STRENGTHENED TO CONTINUE, REFRESHED TO SERVE (2)

THE PURPOSE OF THE SEMINAR1. Strengthened in FaithThe seminar's first purpose is to strengthen the faith of God’s people. The book of Acts shows that Christ's early messengers understood the importance of returning to the believers they had already reached. Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel, made disciples, and then revisited the churches to encourage and establish them.Acts 14:21–22 records that, after preaching in Derbe and making many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, “strengthening the souls of the disciples” and exhorting them to continue in the faith. Their ministry was not complete when people first heard the gospel. The new believers needed ongoing teaching, encouragement, fellowship, correction, and prayer.This pattern remains essential for the church today. A person may hear the gospel in a moment, but spiritual maturity develops through a continuing relationship with God’s Word and God’s people. Faith must be nourished so that it can withstand pressure, disappointment, spiritual opposition, false teaching, weariness, and the ordinary challenges of daily life.The seminar therefore seeks to help believers return to the foundations of the Word of faith. Together, we will consider what it means to abide in Christ, trust Scripture's promises, walk in obedience, and remain steadfast when obeying God’s will is difficult. The goal is not merely to increase information but to deepen conviction and strengthen faithful practice.Paul later expressed the same pastoral concern when he said, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36, NLT). This reveals the heart of Christian ministry: not only to proclaim the Word, but also to care for the spiritual condition of those who have received it.Acts 15:40–41 tells us that Paul travelled through Syria and Cilicia, “strengthening the churches.” When Paul eventually reached Derbe and Lystra, the churches were strengthened in faith and grew day by day (Acts 16:1, 5). Growth was connected with strengthening. A church rooted in truth can grow with stability; a believer established in Christ can serve with endurance.For believers and preachers from China, this strengthening is especially significant. Many are carrying responsibilities that are not always visible to others. Some are serving in demanding circumstances, leading with limited resources, teaching new believers, caring for families, or persevering through seasons of uncertainty. The Lord knows the labour of His servants. This seminar offers a setting in which you can be encouraged – not as someone who must always be strong for everyone else, but as a beloved member of Christ’s body who also needs grace, fellowship, and renewal.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

得力以服事，更新再前行 (二)

特会的目的1. 坚固信心特会的首要目的是坚固神子民的信心。我们在使徒行传里看到，早期那些被基督差遣的使者都深知回访信徒的重要性。保罗与巴拿巴传扬福音、造就门徒，之后又重访各个教会，勉励、坚固他们。使徒行传14:21-22记载，他们在特庇传扬福音、使许多人做了门徒，之后又回到路司得、以哥念和安提阿，“坚固门徒的心”，劝勉他们持守信心。很多人从他们口中第一次听见了福音真理，但他们的事工还未完成。这些初信的人需要持续的教导、勉励、团契、归正与祷告。这一模式对今天的教会仍然至关重要。一个人可以在几分钟里听见福音，但只有藉着持续与神的道相和、与神的子民相交，属灵生命才得以成熟。信心必须得到滋养，才能承受压力、失望、属灵的抵挡、错谬的教训、疲乏与困倦，以及日常生活中随时出现的考验。因此，本特会致力于帮助信徒回归信心话语的根基。我们将一同思考，住在基督里、信靠圣经的应许、行在顺服之中，并在遭遇艰难时坚定遵行神的旨意，究竟意味着什么。目的不仅是增长知识，更是加深信念，坚固信心的实践。保罗后来也表达了同样的牧养关切，他说：“我们回到从前传扬主道的各城，看望那里的信徒，看看他们境况如何。”（使徒行传15:36，新普及译本）。这显明了基督教事工的本心：不只是传扬真道，也要关怀那些领受真道之人的属灵境况。使徒行传15:40-41记载，保罗走遍叙利亚和基利家，“坚固各教会”。当保罗最终抵达特庇与路司得，那些教会就在信心上越发坚固，人数也天天加增（使徒行传16:1, 5）。增长与坚固密不可分。扎根真理的教会能够稳定成长；在基督里被建立起来的信徒可以坚持不懈地服事。对于来自中国的信徒与传道者而言，这样的坚固尤为重要。许多人担负的责任旁人未必看得见。有人在艰难的环境中服事，在资源有限的情况下带领，教导初信的人，牧养照看家庭，或是在动荡不安的时期里持守。主知道祂仆人的劳苦。本届特会则提供这样一个环境，使你可以得着勉励 —— 不是要求你为了照顾别人而时刻刚强，而是因为你是基督身体里蒙爱的一员，你同样需要恩典、团契与生命的更新。张耀光牧师 新加坡信心教会请访问我们的中文播客,faithchurch.sg/牧师手札/#牧师手札 ... See MoreSee Less