Summary

我們是正在建造 ?
Are we building up the church?

我們是正在拆毀 ?
Are we breaking down the church?

以弗所書4:1-16 CUV

4我為主被囚的勸你們：既然蒙召，行事為人就當與蒙召的恩相稱。
2凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容，
3用和平彼此聯絡，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。
4身體只有一個，聖靈只有一個，正如你們蒙召同有一個指望。
5一主，一信，一洗，
6一神，就是眾人的父，超乎眾人之上，貫乎眾人之中，也住在眾人之內。
7我們各人蒙恩，都是照基督所量給各人的恩賜。
8所以經上說：他升上高天的時候，擄掠了仇敵，將各樣的恩賜賞給人。
9（既說升上，豈不是先降在地下麼？
10那降下的，就是遠升諸天之上要充滿萬有的。）
11他所賜的，有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有牧師和教師，
12為要成全聖徒，各盡其職，建立基督的身體，
13直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識神的兒子，得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量，
14使我們不再作小孩子，中了人的詭計和欺騙的法術，被一切異教之風搖動，飄來飄去，就隨從各樣的異端；
15惟用愛心說誠實話，凡事長進，連於元首基督，
16全身都靠他聯絡得合式，百節各按各職，照著各體的功用彼此相助，便叫身體漸漸增長，在愛中建立自己。

Ephesians 4: 1-16 ESV

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

馬太福音12:33-37 CUV

33你們或以為樹好，果子也好；樹壞，果子也壞；因為看果子就可以知道樹。
34毒蛇的種類！你們既是惡人，怎能說出好話來呢？因為心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來。
35善人從他心裡所存的善就發出善來；惡人從他心裡所存的惡就發出惡來。
36我又告訴你們，凡人所說的閒話，當審判的日子，必要句句供出來；
37因為要憑你的話定你為義，也要憑你的話定你有罪。

Matthew 12:33-37 ESV

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

教會很難 Church is hard

但是，這是教會的美麗。教會不是建築物，不是一個思想或期望。
But, here is the beauty of church - Church isn’t a building, mentality, or expectation.

教會是身體。
Church is a body.

教會是一群罪人，被恩典所救，活在團契中的聖徒。
Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.

教會是一群信徒，他們被永恆的愛聯結成為兄弟姐妹。
Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by an eternal love.

教會是罪人在恩典寶座前平等站立的聖地。
Church is a holy ground where sinners stand as equals before the Throne of Grace.

教會是傷心人的庇護所，也是大能勇士的訓練場。
Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.

教會是爭戰與邀請的融合。當罪人在對 付罪惡後，邀請人心尋求復興。
Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation. Where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.

教會是負擔的承受者，也是希望的給予者。
Church is a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.

教會是一個家庭。一個家庭聚在一起，撇開 分歧，忘記過去的錯誤，在最小的勝利中歡欣鼓舞。
Church is a family. A family coming together, setting aside differences, forgetting past mistakes, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.

教會，基督的身體, 是罪人和聖徒的居所，如果我們求的話，祂在我們中間。
Church, the body, and the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where He resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.

因此，我記得即使在教會的困難時期, 他從未辜負過我們, 在那裡與我們相會。
So even on the hard days at church, I’ll remember, He has never failed to meet me there.