Sunday Worship Service January 4, 2026
Prelude
Call to Worship Micah 6:8
Hymn JBC # 19 Love divine, all loves excelling
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #493 God sent His Son
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 9:19b ~ 31
Prayer
Sermon “As a fellow believer”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 262 Holy Spirit, breathe on me!
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Since the beginning of last year (April 2025), we have been reading and listening to the Book of Acts from the New Testament as the Word of God in our worship messages.
During Advent and Christmas, we heard the Word in worship not from Acts, but from Bible passages related to Christmas.
Starting today, we will once again hear God's message in worship from the divine works in the Acts of the Apostles.
Saul (later called Paul) was a fierce persecutor of those who followed Christ.
In the passage preceding today's reading, as he was traveling from Jerusalem to the city of Damascus (to arrest and bring back anyone who believed in Christ), he encountered the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed around him, and he was struck blind. Led by others, he was brought to a house in Damascus where he stayed.
There, a man named Ananias, instructed by the Lord (God), prayed for him. Saul's sight was restored, and he was baptized.
Saul, having his sight restored, ate and regained his strength. Today's passage continues that story.
After spending several days with the disciples in Damascus, Saul, according to verse 20 of today's passage, “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.”
This means that the very person who, just a few days or a week earlier, had been fiercely persecuting those who believed in Jesus Christ, immediately after becoming a believer himself (almost without delay), began telling people, “This man (Jesus Christ) is the Son of God.”
What Saul's example shows us is that any Christian, once they believe in Jesus Christ and become a Christian, can (even immediately) share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
Saul did not seem to think, “I've only just believed, so I should wait until I've strengthened my faith a bit more before starting to preach.”
We are shown that every Christian, having been baptized and made a child of God, can and should proclaim Christ like Saul from that very moment.
Some of you may have had a similar experience. After my baptism, I was asked to teach the elementary class at Sunday school the very next year.
I recall feeling hesitant, thinking, “I've only just been baptized. I don't really understand the Bible that well yet.” But I loved children, so I accepted the role of Sunday school teacher.
Looking back now, my faith and knowledge of the Bible at that time were very basic. Yet, the crucial thing is simply this: “Jesus is Lord,” “Jesus is Christ, the Savior.” That is all that matters.
If that essential core of faith is present, then whether one's faith is strong or weak, or whether one's knowledge of the Bible is abundant or lacking, I believe it makes little difference, at least in God's eyes.
Now, as a pastor, I have been entrusted with the duty of being the spiritual leader of the church. Compared to when I first came to faith, I have accumulated various spiritual experiences, and my knowledge of the Bible and what I learned in seminary may have increased.
Yet in the core truth—that the confession “Jesus is Lord” was given by the Holy Spirit, that I am guided and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and that I am permitted to walk by faith each day—I remain unchanged from those early days.
And this remains unchanged for every other Christian as well. The presence or absence of some experience or knowledge is not a major issue.
Moreover, each of us has been given different gifts. Each has their own way of serving.
Not everyone needs to preach from the pulpit like a pastor or engage in pastoral work.
Through the gifts given to us, let us share with others, whenever we have the opportunity, about the God of Jesus Christ whom we believe in and share in our church.
We desire to become such Christians and such a Christian church that evangelizes (proclaims the gospel) in this way.
Saul had previously been a fierce persecutor of Christians. Therefore, his sudden change seemed to bewilder many people, especially the Jews who had previously persecuted Christians alongside him.
Eventually, they even came to want to kill Saul. However, Saul had disciples who helped him.
Verses 23-25 describe how the Jews tried to kill Saul, but he was rescued by his disciples and escaped by being lowered over the city wall at night.
Verses 30 and following also record how he was saved by the brothers when his life was threatened by Jews in Jerusalem.
Seeing how Saul was repeatedly saved by others in this way makes us realize that we too are surely protected and our lives preserved by many people in various situations.
And behind the protection of our lives, we are reminded that there is the protection and guidance of the Lord God. We want to thank God for the blessing of being kept alive and protected day by day.
After arriving in Jerusalem, Paul sought to join the fellowship of the disciples of the Jerusalem church.
Receiving faith in Christ means not living as a solitary believer, but becoming part of a community of other Christians, joining the flock of faith.
When a person believes in Christ and is baptized, it is both a confession of their decision to believe in the Lord God and live as a Christian, and it also signifies that person becoming a member of the church.
Looking back on myself, my faith in Christ has truly grown through connecting with the church of Christ who shares the same faith, within the fellowship and connection of faith with my faith family (brothers and sisters).
I pray that within the fellowship of faith in the church, each of our faiths may be nourished, and that through each of our acts of faith and service, our faith may continue to be nurtured.
In today's passage, Saul experiences the difficulty that the believers in Jerusalem are reluctant to trust him.
It was a man named Barnabas who came to help Saul. Barnabas explained to the disciples in Jerusalem how Saul had been transformed from his former self.
Barnabas explained how boldly Saul had preached in Jesus' name. “This man is truly different now, transformed,” Barnabas must have passionately argued on Saul's behalf to persuade the apostles in Jerusalem.
Through Barnabas's help like this, Saul was able to begin building a relationship as a fellow worker with the apostles in Jerusalem.
It can be said that without Barnabas's help, Saul wouldn’t have lived as an evangelist later. Though Saul would later become a great evangelist for Christ, the Bible tells us he was truly helped by many people.
As mentioned earlier, we are reminded that behind the work of the many people who helped Saul was the protection and guidance of the Lord God, and that this same protection and guidance is given to us today.
Returning to the beginning of today's passage, Saul immediately declared, “This man is the Son of God.” And according to Barnabas' words, Saul preached “in the name of Jesus.”
Saul did not speak about what had happened to him (at least not as the central point).
He may have spoken of what happened to him personally—that Christ appeared to him, the fierce persecutor of Christians, and proclaimed the gospel to him; how he lost his sight, and then, through Ananias' prayer, regained his sight and strength.
But the central message Saul proclaimed, the most vital thing, was not about himself, but that “this man (Jesus Christ) is God.”
We, as Christians today, and the Christian church, desire to continually proclaim this message: that this man (Jesus) is the Son of God, that He is God, that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior, and God Himself.
We do not speak about ourselves. Even when we speak of ourselves, it is to speak of God's grace—how the Lord God worked through us—and to speak of God's greatness.
Christians are permitted to speak of the grace of God received, the grace of Jesus Christ in whom we believe.
Therefore, our church also desires above all to be a church where only the grace of Christ is proclaimed: “God is alive. Jesus is the Christ. The Lord's word is wonderful.”
Let us read verse 31, the last verse of today's passage.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
“The church enjoyed a time of peace” does not mean there were no problems among them at that time.
In fact, other passages in the Bible clearly state that various problems and conflicts arose among believers within the early church.
However, the believers in that church were united in their desire for “the peace of Christ” to be among them and in their reliance on the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
They valued reverence for the Lord (which involves the humble faith of acknowledging “I know nothing”) and received the Holy Spirit's comfort (in English, “encouragement”).
“To be continually empowered by the Holy Spirit” means believing in the presence of God's Spirit—the Holy Spirit—who invisibly yet surely protects and guides us, and relying upon that Holy Spirit.
In the church—a gathering of believers in the Lord God, a family of faith—it is vital that each of us rely on the Spirit of God, who works beyond our own thoughts, rather than being led by the abilities or experiences of any one exceptional person.
And this is our grace.
May our church, in this new year, always rely on and desire the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
Let us pray that we may seek the Holy Spirit's guidance with humility, without relying on our own strength or that of others, nor boasting in it.
May we be those who, constantly encouraged and comforted by the invisible Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, walk the path of faith.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Sunday Worship Service December 28, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship John 14:15
Hymn JBC # 69 Softly now the light of day
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
The Lord’s Suffer
Offering
Scripture Deuteronomy 11:8~12
Prayer
Sermon “From the beginning of the year to its end”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 81 God, our Father, we adore Thee!
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
Today is the final Sunday worship of 2025. I am thankful for the blessing of having been able to listen through to the word of God together this year.
Today let us listen to God’s message from Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy explains about the period of time right before the Israelites enter the promised land in Canaan. Before that they had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after escaping slavery in Egypt, where they had been for 400 years.
Actually, most of the first generation of Israelites that had escaped from Egypt died in the wilderness. Those who arrived at the promised land were mostly of the second generation and after.
Moses was the one who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through their time in the wilderness.
Moses was also unable to enter the land of Canaan, dying right before. Moses’ death is described at the end of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy consists largely of the words that Moses continually conveyed to the people of Israel as commandments they should keep and as God's teachings, having received them from God.
Moses, the leader of the people, died before entering the land of Canaan. However, the Israelites journey into the land of Canaan continued with a new leader, Joshua.
Moses taught the people God’s word and commandments. This was because God’s word was the most important thing for them to continue in faith in their journey.
Leaders like Moses and Joshua do not lead the people. They merely assist the people in living in obedience to the Lord God.
No matter how spiritually superior a person may be, human leaders are still human, and they will certainly make mistakes. People cannot be the target of our obedience.
What we should be constantly listening to and obeying is the word of the Lord God.
We humans, even if our positions, vocations, or roles are different, are all the same believers before God. We all also need to remember that we are all sinners who were forgiven by Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us cherish constantly listening to and obeying the word of God.
The first verse in today’s passage, verse 8 says “Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today”
Here the “I” refers to Moses who is saying this word, but Moses is conveying the word he was given by God, so it should be understood that “I” is God.
Observe therefore all the commands I (God) am giving you today. This command for you to observe the commands of God appears here in Deuteronomy as well as in several other passages in the Bible.
Observing God’s word (commands) is of utmost importance to us, and the Bible repeatedly tells us this.
In our church worship, church school, and prayer meetings, we listen to God’s word together and share. We also read our Bibles on our own and receive from God’s word.
We listen to the same passages from God’s word over and over. It is the same word, but the Bible (God’s word) is new and holds pertinent meaning to each situation we are placed in.
We spend our whole life listening to God’s word continually. This is because God’s word is eternal, constantly giving us life, and giving us strength to live.
The second half of verse 8 says the following:
so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
We each have different paths that we need to walk. As individuals, as families, we all walk different paths. We also have a path we need to walk as a church.
s the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, we may also have our own Jordan river to cross in order to get to our promised land.
The path we need to walk may seem rough. We may sometimes feel anxious, wondering what kind of life awaits us in that land ahead, and whether we will actually be able to get there.
However, in times like that, what should we do? God has clearly given us the answer. We should “observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today.”
We should listen to the Lord’s word. Not just listen, but we should observe all of the commandments that God tells us.
In doing so, we can receive courage and strength from the Word in order to walk our paths in faith.
Verse 9 says the following:
9 and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Through obeying the Lord’s Word (commands), we will be able to live long in the land ahead.
The word of God gives us life. The word of God sustains us.
God’s commands are not those of a tyrant or dictator who rules over people as they please and uses people for their own benefit.
God's commandments are truly a gift given to us by God so that we may receive them, obey them, and live true life on this earth.
God’s word became flesh in a form that people can see as Jesus Christ. This is what happened on the Christmas.
We desire to walk together on the path of faith, receiving the words of the Bible, God's commandments, illuminated by the light of Jesus Christ and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God, and living according to that Word.
The Israelites lived 400 years enslaved in Egypt. And now they were about to enter into the land that God promised them.
Verses 10-11 tell about what type of place Egypt was to them, and what type of place the land they were about to enter was.
10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
In verse 10 where it says, “The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden,” refers to the fact that they were forced to labor there.
At the same time, “where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot” may also carry this meaning:
In order to live, people had to rely on their own strength and abilities, relying on themselves (or at least thought they could live by their own strength).
People cannot live without God’s help and grace. Without knowing this, people (mistakenly) believed that they were able to live by their own strength in their life in Egypt.
This can also be said about ourselves before we understood the grace of the true God.
However, to believers, the place where we live is like what is described in verse 11 where it says it “is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.”
The path of believers, where believers live, is where God gives us what we need. However, that does not mean that it is ok for us to just do nothing.
If we believe in God, it does not mean that we will live richly with no suffering without any work or effort.
Rather, as believers live on this earth, even though life is full of trials and difficulties, we can believe God is with us and will give us what we need.
Even when we cannot see what is ahead and are anxious, God gives us the strength to continue walking the path, and we can receive wisdom and courage from the Word.
To believers, “a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven,” means that our Heavenly Father is always thinking of us, gives us what we need without fail, and protects us.
It is not some fantastical dream that we are just believing. The fact that God provides for us and protects us is guaranteed in the word of the Bible and Jesus himself.
The last part of today’s passage, verse 12, says the following:
12 It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
God’s eyes are constantly on the path that we walk, and He is protecting us and guiding us.
In the land where we obey the Word of the Lord, God is always watching over us from the beginning of the year to its end. God is always with us in that land.
Through Moses God gave the people of Israel his Word (commands) and guided them repeatedly to obey and live according to His commands.
Now as we are in a new day and approaching a new year, let us renew our resolution to listen to and obey God’s Word and commandments.
The Lord God is always watching over us in the paths we walk and the places we are going to. From the beginning of the year to the end He is always watching over us.
Let us remember and take comfort in the fact that we are given the Lord’s protection and guidance, and His loving gaze is always upon us as we walk together.
Prelude
Call to Worship John 14:15
Hymn JBC # 69 Softly now the light of day
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
The Lord’s Suffer
Offering
Scripture Deuteronomy 11:8~12
Prayer
Sermon “From the beginning of the year to its end”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 81 God, our Father, we adore Thee!
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
Today is the final Sunday worship of 2025. I am thankful for the blessing of having been able to listen through to the word of God together this year.
Today let us listen to God’s message from Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy explains about the period of time right before the Israelites enter the promised land in Canaan. Before that they had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after escaping slavery in Egypt, where they had been for 400 years.
Actually, most of the first generation of Israelites that had escaped from Egypt died in the wilderness. Those who arrived at the promised land were mostly of the second generation and after.
Moses was the one who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through their time in the wilderness.
Moses was also unable to enter the land of Canaan, dying right before. Moses’ death is described at the end of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy consists largely of the words that Moses continually conveyed to the people of Israel as commandments they should keep and as God's teachings, having received them from God.
Moses, the leader of the people, died before entering the land of Canaan. However, the Israelites journey into the land of Canaan continued with a new leader, Joshua.
Moses taught the people God’s word and commandments. This was because God’s word was the most important thing for them to continue in faith in their journey.
Leaders like Moses and Joshua do not lead the people. They merely assist the people in living in obedience to the Lord God.
No matter how spiritually superior a person may be, human leaders are still human, and they will certainly make mistakes. People cannot be the target of our obedience.
What we should be constantly listening to and obeying is the word of the Lord God.
We humans, even if our positions, vocations, or roles are different, are all the same believers before God. We all also need to remember that we are all sinners who were forgiven by Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us cherish constantly listening to and obeying the word of God.
The first verse in today’s passage, verse 8 says “Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today”
Here the “I” refers to Moses who is saying this word, but Moses is conveying the word he was given by God, so it should be understood that “I” is God.
Observe therefore all the commands I (God) am giving you today. This command for you to observe the commands of God appears here in Deuteronomy as well as in several other passages in the Bible.
Observing God’s word (commands) is of utmost importance to us, and the Bible repeatedly tells us this.
In our church worship, church school, and prayer meetings, we listen to God’s word together and share. We also read our Bibles on our own and receive from God’s word.
We listen to the same passages from God’s word over and over. It is the same word, but the Bible (God’s word) is new and holds pertinent meaning to each situation we are placed in.
We spend our whole life listening to God’s word continually. This is because God’s word is eternal, constantly giving us life, and giving us strength to live.
The second half of verse 8 says the following:
so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
We each have different paths that we need to walk. As individuals, as families, we all walk different paths. We also have a path we need to walk as a church.
s the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, we may also have our own Jordan river to cross in order to get to our promised land.
The path we need to walk may seem rough. We may sometimes feel anxious, wondering what kind of life awaits us in that land ahead, and whether we will actually be able to get there.
However, in times like that, what should we do? God has clearly given us the answer. We should “observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today.”
We should listen to the Lord’s word. Not just listen, but we should observe all of the commandments that God tells us.
In doing so, we can receive courage and strength from the Word in order to walk our paths in faith.
Verse 9 says the following:
9 and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Through obeying the Lord’s Word (commands), we will be able to live long in the land ahead.
The word of God gives us life. The word of God sustains us.
God’s commands are not those of a tyrant or dictator who rules over people as they please and uses people for their own benefit.
God's commandments are truly a gift given to us by God so that we may receive them, obey them, and live true life on this earth.
God’s word became flesh in a form that people can see as Jesus Christ. This is what happened on the Christmas.
We desire to walk together on the path of faith, receiving the words of the Bible, God's commandments, illuminated by the light of Jesus Christ and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God, and living according to that Word.
The Israelites lived 400 years enslaved in Egypt. And now they were about to enter into the land that God promised them.
Verses 10-11 tell about what type of place Egypt was to them, and what type of place the land they were about to enter was.
10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
In verse 10 where it says, “The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden,” refers to the fact that they were forced to labor there.
At the same time, “where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot” may also carry this meaning:
In order to live, people had to rely on their own strength and abilities, relying on themselves (or at least thought they could live by their own strength).
People cannot live without God’s help and grace. Without knowing this, people (mistakenly) believed that they were able to live by their own strength in their life in Egypt.
This can also be said about ourselves before we understood the grace of the true God.
However, to believers, the place where we live is like what is described in verse 11 where it says it “is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.”
The path of believers, where believers live, is where God gives us what we need. However, that does not mean that it is ok for us to just do nothing.
If we believe in God, it does not mean that we will live richly with no suffering without any work or effort.
Rather, as believers live on this earth, even though life is full of trials and difficulties, we can believe God is with us and will give us what we need.
Even when we cannot see what is ahead and are anxious, God gives us the strength to continue walking the path, and we can receive wisdom and courage from the Word.
To believers, “a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven,” means that our Heavenly Father is always thinking of us, gives us what we need without fail, and protects us.
It is not some fantastical dream that we are just believing. The fact that God provides for us and protects us is guaranteed in the word of the Bible and Jesus himself.
The last part of today’s passage, verse 12, says the following:
12 It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
God’s eyes are constantly on the path that we walk, and He is protecting us and guiding us.
In the land where we obey the Word of the Lord, God is always watching over us from the beginning of the year to its end. God is always with us in that land.
Through Moses God gave the people of Israel his Word (commands) and guided them repeatedly to obey and live according to His commands.
Now as we are in a new day and approaching a new year, let us renew our resolution to listen to and obey God’s Word and commandments.
The Lord God is always watching over us in the paths we walk and the places we are going to. From the beginning of the year to the end He is always watching over us.
Let us remember and take comfort in the fact that we are given the Lord’s protection and guidance, and His loving gaze is always upon us as we walk together.
Saturday, December 20, 2025
4th Advent/Christmas Sunday Worship Service December 21, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Jeremiah 23:5
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 162 Angels, from the realms of glory
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
Confession of Faith
Offering
Scripture 1 John 3:11~18
Prayer
Sermon “This is the message you heard from the beginning”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 157 O come all ye faithful
Baptismal Ceremony
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
We are now in the Advent season, which is the four-week period leading up to Christmas on December 25th.
Each of the four Sundays during Advent, we have lit a candle at the beginning of our worship service.
In Christian tradition, the flames of these four candles each symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love.
They are the virtues and gifts that Jesus Christ brought into this world, and through them it is allowed for us to live in this world.
Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, and also the Christmas Sunday Worship Service. The candle lit at the beginning of today's worship service represents love.
Jesus Christ was born as a human being approximately 2025 years ago. He came to bring hope, peace, joy, and love into this world.
Jesus was born into this world with the mission to save all of us.
What did we need to be saved from? We needed to be saved from the sins we ourselves had committed.
Today's Bible passage contains frightening words like “hates a brother or sister” and “murderer.”
Some of you may be wondering, “Why must we hear such words during a festive occasion like Christmas?”
However, in order for us to truly understand Jesus' love and salvation, it is absolutely essential that we confront our sins head-on through the Bible.
To understand why Christmas is such a time of thanksgiving and joy, it is essential that we understand what it is we have been saved from.
Verse 15 of today's passage reads:
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
“Anyone who hates their brother or sister is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life residing in them.” These words are based on the teachings that John, who wrote this letter, heard directly from his teacher, Jesus.
Jesus said the following in Matthew 5:21-22:
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’(*an Aramaic term of contempt) is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Most of us probably think we're at least somewhat decent people, even if we don't consider ourselves perfectly righteous or good.
We think somewhere deep down in our hearts, “There are many people out there who are worse and more evil than I am, and I believe that compared to them, I am striving to live rightly.”
But Jesus' words are uncompromising: whoever is angry with their brother or sister will incur judgment, and whoever looks down on their brother or sister by calling them a “fool” will be thrown into the fire of hell.
That is God's standard of righteousness. No one can reach that standard through their own efforts or righteousness. We all must face judgment for our sins.
Today's passage talks about Cain murdering his younger brother Abel, which is recorded at the beginning of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
Cain, whose deeds were evil, killed his brother Abel, whose deeds were righteous.
We think to ourselves, “I have nothing to do with such bad things,” but deep within our hearts, in our sinful nature, we are all Cain.
The wicked rebel against the righteous and try to destroy the righteous by force.
When I honestly confront myself about how incapable I am of truly loving others, how incapable I am of forgiving others, I am compelled to acknowledge that Jesus' words are indeed true.
Yet upon us, who are imperfect like this, a great and unimaginable ray of hope has been shed: For the One who perfectly embodies all these virtues and gifts—hope, peace, joy, and love—has appeared.
Yes, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into the world for us, to save us from sin and evil—that is, the Lord Jesus Christ was born.
That is the event of Christmas. Christmas is an event of grace so great, so profoundly significant for us, that our words cannot fully describe it.
Let's read verse 16 from today’s passage.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Here, one of the Lord Jesus' own disciples, John, says of Jesus' death on the cross, “The Lord laid down His life for us. By this we know what love is and what it means to love.”
John, along with the other disciples of Christ, were shown that they must continue to proclaim this truth: “We know love, because the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.”
Christians and Christian churches continue to carry on that spirit and spread the joyous news to the world that “Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, and through this we have come to know what love is.”
However, there is more to verse 16. Let me read all of verse 3:16 again.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
It is a frightening statement that we should lay down our lives for the sake of our brothers and sisters.
This certainly does not mean we should treat our own lives carelessly. Rather, it is precisely because our lives are precious and important that they possess value sufficient to save the lives of others.
And what is important is that those who have come to know true love through the Lord Jesus Christ should be transformed in their way of life to become such people.
The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, died for me (for us), so that we may know true love.
If this is the case, then those who have come to know true love through Christ—Christians—must have their lives transformed by Christ's love.
If our way of life has not changed at all from before we believed in Christ, then we need to seriously ask ourselves whether or not we are truly living in the grace of Christ.
The teaching that “we too should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” means we are transformed into a mindset and way of life that repents of self-centered living, recognizing that our lives are also for the sake of giving life to others, that our existence is for the benefit of others.
As the last verses of today's passage, 17-18, say, it means to unite our hearts with those close to us who are suffering, empathizing with the suffering of others, seeing their pain as our own, and taking some concrete action (even if it is small).
The Lord laid down His life for us. Through this, we came to know love. I came to know that I am loved, that I am precious. Therefore, I too love others. The Lord's love transforms us in this way.
The first verse of today's passage, verse 11, states as follows:
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
This teaching, passed down by the Apostle John and the Christian church throughout the ages—to respect others, to live for their benefit and for their sake, and for us who do so to “love one another”—is the way of faith that believers in Christ have heard from the very beginning.
This important teaching remains unchanged, guiding us as the compass of our faith and providing us with strength.
As we approach Christmas, we are called to “love one another” based on Christ's love. We desire to hold this precious teaching (the Word) in our hearts and put it into practice as our own way of life.
Prelude
Call to Worship Jeremiah 23:5
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 162 Angels, from the realms of glory
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
Confession of Faith
Offering
Scripture 1 John 3:11~18
Prayer
Sermon “This is the message you heard from the beginning”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 157 O come all ye faithful
Baptismal Ceremony
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
We are now in the Advent season, which is the four-week period leading up to Christmas on December 25th.
Each of the four Sundays during Advent, we have lit a candle at the beginning of our worship service.
In Christian tradition, the flames of these four candles each symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love.
They are the virtues and gifts that Jesus Christ brought into this world, and through them it is allowed for us to live in this world.
Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, and also the Christmas Sunday Worship Service. The candle lit at the beginning of today's worship service represents love.
Jesus Christ was born as a human being approximately 2025 years ago. He came to bring hope, peace, joy, and love into this world.
Jesus was born into this world with the mission to save all of us.
What did we need to be saved from? We needed to be saved from the sins we ourselves had committed.
Today's Bible passage contains frightening words like “hates a brother or sister” and “murderer.”
Some of you may be wondering, “Why must we hear such words during a festive occasion like Christmas?”
However, in order for us to truly understand Jesus' love and salvation, it is absolutely essential that we confront our sins head-on through the Bible.
To understand why Christmas is such a time of thanksgiving and joy, it is essential that we understand what it is we have been saved from.
Verse 15 of today's passage reads:
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
“Anyone who hates their brother or sister is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life residing in them.” These words are based on the teachings that John, who wrote this letter, heard directly from his teacher, Jesus.
Jesus said the following in Matthew 5:21-22:
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’(*an Aramaic term of contempt) is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Most of us probably think we're at least somewhat decent people, even if we don't consider ourselves perfectly righteous or good.
We think somewhere deep down in our hearts, “There are many people out there who are worse and more evil than I am, and I believe that compared to them, I am striving to live rightly.”
But Jesus' words are uncompromising: whoever is angry with their brother or sister will incur judgment, and whoever looks down on their brother or sister by calling them a “fool” will be thrown into the fire of hell.
That is God's standard of righteousness. No one can reach that standard through their own efforts or righteousness. We all must face judgment for our sins.
Today's passage talks about Cain murdering his younger brother Abel, which is recorded at the beginning of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
Cain, whose deeds were evil, killed his brother Abel, whose deeds were righteous.
We think to ourselves, “I have nothing to do with such bad things,” but deep within our hearts, in our sinful nature, we are all Cain.
The wicked rebel against the righteous and try to destroy the righteous by force.
When I honestly confront myself about how incapable I am of truly loving others, how incapable I am of forgiving others, I am compelled to acknowledge that Jesus' words are indeed true.
Yet upon us, who are imperfect like this, a great and unimaginable ray of hope has been shed: For the One who perfectly embodies all these virtues and gifts—hope, peace, joy, and love—has appeared.
Yes, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into the world for us, to save us from sin and evil—that is, the Lord Jesus Christ was born.
That is the event of Christmas. Christmas is an event of grace so great, so profoundly significant for us, that our words cannot fully describe it.
Let's read verse 16 from today’s passage.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Here, one of the Lord Jesus' own disciples, John, says of Jesus' death on the cross, “The Lord laid down His life for us. By this we know what love is and what it means to love.”
John, along with the other disciples of Christ, were shown that they must continue to proclaim this truth: “We know love, because the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.”
Christians and Christian churches continue to carry on that spirit and spread the joyous news to the world that “Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, and through this we have come to know what love is.”
However, there is more to verse 16. Let me read all of verse 3:16 again.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
It is a frightening statement that we should lay down our lives for the sake of our brothers and sisters.
This certainly does not mean we should treat our own lives carelessly. Rather, it is precisely because our lives are precious and important that they possess value sufficient to save the lives of others.
And what is important is that those who have come to know true love through the Lord Jesus Christ should be transformed in their way of life to become such people.
The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, died for me (for us), so that we may know true love.
If this is the case, then those who have come to know true love through Christ—Christians—must have their lives transformed by Christ's love.
If our way of life has not changed at all from before we believed in Christ, then we need to seriously ask ourselves whether or not we are truly living in the grace of Christ.
The teaching that “we too should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” means we are transformed into a mindset and way of life that repents of self-centered living, recognizing that our lives are also for the sake of giving life to others, that our existence is for the benefit of others.
As the last verses of today's passage, 17-18, say, it means to unite our hearts with those close to us who are suffering, empathizing with the suffering of others, seeing their pain as our own, and taking some concrete action (even if it is small).
The Lord laid down His life for us. Through this, we came to know love. I came to know that I am loved, that I am precious. Therefore, I too love others. The Lord's love transforms us in this way.
The first verse of today's passage, verse 11, states as follows:
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
This teaching, passed down by the Apostle John and the Christian church throughout the ages—to respect others, to live for their benefit and for their sake, and for us who do so to “love one another”—is the way of faith that believers in Christ have heard from the very beginning.
This important teaching remains unchanged, guiding us as the compass of our faith and providing us with strength.
As we approach Christmas, we are called to “love one another” based on Christ's love. We desire to hold this precious teaching (the Word) in our hearts and put it into practice as our own way of life.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
3rd Advent Sunday Worship Service December 14, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 47:2
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 153 Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
Offering
Scripture John 15:11~16
Prayer
Sermon “Joy of Christ”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 379 We’ve a story to tell to the nations
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
We are now in the 2025 Advent season. The year 2025 itself is also drawing to a close. In just half a month, we will welcome the new year.
Though the year changes, we who live by the hope found in Christ know that the blessings and hope of the Lord God will remain unchanged with us in the new year.
This is because we believe that God has promised us this unchanging blessing and hope through Jesus Christ, and we believe that our Lord God is faithful to His word and promises.
The New Testament in Titus 2:11-13 states the following:
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The grace of God that brings salvation to all people is referring to the grace of Jesus Christ.
And the grace of Christ teaches us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
And God teaches us to wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, let us rejoice greatly, celebrate, and offer thanks to God for the birth of Jesus Christ—the very blessing and hope God has given us.
And let’s pray that this Christmas will renew our hope as we await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will come again to this earth.
Today is the worship service for the Third Sunday of the Advent. The third Advent candle signifies “Joy.”
Today's verses are the words of Jesus Himself in John 15. In verse 11, Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Jesus desires for us to be filled with joy, and He has given us everything necessary for that.
This world offers many joyful experiences. Many people may seem to live fulfilling, happy lives even if they don't attend church, read the Bible, or believe in God.
But Jesus tells us that for our joy to be completely fulfilled by an unshakable, certain hope, we absolutely need God's grace—the true, gracious word of God.
Only through God's word, and only by connecting with God, can our joy be fulfilled, overflowing, and an unchanging satisfaction be given to us.
At the beginning of this chapter 15, Jesus spoke, comparing Himself to the “vine.”
Jesus tells us that by remaining firmly connected to Him, the true vine, we will bear abundant fruit.
Being connected to the vine means being connected to the church, which is the body of Christ; being connected to one another (our family of faith, our companions) as branches of that same vine; and remaining spiritually connected to God through Scripture and prayer.
All who are connected to this vine—the church, which is the body of Christ—are nourished by Jesus' words, support one another, bear abundant fruit, and are filled with joy.
The source of our joy is the grace of Jesus Christ. And indeed, Jesus spoke to us through His words about many things.
In last week's sermon, I stated that during His earthly life, Jesus spoke everything He needed to say to His disciples and to us and left nothing out.
Because Jesus spoke every word necessary for our lives and for our joy to be fulfilled, we are filled with joy and hope today.
Our joy, our true joy, the source of our joy, lies in the words of Jesus. It is only through His words that we can be certain that God is with us, after which this fact becomes our supreme joy.
And we, filled with joy through Jesus' words, also express our care and love for one another through words. Of course, words alone without action are meaningless.
Yet, through the words given to us, can we not convey love, care, and gratitude to others? And through loving words of faith, can we not also encourage one another?
Putting thoughts into words is difficult. There are many times when we don't know how to express what we want to say, what we think, or what we feel.
Or we might think, “Even if I say it, they won't understand,” and give up on sharing our thoughts with others.
But Jesus never gave up teaching His disciples through words, never stopped communicating His message. No matter how uncomprehending His disciples were, Jesus continued to speak the word of God (the Gospel).
He kept speaking and left His words with the disciples so that my joy—the joy of Christ—might be full in me.
Through Jesus' words—the words He never gave up speaking—we too are filled with joy even now. Let us give thanks for this blessing.
Moreover, in today's passage, Jesus says something truly astonishing to His disciples, and to us.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
God dwells on high, and we could never approach Him on our own. God is so great that we cannot fully comprehend His greatness.
Yet such a Being calls us friends. Could such a thing be possible?
If we were friends with someone famous or wonderful, it would be a source of pride for us.
If we say we know, are related to, or are friends with someone of very high status—like a prime minister, president, or king—most people would consider it a great honor and something to boast about.
Now, God Himself, the Son of God, calls us friends. Through Jesus Christ, we have received this unimaginable, supreme honor and glory: to be friends with God.
It is not because we possessed any special qualities or outstanding virtues that God called us His friends.
God simply chose us, sinful as we are, out of His great, overflowing love. He led us out of the world through His Word, filling us with joy, so that we might become His friends.
However, there is something we must keep in order to truly become God's friends. It is written in verse 14: “If you keep my commandments.”
And in today's passage, the one thing Jesus commands His disciples (and us) is this:
１７
This is my command: Love each other.
This command of Jesus given to all Christians is both a great blessing for us and the most demanding commandment.
For we are unable to love others. Is there anyone who would say, “No, I actually love people”?
If someone is wonderful, good, and lovable, of course we love them. But Jesus did not say, “Love only those you like, only those you get along with.”
What Jesus said was, “Love one another unconditionally.” Even someone you feel you could never love, even someone you find utterly impossible to respect—Jesus commands, “Love one another.”
And if we keep this command, then the highest honor becomes ours: “I (Jesus) will call you friends.”
After hearing all this, some of you may be thinking, “That's impossible for me. I can't do it.” To be honest, I myself am in the same position.
But let's listen to Jesus further in verse 13.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus Himself fulfilled these very words.
Jesus Christ came into the world at Christmas with a great purpose and mission. It was that He would lay down His own life for us.
Jesus proved this by saying, “I call you friends. You are my friends,” and to forgive our sins, He died on the cross.
Christmas is the time we remember the birth of this Savior, the one true, supreme God who calls us friends (even though we had no qualifications or qualities whatsoever to become friends of God) and gave His life for us.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ—the God who calls us friends—was born into this world for us.
Let us receive this glory beyond compare and celebrate this Christmas with great and supreme joy and gratitude.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 47:2
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 153 Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
Offering
Scripture John 15:11~16
Prayer
Sermon “Joy of Christ”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 379 We’ve a story to tell to the nations
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
We are now in the 2025 Advent season. The year 2025 itself is also drawing to a close. In just half a month, we will welcome the new year.
Though the year changes, we who live by the hope found in Christ know that the blessings and hope of the Lord God will remain unchanged with us in the new year.
This is because we believe that God has promised us this unchanging blessing and hope through Jesus Christ, and we believe that our Lord God is faithful to His word and promises.
The New Testament in Titus 2:11-13 states the following:
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The grace of God that brings salvation to all people is referring to the grace of Jesus Christ.
And the grace of Christ teaches us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
And God teaches us to wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, let us rejoice greatly, celebrate, and offer thanks to God for the birth of Jesus Christ—the very blessing and hope God has given us.
And let’s pray that this Christmas will renew our hope as we await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will come again to this earth.
Today is the worship service for the Third Sunday of the Advent. The third Advent candle signifies “Joy.”
Today's verses are the words of Jesus Himself in John 15. In verse 11, Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Jesus desires for us to be filled with joy, and He has given us everything necessary for that.
This world offers many joyful experiences. Many people may seem to live fulfilling, happy lives even if they don't attend church, read the Bible, or believe in God.
But Jesus tells us that for our joy to be completely fulfilled by an unshakable, certain hope, we absolutely need God's grace—the true, gracious word of God.
Only through God's word, and only by connecting with God, can our joy be fulfilled, overflowing, and an unchanging satisfaction be given to us.
At the beginning of this chapter 15, Jesus spoke, comparing Himself to the “vine.”
Jesus tells us that by remaining firmly connected to Him, the true vine, we will bear abundant fruit.
Being connected to the vine means being connected to the church, which is the body of Christ; being connected to one another (our family of faith, our companions) as branches of that same vine; and remaining spiritually connected to God through Scripture and prayer.
All who are connected to this vine—the church, which is the body of Christ—are nourished by Jesus' words, support one another, bear abundant fruit, and are filled with joy.
The source of our joy is the grace of Jesus Christ. And indeed, Jesus spoke to us through His words about many things.
In last week's sermon, I stated that during His earthly life, Jesus spoke everything He needed to say to His disciples and to us and left nothing out.
Because Jesus spoke every word necessary for our lives and for our joy to be fulfilled, we are filled with joy and hope today.
Our joy, our true joy, the source of our joy, lies in the words of Jesus. It is only through His words that we can be certain that God is with us, after which this fact becomes our supreme joy.
And we, filled with joy through Jesus' words, also express our care and love for one another through words. Of course, words alone without action are meaningless.
Yet, through the words given to us, can we not convey love, care, and gratitude to others? And through loving words of faith, can we not also encourage one another?
Putting thoughts into words is difficult. There are many times when we don't know how to express what we want to say, what we think, or what we feel.
Or we might think, “Even if I say it, they won't understand,” and give up on sharing our thoughts with others.
But Jesus never gave up teaching His disciples through words, never stopped communicating His message. No matter how uncomprehending His disciples were, Jesus continued to speak the word of God (the Gospel).
He kept speaking and left His words with the disciples so that my joy—the joy of Christ—might be full in me.
Through Jesus' words—the words He never gave up speaking—we too are filled with joy even now. Let us give thanks for this blessing.
Moreover, in today's passage, Jesus says something truly astonishing to His disciples, and to us.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
God dwells on high, and we could never approach Him on our own. God is so great that we cannot fully comprehend His greatness.
Yet such a Being calls us friends. Could such a thing be possible?
If we were friends with someone famous or wonderful, it would be a source of pride for us.
If we say we know, are related to, or are friends with someone of very high status—like a prime minister, president, or king—most people would consider it a great honor and something to boast about.
Now, God Himself, the Son of God, calls us friends. Through Jesus Christ, we have received this unimaginable, supreme honor and glory: to be friends with God.
It is not because we possessed any special qualities or outstanding virtues that God called us His friends.
God simply chose us, sinful as we are, out of His great, overflowing love. He led us out of the world through His Word, filling us with joy, so that we might become His friends.
However, there is something we must keep in order to truly become God's friends. It is written in verse 14: “If you keep my commandments.”
And in today's passage, the one thing Jesus commands His disciples (and us) is this:
１７
This is my command: Love each other.
This command of Jesus given to all Christians is both a great blessing for us and the most demanding commandment.
For we are unable to love others. Is there anyone who would say, “No, I actually love people”?
If someone is wonderful, good, and lovable, of course we love them. But Jesus did not say, “Love only those you like, only those you get along with.”
What Jesus said was, “Love one another unconditionally.” Even someone you feel you could never love, even someone you find utterly impossible to respect—Jesus commands, “Love one another.”
And if we keep this command, then the highest honor becomes ours: “I (Jesus) will call you friends.”
After hearing all this, some of you may be thinking, “That's impossible for me. I can't do it.” To be honest, I myself am in the same position.
But let's listen to Jesus further in verse 13.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus Himself fulfilled these very words.
Jesus Christ came into the world at Christmas with a great purpose and mission. It was that He would lay down His own life for us.
Jesus proved this by saying, “I call you friends. You are my friends,” and to forgive our sins, He died on the cross.
Christmas is the time we remember the birth of this Savior, the one true, supreme God who calls us friends (even though we had no qualifications or qualities whatsoever to become friends of God) and gave His life for us.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ—the God who calls us friends—was born into this world for us.
Let us receive this glory beyond compare and celebrate this Christmas with great and supreme joy and gratitude.
Saturday, December 6, 2025
2nd Advent Sunday Worship Service December 7, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 29:11
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 149 Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture John 14:25～31
Prayer
Sermon “Peace of Christ”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 515 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
Today we are offering our worship on this second Day of our Lord (Sunday) of Advent, eagerly awaiting the advent of Christmas when Jesus Christ was born.
The Bible passage I have chosen for today is the passage in chapter 14 of John’s gospel where Jesus is talking to his disciples and giving them his final teachings, his final words before dying on the cross.
The reason I chose this passage for this time of advent which celebrates eagerly awaiting the birth of Christ is that Jesus’ words in this passage speak clearly of the true hope and peace which Jesus gives to us.
Chapters 14 to 17 in John’s gospel contain the last words of Jesus that he spoke to his disciples before he was arrested and crucified.
In the first verse in today’s passage, verse 25, Jesus is telling his disciples “All this I have spoken while still with you.”
And in verse 30, it says that Jesus told them “I will not say much more to you,”.
Looking at these words “All this I have spoken while still with you”, and “I will not say much more to you”, it makes me think that Jesus really lived his life on earth without any regrets.
Jesus lived his life on earth as a man with a limited lifespan. There was only so much he was able to say while he was alive.
After Jesus said “I will not say much more to you”, he says “for the prince (ruler)of this world is coming”.
Perhaps when he said that, he meant “since the authorities will soon arrest me, I will not be able to tell you (teach you) much more than I already have”.
Yet at the same time, I think Jesus might also have meant that “I have told you (told the disciples) everything I need to tell you”, and “I have fulfilled the mission entrusted to me by Father God.
From this point on, Jesus is taken and crucified. Jesus had the ultimate mission, of taking all our sins upon himself and dying on the cross.
Yet, before being arrested and dying on the cross, Jesus had told his disciples everything he needed to tell them.
Jesus said everything that needed to be said, telling the disciples God’s word without leaving anything out, so that when he left this world, they would be able to draw strength from God’s word to continue living in faith.
Jesus’ words have been left to us now as the Bible, as the gospel, and even now we can listen to the words of Jesus through the Bible.
What at encouragement that is to us, having the word of God left to us. Isn’t that such a great source of hope and joy for us?
But, the words of the Bible are not easily understood. Amongst the words of the Bible and the words spoken by Jesus, there are difficult passages and parts that are very difficult for us living in this day and age to accept.
However, in today’s passage, Jesus promises that when we listen to or read the words of Scripture, our heavenly father God will send us a helper to teach us about those words.
In verse 26 it says:
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Just as is written, even today the invisible Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is working in our hearts and teaching us the meaning of God’s Word.
If not for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is no way that we would be able to make the words of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus our own.
The Holy Spirit is truly a mysterious being. We believe in the triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is also equal to God.
We may not be able to see the Holy Spirit, but even now the Spirit is surely guiding us, enabling us to listen to and believe in the Scriptures as the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit connects us with the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Father through the Word.
If anyone here thinks “I just don’t really understand what the Bible says”, please open your heart and welcome God’s spirit into your heart, and please open up the scriptures again with that in mind.
And, I also hope that you will all pray that the words of the messages spoken like this in our church, that the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of God would aid us, that the words spoken here as God’s message would resonate deeply within each and every one of our hearts, and would strengthen us.
Let us also continue living our lives of faith, placing great hope in the power of the Holy Spirit who makes clear the meaning of the Word to us and gives us the strength to live spiritually through the Word.
Let’s look at verse 27.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
At the beginning of today’s worship service, we lit the second Advent candle. The meaning of the second Advent candle is “Peace”.
The second Advent candle is lit to show us that even now, the peace of Christ shines within us and in the world.
Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
What does “peace as the world gives” mean?
One way would be to acquire the power or weapons needed to oppose those who go against you, forcing anyone who won’t heed what you say to listen to you.
Another way would be to acquire financial power and social status, making people listen to you or achieving your desires or getting what you want through money or authority over them.
But Jesus’ promises to give us peace in a way completely different to those ways, a way that we can’t even imagine, and he lived this way himself.
The peace Jesus promised to give us, “my peace, the peace of Christ”, is the peace that comes through Jesus himself, who is equal to God, dying on the cross, bearing all our sins with him on the cross and dying in our place.
Jesus Christ took that sin that we ourselves should have had to bear, and took it onto himself. The price that we should have paid for our sins was instead paid for by Jesus.
To forgive our sins, the evil that destroys peace, Jesus nailed both evil and sin to the cross along with himself.
Jesus did not take on the power of evil by opposing it with more power, but instead he took the power of evil and affixed it to the cross along with himself, rendering evil completely powerless.
The peace that Jesus promised to us, “my peace, the peace of Christ”, is the peace that comes through Jesus himself, who is equal to God, dying on the cross, bearing all our sins with him on the cross and dying in our place.
But with the world the way it is, doesn’t it seem like evil isn’t getting any weaker? That’s certainly true.
We shouldn’t turn our eyes away from the reality of the world where evil seems to be rampant.
Rather than turning our eyes away from the world, shouldn’t we instead turn to the Word of God, and then look again at the reality of society and world through the faith that is given to us?
Looking up at the cross of Christ that has defeated the evil of the world, believing that Jesus has already destroyed the evil of this world on the cross and given us true peace, this is how we can live among the reality of this world.
As Christians who believe in the words of Jesus Christ on the cross who promised us the “Peace of Christ”, let us go on living even amongst the realities of this world, knowing that we have been given the Peace of Christ.
Let’s read the words of Jesus in verse 31, the last verse in today’s passage. I will conclude the message for today’s worship service being guided by these words.
31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
The Son, Jesus Christ, loves God the Father, and he himself was loved by God the Father. Amidst this relationship of love, Jesus lived in obedience to his Father’s commands.
Jesus urged his disciples “Come now; let us leave.”
Even now Jesus urges us to “believe that in this world filled with evil and sin, God already has the victory, and to show that hope to the world”.
As we worship together at church like this, we are blessed to be encouraged and strengthened by God’s voice, and to receive hope.
And when Jesus’ voice says “Come now; let us leave.”, by this we are being sent out from this place to where we live our own lives.
When Jesus said “Come now; let us leave”, the path Jesus was heading out to take in today’s passage was the path towards the cross.
Jesus was setting out towards the place where he would bear the cross to atone for our sins, a burden that only he could bear.
We also set out on the path of faith walking with Jesus, following Him who bore the cross, the heaviest of burdens, for our sakes.
Day by day, let us rise and walk the path of faith alongside Jesus. Even in the tough times, Jesus is with us, that is something we can be sure of.
The Lord takes us by the hand and helps us to rise, and the Lord walks alongside us. Because of this, we can be at peace.
Just as he promised, the Lord Jesus Christ will always be there walking alongside us. As the Savior of peace, he gives peace to us. For this reason, we need have no fear.
The Lord is with us. Jesus Christ, the savior of peace, is the source of our peace.
Without Him, there is no true peace. Let us rejoice greatly that true peace has been given to us through Christ.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 29:11
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Hymn JBC # 149 Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #263 Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture John 14:25～31
Prayer
Sermon “Peace of Christ”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 515 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
Doxology JBC # 679
Benediction
Postlude
Today we are offering our worship on this second Day of our Lord (Sunday) of Advent, eagerly awaiting the advent of Christmas when Jesus Christ was born.
The Bible passage I have chosen for today is the passage in chapter 14 of John’s gospel where Jesus is talking to his disciples and giving them his final teachings, his final words before dying on the cross.
The reason I chose this passage for this time of advent which celebrates eagerly awaiting the birth of Christ is that Jesus’ words in this passage speak clearly of the true hope and peace which Jesus gives to us.
Chapters 14 to 17 in John’s gospel contain the last words of Jesus that he spoke to his disciples before he was arrested and crucified.
In the first verse in today’s passage, verse 25, Jesus is telling his disciples “All this I have spoken while still with you.”
And in verse 30, it says that Jesus told them “I will not say much more to you,”.
Looking at these words “All this I have spoken while still with you”, and “I will not say much more to you”, it makes me think that Jesus really lived his life on earth without any regrets.
Jesus lived his life on earth as a man with a limited lifespan. There was only so much he was able to say while he was alive.
After Jesus said “I will not say much more to you”, he says “for the prince (ruler)of this world is coming”.
Perhaps when he said that, he meant “since the authorities will soon arrest me, I will not be able to tell you (teach you) much more than I already have”.
Yet at the same time, I think Jesus might also have meant that “I have told you (told the disciples) everything I need to tell you”, and “I have fulfilled the mission entrusted to me by Father God.
From this point on, Jesus is taken and crucified. Jesus had the ultimate mission, of taking all our sins upon himself and dying on the cross.
Yet, before being arrested and dying on the cross, Jesus had told his disciples everything he needed to tell them.
Jesus said everything that needed to be said, telling the disciples God’s word without leaving anything out, so that when he left this world, they would be able to draw strength from God’s word to continue living in faith.
Jesus’ words have been left to us now as the Bible, as the gospel, and even now we can listen to the words of Jesus through the Bible.
What at encouragement that is to us, having the word of God left to us. Isn’t that such a great source of hope and joy for us?
But, the words of the Bible are not easily understood. Amongst the words of the Bible and the words spoken by Jesus, there are difficult passages and parts that are very difficult for us living in this day and age to accept.
However, in today’s passage, Jesus promises that when we listen to or read the words of Scripture, our heavenly father God will send us a helper to teach us about those words.
In verse 26 it says:
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Just as is written, even today the invisible Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is working in our hearts and teaching us the meaning of God’s Word.
If not for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is no way that we would be able to make the words of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus our own.
The Holy Spirit is truly a mysterious being. We believe in the triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is also equal to God.
We may not be able to see the Holy Spirit, but even now the Spirit is surely guiding us, enabling us to listen to and believe in the Scriptures as the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit connects us with the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Father through the Word.
If anyone here thinks “I just don’t really understand what the Bible says”, please open your heart and welcome God’s spirit into your heart, and please open up the scriptures again with that in mind.
And, I also hope that you will all pray that the words of the messages spoken like this in our church, that the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of God would aid us, that the words spoken here as God’s message would resonate deeply within each and every one of our hearts, and would strengthen us.
Let us also continue living our lives of faith, placing great hope in the power of the Holy Spirit who makes clear the meaning of the Word to us and gives us the strength to live spiritually through the Word.
Let’s look at verse 27.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
At the beginning of today’s worship service, we lit the second Advent candle. The meaning of the second Advent candle is “Peace”.
The second Advent candle is lit to show us that even now, the peace of Christ shines within us and in the world.
Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
What does “peace as the world gives” mean?
One way would be to acquire the power or weapons needed to oppose those who go against you, forcing anyone who won’t heed what you say to listen to you.
Another way would be to acquire financial power and social status, making people listen to you or achieving your desires or getting what you want through money or authority over them.
But Jesus’ promises to give us peace in a way completely different to those ways, a way that we can’t even imagine, and he lived this way himself.
The peace Jesus promised to give us, “my peace, the peace of Christ”, is the peace that comes through Jesus himself, who is equal to God, dying on the cross, bearing all our sins with him on the cross and dying in our place.
Jesus Christ took that sin that we ourselves should have had to bear, and took it onto himself. The price that we should have paid for our sins was instead paid for by Jesus.
To forgive our sins, the evil that destroys peace, Jesus nailed both evil and sin to the cross along with himself.
Jesus did not take on the power of evil by opposing it with more power, but instead he took the power of evil and affixed it to the cross along with himself, rendering evil completely powerless.
The peace that Jesus promised to us, “my peace, the peace of Christ”, is the peace that comes through Jesus himself, who is equal to God, dying on the cross, bearing all our sins with him on the cross and dying in our place.
But with the world the way it is, doesn’t it seem like evil isn’t getting any weaker? That’s certainly true.
We shouldn’t turn our eyes away from the reality of the world where evil seems to be rampant.
Rather than turning our eyes away from the world, shouldn’t we instead turn to the Word of God, and then look again at the reality of society and world through the faith that is given to us?
Looking up at the cross of Christ that has defeated the evil of the world, believing that Jesus has already destroyed the evil of this world on the cross and given us true peace, this is how we can live among the reality of this world.
As Christians who believe in the words of Jesus Christ on the cross who promised us the “Peace of Christ”, let us go on living even amongst the realities of this world, knowing that we have been given the Peace of Christ.
Let’s read the words of Jesus in verse 31, the last verse in today’s passage. I will conclude the message for today’s worship service being guided by these words.
31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
The Son, Jesus Christ, loves God the Father, and he himself was loved by God the Father. Amidst this relationship of love, Jesus lived in obedience to his Father’s commands.
Jesus urged his disciples “Come now; let us leave.”
Even now Jesus urges us to “believe that in this world filled with evil and sin, God already has the victory, and to show that hope to the world”.
As we worship together at church like this, we are blessed to be encouraged and strengthened by God’s voice, and to receive hope.
And when Jesus’ voice says “Come now; let us leave.”, by this we are being sent out from this place to where we live our own lives.
When Jesus said “Come now; let us leave”, the path Jesus was heading out to take in today’s passage was the path towards the cross.
Jesus was setting out towards the place where he would bear the cross to atone for our sins, a burden that only he could bear.
We also set out on the path of faith walking with Jesus, following Him who bore the cross, the heaviest of burdens, for our sakes.
Day by day, let us rise and walk the path of faith alongside Jesus. Even in the tough times, Jesus is with us, that is something we can be sure of.
The Lord takes us by the hand and helps us to rise, and the Lord walks alongside us. Because of this, we can be at peace.
Just as he promised, the Lord Jesus Christ will always be there walking alongside us. As the Savior of peace, he gives peace to us. For this reason, we need have no fear.
The Lord is with us. Jesus Christ, the savior of peace, is the source of our peace.
Without Him, there is no true peace. Let us rejoice greatly that true peace has been given to us through Christ.
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