Nov 1. 2020 / Ecclesia(4): What is Church doing? (2)

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

 

Ephesians 4:11-13

11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 

 

Ecclesia(4): What is Church doing? (2)

 

Peace to you all! I am so glad that you are joining us for Sunday worship service with us. I wish we were in the sanctuary and worshiped together in person. I miss when we got together, had fellowship, and we laughed, having lunch in the fellowship hall. I am praying that everyone stays safe and the protection of God is with you all. As we are undergoing through this situation, I have been grateful for how God keeps blessing us. Especially these changes had led us to the prayer meeting every Wednesday. People get together to ask God for His guidance and lead. We believe God hears our prayer and will show us the way, and God will bless us when we take a leap of faith. Sometimes God wants to see His people to take a step of faith. He wants to see if His people are faithful enough to dip in the edge of the Jordan river (Joshua 3:15).

 

While the Israelites in Exodus crossed the Red sea after confirming the water was divided, the Israelites in Joshua dipped their toes into the Jordan river even though the water was flowing. They proved their faith in God as they stretched out their foot first. As we pray to God for His guidance hoping to see the obvious lead, we also need to know that God sometimes is waiting to see His people to initiate their adventure in faith.

 

Story of the Flood

A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him. He had a vision in his head of God’s hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. The water started to rise in his house. His neighbor urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.” The neighbor drove off in his pick-up truck.

The man continued to pray and held on to his vision. As the water began to rise in his house, he had to climb up to the roof. A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.

The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The flood waters continued to rise. A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left. The flooding water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.

When he reached heaven and asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?” God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?” 

 

I remember a prayer from our prayer meeting. One church member prayed that we had opportunities but we were not sure about that. As we pray, let’s be mindful so that we may know if it is a pick-up truck, a boat, or a helicopter God sent us, when something comes up. 

 

We are talking about church: what church is, why we want to get together, what we are supposed to do as a church. Now it is clear for us that church is the group of people who called out to be a follower of Jesus Christ in order to equip believers/non-believers for the work of ministry and for building up the body of Christ. Last Sunday I explained that the five marks of church helped us to meet this goal. The first two marks, worship and teachings of Christ, are the basis and ultimate purposes of our existence. Worship should be the time for Christians to hear God’s Words and to experience the presence of God among us. Teachings of Jesus Christ founded the beliefs of the early church. The early church in Acts is the church we want to be. Churches has been developed their theology of church and ministries from that teachings of Christ. By studying this early church, we will  reshape our church foundation and future ministries.

 

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

 

Today we will look into the rest of church’s 5 marks that would help us to achieve the goal of being church: fellowship, witnessing, and serving.

 

1. Fellowship(Koinonia)

Fellowship probably is the most weakened church ministry by Covid 19. Especially, ATPC had fellowship luncheons every Sunday. Having a meal was a big part of our church ministry. But COVID-19 is preventing us from church gatherings and fellowships.

 

Early Church practice is not only the teachings of Christ, but also the breaking of bread and eating food together. 

 

Acts 2

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 

 

Jesus also enjoyed His time with his disciples and followers eating and drinking at the table. His opponents described Jesus as a glutton and a drunkard (Matthew 11:18-19). Even when He showed up to His disciples after resurrection, Jesus asked them for breakfast (John 21). Scriptures tells us that fellowship with other believers is great joy. 

 

But the story of the early church tells us that eating food is not all abut fellowship. Fellowship has more deeper meaning in it. For Christians, fellowship is the action that symbolizes and commemorates the mysterious fellowship in the Triune God. Triune God enjoys fellowship within God Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Since God extends His love to His creatures, God invites us into a relationship with God. Jesus came to teach us what it means to have fellowship with God. His fellowship with people became the origin of the Holy Communion. After His ascendence people has practiced the fellowship to commemorate and remind of the fellowship with God. 

 

1 John 1:3, 6-7

3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Although we don’t come to church to have worship service together, we have several small gatherings in different places. As we get together, please have Jesus Christ in the center among us. Let us remember our church members who cannot participate in the fellowship due to personal circumstance. 

 

And if we can, let’s make an effort to have fellowship. Not in-person; but a gathering that helps us stay in fellowship with others and the fellowship with God. 

 

1. Witnessing (Testimonium)

In Psychology, collective memory refers to the shared pool of memories, knowledge and information of a social group that is significantly associated with the group's identity. Consequently, collective memory represents past events as associated with the values, narratives and biases specific to that group. For instance, because of the memory about Taiwan history, Taiwanese values justice and shared their memories with their children. My grandfather was a refugee during the Korean War and fought in it. He told me how the communists from N. Korea were cruel and what they did to the people. Although I never experienced the time of war, I just grew up hating them. 

 

Why this collective memory is important to us is that church is a group of people who share the memories and teachings of Jesus. And through sharing memories about Jesus, we spread gospel which God commissioned us. But we don’t intend to brainwash nor idealize people to believe Jesus blindly. We just can’t help sharing who Jesus is and what He has done for us. What we are sharing is reconciliation, love and His sacrifice.

 

What makes you want to choose what you want to buy from Amazon? What is the biggest criterion for you to buy a product? It is a review, right? We typed in the searching box and sorted it by good reviews. If the product is cheaper but low points of review, we will skip it. On the other hand, the price is little bit more expensive than others, but good reviews, you will click the order button. Reviews influence our decision and it persuades us to choose it. Review is the first-hand witness and their memories about the products. Spreading Gospel is an action like to leave people a good review on Jesus Christ. Telling people how your life has been changed by Jesus. Proclaiming that Jesus has saved us.

 

People in the early church in Acts gathered to share others with their memories about Jesus and broke up to spread the gospel.

 

Acts 2:42, 46

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. …46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple

 

Romans 1: 15- 17

15 —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

 

We are the church. We are the group of people to believe in God, participate in the fellowship of the Triune God, and leave good reviews on God, which means to spread gospel. We are praying to spread gospel. To spread gospel, we need to make an opportunity to share your reviews. We are called out of the people, to be sent back to the people. 

 

1. Serving(Diakonia)

Jesus calls His disciples the light of the world. He commended them to give light to all and shine before others.  

 

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

 

Jesus ordered explicitly to give light to all and shine before others so that people may see our good works and give glory to our God. We, as church, are the light that gives light to all and shine before others. Hospitality has rooted deep in our faith since the time of the Old Testament.

 

Leviticus 19:34 

34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

 

I am proud of you and proud of being a pastor of ATPC. As many of you know, in spite of hard times, we have been diligent and faithful to do this serving. We delivered lunch boxes to the frontline workers, and donated food for refugee families. Furthermore recently we delivered God’s love to Mr. Wen Hu’s family. I don’t know if they are Christian or not. But it doesn’t matter for doing God’s work. We just did as God taught us: it gives light to all.

 

We are the Church that is the group of people who believe Jesus as savior and want to be the light in the world. As we are looking to relocate, I want us to think how we can be the light in the community, what are we going to bring in as we move in that community. We don’t know what decision we would be allowed to make. Whether we stay or move, be a light in the community is necessary to be considered.

 

Now we are about to finish my sermon. Before ending, I would like to remind you of what we are talking about. As ATPC has been praying and discussing about relocation, we began talking about church. What is the purpose of our existence? How do we achieve this goal? For the last two weeks, we studied fives marks of church: worship, teaching, fellowship, witnessing, and serving. These marks are the foundation of church and through these we can be guided to be a church. As we develop our mission and vision, let’s keep praying that we can balance these five and fulfill His ministry. 

 

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教會(4):教會在做什麼?(2) Translated by ATPC team

大家平安!我非常高興你参加我們一起做主日禮拜. 我真的希望我們是親身到教會的禮 拜堂來崇拜主.我想念我們以前能聚在一起, 在團契裏一起大笑, 在交誼廳共享午餐.我 祈祷大家保持平安, 有上帝的保護與你同在.當我們在經歷這困難的疫情時, 我還是感謝 主继績賜平安給大家, 尤其是這個疫情改變讓我們在每個禮拜三都有祈祷會.大家一起求 上帝給我們引導, 給我們指示.我們相信上帝有聽到我們的祈祷, 會指引我們道路, 當我們 在信仰上大步向前跳時, 上帝會賜福給我們. 有時候上帝要祂的子民在信仰上走小步前進, 他想要看到祂的子民是否有足夠的信心浸入約旦河河邊.(約書亞書 3:15).

 

“出埃及記” 中的以色列人是在確定海水已經分開後, 才渡過了紅海. “約書亞書” 中的以色列 人則是在河水還在流時, 就把他們的脚趾浸入了約旦河. 當他們伸出他們的脚時, 他們先 向上帝證明了他們對上帝的信仰. 當我們向上帝祈求指示來看清祂的領導時, 我們也要知 道上帝有時在等待我們主動地在信仰上往前探險.

 

洪水的故事

有一個人水災來時被困在家裏.他開始祈祷求上帝救他. 他在腦中有一個異像, 是上帝的 手從天上伸下來, 然後把他拉上去安全的地方. 水開始灌進他的房子裏.他的鄰居勸他離 開, 而且願意用小卡車子戴他去安全的地方.那個人大声回叫說 ”我在等上帝來救我”.他 的鄰居就開他的小卡車離開了。 那個人继續他的祈祷和堅持他的異像. 那時水在他屋子裏 又漲了, 他爬上屋頂去了.有一艘船向他開來, 船上載了一些人要去安全的地方, 他們叫他 接好繩子, 因為他們己準備好要丟救生繩給他, 帶他去安全的地方.他告訴他們他還要等 上帝救他.那些人搖搖頭就继續他們的事走開了. 那個人繼續他的祈禱, 相信以他全部的 心意他一定會被上帝救的.洪水繼續漲高.一架直昇機飛過, 而且用擴音器呼叫说要放下 梯子, 救他離開屋頂.那個人搖手揮開直昇機,又大声回叫說: 他在等上帝來救他.那一架

直昇機離開了.洪水漲過屋頂, 捲入那個人, 他被水掃開, 他被淹死了.當他去到天堂時, 他問:"上帝啊 ! 祢為什麼沒有救我?我全心地相信祢, 祢為什麼讓我被水淹死呢?上帝回 答说:"我派了一輛車,一艘船, 和一架直昇機去, 你都拒絕了他們. 我還有什麼其它可能 為你做的事呢?"

我記得我們禱告会中的一個祷告.有一會友祈祷說我們有過機會, 但是我們對那不確定. , 所以當我們祷告時, 我們要專心, 這樣我們才可以知道當事將發生時上帝派來給我們的是 一輛卡車, 一艘船, 还是一架直昇機.

我們在談論 ”教會” 這主题:什麼是教會?為什麼我們要聚集在一起? 我們以教會的身份要做什麼?現在我們知道教會是一群被呼召出來當耶穌基督的追隨者, 裝備 ”信的人” 和 “不信的人” 來為教會做事工, 也來建立基督的聖體.上一個主日我談到了教會的五個標誌, 用來解釋如何幫助我們達到目標. 最前面兩個標誌, 崇拜和基督的教導是基本, 也是我們存在的終極目的. 崇拜是基督徒聽上帝話語的時間, 也是用來體驗上帝存在我們中間. 耶穌基督的教導建立了早期教會的信仰. “使徒行傳” 所記載的教會是我們所想要 变成的教會. 教會根據耶穌基督的教導発展出教會的神學論和教會的事工组織. 從研究這個早期教會, 我們將會重新造形我們教會的基礎和未來的事工.

 

使徒行傳 2章
2:42 都恆心遵守使徒的教訓、彼此交接、擘餅、祈禱。
2:43 眾人都懼怕.使徒又行了許多奇事神蹟。
2:44 信的人都在一處、凡物公用.
2:45 並且賣了田產家業、照各人所需用的分給各人。
2:46 他們天天同心合意恆切的在殿裡、且在家中擘餅、存著歡喜誠實的心用飯、 

2:47 讚美 神、得眾民的喜愛。主將得救的人、天天加給他們。

 

為了幫助我們達到成為一個健全教會的目標, 今天讓我們來看看教會五個標誌的其他三 個:團契, 見證,和服務.

 

I. Fellowship(Koinonia) 團契

團契這個標誌大概是被新冠病毒影响最大的教會事工.尤其在 ATPC 我們每個主日本來 都有團契午餐聚會. 大家一起吃飯是我們教會事工的一份大事.但是新冠病毒不讓我們 有教會聚會和舉行團契活動.早期教會不止舉行基督的教導, 也同在一起用手擘餅和一起 進餐.

使徒行傳 2章
2:42 都恆心遵守使徒的教訓、彼此交接、擘餅、祈禱。
2:46 他們天天同心合意恆切的在殿裡、且在家中擘餅、存著歡喜誠實的心用飯、

耶穌也喜歡和他的門徒和追隨者一起在飯桌上共餐飲.有反對他的人稱耶穌是一個貪食好 酒的人.(馬太福音 11:18-19). 甚至當他從死中復活後現身見到他的門徒時, 他要和他 們一起吃早餐 (約翰 21).聖經中的許多經節告訴我們和其他信主的人一起進行團契活動 是快樂的事.

但是早期教會的故事告訴我們吃東西並不是團契的全部. 團契有更深入的意義在裡面 . 對基督徒而言, 團契是代表和追憶三位一體上帝的神秘團契的行動. 三位一體的上帝享受 在 聖父, 聖子, 聖靈裡的團契.因為上帝延續了他的愛到他所創造的生命, 上帝也邀請我們 與上帝建立關係.耶穌來到世間教我們知道與上帝有團契是什麼意義.祂和祂的子民的團 契變成了聖餐禮的起源. 當祂昇天以後人民舉行團契來記念和追憶與上帝在一起的團 契.

約翰一書 1章 1:3

1:6 1:7

我們將所看見、所聽見的、傳給你們、使你們與我們相交、我們乃是與父並他兒子耶

穌基督相交的.

我們若說是與 神相交、卻仍在黑暗裡行、就是說謊話、不行真理了.

我們若在光明中行、如同神在光明中、就彼此相交、他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切

的罪。

 

雖然我們不能到教會一起來参加崇拜禮拜, 我們在不同的地方仍有幾個小型的聚會. 當我 們聚在一起時, 請把耶穌基督放在我們的正中央.也讓我們想到那些因個人狀況不同而不 能來参加團契的會友.

還有, 如果能, 我們要盡力舉行團契活動.不一定是要親身出席, 我們要的是要讓大家在團 契中和別人相聚, 也要與上帝在團契裡相聚.

 

II. Witnessing (Testimonium) 見証

在心理學上, 集體記憶是指有共通性的社交人群連结在一起時所共有的的記憶, 知識和资 料的集合.因此, 集體記憶代表了這個群體對過去事件所特有的價值觀, 敍述, 和偏見.譬 如說:因為對台灣歷史的記憶, 台灣人重視正義也和他們的小孩分享他們的記憶.我的祖 父在韓戰時是個難民也参加了戰爭.他告訴過我北韓共産黨是如何的殘忍還有他們如何對 待人民.雖然我從没有經歷過戰時, 但是我在成長中就恨他們.

 

為什麼集體記憶對我們重要, 原因就是教會是一群人一起分享對耶穌的記憶 也分享耶穌的教導.透過分享對耶穌的記憶, 正如上帝要我們做的
一樣, 我們要宣揚福音.但是我們並不想用洗腦或美裝化去讓人盲目地信基督. 我們只是不由自已的想向別人分享 耶穌是誰 和 耶穌為我們做了什麼 的福音. 我們所分享的是耶穌的和解, 慈愛, 和犧牲.

 

甚麼使你選擇那個是你想從 Amazon 買的東西?甚麼是讓你買一個産品的最大因素? 是評鑑報告, 對嗎?我們在搜尋的方格裏打字, 然後按造評鑑結果的好壞排列. 如果有一産品比較便宜但評鑑排名很低分, 我們就跳過它.

相對的, 有一産品比別的貴一點, 但是被評的很好, 你就去按了購買鍵. 評鑑會影響我們的決定, 它會說服我們去選什麼. 評鑑是第一手的見証也是對這産品的回憶.傳福音就像是給別人你對耶穌基督的好評鑑. 是告訴別人你的生命是如何的被耶穌改变了. 是向眾人宣告耶穌已經救了我們.

 

在使徒行傳中早期教會的人聚在一起跟別人分享他們對耶穌的記憶, 然後分開來去宣揚福音.

使徒行傳 2章
2:42 都恆心遵守使徒的教訓、彼此交接、擘餅、祈禱。
2:46 他們天天同心合意恆切的在殿裡、且在家中擘餅、存著歡喜誠實的心用飯、

 

羅馬書 1章
1:15 所以情願盡我的力量、將福音也傳給你們在羅馬的人。
1:16 我不以福音為恥.這福音本是 神的大能、要救一切相信的、 先是猶太人、後是希利尼人。
1:17 因為 神的義、正在這福音上顯明出來.這義是本於信、以致於信. 如經上所記、『義人必因信得生。』

我們是一個教會. 我們是一群相信上帝的人, 参加三位一體上帝的團契, 我們寫下對上帝的好評鑑, 也就是廣傳福音.我們在祈禱去傳福音. 為了傳福音, 我們要製造機會來分享你的評鑑. 我們從人群中被呼召出來, 我們也將被差遣回去人群中.

 

III. Serving(Diakonia) 服務

耶穌稱他的門徒是世界上的光. 祂要他們照亮人家並照在人前.

馬太福音 5章
5:14 你們是世上的光.城造在山上、是不能隱藏的。
5:15 人點燈、不放在斗底下、是放在燈臺上、就照亮一家的人。
5:16 你們的光也當這樣照在人前、叫他們看見你們的好行為、便將榮耀歸給 你們在天上的父。

耶穌明確地指示說去照亮人家去照在人前, 讓人可以看到我們的好事工, 而且榮耀我們的上帝. 我們, 是一個教會, 是一座燈在照亮人和照在人前. 自從舊約時代開始, 款待別人就已深植在我們的信仰裡面.

 

利未記 19章
19:34 和你們同居的外人、你們要看他如本地人一樣、並要愛他如己、 因為你們在埃及地也作過寄居的.我是耶和華你們的 神。

我很為你們感到驕傲, 我也很光榮能擔任ATPC 的牧師. 正如你們很多人都知道的, 雖然在艱苦時期我們仍很努力很忠心的做服務的事工. 我們送午餐盒去給第一線的工作人員, 我們捐助食物給難民家庭, 還有我們最近也傳送了上帝的愛給了 Mr. Wen Hu (胡先生) 的家庭. 我不知道他們是否是基督徒, 但是為了做上帝的事工, 這個並不重要,我們只是做了上帝教我們的: 去照亮大家.

 

我們是一群信奉耶穌為救世主的人, 並希望成為世上之光的教會。 在當我們考慮遷堂時, 我要我們考量我們如何成為社區裏的光. 當我們搬到一個社區時, 我們將帶什麼去呢? 我們不知道我們可以做出什麼樣的决定. 不論我們留下來或是搬遷, 都要考慮成為社區中的一盞燈。

 

現在我們快要结束我的講道. 在我结束前我想提醒你們我們在談論的主題是什麼,
當 ATPC 在祈祷並討論遷堂時, 我們開始談論 ”教會”. 我們存在的目的是什麼? 我們要如何達到目標?在最近兩週, 我們學習了教會的五個標誌: 崇拜, 教育, 團契, 見証, 服務. 這些標誌是教會的基礎, 透過這些我們將被引導成為一個好教會. 當我們在發展我們的使命和異像時, 讓我們繼續祈祷, 祈求我們可以 平衡這五個標誌來完成主的事工.