a Christian and you see someone glum and grim, casting a cold damp blanket on a group of people, you know he hasn’t the joy of the Lord Jesus. I cannot imagine the tax collectors, sinners, and people on the street wanting Jesus in their company if he hadn’t quickened them because of his own joy in them and in life.
V. Two things will help you to become more like a Christian. (1) Your relationship with God does not depend on the score you make. God accepts you even if you make a score of zero. Don’t be afraid and discouraged. If your relationship with God is what it ought to be, you should be improving from year to year. (2) You cannot improve by trying harder. You can do it only when and if God comes to you, as he will come in many different ways and in ways that you least expect if you are at the time ready to receive the light and life, the power and inspiration that come from another person who crosses your path, flashes that come from a book that you read, insights that come from an experience which plows you to the depths. If you are ready to receive this coming of God to you, this inflow of life, you will improve, and you will behave more like a Christina as the years go by.
Amen
Synopsis
How do you spot a Christian in a crowd? (a) We would eliminate the habit of going to church, saying our prayers, and making our pledge, (b) What are the attitudes and qualities that are the natural result of such religious beliefs and practices.
I. There is a quietness about a Christian that you cannot miss.
II. There is an unworldliness about a Christian that is very noticeable, particularly in our society which is worldly and materialistic to the extreme.
III. A Christian is gentle, not because he is weak and not because he doesn’t care one way or the other, but because he is strong and cares so much about another’s life that he would sooner die than violate, crush, or inhibit it.
IV. A Christian is the kind of person that other people like to have around.
V. Two things will help you to become more like a Christian. (1) Your relationship with God does not depend on the score you make. God accepts you even if you make a score of zero. (2) You cannot improve by trying harder. You can do it only when and if God comes to you, as he will come in many different ways.
讲道大纲
你能在人群中把基督徒找出来吗？（1）我们不会因他去礼拜堂，祷告，奉献，便说他是基督徒。（2）我们要问他在这些宗教活动後，有甚麽态度和品质表现出来。
甲． 基督徒是安静的。
乙． 基督徒不是一个世俗的人。
丙． 基督徒是温柔的。
丁． 基督徒是人人乐意亲近的。
戊． 两件事帮助你更像基督徒：（1）你与神的关系不在乎你的表现。你的表现就算是零分神仍然接受你的。（2）你不能靠努力改变自己，当神来到你面前时，你就得到改变。
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 16:24-28
SERMON: What are the characteristics of a Christian?
講道題目: 甚麼是基督徒的特質
How do you spot a Christian in a crowd? What makes a Christian different from any other person in his behavior? If you were to make a list of things which are distinctive of a Christian’s behavior, what would they be? (a) We would eliminate from our list the habit of going to church, saying our prayers, and making our pledge, because these things we would take for granted as the normal activity of a Christian. (b) What we would want to indicate would be the things that this kind of religious activity might be expected to produce, the attitudes and qualities that are the natural result of such religious beliefs and practices.
These are the things which to me are most noticeable in Christian behavior and things which I should most like to cultivate myself.
I. There is a quietness about a Christian that you cannot miss. (1) By quietness I do not mean necessarily that he is any less noisy than other people, although he may be. By quietness I do not mean that a Christian is necessarily any more placid by way of temperament than any other person. He may be, or he may not be. I mean rather that he is less jittery, more at peace with himself, his world, and his God, less anxious, less fretful, less fearful of the future than the rank and file of people that he lives with. (2) There are two kinds of quietness. (a) One comes from resignation. It is really more like dumbness than quietness. You see it in people who have been so badly beaten by life that there is nothing left in them. They are silent because they have neither the strength nor the will to say anything more. (b) Another comes from a confidence in God. It is a willingness to trust in resources that are beyond your own and a certainty that after you have done your best there is God who will carry forward what you have begun, supplement your inadequate efforts, and correct your mistakes. It is the sense that whiles everything depends in you, nothing depends on you. Therefore, there is a stillness about Christians that is like the stillness of water that runs deep.
II. There is an unworldliness about a Christian that is very noticeable, particularly in our society which is worldly and materialistic to the extreme. (1) The average Christian has not withdrawn from the world, and he has not renounced the world; he loves the world because God loves it and gave himself for it. A Christian enjoys the food on his table, but he doesn’t live to eat but eats to live. He makes money to live on, but he doesn’t live for the money he makes. (2) The things God has given us to make life beautiful are not to be scorned and are surely too precious to lose. Yet you realize the minute you go into a Christian’s home that he is not smothered by things he doesn’t need, and that he has left himself room to be aware of the things that other people do need. If he should lose all his possessions tomorrow, he would have lost nothing essential to himself. (3) This is the kind of freedom from the things of the world that Jesus had. I suppose that is why he makes such an enormous appeal to the world at his particular time, because he moves through life traveling so lightly and so unencumbered by the things that weigh us down.
III. A Christian is gentle, not because he is weak and not because he doesn’t care one way or the other, but because he is strong and cares so much about another’s life that he would sooner die than violate, crush, or inhibit it. (1) He believes that love can do things that nothing else can do. He has learned that you can fight your way through a crowd, but you can never fight your way into another person’s life. You can only win your way. And that is love. (2) He believes that there is something stronger than physical force to bring about the things that he wants to bring about for the people that he knows and loves. He is not the kind of person who puts on pressure, who is high-powered and quick to resort to temper, force, and violence. He is the sort of person who tries to cultivate in himself the gentleness he sees in Jesus, the strong Son of God, yet who would not lay hands on another’s life, even to save his own, inasmuch as that life too is a child of God.
IV. A Christian is the kind of person that other people like to have around. (1) He quickens them. They are more alive when he is there. He draws something out of them that they didn’t know they had. He communicates to them something of his own extraordinary vitality, and they are aware of what they call his good character. (2) He possesses real joy, and he enjoys life. A person has real joy only to the degree that he is really unselfish. If you are trying to spot a Christian and you see someone glum and grim, casting a cold damp blanket on a group of people, you know he hasn’t the joy of the Lord Jesus. I cannot imagine the tax collectors, sinners, and people on the street wanting Jesus in their company if he hadn’t quickened them because of his own joy in them and in life.
V. Two things will help you to become more like a Christian. (1) Your relationship with God does not depend on the score you make. God accepts you even if you make a score of zero. Don’t be afraid and discouraged. If your relationship with God is what it ought to be, you should be improving from year to year. (2) You cannot improve by trying harder. You can do it only when and if God comes to you, as he will come in many different ways and in ways that you least expect if you are at the time ready to receive the light and life, the power and inspiration that come from another person who crosses your path, flashes that come from a book that you read, insights that come from an experience which plows you to the depths. If you are ready to receive this coming of God to you, this inflow of life, you will improve, and you will behave more like a Christina as the years go by.
Amen
Synopsis
How do you spot a Christian in a crowd? (a) We would eliminate the habit of going to church, saying our prayers, and making our pledge, (b) What are the attitudes and qualities that are the natural result of such religious beliefs and practices.
I. There is a quietness about a Christian that you cannot miss.
II. There is an unworldliness about a Christian that is very noticeable, particularly in our society which is worldly and materialistic to the extreme.
III. A Christian is gentle, not because he is weak and not because he doesn’t care one way or the other, but because he is strong and cares so much about another’s life that he would sooner die than violate, crush, or inhibit it.
IV. A Christian is the kind of person that other people like to have around.
V. Two things will help you to become more like a Christian. (1) Your relationship with God does not depend on the score you make. God accepts you even if you make a score of zero. (2) You cannot improve by trying harder. You can do it only when and if God comes to you, as he will come in many different ways.
讲道大纲
你能在人群中把基督徒找出来吗？（1）我们不会因他去礼拜堂，祷告，奉献，便说他是基督徒。（2）我们要问他在这些宗教活动後，有甚麽态度和品质表现出来。
甲． 基督徒是安静的。
乙． 基督徒不是一个世俗的人。
丙． 基督徒是温柔的。
丁． 基督徒是人人乐意亲近的。
戊． 两件事帮助你更像基督徒：（1）你与神的关系不在乎你的表现。你的表现就算是零分神仍然接受你的。（2）你不能靠努力改变自己，当神来到你面前时，你就得到改变。
Friday, June 5, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/6/7
DATE: 2009/6/7
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:11-16
SERMON: Speaking the Truth in Love
講道題目: 惟用愛心說誠實話
Many people claim that there is no such thing as Christian criticism. All would agree that criticism which is destructive of other person is completely inconsistent with the way of loving Christians. However Jesus himself was a critic of others. There is no way for you and me to live this life without criticizing others, but woe to us if we are not careful and loving in making our criticism to others.
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized. Paul uses the word “”edification.” (verse 12) That means “building up” other persons. Jesus never criticized any person except to lift and improve the other’s life.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice. You can never know all of the facts about another person. You have to be honest enough to get as many of the facts as you can if you truly desire to make any criticism Christian.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve. No criticism that you and I ever make can be final. Only God can make final judgments. If your criticism is really to be constructive and helpful to other persons then it ought to challenge, to inspire those persons to newer and greater heights. Other persons will live up or down to the expectations we have of them.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility. No matter what you may criticize in another person, you stand just as much in need of help as he does, even though perhaps in some other area of life. Christian criticism is never made from the level of superior to inferior. Christian criticism is always one sinner standing with another sinner on level ground beneath the cross.
It is difficult to criticize others in a Christian spirit in a constructive way, but how much more difficult it is to receive criticism in a Christian manner.
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it at all, if there is any truth, profit from it. Use it as an experience of growth.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men. It does not really matter whether you ever please another person, be he a critic or not. Paul said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
(c) As criticism comes at you realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you. There are persons who need to get rid of the hostility which is in them. God’s spirit cannot work in the life of a man who is on the defensive. So if you can become like a blotter and absorb the critic’s hostility this may be opening the door for God to work in his life.
(d) As criticism is shot your way be certain you keep a sense of humor. Humor always cushions the shock of criticism. As Jesus faced his critics, the scribes and Pharisees, he tinged his replies with humor. In reality humor is the ability to get off and objectively look at self and laugh about it.
(e) When you face the criticism which comes to you in this society, don’t be surprised. Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized. Take it in humility, but don’t take it with humiliation. Don’t let it crush you. Don’t let it agitate you. Stop to understand that Jesus has promised that all who live according to Christian convictions will be criticized. He even says that you will be happy or blessed when you are “persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
(f) Even if you can follow all of these principles in facing criticism, there is one more important principle: pray for those who criticize you. (Matt. 5:44) Never forget that two wrongs do not make a right, two hates do not make a love, but sometimes when hate is followed by your love the result can be two loves.
Synopsis
Is there such thing as Christian criticism? Yes, if we speak the truth in love.
How do we give criticism in a Christian way?
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility.
How do we receive criticism in a Christian way?
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men.
(c) Realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you.
(d) Be certain you keep a sense of humor.
(e) Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized.
(f) Pray for those who criticize you.
讲道大纲
究竟有没有基督徒的批评这回事呢？是有的！如果我们能够用爱心说诚实话。
如何以基督徒的爱心作出批评：
甲． 一定要在爱的考虑范围中作出行动。
乙． 要建立在诚实和公正的基础上。
丙． 让被批评的人有改善的门径。
丁． 要用谦卑的心互相提点。
如何以基督徒的爱心接受批评：
甲． 评估那批评是否属实。
乙． 接受批评因为你不是要讨人欢喜。
丙． 接受批评因为你或者可以帮助这个批评你的人。
丁． 最紧要保持幽默感。
戊． 耶稣保证你一定会被人批评的。
己． 为批评你的人祷告。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God, on this Trinity Sunday we praise you for the strong consolation that we find in your love. We rejoice in the thought of your aggressive grace, ever seeking us, ever giving us blessings if we open our hearts to receive them. We gather together to praise your name in this time of holy worship, to honor you as our living God and the God of the entire universe. We praise you in the name of our Savior who is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. We praise you in the name of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts as comforter, strengthener, and friend and guiding us in the way of life.
We thank you fro the privilege of being called to be your colleagues in strengthening and advancing the holy cause of the kingdom of Christ in our time. Give us guidance and direction. Give us spiritual strength that we may see what is to be done and have the power to do it. Above all give us that deathless spirit of love which was in Jesus Christ and grant that as we love you and love our Savior we may learn to love one another and make this a world after the pattern of your holy will.
We ask your special blessing upon those of our fellowship who are sick. We thank you for the privilege of turning to you for healing and help, and now we ask that your blessings may come into the lives of those who have distress, who have physical illness, who have depression of spirit or problems of mind. Be a healer and helper to all, and through the very hours of trouble you bring the shining light of an eternal hope.
We pray for parishioners who are seeking for jobs or are in between jobs. May the blessing and promise of Jehovah Jireh be assured in their steadfast faith. May they know that your faithfulness will never fail them and that you promise them you the Lord of grace will provide. We pray for Sister Hao Shu Ge, as she had taken her nursing graduation test last Thursday. We look forward to her passing the exam and commencing her professional career soon.
We pray for China as we remember it was the 20th anniversary of the June 4 movement last Thursday. May the passion and warm blood of the patriotic students continue to prevail in China. May the spirit of liberty and democracy continue to grow in China despite the crack down of the up rising 20 years ago.
We pray for world liberation from tyranny and dictatorship. Yesterday we celebrated the liberation of Europe from the Nazi occupation through the invasion of Normandy by the Allies into France. We remember the courageous soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation. May the world continue to maintain and enjoy the peace they established through the sacrifice they made.
We would remember the faith that led our fathers to settle this country, establish its laws, fight its battles, share its goods, and declare its faith. Whatever was true in their lives, whatever was honorable, whatever was just, whatever was pure, whatever was lovely, whatever was gracious, whatever worthy of praise, let us think on these things and be thankful.
In Christ name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:11-16
SERMON: Speaking the Truth in Love
講道題目: 惟用愛心說誠實話
Many people claim that there is no such thing as Christian criticism. All would agree that criticism which is destructive of other person is completely inconsistent with the way of loving Christians. However Jesus himself was a critic of others. There is no way for you and me to live this life without criticizing others, but woe to us if we are not careful and loving in making our criticism to others.
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized. Paul uses the word “”edification.” (verse 12) That means “building up” other persons. Jesus never criticized any person except to lift and improve the other’s life.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice. You can never know all of the facts about another person. You have to be honest enough to get as many of the facts as you can if you truly desire to make any criticism Christian.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve. No criticism that you and I ever make can be final. Only God can make final judgments. If your criticism is really to be constructive and helpful to other persons then it ought to challenge, to inspire those persons to newer and greater heights. Other persons will live up or down to the expectations we have of them.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility. No matter what you may criticize in another person, you stand just as much in need of help as he does, even though perhaps in some other area of life. Christian criticism is never made from the level of superior to inferior. Christian criticism is always one sinner standing with another sinner on level ground beneath the cross.
It is difficult to criticize others in a Christian spirit in a constructive way, but how much more difficult it is to receive criticism in a Christian manner.
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it at all, if there is any truth, profit from it. Use it as an experience of growth.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men. It does not really matter whether you ever please another person, be he a critic or not. Paul said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
(c) As criticism comes at you realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you. There are persons who need to get rid of the hostility which is in them. God’s spirit cannot work in the life of a man who is on the defensive. So if you can become like a blotter and absorb the critic’s hostility this may be opening the door for God to work in his life.
(d) As criticism is shot your way be certain you keep a sense of humor. Humor always cushions the shock of criticism. As Jesus faced his critics, the scribes and Pharisees, he tinged his replies with humor. In reality humor is the ability to get off and objectively look at self and laugh about it.
(e) When you face the criticism which comes to you in this society, don’t be surprised. Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized. Take it in humility, but don’t take it with humiliation. Don’t let it crush you. Don’t let it agitate you. Stop to understand that Jesus has promised that all who live according to Christian convictions will be criticized. He even says that you will be happy or blessed when you are “persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
(f) Even if you can follow all of these principles in facing criticism, there is one more important principle: pray for those who criticize you. (Matt. 5:44) Never forget that two wrongs do not make a right, two hates do not make a love, but sometimes when hate is followed by your love the result can be two loves.
Synopsis
Is there such thing as Christian criticism? Yes, if we speak the truth in love.
How do we give criticism in a Christian way?
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility.
How do we receive criticism in a Christian way?
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men.
(c) Realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you.
(d) Be certain you keep a sense of humor.
(e) Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized.
(f) Pray for those who criticize you.
讲道大纲
究竟有没有基督徒的批评这回事呢？是有的！如果我们能够用爱心说诚实话。
如何以基督徒的爱心作出批评：
甲． 一定要在爱的考虑范围中作出行动。
乙． 要建立在诚实和公正的基础上。
丙． 让被批评的人有改善的门径。
丁． 要用谦卑的心互相提点。
如何以基督徒的爱心接受批评：
甲． 评估那批评是否属实。
乙． 接受批评因为你不是要讨人欢喜。
丙． 接受批评因为你或者可以帮助这个批评你的人。
丁． 最紧要保持幽默感。
戊． 耶稣保证你一定会被人批评的。
己． 为批评你的人祷告。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God, on this Trinity Sunday we praise you for the strong consolation that we find in your love. We rejoice in the thought of your aggressive grace, ever seeking us, ever giving us blessings if we open our hearts to receive them. We gather together to praise your name in this time of holy worship, to honor you as our living God and the God of the entire universe. We praise you in the name of our Savior who is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. We praise you in the name of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts as comforter, strengthener, and friend and guiding us in the way of life.
We thank you fro the privilege of being called to be your colleagues in strengthening and advancing the holy cause of the kingdom of Christ in our time. Give us guidance and direction. Give us spiritual strength that we may see what is to be done and have the power to do it. Above all give us that deathless spirit of love which was in Jesus Christ and grant that as we love you and love our Savior we may learn to love one another and make this a world after the pattern of your holy will.
We ask your special blessing upon those of our fellowship who are sick. We thank you for the privilege of turning to you for healing and help, and now we ask that your blessings may come into the lives of those who have distress, who have physical illness, who have depression of spirit or problems of mind. Be a healer and helper to all, and through the very hours of trouble you bring the shining light of an eternal hope.
We pray for parishioners who are seeking for jobs or are in between jobs. May the blessing and promise of Jehovah Jireh be assured in their steadfast faith. May they know that your faithfulness will never fail them and that you promise them you the Lord of grace will provide. We pray for Sister Hao Shu Ge, as she had taken her nursing graduation test last Thursday. We look forward to her passing the exam and commencing her professional career soon.
We pray for China as we remember it was the 20th anniversary of the June 4 movement last Thursday. May the passion and warm blood of the patriotic students continue to prevail in China. May the spirit of liberty and democracy continue to grow in China despite the crack down of the up rising 20 years ago.
We pray for world liberation from tyranny and dictatorship. Yesterday we celebrated the liberation of Europe from the Nazi occupation through the invasion of Normandy by the Allies into France. We remember the courageous soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation. May the world continue to maintain and enjoy the peace they established through the sacrifice they made.
We would remember the faith that led our fathers to settle this country, establish its laws, fight its battles, share its goods, and declare its faith. Whatever was true in their lives, whatever was honorable, whatever was just, whatever was pure, whatever was lovely, whatever was gracious, whatever worthy of praise, let us think on these things and be thankful.
In Christ name we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/6/7
本周默想分享
亞伯拉罕經歷了信實的神。神要他把兒子獻上，他就獻上。神預備公羊為燔祭代替他的兒子。亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫耶和華以勒。意思就是耶和華必有預備。今天我們經歷不到耶和華以勒的福氣，究竟是甚麼原因呢？原來亞伯拉罕經歷神的信實，是因為他有信心。“耶和華說，你既行了這事，不留下你的兒子，就是你獨生的兒子，我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你”（創22：16-17）
在宇宙中，實在說來，只有神和我們有真實的關係，永遠的關係。因為只有神是永存的，不變的，我們的一切都是從祂而來的，也都歸於祂。此外一切萬有，包括我們所在的世界和人物，都是因為神而發生某種暫時的關係，然而人常迷糊了，以為和別的甚麼關係是真實的，重要的，不可少的。卻不知神若收取，加以解除，就甚麼也不剩下，一切都不存在了。
我們所有的，無不是神所賜的，我們應當感謝祂，祂若取去，也當讚美祂。但祂願意向我們要，叫我們有機會自動地獻給祂，表示我們對神的尊敬，順服與愛心，來討祂的喜悅。神叫亞伯拉罕獻以撒就是這樣，好像祂所要求的太大了，太利害了，其實也不過要求將祂所賜的東西還給祂，叫我們從受造之物，歸向造物之主，從虛空的轉到真實的。
結果呢？是神自己預備了代替之物，並因著我們向著祂的敬畏和愛心，將加上千萬倍的賞賜還給我們。今生看不見，將來會得著。獻上給神不會是損失，只會是更豐富的得著，且得著神自己。神曾把祂的獨生子賜給我們，沒有留下甚麼不肯給我們的，我們還有甚麼捨不得的呢？神並不是真的要叫我們失去所最需要的，不過試驗我們對祂的信心和順服罷了！我們若真愛祂勝過愛一切，難道祂不會將最寶貴，最豐富的賜給我們嗎？
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Abraham experienced his faithful God. God asked him to give his son Isaac as an offering. He did as he was asked. Then God prepared a ram for him for the offering. Abraham killed the ram instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh meaning the Lord has provided. Today we find it hard to experience the blessedness of Jehovah Jireh and we ask why. In fact it took Abraham great faith to experience that faithfulness of God. “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you…”(Genesis 22:16-17)
In the whole universe, only our relationship with God is real and eternal. Only He exists from everlasting to everlasting. He never changes. We come from Him and one day we return to Him. So everything we do and have our being comes from God. All our temporal relationships are derived from God who is the ground of being. Foolishly men took the temporal as the eternal. We thought all relationships are real, important and indispensable, without knowing that if God wants to take back, and disband what He gave, everything will come to non existence.
Everything we have comes from God. We need to thank Him. Even if He takes everything away we still need to thank Him. However His holy will is that He wants to ask us to give voluntarily to Him. So that we have a chance to show our gratitude, respect, obedience and appreciations to Him. We can make Him happy. That’s the reason why God wanted Abraham to give Isaac to Him. One might say God is asking too much from Abraham. In fact God was only asking for things He gave us in the first place. This is a test to see if we the creature are willing to return to the creator things we were given by Him. If we pass the test we are moving from temporal to eternal.
Consequently, God provided for the substitution. And because of our willingness to love and respect He gives us a hundred million times more than what we originally offered. Although we may not see it here and now, yet we will see it in the future. Giving to God will never be a loss. It will pay off in abundance. The reward is God Himself. God gave His only son to us. There is nothing more important than this that He would not give. Do we have something which is more important than this that we can not give? God does not really want us to lose what we most need. But He wants to see our faith and our obedience. If we love Him more than anything on earth, He will give us the most precious thing He has in heaven for us.
亞伯拉罕經歷了信實的神。神要他把兒子獻上，他就獻上。神預備公羊為燔祭代替他的兒子。亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫耶和華以勒。意思就是耶和華必有預備。今天我們經歷不到耶和華以勒的福氣，究竟是甚麼原因呢？原來亞伯拉罕經歷神的信實，是因為他有信心。“耶和華說，你既行了這事，不留下你的兒子，就是你獨生的兒子，我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你”（創22：16-17）
在宇宙中，實在說來，只有神和我們有真實的關係，永遠的關係。因為只有神是永存的，不變的，我們的一切都是從祂而來的，也都歸於祂。此外一切萬有，包括我們所在的世界和人物，都是因為神而發生某種暫時的關係，然而人常迷糊了，以為和別的甚麼關係是真實的，重要的，不可少的。卻不知神若收取，加以解除，就甚麼也不剩下，一切都不存在了。
我們所有的，無不是神所賜的，我們應當感謝祂，祂若取去，也當讚美祂。但祂願意向我們要，叫我們有機會自動地獻給祂，表示我們對神的尊敬，順服與愛心，來討祂的喜悅。神叫亞伯拉罕獻以撒就是這樣，好像祂所要求的太大了，太利害了，其實也不過要求將祂所賜的東西還給祂，叫我們從受造之物，歸向造物之主，從虛空的轉到真實的。
結果呢？是神自己預備了代替之物，並因著我們向著祂的敬畏和愛心，將加上千萬倍的賞賜還給我們。今生看不見，將來會得著。獻上給神不會是損失，只會是更豐富的得著，且得著神自己。神曾把祂的獨生子賜給我們，沒有留下甚麼不肯給我們的，我們還有甚麼捨不得的呢？神並不是真的要叫我們失去所最需要的，不過試驗我們對祂的信心和順服罷了！我們若真愛祂勝過愛一切，難道祂不會將最寶貴，最豐富的賜給我們嗎？
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Abraham experienced his faithful God. God asked him to give his son Isaac as an offering. He did as he was asked. Then God prepared a ram for him for the offering. Abraham killed the ram instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh meaning the Lord has provided. Today we find it hard to experience the blessedness of Jehovah Jireh and we ask why. In fact it took Abraham great faith to experience that faithfulness of God. “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you…”(Genesis 22:16-17)
In the whole universe, only our relationship with God is real and eternal. Only He exists from everlasting to everlasting. He never changes. We come from Him and one day we return to Him. So everything we do and have our being comes from God. All our temporal relationships are derived from God who is the ground of being. Foolishly men took the temporal as the eternal. We thought all relationships are real, important and indispensable, without knowing that if God wants to take back, and disband what He gave, everything will come to non existence.
Everything we have comes from God. We need to thank Him. Even if He takes everything away we still need to thank Him. However His holy will is that He wants to ask us to give voluntarily to Him. So that we have a chance to show our gratitude, respect, obedience and appreciations to Him. We can make Him happy. That’s the reason why God wanted Abraham to give Isaac to Him. One might say God is asking too much from Abraham. In fact God was only asking for things He gave us in the first place. This is a test to see if we the creature are willing to return to the creator things we were given by Him. If we pass the test we are moving from temporal to eternal.
Consequently, God provided for the substitution. And because of our willingness to love and respect He gives us a hundred million times more than what we originally offered. Although we may not see it here and now, yet we will see it in the future. Giving to God will never be a loss. It will pay off in abundance. The reward is God Himself. God gave His only son to us. There is nothing more important than this that He would not give. Do we have something which is more important than this that we can not give? God does not really want us to lose what we most need. But He wants to see our faith and our obedience. If we love Him more than anything on earth, He will give us the most precious thing He has in heaven for us.
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/5/31
我离开这礼拜堂的日子已定了。我的心满有平安。因为觉得我在这里过去的三年时光，没有一分是浪费的。我爱惜光阴，过去如是，将来也如是。正如使徒保罗说的，"要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶"（弗5：16）我们在世馀下的光阴实在有限，几乎只有一点点的时间了，或者主再来或者我们死去，都可能随时发生。所以机会并不常有，一旦错过，失去就在不能挽回，永远後悔莫及。今天的光阴就是机会，可能是最後的，每一分一秒的光阴，关系到永恒的的祸福，得失，这一分一秒该是何等的珍贵，无价可估，真是太重要了。
那末此时可能是最後一刻了，当怎样度过呢？首先当认罪，悔改，转变。那就是说，如果有甚麽心中不安的事，或明明知道是罪，是不合理的，神所不喜悦的事，对不起神，对不起人，对不起自己永生的事，都必须立刻解决，免得留到审判臺前受报。因为不彻底转变，就要过到那边被定型了，永远的前途没有了，那真是可怕的。
就在最後一刻，将自己完全献给神，放在死的祭坛上做活祭。绝对地对世界，对肉体和对自己死了，只有向神活着，让主在里面活着。这馀下的光阴，完全顺从圣灵的引导，照神的旨意而行，一刻不能放松，随己意而行。因为这可能就是最後的一刻，如果主来正遇见我们是在放纵，散漫，悠闲，那是何等的羞耻，损失，懊悔。每分钟的光阴都当爱惜，不是说要自己尽量的忙乱做事，而是要认真的活在神的面前，在祂的光中，遵行神的旨意，每一分钟都用得有永恒的价值。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
My time of leaving this church has been fixed. My heart is filled with peace, because I know I have not wasted one minute during my three years of tenure here. I treasured every moment in the past. I will treasure every moment in the future. Just like Paul said, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16) Our remaining days on this earth are limited. There is not much time left. Either the Lord returns or we die will end this time. So opportunity is not always available. Once we lose it we can not retrieve it. Today’s time is our opportunity. It could be the last opportunity. Each minute and second are so preciously related to our eternity that we can not afford to look at it lightly.
Now is the time for the last opportunity. How do we make the most of it? First let us repent. If there is something in your heart that makes you uncomfortable, acknowledge it. Could it be things that you did wrong to God, to other people or to yourself? If you don’t face it now, you will have to face it before the judgment seat in eternity. Then it will be too late because your future in eternity will be all gloom and doom. What a terrible scene to behold.
Before it is too late, let’s offer up our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. We treat our flesh, our selves and our earthly desire as dead things. We are living things only to God who let Christ to live in us. In this way we are totally submitted to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. We can not lose sight but keep on guard always knowing that this could be the very last day. What if the Lord returns and finds us off guard, lazy and not doing anything productive? What a shame! Every moment has to be lived with dignity and integrity. This is not to say that we necessarily live in fear and panic. But we live with great care before God, walk in His light, and do His will. Then every moment we live will be a moment that brings meaning to eternity.
那末此时可能是最後一刻了，当怎样度过呢？首先当认罪，悔改，转变。那就是说，如果有甚麽心中不安的事，或明明知道是罪，是不合理的，神所不喜悦的事，对不起神，对不起人，对不起自己永生的事，都必须立刻解决，免得留到审判臺前受报。因为不彻底转变，就要过到那边被定型了，永远的前途没有了，那真是可怕的。
就在最後一刻，将自己完全献给神，放在死的祭坛上做活祭。绝对地对世界，对肉体和对自己死了，只有向神活着，让主在里面活着。这馀下的光阴，完全顺从圣灵的引导，照神的旨意而行，一刻不能放松，随己意而行。因为这可能就是最後的一刻，如果主来正遇见我们是在放纵，散漫，悠闲，那是何等的羞耻，损失，懊悔。每分钟的光阴都当爱惜，不是说要自己尽量的忙乱做事，而是要认真的活在神的面前，在祂的光中，遵行神的旨意，每一分钟都用得有永恒的价值。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
My time of leaving this church has been fixed. My heart is filled with peace, because I know I have not wasted one minute during my three years of tenure here. I treasured every moment in the past. I will treasure every moment in the future. Just like Paul said, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16) Our remaining days on this earth are limited. There is not much time left. Either the Lord returns or we die will end this time. So opportunity is not always available. Once we lose it we can not retrieve it. Today’s time is our opportunity. It could be the last opportunity. Each minute and second are so preciously related to our eternity that we can not afford to look at it lightly.
Now is the time for the last opportunity. How do we make the most of it? First let us repent. If there is something in your heart that makes you uncomfortable, acknowledge it. Could it be things that you did wrong to God, to other people or to yourself? If you don’t face it now, you will have to face it before the judgment seat in eternity. Then it will be too late because your future in eternity will be all gloom and doom. What a terrible scene to behold.
Before it is too late, let’s offer up our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. We treat our flesh, our selves and our earthly desire as dead things. We are living things only to God who let Christ to live in us. In this way we are totally submitted to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. We can not lose sight but keep on guard always knowing that this could be the very last day. What if the Lord returns and finds us off guard, lazy and not doing anything productive? What a shame! Every moment has to be lived with dignity and integrity. This is not to say that we necessarily live in fear and panic. But we live with great care before God, walk in His light, and do His will. Then every moment we live will be a moment that brings meaning to eternity.
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/5/24
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever felt lonesome? Jacob had had that experience before. We are told in Genesis 32:24, “So Jacob was left alone...” Being left alone makes us feel desolate, solitude and lonely. But it is in such time we think of God. When family members, friends and love ones have left, and we find no one we can turn to for help. It is time to turn to God. When things seem void and empty, God is there. We may forget God. We leave God. But God never forgets us or leaves us. He does not change. He is always faithful and He loves us to the end.
Being left alone may not be a bad time. Often it is the critical time in our life. When no one is there with us, it makes it easier for us to hear God’s voice, see His face and feel His mighty loving power. He has good will and nice plan for us. When He first came, we might not know it was Him. We thought He was our foe. We did our best to go against Him. We did not want to surrender. We wrestled with Him and wanted to win over Him so as to have things our way. But God gave us a big blow that quieted us down and we could do nothing but to yield under His power.
At this time we can not help but beseech Him for His blessing. We won’t insist on our way any more. Without God’s mercy everything will be finished. It is in moment like this that changes a man completely. From a man with cunning and selfish deceit Jacob changed to a man who no longer rely on the strength of his flesh but totally on God’s grace and blessing. Jacob lost himself but in return he found God. Jacob became Israel. This is a turning point not only for the well being of an individual but also for the beautiful future for the whole tribe of Israel. Today we the new Israelites of the new covenant are also blessed because of this faith. Being left alone is not a bad thing. It is an opportunity for us to see God. Once we see His face, everything will not be the same again.
Have you ever felt lonesome? Jacob had had that experience before. We are told in Genesis 32:24, “So Jacob was left alone...” Being left alone makes us feel desolate, solitude and lonely. But it is in such time we think of God. When family members, friends and love ones have left, and we find no one we can turn to for help. It is time to turn to God. When things seem void and empty, God is there. We may forget God. We leave God. But God never forgets us or leaves us. He does not change. He is always faithful and He loves us to the end.
Being left alone may not be a bad time. Often it is the critical time in our life. When no one is there with us, it makes it easier for us to hear God’s voice, see His face and feel His mighty loving power. He has good will and nice plan for us. When He first came, we might not know it was Him. We thought He was our foe. We did our best to go against Him. We did not want to surrender. We wrestled with Him and wanted to win over Him so as to have things our way. But God gave us a big blow that quieted us down and we could do nothing but to yield under His power.
At this time we can not help but beseech Him for His blessing. We won’t insist on our way any more. Without God’s mercy everything will be finished. It is in moment like this that changes a man completely. From a man with cunning and selfish deceit Jacob changed to a man who no longer rely on the strength of his flesh but totally on God’s grace and blessing. Jacob lost himself but in return he found God. Jacob became Israel. This is a turning point not only for the well being of an individual but also for the beautiful future for the whole tribe of Israel. Today we the new Israelites of the new covenant are also blessed because of this faith. Being left alone is not a bad thing. It is an opportunity for us to see God. Once we see His face, everything will not be the same again.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/5/17
DATE: 2009/5/17
本周默想分享
朋友您有没有感觉孤独的时候？在圣经里雅各有过这种经历。创世记32章24节说"只剩下雅各一人"。当剩下一个人的时候，会感到孤单，凄凉，寂寞，然而也正是孤单的时候，才能使人想到神。亲人离开，朋友疏远，人都显得不可靠，抓不住的时候，才能促使寻找神。似乎甚麽都空了的时候，你的神，祂仍在那里。你可能忘记，离弃祂，祂仍不改变，依然对你忠诚，爱你到底。
只剩下一个人不是一件坏事，它常是我们生命的转折点。当没有人同在的时候，我们容易听见神的声音，看见神的面容，感到他的慈爱，伟大，能力，神在我们身上有他的美意和目的。祂初来的时候，可能我们并不认识，还以为是来与我们为敌，作对的。我们竭力争论，奋斗，不甘屈服，并想要得胜对方，使自己的意愿得成，直到神给我们极重的打击，叫我们再也站不住了，失去了依靠和力量，只有屈服投降了。
这时只有求神祝福，不能再凭自己挣扎，奋斗。神若不怜悯，甚麽都完了，也正在这时，是人有了彻底的改变。从一个善用心计，设法取巧，靠自己聪明，凭肉体奋斗的人，变为无计可施，无力可用，完全投靠神，只有求神祝福，否则就活不下去的人。失去了自己，得着了全能的主，雅各变成以色列，这一个转机不止关系他自己，也关系到整个以色列民族，以及对新约信徒也给以极大的教训。剩下一人不是一件坏事，是一个遇见主的机会，一见到主的面，甚麽都改变了。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever felt lonesome? Jacob had had that experience before. We are told in Genesis 32:24, “So Jacob was left alone...” Being left alone makes us feel desolate, solitude and lonely. But it is in such time we think of God. When family members, friends and love ones have left, and we find no one we can turn to for help. It is time to turn to God. When things seem void and empty, God is there. We may forget God. We leave God. But God never forgets us or leaves us. He does not change. He is always faithful and He loves us to the end.
Being left alone may not be a bad time. Often it is the critical time in our life. When no one is there with us, it makes it easier for us to hear God’s voice, see His face and feel His mighty loving power. He has good will and nice plan for us. When He first came, we might not know it was Him. We thought He was our foe. We did our best to go against Him. We did not want to surrender. We wrestled with Him and wanted to win over Him so as to have things our way. But God gave us a big blow that quieted us down and we could do nothing but to yield under His power.
At this time we can not help but beseech Him for His blessing. We won’t insist on our way any more. Without God’s mercy everything will be finished. It is in moment like this that changes a man completely. From a man with cunning and selfish deceit Jacob changed to a man who no longer rely on the strength of his flesh but totally on God’s grace and blessing. Jacob lost himself but in return he found God. Jacob became Israel. This is a turning point not only for the well being of an individual but also for the beautiful future for the whole tribe of Israel. Today we the new Israelites of the new covenant are also blessed because of this faith. Being left alone is not a bad thing. It is an opportunity for us to see God. Once we see His face, everything will not be the same again.
--End—
本周默想分享
朋友您有没有感觉孤独的时候？在圣经里雅各有过这种经历。创世记32章24节说"只剩下雅各一人"。当剩下一个人的时候，会感到孤单，凄凉，寂寞，然而也正是孤单的时候，才能使人想到神。亲人离开，朋友疏远，人都显得不可靠，抓不住的时候，才能促使寻找神。似乎甚麽都空了的时候，你的神，祂仍在那里。你可能忘记，离弃祂，祂仍不改变，依然对你忠诚，爱你到底。
只剩下一个人不是一件坏事，它常是我们生命的转折点。当没有人同在的时候，我们容易听见神的声音，看见神的面容，感到他的慈爱，伟大，能力，神在我们身上有他的美意和目的。祂初来的时候，可能我们并不认识，还以为是来与我们为敌，作对的。我们竭力争论，奋斗，不甘屈服，并想要得胜对方，使自己的意愿得成，直到神给我们极重的打击，叫我们再也站不住了，失去了依靠和力量，只有屈服投降了。
这时只有求神祝福，不能再凭自己挣扎，奋斗。神若不怜悯，甚麽都完了，也正在这时，是人有了彻底的改变。从一个善用心计，设法取巧，靠自己聪明，凭肉体奋斗的人，变为无计可施，无力可用，完全投靠神，只有求神祝福，否则就活不下去的人。失去了自己，得着了全能的主，雅各变成以色列，这一个转机不止关系他自己，也关系到整个以色列民族，以及对新约信徒也给以极大的教训。剩下一人不是一件坏事，是一个遇见主的机会，一见到主的面，甚麽都改变了。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Have you ever felt lonesome? Jacob had had that experience before. We are told in Genesis 32:24, “So Jacob was left alone...” Being left alone makes us feel desolate, solitude and lonely. But it is in such time we think of God. When family members, friends and love ones have left, and we find no one we can turn to for help. It is time to turn to God. When things seem void and empty, God is there. We may forget God. We leave God. But God never forgets us or leaves us. He does not change. He is always faithful and He loves us to the end.
Being left alone may not be a bad time. Often it is the critical time in our life. When no one is there with us, it makes it easier for us to hear God’s voice, see His face and feel His mighty loving power. He has good will and nice plan for us. When He first came, we might not know it was Him. We thought He was our foe. We did our best to go against Him. We did not want to surrender. We wrestled with Him and wanted to win over Him so as to have things our way. But God gave us a big blow that quieted us down and we could do nothing but to yield under His power.
At this time we can not help but beseech Him for His blessing. We won’t insist on our way any more. Without God’s mercy everything will be finished. It is in moment like this that changes a man completely. From a man with cunning and selfish deceit Jacob changed to a man who no longer rely on the strength of his flesh but totally on God’s grace and blessing. Jacob lost himself but in return he found God. Jacob became Israel. This is a turning point not only for the well being of an individual but also for the beautiful future for the whole tribe of Israel. Today we the new Israelites of the new covenant are also blessed because of this faith. Being left alone is not a bad thing. It is an opportunity for us to see God. Once we see His face, everything will not be the same again.
--End—
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/5/10
DATE: 2009/5/10
SCRIPTURE READING: John 19: 25-27
SERMON: Behold Thy Mother
講道題目: 看！你的母親
John 19:26-27 recorded one of the seven words of Jesus from the Cross. At the moment of his greatest agony, Jesus looked down and saw the sorrowful face of his mother. He was on the mission to bear the pain of the world. But he still could not look lightly on the responsibility of being a son to his mother. He knew he can not provide for his mother any more. The only thing he can do is to entrust his mom to the care of John his beloved disciple. He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Today is Mother’s Day. It is the day to remember the love of our mother. Taking Jesus example we should look at our mother with a grateful heart and look at our children with a sense of mission and service.
While the white carnation has been taken as the symbol of motherhood, the cross is also a mother’s emblem. The carnation may express her purity and beauty, but the cross speaks her unselfish love. If we look at motherhood from the standpoint of the cross we discover the nearest natural expression of its thought. The secret of the cross is Divine Love; the secret of mothers care and self-denial is Love. As mother is the center of the home, so Christ is the center of the Church.
Today’s text suggests two wonderful themes: The Cross from the standpoint of a mother, and, Motherhood from the standpoint of the cross. The mother of Jesus standing before the cross saw more than a tragedy, she saw what love would do. She beheld a reflection of her own mother-love. And Jesus looking down upon his own mother, heart-broken at his suffering, beheld more than a weeping woman. He saw an imperishable type of Divine love.
Let us look at two of the parallels of the Cross and Motherhood.
I. First parallel: “Mother” suggests personal righteousness. One of the sayings of the old Jewish rabbis was: “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” I think their thought was that God was omnipresent in mothers. Even where God is unknown, and theology little understood, the voice of the Creator is speaking through mother-love. The relation of motherhood antedates that of the atonement and asserted itself in the very midst of the catastrophe of the crucifixion. “Behold thy mother” were almost the last words of the Son of God. A boy knows motherhood before he has a thought of Deity. In the thought of childhood, next to the omniscient God, should be the almost omniscient mother. One is meant to lead up to the other. “A little lower than the angels” is a good starting point for a child’s conception of his mother’s personality. Every true mother wants her child to be good. Mothers see evils that fathers sometimes overlook. She has an instinct for moral dangers. Her influence for righteousness is stronger than all the laws, all the education, and all the preachers. Of course, there are the wicked mothers, like Jezebel of old. There are the unnatural mothers, who sell their children into sin, there are the harlots, the depraved, the drunken; but these are the perversions that shame the name of motherhood. The number of women without the true mother-instinct is small. Even sinful women have numberless influences for good. It is this innate sense of right and wrong that makes women most susceptible to the preaching of righteousness. There are more women like the godly Hannah who lent her son Samuel to the Lord from his birth. The Christian mother leads all other forces in power for personal righteousness. “All that I am or hope to be,” said Lincoln, “I owe to my angel mother.”
II. Second parallel: “Mother” suggests Christian service. The unselfish devotion of motherhood to children is the truest illustration of the Christian ideal of service. Women of to-day feminist advocates tell of what they would do in the great world. But no achievement is greater than the simple, inconspicuous ministries of motherhood. How bravely mothers have borne the heavy burdens laid upon them! How courageously they have met every deprivation and pain! They are the types of Christian ministers and martyrs. To think of mother is to recall her unselfish devotion, her limitless, unfaltering love through good and evil report, never wavering, but growing stronger and stronger with the years; and to remember that she asks nothing in return for herself; she asks of us and for us that we be good citizens of the society. If we fail she does not love us less, but more. Wonderful, constant, miraculous mother’s love! It is up to us whether we make the life of our mothers worth while. She lives in vain if after pouring out her love and life to make us achieve, we grovel in the mire of sloth and sin. Let us honor her, both by kindness toward her and by deeds done in her name.
Conclusion: Jesus wants John to behold his mother. In actual fact Mary is not John’s mother. Jesus also wants his mother to behold her son. In actual fact John is not her son. But under the cross, human relationship is readjusted. That’s why in Christ we love not only our mother but other’s mothers too. We love not only our own children but other’s children also. That’s why Jesus said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)
Amen
Synopsis
Hanging on the Cross the only thing Jesus can do is to entrust his mom to the care of John his beloved disciple. He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” While the white carnation has been taken as the symbol of mother’s love, the cross is also a mother’s emblem.
I. First parallel: “Mother” suggests personal righteousness.
II. Second parallel: “Mother” suggests Christian service.
Conclusion: Jesus wants John to behold his mother. In actual fact Mary is not John’s mother. Jesus also wants his mother to behold her son. In actual fact John is not her son. But under the cross, human relationship is readjusted. That’s why in Christ we love not only our mother but other’s mothers too. We love not only our own children but other’s children also.
讲道大纲
在十字架上耶稣只有把他的母亲托付他亲爱的门徒约翰。他对母亲说："母亲，看你的儿子。"又对那门徒说："看你的母亲。" 白色的康乃謦可以代表母亲节，十字架也可以代表母亲。
甲． 因为母亲代表了人应怎样行公义。
乙． 因为母亲代表了基督徒应怎样服侍别人。
在十字架下，人的关系是重新调整了。所以在主里，老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼。耶稣说："看哪，我的母亲，我的弟兄。凡遵行神旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姐妹和母亲了。"
Pastoral Prayer:
Father God, on this Mother’s Day Sunday we pray for the home and Christian family. O Lord, you set the solidarity in families, we lift before you the dear and sacred interests of our homes. Make our families radiant centers of joy and schools of character. Grant unto those who wed true love and loyalty; grant unto parents, for their children’s sake, the persuasiveness of good and faithful lives; grant unto youth the gladness that has no bitter fruit and integrity that need not be ashamed. We rejoice in memories of the dear and holy dead who live unto you in your house of many mansions; by their love, cherished in our hearts, may your love grow more real, and by their death may heaven become more homelike to our imagining. Make their remembered presence a hallowed shrine for our thought and their unfailing love a sacrament where we hold dear with you. O God, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, save us from betrayal of the great love wherewith our homefolk have loved us. For the nation’s sake, whose foundations are in the family, we pray for the homes of our people. From marriage vows lightly planned, carelessly plighted, and trivially broken, deliver us Lord. O Christ, you have called God Father and all men brethren, give us your spirit of goodwill and fidelity that we may build homes with the shadow of the Almighty for their covering defense; within their shelter may tranquility abide and joy abound; may Christian faith and fruitful character find there congenial soil; may the world’s vulgarity and selfishness cease at their peaceful door; and from them may the zeal of youth and the strength of maturity go forth to make at last the whole earth a home and all mankind one family.
We pray for the health and well beings of our parishioners. Lord keep us free from contracting disease especially during this time of swine flu epidemic widespread. We pray for people who are traveling and will be traveling. We thank you for Winson and Mary who are flying out of town this weekend to join with their children and enjoy the holidays. We thank you for Sun Jia Fu and Lin Li Ru who will be flying to California next week to live with their daughter and look after the grand children.
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Help us always to remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous , let our hearts be thankful; in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail.
Now teach us to pray like the way you taught your disciples…
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: John 19: 25-27
SERMON: Behold Thy Mother
講道題目: 看！你的母親
John 19:26-27 recorded one of the seven words of Jesus from the Cross. At the moment of his greatest agony, Jesus looked down and saw the sorrowful face of his mother. He was on the mission to bear the pain of the world. But he still could not look lightly on the responsibility of being a son to his mother. He knew he can not provide for his mother any more. The only thing he can do is to entrust his mom to the care of John his beloved disciple. He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Today is Mother’s Day. It is the day to remember the love of our mother. Taking Jesus example we should look at our mother with a grateful heart and look at our children with a sense of mission and service.
While the white carnation has been taken as the symbol of motherhood, the cross is also a mother’s emblem. The carnation may express her purity and beauty, but the cross speaks her unselfish love. If we look at motherhood from the standpoint of the cross we discover the nearest natural expression of its thought. The secret of the cross is Divine Love; the secret of mothers care and self-denial is Love. As mother is the center of the home, so Christ is the center of the Church.
Today’s text suggests two wonderful themes: The Cross from the standpoint of a mother, and, Motherhood from the standpoint of the cross. The mother of Jesus standing before the cross saw more than a tragedy, she saw what love would do. She beheld a reflection of her own mother-love. And Jesus looking down upon his own mother, heart-broken at his suffering, beheld more than a weeping woman. He saw an imperishable type of Divine love.
Let us look at two of the parallels of the Cross and Motherhood.
I. First parallel: “Mother” suggests personal righteousness. One of the sayings of the old Jewish rabbis was: “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” I think their thought was that God was omnipresent in mothers. Even where God is unknown, and theology little understood, the voice of the Creator is speaking through mother-love. The relation of motherhood antedates that of the atonement and asserted itself in the very midst of the catastrophe of the crucifixion. “Behold thy mother” were almost the last words of the Son of God. A boy knows motherhood before he has a thought of Deity. In the thought of childhood, next to the omniscient God, should be the almost omniscient mother. One is meant to lead up to the other. “A little lower than the angels” is a good starting point for a child’s conception of his mother’s personality. Every true mother wants her child to be good. Mothers see evils that fathers sometimes overlook. She has an instinct for moral dangers. Her influence for righteousness is stronger than all the laws, all the education, and all the preachers. Of course, there are the wicked mothers, like Jezebel of old. There are the unnatural mothers, who sell their children into sin, there are the harlots, the depraved, the drunken; but these are the perversions that shame the name of motherhood. The number of women without the true mother-instinct is small. Even sinful women have numberless influences for good. It is this innate sense of right and wrong that makes women most susceptible to the preaching of righteousness. There are more women like the godly Hannah who lent her son Samuel to the Lord from his birth. The Christian mother leads all other forces in power for personal righteousness. “All that I am or hope to be,” said Lincoln, “I owe to my angel mother.”
II. Second parallel: “Mother” suggests Christian service. The unselfish devotion of motherhood to children is the truest illustration of the Christian ideal of service. Women of to-day feminist advocates tell of what they would do in the great world. But no achievement is greater than the simple, inconspicuous ministries of motherhood. How bravely mothers have borne the heavy burdens laid upon them! How courageously they have met every deprivation and pain! They are the types of Christian ministers and martyrs. To think of mother is to recall her unselfish devotion, her limitless, unfaltering love through good and evil report, never wavering, but growing stronger and stronger with the years; and to remember that she asks nothing in return for herself; she asks of us and for us that we be good citizens of the society. If we fail she does not love us less, but more. Wonderful, constant, miraculous mother’s love! It is up to us whether we make the life of our mothers worth while. She lives in vain if after pouring out her love and life to make us achieve, we grovel in the mire of sloth and sin. Let us honor her, both by kindness toward her and by deeds done in her name.
Conclusion: Jesus wants John to behold his mother. In actual fact Mary is not John’s mother. Jesus also wants his mother to behold her son. In actual fact John is not her son. But under the cross, human relationship is readjusted. That’s why in Christ we love not only our mother but other’s mothers too. We love not only our own children but other’s children also. That’s why Jesus said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)
Amen
Synopsis
Hanging on the Cross the only thing Jesus can do is to entrust his mom to the care of John his beloved disciple. He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” While the white carnation has been taken as the symbol of mother’s love, the cross is also a mother’s emblem.
I. First parallel: “Mother” suggests personal righteousness.
II. Second parallel: “Mother” suggests Christian service.
Conclusion: Jesus wants John to behold his mother. In actual fact Mary is not John’s mother. Jesus also wants his mother to behold her son. In actual fact John is not her son. But under the cross, human relationship is readjusted. That’s why in Christ we love not only our mother but other’s mothers too. We love not only our own children but other’s children also.
讲道大纲
在十字架上耶稣只有把他的母亲托付他亲爱的门徒约翰。他对母亲说："母亲，看你的儿子。"又对那门徒说："看你的母亲。" 白色的康乃謦可以代表母亲节，十字架也可以代表母亲。
甲． 因为母亲代表了人应怎样行公义。
乙． 因为母亲代表了基督徒应怎样服侍别人。
在十字架下，人的关系是重新调整了。所以在主里，老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼。耶稣说："看哪，我的母亲，我的弟兄。凡遵行神旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姐妹和母亲了。"
Pastoral Prayer:
Father God, on this Mother’s Day Sunday we pray for the home and Christian family. O Lord, you set the solidarity in families, we lift before you the dear and sacred interests of our homes. Make our families radiant centers of joy and schools of character. Grant unto those who wed true love and loyalty; grant unto parents, for their children’s sake, the persuasiveness of good and faithful lives; grant unto youth the gladness that has no bitter fruit and integrity that need not be ashamed. We rejoice in memories of the dear and holy dead who live unto you in your house of many mansions; by their love, cherished in our hearts, may your love grow more real, and by their death may heaven become more homelike to our imagining. Make their remembered presence a hallowed shrine for our thought and their unfailing love a sacrament where we hold dear with you. O God, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, save us from betrayal of the great love wherewith our homefolk have loved us. For the nation’s sake, whose foundations are in the family, we pray for the homes of our people. From marriage vows lightly planned, carelessly plighted, and trivially broken, deliver us Lord. O Christ, you have called God Father and all men brethren, give us your spirit of goodwill and fidelity that we may build homes with the shadow of the Almighty for their covering defense; within their shelter may tranquility abide and joy abound; may Christian faith and fruitful character find there congenial soil; may the world’s vulgarity and selfishness cease at their peaceful door; and from them may the zeal of youth and the strength of maturity go forth to make at last the whole earth a home and all mankind one family.
We pray for the health and well beings of our parishioners. Lord keep us free from contracting disease especially during this time of swine flu epidemic widespread. We pray for people who are traveling and will be traveling. We thank you for Winson and Mary who are flying out of town this weekend to join with their children and enjoy the holidays. We thank you for Sun Jia Fu and Lin Li Ru who will be flying to California next week to live with their daughter and look after the grand children.
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Help us always to remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous , let our hearts be thankful; in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail.
Now teach us to pray like the way you taught your disciples…
Amen.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/5/3
DATE: 2009/5/3
SCRIPTURE READING: II Sam. 11:1-5
SERMON: Moral Competency
講道題目: 誠實無偽的品格
At the very height of his career, at the moment of success, when power and riches are in his possession, David demonstrates a moral incompetence and falls flat on his face. He was a good shepherd; he was a skilled musician; he proved himself to be a good organizer; he was a brave soldier. But when power and wealth came to him, he showed stark incompetence and irresponsibility. The severest test of character is not on the fields of struggle, work, or danger. The real test comes when men are past the stage of battle and have in their possession power and riches.
How directly this principle speaks to our present age! It has been almost three thousand years since the time of David. The progress of these years has put power and wealth into our hands. The most serious question for our time is this: Do we have moral competency sufficient to use the power and wealth at this age to the glory of God and the good of man?
How can wee achieve a moral competency for the living of our days?
I. To be morally competent one must attain a unified personality with a clear vision of what is right. -- Jesus was never confused or oppressed with a sense of uncertainty. He was never found hesitant between two opinions. But he had achieved a state of mind in which his will was identified with the will of his heavenly Father. Acquiring this state of mind cost him dearly. He was conscious of the will of God for his life involving complete loyalty to the moral right and suffering and eventual death on the Cross. There were no tensions within his soul. He was a unified personality. A person with integrity. Becoming a unified person is always costly. Few people are willing to pay the price today for such a state of mind. Before one can have a self that is morally adequate to our time, one must pass through a soul struggle that will identify the self with the will of God.
II. To be morally competent one must have an informed and disciplined mind.-- In the temptations of Jesus it is clear that he was never caught off guard. It is significant that he met each temptation with a relevant Scripture verse. The childhood and youth of Jesus had been concerned with the learning of the Old Testament. Jesus was mindful of the great truths set forth in the law and the prophets. Moreover, he had anticipated the temptations and was ready to meet them with his own moral armor and spiritual skill. Jesus could be said to be educated for life. He had studied the great moral and spiritual experiences of the past set forth in the prophets. He had disciplined and prepared himself for all that life had to offer.
III. To be morally competent one must understand that God is the source and basis of moral right.-- Modern man has been told that it is expedient to do right, that honesty is the best policy, that one must be good to be socially approved, and that one should be righteous in life for health’s sake. These are all valid reasons, but they are not adequate. The one good and sufficient reason is that this is God’s world and we are God’s people and if we are to be at home in this world and fulfill our destiny and purpose in life, we must share the righteousness of God and fulfill his expectations. Morality is not custom or conventionality or taboo. It is the rule and way of God for us. The roots of morality are set in eternal reality.
IV. Conclusion. At the moment of greatest privilege and power, David proved himself morally incompetent; but the strong Son of God stands firm in the will of the heavenly Father and counters all that evil can beat against him because he understood the moral problems of life. His mind was made up to do the will of God. He knew that his peace and the fulfillment of his life were in the will of God.
Amen
Synopsis
At the very height of his career, at the moment of success, when power and riches are in his possession, David demonstrates a moral incompetence and falls flat on his face. How can we achieve a moral competency for the living of our days?
I. To be morally competent one must attain a unified personality with a clear vision of what is right.-- Jesus was never confused or oppressed with a sense of uncertainty. He was a unified personality, a person with integrity.
II. To be morally competent one must have an informed and disciplined mind.-- The childhood and youth of Jesus had been concerned with the learning of the Old Testament. Jesus was mindful of the great truths set forth in the law and the prophets.
III. To be morally competent one must understand that God is the source and basis of moral right.-- The one good and sufficient reason to do right is that this is God’s world and we are God’s people and if we are to be at home in this world and fulfill our destiny and purpose in life, we must share the righteousness of God and fulfill his expectations.
IV. Conclusion. Jesus achieved moral competency because he understood the moral problems of life. His mind was made up to do the will of God. He knew that his peace and the fulfillment of his life were in the will of God.
讲道大纲
当大卫事业最成功的时候，他在品格修养中却是个很无耻的人。现今的时代里，我们处於富庶的境况中，我们可以怎样保持诚实无伪的品德呢？
甲． 诚实无伪的人，是个异象清析，人格完整的人。-- 耶稣常常都是一个有诚信，言行一致的人。
乙． 诚实无伪的人，是个有修养有学问的人。-- 耶稣从少就熟读圣经，明白律法和先知的道理。
丙． 诚实无伪的人，了解上帝的旨意是道德行为的源头和依据。 -- 我们有好的道德行为，唯一的原因是，因为这是上帝的世界，我们若要得生命的意义，就只有做公义的神所要求我们做的事。
丁． 结论：耶稣能做我们诚实无伪的榜样，因为他知道我们在生命上道德的失败。他心无二志。他一心以完成上帝的旨意为目标。
Pastoral Prayer:
Gracious God, the heavens declare your glory. The whole earth proclaims your praise. Yet only man—of all your creation—is capable of discordance, prone to evil, and slothful in good. Hear our prayer of confession which springs to our hearts out of the tragedy and confusion which engulf us all. Our sins are ever before us , and we do not seem to discard them as we live our days before you..
The sin of hatred and prejudice is intensified by the fact that we have different colors of skin, and is unrestrained, even though we know that you have made of one blood all the races of men to dwell upon the face of the earth as brethren. The sin of idolatry is everywhere in evidence because we think more of possessing than of giving, more of security than of challenge, and more of power than of character.
We implore your forgiveness. We seek your promise that the burden of transgression will no longer be a hindrance to our progress to the city of God. We pray that you will enliven us with prophetic vision, that the days ahead of us may reveal a new Canada to the world: one that practices what it preaches, one whose citizens are men and women of integrity, and one which citizens are proud to be Asian Canadians. Let this Asian Heritage Month of May begin a journey of openness—in our senses, heart and soul, spirit and body—so that the colors already present in our lives are lifted and celebrated. Let this month begin a continual remembrance of our troubled roots and a celebration of the liberties we enjoy.
We pray for our parishioners’ concern. Give those who are eagerly seeking jobs, good opportunity and favor from the employer who interview them. May they find good industry that appreciates their skill. We pray for people who experience death in their family. Grant them peace and hope at the bereavement of losing their departed loved ones. We pray for people who are applying for visas to the US to visit their family members. Make their process smooth and effective. We pray for people who are bothered by the epidemic H1N1 flu that began in Mexico. We ask that the spread of the virus be stopped and that people can go on with their normal life again. We pray this in Jesus name
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: II Sam. 11:1-5
SERMON: Moral Competency
講道題目: 誠實無偽的品格
At the very height of his career, at the moment of success, when power and riches are in his possession, David demonstrates a moral incompetence and falls flat on his face. He was a good shepherd; he was a skilled musician; he proved himself to be a good organizer; he was a brave soldier. But when power and wealth came to him, he showed stark incompetence and irresponsibility. The severest test of character is not on the fields of struggle, work, or danger. The real test comes when men are past the stage of battle and have in their possession power and riches.
How directly this principle speaks to our present age! It has been almost three thousand years since the time of David. The progress of these years has put power and wealth into our hands. The most serious question for our time is this: Do we have moral competency sufficient to use the power and wealth at this age to the glory of God and the good of man?
How can wee achieve a moral competency for the living of our days?
I. To be morally competent one must attain a unified personality with a clear vision of what is right. -- Jesus was never confused or oppressed with a sense of uncertainty. He was never found hesitant between two opinions. But he had achieved a state of mind in which his will was identified with the will of his heavenly Father. Acquiring this state of mind cost him dearly. He was conscious of the will of God for his life involving complete loyalty to the moral right and suffering and eventual death on the Cross. There were no tensions within his soul. He was a unified personality. A person with integrity. Becoming a unified person is always costly. Few people are willing to pay the price today for such a state of mind. Before one can have a self that is morally adequate to our time, one must pass through a soul struggle that will identify the self with the will of God.
II. To be morally competent one must have an informed and disciplined mind.-- In the temptations of Jesus it is clear that he was never caught off guard. It is significant that he met each temptation with a relevant Scripture verse. The childhood and youth of Jesus had been concerned with the learning of the Old Testament. Jesus was mindful of the great truths set forth in the law and the prophets. Moreover, he had anticipated the temptations and was ready to meet them with his own moral armor and spiritual skill. Jesus could be said to be educated for life. He had studied the great moral and spiritual experiences of the past set forth in the prophets. He had disciplined and prepared himself for all that life had to offer.
III. To be morally competent one must understand that God is the source and basis of moral right.-- Modern man has been told that it is expedient to do right, that honesty is the best policy, that one must be good to be socially approved, and that one should be righteous in life for health’s sake. These are all valid reasons, but they are not adequate. The one good and sufficient reason is that this is God’s world and we are God’s people and if we are to be at home in this world and fulfill our destiny and purpose in life, we must share the righteousness of God and fulfill his expectations. Morality is not custom or conventionality or taboo. It is the rule and way of God for us. The roots of morality are set in eternal reality.
IV. Conclusion. At the moment of greatest privilege and power, David proved himself morally incompetent; but the strong Son of God stands firm in the will of the heavenly Father and counters all that evil can beat against him because he understood the moral problems of life. His mind was made up to do the will of God. He knew that his peace and the fulfillment of his life were in the will of God.
Amen
Synopsis
At the very height of his career, at the moment of success, when power and riches are in his possession, David demonstrates a moral incompetence and falls flat on his face. How can we achieve a moral competency for the living of our days?
I. To be morally competent one must attain a unified personality with a clear vision of what is right.-- Jesus was never confused or oppressed with a sense of uncertainty. He was a unified personality, a person with integrity.
II. To be morally competent one must have an informed and disciplined mind.-- The childhood and youth of Jesus had been concerned with the learning of the Old Testament. Jesus was mindful of the great truths set forth in the law and the prophets.
III. To be morally competent one must understand that God is the source and basis of moral right.-- The one good and sufficient reason to do right is that this is God’s world and we are God’s people and if we are to be at home in this world and fulfill our destiny and purpose in life, we must share the righteousness of God and fulfill his expectations.
IV. Conclusion. Jesus achieved moral competency because he understood the moral problems of life. His mind was made up to do the will of God. He knew that his peace and the fulfillment of his life were in the will of God.
讲道大纲
当大卫事业最成功的时候，他在品格修养中却是个很无耻的人。现今的时代里，我们处於富庶的境况中，我们可以怎样保持诚实无伪的品德呢？
甲． 诚实无伪的人，是个异象清析，人格完整的人。-- 耶稣常常都是一个有诚信，言行一致的人。
乙． 诚实无伪的人，是个有修养有学问的人。-- 耶稣从少就熟读圣经，明白律法和先知的道理。
丙． 诚实无伪的人，了解上帝的旨意是道德行为的源头和依据。 -- 我们有好的道德行为，唯一的原因是，因为这是上帝的世界，我们若要得生命的意义，就只有做公义的神所要求我们做的事。
丁． 结论：耶稣能做我们诚实无伪的榜样，因为他知道我们在生命上道德的失败。他心无二志。他一心以完成上帝的旨意为目标。
Pastoral Prayer:
Gracious God, the heavens declare your glory. The whole earth proclaims your praise. Yet only man—of all your creation—is capable of discordance, prone to evil, and slothful in good. Hear our prayer of confession which springs to our hearts out of the tragedy and confusion which engulf us all. Our sins are ever before us , and we do not seem to discard them as we live our days before you..
The sin of hatred and prejudice is intensified by the fact that we have different colors of skin, and is unrestrained, even though we know that you have made of one blood all the races of men to dwell upon the face of the earth as brethren. The sin of idolatry is everywhere in evidence because we think more of possessing than of giving, more of security than of challenge, and more of power than of character.
We implore your forgiveness. We seek your promise that the burden of transgression will no longer be a hindrance to our progress to the city of God. We pray that you will enliven us with prophetic vision, that the days ahead of us may reveal a new Canada to the world: one that practices what it preaches, one whose citizens are men and women of integrity, and one which citizens are proud to be Asian Canadians. Let this Asian Heritage Month of May begin a journey of openness—in our senses, heart and soul, spirit and body—so that the colors already present in our lives are lifted and celebrated. Let this month begin a continual remembrance of our troubled roots and a celebration of the liberties we enjoy.
We pray for our parishioners’ concern. Give those who are eagerly seeking jobs, good opportunity and favor from the employer who interview them. May they find good industry that appreciates their skill. We pray for people who experience death in their family. Grant them peace and hope at the bereavement of losing their departed loved ones. We pray for people who are applying for visas to the US to visit their family members. Make their process smooth and effective. We pray for people who are bothered by the epidemic H1N1 flu that began in Mexico. We ask that the spread of the virus be stopped and that people can go on with their normal life again. We pray this in Jesus name
Amen.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
sermon 2009/4/26
DATE: 2009/4/26
SCRIPTURE READING: John 21:1-19
SERMON: The Dawn of another Day
講道題目: 新的一日又天明
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He resumed to his former occupation which was fishing again. Peter and his fisherman friends vowed to follow Jesus. Now they were back to square one before they saw the appearance of the risen Lord. Here was a boatload of men on the Sea of Galilee. They were cold. They were hungry, for they had been out all night fishing. They were unhappy because “that night they caught nothing” (v. 3). But just at daybreak they saw a figure moving about on the shore. Presently a familiar voice called out and they recognized the voice, (see vv.4-7.) Jesus presence there and his personal interest in those men put another look upon the entire situation. The presence of the Divine Spirit in this troubled, bewildered, disappointed world of ours put new meaning into it.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (v. 5)—have you caught anything? (1) He knew the hunger, the weariness, the unhappiness in that boat. The people who think that the Lord of life does not concern himself with these bodily necessities of ours had better read their Bibles again. (2) How much it means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares! How much it means to have God standing by not with scorn for our weakness but with words of friendly interest on his lips! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6.) The Lord of life stood there on the shore; he is always there. The eyes of Divine Love looked out upon the troubled sea of human life to show what daylight might bring. “The dawn of another day”—how many people are anxiously looking for it!
II. The Lord who stood there met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (v. 6). He knew where to fish and how to fish. When they drew the net to land, there was a fire kindled by his hands, with fish broiling and bread toasting on the coals. “Jesus said unto them, Come and dine” (v. 12). (1) That divine readiness to help us with our physical problems reaches a long way. But his ministry did not stop there. Man does not live by bread and fish alone. The Master knew that heart and soul have their needs. When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?”(v. 15). He would restore a satisfying relationship between himself and that fickle, impulsive man who had fallen down. The man’s whole future would turn upon his attitude at that point. (2) “Do you love?” There is no other joy like love in this world, and without it there would be no joy in the world to come. It would not be worthwhile to live if we did not love people. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (I John 4:16.) (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day. When those men had eaten the bread and fish which he gave them and had assured him of their love, they faced the future with their heads up. They felt that hence-forth their lives would be “hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). He had met their deeper needs.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus knew full well the futility of any generous impulse which does not speedily find expression in wholesome action. Impression precedes expression, but the good impulse functions properly only where it is uttered in some form of useful effort. “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” (John 13:17)—and only then. If you love me, do something about it. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock. (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” They were to use the skill and patience they had acquired in that familiar occupation for higher ends. (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them, to make disciples of the nations as he had made disciples of them, and to baptize the nations into a richer sense of the divine helpfulness and into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here was work cut out for them and laid ready to their hands. He promised them his guidance and cooperation: “Lo, I am with you always,” in that high task, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat: food, books, pictures, music, friends, the great outdoors, which feed and satisfies, strengthen and enrich the inner life. (2) Something to do: tasks worthy of our best powers, where we work out our salvation, knowing that God is working in us to accomplish his good pleasure. (3) Someone to love: worthy recipients of the best our hearts can offer, answering back in terms of affection. (4) “Now abide these three”: something to put into one’s life—faith; someway of expressing one’s life—hope; and someone to cherish within the heart—love.
Amen.
Synopsis
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He and his fisherman friends resumed to their former occupation. Then Jesus appeared to them.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (1) He knew the hunger. (2) It means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares!
II. The Lord met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (1) When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?” (2) “Do you love?” “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus said, “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock.” (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them.
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat.(2) Something to do.(3) Someone to love.
Amen
讲道大纲
耶稣被钉之後，彼得对一切都失了信心。他和他的同伴们再次出海打鱼。那时耶稣显现在他们面前。
甲． 耶稣第一句话就是亲切的问候： "小子！你们有吃的没有？" （1）他知道他们肚子饿。（2）神是关怀我们的。他离我们不远。祂知道也关心。
乙． 主满足这群失望丧志之人的需要。“你们把网撒在船的右边，就必得着” （1）让他们吃饱之後，耶稣问西门彼得：你爱我吗？（2）“神爱我们的心，我们也知道，也信.” (3) 当这七个人宣告他们肯向耶稣效忠时，新的一天已见黎明。
丙． 他派给他们工作。（1）耶稣说：你喂养我的小羊；你牧养我的群羊。。。（2）这班整夜劳苦一无所获的渔夫再一次成为得人的渔夫。（3）耶稣差派他们去传福音给万民听。
丁． 结论。主在提比哩亚海边的显现，把人生最需要的三大问题都给解决了：（1）人需要食物。（2）人需要工作。（3）人需要爱和被爱。
阿门
Pastoral Prayer:
O God your mercy is over all, we beseech you for our brothers and sisters in every place, and most especially for those who are in any way distressed.
Visit the sick with your comfort and healing power. Come to the bereaved with your peace, and increase in them the faith that love is stronger than death. Hasten with your protection to those who are sorely tempted; make them strong to resist and conquer. Draw near to all who are lonely, all who are anxious, all who are cast down and discouraged, and to those who suffer in the suffering of those they love, that they may be strengthened with all power for all endurance and patience.
Look in your might upon those who have no helper. Defend the poor, and save the children of the needy. Make haste for the relief of those who know the pains of hunger and those who are persecuted and those who are discriminated against, exploited, and oppressed. Show your compassion to every victim of injustice, and to those who inflict loss and pain upon others show the demands of your righteousness and the inexorable working of your holy laws.
Reveal unto us, we beseech you, those things in ourselves which are adding to the sum of human misery. Help us to repent of these our sins, and give us grace to consecrate ourselves to your service, that we may be used by you to help one another and to set forward the blessed kingdom.
We thank you for the family of Huo Yan and Mu Ai. You give them a beautiful and healthy baby girl last week. The arrival of their daughter Kathleen（可磬）born on April 16 at Ottawa hospital has brought joy, hope and happiness to all who love them. May this child grow up full of grace and gain favor from God and men.
We pray for the in-law’s family of brother Tom Doon, (譚耀棟)，whose daughter in law’s grand mom passed away at the age of 101 years old. We ask for peace and comfort to the bereaved family who are experiencing grief and loss.
We pray for the joint Mandarin devotional meeting which is concluding this evening. Bless the speaker Rev. Felix Liu as he delivers the message that the glory of the Lord will be revealed. May we see more and more people come forward to make commitment to Christ. And may the healing and teaching ministry he involves receive heavenly benediction from you.
Now teach us to pray as you once taught your disciples how to pray… Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: John 21:1-19
SERMON: The Dawn of another Day
講道題目: 新的一日又天明
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He resumed to his former occupation which was fishing again. Peter and his fisherman friends vowed to follow Jesus. Now they were back to square one before they saw the appearance of the risen Lord. Here was a boatload of men on the Sea of Galilee. They were cold. They were hungry, for they had been out all night fishing. They were unhappy because “that night they caught nothing” (v. 3). But just at daybreak they saw a figure moving about on the shore. Presently a familiar voice called out and they recognized the voice, (see vv.4-7.) Jesus presence there and his personal interest in those men put another look upon the entire situation. The presence of the Divine Spirit in this troubled, bewildered, disappointed world of ours put new meaning into it.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (v. 5)—have you caught anything? (1) He knew the hunger, the weariness, the unhappiness in that boat. The people who think that the Lord of life does not concern himself with these bodily necessities of ours had better read their Bibles again. (2) How much it means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares! How much it means to have God standing by not with scorn for our weakness but with words of friendly interest on his lips! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6.) The Lord of life stood there on the shore; he is always there. The eyes of Divine Love looked out upon the troubled sea of human life to show what daylight might bring. “The dawn of another day”—how many people are anxiously looking for it!
II. The Lord who stood there met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (v. 6). He knew where to fish and how to fish. When they drew the net to land, there was a fire kindled by his hands, with fish broiling and bread toasting on the coals. “Jesus said unto them, Come and dine” (v. 12). (1) That divine readiness to help us with our physical problems reaches a long way. But his ministry did not stop there. Man does not live by bread and fish alone. The Master knew that heart and soul have their needs. When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?”(v. 15). He would restore a satisfying relationship between himself and that fickle, impulsive man who had fallen down. The man’s whole future would turn upon his attitude at that point. (2) “Do you love?” There is no other joy like love in this world, and without it there would be no joy in the world to come. It would not be worthwhile to live if we did not love people. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (I John 4:16.) (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day. When those men had eaten the bread and fish which he gave them and had assured him of their love, they faced the future with their heads up. They felt that hence-forth their lives would be “hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). He had met their deeper needs.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus knew full well the futility of any generous impulse which does not speedily find expression in wholesome action. Impression precedes expression, but the good impulse functions properly only where it is uttered in some form of useful effort. “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” (John 13:17)—and only then. If you love me, do something about it. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock. (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” They were to use the skill and patience they had acquired in that familiar occupation for higher ends. (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them, to make disciples of the nations as he had made disciples of them, and to baptize the nations into a richer sense of the divine helpfulness and into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here was work cut out for them and laid ready to their hands. He promised them his guidance and cooperation: “Lo, I am with you always,” in that high task, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat: food, books, pictures, music, friends, the great outdoors, which feed and satisfies, strengthen and enrich the inner life. (2) Something to do: tasks worthy of our best powers, where we work out our salvation, knowing that God is working in us to accomplish his good pleasure. (3) Someone to love: worthy recipients of the best our hearts can offer, answering back in terms of affection. (4) “Now abide these three”: something to put into one’s life—faith; someway of expressing one’s life—hope; and someone to cherish within the heart—love.
Amen.
Synopsis
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He and his fisherman friends resumed to their former occupation. Then Jesus appeared to them.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (1) He knew the hunger. (2) It means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares!
II. The Lord met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (1) When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?” (2) “Do you love?” “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus said, “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock.” (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them.
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat.(2) Something to do.(3) Someone to love.
Amen
讲道大纲
耶稣被钉之後，彼得对一切都失了信心。他和他的同伴们再次出海打鱼。那时耶稣显现在他们面前。
甲． 耶稣第一句话就是亲切的问候： "小子！你们有吃的没有？" （1）他知道他们肚子饿。（2）神是关怀我们的。他离我们不远。祂知道也关心。
乙． 主满足这群失望丧志之人的需要。“你们把网撒在船的右边，就必得着” （1）让他们吃饱之後，耶稣问西门彼得：你爱我吗？（2）“神爱我们的心，我们也知道，也信.” (3) 当这七个人宣告他们肯向耶稣效忠时，新的一天已见黎明。
丙． 他派给他们工作。（1）耶稣说：你喂养我的小羊；你牧养我的群羊。。。（2）这班整夜劳苦一无所获的渔夫再一次成为得人的渔夫。（3）耶稣差派他们去传福音给万民听。
丁． 结论。主在提比哩亚海边的显现，把人生最需要的三大问题都给解决了：（1）人需要食物。（2）人需要工作。（3）人需要爱和被爱。
阿门
Pastoral Prayer:
O God your mercy is over all, we beseech you for our brothers and sisters in every place, and most especially for those who are in any way distressed.
Visit the sick with your comfort and healing power. Come to the bereaved with your peace, and increase in them the faith that love is stronger than death. Hasten with your protection to those who are sorely tempted; make them strong to resist and conquer. Draw near to all who are lonely, all who are anxious, all who are cast down and discouraged, and to those who suffer in the suffering of those they love, that they may be strengthened with all power for all endurance and patience.
Look in your might upon those who have no helper. Defend the poor, and save the children of the needy. Make haste for the relief of those who know the pains of hunger and those who are persecuted and those who are discriminated against, exploited, and oppressed. Show your compassion to every victim of injustice, and to those who inflict loss and pain upon others show the demands of your righteousness and the inexorable working of your holy laws.
Reveal unto us, we beseech you, those things in ourselves which are adding to the sum of human misery. Help us to repent of these our sins, and give us grace to consecrate ourselves to your service, that we may be used by you to help one another and to set forward the blessed kingdom.
We thank you for the family of Huo Yan and Mu Ai. You give them a beautiful and healthy baby girl last week. The arrival of their daughter Kathleen（可磬）born on April 16 at Ottawa hospital has brought joy, hope and happiness to all who love them. May this child grow up full of grace and gain favor from God and men.
We pray for the in-law’s family of brother Tom Doon, (譚耀棟)，whose daughter in law’s grand mom passed away at the age of 101 years old. We ask for peace and comfort to the bereaved family who are experiencing grief and loss.
We pray for the joint Mandarin devotional meeting which is concluding this evening. Bless the speaker Rev. Felix Liu as he delivers the message that the glory of the Lord will be revealed. May we see more and more people come forward to make commitment to Christ. And may the healing and teaching ministry he involves receive heavenly benediction from you.
Now teach us to pray as you once taught your disciples how to pray… Amen.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/4/19
DATE: 2009/4/19
本周默想分享
受难节过了，复活节来了。受难节那天耶稣的祷告还言犹在耳："然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。"（太26：39）复活节的今天，主旨得成，原来已经实现了。
我们走属灵道路的时候，常遇见一个难处，就是自己的意思与神的意思不同而发生干扰。当神的旨意是叫我们遭遇损失和痛苦的时候，就不容易顺服或者别有自己的欲望和喜好，而不是神的旨意所许可的，这就发生了矛盾和冲突。如果不肯放下自己的意思去遵行神的旨意，在属灵的路上就无法前进，甚至跌倒後退了。
许多信徒就是在这里发生了问题，如果神的旨意与自己的意思相合，就愿意遵行。否则就要坚持自己的意思，不肯照神的旨意行。并且要求神成就自己的意思，否则对神感到不满和不服，这实在是可怕的光景。如果神真的让我们成就了自己的意思，後果岂不是很危险。
我们应当相信，神的旨意比我们自己的意思好，比我们的目的高，对我们最有益，且有永恒的价值。自己的意思是目光短浅，只顾眼前的利益。而且神常不让我们自己的意思成就，因为那样心中必没有平安，喜乐，信心和盼望，将来的损失更不必说了。主耶稣在最艰难困苦的时候，仍然求父说，不要照他的意思，只要照父的意思。
凡愿意放下自己的意思，只求神的旨意成就，这是神最喜悦的。神绝不会将对我们无益的旨意强加在我们身上，乃是预先计划决定的，为我们拣选最好的，最高的，最美的事。我们要安息在神的旨意中，并要欢喜迎接那按神旨意临到我们身上的事。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Good Friday has gone. Easter has arrived. While Jesus words of prayer still resonate in our ears, “Yet not as I will, but as you will”, the realization that God’s will be done is already a fact before our eyes in this Easter season.
In the spiritual journey, we often come across such difficult times when our will is different from God’s will. When God’s will makes our days miserable we tend to move away from his cause and go our own ways. While we insist on our likes and desires, God’s will become a hindrance. If we let this conflict continue without giving up any of our interests, our spiritual journey can not proceed.
Many believers find themselves stuck in this problem. They go along with God’s will only when it makes them happy. If it doesn’t they go against His will. They want God to comply with their thoughts. Otherwise they feel discontent towards God. This is a dangerous undertaking. Say if God does everything according to our likes, wouldn’t the consequence be disastrous?
We need to believe that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God’s way is wiser than our ways. His plans have everlasting value. Our eye sight is narrow-minded. We often look at the temporal while God looks at the eternal. God doesn’t let our will be done because God knows we won’t get peace, joy, faith and hope if we get only what we want. While we lose life in the eternity, what good do we get even if we gain the whole world? That’s why we see Jesus Christ in his time of greatest sorrow still says the words, “Yet not as I will but as you will.”
Whoever puts down his own will for the fulfillment of God’s will will be most pleasing in God’s sight. God will not impose harmful things on our life. Everything to Him is planned. He wants the best for us. So let us rest in His will. Let us accept and enjoy whatever things in life He has prepared for us.
--End—
本周默想分享
受难节过了，复活节来了。受难节那天耶稣的祷告还言犹在耳："然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。"（太26：39）复活节的今天，主旨得成，原来已经实现了。
我们走属灵道路的时候，常遇见一个难处，就是自己的意思与神的意思不同而发生干扰。当神的旨意是叫我们遭遇损失和痛苦的时候，就不容易顺服或者别有自己的欲望和喜好，而不是神的旨意所许可的，这就发生了矛盾和冲突。如果不肯放下自己的意思去遵行神的旨意，在属灵的路上就无法前进，甚至跌倒後退了。
许多信徒就是在这里发生了问题，如果神的旨意与自己的意思相合，就愿意遵行。否则就要坚持自己的意思，不肯照神的旨意行。并且要求神成就自己的意思，否则对神感到不满和不服，这实在是可怕的光景。如果神真的让我们成就了自己的意思，後果岂不是很危险。
我们应当相信，神的旨意比我们自己的意思好，比我们的目的高，对我们最有益，且有永恒的价值。自己的意思是目光短浅，只顾眼前的利益。而且神常不让我们自己的意思成就，因为那样心中必没有平安，喜乐，信心和盼望，将来的损失更不必说了。主耶稣在最艰难困苦的时候，仍然求父说，不要照他的意思，只要照父的意思。
凡愿意放下自己的意思，只求神的旨意成就，这是神最喜悦的。神绝不会将对我们无益的旨意强加在我们身上，乃是预先计划决定的，为我们拣选最好的，最高的，最美的事。我们要安息在神的旨意中，并要欢喜迎接那按神旨意临到我们身上的事。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Good Friday has gone. Easter has arrived. While Jesus words of prayer still resonate in our ears, “Yet not as I will, but as you will”, the realization that God’s will be done is already a fact before our eyes in this Easter season.
In the spiritual journey, we often come across such difficult times when our will is different from God’s will. When God’s will makes our days miserable we tend to move away from his cause and go our own ways. While we insist on our likes and desires, God’s will become a hindrance. If we let this conflict continue without giving up any of our interests, our spiritual journey can not proceed.
Many believers find themselves stuck in this problem. They go along with God’s will only when it makes them happy. If it doesn’t they go against His will. They want God to comply with their thoughts. Otherwise they feel discontent towards God. This is a dangerous undertaking. Say if God does everything according to our likes, wouldn’t the consequence be disastrous?
We need to believe that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God’s way is wiser than our ways. His plans have everlasting value. Our eye sight is narrow-minded. We often look at the temporal while God looks at the eternal. God doesn’t let our will be done because God knows we won’t get peace, joy, faith and hope if we get only what we want. While we lose life in the eternity, what good do we get even if we gain the whole world? That’s why we see Jesus Christ in his time of greatest sorrow still says the words, “Yet not as I will but as you will.”
Whoever puts down his own will for the fulfillment of God’s will will be most pleasing in God’s sight. God will not impose harmful things on our life. Everything to Him is planned. He wants the best for us. So let us rest in His will. Let us accept and enjoy whatever things in life He has prepared for us.
--End—
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/4/12
DATE: 2009/4/12
SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:11-18
SERMON: Tears turn to joy
講道題目: 眼泪变成喜乐
The angels and Jesus asked Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She explained that she was weeping because she could not find the body of Jesus. These were tears of sorrow. But when Jesus revealed himself to her, her tears turned to tears of joy as she exclaimed, “Rabboni,” meaning “Teacher.” Her day began with tears but ended with smiles. Easter makes us shed tears of joy. As in the case of Mary, tears of sorrow are transformed into tears of joy.
I. As Mary was asked on the first Easter, “Woman, why are you weeping?” so we are asked on this Easter Sunday why are we weeping. We might say these are tears of joy.
(1) These tears of joy result from the victory Christ won over death. We cannot appreciate this victory until we realize the horror and finality of death.
(2) Death is man’s worst enemy. Death takes away the meaning of life. If death is the ultimate, life is absurd. Then, we can say with Paul, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
(3) It took God to gain the victory over death. God caught death on the Cross in the person of Christ. There was a cosmic battle between life and death. When Jesus died, the strife was over and the battle was won. The paradox of the situation was that God used Jesus’ death to defeat death. When Jesus came out of the tomb under the power of God, death instead of swallowing up everything as in the past was now itself swallowed up by the grace of God. Never was there a victory like this.
(4) Easter, therefore, is a day for the blowing of trumpets, the singing of alleluias, the crashing of cymbals, and the beating of victory drums.
(5) This victory has personal implications. It means that a Christian funeral has a note of triumph about it. Of course, the body is dead, but because of the resurrection we know the soul, spirit, or mind of the departed is alive with Christ. There is no need to feel sorry for the deceased. He is more alive than we are.
II. On this Easter day, why are we weeping tears of joy? The Christian answer is, “Because of the assurance of the truth the resurrection brings.”
(1) The resurrection assures us that Jesus is the Christ, Lord and Saviour. If there had been no resurrection, Jesus would have been just a man. Indeed, he would have been considered a martyr to a good cause, but that is all. Now we know for sure that Jesus was more than an ordinary man. True, he was all man, but he was a God-man. On Easter you are sure that this Jesus of the Cross was the very Son of God whose death was a vicarious sacrifice for the sin of the world. Because of the resurrection, we know he shares in the Godhead and is worthy of our worship, devotion, and our very lives.
(2) Easter assures us that good will ultimately overcomes all opposition. Sometimes we wonder whether good is as strong as evil. Easter assures us that life will outlast death. Truth is greater than lies. Love is stronger than hatred. The righteous will finally succeed, and the wicked will come to nothing.
III. Why are we filled with joy?
(1) The resurrection comforts us with the knowledge that we have a living Christ here and now. This was the good news for Mary Magdalene. She came to the tomb which she expected to be filled with a dead body. The empty tomb meant to her only that Jesus’ body was stolen. Then Jesus came to her and called her by name. At once she saw him alive and she rejoiced.
(2) We too can rejoice that Jesus is alive, for it means that we have a living Christ who knows our very name. You are that important, that valuable. It shows his interest and concern in you and what happens to you.
(3) We have a living Christ right now to forgive us. We need forgiveness daily. Without this forgiveness, we get farther and farther apart from Christ. Life gets tied up, and our minds and hearts get into knots of tension. Christ daily comes to us upon our invitation and forgives us and by this forgiveness brings us life and freedom to live as a person.
(4) This living Christ who came to life again on Easter comforts us by his presence. He comes to us and asks our help. Christ asks us this Easter Sunday to be his witnesses. He wants us to go to all the world and tell the good news that death has been conquered, that truth is eternal, that he is really alive. Amen.
Synopsis
Easter makes us shed tears of joy. As in the case of Mary, tears of sorrow are transformed into tears of joy.
I. As Mary was asked on the first Easter, “Woman, why are you weeping?” so we are asked on this Easter Sunday why are we weeping.
(1) These tears of joy result from the victory Christ won over death.
(2) Death is man’s worst enemy.
(3) It took God to gain the victory over death.
(4) Easter, therefore, is a day for beating of victory drums.
(5) This victory has personal implications.
II. We are weeping tears of joy because of the assurance of the truth the resurrection brings.
(1) The resurrection assures us that Jesus is the Christ, Lord and Saviour.
(2) Easter assures us that good will ultimately overcomes all opposition.
III. Why are we filled with joy?
(1) The resurrection comforts us with the knowledge that we have a living Christ here and now.
(2) We have a living Christ who knows our very name.
(3) We have a living Christ right now to forgive us.
(4) He wants us to go to the entire world and tell the good news that death has been conquered, that truth is eternal, that he is really alive.
讲道大纲
复活节叫我们流出喜乐的眼泪。正如马利亚伤心的眼泪变成喜乐的眼泪一样。
甲． 马利亚被问：妇人你为甚麽哭？今天我们也要被问：你为甚麽哭？
（1） 我们流喜乐的眼泪因为基督胜过死亡。
（2） 死亡是人的大敌。
（3） 只有神能打败它。
（4） 复活节就是击鼓庆祝胜利的日子。
（5） 这胜利对个人尤其意义深长。
乙． 我们喜极而泣因为复活真实的确据。
（1） 复活肯定耶稣是基督，是主，是我们的救主。
（2） 复活肯定好人最後必能克胜所有反对的势力。
丙． 我们为甚麽充满喜乐？
（1） 复活安慰我们，叫我们知道活着的基督时刻与我们同在。
（2） 活着的基督记得我的名字。
（3） 活着的基督今天饶恕我的罪。
（4） 祂要我们到世界宣扬好消息，死亡已被征服，真理是永远可靠的，祂是真正活着的主。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty Father, for the beauty of the earth, for the joy of living, and for all the good things which are ours, we give you hearty thanks and praise. We are glad for the springtime when all the out-of-doors is awakening to begin anew the process of growth. We rejoice in the blooming flowers, the budding trees, the singing birds, and the thousand voices that proclaim the fact that spring is in the air. But even more do we rejoice in the fact that above and beyond this manifestation of life at our feet there is within us a life that is eternal and everlasting. Father, be gracious unto us and quicken this divine life so that we may be raised up in the image and likeness of the Man of Galilee, the One who was not defeated by death but came forth from the open tomb to live forever with you.
Merciful Father, separate us from all false delusions and remove from us all vain desires so that the life of the Son of God may have full sway within our hearts. Kindle anew within us the joy of your salvation. Grant unto us the joy of finding the stone rolled away from the tomb of our dead selves. May the discarded garments of all our vain desires be left behind as mute evidence that we have been released from all that hampers and restrains.
O Lord God, grant that this life of faith may become a growing power, able to surmount all barriers, re-creating itself in the hearts of men and women of every race and every creed. In the providence of God, may all the difficulties that delay the coming of your day be removed, so that your spirit may exercise its full power over death and destruction. May the voice that was once stilled be heard again in amplified form, and may the message of salvation, declared on Calvary’s mountain, find prophets to declare it. So, may the kingdoms of this world become indeed the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We pray for our parishioners well being. We pray for May Wong’s recovery from her flu last Sunday and that her coarse voice be resumed to normal. We pray for Bruce Newman’s safe travel as he is vacationing in Florida now. We thank you Lord for Wudi’s mother who’s heart valve repairs itself naturally and does not need a heart surgery. We thank you for our life together with Xu Dunqi and Zheng Xiangfei who have spent several months worshipping with us during their stay in Ottawa last year. Next week they are flying to Vancouver to stay with their other children and grand children. We ask for your continue blessings for their future. We pray for Mu Ai’s smooth delivery this week as she is expecting her baby to be born in a few days. We thank you for the baptism of Huo Yan and David Li this morning. May their new life in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior find abundance and fulfillment in your Kingdom.
Now teach us to pray as you once taught your disciples how to pray… Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: John 20:11-18
SERMON: Tears turn to joy
講道題目: 眼泪变成喜乐
The angels and Jesus asked Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She explained that she was weeping because she could not find the body of Jesus. These were tears of sorrow. But when Jesus revealed himself to her, her tears turned to tears of joy as she exclaimed, “Rabboni,” meaning “Teacher.” Her day began with tears but ended with smiles. Easter makes us shed tears of joy. As in the case of Mary, tears of sorrow are transformed into tears of joy.
I. As Mary was asked on the first Easter, “Woman, why are you weeping?” so we are asked on this Easter Sunday why are we weeping. We might say these are tears of joy.
(1) These tears of joy result from the victory Christ won over death. We cannot appreciate this victory until we realize the horror and finality of death.
(2) Death is man’s worst enemy. Death takes away the meaning of life. If death is the ultimate, life is absurd. Then, we can say with Paul, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
(3) It took God to gain the victory over death. God caught death on the Cross in the person of Christ. There was a cosmic battle between life and death. When Jesus died, the strife was over and the battle was won. The paradox of the situation was that God used Jesus’ death to defeat death. When Jesus came out of the tomb under the power of God, death instead of swallowing up everything as in the past was now itself swallowed up by the grace of God. Never was there a victory like this.
(4) Easter, therefore, is a day for the blowing of trumpets, the singing of alleluias, the crashing of cymbals, and the beating of victory drums.
(5) This victory has personal implications. It means that a Christian funeral has a note of triumph about it. Of course, the body is dead, but because of the resurrection we know the soul, spirit, or mind of the departed is alive with Christ. There is no need to feel sorry for the deceased. He is more alive than we are.
II. On this Easter day, why are we weeping tears of joy? The Christian answer is, “Because of the assurance of the truth the resurrection brings.”
(1) The resurrection assures us that Jesus is the Christ, Lord and Saviour. If there had been no resurrection, Jesus would have been just a man. Indeed, he would have been considered a martyr to a good cause, but that is all. Now we know for sure that Jesus was more than an ordinary man. True, he was all man, but he was a God-man. On Easter you are sure that this Jesus of the Cross was the very Son of God whose death was a vicarious sacrifice for the sin of the world. Because of the resurrection, we know he shares in the Godhead and is worthy of our worship, devotion, and our very lives.
(2) Easter assures us that good will ultimately overcomes all opposition. Sometimes we wonder whether good is as strong as evil. Easter assures us that life will outlast death. Truth is greater than lies. Love is stronger than hatred. The righteous will finally succeed, and the wicked will come to nothing.
III. Why are we filled with joy?
(1) The resurrection comforts us with the knowledge that we have a living Christ here and now. This was the good news for Mary Magdalene. She came to the tomb which she expected to be filled with a dead body. The empty tomb meant to her only that Jesus’ body was stolen. Then Jesus came to her and called her by name. At once she saw him alive and she rejoiced.
(2) We too can rejoice that Jesus is alive, for it means that we have a living Christ who knows our very name. You are that important, that valuable. It shows his interest and concern in you and what happens to you.
(3) We have a living Christ right now to forgive us. We need forgiveness daily. Without this forgiveness, we get farther and farther apart from Christ. Life gets tied up, and our minds and hearts get into knots of tension. Christ daily comes to us upon our invitation and forgives us and by this forgiveness brings us life and freedom to live as a person.
(4) This living Christ who came to life again on Easter comforts us by his presence. He comes to us and asks our help. Christ asks us this Easter Sunday to be his witnesses. He wants us to go to all the world and tell the good news that death has been conquered, that truth is eternal, that he is really alive. Amen.
Synopsis
Easter makes us shed tears of joy. As in the case of Mary, tears of sorrow are transformed into tears of joy.
I. As Mary was asked on the first Easter, “Woman, why are you weeping?” so we are asked on this Easter Sunday why are we weeping.
(1) These tears of joy result from the victory Christ won over death.
(2) Death is man’s worst enemy.
(3) It took God to gain the victory over death.
(4) Easter, therefore, is a day for beating of victory drums.
(5) This victory has personal implications.
II. We are weeping tears of joy because of the assurance of the truth the resurrection brings.
(1) The resurrection assures us that Jesus is the Christ, Lord and Saviour.
(2) Easter assures us that good will ultimately overcomes all opposition.
III. Why are we filled with joy?
(1) The resurrection comforts us with the knowledge that we have a living Christ here and now.
(2) We have a living Christ who knows our very name.
(3) We have a living Christ right now to forgive us.
(4) He wants us to go to the entire world and tell the good news that death has been conquered, that truth is eternal, that he is really alive.
讲道大纲
复活节叫我们流出喜乐的眼泪。正如马利亚伤心的眼泪变成喜乐的眼泪一样。
甲． 马利亚被问：妇人你为甚麽哭？今天我们也要被问：你为甚麽哭？
（1） 我们流喜乐的眼泪因为基督胜过死亡。
（2） 死亡是人的大敌。
（3） 只有神能打败它。
（4） 复活节就是击鼓庆祝胜利的日子。
（5） 这胜利对个人尤其意义深长。
乙． 我们喜极而泣因为复活真实的确据。
（1） 复活肯定耶稣是基督，是主，是我们的救主。
（2） 复活肯定好人最後必能克胜所有反对的势力。
丙． 我们为甚麽充满喜乐？
（1） 复活安慰我们，叫我们知道活着的基督时刻与我们同在。
（2） 活着的基督记得我的名字。
（3） 活着的基督今天饶恕我的罪。
（4） 祂要我们到世界宣扬好消息，死亡已被征服，真理是永远可靠的，祂是真正活着的主。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty Father, for the beauty of the earth, for the joy of living, and for all the good things which are ours, we give you hearty thanks and praise. We are glad for the springtime when all the out-of-doors is awakening to begin anew the process of growth. We rejoice in the blooming flowers, the budding trees, the singing birds, and the thousand voices that proclaim the fact that spring is in the air. But even more do we rejoice in the fact that above and beyond this manifestation of life at our feet there is within us a life that is eternal and everlasting. Father, be gracious unto us and quicken this divine life so that we may be raised up in the image and likeness of the Man of Galilee, the One who was not defeated by death but came forth from the open tomb to live forever with you.
Merciful Father, separate us from all false delusions and remove from us all vain desires so that the life of the Son of God may have full sway within our hearts. Kindle anew within us the joy of your salvation. Grant unto us the joy of finding the stone rolled away from the tomb of our dead selves. May the discarded garments of all our vain desires be left behind as mute evidence that we have been released from all that hampers and restrains.
O Lord God, grant that this life of faith may become a growing power, able to surmount all barriers, re-creating itself in the hearts of men and women of every race and every creed. In the providence of God, may all the difficulties that delay the coming of your day be removed, so that your spirit may exercise its full power over death and destruction. May the voice that was once stilled be heard again in amplified form, and may the message of salvation, declared on Calvary’s mountain, find prophets to declare it. So, may the kingdoms of this world become indeed the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We pray for our parishioners well being. We pray for May Wong’s recovery from her flu last Sunday and that her coarse voice be resumed to normal. We pray for Bruce Newman’s safe travel as he is vacationing in Florida now. We thank you Lord for Wudi’s mother who’s heart valve repairs itself naturally and does not need a heart surgery. We thank you for our life together with Xu Dunqi and Zheng Xiangfei who have spent several months worshipping with us during their stay in Ottawa last year. Next week they are flying to Vancouver to stay with their other children and grand children. We ask for your continue blessings for their future. We pray for Mu Ai’s smooth delivery this week as she is expecting her baby to be born in a few days. We thank you for the baptism of Huo Yan and David Li this morning. May their new life in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior find abundance and fulfillment in your Kingdom.
Now teach us to pray as you once taught your disciples how to pray… Amen.
Sermon Date: 2009/4/10
DATE: 2009/4/10
Good Friday Evening Service
SERMON: Meaning of the Cross
講道題目: 十字架的意義
For a long time in Christian history there was a quest to define the meaning of the Cross.
I. So there arose the traditional theories of the atonement.
(1) There was the ransom theory (suggested by early church fathers like Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, and others), which held that the death of Jesus was a payment to Satan to obtain the release of mankind from hell, where man was sentenced for the sin of Adam.
(2) In the eleven century Anselm, in his satisfaction theory, the first systematic theological statement of the atonement, interpreted that Christ’s death met God’s requirements of punishment of man for his sins.
(3) There was also the moral influence theory (suggested by Abelard), which said that Christ’s death moves man to moral transformation, thus making him acceptable to God.
(4) A more modern view of the Cross is that Christ’s suffering reveals the suffering God experiences because of the sins of the world.
(5) Preceding all of these ideas is Paul’s declaration, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (II Cor. 5:19). Paul stressed not how or why but what God had worked through Christ, acknowledging the overwhelming place of the Cross in the work of Christ: “”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.” (Gal. 6:14)
II. We should always be seeking to find the meaning of the Cross, and we should appreciate and apply the rich insights about the Cross which our fathers in the faith have passed on to us. But the need now is not so much for the defining of the meaning of the Cross as it is for the understanding and accepting the meaning of the Cross.
(1) The Cross means that Jesus is greater than all the powers that oppose him. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Cor.1:18)
(2) The Cross made it forever clear that we are precious to Christ. God so loves us that he gave his only begotten son to us. (John 3:16)
(3) The Cross tells us the principle of sacrifice. The role of suffering is the means by which Christ manifests his dedication to save us. Thus He furthered the Kingdom of God in the world.
Amen
Synopsis
For a long time in Christian history there was a quest to define the meaning of the Cross.
I. So there arose the traditional theories of the atonement.
(1) There was the ransom theory
(2) There was the satisfaction theory
(3) There was the moral influence theory
(4) There was the suffering God theory
(5) Paul’s declaration, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” precedes all the theories.
II. But the need now is not so much for the defining of the meaning of the Cross as it is for the understanding and accepting the meaning of the Cross.
(1) The Cross means that Jesus is greater than all the powers that oppose him
(2) The Cross made it forever clear that we are precious to Christ.
(3) By his sacrifice Jesus furthered the Kingdom of God in the world.
讲道大纲
自基督教历史开始以来，人不断的寻求十字架的定义。
甲． 於是开始了古典的赎罪论
（1） 付赎金的理论
（2） 满足神要求的理论
（3） 道德感动人的理论
（4） 上帝受苦的理论
（5） 保罗说：神在基督里，使世界与祂复和。
乙． 今天我们应少谈十字架的定义，而多谈明白和接受十字架的意思。
（1） 十字架表示耶稣胜过一切对抗祂的权力。
（2） 十字架清楚的告诉我们，在神的眼中，我们非常宝贵。
（3） 藉着基督的牺牲，把天国带到人间。
Pastoral Prayer:
Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for the holy church of God throughout the world that God may guide it and gather it together so that we may worship God in peace and tranquility.
Almighty and eternal God, you have shown your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ. Guide the work of the church. Help it to persevere in faith, to proclaim your name, and to offer salvation to people everywhere.
Let us pray for our pastors and other lay ministers, for all servants of the church, and for all the people of God.
Almighty and eternal God, your Spirit guides the church and makes it holy. Strengthen and uphold our pastors and our leaders; keep them in health and safety for the good of the church, and help each of us to do faithfully the work to which you have called us.
Let us pray for those preparing for baptism, that God may make them responsive to God’s love and give them new life in Jesus Christ.
Almighty and eternal God, you continually bless the church with new members. Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for baptism. Give them a new birth as your children. Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy church.
Let us pray for those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Holy Spirit may show them the way of salvation.
Almighty and eternal God, enable those who do not acknowledge Christ to receive the truth of the gospel. Help us, your people, to grow in love for one another, to grasp more fully the mystery of your Godhead, and so to become more perfect witness of your love in the sight of all people.
Let us pray for those who do not believe in God, that they may find the God who is the author and goal of our existence.
Almighty and eternal God, you created humanity so that all might long to know you and have peace in you. Grant that, in spite of the hurtful things that stand in their way, all may recognize in the lives of Christians the tokens of your love and mercy and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God of us all.
Let us pray that the almighty and merciful God may heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and rid the world of falsehood, hunger, and disease.
Almighty and eternal God, you give strength to the weary and new courage to those who have lost heart. Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble that they may have the joy of receiving your help in their need. We ask this through Christ our Savior. Amen.
Good Friday Evening Service
SERMON: Meaning of the Cross
講道題目: 十字架的意義
For a long time in Christian history there was a quest to define the meaning of the Cross.
I. So there arose the traditional theories of the atonement.
(1) There was the ransom theory (suggested by early church fathers like Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, and others), which held that the death of Jesus was a payment to Satan to obtain the release of mankind from hell, where man was sentenced for the sin of Adam.
(2) In the eleven century Anselm, in his satisfaction theory, the first systematic theological statement of the atonement, interpreted that Christ’s death met God’s requirements of punishment of man for his sins.
(3) There was also the moral influence theory (suggested by Abelard), which said that Christ’s death moves man to moral transformation, thus making him acceptable to God.
(4) A more modern view of the Cross is that Christ’s suffering reveals the suffering God experiences because of the sins of the world.
(5) Preceding all of these ideas is Paul’s declaration, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (II Cor. 5:19). Paul stressed not how or why but what God had worked through Christ, acknowledging the overwhelming place of the Cross in the work of Christ: “”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.” (Gal. 6:14)
II. We should always be seeking to find the meaning of the Cross, and we should appreciate and apply the rich insights about the Cross which our fathers in the faith have passed on to us. But the need now is not so much for the defining of the meaning of the Cross as it is for the understanding and accepting the meaning of the Cross.
(1) The Cross means that Jesus is greater than all the powers that oppose him. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Cor.1:18)
(2) The Cross made it forever clear that we are precious to Christ. God so loves us that he gave his only begotten son to us. (John 3:16)
(3) The Cross tells us the principle of sacrifice. The role of suffering is the means by which Christ manifests his dedication to save us. Thus He furthered the Kingdom of God in the world.
Amen
Synopsis
For a long time in Christian history there was a quest to define the meaning of the Cross.
I. So there arose the traditional theories of the atonement.
(1) There was the ransom theory
(2) There was the satisfaction theory
(3) There was the moral influence theory
(4) There was the suffering God theory
(5) Paul’s declaration, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” precedes all the theories.
II. But the need now is not so much for the defining of the meaning of the Cross as it is for the understanding and accepting the meaning of the Cross.
(1) The Cross means that Jesus is greater than all the powers that oppose him
(2) The Cross made it forever clear that we are precious to Christ.
(3) By his sacrifice Jesus furthered the Kingdom of God in the world.
讲道大纲
自基督教历史开始以来，人不断的寻求十字架的定义。
甲． 於是开始了古典的赎罪论
（1） 付赎金的理论
（2） 满足神要求的理论
（3） 道德感动人的理论
（4） 上帝受苦的理论
（5） 保罗说：神在基督里，使世界与祂复和。
乙． 今天我们应少谈十字架的定义，而多谈明白和接受十字架的意思。
（1） 十字架表示耶稣胜过一切对抗祂的权力。
（2） 十字架清楚的告诉我们，在神的眼中，我们非常宝贵。
（3） 藉着基督的牺牲，把天国带到人间。
Pastoral Prayer:
Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for the holy church of God throughout the world that God may guide it and gather it together so that we may worship God in peace and tranquility.
Almighty and eternal God, you have shown your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ. Guide the work of the church. Help it to persevere in faith, to proclaim your name, and to offer salvation to people everywhere.
Let us pray for our pastors and other lay ministers, for all servants of the church, and for all the people of God.
Almighty and eternal God, your Spirit guides the church and makes it holy. Strengthen and uphold our pastors and our leaders; keep them in health and safety for the good of the church, and help each of us to do faithfully the work to which you have called us.
Let us pray for those preparing for baptism, that God may make them responsive to God’s love and give them new life in Jesus Christ.
Almighty and eternal God, you continually bless the church with new members. Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for baptism. Give them a new birth as your children. Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy church.
Let us pray for those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Holy Spirit may show them the way of salvation.
Almighty and eternal God, enable those who do not acknowledge Christ to receive the truth of the gospel. Help us, your people, to grow in love for one another, to grasp more fully the mystery of your Godhead, and so to become more perfect witness of your love in the sight of all people.
Let us pray for those who do not believe in God, that they may find the God who is the author and goal of our existence.
Almighty and eternal God, you created humanity so that all might long to know you and have peace in you. Grant that, in spite of the hurtful things that stand in their way, all may recognize in the lives of Christians the tokens of your love and mercy and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God of us all.
Let us pray that the almighty and merciful God may heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and rid the world of falsehood, hunger, and disease.
Almighty and eternal God, you give strength to the weary and new courage to those who have lost heart. Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble that they may have the joy of receiving your help in their need. We ask this through Christ our Savior. Amen.
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