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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、师尊,就是基督

创世记 3:4-6 

蛇对女人说:「你们不一定死! 5 因为神知道你们吃的日子眼睛就明亮了,你们便如神能知道善恶。」

6 于是女人见那棵树的果子好做食物,也悦人的眼目,且是可喜爱的,能使人有智慧,就摘下果子来吃了;又给她丈夫,她丈夫也吃了。

「不一定死,眼睛明亮了,如神能知道善恶…」,撒但将「与神同等的骄傲」包装成「好作食物,悦人眼目,可喜爱的,能使人有智慧…」,于是罪从始祖入了世界,死又是从罪来的;死就临到众人,因为众人都犯了罪。

我们理当儆醒,明白耶稣的教训(太23:8-12),避免一切让我们骄傲的引诱,全然倚靠神,谦卑服事众人。「谦卑」是我们一生最需要学习的功课。

蛇对女人说:「你们不一定死;因为神知道,你们吃的日子眼睛就明亮了,你们便如神能知道善恶。」于是女人见那棵树的果子好作食物,也悦人的眼目,且是可喜爱的,能使人有智慧,就摘下果子来吃了,又给她丈夫,她丈夫也吃了。(创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.
 

献上自己当活祭

哥林多前书 3:16-17  岂不知你们是神的殿,神的灵住在你们里头吗? 17 若有人毁坏神的殿,神必要毁坏那人;因为神的殿是圣的,这殿就是你们。

罗马书 12:1  所以弟兄们,我以神的慈悲劝你们,将身体献上,当做活祭,是圣洁的,是神所喜悦的,你们如此侍奉乃是理所当然的。

提摩太后书 2:21  人若自洁,脱离卑贱的事,就必做贵重的器皿,成为圣洁,合乎主用,预备行各样的善事。

当保守我们的心胜过一切,自洁献上自己当活祭,成为合乎主用的器皿,因为我们是神的殿,神的灵住在我们里面。

岂不知你们是神的殿,神的灵住在你们里头吗?若有人毁坏神的殿,神必要毁坏那人;因为神的殿是圣的,这殿就是你们。(林前3:16-17)

所以,弟兄们,我以神的慈悲劝你们,将身体献上,当作活祭,是圣洁的,是神所喜悦的;你们如此事奉乃是理所当然的。(罗12:1)

渴慕成为神的殿

马太福音 5:17-18  「莫想我来要废掉律法和先知,我来不是要废掉,乃是要成全。 18 我实在告诉你们:就是到天地都废去了,律法的一点一画也不能废去,都要成全。

诗篇 119:45  我要自由而行,因我素来考究祢的训词。

约翰福音 8:32  你们必晓得真理,真理必叫你们得以自由。

世人追求自由,视律法为窠臼规范,试图脱离,破坏律法反被罪挟制。

我们寻求真理,在基督里罪得赦免,脱离挟制,得以自由的行出律法。

耶稣说:莫想我来要废掉律法和先知。我来不是要废掉,乃是要成全。我实在告诉你们,就是到天地都废去了,律法的一点一画也不能废去,都要成全。(太5:17-18)

我要自由而行(或译:我要行在宽阔之地),因我素来考究祢的训词。(诗119:45)

主的灵在我身上,因为祂用膏膏我,叫我传福音给贫穷的人;差遣我报告:被掳的得释放,瞎眼的得看见,叫那受压制的得自由。(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).  

因着耶稣,我们得以自由地行出律法

马太福音 5:17-18  「莫想我来要废掉律法和先知,我来不是要废掉,乃是要成全。 18 我实在告诉你们:就是到天地都废去了,律法的一点一画也不能废去,都要成全。

诗篇 119:45  我要自由而行,因我素来考究祢的训词。

约翰福音 8:32  你们必晓得真理,真理必叫你们得以自由。

世人追求自由,视律法为窠臼规范,试图脱离,破坏律法反被罪挟制。

我们寻求真理,在基督里罪得赦免,脱离挟制,得以自由的行出律法。

耶稣说:莫想我来要废掉律法和先知。我来不是要废掉,乃是要成全。我实在告诉你们,就是到天地都废去了,律法的一点一画也不能废去,都要成全。(太5:17-18)

我要自由而行(或译:我要行在宽阔之地),因我素来考究祢的训词。(诗119:45)

主的灵在我身上,因为祂用膏膏我,叫我传福音给贫穷的人;差遣我报告:被掳的得释放,瞎眼的得看见,叫那受压制的得自由。(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.

听神的话,没有违背,也没有退后

阿摩司书 8:11-12

主耶和华说:「日子将到,我必命饥荒降在地上。人饥饿非因无饼,干渴非因无水,乃因不听耶和华的话。 12 他们必漂流,从这海到那海,从北边到东边,往来奔跑寻求耶和华的话,却寻不著。

在疫情蔓延、战火喧嚣、生活困顿、人心浮动的纷扰时刻,求主每早晨开通我的耳朵,叫我能听神的话,像受教者一样,没有违背,也没有退后。

主耶和华说:日子将到,我必命饥荒降在地上。人饥饿非因无饼,干渴非因无水,乃因不听耶和华的话。他们必飘流,从这海到那海,从北边到东边,往来奔跑,寻求耶和华的话,却寻不著。(摩8:11-12)

至于神,祂的道是完全的;耶和华的话是炼净的。凡投靠祂的,祂便作他们的盾牌。(撒下22:31,诗18:30)