A church in east China’s Jiangsu Province baptized 17 seekers for the first time in the year.
Nanjing Holy Light Church held its first baptism service of 2023 on February 12, with 17 members being converted to Christianity. Rev. Su Xile of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary preached a sermon with the title “God Is Here”.
“This is not an ordinary place, as the Lord is in the church,” Pastor Su said. He told worshippers that in the Old Testament inside the tent of meeting was a tabernacle, which became different because of the presence of God. So was the church today, he continued.
Then, the pastor shared a sermon about God’s presence from four aspects, such as God’s work, His words, His provision, and believers’ good behaviors.
Su told believers that God’s presence would bring power. When the Israelites were fighting against Jericho, they carried the Ark of the Covenant, which represented His presence.
Pastor Su mentioned that in the Old Testament, the center of the holy temple was the Tabernacle, the center of which were two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. He encouraged them to meditate on God’s words day and night to have a better life, instead of thinking about the trifles among people.
The servant of God shared examples from the Old Testament that the people of Israel were revived when the eleven tribes of Israel well provided for the tribe of Levi, who served exclusively in the temple. When they were unwilling to do that, they gradually declined.
Like the golden lampstand in the temple, Christians should set an example in speech and conduct, so as to glorify God, the pastor added.
After Su concluded his sermon, 17 candidates were baptized, with a communion service and commission service being hosted. They who are the world's light and salt were commissioned into society with God's blessing.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
中国东部沿海的江苏省的一个教堂为17位慕道友施行洗礼。
2月12日，南京基督教圣光堂迎来了2023年的首次洗礼，17位慕道友接受洗礼。金陵协和神学院的苏喜乐牧师在礼拜中以“神在”为题证道，新受洗的信徒与其他信徒一同领受了圣餐。
“这里不是普通的地方，主在圣殿中。”在证道环节，苏喜乐牧师说道。他告诉大家，旧约时期的会幕外观上就是帐幕，因为有神的同在而变得不一样；我们今天的教堂也是如此。
接下来，苏牧师从有上帝的作为、有上帝的话语、有上帝的供应、人要有美好的行为四个方面展开分享了上帝同在这一主题。
上帝同在有上帝的作为。苏牧师藉着以色列人攻打耶利哥时一直要抬着约柜告诉大家，神的同在会带来能力。
上帝的同在有上帝的话语。苏牧师告诉大家，旧约圣殿的核心是约柜，而约柜的核心是记录着神的话语的两块法版。苏牧师希望大家可以昼夜默想神的话语，如此将会拥有美好的生命光景，而不要把精力用在琢磨人与人之间的是是非非。
上帝的同在会有供应。苏牧师先分享了旧约中的例子，当以色列的十一个支派很好地供应专门在圣殿供职的利未支派时，以色列民就复兴；当他们不愿意供应时，就逐渐没落。
上帝同在，人要有美好的行为，以此让上帝满足。如同圣殿中的金灯台，基督徒要在言语行为上活出榜样，以此归荣耀给神。
证道结束后，17位慕道友接受了洗礼；并与已受洗的信徒一同领受了圣餐。 最后主领礼拜的同工宣读了差遣礼，差遣信徒们带着神的祝福进入社会中做光做盐。
南京基督教圣光堂迎来2023年首次洗礼
A church in east China’s Jiangsu Province baptized 17 seekers for the first time in the year.
Nanjing Holy Light Church held its first baptism service of 2023 on February 12, with 17 members being converted to Christianity. Rev. Su Xile of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary preached a sermon with the title “God Is Here”.
“This is not an ordinary place, as the Lord is in the church,” Pastor Su said. He told worshippers that in the Old Testament inside the tent of meeting was a tabernacle, which became different because of the presence of God. So was the church today, he continued.
Then, the pastor shared a sermon about God’s presence from four aspects, such as God’s work, His words, His provision, and believers’ good behaviors.
Su told believers that God’s presence would bring power. When the Israelites were fighting against Jericho, they carried the Ark of the Covenant, which represented His presence.
Pastor Su mentioned that in the Old Testament, the center of the holy temple was the Tabernacle, the center of which were two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. He encouraged them to meditate on God’s words day and night to have a better life, instead of thinking about the trifles among people.
The servant of God shared examples from the Old Testament that the people of Israel were revived when the eleven tribes of Israel well provided for the tribe of Levi, who served exclusively in the temple. When they were unwilling to do that, they gradually declined.
Like the golden lampstand in the temple, Christians should set an example in speech and conduct, so as to glorify God, the pastor added.
After Su concluded his sermon, 17 candidates were baptized, with a communion service and commission service being hosted. They who are the world's light and salt were commissioned into society with God's blessing.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
17 Members Get Baptized in Jiangsu After Spring Festival
