建立初信者

Bible Reading: Acts 14: 19 – 27
讀經： 使徒行傳十四章19至27節

Paul and Barnabas had probably been on the road as missionaries for about a year. They had suffered a great deal in that time. Now they were ready to go back to their home church at Antioch and share with the Christians all that God had done.

保羅和巴拿巴的宣教旅程大概進行了一年，途中二人都受了很多苦，此刻他們準備回到安提阿，與那裡的信徒分享神的一切作為。

But first there was something more to do before they could leave the areas they had visited. They had been forced to leave almost every city in a hurry even though there were new Christians there. Now Paul felt he must go back over the same road. But this time he would meet only with the Christians to strengthen their faith and help them organise a church.

就在他們準備回程的時候，他們覺得必須先償一個心願。他們昔日因行程緊逼，所以在每處傳講福音、領人信主之後，便匆忙地繼續上路。因此，保羅此刻認為他們必須沿著原路回去，重訪昔日到過的地方，去探望初信的信徒，鞏固他們的信心，並協助他們建立教會。

Preaching and evangelistic work are very important. But there must also be care for the new converts and wherever possible the formation of a local church if the work is to continue. Paul did all of this wherever he went.

傳道和佈道這兩項工作都非常重要；可是，栽培初信的信徒，並在可能的情況下，儘量幫助他們建立教會，才能使福音的工作得以持續。保羅正是盡可能在每個地方做這全面的工作。

Paul helped the Christians too by explaining the strange mystery of suffering (v.22). No-one can expect to be absolutely free of pain and problems just because they have accepted Christ. It is part of the work of the Holy Spirit to help us endure these occasions and to become more Christlike in them.

而且，保羅教導信徒，信仰的路途需經歷很多艱苦(22節)，也對信徒大有幫助。我們不可讓初信者誤以為，信了基督就可免除一切的痛苦及難題。聖靈其中一項工作，正是幫助信徒在苦難中保持忍耐，以及在苦難中學像基督。

Lastly, Paul arrived back in Antioch and found a marvellous welcome. He was in his home church. How he must have appreciated the fellowship he found there after a year on the road. They shared in praising God together as he told of what God had done. It was a very happy ending to twelve months of testing.

最後，保羅終於回到安提阿，獲得了信徒的熱烈歡迎。他在外面辛勞了整整一年，如今回到自己的母會，再次感受到主內肢體的關懷與支持，實在是何等的欣慰！他向眾人講述神的作為之後，他們都同聲向神發出讚美。這快樂歡愉的一幕，為過去十二個月的艱辛工作劃上了圓滿的句號。

A QUESTION: What help do we give to people who accept Christ?
反思： 我們怎樣去建立初信者？