牧者心聲

我們的神很樂意我們來敬拜祂，而祂的心意是要萬國萬民都敬拜祂。我們從信主開始，已經領受一個蒙福的生命，而一生之中每週的崇拜，都是一個蒙福的歷程，反映於我們崇拜的過程之中：

群體之福——會前聚集和歡迎 

群體敬拜是集體對神的崇敬。我們不僅是上教會去敬拜（go to church），更是成為教會（become the church），是一個屬於神的群體。神要透過群體彼此建立，一同見證祂的榮耀。當教牧同工上台代表教會歡迎會眾時，乃是滙聚我們的心思，一同敬拜，一同蒙恩。「靠你有力量、心中嚮往錫安大道的，這人有福了！」（詩八十四 5）

恩召之福——宣召詩歌和經文

詩班進場時唱頌，我們同唱宣召的詩歌，是透過詩歌體會上帝對我們的恩召。祂呼召我們進入祂的羊圈，也呼喚我們每週一同敬拜祂。隨後，宣召經文開啟了上帝說話對我們的恩召，照亮我們的生命，是每位朝聖者的福分。「天使對我說：你要寫下來：凡被請赴羔羊婚宴的人有福了！」（啟十九 9 上）

稱頌之福——歌頌和禱告

回應上主的恩召，我們一同釋放心中對祂的讚美，述說祂對我們的恩惠，承認祂對我們生命的主權，並降服於祂榮耀的恩典之中。「知道向你歡呼的，那民有福了！耶和華啊，他們要行走在你臉的光中。」（詩八十九 15）

記念之福——聖餐

每月的聖餐引領我們的心思，回味祂的救贖之恩，仰望祂的再來。「你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道他是美善；投靠他的人有福了！」（詩三十四 8）

恩言之福——讀經講道

當我們親近主的時候，我們的心靈也預備好要聆聽主的聖言。「留心訓言的，必得福樂。」（箴十六 20 上）「你們既知道這些事，若是去實行就有福了。」（約十三 17）

悅納之福——奉獻

在奉獻的時間，主悅納我們具體以金錢作奉獻，以及我們以心靈投入的生命獻呈。「各人要隨心所願，不要為難，不要勉強，因為神愛樂捐的人。」（林後九 7）

奉差之福——家事分享及差遣

從使命的分享到祝福差遣，都是預備我們在崇拜之後，繼續實踐以生活為祭，作一個蒙福的人。「報福音、傳喜信的人，他們的腳蹤何等佳美！」（羅十 15 下）

我們在崇拜開始的時候得蒙恩召，在崇拜結束的時候也蒙差遣。「你出也蒙福，入也蒙福。」（申二十八 6）能參與敬拜的聚會，「始終」是我們的福分！

  Many people misunderstand “love.” They think that as long as the intention is good, they can do whatever they want. Yet, if we open the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus portrays a totally different picture: love is not “do as I like.” Love pays close attention to detail, and within it are the laws God has given.

  Seldom do we notice that the LORD first delivered His people from slavery, and only then proclaimed His commandments. This sequence of “salvation first, law after” shows that the law was never meant to be a shackle but rather help for “a people who are God’s loved one" to learn to live out His original purpose for man and community.

  In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, the Lord Jesus first speaks of the Beatitudes. Then He shifts the focus of the law from “outward behavior” to the very fine details of “heart and mind.” For example, He points out that it is not enough to keep “You shall not murder,” because anger and contempt in the heart are also destructive. It is not enough to keep “You shall not commit adultery," because a lingering gaze and a heart of endless desire also cross the line. This shows that love must attend to detail, for the problems of life often arise from moments when desire is allowed to drift unchecked.

  Religious leaders had already imposed heavy and detailed rules on the people. Yet the Lord said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). This seems even stricter than the Pharisees. No wonder the disciples exclaimed that the standard was too high. Who can possibly meet it?

  Yet, behind the Lord Jesus' exposition of the Old Testament law, and behind all that He came to fulfill, there is one word: love. This love is seen in Him: He tore down the walls that kept people apart; He ate with tax collectors and sinners; and He responded to the faith of a Gentile woman. He also taught His disciples to serve “the least of these” brothers and sisters. This love goes beyond the world's carefully calculated lines and reciprocity and even moves us to pray for our enemies. The Lord's love guides us to live so that we “surpass the Pharisees in our sincerity.” He invites us to enter His grand story of salvation.

  Therefore, pursuing “greater righteousness” is not about exerting personal willpower to “be a good person.” It is not to cover a selfish and loveless heart with empty piety and religious acts. All true actions flow from trusting and obeying God. This keeps us from sinking into the mire of moral perfectionism and enables us to live out love in the details of everyday life.

  This quarter, we will reflect on love and the law through the Gospel of Matthew. We will learn to understand the goal of “love in the details,” returning to the pure and simple heart of a child. In daily life, this may be a moment of patient listening to a family member, a word of thanks to a courier, or “deleting” a harsh remark you were about to post. In these small but real moments, we choose to respond to a seemingly cold world with love, because we know we are securely surrounded by the love of God.