| 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 |
哥林多前书3章5-9节 |
| 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. |
5 亚波罗算甚么？ 保罗算甚么？ 我们不过是 神的仆人，你们藉着我们信了主；按着主所赐给各人的， 6 我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，唯有 神使它生长。 7 所以，栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在乎那使它生长的 神。 8 栽种的和浇灌的都是一样，只是各人要照着自己的劳苦得着自己的报酬。 9 我们是 神的同工，你们是 神的田地，神的房屋。 |
| Introduction |
引言 |
| Right now I have visitors on my mind. I am imagining you coming to Bethlehem and not having much context for the multi-campus conversation we are having right now. Let me back up and provide some of that context. |
此刻我在想着今天到访的新朋友。 我想象着你来到伯利恒教会，但对于我们现在正在进行的关于多堂区会谈并没有太多的了解。 让我来提供一些背景信息。 |
| First, we are in the midst of a Ten Year Vision that we have called 25 x 25. You might remember that this 10 year vision had four major initiatives: (1) engage 25 unengaged people groups and (2) plant 25 new churches by 2025, (3) build a 24/7 facility for the South Campus, and (4) strengthen the core on our campuses. The first three have been fairly specific and well-defined. The fourth initiative has been the hardest to define. The Lord has shown us some of what that means in the last few years, but recently we believe the Lord has given us a new vantage point and a new level of clarity. |
首先，我们处于25 x25“十年愿景”的中间阶段。你也许还记得，该十年愿景有四个主要任务：在2025年之前（1）向25个福音未及的族群传福音，（2）建立 25个新教会，（3）为南堂建设一座24/7设施，（4）加强我们堂区的核心凝聚力。 前三个是相当具体明确。 第四项则很难定义。 在过去的几年中，神向我们展示了其中的一些含义，但最近我们相信神给了我们新的制高点和新的清晰度。 |
| Some of you may remember a statement that the elders wrote that gets to the heart of where we think the Lord is leading. I will red it again. |
你们中有些人可能还记得长老们起草的一份声明，说的是我们领受到主在带领我们走向何方。 我再读一遍。 |
| Read Statement |
阅读声明 |
| In light of God's many graces and our desire to strengthen the core at Bethlehem, the elders are asking the congregation to pray with us for the future structure and organization of Bethlehem. In particular, we are considering a transition to regular live campus specific preaching and campus specific QSMs. "This means that the campus pastors would be mainly responsible for the preaching at each campus and that most strategy meetings would be decentralized from the downtown location and instead held at each specific campus location." |
鉴于神的诸多恩典，以及我们对于加强伯利恒教会核心凝聚力的渴望，长老们要求会众与我们一起为伯利恒教会未来的组织结构祈祷。 具体是，我们正在考虑过渡到常规的分堂区现场讲道和分堂区季度策略会议。 “这意味着，各堂区主任牧师将主要负责每个堂区的讲道工作，大多数策略会议将从市中心堂区分出去，在各自堂区举行。” |
| We recognize this would be a significant change for the church, and if made, there will be implications for our congregation, pastoral staff, and ministries. Therefore, we earnestly desire to hear the thoughts and reflections of the congregation in this process, inviting you to pray with us for God's direction. |
我们认识到这对教会来说将是一个重大变化，一旦决议通过，将对我们的会众、牧师团队和各事工部门都会产生影响。 因此，在这个过程中，我们热切希望听到会众的想法和反馈，邀请你与我们一起为神的指示祈祷。 |
| Thus far, the elders have explained this proposed change at the October 20 QSM and we have hosted Question and Answer times on each campus. In that Oct. 20th sermon, I also said that I would preach a sermon on Nov. 17th that would talk about this proposed change more from the pulpit. That day has come. |
到目前为止，长老们已在10月20日的季度策略会议上解释了该拟议变更，并且我们在每个堂区内举行了问答会议。 在10月20日的讲道中，我还说过我将在11月17日讲道时讨论这项拟议变更，这一天终于到了。 |
| The text for today helps us think through what God does in the life of his church through his servants. Sometimes it seems that the focus can be more on the servants than on the Master. Dave Zuleger, Steven Lee, and I have received a fair amount of focus in this discussion about transitioning from one vision casting preacher (and therefore all three campuses getting one video) to having live preaching on each campus every week (Dave Zuleger being the main preacher at the South campus, Steven Lee being the main preacher at the North campus, and myself being the main preacher at the Downtown Campus). |
今天的经文帮助我们仔细思考神通过仆人们在祂的教会中所做的事情。 有时看来，关注的重点似乎更多地集中在仆人而不是主人身上。 戴夫·朱利格、司提反·李和我在这次讨论中得到相当多的反馈意见，都是有关这次过渡的讨论内容，就是从现在只有一位讲员讲道（因此所有三个堂区都使用同一个录像视频）过渡到每周都在各自堂区由各自讲员现场讲道（戴夫·朱利格是南堂的主讲员，司提反·李是北堂的主讲员，我本人是市中心堂的主讲员。） |
| Now it is natural that certain leaders will become a focal point in the church because they are very visible. In some ways, we are the faces of the transition at each campus. 1 Corinthians chapter three talks about two very important, very visible leaders in the life of the Church in Corinth: Paul and Apollos. It was natural that the Corinthians wanted to compare and contrast Paul and Apollos and Paul is willing to do so – but only from a certain vantage point. Paul gives us an example of how to look at our leaders from the standpoint of God’s perspective instead of a man-centered perspective. So we need to pray that we would have God’s mind in this text and we would have God’s presence in this sermon. |
现在很自然地，某些领导者在教会里会成为大家关注的焦点，因为他们很显眼。 在某些方面，我们是各个堂区过渡阶段中的代表性面孔。哥林多前书第三章说到了哥林多教会中两个非常重要，非常引人注目的领导人：保罗和亚波罗。很自然的，哥林多教会的人想比较和对比保罗和亚波罗，而保罗也愿意这样做，但只是从特定的制高点出发。 保罗给我们举了一个例子，说明如何从神的角度而不是以人为中心的角度看待我们的领导人。 因此，我们需要祈祷，我们要在这段经文中领受神的心意，在此讲道中我们要有神的同在。 |
| Prayer |
祷告 |
| Text |
经文 |
| 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building (1 Cor. 3:5-9). |
5 亚波罗算甚么？ 保罗算甚么？ 我们不过是 神的仆人，你们藉着我们信了主；按着主所赐给各人的， 6 我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，唯有 神使它生长。 7 所以，栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在乎那使它生长的 神。 8 栽种的和浇灌的都是一样，只是各人要照着自己的劳苦得着自己的报酬。 9 我们是 神的同工，你们是 神的田地，神的房屋。（林前：3章5-9节）。 |
| Outline |
大纲 |
| Now Paul does not deny the fact that there are differences, but he wants to put those differences in perspective: a perspective that put them on the same team. So let’s look at both the differences and the similarities. |
现在，保罗并没有否认存在差异的事实，但他要将这些差异放在一个正确的角度上来看：就是将它们放在同一个团队中来看待。 因此，让我们看一下差异和相似之处。 |
| God’s Workers and God’s Field |
神的工人和神的田地 |
| 1. Things that Distinguish Them |
1.异 |
| Paul says that he and Apollos served the Corinthian church in different ways: Paul had a planting role and Apollos had a watering role. Both jobs certainly required a different skill set. Paul did not ask which one did their job better. They had different jobs and so it is almost impossible to compare. The important point that Paul raises is that the diversity (different jobs) only makes sense in the context of unity (those different jobs were part of a unified work). |
保罗说，他和亚波罗以不同的方式服事哥林多教会：保罗担任栽种的角色，亚波罗担任浇灌的角色。 当然，两项工作都需要不同的技能。 保罗没有问哪一个做得更好。 他们的分工不同，因此几乎无法比较。 保罗提出的重要一点是，多样性（不同的分工）仅在合一的背景下才有意义（这些不同的分工是整体工作的一部分）。 |
| 2. Things that Unite Them |
2.同 |
| But those differences should not outshine the glorious things that unite them. |
但是，这些差异不应胜过使他们联合的光荣事物。 |
| Outline |
纲要 |
| 1. they are servants of God (v. 5) |
1. 他们都是神的仆人（5节） |
| 2. their tasks are assigned by God (v. 5) |
2. 他们的任务都是神分配的（第5节） |
| 3. their success comes entirely from God (v. 6) |
3. 他们的成功完全来自神（第6节） |
| 4. they are nothing without God (v. 7) |
4. 没有神他们便都一无是处（第7节） |
| 5. they are together for God (v. 8) |
5. 他们为神在一起（第8节） |
| 6. the workers and the field both belong to God (v. 9) |
6. 工人和田地都属于神（第9节） |
| First, he says is that Paul and Apollos are servants of God (v. 5). |
首先，他说保罗和阿亚罗都是神的仆人（5节）。 |
| 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed… |
5亚波罗算甚么？ 保罗算甚么？ 我们不过是 神的仆人，你们藉着我们信了…… |
| We learn earlier in Corinthians that people were acting choosing sides – I am of Paul or I am of Apollos (1:12). In other words, they were acting like they belonged to Paul or Apollos. But they had it all wrong. They did not belong to Paul or Apollos; Paul and Apollos both belong to God as servants. Paul and Apollos are “fellow workers” for God (3:9). |
我们在哥林多前书开头看到，人们在选择站队-我是属于保罗还是属于亚波罗（1:12）。 换句话说，他们做事的方式就像是他们属于保罗或亚波罗。 但是他们都错了。 他们不属于保罗或亚波罗。 保罗和亚波罗都以仆人的身份属于神。 保罗和亚波罗是神的“同工”（3：9）。 |
| But Paul and Apollos are not the only ones who belong to God. He also says that the Corinthians believed through them. Who did they believe in? Not Paul or Apollos, but Jesus. At the end of the text, Paul will remind the Corinthians that they belong to God as well as God’s field (3:9). |
但是，保罗和亚波罗不是唯一属于神的人。 他还说，哥林多人通过他们相信。 他们信的是谁？ 不是保罗或亚波罗，而是耶稣。 这段经文结尾时，保罗提醒哥林多人他们属于神，也是神的田地（3：9）。 |
| Second, their tasks are assigned by God (v. 5). |
其次，他们的任务是神分配的（第5节）。 |
| 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. |
5亚波罗算甚么？ 保罗算甚么？ 我们不过是 神的仆人，你们藉着我们信了主；按着主所赐给各人的， |
| Every verse that follows mentions these different tasks, but verse 5 puts them into perspective: they were assigned by the Lord. |
接下来的每节经文都提到这些不同的任务，而第5节将它们置于正确的视角下：他们都是神所指派的。 |
| Third, their success comes entirely from God (v. 6). |
第三，他们的成功完全来自神（第6节）。 |
| 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth |
6 我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，唯有 神使它生长。 7 所以，栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在乎那使它生长的 神。 |
| Paul and Apollos did the work that needed to be doth (aorist tense), but God is the one actively gave the growth that was needed (imperfect tense). The next verse provides the obvious conclusion. |
保罗和亚波罗做了需要做的工作（过去时态），但是神不断地赐予必要的成长（未完成时态）。 下一节给出了明显的结论。 |
| Fourth, they are nothing without God (v. 7) |
第四，没有神他们一无是处（第7节） |
| 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. |
7 所以，栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在乎那使它生长的 神。 |
| The way Paul sets up this contrast shows that it is not really a contrast between Paul and Apollos, but between God and his servants. Paul and Apollos are nothing, which means God is everything. It sounds almost exactly like what Jesus taught: we only bear fruit for Christ as we abide in Christ – for apart from him we can do NOTHING (John 15:5). |
保罗设置这种对比的方式表明，这实际上不是保罗与亚波罗之间的对比，而是神与祂的仆人们之间的对比。 保罗和亚波罗什么都不是，也就意味着神就是一切。 这听起来几乎与耶稣的教导完全一样：我们只有住在基督里，才能结果子–因为离开祂，我们就不能做什么（约翰福音15：5）。 |
| Fifth, they are together for God (v. 8). |
第五，他们为神在一起（第8节） |
| 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. |
8 栽种的和浇灌的都是一样，只是各人要照着自己的劳苦得着自己的报酬。 |
| No one should be able to separate Paul and Apollos and boast in one over the other because they are both one. |
没有人能够将保罗和亚波罗分开，且分别倚仗他们各自夸口，因为他们二者同属一体。 |
| This is supposed to put Paul and Apollos in their place together – they are like the plowboy and the waterboy. It is also designed to put God in his rightful place – he is the reason for the church’s life and health and growth. |
我们应该认定保罗和亚波罗在各自的位置上一同效力，他们就像耕种者和浇灌者一样。 还应该将神置于祂应有的地位–祂是教会的生命、健康和成长的原因。 |
| Therefore, the relationship between Paul and Apollos comes into sharp perspective. First, Paul stresses that these two tasks are “one.” He means that one would be useless without the other. Though they are different tasks, they are both needed for one goal: producing a crop. |
因此，保罗与亚波罗之间的关系就放在敏锐的视角之下。 首先，保罗强调这两种任务是“一”。他的意思是，二者互不可缺。 诚然它们是不同的任务，却是同一目标所需：生产庄稼。 |
| Therefore, any rivalry between the plowboy and the waterboy would be ridiculous. They both function together and need each other – so they work best together on the same team, not on opposing teams. This is a certain kind of field – this is crop land, not a battle field. They are working the same field for the same purpose: the flourishing of the crops. They are not trying to claim the field as their own. God has already done that. Look at verse 9. |
因此，耕种者和浇灌者之间的任何竞争都是荒谬的。 他们一同效力且彼此需要-因此，他们最好工作在同一个团队中而不是在对立的团队中。 这是一种特殊的场地–是耕地，而不是战场。 他们在同一块田地为同一目的而工作：让庄稼繁盛。 他们没有试图声称这是他们自己的田地。 因为神已经宣称了。请看第9节。 |
| Sixth, the workers and the field both belong to God (v. 9) |
第六，工人和田地都属于神（9节） |
| 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building |
9 我们是 神的同工，你们是 神的田地，神的房屋。 |
| Verse 9 says it has already been claimed. It is God’s field. And the workers have already been claimed. They are God’s servants and fellow workers. Paul makes God the emphatic point in this verse. In the original language, he puts the word “God’s” right at the front for emphasis: God’s we are co-workers, God’s field, God’s building, you are. |
第9节已经宣称。 这是神的田地。 并且工人已经被认领。 他们是神的仆人和同工。 保罗把神作为这节经文的重点。 在原文中他将“神”一词放在最前面，以示强调：神的，我们是同工，神的田地，神的房屋，你们是。 |
| Therefore, let’s put these verses into perspective. |
因此，让我们用正确的视角来看这些经文。 |
| First, it is obvious that the real comparison and contrast is not between Paul and Apollos, but between God’s servants and God himself. In fact, Paul makes this point so clear that he makes it in every verse. |
首先，很明显，真正的比较和对比不是在保罗和亚波罗之间，而是在神的仆人和神之间。 实际上，保罗很清楚地强调了这一点，在每一节经文中都指出了这一点。 |
| 3:5 Apollos and Paul are servants God assigned them the task |
3章5节 亚波罗和保罗是仆人 神将任务分配给他们 |
| 3:6 Paul planted; Apollos watered God gave the growth |
3章6节 保罗栽种；亚波罗浇水 神让其成长 |
| 3:7 The planter and waterer are nothing God who gives the growth is everything |
3章7节 栽种者和浇灌者并不算什么 赋予生长的神才是一切 |
| 3:8 The planter and waterer are one God will reward them each individually |
3章8节 栽种者和浇灌者是一体 神会分别奖赏他们 |
| 3:9 The workers belong to God and the field belongs to God |
3章9节 工人属于神 田地也属于神 |
| So I want to take the same perspective in this proposed transition. This is not about what Dave, Steven, and Jason will be doing at Bethlehem as much as what God is doing and will do at Bethlehem. We must keep our eyes on him. Let us keep our focus on him. God should be the focal point – the center of everything. If he is in this, then it will be good because he is good and he is working all things for our good. |
因此，我想在这提议的过渡中采取相同的观点。 这不是关于戴夫、司提反和杰森在伯利恒教会所要做的事情，重要的是关乎神在伯利恒教会已做和要做的事。 我们必须定睛于祂，凝望着祂。神应该成为焦点——一切事的中心。 如果神在这里，那就是好的，因为祂本是良善，祂正在为我们的益处让万事互相效力。 |
| Second, the corollary of making God the focal point is that it takes the central focus away from the preachers. This text gives us a healthy dose of humility. We need to get the math of these verses right. I love what Paul stresses here in terms of the unity of Paul and Apollos. Paul plus Apollos equals zero. They are nothing without God. The planter uses the seed that God gives him (2 Cor. 9:10). They put it in the soil created by God. Those who water it and keep it moist use the rainwater supplied by God. I find so much comfort in this perspective. Here we are, these little creatures of time living this life and trying to make much of Christ in Christ’s own church. He has to do it. He has to build his church. If he does the work, then the gates of hell not only can’t undo it, but they can’t stand against it. No weapon that is fashioned against us shall stand. |
其次，使神成为焦点的必然结果是，它使讲员不再是关注的中心。 这段文字给了我们健康剂量的谦卑感。 我们需要正确理解这些经文的数学原理。 我喜欢保罗在这里强调保罗和亚波罗的合一。 保罗加亚波罗等于零。 没有神，他们什么都不是。 栽种者使用了神赐给他的种子（林后9:10）。 他们把它放在神创造的土壤中。 浇水保湿的人要使用神所供应的雨水。 从这个角度看，我感到非常欣慰。 我们这些渺小的时光生物，度过此生，要让基督在基督自己的教会中显大。 祂必如此行。 祂必建造祂的教会。 既然祂做这工，那地狱之门不仅无法破坏它，也无法抵抗它。 对我们不利的任何武器都站立不住。 |
| Third, this text gives us a valuable perspective on the value of the work. The Corinthians want to boast in one person or one worker over the other. But Paul says that it is not the workers that matter as much as the type of work that is needed. The field needs planters and waterers, and God gives those jobs and everything else that is needed: the type of work that the field needs and the growth that we need from the field. It is good to focus not on what the pastors need as much as what the field needs. And we believe that focus with align with the callings that God assigns to the workers. I will say more about that in a moment. |
第三，这段经文为我们提供了关于工作价值的宝贵观点。 哥林多人想吹嘘一个人或一个工人胜过另一个人。 但是保罗说，重要的不是工人，而是所需要的工作类型。 田地需要栽种者和浇灌者，而上帝会赐予这些工作以及所需的其它一切：田地需要的工作类型以及我们所需要的生长。 最好不要专注于牧师的需求，而要关注田地的需求。 我们相信，关注的重点应与上帝赋予工人的呼召保持一致。 稍后我会有更多说明。 |
| Fourth, this text provides a framework for assessment or judgment. The clues are already present in verse 9: the workers belong to God and the field belongs to God. Therefore, God’s workers need to be careful how they judge God’s field and God’s field needs to be careful how it judges God’s workers. We cannot evaluate pastors or churches in man-centered ways, because both belong to God. |
第四，这段经文提供了评估或判断的框架。 线索已经出现在第9节中：工人属于神，田地也属于神。 因此，神的工人需要谨慎对待他们如何评判神的田地，神的田地也需要谨慎对待他们如何评判神的工人。 我们不能用以人为中心的眼光来评判牧师或教会，因为这二者都属于神。 |
| Paul expands upon this point at the very end of this passage, in verse 9. It is interesting how easily Paul shifts metaphors from a cultivated field to a construction site. He continues the idea of reward from God, but this time the idea that is developed from the building metaphor is that the work will pass through judgment (3:12-17). The Corinthians are a building. God puts out a contract for the construction project and he is the chief building inspector. He makes sure that it was built correctly with the right materials according to the right specifications. He will compensate or fine accordingly. Therefore, in the final analysis, Paul says it will not matter as much how the Corinthians judged their work as much as how God judged their work. |
保罗在这段经文的最后，就是第9节，扩展了这一点。有趣的是，保罗很轻松地将耕种的隐喻转换到建筑的隐喻。 他延续从神那里得到报酬的想法，但是这一次从建筑隐喻中得到的想法是，建筑工程将要经过审判（3：12-17）。 哥林多教会就像一栋建筑。 神为建筑工程签了合同，祂是首席建筑检查员。 神要确保根据正确的规格使用正确的材料正确地构建。 祂将根据施工情况相应地补偿或罚款。 因此，保罗说，归根结底，哥林多人如何评价他们的工作无关紧要，只有神如何评价他们的工作才是重要的。 |
| Dave, Steven, and I feel remarkably unified in the sense that we do not believe we are anything. We belong to God. We believe that God has assigned this work to us. And we believe that God alone can give the growth. We can only do what God gives us to do. The three of us together equal nothing apart from God. So we are entrusting ourselves into God’s hand. We believe that you also belong to God as God’s field. We truly believe that the transition we are talking about is right because we are unified in wanting to do what the field needs and the growth that God is going to give. You are not our field. You belong to God. And so do we. |
戴夫，司提反和我感觉非常一致，因为我们都不相信自己算得了什么。 我们属于神。 我们相信神已经将这项工作赐给了我们。 我们相信唯独上帝才能带来生长。 我们只能做上帝赐予我们做的事情。 没有上帝，我们三个人加在一起等于零。 因此，我们将自己交托在神的手中。 我们相信你也属于神，属于神的田地。 我们坚信，我们正在谈论的这个过渡是正确的，因为在希望做田地所需要的事情和上帝将要赐予的成长上，我们是一致的。 你不是我们的田地。 你属于神。 我们也是。 |
| The elders would testify that as we have taken steps to become more focused on each of these three fields, God has given more health and more growth. That is also true of the workers that God has given. It is right that in God’s good providence, he has given Steven and Dave an ever-increasing knowledge of and love for the fields in which they labor: the South and North campuses. This is right. |
长老们将证明，随着我们采取步骤更加专注于这三块田地，上帝就赐予了更多的健康和更多的成长。 上帝所赐的工人也是如此。 没错，在上帝的良善护理之下，祂已经使司提反和戴夫对他们所工作的田地（南北堂区）有了不断增长的了解和热爱。 这是正确的。 |
| Now let me say something right away so that you don’t hear the wrong thing. We are not using this text like a club. It does not say, “don’t grieve.” I don’t hear anyone saying, “I am of Dave or I am of Steven or I am of Jason.” I don’t hear competing. I just hear grieving. I haven’t heard anyone say that they are against Dave or Steven. I have just heard people say that they are going to miss me. |
现在让我马上说，以免你听错了。 我们不会把这段经文当作棍棒一样来使用。 它并没有说“不要伤心”。我没有听到任何人说：“我属于戴夫，或者我属于司提反，或者属于杰森。”我没有听到争竞，而只是听到悲伤。 我还没有听到有人说他们反对戴夫或司提反。 我只是听到有人说他们会想念我。 |
| Let me speak very personally. And I will miss you too. More than I could possibly put into words. It is not like I have less love for North or South. No way. If I had three lives to give, I would give them all to Bethlehem. And I would be sad if you weren’t sad. I am glad that no one is going: it is about time we don’t have to deal with Jason anymore! Bring on Dave, Bring on Steven – can we speed this process up a little bit more! I don’t hear anyone saying that – and if you are, then I am glad that you are not saying it to my face. |
让我谈谈个人的感受吧。 我也会想念你们的，而且超乎我所能表达的。 并不是说我对北堂或南堂的爱少一些，决不是的。 如果我可以献出三次生命，我会将他们全部献给伯利恒教会。 要是你们不难过的话，我倒是会难过。 我很高兴没有人这样说：现在终于不用再和杰森打交道了！ 戴夫，上！司提反，上！–我们来加快这个过程的进度好吗？ 我没有听到任何人这么说–要是你这么说，那我很高兴你没有当着我面说。 |
| This is not about what Dave and Steven and Jason want, this is about what the church needs – it is for the growth of the crop. We believe that the steps we have taken to focus more on these three fields have made them more fruitful. All the elders would acknowledge that we are in a healthier place. We believe this move would take the graces that we seed and water them and make them grow stronger. |
这与戴夫、司提反和杰森想要的无关，而与教会的需要有关–这是为了庄稼的生长。 我们相信，为更加专注于这三块田地而采取的步骤将使它们更加富有成果。 所有的长老们都承认我们处于一个更加健康的状态。 我们相信，此举将使我们在栽种和浇灌中领受恩典，更加茁壮地成长。 |
| How will live preaching make the crops grow better than video preaching? The answer to that question takes us to another text and another metaphor. |
现场讲道比视频讲道如何使庄稼长得更好？ 这个问题的答案将我们带到了另一处经文和另一个隐喻。 |
| 1 Peter 5: God’s Shepherds and God’s Flock |
彼得前书5：神的牧人和神的羊群 |
| So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:1-4). |
1 我这同作长老，也是为基督受苦作见证，又是同享将来所要显现的荣耀的，劝你们当中作长老的： 2 务要牧养在你们中间的 神的羊群，按着 神的旨意看顾他们。不是出于勉强，而是出于甘心；不是因为贪财，而是出于热诚； 3 也不是要辖制讬付你们的羊群，而是作他们的榜样。 4 到了牧长显现的时候，你们必定得着那永不衰残的荣耀冠冕。（彼得前书5：1-4） |
| The most immediate connection between this text and the 1 Corinthians text is the phrase: “shepherd the flock of God” (v. 2) The flock does not belong to the pastors anymore than the field belongs to the workers. It is God’s flock and God’s field. This is the first lesson of pastoring and the second and the third! The flock in fact belongs to the chief Shepherd and so the Chief Shepherd will be the judge of the under-shepherds (v. 4). |
该文本与哥林多前书第一章之间最直接的联系是：“牧养神的羊群”（第2节）羊群不属于牧师，正如田地不属于工人。 这是神的羊群，神的田地。 这是牧养学的第一课，也是第二课和第三课！ 羊群实际上属大牧长，因此牧长将是下属牧人的审判者（第4节）。 |
| But the next point that landed on the elders was the next phrase: shepherd the flock of God “that is among you” (v. 2). A shepherd exercises oversight as an overseer – which means you keep watch over the flock. Obviously to keep watch over them means to know them. Hebrews 13:17 adds that overseers are going to give an account for those whom they watch over. |
但落在长老们身上的重点是下一个短语：牧养“你们中间”的神的羊群（2节）。 牧羊人作为监督者进行监督–这意味着你要时刻看护羊群。 显然，看护它们意味着要了解它们。 希伯来书13:17补充说，监督看护者将来要为他们所看护的人交账。 |
| We want to grow in our ability to shepherd the flock, which has to involve knowing the flock! But shepherding the flock also involves feeding the flock by preaching. In fact, the basic job description of a shepherd is three-fold: know/watch over the sheep, feed the sheep, and protect the sheep from predators like wolves. |
我们想提高牧养羊群的能力，就需要深入了解羊群！ 但是牧养羊群还涉及通过讲道喂养羊群。 实际上，牧羊人的基本工作职责是三方面的：了解/看护羊群，喂养羊群以及保护羊群免受狼等掠食者的侵害。 |
| The elders have a growing conviction that preaching is part of shepherding. We are not saying that video preaching has been sinful. Not at all. It has been a blessing. But video preaching only does two of the three things well: feeds the sheep, and protects the sheep from wolves. But even these two things are not done as well as they could be by knowing the sheep. The better you know them the better you can look out for them and care for them and protect them. Preaching is part of shepherding. Preaching should not merely impact you in general, it should lead you somewhere. Your pastor leads you through preaching. |
长老们越来越相信讲道是牧养的一部分。 我们并不是说视频讲道是有罪的，一点也不。 这对我们一直是一种祝福。 但是视频讲道只能很好地完成三件事中的两件事：喂养和保护羊免受狼的侵害。 但是，如果不认识羊群，这两件事做起来就不是那么理想。 你对他们越了解，就越能照顾他们，保护他们。 讲道是牧养的一部分。 讲道不应该仅仅是一般性地影响到你，而是应该具体地带领你到某个目的地。 你们的牧师在通过讲道带领引导你们。 |
| Another text that helps us as we grow in biblical convictions about how leaders relate to people is 1 Thessalonians 2:8. |
在圣经中关于领导者与会众关系的信念中，另一处对我们有帮助的经文是帖撒罗尼迦前书2：8。 |
| 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us (1 Thess. 2:8). |
我们这样疼爱你们，不但乐意把 神的福音传给你们，连自己的性命也乐意给你们，因为你们是我们所爱的。（帖前2:8） |
| Part of shepherding is not only getting to know the flock, but the flock getting to know us. It is important not only for the leader to know the people, but for the people to know the leader that shares the gospel with them. |
牧养不仅是要认识羊群，也要让羊群认识我们。重要的是，领导不仅要认识会众，会众也要认识向他们传讲福音的领导。 |
| Someone might ask – why is it important to know the sheep in order to preach to the sheep? I have felt this in experience many times. Much of my sermon preparation feels like this: I come to a text and I am excited to preach it. I am excited to apply it and then I feel a little held back. I can go into as much detailed application because the three campuses on our different places in so many life contexts and conversations. So I get stuck: well, I can’t quite say that here because it is not quite the same North as it is Downtown and it is a little different South. I used to meet with Jared Wass for example and I would talk about how small groups function Downtown and how to bring together the air war of preaching with the ground war of small groups and discipleship. Time and time again, I could not say the same thing about small groups because they all function somewhat differently at each campus. |
有人可能会问——认识羊群以便向羊群讲道为什么重要？我在自己的经历中多次感受到这一点。我在准备讲道的时候常常感觉像这样：我研读一段经文，很激动要去讲它，我很激动要应用它，然后这时我感觉有点举棋不定。我在应用上无法深入到更具体的点上，因为三个堂区在三个不同的地点，大家的生活背景和话题都不一样。所以我卡在这里：好吧，这个地方我不能这样说，因为北堂和市中心堂不太一样，跟南堂也有些区别。比如我通常会跟杰里德·瓦斯见面，谈论市中心堂小组的工作情况，以及如何把讲道的空战和小组门训的陆战结合起来。一次又一次地，我不能再对小组说同样的话，因为各个堂区的小组工作情况都不一样。 |
| Therefore, the connection between the pulpit and the ministries of the campus can feel disconnected at times. |
因此，在很多时候，讲坛事奉和各堂区的事奉感觉有点脱节。 |
| Conclusion |
结语 |
| We need to be very clear about the timeline. We totally acknowledge the unknown here. We are taking a green light, yellow light, red light approach. The elders are unified in seeing that there are many campus specific graces that have come as we have become more focused at the campus level. We believe that this move will strengthen those graces and cause them to flourish further. |
我们需要搞清楚时间线。我们完全承认这一切都是未知数。我们采取的是绿灯/黄灯/红灯进路。当我们更加关注于分堂层面时，长老们一致同意各个分堂有各自不同的恩典。我们相信这个措施将加强这些恩典，让它们进一步丰盛起来。 |
| So we are proposing this because we believe it will help us be a healthier church. We believe that it will cause the crops to grow. We believe it will help the shepherds know the sheep more and the sheep to know the shepherds more. |
所以我们作此提议是因为我们相信这会帮助我们成为一个更加健康的教会。我们相信这有助于庄稼生长。我们相信这有助于牧者更好地认识羊群，以及羊群更好地认识牧者。 |
| As the Lord leads us, if the light stays green we will keep moving forward. If the light turns yellow, we will slow down (not speed up to hurry and avoid the red light like many of us do). If the light turns red, we will stop and re-evaluate. |
当主在带领我们的时候，要是绿灯一直亮着我们就保持前进。如果灯变黄了，我们就慢下来（而不是像我们开车通常看到黄灯反而加速以避免红灯）。如果灯变红了，我们就停下来，重新评估。 |
| As you think about the immediate future, let me discuss the next six months. Next week is campus specific preaching on Thanksgiving weekend. Then, we have four weeks of Advent. I will be preaching through Mary’s Song, the Magnificant, in Luke chapter one. |
当你想到近期的将来，让我来说说接下来的六个月。下周是感恩节周末，各堂区分别讲道。然后我们有四周的基督降临节。我要讲路加福音1章中马利亚的《尊主颂》。 |
| Then we have our January sermon topics: prayer, the word, ethnic harmony, and Sanctity of Life. February will be Campus Specific Preaching. If you look ahead to May, June, and July I will be on Sabbatical. It is my first Sabbatical in over 13 years of full-time ministry (nine of those years serving as a professor and pastor at Bethlehem). We try to give our pastors a three month Sabbatical after five years. But we were not at a point where I could take a Sabbatical at that time. The Lord has seen fit to provide one this coming summer. |
然后我们进入一月份的主题讲道：祷告、神的话语、民族和睦和生命的尊严。整个二月都是各堂区分别讲道。要是你再往前展望，五、六、七月是我的安息假。这是我全职服事13年（其中九年在伯利恒教会既当教授又当牧师）以来第一次休安息假。我们努力让我们的牧师们每5年休一次三个月的安息假。但那个时候我无法休安息假。主看着在明年夏天给我一个安息假是合适的。 |
| If you are counting your months, then that leaves us March and April. I am going to take all of March and April to preach on a singular question: what is the church? We will be asking the Lord for fresh grace to be all that He calls us to be as the church of Jesus Christ. If the Lord keeps giving the green light, that means we would vote on new job descriptions for Steven Lee, Dave Zuleger, myself, and Ken Currie. We would likely vote on those at the April QSM. |
如果你数着月份，就会发现还剩下三月和四月。整个三月和四月我都要讲同一个问题：什么是教会？我们要祈求主赐下新的恩典来让我们成为祂呼召我们要成为的耶稣基督的教会。要是主让绿灯一直亮着，那就意味着我们要为司提反·李、戴夫·朱利格、我自己和肯·卡瑞四人新的工作岗位说明书投票。我们可能在四月的季度战略会议中进行投票。 |
| I know that many people have questions not just about the next six months, but the next six years (2020-2025). We have many specific questions to answer about what the next six years look like. We will continue to pursue our church planting vision and missions vision. There are many all-church ministries like those things that we have united to do together. I know that when the question about live preaching has come up, it has raised the natural question about becoming three separate churches. There is no deliberate plan in place to become three churches. I just took five minutes on Friday to try and name some of the things we have right now that we share in common as campuses. I counted 13 things that we do together: (1) one elder affirmation of faith, (2) one congregational affirmation of faith, (3) one budget, (4) one debt, (5) one missions program, (6) one church planting program, (7) one college and seminary, (8) one operations department, (9) one elder council, (10) one membership covenant (people are members at Bethlehem, not a Bethlehem campus), (11) one DNA document (along with vision and values), (12) one annual meeting (we also have Quarterly Strategy meetings together) and (13) one vision casting voice. |
我知道许多人想问的不仅是接下来的六个月，而是接下来的六年（2020-2025）。关于接下来的六年会是怎样，我们有许多具体的问题要回答。我们将继续推进我们的植堂异象和宣教异象。有许多像这样的全教会事工我们要一起来做。我知道当现场讲道的问题提出时，自然就会问到会不会拆分成三个不同的教会。我们没有刻意的计划要变成三个教会。我在星期五花5分钟数算了一下我们现在三个堂区共同分享的事。我数出有13件：（1）同一个长老信仰告白，（2）同一个会众信仰告白，（3）同一个财政预算，（4）同一个债务，（5）同一个宣教项目，（6）同一个植堂项目，（7）同一个大学与神学院，（8）同一个运作部门，（9）同一个长老议会，（10）同一个会员盟约（会员是伯利恒教会的会员，而不是各分堂的会员），（11）同一份DNA文件（包括异象和价值观），（12）同一个年会（我们还在一起召开季度战略会议），以及（13）同一个异象发布的声音。 |
| If we took away having one primary vision casting voice, we would go from 13 things to 12 things. We are simply at the stage of asking how can we be healthier and we believe having live preaching instead of video preaching is a step in that direction. We have formed a committee to try and answer some of the strategy questions and logistical questions of staying as one church on three campuses or being a coalition of three sister churches. We honestly don’t have an answer. We are asking the question and trying to figure out the best answers. But we are not working with a predetermined answer or result. Once again, we are back to turning our eyes back to our focal point with the centrality of Christ. The Lord of this church will lead this church. Let us pray for clear sight lines of our Chief Shepherd. |
如果我们拿掉一个主要的异象发布声音，那我们的13项中还会剩下12项。我们现在所处的阶段还只是在求问如何能变得更加健康，我们相信现场讲道取代视频讲道是朝着那个方向的一个步骤。我们承诺要努力并回答一些策略性和后勤方面的问题，涉及是保持一个教会三个分堂，还是变成三个姐妹教会的联盟。坦率地说我们没有一个现成的答案。我们在求问，努力寻求最佳答案。我们的工作不是照着一个预先定好的答案或结果。我再说一遍，我们是回转到定睛于以基督为中心的焦点上。这个教会的主会带领这个教会。让我们祈求看清我们的大牧长视线所看的方向。 |
| Sermon Discussion Questions |
讲道讨论问题 |
| Title: God’s Workers and God’s Field |
标题：神的工人和神的田地 |
| Text: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 |
经文：哥林多前书3:5-9 |
| Outline |
纲要： |
| 1. they are servants of God (v. 5) |
1.他们是神的仆人（第5节） |
| 2. their tasks are assigned by God (v. 5) |
2.他们的任务是神分派的（第5节） |
| 3. their success comes entirely from God (v. 6) |
3.他们的成功完全来自神（第6节） |
| 4. they are nothing without God (v. 7) |
4.没有神他们就一无是处（第7节） |
| 5. they are together for God (v. 8) |
5.他们一起为神作工（第8节） |
| 6. the workers and the field both belong to God (v. 9) |
6.工人和田地都属于神（第9节） |
| General Questions |
一般性问题 |
| 1. What were your initial responses to the sermon? What was the Holy Spirit doing in your heart during or after the sermon? Was there a new insight gained? Any questions prompted? What did you find convicting, helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain. |
1.你对讲道的最初反应是什么？在讲道当中和之后圣灵在你心中做了什么？有没有得着什么新洞见？想到什么问题没有？有什么让你觉得确信、有帮助、开眼或困扰的地方？请解释。 |
| 2. What point from the sermon landed on you with the most weight of joy or conviction? What things did you see and savor that you feel like you need to share with others? |
2.讲道的哪一点给你带来最大的喜乐或为罪痛心？有什么事你看见或品味到了让你觉得需要与他人分享？ |
| Discussion Questions |
讨论问题 |
| 1. Explain how verses 5-9 compare Paul and Apollos in a God-centered way instead of a man-centered way. |
1.请解释第5-9节如何用以神为中心，而非以人为中心的方式来比较保罗与亚波罗。 |
| 2. What is the same note that is found in 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 1 Peter 5:2? |
2.在哥林多前书3:9和彼得前书5:2之间有什么共同点？ |
| 3. How do preaching and shepherding relate? |
3.讲道与牧养如何相关？ |
| Application Questions |
应用问题 |
| 1. How should Bethlehem think about Jason, Steven, and Dave as ministers of the gospel according to 1 Corinthians 3:5-9? |
1.伯利恒教他应该如何按照哥林多前书3:5-9来看待杰森、司提反和戴夫作为福音的工人？ |
| 2. How should Bethlehem begin to reflect upon the limits of video preaching according to 1 Peter 5:2? |
2.伯利恒教会应该如何根据彼得前书5:2来反思视频讲道的局限性？ |
| 3. How should Bethlehem process what to expect from her leaders according to 1 Thessalonians 2:8? |
3.伯利恒教会应该如何根据帖撒罗尼迦前书2:8处理对领导者的期望值？ |
| Prayer Focus: Pray for a grace to have a God-centered perspective on the church – including pastors and people. Pray for a grace to be shepherded by the Chief Shepherd. |
祷告聚焦：祈求恩典用以神为中心的视角来看教会——包括牧师和会众。祈求恩典接受大牧长的牧养。 |
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