国际宣教祈祷周 2024年12月5日晨祷分享

在全美各地的南方浸信会教会中，这一周（12 月 1 日至 8 日）被指定为国际宣教祈祷和慕拉蒂圣诞献金周。这项奉献支持国际宣教部 (IMB) 的传教士前往其他国家与迷失的人们生活在一起并传播福音！这是美南浸信会教会每年一次的纪念活动，为传教士、他们的事工和他们的家人祈祷，并收取奉献来支持传教士。这项奉献支持了我和魏牧师在台湾生活和工作 32 年。这项奉献以慕拉蒂的名字命名，她是一位在中国服侍的单身女传教士。1873 年，她 33 岁时被任命为传教士。她在中国生活了 39 年。我最喜欢的她的一些名言是：

• “我们拥有永生之道，我们必须说出来……”
•  “还有多少百万灵魂在没有听到耶稣的名字的情况下永远离世？”
• “如果主的喜乐成为他们的力量，工作的幸福将远远弥补工作的艰辛。”

慕拉蒂是一位非凡的女性。她并不完美，但她留下的遗产教会了我们很多关于追随耶稣和传扬福音的知识。我深深钦佩这位传教士的勇气和毅力。她在 33 岁时被任命为传教士。我在 1978 年 31 岁时被任命为传教士。她在中国度过了近 39 年的艰苦岁月，在返回美国的途中饿死。她被称为“饼干女士”，深受孩子们的喜爱。我是“蛋糕女士”。我为所有来参加圣经学习的大学生做生日蛋糕。 如果圣经学习班有两个学生过生日，我就给他们每人做一个蛋糕。我带着蛋糕走遍了台湾台中！我想让每个学生都感到被爱和特别。不仅对我而言是特别的，对全能的上帝而言也是特别的！慕拉蒂 (Lottie Moon) 穿着中式服装。我也穿着中式服装，甚至在今年回去的路上，我还买了一些衣服，准备在 ICBC 参加特别庆祝活动时穿。 我和魏牧师很蒙福，也很感激上帝召唤我们成为传教士。我们觉得舍己与我们生命中的祝福相比微不足道！我们万分激动能够回去看看我们的同工、教会和亲爱的弟兄姐妹们仍在忠实地侍奉主的持续工作。很高兴有机会鼓励他们、并为他们祈祷。这不是一件容易的工作，因为那里的人心硬，对耶稣的真理视而不见，导致那里的偶像崇拜和黑暗。美国有自己的偶像崇拜和心硬，缺乏对上帝的敬畏，我们住在这里的人很清楚！传教士不得不离开中国和中东部分地区以及其他国家，因为他们不被许可！ 本周提醒我们，要始终为我们的传教士祈祷。有些人生活在非常偏远和艰苦的地方。我们信徒是基督的大使……哥林多后书 5:20 “所以，我们作基督的使者，就好像神借我们劝你们一般；我们替基督求你们与神和好”。我们在地上代表耶稣。我们被授权代表我们的主说话和行动。我们要把神的国带给那些还不认识他的人。我们要继续为家人、朋友、同事、邻居，甚至我们永远不会知道的国家的人的得救祈祷！在我们几分钟前读到的经文中，我们看到，牧羊人一听说救主诞生了就去找他，然后去“传扬天使对他们所说的关于他的话！马太福音 28:18-20 告诉我们要去传扬福音。慕拉蒂说：“我们有永生之道，我们必须说出来“。这是我们的挑战和号召！去告诉别人吧！要祈祷、要支持！   In Southern Baptist churches across America this is the week (Dec 1-8) that is designated the Week of Prayer for International Missions and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  This offering supports International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries to go and live among the lost people in other countries and share the gospel!  This is an annual observance where Southern Baptist Churches pray for missionaries, their ministries and their families and take an offering to support the missionaries. This offering supported Wei Mushr and I for 32 years while living and working in Taiwan.  This offering is named for Lottie Moon (Mu La Di), a single lady missionary who served in China. She was appointed as missionary at the age of 33 in 1873.  She lived in China for 39 years. Some of my favorite quotes from her are:

• “We have the words of Eternal Life and we must speak them…”
•  “How many million more souls are to pass into eternity without having heard the name of Jesus?”
• “If the joy of the Lord be their strength, the blessedness of the work will more than compensate for its hardships.”

Lottie Moon was an extraordinary woman. She was not perfect, but her legacy teaches us much about following Jesus and spreading the Gospel. I deeply admire this missionary’s courage and perseverance. She was appointed a missionary at the age of 33.  I was appointed a missionary in 1978 at the age of 31. She was in China during great hardships for almost 39 years and died of starvation on her way back to America. She was known as “the cookie lady” and was loved by children.  I was “the cake lady.” I made birthday cakes for all my college age students who came to Bible Study. If two students were having a birthday in the bible study, I made each one a cake. I carried cakes all over Taichung Taiwan! I wanted each student to feel loved and special. And not only special to me but special to Almighty God!  Lottie Moon wore Chinese style clothing.  I also wore Chinese style clothing and even on my trip back this year I bought some clothes to wear to the special celebrations at ICBC. Wei Mushr and I are blessed and thankful to be called by God to be Missionaries.  We feel the sacrifices did not compare to the blessings of our life! We are so moved and overwhelmed to get to go back and see the ongoing work of our co-workers, the churches and the dear brothers and sisters still faithfully serving the Lord. It was good to have a chance to encourage and pray for them.  It is not easy work because of the hard hearts and blind eyes to the Truth of Jesus which results in idolatry and darkness there.  America has its own idolatry and hard hearts and lack of fear of God, as we who live here know very well!  Missionaries have had to leave China and parts of the Middle East and other countries because they are not welcome! This week is our reminder to always pray for our missionaries.  Some live in very isolated and difficult places.  We believers are ambassadors for Christ….2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore , we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”.  We represent Jesus on Earth. We are authorized to speak and act on behalf of our Lord. We are to bring the kingdom of God to those who do not yet know him.  We are to keep praying for the salvation of family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, even people in countries we will never know! In the scripture we read a few minutes earlier we saw that as soon as the shepherds had heard that a Savior had been born to them, they went to find Him and then went to “spread the word concerning what the angels had told them about Him!  We are told in Matthew 28:18-20 to GO and TELL the GOOD NEWS.  Also, Lottie Moon said, “We have the words of Eternal Life and we MUST speak them.  This is our challenge and our call!  Go and Tell! Pray and support!

神的话临到（拿1：1-3）

1. 经文描述：约在公元前800多年前，神的话临到亚米太（“信实”之意）的儿子约拿（“鸽子”之意）。约拿住在靠耶稣长大之处拿撒勒约十里的迦特希弗。神吩咐他到亚述国首都尼尼微城传悔改的信息，那里的恶达到主的面前。尼尼微人十分邪恶，以残忍著称。从迦特希弗到约帕96公里。约拿没有听从神的吩咐去距离约帕东北1100公里的尼尼微，却恰巧买了船票（尽管当时一票难求），逃往距离约帕3200公里的他施。约拿宁可选择远两倍的路躲避神，也不愿去距离较近的尼尼微去传道。
2. 学习教训

1. 要寻求神的话语临到（1：1）。我们要每日读经查考神的话（约5：39，徒17：11）。有神话语的指示，我们才敢行动。
2. 要寻求明白神的心意（1：2）。神是圣洁的神，神恨恶罪恶，喜愛良善，他恨恶尼尼微城的罪恶。先知要传讲指责罪恶、劝人悔改的信息。
3. 要顺服神的心意（1：3）。约拿的意思是鸽子，这里他是一只不听话的鸽子，他对神“放鸽子”，他不仅逃避神的工作，更是逃避神的面。求主怜悯我们，借着禁食祷告寻求神的面，不要与主的心意背道而驰，而要借着耶稣的宝血时刻就近神。

祷告项目：为教会2025年未来事工
包括：小石城教会（未来聚会场所）、伯特利教会（未来方向）及众牧者同工的服侍

祷词：
亲愛的天父，我们感谢你将约拿书赐予我们。求你一路带领我们祷读经文，禁食祷告的过程，使我们放下自己的意思，专心寻求你，一心归向你，见到你的面，好过讨你喜悦的生活。
主阿，神的话是我们脚前的灯，路上的光。求你帮助我们每日坚持读你的话，在读经中有亮光，并靠主遵行主的话，将主的话活在我们生命中。愿你的话通过我们读经、默想和祈祷临到我们。只要有你话语的指示，我们就有勇气敢于迈向前进。
主阿，我们要将小石城教会2025年的事工交托在你的手中。

• 求主为我们预备未来的聚会场所。我们自己住在天花板的房屋，神的教会却还没有长久的居所（该1：4，9）。我们要向主认罪，求主赦免我们的自我中心。求主为我们教会开出路。我们为神家焦急如同火烧的心，求主按着你圣善的美意为我们预备合你心意的居所。求你按着你时候，赐予我们完全合一的心，让我们全然摆上，在这件事上遇见你的大能和作为。主阿，我们等候你。当你将“云彩从帐幕收上去，我们就起程前往”（出40：36）。
• 我们要为2025年具体事工代祷，求主带领举牌传福音事工；求主预备暑期圣经学校（VBS）日期、联络人、选用材料、能有45个儿童和青少年参与，并有足够的成人义工。求主预备儿童青少年沙龙营地的报名和安排；求主预备秋季特会讲员、地点等；求主预备能将每季度守主餐礼调整为每月一次；求主安排常青团契的带领同工和日期；求主赐福教会不浪费每次节日（新年、受难节、复活节、父亲节、母亲节、感恩节、圣诞节等），利用机会大大为主传福音。愿主的名在我们中间得荣耀，使更多人归到主的名下。

我们要将中国的伯特利教会 2025年事工交托：

• 求主带领以圣灵所赐智慧和恩赐服侍
• 求主安排聚会的安全和平安，各聚会点都兴旺
• 求主带领牧者、同工有能力和权柄，继续大大作主圣工
• 求主赐福学习乐器同工有智慧聪明
• 求主兴起更多弟兄火热事奉主
• 求主带领开展下一代圣工，将我们的子孙带到主面前。

我们要为每一位主的仆人和同工代祷：

• 求主使我们凡事将上帝放在首位（路17：5-10），从主领受使命和异象
• 求主使我们愛慕真理、学习真理、坚持真理、宣讲真理（箴2: 3-4，约8：32）
• 求主使我们关愛群羊（结34章）
• 求主赐我们口才，将福音尽都传明
• 求主使我们不做瞎眼守望者，不作哑巴狗不能叫唤、不贪食好酒寻求自己的利益（赛56：10-11），使我们天天死于旧我，活出基督，高举十字架救恩，竭力荣耀主的名。以上祷告是奉基督之名，阿门！

The Word of God Comes (Jonah 1:1-3) 

Last week, December 1-7, was the church’s second fasting and prayer week. I would like to share with our church family the excerpts of the spiritual meditation and intercession on December 1.

Meditation:

1. Scripture description: About BC 800 years ago, the word of God came to Jonah (meaning “dove”), the son of Amittai (meaning “faithful”). Jonah lived in Gath-hepher, about ten miles from Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. God commanded him to preach the message of repentance in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, where the evil had reached the Lord. The people of Nineveh were very evil and known for their cruelty. It is 96 kilometers from Gath-hepher to Joppa. Jonah did not obey God’s command to go to Nineveh, which is 1,100 kilometers northeast of Joppa, but happened to buy a boat ticket (although it was hard to get a ticket at the time) and fled to Tarshish, which is 3,200 kilometers away from Joppa. Jonah would rather choose a twice-long route to avoid God than to preach in Nineveh, which is closer.
2. Lessons Learned

1. We need to seek God’s word (1:1). We need to read the Bible and study God’s word every day (John 5:39, Acts 17:11). Only with the guidance of God’s word, can we dare to act.
2. We must seek to understand God’s will (1:2). God is a holy God who hates sin and loves goodness. He hates the sin of Nineveh. The prophet must preach a message that denounces sin and urges people to repent.
3. We must obey God’s will (1:3). Jonah means a dove, and here he is a disobedient dove. He “released a dove” from God (A Chinese slang, meaning “stand God up”). He not only avoided God’s work, but also avoided God’s presence. May the Lord have mercy on us, seek God’s face through fasting and prayer, and not go against the Lord’s will, but always approach God through the precious blood of Jesus.

Prayer Items: Future Ministry for the Church in 2025
Includes: Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church (future meeting place), Bethel Church (future direction), and the service of pastors and co-workers

Prayers:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us the Book of Jonah. Please lead us through the process of praying and reading the scriptures, fasting and praying, so that we can put aside our own ideas, seek you wholeheartedly, turn to you with all our hearts, seek your face, and live a life that pleases you.
Lord, Your word is the lamp before our feet and the light on our path. Please help us to persist in reading your word every day, to have enlightenment in reading the Bible, to obey your word by relying on you, and to live out your word in our lives. May your word come to us through our daily reading of the Bible, meditation and prayer. As long as we have the guidance of your word, we have the courage to move forward.
Lord, we commit the ministry of Little Rock Church in 2025 into your hands.

• May the Lord prepare us a suitable meeting place. Almost every family of our church lives in a house with a ceiling, but the church family of our Lord does not have a long-term place (Hag. 1:4, 9). We must confess our sins to the Lord and ask You to forgive our self-centeredness. May the Lord open a way out for our church. We are anxious for the house of God, and may the Lord prepare a place for us according to Your holy will. Please give us a united spirit, so that we can give ourselves completely and encounter Your power and work in this matter. Lord, we are waiting for You. When You take up “the cloud from the tabernacle, we will set out” (Exod. 40:36).
• Specific ministries in 2025: Ask the Lord to lead the ministry of evangelism with holding sign for Jesus; to prepare the date, coordinator, materials, 45 children and teenagers to participate, and enough adult volunteers for the Vacation Bible School (VBS); the registration and arrangement of the Children and Teenagers for Camp Siloam; the speakers and location of the Fall Retreat; to adjust the Lord’s Supper from quarterly to monthly; to arrange the coordinator and date of the Evergreen Fellowship ; to bless the church not to waste every holiday (Chinese Lunar New Year, Good Friday, Easter, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas), and make a good use of the opportunity to preach the gospel for the Lord. May the name of the Lord be glorified among us, so that more people will come to the Lord.

We would like to entrust the ministry of Bethel Church in China in 2025 to our Lord:

• Ask the Lord to lead them to serve with the wisdom and gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
• arrange for the safety and peace of the meetings, and that all the gathering points will prosper.
• lead the leaders and co-workers to have the power and authority to continue to do evangelism.
• bless their coworkers who learn musical instruments with wisdom and intelligence
• raise up more brothers to serve Him fervently
• carry out the next generation ministries and bring our children and grandchildren to the Lord.

We pray for every leader and co-worker of the Lord:

• Pray that we will put God first in everything (Luke 17:5-10) and receive mission and vision from the Lord.
• make us love the truth, learn the truth, uphold the truth, and preach the truth (Prov. 2:3-4, John 8:32)
• help us to care for the sheep (Ezekiel 34)
• give us the ability to speak and spread the gospel
• keep us from being blind watchmen, dumb dogs that cannot bark, or greedy eaters and drinkers who seek our own interests (Isaiah 56:10-11). May we die to our old selves daily, live out Christ, uphold the salvation of the cross, and strive to glorify the Lord’s name.

The above prayer is made in the name of Christ. Amen!

“警醒感恩”

——2024年小石城以马内利华语浸信会数算主恩
李春海

上周二晨祷会上，王牧师讲到我们要“警醒感恩”（西4：2）。圣经中提到，我们要警醒祷告，警醒谨防异端，警醒预备主再来。同时，我们也要警醒感恩。“警醒”是在强调我们要留意，要小心，要在乎，要将此事放到重要日程上。在过去的11个月里小石城以马内利华语浸信会经历无数恩典，我在此数算其中的12样。
第一，从1月2日起教会开始晨祷会，每日有10多位，最多次有30多位弟兄姐妹参加。自从11月份起，上帝奇妙地将晨祷会变成了中美联合祷告会，使许多国内的弟兄姐妹加入。它成为属灵连结的桥梁，主内弟兄姐妹共同在主里守望代祷，在神国里一起争战。参加的弟兄姐妹来自美国的小石城，奥克拉荷马、特克萨卡纳、沃斯堡、休斯顿；在中国的鹤岗、佳木斯、深圳、北京。祷告是主吩咐依靠主的方式。主正在借着祷告“扩张我们帐幕之地，张大我们居所的幔子，不要限止，要放长我们的绳子，坚固我们的橛子；因为我们要向左右开展，我们的后裔必得多国为业，又使荒凉的城邑有人居住”（赛54：2-3）。我们要靠圣灵坚持祷下去！
第二，在3月24日10位弟兄姐妹接受浸礼；韩涛、吴红夫妇为主作见证。这次浸礼人数是自教会成立以来最多的一次，包括7位儿童青少年和3位成人。这些孩子能接受浸礼为主作见证是多年来教会主日学老师和各位同工流泪撒子、欢呼收割的果实。我们将荣耀归于上帝！韩涛、吴红夫妇经历了很大的神迹。在韩涛住院期间，无数华人倾注了愛心。最重要的是，主的大能借着众人祷告的力量彰显出来，使韩涛经历死荫幽谷，获得重生；吴红也经历主的医治，得享基督里的平安。此后，他们坚持参加主日崇拜。
第三，4月7日复活节庆祝，我们教会和安提阿教会（Antioch Church）联合崇拜，共同掰饼领主餐，在教堂操场举行街区拖车派对(Block Trailer Party)，烧烤，有200多人参加，是教会历史上参加人数最多的一次。明芳阿姨为59位小朋友发放绣有十字架的精美香囊。教会借此高举十字架，见证基督，影响社区。
第四，5月24-27日教会支持大人孩子有26位参加明日之光营会，我们录制视频作为纪念（参：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJwUyfuEZOk）。
第五，6月10-14日教会2位辅导员同工带领11位小朋友第一次参加西罗亚营会（Camp Siloam），其中1位小朋友决志信主。他们在6月16日父亲节为主作见证，分享学习心得，荣耀主圣。
第六，从6月18日到21日举行第二次暑期圣经学校。主题：“海底探险”（SCUBA）有32位小朋友和青少年志愿者，成人义工32位。有3位小朋友决志信主。暑期圣经学校为“巴西亚马逊河宣教项目”(Brazil Amazon River Mission Project)做了愛心奉献。
第七，教会同工分别于5月18日、6月3日、6月6日、11月23日组织到食物银行（Food Bank）进行社区服务活动。11月22日那次服侍有27位弟兄姐妹参加。可愛的一岁多宝宝清泉也帮助拿土豆。
第八， 9月23日常青团契举行聚会，有20多位弟兄姐妹和慕道友参加。我们要继续为长辈们的身心灵健康，更加愛主，慕道友长辈早日归主代祷祝福。
第九，10月18-20人教会举行秋季特会。这次特会以“活出基督”为主题，傅凯彬牧师带来新鲜活泼的信息，Justice Dundas带领青少年，三位UALR学生带领儿童。琼斯博罗和康威的弟兄姐妹及慕道友有来参加，琼斯博罗的米国瑞牧师和Grace姐妹分别分享蒙召事奉见证和非洲短宣见证。弟兄姐妹收获甚丰。
第十，11月24日教会举行感恩节崇拜、见证和聚餐。有四位弟兄姐妹为主作感恩见证。申田生分享她人生之路犹如贵人（上帝）相助，一直到今天。她于2020年参加哥城华人基督教会（Columbus Chinese Christian Church）查经班，2023年11月5日决志信主，今年3月24日浸礼。她感谢上帝，也感谢亲人们和教会家人一路陪伴。刘美英阿姨分享“人的道路不由自己，行路的人也不能定自己的脚步”（耶10：23），尽管再次来美经历挫折，但凡事都有主的美意。约书亚分享他从小信主，父亲在中国传道遇到的艰难，以及他求学路上几经周折，蒙神保守能来美国求学的过程。他于8月18日接受浸礼，加入教会，作主门徒。薛飞弟兄分享在开车的小事上学习忍耐等候的功课，蒙主眷顾避免了祸患。有许多慕道朋友来与我们一同参加崇拜或聚餐。
第十一，感谢主使用每位同工在每周五团契尽心服侍，使儿童、青少年、学生学者和基督徒都能在主里成长。有几次弟兄姐妹敞开家门，愛心接待众人到家里共享美好团契时光。
第十二，教会同工合一，竭力服侍主。主日敬拜诗歌实现现场音乐，儿童青少年司琴服侍。母亲节由弟兄们服侍。每次教会聚餐时大部分青少年参与发放食物。等等。
王牧师还提到：人的忘恩是罪性的特点之一，需要不断对付。没有感恩就没有未来。越感恩越蒙恩。感恩不是将恩典画上句号，感恩是一把钥匙，为我们开启那更大的恩典之门。愿主继续带领我们教会在数算主恩中迈向更美的未来！

 

“ Being Watchful and Thankful ”
——2024 Counting Blessings at Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church

我们为何热愛圣经

范杰瑞和范玛丽莲

 

耶稣是活的道，圣经是上帝的成文的道！
如果我们想知道如何作为一名基督徒生活，我们来看看耶稣的生活：

• 看看他是谁，他的性格，
• 以及他在地上所做的事情。

但我们也有上帝的话语：

• 而且由于圣经是真实且无误的，圣经就成为我们生活的权威，就像我们在耶稣生活中看到的一样，因为其中没有冲突。

你曾经坐过只有一条腿或两条腿的“凳子”吗？

• 如果是这样，你会发现很难保持平衡。
• 上次我们在一起时分享了第一条腿——祈祷。
• 今天，我们将分享第二条腿——热愛圣经。
• 明天早上，我们将分享——应许。
• 如果凳子有3 条腿

弗朗西斯·谢弗的名言——“我们该如何生活？”

• 激励我们的心去相信上帝的话语——圣经，

作为我们生活的权威

• 并且活出最丰盛的人生

这就是我们今天早上要开始的地方，基于上帝圣言的权威，我们应该如何生活？

• 让我们的生活充满上帝的话语和圣经，让真理进入我们的头脑：
• 经常聆听宣讲和教导圣经。
• 每年阅读《创世记》1：1 至《启示录》22：21。
• 研究它。
• 背诵它。
• 默想 基于你所听到、阅读、学习和背诵的内容 为了将这些真理从你的头脑转移到你的内心，

 

• 为什么？
• 因为这些真理如果不进入你的内心，就不会在应用中发挥作用。

“…昼夜思想，这样你就会小心 按照其中所写的一切去遵行”……
[约书亚记 1:8 新国际版]
我们为何热愛圣经？

此时，我们将交替分享一些经文，说明我们喜愛圣经的原因：

玛丽莲：

• 让我跟你们分享一下我为什么热愛圣经？
• [耶利米书 29:11-13] – “因为我知道我向你们所怀的意念”
• 这是上帝写给我们的一封情书。
• [腓立比书 3:10 和合本]
• “更加深入、更加亲密地认识他”
• “更加强烈、更加清晰地感知、认识和理解他属性的奇妙”。
• [诗篇 23: 1-6] – “耶和华是我的牧者”
• 他让我安息
• 他带领我度过最黑暗的时光
• 他的同在——他总是和我在一起
• 我无所求，无所畏惧

杰瑞：

• 让我跟你们分享一下我热愛圣经的几个原因吗？
• [约翰福音 3:16] – “神愛世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他（耶稣）的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 ”
• [约翰福音 3:17] – “因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他（耶稣）得救。”
• [诗篇 119:105] – “你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光” – 因此，我可以在他的话语的光中行走。

玛丽莲：

• [诗篇 139:17-18] – “他的意念对我来说何其宝贵”
• 它们的总和有多大
• [罗马书 8:28] –我生活中发生的一切都是为了我的益处和他的荣耀。
• [彼得后书 1:4] – “他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们”
• 通过这些应许
• 我们可以与他有份
• 他的神圣本质
• 脱离了世上的败坏

杰瑞：

• [哥林多前书 13:13] – “如今常存的有信、有望、有愛，这三样，其中最大的是愛”。
• 我曾经想知道愛怎么会比信和望更重要呢？
• 当我沉思这一点时，我意识到，如果没有上帝对我们的大愛，
• 我们将不再有信或望。
• [约翰一书 1:9] – “我们若认自己的罪” ……我们知道我们的罪能得到赦免，但是如果没有十诫和我们在圣经中找到的其他真理，我们就不会知道什么是罪。
• [哥林多前书 1:9] – “神是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子，我们的主耶稣基督，一同得分。”所以，我们不但与神有关系，而且现在我们可以每天、每时每刻与他（耶稣）保持亲密的个人关系。

玛丽莲：

• [箴言 3；5-6] –
• 你要专心仰赖耶和华
• 不可依赖自己的聪明
• 在你一切所行的事上 认定他（给予他荣耀）
• 他必指引你的路”。
• [腓立比书 2:13] – 上帝在我们里面工作
• “立志并实践
• 为要讨他喜悦

杰瑞：

• [腓立比书 3:10 和合本] 这节经文的最后几句话是
• “这样我就可以分享他的苦难 不断改变 [在灵里成为他的样式] 甚至对自己死， [都充满盼望]

• 这份盼望是——充满信心的期待
• 有一天我们会复活
• 效法耶稣，与他一起生活在天堂
• 永远[永恒]。

玛丽莲：

• [哥林多前书 2:2] – “因为我曾定了主意，在你们中间不知道别的，只知道耶稣基督并他钉十字架”。
• [希伯来书 12:2] — “仰望耶稣”… — 我们必须时刻注视着耶稣。
• [罗马书 12:2 ] – “不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。”

问题：

• 你为什么喜愛圣经？
• 你最喜欢圣经里的哪一节经文？

（这是范杰瑞和范玛丽莲在11/20/24 小石城以马内利华语浸信会清晨祷告会上的分享。特此感谢）

WHY WE LOVE THE BIBLE
Jerry & Marilyn Fine

 
JESUS IS THE LIVING WORD & THE BIBLE IS THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD!
IF WE WANT TO KNOW HOW TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN, WE LOOK AT THE LIFE OF JESUS:

• TO SEE WHO HE WAS, HIS CHARACTER,
• AND WHAT HE DID HERE ON EARTH.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD:

• AND BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND WITHOUT ERROR, THE BIBLE BECOMES THE AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES AS WELL AS WHAT WE SEE IN THE LIFE OF JESUS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONFLICT.

Have you ever sat on a 1 OR 2 LEGGED “STOOL”?

• If so, you found out it was hard to keep your balance.
• The LAST TIME we were together we talked about THE FIRST LEG – PRAYER.
• TODAY we will talk about the SECOND LEG – LOVE FOR THE BIBLE.
• TOMORROW morning, we will talk about – PROMISES.
• It is easier to stay BALANCED AND UPRIGHT IF THE STOOL HAS

3 LEGS
FRANCIS SHAEFFER’S FAMOUS QUOTE – “HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE?”

• STIRS OUR HEARTS TO BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD, THE BIBLE,

AS THE AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES

• AND LIVE LIFE TO IT’S FULLEST

AND THAT IS WHERE WE WILL START THIS MORNING, BASED ON THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD HOW SHOULD WE LIVE?

• SATURATING OUR LIVES WITH THE WORD OF GOD, THE BIBLE, GET’S THE TRUTH INTO OUR HEAD:
• HEAR IT PREACHED & TAUGHT REGULARLY.
• READ IT FROM GENESIS 1:1 THROUGH REVELATION 22:21, EVERY YEAR.
• STUDY IT.
• MEMORIZE IT.
• MEDITATE ON WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD, READ, STUDIED, AND MEMORIZED TO MOVE THESE TRUTHS FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR HEART,

WHY?

• BECAUSE THESE TRUTHS WILL NEVER WORK THERE WAY OUT IN APPLICATION UNTIL THEY GET TO YOUR HEART.

“…MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, SO THAT YOU WILL BE CAREFUL TO DO EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN IT” …[JOSHUA 1:8 NIV84]
WHY WE LOVE THE BIBLE?
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ALTERNATE BACK AND FORTH  ARE
SOME SCRIPTURES WHY WE LOVE THE BIBLE:

MARILYN:

• LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHY I LOVE THE BIBLE?
• [Jeremiah 29:11-13] – “FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU”
• IT IS GOD’S LOVE LETTER TO US.
• [Philippians 3:10 AMPC] –
• “TO KNOW HIM MORE DEEPLY & INTIMATELY”
• “TO PERCIEVE, RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE WONDERS OF HIS PERSON MORE STRONGLY AND MORE CLEARLY”.
• [Psalms 23: 1-6] – ‘THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD”
• HE GIVES ME REST
• HE LEADS ME IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES
• HIS PRESENCE – HE IS ALWAYS WITH ME
• I HAVE NO WANT – NO FEARS

JERRY:

• LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A FEW REASONS WHY I LOVE THE BIBLE?
• [John 3:16] – “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIVES IN HIM (JESUS) SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” …
• [John 3:17] – “FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM (JESUS) MIGHT BE SAVED.”
• [Psalm 119:105] – “YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH” – THEREFORE, I CAN WALK IN THE LIGHT OF HIS WORD.

MARILYN:

• [Psalm 139:17-18] – “HIS THOUGHTS ARE PRECIOUS TO ME”
• HOW GREAT IS THE SUM OF THEM
• [Romans 8:28] – EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE IS FOR MY GOOD AND HIS GLORY.
• [2 Peter 1:4] – “HE HAS GIVEN TO US EXCEEDINGLY GREAT & PRECIOUS PROMISES”
• THAT THROUGH THESE PROMISES
• WE MAY BE PARTAKERS
• OF HIS DEVINE NATURE
• HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD

JERRY:

• [1 Corinthians 13:13] – “AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE”.
• I USE TO WONDER HOW CAN LOVE BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAITH & HOPE?
• BUT WHEN I MEDITATED ON THIS THOUGHT, I COULD SEE THAT WITHOUT GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR US,
• WE WOULD NOT HAVE FAITH OR HOPE.
• [1 John 1:9] – “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS” …WE KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, BUT WE WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT SIN IS IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE TEN COMMNDMENTS AND OTHER TRUTHS WE FIND IN THE BIBLE.
• [1 Corinthians 1:9] – “GOD IS FAITHFUL, BY WHOM YOU WERE CALLED INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” SO, WE NOT ONLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BUT NOW WE CAN HAVE AN INTIMATE AND PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (JESUS) DAY BY DAY AND MOMENT BY MOMENT.

MARILYN:

• [Proverbs 3;5-6] –
• ‘TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
• DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING
• IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM (GIVE HIM THE GLORY)
• & HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH”.
• [Philippians 2:13] – GOD IS WORKING IN US
• “TO WILL AND TO DO
• FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE”

JERRY:

• [Philippians 3:10 AMPC] – THE VERY LAST WORDS OF THIS VERSE ARE
• “AND THAT I MAY SO SHARE HIS SUFFERINGS AS TO BE CONTINUALLY TRANSFORMED [IN SPIRIT INTO HIS LIKENESS EVEN] TO HIS DEATH, [IN THE HOPE)

• THAT HOPE IS – A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION
• THAT ONE DAY WE WILL BE RESURRECTED
• LIKE JESUS AND LIVE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN
• FOREVER .

MARILYN:

• [1 Corinthians 2:2] – “FOR I DETERMINED NOT TO KNOW ANYTHING AMONG YOU EXCEPT JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED”.
• [Hebrews 12:2] – “LOOKING UNTO JESUS” … – WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS.
• [Romans 12:2] – “AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MINDS, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THE GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE & PERFECT WILL OF GOD.”

QUESTIONS:

• WHY DO YOU LOVE THE BIBLE?
• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VERSE IN THE BIBLE?

(We are grateful to Jerry and Marilyn Fine for their sharing at our early morning prayer meeting of LRICBC on 11/20/24)