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An Invisible War 看不見的爭戰

Pentecost Sunday. What better Sunday could there be to talk about the challenging and life-giving relationships that form due to God's grace? For it is only by the Holy Spirit's power that we can live out the high calling that husbands and wives, children and fathers, and bondservants and masters are called to have with one another. 五旬節主日。 還有哪個主日更適合談論由上帝的恩典所形成具有挑戰性又賦予生命的關係呢？ 因為只有靠著聖靈的力量，我們才能活出丈夫和妻子、孩子和父親、僕人和主人彼此所蒙的崇高呼召。

Happy Mother's Day! Chris Payk preaches on Revelation chapter 20 to see the importance of everything we do but particularly looking at what significance this passage has for mothers. 母親節快樂！ 這週透過《啟示錄》第 20 章，Chris Payk 分享我們所做的一切的重要性，特別是這段經文對母親們的意義。

In Ephesians 5, Paul continues his warnings against and strategies for avoiding sin. But here his tone and purpose have changed. He is no longer merely warning against sin, but how curtain sins - those that are based on the false hope that we can construct our happiness with our own hands - can lead us out of light and new life and back into darkness. What we need is not just right actions, but holy affections - a love for God and joy in Christ. 在以弗所書第 5 章中，保羅繼續提出他對犯罪的警告和避免犯罪的策略。 但在這裡他的語氣和目的改變了。 祂不再只是警告人們不要犯罪，而是遮蔽罪惡──那些基於我們可以用自己的雙手建構幸福的虛假希望的罪惡──會使我們遠離光明和新的生活，重新陷入黑暗。 我們需要的不只是正確的行為，還需要聖潔的渴望──對神的愛和在基督裡的喜樂。

Continuing our discussion from last week, Paul gives us several concrete examples of what it means to "put off the old self, put on the new self, and to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we've been called." This Sunday, we will explore these instructions given to us in Ephesians 4:25-32, and go over some Christ-centered strategies to help us to lovingly and humbly obey Christ. As we focus on the cross, the Gospel, and all that Jesus has done, we pray that the Holy Spirit would help us be mindful of what God has done, to be filled with gratitude, and thus, to be motivated to become more like Christ. 延續上週的信息，保羅給了我們幾個具體的例子，說明「脫去舊人，穿上新人，行事為人與蒙召的恩相稱」的含義。 這個主日，我們將探討以弗所書 4:25-32 賦予我們的教導，並看看有哪些以基督為中心的策略，以幫助我們充滿愛心和謙卑地順服基督。 當我們專注於十字架、福音和耶穌所做的一切時，我們祈求聖靈幫助我們留意神所做的一切，充滿感激之情，從而有動力變得更像基督。

In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul tells the Ephesians that, now that they've become Christians, their lives must look different. One of Satan's biggest lies is that we can "believe" the gospel without there being any real change in our lives. Paul shows that that was not what they were taught! He then details the beauty of discipleship - it's not just that our old habits and lifestyle are "put off", but when Christ begins His work of transformation in our lives, we "put on" a whole new self. We begin to become what God always intended for us from the beginning! 在以弗所書 4:17-24 中，保羅告訴以弗所人，既然他們已經成為基督徒，他們的人生一定會有所不同。 撒旦最大的謊言之一是我們可以「相信」福音，在生活上卻沒有任何真正的改變。 保羅表明這不是他們所受的教導！ 接著他詳細描述了門徒訓練的美妙之處——不僅僅是我們的舊習慣和生活方式被“脫去”，而且當基督開始在我們的生活中進行轉變時，我們就“穿上”了一個全新的自我。 我們開始成為神從一開始就對我們所期望的樣子！

In Ephesians 4:1:16, Paul discusses both the nature of the Church - that we share a fundamental unity in Christ - and the purpose of the Church. That purpose takes the shape of seven different works of the church. We also consider what those seven works of the church mean for each of us as we use our gifts to build up and bless the Body of Christ. 在以弗所書 4 章 1 至 16 節中，保羅討論了教會的本質－我們在基督裡共享基本的合一－以及教會的目的。這個目的在教會中分別透過七項不同的工作來完成。 當我們使用個人的恩賜來建立和祝福基督的身體時，同時也思想教會的這七項工作對每個人有什麼意義。

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul is not just praying a random prayer. In fact, this is a transformational prayer that he himself personally experienced about Jesus. It was the encounter with Jesus that really changed his life and allowed him to fine life purpose instead of apostolic messages or sound doctrine. Therefore he knows this STRENGTH is what the church in Ephesus needs. Without it, there's no way he could endure the suffering and asks the Ephesians not to lose heart. 在以弗所書 3:14-21 中，保羅禱告不是隨意的。 事實上，這正是有關他親自經歷的耶穌的轉化性禱告。使他生命改變並找到人生目標是與耶穌的相遇結果，而不是靠著使徒性的信息或健全的教義。 因此他知道這種「力量」正是以弗所教會所需要的。 沒有這股力量，他無法忍受患難，也無法請求以弗所人不要灰心。

This Sunday, Chris Payk preached on the high point of the Christian calendar - Easter Sunday. We looked at the most simple of all Gospel summaries in 2 Timothy 2:8 and asked what the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead accomplished for all who believe. 本週日，Chris Payk 分享基督教年曆的最高點－復活節主日。 我們透過提摩太後書 2:8 中看見最簡單的福音摘要，並詢問耶穌從死裡復活為所有相信的人成就了什麼。

This Sunday, Chris Payk preached on Holy Week, particularly focusing on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. We observed how Jesus prepared to go to the cross, endured the cross, and what were the results of his ultimate sacrifice. 本週日 Chris Payk 分享關於聖週的信息，重點特別放在棕樹主日和耶穌受難日。 我們觀看耶穌如何預備上十字架，忍受十字架，以及祂最終犧牲的結果。

In the third chapter of Ephesians, Paul adds some needed context. He explains not only the "mystery" of the Gentiles inclusion in the promises - as full members of the body! - and he gives an account of his place in pronouncing the nature of that mystery. 在以弗所書第三章中，保羅加入了一些必要的脈絡。 他不僅解釋了外邦人如何在所應許的「奧秘」中，與猶太人同為一體！ ——他描述了他在宣告這個奧秘本質時的所扮演的身份。

Ephesians 2:11-22 This Sunday, Chris Payk brought us back to the book of Acts to examine the origin of the church in Ephesus. This passage in the book of Ephesians lays out how the Jews and Gentiles were reconciled through the cross of Christ and what made the church in Ephesus such a dynamic church. 以弗所書 2:11-22 這個主日，Chris Payk 帶我們認識使徒行傳中以弗所教會是如何建立的。以弗所書二章告訴我們猶太人和外邦人藉著基督的十字架合一了，以及究竟是什麼原因使以弗所信徒成為這樣一個有動力的教會。

Eph. 2:1-10 In these verses, the apostle Paul gives us a clear example of the message of the gospel. In them, we see the good news of the life of Jesus and how He is the only way that we are saved from our sins and are able to spend eternity with God. 以弗所書 2:1-10 在這些經文中，使徒保羅用一個清楚的例子來說明福音的信息。在其中，我們看到關於耶穌生平的好消息，以及祂是那唯一途徑，將我們從罪中拯救出來並能與神共度永恆。

Eph. 1:15-23 Church culture and principles are build overtime. In this message, we hope to draw wisdom from Paul's prayer on how he encourages and teaches a young and multi ethnical church in Ephesus. Through the sermon , we will learn what are the profound hope, inheritance and greatness of God's power to the church back then and today. The sermon also points out the perspectives based on Chinese/English translation and even consider it as a result of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, across different languages. 以弗所書 1:15-23 教會文化和原則是隨著時間的推進而建立的。 在這個信息中，我們希望從保羅的禱告中汲取智慧，了解他如何鼓勵和教導以弗所這間既年輕又多種族的教會。 透過信息，我們可以了解在當時和今日的教會中，有何等的盼望、產業和神的大能。信息也指出了中英翻譯不同的觀點，甚至認為這是聖靈跨語言引導的結果。

Eph. 1:1-14 As we begin our series in Ephesians, like Paul we want to begin with benediction - with praise! Paul begins his letter to the Ephesian church with a resounding word of praise that should be a model and encouragement to us all. 以弗所書 1:1-14 當我們開始以弗所書系列時，就像保羅一樣，問安是我們的前言－以讚美開始！ 保羅在寫給以弗所教會的信中以響亮的讚美之詞開始，這應該成為我們所有人的榜樣和鼓勵。

We do not need social statistics to verify the claims of the Bible, but it is always encouraging when they do. Recently, strong evidence has shown what scripture has long taught: if you train up a child in the way they should go, odds are they are going to walk in it. 我們不需要社會統計數據來驗證聖經的立場，但當它們這樣做時總是令人鼓舞。 最近，有些有力的證據證明了聖經長期以來的教導：如果你教導孩童當行的路來訓練他們，他們很可能會走在這條路上。

Parenting does not begin with skills and abilities. It's neither simply about managing a household and keeping things afloat. Ultimately, Christian parents are called to "make disciples." "Successful parenting is not about achieving goals (that you have no power to produce) but about being a usable and faithful tool in the hands of the One who alone is able to produce good things in your children." - Paul Tripp To be able to produce good things in children, we need to understand God loves our children more than we parents do. By God's design, God prunes us so we bear more fruit. However, to bear spiritual fruit, abiding in Christ is how we do so because He is the true vine and apart from Him, we can do nothing. Psalm 127 & John 15 親子教養不是始於技巧與能力。也不單單只是管理好一個家庭及財務收支。基督徒父母的終極目標是「訓練門徒。」 成功的教養不在於是否達成目標（那些你沒有能力去結果子的事），而在於讓自己成為忠心、能被神使用的人，因為唯有祂才是那一位能結出好果子的。- 保羅・區普 孩子們生命中要能結出好果子，我們需要明白神比我們還愛他們。神修剪我們的生命，為要使我們多結果子。而連結於基督我們才能結果子，因為祂是真葡萄樹，離了祂，我們什麼也不能做。 詩篇 127 篇 & 約翰福音 15 章

The message of Epiphany is that Jesus for you. If you haven't put your faith in Him before, this is the word for you. For those that are in Christ, this is a reminder that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The glad tidings of great joy that the angels declared was truly for all people. Mathew 2:1-12 主顯節的重點就是耶穌是為你而來的。如果你還沒相信他，這是要對你說的。 對那些已經在基督裡的人，這提醒我們要去到地極，使人成為主的門徒。天使所宣告的大好信息，是給萬民的。 馬太福音2:1-12

Luke 2:8-12 Through the message today, we want to look at these 3 things: 1. Who needs God's love? 2. What kind of love do we need? 3. What does God's love look like? What kind of love did God give us? 路 2:8-12 透過今天的信息，我們看到三件事情： 1. 誰需要神的愛？ 2. 我們需要什麼樣的愛？ 3. 神給我們什麼樣的愛？

What brings you joy? God's promises and Word never fade because those promises are God himself. The Word and the Promise is Jesus Christ. Prophet Isaiah says God's greatest gift is Himself. He comes finally and ultimately to gather us to Himself. To carry us up in His arms and hold us in His bosom. Isaiah 40:1-11 什麼帶給你喜樂？ 神的應許和話語永不改變，因為祂自己本身就是這些應許。耶穌基督就是這個道和應許。 先知以賽亞說神自己就是祂要給人最大的禮物。祂來的終極目標為的就是要把我們聚集起來，用祂的臂膀圍繞我們，將我們抱在祂的懷中。 以賽亞書40:1-11