09：为要聆听学习神的话，圣经
基督徒把星期天称为“主日”，就是主耶稣的日子的意思。主日敬拜聚会包括研读、聆听、学习神的话（圣经）。聚会时，时常有教会的传道人、长老或另外一位弟兄解释圣经里的一段话。这篇讲道词用来让会众理解圣经，从中获得鼓励和安慰，劝勉或责备，纠正或肯定。
因为他代表神，所以弟兄姐妹乐意地聆听传道人的讲道词。因为他代表神说话，所以，传道人时常要记得他自己也需要神的鼓励和责备。虽然讲话的是他，但是信息不是他的，乃是神的。所以传道人要做充分的准备。多多地读经，多多地学习，多多的自我反省，多多地祷告。修心、修身后，他才能够按照圣经所说的：“讲道的，应当按着神的圣言讲”（彼得前书4:11），以及“你应当竭力在 神面前作一个蒙称许、无愧的工人，正确地讲解真理的道”（提摩太后书2:15）。
但，此文的主题不是传道人，乃是传道人所解释的圣经。基督徒为什么喜欢听讲道？基督徒为什么应学习圣经？基督徒为什么要参加主日敬拜聚会接受圣经的教导？我们让圣经自己回答这些问题，好吗？
圣经是基督徒的指南，所以我们赞成圣经的作者向神说，“你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光”（诗篇119:105）。因此，我们要多让它照亮我们的人生道路。
圣经好像一面镜子，让我们看到我们个人的真面目。并且纠正我们。保罗说道：“全部圣经都是 神所默示的，在教训、责备、矫正和公义的训练各方面，都是有益的，为要使属 神的人装备好，可以完成各样的善工。”[提摩太后书3:16-17]。因此，主日敬拜聚会的讲道词常常帮助我们做彻底的自我检讨。
新约希伯来书形容神的话，说：“ 神的道是活的，是有效的，比一切两刃的剑更锋利，甚至可以刺入剖开灵与魂，关节与骨髓，并且能够辨明心中的思想和意念。被造的在 神面前没有一样不是显明的，万有在他的眼前都是赤露敞开的；我们必须向他交帐”（希伯来书4:12-13）。这句话告诉我们，研读神的话不等于看小说，不等于看电影，不等于聆听神话故事，不等于研读一般文学。没有错，基督徒以感恩的态度聚会，所以都很开心。有时，连传道人都会开开玩笑。但是，敬拜神又是一件非常严肃的场合。神永恒的话是活的不是死的。神的话时常让我们认识到自己有罪，叫我们悔改，所以基督徒非常重视和敬畏神的话。
基督徒最大的责任之一是顺服神。如果不知道，不明白神的话，神的诫命，怎么能够顺服神呢？如果不学习神的话，怎么能够明白神的话呢？从此可知，星期天，主日聚会，是很好的机会学习及明白神的话。同时我们也获得鼓励和力量使得我们在散会之后，把神的话“活 出来”，把它应用在我们日常生活上。
欢迎您每周日与基督徒一块聚会，敬拜真神，学习神的话圣经，获得鼓励和力量过基督徒圣洁的生活。
Why Christians Attend Worship Every Sunday
09: To Read and Study the Bible
By Edward Short
Christians call Sunday “the Lord’s day,” meaning the day which belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. The worship assembly that Christians attend on the Lord’s day includes reading and studying God’s Word (the Bible). During the service, a preacher or an elder will usually explain a portion of the Bible. The purpose of exposition of Scripture is to enable those assembled to understand God’s Word, and to receive encouragement, comfort and affirmation, or perhaps reprimand and correction.
Since the minister speaks on behalf of God, the congregation willingly listens to what he says. Since he speaks on behalf of God, the minister himself must remember that he too needs both encouragement and reprimand from God. Although it’s he who speaks, the message is not his own, rather is God’s. The preacher therefore must make ample preparation. He should read the Bible passages over and over, study them thoroughly, make a candid self-examination and apply the Scriptures to himself, and he should pray a lot. After he has worked on his own moral character and lifestyle, then he can preach according to the Bible admonition, “Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God…” (1 Peter 4:11), and also “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The purpose of this brief article, however, is not to discuss the preacher, but rather the book that the preacher explains—the Bible. Why do Christians enjoy listening to sermons? Why do Christians enjoy studying the Bible? Why should Christians attend Sunday worship and receive Bible instruction? Let’s allow the Bible itself to answer these questions.
The Bible is the compass of life for Christians, so we agree with what one Biblical author said in praise to God, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105). Being so, we should allow the Bible to lighten our path constantly.
The Bible is like a mirror which enables us to see ourselves as we really are; then the Bible corrects us. Paul said: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This is the reason that the sermon during a worship service on Sunday causes us to make a thorough self-examination.
The book of Hebrews in the New Testament describes the word of God this way: “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account” (4:12-13). From this we can see that reading the Bible is not like reading a novel, not like viewing a movie, not like listening to a fairy tale, and it isn’t like reading other normal literature. It’s correct that Christians enter a worship service with an attitude of thanksgiving, so they’re happy and their hearts appear light. Sometimes the preacher may even tell a joke in his sermon. However, worshiping God is a very serious matter. God’s eternal word is living not dead. God’s word convicts us of sin, and commands us to repent, so Christians pay strict attention to and deeply respect the word of God.
Every Christian’s most important responsibility is to obey God. If one doesn’t know God’s word, if one doesn’t understand God’s commandments, how can he obey God? If he doesn’t study God’s word, how can he understand it? Hence we see how important it is for Christians to take part in the assembly each Sunday where they can study and learn God’s word. At the same time, we receive strength and encouragement so that, after we leave the assembly, we can “live” God’s word as we apply it to our daily lives.
You are invited to participate in a Christian worship assembly each Lord’s day. Worship God, study his word, the Bible, and in so-doing gain the encouragement and strength you need to live a holy Christian life.