Soul Food

And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Describing Paul and his companions in Acts 16:7 ESV

Although I have absolutely no experience with long distance races myself, I do have a daughter who has run in two marathons and several half marathons, which gives me some experience by osmosis or something. I do know that it’s wise to run with a group progressing at the same pace. If a runner starts too fast, she grows so tired that she may not complete the race. If she runs too slowly, her time won’t be her best. As I watched my daughter run the Chicago marathon, I noticed certain runners holding signs with a pace time so that anyone wishing to run at that speed could run with them.

As one running in God’s race, Paul was paced by the Spirit. We, too, must learn to listen and follow the leading of the Spirit in our lives so that we complete the race well without burning out or failing to finish the unique work God has given each of us.

After the Jerusalem Council ended, Paul returned to Antioch from where he soon left on a second missionary journey, which likely occurred about A.D. 50-52. You’ll find a chart of the second journey at the end of this lesson to make notes on his travels as you read.

As we follow this part of Paul’s journeys, keep in mind our focus this week—to consider how God’s Spirit paced and led him.

Part One Study

Before reading about Paul’s second trip, let’s look at how God led the first trip. Luke doesn’t provide a lot of information about what Paul and his companions were thinking or praying as they moved from city to city, but let’s use the information we have to at least consider God’s pacing.

Review Paul’s First Journey (Last Week’s Lesson), Either Using The Chart On P. 30 Or With A Quick Review Of Acts 13:4-14:28, Focusing On What Caused Them To Move From Place To Place. Keep These In Mind As You Read Today’s Stories.

Now we’ll turn to Paul’s second journey. Here’s a free map of this second journey1 to help. Record your insights into this second journey on the chart at the end of this week’s study on p. 36 as you go.

As You Read Acts 15:36–16:5, Journal Your Thoughts On The Following Questions In Light Of Your Review Of The First Journey As Well As This Part Of The Second. (We’re Saving The Paul/Barnabas Dispute For Another Lesson.)

• What events, etc. do you note that pushed Paul and his companions on from city to city? Look for the big picture, i.e. patterns. What would you say is God’s part in this?

Acts 15:36 says that Paul suggested this second trip as a follow-up visit to the churches that he and Barnabas had planted on the previous trip, and Paul and his new mission partner Silas did return to Syria, Cilicia and southern Galatia, strengthening the disciples, as planned. Meanwhile Barnabas and Mark visited the churches in Cyprus, which was Barnabas’s home.

Now where?

Read Acts 16:6-12.

In two short verses (Acts 16:6–7), Luke describes why Paul’s travels may have felt aimless after they left the church plants in southern Galatia. The scriptures suggest that no ministry took place during that time (Acts 16:5-12).

A trip which takes us only a few seconds to read, involved hundreds of miles of travel from southern Galatia and an unknown amount of time before Paul and his companions arrived in Troas (the area of ancient Troy)2 on the coast of the Hellespont, the four-mile-wide waterway separating Europe and Asia, where the travelers finally received direction about their next destination.

A possibility to consider: “Paul left the familiar region . . . , crossing the Aegean Sea, only after a vision from God (Acts16:9-10). Perhaps it was never Paul’s intention to take the gospel beyond . . . Asia Minor. This seems implied by Acts 16:6-7.”3

Write Down Your Thoughts On These Questions In Light Of The Verses And Information:

• What do you understand about the importance of discerning the voice of the Spirit from these verses?
• Describe the ways God has guided you. In light of that, which of Paul’s stories do you most relate to and why?
• What is God saying to you through Acts today?

*** Read from additional sources about what you’ve read today.

Part Two Study

In your reading in Part One you may have noticed that in Acts 16:10, where the travelers booked their trip to Macedonia, the northern area of Greece, the pronouns change from “they” to “we.” Most scholars see this as an indication that Luke, author of Acts, joined Paul and his party at this point. As you read the rest of Acts, look for Luke’s presence by noting his pronouns.

As you read the stories that comprise the rest of the second journey, keep noting how often Paul faced persecution and opposition. (You may want to highlight every place he met that kind of trouble on the chart at the end of the lesson.)

As You Read Acts 16:11-18:22, The Rest Of The Second Journey, Make Notes On The Chart On P. 36, And Record Your Thoughts On The Questions Below The Note:

Note: In Philippi we see the first record of Paul spending time in prison. N.T. Wright helps us understand what that involved: “In Paul’s world, unlike ours, prison was not a ‘sentence’ in itself. It was where magistrates put people while they decide what to do with them. No provision was made for the prisoner’s welfare. They had to rely on friends or family to bring them food and other necessities.”4

• What do these stories reveal about God in general and his guidance specifically?
• Meditate on the opposition and persecution that Paul endured throughout this second journey. What do you learn from Paul’s attitude?
• What is God saying to you today?

*** Our reading in Acts introduces a couple of great Christian women, Lydia and Priscilla. In BOW’s series of three free videos/podcasts, “You ARE On God’s Team,”5 Claudia McGuire encourages Christian women through both of their stories: Lydia’s story: “God Uses Your Availability”6 and Priscilla’s story: “God Uses Your Gifts.”7 Watch the series or one or both of the individual stories, and journal about how God is speaking to you.

Part Three Study

We saw in the scriptures in Part Two that after Paul arrived in Macedonia, he visited Philippi before heading to Thessalonica, where he spent only a short few weeks (Acts 17:1-10). Paul went on from there to Berea, Athens and then Corinth. It was during his time in Corinth when Paul likely wrote his two letters to the Thessalonians, saying, “But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us” (1 Thess. 2:17-18).

Even though Paul recognized that Satan was at work preventing him from returning where he wanted to go, he didn’t let it stop him from doing the work that was in front of him, from doing what he could do. Satan’s efforts didn’t dissuade him or depress him. In fact, Satan is rarely mentioned in Paul’s letters and is never his focus.

Some Christians credit Satan whenever things go wrong. After all, it couldn’t possibly be God’s will or plan for his work to fail or circumstances to be difficult, or could it?

Consider these first two journeys. Yes, Satan stopped Paul’s plans at times, but so did the Spirit. We don’t always know who’s behind a closed door, but we do know that God is in control, even when it’s Satan, and so Paul kept doing God’s work, not allowing Satan to stop him completely. Since God is in charge, we accept Satan’s attempts to stop us as God’s opportunities for us to keep trusting and serving where we can. Often, Satan’s real target is our faith. He wants to make us depressed, question God’s presence or quit the race. We must be alert to what he’s trying to do in us and entrust the closed door to God.

As You Consider God’s Sovereignty Over Paul’s Travels, Read These Verses And Write Your Thoughts On The Questions: 1 Samuel 2:4-10 (Hannah’s Prayer); Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Dan. 4:17, 34-35.

• What do these verses reveal about God’s rule and Satan’s power?
• How do you generally respond when good ideas and good works don’t work out? Why?
• Read Genesis 50:19-21, Joseph’s words to his brothers who sold him into slavery. Note your thoughts about how Paul’s story involves the same principle.

*** Read John 19:6-11, and note the last conversation between Pilate and Jesus. Write down your insights into Jesus’ words in v. 11 and the opposition and persecution we’ve seen in Paul’s story.

I love this prayer from John Baillie:

Thank you for every indication of your Spirit leading me, and for the things that seem like chance or coincidence at the time, but later appear to me as part of your gracious plan for my spiritual growth. Help me to follow where you lead and never quench this light that you have ignited within me, rather let me grow daily in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus my Lord.8

Sometimes it’s hard to see what God is doing when circumstances change and we face difficulties. Although unable to understand at the time, Ann can now look back at hurtful circumstances and recognize that God was at work for her good.

A Runner’s Story: Ann

I am from a small town in Texas and grew up with the notion that you graduated from high school and maybe went to college. Then you got married. I had dated the same guy all through high school and for two years in college, so I assumed that we would get married eventually. I was deeply hurt when he announced after our sophomore year that we should date other people over the summer. He had gotten a job in the city where we attended college, and I was going back to our home town. I was still hoping that after the summer, we would get back together. After all, we had dated for six years.

In late July I received a “Dear Ann” letter stating that he had met someone else and that they would be getting married in August! To say the least, I was devastated. I returned all of his personal items that I still had and burned his pictures, but my heart was truly broken. How could God have allowed this to happen? He had completely closed the door on that relationship.

I returned to college that fall and tried to get on with my life. I dated several people and eventually met a special person. We dated for two years and were married. Eventually we moved to Dallas for his job and to raise our family. Shortly after moving to Dallas, I was invited by an acquaintance to a Christian Women’s Luncheon where women shared their testimonies about how trusting Christ as their Savior had changed their lives. One of those who gave her testimony was the wife of my husband’s cousin. My acquaintance soon became my friend and mentor who led me to the Lord. We signed our children up for five day clubs and vacation Bible schools at several churches the next summer. We signed the kids up for Five-Day Clubs and vacation Bible schools. Our children trusted Christ, and eventually our husbands joined the family of God. Though our paths seldom cross now, she was one of the tools God used to lead me to Christ.

It has been many years since God intervened and put me on the path that eventually led me to Him through his son, Jesus Christ. He knew all along what his plans for me were, and what it would take to get me where he wanted me to be. I am thankful that He changed the direction of my life so many years ago.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Link To Map)9

Place Visited	Acts	Notes
Syria & Cilicia (regions), Derbe & Lystra	15:41-16:5
Phrygia (area in Galatia) & Galatia	16:6
Mysia (region)	16:7-8
Troas	16:8-11
Philippi	16:12-40
Thessalonica	17:1-10a
Berea	17:10-14
Athens	17:15-34
Corinth	18:1-18	Likely writes 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Cenchrea	18:18
Ephesus	18:19-21
Caesarea & Jerusalem (church was “up in” Jerusalem)	18:22
Antioch	18:22

 

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Soul Food

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

Thessalonians 5:14

My daughter was a swimmer through high school, but after college, she took up running. After several years working out in other ways, she’s been running again this past year, having moved to a new city where she met other runners. In fact, they had great plans for a girls-only weekend away to run in a half-marathon, but Covid-19 interrupted. So one day she just ran that distance on her own, but a few days later her friends decided they wanted to do it too. She was amazed at how much easier and faster it was running with a group rather than alone.

The race of the Christian life is designed to be run in community. We’re there to encourage and care for runners around us. That’s part of everyone’s race! We keep each other going when life gets hard and we feel like quitting the race.

What is it about the church’s purpose that requires us to gather and build into each other’s lives? Paul wrote Timothy describing the church in three ways: “the household of God . . . the church [ekklēsia, meaning called out ones, i.e., those called to gather]1 of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). As a household, we’re family, called brothers and sisters. We gather not only to preach and teach the truth but also to obey the commands to “admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) —this week’s Soul Food.

We’ve already focused on Paul as a bold runner who stood for the gospel truth, even when it was unpopular or led to opposition or persecution.

This week’s lesson centers on how Paul lived out what it means for the church to be family as we run the race together.

Part One Study

As we reflect on how Paul ran in community, we’ll pause where we left him last week arriving in Jerusalem at the end of his third journey and pick up the story there next week. This week we’ll reflect on what we’ve already seen these past few weeks and look for insights from his letters about his community.

First, let’s think about how others ministered with and to Paul.

Let’s start with Paul’s partner on his first mission team. Barnabas’s name means “Son of Encouragement” and was given to him by the Apostles to reflect who he was (Acts 4:36). We saw early examples of that when he interceded for Paul with the Apostles and then later searched for him to recruit him to aide the work of the church in Antioch. I suspect that encouragement came in handy when they encountered opposition and persecution.

That initial trip included a young John Mark, who deserted Paul and Barnabas and went home. So when Paul was ready to make a second trip to check on and encourage the church plants, “Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. They had a sharp disagreement, so they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters” (Acts 15:37-40). Between the two teams they then visited all the areas where they’d previously ministered.

I don’t have to tell you that a sharp disagreement doesn’t reflect God’s character. But we all know that it’s not uncommon for Christian leaders to get angry at each other when each person holds his own perspective as the right one. (And this sadly doesn’t apply just to leaders.)

So here’s a great encourager longing to give John Mark a second chance.

On the other hand there’s Paul whose call was to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Being focused on the work before him, he felt that Mark had proven that he wasn’t up to the challenge, making him a liability to the work. So they disagreed to the point that they had a heated argument over it.

Sometimes that’s what happens in families and churches because we’re all sinners. We see issues through the lenses of our personalities and giftedness and fail to seek God’s wisdom and pursue peace. In this case, thankfully, God brought good from it: the split led to two mission teams rather than one, Barnabas mentored Mark who matured and even wrote a gospel, and eventually Mark and Paul worked together again (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11).

Who were Paul’s companions on his second journey? Because of the break-up of the original team, Paul set out with Silas, a prophet (Acts 15:32) and one of the “leading men among the brothers” who had been entrusted by the apostles and elders at the Jerusalem Council to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch (Acts 15:22). As Paul and Silas revisited churches and traveled to new cities, the team added Timothy, Luke, Priscilla and Aquila for various legs of the trip.

When Luke wrote about Paul’s third trip, he threw in the names of several others who traveled along parts of the journey: Erastus, Gaius, Aristarchus, Sopater, Secundus, Tychicus and Trophimus. Paul’s letters indicate that there were countless others who supported him in the cities where he stayed and many who even went on the road with him. In fact, you’ll notice other names as we read from his letters.

Growing up I pictured Paul and Barnabas and then Paul and Silas alone or with one or maybe two others periodically, but the details in Acts tell us that there was usually a group surrounding Paul. These companions included other Christian leaders and some disciples—all working together to support Paul and his call to share the gospel with the Gentile world.

Meditate On What You’ve Just Read, The Notes On Your Charts And These Verses, Recording Your Insights Into The Questions That Follow: Romans 16 (Particularly Noting The Large Number Of Women); 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10; 2 Corinthians 7:5-7; 8:16-24; Philippians 2:19-26; 4:14-19. (To Date These Letters, See The Chart “Paul’s Final Journeys” In The Appendix On P. 61.)

• How can you use or adapt ways that Paul’s co-laborers and brothers and sisters in the churches encouraged and ministered to him to support those in your church community?
• What is God saying to you through Paul and Barnabas’s disagreement?
• Do you have close companions to run with you as you follow God? An encourager? A fellow worker with gifting and ministry similar to yours who provides practical wisdom? Do you need a helper? Without giving names, share how their presence in your life affects your attitude and service. If you can’t think of any person(s) in any of these categories, reach out to someone who might fill that gap, or become that person for someone else.

*** Look at the last chapters in two or three of Paul’s epistles (You’ve already looked at Romans), and note his comments as he greeted people who ministered to him. Or take the names of those we’ve already listed as part of his traveling group and use your Bible app, concordance or marginal cross references to learn more about them.

Part Two Study

Because of Paul’s calling to share the gospel with the Gentiles, he never stayed in any one place permanently, so his letters and visits were his primary methods to support the truth and exhort his brothers and sisters in the churches he had planted as they gathered as God’s family.

He often wrote them about how to love one another, living out what it means to be God’s family.

We only have time to read excerpts from Paul’s letters to get a flavor of what he stressed. As you read, think about your responsibility to your own church. In our day many people think of church as a place to go, sings songs of praise and get fed God’s Word—a passive experience. But it’s essential to invest in other believers and allow them to speak into our lives because we’re family—we’re supposed to be there for one another. We’re unified in Christ, dependent on one another, never to be isolated.

Read Romans 15:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 31-33; Ephesians 5:1-2, 19-21; 6:18; Philippians 2:3-11, And Comment On These Questions:

• How would you express what’s at the heart of the church in community? What’s most important for us to keep in mind?
• If you lived out your previous answer, what would change about your church experience?
• What is God saying to you as you meditate on Paul’s exhortations?

*** Loving also involves admonishing brothers and sisters for the purpose of restoration and healing. God has entrusted us with each other’s care, which makes us responsible to speak the truth in love. We saw Paul reprimand the whole church in Galatia for the false doctrine that they had accepted and Peter for going along with the idea of separating Jew and Gentile at meals. Read these verses, and journal your thoughts: Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1-5; 18:15-20; Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; commands for the church in Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:15-16, 25; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (our Soul Food).

Part Three Study

An important aspect of running together is supporting one another in prayer, so today we’ll look at Paul’s prayers as patterns for our own.

Meditate On Paul’s Prayers: Romans 1:8-12; Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-20; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. Then Journal Your Thoughts Based On These Questions:

• How would you describe Paul’s prayer life from reading his prayers?
• Reread each of these prayers, asking God to identify someone to pray for with each prayer.
• Jesus provided a model prayer for us that we call The Lord’s Prayer. Read it in Matthew 7:9-13. How do Paul’s prayers connect with how Jesus taught his disciples to pray?
• What is God saying to you about your prayer life?

*** Prayer is reciprocal among the family of believers. Paul prayed for the churches and asked them to pray for him. Read his requests and write down what you learn from his example: Romans 15:30-32; Ephesians 6:18b-20; Colossians 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2.

I’ve often called Paul’s prayers “kingdom prayers” because they focus on the big issues of extending God’s kingdom: God’s glory, believers’ maturity and walk with God, unity among the churches, spiritual growth and perseverance in the midst of hard circumstances. That doesn’t mean that we aren’t supposed to pray specific prayers for things like healing and provision, but it does mean that we recognize God’s primary concern is that we bring him glory and mature spiritually. Those bigger picture prayers should always be part of what we pray for others and request for ourselves.

At one point years ago a friend’s husband, who was in business for himself, was struggling to get enough customers, so the friend asked our group to pray for more business. As I began to pray as she requested, I had the thought that my prayers may be cancelling each other out—so to speak— because this man wasn’t a Christian and I was also praying for his salvation. What if a financial struggle was exactly what God needed to turn this man’s eyes toward him?

It was then that Paul’s prayers resounded with me. Instead of my usual prayers telling God how to fix situations the way I or my friends wanted, I turned such prayers into pleas for him to use whatever was happening for the benefit of his kingdom in the larger world and in the life of the one for whom I was praying. Paul’s prayers are perfect models of what to pray to align our requests with God’s will. (You can find a handout on kingdom prayers in the Appendix.)

A Runner’s Story: My Story

My life has been enriched over the years by Christian community everywhere that God has placed my family. My strongest friendships are based on our common bonds in Christ and the work that he has called us to do in the church. Our church community supported us in so many ways when my husband was hospitalized for a month with an eye infection years ago. Friends brought Bible verses on cards to the hospital and delicious food to our house. A group of men from the church surrounded him in prayer one evening. Their actions weren’t simply helpful, but they gave me great encouragement at a hard time.

My small groups in our women’s Bible studies have helped bond me to other people in our churches when we were new and without friends. My relationships with the women enlarged our circle of friends as a family when we went out of our way to get together with them as families.

From such connections I still have dear friends nearby who worshipped with us in the same church and built close relationships as we raised our families. We are still there for each other many years later.

But one person or one group doesn’t always fill out the whole picture of what community is. In my case God in his providence also placed me in a small group of women in ministry when I was doing it full-time that have been crucial in my own growth and spiritual health. We challenge one another in ministry, soul care and serving others. We read articles and books and have great conversations critiquing them and expanding our understanding of the greatness our God and his power.

I’m so grateful for the many people who have been community for me over so many years.

Soul Food

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

[Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Paul in Colossians 1:24, 28-29 ESV

To run well requires the runner’s investment in time, energy and money, and that involves sacrifices.

A great runner needs the appropriate clothing for the climate and the right pair of shoes, which quickly wear out and need replacing. Even the leisurely walks I take with my husband and dog require shoes that fit my feet and gait, so I don’t get plantar fasciitis as I did by doing too much walking barefoot on a beach vacation. All such equipment costs the runner who wants to run her best.

Anytime we choose to invest in one thing, we sacrifice something else. Parents give up freedom in order to invest in their children. Premiere athletes leave family behind to get the best coaching.

Generosity means sacrificing personal wants for others.

Paul was all in to follow Christ and earn his reward in the end, as seen in our Soul Food verses above. This week we’ll look at how that required an investment in people and churches that required sacrifice.

Part One Study

We’ve followed Paul on his early years as a follower of Jesus, three mission trips and through years of imprisonment. Our attention now turns to Paul’s epistles or letters. Let’s check out their possible timing so we put their messages in context of the events we’ve already studied in Acts.

In Week Three we saw that Galatians was written between Paul’s first and second journeys while he was back at his home base in Antioch. On his second mission trip he wrote two letters to the Thessalonians. (See the chart on p. 36.) Both 1 and 2 Corinthians as well as Romans appear to be written on his third journey. (See the chart in the Appendix on p. 61.)

The third trip ended in Jerusalem and Paul’s arrest. He likely penned the so-called prison epistles while under guard in Rome. Philippians fits the descriptions in Acts; Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon possibly came from that same period. If not, Paul wrote them while imprisoned in Caesarea.1

Paul’s last three letters were addressed to individuals. He likely wrote Titus and 1 Timothy after being released from the Roman imprisonment described at the end of Acts and 2 Timothy during a final Roman imprisonment, as noted on the chart of his final journeys. Luke didn’t include any information in Acts on events after the first Roman imprisonment.

Let’s see what we learn about Paul’s investment in others from these letters.

We’ll Start By Reading 1 Corinthians 9:11-27; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9; 12:14-15a.

• What do you see about Paul’s sacrifice to reach people with the gospel?

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in part to respond to questions they had asked. (See 7:1.) One area of confusion was whether a Christian could eat meat sacrificed to idols. Although Paul’s specific answer may not affect us today, through it we learn a lot about Paul’s attitude about the concerns of others.

Read Paul’s Reply In 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 And 10:23-33, And Write Down Your Thoughts About These Questions, Keeping In Mind How His Answer Involves Investing In People.

• How does Paul’s answer guide you as you invest in other church members?
• What do these passages reveal about God?
• Have you sacrificed your own rights to love your neighbors? Explain. If not, is there a right you should give up to love them as Christ loved us?

Being in the midst of a pandemic where the use of face masks has been recommended by medical experts, I was reminded how pertinent the biblical principles on our freedoms can be to our decisions.

*** Read Romans 14:1-15:3 in light of Paul’s response about eating meat offered to idols, and journal your thoughts about investing in other believers.

Part Two Study

We focus today on the ways that Paul invested in the churches he planted. Although I’m guessing most of us aren’t church planters, we are called to invest in our fellow believers in our churches. As you read, consider what you learn from Paul’s example.

Although we’ll read verses from many different letters, it’s not really a lot of reading.

Read 1 Corinthians 4:14-21; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 7:2-13; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 1:7-8; Colossians 1:24, 28-29 (This Week’s Soul Food); 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 2:5-12; 3:1-10. Journal Your Insights In Light Of These Questions:

• What is your impression of Paul’s investment in the lives of the people in these churches?
• What most stands out to you about Paul’s investment? Why?
• What is God saying to you today about your own investment in the race?

*** Compare Paul’s comments in Philippians 2:3-11 with what you learn about him in this section’s reading.

I think this comment from Rediscovering Paul describes well what we’ve read about Paul in this section: “Paul loved to think of himself as the father of his converts, he did not refer to them as his disciples; they were his children.”2

Although I can’t be a father, I’ve felt the emotions that Paul describes as a mother. Paul’s use of the term father in relationship with his disciples helps us recognize the responsibilities and deep connection we should have with those whom we spiritually parent.

Part Three Study

Paul’s willingness to invest heavily in churches even after he left them behind physically grows from attitudes deeply embedded in his heart. We’re going to read about those today.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-10; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6; 12:1-10; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Ephesians 3:8-13; 1 Timothy 1:12-17, And Note Your Responses To These Questions:

• How did Paul describe himself? How do you see that attitude motivate his investment in the churches?
• What do you learn about God from these passages?
• What is God saying to about your attitude?

Christians are new creations made by God. We’re forgiven and accepted by the Father, as Paul taught so well. And yet Paul continued to describe himself as an unworthy sinner. He recognized that God could use him despite his past, and yet that past led him to great dependence on God.

*** Comment on Paul’s continued mention of his history in light of Jesus’ words in the story in Luke 7:36-50.

Father God, humble us by reminding us of our failures and your marvelous grace. Use the past to motivate us to invest in others, always depending on your power to run the race you’ve given us.

This week’s story features a woman who was once unconcerned and reluctant to invest her time and efforts in a mission trip but who eventually invested heavily in loving and caring for the people she met.

A Runner’s Story: Irish

For years I heard testimonies in church from people who had traveled to far-away countries to share the gospel and teach God’s Word. I even had close friends who went on mission trips. Their commitment and experiences were inspirational, but never once did I consider going myself. In fact, I think I laughed when anyone suggested that I should go too. My heart was hard, and I had no interest.

So, God began the process of softening my heart, repeatedly exposing me to the lives of women who were completely sold out to God. His message to me was inescapable, and eventually I began to pray, “God, show me what you want me to do. I’ll do anything.” Soon after I began praying that way, I had a dream in which God made it clear that I too was to go to a far-away country and share the gospel. I was shocked but also excited about the next step. Since I had received repeated invitations from a mission organization to join them in their work in Tanzania, I accepted their invitation. After months of preparation, I was ready to serve with a team that would plant 20 churches in remote villages.

In Tanzania I shared the gospel in huts, in fields, in marketplaces and even in schools. I spoke with men, women and children who had a variety of responses to me—curiosity, skepticism, hostility and even fear. Time after time and in every situation, God gave me the words to speak and the courage to speak them. The people I spoke to looked different from me and lived differently from me, but they were just like me . . . in need of a Savior. Those moments when they recognized their need and said yes to Jesus were worth every fear, discomfort and inconvenience that I experienced.

I returned to plant churches in Tanzania seven more times, sharing the gospel and teaching God’s Word. On each of those trips, I was able to revisit many of the churches that our team had planted on previous trips. These were times of amazement, encouragement and celebration as we learned what God had done among them since our time together. To this day because of technology, I continue to hear from many of the believers that I served with who share with me how God is growing His church in places I’ve never heard of and will never see.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NASB).

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A ministry of…

作者: Roger Pascoe, 博士,主席
邮箱: [email protected]

I.加强讲解式讲道
传讲新约福音，第一部分

在这一期，我要开始探讨如何传讲福音故事。约占新约一半的四福音书，集中在耶稣的生活和事工（可1:1；太1:1；徒1:1-2；约20:31）。既然耶稣基督是四福音书的中心，所以我们对福音的理解和传讲也应该以基督为先。

在福音书中，耶稣基督被描述为成全了律法、第二个摩西、先知书预言要来的那位。因此，我们拿起福音书的任何一段，都要先问一下“这一段告诉了我们哪些关于耶稣基督的好消息，他对我们的爱，他的使命，他的苦难，死亡以及复活，他的再来，他对我们和社会的旨意？” (Sidney Greidanus, “Preaching in the Gospels”, 333)

另外，我们也要问，其他角色在福音中的作用是什么？我认为，不论什么时候当另一个角色出现在福音书的故事中，都加强或者促进了耶稣的信息和事工以及我们对他的理解。比如，如果你传讲约6:1-14，安德烈和腓力说了什么和做了什么来回应耶稣，从故事的角度说是很重要的。因此，为了恰当地理解这个故事，我们需要对此加以解释。不论怎样，这个故事的中心在于耶稣是谁以及在这个事件中他如何表现自己。我们得知安德烈和腓力并不知道耶稣是谁，因为如果他们知道的话，他们就不会像故事里说的和做的那样。这个故事的重要在于既然耶稣是神，（1）他能使石头变成面包（给众人吃）或者（2）他能让鱼嘴里吐出钱来（去买面包），或者（3）就像他们所看到的，他能够增多五个饼和两条鱼来喂饱众人。对耶稣问题的答案就是，耶稣不需要去买面包，因为他是造物主。这就是我所说的对这个故事以基督为中心的理解。

就像这个故事，福音故事的主要目的在于记录作者关于耶稣是神以及他的性格的神学理论，难道这就是作者想教给我们的所有东西吗？或者，我们能从他们身上学到什么实用的经验教训并应用到我们自己的生活中？我认为次要的角色，比如安德烈和腓力在福音故事中扮演了非常重要的角色。他们不但突出了耶稣的生命和事工，而且体现了人的有限、需要、罪和不信实等，尤其在他们和耶稣的关系以及对他的理解上。我们必须小心，不要把这些福音故事仅仅归结为道德教训，并且可以肯定的是，作者在叙述这些次要人物的细节时，也想要让我们从他们身上看到我们自己（我们的不信，有限的理解和对耶稣的不信靠）。在他们身上，我们看到现实生活的例子，我们也像他们一样，在对耶稣究竟是谁的理解上，经历属灵和理论上的波折。虽然这可能并不是福音故事的主要目的，但无疑是重要的一个。

耶稣的事工集中在“宣扬天国的福音”（太4:23；9:35；可1:14-15；路4:43’），一个国度（天国），“临近你们了”（路1:9,11），“临到你们了”（太12:28），“近了”（太3:2；1:7）以及“在你们心里”，因为君王在这里。同样地，耶稣也命令他的门徒宣扬同样的信息（太10:7;路9:2），也就是他们在福音书中为我们记录下的信息。当然，福音的信息在使徒行转（参照徒28:31）和使徒书信中也继续被传扬。

福音书里，旧约在长久等候的救赎终于来到了。这个救赎所有的指向和预表（献祭等）都在基督里得以实现。福音书将这个最后的、一次献上就永远成全的祭放置在历史的背景下展开，即先知们所预言的信息和事件在历史的长河中真实地发生（即成为现实），从旧约最后一个先知（施洗约翰）宣告弥赛亚来了（太3:1），直到耶稣的降生、生活、教导、死亡、复活和升天。现在，我们回过头来看这些事件，我们传道的任务就是跨越时间、文化和神学观点的鸿沟。

A.福音体裁：它的文学风格、结构和特点

“福音”即好消息，关于耶稣基督的好消息（哥前15:1），也是耶稣所宣扬的好消息（可1:14-15）。

1.文学风格。福音的体裁是福音书所独有的，从某种程度上说，使徒行转也是—它延续了这个基本的文学风格，记录了耶稣升天之后基督教会的成长。注意下面的福音书的文学特点…

a)福音是叙事体（简短故事的集锦）。圣灵选择了这样的形式来沟通关于耶稣的信息，以及耶稣所传递的信息，毫无疑问地使我们能够进入到故事里面而不是仅仅学习一系列的历史事实。因此福音书包含了眼见、味道、声音、想象。因此每一个福音，都是由一系列短小的故事组成，其中的一些互相联系的，共同构成一个主题的一部分。

b)福音是传记体的，虽然可能不是我们常用的形式。福音是为了传达以基督为中心的神学历史。因此它们是关于基督的、神学的、传记性的。

c) 福音是“布道性的”（说教的），反应了耶稣和他门徒的教导。

d)福音作者有选择地选择他们的历史材料。每一本福音书都从一个特有的角度，选择性地叙述耶稣生活和教导的一些事件（并不是记录每一个事件），以独特的方式呈现他的生活和事奉。比较福音书对同一事件的不同记载，能够很好地帮助我们理解作者的角度。

e)每一个福音作者的写作都为了符合他特殊的神学目的。例如，约2:31，约翰的目的是为了传福音，但不仅仅是传福音。一个人一旦相信了神的儿子耶稣，他必须活在耶稣里面，和他一起，也为他而活。因此福音作者记载了这些历史事实，将它们呈现在我们面前，使我们能够相信他，也“在他里面有生命”。

f)每一个福音作者都以他独特的神学角度讲述了耶稣—他的生命、教导和事工。因此，马太体现了耶稣是弥赛亚以及他的国度。马可体现了耶稣是一个无瑕疵的、受苦的仆人。路加体现了耶稣是人子（也就是耶稣是完全的人）。约翰体现了耶稣是神的儿子（也就是耶稣的神性）。

因为每一位作者的神学角度不同，因此他们的故事也有不同的起点。马太以耶稣的家谱和出生开头；马可以施洗约翰的信息起头（没有出生的记载）；路加以施洗约翰的出生以及后来耶稣的出生起头；约翰以耶稣道成肉身之前的存在起头。

g)福音作者以不同的方式编排他们的素材。每一个福音故事并一定是按时间顺序排列的，有的时候是按主题排列。这就解释了为什么每个福音书的素材顺序是不同的。他们在措辞上也有变化，这反映了一个这样的事实，即福音故事并非来自像录音带一样的复制，并非是一个词一个词复述，而是转述或者浓缩的。他们也并非记录耶稣所说或者做的每件事（参考约21:25）。这就说明了为什么有的时候耶稣的教导是几个小时，但是所记录的内容，我们只需要几分钟就读完了。

h) 每本福音书共同的重点都是耶稣生命的最后几周。这个主题包含了最大比例的素材。比如，在约翰福音中，从12章开始就是关于耶稣生命的最后几周。因此，我们认为，关于福音书包含哪些内容以及如何安排，是圣灵在带领福音作者。

i)福音体裁不是照搬旧约，但是确实与旧约有连续性—比如：

(i)救恩历史的继续。

(ii)一般来说，旧约和福音书都包含叙事史，比喻，律法、末日灾难、神迹等。

(iii)旧约所盼望以及先知所预言的都在基督里得以实现，福音书将这些记录了下来。不论怎样，就题材而言，我认为“福音是一个独特的体裁”。

2.文学结构和特点。三本福音书（马太、马可和路加）被称为“对观/符类”（字面意思：一起看，看起来相似）福音，因为他们包含了相似的材料，而约翰福音却完全不同。

福音是由短小的故事组成的，每一个故事都关于耶稣；有些故事互相联系，组成更大的故事；所有的故事组成一个大的故事。因此，当阅读福音书的时候，问你自己：

a) 这个小故事告诉了我们关于耶稣的什么？

b)根据上下文的背景，作者在这个更大的故事（也就是这些小故事的集合）里面告诉了我们什么？

以路加福音10:25到11:13（参考Duval and Hays, Grasping God’s Word, 248-249）所记录的一系列小故事为例…

a)路加10:25-37讲述了一个想得到永生的律法师的故事。

这一互动的背景开始于律法师对耶稣的提问“我该做什么才可以得永生？”（10:25），他接着问了第二个问题：“谁是我的邻舍”（10:29）。耶稣用了一个关于“一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥”的比喻（10:30-35），回答了他想要显明自己有理的第二个问题。

我们从这个故事能够学到的神学原则是：

(i)我们的邻舍是任何有需要的人。

(ii)爱邻舍不受种族、地域、财富以及民族的限制。

b)路加10:38-42记载了耶稣到马利亚和马大家里的故事。

从这个故事中，我们学到的神学原则是，有的时候我们过于忙碌为主做工，却忽视了与他之间的关系。

c)路加11:1-13记载了因着门徒要求 “求主教导我们祷告”（11:1），耶稣教导如何祷告。我们从这里能够学到的神学原则是…

(i)祷告的直接对象是神（父），祷告是对神的敬畏的表达（11:2）。

(ii)祷告包括了请求神供给我们每日的需要，原谅我们的罪债以及请求神保守我们远离试探（11:3-4）。

(iii)我们可以大胆地祷告（11:5-8）

(iv)祷告是对父神的信靠，我们要求的时候回答我们，寻求的时候引领我们，敲门的时候给我们开门（11:9-10）。

(v)作为一位爱我们的父神，神愿意赐予我们祷告的请求（11:11-13）.

贯穿这些独立但在神学和主题上有联系的小故事的共同线索是“关系”。

a)路10:25-37 爱以及服事那些有需要的人（也就是我们的“邻舍”），不论他们是谁以及我们对他们有怎样的偏见。

b).路10:38-42 永远要把你与耶稣之间的个人关系、对耶稣的全心投入放在宗教活动（事工）之前。

c).路11:1-13 在祷告中与神交流是一个美好的特权，表达了我们对神的爱以及我们依赖于神供应我们每日的需要。

结语

我希望这篇关于福音书讲道的介绍性的文章，对你理解“福音体裁—它的文学风格、结构和特点”能够有帮助。下次我将继续这个主题，提供一些关于解释的提示和原则，将帮助你进一步理解和传讲福音故事。

II.加强圣经化领导
“和好的职分，第三部分：神百姓的和好” (哥后. 6:1-6:10)

我们继续研究保罗写给哥林多教会的精彩牧养指导。到目前为止，我们已经讨论过的这一系列文章如下所列…

哥后2:14-3:3，事工中有信心

哥后4:1-16 真实事奉的本质:

第一部分，信息的本质，哥后4:1-6(2012夏)

第二部分，事奉的本质，哥后4:7-16(2013夏)

哥后4:16-5:17，事奉的动力

第一部分，我们将来的转变，哥后4:16-5:9（2013秋）

第二部分，我们在神面前交账，哥后5:1-13（2014冬）

第三部分，基督舍己的爱，哥后5:14-17（2021春）

哥后5:18-7:16，和好的职分

第一部分：所有人的和好，哥后5:18-21（2021夏）

第二部分，神百姓的和好，哥后6:1-7:16

1.呼吁神的百姓与神和好，哥后6:1-2（2021秋）

2.呼吁神的百姓与神的执事和好（6:3-7:16）.

a)基于一个值得称赞的事工， 呼吁和好，哥后6:3-10（2021秋和2022冬）

b)基于一个牧养的心，呼吁和好，哥后6:11-7:16（在接下来的版本中）

在本刊的上一期杂志中（2021秋，41期）我们完成了对哥林多后书6:5的学习，第二部分进行到一半：“基于一个值得称赞的事工，呼吁和好。”我们注意到，一个事工值得称赞，因为

(i)忍受身体上的苦难(6:4-5)

(ii)持守道德标准(6:6-7)

(iii) 忍耐矛盾的现实(6:8-10)

上一期中，我们探讨了(i)一个值得称赞的事工忍受身体上的苦难，这次我们要学习…

ii)一个值得称赞的事工持守道德标准（6:6-7）。道德标准有利于识别和确认一个值得称赞的“神的事工”（6:4）。保罗的事工在道德上展现了 “…廉洁、知识、恒忍、恩慈、圣灵的感化、无伪的爱心、真实的道理、神的大能、仁义的兵器在左在右”。这些道德标准在适当的例证和支持下，成为值得称赞的事工和事工的特征。作为神的执事，使徒保罗克服了各种身体上的苦难（6:4-5），保持道德标准， “在各样的事工表明自己”（6:4）。

让我们一起来学习一下这些使事工值得称赞的道德标准…

“…廉洁”（6:6a）意味着，我们作为神的仆人，坚持和践行圣洁的生活，以持守我们的道德标准。我们要活得无可指责，在我们的生活中没有任何事情可以正当地使我们丧失信誉。我们是正直的人。这显然是使我们的事工值得称赞的根本。

“…知识”（6:6b）指的是我们的理解，尤其是对属灵的事的理解，坚固我们的事工。我们道德和行为的标准必须建立在对神真理的理解上。

“…恒忍”（6:6c）。事奉需要很多的耐心，尤其是对那些反对我们，爱辩论却没有坚固的圣经基础的人。保罗在这里就面对哥林多教会那些批评反对他的人。他深知耐心的考验。

.“…恩慈”（6:6d）是基督的怜悯、恩典和温柔。当保罗在身体上遭受反对他的人的苦待时，当他在情感上遭受那些认识他、本应更好地对待他的人的伤害时（比如哥林多教徒），耐心和恩慈无疑使他能够适当地处理和回应这些问题。有人指出，耐心是被动的，恩慈是主动的(P. Barnett, cited in David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, 308)。难怪这两个道德品质涵盖了保罗在任何环境中的表现，不论是面对福音敌对者的反对和逼迫，还是面对神百姓的批评和拒绝。他效仿了耶稣的榜样，“他被骂不还口，被害不说威吓的话，只将自己交托那按公义审判人的主”（彼前2:23）。

“…圣灵的感化”（6:6e）。有的人认为这里指的是人的灵。但相反的是，圣灵常常与圣洁、耐心、恩慈、知识等联系起来（参考罗14；17；15:13；哥前12:8；加5:22）。毕竟，是圣灵使我们能够有这些道德品质。保罗一定是靠着圣灵的大能才具备这些圣灵的果子。

只有“被圣灵充满”的人才能充分地表现出恰当的道德标准（弗5:18），他们靠着圣灵的能力生活和事奉神。实际上，接下来“真实的道理”、“神的大能”以及“仁义的兵器”进一步说明了保罗在这里指的是圣灵，他作为神的使者赋予我们能力，使神的执事能够活出这些行为品质。

“…无伪的爱心”（6:6f）。真实的爱是一个值得称赞的事工的另一个组成部分。真实的爱是没有虚假的爱、不伪装的爱。实际上，保罗心里可能有一个鲜明的对比，想到哥林多教会对他的爱是虚伪的、有条件的、偶尔的。

“…真实的道理”（6:7a），经文。保罗也有可能指的是所说的真实的话。但是有可能保罗在这里指的是神的话，神的话就是真理，也阐明真理。

“…神的大能” （6:7b）。正如一个在事奉中持守道德标准的牧师，靠着圣灵的能力，就是“神的大能”，能够以模范的道德方式行事。我们自己完全没有能力在事奉上为神活出模范的生命。我们只有被“神的大能”驱使，“靠着圣灵”行事，而不是我们自己的能力，才能做到。（参考罗1:16；15:19；哥前1:18；2:4-5；帖前1:5）

“…仁义的兵器在左在右”（6:7c）。我们不但靠着神赐予的能力来事奉，而且在我们事工的属灵争战中，神保守我们，他赐予我们属灵的“仁义兵器”。“在左在右”似乎指的是，在任何情况下神都保护我们，不论攻击从哪而来，不论在什么情况下攻击出现，也不论是什么样的攻击，不论我们是面对“荣耀”、“羞辱”、“恶名”、“美名”（6:8）.

因此，保罗就这八个道德标准对比了真正的执事和骗子，也就是批评他的假使徒。福音真正的执事持守他的道德行为和标准，毫不动摇。

所以，一个值得称赞的事工被人所知，通过它（1）忍受身体上的苦难（6:4-5）；（2）持守道德标准（6:6-7），以及…

(iii)一个值得称赞的事工忍受矛盾的现实（6:8-10）。在这里，保罗描述了9个矛盾的状况，通过这些情况，他坚持不懈，而他的事奉仍然是值得称赞的。靠着真实的道理，神的大能，以及神仁义的兵器作为他面对攻击或者防御的武器，保罗能够面对任何的环境，不论是真的还是假的，不论是赞美还是反对，不论是鼓励还是不鼓励。

“…荣耀、羞辱、恶名、美名”（6:8a）。保罗当然知道，忍受对他本人以及对他事奉的各种不同的评价和报告是什么滋味。前一分钟，人们跪倒在地，把他当作神来崇拜；下一分钟，他们就要用石头打死他（比如在路司得，徒14:8-9）. 有些报道称赞他的事工;而其他人则怀疑；有些报道纯粹是邪恶和歪曲事实;而有些报道是好的。 但是，无论别人尊崇他或羞辱他，称赞他或说他坏话，保罗都在事奉中忍耐，因为他要得神的称赞。

列表继续，这里有两个对立的悖论—也就是别人如何看待他和他实际是什么样的人之间的对立…

“…似乎是诱惑人的，却是诚实的”（8b）。尽管他的敌人认为他是个骗子，尽管哥林多人认为他说的不是真话（比如哥后1:17-20），但实际上保罗用爱心说诚实话。其他人（可能是假使徒）可能认为（和指控）他是个骗子，引导人们走弯曲的道路，但事实上保罗教导的是真实的。因此，不要让他人的指控妨碍了你的事工。

“…似乎不为人所知，却是人所共知”（6:9a）。虽然保罗并不争取名声或者公众的赞誉，但毫无疑问他很有名望，虽然可能并非通过直接的接触。更具体地说，那些与他不亲近(或反对他)的人并不真正了解他牧养的心和正直的性格。在这个程度上说，他“不为人所知”。而且，他也不是那种轻易表露内心想法和感情的人（像他在使徒书信中一样）。但是对那些他亲身牧养的人来说，他是人所共知的。他的动机，他的信息，他的道德，他的原则，他生活的方式，他对神的忠诚，他对福音坚定的宣传都是人所共知的。

现在对立的悖论转移到互补的悖论…

“…似乎要死，却是活着的”（6:9c）。死亡在保罗的事奉中一直都是随时都有可能发生的现实—这是一种职业危险。这是他所面对的苦难的结果（哥后4:8-10；徒11:24-25；16:19-26）。这也是活在“与基督一同受苦，效仿他的死”这样的关系中所面对的现实(腓 3:10; 哥后 4:11)。

“似乎受责罚，却是不至丧命的”（6:9c）。保罗把在事奉中所经受的苦难、反对和逼迫看做是神对他的“管教（和合本译为“责罚”）”（哥前11:32；来12:6）。 神使他经历这些试炼，虽然是严厉的，却没有死。在这段经文中，保罗似乎是在引用这些极端的经历，说明籍着这些经历，“值得称赞的”执事们以他们鲜明的基督式的反应证明了他们是谁。他们把这样的环境，看做神的管教之手，为要叫他们得益处和成长。

“…似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的”（6:10a）。尽管保罗积极地看待生活和事工，但这并不代表他没有忧愁（比如哥前2:1-3；罗9:2；腓2:27）。但是他能够在面对忧伤的时候，在基督里仍然有不可动摇的喜乐。

“…似乎贫穷，却是叫许多人富足”（6:10b）。保罗靠做帐篷为生。毫无疑问，这样的工作并不能使他富有。传讲福音也不能使他富有（哥后2:17；4:2；腓4:12）。事实上，他选择贫穷是为了不负债或者不成为任何人的负担（哥后11:9；12:6），是为了不使福音受损（徒20:33-35）。但是通过他的事工，他却使很多人属灵上富足（哥前4:8；哥后1:6）。

“…似乎一无所有，却是样样都有的”（6:10c）。尽管保罗贫穷，但是他并不是在叫屈。他在基督里样样都有。他是富足的（腓4:12）。

结语

保罗描述一个值得称赞的事工和执事的目的是为了“免得这职分被人诽谤”（6:3）。值得称赞的事工能够承受任何人的审视之光，因为这样的执事能够在各种困难和压迫的环境中表现得令人钦佩，例如忍受身体上的痛苦（6:4-5），持守道德标准（6:6-7），以及忍受矛盾的现实（6:8-10）.。

由此看出，保罗把真诚和值得称赞的执事与那些不诚实和欺诈的执事做对比。正如一位评论员所说，“保罗认为福音因着那些贪婪、误会、无知、傲慢、愤怒、粗鲁、无情、虚假爱人的执事而受损，他们结交那些他们认为在某些方面对他们有益的人。这样的执事既没有圣灵也没有神的大能”（David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, 310）。

希望我们被这次的学习鼓舞，使我们的事工无可指摘，我们自己行事为人能够荣耀神。

III. 讲道大纲

题目:像基督学习，做有影响力的基督徒，第一部分（太5:13）

主题:有影响力的基督徒是那些为了神的缘故对世界做出改变的人

要点 1:当我们为神而影响世界时，我们完成我们的使命(5:13a)

“你们是世上的盐”

1a.我们要在这个堕落、走向死亡的世界里有赐予人生命的影响力。

(i)…通过抵挡罪的侵蚀保守世界

(ii)…通过从罪的感染下净化世界

1b.我们要在一个不道德和没有信仰的世界里成为一个明显的影响者

(i) …在不失去我们身份的前提下渗透这个世界

(ii) …在不让人反感的前提下调节世界的口味

要点 2. 如果我们在世上成为对神无用的，我们的使命就失败了（5:13b）

“盐若失了味，怎能叫他再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人残踏了”

2a.如果我们失去了神在这个世界上对我们的目的，我们就会变得无用

–也就是像盐一样“失了味”

2b.如果我们失去了在这个世界上在神里面的价值，我们就会变得无用

–也就是变得“对什么都没有好处”