2020-03-22 20/20异象系列之八：基督、教会与新冠病
2020-03-22 本文已影响0人
羊皮卷的味道
| Steven Lee | 李司提反 |
|---|---|
| Ephesians 4:11–16 | 以弗所书4:11–16 |
| 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. | 11 他所赐的，有作使徒的，有作先知的，有作传福音的，也有作牧养和教导的， 12 为的是要装备圣徒，去承担圣工，建立基督的身体； 13 直到我们众人对 神的儿子都有一致的信仰和认识，可以长大成人，达到基督丰盛长成的身量； 14 使我们不再作小孩子，中了人的诡计和骗人的手段，给异教之风摇撼，飘来飘去， 15 却要在爱中过诚实的生活，在各方面长进，达到基督的身量。他是教会的头， 16 全身靠着他，藉着每一个关节的支持，照着每部分的功用，配合联系起来，使身体渐渐长大，在爱中建立自己。 |
| Introduction | 引言 |
| Last week Pastor Dave helped us to see that the church is not a spectator sport, but that every member is to get in the game with the diversity of gifts that are given by the Spirit. This is part of our larger 20/20 Vision where we’re eager to see every single member engaged in the life of the church, shepherded by the elders, and participating in our life together. | 上周，戴夫牧师帮助我们看到了教会不是看球赛，而是每个会众都必须带着圣灵赐下的各种恩赐参与到比赛中。我们20/20异象中更大愿景的一部分就是，我们渴望看到每一位成员都参与到教会的生活中，由长老们牧养，融汇到我们共同的生命中。 |
| This week’s message should function like a one-two punch for calling the church to be engaged in the mission of God. It’s particularly timely because we are living in the midst of a global pandemic where every country, every state, every business, every household, and every individual is being affected. | 本周的信息应该像套组合拳一样，呼召教会参与到上帝的使命中。这特别及时，因为我们正处于病毒的全球性大流行之中，每个国家、每个州、每个单位、每个家庭和每个人都在受影响。 |
| We’re living in a world that is changing rapidly, evolving constantly, and shifting quickly. Things are in flux. It seems all the more fitting to preface every statement with, “if the Lord wills…” we’ll reschedule or we’ll regroup at that time. But even in a world in flux, we have a God who is unchanging, steadfast, faithful, and ever present, Jesus still sits on his throne, Romans 8:28 didn’t disappear from your Bibles this month, and the sun will continue to shine. | 我们生活在一个瞬息万变、日新月异、风云变幻的世界里。逝者如斯。似乎我们每说一件事都应该以“如果主愿意...”开头，计划总是赶不上变化。但即使身处这样一个动荡的世界，我们也有一位永不改变、坚定不移、信实、永在的上帝。耶稣仍然坐在祂的宝座上。罗马书8:28在这个月里并未从你的圣经里消失，太阳依然在闪耀。 |
| In the midst of a global pandemic, there is a temptation to think that life is on pause these next couple of months. But throughout history and in the pages of Scripture, when things got bad the people of God got going. In evil and dark days, God’s good news shines forth with brilliance. So this morning I want to ask the question: What might God do through his people to build and strengthen the church and love the lost? | 在全球病毒大流行中，人们倾向于以为接下来几个月的生活要按下暂停键。但纵观整个历史和圣经，当环境恶化时，上帝的子民就开始行动了。在邪恶和黑暗的日子里，上帝的佳音熠熠生光。所以，今天早上我想问一个问题：上帝借着祂的子民可以做些什么来建立和巩固教会，和爱那些失丧的人？ |
| My main point this morning is that Jesus leads his church by giving her leaders to equip the saints to minister to one another in order to increasingly look like Christ. | 今天上午我的要点是，耶稣带领教会，藉着教会领导们装备圣徒互相服侍，以使他们越来越有基督的样式。 |
| My plan is to walk through our passage from Ephesians 4:11–16 (which is one long extended sentence in the original Greek), and then to put that into application in the second half as we consider how do Christians respond in times such as these. | 我的计划是从以弗所书4：11–16（希腊原文中只是一个长句）开始讲解，然后在下半部分讲应用，考虑基督徒该如何应对当前形势。 |
| My aim this morning is to help us to respond with faith and not fear in the midst of a global pandemic. | 今天上午我的目的是帮助我们以信心而不是恐惧来回应全球病毒大流行。 |
| Understanding Ephesians 4:11-16 | 理解以弗所书4：11-16 |
| For those unfamiliar with the book of Ephesians, this book was written by the Apostle Paul. He spends chapters 1–3 recounting what God has accomplished in salvation and who believers are in Christ. In chapters 4–6 he turns to instruct them on how to live as the people of God. In our section in chapter 4, Paul turns to instruct the Ephesians on the nature and design of the church. Essentially answering the question “why is church important?” | 如果你不熟悉以弗所书，那我告诉你，这本书的作者是使徒保罗。他在第1至第3章中阐述了上帝所成就的救恩，以及信的人都是在基督里。在第4-6章中，他转向指导读者该如何活出神的子民的样式来。在我们的第4章中，保罗转向教导以弗所人关于教会的本质和设计。主要是回答一个问题： “为什么教会很重要？” |
| The basic outline of Ephesians 4:11–16 is as follows: | 以弗所书4：11-16的基本要点如下： |
| 1. Christ’s Gift: Jesus gives grace to all and leaders to the church (4:7, 11) | 1.基督的恩赐：耶稣给所有人和教会领袖以恩典（4：7，11） |
| 2. Christ’s Purpose: To equip the saints for ministry (4:12) | 2.基督的旨意：装备圣徒做圣工（4:12） |
| 3. Christ’s Aim: So that | 3.基督的目标：为的是 |
| a. Believers will have a greater knowledge of Christ (13) | a信徒将更认识基督（13节） |
| b. Believers will have a greater discernment of error (14) | b信徒对假教导将有更强的辨别力（14节） |
| c. Believers will increasingly resemble Christ (15–16) | C信徒将越来越像基督（15-16节） |
| The Gift | 恩赐 |
| The answer is that Jesus has designed the church so that every member of the church receives gifts in order to serve. We read this back in Ephesians 4:7 “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” This is right in step with where Pastor Dave left off last week in that every member has received gifts to be used for the common good. | 答案是耶稣创设教会是为了使教会的每个成员都得到恩赐用于服事。我们在以弗所书4：7中读到这句话：“我们各人蒙恩，是照着基督量给我们的恩赐。”这恰好与戴夫牧师上周所讲的步伐一致，因为每个成员都领受了恩赐，为了众人受益。 |
| What this should remind us is that not only is Christ the head of the church, not only does Christ give gifts to his people to serve, but Christ is ruling and reigning from on high to use, to equip, and to empower his church for meaningful service. We see in verse 7 that grace was given “according to the measure of Christ’s gift,” suggesting that grace is given not haphazardly but sovereignly, wisely, and according to Christ design for the good of the church. | 这提醒我们，基督不仅是教会的元首，基督不仅赋予子民恩赐用来服事，而且基督在至高之处掌管和治理，使用、装备、授权给祂的教会进行有意义的事工。我们在第7节中看到，恩典是“照着基督量给的恩赐”，这表明恩赐不是出于偶然，而是出于主权和智慧，根据基督为教会的益处而设计的。 |
| Perhaps the best visible illustration of how we need everyone working together is our current coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps you’ve seen the videos circulating of people partying at the beach in Florida. | 我们为何需要每个人共同努力，一个最显而易见的好例子就是我们当前的新冠病毒大流行。也许你已经看过网上流传的佛罗里达州海滩聚会的视频。 |
| • Requires Community Mitigation: To mitigate the impact and spread of this virus, particularly for our most vulnerable populations, requires the concerted efforts of our national government, our state and local governments, our medical providers, retailers and their supply chains, universities and schools, our community leaders, our churches, our workplaces, restaurants and gyms, and down to every family and each individual. | •需要社区防控：要减轻这种病毒的影响和传播，尤其是对我们中间最脆弱的人群，需要我们的联邦政府、我们的州和地方政府、我们的医疗系统、零售商及其供应链、大学和中小学、我们的社区领袖、我们的教会、我们的工作场所、餐厅和体育馆、乃至每个家庭和每个人的共同努力。 |
| • Every Person Matters: When one person fails to self-quarantine, or a subset of a group ignores the restrictions, we make it more difficult to contain the spread. Every member matters, and a disease can spread rapidly through one individual to cripple an entire city, state, or nation. | •每个人都很关键：如果一个人没能做好自我隔离，或者某一小部分人忽略了这些限制，我们将更难以防控疫情。每个成员都很重要，疾病可以通过某一个人迅速传播，从而削弱整个城市、州或国家的生命。 |
| Then in Ephesians 4:11–12 he highlights how particular gifts are given to equip the body: “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry….” These leadership roles played a critical role in the establishment of local churches and these roles are involved in the work of the proclamation and application of God’s word. | 然后在以弗所书4：11–12中，他强调了特殊的恩赐如何用于肢体装备：“11 他所赐的，有作使徒的，有作先知的，有作传福音的，也有作牧养和教导的， 12为的是要装备圣徒，去承担圣工，建立基督的身体；”这些领导角色在地方教会的建立中起着至关重要的作用，这些角色也参与宣讲和运用上帝圣言的工作。 |
| The Purpose | 旨意 |
| But what is key is not the distinction between leaders and laity, from elders and congregants, but rather what did God give leaders for? He gave them for the function of equipping individuals for service. | 但是，关键不是领袖与平信徒，或长老与会众之间的区别，而是上帝给了领袖什么？祂给他们的职责是装备圣徒去承担圣工。 |
| What is “the work of ministry” then that Paul has in view? He immediately follows that up with saying, “for the building up the body of Christ…” The flow of argumentation goes a little like this: Jesus leaves but gives his Spirit and gifts to every single member of the church to use. Some receive gifts to equip the saints—every single member—so that they can carry out the work of ministry. The church should never be 20% does 80% of the work, but instead some equip the many for 100% of the work. That work is the mutual up building of the body of Christ. This is why your pastors are so eager to preach and minister God’s word to you in these days. We so want to equip you in these unique and unprecedented times to minister well. | 保罗认为什么是“圣工”？他马上接着说：“为建立基督的身体……”辩论的过程有点像这样：耶稣离开了，但将祂的圣灵和恩赐赐给了教会的每个成员。有些人会收到恩赐以装备圣徒（每位成员），以便他们能够开展事工。教会永远不应该让20％的人完成80％的工作，而应该装备更多人以完成100％的工作。这项工作是基督身体相互建造的基础。这就是为什么你的牧师在这些日子里如此渴望传讲神的话语的原因。我们希望在这个独特而前所未有的时刻来装备你以做好圣工。 |
| This leads us to the question of what type of up building Paul has in view here. That is essentially what the rest of the passage answers for us. Remember, verses 11–16 function as one long, extended sentence in the Greek, and there are three main goals of Christian ministry which we find in verses 13–16. The mutual up building of the body has three aims in view: | 这让我们想到一个问题：保罗在这里考虑的是哪种类型的建造。这段经文余下经节主要就是给我们回答这个问题。请记住，第11-16节在希腊文中是一个超长句，我们在第13-16节中发现了基督教事工的三个主要目标。互相建立肢体具有三个目标： |
| 1. Believers to have a greater knowledge of Christ (13) | 1.信徒对基督有更多的认识（13节） |
| 2. Believers to have a greater discernment of error (14) | 2.信徒对假教导有更强的辨别力（14节） |
| 3. Believers to increasingly resemble Christ (15–16) | 3.信徒越来越像基督（15-16节） |
| Aim #1: Believers to have a Greater Knowledge of Christ (v13) | 目标1：信徒对基督有更多的认识（v13） |
| Notice that in verse 13 there are three prepositional phrases that are all inter-related to growing in maturity and knowledge. It says until we all attain… | 请注意，在第13节中，存在三个介词短语，它们与成熟度和知识的增长有关。它说直到我们众人…… |
| 1) …to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, | 1）…对神的儿子都有一致的信仰和认识， |
| 2) …to mature manhood, | 2）…可以长大成人， |
| 3) …to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ… | 3）…达到基督丰盛长成的身量；… |
| This isn’t three separate ideas but rather three different aspects of a singular aim that Paul has in view for the Ephesians. The first aspect is a complete and full knowledge of their faith, namely that of the Son of God. The second is that of mature manhood or a mature corporate body. Paul wants the church to be as mature as it can possibly be, contrasting that with being infants in the following verse. We are to be mature and not immature in our approach to knowing Christ. Third, to attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is full maturity and to become more like Jesus Christ himself. | 这不是三个独立的想法，而是保罗针对以弗所人的单一目标的三个不同侧面。第一个方面是对他们的信仰，即对圣子的信仰有完整和全面的了解。第二个是成熟的身量或作为集体的长成的身体。保罗希望教会尽可能地成熟，这与后面经文中的婴儿形成鲜明对比。在认识基督方面，我们要成熟而不是不成熟。第三，达到基督丰盛的身量。这是完全成熟的，变得更像耶稣基督本人。 |
| This ought to call to mind 2 Corinthians 3:18, where God’s people are not like Moses with a veil over their faces, but “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” There is a transformation that takes place when God’s people labor and strive together with our diversity of gifts to build one another up in Christ. There is a beholding effect that takes place. | 这提醒我们注意哥林多后书3：18，上帝的子民不像摩西，脸上披着面纱，但“我们众人脸上的帕子既然已经揭开，反映主的荣光，就变成主那样的形象，大有荣光。”当上帝的子民一起努力工作，并以我们各样的恩赐一起努力在基督里彼此建立时，就会发生一种转变。产生引人注目的效果。 |
| This is a holistic maturity that Paul has in view. He wants their head and heart transformed so that the whole person looks more like Jesus. | 保罗认为这是一个整体的成熟。他希望他们的头脑和心灵都转变，以使整个人看起来更像耶稣。 |
| Don’t waste your self-isolation! Use this time to encourage others, to read the Bible, read good books, take a walk, turn off the constant stream of news, social media, and noise, write letters to those you love, to pray, pray, and pray some more, and behold the glory of the Lord. Fear will feast on your isolation, unless you feed your faith in God’s word. Social media will exacerbate your self-isolation, but through prayer you communion with the God who holds all things. | 不要浪费自我隔离的机会！利用这段时间来鼓励他人、阅读圣经、阅读好书、散步、关闭源源不断的新闻、社交媒体和喧闹声，给你所爱的人写信、祷告、祷告、更多的祷告，仰望耶和华的荣耀。除非你对上帝的话语充满信心，否则恐惧将使你感到孤独。社交媒体会加剧你的自我孤立，但是借着祷告，你可以与万有的上帝相交。 |
| The goal of the church—in wartime and in peacetime, in crisis and global unrest, in crashing stock markets, in hoarding and fear—remains the same: look more like Jesus. And we will even do this better when the world around us is fearful, anxious, and looking out only for themselves and their own stockpile of toilet paper. | 教会的目标——在战争时期与和平时期，在危机与全球动荡中，在股市崩溃中，在囤货与恐慌中——依然不变：要更像耶稣。当我们周围的世界充满恐惧和焦虑，只顾自己囤积厕纸的时候，我们甚至会做得更好。 |
| Aim #2: Believers to have a Greater Discernment of Error (v14) | 目标2：信徒对假教导有更强的辨别力（v14） |
| A second purpose of believers building up the body of Christ is to be able to discern error. Paul is concerned for the Ephesians to not be immature and naïve like children. How does he describe them? As those who are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” The image here is that of a child in the waves of an ocean and they are just tossed about in every direction, without weight, without anchoring, and without ability to withstand the push and pull of the waves. | 信徒建立基督身体的第二个目的是能够辨别错误。保罗担心以弗所人像孩子一样幼稚。他如何形容他们？就像那些“中了人的诡计和骗人的手段，给异教之风摇撼，飘来飘去”。这里的画面是一个小孩在海浪中的身影，他们被四面袭来的海浪抛来抛去，没有份量，没有锚，也没有承受波浪牵拉的能力。 |
| In college when I lived in San Diego, we had to be aware of the presence of rip currents that would just drag you out to sea. You couldn’t swim against the currents because they would be too strong. You would tire yourself out and likely drown. You had to swim perpendicular to the currents before swimming back to shore. Paul wants the Ephesians not to be deceived by false teachings that are perhaps threats below the surface that are not easily seen or discerned unless they are discerning and mature. | 上大学时我住在圣地亚哥，我们必须时刻留意会拽人入海的浪潮。你不可能逆着潮流游泳，因为海潮冲力太大了。你一下子就累坏了，然后可能就淹死了。在回到岸上之前，你必须垂直于水流方向游泳。保罗希望以弗所人不要被错误的教导所迷惑，这些错误的教导可能是潜在的威胁，除非他们具有洞察力和成熟度，否则很难发现或辨别。 |
| He has in mind don’t believe everything you hear from influential people. Don’t be gullible. Don’t forget to utilize biblical discernment by measuring everything you hear up against what the Scriptures teach on a particular topic or issue. | 他的想法是不要相信你从有影响力的人那里听到的一切。不要轻信。不要忘记根据圣经来分辨，看圣经怎么教导特定主题或话题的。 |
| To combat false teaching is a community project. False ideologies, false philosophies, and teachings that seek to undermine the Bible’s teaching. But we also need this awareness right now in our current situation with the coronavirus and correct falsehoods: | 打击假教导是一个集体项目。错误的意识形态，错误的哲学思想和旨在破坏圣经教义的教义。但是，在我们目前的情况下，我们还需要对冠状病毒有正确的认识，并纠正错误信息： |
| • Much of our self-quarantining and suspension of activities is an act of love—so that we don’t contribute to the spread to vulnerable populations and overwhelm the healthcare system. It’s not mainly out of fear. | •我们的大部分自我隔离和暂停活动是爱的表现——这样我们才不会对脆弱人群带来传染，也不会使医疗系统不堪重负。这不是出于恐惧。 |
| • Christians in crisis don’t hoard, but give sacrificially. Consider the early church in Acts 4:32–33, it says “[32] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. [33] And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” If we were to translate Luke 3:11 today we might say, “Whoever has two [rolls of toilet paper] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” | •处于危机中的基督徒不要囤积，而是奉献。想想使徒行传4：32-33中的初代教会，它说：“ 32全体信徒一心一意，没有一个人说自己的财物是自己的，他们凡物公用。33使徒大有能力，为主耶稣的复活作见证，众人都蒙了大恩。”如果今天我们要翻译路加福音3：11，我们可能会说：“谁有两卷（厕纸），就应该与没有的人分享，谁有食物的人也应分享。” |
| • The truth of Psalm 46:1 has not changed: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” | •诗篇46：1的真理没有改变：“神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。” |
| Aim #3: Believers to Increasingly Resemble Christ (v15–16) | 目标3：信徒越来越像基督（15-16节 ） |
| Third, believers are to increasingly resemble Christ. That’s how I understand the call to “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Childishness is being blown and tossed by the wind, but when we’re growing into Christ, the body of Christ works together, joined and held together by every joint. Every member is actively at work together in building up the body in love. This is in contradiction to our individualistic self-sufficient culture. We don’t work individually for self-improvement, but we strive corporately towards Christlikeness. Paul calls the body to work together towards doctrinal faithfulness coupled with a Christ-like culture. | 第三，信徒将越来越像基督。这就是我所理解的“在各方面长进，达到基督的身量”的呼召。幼稚病经不起风浪，但是当我们成长为更像基督的时候，基督的身体就齐心协力，各个关节联合在一起。每个成员都在积极努力地建立爱的身体。这与我们的个人主义自给自足的文化相矛盾。我们不会为提高自己而单独工作，但我们会全力以赴，努力学像基督。保罗呼吁肢体共同努力，以实现教义上的忠信和学像基督的文化。 |
| Often we can think that this “speaking the truth in love” is either relegated to one-to-one counseling or confrontation. But Paul has in view loving Christ-like correction and gentle, tender truth telling. To speak the truth is loving, and you can speak the truth without love, gentleness, and kindness. So Paul is calling for truth telling with love as both our motivation (we love them) and as our demeanor and desire. We want them to feel loved and to see the love flow from us. | 通常，我们可以认为，这种“在爱里说真话”是一对一的辅导或对质。但是保罗认为爱是基督般的纠正和温和、温柔地说真话。讲真话是爱，但你也可能在没有爱、温柔和仁慈的情况下讲真话。所以，保罗呼吁用爱讲真话，爱既是我们的动力（我们爱他们），又是我们的品性和情怀。我们希望他们感到被爱，并看到爱从我们身上流溢而出。 |
| The church is God’s main vehicle for bringing about worldwide transformation. Consider that for a moment. The body—Christ’s church—is joined to Christ the head, and is to work together with its diverse gifts to build up the body in love. This is our calling in life. It’s bigger that our individual pursuits and ambitions. Do you pray for God to grow his church, to advance his kingdom, and for his people to increasingly resemble Christ? That ought to be one of our primary prayers. | 教会是上帝促成普世转变的主要工具。想想这一点。身体-基督的教会-与基督的头相连，并且要与各样恩赐一起工作，以建立爱的身体。这是我们生命中的呼召，超过我们的个人追求和野心。你是否祈求上帝发展祂的教会，推进祂的国度，让祂的子民越来越像基督？那应该是我们的主要祈祷之一。 |
| This is all built upon the work of love. Loved by God having been predestined before the foundations of the world in love (Ephesians 1:4–5), and so we can “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…” (Ephesians 5:2). Our ability to love is rooted and grounded in the reality that we are recipients of an otherworldly love. We have been loved when unlovely. We received life when dead. We were granted friendship while enemies. We were given forgiveness while sinning. We were rescued while cursing the rescuer. We received life even while we drove the nails through. We were given entrance into his kingdom, even though we did not love him first. This is the glorious nature of the gospel. | 这一切都建立在爱的工作上。在以爱创立世界以先上帝早已爱了我们（以弗所书1：4-5），所以我们“要凭着爱心行事，好像基督爱我们，为我们舍己……”（以弗所书5：2） 。我们是彼岸之爱的接受者这一事实决定了我们爱的能力。当我们并不可爱时我们就被爱着。我们死了却得到生命。当我们还是敌人时，我们被当作好友。犯罪时我们得到了宽恕。我们在诅咒救主时被救赎。即使我们钉祂时，我们也得到了生命。即使我们不先爱祂，我们还是被允许进入祂的国度。这就是福音的荣耀本质。 |
| As we understand the nature and design of the church and the calling of the church, what are we to do with that information? What I want to do is not necessarily apply this passage by encouraging small groups, church membership, discipleship, giving, and involvement in the local body, but rather equip you to do the work of ministry while we’re not gathered together in person for the next seven weeks. | 当我们了解教会的性质和设计以及教会的召唤时，我们该如何回应这些信息？我想做的不一定是通过鼓励小组、教会成员制、门徒训练、奉献和参与地方肢体来运用这段话，我是要在我们无法面对面聚会的七个星期里装备你做好圣工。 |
| Application: Being the Church in a Pandemic | 应用：病毒大流行中的教会 |
| My burden is for the church to do the work of ministry in these unique and unprecedented days. I know that this is the desire of so many of you out there right now. Here’s a small sampling I’m aware of. | 我的负担是希望教会在这独特而空前的日子里做圣工。我知道这就是现在很多人的愿望。这里有个小样本。 |
| • I received an email from a 71 year-old woman wanting to know how she can provide practical help to others. | •我收到了一位71岁老太的电子邮件，她想知道她可以如何为他人提供实际帮助。 |
| • We sent out an email asking people to sign up if they’d like to help and I’ve been overwhelmed by the response of dozens and dozens of people saying they are ready to help provide spiritual and practical help however they can. | •我们发送了一封电子邮件，要求人们注册是否愿意提供帮助，人们几十几十个地表示愿意随时提供属灵和实际帮助，对此我深受感动。 |
| • I have heard from medical personnel who are working increased hours to meet the need. They are praying that can give medical help and spiritual hope as they serve. | •我听说医务人员正在加班加点以满足需求。他们祈祷能在服侍时给予医疗帮助和属灵上的盼望。 |
| • I know of so many who are not worried, not at risk, but doing their part to stay home so they don’t spread it to others. | •我知道有很多人身体没有隐患，不是高危人群，但会尽己所能留在家中，以免将病毒传播给他人。 |
| I’m eager to see us all equipped to minister to one another and those without Christ in the days ahead. Might God be pleased to move in us and in the hearts of our neighbors like never before? Might God be pleased to save the lost, awaken a revival in both our hearts and our communities, to save marriages, to reconcile estranged relationships, and to wean us from the idols of control, prosperity, and instant gratification so that we would trust in God alone? So I have a few groups of people in mind this morning listening to this message. | 我渴望看到我们所有人有能力在未来的日子里互相帮助，以及那些没有基督的人。上帝是否会乐意以前所未有的方式在我们和我们邻居的心中动工？上帝可能会乐于拯救失丧者，唤醒我们内心和社区的复兴，拯救婚姻，调和疏远的人际关系，并使我们脱离掌控、繁荣和即时满足的偶像，以便我们唯独相信上帝吗？所以，今天早上我想到几组在此听道的人们。 |
| A Word for those Exploring Christianity | 给慕道友的话 |
| I know there are some this morning who are looking for answers. You don’t call yourself a Christian, you don’t know the full meaning of the gospel, but with all that is going on right now, you’re looking for answers. Is there any hope on the horizon? Is there any vaccine for the fear and uncertainty I feel? There is, and his name is Jesus. | 我知道今天早上有人在寻找答案。你不称自己为基督徒，也不了解福音的全部含义，但鉴于目前发生的一切，你正在寻找答案。地上有希望吗？我有什么疫苗可以缓解我的恐惧和担忧吗？有，祂的名字叫耶稣。 |
| The gospel tells us that we live in a world full of brokenness. If not a pandemic, then wars and rumors of war, financial collapse, and natural and unnatural disasters. This brokenness we feel at our very core because we all fall short of God’s perfect standard. We sin, we fail, and we seek satisfaction in all the wrong places. Jesus came to rescue sinners from the shackles of sin and suffering so that we might have forgiveness of sins, everlasting hope, and peace in the midst of a storm. Jesus, when he lived here on earth, literally calmed a raging storm by calling out “peace, be still!” And he can do the same in your heart this morning if you would surrender to Jesus by recognizing your sin, confessing of it, and entrusting your life to Jesus this morning. | 福音告诉我们，我们生活在一个充满破碎的世界。即使没有病毒大流行，也还有战争和战争谣言、金融危机以及各种天灾人祸。我们在内心感到破碎，是因为我们都没有达到上帝完美的标准。我们犯罪，我们失败，我们在所有错误的地方寻求满足。耶稣来是要拯救罪人摆脱罪恶和苦难的捆绑，以便我们在暴风雨中可以罪得赦免，得到永恒的盼望与平安。耶稣在世上居住时，祂大喊一声“不要作声，安静吧！”，就平息了汹涌的风暴。如果你愿意通过承认自己的罪过，认罪并将自己的生命托付给耶稣，今天早晨祂会在你的心中做同样的事情。 |
| A Word for those Fearful & Anxious | 给恐惧焦虑的人 |
| So I have a few groups of people in view. For those who are fearful and anxious, Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Truths like Isaiah 41:10 are given for days and times such as this. Put Almighty God to the test and he will be faithful and true. Go to Jesus! Put down your phone, stop scrolling, stop reading updates and fall to your knees and go to the source of hope and peace in times of trouble. | 所以，我看到有几组人。以赛亚书41:10提醒那些惧怕和焦虑的人：“不要惧怕，因为我与你同在；不要四处张望，因为我是你的 神，我必坚固你，我必帮助你；我必用公义的右手扶持你。”像以赛亚书41:10这样的真理是为当前这样的日子预备的。全能的上帝是久经考验的信实与真实。去找耶稣！放下电话，停止滑标，停止阅读更新，曲下膝盖，在遇到麻烦时去寻求希望与和平之主。 |
| I anticipate that some of the most effective evangelists in the church will be born in a time such as this. Fearful and anxious people who have found hope and peace in Christ are going to be some of the best counselors of the soul for others who are fearful and anxious. O that fresh opportunities would arise to speak of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ that will never fade, never disappoint, and never let us down. | 我预计教会中一些最有果效的传教士将在这样的时代出生。原本恐惧焦虑而在基督里已经找到希望与平安的人，将成为那些惧怕焦虑之人最好的心灵顾问。噢，这将带来新的机会来谈论我们在耶稣基督中拥有的盼望，这种盼望将永不褪色，绝不会令人失望，也不会让我们失望。 |
| A Word for those Needing Help | 给需要帮助的人 |
| There are some of you watching alone, and who feel more isolated than ever. The body of Christ needs you right now and we need you to reach out for help. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” Perhaps your contribution to the body is to reach out and ask for help. If you fail to reach out, you rob the body of the joy and privilege of serving one another with the multitude of gifts he has given us. Whether you are prone to depression, in isolation, battling fear, limited by your physical limitations, part of a vulnerable population, or on the brink of an anxiety attack, please reach out to others within the church—your small group, your elders, your neighbors—and ask for help. | 你们当中有些人独自一人隔离，感到比以往任何时候都更加孤立。基督的身体现在需要你，我们需要你伸出寻求援助之手。 哥林多前书12:18说：“但现在神按照自己的意思，把肢体一一放在身体上。”也许你对身体的贡献就是伸出手去寻求援助。如果你没能伸出手来，你将剥夺身体用神所赐恩赐彼此服事的喜乐和殊荣。无论你是容易抑郁，孤独，与恐惧作斗争，受到身体上的限制，属于弱势群体，还是处于焦虑发作的边缘，请与教会内的其他人联系-你的小组，你的长老，你的邻居，并寻求帮助。 |
| A Word for those Eager to Serve | 给渴望服事机会的人 |
| The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:10, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” There are fresh opportunities in these days to minister with the gifts and blessings that God has given you. | 使徒保罗在加拉太书6:10中写道：“所以，我们一有机会，就应该对众人行善，对信徒更要这样。”如今，有许多新的机会来以上帝所赐给你的恩赐和祝福来服事。 |
| If you have the gift of faith, use your gifts to build up other’s faith lovingly reminding them of God’s promises to be near, to do us good, and to be our refuge in the storm. | 如果你拥有信心的恩赐，请使用你的恩赐来建立他人的信仰，以爱心的方式提醒他们上帝的应许近了，成就我们，成为我们在风暴中的避难所。 |
| If you have the gift of service, use your gifts to serve those who can’t run out and stand in line right now because they are healthcare workers, just lost their jobs, or part of a vulnerable population that cannot go out. | 如果你有服事的恩赐，请使用你的恩赐帮助那些不能跑出去排长队买东西的人，他们可能是从事医疗保健工作，或者是刚刚失去工作，或无法外出的弱势人群。 |
| O that we would all use our extra time not to binge watch shows, but to tend the garden of our prayer lives. Growing a garden requires the work of planting, pruning, and watering. And to reach new heights of intimacy with God in prayer, we need to put in the extended time to meet with him. | 哦，我们大家都不应该用多出来的时间来狂欢看剧，而要在祷告的花园里勤加耕耘。培育花园需要种植、修剪和浇水的工作。为了在祷告中与上帝达到新的亲密关系，我们需要延长与祂见面的时间。 |
| • Pray for revival in your heart, in our church, in the Twin Cities, in our nation, and around the world. | •为你的内心，我们的教会，双子城，我们的国家以及世界各地的复兴祈祷。 |
| • Pray for open doors for the gospel in the days, months, and years ahead. | •为未来几天，几个月和几年内的福音敞开门祈祷。 |
| • Pray for fresh humility and patience for parents and children and spouses as they engage one another. | •为父母和子女以及配偶彼此互动时的谦卑和耐心祷告。 |
| • Pray for our doctors, nurses, caretakers, cleaning staff, and those who are ensuring our grocery stores are stocked full of food. | •为我们的医生、护士、护工、清洁工人以及确保我们的杂货店有足够食物的人们祷告。 |
| • Pray for business owners and their employees that are being affected. Pray for the many here in our congregation who have lost jobs and the others who will be laidoff. | •为受影响的企业主及其雇员祈祷。为我们会众中许多失去工作和其他将被解雇的人祈祷。 |
| Conclusion | 结语 |
| There’s an interchange between Frodo and Gandalf in Fellowship of the Ring (by J. R. R. Tolkein) where Frodo remarks to Gandalf, “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” Gandalf replies, “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” This seems especially fitting. We’d prefer not COVID19 be part of our collective memory and experience, but it’s a unique opportunity for God’s people to display the hope we have in Christ. | 《指环王》（J. R. R. Tolkein撰写）中佛罗多与甘道夫有段对话，佛罗多对甘道夫说：“我希望这要是不在我的时代发生该多好。”甘道夫回答：“我也是如此，所有生活在这样时代中的人也是如此。但这不是他们决定的。我们所要做的就是在给定时间内决定如何处理。”这话似乎特别应景。我们不希望新冠病毒成为我们集体记忆和经验的一部分，但这对上帝的子民来说是一个难得的机会，以彰显我们在基督里满有盼望。 |
| I’m sure many of us who have read the book of Acts once or twice before have thought, “I wonder what it would be like to live through that time.” We won’t ever know, but we will have opportunity—in the face of global crisis—to devote ourselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and sharing in common with those in need. | 我敢肯定，我们中很多人读过一两遍《使徒行传》后都曾想过：“我想知道那个时代的人们是怎么生活的？”我们永远不会知道，但是面对全球危机，我们将有机会致力于教导、团契、祈祷和与有需要的人分享。 |
| As more and more people were asked to stay home and self-quarantine, a video of number of celebrities and movie star singing John Lennon’s song Imagine started to circulate. The lyrics read: | 随着越来越多的人被要求留在家中和自我隔离，有关名人和电影明星演唱约翰•列侬的歌曲《想象》的视频开始流传。歌词如下： |
| Imagine there's no heaven | 想象没有天堂 |
| It's easy if you try | 你试试就知道很简单了 |
| No hell below us | 我们下面没有地狱 |
| Above us only sky | 我们的头上只有天空 |
| Imagine all the people | 想象一下所有的人 |
| Living for today... Aha-ah... | 只为今天而活...啊哈... |
| It’s a sad and depressing thought. But as the people of God—like all those who have gone before—the Christian faith is a singing faith. Nearly every night our family has jammed to me on the guitar with the 4 chords that I know and one of my kids on the cajon box drum. Christians—in the face of a global pandemic and all sorts of danger—are a singing people. We can proclaim with hearts full of faith: | 这是一个令人忧伤和沮丧的想法。但是作为上帝的子民（就像所有以前的人们一样），基督徒的信心是歌唱的信心。几乎每天晚上，我们的家人都会用4个和弦的吉他，一个孩子用电热箱鼓来歌唱。面对全球病毒大流行和各种危险，基督徒是一个会唱歌的人。我们可以满怀信心地宣告： |
| Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free | 哈利路亚，赞美使我自由的那一位 |
| Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me | 哈利路亚，死亡不再控制我 |
| You have broken every chain | 你已经打破了每条锁链 |
| There's salvation in Your name | 你的名有救恩 |
| Jesus Christ, my living hope | 耶稣基督，我永活的盼望 |
| That’s a better song to sing. Pray with me that God would usher in many more to join us in that great refrain and in worship of Almighty God who is working in all things for his glory and for his purposes. | 那是一首好歌。与我一起祷告，愿上帝带领更多的人加入我们，与我们一起，全力以赴，敬拜全能的上帝，祂为着自己的荣耀和目的行完事。 |
| Sermon Discussion Questions | 讲道讨论问题 |
| Sermon Title: Christ, the Church & Covid-19 | 讲道标题：基督，教会和新冠病毒 |
| Sermon Text: Ephesians 4:11–16 | 讲道经文：以弗所书4：11-16 |
| Main Point: Jesus leads his church by giving her leaders to equip the saints to minister to one another in order to increasingly look like Christ. | 要点：耶稣带领教会，让领袖装备圣徒互相服侍，以使他们越来越像基督。 |
| Outline: | 大纲： |
| 1. Christ’s Gift: Jesus gives grace to all and leaders to the church (4:7, 11) | 1.基督的恩赐：耶稣给所有人和教会领袖以恩典（4：7，11） |
| 2. Christ’s Purpose: To equip the saints for ministry (4:12) | 2.基督的旨意：装备圣徒做圣工（4:12） |
| 3. Christ’s Aim: So that | 3.基督的目标：为的是 |
| a. Believers will have a greater knowledge of Christ (13) | a信徒将对基督有更多的认识（13） |
| b. Believers will have a greater discernment of error (14) | b信徒将对假教导有更强的辨别力（14） |
| c. Believers will increasingly resemble Christ (15–16) | c信徒将越来越像基督（15–16） |
| 4. Application | 4.应用 |
| Discussion Questions: | 讨论问题： |
| 1. Why is it important to remember both “grace was given to each one of us” and how Christ “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints?” | 1.为什么既要记住“各人蒙恩”又要记住基督如何“有作使徒的，有作先知的，有作传福音的，也有作牧养和教导的”很重要？ |
| 2. When Paul teaches that believers are to build up the body of Christ, where else in Ephesians do we see some ways believers can mutually build up the church body? | 2.当保罗教导信徒要建立基督的身体时，在以弗所书中还有什么地方可以看到信徒可以相互建立教会的身体？ |
| 3. What are some of the results Paul hopes to see when the saints are engaged in the work of ministry (4:13–16)? | 3.当圣徒从事传道工作时，保罗希望看到什么结果（4：13-16）？ |
| 4. Jesus in Matthew 18:3 tells his followers to “become like children” but Paul teaches us to “no longer be children.” How do we reconcile Jesus and Paul’s teaching? | 4.耶稣在马太福音18：3中告诉跟随者“要像小孩子一样”，但保罗却教导我们“不要再像小孩子”。我们如何调和耶稣和保罗的教导？ |
| 5. How should we understand “speaking the truth in love” within the wider context of mutually building up the body? | 5.在相互建立身体的更广泛的背景下，我们应该如何理解“凭爱心讲诚实话”？ |
| Application Questions: | 应用问题： |
| 6. In light of the pandemic causing isolation and fear, what are some practical ways you can set your mind on Christ? | 6.鉴于大流行病导致孤立和恐惧，你可以通过哪些实际方式将心思放在基督身上？ |
| 7. What are some ways you can “be the church” to one another, to fellow church members, and to those without the hope of Christ? | 7.你可以通过哪些方式彼此，与其他教会成员以及对那些没有基督希望的人“作教会”？ |
| 8. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, to whom will you share and to whom will you ask for help? | 8.如果你感到不知所措或焦虑不安，你将与谁分享并向谁寻求帮助？ |
| 9. If you’re not battling fear or anxiety, how can you help point others to Christ and provide practical help in the days and weeks ahead? | 9.如果你不在恐惧或焦虑中，那么在接下来的几天和几周中，你如何引导他人指向基督并提供实际帮助？ |
| 10. Write down a few names of fellow church members you’ll pray for and check-in on, and jot the name of a few folks who don’t know Christ whom you can minister to. | 10.写下一些你为之祈祷并可以跟进的教会同胞的名字，并加入一些不认识基督而你可以服侍的人的名字。 |
| Prayer Focus: | 祷告重点： |
| Praise God for being an unchangeable, trustworthy, all-sufficient, sovereign, and merciful God who is in control of all things. Confess your sins, anxieties, fears, flippancy, distractedness, or failure to seek him in these trying times. Thank him for salvation in Christ, the gift of the church body for mutual up building and support, and for sustaining grace revealed in his word. Ask God for more of his sustaining grace, faith in moments of doubt, widespread repentance and revival in our communities, and open doors to share the love of Christ with the lost. | 赞美上帝亘古不变、信实可靠、自足全备、掌管万有、仁慈怜悯。在这些艰难的时刻承认自己的罪过、焦虑、恐惧、轻率、分心或无法寻求祂。感谢祂在基督里的救恩，教会身体的恩赐，以相互建立和扶持，并保守圣言所彰显的恩典。求上帝更多的恩典来保守，赐下怀疑时的信心，在我们社区中广泛的悔改和复兴，并敞开大门与失丧者分享基督的爱。 |
