DATE: 2009/3/1
SCRIPTURE READING: Col. 3:5-14
SERMON: Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
讲道题目: 主怎样饶恕了你，你也要怎样饶恕人。
Today’s scripture talks about the transformation of the Christian in character and conduct. Paul here uses the method of contrast to make his point; he contrasts the old and the new, the good and the bad. His point is that the gospel completely transforms the believer, making him a new person.
I. Being a Christian requires a “putting off.”This is a foundation of everything Paul understood by the Christian faith. He believed deeply that one who becomes a Christian must put some things behind him. Christianity is a new way of life. It means giving up some former practices or attitudes, a change we call “conversion.”However obvious this may seem, it is often at this point that the church fails. When someone comes to unite with the church we welcome him, we congratulate him, and surely we should do this. But how often do we confront him with the real and difficult demands of the gospel? How often do we say, “There are some things you have to leave behind”? We hardly ever speak so bluntly. We don’t wish to offend. Paul was not timid about this. He spoke plainly and clearly: “seeing that you have put off the old nature.” We should be so blunt with ourselves. Have we put off some things? Are we done with the type of things Paul lists: anger, slander, foul talk? Paul is right in saying that those who are Christians ought to be rid of these things.
II. Being a Christian requires a “putting on.”Paul was not content to be negative. He was not concerned with only reminding Christians what they must give up. He said also that the Christian must “put on the new nature”. He must become a new person in Christ. There is an important lesson here. We tend to define Christianity in terms of what we don’t do. We don’t curse, we don’t cheat on our spouses, we don’t steal from our customers, and we don’t ell lies. This misses the whole point. The Christian should be known by the positive things his life stands for. His life should be an indication of the freedom that was evident in Jesus, the freedom from the law that Paul constantly referred to. To put on the new nature was, to Paul, a positive thing. What are the positive evidences of the new birth? Paul lists some of them: compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, patience, and love. These are the things by which the Christian ought to be known.
III. Being a Christian requires forgiving one another. Paul’s point is that putting on the new nature has great results. Those who are truly changed will give evidence of it is their relationship with others. Because they are Christians they will regard other brothers and sisters in an entirely different light. What is the result of becoming Christian? It is brotherhood. For the Christian such distinctions as Jew and Greek, slave and free man do not hold any longer. In our time the Christian looks at another without seeing a Chinese man, or a Caucasian man, or a Latino man, or a black man, or a poor man or a foreign man. He sees a brother. The classifications so casually applied are no longer valid. Christians see their brothers and sisters as people whom Christ has forgiven. “Christ in All,” in Paul’s words. Paul pointed to what we ought to see, what we need to see, but often what we often refuse to see. The relationship of men to Christ overcomes all human relationships and destroys the barriers we have built to separate us from our brothers.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”(Col.3:13-14) In this season of Lent let us confess our sins to God and receive God’s forgiveness so that we can forgive one another too.
Let me be the first one to make a confession. Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ. In the past I have sinned against you. I told you a lie. I said I dreamed one day I will fill up the pews in this church. I was boasting when I said those words. I was glorifying myself and not glorifying God when I said those words. I am sorry. I cheated you. Will you forgive me? I sincerely ask you for your forgiveness. Will you forgive me? Those who will, please, raise up your hands. Thank you. Now I am speaking to those who do not put up their hands. I want you to know I confessed my sin to God. And God told me He had forgiven me. So I am not worry even though you do not forgive me today. I pray that you will go home tonight and ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive you if you ask sincerely. Then next week you will come back and tell me, you can forgive me. Then we will all work together as one church to deal with this corporate sin of the church.
Before I end this sermon I want to step down from the pulpit and receive that blessing of forgiveness from you. Can those of you who just raised their hands come out and give me a hug to tell me you have forgiven me? I want to hear those words of forgiveness once again from your own mouth... Amen.
Sermon Synopsis:
Today’s scripture talks about the transformation of the Christian in character and conduct.
I. Being a Christian requires a “putting off.”
II. Being a Christian requires a “putting on.”
III. Being a Christian requires forgiving one another.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
讲道大纲
今天的经文讲到基督徒品格和行为的改变。
甲．基督徒要脱去旧人。
乙．基督徒要穿上新人。
丙．基督徒要彼此饶恕。
倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
sermon 2009/2/22
DATE: 2009/2/22
SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews 10:32-39
SERMON: Be a Man of Integrity
讲道题目: 做个有诚信的人
A man of integrity is one who is true to himself; to his God; and to his fellow men. He prays like the Psalmist did, “let the Lord judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.”(Psalm 7:8)
Integrity is a searching word. It probes us at every level of our personal, social, and religious life. The high summons of God is that we become truly integrated personalities.
I. A man of integrity is emotionally true to himself. Emotional integrity is an imperative. Parents and teachers alike have been too little concerned about this aspect of life. The disciplines of home and school have been aimed to promote social behavior but have neglected the emotions which determine behavior. Children have been taught how to think but not how to feel. As a result the emotional life of an individual is in anarchy. Love and hate, fear and confidence, desire and aversion are in perpetual conflict. Only a man of integrity can acknowledge the true feelings to himself.
II. A man of integrity is intellectually true to God. Intellectual integrity is too often neglected if not scorned. We use our minds to discover the facts which please us and ignore those which disturb our complacency. We put interpretations on our experiences which inflate our spiritual pride but which are not justified by critical intelligence. We do not set our wits to work on a problem at all, trusting God to guide us. We fail to realize that God has never offered to be a guide to lazy minds. Loving God with all our minds means using our minds to discover truth. Unless we love truth we do not love God, for God is truth. Unless we accept our responsibility to learn his truth for ourselves and to receive truth from whatever source we do not love God, for all truth is God’s truth. Frightened obscurantism and blind faith are not integrity but the absence of it.
III. A man of integrity is morally true to others. Moral integrity is often less realized though perhaps more appreciated. We are all sinners. Some find it difficult to admit that. The Pharisee is still among us: “God I thank thee that I am not as other men.” However others of us are ready to confess moral failure. That confession is both intelligent and honest. But it also means that we have not achieved integrity; a part of us condemns what another part of us indulge, and that is a wretched state of soul. No one is as miserable as the man who must point an accusing finger at himself. No scorn wounds like self-scorn. No accusation slays like self-accusation. Abraham Lincoln knew the transcendent importance of moral integrity: “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.” When one is his own friend, when one can be at home with himself, all of him, then one knows the true meaning of integrity. Then one can be a friend both to God and to men.
A man of integrity is a man who is sincere and trustworthy. He knows what he is doing. When he starts a job he will not leave it undone until it is completely finished. A Christian is a man who by the grace of his saviour Jesus Christ does the will of God until his life purpose is accomplished. In Hebrews 10:36, it says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” The mission of a Christian is to accomplish the will of God. This is the way to heaven, the fulfilment of the covenant and the assurance of blessedness. Such undertaking is not easy because selfish desire always gets in the way. Pride and self centeredness may not seem to be obvious sins. But when we recognize they are derived from the flesh, we know they are in conflict with the will of God. Do we listen to the voice of our earthly nature or do we listen to the voice of the Divine will? This is a stern and hard spiritual war we have to fight everyday. If we don’t stand up against the foe, we will never be able to advance in our spiritual pilgrimage.
The foremost important procedure is to recognize that God’s way is the best way. God’s will is the best will. Even though sometimes our way seems to prevail over God’s way, yet eventually we reap failure and disaster. The outcome produces nothing for us in this life. Not to mention in the life after. So lets not pray for our own will be done. Pray for God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Why wouldn’t we pray for God’s will be done? The reason is not because we don’t know His will. It is because we don’t want His will be done. We do not want to surrender our will under God’s will. It is time we should ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and grant us that willingness. In Romans 8:27, it says, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” If we surrender our will to Jesus, then he would, “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him.” (Hebrews 13:21)
A man of integrity will see to it that God’s will be done. He will not rest until he finishes his job. “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.” (Acts 13:36)
Amen.
Sermon Synopsis:
A man of integrity is one who is true to himself; to his God; and to his fellow men.
I. A man of integrity is emotionally true to himself.
II. A man of integrity is intellectually true to God.
III. A man of integrity is morally true to others.
A man of integrity is a man who is sincere and trustworthy. He knows what he is doing. When he starts a job he will not leave it undone until it is completely finished. A Christian is a man who by the grace of his savior Jesus Christ does the will of God until his life purpose is accomplished.
讲道大纲
一个有诚信的人是一个对自己，对神，对别人，都绝对真诚的人。
（一）一个有诚信的人能够在情感上面对自己。
（二）一个有诚信的人能够在理智上面对上帝。
（三）一个有诚信的人能够在道德上面对别人。
一个有诚信的人是一个忠实可靠的人。他知道自己在做什么。他开始了一件工作，一定把它做完才会离开。一个基督徒就是靠着救主耶稣基督的恩典，贯撤始终，完成上帝在他生命中要完成之旨意的人。
Pastoral Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Help us to really know you, to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. Help us to direct all our living—what we think, say, and do—so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.
Your kingdom come. Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Keep your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force that revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word. Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all.
Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.
Let us pray for those who suffer from illness, Elderly Sister Wu Huang Mei Jin, Elderly Sister Zhu Ying, the family of Brother Pan Wen. People who suffer from the pain of memory, from torture, from victimization, especially those hurt by the church or its members…
Let us pray for those who are hungry, or homeless, or poor, and for those who are unemployed, like people in the oil industry in Alberta, people in the auto industry in the US, or people who are exploited…
Let us pray for the coming of justice in the world, assured by the recent visit of the US President Barack Obama, that USA and Canada will continue to lead the world in freedom and democracy, we offer what we have, and receive what we need of the earth’s beauty…
Let us pray for peace that is a just reconciliation, in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, in Iraq etc.,
Let us pray for the earth on which we walk and to which we will one day return…
God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made and joyfully sing your praises.
Now teach us how to pray by reciting the Lord’s prayer…
SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews 10:32-39
SERMON: Be a Man of Integrity
讲道题目: 做个有诚信的人
A man of integrity is one who is true to himself; to his God; and to his fellow men. He prays like the Psalmist did, “let the Lord judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.”(Psalm 7:8)
Integrity is a searching word. It probes us at every level of our personal, social, and religious life. The high summons of God is that we become truly integrated personalities.
I. A man of integrity is emotionally true to himself. Emotional integrity is an imperative. Parents and teachers alike have been too little concerned about this aspect of life. The disciplines of home and school have been aimed to promote social behavior but have neglected the emotions which determine behavior. Children have been taught how to think but not how to feel. As a result the emotional life of an individual is in anarchy. Love and hate, fear and confidence, desire and aversion are in perpetual conflict. Only a man of integrity can acknowledge the true feelings to himself.
II. A man of integrity is intellectually true to God. Intellectual integrity is too often neglected if not scorned. We use our minds to discover the facts which please us and ignore those which disturb our complacency. We put interpretations on our experiences which inflate our spiritual pride but which are not justified by critical intelligence. We do not set our wits to work on a problem at all, trusting God to guide us. We fail to realize that God has never offered to be a guide to lazy minds. Loving God with all our minds means using our minds to discover truth. Unless we love truth we do not love God, for God is truth. Unless we accept our responsibility to learn his truth for ourselves and to receive truth from whatever source we do not love God, for all truth is God’s truth. Frightened obscurantism and blind faith are not integrity but the absence of it.
III. A man of integrity is morally true to others. Moral integrity is often less realized though perhaps more appreciated. We are all sinners. Some find it difficult to admit that. The Pharisee is still among us: “God I thank thee that I am not as other men.” However others of us are ready to confess moral failure. That confession is both intelligent and honest. But it also means that we have not achieved integrity; a part of us condemns what another part of us indulge, and that is a wretched state of soul. No one is as miserable as the man who must point an accusing finger at himself. No scorn wounds like self-scorn. No accusation slays like self-accusation. Abraham Lincoln knew the transcendent importance of moral integrity: “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.” When one is his own friend, when one can be at home with himself, all of him, then one knows the true meaning of integrity. Then one can be a friend both to God and to men.
A man of integrity is a man who is sincere and trustworthy. He knows what he is doing. When he starts a job he will not leave it undone until it is completely finished. A Christian is a man who by the grace of his saviour Jesus Christ does the will of God until his life purpose is accomplished. In Hebrews 10:36, it says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” The mission of a Christian is to accomplish the will of God. This is the way to heaven, the fulfilment of the covenant and the assurance of blessedness. Such undertaking is not easy because selfish desire always gets in the way. Pride and self centeredness may not seem to be obvious sins. But when we recognize they are derived from the flesh, we know they are in conflict with the will of God. Do we listen to the voice of our earthly nature or do we listen to the voice of the Divine will? This is a stern and hard spiritual war we have to fight everyday. If we don’t stand up against the foe, we will never be able to advance in our spiritual pilgrimage.
The foremost important procedure is to recognize that God’s way is the best way. God’s will is the best will. Even though sometimes our way seems to prevail over God’s way, yet eventually we reap failure and disaster. The outcome produces nothing for us in this life. Not to mention in the life after. So lets not pray for our own will be done. Pray for God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Why wouldn’t we pray for God’s will be done? The reason is not because we don’t know His will. It is because we don’t want His will be done. We do not want to surrender our will under God’s will. It is time we should ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and grant us that willingness. In Romans 8:27, it says, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” If we surrender our will to Jesus, then he would, “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him.” (Hebrews 13:21)
A man of integrity will see to it that God’s will be done. He will not rest until he finishes his job. “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.” (Acts 13:36)
Amen.
Sermon Synopsis:
A man of integrity is one who is true to himself; to his God; and to his fellow men.
I. A man of integrity is emotionally true to himself.
II. A man of integrity is intellectually true to God.
III. A man of integrity is morally true to others.
A man of integrity is a man who is sincere and trustworthy. He knows what he is doing. When he starts a job he will not leave it undone until it is completely finished. A Christian is a man who by the grace of his savior Jesus Christ does the will of God until his life purpose is accomplished.
讲道大纲
一个有诚信的人是一个对自己，对神，对别人，都绝对真诚的人。
（一）一个有诚信的人能够在情感上面对自己。
（二）一个有诚信的人能够在理智上面对上帝。
（三）一个有诚信的人能够在道德上面对别人。
一个有诚信的人是一个忠实可靠的人。他知道自己在做什么。他开始了一件工作，一定把它做完才会离开。一个基督徒就是靠着救主耶稣基督的恩典，贯撤始终，完成上帝在他生命中要完成之旨意的人。
Pastoral Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Help us to really know you, to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. Help us to direct all our living—what we think, say, and do—so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.
Your kingdom come. Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Keep your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force that revolts against you and every conspiracy against your Word. Do this until your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it you are all in all.
Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.
Let us pray for those who suffer from illness, Elderly Sister Wu Huang Mei Jin, Elderly Sister Zhu Ying, the family of Brother Pan Wen. People who suffer from the pain of memory, from torture, from victimization, especially those hurt by the church or its members…
Let us pray for those who are hungry, or homeless, or poor, and for those who are unemployed, like people in the oil industry in Alberta, people in the auto industry in the US, or people who are exploited…
Let us pray for the coming of justice in the world, assured by the recent visit of the US President Barack Obama, that USA and Canada will continue to lead the world in freedom and democracy, we offer what we have, and receive what we need of the earth’s beauty…
Let us pray for peace that is a just reconciliation, in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, in Iraq etc.,
Let us pray for the earth on which we walk and to which we will one day return…
God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made and joyfully sing your praises.
Now teach us how to pray by reciting the Lord’s prayer…
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/2/15
DATE: 2009/2/15
SCRIPTURE READING: Phil. 2:1-8
SERMON: Same Attitude as Christ’s
讲道题目: 以基督的心為心
Paul challenged us to have the same attitude in us which was in Christ Jesus. As we think of these things three persistent questions demand our honest consideration.
I. Who are we?
(a) In every area of life it is important to know who you are. Nothing is as important as when you seek to fulfill your purpose in life.
(b) What a heartening faith—that we are creatures made for God, that our spirits are restless until they find their rest in him, that only in God’s will is our peace, that we carry the image of God as we live our earthly life.
(c) The clue to understanding who we are is not to be found in the world of nature beneath us but in the world of God above us. When we look to Christ we see mirrored in his eyes of love the person we are meant to be. When we know whose we are we know who we are.
II. Why are we here?
(a) There is sometime in every man’s life, when he is a philosopher and ask himself the question “why?” We are not content just to make a living; we also want to make a life. We sense that life holds a purpose even though the purpose is sometimes not clear to us.
(b) We come from God, we live for God, and we return to God. God has a purpose and plan for everyone. Not the years in our life, but the life in our years, is of supreme importance. When we live for God we find life illumined by the wonder of his friendship and we know why we are here.
III. Where are we going?
(a) Does life have a destination as well as a direction? Is our activity purposeful in the sense that we are going somewhere or is it like the scrambling of little feet in a squirrel cage, much energy but no progress?
(b) If we live for God we know that heaven is our destination. God not only lifts a standard beneath which we march; he also flings before us the vision of his eternal world where the good life finds fulfillment in the perfect fellowship of moral love.
(c) To understand earth we must know heaven. It is the light of eternity that lights our pilgrimage in time. This is a good world, and our life in it has a glorious goal. That goal is when Jesus returns we have the same attitudes as Christ has.
Today is Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday. We hold this meeting year after year. Is it a formality we have to go through or is it a vision we have to affirm every year? Paul knew what he was doing in the church when he admonished Titus in these words: “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13). Without vision and hope, a man will run without any aim. He will work but lacks incentive. Many believers turn into neither hot nor cold followers because they miss this vision. They go after success which promises them worldly results. They end up in vanity. They feel deceived. They thought they came with a noble reason. But now they leave with their worldly purpose not being realized.
What advice can we give to such unfortunate people? The Bible gives us a very clear direction. It calls us back to the vision. If we grab hold of this vision, other pieces will fall into place. This vision is nothing but the waiting for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we have this vision and hope, we are the most blessed believers of Christ. When we have hope, our fear is gone, our path is straightened, our spiritual life has direction, our destination is focused and our strength is renewed.
Let us ask ourselves these questions every day. Are we hoping for Christ’s glorious appearing? Are we welcoming His return? Are we ready any time for His return? Or are we caught up with another endeavor for another hope? Is that other hope taking up all of our time and energy leaving us no time for Christ’s return? If we lose our vision, our loss will be great and irreversible. Regrets will not get us anywhere. But repentance will. There is not much time left. We will never have enough time to get ready for Jesus’ appearing. Why bother wasting time on other hopes and goals?
Whenever we lose the hope of Christ’s return, our problems arise, our progress stop, our spiritual life decline. Let us have the same attitude that Christ has which attracts us like magnet attracts iron. The vision is to have the same attitude in us which was in Christ Jesus. Let us put aside things that get in our way and strive on the journey until one day we meet our Lord face to face.
Amen.
Sermon Synopsis
讲道大纲
能够做到以基督的心为心,首先要回答三个问题:
I. 我是谁?
(甲) 我是一个要找人生意义的人.
(乙) 我是为了神而被造的.
(丙) 当我们知道自己是属於谁的时候,我们就知道自己是谁了.
II. 我为甚麽在这里?
(甲) 我不甘心只渡日子而不是活着做人.
(乙) 上帝对每个人都有计画和目的.
III. 我往哪里去?
(甲) 生命是有方向和目的的.
(乙) 我们若为神而活,我们就知道天堂是我们的目的地.
(丙) 要明白地上的事,必须首先明白天上的事.
保罗知道自己在做甚麽,他说:等候所盼望的福,并等候至大的神和我们救主耶稣基督的荣耀显现.(提多书2:13)我们每天都要这样问自己,是否有这个盼望.倘若有的话,我们就可以以基督的心为心,快乐平安的度日,直到见主面.
Pastoral Prayer:
Our most gracious heavenly Father, your spirit meets us in the valley of shadows as well as on the mountaintop of triumph, we come before you in this hour of worship, praying that you would sustain our spirits this day.
Sustain us as we seek to understand ourselves. We pledge ourselves to be the cause for which your Son gave himself, but then in unguarded moments we reveal attitudes and actions that are unworthy of his love. Speak to our hearts of your forgiving grace, set our minds on the lofty heights of fulfillment, and send us on our way.
Sustain us, O Lord, in our relationships with our fellow men. Plant within our hearts the seeds of trust that will allow us to reach out unafraid to those around us. Give us vision to see the refinement that is a part of every heart, though it might not be perceived at first glance. Remove from us, O Lord, feelings of suspicion, bitterness, mistrust, and cynicism that rise against our souls like waves that pound the rocky shore.
Sustain us, O God, in life at home with our families. As it was Valentine’s Day yesterday we pray for husbands and wives and for intimate lovers. So often we leave our loved ones at home when we enter the sanctuary which in fact is our dwelling place for love. Alert us, we pray, to the intimate needs that go unnoticed day after day because we are preoccupied with less important concerns. Let love flow unchallenged through the dry, parched land that we might glimpse what it means to speak of the redemptive love of Christ to our family love ones.
Sustain this nation, our father, we pray. When Canada as well as other countries in the world is plunging into the economic depression we ask for God’s mercy and deliverance from our predicament. As the US president has signed a new law to stimulate economic growth, we ask that it will benefit Canada too. We pray that Americans will buy not only from America but also from Canada. Remove the weeds of bitterness that have strangled our sensitivity to the needs of other people. Show us what reconciliation really means and help us to understand it when we see it.
Sustain the church we pray. As we are having the annual congregational meeting today, we pray for loyalty and faithfulness of all the members in this congregation. Help us to prepare ourselves for the other that lies ahead within your vineyard. Hold our tongues when we would speak pious but empty words. Let actions and attitudes stand side by side so that others will know that the church is indeed alive and at work in this world.
Sustain our spirits now as we come before your altar in prayer. Hear our innermost thoughts and bring your healing spirit forth to meet the uncountable needs that are ours this day.
We thank you Lord, for answered prayers that Brothers Yan Jian’s grand daughter Xia Ming Yu has had a very successful heart operation last week in Tian Jin. We pray for Sister Zhai Xiao Mei who had a car accident two weeks ago. Lord you protected her from physical injury. Although monetary loss was substantial, we thank you Lord for watching over her with your guardian angels. We thank you Lord for looking after Sister Au Yang Yan Hong after her fall on the ice last Saturday night. We pray for her continue healing.
And now teach us how to pray by saying the Lord’s Prayer together…
SCRIPTURE READING: Phil. 2:1-8
SERMON: Same Attitude as Christ’s
讲道题目: 以基督的心為心
Paul challenged us to have the same attitude in us which was in Christ Jesus. As we think of these things three persistent questions demand our honest consideration.
I. Who are we?
(a) In every area of life it is important to know who you are. Nothing is as important as when you seek to fulfill your purpose in life.
(b) What a heartening faith—that we are creatures made for God, that our spirits are restless until they find their rest in him, that only in God’s will is our peace, that we carry the image of God as we live our earthly life.
(c) The clue to understanding who we are is not to be found in the world of nature beneath us but in the world of God above us. When we look to Christ we see mirrored in his eyes of love the person we are meant to be. When we know whose we are we know who we are.
II. Why are we here?
(a) There is sometime in every man’s life, when he is a philosopher and ask himself the question “why?” We are not content just to make a living; we also want to make a life. We sense that life holds a purpose even though the purpose is sometimes not clear to us.
(b) We come from God, we live for God, and we return to God. God has a purpose and plan for everyone. Not the years in our life, but the life in our years, is of supreme importance. When we live for God we find life illumined by the wonder of his friendship and we know why we are here.
III. Where are we going?
(a) Does life have a destination as well as a direction? Is our activity purposeful in the sense that we are going somewhere or is it like the scrambling of little feet in a squirrel cage, much energy but no progress?
(b) If we live for God we know that heaven is our destination. God not only lifts a standard beneath which we march; he also flings before us the vision of his eternal world where the good life finds fulfillment in the perfect fellowship of moral love.
(c) To understand earth we must know heaven. It is the light of eternity that lights our pilgrimage in time. This is a good world, and our life in it has a glorious goal. That goal is when Jesus returns we have the same attitudes as Christ has.
Today is Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday. We hold this meeting year after year. Is it a formality we have to go through or is it a vision we have to affirm every year? Paul knew what he was doing in the church when he admonished Titus in these words: “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13). Without vision and hope, a man will run without any aim. He will work but lacks incentive. Many believers turn into neither hot nor cold followers because they miss this vision. They go after success which promises them worldly results. They end up in vanity. They feel deceived. They thought they came with a noble reason. But now they leave with their worldly purpose not being realized.
What advice can we give to such unfortunate people? The Bible gives us a very clear direction. It calls us back to the vision. If we grab hold of this vision, other pieces will fall into place. This vision is nothing but the waiting for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we have this vision and hope, we are the most blessed believers of Christ. When we have hope, our fear is gone, our path is straightened, our spiritual life has direction, our destination is focused and our strength is renewed.
Let us ask ourselves these questions every day. Are we hoping for Christ’s glorious appearing? Are we welcoming His return? Are we ready any time for His return? Or are we caught up with another endeavor for another hope? Is that other hope taking up all of our time and energy leaving us no time for Christ’s return? If we lose our vision, our loss will be great and irreversible. Regrets will not get us anywhere. But repentance will. There is not much time left. We will never have enough time to get ready for Jesus’ appearing. Why bother wasting time on other hopes and goals?
Whenever we lose the hope of Christ’s return, our problems arise, our progress stop, our spiritual life decline. Let us have the same attitude that Christ has which attracts us like magnet attracts iron. The vision is to have the same attitude in us which was in Christ Jesus. Let us put aside things that get in our way and strive on the journey until one day we meet our Lord face to face.
Amen.
Sermon Synopsis
讲道大纲
能够做到以基督的心为心,首先要回答三个问题:
I. 我是谁?
(甲) 我是一个要找人生意义的人.
(乙) 我是为了神而被造的.
(丙) 当我们知道自己是属於谁的时候,我们就知道自己是谁了.
II. 我为甚麽在这里?
(甲) 我不甘心只渡日子而不是活着做人.
(乙) 上帝对每个人都有计画和目的.
III. 我往哪里去?
(甲) 生命是有方向和目的的.
(乙) 我们若为神而活,我们就知道天堂是我们的目的地.
(丙) 要明白地上的事,必须首先明白天上的事.
保罗知道自己在做甚麽,他说:等候所盼望的福,并等候至大的神和我们救主耶稣基督的荣耀显现.(提多书2:13)我们每天都要这样问自己,是否有这个盼望.倘若有的话,我们就可以以基督的心为心,快乐平安的度日,直到见主面.
Pastoral Prayer:
Our most gracious heavenly Father, your spirit meets us in the valley of shadows as well as on the mountaintop of triumph, we come before you in this hour of worship, praying that you would sustain our spirits this day.
Sustain us as we seek to understand ourselves. We pledge ourselves to be the cause for which your Son gave himself, but then in unguarded moments we reveal attitudes and actions that are unworthy of his love. Speak to our hearts of your forgiving grace, set our minds on the lofty heights of fulfillment, and send us on our way.
Sustain us, O Lord, in our relationships with our fellow men. Plant within our hearts the seeds of trust that will allow us to reach out unafraid to those around us. Give us vision to see the refinement that is a part of every heart, though it might not be perceived at first glance. Remove from us, O Lord, feelings of suspicion, bitterness, mistrust, and cynicism that rise against our souls like waves that pound the rocky shore.
Sustain us, O God, in life at home with our families. As it was Valentine’s Day yesterday we pray for husbands and wives and for intimate lovers. So often we leave our loved ones at home when we enter the sanctuary which in fact is our dwelling place for love. Alert us, we pray, to the intimate needs that go unnoticed day after day because we are preoccupied with less important concerns. Let love flow unchallenged through the dry, parched land that we might glimpse what it means to speak of the redemptive love of Christ to our family love ones.
Sustain this nation, our father, we pray. When Canada as well as other countries in the world is plunging into the economic depression we ask for God’s mercy and deliverance from our predicament. As the US president has signed a new law to stimulate economic growth, we ask that it will benefit Canada too. We pray that Americans will buy not only from America but also from Canada. Remove the weeds of bitterness that have strangled our sensitivity to the needs of other people. Show us what reconciliation really means and help us to understand it when we see it.
Sustain the church we pray. As we are having the annual congregational meeting today, we pray for loyalty and faithfulness of all the members in this congregation. Help us to prepare ourselves for the other that lies ahead within your vineyard. Hold our tongues when we would speak pious but empty words. Let actions and attitudes stand side by side so that others will know that the church is indeed alive and at work in this world.
Sustain our spirits now as we come before your altar in prayer. Hear our innermost thoughts and bring your healing spirit forth to meet the uncountable needs that are ours this day.
We thank you Lord, for answered prayers that Brothers Yan Jian’s grand daughter Xia Ming Yu has had a very successful heart operation last week in Tian Jin. We pray for Sister Zhai Xiao Mei who had a car accident two weeks ago. Lord you protected her from physical injury. Although monetary loss was substantial, we thank you Lord for watching over her with your guardian angels. We thank you Lord for looking after Sister Au Yang Yan Hong after her fall on the ice last Saturday night. We pray for her continue healing.
And now teach us how to pray by saying the Lord’s Prayer together…
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/2/8
SCRIPTURE READING: Gal. 5:1-15
SERMON: Faith and Freedom in Christ
讲道题目: 信耶穌，得自由
Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians when Christians there were facing a crisis in the faith. Paul said, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:7) These people insisted that although salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ, Christians still had to follow certain rules and regulations before they would be accepted as completely saved. To denounce such misleading teaching Paul said these words in today’s Scripture lesson, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1)
Misleading teachings occurred in the churches of Paul’s time. Misleading teachings also occur in the churches of our time. We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. We are in the midst of conflicts in the church. This is the tension in which we live. Where do we take our stand? How are we responding?
I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus. He came to them with the truth that would have liberated them from their error and brought them to God and eternal life. They did not like what they were hearing, so they silenced his voice by crucifixion.
(2) Is anybody listening today? Are we listening? Surely not all challenging voices are speaking the truth. Some are vomiting filth that can only be sourced in the Devil himself. Many protest voices are motivated by sheer negative emotions and self-centeredness. But we must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error. By remaining sensitive to the truth, we will repent when sin and hypocrisy are exposed in us; we will be willing to change when change is needed; we will do what is right where injustice prevails; and we will provide enlightened opinion leadership within the circles of our influence. We must listen to the voices that are now being raised, for we know not when nor from where the voice of truth will be speaking.
II. We must live by established principles. These are difficult days in which we live. Time and time again we are confronted with the necessity of making a decision. How do we stand fast in this kind of a world? The principles that brought us to faith and freedom under God have not changed.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. What does this mean? It means we are cleansed, pardoned, and set free from the guilt of all past sins by the virtue of God’s grace and not our own works, no matter how good they may appear. God’s grace is in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. When our eyes are opened to behold this wondrous love and by faith, we respond to him and accept him as Saviour. Then and only then do we come into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(2) Lest your commitment to Jesus Christ becomes too subjective and becomes sentimentalized, too easily moulded and adapted to the accepted life styles which are typical of the 21st century, remember that you are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures. The most memorable and the most important legacy for freedom was Martin Luther’s declaration: “My conscience is captive to the word of God. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.”
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others. This is the “universal priesthood of all believers.” This affirms, not only that each Christian believer had freedom to pray to God directly, through Jesus Christ himself, but also to serve others through love. The pastor has no privilege on God when it comes to intercessory prayer, and surely when one intercedes on behalf of another at the throne of grace, he is performing the function of a priest.
(4) As Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh, so Christian freedom is not freedom to do as I please irrespective of the welfare of my neighbour. Thus Paul said, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Gal. 5:14) Love cannot exploit a neighbour for selfish or personal reason.
Our faith and freedom under God is established by our commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, our serious acceptance of the Scriptural norm, our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will. Amen.
Sermon Synopsis
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1) We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. Where do we take our stand?
I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus.
(2) We must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error.
II. We must live by established principles.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.
(2) You are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures.
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others.
(4) Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh.
Our faith and freedom under God is our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will.
讲道大纲
"基督释放了我们,叫我们得以自由,所以要站立得稳,不要再被奴仆的轭挟制"(加拉太书5:1).我们生活在一个信仰受挑战的时代里.我们怎样才能站立得住呢?
I. 我们要听挑战的声音.
(1) 法利赛人和文士都不肯听耶稣的.
(2) 我们要听下去,才能分辨是非.
II. 我们要建立原则.
(1) 要接受耶稣基督为个人救主.
(2) 要向圣经所启示的耶稣基督委身.
(3) 基督徒被神呼召为别人而活.
(4) 基督徒的自由不是放纵情欲.
信耶稣得自由我们便能够顺服神为别人而活.
Pastoral Prayer:
When the day breaks and the shadows flee away, our hearts awake, O God, in gratitude to you. Your peace is our enduring treasure, and your presence our delight. What are we that you have taken knowledge of us and redeemed us by the gift of your beloved Son! Uphold our strength that we may labor joyfully as children in the free service of the Father’s house. Remember us in your merciful kindness every hour of the day that we may be content in you. Show us yourself in even fuller measure that our peace may flow as a river and our joy endure forevermore. Holy Spirit be the Helper of the friends whom you have given. Make our homes glad with your presence. You have filled our lives with cheer; help us to carry it to others by true witness of your power in cheerful days. And for your love in Jesus Christ our Lord, the love that brightens all our days, our hearts shall bless you evermore.
As election day is coming in one week’s time, we pray for the leadership of this church. We thank God for the faithful service of last year’s church council under the leadership of chairman Brother Frank Pan. We pray for continued wisdom, discernment and intelligence for members in the new council. We pray for economy recovery for our nation as well as for the world. Unemployment rate has risen to an unprecedented high this month. We pray for families whose bread winners are in search of jobs or in between jobs. Eternal God, you knew us before we were born and will continue to know us after we have died. Touch all who suffer in this job market depression time. Anoint them with your grace and presence. As you give your abiding care, assure them of our love and presence. Assure them that our communion together remains secure, and that your love for them is unfailing.
We pray for those who need healing. O Christ, our Lord, in times past many servants of yours brought their friends and loved ones to your side, that they might be blessed and healed. So today we bring to your attention those who need your loving touch. For Sister Yang Yu’s allergy rash, for Elderly Sister Wu Huang Mei Jin’s eye sight after cataract operation, for Sister Amy Yi’s eczema in the fingers, and for Brother Yan’s grand daughter’s heart condition. We lift them up before you. Please look on our faith, small as it is, bring your healing and your peace upon them. Almighty and everlasting God, you can banish all affliction both of soul and of body, show forth your power upon those in need, that by your mercy they may be restored to serve you afresh in holiness of living.
And now teach us how to pray by saying the Lord’s prayer together…
SERMON: Faith and Freedom in Christ
讲道题目: 信耶穌，得自由
Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians when Christians there were facing a crisis in the faith. Paul said, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:7) These people insisted that although salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ, Christians still had to follow certain rules and regulations before they would be accepted as completely saved. To denounce such misleading teaching Paul said these words in today’s Scripture lesson, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1)
Misleading teachings occurred in the churches of Paul’s time. Misleading teachings also occur in the churches of our time. We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. We are in the midst of conflicts in the church. This is the tension in which we live. Where do we take our stand? How are we responding?
I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus. He came to them with the truth that would have liberated them from their error and brought them to God and eternal life. They did not like what they were hearing, so they silenced his voice by crucifixion.
(2) Is anybody listening today? Are we listening? Surely not all challenging voices are speaking the truth. Some are vomiting filth that can only be sourced in the Devil himself. Many protest voices are motivated by sheer negative emotions and self-centeredness. But we must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error. By remaining sensitive to the truth, we will repent when sin and hypocrisy are exposed in us; we will be willing to change when change is needed; we will do what is right where injustice prevails; and we will provide enlightened opinion leadership within the circles of our influence. We must listen to the voices that are now being raised, for we know not when nor from where the voice of truth will be speaking.
II. We must live by established principles. These are difficult days in which we live. Time and time again we are confronted with the necessity of making a decision. How do we stand fast in this kind of a world? The principles that brought us to faith and freedom under God have not changed.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. What does this mean? It means we are cleansed, pardoned, and set free from the guilt of all past sins by the virtue of God’s grace and not our own works, no matter how good they may appear. God’s grace is in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. When our eyes are opened to behold this wondrous love and by faith, we respond to him and accept him as Saviour. Then and only then do we come into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(2) Lest your commitment to Jesus Christ becomes too subjective and becomes sentimentalized, too easily moulded and adapted to the accepted life styles which are typical of the 21st century, remember that you are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures. The most memorable and the most important legacy for freedom was Martin Luther’s declaration: “My conscience is captive to the word of God. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.”
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others. This is the “universal priesthood of all believers.” This affirms, not only that each Christian believer had freedom to pray to God directly, through Jesus Christ himself, but also to serve others through love. The pastor has no privilege on God when it comes to intercessory prayer, and surely when one intercedes on behalf of another at the throne of grace, he is performing the function of a priest.
(4) As Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh, so Christian freedom is not freedom to do as I please irrespective of the welfare of my neighbour. Thus Paul said, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Gal. 5:14) Love cannot exploit a neighbour for selfish or personal reason.
Our faith and freedom under God is established by our commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, our serious acceptance of the Scriptural norm, our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will. Amen.
Sermon Synopsis
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1) We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. Where do we take our stand?
I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus.
(2) We must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error.
II. We must live by established principles.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.
(2) You are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures.
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others.
(4) Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh.
Our faith and freedom under God is our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will.
讲道大纲
"基督释放了我们,叫我们得以自由,所以要站立得稳,不要再被奴仆的轭挟制"(加拉太书5:1).我们生活在一个信仰受挑战的时代里.我们怎样才能站立得住呢?
I. 我们要听挑战的声音.
(1) 法利赛人和文士都不肯听耶稣的.
(2) 我们要听下去,才能分辨是非.
II. 我们要建立原则.
(1) 要接受耶稣基督为个人救主.
(2) 要向圣经所启示的耶稣基督委身.
(3) 基督徒被神呼召为别人而活.
(4) 基督徒的自由不是放纵情欲.
信耶稣得自由我们便能够顺服神为别人而活.
Pastoral Prayer:
When the day breaks and the shadows flee away, our hearts awake, O God, in gratitude to you. Your peace is our enduring treasure, and your presence our delight. What are we that you have taken knowledge of us and redeemed us by the gift of your beloved Son! Uphold our strength that we may labor joyfully as children in the free service of the Father’s house. Remember us in your merciful kindness every hour of the day that we may be content in you. Show us yourself in even fuller measure that our peace may flow as a river and our joy endure forevermore. Holy Spirit be the Helper of the friends whom you have given. Make our homes glad with your presence. You have filled our lives with cheer; help us to carry it to others by true witness of your power in cheerful days. And for your love in Jesus Christ our Lord, the love that brightens all our days, our hearts shall bless you evermore.
As election day is coming in one week’s time, we pray for the leadership of this church. We thank God for the faithful service of last year’s church council under the leadership of chairman Brother Frank Pan. We pray for continued wisdom, discernment and intelligence for members in the new council. We pray for economy recovery for our nation as well as for the world. Unemployment rate has risen to an unprecedented high this month. We pray for families whose bread winners are in search of jobs or in between jobs. Eternal God, you knew us before we were born and will continue to know us after we have died. Touch all who suffer in this job market depression time. Anoint them with your grace and presence. As you give your abiding care, assure them of our love and presence. Assure them that our communion together remains secure, and that your love for them is unfailing.
We pray for those who need healing. O Christ, our Lord, in times past many servants of yours brought their friends and loved ones to your side, that they might be blessed and healed. So today we bring to your attention those who need your loving touch. For Sister Yang Yu’s allergy rash, for Elderly Sister Wu Huang Mei Jin’s eye sight after cataract operation, for Sister Amy Yi’s eczema in the fingers, and for Brother Yan’s grand daughter’s heart condition. We lift them up before you. Please look on our faith, small as it is, bring your healing and your peace upon them. Almighty and everlasting God, you can banish all affliction both of soul and of body, show forth your power upon those in need, that by your mercy they may be restored to serve you afresh in holiness of living.
And now teach us how to pray by saying the Lord’s prayer together…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
