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讀經

Scripture Reading

哥林多前书 12:27

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27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

27 你们就是基督的身子，并且各自做肢体。

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians哥林多前书 12:27

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Thanking GOD for you!

为你们感谢神 !

Today is a day we want to acknowledge those who serve among us.

Thank You Sunday is a day to pause and thank GOD for all who labor and serve our church.

If we don’t stop to take notice, it becomes easy for us as sinful humans to become ungrateful or to “take for granted” (When you take something or someone for granted, you assume it's always going to be there) those who labor and serve among us.

There are many who serve among us that if they were not faithfully doing so, our church family would not be the same. We do realize that it is the work of the Holy Spirit Who is leading us and giving us the ability to serve.

BUT…

Take a pause… Think of every program and service needs of our church. From the very blades of grass, to the upkeep of our church building, to the encouragement and teaching of all of our churches various age groups, evangelism and sharing the Gospel, preaching, to the communications, to the many details of financials, bills, legal documentation, even the supplies we often take for granted in the bathrooms.

Think of the various committees, boards, and teams. Our Deacons (both recently serving, and currently serving), Our Elders (both recently serving, and currently serving), Biblical Teaching Committee, Worship Teams….

Groups of people, and individuals keep things running. It takes an entire Church to be Christs church. He has built us to be together, and for each of us to use our spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to serve as one body, the local body of Christ.

I have heard it said that you should never thank anyone for their service in the Lord, because it will steal their crown from the Lord. I think that is very wrong.

“We thank God for you”, is often the opening of the Epistles of the new testament. In fact, in the thankfulness, thanking is mentioned around 138 in the scriptures. Perhaps Paul’s most challenging charge to believers is in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

We for sure should not be people who are only seeking the applause of mankind, but seeking to glorify God. As we persevere and see the day that JESUS returns approaching are we thankful?

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1 Thessalonians 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:12-15

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

12 弟兄们，我们劝你们敬重那在你们中间劳苦的人，就是在主里面治理你们、劝诫你们的。 13 又因他们所做的工，用爱心格外尊重他们。你们也要彼此和睦。

1. Recognize & Esteem Them Very Highly (Pastors/Overseers/Elders).

προΐστημι proḯstēmi, pro-is'-tay-mee; from G4253 and G2476; to stand before, i.e. (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practice:—maintain, be over, rule.

This encouragement is given to the church of Thessalonica, as well as us today. Church are we thankful for our Overseers (Elders and Pastors)?

The Bible encourages us to remember those who serve over you in the LORD, in spiritual oversight and ministering the Word of GOD to you.

There is much that goes on behind the scenes of a church that the Elders and Pastors have to serve together with.

Sometimes working on things that are challenging and yet you can see GOD work in ways that are beyond our capability.

Shepherding a church and trying to care for its needs is a calling, and it takes much time, sacrifice, and care.

Pray for your Elders, realize they are the servants of the Head of the church, the Lord JESUS.

We thank GOD for our elders who serve, and Amazingly even those who have served are still serving and many of them as mentors of PCCF or serving as leaders of groups.

Many people can say, well I did my time, and they fade out, but all of the men of God who have served as elders are serving weekdays and weekends along with their wives. What an important thing to take note of. Preaching and teaching, and encouraging our church family.

It says to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. Sometimes these leaders can be the target of attack.

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14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

14 我们又劝弟兄们，要警戒不守规矩的人，勉励灰心的人，扶助软弱的人，也要向众人忍耐。

15 你们要谨慎，无论是谁都不可以恶报恶。或是彼此相待，或是待众人，常要追求良善。

1 Thessalonians 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:12-15

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13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

13 因为善做执事的，自己就得到美好的地步，并且在基督耶稣里的真道上大有胆量。

1 Timothy 提摩太前书 3:13

3. Appreciating our Deacons.

In Biblical language this term is for an elected servant of the church. To Serve, care and maintain the ministry and functions of the church.

We have had many Deacons serve in the past and in the present.

They devote their time and efforts to caring for the needs of the church, keeping things maintained, and leading the church through their tireless service.

The Bible speaks a bit to the role of a deacon, but without those caring for our church building, caring for our church finances, caring for our church childrens ministries, caring for the administration needs and so much more Gods church would not be able to function.

Now whether you serve with title or not, we need each other. It takes the entire church for there to be a church.

Often the Church is referred to as the Body of the Lord JESUS. Simiarly as a body, or assembly of people. The church is JESUS body.

There are different parts, different services and needs and people with various giftings given by the Holy Spirit., yet we are to work together as a church to care for the body as a whole.

Not one role in the Body of Christ has more value than the other.

When we see how the Lord JESUS gave up His own body for us, God became a servant. He calls us all to do nothing different.

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4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

4 恩赐原有分别，圣灵却是一位； 5 职事也有分别，主却是一位；

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

12 就如身子是一个，却有许多肢体，而且肢体虽多，仍是一个身子；基督也是这样。 13 我们不拘是犹太人，是希腊人，是为奴的，是自主的，都从一位圣灵受洗，成了一个身体，饮于一位圣灵。 14 身子原不是一个肢体，乃是许多肢体。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

15 设若脚说：“我不是手，所以不属乎身子”，它不能因此就不属乎身子。 16 设若耳说：“我不是眼，所以不属乎身子”，它也不能因此就不属乎身子。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

17 若全身是眼，从哪里听声呢？若全身是耳，从哪里闻味呢？ 18 但如今，神随自己的意思把肢体俱各安排在身上了。 19 若都是一个肢体，身子在哪里呢？ 20 但如今肢体是多的，身子却是一个。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

21 眼不能对手说：“我用不着你。”头也不能对脚说：“我用不着你。” 22 不但如此，身上肢体人以为软弱的，更是不可少的； 23 身上肢体我们看为不体面的，越发给它加上体面；不俊美的，越发得着俊美；

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

24 我们俊美的肢体，自然用不着装饰。但神配搭这身子，把加倍的体面给那有缺欠的肢体， 25 免得身上分门别类，总要肢体彼此相顾。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

26 若一个肢体受苦，所有的肢体就一同受苦；若一个肢体得荣耀，所有的肢体就一同快乐。 27 你们就是基督的身子，并且各自做肢体。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

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26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

26 若一个肢体受苦，所有的肢体就一同受苦；若一个肢体得荣耀，所有的肢体就一同快乐。 27 你们就是基督的身子，并且各自做肢体。

1 Corinthians哥林多前书

12:4-5, 12-27

4. We are all needed, for the Body of Christ to function. We must be thankful for each other, value each other, and pray for each other.

As a Christian you are called to serve.

Not one part is more important than the other, but we are to outdue each other in service for each other.

The Body of Christ has many parts, but without each part the body cannot function smoothly.

Our Sunday School teachers. Our Worship Director and Worship Teams. Our Mentors of groups. Our People who help serve and care for the sick, and the needy. Those who serve food, and cook. Those who reach out to the community with the Gospel. Those who give rides and hospitality. Those who pray faithfully. To those who take out the trash and help keep our church clean. Those who welcome people. Those Who help serve in Communion. Those who run our sound system/video/online streaming. Those who serve faithfully even the youngest among us.

The list is so much more…

We need each other.

We are all needed, for the Body of Christ to function. We must be thankful for each other, value each other, and pray for each other.

Thank you GOD for all of those who serve faithfully among us.

Help us to love and appreciate each one. We serve the Lord JESUS, it is He that must be the ultimate reason for our serving.

Galatians 6:9-10 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Colossians 3:12-17

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.