2025-07-20 Knowing God’s Call 认识神的呼召

 (Acts 徒17:16–34) 

Today we’re joining our NZ Baptist family as we kick off three weeks of the Renew Together series. 今天，我们与新西兰浸信会大家庭一同开启为期三周的「共同更新」系列。This Sunday’s message is titled ‘Knowing God’s Call’, based on Acts 17:16–34, both given by Arotahi. 本周日的分享主题是「认识神的呼召」，讲道内容基于使徒行传17:16-34，由Arotahi（新西兰浸信会宣教联合会）分享。This is an incredible passage showing us how to carry the gospel with courage, wisdom, and love in a culture that doesn’t yet know Jesus, but is desperately searching for something more. 这段经文极为震撼，它向我们显明如何在一个尚未认识耶稣、却迫切追寻更深意义的文化中，以勇气、智慧和神圣爱来传递福音。Let’s read 我们来读 Acts徒 17:16-34, 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 16保罗在雅典等候他们的时候，看见满城都是偶像，就心里着急，17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 17于是在会堂里与犹太人和虔敬的人，并每日在市上所遇见的人辩论。18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 18还有以彼古罗和斯多亚两门的学士与他争论。有的说：“这胡言乱语的要说什么？”有的说：“他似乎是传说外邦鬼神的。”这话是因保罗传讲耶稣与复活的道。19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 19他们就把他带到亚略巴古，说：“你所讲的这新道，我们也可以知道吗？20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 20因为你有些奇怪的事传到我们耳中，我们愿意知道这些事是什么意思。”21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas. 21（雅典人和住在那里的客人都不顾别的事，只将新闻说说听听。）22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 22保罗站在亚略巴古当中，说：“众位雅典人哪，我看你们凡事很敬畏鬼神。23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 23我游行的时候，观看你们所敬拜的，遇见一座坛，上面写着‘未识之神’。你们所不认识而敬拜的，我现在告诉你们：24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 24创造宇宙和其中万物的　神，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿，25也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 25也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 26他从一本造出万族的人（“本”有古卷作“血脉”），住在全地上，并且预先定准他们的年限和所住的疆界，27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ” 27要叫他们寻求　神，或者可以揣摩而得，其实他离我们各人不远，28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 28我们生活、动作、存留，都在乎他。就如你们作诗的，有人说：‘我们也是他所生的。’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 29我们既是　神所生的，就不当以为　神的神性像人用手艺、心思所雕刻的金、银、石。30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 30世人蒙昧无知的时候，　神并不监察，如今却吩咐各处的人都要悔改。31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. 31因为他已经定了日子，要藉着他所设立的人按公义审判天下，并且叫他从死里复活，给万人作可信的凭据。”32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 32众人听见从死里复活的话，就有讥诮他的，又有人说：“我们再听你讲这个吧！” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 33于是保罗从他们当中出去了。34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. 34但有几个人贴近他，信了主，其中有亚略巴古的官丢尼修，并一个妇人，名叫大马哩，还有别人一同信从。

1, God’s call can start with holy discomfort 1. 神的呼召，始于神圣的不安

Have you ever walked into a place and just felt something wasn’t right? 有没有试过，你一去到某个地方就感到不对劲？That’s what Paul experienced in V,16: “he was greatly distressed”. 保罗在16节的经历正是如此，“他心里着急。”The original Greek says that his spirit was provoked, deeply stirred, when he saw the city of Athens full of idols. 希腊原文说他的灵被刺痛、被激动，当他看见满城都是偶像。  I don’t know if you’ve ever had a similar experience, I have. 我不知道你是否有过类似经历，我有过。Years ago, I walked into a street in Asia and was suddenly hit with a sharp pain in my head, something I’d never felt before. 多年前，我走进亚洲的一条街道，突然头上感到一阵从未有过的刺痛。The Holy Spirit stirred me to pray. As I looked around, I saw idols lining the street. 圣灵催逼我祷告。我环顾四周，发现整条街道布满偶像。  I prayed for the people to know Jesus and bind the evil ones, and as I prayed, the pain left. 我为他们祷告，求神让他们认识耶稣，并捆绑那恶者的势力。头痛就消失了。Here, the Apostle Paul had just come from Thessalonica and Berea, where the gospel sparked both revival and riots. 使徒保罗刚刚从帖撒罗尼迦和庇哩亚过来，在那里，福音既带来了复兴，也引发了骚乱。But now in Athens, the capital of intellect and philosophy, he faced something different. 但如今在雅典这个追求智慧与哲学的都市，他面对的却是另一种光景：Not hostility, but a people who were smart, cultured, spiritual, and lost. 不是敌对的环境，而是一群聪明、有教养、追求灵性、却迷失的人群。It reminds me of what Kane shared before his baptism, how he had gone from temple to temple, searching for peace and blessing, but found nothing, until he met Jesus and accepted Him as Saviour. 这让我想起Kane受洗前的分享，他去过多个寺庙，想找到平安和祝福，却始终寻不见，直到他遇见耶稣并接受祂为救主。Paul didn’t judge the Athenians who worshipped idols. He listened and observed.  Then in v, 22, he began to build a bridge: 保罗没有论断雅典人拜偶像，他先倾听、观察，然后在22节，他开始搭建一座桥梁——“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.” “众位雅典人哪，我看你们凡事很敬畏鬼神。” He acknowledged their hunger for something more. 他看到了雅典人内心深处的渴求。In those days, Athens was a global centre for education, art, and wealth, but Paul, in the Holy Spirit, saw beneath the surface. He saw a city in spiritual poverty, “full of idols”. 当时的雅典是教育、艺术与财富的国际大都市，但保罗在圣灵里看穿了表象，他看到一座灵里贫穷的城市，「满城都是偶像」。Fame, money, and success hadn’t given them true fulfilment. 名声、财富和成功，并未带给雅典人真正的满足。And it’s the same today. The world has lost its way, filled with war, greed, injustice, anxiety, and addiction. 就像当今的世界，迷失道路，到处是战争、贪婪、不公、焦虑、上瘾……People may look successful, but many are battling depression or even suicidal thoughts. 人们看似成功，很多人内心却可能深陷抑郁甚至轻生的念头。To cope, they numb the pain with alcohol, scrolling online, pornography, or gambling. 为了逃避痛苦，他们用酒精、网络、色情或赌博麻痹自己，But none of it brings freedom, it only keeps them in bondage.但这些只会加深捆绑，而非带来自由。

Families are breaking down. Trust is lost between generations, between spouses, and between leaders and followers. 家庭在崩塌，隔代之间、夫妻之间、领袖和跟随者之间互不信任。We say we’re fine, but actually we’re not okay. The world is not okay. 我们嘴上说“还好”，可事实上我们不太好，整个世界都不太好。That’s why we need Jesus. 正因如此，我们需要耶稣。Jesus healed me from five years of manic depression, and my life and my family were forever changed. 祂治好了我长达五年的躁郁症，我和我的家庭从此不一样。But that’s not the end of the story. God is still calling. 但这不是故事的终点——神仍在呼召。Just like He called Paul to Athens, He’s calling you and me into His plan to save the lost. 就像祂当年呼召保罗前往雅典，今天祂同样呼召你和我，参与祂拯救失丧者的计划。V,17 shows us that knowing God’s call often begins with holy discomfort, sensing that something’s wrong, that people are searching but don’t know the truth. 从第17节，我们看见一件事：认识神的呼召，往往始于那份神圣的不安，就是你察觉到某些不对劲，当你发现人们四处寻找真理却找不到。Have you felt that stirring? 你内心感受到搅动吗？Watching the video just now? 看了刚才的视频吗？Seeing the nations walk into our English classes, searching for hope? 看到各国学生到我们的英语课来寻找盼望的目光吗？Are you hearing God’s call? 你是否听到神的呼召？

2, God’s call brings the good news of Jesus. 2. 传福音是神的呼召

In v, 24–27, Paul begins to speak truth into the confusion: 在24-27节，保罗开始在向迷惘的人群传讲真理：“The God who made the world and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth… He’s not served by human hands, as if He needed anything… From one man, He made all nations… so they would seek Him.”“ 创造宇宙和其中万物的　神，既是天地的主，……不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；他从一本造出万族的人（“本”有古卷作“血脉”），……要叫他们寻求　神。” He’s saying, God isn’t made by us, we are made by Him. 保罗在说：神不是人造的，人是神所造的。He doesn’t need us, but He wants us. 祂并不需要我们，却渴望得着我们；And He’s not far off, He’s close. 祂并非遥不可及，而是近在身旁。And He has made Himself known through the person Jesus Christ. 祂藉着肉身的耶稣基督把自己显明出来。God in the flesh, who came, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. 道成肉身的神，亲自来到世间，为我们的罪被钉十字架，又从死里复活。That’s the heart of the gospel: Jesus didn’t stay dead. 这就是福音的中心：耶稣没有停留在死亡里。He rose, physically, powerfully, victoriously. 祂带着能力、权柄和得胜复活了！He defeated sin, death, and every idol that tries to take God’s place. 祂胜过了罪恶，死亡，和一切想取代神的偶像。The resurrection proves Jesus is who He said He is, the Son of God, who gives eternal hope to this world. 复活证明耶稣真是祂所宣称的那位，神的儿子，赐永活盼望给这世界的。It confirms our sins have been paid for. It means death is not the end, we, too, will rise with Him one day. 它宣告我们的罪债已被偿还，宣告死亡并非终点，我们也要与祂一同复活。You need to experience His resurrection power in this life. 你要在今生就经历祂死里复活的大能。Then, in v, 28, Paul says, 接着，保罗在28节说， “In Him we live and move and have our being.” “我们生活、动作、存留，都在乎他。” That’s where our identity is found. Not in success. Not in other people’s applause. But in the One who made us and saved us. 这才是我们身份真正的根基——不在成功里，不在他人掌声里，而在那位创造并拯救我们的主里面。Growing into the fullness of Jesus, that’s real success in life. 得以长成基督的身量，才是人生真正的成功。At the World Baptist Congress, we were reminded again and again, our identity must be rooted in God’s truth. 在全球浸信会大会上，我们被一再提醒：你的身份必须扎根于神的真理。Otherwise, pain and rejection can lead us astray. 若不然，痛和被拒绝会使我们走迷路。When corrected, we feel the pain, and the enemy whispers, “You’re not good enough.” 当被纠正时，我们感到痛，仇敌轻声说“你不够好”，Then we try to justify ourselves, “I’m right.” Protect our reputation, instead of repenting, denying the thoughts of the self, and surrendering to God’s truth. 于是我们想要证明自己，“我是对的”，我们保护自己的名声，却不是悔改，不是否定自己的想法，降服于真理。Then, we get stuck. We stop growing. The enemy wins. Our ministry loses power. 接着我们就被捆住了，不再成长。仇敌胜过我们，我们的服事不再有能力。

3, God’s call leads to response. 3. 神的呼召，邀请你回应

In v.30, God’s call always invites a response. 在第30节，神呼召是在邀请人回应。Repentance isn’t just saying sorry, it’s turning. Turning from our old ways to God’s way. It’s a change of direction, and a change of heart. 悔改不仅仅是说声"对不起"，而是生命的转道，从旧人的道路，转向神的道路，这是改变目标方向，是心灵的更新。Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, set captives free, and make all things new. He came to free us from unforgiveness, fear, bitterness, and shame, so we can live in peace, joy, and purpose. 耶稣来，为要医好伤心的人，报告被掳的得释放，祂将一切都更新了。祂要释放我们脱离不饶恕、惧怕、苦毒、羞愧的枷锁，使我们活出有平安、有喜乐、有意义的人生。But unless we truly practice and turn, we won’t experience His power to save, heal, and restore. 但我们若不真去操练并转向祂，就无法经历祂拯救、医治、恢复的大能。You heard our sisters share last Sunday how God healed and restored them. 上个主日几位姐妹见证了神如何亲手医治并重建她们的生命。But God doesn’t just heal us, He sends us. 然而，神不仅医治我们，更要差遣我们。The world is broken. As we saw in the video, the need is real. And only Jesus is the answer. 这是个破碎的世界，从视频里看到，到处是需要，唯有耶稣是答案，We’re not just invited to respond for ourselves, we’re called to carry the good news to others. 我们蒙召不只是为自己回应神，还要把好消息传出去。

In v,32–34, we see three responses to the same message: Some laughed. Some delayed. But some believed and followed Jesus. 在32-34节，我们看到对同一个信息的三种反应：有人讥笑，有人拖延，但也有人相信并跟随耶稣。It’s the same today. When you share Jesus, some will mock, some will wait, but some will say yes. 今天仍然如此：当你分享耶稣时，有人会嘲笑你，有人会犹豫，但也有人会接受——And their lives will never be the same. 而他们的生命将永远改变。Don’t miss this: v.34 names Dionysius and Damaris, real people who said yes. The bible recorded their names. 请留意这个细节：第34节特别提到丢尼修和大马哩的名字，两个对福音说是的真人，圣经记录了他们的名字。In a city full of idols, at the heart of Greek culture and noise, God was calling individuals by name. 在充满偶像的都会，在希腊文化和喧嚣的中心地带，神在提名呼召个人。He knows you by name. He wants a relationship with you, and He wants to call others by name through you. 祂也按你的名认识你，祂渴望与你建立关系，祂更渴望藉着你，去呼召其他人。The Almighty God is inviting you to be His ambassador. 全能神正邀请你成为祂的使者。

So what’s your response? 你的回应是什么？Where is He calling you to listen, learn, and speak? 祂呼召你在哪里倾听、学习和开口传讲？Where do you feel that holy discomfort? 你在哪里感受到那份神圣的不安？Who around you might already be searching for Jesus, but doesn’t know His name yet? 你身边有谁正在寻找耶稣，却还不认识祂的名？Maybe it’s someone in your English class. Your workplace. Your family. 或许是英语班上的某个人、职场中的同事，或是你的家人。Maybe it’s just to pray, give and support Arotahi’s overseas missionaries? 或许只祷告、奉献、支持Arotahi的海外宣教士？God is calling and He’s calling you to respond. 神正在呼召，祂正在呼召你来回应。Will we be a people who say yes? 我们是否愿意对神说是？Will we be a church that walks into culture with grace, speaking truth with love, and believes that through His resurrection power, lives and nations can still be turned upside down? 我们是否愿意成为一个以恩典走进文化、用爱心说诚实话，并相信祂复活大能可翻转生命和国家的教会？Don’t you believe that you’re called for such a time as this? 你是否相信，你正是为此刻而蒙召的吗？

Prayer: 祷告：

Yes, Jesus our Lord, we praise You. 主耶稣，我们赞美你！We live to glorify Your name. 我们活着是为荣耀你的名，For You are the answer for our lives, why we live, move, and have our being. 因为我们生活、动作、存留，都在乎你，你是我们生命的答案。We thank You for coming to love us first. 感谢你先爱了我们，Thank You that You laid down Your life on the cross as a ransom offering for us. You paid the price we could never pay. 感谢你在十字架上舍命，成为赎罪祭，我们永远无法偿还。You broke the power of sin and death. You rose again, and now You call us by name. 你打破了罪与死亡权势，你复活了，如今你正亲自提名呼召我们。The Maker of heaven and earth, the Source of all, You desire each of us to have a closer relationship with You, so that we won’t fear the storms of life anymore. 创造天地的耶和华，万有的源头，渴望与我们每个人建立更亲密的关系，好叫我们不再惧怕人生的风浪。Because when we know You, we know who is in control. 因为若我们认识你，就知道谁掌权；We find peace in our hearts, even in chaos. You want us to be blessed in every aspect of life. 哪怕在混乱中，我们的心仍得安息，因你愿意我们在凡事上蒙福。

Jesus, thank You for setting the example for us. 耶稣，感谢你为我们立下榜样。You listened, You learned the ways of the Kingdom, and You spoke truth in love, even when it cost You everything. 你倾听，你学习神国的法则，你用爱心说诚实话，即使付上一切代价。People mocked You, rejected You, misunderstood You, but because You were rooted in love and truth, the pain of rejection and exclusion couldn’t hold You back. 人讥笑你、拒绝你、误解你，但你扎根于神的爱和真理，拒绝与排斥的痛苦不能使你退后。You didn’t let offence define You. You didn’t let fear silence You. 你没有顺从冒犯感，你不因惧怕就沉默。You knew who You were, and You knew the One who sent You. 你知道自己是谁，知道差遣你的是谁。Now, if you like, you can follow me in this prayer: 若你愿意，可以跟着我这样祷告：

Forgive me, Lord, 主啊，求你赦免我，for the times I let offence define me, when I held onto hurt instead of giving it to You, 我常常顺从冒犯感，抓住伤害不放、而没有交给你，when I allowed fear to keep me silent, 常常顺从惧怕就沉默，when I forgot who I am and who You say I am, 常常忘记自己是谁、忘记你说我是谁，when I tried to strive in my own strength and ended up worn down. 常常靠自己挣扎，直到筋疲力尽。I bring it all to You now, the lies I’ve believed about what the world says is good, 我把我接受的这世界的谎言，说这是是好的那是好的，the pride in my old self or the disappointment with who I used to be, 把旧人的骄傲，对过去的失望，the feelings of rejection, the bitter judgments, the fear of what others might say about me, 被拒绝感，苦毒的论断，怕人指指点点，the shame that whispered I wasn’t good enough, and the places where I gave in to those lies. 控告我"不够好"的羞耻感，以及我向谎言妥协的每个地方，都带到你面前。Lord, I ask You to forgive me and restore me. 主啊，求你赦免我，恢复我。Thank You for forgiving me. 感谢你赦免了我。I forgive myself, and I forgive those who have offended me, because they carry the same corrupted old self like I once did. 我选择饶恕自己，也饶恕得罪我的人，因他们和我旧人一样，都带着败坏的旧性情。We all need forgiveness and mercy. 我们都需要赦免与怜悯。Now, in Jesus’ name and by His resurrection power, 此刻，我奉耶稣的名并祂复活的能力，I break agreement with fear, rejection, and the lie that I’m not good enough, not ready, or not worthy that I need to do better, or be better than others to be accepted. 断开与惧怕、被拒绝感，以及"我不够好、我没有准备好、我不配、我必须做得更好或比人优秀才能被接纳"的谎言之间一切的联结。

And I receive Your love. I receive Your truth. 我接受你的爱，我接受你的真理，I receive Your calling through the power of Your Spirit. 我接受圣灵大能的呼召，Not by might, nor by power but by Your Spirit. 不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠你的灵方能成事。

Here I am, Lord, send me. 主啊，我在这里，请差遣我！Send me into my family, my workplace, my school, my community, anywhere You call me to go. 差我进入我的家庭、职场、校园、社区，到你呼召我去的任何地方。Fill me with the power of Your Spirit, empower me to walk into culture with grace, to speak the good news, 以圣灵的大能充满我，赐我恩典走进这世代，勇敢传扬福音，to carry Your presence to heal and restore, and to see lives turned upside down. 带着你的同在去医治、恢复，亲眼见证生命被彻底翻转！Thank You, Jesus! Amen. 谢谢你，耶稣！阿们。

Now the prayer on the screen is from Ariotahi, let’s pray it together as one: 现在屏幕上的祷告词来自Ariotahi，让我们同心合意地祷告：

God, You, who are present with all people, in all places, and across this land, Hear our prayers. 神啊，你无所不在，你是万民的主，全地的主，求你垂听我们的祷告：That as we seek you, we may truly find you. 当我们寻求你时，愿能真实遇见你。For in you, we live, move, and have our being. 我们生活、动作、存留，都在乎你，When we encounter others, May we be open to listen, to learn, And to see your Spirit at work当与人相遇时，求你使我们敞开心去倾听、去学习，并看见你圣灵的工作。. May we tread with wisdom and grace, so that our words and actions reflect the deep desires, that You alone have placed within your creation. 求你使我们有智慧有恩典，让我们的言行彰显你放置在受造之物心中的最深渴望。Together, may we hear your call for our world. 求你让我们一同听见你对这世界的呼召，And together, may we respond. Amen 我们同心回应你。阿们。