聖殿門口的瘸腿者得醫治
1申初禱告的時候，彼得、約翰上聖殿去。 2有一個人，生來是瘸腿的，天天被人擡來，放在殿的一個門口（那門名叫美門），要求進殿的人賙濟。 3他看見彼得、約翰將要進殿，就求他們賙濟。 4彼得、約翰定睛看他；彼得說：「你看我們！」 5那人就留意看他們，指望得着甚麼。 6彼得說：「金銀我都沒有，只把我所有的給你：我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名，叫你起來行走！」 7於是拉着他的右手，扶他起來；他的腳和踝子骨立刻健壯了， 8就跳起來，站着，又行走，同他們進了殿，走着，跳着，讚美神。 9百姓都看見他行走，讚美神； 10認得他是那素常坐在殿的美門口求賙濟的，就因他所遇着的事滿心希奇、驚訝。
彼得在所羅門廊下的講論
11那人正在稱為所羅門的廊下，拉着彼得、約翰；眾百姓一齊跑到他們那裏，很覺希奇。 12彼得看見，就對百姓說：「以色列人哪，為甚麼把這事當作希奇呢？為甚麼定睛看我們，以為我們憑自己的能力和虔誠使這人行走呢？ 13亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神，就是我們列祖的神，已經榮耀了他的僕人耶穌；你們卻把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要釋放他，你們竟在彼拉多面前棄絕了他。 14你們棄絕了那聖潔公義者，反求着釋放一個兇手給你們。 15你們殺了那生命的主，神卻叫他從死裏復活了；我們都是為這事作見證。 16我們因信他的名，他的名便叫你們所看見所認識的這人健壯了；正是他所賜的信心，叫這人在你們眾人面前全然好了。 17弟兄們，我曉得你們做這事是出於不知，你們的官長也是如此。 18但神曾藉眾先知的口，預言基督將要受害，就這樣應驗了。 19所以，你們當悔改歸正，使你們的罪得以塗抹， 20這樣，那安舒的日子就必從主面前來到；主也必差遣所預定給你們的基督（耶穌）降臨。 21天必留他，等到萬物復興的時候，就是神從創世以來、藉着聖先知的口所說的。 22摩西曾說：『主－神要從你們弟兄中間給你們興起一位先知像我，凡他向你們所說的，你們都要聽從。 23凡不聽從那先知的，必要從民中全然滅絕。』 24從撒母耳以來的眾先知，凡說預言的，也都說到這些日子。 25你們是先知的子孫，也承受神與你們祖宗所立的約，就是對亞伯拉罕說：『地上萬族都要因你的後裔得福。』 26神既興起他的僕人，就先差他到你們這裏來，賜福給你們，叫你們各人回轉，離開罪惡。」
各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們來讀的使徒行傳第三章這是一篇初代教會的講章，由彼得來講的。這篇講章是一個非常好的典範，來表達一篇好的講道應該有什麼內容和勸導。我們來看看這一篇短講，我們也會提到馬丁路德強調的一篇講道中要有的Law and Gospel關於律法與福音的平衡。
首先我們看到的是彼得醫治了一個瘸腿的乞丐。這個乞丐是生來瘸腿的，出生就這樣子，一直都是被人抬來，只能靠乞討為生的。而彼得只是說奉了拿撒勒人耶穌的名，就把他給醫治了。這件事情讓眾人驚奇，為他接下來要講道預備。
接下來彼得的講道，是一篇很棒的講道範本，其中有幾個重要元素，在預備講道的時候需要參考的。 馬丁路德講過關於律法與福音這個觀念就是在一篇講道裡面必須要含有律法跟福音的元素。律法的元素是什麼呢？是說我們應該做的事情，我們做不到，我們犯的錯誤，我們怎麼樣子虧缺上帝，我們怎麼樣子辜負了別人，辜負了上帝。律法的本意，我們之前提過有三個重點，就是棍子，鏡子，路燈。做棍子的部分是讓人知道不能犯罪，知道犯罪有後果。做鏡子的是讓自己知罪，讓我們自己知道我們都有罪，保持謙卑。最後做路燈是讓我們走在律法的道上，盡可能地不要走出這個規範之外，所以律法的目的是使人知罪，使人謙卑，引人走正路。因為人是驕傲的，如果沒有被擊打，如果沒有被提醒，我們都會自以為義，所以一篇講道裡面律法有其必要性。
但第二個重點是如果沒有福音的話，只有律法，就只是讓人絕望，因為律法本是要人難過，要人悔改，要人絕望，對自己的能力絕望。而福音就是宣告上帝的恩典跟上帝的憐憫，告訴我們雖然我們不能，但上帝能，而且上帝愛我們，而且上帝拯救了我們。跟隨在律法的擊打後，要有福音的包裹和醫治。在律法的使人謙卑之後，要有福音的喜樂和恩典安慰。
我們來想一想，如果一篇道裡面只有律法而沒有福音的話，我們所聽到的就是不斷地責備和規矩，害怕以及失望，因為我們很不完美，而台上的講員不斷地提醒我們我們有多不完美，雖然他講的都是聖經，但是並沒有帶給人盼望，因為都說的是我們虧欠上帝，我們虧欠人，我們不行，我們失敗。聽多了我們得到的結果就是我根本沒有盼望。
但如果我們不提到律法，我們只談上帝的愛，我們只談上帝的恩典，人就不知道為什麼自己需要恩典。就像是爸媽不給規矩，只談自己有多愛小孩，這個小孩就不會珍惜自己擁有的一切，會變得無法無天。在人知罪之前，他不會感到恩典是必要的。這就是為什麼很多時候，當我們向人傳福音時，如果只講福音，他們可能會覺得說："我不需要啊，我是個好人啊。" 因為他們還不知罪。當我們省察內心，等我們去省察一個人的過去的時候，我們會發現太多太多不堪的事情。如果我們能夠被提醒，被提點到我們的確是個不完美的人，這個時候，恩典會顯得格外重要。如果沒有提到律法的話，這個人就不會對恩典產生很大的感激和很大的盼望。在得救之前，人都自以為義。
所以，當我們聽到律法，我們要知道害怕和敬畏，並且要悔過。然後，當我們聽到福音的時候，我們才能得到盼望，才有能力去改。這樣的話，才能夠成為悔改的動力以及原因。
然後這裡彼得也提到了舊約的預言跟先知。這個時候我們所看到舊約是非常關鍵的，與新約相輔相成的。當我們去明白舊約的預言，我們就會看到上帝的預備。當我們在比對舊約跟新約的時候，我們就看見了原來舊約早已預言了上帝的完整計劃。所以，凡不聽從先知的，會從民中全然滅絕。今天上帝的恩典給所有人無條件的救恩，但是如果你不接受，你拒絕這樣的恩典，那麼上帝的恩典依然與你無關。
而彼得在這裡也說了你們是先知的子孫，也承受神與你們祖宗所立的約，所以，“萬族因你的後裔得福”，是因為整本聖經都是由猶太人所寫下所記錄的。他們擁有著上帝的話語的恩典，他們是上帝律法和福音的紀錄者，他們是上帝揀選來首先承擔這個福音的責任的人。因著這個緣故，我們其實要感謝猶太人， 上帝使用他們，賜下了話語。今天我們所有人都得到恩典，而我們也有同樣的責任去繼續地傳揚下去。所以，這個特權不是要我們只是享受在天國裡的永生，而是我們被交托了一個特別重要的神聖的工作。我們現在擁有了這個福音，就被交托了，要把這個福音帶給更多還沒有聽見的人的工作。所以我們既是上帝的子民，我們擁有了特權，也被交托了非常特別的責任。
最後總結一下，我一篇講道裡面所需要的重要內容是什麼。當然，不一定是有這樣的順序。身為一個牧者，身為一個傳道人，我們應該仔細小心地去平衡你在話語中間的份量與重點。
如果一個正在沮喪的會眾，你再繼續講律法，繼續擊打，只會讓人更沮喪，反之，如果你注意可能有些驕傲的情況，我們也得適時地講律法，使人謙卑下來，重新回到上帝面前悔改認罪。 而我們一定要不斷地鼓勵會眾去多讀聖經多了解把這個信仰變成屬於自己的信仰，而不是單純的只是倚賴牧師或者是傳道人所講的每週一篇的道。你如果每個禮拜只吃一頓飯，你怎麼可能會強壯？你怎麼可能會吃得飽呢？所以鼓勵會眾去查考聖經去認真的思考聖經這也是非常關鍵和必要的一件事情。求聖靈帶領我們好好預備，告訴我們當講的話，也求聖靈對每一個聽到話語的會眾說話。
感謝上帝，我們今天讀完了使徒行傳的第三章。我們看到彼得所講的這一篇精彩的道。讓我們來思考其中的含義以及其中的重要的內容。
感謝各位的聆聽，明天我們繼續讀第四章。
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, as we delve into Acts chapter 3, we encounter a remarkable narrative from the early church, delivered by Peter. This discourse serves as an exemplary template for what constitutes a compelling sermon, encompassing essential elements that are pertinent for sermon preparation. We'll also touch upon the concept emphasized by Martin Luther regarding the balance of Law and Gospel in a sermon.
Firstly, we witness Peter's miraculous healing of a beggar who had been lame from birth. This individual had relied solely on begging for sustenance, having never experienced the ability to walk. However, through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, Peter heals him. This miraculous event astounds the onlookers, setting the stage for Peter's forthcoming sermon.
Peter's sermon serves as a splendid exemplar, containing several crucial elements that warrant consideration when preparing a sermon. Martin Luther stressed the necessity of incorporating both Law and Gospel elements within a sermon. What comprises the Law? It delineates what we ought to do, our inability to fulfill it, our transgressions, our deficiencies before God, and how we've failed both God and others. We previously highlighted three key aspects of the Law: it serves as a rod to highlight the danger of sin, a mirror to reflect our own sinfulness, and a lamp to guide us along the path of the Law, urging us to stay within its confines. Thus, the purpose of the Law is to convict us of sin, foster humility, and steer us towards righteousness. Human nature tends towards pride, and without being confronted and reminded of our imperfections, we'd deem ourselves righteous. Therefore, the presence of the Law within a sermon is imperative.
However, the second focal point is the Gospel. Without it, the Law alone induces despair, as its purpose is to elicit sorrow, repentance, and despair over our own inadequacies. The Gospel, on the other hand, proclaims God's grace and mercy, informing us that while we may fall short, God is able, He loves us, and He has saved us. Following the chastisement of the Law, there must be the embrace and healing of the Gospel. After the humbling effect of the Law, there comes the joy and comfort of the Gospel.
Consider what we would hear if a sermon contained only the Law without the Gospel. We'd be subjected to incessant rebuke, fear, and disappointment, constantly reminded of our imperfections. Although the speaker may reference Scripture, it wouldn't instill hope, for all that's spoken is about our indebtedness to God and our failures. Prolonged exposure to such preaching would only lead to despair.
Yet, if we neglect to mention the Law and solely focus on God's love and grace, individuals may fail to recognize the need for grace. It's akin to parents who solely express their love for their child without providing boundaries; the child fails to appreciate what they have and may become unruly. Until individuals recognize their sinfulness, they won't perceive the necessity of grace. Hence, when sharing the Gospel, it's essential to address the Law first, as it serves as a catalyst for understanding the significance of grace.
Moreover, Peter highlights the importance of Old Testament prophecies and prophets. Understanding the Old Testament is pivotal, as it complements and fulfills the New Testament. Delving into Old Testament prophecies unveils God's providence. By comparing the Old and New Testaments, we discern that the Old Testament prophesied God's complete plan. Thus, those who disregard the prophets will be utterly destroyed. Today, God's grace is freely extended to all, yet if one rejects this grace, it remains inaccessible to them. Peter also emphasizes that as descendants of the prophets, we inherit God's covenant with our ancestors. Therefore, the phrase "all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring" applies to us, as the entire Bible was written and recorded by Jewish people. They possessed the grace of God's Word; they were the pioneers of the Gospel, selected by God to bear the responsibility of this proclamation. For this reason, we owe gratitude to the Jewish people. However, it's crucial to understand that salvation isn't guaranteed based on lineage alone. Today, all of us receive grace, and we share the same responsibility to continue spreading the Gospel. This privilege isn't merely for our enjoyment in the kingdom of heaven; rather, it entrusts us with a profoundly significant divine task.
In conclusion, let's reflect on the essential elements necessary for a sermon. Of course, they needn't follow a strict sequence. As pastors and preachers, it's imperative to delicately balance the content and emphasis of our discourse.
If congregants are feeling despondent, continuing to emphasize the Law will only exacerbate their distress. Conversely, if we discern traces of pride, we must judiciously introduce the Law to humble them and lead them back to repentance before God. Furthermore, we must continuously encourage congregants to delve into Scripture, fostering a personal faith rather than solely relying on weekly sermons. Just as one cannot thrive on a single meal per week, congregants require regular spiritual nourishment. Therefore, encouraging congregants to study and contemplate Scripture is paramount.
May the Holy Spirit guide us as we diligently prepare, prompting us to speak to each individual within our congregation.
Thank God, today we have concluded Acts chapter 3. Let's ponder the profound meaning and significance of Peter's discourse.
Thank you all for your attentive listening. Tomorrow, we shall continue with chapter 4.
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