작년 11월에 대구 불꽃교회 담임목사님으로부터 첫 연락을 받았습니다. 그리고 지난 주말, 6월 13일(토), 14일(주일) 불꽃교회 사경회를 다녀왔습니다. 토요일에 두 번, 주일에 세 번의 말씀을 전했습니다. 하지만 주일 1, 2부는 같은 설교를 했으니 모두 4편의 설교문을 가지고 다섯 차례 말씀을 전한 셈입니다. 이미 1월에 자세한 일정을 확정했고 4월에 또 한 번의 연락을 받았습니다. “6월에 있을 말씀사경회에 관해서 교인들에게 홍보하기 위해 간단한 포스터를 만들려고 합니다. 혹시 전체 주제와 4번의 본문과 설교제목을 미리 받을 수 있을까요?” 그래서 전체 주제로 “삭개오를 만나주신 예수님(눅 19:1~10)과 시간별 제목과 본문을 보냈습니다.
드디어 지난 토요일 오후 4시부터 사경회가 시작되었습니다. 미리 전달했던 대로 1 한 사람 (1~4절) 2 한 만남(5~6절) 3 한 결단(7~8절) 4 한 선언(9~10절)으로 다섯 차례 말씀을 전하고 돌아왔습니다. 이 주제로 말씀을 전하는 일은 결코 처음이 아닙니다. 어쩌면 사경회에서 제가 주로 전하는 몇 가지 시리즈 설교 중에서 가장 좋아하는 것이 삭개오 이야기라고 해도 크게 틀리지 않을 것입니다. 누가복음 19장은 이사야서 40장이나 야고보서나 계시록과 더불어 즐겨 전하곤 하는 시리즈 설교이기 때문입니다. 그 외에도 시편 23편 설교든지, 브리스길라와 아굴라, 착한 사람 바나바, 자주 장사 루디아 등 초대교회 사람들의 은사를 다룬 사도행전 설교들도 있습니다.
같은 본문과 설교문이지만 항상 말씀의 주인은 하나님이신 것을 믿고 준비를 합니다. 설교문에도 익숙해져야 하지만 먼저 말씀을 전해야 하는 설교자 자신의 준비가 앞자리에 와야 한다고 믿습니다. 그리고 설교는 강대상에 서서 입을 열어 말씀을 전할 때에 결정된다고 믿기에 같은 본문 같은 설교문이라도 전혀 그 결과를 예측할 수 없습니다. 그래서 사도 바울은 성도들에게 부탁합니다. “또 나를 위해 기도하기를 내게 말씀을 주셔서 입을 열어 복음의 비밀을 담대하게 알릴 수 있게 해 달라고 기도해 주십시오. 내가 이것을 위해 사슬에 매인 사신이 됐습니다. 그러므로 내가 복음 안에서 마땅히 해야 할 말을 담대하게 말할 수 있도록 기도해 주십시오.”(엡 6:19~20)
그러므로 물론 시간마다 긴장을 늦출 수 없지만, 특히 점심을 먹고 나서 전하는 마지막 시간은 신체적으로도 힘든 시간입니다. 강사는 노곤해도 서서 설교를 하니까 좀 낫지만, 앉아서 듣는 이들의 입장에서는 졸지 않기란 쉽지 않습니다. 원고를 읽는 설교는 졸음을 불러들이는 지름길이기에, 귀에 들리고 공감되는 말을 폭포수처럼 하는 수밖에 없습니다. 감사하게도 성령께서 도우셔서 마지막 시간까지 소임을 잘 감당할 수 있었습니다. 중간에 쉬는 시간에 박 장로님이 <불꽃 교회 20년사(1998~2018)>를 가지고 오셔서 교회가 처음 시작될 때 울산교회에서 월 200만원씩 3년동안 특별한 후원이 있었다고 회상시켜주었습니다. 울산교회에서 함께 사역하셨고 이제는 불꽃교회 담임이 되어서 <부르심을 알고 부르심에 합당하게!>라는 표어로 사역하시는 장만표 목사님의 목회지를 직접 눈으로 보고 온 것은 큰 기쁨이었습니다.
Last November, I received the first contact from the senior pastor of Daegu Bulggot Church. And this past weekend, on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, I attended and led the Bible conference at Bulggot Church. I delivered the Word twice on Saturday and three times on Sunday. Since the first and second Sunday services shared the same sermon, I essentially proclaimed God's Word five times using four prepared manuscripts. The detailed schedule had already been confirmed back in January, and in April, I received another message: “We would like to make a simple poster to inform our congregation about the June Bible conference. Could you kindly share the overall theme, the scripture readings, and the titles for the four sessions in advance?” In response, I sent the overarching theme, “Jesus Who Met Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10),” along with the respective titles and scriptures for each session.
Finally, the conference began last Saturday at 4:00 PM. As planned, I delivered the Word across the five sessions under the headings: 1) One Person (vv. 1–4), 2) One Encounter (vv. 5–6), 3) One Decision (vv. 7–8), and 4) One Declaration (vv. 9–10). This was by no means the first time I preached on this passage. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the story of Zacchaeus is my favorite among the several sermon series I frequently preach at conferences. Luke 19 is a series I love to revisit, alongside Isaiah 40, the Epistle of James, and the Book of Revelation. In addition, there are series on Psalm 23 and various sermons from Acts focusing on early church figures and their gifts—such as Priscilla and Aquila, the good-hearted Barnabas, and Lydia the seller of purple cloth.
Even with familiar scriptures and prepared texts, I prepare each time with the conviction that the true master of the Word is God. While becoming thoroughly acquainted with one's manuscript is essential, I believe the preacher’s own inner preparation must come first. Furthermore, because I believe the preaching moment is decided when one stands behind the pulpit, opens one's mouth, and proclaims the Word, the outcome can never be predicted—even with the same passage and manuscript. That is why the Apostle Paul asked the believers: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19–20)
Therefore, while tension cannot be eased during any session, the final session right after lunch is physically demanding. Although tired, the speaker has it somewhat easier standing up to preach, whereas it is genuinely difficult for the listeners in the pews to stay awake. Reading a sermon from a manuscript is a sure recipe for drowsiness; the only way through is to pour out words like a cascading waterfall—words that resonate clearly and strike a chord in the heart. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helped me fulfill my calling faithfully right through the final hour. During the break, Elder Park brought over The 20-Year History of Bulggot Church (1998–2018), reminding me that during its founding years, Ulsan Church provided special mission support of 2 million won per month for three years. It was a heartfelt joy to see in person the ministry field of Pastor Man-Pyo Jang, who once ministered alongside us at Ulsan Church and now faithfully shepherds Bulggot Church under the motto: “Knowing our calling, living worthy of the calling!”
Verlede November het ek die eerste kontak van die leraar van Daegu Bulggot Gemeente ontvang. En die afgelope naweek, op Saterdag 13 Junie en Sondag 14 Junie, het ek hul Bybelkonferensie bygewoon en gelei. Ek het die Woord twee keer op Saterdag en drie keer op Sondag verkondig. Aangesien die eerste en tweede oggenddiens op Sondag dieselfde preek gedeel het, het ek in wese die Woord vyf keer gebring aan die hand van vier voorbereide preke. Die volledige program was reeds in Januarie gefinaliseer, en in April het ek weer ’n navraag ontvang: “Ons wil graag ’n eenvoudige plakkaat maak om die gemeente oor die Junie-konferensie in te lig. Sou dit moontlik wees om die oorkoepelende tema asook die vier skrifgedeeltes en preektitels vooraf te ontvang?” Gevolglik het ek die hooftema, “Jesus wat Saggeus ontmoet het (Luk 19:1–10)”, saam met die titels en skrifgedeeltes vir elke sessie deurgestuur.
Eindelik het die konferensie verlede Saterdagmiddag om 4:00 begin. Soos vooraf beplan, het ek die Woord oor vyf byeenkomste bedien volgens die vier temas: 1) Een Mens (verse 1–4), 2) Een Ontmoeting (verse 5–6), 3) Een Besluit (verse 7–8), en 4) Een Verklaring (verse 9–10). Dit was geensins die eerste keer dat ek oor hierdie tema gepreek het nie. Dit sou stellig nie verkeerd wees om te sê dat die verhaal van Saggeus my gunsteling is onder die verskeie preekreekse wat ek gereeld tydens konferensies lewer nie. Lukas 19 is immers ’n reeks wat ek baie graag preek, saam met Jesaja 40, Jakobus en Openbaring. Daarbenewens is daar ook reekse oor Psalm 23 en preke uit Handelinge wat fokus op die genadegawes van mense in die vroeë kerk—soos Priscilla en Aquila, die goeie Barnabas, en Lidia, die persverkoopster.
Al is die skrifgedeelte en die preeknotas bekend, berei ek elke keer voor in die vaste geloof dat God die ware Eienaar van die Woord is. Hoewel ’n mens deeglik vertroud moet wees met jou preeknotule, glo ek dat die prediker se eie hartsbereiding altyd voorop moet staan. Omdat ek oortuig is dat die vrug van die prediking eers bepaal word wanneer ’n mens agter die kansel staan en die mond oopmaak om die Woord te verkondig, kan die uitkoms nooit vooraf voorspel word nie—selfs met presies dieselfde teks en preek. Daarom het die apostel Paulus die gelowiges gevra: “Bid ook vir my, sodat daar aan my ’n woord gegee mag word wanneer ek my mond oopmaak, om met vrymoedigheid die geheimenis van die evangelie bekend te maak, waarvoor ek ’n gesant in kettings is, sodat ek daarin vrymoediglik mag spreek soos dit my betaam.” (Efesiërs 6:19–20)
Daarom kan die innerlike spanning nooit heeltemal tydens enige sessie wyk nie, maar veral die laaste sessie net ná middagete is liggaamlik veeleisend. Al is die spreker moeg, help dit om staande te preek, terwyl dit vir die toehoorders in die banke werklik ’n stryd is om nie in te sluimer nie. Om ’n preek van ’n manuskrip af te lees, nooi lomerigheid direk uit; die enigste uitweg is om woorde soos ’n bruisende waterval te laat vloei—woorde wat helder gehoor word en diep in die hart aanklank vind. Genadiglik het die Heilige Gees my gehelp om hierdie taak tot aan die einde getrou te volvoer. Tydens die pouse het ouderling Park ’n eksemplaar van Die 20-jarige Geskiedenis van Bulggot Gemeente (1998–2018) gebring en my daaraan herinner dat Ulsan Gemeente tydens die stigting vir drie jaar lank ’n maandelikse ondersteuning van 2 miljoen won gebied het. Dit was ’n wonderlike vreugde om die bedieningsveld van ds. Man-Pyo Jang, wat vroeër saam met ons in Ulsan Gemeente gearbei het en nou getrou as leraar by Bulggot Gemeente dien onder die leuse “Ken jou roeping en leef jou roeping waardig!”, met my eie oë te kon aanskou.