使命
We're into the final part of Seismic Shifts. This next Friday and Sunday we celebrate Easter – and what a difference the historical events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday bring to us.
我们进⼊巨变系列讲道的最后⼀部分。下个周五和周⽇我们庆祝复活节——耶稣受难⽇和复活节这两个历史事件给我们带来了多⼤的改变啊。
How exciting that next week we also launch our first multisite in East Auckland – with Summit church being adopted to become Gracecity East. How appropriate to have their first service as Gracecity East on Easter Sunday – a day when we celebrate new life and the power of the gospel – all appropriate with this mission to see that news spread around our city.
令⼈兴奋的是，下周我们也将在奥克兰东区启动我们的第⼀个多地点教会——Summit教会将成为Gracecity East。在复活节，在我们庆祝新⽣命和福⾳的⼒量的这⼀天在Gracecity East举⾏第⼀次敬拜，让福⾳传遍我们的城市是多么的合适。
So far we have seen 8 seismic shifts that caused this group of ordinary women and men to ignite a global movement.
到⽬前为⽌，我们已经学习了8个巨变，这些变化促使这群普通男⼥点燃了⼀场全球运动。
Today we come to our last one: #9: Mission. When you’re committed to the mission, you sometimes have to change your strategy.
今天我们来讲巨变系列的最后⼀个:#9:使命。当你投⼊到使命中时，你有时不得不改变你的策略。
Today we come to a massive fight in the early church over a really important issue. There were two sides in this fight. On one side, we have a conservative group that Luke calls the ‘circumcised believers.’ They wanted to ensure the Jewish way of life was maintained. On the other side was a progressive group who were part of a new work of God.
今天，我们进⼊早期教会就⼀个⾮常重要的问题进⾏的⼤规模的争论。在这场争论中有两⽅。其中⼀⽅，我们有⼀个保守的群体，路加称之为“受割礼的信徒”。他们想要确保犹太⼈的⽣⽅式得以维持。另⼀⽅是⼀个进步团体，他们是上帝新⼯作的⼀部分。
If you’re new to our series or new to the story of Acts, it’s important to realise that the early church was very, very Jewish, because all the early Christians, were all Jewish. They had embraced Jesus as their Messiah. They had taken on board the teachings of Jesus, but for many of them - their consciences were hard-wired into what they had been taught as children. So consequently, they had the law of Moses and the Jewish way of life that they had been raised on. This included keeping the Jewish festivals. It included particular diets – avoiding things like pork. And it included circumcision – a little surgery that Jewish boys would have in those private parts when they were 8 days old.
如果你对我们的系列讲道不熟悉，或者对使徒⾏传不熟悉，很重要的⼀点是，要意识到早期的教会是⾮常⾮常犹太的，因为所有早期的基督徒，都是犹太⼈。他们信奉耶稣为他们的弥赛亚。他们接受了耶稣的教导，但对他们中的许多⼈来说，他们的良⼼与他们⼩时候被教导的东⻄紧密相连。因此，他们继承了摩⻄的律法和犹太的⽣活⽅式。这包括保留犹太⼈的节⽇。它包括特殊的饮⻝——避免猪⾁等⻝物。其中包括割礼——犹太男孩在出⽣8天的时候会在他们的私处做⼀个⼩⼿术。
As Jews, they wanted to keep these traditions that were core to their identity. So, when they became followers of Jesus, it was difficult for them not to mix and match. A little bit of Moses, a little bit of Jesus, little bit of Moses, a little bit of Jesus. A little bit of the old ways and a little bit of the new ways.
作为犹太⼈，他们希望保留这些传统，这些传统是他们身份的核⼼。所以，当他们成为耶稣的跟随者时，他们很难不把这些混搭在⼀起。⼀点点摩⻄，⼀点点耶稣，⼀点点摩⻄，⼀点点耶稣。⼀点⽼⽅式，⼀点新⽅式。
But, if you’ve been following along in your Acts devotions, hundreds and hundreds of non-Jewish people or “Gentiles” began coming to faith in Jesus. It began with a Roman Centurion by the name of Cornelius. Then, a church at Antioch was planted. This church in Antioch was primarily made up of non-Jewish believers. These ethnic minorities began to lead and spread the word about Jesus. The church multiplied with this wonderful ethnic diversity.
但是，如果你⼀直有跟进你的使徒⾏传的灵修⼿册，你会知道成百上千的⾮犹太⼈或“外邦⼈”开始相信耶稣。它始于⼀个名叫哥尼流的罗⻢百夫⻓。然后在安提阿建⽴了⼀座教会。安提阿的教会主要由⾮犹太信徒组成。这些少数族群开始领导和传播耶稣的道。教会在这种美妙的种族多样性中成倍增⻓。
The Apostle Paul and Barnabas were leading this charge. Their message was simple: "The creator of all things has sent His Son to renew all things. So, embrace Him as your Saviour and follow Him." These non-Jewish people are like, "We're in, that's way better than paganism. That makes a whole lot more sense than what were taught as children."
使徒保罗和巴拿巴领导了这⼀⾏动。他们的信息很简单:“万物的创造者差遣他的⼉⼦更新万物。”所以，接受他作为你的救主，跟随他。”这些⾮犹太⼈会说，“我们加⼊了，这⽐异教好多了。这⽐⼩时候学的东⻄更有意义。”
Meanwhile back in Jerusalem, the mix-and-match Jewish Christians have heard what's going on in Antioch and they're like, "No, we're not having that. The Apostle Paul is telling these folks that they don't need to keep the law of Moses. They don’t need to keep these Jewish feasts and festivals. They don’t need to keep the traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation to generation. This needs to stop!”
与此同时，在耶路撒冷，混搭的犹太基督徒听说了安提阿的事，他们说，不，我们不想要那样。使徒保罗告诉这些⼈，他们不需要遵守摩⻄的律法。他们不需要保留这些犹太节⽇。他们不需要保持代代相传的传统。这必须停⽌!”
So they sent their own missionaries to the city of Antioch to come in behind the Apostle Paul and correct what they deem to be terrible theology.
所以他们派了⾃⼰的传教⼠到安提阿城，⽀持使徒保罗，纠正他们认为糟糕的神学。
So, let’s hear the story Luke tells us in Acts 15:
我们来听听路加在使徒⾏传第15章⾥讲的故事:
“Some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as
required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”/ Acts 15:1
有⼏个⼈从犹太下来，教导弟兄们说：“你们若不按照摩⻄的规矩受割礼，不能得救。” (使徒
⾏传15:1)
Remember, Paul and Barnabas were saying – you don’t need to become Jewish or take on Jewish ways to be saved or to be included in the church. Paul and Barnabas understood that Jesus had fulfilled all the law of Moses. So, these Gentile believers just needed to follow Jesus. They didn’t need to keep the sacrifices or feasts or circumcision. No need to complicate anything.
记住，保罗和巴拿巴曾说过，你不需要成为犹太⼈，或采⽤犹太⼈的⽅式，才能得救，或被教会接纳。保罗和巴拿巴知道耶稣已经成就了摩⻄的⼀切律法。所以，这些外邦信徒只需要跟随耶稣。他们不需要献祭，不需要节期，不需要割礼。没有必要把任何事情复杂化。
But these Jewish Christian leaders were coming behind the Apostle Paul and preaching, "Okay, Paul didn't tell you the whole story. Unless you keep the Law of Moses you can’t be saved. If you're gonna be a Jesus follower, if you're gonna be saved from your sin, if you're gonna get the full benefit of His death on the cross for you, and if you're gonna be included in the church, then you have to go through a little surgery called circumcision. We can help with that. All ready for it?”
但这些犹太基督教领袖⽀持使徒保罗，并讲道，"好吧，保罗没有告诉你整个故事。除⾮你遵守摩⻄的律法，否则你不能得救。如果你要成为耶稣的跟随者，如果你要从你的罪中被拯救，如果你要得到他死在⼗字架上为你所得的所有好处，如果你要成为教会的⼀员，你就必须经历⼀个叫做割礼的⼩⼿术。我们可以帮忙。准备好了吗?”
You can imagine the reaction of these non-Jewish believers – especially the men. They're like, "Wait a minute, they didn't tell us about that part. Where's Paul?"
你可以想象这些⾮犹太信徒的反应，尤其是男性。他们会说，“等⼀下，他们没有告诉我们那部分。保罗在哪⾥?”
So, there are these two groups of people have who have radically different ideas.
所以，有两组⼈有着截然不同的想法。
Luke says,
“Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send
Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and
elders about this question.”/ Acts 15:2
路加说,
保罗和巴拿巴跟他们发⽣了激烈的争执和辩论；⼤家就决定指派保罗、巴拿巴和本会的⼏个⼈，为所辩论的事上耶路撒冷去⻅使徒和⻓⽼。 (使徒⾏传15:2 )
What question? The question of ‘does a non-Jewish Christian need to follow the law of Moses – with the feasts, festivals and circumcision – in order to be saved and included in the church?’
针对什么问题呢?“⾮犹太基督徒是否需要遵守摩⻄律法——包括节期、节⽇和割礼——才能得救并被纳⼊教会?”
So Luke tells us about the debate. I love the way he sweeps nothing under the carpet. He brings up this issue in all its rawness and shows us the way it was brought into the open and vehemently debated.
路加告诉了我们这场辩论。我喜欢他什么都不做的样⼦。他⾚裸裸地提出了这个问题，并向我们展示了这个问题是如何被公开和激烈辩论的。
He says:
Some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.” So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue./ Acts 15:5-6
他说:
惟有⼏个法利赛派的信徒起来，说：“必须给外邦⼈⾏割礼，吩咐他们遵守摩⻄的律法。”使徒和⻓⽼聚集商议这事。 (使徒⾏传15:5-6)
Remember, while this is all happening, there are hundreds and hundreds of non-Jewish believers who are completely baffled by it all, thinking: "Wait a minute, you guys gotta get your act together. Paul told us, it was simple, it was by faith. He didn’t say anything about becoming Jewish! And he certainly didn’t say anything about requiring a surgical procedure!”
记住，当这⼀切发⽣的时候，有成百上千的⾮犹太信徒完全被这⼀切搞糊涂了，他们想:“等⼀下，你们必须⼀起⾏动起来。保罗告诉我们，这很简单，是靠信仰。他没说要成为犹太⼈!他当然也没说要做⼿术!”
So, these leaders all meet to resolve the issue.
所以，这些领袖都开会来解决这个问题
Luke highlights three speeches that craft a way forward.
路加强调了三段为未来指明⽅向的演讲。
First of all, Peter gets up: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.”/ Acts 15:7
⾸先，彼得站起来，：“诸位弟兄，你们知道上帝早已在你们中间拣选了我，让外邦⼈从我⼝中得听福⾳之道，⽽且相信。 (使徒⾏传15:7)
“You all know my story.” He says. “You know I am as Jewish as they come. I used to pray that daily prayer from our Jewish prayer books thanking God that I was not born a Gentile. If you remember my story, I was in Joppa minding my own business when God gave me a vision that I was to go to a home of a non-Jewish man and talk about Jesus. This wasn’t my initiative. It was God’s initiative.’
“你们都知道我的故事。”他说。“你知道我和他们⼀样是个犹太⼈。我曾经每天⽤我们的犹太祈祷⽂祷告感谢上帝，我不是外邦⼈出身。如果你还记得我的故事，当我在约帕做⾃⼰的事时，上帝给了我⼀个异象，我要去⼀个⾮犹太⼈的家⾥，谈论耶稣。这不是我的主意。这是上帝的旨意。”
Listen to what Peter says next – it’s a wonderful line. In fact, if you've had a bad church experience or you think, "Well, I'm just not disciplined enough to be a Christian." Or "I've got so much baggage." This next line comes from Peter who knew Jesus.
听听彼得接下来说了什么——这是⼀句精彩的话。事实上，如果你有过糟糕的教会经历，或者你认为，“我只是不够⾃律，不能成为⼀名基督徒。”或者“我的负担太多了。”下⼀句出⾃认识耶稣的彼得。
He says, “God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles …”/ Acts 15:8
他说，“洞悉⼈⼼的上帝…以表明祂也接纳外族⼈。” (使徒⾏传15:8)
I love that line. "God, who is able to look beyond all of their pagan offensive practices that were going on among these non-Jewish people. God who knows the heart, is looking beyond behaviour and background and past, and baggage and their ignorance of the Scriptures, and he showed us that he what accepted them.
我喜欢这句话。“上帝，他能看穿异教徒在这些⾮犹太⼈中所做的⼀切冒犯⾏为。洞悉⼈⼼的上帝，是透过⾏为、背景、过去、负担和他们对圣经的⽆知来观察的，他向我们表明他接受了这些。
How did he demonstrate this?
他是如何证明这⼀点的?
“God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.”/ Acts 15:8
洞悉⼈⼼的上帝把圣灵赐给他们，正如赐给我们⼀样，以表明祂也接纳外族⼈。 (使徒⾏传15:8 )
It is impossible for us to comprehend the seismic shift associated with these last six words, "just as He did to us."
我们不可能理解与这最后六个字有关的巨变，
“just as He did to us”
“正如赐给我们⼀样”
Peter says, "I was in the home of Cornelius – that Roman centurion - and I saw God do for him and his wider community exactly what God did for us 20 years ago earlier at Pentecost. And they did not have the law, they didn’t even know the law, they've never done anything to become Jewish. All the men, I'm assuming, Were not circumcised, and yet I saw God accept them just as He did for us. I saw the Spirit come on them as the Spirit came on us at Pentecost. God has thrown open the door to outsiders.
彼得说:“我在罗⻢百夫⻓哥尼流(Cornelius)的家⾥，我看⻅神为他和他更⼴泛的社区所做的，就像20年前在五旬节为我们所做的⼀样。他们没有律法，他们甚⾄不知道律法，他们从来没有做过任何成为犹太⼈的事。我想所有的男⼈，都没有受过割礼，但我看到上帝接纳他们，就像他接纳我们⼀样。我看⻅圣灵降在他们身上，就像圣灵在五旬节降在我们身上⼀样。上帝向外邦⼈敞开了⼤⻔。
Peter continues:
“God made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” /Acts 15:9-11
彼得接着说:
“⼜藉着信洁净了他们的⼼，他们和我们之间并没有什么分别。 现在你们为什么试探上帝，要把我们祖宗和我们所不能负的轭放在⻔徒的颈项上呢？ 相反地，我们相信，我们得救是因主耶稣的恩典，和他们⼀样。”(使徒⾏传15:9-11)
He says, “It’s always been by underserved grace. God is accepting them as is. Why would you add something unnecessary to the mix? We Jesus-following Jews must move in their direction. And we must stop expecting them to move in our direction. It’s time to put mix and matching aside and stop requiring people to take onboard Jewish ways to be accepted by God or us.”
他说:“这都是因为不配得的恩典。上帝接受了他们本来的样⼦。为什么要添加⼀些不必要的东⻄?我们这些跟随耶稣的犹太⼈必须向着他们的⽅向前进。我们必须停⽌要求他们朝我们的⽅向前进。是时候把混搭放在⼀边了，不要再要求⼈们按照犹太⼈的⽅式来被上帝或我们所接受。”
That’s some speech! He sits down.
这是演讲其中的⼀些!他坐了下来。
Then we read about the next speech – by Barnabas and Paul.
然后我们读下⼀段演讲，巴拿巴和保罗的讲话。
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. / Acts 15:12
众⼈都默默⽆声，听巴拿巴和保罗述说上帝藉着他们在外邦⼈中所⾏的神迹和奇事。 (使徒⾏传15:12)
Remember, Paul had been on the other side of this. He was a dedicated Jew killing Christians before he became a follower of Jesus. But he did a U-turn. Barnabas and Paul point to the way God acted powerfully – through signs and wonders - even though these new believers had never taken on Jewish ways.
记得吗，保罗也曾站在这⼀边。在成为耶稣的追随者之前，他是⼀个虔诚的犹太⼈，杀害基督徒。但他却来了个180度⼤转弯。巴拿巴和保罗指出，神通过神迹和奇事有⼒地⾏动，尽管这些新信徒从未采取过犹太⼈的⽅式。
Then, we come to the final speech.
然后，我们来到了最后的演讲。
When they finished, James spoke up. / Acts 15:13
他们讲完了，雅各回答说… (使徒⾏传15:13)
James is the head of the local church in Jerusalem. He is none other than the brother of Jesus. When James stands up, and everybody gets quiet, 'cause James, "brother of Jesus."
雅各是耶路撒冷当地教会的领袖。他正是耶稣的兄弟。
当雅各站起来，所有⼈都安静下来，因为雅各是“耶稣的兄弟。”
“Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.”/ Acts 15:13-14.
他们讲完了，雅各回答说：“诸位弟兄，请听我说。 刚才⻄⻔述说上帝当初怎样眷顾外邦⼈，从他们中间选取⼈⺠归于⾃⼰的名下； (使徒⾏传15:13-14 )
It’s really interesting here that James refers to Peter – who gave the first speech – by his Hebrew name – “Simon.” Some of you have cultural names given to you at birth but switched to English names when you came to NZ. But when someone calls you by your original name – its normally strategic, to remind you of your roots.
有趣的是，雅各在这⾥⽤希伯来语的名字“⻄⻔”来指代第⼀次演讲的彼得。有些⼈出⽣时取的是本国的名字，但来到新⻄兰后就换成了英⽂名。但当有⼈叫你原先的名字时——通常是很重要的，让你想起⾃⼰的根。
You see, James is as Jewish as they come. History tells us he was respected for his ascetic way of life and his regular participation in the temple services of prayer. In other words, he likes Jewish traditions.
你看，雅各和他们⼀样是犹太⼈。历史告诉我们，他因其苦⾏的⽣活⽅式和定期参加教会的祷告会⽽受到尊敬。换句话说，他喜欢犹太传统。
But, this ardent Christian Jew has some revolutionary ideas.
但是，这个虔诚的基督教犹太⼈有⼀些颠覆性的想法。
He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures – the OT - to basically say, "when you open the Scriptures, we see that the our prophets predicted this. Our prophets foretold of a time that there would be a New Covenant. Our prophets told us that Israel was established to be a light to the Gentiles."
他引⽤了希伯来圣经中的⼀句话，“当你打开圣经的时候，我们看到我们的先知预⾔了这⼀点。我们的先知预⾔有⼀个时候会有⼀个新约。我们的先知曾告诉我们，以⾊列⼈被⽴为外邦⼈的光。
Then, this ardent Christian Jew goes on to make a revolutionary statement:
接着，这位虔诚的基督徒犹太⼈发表了颠覆性的⾔论:
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” / Acts 15:19
所以，我的意⻅是不可难为那归向上帝的外邦⼈； (使徒⾏传15:19)
That verse should be placed before all of us every single day: “we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”
这句经⽂应该每天都放在我们⾯前:“不可难为那归向上帝的外邦⼈。”
Then, he gives what might seem a strange and random list:
然后，他给出了⼀个看似奇怪和随机的列表:
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. / Acts 15:20
但是要写信吩咐他们禁戒偶像所玷污的东⻄、⾎和勒死的牲畜，禁戒淫乱。 (使徒⾏传15:20)
What’s going on here? Is he saying one thing and doing another?
这是怎么回事? 他是说⼀套做⼀套吗?
All four of these practices were associated with pagan worship in Antioch. James is saying, let’s make it easy for them to turn to God - and that obviously involves them turning away from idolatry and the pagan temple worship of their past. Because all four of these things were so much part of culture in these places – like Antioch – he highlights this so that it’s really clear that people are turning to Jesus and away from their past idolatry.
这四种做法都与安提阿的异教徒崇拜有关。雅各说，让我们让他们更容易地转向上帝，这显然涉及到他们，远离偶像崇拜，以及过去的异教庙宇崇拜。因为这四件事都是这些地⽅⽂化的⼀部分，⽐如安提阿，他强调了这⼀点，所以很明显，⼈们正在转向耶稣，远离他们过去的偶像
Luke finishes his story by highlighting the unity that was experienced in such an intensely trying time
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you…” / Acts 15:28
路加以强调在如此艰难的时期所经历的合⼀来结束他的故事
因为圣灵和我们决定除了这⼏件重要的事，不将别的重担放在你们身上， (使徒⾏传15:28)
As a result, the gospel continued to be proclaimed. It grew rapidly among non-Jewish people.
这样，福⾳继续被传扬。它在⾮犹太⼈中迅速增⻓。
This is seismic shift #9: Mission. When you’re committed to the mission, you sometimes have to change your strategy.
这就是巨变#9:使命。当你投⼊到使命中时，你有时不得不改变你的策略
What do we do with all this today? I haven't heard anyone requiring people to be circumcised or to keep Jewish feasts in order to be included by God or welcomed by Gracecity.
我们今天要怎么处理这些东⻄?我从来没有听说过有⼈为了被上帝接纳或被gracecity教会欢迎⽽要求⼈们接受割礼或遵守犹太节⽇
What I regularly find though is confusion between methods and mission.
但我经常发现的是规则和使命之间的混淆。
If there is a warning for us today, it’s this: Don’t confuse methods with the mission.
如果今天对我们有⼀个警告的话，那就是:不要把规则和神给的使命混为⼀谈。
For these Jewish people, their methods and practices were good. They had served them well. Unfortunately, they confused the methods with the mission. And they lost sight of the purpose behind the feasts and festivals. Instead of seeing the way these pointed to Jesus, they focused instead on their practice of them. It was confusing people. It was becoming an unnecessary and dangerous barrier.
对这些犹太⼈来说，他们的规则和⾏为是好的。它们服事地很好。不幸的是，他们混淆了规则和使命。他们忘记了节期和节⽇背后的⽬的。他们没有看到这些指向耶稣的⽅式，⽽是把重点放在实践上。这让⼈们感到困惑。它正在成为⼀个不必要的、危险的障碍。
The early church had to make a decision: are we married to our mission or are married to our practices? Thankfully they realised that practices like circumcision were designed for the Jewish people to realise they were a distinctive community. But, it was never intended to become the defining matter of faith. So, they accepted a new way of being the Church, married to the mission, not the method.
早期的教会必须做出⼀个决定:我们是与我们的使命相结合，还是与我们的实践相结合?幸运的是，他们意识到割礼这样的做法是为了让犹太⼈意识到他们是⼀个独特的群体。但是，它从来没有意在成为信仰的决定性因素。因此，他们接受了⼀种新的教会⽅式，与使命相结合，⽽不是规则。
Jesus encountered this same confusion between methods and mission. It’s why he found himself in continual conflict with the Pharisees. The Pharisees hated the way Jesus would heal on the sabbath. Jesus got into so many debates with them over the issues. At the end of another ‘what’s appropriate sabbath behaviour’ debate, Jesus said:
耶稣也遇到了同样的规则和使命的混淆。这就是为什么他发现⾃⼰与法利赛⼈不断冲突的原因。法利赛⼈痛恨耶稣在安息⽇治病的⽅式。耶稣和他们在这些问题上有很多争论。在另⼀场关于"什么是适当的安息⽇⾏为"的辩论的最后，耶稣说:
“The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”
/ Mark 2:27
“安息⽇是为⼈设⽴的，⼈不是为安息⽇设⽴的。 (⻢可福⾳2:27)
The Pharisees had turned it around. They thought the model was the priority. They lost sight of the purpose of the sabbath – to provide rest!
法利赛⼈扭转了局⾯。他们认为模式是最重要的。他们忘记了安息⽇的⽬的——提供休息!
The Pharisees mission was all about protecting the model and the method. As such, they lost the mission. Of course, they claimed it was Moses model. It was biblical. That’s how they read their Bibles through the lens they had.
法利赛⼈的使命是保护模式和规则。因此，他们失去了使命。当然，他们声称这是摩⻄的模式。这是圣经的⽅式。这就是他们通过透镜阅读圣经的⽅式。
But you see, God never intended for the Jews to serve the law. His intent was for them to serve him. The law was a means to that end.
但是你看，上帝并没有让犹太⼈服侍律法。他的意图是让它们服侍于他。律法是达到这⼀⽬的的⼿段。
God intended for the Jews to love their neighbours. The law was a means to that end.
上帝要犹太⼈爱他们的邻居。律法是达到这⼀⽬的的⼿段。
The irony is that Jesus died at the hands of men who were convinced they were doing the will of God, people who were committed to protecting and defending the law. Tragically, they protected and defended it to the exclusion of its very purpose.
具有讽刺意味的是，耶稣死在那些坚信⾃⼰在遵⾏神的旨意的⼈⼿中，那些致⼒于保护和捍卫律法的⼈。可悲的是，他们保护和捍卫它，却排除了它本身的⽬的。
History is filled with tragic examples of what happens when church people fall in love with a model or method or approach to church and lose sight of why the church even exists.
历史上充满了悲剧的例⼦，教会的⼈爱上了教会的模式、规则或⽅法，却忽略了教会存在的理由。
That same thing can happen today when we confuse methods with the mission.
同样的事情今天也会发⽣当我们混淆了规则和使命。
That’s why it’s vital we all review what it is we do. Is what we are doing in our lives helping or hindering people to follow Jesus? It’s a question we ask all of our ministries: Is what we are doing helping people belong, thrive and renew? The last thing any of us wants is to make it difficult for people to turn to God.
这就是为什么反思我们所做的事情是很重要的。我们在⽣活中所做的是帮助还是阻碍⼈们跟随耶稣?这是我们问我们所有的事⼯的⼀个问题:我们所做的是帮助⼈们归属、成⻓和更新吗?我们最不想做的事就是让⼈们很难转向上帝。
I’ve said it before – but to quote author Francis Shaffer is “The greatest challenge facing the church is to present unchanging truth to a changing world.”/ Francis Schaeffer
我以前说过——引⽤作家弗朗⻄斯·谢弗的话说:“教会⾯临的最⼤挑战是向⼀个不断变化的世界呈现不变的真理。”“/弗朗⻄斯·谢弗
Sadly many churches change gospel truth and stay fixed in approaches.
可悲的是，许多教会改变了福⾳的真理，在⽅法上固守不变。
What we need to do is be unchanging in gospel truth and constantly adapt to a changing world.
我们需要做的是保持真理不变，并不断适应变化的世界。
Models come and go but mission stays the same. Let’s not confuse methods with the mission.
模式来来去去，但使命不变。别把规则和使命搞混了。
How do we do that?
我们怎么做呢?
Ensure we keep Jesus at the centre of life and mission.
确保我们以耶稣为⽣命和使命的中⼼。
It’s so easy to create a list of rules and expectations to define who is part of the church and who is not. These rules can be like fences that define who is in and who is out. What I’ve found is that Church Leaders can spend a lot of time repairing fences that are breaking and trying to identify who is inside the fence and who is outside the fence.
创建⼀份规则和期望清单来定义谁是教会的⼀员，谁不是，这很容易。这些规则可以像围栏⼀样，定义谁在⾥⾯，谁在外⾯。我所发现的是，教会领袖可以花⼤量的时间来修补正在破裂的围栏，并试图确定谁在围栏内，谁在围栏外。
Luke highlights the fences that consumed these Jewish Christians. These weren’t bad things. But, sadly, those fences were preventing people from finding life in Jesus.
路加强调了那些消耗犹太基督徒的围栏。这些都不是坏事。但可悲的是，这些围栏阻⽌⼈们在耶稣⾥找到⽣命。
Apparently, in the Australian outback, farming stations are so huge that oftentimes, there are no fences to keep the cattle and sheep within the boundary of the station. So, what do the farmers do?
显然，在澳⼤利亚的内陆地区，农场站是如此之⼤，以⾄于经常没有围栏把⽜和⽺限制在站内。那么，农⺠是怎么做的呢?
The farmers dig wells to provide water that attracts the livestock to the water sources. The logic is simple. There is no need to fence the cattle in when are intuitively aware of their need for water. They need the water so they stay close to the well – where they know water is bountiful.
So no fences are needed.
农⺠们挖井取⽔，把牲畜吸引到⽔源。逻辑很简单。当我们直观地意识到⽜对⽔的需求时，就没有必要把它们围起来。它们需要⽔，所以它们靠近井，因为它们知道井⾥的⽔很充⾜。
所以不需要围栏。
Mission Writer, Paul Hiebert, develops this further to describe healthy Christianity as a “centred set” set rather than a “bounded set”.
传教学家保罗·希伯特进⼀步发展了这⼀点，将健康的基督教描述为⼀个“中⼼式”⽽不是⼀个“中⼼式”。
“Centred Set” versus “Bounded Set”/ Paul Hiebert
“中⼼集”与“有界集”/ Paul Hiebert
What does he mean? He says, in a bounded set you are either in or out. There is an emphasis on the fence. You either fit within the definitions or you don’t. The lines are clear. The goal is to get someone who is on the outside of the line to be on the inside of the line.
他是什么意思呢?他说，在⼀个有界的集合中，你要么在内，要么在外。重点在围栏。你要么符合定义，要么不符合。界限很清楚。⽬标是让线外的⼈站在线内。
Of course, one of the problems is that a person could be seen to believe all the right things and behave in all the right ways and yet not have a relationship with God at all. What happens is that tend to judge people on externals whereas God looks at the heart. This was certainly true of some of the religious people of Jesus’ day, who were theologically orthodox, kept the Law, mostly lived good lives, yet were actually moving away from God.
当然，其中⼀个问题是，⼀个⼈可能被认为是相信所有正确的事情，⾏为也都是正确的，但却与上帝没有任何关系。他们倾向于从外表判断⼈⽽上帝只看内⼼。这当然是耶稣时代的⼀些宗教⼈⼠的真实情况，他们在神学上是正统的，遵守律法，⼤多数⼈过着美好的⽣活，但实际上却在远离神。
A healthier approach is what Hiebert calls a Centred-set – where Jesus is the well at the centre. As long as you are moving towards the centre – towards Jesus, any growth and movement is good. Some people may be moving faster or slower, but the goal is to be moving towards the well.
⼀种更健康的⽅法是希伯特所谓的“中⼼集”——耶稣就是中⼼的井。只要你在向中⼼——向耶稣——移动，任何成⻓和移动都是好的。有些⼈可能移动得更快或更慢，但⽬标是朝着井的⽅向移动。
I find this image of wells and fences really helpful.
我发现这张井和围栏的图⽚真的很有帮助。
When you think about it, much of Jesus’ ministry was dismantling the fences that religious people had established so that EVERYONE could come towards God and drink from the Well. Some people took offence at that because the fence gave a sense of protection, and clear list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus emphasised an approach of ‘come to me and find life. Follow after me and you will find in me the source of life and freedom.’
想想看，耶稣的事⼯很⼤程度上是在拆除宗教⼈⼠建⽴的围栏，让每个⼈都能来到神⾯前，喝那井⾥的⽔。有些⼈对此很⽣⽓，因为围栏给⼈⼀种保护的感觉，并且清楚地列出了该做什么和不该做什么。耶稣强调了“到我这⾥来寻找⽣命”的⽅法。跟着我，你就会在我身上找到⽣命和⾃由的源泉。”
What are some implications of this for us to finish with?
我们最后要讲的是什么启示呢?
1) You may be new to our church. You may be exploring who Jesus is and not sure whether you’re a Christian or not. That’s okay. We’re delighted you're listening today. We simply want to help you move towards Jesus so that you can hear what He has to say about where life and freedom is found.
你可能是我们教会的新⼈。你可能在探索耶稣是谁，却不确定⾃⼰是不是基督徒。没关系。很⾼兴你今天听到讲道。我们只是想帮助你⾛向耶稣，这样你就能听到他对⽣命和⾃由的看法。
2) For me personally, an implication has mean ensuring I stay close to the well. That’s why I have these daily habits of Word and Prayer that feed and nourish my soul – all designed to keep my focus on Jesus – and to draw from the well. To increasingly move towards him on a daily basis.
对我个⼈来说，这意味着要确保我离井很近。这就是为什么我每天都有读经和祷告的习惯来滋养我的灵魂——所有这些都是为了让我专注于耶稣——并从井中汲取。每天都向他靠近。
3) For us as a church, it means the goal in mission is not simply to “get someone converted.” That way of thinking can harm friendships. When we genuinely love people and have their best interests at heart, our motive will be to help them in any way we can. How can we help them move just a little closer to Jesus? How can I dig a well that will attract people to the water of life that Jesus provides for all to quench their spiritual thirst? How can I point to the well and avoid the need for fences?
对我们教会来说，这意味着使命的⽬标不是简单的“让⼈改信”。那种思维⽅式会伤害友谊。当我们真诚地爱别⼈，并把他们的最⼤利益放在⼼上时，我们的动机将是尽我们所能帮助他们。我们怎样才能帮助他们更接近耶稣呢?我怎样才能挖⼀⼝井来吸引⼈们到耶稣为所有⼈提供的⽣命之⽔来解渴呢?我怎样才能向着井⽽避免需要围栏呢?
4) And of course, ensuring we don’t confuse methods with the mission.
当然，还要确保我们不会把规则和使命搞混。
So, this is seismic shift #9: Mission. When you’re committed to the mission, you sometimes have to change your strategy.
所以，这是巨变#9:使命。当你投⼊到使命中时，你有时不得不改变你的策略
So, that’s the end of our Acts series.
这就是使徒⾏传系列的结尾。
But, there is a sense where Luke is inviting you and me to step into the next chapter in the story, a chapter that is currently being written. And are the actors in this real ongoing story.
但是，有⼀种感觉，路加在邀请你和我进⼊故事的下⼀个章节，⼀个正在书写的章节。他们是这个正在上演的真实故事中的演员。
Luke didn’t write this as a history of the early church. Remember, he wrote this riveting story so that ordinary women and men today – you and me - can realise that Jesus continues to place the gospel into the hands of ordinary people.
路加并没有把它写成早期教会的历史。记住，他写了这个引⼈⼊胜的故事，所以今天的普通男⼥——你和我——可以意识到耶稣继续把福⾳交到普通⼈的⼿中。
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?!
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，那么我们今天⼜能以同样的愿景、信仰和愿望做什么呢?
The answer to that question is now over to you and me.
这个问题的答案现在就交给你和我了。
Let’s pray.
让我们祷告。
--
- Quiet your heart for a moment.
- Get rid of the clutter in your head.
- Perhaps place your hands out in a posture of humility and receiving.
- 让你的⼼静⼀静。
- 摆脱你头脑中的混乱。
- 也许你会以谦卑的姿势伸出⼿来接受。
Come Holy Spirit.
You empowered these first Christians to have such a profound impact.
We want that to see radical gospel transformation happen in our life-time.
圣灵请来到我们中间。
是你使第⼀批基督徒有如此深远的影响。
我们希望看到彻底的福⾳的转变在我们的有⽣之年发⽣。
So, help us now to step into the roles we play.
所以，现在请帮助我们进⼊我们所扮演的⻆⾊。
May each of these 9 seismic shifts be traits in our lives, in our households, and in your church at Gracecity.
愿这9个巨变中的每⼀个都成为我们的⽣活、我们的家庭和在你的教会Gracecity的特质。
In jesus name,
Amen.
奉主耶稣的名
阿⻔
