Message Title 信息: Sequel to Easter 復活節續集
Message Texts 經文: Matthew 28:16-20
Rev. Aaron Yeung 楊家逵

Message Outline 大綱:

1.) Easter has a sequel
2.) We are called to make disciples of all nations
3.) How do we make disciples?
i.) Go
ii.) Teach
iii.) Baptize

Transcript:

今天早上的主題是“復活節續集” 。 上周是復活節；我們慶祝得很開心。復活節是一年中最快樂的季節。它提醒我們，在耶穌裡，我們有未來得救的保證；因此，無論世界如何繼續陷入混亂，無論疫情如何繼續變化，甚至是第三次世界大戰，我們都不必沮喪或恐懼

然而，B/S，這不代表我們可以高枕無憂，只是等到基督複臨。不，我們不能；因為神在地球上的計畫還沒有完成。除了復活節，耶穌戰勝罪和死亡，他的計畫還有後續！

今天的經文馬太福音28:16-20告訴我們，耶穌從墳墓裡復活之後，在他升天之前，他向門徒顯現，並命令他們使萬民作門徒！換句話說，神的計畫涉及我們的範圍要大得多。在續集中，耶穌不是主角；門徒現在是主角；他們要成為所有民族的信徒。

當然，主耶穌將永遠是主角，因為他與我們同在，直到世界末日，所有的權柄都賦予了他，但他並不像他在世時那樣是可見的主角；相反，主角是他的人民，他的教會，即你和我。事實上，除了你和我，即基督的追隨者，沒有其他人可以在續集中表演；因為只有聽過福音的人才會相信並得救。

所以我們必須承擔起我們的角色，成為門徒；否則，我們今天的慶祝活動將變成哀悼。

問：讓我問一下：如果有人告訴你這部電視劇只有第一集，沒有續集或結尾，你會看嗎？不，對，除非你有很多時間可以浪費！或者你喜歡看NBA：你最喜歡的球隊前三節表現非常好，但他們在最後一節表現非常糟糕，只輸了1分，你覺得浪費時間！

所以當我們慶祝復活節的時候，讓我們記住這只是第一集，故事還沒有結束；我們必須繼續續集。請記住，在馬太福音24:14中，耶穌說，福音必須傳給所有的國家，然後末日才會到來。願我們勤勉，當這一切結束時，主再來，我們可以聽到他對我們說“善良而忠誠的僕人”，而不是“邪惡而懶惰的僕人”阿門！

我們應該如何使萬民作門徒？在我們之前讀到的經文中，耶穌用三個分詞來描述如何成為門徒；所有這些都是現在時態，表明我們需要繼續做什麼任務/行動，以便在他回來之前成為門徒：

i、 ）“去”： 我知道很多時候在宣教大會上，講者為了宣揚海外宣教，會用它作為主要動詞，即命令去結交門徒。

當然，海外任務很重要，尤其是那些從未到達的地方；但這裡的命令並不一定意味著放棄事業、家庭等，去海外的陌生人群中。相反，它意味著與人們接觸，即不要等待他們的到來。教會不應該僅僅依靠動態的佈道或特殊事件；一個教堂需要去，需要伸出援手。這意味著你和我需要接觸生活圈中的人，比如家人、朋友、同事等等。這些人只有你才能接觸到！此外，我們可以有意識地繞圈子：例如：組織一次觀光旅行…，加入家長俱樂部。

ii.）培養門徒涉及“教導”：現在我知道你可能會覺得自己沒有資格教導，因為你沒有接受過正規的神學院培訓；但請注意，在這裡，耶穌並不意味著傳授聖經知識和神學；他說：“教我教你的東西。”

耶穌教了早期的門徒什麼？從福音的敘述中我們知道，他教導他們諸如：祝福、對神的信仰、愛我們的敵人、給予窮人等等。換句話說，“教導”與其說是教導教義，不如說是教導如何過新的生活、如何在基督的品格中成長、如何對待人、對神的信心。

當保羅說執事應該能夠教導時，這也是同樣的想法；即他們應該教導別人像基督一樣生活。翻到提多書第二章，我們看到保羅告誡提多如何教導人如何生活：“年長的男人，年長的女人，年輕的女人，年輕的男人，教導奴隸……第11-14節，因為神的恩典已經顯現，為所有的人提供救恩。12它教導我們對不敬虔和世俗的激情說“不”，並在這個時代過自我控制、正直和敬虔的生活，13我們等候那蒙福的盼望，就是我們偉大的神和救主耶穌基督榮耀的顯現。耶穌基督為我們舍了自己，要救贖我們脫離一切的惡，為自己潔淨自己的子民，這子民就是他自己的子民，渴望行善。

因此，“教”就是通過他們遇到的情況來教。當有人在某些情況下需要諮詢時，我們會幫助他們將福音/基督的生命應用於這種情況。此外，它不僅是通過單詞教學，而且還通過例子教學，就像英語中有人說的那樣，“門徒不是由學生來教的。”

這是一個比伸出援手更巨大的挑戰；但這並不是要求我們付出額外的努力，因為這是我們自己的人生目標，所以我們並不是為了教別人而在學習上付出更多/額外的努力；相反，我們只是在把我們學到的東西傳遞給別人。

浸禮：“浸禮”：你可能會說“去，去教導，我能做到”，但我怎麼浸禮呢？我不是牧師”。是的，你說得對。但原因並不是因為浸禮是一項“神聖”的任務，而是為了確保沒有虛假的浸禮。什麼是假浸禮：有時人們認為這是一種得救的方式；有時認為這是一個教會成員的儀式，因此沒有悔改；這就是為什麼只有牧師才應該表演，或者至少應該有人監督。

但事實上，洗禮不僅僅意味著在基督裡公開認罪；這意味著成為基督身體的一部分。

參考：在希臘語中，“浸禮”=染色，將一塊空白的白布變成另一種顏色，然後將其與同樣染色的布放在一邊。

因此，“給門徒施浸”的意思是幫助他成為教會的一部分。。Illus：就像嫁接一樣，你知道接穗通常需要一段時間才能成為寄主樹的一個分支，對吧！這是因為接穗和寄主樹之間有一個間隙。同樣，一個新信徒成為教會的一部分，也就是說，從功能上講，需要投入和時間。Illus：也許我們可以把它看作是領養：當一對夫婦收養一個男孩時，需要很多時間，大量的培養，幫助他們發現個人弱點並發揮他的潛力，發現他們的天賦和他們在事奉中的熱情，並提供培訓等等。；為了讓他成為家庭的一部分。

結案應用：

所以B/S，我們都可以成為續集的一部分，如果我們只使用我們的生活，我們的經驗，和神賜予我們的禮物，讓我們成為門徒。

  • 有些人有大家庭，或者你性格外向，喜歡聊天，有很多朋友，或者你的職業要求與客戶建立聯繫或互動，也許你可以有效地聯繫。
  • 我們中的一些人生來更具反思性，更傾向於思考生活問題和意義，對什麼是對的，什麼是錯充滿熱情，也許你可以在接下來的時間裡教導和塑造基督徒的生活，
  • 有些人善於感知人們的感受和需求……並且關心他人，也許你可以指導新來者，幫助他們。

不管你的個性、天賦和處境如何，讓我們一起努力，在續集中有出色的表現！在續集中有出色的表現！

 

This morning’s topic is “Sequel to Easter.” Last week was Easter; we had a joyful time celebrating. Easter is the most joyful season of the year. It reminds us that in Jesus we have the assurance of our future salvation; so no matter how the world continues in chaos, no matter how the pandemic continue to change or even WWIII, we don’t have to be depressed or fearful

However, B/S, this does not mean that we can rest comfy, just waiting until the Second coming. No, we can’t; because God’s plan on earth is not done yet. Besides Easter, Jesus’ victory over sin and death, there is sequel in His plan!

Today’s text, Matt 28:16-20, tells us that after Jesus rose from the grave and before His ascension, He appeared to the disciples, and He commanded them to make disciples of all nations! In other words, God’s plan has a much greater scope that involves us. In the sequel Jesus is not the main character; the disciples are now the main characters; they are to make disciples of all nations (i.e. ethnicities).

Of course the Lord Jesus will always be the main character since He is with us unto the end of the age and all authority has given to Him but He is not the visible main character like while he was on earth; rather, the main character is His people, His church, i.e. you and I. Indeed, beside you and I, i.e. followers of Christ, no one else can perform in the sequel; because only those who heard the gospel, believe it and have been saved.

So we must take on our roles to make disciples; if not, our celebration today will instead turn to mourning.

Q: let me ask: if someone tells you that this TV drama has only first episode without sequel or end, would you watch it? No, right, unless you have a lot of time to waste! Or you like to watch NBA: the first 3 quarters your favorite team was doing really well but they did really badly in last quarter, lost by 1 pt, you feel time wasted!

So as we celebrate Easter, let us keep in mind that it is only the first episode, the story is not done yet; we must continue with the sequel. Remember in Matt 24:14 Jesus says the gospel must be preached to all the nations then the end will come. May we be diligent so that when it finally finished, the Lord returns, we may hear Him say to us “good and faithful servants” not “wicked lazy servants.”  Amen!

How should we make disciples of all nations? In the passage we read earlier Jesus employed three participles to describe how to make disciples; all of them in present tense, indicating what tasks/actions we need to keep doing in order to make disciples until He returns:

  • “Going”: I know that lots of time in mission conferences, in order to promote overseas mission, speakers would use it as main verb, i.e. command to go to make disciples.

Of course oversea missions are important, especially the never reached; but the command here does not necessarily mean giving up career, family, etc, and go overseas to strange people groups. Rather, it means to reach out to people, i.e. not to wait for them to come. A church should not just rely on dynamic preaching or special events; a church needs to go, to reach out. That means you and I need to reach out to people in our life circles, such as family, friends, coworkers, etc. these people only you can reach! In addition, we can intentional about making circles: for example: organize a sightseeing trip; …, join a parent’s club.

ii.) Making disciples involves “Teaching”: Now I know that you might feel you are not qualified to teach because you haven’t had formal seminary training; but note that here Jesus does not meant teaching bible knowledge and theology; he says: “teaching what I have taught you.”

What did Jesus teach the early disciples? From the gospel accounts we know that He taught them such as: Beatitudes, faith in God, loving our enemies, giving to the poor, etc. In other words, “to teach” is not so much teaching doctrines but teaching how to live the new life, how to grow in Christ’s characters, how to treat people, faith in God.

This is the same idea when Paul says deacons ought to be able to teach; i.e. they should teach others to live like Christ. Turn to Titus chapter 2 we see Paul exhorts Titus how to teach people to live: “older men, older women, young women, young men, and teach slaves…..and v.11-14For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Hence, “to teach” is to teach through situations they encounter. When someone in certain situation needing counseling, we help them to apply the gospel/Christ’s life to situation. Also, it is not to teach by words only but also by example, as in English someone has says “discipleship is not taught by caught.”

This is great challenge more than reaching out; but it is not asking us to put out extra effort because this is our own purpose of life anyway so we are not putting more/extra effort in learning just to teach others; rather, we are merely transferring what we have learned to others.

iii.) Baptizing: “baptizing”: You might say “to go, to teach, I can do” but how can I baptize? I am not a pastor”. Yes, you are right. But the reason is not because baptism is a “sacred” task, rather, so as to ensure there is no false baptism. What is false baptism: sometimes people think it is a means of getting saved; sometimes think it is a rite of church membership and so no repentance; that’s why only pastors should perform or at least supervised.

But actually baptism means a lot more than an open confession in Christ; it means becoming a part of the body of Christ.

Ref: in Greek, “baptize” = dyeing, turning a blank white cloth into another color and then placed it aside with the same dyed ones.

Therefore, “to baptize” a disciple means to help him to become a functional part of the church. Illus: it is like in grafting, you know that it often takes some time for the scion to become a branch of the host tree, right! That is because there is a gap between the scion and the host tree. Likewise, it takes investment and time for a new believer to become a part of the church, i.e. functionally speaking. Illus: Perhaps we can think of it as adoption: when a couple takes a boy in, it takes a lot of TLC, lots of nurturing, helping to identify personal weakness and bring out his potential, discover their gifts and their passion in ministry, and provide training, etc.; with purpose for him to become a part of the family.

Closing application:

So B/S, we all can be a part of the sequel if we just use our lives, our experience, and the gifts God gave to make disciples.

  • Some of you have big family, or you are outgoing like to talk and have lots of friends, or your profession calls for networking or interacting with customers, maybe you can reach out effectively.
  • Some of us are born a little more reflective and tend to think about life issues and meanings, passionate about what is right and what is wrong, maybe you can teach and model the Christian life for the rest,
  • Some are good at perceiving people’s feeling and needs… and caring, might be you can mentor new comers, help them along.

Regardless your personality, your gift, and your situation let us work together for a great performance in the sequel!