Going Into Our Communities一起走入人群
Author: Ps Andrew Xu
Translate: Sis Charis Ong
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”
"Our vision is to be a disciple-making church among our communities" is the vision of our church, and this is the common goal and direction of every member of ECF. There are three main poles in this vision: Discipleship, Communities, and Missions. Recently, the church has focused a lot on the importance of making disciples, and the church is increasingly understanding what it means to be a disciple of the Lord and is gradually moving into becoming a more mature disciple. We usually know that discipleship is directly tied to a relationship with God, but we forget another important dimension, which is going into our communities. If discipleship is a closed-door operation, then we are on the wrong track in our discipleship strategy. A discipleship strategy that is based on the teachings of the Bible cannot be without the dimension of going into the communities. When the Lord Jesus Himself trained His disciples, He did not hold daily discipleship meetings, prayer meetings, or classes. His teaching style was very practical, He took His disciples into the crowd and ministered to the crowd. In the process of entering the community, He revealed the kingdom of God and called people to repentance. His "lesson" with the disciples is a reflection and reminder after serving the community, not a “lesson” to prepare them to go into the communities.
When we say we want to be a disciple-making church, do not mix up the purpose and approach. The purpose is to impact the communities, to reach the communities and bring them to know the Lord Jesus and His gospel on the cross and to worship God as He deserves to be worshiped. If the church only thinks about what is happening in the church and forgets the true purpose, she will not fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the her and will fail to fulfill the commission of our Lord Jesus.
Dear ECF, 2020 has come to an end, and this year's coronavirus pandemic has widened the distance between people. But this should never be an excuse for the church not to serve our communities. In such times, people need God more than ever, and the love and salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ more than ever. Let us resolve to go into the communities together in 2021, and bring God's love into the communities to which we belong. So that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven through every one of us who belongs to Him. Go for it!
文/许燕杰传道
““你们是地上的盐；如果盐失了味，怎能使它再咸呢？结果毫无用处，唯有丢在外面任人践踏。你们是世上的光。建在山上的城是无法隐藏的；人点了灯，不会放在量器底下，而是放在灯台上，就照亮一家人。照样，你们的光也应当照在人前，让他们看见你们的好行为，又颂赞你们在天上的父。””
“我们的异象是成为一间进入人群的门徒教会”是我们教会的异象，这是我们中国布道会每一个成员的共同目标与方向。这异象中有三个主杆，建立门徒、进入人群、携手宣教。近期，教会非常的注重建立门徒的重要性，教会也越来越明白何为一个主的门徒而逐渐的也开始进入成为一个更成熟的门徒。我们通常懂得将成为门徒跟与神的关系直接挂钩，但却忘记了另一个非常重要的层面，就是走入人群。如果成为门徒是一个闭门造车的行动而已，那我们的门徒策略就走错了。一个以圣经的教导为本的门徒策略肯定不能够少了进入人群的层面。当主耶稣自己训练门徒的时候，祂并没有每天跟门徒开培灵会、祷告会、上课。主耶稣的教导方式是非常实际的，祂带着他的门徒进入人群，服事人群。在进入人群的过程中将神的国彰显出来并呼召人悔改归向神。跟门徒“上课”是进入人群服事后的反思和提醒，不是装备为了要进入人群。
当我们说要成为一间门徒教会的时候，不要把目的和方式颠倒了。进入人群、得着人群并且让他们认识主耶稣和祂在十字架上成就的福音并神得到当有的敬拜才是目的。教会若只顾念教会内的事而忘了真正的目的就无法完成耶稣交代给教会的大使命，亏负了主耶稣的托福。
亲爱的中国布道会，2020年已来到了尾声，今年的冠状病毒使到了人与人之间的距离扩大了。但这绝对不能成为教会不走入人群的借口。在这样的时刻，人更需要上帝，更需要主耶稣基督的爱和救恩。让我们立志在2021年一起走入人群，将神的爱带入我们所属的人群中。好叫神的旨意透过我们每一个属祂的人行在地上如同行在天上。加油！