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二○二一年十一月二十七日/二十八日                                                                                                  Click here for English

將臨期——我們在等甚麼?

潘建堂牧師


聖誕節和復活節是福音派教會較為熟悉、也較多回應的節期,原因不在於這兩個節期有假期,而是因為與基督救恩有直接的關係。北宣家以靈活的方式去記念節期的意義,多年來都舉行受苦節崇拜及預苦期的活動,以幫助信徒領受基督受死復活的信息。

其實,聖誕節之前也有一個預備期,稱為「將臨期」(Advent),這是傳統節期所衍生的屬靈操練,叫我們在聖誕節之前四個主日預備基督的來臨。基督徒對基督降臨的期待,不僅包括基督的降生,還有祂第二次的降臨。宣道會四重福音的信息,也重視主的再來,基督不單是拯救我們的主、醫治我們的主、使我們成聖的主,也是再來之主。

聖誕節是萬眾期待的節日,之所以期待,往往是因為有假期、有旅行、有大減價、有新貨品,也有人人喜歡的白色聖誕氣氛,但這一切都不是聖誕節的本身意義。聖誕節是記念基督降生的日子,而基督的名稱為「以馬內利」,意指神與人同在。基督的第一次降臨,是應驗歷代先知的預言,祂是以色列引頸翹望的彌賽亞。基督的第二次降臨,是新約信徒一直期盼的日子,從 2000 多年前開始,這份期盼就變得越來越強烈,新約聖經也多次勸勉我們要警醒等候祂的再來。

傳統教會習慣在將臨期的每個主日崇拜燃點一支蠟燭(由最接近 11 月 30 日之主日算起,直到聖誕節),每個主日多燃一支,直至第四個主日(因此 12 月 25 日聖誕節前的主日仍是期盼主臨的日子),這循序漸進的燃燭方式,可引領信徒帶著期盼的心來迎接主的來臨。燃燭,叫我們想到基督的光燃亮這個世界,又燃亮我們的生命。

非信徒或也聽過基督降生的故事,但他們大概只看到聖誕節中的享樂。對信徒來說,聖誕節和將臨期卻別具深厚的信仰意義,為此,平安夜的祝福應該更多傳給那些尚未聽過福音的人,故此我們藉著佈道聚會,體現昔日天使向牧羊人(平民)傳揚福音的情景,就如北宣家的使命宣言:「讓神的愛燃點生命,實踐施比受更為有福的生活。」在 12 月 25 日,信徒應把握假期的日子,帶著喜樂的心慶賀主的降生,並深入思想主降生的意義。

我們在等甚麼?昔日以色列如何等候彌賽亞的來臨,我們也同樣切切期盼祂的再來,並等候祂再來之前每一個服事主、敬拜主、宣揚主的寶貴機會!







Pastor's Sharing
Advent – What Do We Wait for?

Rev Kin-tong Pun

Christmas and Easter are the liturgical seasons that evangelical churches are more familiar with and would often respond to. This has nothing to do with the holidays associated with them but because they have direct relationships with Christ's salvation. NPAC takes a flexible approach to remembering the meanings of liturgical seasons. For many years, we have conducted Good Friday services and Lent activities to help believers understand the messages surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

In fact, Christmas is preceded by a preparation period called Advent. This is a spiritual training derived from the liturgical seasons and prepares us for the coming of Christ four Sundays before Christmas Day. During Advent, Christians are expectant not only of the birth of Christ but also His second coming. The second coming of Christ is also emphasized in the Christian and Missionary Alliance's fourfold gospel. Not only is Christ our Savior, Healer and Sanctifier. He is also our Coming Lord.

Christmas is a season anticipated by many, largely owing to its holidays, travel, sales, new commodities, and the atmosphere of white Christmas everyone likes. Nevertheless, none of these is the original meaning of Christmas. Christmas commemorates the birth of Christ. His name is Immanuel, meaning "God with us." The first coming of Christ realizes the prophets’ prophesies down the ages. Christ is the Messiah that Israel has been waiting for. The second coming of Christ is something that New Testament believers await. The eagerness to see the day New Testament believers await has been growing ever since more than 2,000 years ago. The New Testament Bible has also time and again exhorted us to stay vigilant and wait for His second coming.

By tradition, the church lights a candle during the worship service on every Sunday of Advent (starting from the Sunday closest to Nov 30 until Christmas). Each Sunday, the church will light up one more candle until the fourth Sunday (so the Sunday before Dec 25 is still a time to wait in anticipation the Lord's coming). Such progressive candle lighting leads believers to await the coming of the Lord with a heart of expectation. Candle lighting reminds us of the light of Christ which lit up the world as well as our lives.

Non-believers may have heard about the story of Christ's birth but they probably only see the enjoyment brought by Christmas. To believers, however, Christmas and Advent carry deep spiritual meanings. As such, the blessing of Silent Night should be preached more widely to those who have not heard of the gospel. Through evangelistic meetings, therefore, we keep alive the scene of angels bringing the good news to shepherds (common people). This is similar to the mission statement of the NPAC family: "To light up our lives with God's love and live out the practice of 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" On Dec 25, believers should take advantage of the holidays to joyfully celebrate the birth of the Lord while giving deep thoughts to its meaning.

What do we wait for? Just like how the Israelites in the past awaited the coming of the Messiah, we likewise earnestly await the second coming of Christ. We cherish every precious opportunity to serve, worship and proclaim the Lord before His second coming!