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The Demonstration of Gospel Witness, Part 1: Confrontation

Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Love your enemy. Pray for those who persecute you. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I wonder, sometimes we go to scripture and we find these phrases that are like second nature to us. We go to familiar stories, or Jesus’ teachings, and we think we understand what it means without any explanation or without understanding the context or setting. I wonder if this passage here in Matthew 5 is one of those familiar stories. If there is any passage of scripture that Christians know, and perhaps non-Christians alike, it’s a passage like this one that we’re considering today.

Spiritual FormationJulius KimMay 19, 2015

The Motivation of Gospel Witness, Part 3: Resurrection Hope

As a result of her resolute faith, in the midst of regrettable tragedy, Elisha is moved to take up her plea and provide resurrection hope. The third and last truth we learn in this story is resurrection hope.

Starting with verse 32, we read how Elisha comes back to the house and does something that at first blush seems very strange. After praying to the Lord, he stretches himself on top of the dead boy, placing his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his eyes on the boy’s eyes, his hands on the boy’s hands. After doing this three times, we read that the once dead child awoke, sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes!

Spiritual FormationJulius KimMay 7, 2015

The Motivation of Gospel Witness, Part 2: Resolute Faith

The story in Shunem continues and from verse 21 on, we read a remarkable tale about resolute faith. That is the second truth we see in this story, in the midst of regrettable tragedy, we see a resolute faith that is unshakable and unflinching.

After the boy’s death, the mother takes her child and places him on the bed of Elisha’s guest room. Without hesitation, she tells her husband that she will find the man of God. Though her husband discourages her to go to Elisha in light of the apparent protocol or visitation rules that existed at that time, she replies simply, “shalom,” it is well. She has lost her child, but not her faith. Her faith is so resolute that she is sure the prophet will see her, regardless of whether it is the appropriate spiritual day to see men of God like Elisha.

Spiritual FormationJulius KimMay 6, 2015

The Motivation of Gospel Witness, Part 1: Regrettable Tragedy

In the 1870s, Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer and a close friend of evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Spafford had invested heavily in real estate, but the Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his holdings. His son had died shortly before the disaster.

Spafford and his family desperately needed a rest, so in 1873 he planned a trip to Europe with his wife and four daughters. While in Great Britain, he also hoped to help Moody and Sankey with their evangelistic tour. Last minute business caused Spafford to delay his departure, but he sent his wife and four daughters on the S. S. Ville Du Havre as scheduled, promising to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship was struck by the English ship Lochearn, and it sank in twelve minutes. Several days later, the survivors landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband the brief message, "Saved alone."

Spiritual FormationJulius KimMay 5, 2015

The Gospel and the Souls of the Chinese People, Part 3

Dear pastors and dear colleagues, I am grateful for being able to share here God's work in China, how the great power of his gospel is working in each soul and in his church. For this we can give thanks together and be encouraged. At the same time, I am grateful for your sacrifice and faithful service in the gospel for the souls of China, and to you all I offer my deep gratitude.

Spiritual Formation, Testimonies & Stories王建国 Wang JianguoApril 15, 2015

The Gospel and the Souls of the Chinese People, Part 2

There was a fellowship in Beijing led by a married couple. Between 2005 and 2011, the fellowship they led grew from a disorganized group of ten or so people to a disciplined and structured fellowship of about 120 people. It sprung up from two people, who were attempting to serve step by step, to thirty colleagues. It became an organized ministry, blessing and transforming the lives of many students. One after another, many brothers and sisters committed to full-time ministry. Later, when they had left to study elsewhere, these colleagues continued to serve. Currently, they still have a very active gospel ministry. The following is an episode from when they first began serving.

Spiritual Formation, Testimonies & Stories王建国 Wang JianguoApril 8, 2015

The Gospel and the Souls of the Chinese People, Part 1

In 1807, a young British man by the name of Robert Morrison arrived at China. He was barely twenty-five years old and became the first Protestant missionary to China, with the goal of bringing the gospel to the Chinese souls who were still living under the dark shadow of death. The same concern for the souls of China could be felt again in the appeal of another young man, who arrived at China about fifty years later. This young man was Hudson Taylor.

Spiritual Formation, Testimonies & Stories王建国 Wang JianguoMarch 30, 2015

Living Out Theology to the Utmost, Part 5: A Welcoming Lord’s Supper Without Chaos

TPC is not a very traditional church, [so] their worship team has keyboard, drums, piano, bass, and vocals, and their musical quality is fairly high. At least, I felt I was brought quickly into a worshipful state of mind. Scripture readings were sprinkled throughout the service and the prayers quoted from the early church fathers; the entire [service] was Christ-centered and the gospel of salvation was [constantly] on display.

Spiritual Formation王建国 Wang JianguoMarch 21, 2015

Living Out Theology to the Utmost, Part 4: Seeing the Gospel in the Details

In my introduction of Trinity Presbyterian Church (TPC), I have repeatedly emphasized how she is distinct from the so-called “Emergent Church,” and these differences are not in the degree to which the church is contextualized, but in the solid grasp of the Bible as shown in the pulpit and [other] teaching and meticulous focus on the Bible. In this section, I will be sharing some more practical observations; this is what Chinese churches like the most, because it is easy to pick up and learn. [But] I hope that when everyone reads it, they don’t just imitate it [blindly], but that it helps them have more gospel-centered thinking, such that our worship has more of the gospel’s power.

Spiritual Formation王建国 Wang JianguoMarch 20, 2015

Living Out Theology to the Utmost, Part 3: A Church That Preaches the Gospel Every Sunday Morning

We must first answer two simple questions.

First, if someone who had never encountered the Christian faith came to your church on Sunday, heard a sermon, earnestly listened and took notes, would he then be able to clearly know what the gospel of Christ is by the end of the service?

Second, when our brothers and sisters witness [for Christ] at their jobs or share about their faith in their circles of friends such that those friends and coworkers are willing to discuss matters of faith, how many of these brothers and sisters have enough faith in their church to say to their friends and workers, “Come to our church this weekend?”

Spiritual Formation王建国 Wang JianguoMarch 18, 2015

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