Recently, Pastor Xu, who serves in a church in an East China city, shared that based on the family culture they built the church and fostered relationships with other churches, engaging in collaborative evangelism. She mentioned that in the culture of “family,” believers seek to align with spiritual parents and follow God's will in everything.
Aligning with Spiritual Parents — Generational Alignment
Pastor Xu first traced the origin of the family culture. The family model was initially the foundation of Jesus Christ's salvation. The beginning of the gospel is about God's Son, Jesus Christ. Although Jesus was equal with God, He humbled Himself to be the son of Mary and Joseph for 30 years; after turning 30, Jesus began His public ministry and aligned himself with the will of the Heavenly Father. Even when he was crucified, he sought the Father's will. Therefore, God's plan of salvation was achieved through the alignment between the Father and the Son, and this alignment across two generations fulfilled the salvation of the world.
The Bible also shows the alignment between the Father and the Son through Abraham and Isaac, David and Solomon, and Paul and Timothy. Because of Isaac’s obedience, Abraham could offer Isaac; David prepared materials after receiving the vision of constructing the temple, which was completed by Solomon; Paul and Timothy walked together as two generations, expanding and continuing the work of evangelism.
Xu emphasized that within the family relationship, there is a mutual covenant. Christians should recognize their spiritual parents through prayer, honor them, and establish mutual trust. Spiritual children can share their hearts, and spiritual parents can share their experiences; even if some children have greater anointing and gifts than their spiritual parents, the parents will not be jealous.
"When it comes to the 'family,' we need to manage the family well and live out love." Xu said that sometimes they would put aside their ministry work to accompany their spiritual parents on trips, such as making prayer walking. After the spiritual father passes away, they would care for his wife like biological children.
She said, "When building a church, we must use the family model so that the church is stable and staff workers live in harmony. Our children will not resist or blame us for our mistakes, just like a family. Parents would never disown their children because of their mistakes, and children would never expel their father because of his flaws or lack of trendiness. This will never happen." They are determined that nothing could destroy their relationships, which is even more important than evangelism.
Xu stressed that church division happens when the relationship between generations breaks down. The true way to break the spirit of division and jealousy is through unity and love. When the older and younger generations are in step, the door to the enemy is shut.
Xu said, "Restoring the family needs trusting each other, similar to Jesus Christ aligning with the Father." If we establish relationships based on mutual trust, whether among friends or between spouses, our lives will be beautiful, and we will be joyful.
Seeking God's Will in Everything
Pastor Xu mentioned that she used to be ministry-oriented. When a decision was made, action would follow, but often operated on the human level. When David welcomed the Ark, Uzzah reached out to steady it. God was angry and killed him because the Ark was meant to be carried according to God's way.
Now she has shifted from being ministry-oriented to being presence-oriented, seeking God's guidance. Just as when Moses built the Tabernacle, every aspect, including the material, shape, and who would build it, was according to God's instructions.
When several pastors are aligned with one another in a 'family,' the breakthrough in the spiritual realm is significant. God is looking for a small group of people who embrace His heart, understand His will, stand in the gap, bring about spiritual breakthroughs, and manifest His glory in the physical world. God first reveals His will to this small group who may bring blessings to many others.
- Edited and translated by Abigail Wu
日前，在华东一城市教会服事的徐牧师分享了他们通过“家”的文化建立教会、建立与各教会的关系、同心合意福传的理念。她提到，在“家”的文化中，一方面是与属灵的父母对齐，一方面是凡事寻求上帝的旨意。
一、与属灵的父母对齐——两代的对齐
徐牧师首先回溯“家”文化的起源。家的模式起初就是耶稣基督救恩的根基。福音的起头是关乎上帝的儿子耶稣基督。耶稣本与上帝同等，但祂愿意谦卑做马利亚和约瑟的儿子30年；30岁之后进入神子的层面，与天父的心意对齐。即便被钉在十字架上，祂也在寻求天父的旨意。因此，天父拯救人的计划是通过父与子的对齐，是两代的对齐成就了救恩的世界。
亚伯拉罕献以撒是他们父与子的对齐；所罗门建造圣殿也是大卫领受建造圣殿的异象并预备材料，借着所罗门建成圣殿；保罗和提摩太两代同行，成就了福传的扩展和延续。
徐牧师表示，在家的关系里面有彼此的立约。基督徒要透过祷告认出上帝量给他们的属灵父母，并尊容他们，建立彼此的信任。属灵的儿女可以分享他们的心声，属灵的父母也可以分享他们的经历；甚至有些儿女的恩膏、恩赐比属灵的父母好，父母也不会嫉妒。
“讲家更需要经营好家、活出爱”。徐牧师说，有时候他们会把手中的事工放下，陪着属灵的父母出去旅游（走祷）；即便属灵的父亲去世了，他们也会像亲生儿女一样照顾他的妻子。
她说：“建立教会的时候一定要回到家的模式，这样教会才安全，同工才和睦。我们下面的儿女也不会随意因着我们的一些过失去抵挡、追究我们，这就是家。就像父母永远不会因着孩子的过错开除儿女；儿女也不会因为父亲的一些误区，或者父亲不赶时髦，就把父亲开除了，永远不会的。”他们立志，任何事情都不能破坏他们之间的关系，甚至这个关系比福传更加重要。 （==当summary）
徐牧师强调说，教会分裂就是代代之间断代了，上一代和下一代的关系不合。而真正能破除分裂的灵、嫉妒的灵的就是信徒之间的合一和相爱。当上辈和下辈对齐的时候，就给魔鬼关上门了。
徐牧师说：“恢复家，就是耶稣基督与父这样的对齐，完全信任彼此。”如果我们建立相互信任的关系，无论是朋友间还是夫妻间，我们的生活一定会很美好，关系也会很愉快。
二、凡事寻求上帝的旨意
徐牧师表示，她之前是以事工为导向的。事工决定了做一个事情之后就是一起行动，但很多时候这依然是在人的层面做事情。这就像大卫迎接约柜是上帝喜悦的事情，但是伸出乌撒的手，这不是上帝要的方式，因为约柜要按照上帝的方式去抬。
如今，她将之前的事工导向转变为以上帝同在为导向，寻求上帝的带领。就像摩西建造会幕时，用什么材料建造、什么形状、谁建造等等都是按照上帝的指示。
当几个牧者在一个“家”里对齐的时候，在灵界的突破是很大的。上帝在寻找这样的一小群人，拥抱祂的心意，明白祂的心；站在破口上，在灵里带来突破，也在物质界彰显祂的荣耀。而上帝先把祂的心意释放给这一小群人，为的是借着他们给更多人带来祝福。
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华东一牧者：通过“家”的文化 在当下建造教会
Recently, Pastor Xu, who serves in a church in an East China city, shared that based on the family culture they built the church and fostered relationships with other churches, engaging in collaborative evangelism. She mentioned that in the culture of “family,” believers seek to align with spiritual parents and follow God's will in everything.
Aligning with Spiritual Parents — Generational Alignment
Pastor Xu first traced the origin of the family culture. The family model was initially the foundation of Jesus Christ's salvation. The beginning of the gospel is about God's Son, Jesus Christ. Although Jesus was equal with God, He humbled Himself to be the son of Mary and Joseph for 30 years; after turning 30, Jesus began His public ministry and aligned himself with the will of the Heavenly Father. Even when he was crucified, he sought the Father's will. Therefore, God's plan of salvation was achieved through the alignment between the Father and the Son, and this alignment across two generations fulfilled the salvation of the world.
The Bible also shows the alignment between the Father and the Son through Abraham and Isaac, David and Solomon, and Paul and Timothy. Because of Isaac’s obedience, Abraham could offer Isaac; David prepared materials after receiving the vision of constructing the temple, which was completed by Solomon; Paul and Timothy walked together as two generations, expanding and continuing the work of evangelism.
Xu emphasized that within the family relationship, there is a mutual covenant. Christians should recognize their spiritual parents through prayer, honor them, and establish mutual trust. Spiritual children can share their hearts, and spiritual parents can share their experiences; even if some children have greater anointing and gifts than their spiritual parents, the parents will not be jealous.
"When it comes to the 'family,' we need to manage the family well and live out love." Xu said that sometimes they would put aside their ministry work to accompany their spiritual parents on trips, such as making prayer walking. After the spiritual father passes away, they would care for his wife like biological children.
She said, "When building a church, we must use the family model so that the church is stable and staff workers live in harmony. Our children will not resist or blame us for our mistakes, just like a family. Parents would never disown their children because of their mistakes, and children would never expel their father because of his flaws or lack of trendiness. This will never happen." They are determined that nothing could destroy their relationships, which is even more important than evangelism.
Xu stressed that church division happens when the relationship between generations breaks down. The true way to break the spirit of division and jealousy is through unity and love. When the older and younger generations are in step, the door to the enemy is shut.
Xu said, "Restoring the family needs trusting each other, similar to Jesus Christ aligning with the Father." If we establish relationships based on mutual trust, whether among friends or between spouses, our lives will be beautiful, and we will be joyful.
Seeking God's Will in Everything
Pastor Xu mentioned that she used to be ministry-oriented. When a decision was made, action would follow, but often operated on the human level. When David welcomed the Ark, Uzzah reached out to steady it. God was angry and killed him because the Ark was meant to be carried according to God's way.
Now she has shifted from being ministry-oriented to being presence-oriented, seeking God's guidance. Just as when Moses built the Tabernacle, every aspect, including the material, shape, and who would build it, was according to God's instructions.
When several pastors are aligned with one another in a 'family,' the breakthrough in the spiritual realm is significant. God is looking for a small group of people who embrace His heart, understand His will, stand in the gap, bring about spiritual breakthroughs, and manifest His glory in the physical world. God first reveals His will to this small group who may bring blessings to many others.
- Edited and translated by Abigail Wu
Eastern Pastor: Build the Church on Family Culture
