13. Manna issue 61 - Leaving Our Comfort Zone to Preach 走出舒適圈去傳福音
Albert Chen—Garden Grove, California, USA 美國加州園林教會
It all started when He said,
“Give Me a drink.”
一切都開始於祂說出：
“請給我喝一杯水。”
He was tired and thirsty.
He was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan.
But these issues did not stop Him,
and He went on to preach.
祂又累又渴。
祂是猶太人，而她是撒瑪利亞人。
但這些問題並沒有阻止祂，
祂又繼續傳福音。
She questioned His credibility
and disagreed with Him, saying,
“I have my views, and you have yours.”
Yet, He patiently explained anyway.
她質疑了祂的可信度，
並不同意祂的說法，說：
“我有自已的看法，你有你的看法。”
但祂還是耐心的解釋。
Jesus not only had the courage to speak in an awkward situation,
He also crossed social, religious, and cultural boundaries
to proclaim the wonderful news of salvation,
a “gift of God” that is above human constraints
(Jn 4:10).
耶穌不僅有勇氣在尷尬的情況說話，
祂還跨越了社會，宗教和文化的界限，
去宣揚救贖奇妙的訊息，
是超越人類侷限“神的恩賜”
（約 4：10）。
Once the Samaritan woman realized
that He was the Christ who is to bring salvation,
she also went out of her way to preach the good news.
一旦撒瑪利亞婦人了解，
祂是要帶來救恩的基督，
她也竭盡全力的去傳播福音。
From Jesus and the Samaritan woman,
we can learn the magnitude of sacrifice and effort
we should be willing to make for the sake of the gospel of salvation.
來自耶穌和撒瑪利亞婦人的事跡中，
我們可以明白犧牲奉獻和努力付出的程度，
我們應該要願意為救恩福音而做出的努力。
BEING WEARIED FROM HIS JOURNEY 旅途疲憊不堪
Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.
It was about the sixth hour.
(Jn 4:5)
耶穌因為旅途疲憊不堪，就這樣坐在井邊。
時間大約是當時的六點鐘。
（約 4：5）
The sixth hour is equivalent to twelve o’clock noon,
which is the heat of the day.
Jesus had probably been journeying since daybreak.
He was wearied.
But even in His tired and thirsty state,
He preached before He drank any water.
Like Jesus, we should also be willing
to offer our energy at all times for the sake of the gospel.
而六點鐘相當於中午的十二點，
這是一天最熱的時間。
耶穌可能從黎明時就開始旅行了。
他已經精疲力竭了。
即使在他又累又渴的情狀之下，
在喝水之前祂就開始傳道。
像耶穌一樣，我們也應該願意，
為了福音的緣故，隨時奉獻自已的精力。
Paul reminds us of this mentality in 2 Timothy 4:2:
“Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Perhaps the in-season times are
during church seminars, spiritual convocations, or designated evangelical outreaches,
when we can anticipate opportunities to preach.
保羅在提摩太後書 4 章 2 節提醒我們要有這種心態：
“傳揚真理！
無論得時或不得時，都要做好準備。
以一切的忍耐和教導來勸服，責備，勸勉。
也許合適的時間就是，
在教會的講習會，靈恩會或是特定的福音開拓佈道，
當我們可以預期會有傳道的機會時。
However, even when these seasonal events are not going on,
we should be ready.
“Out of season” may be a typical day at school, a normal day at work,
or a restful day of vacation.
然而，即使這些季節性的活動沒有舉辨，
我們應該做好準備。
“不得時”可能指的是學校普通的一天，職場正常的一天，
或是悠閒的假期。
A preacher from Taiwan was once on a plane,
flying from one African country to another for missionary work.
These flights are usually the chance for preachers to catch up on rest.
On the plane, he sat next to an African businessman.
Even though he could have slept through the flight,
he felt moved to preach to the businessman instead.
一位台灣的傳道人曾在飛機上，
為了傳道工作從一個非洲國家飛往另一個非洲國家。
這些航班通常是傳道人可以休息的機會。
在飛機上，他旁邊坐著一位非洲商人。
儘管他本可以在飛行航程中睡覺，
他得到了感動，轉而向商人傳道。
At first, the African businessman was surprised
as to why this stranger was trying to preach to him.
The preacher invited him to a spiritual convocation
in the country they were flying to,
but the businessman declined,
saying he was on a business trip.
However, because of the preacher’s insistence,
the businessman ended up going.
一開始非洲商人很驚訝，
到底為什麼這個陌生人要向他傳教呢。
傳道人邀請他參加靈恩會，
在他們所要飛往的國家，
但商人卻拒絕了，
說他正在出差。
然而，由於傳道人的堅持，
商人最終還是去了。
The businessman received the Holy Spirit at the event.
Later, he was baptized and became a fervent worker for God.
The preacher’s eagerness to preach at all times
resulted in much fruit for the Lord.
這位商人在活動中得到了聖靈。
後來，他受洗，成為神熱心的工人。
這位傳道人隨時都很熱心想要傳道，
為主結出了很多的果子。
We never know whom God might want us to preach to.
So we must be ready to preach the word at all times,
like Jesus and this preacher.
We must be willing to offer our energy for the gospel.
我們永遠不知道神希望我們向誰傳道。
所以我們必須隨時準備好傳道，
就像耶穌和這位傳道人一樣。
我們必須願意為福音奉獻我們的能量。
ME? A SAMARITAN WOMAN? 我嗎？一位撒瑪利亞的婦人？
Then the woman of Samaria said to Him,
“How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”
For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
(Jn 4:9)
9撒瑪利亞的婦人對他說：
“既是猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒馬利亞婦人要水喝呢？”
原來猶太人和撒瑪利亞人沒有來往。
（約翰福音 4:9）
Jews generally did not interact with Samaritans.
Many believed that because Samaritans were part Gentile,
whatever they lay on, sat on, or rode on was ceremonially unclean.
猶太人通常不與撒瑪利亞人交往。
許多人相信，因為撒瑪利亞人有外邦人的血統，
無論那裡為他們躺臥，安坐或騎乘，都成為儀式上不潔淨的。
Furthermore, men generally did not discuss theological issues with women.
These factors alone were cultural and social boundaries
that Jesus had to cross when talking to someone
who was both a Samaritan and a woman.
However, there were more obstacles.
此外，男性一般不與女性討論神學問題。
這些因素本身就是文化和社會的界限，
耶穌與某人交談時必須跨越，
她既是撒瑪利亞人又是女性。
然而，還有更多的障礙。
This woman was sinful
—she had five husbands in the past
and was currently in a relationship with a man
who was not her husband
(Jn 4:18).
Yet, Jesus didn’t perceive her as undeserving of the gospel.
這個女人是有罪的，
—她過去有過五個丈夫，
目前正在與一名男子維持關係，
而他卻不是她的丈夫
（約 4：18）。
然而，耶穌並不認為她不配接受福音。
She was also very persistent in her own beliefs.
She unyieldingly pointed out differences between Samaritan worship and Jewish worship
(Jn 4:20),
and responded to Jesus as if He couldn’t give her any new information, saying,
“I know that Messiah is coming…
When He comes, He will tell us all things”
(Jn 4:25).
她也非常執著自己的信念。
她不屈不撓的指出撒瑪利亞人與猶太崇拜之間的差異
（約 4：20），
她回答耶穌，就好像祂不能帶給她任何新的信息，她說：
“25我知道彌賽亞（就是那稱為基督的）要來；
他來了，必將一切的事都告訴我們。”
（約 4：25）。
Even though it seemed that she was sinful, unworthy, unwilling to change,
and not accepting of the gospel,
Jesus overlooked these issues and preached to her.
Like Jesus, we must also be willing to leave our comfort zone
and cross boundaries for the gospel,
preaching to those we feel might not accept or deserve the gospel.
儘管看起來她是有罪的，不配，且不願意改變，
而且不接受福音，
耶穌卻忽略了這些問題並向她傳道。
像耶穌一樣，我們也必須願意離開自已的舒適區，
並為了傳福音跨越界限，
並向那些我們認為可能不接受，或是不配得到福音之人傳道。
During my sophomore year in college,
I found myself struggling with this idea.
I once had the opportunity to preach to a classmate in the dining hall.
She came in and started getting food as I was getting seconds.
She hinted that she didn’t have somewhere to sit
and suggested that she might sit next to me.
在我大二的時候，
我發現自己這種想法有掙扎。
我曾有機會在餐廳向一位同學傳道。
她進來並開始拿取食物，而我則快一點點，。
她暗示自已沒有地方可坐，
並且建議她可以坐在我旁邊。
It seemed like an opportunity to preach,
but at the same time I felt that it would be awkward
to talk about our church with her.
I implied that because I was about to leave,
she probably shouldn’t sit next to me.
這似乎是一個傳福音的好機會，
但同時又覺得這樣會很尷尬，
和她談論我們的教會。
我暗示因為我正要離開，
她可能不應該坐在我旁邊。
In reality, I didn’t think that she would believe or be interested in the gospel,
so I didn’t want to risk having an awkward conversation.
I had this prejudice and didn’t try to overcome it.
事實上，我不認為她會相信福音，或是對福音感興趣，
所以我不想冒險進行一場尷尬的對話。
我有這種偏見，但並沒有試圖克服它。
In fact, I encountered similar situations many times that year.
I justified my cowardice and fear of uncomfortable moments
by thinking that the people didn’t seem like they would believe or accept the gospel.
其實那一年我也多次遇到類似的情況。
我給自己感到片刻不舒適的怯懦和恐懼找了藉口，
且認為人們似乎就不像是，他們會來相信或是接受福音。
However, a brother reminded me that, in his experience,
those who initially appeared unreceptive or unpromising often came to believe.
Therefore, we must look beyond our prejudices and first impressions of people
and preach to all.
不過，有一位弟兄提醒我，根據他的經驗，
那些最初表現出不接受的人或是讓人感覺沒有希望的人往往會相信。
因此，我們必須超越自已對人的偏見和第一印象的期待，
並且向每個人傳福音。
Another example is of a non-believing college student
who spent a lot of time with True Jesus Church youths
who attended the same school.
He noticed that these friends would go to church on Friday nights and Saturdays.
Sometimes, he could hear them praying when he passed by their rooms.
另一個例子就是有一個未信的大學生，
他花了很多時間與真耶穌教會的青年待在一起，
他們都就讀於同一所學校。
他注意到，這些朋友周五晚上和周六會去教會。
有時，當他經過他們房間時，他可以聽到他們禱告的聲音。
He was curious about their faith
but also very firm on not believing in Christianity,
even debating with them about their beliefs.
Even though the youths felt he would probably remain a non-believer
and reject their invitations to church and Bible studies,
they still invited him.
Because of their insistence, he actually started going to worship services.
他就對他們的信仰感到好奇，
但也非常堅決的不信基督教，
甚至與他們辯論他們的信仰。
儘管這此青年都覺得他可能仍不會信主，
並拒絕他們邀請他去教會和查經，
他們仍然邀請他。
由於他們的堅持，他就真的開始去參加崇拜聚會。
He even began reading the Bible and praying every day,
thinking that if nothing happened,
he would at least have more proof that they were wrong.
However, in one of his daily prayers,
he received the Holy Spirit.
He started going to church seminars, decided to get baptized,
and is now a fervent member in church.
他甚至開始每天讀聖經，禱告，
並認為如果什麼事都沒發生的話，
他至少會有更多證據證明他們錯了。
然而，在他的一個日常祈禱告中，
他得到了聖靈。
他開始去教會參加講習會，並決定受洗，
現在是一位教會熱心的信徒。
We may have our own prejudices toward people
and impressions about whether they might believe or not.
But as the testimony shows,
overcoming such preconceived ideas may yield beautiful results.
Like Jesus, we must be willing to leave our comfort zone
and cross boundaries to preach.
我們可能會有自已對人的偏見，
會有感覺認為他們是否可能會不會相信。
但正如見證所示，
若克服這種先入為主的想法，就可能會產生美好的結果。
像耶穌一樣，我們必須願意離開自已的舒適圈，
並且跨出界線去傳道。
THE WOMAN LEFT HER WATERPOT
The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city,
and said to the men,
“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.
Could this be the Christ?”
(Jn 4:28, 29)
28那婦人就留下水罐子，往城裡去，
對眾人說：
“29「你們來看！有一個人將我素來所行的一切事都給我說出來了，
莫非這就是基督嗎？”
（約 4：28，29）
Jesus willingly and boldly went out of His way
to preach to the Samaritan woman
because He understood how wonderful salvation was.
Similarly, once the Samaritan woman understood
that Jesus was the wonderful Savior,
she left her waterpot to preach the gospel in her city.
耶穌甘心勇敢地走出自己的道路，
向撒瑪利亞婦人傳福音，
因為他明白救恩是多麼奇妙。
同樣的，一旦撒瑪利亞的婦人明白了，
耶穌是奇妙的救主，
她放下了水罐去她的城市傳福音。
She abandoned her initial intention to get water
and returned home without the water she needed.
She didn’t even bring back her waterpot.
We must also be willing to sacrifice our personal objectives for the sake of the gospel.
她拋棄了自已一開始去取水的想法，
而是回家卻沒有帶著所需的水。
她連水罐都沒帶回來。
我們也必須願意為了福音的緣故犧牲自已個人的目標。
We are often touched by Jesus
during church events, Sabbath services, prayers, or personal trials.
At these times, we resolve to change for God.
However, these experiences do not always lead to change,
and we may remain unwilling to sacrifice our self-centered wants and goals
to give priority to God.
However, we must be like the Samaritan woman,
who completely forsook her objective of getting water.
我們常常被耶穌感動，
在教會有活動、安息日聚會、禱告會或是遇到個人試煉的時候。
在這時，我們要下決定為神而改變。
然而，這些體驗並不會總是能帶來改變，
我們可能仍然不願意犧牲自已自我為中心的需求和目標，
去將神放在第一位。
然而，我們必須像撒瑪利亞的婦人一樣，
她完全放棄了自已取水的目標。
I know of a brother who was moved to preach in South America
while attending a church event
where he learned that there was a need for holy workers there.
When the seminar concluded,
he went home and began to fervently prepare himself to serve God in South America.
我認識一位弟兄，他受感動去南美洲傳道，
當參加教會活動的時候，
在那裡他得知，那裡有需要聖工人員。
講習會結束時，
他回到家，開始熱心準備自己要去南美洲事奉神。
Instead of enjoying entertainment and video games like he used to,
he devoted his free time and vacations to studying Spanish,
attending Spanish Bible studies, translating church material into Spanish,
and spiritually cultivating himself.
After two years of preparation,
he went to South America on a missionary trip
and returned to the US to encourage and train other brothers and sisters to serve there.
他不再像以前那樣沉迷於娛樂和電子遊戲，
他利用空閒時間和假期學習西班牙語，
參加西班牙語查經，將教會的資料翻譯成西班牙語，
並且自已靈修。
經過兩年的準備，
他去南美洲參加傳教之旅，
返回美國後就鼓勵和訓練其他弟兄姐妹去那裡服事。
This brother’s fervor and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel
is an example to us.
Once we experience the wonderful grace and salvation of Jesus,
we must also be willing to let go of our personal objectives.
We must leave our waterpot and preach.
這位弟兄為了福音的熱心和犧牲，
就是我們的好榜樣。
一旦我們體驗到耶穌奇妙的恩典和救贖，
我們也必須願意放棄自已的個人目標。
我們必須離開自已的水罐出去傳道。
WE OURSELVES HAVE HEARD HIM 我們自已已經聽見祂
Then they said to the woman,
“Now we believe, not because of what you said,
for we ourselves have heard Him
and we know that this is indeed the Christ,
the Savior of the world.”
(Jn 4:42)
42便對婦人說：
“現在我們信，不是因為你的話，
是我們親自聽見了，知道這真是救世主。”
（約 4：42）
Once the Samaritan woman shared her testimony with the people of the city,
they urged Jesus to stay with them,
and Jesus stayed there for two days
(Jn 4:40).
The original word for “stayed” is the same word as “abide,”
as when Jesus said,
“Abide in Me, and I in you”
(Jn 15:4).
當撒瑪利亞的婦人向城裡的人分享她的見證時，
40求他在他們那裡住下，
他便在那裡住了兩天。
（約 4：40）。
“停留”的原文是與“遵守”同一個詞，
正如耶穌所說：
“4你們要常在我裡面，我也常在你們裡面。”
（約 15：4）。
The abidance of Jesus is what caused the people in the city to say,
“We know this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Today, this abidance is also what fundamentally brings people to believe.
Though it is up to us to leave our comfort zone to preach,
in the end, people believe “not because of what [we] said,”
but because they themselves have experienced Jesus’ abidance.
耶穌的同在才使得城裡的人說：
“42知道這真是救世主。”
今日，這種同在也是人們會相信的根本原因。
雖然我們有選擇要不要離開自己的舒適圈出去傳道，
最終，人們會相信“不是因為[我們]所說的內容”
而是因為他們自己已經體驗到耶穌的同在。
Therefore, after we have preached and shared our testimony with others,
we must bring them to Jesus and encourage them to seek this abidance.
Once they experience the abidance of the Savior,
they can also cross boundaries, leave their comfort zone,
and make sacrifices for the gospel because they, too, believe.
因此，當我們宣傳了福音，並與他人分享自已的見證之後，
我們必須把他們帶來找耶穌，並鼓勵他們尋求這種同在。
一旦他們體驗到救主的同在，
他們也可以跨越界限，離開自己的舒適區，
並為福音做出犧牲，因為他們也相信了。
When others understand and experience His gift of salvation,
they can also share their own testimonies and bring others to Jesus.
當他人明白了，並體驗到祂的救贖的恩賜時，
他們也可以分享自己的見證，並帶領別人歸向耶穌。
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