Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all thigs that I have commended you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Do you lament over the state of the church? Historical churches that hosted large crowds and experienced revivals are now tourist attractions, while elsewhere, there is a greying of the church population. The church has been tasked with reaching out to the lost while nurturing believers, but it has largely turned inward-looking. The Spirit of God that yearns for the lost is being quenched by the indifference of the church. However, the church cannot afford to slumber and sleep but needs to rise up to the call for world evangelism. The disruption of onsite services due to COVID-19 should not stop us from reaching out to the lost. God’s last command, the Great Commission, ought to be the church’s first concern.
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Jesus’ view of the church is strong, authoritative, vibrant, mission-minded, focused, influential, firm, vigorous and unyielding. Nothing can come in the way of the church of the living God! Many of us wrongly think that the church refers to a building, but Jesus was referring to those who recognised, acknowledged, and accepted Him as the Messiah—the people who make up the church. Therefore, the church should still be growing when the church building is closed.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
The Spirit of God dwells in every believer because the blood of Jesus Christ has satisfied the wrath of God towards sin. Because we have been redeemed, cleansed, and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are a clean and cleansed vessel for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. We, the individuals, collectively make up the temple of God and the church.
1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV) You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, and we are the living stones that make up the spiritual house. We are the temple of God that houses the Spirit of the living God. Therefore, what is important is that the individual is walking with God, passionate about their love for Him, and faithful in carrying out the Great Commission. We love the lost because He first loved us—that in itself is a revival, and it is when every believer has a personal revival that the church experiences a revival.
Sermon Series: Arise and Build （Part1）
我们是教会
马太福音 28:19-20所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。 凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。
你是否为现今教会的光景哀叹？曾经接待过大量人群并经历复兴的历史悠久的教堂现在已成了旅游景点，而在其他地方，教会的人口正在老龄化。教会的任务从来都是在培育信徒的同时向失丧的人传福音，如今却变得大大地失去了对外界的关注。教会对失丧者的漠不关心，使顾念迷失之人的神的灵心寒上帝的灵渴想失丧者，而教会则报以冷漠。然而，教会经不起这样的沉睡，而是需要奋起响应普世宣教的号召。由于新冠疫情(COVID-19) 而造成的现场崇拜中断不应阻止我们向失丧的人传福音。大使命—神最后的命令，理当是教会首要的关切。
马太福音 16:18我还告诉你，你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的权柄，不能胜过他。
耶稣认为教会应该是刚强、有权威、充满活力、有使命感、专注、有影响力、坚定、健壮和不屈不挠的。没有什么能阻挡永生神的教会! 我们许多人错误地认为教会指的是一座建筑，但耶稣指的是那些认识、承认并接受祂为弥赛亚的人——那些组成教会的人。因此，当教堂建筑关闭的时候，教会应该还在成长。
哥林多前书 3:16 岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里头吗？
神的灵住在每一位信徒里头, 因为耶稣基督的宝血平息了神对罪的忿怒。因为我们已经被耶稣基督的宝血救赎、洁净、赦免了，如今已经成为洁净的被洗净的器皿，好教圣灵住在我们里面。我们，每个个体，共同组成了神的殿和教会。
彼得前书2:5你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，借着耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。
耶稣是教会的房角石，而我们是组成属灵的家的活石。我们是神的殿，是活神之灵的居所。因此，重要的是每个人与神同行，热切地爱神,并忠心地履行这个大使命。我们爱失丧之人，因为神先爱我们 – 这本身就是一种复兴。当每个信徒都有个人的复兴时，教会就会经历到复兴。
讲章系列：兴起和建造 (第一部分)
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