14 September 2009

Yesterday night went to Chin Dao Methodist Church. Luckily did not late. Just in time. But who knows. A pastor known as "Wang Ma Ma" from Taiwan went there to preach. Her preaching is very different from other pastors. Her preaching is story based. She touched on Luke 7:36-50. This is a story about Jesus being invited by a person called Simon. She put the story into her preach making her preach is the story. Don't really know how to explain. This is the second time i ever heard of story telling based preaching. The first time was from Pastor Chin from Trinity Methodist Church.
Her story is so good because she tells that with slide shows. The story starts with a woman who is a prostitute. She felt so ashamed of herself. Maybe her husband had already die. Leaving her alone with no one to take care of her. But in order for her to live she have to sell her own body. She felt bad and ashamed of herself. Only in night times she can enter peoples house. One day, Simon invited Jesus to his house. In those times, when a person invite people to their house as VIP, they will kiss the VIP's cheek, use perfume to pour on the VIP's head and washed the VIP's legs. But Simon did not do that to Jesus. Jesus went into Simon's house. The woman went to kiss Jesus leg. Jesus let her kiss. She felt that Jesus is her friend. She is so touched until she shedded tears. The tears dropped on Jesus leg making Jesus leg very slippery. In her heart, she wanted to borrow a cloth from Simon to rub Jesus leg. But due to her status, she is ashamed and did not ask for it. Thus, she uses her hair to rub on Jesus legs.
During those days, because she is a prostitute, she earned lots of money and bought a perfume. She put the perfume into a jar and wore it on her neck. When she uses her hair to rub on Jesus legs, she also rub the perfume on His legs as well. Simon said to himself : "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner." Jesus andswered him, 'Simon, I have something to tell you."
Two men owed money to certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love hime more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger devt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to simon,'Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time i entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, i tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been frogiven little loves lottle." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
She felt that Jesus accepted her as a friend. Not like others who just want her body. But she felt that Jesus treat her like a friend. She got the most precious present of the world that is to be united with God. Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." She felt peace in her heart. She felt freedom in her heart. She felt that she has been released from sin.
Then the pastor told us what about you. Will you look down on people who are disabled? Do you accept them like Jesus? You say it's so troublesome. But look at Jesus, He died for you on the cross. Don't you need to share his sufferings? How can your sufferings comapred to Jesus?
The pastor's daughter is also a disabled person but sung a beautiful song during the service. The above preached has been modified by me because i was unable to copy all the details. The details is more interesting.
That night, the process of accepting bread and wine is so different from other churches. I forgot what is it called.
Writted 3.37pm