SUN 14/01/07

昨晚作夢 夢到我, 大姊, 媽媽, 林牧師, 咪咪, 和陳牧師 及一些不認識的弟兄姊妹很快樂的在一個的地方…後來出現一幅像景又像畫的圖像…有許多樹, 有果子.

今天去Charlotte Chapel 作禮拜 今天正好有Communion Service是為著逾越節的緣故. 詩歌的敬拜不是現代的詩歌 是比較保守的教會 不會看到會友感動到舉起手 但卻會因為詩歌的內容而感動. 今天牧師的講道是”活的希望”.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 耶利米書29:11
牧師先帶大家瀏覽一遍耶利米書29章

1. Failed Hope
What about
• God’s promises?
• God’s power?
• God’s plan?

Striking parallels?
• the rise and fall of superpowers
• the decline of true faith

For the Christian
• what about God’s promises?
• what about God’s power?
• what about God’s plan?

2. False Hope
Optimistic promises
• from Hananiah in Jerusalem
Jeremiah 28:2-4
• from Hananiah in Jerusalem
Jeremiah 28:10-11
• from Ahab and Zedekiah in Babylon
Jeremiah 29:21
Jeremiah 29:8-9) The Lord’s denunciation of false prophets

“People want meaning in life, particularly if they are ill and about to die. One terminally ill lady insisted we show the film about Peter Aziz, even if she died, because she felt one had to have hope. As it turned out, it was false hope, but this series shows that false hope is better than no hope.” (Rachel Bell, Producer,“Trust me I’m a Healer”)

3. The Firm Hope Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord’s plans are in place
• past plans (Jeremiah 29:4)
(Jeremiah 29:14)
• future plans (Jeremiah 29:10)
• present plans (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

“The exiles in Babylon did not have to wait
seventy years for God to do them any good.
His plans included their present
prosperity…
…“Shalom” is an all-encompassing peace.
God promised that he would give his people
that peace right away.” (Philip Ryken)

God’s peace-terms
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”(Jeremiah 29:13)


Conclusion
Jesus – the key to God’s promises
“For no matter how many promises God
has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so
through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to
the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

The promise of a new covenant
“The time is coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and with the house of
Judah…”

The promise of a new covenant
(Jeremiah 31:33-34)

• fulfilled in Jesus
“This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) He is thinking of Jeremiah



“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 耶利米書29:11


Charlotte Chapel教會用Jeremiah 29:11作為今年度的經節. 在這裡又認識了新朋友 有從日本, 韓國, 香港-Branda, 基督徒 也在尋找教會在愛丁堡大學唸書也是15個月的課程. 她想融入英文教會 把英文練更好 因為她以後想多參與宣教事工. 很開心的一天.

傍晚接到那間台灣人開的小吃店的電話 好開心喔 明天下課後 過去試做兩個小時, 感謝主.

筱山打電話來 我將這好消息告訴她. 後天要跟她約出來喝咖啡 她跟我說她不會遲到了. 我也告訴我的室友們, 家人, 感謝主.

半夜整理照片置入日記時, 高中及專科學妹佩旋 跟我聊了一下, 給了我很不一樣的出書建議…希望我有時間做.