Recently, the pastoral group of Yaodu District CC&TSPM in Linfen, Shanxi, compiled and printed a sermon collection, supplying it to local pastoral staff for reference.
The book (collection), named "Spreading Information of the Times, Living a Victorious Life", will serve as a source of internal learning materials. Fourteen sermon articles once shared online by local pastors were collected, in order to "improve the level of pastoral care and promote the growth of the believers’ spiritual lives."
The preface states, “Preaching the gospel is undoubtedly the most important part of the church’s pastoral ministry, as apostles once said that they would give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). Sermons can give the congregation correct guidance, strengthen their faith, and establish the authority of the Bible in them. The purpose of preaching is to build up the body of Christ until believers all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ… so that the body grows and builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:12-16)."
In 2020, all in-person gatherings were suspended, while believers faced challenges due to the outbreak of COVID-19. After the suspension of onsite services from the first day of the first lunar month in 2020, the pastoral group opened the "Linfen Pastoral" WeChat account. In addition to recording and broadcasting Sunday services, they also webcasted sermons every Thursday night. In response to the situation faced by the congregation, the pastoral staff prayed and prepared sermons to instill calm amongst believers and resist heresies.
Combined with the teachings of the Bible, the collection covers different topics, including dedicated service, returning to salvation, living like Christ, responding to the call, longing for truth, overcoming anxiety, enjoying peace, working hard, witnessing the glory of God, being a grateful person and a good steward, etc.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
