Build Up 建立彼此
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Author: Pastor Ben So
On 3rd April 2020, the Ministry of Health (MOH) rolled out elevated safe distancing measures to minimize local transmission of COVID-19. These measures are in place from 7 April till 4 May 2020 and recently the circuit breaker was extended to 1st June. All places of worship are closed to the public and religious services suspended. As our government tightens the circuit breaker measures, we the church will also need to adjust the way we congregate.
We are thankful for technology such as live streaming, video conferencing, and WhatsApp. These are currently the platforms used for worship services and discussions, as well as channels for sharing edifying messages. Although we cannot meet face to face, we are still able to connect with one another via such forms of communication.
In this season, let us practice forbearance as many suffer financially or emotionally, if not both. Things are not the same as before yet it is during challenging times that our faith is tested. Let our speech be gentle, allowing our family and friends to receive the love of Christ through our words. Think before you speak and be gracious during this difficult period. Also, be careful to ensure that things we share electronically can build one another up.
An article I read recently mentioned that technology can be a double-edged sword. This is especially true for a multi-generational church because not everyone will be as adept at these digital means. We must continue to pray for members without internet access and find creative ways to reach out to them without having to leave our home.
Here are seven English Christian YouTube Channels that might be helpful for you during this circuit breaker period:
Bible Project - https://www.youtube.com/user/jointhebibleproject
John Piper (Desiring God) - https://www.youtube.com/user/desiringGod
David Pawson - https://www.youtube.com/user/DavidPawsonMinistry
The Gospel Coalition - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGospelCoalition
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries - https://www.youtube.com/user/rzimmedia
David Platt - https://www.youtube.com/user/ViewRadical
Francis Chan - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3TNl3-7XmrPuju9W0EXRUw
Pray that these YouTube sermons can help renew our minds. Blessings.
“任何坏话都不可出口，而是按着需要说造就人的好话，使听的人得到益处。”
作者：苏振豪传道
翻译 : 王珮瑾师母
在2020年4月3日这天，卫生部宣布了一系列措施，要求公众保持社交距离，以降低新冠状病毒在本地的传染。这些措施已在4月7日开始执行，一直到5月4日。但最近又延长至6月1日。所有宗教活动都需要暂停，崇拜地点也都关闭了。随着政府逐渐加紧对抗病毒传染的措施，教会也必须调整聚会的模式。
感到庆幸的是，科技让我们能够通过直播，视讯会议及像Whatsapp等社交平台继续崇拜、参与讨论及分享信息，互相鼓励。虽然不能见面，我们仍能够善用这类科技保持联系。
这疫情使得许多人都在财务或情绪上受到影响，所以让我们彼此忍让，好好相处。虽然许多事情都不同往日，但是艰难的时刻，也是我们的信心受到考验的时刻。我鼓励弟兄姊妹们“言语要常常带着和气，好像用盐调和”，那么我们的家人和朋友就能通过我们的话语，感受到耶稣基督的爱。让我们在开口之前先思考，待人尽量亲切友善。就连那些在网上分享信息，让我们也好好地把关，确认那些信息是对对方有益的，才转发出去。
我最近读到一篇文章，里边提到，科技可以是一把双刃剑。这正好形容了像我们这样多代同堂的教会，因为每个人对科技的接受程度不一样，而且不是人人都能成功学会如何使用这些应用程序。我们必须为这群无法上互联网的会友继续祷告，并继续寻找如何不出门，仍能与他们联系的方式。
以下是在YouTube的7个英文基督教频道，希望它们能在这段时间里给您带来一些帮助:
Bible Project - https://www.youtube.com/user/jointhebibleproject
John Piper (Desiring God) - https://www.youtube.com/user/desiringGod
David Pawson - https://www.youtube.com/user/DavidPawsonMinistry
The Gospel Coalition - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGospelCoalition
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries - https://www.youtube.com/user/rzimmedia
David Platt - https://www.youtube.com/user/ViewRadical
Francis Chan - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3TNl3-7XmrPuju9W0EXRUw