 God wants us to mature spiritually. But as we become comfortable in life, typically we stop growing.
My wife and I served as missionaries in China from 2003 to 2019. We were living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), which turns out to be the way to grow. Let’s learn from it. The first requirement of the Great Commission is to go, to step out of our comfort zone (Matthew 28:19). I grew up in Paris, moved to New York, got married, and dreamed of getting rich. But God planted discontentment in us. We felt stuck and wanted more than just surviving and maintaining. In his book, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby used surfing as an analogy of experiencing God. Instead of creating your own wave, get into the water, wait, and watch to see what God is doing. When a wave comes, swim over and ride on it. In 2012, my wife and I prayed for nine months asking God to make us love and experience Him more. A year later, with three kids, we moved to China. I spoke very little Chinese and didn’t understand the culture. What is God asking you to do that feels uncomfortable? To grow, we must trust God is in control, take risks, and step out of our comfort zone. Second, seek to engage the lost (Matthew 28:19). Luke 15 describes three parables: the lost sheep out there; the lost coin inside the house; and the lost sons, one outside, the other inside. There are just as many lost outside as there are around us. To engage requires confronting and speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Tell your own stories to have transformation to take place. Third, teach others to obey everything Christ has commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Teaching helps us grow. Forget the title of “pastor” (James 3:1). Just perform its function. Have the heart of a shepherd to have impact on others. Walk the talk. Meditate on God’s words and show what it means to obey Him (Matthew 5:16). And you will grow. Finally, don’t worry. If you follow the Great Commission, Christ promises He will be with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Summary of a sermon by Luke Wong, starting at 19:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YibLiJZJsM&t=1186s 大使命：属灵成长的关键 上帝希望我们的属灵生命日趋成熟，但当我们生活变得舒适时，常常就会停止成长。 我和妻子从 2003 年到 2019 年在中国担任宣教士, 活出大使命（马太福音 28:18-20）。事实证明这是一种属灵生命成长的方式。让我们从中学习功课。 大使命首项要求是走出去，离开自己的舒适区（马太福音 28:19）。 我在巴黎长大，后来搬到纽约，然后结婚，并且做着发财致富的美梦。但上帝在我们心里种下了一种不满足的感觉，使我们觉得生命好像被卡住了，不想仅仅是保持现状地活着。 在 Henry Blackaby 《经历上帝》一书中，他使用冲浪来比喻经历上帝。不要创造自己的波浪。相反地，要踏入水中，等待和观察上帝的作为。当一个波浪冲来时，迎面游去踏浪而行。 在2012 年， 我和妻子祷告了 9 个月， 祈求上帝让我们更多地爱祂和经历祂。 一年后， 我们带着三个孩子搬到中国。 当时我只会说很少的中文， 也不了解中国文化。 上帝要你做什么会让你感到不舒服？ 如果想要成长， 就需要相信上帝掌管一切， 冒险走出舒适区。 其次，要寻找接触迷失的人（马太福音 28:19）。 路加福音 15 章描述了三个比喻: 迷失的羊在外面； 丢失的硬币在屋内； 还有迷路的两个儿子， 一个在外， 一个在内。 迷失者在外面和在里面的一样多。 与人相交需要用爱心面对，在爱中说真话（以弗所书 4:15）。 讲述上帝在你自己生命中的故事来转变他人的生命。 第三， 教导人遵守基督吩咐的一切命令（马太福音 28:20）。 教导人的同时可以帮助我们自己成长。 忘掉牧师的头衔（雅各书 3:1）， 只管履行其职责。 以牧羊人的心去影响他人的生命。 言行一致。 默想上帝的话，用言行显示服从上帝是什么意思 （马太福音5:16）。 如此我们的属灵生命定会成长。 最后, 不要担忧。 如果你跟随大使命， 基督应许祂将永远与你同在， 直到世界的末了（马太福音 28:20）。
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