The Shilipu Church in Baoji, China's northern Shaanxi Province held a service on the third Sunday of Advent on December 13.
Though Christmas is approaching, there were only a few small Christmas trees flickering inside the store, without the normal noisy Christmas pop music.
The Shilipu Church, located in the newly developed commercial and tourist center of Baoji City, China’s northwestern Shaanxi Province, was full of worshippers every Sunday after having been newly renovated.
Three pastors gave sermons each Sunday for the three weeks before Christmas. A choir member said that they have been rehearsing for several weeks to prepare for Christmas.
On this Sunday morning, the churchgoers entered the sanctuary on the second floor following the COVID-19 protocols and seated themselves at a social distance due to the virus.
After the opening prayer from Brother Yao Chao, three church choirs sang the hymns Good News Song and Hallelujah.
The choir performed wonderfully, and the congregation applauded again and again. Then Elder Liu Xifeng gave a sermon on the signs of Christmas. Luke 2:1 says, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. " Caesar was the first ruler of Rome, and the first census was taken for the purpose of recruiting for the army and collecting taxes, as well as showing his supremacy.
Proverbs 21:1 says," In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him." Because God is in charge of human history and his kingdom rules over all, his will can influence the king's decision. The decree brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Even Augustus didn't know the king of glory would be born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy in Micah 5:2.
The human savior was born in the manger, as the inn was full because the people needed to return to their hometowns to register. Luke 2:12 says, " This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Then, based on Luke 2:1-12, Elder Liu spent more than 40 minutes sharing on the sign of the new life (Luke 2:12); the sign of the incarnation (John 1:1-2), and the mark of the reconciliation between God and man (2 Corinthians 5:18). In the sermon Elder Liu described the birth of Jesus and said every Christian should keep in mind these three signs and prepare their heart to receive the Lord.
Next, the church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service, sacred music worship service and theatrical performances on Christmas evening. Christmas worship service will be held at each gathering site on Christmas.
(The article is originally published by Gospel Times.)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
12月13日，笔者参加了宝鸡十里铺教会举行圣诞节前的一次主日崇拜聚会。
进入到今年的圣诞月，少了往年城市大街小巷商铺震耳欲聋的圣诞通俗音响的喧闹。沿街一路走去，偶尔见到商店门内零星几棵圣诞树彩色小灯闪烁。
当笔者来到宝鸡十里铺教会，拾阶而上来到二楼门厅，首先咉入眼帘的是教会疫情防控措施严密。只见门厅口有两位姊妹手执测温器，对进入教堂人员挨个测量体温。然后引导在东西两边桌前扫描健康码、登记个人有关信息，然后才能进入主堂。
主堂内，台上一位姊妹在教唱着赞美诗歌。由于宝鸡十里铺教会地处宝鸡市区新开发的商贸、旅游中心地段，自新堂随着旧城改造落成后，每次逢主日崇拜聚会，主堂内会被早来的信徒坐的满满当当。当然因着疫情防控常态化，每个座位必须间隔一米。
教堂介绍说，在进入圣诞月后，十里铺教会将围绕迎接圣诞节，会在圣诞节前的三个主日，逐一会安排三位牧者做三堂有关圣诞节内容的证道。一位姊妹说，她们诗班，为了庆祝圣诞节已连着排练节目好几个礼拜了。
上午8：30，十里铺教会主日崇拜，在姚超弟兄代祷后主持下开始了。首先是教会三个诗班登台联合献唱赞美，放声献唱了《佳音歌》《哈利路亚》二首赞美诗歌。
诗班献唱精彩，会众掌声连连。接着是刘西凤长老登上主台，为大家做了一堂主题为《圣诞的记号》证道。圣经路加福音2章1节的经文告诉我们“该撒亚古士都有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。”该撒亚古士都是罗马第一位统治者。他作王时，在罗马帝国举行了第一次人口普查。当时户口普查有两个目的：第一是为了征兵；第二是为了征收税款。罗马王的命令是向希腊的罗马世界显示他无上的霸权，从王和人的角度看亚古士都是为罗马帝国统治利益着想。
经文箴言21 章1节又说：“王的心在耶和华的手中，好象陇沟的水，随意流转。”神在世界的诸王之上，有最高权柄，神凭祂的旨意来决定影响王的决策。因为神掌管人类历史，神的权柄统管万有。罗马皇帝瑜旨正合时把约瑟和马利亚带到伯利恒。是天父上帝藉着罗马皇帝应验成就了旧约圣经弥迦书5章2节的预言：“伯利恒的以法他啊!你在犹大诸城中是最小的，将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我事权。”
我们在读圣经时，清楚的感到：可能连亚古士都自己都不清楚，有一位荣耀君王藉着户口普查要在小城伯利恒降生。同时也因着犹太人都要回到祖籍普查户口，伯利恒城的客店爆满，人类救主取稣降生在客店马槽。路加福音2章12节告诉我们说：“你们要看见一个婴孩，包着布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。”
接着，刘长老以经文路加福音2章1-12节为依据，围绕主题《圣诞的记号》，用了40多分钟讲了三大部分。一、新生命的记号(路2:12)；二、道成肉身记号(约1:1-2)；三、神人和好记号(林后5:18)。 刘西凤长老的整堂证道，再次描绘了主耶稣诞生的过程，讲述了在圣诞节来临前，每一位基督徒应该如何准备好自己，怎样准备好自己，牢记三个记号。以虔诚的心迎接圣诞节，过一个有生命更新意义的圣诞节！
接下来，宝鸡十里铺教会圣诞节活动将安排：平安夜晚上烛光音乐崇拜赞美。圣诞节白天的庆圣诞崇拜以及各聚会点庆圣诞演节目及晚上的圣诞夜圣乐崇拜聚会、文艺节目演出。
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/54635
传扬圣经真理迎接圣诞节来临 十里铺教会圣诞节前如此准备
The Shilipu Church in Baoji, China's northern Shaanxi Province held a service on the third Sunday of Advent on December 13.
Though Christmas is approaching, there were only a few small Christmas trees flickering inside the store, without the normal noisy Christmas pop music.
The Shilipu Church, located in the newly developed commercial and tourist center of Baoji City, China’s northwestern Shaanxi Province, was full of worshippers every Sunday after having been newly renovated.
Three pastors gave sermons each Sunday for the three weeks before Christmas. A choir member said that they have been rehearsing for several weeks to prepare for Christmas.
On this Sunday morning, the churchgoers entered the sanctuary on the second floor following the COVID-19 protocols and seated themselves at a social distance due to the virus.
After the opening prayer from Brother Yao Chao, three church choirs sang the hymns Good News Song and Hallelujah.
The choir performed wonderfully, and the congregation applauded again and again. Then Elder Liu Xifeng gave a sermon on the signs of Christmas. Luke 2:1 says, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. " Caesar was the first ruler of Rome, and the first census was taken for the purpose of recruiting for the army and collecting taxes, as well as showing his supremacy.
Proverbs 21:1 says," In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him." Because God is in charge of human history and his kingdom rules over all, his will can influence the king's decision. The decree brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Even Augustus didn't know the king of glory would be born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy in Micah 5:2.
The human savior was born in the manger, as the inn was full because the people needed to return to their hometowns to register. Luke 2:12 says, " This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Then, based on Luke 2:1-12, Elder Liu spent more than 40 minutes sharing on the sign of the new life (Luke 2:12); the sign of the incarnation (John 1:1-2), and the mark of the reconciliation between God and man (2 Corinthians 5:18). In the sermon Elder Liu described the birth of Jesus and said every Christian should keep in mind these three signs and prepare their heart to receive the Lord.
Next, the church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service, sacred music worship service and theatrical performances on Christmas evening. Christmas worship service will be held at each gathering site on Christmas.
(The article is originally published by Gospel Times.)
-Translated by Abigail Wu
Shaanxi Church Marks Third Sunday of Advent
