Be A Serious Christian
Rev. Abraham Chiu
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6: 2-4) ESV
- He is a Serious Christian
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. (Acts 8: 4-5) ESV
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Acts 12: 19) ESV
- He is a man who walks with the Lord
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.（Acts 8: 26-28) ESV
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”（Acts 8: 29-30) ESV
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spiri.t（Ephesians 1: 13) ESV
- He is an active evangelist
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37-38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (Acts 8: 34-39) ESV
Reflections and responses:
- Philip started by managing meals and giving alms to believers in need, and later became a preacher of the gospel. What reasons do you think contributed to Philip’s transformation?
- Paul said: If I preach the gospel willingly, I will be rewarded; if I preach the gospel unwillingly, the responsibility has been entrusted to me. How would you interpret Paul’s meaning?
- Are there people in your heart whom you really hope will believe in Jesus? Please write down their names and start praying each week for them to know and experience God’s love, and ask God to give you opportunities to witness to them.
- May God help us to lead at least one person to make a decision to believe in the Lord or attend church worship within this year?
做個認真基督徒
招世超牧師
2 十二使徒叫眾門徒來，對他們說：「我們撇下神的道去管理飯食，原是不合宜的。3 所以弟兄們，當從你們中間選出七個有好名聲、被聖靈充滿、智慧充足的人，我們就派他們管理這事。4 但我們要專心以祈禱、傳道為事。」（使徒行傳 6: 2-4）和合
- 他是個認真的基督徒
4 那些分散的信徒到各地傳福音。5 腓利到撒馬利亞去，向當地的人宣講基督的事。（使徒行傳 8: 4-5）現中
親愛的弟兄，不要自己伸冤，寧可讓步，聽憑主怒；因為經上記著：「主說：『伸冤在我，我必報應。』」（羅馬書 12: 19）和合
- 他是個與主同行的人
26 有主的一個天使告訴腓利：「你動身向南走，到那條從耶路撒冷通往迦薩的路上去。」(這條路已經荒廢了。) 27-28 腓利就動身前往。在途中，他遇見一個衣索匹亞的太監。這個人是一位高級官員，在衣索匹亞女王甘大基手下經管財務。他上耶路撒冷去敬拜上帝；歸途中，他坐在自己的馬車上誦讀先知以賽亞的書。（使徒行傳 8: 26-28）現中
29 聖靈對腓利說：「你過去，靠近那車子走。」30 腓利跑過去，聽見太監正在誦讀先知以賽亞的書，就問他：「你所讀的，你明白嗎？」 （使徒行傳 8: 29-30）現中
13 當你們聽見了真理的信息，就是聽見那使你們得救的福音時，你們信了基督，上帝就把他所應許的聖靈賜給你們，作為你們歸屬於他的印記。（以弗所書 1: 13）現中
- 他是個積極傳道的人
34 太監邀請腓利上車問腓利：「請指教我，先知這段話是指著誰說的？是指他自己呢，還是指著別人？」35腓利就開口，從這一段經文開始，向他講解關於耶穌的福音的事。36 他們經過一個地方，路旁有水，太監說：「這裏有水，我不可以就在這裏接受浸禮嗎？」37-38 太監就吩咐停車；腓利跟他一同下到水裏，為他施行浸禮。（使徒行傳 8: 34-38）現中
思想及回應：
- 腓利從管理飯食、賙濟有需要的信徒開始，後來竟成為一個傳福音的人，你認為有那些原因促成腓利的轉變？
- 保羅說：我傳福音若出於樂意，就有賞賜；若不甘心，責任已託付了我。你會如何去解讀保羅的意思？
- 你心中可有一些很希望他們信耶穌的人？請把他們的名字寫下，開始每週為他們能認識和經曆神的愛祈禱，並求神賜給你向他們作見證的機會。
- 求神幫助我們能帶領至少一個人於今年內決志信主，或參加教會崇拜？