CHRIST, SUFFERED AND DIED

Old Rugged Cross

May 06 2012 DCFC Chinese [Worship Acceptable to God] Mal 1:6-14 A call to authenticity

Mar 15 2015 QBC Chinese [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]

August 16 2015 QBC English [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]

Sept 13 2015 Evangel BP Chinese [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]
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Agnes Tham: I am working at a Dementia Nursing Home in Singapore, these days lots of news about the pass over of Mr LKY, my home residents and elders mourn and crying to Mr LKY although they are demented. Mostly of them did not forget Mr LKY as LKY was part of their memory deep inside their min. We respect what Mr LKY had done for Singapore…

In his book, Reaching the Invisible God, author Philip Yancey tells the story about his wife, Janet, who leads a weekly “Christian Circle” at a local nursing home. An Alzheimer’s patient named Betsy faithfully attends, led there by a staff worker, and sits through the hour. Every week Janet introduces herself, and every week Betsy responds as if she’s never seen her before. After a few weeks, Janet learned that Betsy has retained the ability to read. She has no comprehension of what she is reading and will repeat the same line over and over, like a stuck record, until someone prompts her to move on. But on a good day she can read a passage straight through in a clear, strong voice. Janet began calling on her each week to read a hymn. One Friday the senior citizens, who prefer to sing the older hymns they remember from childhood, selected “The Old Rugged Cross” for Betsy to read. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff’ring and shame,” she began, and stopped. She suddenly got agitated. “I can’t go on It’s too sad Too sad” she said. Some of the seniors gasped. Others stared at her, dumbfounded. In years of living at the nursing home, not once had Betsy shown the ability to put words together meaningfully. Now, obviously, she did understand. Janet calmed her: “That’s fine, Betsy. You don’t have to keep reading if you don’t want to.” After a pause, though, she started reading again, and stopped at the same place. A tear made a trail down each cheek. “I can’t go on It’s so sad” she said, unaware she had said the same thing two minutes ago. She tried again, and again reacted with a sudden shock of recognition, grief, and the exact same words. Finally, when Betsy seemed tranquil, Janet led her to the elevator to return her to her room. To her amazement Betsy began singing the hymn from memory. The words came in breathy, chopped phrases, and she could barely carry the tune, but anyone could recognize the hymn: On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross The emblem of suff’ring and shame. New tears fell, but his time Betsy kept going, still from memory, gaining strength as she sang: And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. Somewhere in that tattered mind, damaged neurons had tapped into a network of old connections to resurrect a pattern of meaning for Betsy. In her confusion, two things only stood out: suffering and shame. Those two words summarize the human condition, the condition she lives in every day of her sad life. Who knows more suffering and shame than Betsy? For her, the hymn answered that question: Jesus does.

Philip Yancey，一位著名的作家写了一本书“触摸到看不见的神”。其中，他分享，“我太太Janet 每个星期都会到老人院帮忙。有一位患了老人痴呆症的妇女叫 Betsy 每个星期都会来。但是，她从来不记得我的太太。后来，我太太发现 Betsy 还能够阅读。她没有办法明白字的意思，而且常常象一架坏的光碟播放机重复的读同样的一句话，直到有人叫她继续读下去。有一天，我太太就叫 Betsy 读一首旧诗歌：古旧十架。她念,“各各他山岭上，独立一十字架，这是羞辱痛苦记号。” 她突然停下变成非常激动说，“我没办法继续读下去。这太悲伤了！太悲伤了！”当时周围的人愣了一下，因为Betsy已经很多年无法理解这些字的意思了。Janet 镇定的对她说，“你不想读，就不要读下去。”Betsy停了一会儿，又开始读。但又再同样的地方停下。这次她开始掉泪，“太悲伤了！我无法读下去了。” 当她冷静以后，Janet 就扶着她回房。她们在电梯里时，Betsy 忽然一段一段开始唱起歌。“各各他山岭上，独立一十字架，这是羞辱痛苦记号。”到此，Betsy再次掉眼泪。但她凭着记忆继续唱下去。“神爱子主耶稣，为世人被盯死，这十字架为我最爱珍宝。故我爱高举十字宝架，直到在主台前见主面。我一生要背负十字架，这十架可换公义冠冕。”在那一刻 Betsy 衰弱的脑里，突然神经细胞连起线。而在她混乱的状态中，两个词汇对她产生极大的反应。羞辱和痛苦。这两个词也概述了人类的情景，也描述了Betsy 每一天的生活情况。有谁比 Betsy 能够明白羞辱和痛苦呢？ 对她而言，这首诗回答了这问题。耶稣能够。

CHRIST, SUFFERED AND DIED

The Bee Sting

Date: 6/2006.101

Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks P30
A vacationing family drives along in their car, windows rolled down, enjoying the warm breeze of the sunny day. All of a sudden, a big black bee darts in the window and starts buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringers in the backseat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour.

"Oh, Daddy," she squeals in terror. "It's a bee! It’s going to sting me!" The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing around toward him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist.

Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee. The bee is loose in the car again. The little girls again panics, "Daddy, it's going to sting me!" The father gently says, "No, honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand."

The bee's stinger is there in his hand.

Applications

Paul exulted in 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is you victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Jesus says to us, "Look at my hands." He has Satan's sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit, the sting of feeling worthless. Jesus has all of those stingers in His hands. When you see that nailed-scarred hand, realize that, on your behalf, Jesus took all the pain that Satan could throw at Him. He reduced Satan to a big black bee that’s lost its stinger - all Satan can do is buzz. That's the victory that Jesus won for you.

CHRIST, SUFFERED AND DIED

The Prize

Date: 6/2006.101

September 22 2013 DCFC Chinese Deut 6:4-9 The third seat is empty

Mar 15 2015 QBC Chinese [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]

August 16 2015 QBC English [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]

Sept 13 2015 Evangel BP Chinese [John 12:20-26 – A kernel of seed]

Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks P49

A billionaire oil tycoon from Texas decided to find a husband for his only daughter, rather homely 18-yeard old. He initiated a search by inviting the local bachelors to a party in his backyard. A large, elegantly designed swimming pool dominated the yard. As the men edged by it to get their refreshments, they saw it was filled with man-eating sharks, piranhas, alligators and other animals that wouldn't think twice about eating you alive. Clustering beside the pool, the bachelors puzzled over the strange sight.

Just then, the tycoon appeared on the patio and gave an emotional speech, telling how much he loved his daughter and expressing how much he wanted her to marry someone deserving of her. He then laid out The Deal.

"Anyone who will jump in the swimming pool and swim to the other side will have their choice of a check for $1 million with no questions asked or the title deed to my most profitable oil field, or the hand of my daughter in marriage and your place in my will, which will result in your inheriting my entire fortune."

The bachelors were speechless. Their questioning looks seemed to say that none of them would be crazy enough to risk his life - even for all that money.

The long silence was finally broken by a splash. Everyone turned to see one of the men swimming to the far side of the pool as fast as any Olympic swimmer. Leaping out of the water, he shook himself and stalked back to the tycoon. With a hug and a handshake, the tycoon congratulated the young man on a fine swim. "Son, would you like a million dollar check?" he asked.

"No sir, I wouldn't," responded the young man politely and slightly out of breath.

"Fine," said the tycoon. "Then would you like my most profitable oil field?"

"No, sir," he replied, getting a hold of himself.

With a tear in his eye the tycoon asked, "Then, my boy, would you like my only daughter’s hand in marriage?"

To the surprise of the gawking bachelors, the young man replied, "No sir."

Puzzled and a little hurt, the tycoon asked, "Well, then, son, what do you want?"

"I only want one thing," answered the young man with assurance. "I want the name of the guy who pushed me into the pool."

Application

Nobody would willingly jump into a shark-infested pool - even for a million dollars. And nobody would willingly let themselves be nailed to the cross - even if he thought he might get some fame or recognition out of it.

Jesus let himself be nailed to the cross, not because there was something in it for him personally, but because there was something in it for you and me. Jesus did more than risk his life for us, Jesus gave his life for us. Nobody pushed him into it. he chose to die because he loves us.

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key -> Eternity! Eternity
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