In an online New Year's Sunday service on January 1, a pastor encouraged believers to start anew spiritually and become blessings for others.
After the choir of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou presented a song, Zhejiang Province, Pastor Zhang Guoyong gave a sermon with the title "Restarting", which was about the story of Abraham's obedience to God's call to leave his country, family, and father's house, instructing believers to "leave all weakness and lack in the past year" and receive full grace from heaven in the New Year.
At the beginning of his sermon, Pastor Zhang told believers that the situation of the pandemic would be improved in 2023, and the church would soon resume in-person gatherings. Then he asked them whether they had gotten used to the situation of stopping field meetings during the pandemic. He asked, "Have you forgotten what you said about fulfilling your mission?" He warned them not to get used to stopping gathering. When the pandemic control measures are loosened, we should start afresh on the path of pursuing the spiritual life.
He led the congregation read Genesis 11:31 to 12:5, which says that God appeared to Abram twice. On the first trip, Abram's family went from Ur to Haran, which was a failure in some way. After the death of Abram's father, God called Abram the second time, and Abram set out again from Haran for the land of Canaan where God had commanded.
Pastor Zhang points out that Abram's restart has three characteristics. First, he goes from "passive to active." "In the spiritual path, if you are passive and just being led, you may not walk to the end, don't have the ongoing strength to walk the way of the cross, and can't follow God's lead."
He compares the story of Lot with that of Zacchaeus. Lot escaped from Sodom with his family and, despite the guidance of the angels, suffered a tragedy due to his longing for prosperity in the old land. But Zacchaeus, with his inner desire, was able to overcome all difficulties to see Jesus. Pastor Zhang taught the congregation to ask the Lord to give them a heart that is willing to start anew on the spiritual path.
Pastor Zhang goes on to say that the reason Abram was able to start again in Haran was that God had called him again and led him. "There seems to be no hope. The circumstances are as hard as ever, and it seems that we should quit and live in Haran. But even if you give up, God doesn't give up. God wants us to start again in the New Year."
"God called Abram again without a word of reproach." Pastor Zhang told the congregation that they may have been weak and paused for the past few years, but God does not blame them. At the beginning of the New Year, ask God for a "willing heart." "Change from being asked to read the bible, attend the service and serve to read, attend and serve willingly."
Pastor Zhang goes on to point out that the second feature of Abram's restart is "from settlement to sojourn." Ur, the land of Abram's family, was a fertile and prosperous city in the valley of the two rivers, like cities many people want to live in today. But God called him to leave Ur, and since then Abram was doing two things, building altars (and offering sacrifices), and putting up tents, showing that his living condition changed from a settler to a sojourner.
Pastor Zhang said, "Everyone wants to have a stable life, but we must not forget that the world is not our permanent home, and we should not focus on earthly things like the rest of the world. Though we have to work hard to live a happy life, we still need to pray for the world and make contributions. Also, Christians must not forget that we are just sojourners."
"A settler is not the same as a sojourner. Their lives are different." Pastor Zhang encouraged the congregation to follow Abraham's example and not forget their identity as a person of heaven as they set out again in the New Year. Stay away from the sins of this age, let go of the sins that haunt you, and look forward to the spiritual beauty of Canaan.
Pastor Zhang continued that the third feature of Abram's renewal is from "being blessed to be the blessing." God promised Abram's descendants great power, but "the purpose of being blessed was not only to become a great power themselves, or to receive the great name, but also to become the blessing of all nations."
He pointed out, "Let the church be the blessing of society and the time. Christians should be carriers of God's blessing in their lives, families, works, and communities."
Pastor Zhang concluded by encouraging all believers, "May God help us and bless all brothers and sisters even more in the coming year. May we also be more active in our spiritual pursuits, and more eager in our hearts, knowing that we are mere passers-by on earth. We hope that God will provide us with a spiritual and heavenly home and that we will be a blessing to many."
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
1月1日正值主日，浙江一教堂举行线上新年主日崇拜，一牧师鼓励信徒，新的一年要在属灵里重新出发，成为众人祝福的通道。
杭州崇一堂圣歌团献唱《数算主恩歌》之后，章国永牧师以《重新出发》为题证道，从亚伯拉罕顺从上帝再次呼召，离开本地本族父家的故事中教导信徒，“将所有的软弱亏欠缺乏都留在过去一年”，在新的一年领受从天而来满满的恩典。
章牧师在讲道开始询问信徒，2023年疫情情况已然好转，教会即将恢复聚会，但大家是否已经习惯了疫情下停止实地聚会的状态呢？是否已经忘记了曾经说过要活出使命呢？他提醒信徒，不要像停止惯了聚会的人一样当。疫情放开的时候，在追求属灵生活的道路上重新出发。
他带领大家一起诵读创世纪11章31到12章5节，经文记载，神两次向亚伯兰显现呼召，第一次亚伯兰一家从吾珥仅仅走到哈兰，从某种角度看是半途而废。直到亚伯兰的父亲死去之后，神第二次发出呼召，亚伯兰才照着耶和华所吩咐的，从哈兰重新出发，到神所指示的迦南地去。
章牧师指出，亚伯兰的重新出发有三大特征，首先他是从“被动到主动”。“在属灵的道路中，如果你是被动的，只是被别人带着走，那么可能走不到底。可能没有持续的力量走十字架的道路，跟不上神的带领。”
他以罗得和撒该的故事做对比，罗得和家人从所多玛逃出来，因着留恋旧土繁华，即使得到天使指引，依然发生悲剧。但撒该因着内心主动渴慕，可以突破拦阻和艰难的外在环境，克服一切难处见到耶稣。他教导会众，要恳求主给我们心甘情愿在属灵道路上重新出发的心。
章牧师继续指出，亚伯兰在哈兰地可以重新出发的原因是神再次呼召他带领了他，“我们好像看不到希望，环境是这样，我们就这样了，住在哈兰了。但即使你放弃，神没有放弃。新的一年，神要我们重新出发。”
“上帝再次呼召亚伯兰，并没有说一句责备的话。”章牧师希望会众知道，过去的几年我们或许有软弱有停顿，但上帝不责备我们。在新年开始，要向神求“愿做的心”。“从要我读经变成我要读经，要我聚会变成我要聚会，要我服侍转变成我要服侍。”
章牧师继续指出，亚伯兰重新出发的第二个特征是“从定居到寄居”。亚伯兰本家本族所在之地吾珥位于两河流域，土地肥沃，是富饶繁华的城市，放在当今时代就是许多人向往居住的地方。但上帝呼召他离开吾珥，此后亚伯兰一直坚持两件事，筑坛献祭和支搭帐篷，代表他知道自己的身份发生改变，从定居者成为寄居者。
章牧师讲，“人都想有一个安定的生活，但是我们不可忘记，世界并不是我们永远的家，我们不能像世人一样，专以地上的事情为念。我们虽然要努力工作寻求幸福的生活，要为这个世界祷告，做出基督徒应该做出的贡献。但基督徒内心深处不可忘记，在这个世界，我们是寄居者。”
“寄居者跟定居者是不一样的，生活有分别。”他希望会众以亚伯拉罕为榜样，在新的一年重新出发的时候，不要忘记自己属天子民的身份。与这个时代的罪恶分别开来，放下缠累自己的罪，向往属灵的迦南美地。
章牧师接着讲到，亚伯兰重新出发的第三大特征是从“蒙福到祝福”，神应许亚伯兰的后裔成为大国，但“蒙福的目的，不单是自己要成为大国，承受大名，也要成为万国的祝福。”
他指出，“要让教会成为这个社会的祝福，时代的祝福。基督徒在生活家庭工作社区中间，要成为上帝祝福的管道。”
章牧师最后鼓励所有信徒，“愿神帮助我们，祝福我们弟兄姐妹在新的一年更蒙上帝的祝福。也希望我们在属灵的追求中更主动，内心更渴慕，知道我们在世界上只是寄居。盼望上帝给我们预备的属灵属天的家，也让我们成为多人的祝福。”
浙江一教堂新年主日崇拜：重新出发，成为祝福的通道
In an online New Year's Sunday service on January 1, a pastor encouraged believers to start anew spiritually and become blessings for others.
After the choir of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou presented a song, Zhejiang Province, Pastor Zhang Guoyong gave a sermon with the title "Restarting", which was about the story of Abraham's obedience to God's call to leave his country, family, and father's house, instructing believers to "leave all weakness and lack in the past year" and receive full grace from heaven in the New Year.
At the beginning of his sermon, Pastor Zhang told believers that the situation of the pandemic would be improved in 2023, and the church would soon resume in-person gatherings. Then he asked them whether they had gotten used to the situation of stopping field meetings during the pandemic. He asked, "Have you forgotten what you said about fulfilling your mission?" He warned them not to get used to stopping gathering. When the pandemic control measures are loosened, we should start afresh on the path of pursuing the spiritual life.
He led the congregation read Genesis 11:31 to 12:5, which says that God appeared to Abram twice. On the first trip, Abram's family went from Ur to Haran, which was a failure in some way. After the death of Abram's father, God called Abram the second time, and Abram set out again from Haran for the land of Canaan where God had commanded.
Pastor Zhang points out that Abram's restart has three characteristics. First, he goes from "passive to active." "In the spiritual path, if you are passive and just being led, you may not walk to the end, don't have the ongoing strength to walk the way of the cross, and can't follow God's lead."
He compares the story of Lot with that of Zacchaeus. Lot escaped from Sodom with his family and, despite the guidance of the angels, suffered a tragedy due to his longing for prosperity in the old land. But Zacchaeus, with his inner desire, was able to overcome all difficulties to see Jesus. Pastor Zhang taught the congregation to ask the Lord to give them a heart that is willing to start anew on the spiritual path.
Pastor Zhang goes on to say that the reason Abram was able to start again in Haran was that God had called him again and led him. "There seems to be no hope. The circumstances are as hard as ever, and it seems that we should quit and live in Haran. But even if you give up, God doesn't give up. God wants us to start again in the New Year."
"God called Abram again without a word of reproach." Pastor Zhang told the congregation that they may have been weak and paused for the past few years, but God does not blame them. At the beginning of the New Year, ask God for a "willing heart." "Change from being asked to read the bible, attend the service and serve to read, attend and serve willingly."
Pastor Zhang goes on to point out that the second feature of Abram's restart is "from settlement to sojourn." Ur, the land of Abram's family, was a fertile and prosperous city in the valley of the two rivers, like cities many people want to live in today. But God called him to leave Ur, and since then Abram was doing two things, building altars (and offering sacrifices), and putting up tents, showing that his living condition changed from a settler to a sojourner.
Pastor Zhang said, "Everyone wants to have a stable life, but we must not forget that the world is not our permanent home, and we should not focus on earthly things like the rest of the world. Though we have to work hard to live a happy life, we still need to pray for the world and make contributions. Also, Christians must not forget that we are just sojourners."
"A settler is not the same as a sojourner. Their lives are different." Pastor Zhang encouraged the congregation to follow Abraham's example and not forget their identity as a person of heaven as they set out again in the New Year. Stay away from the sins of this age, let go of the sins that haunt you, and look forward to the spiritual beauty of Canaan.
Pastor Zhang continued that the third feature of Abram's renewal is from "being blessed to be the blessing." God promised Abram's descendants great power, but "the purpose of being blessed was not only to become a great power themselves, or to receive the great name, but also to become the blessing of all nations."
He pointed out, "Let the church be the blessing of society and the time. Christians should be carriers of God's blessing in their lives, families, works, and communities."
Pastor Zhang concluded by encouraging all believers, "May God help us and bless all brothers and sisters even more in the coming year. May we also be more active in our spiritual pursuits, and more eager in our hearts, knowing that we are mere passers-by on earth. We hope that God will provide us with a spiritual and heavenly home and that we will be a blessing to many."
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
New Year's Sunday Worship at Zhejiang Church: Restart and Become Carriers of Blessings
