11/3/2013上帝兒子的講道

經文:約翰福音13－17章

中心思想:約翰福音14：1-6；15：1-8，17

提要

        儘量把今天的經文當作一個單元來讀，好為這段經文意義更加感謝上帝！當時的情形是這樣的：逾越節到了，十二個門徒和老師共享最後的晚餐，基督趁門徒還在一起的時候，告訴他們許多重要的話，祂要以自己為謙卑的榜樣，表現出僕人的樣式。祂以再回來的應許安慰門徒，並說聖靈將在祂離去後降臨，澆灌門徒使他們更有服事的能力。最後祂以一篇感人至深的禱告與代求—為他們的安全、合一活出上帝的旨意—結束他們在一起的時候。

每日與主同行

        「聯合」與「合一」有什麼不同？
        舉個例子，把一隻狗和一隻貓的尾巴綁在一起，吊在曬衣架上，結果是聯合，而不是合一！
        令人難過卻也十分真實的是：基督徒太常經歷到聯合，而不是基督肢體的合一。有些書如「教會大戰」、「為聖靈休戰」都說到教會合一不是自動的，而是下定決心努力的！
        教會由人組成，人不是完全的，這就是為什麼耶穌禱告「使他們都合而為一」，就像祂與天父合而為一那樣。這是一個神聖的使命，代價極高，而且全世界都在矚目。
        請讀約翰福音十七章十五到廿三節，然後主動解決你和別的基督徒之間已經產生的差異，在你執行這個任務之前，先確定你的動機是對的，而且請基督居中掌權！

默想

木匠救主的建築計劃
        「我去原是為你們預備地方去」（約14：2），有人曾指出，這是高水準的建築計劃。畢竟，耶穌曾是專業木匠，還有誰會比這位木匠更了解怎麼建造一個永恆的住處呢？

金言

聖經中提到的教會合一，不是要犧牲真理，而是要以真理為根基。

Sermons from the Son of God

Scriptures:John 13-17

Heart of the Passage:John 14:1-6; 15:1-8; 17

Overview

        Try to read today's passage as a single unit in order to appreciate more fully its significance. The scene: An upper room with 12 men and their Teacher gathered for a final meal together. Christ has some important words to share with His little band of men during their remaining hours together. He begins with a model of humility by demonstrating that true greatness comes from being a servant. He comforts His men with the promise of His return, and describes the coming Holy Spirit who will empower them for service in His absence. Then He closes their time together with a moving prayer of intercession—for their safety . . . for their unity ... for God's will in their lives.

Your Daily Walk

        What's the difference between union and unity ?
Take a dog and cat, tie their tails together, and hang them over a clothesline. The result will be union . . . but not unity!
        It is sad but true that Christians too often experience union without unity in the body of Christ. Titles of books such as Great Church Fights and Let 's Quit Fighting About the Holy Spirit suggest that unity is not automatic in the church! And the reason is simple to determine.
        Churches are made up of people, and people are imperfect. That's why Jesus prayed "that they all may be one" even as He and the Father are one. It's an assignment that takes divine enablement. . . and the stakes are high. The world is watching.
        Read 17:15-23. Then take the initiative in resolving a difference you've had with another Christian. Be sure your motives are right and Christ is in control before you tackle the assignment!

Insight

Construction Project by the Master Carpenter
        "I go to prepare a place for you" (14:2). Someone has pointed out that this is one construction project for which the Architect and Builder are ideally qualified. After all, Jesus was a carpenter by trade, and who should know better how to construct an eternal abode than the Carpenter?

Adage

When the Bible speaks about church unity, it speaks of unity not at the expense of truth but on the basis of it.