Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
God has put in place the fivefold ministry in order for the church to be strong, stable and well equipped. Pastors are entrusted to lead the church because of the gift and the love for the sheep. They have the pastoral heart to genuinely care for the believers in the sheepfold. Therefore, it is important to be under a local shepherd whom God has appointed to love and care for you.
1 Timothy 4:13-15 (NKJV) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Timothy was set apart for ministry. It was a gift given to him by God and the elders ordained him through the laying of hands. He was to provide pastoral care, leadership and teaching to the church in Ephesus. Pastors of the church must always have a vision and know the direction before they set out to lead their flocks. They should share their vision with the church so that everyone knows what needs to be accomplished. However, they should always check to see that their flocks are in tune with their vision and that no one has fallen by the wayside.
The local church has a mandate from God to fulfil her calling in the city and the country. It must not be like a cruise ship where everyone is just in a holiday mode without any commitment. In fact, many churches are like cruise ships trying to leave the harbour but the tugboats are pulling them in different directions. Such ships will not even get to leave the port due to strife and division. Instead, the local church must be like an aircraft carrier that is on a mission commissioned by God with Jesus as the captain of the carrier. Therefore, every one of us is like an aircraft on a mission or holding a position in the carrier and the pastor is the chaplain in the carrier to nurse those who are hurt back to health. ICS’ church vision statement is we are a family blessed to bless the community and the nations, and that is our mandate or goal for the church.
Pastors cannot fulfil the callings of building the local church by themselves. They need partners just like Paul who was in partnership with the church in Philippi. The church will not be effective and efficient in carrying out her calling unless the local body of believers is of one accord, the same love, and like-minded with the pastor and focus on the same goal of preaching the Gospel. Therefore, all of us need to be aligned with ICS’ vision by serving in the various ministries so that we can fulfil the mandate given by God together.
Sermon Series: ServeFest 2023 February
蒙福的家庭为要祝福社区
以弗所书4:11-12 他所赐的，有使徒，有先知，有传福音的，有牧师和教师，为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体
神安排了五重事奉，为要使教会强大、稳固和装备完善。牧者受托来领导教会，因为他们拥有属灵恩赐和对羊群的爱。他们有牧人的心，真诚关怀羊圈中的信徒。因此，置身于本地牧者的牧养下是至关重要的，他们被神委派来爱护并关心你
提摩太前书4:13-15 你要以宣读、劝勉、教导为念，直等到我来。你不要轻忽所得的恩赐，就是从前藉着预言、在众长老按手的时候赐给你的。这些事你要殷勤去做，并要在此专心，使众人看出你的长进来。
提摩太被分别出来服事。这是神给予他的恩赐，长老们也借着按手礼来按立他。他要为以弗所的教会提供牧养、领导和教导。教会的牧者在开始带领他们的群羊之前，必须始终有异象并知道方向。他们应该与教会分享他们的异象，以便每个人都知道需要完成的任务。然而，他们应该时刻留意群羊是否与他们的异象保持一致，没有人掉队。
地方教会有来自神的使命来完成她在城市和乡村里的呼召。它不能像游轮一样，每个人都只是度假的心态而没有委身。事实上，许多教会就像游轮试图离开港口，但拖船却把它们拖向不同的方向。这些游轮甚至都没能离开港口，都是因为冲突和分裂。相反，地方教会必须像一艘航空母舰，在执行神的使命，而耶稣是航空母舰的船长。因此，我们每个人都像一架执行任务的飞机或在航空母舰中担任职位，牧师是航空母舰上的牧者，来护理那些受伤的人恢复健康。ICS教会的异象宣言是我们是一个蒙福的家庭，为要祝福社区和列国，这是我们教会的使命和目标。
牧师们不能独自完成建立当地教会的使命。他们需要合作伙伴，就像保罗与腓立比教会合作一样。除非当地的信徒们与牧师志同道合，有同样的爱心，专注于同样的目标，即传扬福音，否则教会将无法有效并高效地履行她的使命。因此，我们所有人都需要通过在不同的事工中服侍，与ICS的异象保持一致，以便我们可以共同完成神所赋予的使命。
讲章系列：服侍招募节-一心一意，彼此团结
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