The Church – Facing Changes, Remaining Relevant 教会——面对改变，保持时代相关性
Speaker: Mr. Yap Koon Roy
讲员： 叶冠瑞牧师
Scriptures: Acts 20:28; Matthew 23:35–37 (NIV)
经文： 使徒行传 20:28；马太福音 23:35–37（新国际版）
Introduction｜引言
The church today finds itself at a crossroads. For some, the pace of change feels unsettling—traditions are shifting, styles are evolving, and familiar patterns no longer feel the same. For others, the concern is the opposite: that the church is not changing fast enough to engage a rapidly transforming world.
今天的教会正站在一个十字路口上。对一些人来说，改变的速度令人不安——传统正在转变，形式不断更新，熟悉的方式已不再一样；而对另一些人来说，担忧却相反——教会改变得不够快，无法回应这个迅速变化的世界。
Mr. Yap Koon Roy reminds us that the church is not a personal possession, cultural club, or inherited institution. The church belongs to God—purchased at great cost through the blood of Jesus Christ. The question before us is not whether change will come, but whether we will embrace change with faith, humility, and mission.
叶牧师提醒我们，教会不是个人的产业、文化俱乐部，或是代代相传的组织。教会属于神——是用耶稣基督的宝血重价买赎的。摆在我们面前的问题不是“会不会改变”，而是我们是否愿意以信心、谦卑和使命感去拥抱改变。
1. A Reshuffling of the Church’s Priorities
一、重新调整教会的优先次序
Scripture｜经文
“Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
(Acts 20:28)
“牧养神的教会，就是他用自己血所买来的。”
(使徒行传 20:28)
The first major shift required is a reshuffling of priorities, so that lost and broken people become the primary target audience of the church.
教会首先需要作出的改变，是重新调整优先次序，使失丧和破碎的人成为教会首要关怀的对象。
This does not mean neglecting faithful members. Rather, it means refocusing the church’s heart outward—toward those who are not yet here. The church exists not as a comfortable club for insiders, but as a mission-driven family sent to reach a hurting world.
这并不是忽略忠心的会友，而是将教会的心重新转向外面——那些尚未走进教会的人。教会不是给“里面的人”享受的舒适俱乐部，而是一个带着使命被差遣的属灵家庭，为要进入一个受伤的世界。
Jesus Himself expressed this heart when He lamented over Jerusalem:
耶稣在为耶路撒冷哀叹时，亲自表达了这样的心肠：
“How often I have longed to gather your children together…”
(Matthew 23:37)
“我多次愿意聚集你的儿女……”
(马太福音 23:37)
The church reflects Christ most clearly when it shares His longing for the lost.
当教会拥有基督对失丧之人的渴望时，才最真实地反映出基督的生命。
2. Church Work Must Reflect and Adapt to New Realities
二、教会的事工必须回应并适应新的现实
Scripture｜经文
“Jerusalem… your house is left to you desolate.”
(Matthew 23:38)
“看哪，你们的家成为荒场留给你们。”
(马太福音 23:38)
Mr. Yap emphasized that church work must reflect and adapt to new realities. Throughout Scripture and history, God has continually reshaped the way His people live out their faith.
叶牧师强调，教会的事工必须反映并适应新的现实处境。纵观圣经和教会历史，神不断更新祂子民活出信仰的方式。
The early church was forced out of the temple and into homes and streets through persecution:
初代教会因逼迫被迫离开圣殿，进入家庭和街道：
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
(Acts 8:4)
“那些分散的人往各处去传道。”
(使徒行传 8:4)
Similarly, John Wesley broke tradition to reach people the church had failed to reach.
同样地，约翰·卫斯理打破传统，为了接触当时教会无法触及的人群。
The gospel never changes—but the methods must, if the church is to remain alive and effective.
福音永不改变，但方式必须更新，教会才能持续有生命力和影响力。
3. The Church Is a Living Body, Not a Religious Corporation
三、教会是活的身体，不是宗教企业
Scripture｜经文
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
(1 Corinthians 12:27)
“你们就是基督的身体，并且各自作肢体。”
(哥林多前书 12:27)
Running the church like a business can drain it of compassion and grace.
若把教会当成企业来经营，往往会耗尽怜悯、恩典与爱。
The church is a family, growing together in patience, love, and care.
教会是一个家庭，在爱、忍耐与彼此关怀中一同成长。
4. Reinvention Is Not Compromise—It Is Faithfulness
四、更新不是妥协，而是忠心
Scripture｜经文
“Go and make disciples of all nations.”
(Matthew 28:19)
“所以你们要去，使万民作我的门徒。”
(马太福音 28:19)
Every generation must ask:
What must change so that the gospel can be heard clearly today?
每一代的教会都必须问：
今天有哪些地方必须改变，福音才能被清楚听见？
Conclusion｜结论
So, who stole the church?
那么，究竟是谁“偷走”了教会？
God is taking His church back.
是神正在把原本属于祂的教会带回正轨。
The gospel remains unchanging. Everything else must serve that mission.
福音永远不变，其余的一切都必须服侍这个使命。
Take-Home Message｜带回家的信息（一个家庭 · 一个使命）
Because the church belongs to God, we are called as one family with one mission—to reshuffle our priorities toward the lost, adapt our methods to new realities, and faithfully carry the unchanging gospel into a changing world.
因为教会属于神，我们作为一个家庭、肩负一个使命，必须重新调整优先次序，关怀失丧的人，更新方式以回应时代，并忠心地将不变的福音带进不断改变的世界。
Reflection Question 1:
*In your own journey of faith, have you ever felt like "Uncle K" or "Mr. Man"—resistant to changes in the church or critical of its direction? What was at the heart of those feelings?*
在你个人的信仰旅程中，你是否曾有过像 "K叔叔" 或 "那位先生" 那样的感受——抗拒教会的改变或批评其方向？这些感受的核心是什么
Response:
Yes, I may have felt discomfort when familiar hymns were replaced, or when new programs disrupted routine. At the heart of this was often a sense of loss—of comfort, identity, or cherished memories—and sometimes fear that what was sacred to me was being disregarded. The sermon reminds me that such feelings are natural, but the church is not mine; it is God’s. My role is to seek His heart in change, trusting that the unchanging gospel is being carried forward in new ways to reach new generations.
是的，当熟悉的赞美诗被替换，或当新的事工打乱了惯常程序时，我可能感到不适。这种感受的核心往往是一种失落感——失去舒适感、身份认同或珍贵的回忆，有时也害怕我所珍视的神圣事物被忽视。这篇讲道提醒我，这些感受是自然的，但教会不是我的；是神的。我的角色是在改变中寻求神的心意，相信那不变的福音正以新的方式被传承，以触及新一代。
Reflection Question 2:
*The sermon says the church must make "lost and broken people" its primary audience. Who are the "lost and broken" in your community, and how can you personally help the church reach them?*
讲道说教会必须将 "失丧和受伤的人" 作为其主要受众。在你的社区中，谁是 "失丧和受伤的人"？你个人可以如何帮助教会接触他们？
Response:
The "lost and broken" in my community could include lonely elderly neighbors, stressed young parents, immigrants feeling isolated, or youth struggling with identity and purpose. Personally, I can help by:
我社区中的 "失丧和受伤的人" 可能包括孤独的年长邻居、压力重重的年轻父母、感到被孤立的移民，或在身份与目标上挣扎的年轻人。就我个人而言，我可以这样帮助：
1. **Building genuine friendships**—listening without agenda, sharing life, and offering practical help.
**建立真诚的友谊**——不带目的地倾听、分享生活并提供实际帮助。
2. **Being a bridge**—inviting them into informal gatherings or church activities that feel welcoming, not intimidating.
**成为一座桥梁**——邀请他们参加非正式的聚会或感觉是欢迎而非令人生畏的教会活动。
3. **Advocating within the church**—supporting ministries and changes that make the church more accessible and relevant to outsiders.
**在教会内倡导**——支持那些使教会对外人来说更易接触、更相关的事工和改变。
Reflection Question 3:
*Pastor Yap shared that "the church is a family, not a company." How does this change the way you view your role and attitude within the church?*
Yap牧师分享说 "教会是一个家庭，不是一家公司。" 这会如何改变你看待自己在教会中的角色和态度？
Response:
Viewing the church as a family means:
将教会视为一个家庭意味着：
- **Grace over performance:** I am called to love and walk with people in their imperfections, not judge their "usefulness."
**恩典胜过表现：** 我被呼召去爱并与不完美的人同行，而非评判他们的 "用处"。
- **Commitment over convenience:** Family stays together through difficulties. I should seek reconciliation, not withdrawal, when conflicts arise.
**委身胜过便利：** 家庭在困难中会在一起。当冲突出现时，我应当寻求和解，而非退缩。
- **Shared responsibility:** In a family, everyone contributes in different ways—not by meeting KPIs, but through prayer, service, encouragement, and faithfulness.
**共同的责任：** 在家庭中，每个人都以不同的方式贡献——不是通过完成KPI指标，而是通过祷告、服务、鼓励和信实。
Reflection Question 4:
*What is one tradition or method in your church that might need "re-evaluation" to better reach people today? How can you support positive change without compromising biblical truth?*
在你的教会中，有哪一项传统或方法可能需要进行 "重新评估"，以便更好地触及当今的人们？你如何能在不妥协圣经真理的前提下支持积极的改变？
Response:
One tradition might be the **strictly formal Sunday service structure** that can feel unintelligible or unwelcoming to outsiders. To support positive change:
一项传统可能是**过于正式的主日礼拜结构**，这可能让外人感到难以理解或不友好。为了支持积极的改变：
- I can encourage incorporating **more accessible language** in preaching and music.
我可以鼓励在讲道和音乐中使用**更易于理解的语言**。
- Support **alternative service formats** (e.g., casual evening gatherings, online engagement).
支持**替代性的礼拜形式**（例如，轻松的晚间聚会、线上参与）。
- Advocate keeping **the gospel central**—ensuring that whatever changes are made still clearly present Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the core message.
倡导保持**福音的核心地位**——确保无论进行何种改变，仍能清晰地呈现耶稣的生、死与复活作为核心信息。
Reflection Question 5:
*The sermon ends with the idea that "if we don’t change… how are [the unsaved] going to come and be saved?" What is one step you will take this week to be part of reaching out?*
讲道以这样的观点结束："如果我们不改变……[未得救之人]如何能来并得救呢？" 本周你将采取哪一步骤来参与向外拓展的事工？
Response:
This week, I will **intentionally connect with one person outside my church circle**—a同事, neighbor, or old friend—not to preach, but to listen, show care, and offer to pray for them if they share a need. I will also **pray daily for a heart that loves what God loves: the lost and the broken.**
本周，我将**有意识地与一位教会圈子之外的人建立联系**——一位同事、邻居或老朋友——目的不是讲道，而是倾听、表示关心，并在他们分享需要时主动提出为他们祷告。我还将**每天祷告，求神赐给我一颗爱神所爱之心：爱失丧和受伤的人。**
Final Takeaway Sentence (to carry with you):
*“God’s church must courageously turn outward, embracing change to reach the lost, while holding firmly to the unchanging gospel of Jesus.”*
**“神的教会必须勇敢地转向外部，拥抱改变以触及失丧的人，同时牢牢持守耶稣那不变的福音。”**
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