牧者心聲
福音主日

潘建堂牧師
2025 年 8 月 16 日/17 日

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福音，就是好消息。使徒行傳十三章記載了巴拿巴和保羅如何蒙召往外邦人的地方傳揚這個好消息，叫人得到拯救、得著生命。他們到了安提阿的時候努力把福音傳開，外邦人中多有信主：

「於是主的道傳遍了那一帶地方。但猶太人挑唆虔敬尊貴的婦女和城內有名望的人，迫害保羅和巴拿巴，把他們趕出境外。二人對著眾人跺掉腳上的塵土，然後往以哥念去了。門徒滿心喜樂，又被聖靈充滿。」（徒十三 49-52）
這段經文的表達之所以特別，乃因為最後一句話「滿心喜樂，又被聖靈充滿」並不是緊接在「主的道傳遍了那一帶地方」之後，而是放在他們受逼迫之後。我相信這不是說門徒目睹外邦人信主時沒有立即感到歡喜快樂，也不可能是他們勉強等到受逼迫之後才喜樂，作者乃是刻意把「喜樂」與「逼迫」對比，甚至是與「失敗」對比。這是怎麼的一回事？

  1. 門徒知道他們是按照主的計劃行事，猶太人的反對是意料中事（參 46-48 節）。聖靈充滿他們，叫他們有喜樂、有膽量、有智慧；

  2. 在傳福音的事奉裡，傳者（門徒）及聽者（外邦人和猶太人）各有自己的角色和責任。聽者如何反應乃是他們的自由，各有不同。門徒見到了傳福音的果效，他們知道已經完成使命，因此跺掉腳上的塵土（參太十 14；可六 11；路九 5）；

  3. 傳福音後會有不同的反應，耶穌的撒種比喻是要我們在傳福音的事奉上有合適的期望（路八 4-8）。

從短宣的經驗中，我見到弟兄姊妹傳福音時也經歷過不同的反應，有些人聽見即時決志，有些需要進一步跟進，有些則無法再聯絡。在日常生活中向親友傳福音，有時是需要一段時間守望，才能結出果子。正如一些慕道的朋友在教會的崇拜聚會，聽了一段時間的真道，到了時候就結出果子來！

弟兄姊妹，傳福音不像推銷的成敗，乃是聖靈的工作，過程中我們可以有分。這福分已經留給我們，只要我們願意傳，就能在聖靈裡經歷福音的喜樂！


昔牧尋聲 Archive


Pastor's Sharing

Gospel Sunday

Rev. K.T. Pun

The gospel is good news. Acts 13 records how Barnabas and Paul were called to proclaim this good news to the Gentiles so that people might receive salvation and life. When they arrived in Antioch, they worked diligently to spread the gospel, and many among the Gentiles believed in the Lord:

“The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:49–52)
What is striking about this passage is that the final line, “…were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit,” does not immediately follow “The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” Instead, it is placed after they faced persecution. I do not believe this means the disciples felt no joy when they saw the Gentiles believe in the Lord, nor that they forced themselves to wait until after being persecuted to rejoice. Rather, the author deliberately contrasts “joy” with “persecution,” and even with “failure.” What is going on here?

  1. The disciples knew they were acting in accordance with the Lord’s plan, and that opposition from the Jews was to be expected (see vv. 46–48). The Holy Spirit filled them, giving them joy, courage, and wisdom.

  2. In the ministry of evangelism, both the messenger (the disciples) and the hearers (Gentiles and Jews) have their respective roles and responsibilities. How the hearers respond is their own free choice, and it varies. The disciples saw the fruit of their evangelistic work and knew they had completed their mission. They therefore shook the dust off their feet (see Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5).

  3. Responses to the gospel will differ. Jesus’ parable of the sower teaches us to have appropriate expectations in evangelistic ministry (Luke 8:4–8).

    4. From short-term mission experiences, I have seen brothers and sisters encounter different responses when sharing the gospel. Some make an immediate decision to put their faith in Christ, some require follow-up, and some cannot be contacted again. In daily life, when sharing the gospel with relatives and friends, it may take a period of watchful prayer before fruit is borne. Just as some seekers, after attending worship services at church and hearing the truth for a period of time, eventually bear fruit at the appointed time!

    Brothers and sisters, evangelism is different from the success or failure of a sales pitch. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, and we are given the privilege of taking part in the process. This blessing has already been reserved for us. If we are willing to share, we can experience the joy of the gospel in the Holy Spirit!

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