Pastors from five churches in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, south China, continued to share spiritual reflections online in shifts for the 40-day spiritual retreat program.
During the 40-day spiritual retreat program titled "Conquer Yourself and Practice Piety," 17 pastors from Shifu Church, Fangcun Church, the Church of Our Savior, Chini Church, and Ci'en Church take turns to share spiritual reflections on the book of Matthew online.
After the last six spiritual sharing sessions, Rev. Han Choujun from Chini Church gave the seventh session on February 28, citing Matthew 5:13–20.
He said the light couldn’t realize its value if it didn’t shine, and the Lord Jesus is the true light that can enlighten all people in the world. Others could give glory to the Father in heaven when believers practiced His teachings in the crowd, like the light of God, following the laws fulfilled by the Lord Jesus, Han added.
The next day, Rev. Xiao Ping'an of Ci’en Church shared his thoughts on Matthew 6:5-18, stating the Pharisees showed off their virtues and spiritual maturity through prayers, offerings, and fasts.
Xiao pointed out that Jesus proposed that Christians enter the inner room, close the door, and pray without making a show of themselves.
Based on Matthew 6:24-34, Pastor Zhang Xiangkun of Shifu Church advised believers on March 2 not to be mindful of life’s worries and riches occupying their minds, but to focus on Christ and serve Him only.
On the following day, Pastor Chen Juncheng from the Church of Our Savior reminded churchgoers not to judge others harshly but to think less of themselves, as God would judge them in the same way they judged others, citing Matthew 7:1-14.
For the scriptures of Matthew 8:1-13, Pastor Yao Hui from Chini Church stated on March 4 that instead of ordering other servants, the centurion came in person to ask Jesus to cure his servant, for he believed all things were possible with Jesus, who has absolute authority.
The next day, Pastor Xu Haixia of Fangcun Church shared her ideas about Matthew 9:9-17, declaring that Jesus came to the world to save those who confessed their sins and their need for a Savior and that a merciful person was far more acceptable to God than a man who followed religious rules.
On March 6, Pastor Lin Peichun from Cien Church pointed out based on Matthew 10:32-39 that Christians should put Jesus first and serve Him, even though they might be in conflict with their family members whose faith and daily needs should be prayed for, and for whom believers should care with practical actions.
"We should pray to God to give us wisdom—not the wisdom of the world but a heart after His heart," said Pastor Qu Songkai from the Church of Our Savior on March 7, citing Matthew 11:7-19.
Based on Matthew 12:1-8, Pastor Zhang Zhengyu of Fangcun Church said the last day that people might take for granted is that they shouldn’t do anything on Sabbath, which "is a day to celebrate the Lord's creation and reign as king."
In the end, Zhang exhorted believers to enjoy time with God and true rest by committing themselves to God and letting Him reign in their lives.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
继上次6天的灵修分享，广东5个教堂继续联动分享接下来9次分享。
2月28日，广州教会十甫堂、芳村堂、救主堂、赤坭堂、慈恩堂，五个堂的十七位牧者同工一起联动以《马太福音》为中心，在线上举办为期40天的预苦期。灵修分享第七天，由广州基督教赤坭堂韩畴军牧师以经文马太5章13-20节进行分享。
光没有发亮，光就失去了本身的意义。那谁是真光呢？主耶稣就是真光，这光是真光要照亮一切在世上的人。我们按着主耶稣所成全的律法，以及他的教导，把这些教导实践在人群中，就像上帝的光，把这光照在人前，别人也能把荣耀归给在天上的父。
3月1日，灵修分享第八天，由广州基督教慈恩堂肖平安牧师分享，基于经文马太福音6:5-18节。
肖牧师分享，在主耶稣基督的时代，有部分法利赛人借着祷告、奉献等方面，来炫耀自己的行为品德，表达自己比别人更加属灵。同时他们会捐献十分之一、禁食祷告等等。
肖牧师指出，主耶稣提出了祷告要进入到内室，关上门来祷告。切勿炫耀自己。
3月2日，第九天，由广州基督教十甫堂张祥鹍教士分享。经文马太福音6章24-34节。
张教士劝勉不要让忧虑和财力占据我们爱上帝的心，当把生命的焦点放在主耶稣基督身上，只要单单侍奉祂。
3月3日，第十天，由广州基督教救主堂陈俊承教士分享。经文马太福音7章1-14节。
提醒我们不要只顾刻薄的衡量别人，反而更谦卑检视自己，上帝会用我们对他人的方式来衡量我们。
3月4日，第十一天，由广州基督教赤坭堂姚慧教士分享。经文马太福音8章1-13节。
姚教士分享了百夫长本来可以吩咐其他仆人来为这个仆人去求耶稣基督，但他却亲身来到耶稣那里。不单是凭信为仆人代求，更确认耶稣有绝对的权威，只要他肯万事都会成就。
3月5日，第十二天，由广州基督教芳村堂徐海霞教士分享。经文马太福音9章9-17节。
徐海霞教士分享耶稣来到世上的目的，是拯救那些承认自己罪孽深重，需要救主的人。怜恤人的人远比恪守宗教规条者更蒙神的悦纳。
3月6日，第十三天，由广州基督教慈恩堂林佩纯教士分享。经文马太福音10章32-39节。
林教士指出我们应该把耶稣放在首要的位置上去服侍，虽然家人会反对。我们除了要为家人的信仰祷告，也要为他们日常的需要来祷告，还要用实际的行动去表达关怀。
3月7日，第十四天，由广州基督教救主堂渠嵩凯教士分享。经文马太福音11章7-19节。
“我们当向上帝祈求，求主赐我们智慧不是世上的智慧，而是体察上帝心肠的智慧。”渠教士总结道。
3月8日，第十五天，由广州基督教芳村堂张政宇教士分享。经文马太福音12章1-8节。
“安息”我们理所当然的理解为似乎什么都不做，但其实安息里面有更深的含义，“是庆祝主创造做王的日子”。
最后，张教士劝勉大家，学会享受与上帝同在的时刻，唯有将生命全然交托与上帝，让上帝在我们生命里做王掌权，我们才能得到真正的安息。
广州教会五堂联动 预苦期线上分享第七到第十五天
Pastors from five churches in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, south China, continued to share spiritual reflections online in shifts for the 40-day spiritual retreat program.
During the 40-day spiritual retreat program titled "Conquer Yourself and Practice Piety," 17 pastors from Shifu Church, Fangcun Church, the Church of Our Savior, Chini Church, and Ci'en Church take turns to share spiritual reflections on the book of Matthew online.
After the last six spiritual sharing sessions, Rev. Han Choujun from Chini Church gave the seventh session on February 28, citing Matthew 5:13–20.
He said the light couldn’t realize its value if it didn’t shine, and the Lord Jesus is the true light that can enlighten all people in the world. Others could give glory to the Father in heaven when believers practiced His teachings in the crowd, like the light of God, following the laws fulfilled by the Lord Jesus, Han added.
The next day, Rev. Xiao Ping'an of Ci’en Church shared his thoughts on Matthew 6:5-18, stating the Pharisees showed off their virtues and spiritual maturity through prayers, offerings, and fasts.
Xiao pointed out that Jesus proposed that Christians enter the inner room, close the door, and pray without making a show of themselves.
Based on Matthew 6:24-34, Pastor Zhang Xiangkun of Shifu Church advised believers on March 2 not to be mindful of life’s worries and riches occupying their minds, but to focus on Christ and serve Him only.
On the following day, Pastor Chen Juncheng from the Church of Our Savior reminded churchgoers not to judge others harshly but to think less of themselves, as God would judge them in the same way they judged others, citing Matthew 7:1-14.
For the scriptures of Matthew 8:1-13, Pastor Yao Hui from Chini Church stated on March 4 that instead of ordering other servants, the centurion came in person to ask Jesus to cure his servant, for he believed all things were possible with Jesus, who has absolute authority.
The next day, Pastor Xu Haixia of Fangcun Church shared her ideas about Matthew 9:9-17, declaring that Jesus came to the world to save those who confessed their sins and their need for a Savior and that a merciful person was far more acceptable to God than a man who followed religious rules.
On March 6, Pastor Lin Peichun from Cien Church pointed out based on Matthew 10:32-39 that Christians should put Jesus first and serve Him, even though they might be in conflict with their family members whose faith and daily needs should be prayed for, and for whom believers should care with practical actions.
"We should pray to God to give us wisdom—not the wisdom of the world but a heart after His heart," said Pastor Qu Songkai from the Church of Our Savior on March 7, citing Matthew 11:7-19.
Based on Matthew 12:1-8, Pastor Zhang Zhengyu of Fangcun Church said the last day that people might take for granted is that they shouldn’t do anything on Sabbath, which "is a day to celebrate the Lord's creation and reign as king."
In the end, Zhang exhorted believers to enjoy time with God and true rest by committing themselves to God and letting Him reign in their lives.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Guangdong Pastors Continue to Share Spiritual Reflections During Lent
