你能叫出多少个在你们教会的基督徒的名字?
你平时有多少时间与基督徒单独在一起或一起在小组里?
如果你要与志向相同的人交朋友,
他们会是什么样的人?
你认为你需要具备什么才能被看作是保罗的朋友?耶稣的朋友?
vs 17 他说的“离间”指的是什么?
人在我们的路上放的绊脚石有哪些种?
vs 18 比较耶稣讲道的方式与那些说话圆滑、阿谀奉承的人。(例如:马太福音23)
你能假定你的牧师对你讲的一切话都是对的吗?
注释
Often churches today tend to devalue individuals putting emphasis rather
on programs and numbers. But Paul had individuals on his mind, inspite
of the fact that his ministry was to a large portion of the Roman Empire.
Yet he obviously spent time with individuals, building relationships beyond
the shallow relationships one normally associates with institutional Christianity.
One recent survey of pastors noted that 70% of pastors say that they have
no close friend.
Notice also that these people were laborers. While today, Christians
may be praise just for showing up for church or Bible study, he praises
them for the their laboring for the Lord. But then again so few Christians
today are encouraged to think of themselves as laborers.
Possible Xrefs to some of the names (these may or may not be the same
people):
Rufus 马可福音15:21"And they compel
one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father
of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross."
Lucius 使徒行传13:1"Now there were in
the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas,
and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which
had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."
vs 17-20 It is self-contradictory to say - "divide from the people
who divide." For then you would also be a person who divides. But Paul
is not saying this. He's saying that if the reason a person is causing
division is contrary to the Bible - then keep away from them. If on the
other hand, you teach the Bible correctly, and this causes controversy
and division in a church because the church has compromised with the world,
then that's a different story.
False teachers often do not appear to be divisive. Paul describes them
this way: "By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive
people." They can appear to be friendly and likeable, and thus more
effective in deceiving people.