今天选读的经文，让我们知道新约其中一间最杰出教会的成立经过，它就是哥林多的教会。哥林多教会可能是当时最大的教会之一，也是蒙神赐予最多恩赐的一间教会；可是，它的问题却似乎也是最多。有鉴于此，保罗在圣灵的默示下，写了至少两封书信给哥林多教会，除了提醒他们要如何活出信徒的样式，也教导他们认识一些基本的福音真理。我们今天再次研读书信的教导，必对我们大有俾益。在往后的两个星期，我们将会先查考哥林多前书的头六章，在稍后的时间再查考其余的部分。

基督徒今天面对的其中一个基本问题，是我们如何在一个非基督教的世界中过基督徒的生活。我们在信主之前采用的准则，还可以继续用吗？我们是否只在头脑上相信，或是刻意在日常生活中将信仰实践出来？我们的信仰，究竟是不是我个人的信仰，或是只是人云亦云？我的信仰是否落实在生活中？以及它是否具有生命力的信仰？

哥林多前书清楚列出一些基督徒生活的明确准则。它是一卷发人深省和内容全面的书信，触及基督徒生活的许多方面。例如，当中详论教会的分门结党、信徒该如何不沾染世俗、婚姻、说方言、爱、复活，以及基督的再来等主题。

这样一卷内容丰富的书信，一定会引起你的阅读兴趣，而且，也必使你获益良多。当中虽然有一些难解的问题，但相信仍无碍你从中获益。

倘若你渴望知道如何在一个非基督教的世界中过基督徒生活，那么，你一定期待一读哥林多前书了。

Day 1

HOW CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD BEHAVE

Acts 18:1-11

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.

3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Message

Our reading today gives us the story of the beginning of one of the most remarkable churches in New Testament times. The church at Corinth was one of the most gifted churches; it could have been one of the largest. It also seems to have had the most problems. Because of all this, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write at least twice to the Corinthian church, telling them how to behave as church members and also instructing them in some of the basic truths of the Gospel. It will help us to study again the teaching Paul gave. Over the next two weeks we will be reading the first six chapters of the epistle to the Corinthians. We will come back to it again later in the book.

One of the basic problems facing Christians today is this: How can we live as Christians in a Christless world? Do the old standards still apply? Is our faith only something we believe with our minds or does it work out in daily life? Is our Christian faith personal, practical, alive and vital?

The first epistle to the Corinthians clearly sets out some definite principles for Christian living. It is one of the most searching and one of the most thorough of all the epistles as it speaks to us on a number of subjects. For example, here you will find some of the longest passages on division in the church, on separation from the world, on marriage, on speaking in tongues, on love, on the resurrection and on the second coming of Christ.

It is a wonderful book. You will enjoy reading and studying it even if some of the problems raised still do not have easy solutions.

If you want to know how to live for Christ in a Christless world, you have some wonderful readings ahead of you.