Wednesday, August 28, 2013
小组祷告---这篇写的很好，借来分享
小组祷告生活漫谈
文章来源: 卖紫色布的 于
小组的正常聚会时间通常是两个小时，如果能在两个小时里面全满完成所有的聚会项目，这是最好的，但通常大家见面，有慕道友参加的时候，时间就会延长，聪明的主持通常在两个小时内完成所有的程序，让大家早点回家，有时间的可以继续留下来聊天，或和慕道朋友多了解。
两个小时聚会时间的分配是这样的，十五分钟破冰，十五分钟敬拜，四十五分钟查经学习，四十五分钟分享祷告。这里最难把握的时间是最后一部分，在分享的时间里面，因为时间没有把握好而把祷告的时间挤掉，这样聚会就没有祷告，或草草让一个人作结束祷告，或大家同声祷告。时间久了，大家就认为祷告不重要，如果小组长在这方面对小组聚会的祷告认知不足的话，这个小组带出来的组员很容易也是一个忽视祷告的基督徒。所以，看重小组聚会的祷告，尽心维护祷告的时间是非常重要的。小组长不但要负责，而且要看重聚会时间的祷告，因为既然我们是牧养，既然我们是为了主，我们没有任何理由让聚会残缺或减分量。否则真是没法向主交待呀。
如果教会的祷告会人数少，这里有很多因素，但如果想要祷告会的人数增长，着手抓小组祷告生活是个起点。包括对祷告的认知，组长先看重祷告，推动祷告，认真抓好小组内的祷告生活，这些都为增加教会的祷告会人数奠定基础。
小组祷告生活的健康完全在呼小组长，因为小组长怎么带，小组就怎样。所以牧养一个健康合主心意的小组，小组长是关键人物。因为小组长是执行者，教会已经培训小组长，教会已经把小组聚会时间的内容清楚颁布，那剩下的就是如何执行啦。执行的好，小组就健康，执行的不好，小组就不健康。两者都会对教会有正面和负面的影响。健康是什么样？这里的健康就是灵性的活泼，弟兄姐妹爱慕神的话语，常常祷告，对大使命有强烈的负担，积极追求属灵生命的长进，爱主爱人爱失丧的灵魂等等。不健康的首要表现就是不爱神的话语，不爱祷告，其次是对神国无热心，再者追求世界和能看的见得东西。
这样看来小组长真是关键性人物，责任重大呀！说的对， 太重大啦。所以小组长要不断地被培训，被建造，每年要单独对小组长做一到两次的再培训，每次小组长会议要大家在小组的运作上面要检讨，看看有无需要改进之处。
言归正传，因为分享时间没有把握好就挤掉了祷告时间，那么把握分享的时间是保持祷告时间的先决条件，所以要花时间谈谈分享时间的把握。
通常分享时间的困难是大家没有边儿地说，也没人制止。要解决这个问题首先要提醒大家今天几点前我们需要开始祷告，分享时间大家要简洁，要先分享上周在灵里的得着或见证，第二分享一个或两个祷告事项，时间不要超过三分钟，但如果有特别分享可以多几分钟。于是就让一个靠谱的人开始，千万别让一个新人，或说话常没有边儿的人开始，我们通常从组长或同工开始，开始的分享是什么样，通常接下来跟着的是什么样，所以第一个人一定不要随便叫。如果在分享之中有跑题的情形发生，组长或同工应及时拉回来，不要怕得罪人。 如果组长同工在服侍的时候怕得罪人，小组不可能带好，最后不可收拾。因为事先组长说好几点要祷告，所以大家理解，不那么容易被得罪。
可以留下五，六分钟祷告，如果有十分钟更好。最好的祷告是大家还坐在一起祷告，之前要说，我们为每个弟兄姐妹的祷告事项祷告，尽量不重复祷告，最后组长做结束祷告，让作结束祷告的人知道最后祷告的一定要把前面祷告漏掉的事项祷告，然后总结一下当天学的主要内容，求主帮助大家开始在下周活出主的话语。一些提醒的话也需要祷告，比如，求主借着圣灵天天提醒我们来亲近神，读经祷告，帮助我们在言行上谨慎，与蒙召的恩相称，行出主的话，把握传福音的机会。等等。
如果时间少，就可以分成三，四人的小组祷告，这样会节省时间，弟兄姐妹们也有机会彼此切实代祷。
关于同声祷告，适合于教会周日的聚会，因为无法分组，省时间。但不适合小型祷告会，比如在小组聚会时，有慕道朋友和初信者，还有需要在祷告上学习，操练的弟兄姐妹，同声祷告就使大家失去学习如何祷告的机会； 另外，同声祷告会分散大家的注意力，常常大家祷告祷告就停啦，听声音大的祷告，同声祷告也无法让大家真实体会到别人为自己祷告所带来的感恩。所以可以偶尔使用同声祷告。不要常常使用这种方法。
小组长经常在小组里面强调祷告的重要性，提醒大家在祷告上多操练，让大家增加对祷告的认知，这是非常重要的，小组里的组长和同工要常常参加教会的祷告会，给弟兄姐妹做好榜样，当小组的弟兄姐妹在祷告上有足够的操练和认知，组长鼓励大家参加教会的祷告会时，大家有积极的回应是必然的。可以看出来，组长有多重要哇，组长和同工做好啦，组员才能被很好地带动。
如果你常常说：“我们不强迫弟兄姐妹”，实际上，这是个美丽的借口，因为组长的责任不是拿着喇叭强迫人，而是牧人带领羊群来到青草地，你要给组员机会学习祷告，明白祷告的意义，剩下的是圣灵感动他们愿意祷告，愿意参加祷告会。你自己是否有正确的祷告认知，如果没有，要学习。找借口是最容易的，而竭诚为主是需要付代价的。
如果小组里面有特别的同工来负责小组祷告生活是最好的，可以在当天把大家的祷告事项发给大家，鼓励大家在下周常常能彼此代祷， 另外小组组长同工需要在周间安排祷告会，及时分析小组每个弟兄姐妹的属灵状况，和传福音的计划落实，并为小组的事工及组员在主里合一祷告，这个祷告会非常重要，一个蒙福的小组一定大家在一起多祷告,祷告越多，大家越合一，越在主里有合一的看见，越能依靠神，越谦卑，越有智慧行事，越能多多经历神的信实。越能看见神的工。越愿意顺服神。 还是那句话，祷告开始，祷告结束，没有祷告，没有事工。
提摩太前书2：1-2 “我劝你，第一为万民祷告，代求，祝谢；为君王和一切在位的，也该如此，使我们可以敬虔端正，平安无事地度日。”
多少苦难白白受，竭因未带到主前求。
让我们举起圣洁的手，随处祷告吧。
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
「似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的」 (哥林多后书六章十节。)
主张苦行主义者，连流泪也在禁止之列；基督徒却不然。许多时候，我们
忧闷得发昏；当剪毛的剪刀碰在颤抖的肉上时，当仇敌的欺侮达到顶点时，当
我们的心几乎碎裂时，最自然我们巴不得寻找机会痛哭一场，释出胸中的忧愁
。但是还有一个比痛哭更好的方法。
航海者知道甘泉是在苦且咸的海水中找到的；旅行家知道阿尔卑斯山最美
丽的花, 是生在最荒僻，最崎岖的山路上的；属灵人知道最宝贵的诗篇是在最
痛苦的时候写成的。
所以让我们在黑暗中赞美神我们主耶稣基督的父。试炼越深，愿我们的
歌声越高。亲爱的，你有没有学会这个功课呢？我们不只要忍受神的旨意，
拣选神的旨意，遵行神的旨意，并且要用赞美来欢迎神的旨意。---译自《火
中的试验》(Tried as by Fire)
荒漠甘泉3月20日灵修
Monday, October 29, 2012
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
— ro 5:10
Thought
I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me, repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus. The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause. It is my obedience that puts me right with God, my consecration. Never! I am put right with God because prior to all, Christ died. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept, instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God; and by the supernatural miracle of God's grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The Spirit of God brings it with a breaking, all-over light, and I know, though I do not know how, that I am saved.
The salvation of God does not stand on human logic, it stands on the sacrificial Death of Jesus. We can be born again because of the Atonement of Our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures, not by their repentance or their belief, but by the marvellous work of God in Christ Jesus which is prior to all experience. The impregnable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself. We have not to work out these things ourselves; they have been worked out by the Atonement. The supernatural becomes natural by the miracle of God; there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done - "It is finished."
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2012. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
What If There Is a Hell?
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."1
How often have you heard the argument, "If God is a God of love, how could he ever send anyone to hell?" Others who say they believe in God just don't believe there is such a place as hell." But what if there is a hell? The fact is that Jesus in God's Word repeatedly speaks about hell and warns people about the wrath to come.
Keep in mind, however, that hell was prepared first of all for the rebellious devil and his fallen angels [demons]. Also realize that in a very real sense it isn't God who sends us to hell, but it is we ourselves when we disbelieve God's warning and reject or fail to accept his pardon for all our sins and receive his gift of eternal salvation. God will not force us to spend eternity with him when we have refused his fellowship and forgiveness in life.
In his book, Echoes of Eternity, Dennis Kastens writes about people who never heeded the following warning: "During World War II the city of Palermo, Sicily, a military objective of the Allied Powers, was to be bombed by the American Air Force. To warn the Sicilians, telling them to flee, thousands of pamphlets were dropped on the city beforehand, but the citizens simply did not believe the warning. They listened, but they did not hear! When the American planes came and dropped their bombs, hundreds of Sicilians were killed; in fact, in some cold, dead hands were found the very pages urging them to leave the city."2
Whatever you do, don't fail to heed God's repeated warning about hell and the wrath to come after this life. Make absolutely sure your name is written in God's book of life. See also the article below: "The Why of Hell."*
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I confess to you that I am a sinner and believe that your Son, Jesus, died on the cross in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins. Please forgive me of all my sins, and Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and life and be my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
NOTE: If you have never accepted Jesus as your savior and prayed the prayer above, please let us know by filling in the form at http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php and we will send you the web address for free online helpful articles.
*The WHY of Hell. Because God is a God of holiness no sin or sinner can ever exist in his presence any more than darkness can survive in the presence of light, or a moth in a flame. And because God is a God of justice, all sin (the breaking of God's universal moral laws) must be judged and that judgment is death, which is eternal separation from God in the place the Bible calls hell. The good news is that God is also a God of infinite love. That's why he gave his Son, Jesus, to die in our place on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins and save us from spending eternity in hell. All we need to do is confess our sinfulness to God, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross in our place, and ask God for his forgiveness and accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
To accept God's Invitation to receive his full and free pardon and his gift of eternal life click on http://tinyurl.com/6k49w or see the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" in No. 3 below.
1. Revelation 20:13-15 (KJV).
2. Dennis Kastens, Echoes of Eternity, CSS Publishing.
3. See "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.
<:))))><
ACTS International - Daily Encounter
Friday, December 2, 2011
POLYGAMY
The Bible on Polygamy and Same-Sex Marriage
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach."1
1. Polygamy
A Daily Encounter subscriber from Africa asks, please let us know what the Bible teaches about polygamy as here in Africa it is taken for granted even by some Christians.
It is true that in Old Testament days it was not uncommon for men to have more than one wife; this was true of both King David and King Solomon. In some instances if a woman's husband died, the brother of the husband who died was to take his late-brother's wife to be his wife even if he was already married (See Deuteronomy 25:5). This was to preserve his brother's family line. It is my understanding, too, that in other instances men had more than one wife so that some women wouldn't be forced into prostitution, slavery or starvation in order to survive.
In the New Testament, however, 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 and Titus 1:6 give "'the husband of one wife' in a list of qualifications for spiritual leadership…. While these qualifications are specifically for positions of spiritual leadership, they should apply equally to all Christians. Should not all Christians be 'above reproach…temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money' (1 Timothy 3:2-4). If we are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:16), and if these standards are holy for elders and deacons, then they are holy for all."2
Furthermore, in Ephesians 5:22-33 wherever the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to husbands and wives his directives are always in the singular; that is, they are never plural in either multiple wives or husbands.
2. Same-Sex Marriage
Another prominent question that many are asking today is what does the Bible have to say about same sex marriage?
"While the Bible does address homosexuality, it does not explicitly mention gay marriage/same-sex marriage. It is clear, however, that the Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals 'marrying' is not God's will, and would be, in fact, sinful.
"Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Ephesians 5:23-33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. Biblically speaking, marriage is the lifetime union of a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family."3
The Bible makes it clear that marriage, which is ordained by God, is to be between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage is thus a perversion of God's plan for marriage. (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6).
And as Ronald Reagan so wisely said some years ago, "As goes the family so goes the nation."
In My Genes. Many gay and homosexual people claim that their attraction to and desire for the same sex is in their genes so there is nothing they can do about it but give in to it. This may or may not be true but the fact is that sin is in my genes (actually in everybody's genes), as the Bible says, "For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me" Psalm 51:5 (NLT). But does this give me the right and an excuse to do what I hunger or "passion" to do? Of course not. Such would be absurd and end up destroying just about everyone.
Keep in mind, though, while God loves all sinners—including you and me—he hates all sin because sin is totally destructive to those whom he loves: you and me. Christians are to do the same; that is we are to love all sinners but not accept any actions that God's Word labels as sin. We are also called to be the "salt of the earth" and as such we need to take a stand against all sin and evil and live as well as speak the truth.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, which gives all mankind clear instructions for every area of living—all of which is for the protection and good of all mankind. Please give me the desire to learn what your Word teaches and the desire, will and help to live accordingly. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV).
2. From Got Questions.org http://www.gotquestions.org/polygamy.html.
3. From Got Questions.org http://www.gotquestions.org/gay-marriage.html.
<:))))><
NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon Click HERE.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach."1
1. Polygamy
A Daily Encounter subscriber from Africa asks, please let us know what the Bible teaches about polygamy as here in Africa it is taken for granted even by some Christians.
It is true that in Old Testament days it was not uncommon for men to have more than one wife; this was true of both King David and King Solomon. In some instances if a woman's husband died, the brother of the husband who died was to take his late-brother's wife to be his wife even if he was already married (See Deuteronomy 25:5). This was to preserve his brother's family line. It is my understanding, too, that in other instances men had more than one wife so that some women wouldn't be forced into prostitution, slavery or starvation in order to survive.
In the New Testament, however, 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 and Titus 1:6 give "'the husband of one wife' in a list of qualifications for spiritual leadership…. While these qualifications are specifically for positions of spiritual leadership, they should apply equally to all Christians. Should not all Christians be 'above reproach…temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money' (1 Timothy 3:2-4). If we are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:16), and if these standards are holy for elders and deacons, then they are holy for all."2
Furthermore, in Ephesians 5:22-33 wherever the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to husbands and wives his directives are always in the singular; that is, they are never plural in either multiple wives or husbands.
2. Same-Sex Marriage
Another prominent question that many are asking today is what does the Bible have to say about same sex marriage?
"While the Bible does address homosexuality, it does not explicitly mention gay marriage/same-sex marriage. It is clear, however, that the Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals 'marrying' is not God's will, and would be, in fact, sinful.
"Whenever the Bible mentions marriage, it is between a male and a female. The first mention of marriage, Genesis 2:24, describes it as a man leaving his parents and being united to his wife. In passages that contain instructions regarding marriage, such as 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Ephesians 5:23-33, the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. Biblically speaking, marriage is the lifetime union of a man and a woman, primarily for the purpose of building a family and providing a stable environment for that family."3
The Bible makes it clear that marriage, which is ordained by God, is to be between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage is thus a perversion of God's plan for marriage. (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6).
And as Ronald Reagan so wisely said some years ago, "As goes the family so goes the nation."
In My Genes. Many gay and homosexual people claim that their attraction to and desire for the same sex is in their genes so there is nothing they can do about it but give in to it. This may or may not be true but the fact is that sin is in my genes (actually in everybody's genes), as the Bible says, "For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me" Psalm 51:5 (NLT). But does this give me the right and an excuse to do what I hunger or "passion" to do? Of course not. Such would be absurd and end up destroying just about everyone.
Keep in mind, though, while God loves all sinners—including you and me—he hates all sin because sin is totally destructive to those whom he loves: you and me. Christians are to do the same; that is we are to love all sinners but not accept any actions that God's Word labels as sin. We are also called to be the "salt of the earth" and as such we need to take a stand against all sin and evil and live as well as speak the truth.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, which gives all mankind clear instructions for every area of living—all of which is for the protection and good of all mankind. Please give me the desire to learn what your Word teaches and the desire, will and help to live accordingly. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV).
2. From Got Questions.org http://www.gotquestions.org/polygamy.html.
3. From Got Questions.org http://www.gotquestions.org/gay-marriage.html.
<:))))><
NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon Click HERE.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Having Reverence and Respect for the Body
In so many ways we use and abuse our bodies. Jesus' coming to us in the body and his being lifted with his body in the glory of God call us to treat our bodies and the bodies of others with great reverence and respect.
God, through Jesus, has made our bodies sacred places where God has chosen to dwell. Our faith in the resurrection of the body, therefore, calls us to care for our own and one another's bodies with love. When we bind one another's wounds and work for the healing of one another's bodies, we witness to the sacredness of the human body, a body destined for eternal life. <:))))><
Henri Nouwen Society
God, through Jesus, has made our bodies sacred places where God has chosen to dwell. Our faith in the resurrection of the body, therefore, calls us to care for our own and one another's bodies with love. When we bind one another's wounds and work for the healing of one another's bodies, we witness to the sacredness of the human body, a body destined for eternal life. <:))))><
Henri Nouwen Society
Friday, November 11, 2011
LOVE DOES NOT GIVE UP
I don't know how you feel to see that single parenthood life is becoming more admirable and an alternative to marriage, and the church seems to be getting more and more comfortable with it. Financial independence seems to be the only required ingredient to a family unit. Is God as comfortable as we seem to be?
A friend's marriage was falling apart for many genuine painful reasons but one day she made a decision to involve God to help. She prayed to God to save her husband and make him a pastor.
She spent six continuous months in serious prayers until God answered her desire and today her husband is a good pastor, a wonderful husband and father.
But before God changed the husband, God dealt with this friend first. She quit complaining and determined that she was to do her part as unto God.
God is not blind, brethren. God transformed her attitude to one of not fault finding or revenging. She saw her husband as one in need of God, not one full of faults.
May God help us realize that much as we would like to own our marriages, marriage is as sacred as life since it is not a man's idea, but God's.
If we honor God seriously and care for His institution, we will be concerned and view our marriages not as our own, but God's property.
Before we give up on our marriages, have we taken time to involve the Initiator of it all on a serious note?
May God help us individually to make a decision to work on our marriages with God as the interested party.
In marriage, we sign up to succeed, and the beauty of it all is that one can refer to the Initiator for help.
And God is very much wiling to help and is able to sustain a victorious marriage, helping us to understand that love does not give up!
by Mumbi Vickie Ngangu
A friend's marriage was falling apart for many genuine painful reasons but one day she made a decision to involve God to help. She prayed to God to save her husband and make him a pastor.
She spent six continuous months in serious prayers until God answered her desire and today her husband is a good pastor, a wonderful husband and father.
But before God changed the husband, God dealt with this friend first. She quit complaining and determined that she was to do her part as unto God.
God is not blind, brethren. God transformed her attitude to one of not fault finding or revenging. She saw her husband as one in need of God, not one full of faults.
May God help us realize that much as we would like to own our marriages, marriage is as sacred as life since it is not a man's idea, but God's.
If we honor God seriously and care for His institution, we will be concerned and view our marriages not as our own, but God's property.
Before we give up on our marriages, have we taken time to involve the Initiator of it all on a serious note?
May God help us individually to make a decision to work on our marriages with God as the interested party.
In marriage, we sign up to succeed, and the beauty of it all is that one can refer to the Initiator for help.
And God is very much wiling to help and is able to sustain a victorious marriage, helping us to understand that love does not give up!
by Mumbi Vickie Ngangu
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)