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新年伊始，我們需要仰望神的恩典和帶領，讓我們能謙卑順服行在神的道中，且更能同心合意的建立教會。今年的主題是「連於基督，愛中建立」，我們禱告在恩典的連接下，會眾能在愛中彼此建立。今年所選的經文出自以弗所書4:15-16：「惟用愛心說誠實話，凡事長進，連於元首基督，全身都靠他聯絡得合式，百節各按各職，照著各體的功用彼此相助，便叫身體漸漸增長，在愛中建立自己。」我們希望能一同學習與實踐「用愛心說誠實話，彼此相助」。

「用愛心說誠實話」是一門不容易的功課。有時我們會因為愛心，不想破壞關係，而把真理和真相犧牲了。又有時，我們會太過直率和誠實，在大庭廣眾中，指出別人的不是，予人落入難堪的處境中。聖經就此有兩方面的說明，一方面箴言27:5教導我們：「當面的責備強如背地的愛情。」另一方面，馬太福音18:15告訴我們，「倘若你的弟兄得罪你，你就去，趁著只有他和你在一處的時候，指出他的錯來。他若聽你，你便得了你的弟兄。」所謂「當面的責備」，原來是指「趁著只有他和你在一處的時候，指出他的錯來。」而對於一些長輩 (無論是屬靈的或屬肉體的)，我們更不可以沒大沒小的指斥他們。「不可嚴責老年人，只要勸他如同父親；勸少年人如同弟兄；勸老年婦女如同母親；勸少年婦女如同姊妹；總要清清潔潔的。」(提前5:1-2) 我們讀經和行道，一定要先明白整本聖經的立場，是彼此和應，互相補充的，切忌抽取一節經文，脫離上文下理，甚至乎脫離聖經和大公教會傳統的教導。

基於這種愛心誠實的提醒，我們便能彼此建立。我們彼此都有性格、思考、處事方式的盲點。我們都需要彼此互相提點，更需要主動地尋找可信賴的摰友或伴侶的提點，這樣我們才不會因為盲點而造成交通 (團契交通) 意外，彼此受傷。當我們能在愛心和誠實的根基上，彼此建立時，我們便能凡事長進，連於元首基督。又因我們在愛心和誠實的根基上，彼此更深認識，我們更曉得自己和別人的恩賜和崗位角色，也就更能互相配合，彼此相助。

頌主堂除了是神的家，她也是基督的身體。我們除了是弟兄姊妹的關係，也是互為肢體的關係。每一個細小和不體面的肢體，都是主的肢體，都不可以輕視和棄掉的。盼望在2026年，我們一起學習「連於基督，愛中建立」，讓頌主堂成為一間更合一充滿愛與恩典的教會。

如你對本文或本人有任何回應，歡迎電郵與我聯繫。願主賜福你和你一家。

胡志雄牧師

 

At the beginning of a new year, we need to look up to God’s grace and guidance, so that we may walk humbly and obediently in God’s ways and, with one heart and one mind, build up the church together. This year’s theme is “Abide in Christ, growing in love.” We pray that through this gracious connection, the congregation will build one another up in love. The theme verse chosen for this year is from Ephesians 4:15-16: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” We hope to learn and practice together what it means to “speak the truth in love” and to “help one another.”

“Speaking the truth in love” is not an easy lesson to learn. At times, out of love and a desire to avoid damaging relationships, we may sacrifice truth and fact. At other times, we may be overly blunt and honest, pointing out others’ faults in public and putting them in embarrassing situations. The Bible provides guidance on both aspects. On one hand, Proverbs 27:5 teaches us, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” On the other hand, Matthew 18:15 tells us, “If your brother sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” What is meant by “open rebuke” is actually “pointing out their faults when only you and that person are together.” Furthermore, when it comes to seniors (whether spiritual or physical), we must never rebuke them disrespectfully. As 1 Timothy 5:1-2 says: “Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” When we read Scripture and put it into practice, we must first understand the Bible as a whole — its teachings support and complement one another. We must avoid isolating a single verse, taking it out of context, or separating it from the teaching of Scripture and the tradition of the universal Church.

Based on this kind of loving and truthful encouragement, we are able to build one another up. Each of us has blind spots in our personality, thinking, and ways of handling matters. We need one another’s warm reminders, and we also need to take the initiative to seek guidance from trusted close friends or spouses, so that we do not cause “crash accidents” in fellowship due to our blind spots and end up hurting one another. When we build one another up on the foundation of love and truth, we will grow in all things and remain connected to Christ, the Head. As we come to know one another more deeply through love and truth, we also become more aware of our own gifts and roles, as well as those of others, enabling us to work together and support one another more effectively.

Bethel is not only God’s household; it is also the body of Christ. We are not only brothers and sisters—we are members of one body. Even the smallest and seemingly less honorable members are the Lord’s members and must not be despised or discarded. It is our hope that in 2026, we will learn together what it means to be “Abide in Christ, growing in love,” so that Bethel may become a more united church, filled with love and grace.

If you have any response to this message or to me personally, you are welcome to contact me by email. May the Lord bless you and your family.

Rev. Woo

 

新年伊始，我们需要仰望神的恩典和带领，让我们能谦卑顺服行在神的道中，且更能同心合意的建立教会。今年的主题是「连于基督，爱中建立」，我们祷告在恩典的连接下，会众能在爱中彼此建立。今年所选的经文出自以弗所书4:15-16：「惟用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督，全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。」我们希望能一同学习与实践「用爱心说诚实话，彼此相助」。

「用爱心说诚实话」是一门不容易的功课。有时我们会因为爱心，不想破坏关系，而把真理和真相牺牲了。又有时，我们会太过直率和诚实，在大庭广众中，指出别人的不是，予人落入难堪的处境中。圣经就此有两方面的说明，一方面箴言27:5教导我们：「当面的责备强如背地的爱情。」另一方面，马太福音18:15告诉我们，「倘若你的弟兄得罪你，你就去，趁着只有他和你在一处的时候，指出他的错来。他若听你，你便得了你的弟兄。」所谓「当面的责备」，原来是指「趁着只有他和你在一处的时候，指出他的错来。」而对于一些长辈 (无论是属灵的或属肉体的)，我们更不可以没大没小的指斥他们。 「不可严责老年人，只要劝他如同父亲；劝少年人如同弟兄；劝老年妇女如同母亲；劝少年妇女如同姊妹；总要清清洁洁的。」(提前5:1-2) 我们读经和行道，一定要先明白整本圣经的立场，是彼此和应，互相补充的，切忌抽取一节经文，脱离上文下理，甚至乎脱离圣经和大公教会传统的教导。

基于这种爱心诚实的提醒，我们便能彼此建立。我们彼此都有性格、思考、处事方式的盲点。我们都需要彼此互相提点，更需要主动地寻找可信赖的摰友或伴侣的提点，这样我们才不会因为盲点而造成交通 (团契交通) 意外，彼此受伤。当我们能在爱心和诚实的根基上，彼此建立时，我们便能凡事长进，连于元首基督。又因我们在爱心和诚实的根基上，彼此更深认识，我们更晓得自己和别人的恩赐和岗位角色，也就更能互相配合，彼此相助。

颂主堂除了是神的家，她也是基督的身体。我们除了是弟兄姊妹的关系，也是互为肢体的关系。每一个细小和不体面的肢体，都是主的肢体，都不可以轻视和弃掉的。盼望在2026年，我们一起学习「连于基督，爱中建立」，让颂主堂成为一间更合一充满爱与恩典的教会。

如你对本文或本人有任何回应，欢迎电邮与我联系。愿主赐福你和你一家。

胡志雄牧师