成圣的追求_04 a
主讲：林慈信牧师_校对：刘加立弟兄_文字：Cherry姐妹
非洲在奇怪的地方还是非常的活泼 Kenya is eighty two percent Christian肯尼亚的地方，非洲是82%的是基督徒，at the international theological seminary where I serve in Los Angeles，we have many pastors from the continent of Africa 在我加州那边的教会，我们里面有很多的牧师是从非洲大陆来的 they come to our seminary for further study 他来到我们的神学院在求学 so as we look around the world today 所以假如你们放眼观看这个世界，where is the fire of Christ Shining the present or the future 你们知道主的事体到底在哪边对它发光最大呢？if we are honest如果我们是诚实的话 if answer not in North America 我们肯定的会回答说，不是在北美洲。
where the church is the present 因为教会发光璀璨的地方 is Africa是在非洲 many of the Sahara countries，south of the Sahara desert 是在撒哈拉大沙漠的南面，take part Indonesia 好像也是在远东的印尼、Singapore 新加坡，but the government does not dare to publish the statistics of how many Christians there are in that country 在那边政府不敢把真实的基督徒的数目公布出来，probably thirty percent or above 人数有30%以上。mainland China 中国大陆，80 million Christian八千万基督徒，South Korea南韩，many countries in Latin America 拉丁美洲许多国家。
and so as we worship this morning 所以当我们今天敬拜的时候，we are a very small part of the global body of Christ 我们要想到我们是基督全球身体的一小部分。now we happen to be living in a country where we enjoy many benefits 但是我们在美国受到很多的福利，we enjoy military might我们知道我们的国家的这个军力非常的强 financial strength 我知道我们的这个国家的经济非常的好 and the most updated technology 当然知道在科技上面是最高峰的。unfortunately when we compare ourselves with the rest of the world 但在我们与世界其他地方相比较的时候 we probably could only forward these three things 我们只能够把我的就是yes there are many wonderful churches and Christians in this country 当然，在美国有很多很好的基督徒跟教会 but in society we are morally and spiritually bankrupted 但是整体的来讲，在这个社会上面我们是破产，在这个道德方面来讲。
we live in the twenty first century 我们是生活在21世纪，if we look around both geographically and historically we will realize how blessed and fortunate we are我们从地理的角度来看，从历史的角度来看，知道我们是多么的幸运，most of us here are Asians not Chinese living in North America我们大部分的是非华裔亚洲人，住在北美洲 we compare ourselves with every Chinese person who is living on the face of this earth today。
假如我们今天与其他的中国人来比较的话 we are probably the most fortunate 我们可能说是最幸运的 we have the best education opportunity and employment opportunity 我们在这边受教育的机会、找工作的机会都是最好的 if we compare ourselves with every Chinese that has ever lived in history we are the most fortunate 假如我们从历史的观点来看，比较过去所有的中国人来，我们也是最幸运的 if we compare ourselves with the entire population of the United States and Canada，we don’t have to remind ourselves how fortunate we are。
假如我们比美国或者加拿大整个他们的人口来说，我们也可以算是非常的幸运。I live in California 因为我住在加州 our state leaves we are the leader in reverse discrimination 我们所在的加州是反这歧视的先锋because we are so fortunate 因为我们是多么的幸运 and then if you compare ourselves with every human being that is living on the face of this earth，we realize how fortunate we are所以，当我们与其他的人比较的时候，我们知道我们是多么的幸运 there has never been as many resources for evangelism as there are in the twenty first century today在21世纪来讲，比起其他的时代，在宣教方面，我们有很多的资源。
but there has also never been as much need但是也有许多的需要especially need in the body of Christ 尤其是说在教会里面 what kind of church does the church need to be in the twenty first century 在21世纪里，一个教会到底要是一个什么样的教会呢？the body of Christ must be a church that has a message to proclaim 主的身体应该是一个有道可传的教会 and every Christian must be a Christian with a message to proclaim 每一个基督徒都一定是一个是有道可传的基督徒。So today，I would like to share with you all what kind of message a church should preach in this 21st century。所以今天我愿意跟大家分享一个教会在这个21世纪的时候，要向这个世界宣讲一个什么样的信息。
we will be looking at Act chapter 17，我们要从使徒行传17章来看 verse of 16-37，16节到37节，here Paul is speaking to the intellectuals in the city of Athens in Greece 这里我们看到保罗他在希腊的雅典跟当地的人讲话 we’ll first look at the motive or the motivation that Paul has in his heart as he spoke to the people in Athens 我们首先要看保罗他的心态，当他对那些雅典的人讲话的时候 verse sixteen to twenty one 从16节一直看到21节 and then we will look at the message that Paul had to proclaim on that day，verse 22-31，然后我们看他当天所讲的是从22节一直到31节，compared with the messages that are often heard today这个比起我们今天常听到的信息。
we must admit that too often our gospel messages are too man-centered and self-centered 所以我们必须承认，我们今天所听到的信息常是以人为中心、自我为中心的 we live in a broken generation 我们是活在一个破碎的一个世代 the world is filled with broken hearts 这个世界上充满破碎的心灵 the world is filled with broken homes破碎的家庭 what do broken hearts and broken homes need 破碎的心灵、破碎的家庭需要什么呢？Secular psychology tells us世俗心理学对我们说 that they need a friend 他们需要一个朋友 and our young people are some of the warmest human beings that ever lived in human history 我们知道这个时代的年轻人，他们是最温和的一种人。
because they realize they know that they live in a broken world 因为他们知道，他们是活在一个破碎的世界里面 most of us adults are first generation immigrants to America 我们大部分的成年人都是第一代移民到美国的 and we have tough will 我们有非常的坚强的意志 we are who we are because of our hard work 因为我们今天所能够有今天所有的地位，是因为我们的努力 you say what do we have 你会说：你有些什么呢？I’ll tell you what you have我告诉你们，你们有些什么 we have our zip code我们有我们的邮区号码 and we choose our zip code very carefully 我们非常的用心的去选择邮区号码。
so that we can settle down and raise children when go to the best universities in America 所以我们可以定居下来，养育孩子，到时候进美国最好的大学。and so we have tough wills我们有非常健强的意志 but unfortunately often we also have very tough hearts但是非常的不幸，我们的心也非常的硬 and rather weak mind 并且我们的理性也非常的脆弱 and that is why for some of us it has been very difficult to follow my sermons in the last two days所以我们中间有人很难跟上我过去两天的讲道。not because the messages are difficult 并不是因为说这个信息是很难。
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because we go to our research laboratories we turn on our brain 因为当我们在研究所的时候，我就把我们的脑袋打开 but when we come to church we turn off our brains 我们来到教会的时候，我们就要把我们的脑袋关掉。our young people also have very Brilliant minds 我们的年轻人也有和聪明的头脑but unfortunately the world has been telling us that we are all very dumb 但是这个世界对我们说，我们都是非常的愚笨。the media and entertainment treat us as if we don’t have a brain媒体和娱乐圈待我们，好像我们是没有脑袋的，but very often what adults don’t realize 很多时候我们成年人不知道的 is that generation X and Y，就是这个X世代跟Y世代，have some of the most tender hearts 他们的心是非常的柔和 they know that our generation has broken the world for them 他们知道我们这一代已经把世界弄糟了 and they are here to pick up the pieces of a broken world 他们来要收拾这个破碎的世界。
now those of us adults who haven’t thought about this you need to think about it我们这些成年假如没有想到这一方面的话，我们应该思想。a few years ago the boys used to put their hair up very hard，right？几年前，男孩子的这个头发的发型是把它捏的很硬，but behind the hard hair is a very tender and soft heart（笑声）在很硬的头发背后又很柔和的心。
They are a or you are a Cocoon or Nest building generation 因为你们知道你们是一个筑巢的一代。you are very good in building Nest 好你们是非常擅长筑巢。 for you relationships are most important 对于年轻的一代，人际关系对你们是最重要的。unfortunately sometimes that implies that we don’t pay too much attention to absolute truth 但是很多的时候，我们就对绝对真理不太在意。today we’ll look at Paul’s Motive and Paul’s message as he witnessed to the people of Athens今天我们来看保罗的动机、保罗的信息和他跟雅典人做的见证。what does he have to say to both generations 他对两个世代的人有什么话要讲呢？what would he have to say to first generation Chinese immigrants？对那些第一代的中国移民他有什么话要讲？what does he have to say to the Asian Americans of generations X and Y对亚裔美国人X跟Y世代的这年轻人有什么话要讲？
beginning with verse sixteen 我们从16节开始看，you notice that Paul was very provoked very upset very angry in his heart 你看到保罗心里面非常的愤怒 and he was upset because the Bible says that the city was filled with idols 他生气是因为圣经说这个城里充满了偶像。What are idols？偶像是什么呢？Idols are simply the wrong objects of worship for men and women 偶像简单的来讲，就是人不应该崇拜的那些东西。
you see psychology has been telling us what are the needs of men and women 你看到心理学常常告诉我们人有什么需要 they say that we need food and shelter 说我们需要食物、需要有房子 and then we need to be recognized、affirmed、loved、accepted 我们需要别人的认同、爱和接纳 and then we need to fulfill ourselves 并且我们需要满足自己 now the Bible disagrees with Abraham Maslow但是圣经却与亚伯拉罕·马斯洛（Abraham Maslow， 1908–1970）的意见相反，man’s most important need is not to be accepted人最重要的需要并不是说被人接纳。I’m not saying that we don’t want to be accepted 我不是说我们不想被接纳。
but the Bible tells us that the most fundamental need of every human being is the need to worship someone or somebody圣经里面告诉我们，我们最基本的需要是需要敬拜一个人或者一样东西。we either worship the true god 我们要么是敬拜真神 oh we worship the true god in the wrong way或者我们敬拜真神，但是用错误的方法，or certainly will we worship the wrong god or idols 或者我们是敬拜那些错误的神或偶像。
There are really only three alternatives所以只有三条路：worship God in spirit and truth以圣灵按真理来敬拜神 or worship God in a wrong way或者是用错误的方法敬拜神 or worship idols或者是敬拜偶像 that is true of every human being 是每一个人真是的光景；and it is true of every society and every culture也是每一个社会和任何的文化的光景。what is an idol？究竟什么是偶像呢？An idol is simply anything that takes the place of God in our hearts 偶像就是在我们心里面代替了神的任何东西。
So what are some of the idols for us first generation Chinese immigrants 我们第一代移民的中国人的偶像是什么呢？Is it money 是否是钱呢？nobody will admit that money is his or her idol 没有人会承认说金钱是他的偶像。So let’s take a look at what money can buy，但是我们看看钱能够买到什么东西呢？you know what Chinese buy with money？你知道我们中国人用钱买什么吗？I told you already我一定告诉你们的 a zip code就是那个邮政号区 in other words a school district就是那个学区房 in other words location location location就是学区房、学区房、学区房。
So in reality what is our idol？所以你细想一下我们的偶像到底是什么呢？our children have become our idol，我们的儿女变成我们的偶像，anybody anything that takes the place of God in our heart is our idol。凡是在我们的心里面代替了神的那些东西，就是我们的偶像。what about Asian Americans 亚裔美国人怎么样？what might be some of our idols 我们的偶像是什么东西啊？
let me suggest two 让我指出两样 these are the generally accepted idols of American society普遍来讲美国社会都接纳的 I used to live in Chicago now I live in Los Angeles我以前是住在芝加芝加哥，现在是住在洛杉矶 in each of those cities we had idols both by the first name of Michael这两个城市有偶像，他的名字叫Michael，but seriously if you look beneath the Sports and entertainment 假如你从这个运动、娱乐这方面再看下去的时候 what are some of our idols 到底我们的偶像是什么东西呢？1. privacy 第一就是我们隐私权，2. leisure 第二就是我们的娱乐休闲，we hurry up and rush in order to relax我快快地冲刺，好有一点时间可以休息一下 we work and work and work so we can have a vacation 我们拼命的去做、拼命的去做，可以有一个休假，leisure休闲 and then privacy然后就是我们的隐私。anything that takes the place of God 凡是代替神的东西。
now Paul was upset，verse 16，because the city was filled with idols我们看到保罗他的心里面着急，因为城里面是满了这些偶像。what is the Gospel？福音是什么？the gospel is the good news that God meets the deepest need of every human being 福音就是神能够满足我们人性里面内心最深处的需要。what does a broken heart need？一个破碎的心需要什么呢？more than a friend，不止是一个朋友，more than comfort 不止是一些安慰 more than somebody who will walk with you through pain不止是有一个人 能够与你一通度过苦难，deep inside a broken heart 在一个破碎的心里面的深处，the broken heart needs a Savior，a God to worship一颗破碎的心需要有一位救主、一位神来敬拜。
and so the people of Athens put Paul up in a place the Areopagus and say may we know the teaching that you are presenting，verse 19，所以雅典的地方的人就把保罗邀请到，就询问他说你所讲的我们愿意听。but here we learn something about the motivation for evangelism 这里我们学到传福音的动力 why do we preach the gospel？为什么我要传福音？Because people are lost and going to hell if they do not know Jesus Christ. 因为人是失丧的，假如他们不认识主耶稣的话，他们就要下到地狱里面去。that is true ！这是真实的！because the church needs to grow 因为这个教会要成长。that is true ！这是真的！because we should obey the great commission因为我们要顺服大使命，that is true。这也是真实的。
but here we learn something different，a higher motivation for evangelism但是这里我们看到不一样的东西，传福音更高的动机，again in verse 16，还是16节，it reminds you of the anger the upsetness of Jesus in John chapter 2，这提醒我们看到在约翰福音第二章里主耶稣的义怒，and it has just called this a holy dissatisfaction 这个是圣洁的怒、圣洁的不满意 you see God deserves to be worshipped神是配受我们敬拜的 and so when men and women do not worship him 所以当人不敬拜祂的时候 when societies and cultures do not put him at the center 所以当一个社会、一个文化不把神放在中心的时候 the societies and cultures do not fear God 当一个文化、一个社会不敬畏神的时候，then Christian people should be upset 我们基督徒就应该愤怒。
We’re not upset in such a way that we don’t love people 我们不这样愤怒到一个地步，我们就不爱他们。Now some people used to say God hates sin but he loves sinners有很多人说神恨恶罪，但是祂爱罪人。I don’t read that in the Bible 我从圣经里面读到这样的话 we should say that God hates sinners and God loves sinners anyway 我们应说神恨恶罪人，但是祂也爱罪人。
Read your Psalms你们阅读诗篇 and you will read that God hates sin and God hates sinners 你可以看到神恨恶罪，也恨恶罪人。Even though God Hates sinners 虽然神恨恶罪人 he out of his Grace came to save sinners 但是出于的恩典，祂拯救罪人。What is your motivation for evangelism？所以你传福音的那个动力是什么呢？our younger generation understands something about the importance of worship 我们年轻的一代，他们明白敬拜的重要性 God deserves to be worshipped 神是配受敬拜的，this become our motivation as we stand up as salt and light in the world today 所以我们愿意这成为我们今天要在世上做光做盐的动力 so that God may be worshipped and glorified by more people and more society 因此神在更多的人和社会中被敬拜与荣耀。
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