Cong Fang

     人可以同时爱弟兄和爱世界，但人不能同时爱神和爱世界，所以爱弟兄不等于爱神，只是那爱神的人必会爱他在主里的弟兄。行为是信心的果子，照这样，爱弟兄的心也是爱神的果子。如果有人说，爱是从神来的；不是我们爱神，是神先爱我们。没错，信心也是如此。

     人可能爱弟兄而不爱神，也可能爱教会而不爱读圣经。因为人的爱有可能是来自于情欲以及与其他人的关系。我们不能用属情欲的爱去证明那属神的爱，不能说爱弟兄就是爱神，除非那爱弟兄的心是出于爱神的缘故。有一个原则，爱神的人一定会爱读神的话语、爱向神祷告，和爱遵行神的诫命。

     很多基督徒以为自己没能力去爱，其实是因为心还在地上，或者没遇到真正的弟兄。如果一个爱神的人遇上另一个爱神的弟兄，甚至从未见面的弟兄，在主里彼此相爱的诫命不是难守的。很多人没有见过历史上的一些属灵先辈，但因为爱神的缘故而爱这些弟兄。爱是圣灵的果子。

     有圣灵的人是可以认识神、爱神、和爱弟兄的。悲哀的是很多基督徒往往被引导到以自己的能力去爱，其实不过是在培养人际关系。基督徒的成圣是圣灵的工作，人需要放下自我、顺从圣灵（罗马书 第八章），否则只会在罗马书第七章徘徊。

by Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“你的有用与否，完全在于你是否有圣洁的生活，因为你的讲章不过是一两个钟头的事，但是你的生活却时时在发生讲道。如果撒但能使一个传道人爱人的称赞，爱美食、爱安逸与享乐，他便已经毁坏了他的工作。你要专心祈祷，从父神那里得到你讲道时所用的经文、字句及思想。马丁路德把每日最好的三个钟头用在祈祷上。”

“Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two; your life preaches all the week. If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry. Give yourself to prayer, and get your texts, your thoughts, your words from God. Luther spent his best three hours in prayer.”

Francis Chan

1. Am I worried about what people think of my message or what God thinks? (Teach with fear)

2. Do I genuinely love these people? (Teach with love)

3. Am I accurately presenting this passage? (Teach with accuracy)

4. Am I depending on the Holy Spirit’s power or my own cleverness? (Teach with power)

5. Have I applied this message to my own life? (Teach with integrity)

6. Will this message draw attention to me or to God? (Teach with humility)

7. Do the people really need this message? (Teach with urgency)

Justin Taylor

1. Does this message exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ? (grace and redemption)

2. Will people know what to do after hearing the message? (repentance and faith)

3. Am I saying anything (i.e. illustration) that will distract from the point I am trying to make?

4. Do I, at any point, make much of myself in this sermon? (e.g. “I think …”)

5. Would I like this to be the last sermon I ever preach?

Believing that this may be my last opportunity to preach Christ will clarify what really needs to be said. Am I okay with this message being the last thing my family and church hears from my lips? And more importantly, am I okay with this message potentially being the last thing a man, woman or child will hear about the gospel before they die?