Fellowship Life
Our Cantonese congregation's Home Fellowship Groups are currently undergoing some changes in two main areas.
First, instead of meeting once a month, the groups will now gather twice a month. In addition to the monthly Bible study, most groups will organise another activity. Some groups will enjoy yum cha together for fellowship, some will gather for prayer, while others will have discussions on marriage.
Second, the Marriage Fellowship Groups within our Cantonese Marriage Ministry will be integrated into the Home Fellowship Group structure, with their members becoming part of the Home Fellowship Groups.
Over the past few months, I have been attending one of these Home Fellowship Groups, learning God's Word and enjoying fellowship with the brothers and sisters. We have met in different homes, including those of various members as well as my own. Through these gatherings, I have come to realise that hosting a fellowship meeting is far from a simple task.
Several couples in the group have young children, so each gathering requires space for the children to do their homework or play together. Their ages range from preschoolers to teenagers, each with different needs. Thankfully, they have built good relationships with one another, allowing them to spend time together happily.
Our Bible study group usually consists of more than ten people, so we need a reasonably large and quiet space where we can study God's Word, discuss it together, and encourage one another. Afterwards, when everyone stays for dinner, the total number can reach around twenty people, making the meal arrangements another significant task.
These past few months have helped me move beyond simply knowing, in theory, the challenges of opening one's home for fellowship. I have experienced firsthand the many practical considerations and preparations involved. As for my own home, I have realised that I need to purchase some additional furniture so that I can better serve the brothers and sisters, providing a more suitable environment where we can study the Bible together and build one another up.
Over the past two weeks, God has not only given me opportunities to fellowship with brothers and sisters in my own church, but also to reconnect with members from the church where I previously served as an intern, as well as fellow brothers and sisters who studied theology with me. God enabled us to share honestly about our spiritual lives, encourage one another, and pray together.
This reminded me of God's Word:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. " Hebrews 10:24–25
May we all treasure the fellowship we share as God's people. May God help us to care for one another, spur one another on toward love and good deeds, encourage one another, and be prepared for the return of our Lord.
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相交生活
我們教會粵語堂的家聚小組正在發生一些改變，這改變包括兩方面。第一方面，就是這些家聚小組會由每月一次聚會，增加至每月兩次。除了每月一次查經，大部分家聚小組會安排另一活動，有些小組會飲茶聯誼，有些小組會一起祈禱，有些小組則討論婚姻。而第二方面，就是粵語婚姻事工的婚姻小組，會融入到家聚小組的架構之中，成為家聚小組的成員。
而這幾個月，我就去到其中一個家聚小組中，跟他們一起學習神的話語和彼此相交。這幾次的聚會，有去到弟兄姊妹家裏的，有到訪寒舍的，這讓我發現原來每次場地的安排都殊不簡單。在這個小組中，有幾對夫婦都有小朋友，我們每次聚會都需要安排地方，給這些孩子做功課或一起玩耍。他們的年齡由幾歲至十幾歲，各有不同的需要，幸好他們彼此之間都有良好的關係，以致可以走在一起。而組員查經方面，我們有十多人一起查考，需要安排一個較大又寧靜的空間，讓我們一起學習、一起討論。查經後的晚餐，全部出席大約會有二十人，安排也不容易。這幾個月的體驗，讓我不僅只是頭腦上知道開放家庭住所給弟兄姊妹聚會的困難，更是親身感受當中每樣安排的挑戰。而我的住處，就需要添置一些傢俬，才可以較好的服侍弟兄姊妹，讓他們可以在較合適的環境中，一同查經，彼此建立。
這兩個星期，神不僅讓我在自己教會中與弟兄姊妹相交，也讓我和以前實習教會中的弟兄姊妹相聚、也和一些一同讀神學的弟兄姊妹見面。神讓我們坦誠分享信仰生活，互相鼓勵，更一起祈禱。這讓我想起神的說話：
又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道那日子臨近，就更當如此。希伯來書 10:24-25
願我們都看重我們的團契生活，求神幫助我們能彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善，預備好主的再來。
