2022.06.04/05

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

列治文華人宣道會於1977年6月12日成立，由當時的溫哥華華人宣道會一群有異象的弟兄姊妹來到列治文植堂，靠著神的恩典，不經不覺已踏入第45年了。

隨著列治文人口不斷增長，列宣家今天已發展成為一家兩文三語的教會。在李耀全牧師的帶領下，我們現在有九位教牧同工，兩位辦公室同工。現在有五堂崇拜，在疫情逐漸消退下，人數逐漸回升，並且不斷有新朋友來到聚會。

我是在31前，1991年來到列宣家聚會的。1989年六四事件後，香港前途出現信心危機，移民潮湧現，我就在這種氛圍下從香港移民到溫哥華定居，在列宣家成長，成為這個大家庭的一分子。後來，我在神呼召下，奉獻自己，接受神學訓練，在2008年加入教會的教牧團隊。在那些日子，教會崇拜座無虛席，團契興旺。後來在當時的主任牧師吳主光牧師推動下，我們在1992年一月開始了週六午堂崇拜，直到如今。

在神的恩典下，教會不斷增長，弟兄姊妹有傳福音的熱誠。在那些日子，我亦接受了三福訓練，也跟隨傳道部的事奉團隊逐家逐戶作個人佈道，也見證了列宣家的植堂事工發展。先後我們植了列治文城北宣道會、恩典宣道會、列治文仁愛宣道會。現在，城北宣道會已植了列治文使命宣道會。在短短的31年內，列宣文市到現在已有四間華人宣道會。我們都持守宣道會的核心價值，就是靈命進深，差傳佈道。這正是教會存在的目的，我們一方面敬拜事奉上帝；另一方面，我們見證神的愛，耶穌基督的恩典，把失喪的人帶進主的國度裡。

隨著新一波的香港移民潮到臨，列宣家已預備了迎接他們的到臨。我們週六晚上的AYAYA青崇人數加增，兒童與青年人也加增，求主賜下工人，收取莊稼。此外，列宣家的國語事工亦開始了門徒訓練計劃，在最近母親節的外展事工中，我們發現Tsawwassen這地區有不少華人居住，盼望在不久將來，我們能在這地區植堂，秉承宣道會的傳統，承先啟後，繼往開來。

在這45週年堂慶的大日子，求主幫助我們謹記主耶穌的大使命。切勿忘記我們存在的目的，讓列宣家繼續成為明亮的燈台，阿們!

主僕
龔敏光牧師

2022.02.12/13
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Collins Kung

 Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Beijing Winter Olympics finally opened on last Friday, the 4^th day of the Chinese New Year. China announced that it is a simple opening ceremony this time, the size and the time is greatly reduced, compared to the opening ceremony of 2008 Summer Olympics. The four great inventions of China were introduced in 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, and the 24 Solar Terms of the Chinese Calendar was introduced this time.

According to Wikipedia, the Chinese calculated the Solar Terms based on the movement of the earth around the sun, resulting in annual seasonal weather changes, and serving as a time-frame for agricultural activities. In 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the 24 Solar Terms in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

As a Chinese city dweller, I certainly don’t know the 24 Solar Terms very well. It turns out that the names of the 24 Solar Terms reflect the changes in seasons and its weather. They consist of Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter and Winter Solstice. They are called the Eight Bits, and are the key nodes that distinguish the impact of revolution on the earth. The Solar Terms were further divided into sixteen categories: Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Minor Heat, Major heat, End of Heat, White Dew, Cold Dew, Frost’s Descent, Minor Snow, Major Snow, which reflect the more subtle climate changes in the four seasons.

It is indeed the grace of God that allows us to observe this natural phenomenon from His creation. This is God’s revelation to enable us to properly manage what He has created.

• Genesis 1:14-19: God said: Let there be lights to divide day and night, for signs and seasons, for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Although man sinned and rebelled against God, God saved human through Noah and made a covenant with man. The following are His promises to man in the Noahic covenant:

• Genesis 8:20-22: Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

When we look at the heaven and earth and all things created by God, we have a sense of eternity and we long for living forever:

• Ecclesiastes 3:11: God has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Man must know God in order to be in His eternal embrace.  Because of this, God sent his only begotten Son into the world as a man, so that man can be saved by believing in Him.

• Hebrews 1:3: He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Brothers and sisters, while we learn the 24 Solar Terms, we should acknowledge our God who is the creator and redemptor behind the scene, and understand that He cares for us.

• Psalm 8:3-4: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Your servant in Christ
Rev. Collins Kung

2022.02.12/13
作者: 龔敏光牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹：

上週五農曆年初四北京冬季奧運會終於開幕了，正如中國的宣傳，今次是一個簡約的開幕式，比起2008年夏季奧運會的開幕式，規模和時間都大大縮小。上一次介紹中國的四大發明，今次卻介紹中國農曆的二十四節氣。

按維基百科的資料，中國人是根據地球圍繞太陽運動的過程，隨之而產生每年季節的氣候變化而制定出節氣，為了方便安排農耕事務。在2016年，聯合國教科文組織將二十四節氣列入人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄。

作為一個住在城市的中國人，我當然不太認識這二十四節氣。原來這二十四節氣的命名反映了季節和氣候的變化。立春、春分、立夏、夏至、立秋、秋分、立冬、冬至，又稱八位，是區分公轉運動對於地球影響的八個關鍵節點；雨水、驚蟄、清明、穀雨、小滿、芒種、小暑、大暑、處暑、白露、寒露、霜降、小雪、大雪、小寒、大寒等十六個則反映了四季中更細微的氣候變化。

神讓人能從祂的創造中觀測到這些自然規律，實在是恩典，這就神的自然啟示，使人能好好管理祂手所造的。

• 創1:14-19神說：天上要有光體，可以分晝夜，作記號，定節令、日子、年歲，並要發光在天空，普照在地上。事就這樣成了。於是神造了兩個大光，大的管晝，小的管夜，又造眾星，就把這些光擺列在天空，普照在地上，管理晝夜，分別明暗。神看著是好的。有晚上，有早晨，是第四日。

雖然人犯罪悖逆神，神仍然藉著挪亞施行救贖並與人立約，以下是祂在約中對人的應許:

• 創8:20-22 挪亞為耶和華築了一座壇，拿各類潔淨的牲畜、飛鳥獻在壇上為燔祭。耶和華聞那馨香之氣，就心裡說：我不再因人的緣故咒詛地（人從小時心裡懷著惡念），也不再按著我才行的滅各種的活物了。地還存留的時候，稼穡、寒暑、冬夏、晝夜就永不停息了。

當我們觀看神所造的天地萬物，便知道神讓我們有永恆的意識，人亦渴望能永遠存活:

• 傳3:11 神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生（原文是永遠）安置在世人心裡。然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。

人必須要認識神，才能回歸上帝永恆的懷抱，所以神差祂的獨生兒子降世為人，讓人可以因信祂的名得著拯救。

• 來1:3 他是神榮耀所發的光輝，是神本體的真像，常用他權能的命令托住萬有。他洗淨了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右邊。

弟兄姊妹，當我們認識二十四節氣時，更應認識背後創造及救贖的神，明白祂在顧念你與我。

• 詩8:3-4我觀看你指頭所造的天，並你所陳設的月亮星宿，便說：人算什麼，你竟顧念他？世人算什麼，你竟眷顧他？

主僕,
龔敏光牧師

Oct 09-10, 2021
龔敏光牧師

詩122:1人對我說：“我們到耶和華的殿那裡去”，我就歡喜。

這節經文正正道出我們眾弟兄姊妹從十月起回到列宣家實體敬拜的心情。昔日神要以色列人一年三次上到耶路撒冷聖殿敬拜祂，對很多以色列人來說，這是長途跋涉的旅程，當他們結伴同行，一起唱著這首朝聖之歌，一邊遙望在錫安山上矗立的聖殿時，他們的心又興奮又雀躍!

十月2、3日標誌著列宣家一個新里程–各堂崇拜從網上敬拜全面回復到實體敬拜。作為牧者，這是我心中的喜悅：

弟兄姊妹一起敬拜的喜悅

• 由於防疫關係，我們設定150人實體敬拜人數的上限，讓弟兄姊有寬敞的空間敬拜神。會眾都非常守秩序，預早到達登記，並安坐於神的殿中，靜默地預備自己的心敬拜神。他們在悠揚悅耳的序樂中默想神。當主席宣召，會眾同聲歌唱，同心合意地唱詩讚美神。歌聲響遍整個禮堂，大家都興奮雀躍，我也手舞足蹈起來。跟在網上敬拜不同，缺乏了集體敬拜的氣氛。

傳講神話語的喜悅

• 自從去年三月中起，我們牧者要透過預先錄影的講道信息，在網上播放。我們過了一些日子，才適應對著攝錄機，對著空氣講道。每一次都要想像有會眾在前面聽道。但現在重返實體，面對面與弟兄姊妹有眼神的交流。看見他們的反應，實在有說不出的喜悅。感謝神!讚美神!

同心合一事奉的喜悅

• 在這次恢復實體崇前，我們教牧團隊用了很多時間商討，預備技術升級，我們升級了我們的網絡及網速。增添影音器材，以方便未能參與實體敬拜的弟兄姊妹透過ZOOM平台觀看實體崇拜，同步敬拜。在技術上，英文堂的技術團隊支援中文堂的技術團隊，他們付上額外的時間在音響室幫助我們運用新器材，讓我們中文團隊能循序漸進地學習。這是一幅極美麗同心事奉、彼此幫助的圖畫。
• 我們亦小心翼翼，按照省衛生當局的規定，制定各項防疫措施，令弟兄姊妹安心回來敬拜。
• 此外，感謝國語崇拜及AYAYA青崇率先於9月18日試行實體崇拜，讓我們其他各堂崇拜能從他們身上學習，總結經驗，改良進出流程及防疫措施等等。
• 我們亦建立了各事奉團隊，彼此聯絡合一，讓整個實體崇拜的運作暢順，為他們忠心事奉感恩。
  • 接待團隊：提醒大家量體溫， 幫助登記。
  • 歡迎團隊：關懷部的弟兄姊妹送上問候。
  • 司事團隊：協助弟兄姊妹尋找寬闊的合適位置，預備敬拜，並協助會眾於崇拜後有秩序地離開。
  • 技術團隊：支援影音及ZOOM平台的運作。
  • 兒童事工團隊：讓成人敬拜時，兒童同步學習。
  • 敬拜團隊：帶領我們預備及進入敬拜。

Jun 26-27, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Collins Kung

Without knowing it, I have lived in Richmond for 30 years, and the townhouse that I live in is more than 30 years old. In the past 5 years, my house has had several water pipe leaks. Fortunately, God blessed us and we found out in time so that there was no damage of our properties, and the Strata Management Company also repaired it for us. In fact, many units of our townhouse complex have the same problem. It is because the water pipes used to build the house at that time were “grey pipes”, which would break easily over the years and it does not meet the current building codes. There are still some water pipes in my house hidden underground. The situation is like a time bomb. I don’t know when it will burst and cause damages.

Praise God, in the last year’s Owners General Meeting, we passed a resolution to replace the water pipes of all units, and all the owners needed to contribute a special levy for the repair. Although it costs a lot of money, it solves the problem once and for all. Unlike in the past, the problem was only addressed in a piecewise manner.

At the end of April this year, we received a notice that the water pipe replacement project will begin in May, and I saw some units have begun the work gradually.  I thought the management company would notify me in advance. However, on Tuesday May 18 morning, when I was preparing my devotion sharing for the pastoral staff meeting on that day, I suddenly heard the sound of an electric drill coming from my neighbor. I went to the neighbor to find out what happened. The worker has started the work at my neighbor’s house. I asked the supervisor, when would be my unit’s turn, he said: I knocked at your door this morning, but no one came to open the door, so we went to the next unit.  I did not hear the door bell and missed the opportunity. But I think it was a special providence of God, because if the workers came to my house and started the work, I would not be able to have my devotion sharing in the meeting on that day. Besides, I did not have the time to prepare the place for them. To make a long story short, the supervisor promised me that he would come to my unit the next day, Wednesday, so that I had enough time to move the furniture and other things at home, and my wife was off from work for a few days, so that we had enough time to do the preparation work. This is indeed God’s protection and care!

Later, I learned that this replacement project was not only to replace the underground water pipes, but to replace all the water pipes within the whole house. So, there were many holes in the walls around the house and even in the ceiling, all of a sudden, the house looks like a battlefield.

For the following two weeks, I have to get up early every morning to shower and brush my teeth and prepare the place before the water supply was turned off. Every day I wonder if the workers will come to work or not. Since they work on a very irregular schedule, a group of people came to work on this part and another group will come for the next steps (such as patching the walls, painting, etc…). I felt that I have to be watchful and wait every day. They may or may not show up, and only on Saturdays and Sundays can they rest. Brothers and sisters, isn’t it our Lord Jesus telling us to be watchful and wait, and prepare for His return?

In the process of replacing the water pipes, because the faucets in our bathrooms were old and did not fit well with the new water pipe and caused leaking, the plumber suggested that we buy new faucets at our own expense, and they would replace them for us with no extra charge. As a result, we seized the opportunity and bought three new bathroom faucets for them to install for us. Now, my house has been updated and renewed, and the faucets are no longer dripping like they used to be.

Now, my house has been renewed, and I believe I can live in peace for many years. In fact, our lives must be renewed so that we can continue to serve the Lord. Brothers and sisters, how often do we come before the Lord and let Him renew our lives? In this water pipe replacement project, I experienced and learned four things: God’s divine providence, wait vigilantly, seize the opportunity, and renew my mind.  Hope this reflection will encourage each other.

Jun 26-27, 2021
龔敏光牧師

不經不覺已在列治文市居住了30年，而我所住的城鎮屋(townhouse)房子亦超過30年屋齡，在過去5年內，我的房子曾出現數次的水管破裂問題，幸好神讓我們及早發覺，沒有造成屋內財物的損毀，管理公司亦為我們修妥。其實，我們的城鎮屋有很多單位都發現有同樣的問題，究其原因，是當時建屋用的水管是「灰喉」，隨著年日會容易破裂，不合現時的建築標準，我的房子還有部分水管藏在地裡，情況就好像計時炸彈，不知道何時爆裂，造成破壞。

感謝神，在去年的業主大會中，我們通過議案更換所有單位的水管，大家一齊繳付特別維修費。這個決定雖然花費不少，但卻是一勞永逸，不像從前是頭痛醫頭，腳痛醫腳，沒有全面解決問題。

在今年四月尾，我們收到通知，更換水管工程將會在五月開始，我看見其他單位陸續施工，心想維修公司會預先通知我準備。誰知5月18日星期二早上，我正在準備教牧同工會議靈修分享時，忽然聽到從隔鄰傳來的電鑽聲，我到鄰居查看，原來工人開始為我鄰居維修，我問那位負責的工頭，甚麼時輪到我的單位，他說：今天早上我拍你的門時，沒有人來開門，所以我們去做下一個單位，原來我聽不到拍門聲，錯過了機會。但我想這樣錯過了是神的特別看顧，因為若工人當天就來維修，我就不能開會分享了。況且，我也沒有時間預備好地方，讓他們維修。長話短說，工頭應承我，明天星期三會來我的單位維修，讓我有足夠時間去搬動家裡的家具物品，而師母那幾天剛好不用上班，我們就有時間做預備工作，這確實是神的保守！

後來，我才知道這維修工程不只是更換地底下的水管，而是把全屋裡的水管都更換。所以，我看見這幅牆開一洞，那幅牆又開一個洞，連天花也要開洞，頓時家裡成了一個戰場一般的地方。

接下來的兩個星期，我每天都要一早起床，在停水之前做好梳洗，預備地方，心想不知道那些工人會不會進來工作，他們是不定時的，一組人做完，又有另一組人會來做其他工序(如收復牆壁，油漆等…)，我發覺我每天都在警醒等候，他們或許出現，或許不出現，除了星期六、日，才可以休息。弟兄姊妹，這樣的心態，豈不是主耶穌吩咐我們要警醒等候，預備祂的再來嗎？

在更換水管的過程中，因為我們浴室的水龍頭老舊，接駁了新水管有滲漏的問題，水管工人建議我們自費講買新的水龍頭，他們為我們免費更換。結果我們把握時機，趕快去買了三個合適的配件讓他們為我們安裝。現在，我的屋子好像更新了一樣，水龍頭不再像從前滴水了。

屋子現在更新了，我想有多年的安居。其實，我們的生命也要更新，讓我們能繼續服事主，我們有沒有常常來到主面前，讓祂更新我們的生命？在這件事上，我經歷了神常看顧，我學習了警醒等候、把握時機、心意更新，以此共勉。

Feb 27-28, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Collins Kung

In the last week’s worship sermon, I talked about King Hezekiah’s facing the trial of crisis. He trusted in the Lord to overcome the crisis. He was facing the invasion by the Assyrian army and the Assyrian general had arrived in Jerusalem.  2 Kings 18:17 “And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer’s Field.”  Hezekiah was facing the extreme pressure of Rabshakeh, which shaking the confidence of the people in Judah, he chose to go to the House of the Lord to pray. At the same time, he took the initiative to ask the prophet Isaiah for prayer. As a result, God sent a message of comfort and deliverance to him through the prophet. Hezekiah’s performance is in sharp contrast with his father Ahaz.

Chapter 16 of 2 Kings wrote:  Ahaz, the father of King Hezekiah, king of Judah in the southern kingdom, began to reign.  The Bible describes him as an evil king. Unlike his father David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree and even burned his son as a sacrifice. At that time, the northern kingdom of Israel and Judah were in a state of hostility. The northern kingdom allied with the Syria kingdom, Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to wage war on Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz.

Isaiah chapter 7 wrote about the crisis at that time. Isaiah 7:2 “When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” God told the prophet Isaiah to comfort Ahaz. Isaiah 7:3 “And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field.“ God was even willing to give a sign to Ahaz so that he could relax and calm down. This sign is the famous Immanuel prophecy in the Bible. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”.

However, Ahaz ignored it and chose to rely on Assyria to rescue Judah from the plight. He sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria and said, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.”  He took the silver and gold that was found in the House of the Lord and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent a present to the king of Assyria.  Later, he personally went to Assyria to meet with the King of Assyria, introduced the Assyrian altar, built another Assyrian altar in the House of the Lord, and offered sacrifices there. And he moved the bronze altar that was before the Lord from the front of the House, from the place between his altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of his altar. This showed that Ahaz has no God in his heart.

The same crisis, the same place, but different reactions. Let’s reflect deeply on the reactions of the two kings, hoping that you and me, whether in adversity or prosperity, can trust in God, remembering that we are redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ through His precious blood.

Feb 27-28, 2021
龔敏光牧師

在上星期的崇拜，我講到希西家王面對危機的考驗，他專心倚靠神而渡過危機。他面對亞述大軍入侵的危機。當時亞述將軍來到耶路撒冷。王下18:17「亞述王從拉吉派他珥探、拉伯撒利和拉伯沙基率領大軍，往耶路撒冷，到希西家王那裡去。他們就上來，去到耶路撒冷。他們到達以後，就站在上池的引水道旁，在漂布地的大路上。」面對拉伯沙基的極限施壓，動搖猶大國上上下下的信心，希西家選擇上耶和華的殿去禱告，同時亦主動找先知以賽亞代禱。結果，神藉先知送上安慰解救的信息。希西家的表現與父親亞哈斯形成強烈的對比。

列王紀下16章記載南國猶大王希西家王的父親亞哈斯登位，聖經形容他是個惡王，不像他祖宗大衛行耶和華他的神看為正的事。他在邱壇上，在山岡上和所有青翠的樹下獻祭和焚香，甚至焚燒他的兒子為祭。當時的北國以色列與猶大正處於敵對狀態，北國與亞蘭國結盟，並且亞蘭王利汛與以色列王利瑪利的兒子比加上來攻打耶路撒冷。他們把亞哈斯圍困起來。

以賽亞書第7章記載了當時的危機，賽7:2「有人告訴大衛家說：“亞蘭已經在以法蓮地安營。”王的心和人民的心就都震動，像林中的樹被風搖動一樣。」神吩咐先知以賽亞去安慰亞哈斯。賽7:3「耶和華對以賽亞說：“你和你的兒子施亞雅述出去，在上池的水溝盡頭，就是在漂布者田間的大路上，去迎接亞哈斯。」神甚至願意向亞哈斯發出兆頭，讓他可以放下心頭大石。這個兆頭就是聖經有名的以馬內利的預言。賽7:14「因此主自己必給你們一個兆頭：看哪！必有童女懷孕生子；她要給他起名叫‘以馬內利’。」

可是，亞哈斯沒有理會，他選擇倚靠亞述解救猶大的困境。他差派使者去見亞述王提革拉毗列色，說：“我是你的臣僕，你的兒子，求你上來，救我脫離那起來攻擊我的亞蘭王和以色列王的手。”他拿耶和華殿裡和王宮寶庫內的金子和銀子，送給亞述王作禮物。後來，他親自到亞述會見亞述王，引入了亞述的祭壇，在耶和華的殿裡另建亞述祭壇，在那裡獻祭，卻把耶和華面前的銅祭壇，從殿從新壇與耶和華殿中間移至新壇的北邊。由此可見，亞哈斯心中從骨子裡沒有神。

相同的危機，相同的地點，不同的反應。兩個王的表現藉得我們深思，盼望你與我不論在逆境或順境，都能專心倚靠神，謹記我們是藉著主耶穌基督的寶血買贖回來歸給他。

Nov 07-08, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Collins Kung

Due to the Covid 19 this year, the Greater Vancouver Bible Conference moved to live broadcast online. However, because of the engagement of church ministries, I was not able to watch the live broadcast. Fortunately, the organizer VCEMF had recorded the messages and made it available on the youtube channel, so that I can watch and listen to it afterwards.  The Speaker, Rev.  Samuel Chan comes from Toronto, and his messages can better meet the needs of the North American churches.  I like to share some of my reflections on the third meeting.

Rev. Chan put forward four biblical absolutes:

1. We live in two kingdoms of conflict

The first reality is that we live in a kingdom on earth (Canada), and at the same time we are also the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The kingdom on earth is a secular government, not a theocratic kingdom.  We are living in the tension between the two kingdoms.

2. We all have dual citizenships

The issue of allegiance arises when the value of the secular government conflicts with the value of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Bible teaches us to obey God first, and then obey the government on earth. 1 Peter 2:13 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,…17. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

3. The government is established by God, the purpose is to restrain evil

Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God… 4. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

4. The church is established by God to make disciples of all nations

Then Rev. Chan led us to think about an important question, how do we as a church live in the world but not of the world?

• The church must focus on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, spread the gospel and train disciples. This includes five aspects: teaching the truth of the Bible, living out love and righteousness (generosity, equality, advocacy, commitment), building and strengthening faith, serving the community and finally praying.
• The church should encourage brothers and sisters who are willing and have burdened to go into the world, to be the salt and light in different areas and aspects and to manifest Christ. We should support them and pray for them.
• Finally, he used three English words to describe the three forms of churches:

1. Isolate: a church that keeps itself isolated from the world and ignores the
2. Integrate: a church that compromises with the world and follow the world, gives up its beliefs, and agrees the secular values.
3. Infiltrate: Let the truth of Jesus Christ infiltrate every corner of the community, a church that is in the world and not of the world.

I hope that RCAC will continue to move in this direction and become a church in the world but not of the world.  I encourage everyone to go online and watch or review the messages.  Let us work hard together in advancing the gospel ministries.

Nov 07-08, 2020
龔敏光牧師

今年因新冠肺炎大流行，大溫培靈會移師網上直播，但因教會事工關係，未能即時觀看，有幸大會把四堂信息放在youtube 頻道上，讓我可事後重溫，講員陳琛儀牧師來自多倫多，他的信息更能切合北美教會的需要。在此分享自己對第三堂信息的一些點滴及反思。

他提出聖經裡四個絕對的原則:
1.  我們是活在個兩爭戰的國度裡
第一個現實就是我們活在地上的國度裡(加拿大)，與此同時我們也是天國的子民。
地上的國度是世俗政權，不是神治國度，我們正是活這在兩個國度的張力中。

2.  我們都有雙重國藉的身份
由之而來就是效忠的問題，當世俗政權的價值與天國的價值有衝突時，聖經教導我們要先順服神，再順服地上的政權。彼前2:13你們為主的緣故，要順服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王…17。務要尊敬眾人，親愛教中的弟兄，敬畏神，尊敬君王。

3.  政府都是神所任命的，為的是要制衡作惡
羅13:1在上有權柄的，人人當順服他，因為沒有權柄不是出於神的。凡掌權的都是神所命的…4。因為他是神的用人，是於你有益的。你若作惡，卻當懼怕；因為他不是空空的佩劍，他是神的用人，是伸冤的，刑罰那作惡的。

4.  教會是神所立定的，為的是使萬民作主門徒

跟著他帶我們思考一個重要問題，我們如何活出入世而不屬世的教會?

• 教會要專注於耶穌基督的大使命，廣傳福音，做好門徒訓練。這包括五方面: 教導聖經真理、活出愛和公義(慷慨，平等，辯護，承擔)、建立信心、服務人群、祈禱。
• 教會要鼓勵有心志，有負擔的弟兄姊妹去深入世界，在不同的範疇、領域作鹽作光，彰顯基督，我們要支持他們，為他們祈禱。
• 最後他以三個英文字來形容三種形態的教會：
o 分離(isolate)：獨善其身，不理世事的教會。
o 妥協 (integrate)：與這世界妥協，跟隨這世界，放棄自己的信念，認同世俗價值的教會。
o 滲透(infiltrate)：讓耶穌基督的真理，滲透到社會每一個角落，入世而不屬世的教會。
但願列宣家繼續朝著這方向邁進，作入世而不屬世的教會。鼓勵大家上網收看或重溫，在福音事工上，齊心努力。