By George Huang
Initially given as a sermon at Chinatown Church of Christ
An intro to the forthcoming Overcoming Adversity series, this sermon on Christian living and growth uses the donut-making process to illustrate how God uses the deficiencies in our lives to make us better Christians.
Powerpoint presentation in English and Chinese
Actual sermon text from the English PPT:
The Donuts Allegory
Scripture: Romans 8:18–28
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
=== Sermon ===
Donuts are one of the cleverest food items ever invented by man.
It has very few simple ingredients, is simple to make, and is soft all around.
After the basic donut is made, we can make almost unlimited varieties by adding different toppings.
Krispy Kreme puts an automatic donut-making machine in each store so you can see how the basic donut is made.
Can’t live without donuts? I found you can get a miniature version of that machine for only $761.
One day, I heard an allegory about how we are like donuts and how God makes us better Christians.
One day, a man smelled something nice in the house. His wife was making donuts.
She said she is using the best ingredients to make the best donuts possible.
When the donuts were made, he ate one, and it was indeed wonderful.
He said, “These are wonderful. Wouldn’t it be even better if the hole is also filled with dough so I have more to enjoy?”
His wife replied, “You foolish man, don’t you know it is because of the hole that the donut tastes good?
If there’s no hole, either the donut would be overcooked and hard on the outside, or undercooked with raw dough inside.”
So let’s study how to make donuts and see what it teaches us about life.
How to make donuts?
First, mix flour with water, yeast, salt, sugar, egg, and oil
When flour is mixed with water, it turns into elastic gluten when kneaded.
The yeast converts sugar into CO2 and breaks down starch, protein, and fat into more basic molecules.
The elastic gluten traps the carbon dioxide (CO2), and the dough rises.
Cut the dough into the donut shape.
After cutting the dough into shape, let it rest a bit so it puffs up even more and becomes softer.
When the dough with the hole is fried, it turns into fluffy donuts.
The donut can be soft because the hole allows heat to get to all parts quickly and evenly.
Without the hole, a donut won’t be as fluffy and soft. It won’t taste like a donut that we like.
Our lives are like donuts. God made us with the best ingredients.
God gave us qualities such as love, reasoning, bravery, endurance, and most importantly, a desire to find Him.
But there is a hole in each of the donuts, and most of us don’t like that.
There are “holes” that some of us would like filled:
- Poverty
- Illnesses
- Losses
- Failures
- Abuses
- Turmoil
But just like the holes in donuts, these deficiencies can make us better.
Where do these holes come from? Why is there suffering in this world?
We live in a sinful world full of evil and people seeking to benefit themselves at the expense of others.
Although God doesn’t cause our sufferings, He allows them to happen because He can use them to help us grow.
We can withstand the losses and deficiencies in life, and they can make us better Christians.
However, not all sufferings produce visible growth or have clear answers.
We like to have answers for our suffering, but in some cases, we won’t get answers while on Earth.
This is when FAITH comes in. We can trust in God even when we don’t get all the answers immediately.
Maybe FAITH is the hardest lesson of all. We need to trust that God is with us even in our sufferings.
Our pains and losses are real while we are on Earth, but we need to remember there’s a life beyond this earthly one.
James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
America named its latest Mars rover Perseverance because it is a long and challenging journey.
2. Endurance – Can endure the pain and still not lose faith and hope.
Romans 5:3-4 – Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
3. Faith and reliance on God – Believe that God loves you and you can count on Him.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
4. Compassion and encouragement to others – Healed people can best heal people.
Once a TV crew wanted to see if people are compassionate. They put a sad-looking dog by the street.
Most people walked by without a second look. Some patted the dog without doing more.
A homeless man walked by, patted the dog, and went to a store to get food for it.
The TV crew then showed themselves and asked why he fed the dog.
He said he is hungry often so he knows how the dog feels. He didn’t want to dog to suffer like he does.
So we can relate better to others who suffer because we have been through similar circumstances ourselves.
5. Humility – We see ourselves as who we really are – imperfect beings who need God.
1 Corinthians 1:28-29 – God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not -to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
What can help us get those benefits?
1. The Right Perspective: See things as they really are – from God’s perspective.
Earthly life is a place where God shapes us for eternity.
Earthly life is illusory and temporary. The afterlife is real and eternal.
2 Cor. 4:16-17 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2. The Right Attitude – Face these with joy and hope, not anger or sadness.
3. Contentment – Be happy with what you have and avoid being envious of others.
Philippians 4:10-13 – I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
4. Hope – helps us endure and keep our faith.
5. Faith – Believe that God has the best intentions for you.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
We need to believe that God’s timing and methods are better than ours.
If we allow God to work in us, even the holes in our lives can become places where His grace reaches us more deeply.
Not all pain and suffering are parts of God’s design — but He never wastes what He allows to happen to us.
And don’t let the losses or imperfections of your life make you think you do not have God’s love.
His love, like the proper parental love, is unconditional and sacrificial.
God does not love us because we are strong or complete. He loves us while we are still being shaped.
His efforts to shape us and prepare us for eternity are one way He shows His love for us.
When we see the holes in our lives, remember that God can use them to make us better donuts.
When we have that realization, then all the pain and suffering are easier to endure.
May the Lord bless us all.
Actual sermon text in Chinese:
甜甜圈的寓言
讀經: 羅馬書 8:18-28
我想，現在的苦楚若比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀，就不足介意了。 受造之物切望等候神的眾子顯出來。 因為受造之物服在虛空之下，不是自己願意，乃是因那叫他如此的；但受造之物仍然指望脫離敗壞的轄制，得享神兒女自由的榮耀。 我們知道，一切受造之物一同嘆息、勞苦，直到如今。 不但如此，就是我們這有聖靈初結果子的，也是自己心裡嘆息，等候得著兒子的名分，乃是我們的身體得贖。 我們得救是在乎盼望。只是所見的盼望不是盼望。誰還盼望他所見的呢？ 但我們若盼望那所不見的，就必忍耐等候。
況且，我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助。我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用說不出來的嘆息替我們禱告。 鑒察人心的，曉得聖靈的意思，因為聖靈照著神的旨意替聖徒祈求。 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。
甜甜圈的寓言
在我看來，甜甜圈是人類發明的最聰明的食物之一。
它的材質很少，做法簡單，而且整體都很柔軟。
製作完基本的甜甜圈後，我們可以透過添加不同的配料來製作幾乎無限的品種。
Krispy Kreme 在每家店都放置了一台自動甜甜圈製作機，這樣你就可以看到基本的甜甜圈製作方法。有一天，我聽到一個寓言，講的是我們如何像甜甜圈以及神如何讓我們成為更好的基督徒。
有一天，某人聞到屋子裡有一股香味。 他的妻子正在做甜甜圈。
她說她正在使用最好的原料來製作最好的甜甜圈。甜甜圈做好後，他吃了一個，確實美味極了。他說 :「這些甜甜圈太棒了。 如果洞裡也填滿麵團，那不是更好嗎？這樣我就可以享用更多的甜甜圈了。」
他太太回答說：「你這個傻瓜，難道你不知道甜甜圈就是因為有個洞才好吃嗎？
如果沒有孔, 甜甜圈要么烤得太熟, 外面會很硬, 要么烤得不夠, 裡面的麵團還是生的。」
那麼讓我們研究一下如何製作甜甜圈，看看它能為我們帶來什麼生活的啟示。
如何製作甜甜圈？
首先，將麵粉與水, 酵母, 鹽, 糖, 蛋和油混合。
將麵粉與水混合後，透過揉捏就會變成有彈性的麵筋。
二氧化碳 (CO2) 被麵筋捕獲包住，麵團就膨脹起來。
將麵團切成甜甜圈的形狀。將麵團切好形狀後，讓它靜置一會兒，這樣它就會膨脹得更大，變得更鬆軟。
把這有切好及有洞的麵團油炸後，它會變成蓬鬆的甜甜圈。
甜甜圈很軟是因為那個洞讓熱量快速又均勻地到達所有的部分。
沒有中間的洞，炸起來的甜甜就圈不會那麼蓬鬆柔軟。 它就不會像是我們喜歡的甜甜圈。
我們的生命就像是這些甜甜圈。神用最好的材料創造了我們。
神賦予我們愛、理性、勇敢、忍耐等特質。而最重要的是，祂賦予我們尋找祂的渴望。
但是每個甜甜圈上都有一個洞，我們大多數人都不喜歡這樣。
我們有些人希望填補其中的「洞」:
- 貧窮
- 疾病
- 挫則
- 損失, 失去親友
- 被欺負, 虐待
- 大的風浪, 混亂
可是像甜甜圈上的洞一樣，這些缺陷可以使我們變得更好。
這些洞是從哪裡來的？為什麼世間會有苦難？
我們生活在一個充滿罪惡的世界，人們為了自身利益而不惜犧牲他人。
雖然神不會造成我們的苦難，但祂允許苦難發生，因為祂可以利用苦難來幫助我們成長。
我們可以承受生活中的損失和不足，它們反而能使我們成為更好的基督徒。
然而，並非所有的苦難都能帶來明顯的成長，或有明確的答案。
我們渴望找到痛苦的答案，但在某些情況下，我們此生都無法得到答案。
這時就需要信心了。即使我們不能立即得到所有問題的答案，我們仍然可以信賴神。
或許信心是最難學的一課。我們需要相信即使在苦難中，神也與我們同在。
我們在地球上時所經歷的痛苦和損失是真實的，但我們需要記住，在塵世的生命之外還有來生。
永恆是真實的，神利用塵世生活中所有的損失和苦難來預備我們，使我們預備好與祂同在的永生。
這些洞能帶什麼給我們呢？
1. 毅力 – 不要輕易放棄自己、其他的人、和各種各樣的事情。
雅各書 1:2-4 – 我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂， 因為知道，你們的信心經過試驗就生忍耐。 但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。
美國將其最新的火星探測器命名為「毅力號」,因為這是一次漫長而艱難的旅程。
2. 忍耐力 – 可以忍受痛苦且仍然不會失去信心和希望。
羅馬書5:3-4 – 不但如此，就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的。因為知道患難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，老練生盼望，
3. 信心和對神的依靠 –
相信神愛你以及你可以依靠祂。
哥林多後書 12:7-9 – 又恐怕我因所得的啟示甚大, 就過於自高, 所以有一根刺加在我肉體上, 就是撒旦的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。 為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。 他對我說：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
4. 對他人的同情與鼓勵 – 被治癒的人最可以治愈他人。
曾經有電視攝製組想看看人們是否有同情心。他們把一隻看起來很可憐的狗放在路邊。
大多數人走過時連看都沒看一眼。有些人拍了拍狗，也沒什麼別的反應。
一個無家可歸的男子走過來，拍了拍狗，然後去商店買了食物給它。
電視攝影團隊隨後出現，問他自己為什麼餵那隻狗。
他說他常常挨餓，所以他知道狗狗的感受。他不想讓那隻狗像他一樣受苦。
因此，我們能夠更好地理解其他遭受痛苦的人，因為我們自己也經歷過類似的境遇。
5. 謙卑 – 我們可以看清我們真正的自己 – 我們是需要神的不完美的人。
哥林多前書 1:28-29 – 神也揀選了世上卑賤的、被人厭惡的以及那無有的, 為要廢掉那有的, 使一切有血氣的，在神面前一個也不能自誇。
什麼可以幫助我們獲得這些易處呢？
1. 正確的視角：從神的角度來看到事物的真實面貌。
塵世生活是神塑造我們,使我們走向永恆的地方。
地上的生命是虛幻的和短暫的。 來世是真實而永恆的。
哥林多後書 4:16-17 – 所以我們不喪膽，外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天。我們這至暫至輕的苦楚，要為我們成就極重無比、永遠的榮耀。
2. 正確的態度 – 要以喜樂及希望來面對這些事情，而不是以憤怒或悲傷。
3.知足 – 對自己擁有的東西感到滿足，且不要嫉妒他人。
腓立比書 4:10-13 – 我靠主大大地喜樂, 因為你們思念我的心如今又發生; 你們向來就思念我, 只是沒得機會。 我並不是因缺乏說這話, 我無論在什麼景況都可以知足, 這是我已經學會了。 我知道怎樣處卑賤, 也知道怎樣處豐富, 或飽足或飢餓, 或有餘或缺乏, 隨事隨在, 我都得了祕訣。 我靠著那加給我力量的, 凡事都能做。
4. 希望 – 幫助我們忍受並不喪失信心。
5.信心 – 相信神對你有最好的意圖。
羅馬書 8:28 – 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。
耶利米29:11 – 耶和華說: 我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
我們要相信神的時機和方法比我們自己想要的好。
如果我們允許神在我們身上動工，即使是我們生命中的洞也能成為祂的恩典更深地臨到我們的地方。
並非所有的痛苦都是祂的旨意——但神從不浪費祂所允許的一切。
不要讓生活中的挫折或不完美讓你認為自己沒有得到神的愛。
祂的愛，就像真正的父母之愛一樣，是無條件的、犧牲奉獻的。
神愛我們，並非因為我們強大或完美。祂在我們仍在塑造的過程中就愛我們。
祂努力塑造我們，使我們為永生做好準備，這是祂表達愛的一種方式。
當我們看到我們生命中的「洞」時，要記住神可以利用它們來讓我們變得更好。
當我們意識到這一點時,所有的痛苦和磨練就更容易忍受了。
願主保佑我們。
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