In Holy Week, believers review and meditate on how Jesus went through this period to understand the meaning of His crucifixion and resurrection. A church in north China’s Shanxi Province held virtual worship services to mark the most important festival in the Church Year.
Three female pastors from Yaodu District Church in Linfen City gave three sermons from April 10 to 12.
Rev. Geng Fuqin on Palm Sunday delivered a sermon titled "He Who Waits on God Has No Fear", citing Matthew 21:1-11. She declared Jesus embarked on the road of self-denial and suffering when He entered the Holy City, but the Israelites in Jerusalem did not know the purpose of His coming, but took the Lord as "king" who could free them from Roman rule.
Rev. Geng asked the congregation whether the Lord they understood was the real Jesus or just based on their own needs.
Finally, she reminded listeners that the celebrations of the Passion Week and Easter Sunday were to let them know the true Lord and the true purpose of Jesus' coming, as well as welcome and worship the true King who was building the kingdom of God on earth.
Based on Mark 11:13, Pastor Zhang Xiping on Holy Monday preached a sermon with the title of "Cleansing the Temple", sharing that Jesus cursed a fig tree as he wanted to look for fruit on it, which was full of leaves but without any fruit. Zhang said this story was a warning to the people of Israel, who made appearances but did not bear the fruit of life.
The fig tree is a symbol of Israel, and the tree with bare branches and no fruit reflected the state of Israel at that time. Israel claimed to be loved by God and to be loyal to God, but they were greedy for money and gain, and godless. They claimed to be well versed in the law of Moses, but in reality they knew nothing of the will of God. They had beautiful appearance, but did not manifest humility or love.
Then, Pastor Zhang urged believers to always check whether they had fruitful lives, saying if they did not live for the Lord, the curse of the fig tree would come upon them.
Later, the pastor explained that the cleaning of the temple was righteous wrath for the deeds of Israelites who defiled the temple, not out of Jesus’ temper.
Zhang said Jesus could not only purify the temple in Jerusalem, but also the temple of their hearts, reminding the church members to see whether their hearts were full of lust, evil thoughts, idolatry, and pride, like "a den of robbers". After Jesus drove out those who were selling in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame, restoring the worship in the temple. The female pastor said during the Holy Week, the Lord also intended to come into believers’ hearts to restore true worship and lead them back to God again.
The next day, Tuesday of Holy Week, Pastor Wang Baoqin of the church gave a sermon titled "Jesus Teaches His Disciples", citing Luke 21:34-36. She shared about the three things that entangled the people, such as dissipation, drunkenness, and anxieties of life, as well as Jesus’ three teachings, including “be careful”, “be always on watch”, and “always pray”.
On Holy Wednesday, April 13, Pastor Guo Lingquan gave a sermon titled "Jesus Christ in Hidden Retreat", saying Jesus chose to rest quietly on that day to regain his strength through fellowship with God though He was very busy after entering the Holy City.
Guo made a conclusion that the congregation should temporarily put everything aside, come close to God to accept God’s will for their life and work, and renew their strength by obeying the word of God.
On Maundy Thursday, Pastor Wang Shuai preached a sermon with the title "Fellowship and Rest", stating that through praying, sharing meals, and washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus declared that true communion with God was not just a word of faith, but a concrete act of mutual service.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
圣周是基督徒生活中最重要的节期，借着回顾默想耶稣如何走过这段时间，可以帮助我们更深明白耶稣基督的受难与复活的意义，随着进入圣周，山西临汾尧都区基督教会开展了受难周默想及复活节感恩崇拜线上系列活动。
4月10-12日，3位女传道人进行了分享
在4月10日的棕枝主日中，耿福琴牧师围绕马太福音21章1至11节，以“等候神者无惧”为题进行了证道分享。
她说到：耶稣进入圣城，实际上是开启了祂舍己受难的道路，而耶路撒冷的以色列民却不知道主前来施行拯救的真实意义，而是按着己意把主当作了借助征战将自己从罗马治下解放的“君王”。
耿牧师向大家发出疑问，我们如今对于耶稣的认识是出于己心需求的耶稣？还是真实的主耶稣？
最后，耿牧师提醒大家，现如今，我们基督徒仍旧重视受难周与复活节，为的是让我们认识真正的主，明白主耶稣来到地上的真正目的，从而从心里相信、口里承认，真正迎接敬拜这位在地上建立神的国度的真正君王。
在4月11日权柄日，教会张希平传道以“洁净圣殿”为题进行了证道。
在马可福音11章13节中，主耶稣希望在无花果树上寻找果子，然而这颗无花果树长得枝繁叶茂，却未结一果，耶稣便借着咒诅无花果树，以此警醒那些虚有其表，却不结出生命果子的以色列人。
无花果树是以色列国的象征，而空有枝叶却不结果子的无花果树无疑反映了当时以色列的光景。以色列以承蒙上帝关爱自居，也自诩忠于上帝，实际行的却是贪财牟利，迷恋世俗的行为，他们自诩精通律法，却实际上对神的旨意一无所知，只有外在华美的圣殿，生命中谦卑、仁爱的美德却毫无彰显。
接着，张传道向信徒发出提醒劝勉，现如今的基督徒也应当时刻省察自身，是否为主结出了生命的果实？如果生命中没有做到为主而活，那么无花果树的咒诅同样是对于我们的警示与告诫。
随后，在“洁净圣殿”部分，张传道借着耶稣洁净圣殿的举动，向大家解释，耶稣的愤怒举动并非性格使然，而是看到圣殿在被沾染污秽后，对以色列人的亵渎行为所发的义怒。
耶稣不仅洁净的是耶路撒冷的殿，同样也是洁净我们内心的殿，我们需要时常反省，有没有让私欲、罪孽、偶像、骄傲占据自己的心，使其变成“贼窝”呢？
圣殿洁净之后，耶稣随即又在圣殿中施行了医治的大能，恢复了圣殿的敬拜。疫情期间，许多人的心渐渐与主远离，而主正是要借着受难周与复活节，再次走进走进我们内心，恢复我们的敬拜，这就需要我们借着洁净圣殿，警醒反思，让心灵重新归回上帝。
在4月12日训导日（又称“训诲日”“教训日”），教会王宝琴传道以路加福音21章34-36节，进行了“耶稣教训门徒”的证道。
证道中，王传道按照经文，对缠累世人的三大网罗，即“贪食”“醉酒”以及“今生的思虑”，以及耶稣所提出的“要谨慎”“要警醒”“常祈求”的三大教导进行分享。
在4月13日静修日（又称静默日、安静日）当天，郭灵泉传道进行了“隐藏静修的耶稣基督”为题的证道分享。
自荣入圣城之后，主耶稣一直在忙碌，没有休息，于是，祂便选择在静修日当天安静休息，在与神交通中重新得力。
在最后的总结中，郭传道劝勉会众，在受难周期间，愿每位基督徒都能暂时放下地上的一切，安静来到神的面前亲近神，更加深入的领受神向着我们生活工作中的旨意，顺服神的话语，重新得力。
在4月14日的团契日（又称圣餐日、濯足日）中，该堂王帅传道进行了“团契与安息”的证道。
团契日当天，主耶稣祷告、共餐、洗脚的行为都告诉基督徒，真正与神交往并非是口头宣信，更要有具体彼此服务的行为。
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山西临汾尧都区基督教会举行受难周系列线上敬拜活动（一）
In Holy Week, believers review and meditate on how Jesus went through this period to understand the meaning of His crucifixion and resurrection. A church in north China’s Shanxi Province held virtual worship services to mark the most important festival in the Church Year.
Three female pastors from Yaodu District Church in Linfen City gave three sermons from April 10 to 12.
Rev. Geng Fuqin on Palm Sunday delivered a sermon titled "He Who Waits on God Has No Fear", citing Matthew 21:1-11. She declared Jesus embarked on the road of self-denial and suffering when He entered the Holy City, but the Israelites in Jerusalem did not know the purpose of His coming, but took the Lord as "king" who could free them from Roman rule.
Rev. Geng asked the congregation whether the Lord they understood was the real Jesus or just based on their own needs.
Finally, she reminded listeners that the celebrations of the Passion Week and Easter Sunday were to let them know the true Lord and the true purpose of Jesus' coming, as well as welcome and worship the true King who was building the kingdom of God on earth.
Based on Mark 11:13, Pastor Zhang Xiping on Holy Monday preached a sermon with the title of "Cleansing the Temple", sharing that Jesus cursed a fig tree as he wanted to look for fruit on it, which was full of leaves but without any fruit. Zhang said this story was a warning to the people of Israel, who made appearances but did not bear the fruit of life.
The fig tree is a symbol of Israel, and the tree with bare branches and no fruit reflected the state of Israel at that time. Israel claimed to be loved by God and to be loyal to God, but they were greedy for money and gain, and godless. They claimed to be well versed in the law of Moses, but in reality they knew nothing of the will of God. They had beautiful appearance, but did not manifest humility or love.
Then, Pastor Zhang urged believers to always check whether they had fruitful lives, saying if they did not live for the Lord, the curse of the fig tree would come upon them.
Later, the pastor explained that the cleaning of the temple was righteous wrath for the deeds of Israelites who defiled the temple, not out of Jesus’ temper.
Zhang said Jesus could not only purify the temple in Jerusalem, but also the temple of their hearts, reminding the church members to see whether their hearts were full of lust, evil thoughts, idolatry, and pride, like "a den of robbers". After Jesus drove out those who were selling in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame, restoring the worship in the temple. The female pastor said during the Holy Week, the Lord also intended to come into believers’ hearts to restore true worship and lead them back to God again.
The next day, Tuesday of Holy Week, Pastor Wang Baoqin of the church gave a sermon titled "Jesus Teaches His Disciples", citing Luke 21:34-36. She shared about the three things that entangled the people, such as dissipation, drunkenness, and anxieties of life, as well as Jesus’ three teachings, including “be careful”, “be always on watch”, and “always pray”.
On Holy Wednesday, April 13, Pastor Guo Lingquan gave a sermon titled "Jesus Christ in Hidden Retreat", saying Jesus chose to rest quietly on that day to regain his strength through fellowship with God though He was very busy after entering the Holy City.
Guo made a conclusion that the congregation should temporarily put everything aside, come close to God to accept God’s will for their life and work, and renew their strength by obeying the word of God.
On Maundy Thursday, Pastor Wang Shuai preached a sermon with the title "Fellowship and Rest", stating that through praying, sharing meals, and washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus declared that true communion with God was not just a word of faith, but a concrete act of mutual service.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Virtual Services Hosted in Shanxi to Celebrate Holy Week
