A Sunday service was held online in a Guangdong church where a pastor shared a sermon on Advent.
Before his sermon titled “A Different Advent” based on Luke 12: 35-48, Rev. Chen Suisheng said that the church had entered Advent on November 27. Advent is not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus but also to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Following a prayer, Pastor Chen preached that it had been two thousand years since the apostles, Peter, Paul, James and John told Christians that the Lord would come again. Believers, who prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord every Advent nowadays, were reminded also to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
For preparation, Pastor Chen reminded believers to be like loyal servants with the attitude of being ready to serve at all times, citing Luke 12:35-40. This kind of servant was ready to serve with all his heart, expecting patiently the host to come back at any time, whether the master was here or not.
The Bible says, “Because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Christians should stay awake to wait for the Lord to come again. Based on Luke 12:42 to 48, Chen explained how to stay awake and prepare through two different examples of the attitudes of servants. A faithful and wise servant who was put in charge of servants gave them their food at the proper time, while another servant who did not please his master knew his master’s mind but did not follow the mind of his master who later returned to punish him.
Pastor Chen said if church members did not believe the Lord would come again, they would choose to be lazy, eat, drink, get drunk, or deprive each other. But if they believed, they might be faithful to the things He has entrusted to them until the day of His return. The pastor also reminded churchgoers that staying awake was not to sit there to wait without sleeping but to make full preparations.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
12月4日，广州基督教东山堂通过线上举行了主日崇拜，证道环节由该堂陈穗生牧师围绕路加福音12章35-48节经文，以“不一样的将临期”为题进行分享。
证道前，陈牧师说到从11月27号开始教会就进入了将临期。而将临期不单是庆祝耶稣的降生，更是预备等候主耶稣的第二次再来。随后陈牧师带领会众一起做祷告开始分享。
陈牧师再次提醒大家，从使徒彼得、保罗、雅各、约翰告诉我们主必再来已经有两千年了。如今每年到了将临期，信徒去为主的降生做预备。但不要忘记藉着将临期我们要彼此提醒，一同仰望主耶稣的二次降临，为此来做预备。
那我们要如何为主再来做预备呢？陈牧师通过路12：35-40的经文，提醒信徒预备的姿态。要如忠心的仆人一样，拥有时刻预备好投入到服侍的姿态；随时准备，期待主人随时回来；无论主人在与不在都尽心而做，且耐心等候主人的归来。
“因为你们想不到的时候，人子就来了。”基督徒要警醒等候主的再来。陈牧师分享到：路加福音12章42节到48节，这段经文里，主藉着仆人的两种不同态度教导我们，何谓警醒预备。忠心有见识的管家按时分粮，管理主人所分派的；而不讨主人喜悦的仆人，是他明知主人的心意却不按着主人的心意而行，直至主人归来惩罚他，才后悔莫及。
“我们相信主要再来吗？”陈牧师再次问到。如果不相信我们可以懒惰，吃喝醉酒，彼此亏负；如果我们相信主必再来，就要在主所托付给我们的事情上忠心直到主再来的日子，这就是警醒等候。陈牧师也提醒大家，警醒并不是不睡觉，坐在那等着。而是要做好充分的预备。
广州基督教东山堂主日证道：《不一样的将临期》
A Sunday service was held online in a Guangdong church where a pastor shared a sermon on Advent.
Before his sermon titled “A Different Advent” based on Luke 12: 35-48, Rev. Chen Suisheng said that the church had entered Advent on November 27. Advent is not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus but also to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Following a prayer, Pastor Chen preached that it had been two thousand years since the apostles, Peter, Paul, James and John told Christians that the Lord would come again. Believers, who prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord every Advent nowadays, were reminded also to prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
For preparation, Pastor Chen reminded believers to be like loyal servants with the attitude of being ready to serve at all times, citing Luke 12:35-40. This kind of servant was ready to serve with all his heart, expecting patiently the host to come back at any time, whether the master was here or not.
The Bible says, “Because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Christians should stay awake to wait for the Lord to come again. Based on Luke 12:42 to 48, Chen explained how to stay awake and prepare through two different examples of the attitudes of servants. A faithful and wise servant who was put in charge of servants gave them their food at the proper time, while another servant who did not please his master knew his master’s mind but did not follow the mind of his master who later returned to punish him.
Pastor Chen said if church members did not believe the Lord would come again, they would choose to be lazy, eat, drink, get drunk, or deprive each other. But if they believed, they might be faithful to the things He has entrusted to them until the day of His return. The pastor also reminded churchgoers that staying awake was not to sit there to wait without sleeping but to make full preparations.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
Guangdong Dongshan Church Welcomes Advent on Sunday
