Entries by

The Way Church Is Meant to Be

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 2:37-47.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 
 
Acts 2:37-41 (NIV)
37  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
 
On verses 37-41:  God uses Peter and his sermon to lead approximately 3,000 new believers to faith in Jesus and to get baptized that day, an incredible move of God.  What can we learn from this?  Here are a few lessons:

只有一位拉比(夫子)、父、師尊,就是基督

創世記 3:4-6 

蛇對女人說:「你們不一定死! 5 因為神知道你們吃的日子眼睛就明亮了,你們便如神能知道善惡。」

6 於是女人見那棵樹的果子好做食物,也悅人的眼目,且是可喜愛的,能使人有智慧,就摘下果子來吃了;又給她丈夫,她丈夫也吃了。

「不一定死,眼睛明亮了,如神能知道善惡…」,撒但將「與神同等的驕傲」包裝成「好作食物,悅人眼目,可喜愛的,能使人有智慧…」,於是罪從始祖入了世界,死又是從罪來的;死就臨到眾人,因為眾人都犯了罪。

我們理當儆醒,明白耶穌的教訓(太23:8-12),避免一切讓我們驕傲的引誘,全然倚靠神,謙卑服事眾人。「謙卑」是我們一生最需要學習的功課。

蛇對女人說:「你們不一定死;因為神知道,你們吃的日子眼睛就明亮了,你們便如神能知道善惡。」於是女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物,也悅人的眼目,且是可喜愛的,能使人有智慧,就摘下果子來吃了,又給她丈夫,她丈夫也吃了。(創3:4-6)

To Connect with Your Audience You Need To…

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 2:29-36.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 2:29-33 (NIV)
29  “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
30  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31  Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
32  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
33  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

On verses 29-33:  Peter connects the Scripture passages he quoted before (Joel 2 and Psalm 16) with what his audience is seeing in front of them to deliver one coherent message:  that Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again is now the one at the Father’s right hand pouring out the Holy Spirit on His church.
 

獻上自己當活祭

哥林多前書 3:16-17  豈不知你們是神的殿,神的靈住在你們裡頭嗎? 17 若有人毀壞神的殿,神必要毀壞那人;因為神的殿是聖的,這殿就是你們。

羅馬書 12:1  所以弟兄們,我以神的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上,當做活祭,是聖潔的,是神所喜悅的,你們如此侍奉乃是理所當然的。

提摩太後書 2:21  人若自潔,脫離卑賤的事,就必做貴重的器皿,成為聖潔,合乎主用,預備行各樣的善事。

當保守我們的心勝過一切,自潔獻上自己當活祭,成為合乎主用的器皿,因為我們是神的殿,神的靈住在我們裡面。

豈不知你們是神的殿,神的靈住在你們裡頭嗎?若有人毀壞神的殿,神必要毀壞那人;因為神的殿是聖的,這殿就是你們。(林前3:16-17)

所以,弟兄們,我以神的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上,當作活祭,是聖潔的,是神所喜悅的;你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。(羅12:1)

渴慕成為神的殿

馬太福音 5:17-18  「莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知,我來不是要廢掉,乃是要成全。 18 我實在告訴你們:就是到天地都廢去了,律法的一點一畫也不能廢去,都要成全。

詩篇 119:45  我要自由而行,因我素來考究祢的訓詞。

約翰福音 8:32  你們必曉得真理,真理必叫你們得以自由。

世人追求自由,視律法為窠臼規範,試圖脫離,破壞律法反被罪挾制。

我們尋求真理,在基督裡罪得赦免,脫離挾制,得以自由的行出律法。

耶穌說:莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知。我來不是要廢掉,乃是要成全。我實在告訴你們,就是到天地都廢去了,律法的一點一畫也不能廢去,都要成全。(太5:17-18)

我要自由而行(或譯:我要行在寬闊之地),因我素來考究祢的訓詞。(詩119:45)

主的靈在我身上,因為祂用膏膏我,叫我傳福音給貧窮的人;差遣我報告:被擄的得釋放,瞎眼的得看見,叫那受壓制的得自由。(路4:18)

Death Couldn’t Hold Him Down

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 2:22-28.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 2:22-23 (NIV)
22  “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
23  This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

On verses 22-23:  After explaining in Acts 2:14-21 where this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was coming from, Peter transitions into talking about Jesus.  He begins by describing Jesus as a man accredited by God and through whom God did many miracles, wonders and signs (v22).  He then speaks of how, in accordance with God’s plan, Jesus was handed over and put to death on the cross, saying to his audience that “you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death” (v23).  

因著耶穌,我們得以自由地行出律法

馬太福音 5:17-18  「莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知,我來不是要廢掉,乃是要成全。 18 我實在告訴你們:就是到天地都廢去了,律法的一點一畫也不能廢去,都要成全。

詩篇 119:45  我要自由而行,因我素來考究祢的訓詞。

約翰福音 8:32  你們必曉得真理,真理必叫你們得以自由。

世人追求自由,視律法為窠臼規範,試圖脫離,破壞律法反被罪挾制。

我們尋求真理,在基督裡罪得赦免,脫離挾制,得以自由的行出律法。

耶穌說:莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知。我來不是要廢掉,乃是要成全。我實在告訴你們,就是到天地都廢去了,律法的一點一畫也不能廢去,都要成全。(太5:17-18)

我要自由而行(或譯:我要行在寬闊之地),因我素來考究祢的訓詞。(詩119:45)

主的靈在我身上,因為祂用膏膏我,叫我傳福音給貧窮的人;差遣我報告:被擄的得釋放,瞎眼的得看見,叫那受壓制的得自由。(路4:18)

The Fulfillment of Prophecy

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 2:14-21.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 2:14-15 (NIV)
14  Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15  These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
 
On verses 14-15:  Before a crowd of thousands, Peter stands up and is about to tell them about Jesus. Peter, who used to be ashamed of his faith and denied Jesus in front of a few people, is now speaking to thousands about the difference Jesus has made in his life.  That’s the power of the Holy Spirit working.  The Holy Spirit gives us courage, strength and wisdom to do what we could not do in our own power.

When The Holy Spirit came

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 2:1-13.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

On verses 1-11:  Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks, was one of the three big festivals in the Jewish calendar (the other two being the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles – see Leviticus 23).  Happening on the 50th day after the Passover Feast (Pentecost in ancient Greek means “Fiftieth”), Pentecost was a time to thank God for the harvest.  It is fitting that God chose Pentecost to be the day when He would fill His church with the Holy Spirit.

聽神的話,沒有違背,也沒有退後

阿摩司書 8:11-12

主耶和華說:「日子將到,我必命饑荒降在地上。人飢餓非因無餅,乾渴非因無水,乃因不聽耶和華的話。 12 他們必漂流,從這海到那海,從北邊到東邊,往來奔跑尋求耶和華的話,卻尋不著。

在疫情蔓延、戰火喧囂、生活困頓、人心浮動的紛擾時刻,求主每早晨開通我的耳朵,叫我能聽神的話,像受教者一樣,沒有違背,也沒有退後。

主耶和華說:日子將到,我必命饑荒降在地上。人飢餓非因無餅,乾渴非因無水,乃因不聽耶和華的話。他們必飄流,從這海到那海,從北邊到東邊,往來奔跑,尋求耶和華的話,卻尋不著。(摩8:11-12)

至於神,祂的道是完全的;耶和華的話是煉淨的。凡投靠祂的,祂便作他們的盾牌。(撒下22:31,詩18:30)