今日十字架的力量与意义

十字架屹立于历史的中心，也是我们信仰的核心。它不仅仅是教堂墙上的一个符号，或颈间的一枚吊坠。它是上帝在基督里所行的决定性行动，是天国以救赎之爱降临人间的时刻。两千年过去了，十字架的力量和意义丝毫未减。的确，在这个充满焦虑、迷茫和道德摇摆的时代，它的意义或许比以往任何时候都更加显而易见。

耶稣走向各各他山，并非是偶然遭遇悲剧。路加福音记载：“他定意往耶路撒冷去”（路加福音 9:51）。十字架并非政治上的偶然事件，也非战略上的失误。它是上帝永恒的计划。圣经告诉我们，基督是“从创世以来被杀的羔羊”（启示录 13:8）。这意味着，十字架始终是上帝对人类困境的回应。罪破坏了我们与神的团契，因为“世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀”（罗马书 3:23），任何宗教上的努力或道德上的追求都无法弥合这道鸿沟。唯有十字架才能成就我们无法成就的事。

在十字架上，我们看到神的圣洁与慈爱完美地和谐共存。神并没有将罪弃之不顾，也没有为了迁就我们的软弱而降低祂的标准。保罗写道，神设立基督作为“赎罪祭”，是为了彰显祂的义（罗马书 3:25-26）。罪在耶稣基督的身体里得到了完全且最终的审判。然而，就在这审判的行动中，爱得胜了，因为“惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了”（罗马书 5:8）。先知以赛亚早在几个世纪前就预见了这一点：“他为我们的过犯受害，为我们的罪孽被压伤；因他受的刑罚，我们得平安。”（以赛亚书 53:5）这是最深刻的替代。这不是感伤，而是代价高昂的恩典。

十字架今日的大能首先在于它拯救的能力。这信息从未改变。保罗宣告：“我们传讲钉十字架的基督”（哥林多前书 1:23），并且他决心“除了耶稣基督并他钉十字架以外，别无所知”（哥林多前书 2:2）。我们得救并非靠自我提升、积极行动或脱离真理的属灵经历，而是靠基督的宝血。“我们藉着爱子的血得蒙救赎，过犯得以赦免。”（以弗所书 1:7）当一个人悔改并信靠神，不倚靠自己的义，乃信靠祂已完成的救赎大工时，这救赎既是即刻生效，也是永恒有效。 “如今，那些在基督耶稣里的人，就不被定罪了。”（罗马书 8:1）十字架仍然称义不敬虔的人。

但十字架的作用远不止于带我们进入天国。它塑造了我们在天国中的生活。耶稣说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，天天背起他的十字架来跟从我。”（路加福音 9:23）这并非呼召我们反省自身，而是邀请我们舍己，好让基督透过我们而活。保罗可以说：“我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。”（加拉太书 2:20）在一个将自我表达和个人自主置于一切之上的文化中，十字架呼召我们降服。它直面我们的骄傲，挑战我们掌控结果的欲望，并邀请我们信靠神的智慧和主权，即便顺服需要付出代价。

对于我们鲁尼米德基督徒团契而言，身处一个充满活力且多元化的社区，十字架定义了我们的见证。我们不宣扬自己。正如保罗所写：“我们所传的不是我们自己，而是耶稣基督为主”（哥林多后书 4:5）。我们周围的世界或许对制度化的宗教抱有怀疑，但它仍然渴望真挚的爱和坚定不移的盼望。耶稣说：“你们若彼此相爱，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了”（约翰福音 13:35）。当我们活出十字架的谦卑，当我们像蒙赦免一样去饶恕别人，当我们不求回报地服侍他人时，我们就在日常生活中彰显了髑髅地的大能。

十字架的目的也在于和好。“神在基督里，叫世人与自己和好”（哥林多后书 5:19）。这种和好既是纵向的，也是横向的。保罗提醒我们，基督“使我们和睦……拆毁了中间隔断的墙，就是冤仇……以自己的身体废掉了律法和诫命”（以弗所书 2:14-15）。在一个分裂、两极分化、充满猜疑的社会里，十字架是合一的唯一稳固根基。我们站在十字架脚下，脚踏实地。我们谁也没有可夸耀的。我们都仰赖神的怜悯。

此外，还有我们不可忽视的个人层面。十字架触及我们内心深处的恐惧和难以启齿的悔恨。它告诉我们，我们比自己敢于承认的更加罪恶，却也比我们想象的更加蒙爱。“如今，那些在基督耶稣里的人，就不定罪了”（罗马书 8:1），没有什么“能使我们与神的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的”（罗马书 8:39）。这种悖论既使我们谦卑，又使我们振奋。它使我们从竭力证明自己的疲惫中解脱出来。我们的价值在髑髅地得以确立。我们的未来因空坟而稳固。

最终，十字架锚定了我们的盼望。《希伯来书》的作者敦促我们定睛仰望耶稣，“他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难”（希伯来书 12:2）。历史上最黑暗的日子，成了通往复活的门。当我们面对试炼、失望或损失时，我们再次仰望十字架，并记起上帝能够从看似失败中带来救赎的目的。十字架之后是荣耀。同样，我们当下的挣扎也必将让位于永恒的喜乐。

十字架的力量和目的在今天并非抽象的教义，而是鲜活的现实。它们呼召我们拥有信心、悔改、谦卑、勇气和爱。当我们宣告基督被钉十字架并复活时，我们不仅找到了过往罪孽的赦免，也找到了当下的榜样和未来的应许。愿我们永不离开十字架，因为唯有在此，我们才能找到丰盛的生命。

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Planning your Visit

Why not plan a visit to try us out?

Whether this is your first time visiting a church or you’ve attended another church for years, we understand that visiting a new church can be a bit overwhelming. To help make it a bit easier, we’ve done our best to answer some questions you may have, so your first experience is a little less overwhelming.

Runnymede Christian Fellowship is a church based in Egham but serving a much larger geographical area. Those who call us home come from Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Englefield Green, Egham Hythe, Pooley Green, Maidenhead, Ascot, Sunbury, Heathrow, Slough, Ashford, Thorpe, Windsor, Woking and beyond.

Our church is a community of believers who gather regularly to share life and demonstrate God's love. We do this by encouraging and serving each other and the community. We believe in the power of prayer and are always happy to pray for you.

Church - What to expect

Our Sunday service is available to stream online at 11 am. You can join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or X.

The Sunday Venue is Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane in Egham, open to all, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so. If you have any questions, please call us on 01784 637010.

We run a physical Sunday School most weeks. If you would like your children to receive a weekly Sunday School teaching pack that you can do from home, please email us at admin@e-runnymede.co.uk so that we can send you the materials.

Sunday Venue at Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham

Our Sunday service starts at 11.00 and typically lasts about 90 minutes.

We begin each service with lively worship, featuring songs from around the world, followed by inspiring, Bible-based teaching. All our sermons are recorded and are available as a podcast after the service.

We have a monthly cycle of Sunday services, with our Communion Service on the first Sunday of each month and an All-Age All-Nation Service on the second. Our other Sunday services include Spirit-focused and teaching services.

We have consciously adopted being a blended church, that is, both online and face-to-face. You are welcome to join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or X, or catch up with the recordings later.

Joining us in person

Visiting a new and unfamiliar church for the first time can be intimidating, but we want to ensure you feel welcome and enjoy your time with us. A friendly face will be waiting to meet you at the entrance and welcome you.

Doors open at 10:30 for coffee and prayer.
Our Sunday Service starts at 11:00 and typically runs for about 90 minutes, normally followed by tea and coffee.

Driving and Car Parking

Our Sunday Venue is Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham, TW20 9DR, which has ample parking.
Click on the link for directions to RCF.

We have plenty of parking spaces right outside the building. Spaces are reserved near the entrance for anyone with mobility issues (those with a blue badge). Please let us know if you need to use one of these spaces, have any special needs, or require any assistance.

The car parking area is a public area, so please ensure that your children are under your control and that, for their safety, they do not run around in the car park.

Visiting with children?

Everyone is welcome at RCF. We encourage everyone, regardless of age, to join the service. We offer Sunday School, which begins after worship and runs concurrently with the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes, serving children aged 4 to 12. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a shorter All-Aged All Nations Service, where the children stay for the worship and the sermon.

After Church

We chat over coffee and biscuits after church on the first, third, fourth and fifth Sundays. If you want to get to know us better, why not join us for Sunday lunch with some of our members? The first meal is on us (Voucher provided). Please contact us and let us know. We would love to share a meal and get to know you better!

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Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please review our FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to many common questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact us; we’d love to hear from you.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO RCF!!

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Our address is Virginia Lodge, Heritage Court, Egham
Virginia Lodge Ariel

13/02/2023