安提阿教會

Bible Reading: BIBLE READING: Acts 11: 19 – 26
讀經： 使徒行傳十一章19至26節

There are two churches which are important in the book of Acts. The first was at Jerusalem, the second was at Antioch. The Jerusalem church had a wonderful start, but then was hit by persecution and many of its members were scattered. Some of those members started the church at Antioch (Acts 11:20, 21). It became a wonderful church with a great missionary vision.

使徒行傳出現兩間重要的教會，第一間是耶路撒冷教會，第二間是安提阿教會。耶路撒冷教會有一個美好的開始，可是，後來當逼迫臨到，信徒便逃散到各地。其中一些信徒便在安提阿建立了教會(徒十一20、21)；這間教會發展迅速，不久更成為一間帶有強烈宣教使命的教會。

One of the first pastors was Barnabas. He was a most gracious man. When he saw the situation at Antioch, he said, 'The man to meet the need here is that new convert, Saul. He is back home in Tarsus. I will go and get him.' He did, and Antioch became Paul's home church.

最初在安提阿教會負責牧養工作的，是一位名叫巴拿巴的信徒。巴拿巴是個仁愛謙厚的人。當他了解到安提阿教會的情況後，便對眾人說：「我認識一個人，他可以幫助牧養這間教會，他就是已經信主有一段時間的保羅。他現在留在他的家鄉大數，我要去那裡，把他帶到這裡來。」巴拿巴馬上動身去了，真的把保羅帶來，結果，安提阿教會便成了保羅在此成長和事奉的母會。

For twelve months Barnabas and Paul had a team ministry to the church in Antioch. They had what every church needs – a real teaching ministry. No church can really develop without a solid foundation of Bible teaching. Does your church have that foundation? It should.

巴拿巴和保羅一同合作，在安提阿教會事奉足有一年。他們所作的事奉，正正是每間教會所需要的事奉：教導的事奉；除非教會先在聖經的教導上，立好穩固的基礎，否則便難有真正的發展。你的教會又如何呢？已確立此根基了嗎？

But it was not only a well-fed church, it was a witnessing church. If all we do is to take in food without having any exercise we become fat and lazy. It is the same spiritually. Verse 21 tells us that a great many believed in Jesus Christ in Antioch. It was there the disciples were given a nickname – they were called 'Christians', people who followed Christ.

安提阿教會不單是一間有豐富屬靈餵養的教會，她更是一間懂得作見證的教會。我們若飽食終日，卻不懂得多做運動，就只會變得過胖和懶惰。信徒在屬靈方面也是同一道理。第21節告訴我們，在安提阿這個地方有很多人相信了主；而且，這更是第一個地方，暱稱信徒是「基督徒」，意即他們乃跟從基督的人。

Later, in chapter 13, we will see that the church at Antioch was a praying church and an obedient, missionary – minded church.

來到後面的第十三章，我們將發現安提阿教會成了一間禱告、順服和踐實宣教使命的教會。

Could we stop and look at our own church just now, wherever it is? Is there a good solid ministry of Bible teaching? There should be. Are the people witnessing for Christ day by day? Are they gathering regularly for prayer? If they are not, what do you think you could do to help bring this about? Why not pray and ask God to guide you as you seek his best for your church.

此刻，讓我們暫且停下來，反觀自己的教會。我們的教會在教導聖經方面，已立好穩固的基礎了嗎？教會若要發展，就必須先有此基礎。此外，我們的教會是否每天為基督作見證？是否經常一起禱告？我們的教會若然在這些方面有所欠缺，我們便有責任去改善。我們何不首先為自己的教會懇切禱告，祈求神親自帶領教會的發展？