의미있는 성탄을 보냅시다.

[Dongoh Shin]

친구들에게 다시한번 야단 맞을 각오를 하고, 영문 설교를 올립니다.

이설교문은 이곳 Potchefstroom 의 7개 백인교회가 연합으로 드리는 성탄예배를 위해서 준비한 설교인데, 친구들과도 함께 나누고싶어서...

특별히 영문 설교가 낯설은 친구들을 위해서, 번역도 부탁했으니, 먼저 영문으로 읽어보시고, 조금만 기다리면, 잘 번역된 본문을 읽으실수있읍니다.   

삽입된 찬송은 112장 "그 맑고 환한 밤중에" 입니다.

삽입된 그림은, 세워진지 180년된 교회의 본당인데 이곳에서 성탄 연합예배로 모이게 됩니다.

Scriptural Reading: Jeremiah Chapter 33: 1-9

                              Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 32

Text verses: Jeremiah Chapter 33:1-3

Theme: Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.

Introduction

Brothers, sisters and children in Christ!

With a heart full of joy and love in our Lord Jesus Christ, I would like to welcome you all to this combined evening service.

During the month of December in expectation of festive season, many things cross our minds: the expectation of family reunions, the excitement of a holyday trip, and also some feelings of regret with regard to unfinished matters that we planed at the beginning of the year.  Sometimes we feel as if the arms of a fast moving clock are chasing us.

Between the looking back on this passing year and planning of the coming year, I would like to have the moment of searching within ourselves: what did we plan, and how did it develop?

In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to verses 1 to 9, from Chapter 33 of the book of Jeremiah.  Here we find the theme for this evening: Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. Let us listen again to verses 1 to 3 of Jeremiah chapter 33.                     

(A short review of the text.)

Beloved in Christ,

The chapter 33 of Jeremiah, along with the previous three chapters, is the final chapter of the so-called Book of Consolation. It has words of judgment answered by words of salvation.  The Lord revealed himself with his power in creation. The revealing of un-searchable things suggests that nothing is impossible for the Lord and amounts to a promise of salvation.

The new covenant, which was given here, will be different from the one that previous generations had broken.  The new covenant will be a warm delight to the people’s hearts, not a cold prescription.

Two characteristics of the new covenant must be given attention to. Firstly, people will not need to be encouraged to know God, because God will reveal himself to all people. Such knowledge means not only knowledge of God’s character and ways, but is a personal relationship, and implies the new relationship between God and His people with a commitment of the will.  Secondly, God will forgive the sins of the people in a new and decisive way. 

The New Testament teaches that the significant fulfillment of the new covenant prophecy takes place in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 11:25).  This means that God’s covenant is finally achieved in the people who are in Christ. The new kind of forgiveness is possible because he has made a once- for-all sacrifice for sin that makes all other sacrifices obsolete.    

It is a covenant that cannot end because it has been perfected by Christ. Even so, His new people are called to faithfulness and given the power of Holy Spirit in order to sanctify them.        

Furthermore, the invitation in verse 3 is a fitting call to discover how old promises are renewed and new experiences are interpreted in the light of older texts.

Let us listen again to verses 1 to 3 of Jeremiah chapter 33.   

1)      Expect great thing from God.

Beloved in Christ,

The Hebrew word, which is translated as “call” in verse 3, contains a much deeper meaning.  It is not a simple calling of the name of  God, but calling His name with an expectation of God’s help. 

There are two important facts when we call His Holy name. Firstly, we call His name with an acknowledgment of human ignorance and infirmity. Secondly, we may call His name with our submission to God with a total acceptance of his gracious providence. 

We call on His name, in our prayer, with the expectation of Him answering.  There are no limits to God’s sovereign power. With his almighty power, he can answer our supplication in His own way.  Everything that God gives us or does for us is a blessing for us because it surpasses our abilities, our limited insight and our expectations.

Dear brothers, sisters and children,

Do you ever bring any expectations or wishes to the Lord in your prayers?  And does our Lord answer to your prayers?  

Considering our infirmity in the eyes of the Lord, everything that we receive from the Lord is blessed with His grace and infinite love, which cannot be categorized into great or small things. 

Besides His Creation, from the day of the creation up to today, everything God has done for us is the great thing.  Especially, sending Jesus Christ as our Savior was the greatest happening in the world.

The fulfillment of his promise, namely the deed of salvation, began with a small baby at a small town in Bethlehem and ended on the Cross through His holy blood. And our faith in this love and grace will bring us into eternal life in His kingdom when our Lord returns as our King.

May we then expect another great thing from God? 

Of course, we should do ask His love and grace.

Even though there is no limitation to our requests to God, we should ask some important things, which may help us to live as faithful, and obedient servants of God; a constant and firm personal relationship with our Lord comes first.  As long as we can maintain our faith in Jesus Christ and our conviction that He will carry us through the work of the Holy Sprit, we may rejoice and praise His love even in the times of pain and suffering.     

2)      Attempt great things for God.

Beloved in Christ,

The second point of our theme for this evening is “attempt great things for God”.

Let us have a closer look at the verb “call ” in chapter 33 verse 3.  In this scriptural context, the subject of this verb is the people who received the oracle. 

However, it is not too much to extend our understanding into the other usage of this verb, which is God as the subject. The meaning is then “to call someone to be in service of God.”   In this regard, Lord’s Day 32 of the Heidelberg Catechism clarifies this. 

The blood of Jesus Christ delivers us from the curse of sin.   The Holy Spirit delivers us from the power of sin.  Christ redeems us by his blood; he purifies us by his Spirit. We cannot have the one without the other. In other word, we cannot have Jesus Christ as our Savior if we refuse to honor him as Lord.

The Holy Spirit renews us “so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God.”  Therefore, the grateful life of a believer is the result of redemption.       

The good report of a grateful and obedient life has three outcomes, says the catechism.  Firstly, the fruits of such a life please our Father in heaven.  Secondly, we ourselves benefit from work we perform to God’s honor.  And, thirdly, says the catechism, the good report of our redeemed life should go to our neighbor. 

Considering our service to the Lord with humble, grateful and obedient hearts, I had to choose the words; “attempt great things for God” or “attempt small things for God”, as the second point of the theme for this evening.  I chose “attempt great things for God” not as far as the manner of doing it is concerned, but as far as the meaning is concerned.

There are many ways in which we can serve the Lord. It is all depends on the individual situations.  However, we should not ignore the prevailing attitude, which is commonly shared among us: we favor the big, expensive, beautiful, and better ways. And whenever we make a plan, we surely do want to do in an effective and more efficient manner.  

Beloved in Christ,

It is unfortunate, however, to say that the reality does not match the idea; big plans are mostly never finished.  In other word, no one can eat the whole piece of steak in one bite.  The steak must be cut into small pieces. And then, we eat the whole meat by small pieces.

Let us think of another example. There is an announcement of invitation for a community project.  Most of us choose the part that is easier, cleaner, and has less time involved, giving an excuse that I am too busy, I am too good for this, and so on, even though you know the crucial necessity of the parts you avoided, which are harder, dirtier, and more time-consuming ones. 

Of course, I do agree that there are many brothers and sisters who really give themselves to serving God and others, which many people would not choose. But I also may say that there are not as many as we expected.  

What about our Lord?

When he came and obey the Father, He did not make His appearance to this world in luxury, fame, or importance.  Rather He came as a small and powerless baby, in the small town, of Bethlehem. 

He was mocked and insulted and had to carry all the pain and suffering. Our Lord did not start His work among the people who were famous and powerful, but among the people who were the poor and ignored. Above all, He came for the sinners in the eyes of God!

We may not be able to love the Lord with the same passion and manners as our Lord loves us. However, at least, we may try to learn to follow His passion and way of dealing with people.   

Beloved in Christ,

Some of you already know my works in Ikageng area as a missionary. The last thirteen years of my participation in this project and in service to the Lord were in small things.

My missionary vision, summarized in one phrase, is church planting.  It sounds like a very big vision. But I never attempted to do in a big plan and extraordinary way.                   

As our Lord showed us the way, my sole principle has been; “being a witness for the Gospel of Jesus.” 

I fed the people not with material things but with the word of God in the days of wind, rain and heat under the tent gatherings that we called “mobile church”. 

I did not count how many times we erected the tent and packed it away. But I remember how painful my back and arms were when we were hammering the packs into the stony ground. And I remember the many days of frustration, and our crying for help to our Lord. And I also remember every single moment of comforting and encouraging from the Lord with His great love. 

I know now that I only could serve the Lord with my humble and obedient heart when I bring my best in the smallest things.  Then our Lord will bring our small attempts to the great ones.

In His grace and love, we bring our prayers to become reality. Two beautiful church buildings were built at Kanana and Sarafina Ikageng.  As a fruit of His guidance, a new congregation was formed as Ikageng Bophirima in 1997. And on February this year, they called Rev. Richard Ramalisa as their full time minister.

From month of May this year, our new project was launched at the Extension 7, which is newly expanded from Ikageng. The City Council donated two stands for the project.

We have Sunday service and Sunday school as well as Holy Sacraments in every 3 months. Every week, we have regular attendance of about 150 people. New people are visited and wish to join our service. 

I am asking for your prayers for this project.  

There are many things to be done. We are praying for the introductory class for the people from various churches background.  It will be one weekly meeting for 6 months, and people who finish this course will be full members of the Reformed church.

     Conclusion

Brothers, sisters and children,

In spite of what appeared to be hopeless situation at the time of distress, God could announce the restoration of the people and His compassion for them because of his sovereign rule over events and people.

We should not forget that a renewal of relationship between God and us could only be possible through God’s forgiveness and grace.

Furthermore, we should ask for his help and guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we may have comfort and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.  And in the end, we may rejoice and praise His glorious name and love in His kingdom.    

Beloved in Christ,

Please do not forget the facts that our service in a small manner will require our commitment, hardship, consistency, endurance, humility and obedience. And also please remember that the reward, for our service for God through the small things, may not be small. We may serve the Lord in small ways, but it will become great in the end.  

Not only on special occasions but in every area of your life, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” 

Let us pray,

[Jangho Lee]

야단치는사람?? 전혀 없는것으로 사료되오니 전혀 신경쓰지마시오... 야단맞으면서 살기도바쁜데 야단칠 겨를이어딨어(내얘기)... 땡큐우~~~

[Jangho Lee]

" 저 맑고 환한 밤중에 " 는 12월에 임마누엘 행사할때 꼭 불렀던 레파토리엿던게 기억나네...

[Dongoh Shin]

꼬리말에 아무런 흔적이 없으면, 침묵의 시위 뭐 이런거 아닌가? 아니면 됬고.휴~

[Dongoh Shin]

조회 수 15회라는데... 정말 잠잠하군 알았읍니다. 3 일만 더 올렸다가....

[이용범]

동오야.. 기다리지마.. 나 번역판 올라오면 멘트할께... 지금은 하얀 판위에 까만글씨있는것뿐이 모르겟다

[Dongoh Shin]

용범아 그리고 친구들, 미안해. 고백하는데. 신학훈련을 외국에서 받다보니,많은 신학적인 표현을 우리 말로 한다는게 내겐 참 힘들어. 상상이 않가겠지만... 특히 설교문은 그저 단순한 단어의 나열이 아니고, 성경 본문을 통해 하나님께서 우리에게 주시는 깊은 메세지를 전달해야 하기에, 더욱 어렵지. 그리고, 처음부터

[Dongoh Shin]

우리말로 설교문을 쓰는 것과, 영문으로 쓰여진 본문을 번역하는 것은 또 다른 이야기이지. 그래서 번역 문학은 독립된 장르이고. 그래도 내가 쓴 설교문이니, 시간을 두고 끙끙대면, 번역할 수야 있겠지만, 그럼 내년 부활절에나 가능할까? 그러니 이해 해주기를 바래. 김천 후배에게 부탁했으니 조금만 기다려줄래?

[김천]

형,누나들 조금만 기다리세요. 좀더 감동적인 설교문을 위해 우리 김영선 목사한테 부탁했죠. 그런데 좀 바쁘다네요. 곧 올라 올꺼에요. 동오형 번역이 늦어 미안해요.

[Dongoh Shin]

바쁜 김영선 목사한테까지 수고를... 바쁘기는 김 목사님도 마찬가지일텐데... 어째던 고마워요 다음설교는 내가 번역 해볼게...