牧者心聲

大衛的朝聖之歌說：「人對我說：我們往耶和華的殿去，我就歡喜。」（詩一二二 1）其中的「歡喜」，是指各人在耶和華面前所得的「歡樂」，這是敬拜者生命的力量（利二十三 40；尼八 10），他們用一致的行動，稱頌耶和華的名，也尋求神所賜的平安，並且彼此同行與祝福（詩一二二 6-9）

在今年的年初一崇拜，很多弟兄姊妹都扶老攜幼，歡天喜地的進入禮堂。我們在前往親友家中團拜之前，先回到神的家敬拜，這好比馬利亞所選擇的上好福分（路十 42）。當天大家取得金句紅封包，同心互勉，祈求新恩，崇拜後彼此又開懷地自由交談問安，其樂融融。

這時神又讓我遇見一對我為他們作婚前輔導、主持婚禮的夫婦，他們很高興地向我介紹身旁的家人，包括年事已高的父母、退休的兄弟姊妹，也有預備升讀大學、以及剛畢業出來就業的兒女。雖然他們的年齡、在教會聚會的年日各有差距，但都是在北宣家信主及接受洗禮的。這不但印證了神的應許：「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救」（徒十六 31），也顯明了教會生活是讓家族成員得著信仰恩福的途徑。

世界衛生組織指出，人們產生疾病、瀕臨死亡的因由，不單是因為缺乏食物，更在於人與人之間缺乏生命的連繫，產生孤獨不安的情緒，進而誘發身體疾病、導致死亡。人際間的連結能促進心理及身體的健康，而教會代際共融的關係，也能為我們帶來「傳承信仰、導引扶助」的恩福。神吩咐我們將祂的話存記在心，並殷勤教訓兒女，要將衪的法度聖言傳給子孫，使將要生的後代也可以曉得（申六 6-7；詩七十八 5-6）。新約的保羅也指出，提摩太擁有無偽的信心，都是因為外祖母羅以和母親友妮基的幫助（提後一 5），可見家庭成員「踐行信仰傳承」的重要性。

有一句話說得好：「今天你若不是主日學學生，就要作主日學老師。」當中的意思是說：代際共融的關係，能帶來教學相長的果效，不但可以傳承信仰，也能提供導引，給予扶助。親愛的弟兄姊妹，強壯是少年人的榮耀，白髮是老年人的尊榮（箴二十 29），無論我們是在年輕抑或老年的階段，我們都各有強健活潑的力量、或是寶貴生命的睿智，我們若能彼此尊重及認同，就能得享教會代際共融生活的美善，讓自己及他人均經歷信仰的恩典與福樂。

In David’s pilgrimage song, it is written: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD’” (Psalm 122:1). The word “rejoiced” here refers to the joy that people receive in the presence of the LORD. This joy is the strength of the worshipers’ lives (Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:10). With united action, they praise the name of the LORD, seek the peace that God grants, walk together and bless one another (Psalm 122:6-9).

At the worship service on the first day of the Lunar New Year this year, many brothers and sisters entered the worship hall joyfully, supporting the seniors and bringing along the young. Before visiting relatives and friends for New Year gatherings, we first returned to God’s house to worship. This is like the better portion that Mary chose (Luke 10:42). That day, everyone received red packets with a Bible verse, encouraging one another in unity and praying for new grace. After the worship service, we joyfully greeted one another and conversed freely, sharing warm fellowship.

At that moment, God let me meet a couple for whom I had conducted premarital counseling and officiated their wedding. They happily introduced to me the family members beside them, including their elderly parents, their retired brothers and sisters, as well as their children who were preparing to enter university or who had just graduated and begun their careers. Although their ages and the number of years they had attended the church differed, they had all come to faith and received baptism in the NPAC family. This not only confirms God’s promise: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31), but also demonstrates that church life is a channel through which family members receive the blessings of faith.

The World Health Organization points out that the causes of illness and even death are not merely the lack of food, but also the lack of human connection in life. When people experience loneliness and anxiety due to the absence of these connections, physical illness and ultimately death may result. Human connection promotes both psychological and physical health, and the intergenerational fellowship in the church likewise brings us the blessing of “passing on faith and offering guidance and support.” God commands us to keep His words in our hearts and diligently teach them to our children, passing on His decrees and His holy word to next generations so that even those yet to be born may also know them (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Psalm 78:5-6). In the New Testament, Paul also pointed out that Timothy possessed a sincere faith because of the influence of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). This shows the importance of family members “living out and passing on the faith."

There is a saying that goes: “If today you are not a Sunday school student, then you should be a Sunday school teacher.” The meaning behind this is that intergenerational fellowship produces the fruit of mutual learning and growth. Not only does it allow faith to be passed on, it also provides guidance and support. Dear brothers and sisters, “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old” (Proverbs 20:29). Whether we are young or old, each of us possesses either the vitality and strength of youth or the precious wisdom gained through life. If we can respect and affirm one another, we will enjoy the goodness of intergenerational church life, enabling both ourselves and others to experience the grace and blessings of faith.