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Dear Brothers & Sisters,

If someone asks you why you spent time going to church, how would you respond? According to the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith:

  1. Christians gather with other believers to become witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit empowers us to share our faith with others.
  2. Christ is the head of the church. We are the body of Christ. Christians gather physically as a local church to make Christ visible in the world.
  3. We attend worship to celebrate God’s faithfulness and His saving grace through His Son Jesus Christ, renew our faithfulness to God through regular participation in church life, and fulfill the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
  4. We must keep our covenant through fellowship in Christ to love, care, and pray for one another. This intentional commitment is about sharing life’s joys, burdens, struggles, and needs together, so that the Holy Spirit may empower members of the church to encourage, support, correct, and edify one another.
  5. We are gathered by God the Holy Spirit to be trained and equipped for the purpose of building up church members in service. Leaders of the church are to model Christlikeness in their personal, family, work, and church life. It is the responsibility of church members to discern prayerfully who to nominate to lead. Once the leaders are chosen, we will have to affirm, support, and also correct them in love of Christ.

As we reflect on the five reasons why Christians need to spend time participating in church life, you may quickly notice that just one and a half hours on a Sunday morning or attending Fellowship on one of the weeknights is not enough. Christians also have to be intentional in making efforts to attend other church activities, such as prayer meetings, Bible Studies, outreach, and serving in areas needed. Many of us may say in our hearts there is no way we can squeeze more time out of our busy schedule to make that kind of commitment to participate in all church. Perhaps this is the whole point Jesus is making when he said in Matthew 24:38-40, “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.”

Recent natural disasters, wars, and the increase of wickedness in the world remind Christians about the last days Jesus warned about in Matthew 24. Although Jesus was very specific and told us no one knows when the end of time will come, our responsibility is to be prepared (Matthew 24:42-44). But how are we to prepare ourselves before the Judgment Day comes? What if coming into the church to worship, to listen to God’s instructions, to practice Christlikeness, to encourage others not to give up living out the way of Jesus after sharing struggles, and calling others to receive Jesus is part of building Modern Day Noah’s Ark in Christ? Would you still think spending our effort in church is a waste of time?

When Noah built the ark, he was at least 500 years old (Genesis 5:32). By the time Noah and his family entered the ark, Noah was 600 years old. For a hundred years, Noah and his family worked tirelessly and followed God’s instructions. Under Noah’s headship as a patriarch, his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives, helped with building the ark, bringing creatures into the ark, and storing food for both the family and creatures of all kinds. All that work they did without questioning, even though they had never seen what rain was.

As we experience signs of the coming end times, Bethel must build it with urgency. Such urgency does not allow us to quarrel and create unnecessary conflict. We need every effort to gear towards building up every member of the church. However, this does not mean avoiding conflicts. Because, according to Confession of Faith number 4 mentioned above, we do need to help one another resolve some issues with lots of love, grace, and mercy in the covenantal conversation. We cannot build with just a few individuals. Just as Noah’s family built with other family members who took on different roles and responsibilities, every member of the church has a role to play. If you are unsure how to contribute, please talk to our church leaders and pastoral team. Let us explore and be creative with how we can build our church together. May we gather with God’s purpose and seek His will together as a family in Christ (Matthew 12:48-50)!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of the pastors.

In Christ,
Pastor Peter Chong

 

親愛的弟兄姊妹們，

如果有人問你，為什麼要花時間去教會，你會怎麼回答？根據《門諾弟兄會信仰告白》（Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith）：

  1. 基督徒與其他信徒聚會，是在聖靈的賦能下成為我們主耶穌基督的見證人，與他人分享我們的信仰。
  2. 基督是教會的頭，我們是基督的身體。基督徒以實體方式聚集成地方教會，使基督在世上顯為可見。
  3. 我們參加崇拜，是為了慶祝神的信實以及祂藉由兒子耶穌基督所帶來的救恩；透過定期參與教會生活，重新堅定對神的忠心；並去實踐主耶穌基督所頒布的大使命。
  4. 我們必須透過在基督裡的肢體交接來守約，彼此相愛、關懷與代禱。這種有意識的委身，是要共同分享生命的喜樂、負擔、掙扎與需求，好讓聖靈能賦能教會肢體，彼此鼓勵、支持、矯正與建立。
  5. 我們由聖靈聚在一起，受裝備與訓練，目的是為了建造教會肢體以進行事奉。教會的領袖要在個人、家庭、工作和教會生活中榜樣出基督的樣式。而教會肢體的責任，則是透過禱告去尋求分辨應提名誰來領導；一旦選出領袖，我們就要在基督的愛裡去印證、支持並以愛心矯正他們。

當我們省思基督徒需要花時間參與教會生活的這五個原因時，你可能會很快注意到，僅僅在主日早上花一個半小時，或是在週間選一個晚上參加團契是不夠的。基督徒還必須主動付出努力去參加其他的教會活動，例如禱告會、查經班、外展事工，以及在有需要的領域服事。我們當中有許多人可能會在心裡說：在我們忙碌的時間表裡，根本不可能擠出更多時間來對所有教會活動做出這樣的委身。也許這正是耶穌在《馬太福音》24:38-40 所要表達的重點：「當洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亞進方舟的那日；不知不覺洪水來了，把他們全都沖去。 人子降臨也要這樣。那 時，兩個人在田裡，取去一個，撇下一個。」

最近發生的自然災害、戰爭以及世上罪惡的增加，都在提醒基督徒關於耶穌在《馬太福音》24章中所警告的末日。雖然耶穌講得很明確，告訴我們沒有人知道末日何時來到，但我們的責任是做好準備（馬太福音 24:42-44）。 然而，在審判日來臨之前，我們要如何預備自己？如果來到教會敬拜、聽從神的教導、操練基督的樣式、在分享掙扎後鼓勵彼此不放棄活出耶穌的道路，並呼召他人接受耶穌，這些本身就是在基督裡建造現代版挪亞方舟的一部分呢？若是這樣，你還會認為把心力花在教會上是浪費時間嗎？

當挪亞建造方舟時，他至少已經500歲了（創世記 5:32）。到了挪亞和家人進入方舟的時候，挪亞已經600歲。整整一百年的時間，挪亞和他的家人孜孜不倦地工作，嚴格遵循神的指示。在挪亞作為家長的領導下，他的三個兒子 —— 閃、含、雅弗以及他們的妻子，都協助建造方舟、帶各樣生物進入方舟，並為家人和各類生物儲存食物。他們所做的這一切工作都沒有質疑，即使他們從未見過什麼是雨水。

當我們看見末期臨近的徵兆時，頌主堂必須帶著緊迫感積極建造。這種緊迫感不容許我們彼此爭吵或製造不必要的衝突；我們需要全力以赴，致力於造就教會的每一位成員。然而，這並不意味著要逃避衝突。因為根據上述信仰告白第四條，我們確實需要以滿有愛心、恩典與憐憫的「立約對話」，彼此幫助以解決問題。我們不能只靠少數幾個人來建造——正如挪亞一家人各自承擔不同的角色與職責共同建造一樣，教會的每一位成員也都有各自的角色要發揮。如果你不確定該如何貢獻自己的力量，請與我們的教會領袖和牧涵團隊溝通。讓我們一起探索並發揮創意，共同建造我們的教會。願我們為了神的目的聚集，並作為在基督裡的大家庭一同尋求祂的旨意（馬太福音 12:48-50）！

如果您有任何問題或疑慮，請隨時與牧者聯絡。

在基督裡，
張俊德傳道

 

亲爱的兄弟姊妹们，

如果有人问你，为什么要花时间去教会，你会怎么回答？根据《门诺弟兄会信仰告白》（Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith）：

  1. 基督徒与其他信徒聚会，是在圣灵的赋能下成为我们主耶稣基督的见证人，与他人分享我们的信仰。
  2. 基督是教会的头，我们是基督的身体。基督徒以实体方式聚集成地方教会，使基督在世上显为可见。
  3. 我们参加崇拜，是为了庆祝神的信实以及祂藉由儿子耶稣基督所带来的救恩；透过定期参与教会生活，重新坚定对神的忠心；并去实践主耶稣基督所颁布的大使命。
  4. 我们必须透过在基督里的肢体交接来守约，彼此相爱、关怀与代祷。这种有意识的委身，是要共同分享生命的喜乐、负担、挣扎与需求，好让圣灵能赋能教会肢体，彼此鼓励、支持、矫正与建立。
  5. 我们由圣灵聚在一起，受装备与训练，目的是为了建造教会肢体以进行事奉。教会的领袖要在个人、家庭、工作和教会生活中榜样出基督的样式。而教会肢体的责任，则是透过祷告去寻求分辨应提名谁来领导；一旦选出领袖，我们就要在基督的爱里去印证、支持并以爱心矫正他们。

当我们省思​​基督徒需要花时间参与教会生活的这五个原因时，你可能会很快注意到，仅仅在主日早上花一个半小时，或是在周间选一个晚上参加团契是不够的。基督徒还必须主动付出努力去参加其他的教会活动，例如祷告会、查经班、外展事工，以及在有需要的领域服事。我们当中有许多人可能会在心里说：在我们忙碌的时间表里，根本不可能挤出更多时间来对所有教会活动做出这样的委身。也许这正是耶稣在《马太福音》24:38-40 所要表达的重点：「当洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亚进方舟的那日；不知不觉洪水来了，把他们全都冲去。 人子降临也要这样。那 时，两个人在田里，取去一个，撇下一个。」

最近发生的自然灾害、战争以及世上罪恶的增加，都在提醒基督徒关于耶稣在《马太福音》24章中所警告的末日。虽然耶稣讲得很明确，告诉我们没有人知道末日何时来到，但我们的责任是做好准备（马太福音 24:42-44）。 然而，在审判日来临之前，我们要如何预备自己？如果来到教会敬拜、听从神的教导、操练基督的样式、在分享挣扎后鼓励彼此不放弃活出耶稣的道路，并呼召他人接受耶稣，这些本身就是在基督里建造现代版挪亚方舟的一部分呢？若是这样，你还会认为把心力花在教会上是浪费时间吗？

当挪亚建造方舟时，他至少已经500岁了（创世记 5:32）。到了挪亚和家人进入方舟的时候，挪亚已经600岁。整整一百年的时间，挪亚和他的家人孜孜不倦地工作，严格遵循神的指示。在挪亚作为家长的领导下，他的三个儿子 —— 闪、含、雅弗以及他们的妻子，都协助建造方舟、带各样生物进入方舟，并为家人和各类生物储存食物。他们所做的这一切工作都没有质疑，即使他们从未见过什么是雨水。

当我们看见末期临近的征兆时，颂主堂必须带着紧迫感积极建造。这种紧迫感不容许我们彼此争吵或制造不必要的冲突；我们需要全力以赴，致力于造就教会的每一位成员。然而，这并不意味着要逃避冲突。因为根据上述信仰告白第四条，我们确实需要以满有爱心、恩典与怜悯的「立约对话」，彼此帮助以解决问题。我们不能只靠少数几个人来建造——正如挪亚一家人各自承担不同的角色与职责共同建造一样，教会的每一位成员也都有各自的角色要发挥。如果你不确定该如何贡献自己的力量，请与我们的教会领袖和牧涵团队沟通。让我们一起探索并发挥创意，共同建造我们的教会。愿我们为了神的目的聚集，并作为在基督里的大家庭一同寻求祂的旨意（马太福音 12:48-50）！

如果您有任何问题或疑虑，请随时与牧者联络。

在基督里，
张俊德传道