国的巨变
Have you ever seen a rocket launch into space?
A few years ago, Robyn and I visited NASA in Florida. We saw the shuttle ready for its launch and were stunned at the size of the massive boosters and turbo engines all designed to launch the rocket into space once Mission Control sends the signal to embark. We’re beginning a new series today called Seismic Factors – a look at the first 15 chapters of the Book of Acts in the NT of the Bible. The very beginning of the story is a lot like mission control sending the embark which lead to the launch of an incredibly powerful movement of ordinary people called the church.
几年前，罗宾和我访问了佛罗里达州的NASA。我们看到航天⻜机准备发射，我们也被巨大的助推器和涡轮发动机的尺寸惊呆了，所有这些都是为了在任务控制中心发出起⻜信号后将火箭送入太空而设计的。我们今天开始了一个新的系列，叫做巨变，来看看圣经新约使徒行传的前15章。故事的一开始 很像任务控制中心发射⻜船，这引发了一个难以置信的普通人的强大的运动称为教会。
The story in Acts begins with a handful of Jesus’ followers - no more than 120 men and women. Yet, these ordinary believers sparked a global movement in just 30 years. What amazes me is that these first Christians had zero buildings and skimpy resources. On top of that, they faced huge challenges – persecution, lockdowns – in the form of prison, a tyrant ruling over them.
使徒行传的故事始于耶稣的少数跟随者——不超过120名男女。然而，这些普通信徒在短短30 年内引发了一场全球运动。令我惊讶的是，这些最早的基督徒没有教会的建筑，也没有多少资源。最要的是，他们面临 着巨大的挑战——迫害、关押禁闭——这些以监狱的形式存在，暴君统治着他们。
We can think of any one of these challenges pinning them down like gravity, holding them back, keeping them fixed where they were. Instead, it was actually BECAUSE of some of these disruptions that the news they proclaimed spread like wildfire – going from person to person, from house to house. So begins the story of the church.
我们可以把这些挑战中的任何一个想象成力，把他们束缚住，让他们固定在原地。相反，正 是由于这些干扰，他们宣告的消息像火一样传播开来——从一个人传到另一个人，从一家传到另一家。教会的故事开始了。
Through our series, we're going to see 9 traits about this movement. We call them Seismic Shifts. Each week we will highlight another one of these seismic shifts. To get the most of this series, I want to encourage you to download the devotional guide or subscribe to the daily emails that allow us to slow down and work our way through this story from Acts and consider what it looks like to step out and see a seismic change in our city. Why this is so important to you and me is that this story isn’t ancient history. This is our story as a church. It’s written to remind us that we are part of something more powerful than the forces of nature, more powerful than any political agenda, and something that can thrive even in the worst of situations.
这对你我如此要的原因在于，这个故事不是过去的事。这是我们自己作为一个教会的故事。它提醒我们，我们是比自然力更强大的事物的一部分，比任何政治议程都更强大，即使在最糟糕的情况下也能茁壮成⻓。在我们这一系列讲道中，我们将看到这一运动的9点要素。我们称之为“巨变”。 每周，我们将点介绍另一个这样的颠覆性巨变。为了更好地了解这个系列，我想鼓励 你下载灵修指南，或者订阅教会的每日电子邮件，让我们放慢脚步，慢慢地看完这个使徒 行传中的故事，想象一下走出去看到我们城市发生的巨大变化是什么样子。
I can’t think of a better time in recent history than to immerse ourselves in this story from the Bible. When these 9 seismic factors are embraced and lived out by you and me – the challenges around us don’t hold us back, the forces of gravity can’t pin us down. Rather, these 9 seismic shifts are like giant turbo boosters launching us towards the supernatural work of God right where we live and in all that we do.
在近代史上，我想不出比沉浸在圣经中的这个故事中更好的时间了。 当你我接受并经历这9个震撼人心的巨变时，我们身边的挑战不会让我们退缩，地心引力也不会让我们倒下。相反，这9个巨变就像巨大的涡轮推进器，在我们生活的地方和在我们所做的 一切事情中将我们推向上帝的超自然工作。
Our story begins this way: In my first book, I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:1-2) (NLT)
我们的故事是这样开始的: 提阿非罗啊，我在第一本书中已论到耶稣从开头所做和所教导的一切事， 直到他藉着圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒后，被接上升的日子为止。 (使徒行传1:1-2 )
So, we see here that this is actually the sequel to an earlier book that the author – named Luke – wrote. That book is known to us as the Gospel of Luke. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. So Luke and Acts actually go together – something easy to miss since John squeezed his way between the two books in our Bibles.
Did you notice here that the gospel of Luke was about what Jesus “began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven...” The implication is that Jesus continued to do various deeds and teach after he was taken up to heaven. That’s what Acts is all about. In this chapter, Jesus will ascend to heaven. But, while Jesus might not be on earth anymore, He is still active here and now. This book of Acts will testify to that. The way Jesus does his work is through his followers empowered by His Spirit.
所以，我们在这里看到，这实际上是那位作者，路加，写的一本书的续集。这本书就是我们熟 知的路加福音。⻢太福音，⻢可福音，路加福音和约翰福音。所以路加福音和使徒行传实际上 是在一起的——这很容易被忽略，因为约翰福音夹在圣经的这两卷之间。你有没有注意到路加福音讲的是耶稣“从开头所做和所教导直到他被接上升的日子为止......”这句话的意思是说，耶稣被接到天堂后，继续做各种各样的事和教导。这就是使徒行传的内容。在这一章中，耶稣将升入天堂。但是，虽然耶稣可能不在地球上了，他仍然在当下是活跃的。 《使徒行传》可以证明这一点。耶稣工作的方式是通过他的跟随者被圣灵赋予力。
Knowing He is about to leave, Jesus spends 40 days with his followers between his resurrection and ascension. When you know that these will be your final words – you tend to think carefully about what you want to say. So, what was Jesus’ focus for his final times with these early followers? During the forty days after he suffered and died... he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)
耶稣知道他将要离开，在他复活和升天之间，他花了40天与他的跟随者在一起。当你知道这将是你的遗言时，你会仔细考虑你想说的话。那么，耶稣最后一次与这些早期信徒 在一起会着讲什么? 他受害以后......在四十天中......讲说上帝国的事。 (使徒行传1:3)
So, what did Jesus talk to them about? “The kingdom of God” What does “kingdom” mean? Part of our problem is that we are not familiar with ‘kingdoms’ any longer. But, it was a familiar idea at the time of Jesus. If you lived in Israel, you were under the kingdom of Herod, and more broadly, you were under the kingdom of Rome. Your king would be whoever the current emperor was—Caesar Augustus or Nero.
那么，耶稣跟他们说了什么?“上帝之国” “国”是什么意思?我们的部分问题在于我们不再熟悉“国”。但是，在耶稣的时代，这是一个大家 很熟悉的概念。如果你住在以色列，你是在希律王的统治下，更广泛地说，你是在罗⻢的统治下。你的国王将 是当前的帝王——凯撒·奥古斯都或尼禄。
These kings would have a “gospel.”[Greek – euangelion]. That was the word used at the time about the good news and the promises surrounding their activity. For instance, an old Roman inscription reads, “The birthday of the god [referring to Caesar Augustus] was the beginning for the world of the glad tidings [“gospel” / euangelion] that have come to men through him.” In other words, Caesar was offering you peace and prosperity – roads, citizenship, well-being.
这些国王会有“福音”。”[希腊语- euangelion] 。这是当时人们对围绕他们活动的好消息和承诺的 描述。例如，一个古罗⻢碑文写道:“ 神(指的是凯撒·奥古斯都)的出生日是世界上好消息[“福音”/euangelion]的开始，这些好消息是通过他传给人们的”换句话说，凯撒为你们提供了和平与 繁荣——道路、公⺠权、安康。
So, Jesus is a very different king with a gospel. The Gospel of Jesus is a claim that Rome’s so-called “good news” of Romans Roads and peace and prosperity is fake news. After all, it was purchased by violence and fear and available only for the elite. This message dominates Jesus’ communication. Earlier in the first book Luke wrote, we read: Soon afterwards Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1)
所以，耶稣是一个带着福音的非常不同的王。耶稣的福音声称，罗⻢所谓的“好消息”——罗⻢ 道路、和平与繁荣——是假的好消息。毕竟，它是由暴力和恐惧购买的，只有上等阶层才能拥 有。 这些信息主导着耶稣带来的信息。在路加写的第一本书中，我们读到过了不久，耶稣周游各城各乡传道，宣讲上帝国的福音。 (路加福音8:1 )
The kingdom of God was the message Jesus proclaimed. So, when Jesus speaks to people worried about food and housing and the day to day aspects of their life – what does he speak about? He speaks about the good news of the kingdom of God. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:32-33)
上帝的国度是耶稣所宣扬的信息。所以，当耶稣对担心⻝物、住房和日常生活的人们讲话的时候，他讲的是什么呢? 他讲的是神 国的福音。 这都是外邦人所求的。你们需要这一切东⻄，你们的天父都知道。 你们要先求上帝的国 和他的义，这些东⻄都要加给你们了。 (⻢太福音6:32-33)
The Kingdom was his answer to everything! The reason is that he knew that the power of this good news of the kingdom changes everything. You don’t need to worry and live like everyone else because life in the kingdom is different. This is why he would often say to his followers: “You have heard it said that ___ (fill in the blank)...But I say to you.” Each time Jesus would contrast the promises made by mainstream culture with the message of His kingdom.
神的国是他对一切的回答!因为他知道这好消息的力量能改变一切。你不需要担心，不需要像 其他人一样生活，因为神的国的生活是不同的。这就是为什么他经常对他的追随者说: "“你们听过有话说___(填空)......但是我告诉你们。”每一次，耶稣都会将主流文化的应许与祂的 国度的信息进行对比。
It wasn’t just his communication but what he did.
这不仅仅是他的信息，还有他所做的事。
Every action and miracle he performed were all pointing to the nature of this new kingdom to help us see and imagine what life in this kingdom looks like:
他的每一个行动和神迹都指向这个新的国的本质，帮助我们看到和想象这个国的生活是什么样子的:
When Jesus related to people on the margins, he was showing us that the kingdom of God is for everybody.
When Jesus blesses little children – he shows us in the words of Dr Seuss - a person is a person no matter how small.
When Jesus heals – he shows us that hope is available freely without coercion or strings attached.
Each time, He was getting people to imagine a society that is radically different-reflecting the heart of our creator.
当耶稣与那些处于边缘的人接触时，他是在向我们表明，神的国是属于每个人的。
当耶稣祝福小孩子的时候——他向我们显明了苏斯博士的话所说的——一个人无论多么渺小都是一个人。
当耶稣治愈时，他向我们显明盼望是自由的，没有强迫或附加条件。
每一次，他都让人们想象一个完全不同的社会——显示着我们的创造者的内心。
Often when we talk about the gospel we talk about one part of it: “Jesus died for our sins so that we can go to heaven when we die.” This is true. The gospel includes the forgiveness of our sins as a free gift of grace that we could never merit. But, for Jesus, it is so much more than this. It affects everything we do and say in our life because our lives now all come under a new kingdom – the kingdom of God.
当我们谈论福音的时候，我们经常谈论福音的一部分:“耶稣为我们的罪而死，这样当我们死的 时候，我们就可以进天堂。”这是正确的。福音包含了我们罪的赦免，这是我们永远不配得的 恩典。但是，对耶稣来说，它远不止这些。它影响着我们生活中的一言一行，因为我们的生活 现在都在一个新的国度里——神的国度里。
Though we don’t talk about ‘kingdoms’ much, we are actually more familiar with them than we think. Everyone has a kingdom in the way the bible speaks about a kingdom. It is this little sphere where what you say goes; where what you want to have happen, happens. It’s why a 2-year old’s favourite word is ‘no.’ It’s why a 2-year olds second favourite word is ‘mine.’ These are kingdom words. Parents don't like it when their kids realise they have a kingdom. But, it’s part of realising you are a person and have a will. You can exert your will.
虽然我们很少谈论“国”，但实际上我们比想象中更熟悉它们。每个人都有一个他们心中所想的国，正如圣经所说的那样。它就在如你所愿的这个小范围里;在 你想要发生的所发生的地方。 这就是为什么一个2岁的孩子最喜欢的词是“不”。这就是为什么一个两岁的孩子第二喜欢的词 是“我的”。这是关于国的词。父母不喜欢孩子意识到他们有一个自己所想的国。但是，这是意 识到你是一个人，有自己的意愿的一部分。你可以努力达到你的意愿。
While on holiday recently, you might have had two kids in the back seat of a car draw a line between each of them. They declare: ‘this is my area. No arm or leg or object is thus able to cross my space.’ What are they saying? ‘This is my kingdom.’ What happens if the arguing continues? Kids, you would notice your dad turn around and say to you, ‘do you want me to come back there and sort it out!?’ effectively dad has a kingdom too! And he announces ‘my kingdom will come if you don’t sort it out!’
最近在度假时，你可能有两个孩子坐在⻋的后座上，他们在彼此之间画了一条线。他们宣称: ‘这是我的地盘。因此，胳膊、腿或物体都不可以穿过我的空间。“他们在说什么?”“这是我的国。” 如果争论继续下去会发生什么?孩子们，你们会注意到你们的爸爸转过身来对你们说，‘你们想 让我过去解决这件事情吗!“实际上，爸爸也有一个国!”他还宣布:“如果你不解决这个问题，我的 国就会到来!””
So, the question is – how do all of us have this kingdom where what we say goes, where what we want to have happen, happens. So, the question is - how’s life on this kingdom of earth at the moment? It’s not going so well, is it?
我们所有人心中都有这样一个国，那里如我们所愿，如我们所想。所以，问题是—现在在这个地球上的这个国的生活是怎样的呢? 不太好，是吧?
There is a polarising of people dividing around political agendas and vaccine approaches.
There are fears and uncertainties of the future.
Society has a growing intolerance of Christianity. Even in the Australian parliament recently, one of the MPS called Pentecostals a ‘death cult.’ The church is seen as harmful to society.
We see God’s creation getting polluted.
We see vows of fidelity being broken. Racial injustice constantly smouldering.
Mental health increases along with cynicism and fear and isolation.
人们在政治议程和疫苗方法上出现了两极分化。
未来充满了恐惧和不确定性。
社会对基督教越来越不宽容。甚至在最近的澳大利亚议会，一位下院议员称五旬节派为 “死亡邪教”。“教会被认为对社会有害。
我们看到上帝的创造被污染了。
我们看到忠诚的誓言被打破。种族不平等在不断地燃烧。
随着愤世嫉俗、恐惧和孤立，心理健康状况日益恶化。
We can add our own personal woes to the list – financial woes, work issues, relational tensions. It’s easy for us to be overwhelmed and distracted. But, Jesus has a plan. His plan is to bring this kingdom of God down to the kingdom of earth. That what’s up there needs to come down here. In fact, he expressed this in the most quoted prayer: “Our father who art in heaven... hallowed be your name... ‘your kingdom come... your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ / Luke 11:2
我们可以在这个列表上加上我们自己的痛苦——经济困难、工作问题、关系紧张。我们很容易不知所措，心烦意乱。但是，耶稣有一个计划。他的计划是把神的国带到人间。上面的需要降临到这里。
In other words, ‘here’s my plan. I’m going to bring THIS down HERE. His good news is that this kingdom of heaven is accessible and available now. It should be no surprise to us the focus of Jesus’ last 40 days with his disciples was speaking about the kingdom of God. Because of his ministry was about this. “he appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)
换句话说，‘这是我的计划。我把这个带下来到这里。他的好消息是，这个天国现在是可以进 入的。 耶稣和⻔徒最后40天的点是谈论神的国，这对我们来说并不奇怪。因为他的事奉正是关乎于 此。“他在四十天之中向他们显现，并讲说上帝国的事。 (使徒行传1:3)
If the kingdom of God was the primary focus for Jesus in his communication and activity, then the kingdom of God is to be the primary focus of you and me. That’s why kingdom is the first seismic shift we need to embrace. And as we read through Acts over the weeks ahead, we’re going to see how these ordinary followers of Jesus experienced the good news of the kingdom and stepped out as witnesses of this good news wherever they went. For instance, the last glimpse we have of the early church in the book of Acts, we see Paul “...boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)
如果神的国是耶稣的信息和活动的主要焦点，那么神的国就是你和我的主要焦点。这就是为什 么国是我们需要接受的第一个巨变。 在接下来的几周，当我们读使徒行传的时候，我们会看到，这些普通的耶稣跟随者，是如何体 验到天国的福音，并作为这福音的⻅证人，无论他们走到哪里。例如，在使徒行传中，我们最 后一次看到早期教会，我们看到保罗“...放胆传讲上帝的国，并教导主耶稣基督的事。(使徒行 传28:31 )
But, here’s the thing: the early followers of Jesus were also much like you and me. Like us, they got distracted. It’s so easy to get distracted. First of all, they got distracted on what’s still to come, rather than pointing people to Jesus.
但是，事情是这样的:耶稣的早期追随者也很像你我一样。像我们一样，他们也分心了。太容易 分心了。 首先，他们把注意力集中在将要发生的事情上，而不是把人们指向耶稣。
Distraction #1: Being distracted on what's still to come, rather than pointing people to Jesus
使人分心的事#1:分心于将要发生的事，而不是将人们指向耶稣
We see this in our story: Though Jesus had spent the last 40 days since his resurrection, explaining the kingdom, it seems as all the disciples have heard was ‘blah, blah, blah’ because they had a very different lens about what that kingdom was all about.
我们在我们的故事中看到: 虽然耶稣在复活之后的最后40天里，一直在解释天国，但似乎所有的⻔徒听到的都是“blah, blah, blah”，因为他们对天国有一个非常不同的视⻆.
They thought Jesus would judge all his enemies immediately and set up his throne in Jerusalem. Part of their confusion is understandable because the OT didn’t mention that there would be a period of time between Jesus first coming when he died and rose again and before his second coming when he would reign as king and judge the nations and draw His family to himself. Just like then, people still get distracted by end-time discussions today and lose sight of our primary focus in the here and now.
他们认为耶稣会立刻审判他所有的敌人，并在耶路撒冷建立他的宝座。他们困惑的一部分是可以理解的,因为旧约没有提到有一个时间段是在耶稣第一次来死而复活和 他第二次到来统治作王,将他的家人带到他身边之前。就像那时一样，人们仍然会因为今天的结束时间讨论而分心，忽视了我们现在的主要焦点。
So, in steps Jesus to bring a solution to this distraction: In other words, “it is none of your business as to the timing when I will set up my kingdom and rule and reign.” Instead, here is the focus: So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6)
所以，耶稣循序渐进地提出了解决这种分心的方法: 换句话说，“我何时建立我的王国，何时统治，何时为王，与你无关。”相反，这里是点: 他们聚集的时候，问耶稣:“主啊，你就要在这时候复兴以色列国吗?” (使徒行传1:6 )
Jesus replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. (Acts 1:7) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
耶稣对他们说: “父凭着自己的权柄所定的时候和日期，不是你们可以知道的。(使徒行传1:7 ) 但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的⻅证。” (使徒行传1:8 )
“You are going to be my witnesses” It’s like each day you are standing in the dock of a courtroom in public life. You are being questioned and challenged. Each day – and each moment of the day you are to simply tell people what you know to be true about me – my works, my death, my resurrection, the difference I can make in people’s lives. Rather than get distracted by what’s still to come, point people to Jesus.
“你们要作我的⻅证”就像你每天都站在法庭的被告席上。你正在被质疑和挑战。每一天，每一 刻，你都要简单地告诉人们你所知道的关于我的真实的事情——我作的工，我的死亡，我的复活，我能给人们的生活带来的改变。 与其被即将发生的事分心，不如将人们指向耶稣。
There is a second distraction:
还有第二个让人分心的地方:
Distraction #2: Being distracted to one group of people, rather than being witnesses to all people
使人分心的事#2:被一群人分心，而不是做所有人的⻅证人
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6) Did you notice that the disciples confined the kingdom of God to one ethnic group – Israel. But, Jesus has a much bigger picture than that. He tells them that the kingdom of God is for everyone from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. I guess Aotearoa NZ qualifies for the ‘ends of the earth.’
他们聚集的时候，问耶稣:“主啊，你就要在这时候复兴以色列国吗?” (使徒行传1:6) 你有没有注意到，⻔徒们把神的国限定在一个⺠族——以色列。 但是，耶稣还有更广阔的愿景。他告诉他们，神国是属于每一个人的，从耶路撒冷，犹太全 地，撒玛利亚，直到地极。我想新⻄兰有资格做“地极”。
Just like the early disciples got distracted by one group, it’s easy for us to do the same. Right now, there is a whole lot of segregation happening throughout our country: Racial divides. Divides over vaccines and mandates. Political divides. Sadly, so many people are allowing their views on these things to separate themselves from others.
就像早期的⻔徒被一群人分散了注意力，我们也很容易做同样的事。 现在，在我们国家有很多种族隔离的现象:种族分裂。在疫苗和授权上存在分歧。政治分歧。可悲的是，很多人让自己对这些事情的看法把自己和别人区分开来。
Yes, there are restrictions but none of that stops us from relationships. You might be an advocate for mandates: be sure to graciously welcome everybody. You might be anti-mandate: be sure to graciously welcome everybody. Such issues should never stand in the way of relationships or the mission of God. Don’t restrict your mission to any group of people at the expense of another group of people because our calling is to be witnesses to all people. After all, God’s heart is for all people.
是的，有一些限制，但这些都不会阻止我们彼此建立关系。 你可能是疫苗授权的拥护者:一定要仁慈地欢迎每个人。 你可能是反疫苗授权的:也一定要仁慈地欢迎每个人。这些问题不应该成为人与人之间关系或上帝使命的障碍。不要以牺牲另一群人的利益为代价， 将你的使命限制在任何一群人身上，因为我们的使命是⻅证所有人。毕竟，上帝的心是为所有 人的。
There is a third distraction:
还有第三种干扰:
Distraction #3: Being distracted by politics rather than focused on the mission
使人分心的事#3:被政治分心，而不是专注于传道
The disciples were focused on political power. They wanted to overpower Rome and take charge. They thought this was the way of Jesus. This is the ancient distraction. Sadly so many Christians have been seduced into the idea that real change comes through political coercion. Sociologist James Hunter notes in his book To Change the World that when a society begins to fracture (like what we’re seeing right now), everything begins to revolve around politics. And everyone begins to think that the real way to produce change is to gain political power.
⻔徒们专注于政治权力。他们想要征服罗⻢，夺取统治权。他们认为这就是耶稣的方式。这是古代让人分心的事。可悲的是，如此多的基督徒被诱使相信真正的改变是通过政治胁迫实 现的。社会学家詹姆斯·亨特(James Hunter)在他的《改变世界》(To Change the World)一书中指出，当 一个社会开始破裂时(就像我们现在看到的那样)，一切都开始围绕着政治展开。于是每个人都 开始认为，产生变革的真正途径是获得政治权力。
But the real power is not at the political level. Whoever is or isn’t leading a country can never stop the mission of God. The reason I can say that so strongly is because of what we see in the story of Acts. Did you realise for instance that for much of the NT, a man named Nero was the leading emperor over Rome. He was a tyrant. I say that because this is what we know from history: He stabbed his mother to death after a failed attempt to drown her. He poisoned an aunt with a laxative. He kicked a pregnant wife to death in the stomach. He executed another on a trumped-up adultery charge. He married a boy named Sporius, whom he had castrated to make more feminine. He was rumoured to have sung an opera while Rome burned and found a scapegoat in ChrisWans whom he had burned as human torches.
但真正的权力并不在政治层面。无论谁在领导一个国家，都不能阻止上帝的使命。我之所以能如此强烈地这么说，是因为我们在使徒行传中看到的。例如，你是否意识到，对很多北方人来说，有一个叫尼禄的人是罗⻢的领导帝王。他是个暴 君。我这么说是因为这是我们从历史上知道的:他在试图淹死他的母亲失败后用刀刺死了她。他 用泻药毒死了一个阿姨。他踢死了一个怀孕的妻子的肚子。他以捏造的通奸罪处决了另一个 人。他娶了一个叫斯波鲁斯的男孩，为了让他更女性化，他阉割了他。据传他在罗⻢被烧的时 候唱了一出歌剧，并在基督徒身上找到了替罪羊，他把他们当作人类的火把烧死了。
Yet, despite leaders like Nero seeking to overpower the church, the church grew during this time.
然而，尽管像尼禄这样的领袖想要制服教会，教会在这段时间发展壮大。如果我们不被政治分散注意力，而是专注于传道，今天就能实现这一点。
There is a final distraction:
还有最后一个让人分心的事情:
Distraction #4: Being distracted by the challenges rather than empowered with the presence of God
使人分心的事#4:被挑战分心，而不是被上帝的存在赋予力量
I imagine these early followers of Jesus could have been distracted by numerous challenges. Remember, 40 days earlier, Jesus was crucified. It’s clear that the Roman and religious leaders do not want these people to be witnesses of Jesus. On top of that, Jesus is leaving! That’s not what any of them expected. “How will we do this if Jesus isn’t even here?”
我猜想这些耶稣的早期追随者可能是被无数的挑战分散了注意力。记住，40天前，耶稣被钉在十字架上。很明显，罗⻢人和宗教领袖不希望这些人成为耶稣的⻅ 证人。 最要的是，耶稣要离开了!这不是他们所期望的。“如果耶稣不在这里，我们要怎么做呢?”
But, Jesus had said that He would send His Spirit to empower them to go against their fear. Do you know what happened? Something awakened in them. They realised that Jesus was placing the gospel into their hands. These women and men rose to the challenge and pointed people to Jesus through what they said and how they lived. The message of Jesus spread like wildfire.
但是，耶稣说过他要差遣他的圣灵给他们力去对抗他们的恐惧。你知道发生了什么吗? 某种东⻄唤醒了他们。他们意识到耶稣是把福音放在他们手中。这些人奋起面对挑战，通过他们的话语和生活方式指引人们认识耶稣。耶稣的消息不胫而走。
It would have been easy for them to stay distracted by the timings, the people, the politics, and the challenges. But, instead, they realised that Jesus had placed the gospel into their hands – and they ran with it. Imagine what it was like for those 120 who were there at the very beginning to have a reunion 30 years later and celebrate what happened. Would they have ever thought that the gospel could have spread to the major cities in the entire Roman world in 30 years? I’m sure that each one of them would have said, ‘no way.’ I’m sure that none of them would have thought they were up to it and prepared or able to do what they actually do.
他们很容易被时间、人⺠、政治和挑战分散注意力。但是，相反，他们意识到耶稣已经把福音交到他们手中，于是他们就继续把福音传下去。想象一下，当时在场的120人在30年后聚，庆祝发生的事情时是什么感觉。他们可曾想过福 音可以在30年内传播到整个罗⻢世界的主要城市?我相信他们每个人都会说，‘不可能。“我敢肯定，他们中没有人会认为自己能胜任这份工作，也没有人准备好或有能力做他们真正要做的事 情。”
If these first Christians could accomplish so much in so short a space of time with such skimpy resources, zero buildings, and huge cultural challenges – what might we do today with the same vision, faith, and desire!?
Gracecity – I realise this is a disruptive time for all of us.
Yes, we don’t have in-person gatherings right now like we used to. Yes, there is a lot of social divides.
Yes, there is a lot of fear and frustration.
如果这些第一批基督徒能够在如此短的时间内，以如此少的资源、零建筑和巨大的文化挑战， 取得如此多的成就，我们今天又能以同样的愿景、信心和愿望做什么呢?
Gracecity恩典之城 -我知道这对我们所有人来说都是一个混乱的时刻。 是的，我们现在不像以前那样有面对面的聚会了。 是的，有很多社会分化。是的，有很多的恐惧和挫折
But the cultural forces of gravity don’t have to hold us back. Instead, Jesus places the gospel into our hands and sends us on our way. Even with the challenges of a pandemic, and a culture increasingly hostile to Christianity, a movement of the gospel is able to take place. So, today I want us to tuck away the first seismic shift: KINGDOM: The gospel is placed in the hands of ordinary people. Rather than get distracted by timings, people, politics or challenges, simply point people to Jesus through what you say and what you do.
但文化引力并不一定会阻碍我们。相反，耶稣把福音放在我们手中，送我们上路。即使面临着疫情的挑战，以及一种对基督教日益敌对的文化，一场福音运动仍然能够发生。所以，今天我想让大家把第一个巨变藏起来: 神的国:福音被放在普通人的手中。不要被时间、人、政治或挑战分心，只需通过你说的和你行 的将人们指向耶稣。
I wonder if there are people you could invite to your home to share in church online?
I wonder who we might call on to simply check in on – sharing God’s love in action?
I wonder what opportunities might come our way this week if we’re open to pointing people to Jesus?
我想知道你是否可以邀请一些人到你家里，分享一起观看教会网上敬拜? 我想知道我们可以请谁来检查——在行动中分享神的爱? 我想知道，如果我们愿意把耶稣指向别人，这个星期会有什么机会呢?
I dream of what it will be like in years to come to look back to this moment in history and say ‘can you believe what God did through those crazy times? I am so glad that I did not get distracted by the timings, people, politics or challenges. Instead, I simply committed to pointing people to Jesus through what I said and what I did.
我梦想着，若干年后，当我回首历史上的这一时刻时，会说:“你能相信上帝在那段疯狂时期所 做的一切吗?”我很高兴我没有被时间、人物、政治或挑战分心。相反，我只是承诺通过我所说 的和我所行的将人们指向耶稣。
