[0:00] 先让我们一同来低头祷告Let us pray together亲爱的父感谢你再一次焦距我们来到你的店里面去敬拜赞美你Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering us here todayto praise and worship you取你安静我们的心让我们好聆听你的话语Please question our hearts so that we may listen to your word也让我们把你的话语好的力量能够行出来And also so we can leave out your words祷告奉主耶稣名求AmenPray to sing Jesus' most precious name, Amen圣诞节快到了Christmas is just around the corner先给你们讲一个故事Let me tell you a story但是不是关于圣诞节的故事But it's not a story about Christmas有一天大作家马克吐温收到一位初学写作的年轻的青年的一封来信
[1:03] One day the great author Mark Twain received a letter from a new student写信的人呢对一个问题非常感兴趣The student hadwho was very interested in one particular question他说听说鱼骨里面含有大量的磷值而磷呢是有助于补老的He heard that fish bones contain a lot of phosphoruswhich is beneficial for the brain那么呢要成为一位举世文明的大作家就必须吃很多鱼才行吧So does that mean in order to become such a well-known authoryou have to eat a lot of fish他问那个作家他说不知道这种说法是不是正确的呢I don't know ifHe asked the authorI don't know if this saying is correct然后他又问你是否吃了很多的鱼你吃的又是哪一种的鱼呢
[2:03] And then he continued to askDid you eat a lot of fish in your timeWhat type of fish did you eat马克兔文呢在回信里面呢就这么说了一句Mark Twain replied他说看来你要吃一对鲸鱼才行It seems like to me that you'll have to eat a whole lot of whales你们怎么不笑呢Why aren't you laughing当我呢第一次听到这个故事的时候我忍不住连续笑了十分钟When I first heard this storyI couldn't help myselfAnd I laughed for about ten minutes在那几天里面每当我想了这故事的时候我又忍不住地笑了起来In those daysEvery time I thought of this storyI continue to laugh这个大作家呢並不是一位基督徒This well-known author is not a Christian当然了从他对人说话的这种言语的态度我们也可以看出来
[3:09] But we can all say thatfrom his sarcastic comments据说呢这一位作家不能够成为基督徒的原因是因为他生长在黑卢的连带的美国This well-known author never had the chanceto become a Christianbecause he lived in the time of black slavery当时呢他看到有一些基督徒每个周日都在教会里面敬拜神At the time he saw a lot of ChristiansGathered at church on SundaysAnd praised and worship God而星期一到五呢却以暴力对待那些黑卢But from Monday to FridayThey would treat their Negro slavesWith violence and cruelty因此呢他感到非常的愤怒And therefore he was extremely angered by this的确基督徒一些错误的行为呢有时候可以导致人对基督教的产生排斥Indeed a lot of wrongful acts done by ChristiansCan cause people to reject Christianity下周日呢就是圣诞节的敬礼
[4:14] Next Sunday we have the baptism Sunday我们有五位的弟兄姐妹会加入会受洗加入教会成为基督徒And we have five brothers and sisterswho will be baptizedand will join the churchand become a Christian这当然包括我们的小米亚And this of course includes our little Mia那到底什么是基督徒我觉得呢有必要在敬礼前重温一下So what is a true Christian?
[4:47] I find the need to reiterate thisthe definition before we get baptized韦婆施特的词典呢给基督徒的一个定义是这样的The website dictionaryhave the following definition for Christians一个信奉耶稣为基督或信仰基督教义的人Someone who believesJesus to be the true ChristOr someone who believes in Christianity从圣经的角度来看新约圣经能够详细地去解释基督徒这一个的身份The Bible can provide us with a lot more insightinto the meaning of Christianity其中圣经特别强调的是分别这个的概念The Bible repeatedly emphasizeson the concept of being different就是基督的门徒是从世界中被分别出来which is to say thatChristians have to be separated from the world是跟非信徒有分别的And they have to be different from non-Christians在哥林多后书六章十四到十八节
[5:55] In 2 Corinthians 6 verses 14 to 18他们说你们和不信的人不可共赴以恶义和不法又有什么相同呢光明和黑暗怎能相通呢It saysDo not be yoked together with unbelieversfor what do righteousness and weakness have in commonOr what fellowship can light have with darkness基督和匹列匹列就是撒旦的别名怎能和谐呢信和不信的又有什么联系呢What harmony is there between Christ and Belialwhich is SatanAnd what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever神的殿和偶像又只能协调了我们就是永生神的殿正如神说我要住在他们中间在他们中间来往我要做他们的神他们要做我的子民
[6:56] What agreement is there between the temple of God and idolsFor we are the temple of the living GodAs God has saidI will live with them and walk among themAnd I will be their GodAnd they will be my people所以主说你们要从他们中间出来和他们分开不可触摸不接近的东西我就收纳你们Therefore come out from themAnd be separateBe separateSays the LordTouch no unclean thingAnd I will receive you我要做你们的父亲你们要做我的儿女这是传能的主说的I will be a father to youAnd you will be my sons and daughtersSays the Lord Almighty以上的经文强调就是分别这个的概念The above passage reiterates the concept of being separate表明基督徒与非信徒是有别的It's to tell us thatChristians should be separatedAmongst non-Christians那基督徒与非信徒非基督徒又有什么样的分别呢
[8:01] So what are the differences betweenChristians and non-Christians今天的经文约翰一书二章三到四节说我们若遵守神的命令这样就知道我们认识而已经认识他In today's scripture readingFirst John chapter 2Verses 3 to 4It saysWe know that we have come to know himIf we obey his commandsThe man who says I know himBut does notOh sorry凡是说我已经认识他却不遵守他命令的就是说谎的人真理就不在他里面了The man who says I know himBut does not do what he commandsIs a liarAnd the truth is not in him可见基督徒就是那些遵守主耶稣命令的人也是等于认识神的人It can be seen that ChristiansCome to know JesusBy obeying his commands而那些不遵守主命令的人真理也不在他里面他们也不认识基督The truth is not with thosethat do not do what he commands
[9:03] And they will notAnd they also will not get to know Christ要是他们说自己是基督徒就是撒谎这就是基督徒与非基督徒的分别And if they call themselves ChristiansAnd they are lyingAnd this is the differencebetween Christians and non-Christians怎样才能做一个真正的基督徒呢So how can you become a true Christian第五节然而凡是遵守他的道他爱神的心的确在他里面完成了这样我们就知道我们是在神的里面了In verse 5 it saysBut if anyone obeys this wordGod's love is truly made complete in himThis is how we know we are in himYohan说当我们遵守神的教训的时候这其实就是我们爱神的一种表现John saysBy obeying God's wordsWe are expressing our love to him那样我们就知道我们是属于神的And by doing soWe know that we belong to him在第六节凡说自己是住在他里面的就应当照着他所行的去行
[10:12] In verse 6 it saysWhoever claims to live in himMust walk as Jesus did那就是说凡是属于神的人称自己为基督徒的人就应该照着基督所行的去行This is to sayAll who claim to live in himAnd claim to be ChristiansMust walk as Jesus did简单的来说要是你是一个的基督徒你就应该效法基督This is once againIt's to say thatIf you're a ChristianThen you should aim to imitate Jesus以基督为榜样在这世界生活And to let Jesus be your exampleWhen you're living in this world让人能够从你的身上看到耶稣的影子活出基督And let others sayChrist's image through you如何才能活出基督So how can we live outChrist's image今天我们从约翰保罗和匹的三位使徒笔下看耶稣基督的谦卑爱和受苦的三个榜样
[11:14] Today we can examineThe scriptures written byJohn, Paul and PeterTo see examples ofChrist's humility, love and sufferings帮助我们活出基督的气质从而做一名真正的基督徒To help us live outChrist's characteristicsand to be a true Christian我们先来看约翰笔下耶稣基督的谦卑Let us first examineExamples of Christ's humilityAs written by John约翰福音13章3到10节In the book of JohnChapter 13Verses 3 to 10耶稣知道父已经把万有交在他手中并且知道自己从神而来又要回到神那里去Jesus knew that the father had put all things under his powerAnd that he hadHe had come from GodAnd was returning to God就起身离席脱去外衣拿一条手巾梳腰So he got up from the mealTook off his outer clothingAnd wrapped a towelaround his waist然后倒了一盆水洗门徒的脚并且用梳腰的手巾擦干
[12:22] After that he poured waterinto a basinAnd began to washHis disciples' feetDrying them with the towelthat was wrapped around himLun到西门彼得彼得就说主啊你要洗我的脚吗He came to Simon PeterWho said to himLord are you going to wash my feetYesu回答我所做的你现在不知道以后就会明白Jesus repliedYou do not realizeWhat I am doingBut later you will understand彼得说不行你千万不可洗我的脚耶稣说如果我不洗你的脚你就与我没有关系了No said PeterYou shall never wash my feetJesus answeredUnless I wash youYou have no part with me西门彼得说主啊那就不单洗我的脚连我的手和头都洗吧Then Lord Simon Peter repliedNot just my feetBut my hands and my head as well13的15节你们称呼我老师主你们说的对我本来就是
[13:24] In verses 13 to 15It saysYou call me teacher and lordAnd rightly soFor I am what I am我是主是老师尚且洗你们的脚你们也应当彼此洗脚Now that IYour lord and teacherhave washed your feetYou also wash one another'sYou also should wash我做了你们的榜样是要你们也照着我所做的去行I have set an examplethat you should doas I have done for you这一段的经文呢第一是耶稣向门徒表达他将要上十字架为传人类的罪而死因此他说我所做的你们现在不知道但是在13 to 15节中主很明显地告诉我们我们应该谦卑彼此服侍他洗门徒的脚就是一个的榜样他指导这一段的经文里面约翰详细地描述了耶稣为门徒洗脚的情形他描写的这样细例可能是因为约翰深深地被主这种谦卑的服侍所感动一味的神居然去身为人洗脚成为一个卢谱的样式从此时从身份的角度来看是从最高到最低我们今天在教会里面的服侍做领袖的有没有像耶稣这样的谦卑服侍神服侍人呢或是我们会觉得自己高人一等不停地向弟兄姐妹发出很多的指令呢在马太福音18章中有人曾经问耶稣天国里谁最大耶稣回答说凡谦卑向着小孩子的他在天国里最大因此我们做领袖的要效法基督在教会中不单单地服侍神而是要谦卑地服侍神另一方面在教会中有参与服侍的可能是小数起码现在是这样而更多的人是被服侍的对象有时候我们可能会听到一些人发怨言跳梯讲员讲得不够精彩领唱的唱的走音厨房的盘子洗得不够干净
[17:25] 我想我们学习基督谦卑服侍的同时也应该学习彼得谦卑的领受当主要洗他脚的时候他说不行你千万不要洗我的脚后来主说你不洗就与我没有关系了他就说那你连我的手和头都洗吧彼得首先觉得自己不配被主洗脚但是后来明白了当中的意义后就怀着谦卑和感恩的心领受今天我们抱怨的时候其实就是我们没有谦卑自己把自己的情感看得太重要因此就会对太多的事情都看不顺眼但是当我们能够学习基督谦卑的时候我们更能够体谦别人和接受别人第二个榜样是使徒保罗提倡的让我们要以基督的爱心为榜样在以弗所书五章二节保罗说要凭着爱心行事好像基督爱我们为我们舍己当作新香的共品和祭物献给神保罗这里所说基督的爱是指基督为了洗尽我们的罪舍己上十字架的爱是最高层次的爱是牺牲的爱保罗鼓励我们要以基督的这种舍己去爱去行事为人舍己就是放下自己把自己放在次要的位置上包括自己的感受和自己的需要当我们放下自己的时候我们才懂得去爱别人因为那个时候你会看到别人比你自己更重要当我在香港的时候我遇到了远远天牧师他一点都不出名他一点都不出名他一点都不出名他个子很瘦他长得不齐眼讲道也不怎么样但是他却是我最尊敬的一位牧师但我经历人生低谷的时候他常常陪我祷告
[21:25] 当我告诉他我的远弱他接纳我陪伴我后来他因为癌症住了医院他在医院里面安慰同房的病人为他们祷告他自己很清贫有一个缺腿的太太和两个没有成年的孩子但是当他看到病人的需要的时候他毫不犹豫地把弟兄姐妹送给他的保健药品送给那些的病人却没有为自己留下什么这就是舍己的爱他自己也有病他也很穷没有钱去买那些昂贵的保健品但是他看别人的需要比自己更重要他是耶稣基督忠心的仆人他以基督的爱去爱身边的人在他的身上我能够感受到基督的爱我能够感受到基督的爱弟兄姐妹耶稣基督的爱不是一个空洞的口号他需要通过我们的行为和言语去表达去传递第三个榜样是使徒彼得在彼得前书第二章十八到二十一节对我们的劝勉他说你们做仆人的凡事要敬畏顺服主人不但是对善良温和的就是对怪批也是要顺服因为人若在神面前为良心的缘故忍受冤屈的苦楚是有福的你们又因犯罪受责打而能忍耐有什么可夸的呢但你们又因行善而受苦能忍耐在神看来这是有福的你们就是为此蒙召因基督也为你们受苦给你们留下榜样叫你们跟随他的脚中行彼得姐这一封信的时候正是教会开始逼拨的时候他提醒信徒要接受和背负这些的苦难
[25:26] 对攻击我们的人呢不要以牙还牙因为耶稣基督也曾经背负我们的罪被人藐视则打最后死在十字架上为人类的罪受苦因此他说我们既然是基督徒也应该学习基督的受苦今天世界上很多国家基督徒仍然为了基督受逼拨受苦甚至牺牲自己的生命但是对于我们这些生活在澳洲的人来说我们可能受的是另外一种的痛苦或是我们被冤枉受委屈可能忍受很多人的指责或是忍受某一些人的行为言语还有他们恶劣的态度等等或是被人排斥和嘲笑等等的痛苦我相信每一个人对于这种的受苦了并不陌生但是我们面对这一种受苦的时候我们持的是什么态度呢我们是带着憎恨厌弃和逃避的心或是带着忍耐和爱心去接受这些的挑战呢作为耶稣基督的门徒我们也应该像他一样为了别人而甘愿受苦因此受苦也是基督徒应有的一种特责通过以上的经文和三位使徒对主的认识让我们更能够了解和认识耶稣基督的谦卑爱和受苦的榜样在教会里面我们每个人的性格都不一样而我们所拥有唯一的一个共同之处就是有同一个的身份基督徒就是这一个的身份把我们这些不同的人紧紧地连在一起一旦这个身份的特质被模糊了不清晰的时候也就是说在我们的身上找不到基督的这一些气质的时候我们与教会与弟兄姐妹之间的关系就会出现问题因此作为一个基督徒我们应该在生活中努力学习活出基督的样式
[29:28] 因为这也是圣经对我们基督徒生活的一个准则一个指引因为这就是一个指引我们应该生活的方法按照基督徒阿们阿们