極大的奧秘 - 基督與教會

Why is the ministry of the gospel a battle to destroy Satan and his kingdom of darkness?

Colossians 1:13 - "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."

Mark 1:15 - "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'"

How will the righteous shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom?

Matthew 13:43a "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

The Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark 9 VS The Transformation of Christ as the Sown Seed in Mark 4

Mark 9: 2-3 "After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them."

Matthew 16:28 "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Why is the kingdom of God lacking among many true Christians today?

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 - "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The Picture of the Kingdom of God Coming in Power as Seen in Mark 9:1-13

Mark 9:1-13

1 And he said to them, 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.'

The Picture of Rebellion Against God's Kingdom VS The Picture of the Power to Conquer Rebellion

Mark 4:26-29 "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground..."

Ephesians 2:2 "in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."

Two Great Matters in the Universe VS Two Principles VS Two Kingdoms VS Two Types of Created Beings

Colossians 1:13 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."

1 John 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness."

Jesus Establishing God's Kingdom VS Sinners Entering God's Kingdom

John 1:1,14 "In the beginning was the Word... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

Colossians 1:13 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love"

How Jesus Came to Establish the Kingdom of God?

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Eight Key Points of Evangelism

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations"

Lessons to be Learned in Building the Church

Ephesians 4:11-12 "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

1 Peter 2:5 "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

First Accepting Christ as the Son of David VS Later as the Son of Abraham

Luke 1:32-33 "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever"

Romans 4:13 "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith"

The Revelation of John's Gospel VS The Revelation of Matthew's Gospel

John 21:15-17: "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep.'"

Why is the extent of God's authority proportional to the measure of Christ?

Matthew 16:18 "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Ephesians 1:22-23 "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

Why do Christians who bear the yoke of Christ necessarily find rest?

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Seeing the 'Triune God' from 'Psalm 23:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14'

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over."

Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever."

The Divine Seed (Divinity) Sown into the Soil (Humanity) in Matthew 13 VS The Spirit of God Making Home in Human Hearts in Ephesians 3

Matthew 13:23 "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Ephesians 3:16-17 "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

The Spiritual Significance of Touching the Hem of the Lord's Garment

Matthew 9:20-22 "And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well."

Matthew 14:36 "and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well."

Why do Christians need to see the vision of Christ as the Sower?

Matthew 13:3 - "And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, 'Behold, the sower went out to sow.'"

Matthew 13:19 - "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road."

Why do Christians need to seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of their lives?

Psalm 27:8 "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."