Posts
Tuesday
The topics of "church authority" and "power" are very touchy in churches in China but the new generation of believers are a lot more vocal, demanding the right to know, decide, supervise, and remove leadership. Younger believers want to know who is in charge and openly question the cost of maintaining church unity. Church leaders tend to portray themselves as highly spiritual and sacrificial. We pray that each of us sees our own brokenness and sinfulness, we all need renewal and more faith, as we strive to please our Master.
Wednesday
When believers move from one church to the other, they create division in churches because their theological views are different and likely more radical. Conflicts ensue when their views are not accepted. Christ is the head of the church and the church is the body of Christ. Each of us is a member of the Body. We are called to build up His church, We ask the Lord to forgive our arrogance, strife, division and so often, the splitting of a church.
Thursday
When believers move about from one church to the other, conflicts follow. First, they are likely to be critical and not willing to serve. Second, they band together with like-minded people and split up a church. We pray that God strengthens His people and heals our divisiveness, so we have the heart of Jesus, always seeing others better than ourselves. ‘Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’ (Eph. 4:3)
Friday
When a church splits because of conflicts, deep suspicion lingers between the two affected congregations for a long time. If the gap is not bridged, a generation of believers will be deeply wounded. We know our Lord takes no pleasure in the strife and division among His people which cause the ministry to suffer, people to be discouraged and church growth slowed. May the Lord have mercy on us so we can learn true humility and unity in Christ.
Saturday
Newly established churches resulting from a split tend to have some "sheep stealing", although it is inevitable it always leaves a bad feeling for all concerned. Scandal in one church damages the reputation of many churches. Division within a church also confuses outsiders and affect those within. We pray that none of us will ever shame His Name and the Lord protect the weak believers from stumbling and stop attending church.
Sunday
Churches in China, especially the houses churches are known for vigorously insist that their own theology is orthodox and denounce others as apostasy. Such vicious attitude only hurts His body and corrupting of innocent believers. Once again, we pray for His sacrificial love and humility, so we can submit to one another and leave the devil no room for attacks.
Monday
"Once bitten, twice shy", After a church suffered split because of outsiders," a church becomes reluctant to change, especially in training new leaders, and much more conservative in theological thinking and all aspects of ministries. We pray that church leaders will be strategic and patient in nurturing their people. The Lord bless the churches abundantly so the power of the gospel is revealed through His churches in China.
The topics of "church authority" and "power" are very touchy in churches in China but the new generation of believers are a lot more vocal, demanding the right to know, decide, supervise, and remove leadership. Younger believers want to know who is in charge and openly question the cost of maintaining church unity. Church leaders tend to portray themselves as highly spiritual and sacrificial. We pray that each of us sees our own brokenness and sinfulness, we all need renewal and more faith, as we strive to please our Master.
Wednesday
When believers move from one church to the other, they create division in churches because their theological views are different and likely more radical. Conflicts ensue when their views are not accepted. Christ is the head of the church and the church is the body of Christ. Each of us is a member of the Body. We are called to build up His church, We ask the Lord to forgive our arrogance, strife, division and so often, the splitting of a church.
Thursday
When believers move about from one church to the other, conflicts follow. First, they are likely to be critical and not willing to serve. Second, they band together with like-minded people and split up a church. We pray that God strengthens His people and heals our divisiveness, so we have the heart of Jesus, always seeing others better than ourselves. ‘Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’ (Eph. 4:3)
Friday
When a church splits because of conflicts, deep suspicion lingers between the two affected congregations for a long time. If the gap is not bridged, a generation of believers will be deeply wounded. We know our Lord takes no pleasure in the strife and division among His people which cause the ministry to suffer, people to be discouraged and church growth slowed. May the Lord have mercy on us so we can learn true humility and unity in Christ.
Saturday
Newly established churches resulting from a split tend to have some "sheep stealing", although it is inevitable it always leaves a bad feeling for all concerned. Scandal in one church damages the reputation of many churches. Division within a church also confuses outsiders and affect those within. We pray that none of us will ever shame His Name and the Lord protect the weak believers from stumbling and stop attending church.
Sunday
Churches in China, especially the houses churches are known for vigorously insist that their own theology is orthodox and denounce others as apostasy. Such vicious attitude only hurts His body and corrupting of innocent believers. Once again, we pray for His sacrificial love and humility, so we can submit to one another and leave the devil no room for attacks.
Monday
"Once bitten, twice shy", After a church suffered split because of outsiders," a church becomes reluctant to change, especially in training new leaders, and much more conservative in theological thinking and all aspects of ministries. We pray that church leaders will be strategic and patient in nurturing their people. The Lord bless the churches abundantly so the power of the gospel is revealed through His churches in China.
星期二
「權威」和「權柄」在中國教會一直是敏感的議題，新一代信徒要求有知情權、決策權、監督權、彈劾權，教會往往會面臨分化危機。也有的教會在非關乎真理的範疇上非黑即白，仍要求大家保持一致性才算稱為合一。老一輩教會領袖強調標榜屬靈生命，犧牲擺上。求主憐憫我們，看得見自己的軟弱與破碎，更新信徒的靈命，相信我們按著主心意所做的一切，絕不會徒然，最終必得著天上主人的獎賞。
星期三
游離基督徒是指那些游走一個又一個教會卻不願意委身的肢體，意見強的游離基督徒容易帶來教會分裂。當他們所持觀點與新教會不同，又過於激進，未能得到教會的認同，繼而產生衝突。基督是教會的頭，教會是基督的身子，並且我們各自作肢體。肢體雖多，仍是一個身子；更要各盡其職，建立基督的身體。求主赦免並幫助我們改正各持己見，彼此爭鬧，結黨紛爭，分門別類，使基督的身子分裂的錯誤。
星期四
游離基督徒常會引發教會衝突，給教會帶來兩種現象：一、留下卻總是唱反調，不能積極投入教會服事中。二、因衝突而離開，與志同道合者成立新教會。求主加力屬祂的人，靠著主修補教會的分裂；又幫助我們以基督耶穌的心為心，看別人比自己強，凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容，用和平彼此聯絡，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。(弗4:3)
星期五
因衝突而離開的現象使新建立的教會與原教會之間產生嫌隙，是短期內無法解決的教會爭端。若破口沒有修補，至少一代人會活在這種陰影裡。這是許多中國家庭教會經歷的。教會無論是紛爭、分黨分派或分裂都會叫主傷心，使信徒灰心，致聖工受攔阻，教會不能增長。求主憐憫我們，真有祂的謙卑，願意竭力追求在主裡的合一。
星期六
因分裂而新成立的教會，總是會有一些「拉羊」的現象，是傳統教會所不齒的，也造成無法彌補的虧損。每個信徒都是基督的肢體，「一榮俱榮、 一損俱損」，教會之間的紛爭不僅讓教外人士困惑，更會絆倒教內會衆。但願神的名不受虧損，脆弱的信徒不因此跌倒而遠離神。我們也禱告新教會能成為福音的新出口，新社區的明亮燈台。
星期日
神學觀點不同也存在於中國教會之間，但弟兄姊妹間彼此攻擊的情況比西方更列，堅持自己的神學觀點是何等的「正統」。無論在教內或是教外，這種「同門之爭」只能敗壞人信心而不能建造信徒的靈命。求神使眾教會都能靠主愛謙卑在主面前，做到捨己，彼此順服，以致魔鬼沒有可以乘機攻擊神家的任何破口。
星期一
游離基督徒現象往往導致某些教會更不願考慮革新。可謂「一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩」，受過分裂之苦的教會，不管在人才培養、神學思想、信仰宣告、福音工作等教會事工上，都更趨於保守。求主幫助教會領袖，在信徒造就方面滿有策略與忍耐，叫人靈命得著建造成長。又求主賜福眾教會，能藉着中國眾教會的齊心努力，將福音大能在世界各角落彰顯出來。
「權威」和「權柄」在中國教會一直是敏感的議題，新一代信徒要求有知情權、決策權、監督權、彈劾權，教會往往會面臨分化危機。也有的教會在非關乎真理的範疇上非黑即白，仍要求大家保持一致性才算稱為合一。老一輩教會領袖強調標榜屬靈生命，犧牲擺上。求主憐憫我們，看得見自己的軟弱與破碎，更新信徒的靈命，相信我們按著主心意所做的一切，絕不會徒然，最終必得著天上主人的獎賞。
星期三
游離基督徒是指那些游走一個又一個教會卻不願意委身的肢體，意見強的游離基督徒容易帶來教會分裂。當他們所持觀點與新教會不同，又過於激進，未能得到教會的認同，繼而產生衝突。基督是教會的頭，教會是基督的身子，並且我們各自作肢體。肢體雖多，仍是一個身子；更要各盡其職，建立基督的身體。求主赦免並幫助我們改正各持己見，彼此爭鬧，結黨紛爭，分門別類，使基督的身子分裂的錯誤。
星期四
游離基督徒常會引發教會衝突，給教會帶來兩種現象：一、留下卻總是唱反調，不能積極投入教會服事中。二、因衝突而離開，與志同道合者成立新教會。求主加力屬祂的人，靠著主修補教會的分裂；又幫助我們以基督耶穌的心為心，看別人比自己強，凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容，用和平彼此聯絡，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。(弗4:3)
星期五
因衝突而離開的現象使新建立的教會與原教會之間產生嫌隙，是短期內無法解決的教會爭端。若破口沒有修補，至少一代人會活在這種陰影裡。這是許多中國家庭教會經歷的。教會無論是紛爭、分黨分派或分裂都會叫主傷心，使信徒灰心，致聖工受攔阻，教會不能增長。求主憐憫我們，真有祂的謙卑，願意竭力追求在主裡的合一。
星期六
因分裂而新成立的教會，總是會有一些「拉羊」的現象，是傳統教會所不齒的，也造成無法彌補的虧損。每個信徒都是基督的肢體，「一榮俱榮、 一損俱損」，教會之間的紛爭不僅讓教外人士困惑，更會絆倒教內會衆。但願神的名不受虧損，脆弱的信徒不因此跌倒而遠離神。我們也禱告新教會能成為福音的新出口，新社區的明亮燈台。
星期日
神學觀點不同也存在於中國教會之間，但弟兄姊妹間彼此攻擊的情況比西方更列，堅持自己的神學觀點是何等的「正統」。無論在教內或是教外，這種「同門之爭」只能敗壞人信心而不能建造信徒的靈命。求神使眾教會都能靠主愛謙卑在主面前，做到捨己，彼此順服，以致魔鬼沒有可以乘機攻擊神家的任何破口。
星期一
游離基督徒現象往往導致某些教會更不願考慮革新。可謂「一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩」，受過分裂之苦的教會，不管在人才培養、神學思想、信仰宣告、福音工作等教會事工上，都更趨於保守。求主幫助教會領袖，在信徒造就方面滿有策略與忍耐，叫人靈命得著建造成長。又求主賜福眾教會，能藉着中國眾教會的齊心努力，將福音大能在世界各角落彰顯出來。
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