Sunday Worship Service November 23, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship 1 Peter 3:15
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
Offering
Scripture 1 Kings 8:27~29, 41~43
Prayer
Sermon “All the people of the earth may know your name”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 384 I love to tell the story
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
Today, I will deliver a worship message commemorating the “Baptist World Prayer Week,” a week of prayer promoted by the Japan Baptist Women's Union.
To be precise, this year's Baptist World Prayer Week runs from next Sunday, November 30th, through Sunday, December 7th.
Though it's a week early, in today's message, as we remember the Baptist World Prayer Week, we want to listen to God's message.
During the Baptist World Prayer Week, we remember in prayer the various missionary works both domestically and internationally promoted and supported by the Japan Baptist Women's Union, and we remember and pray for those who serve in these ministries.
The specific details of their work will be introduced by the members of our Women's Group in next week's worship service.
Any missionary (evangelical) work requires the prior, and ongoing prayer of fellow Christians and their continuous support based on prayers.
Fortunately, our church is a member of the Japan Baptist Convention, a nationwide missionary cooperation organization. Our church continues to be supported by the prayers of the churches and missions connected to the Convention.
And not only are we supported, but do we also remember the churches connected to the Convention and the work of the Convention, by offering our prayers and support.
I understand that the Baptist World Prayer Week is also an opportunity for us to confirm that we support one another through prayer, and it is an opportunity for us to rejoice that we can do so.
This year, we have been hearing God's word as our worship messages from the Book of Acts in the New Testament.
Today, let us take time to hear God's message from a prayer found not in the New Testament, but in 1 Kings chapter 8 of the Old Testament. Let us also reflect on the missionary work being done both domestically and abroad, and on the workers involved in that work.
The book of 1 Kings, chapter 8, is largely comprised of a prayer offered by Solomon, who succeeded his father King David as king of Israel, after completing the construction of the temple.
Solomon's prayer in this chapter teaches us many valuable lessons about prayer.
How do you all perceive prayer?
Some may think prayer is difficult and hard to do. Certainly, prayer can be difficult. Yet prayer is also a source of great, great joy for Christians.
One of the gifts Christians receive from God, a grace so precious it could be called the most precious gift is prayer.
Today's passage from Solomon's prayer teaches us that prayer draws us closer to God and also draws us closer to others beyond ourselves.
I believe it is fair to say that the Christian walk is one in which the joy of praying to God increases, and in which one grows closer to God and to others through prayer.
I myself pray to God, saying, “I want to acquire the joy of prayer more and more,” “I want to know the joy of prayer. Please teach me the joy of prayer.”
I once heard a story from someone who visited our church for the first time, saying that they were deeply moved and impressed by the sight of Christians (us) praying in church.
The day that person came was the first Sunday of the month, a day when our worship service included a “prayer time.”
That person said they were deeply moved and impressed by the fact that we pray together in church, remembering each other, as well as pray for the society and the world.
Of course, prayer is not something we do to be seen by others. Yet the very act of our fervent praying also conveys to others one important aspect of faith, the joy of being able to pray to God, the joy of connecting with Him.
How wonderful and joyful it is that our prayers can convey, even a little, the magnificence of God who hears our prayers.
We desire to know more about the joy of prayer, as well as the power and effect (influence) that prayer possesses.
Solomon fulfilled his father King David's wish and completed the magnificent temple. Over seven years, using vast quantities of materials and labor, King Solomon completed the temple for the Lord God.
Yet even after accomplishing such a great undertaking, Solomon's heart remained humble before God. Let us listen once more to the opening words of Solomon's prayer in today's passage.
27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
The temple Solomon completed was incredibly massive and majestic for its time.
Therefore, I think it would not be surprising at all if Solomon had become consumed by pride, declaring, “This is what I have accomplished.”
However, Solomon never boasted about the temple construction project he had accomplished. For he never forgot how great God truly is.
People must have marveled at the newly built, immense and majestic temple, and also at Solomon's immense wealth.
But Solomon himself knew well that this temple (and his wealth) was nothing compared to the greatness of God.
”God does not dwell on earth. Heaven, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you.”
“How much less this temple I have built!” Solomon prayed.
Solomon is NOT being submissive (debasing himself) here.
Rather, Solomon knew well, or had been made to know how small and insignificant he was in relation to God, and how little value anything he accomplish on earth held before God.
This shows just how intimate and rich Solomon's relationship with God was.
It may sound paradoxical, (as if it is saying two contradictory things) but the more we build a rich and intimate relationship with God, the more we come to know how small and insignificant we are, and how little we amount to before Him.
We desire to remember that intimate prayer to God, a rich relationship with God, humbles us before Him and causes us to just bow down before His greatness.
We also wish to reaffirm today who (what kind of person) on earth it is that hears our prayers.
It is God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who sent Jesus Christ to earth for our salvation (the salvation of Christ we definitely need!) and gave His life on the cross.
Such a God hears our prayers.
Therefore, when we pray, we desire to be believers who sincerely pray with hearts that say, “Please hear the prayer I offer,” like Solomon's prayer in today's passage, rather than assuming, “Of course God will surely hear my prayer.”
Let me repeat: that God hears our prayers is never something to be taken for granted.
Let us now consider the extraordinary grace that allows us to ask and pray for anything from God in the name of Jesus.
Let us read 1 John (letter) 5:14
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
We desire to deepen our conviction and joy that by building a rich and intimate relationship with God, offering prayers in accordance with His will, and we will be convinced that those prayers will surely be heard by Him.
I would like to turn our attention to the passage beginning at Chapter 8 Verse 41 of today’s verse. From there, Solomon's prayer extends to “the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel.”
The people of Israel were strongly convinced that they were a special people chosen by God, a special people who embraced Abraham, the father of faith.
However, this time’s Solomon's prayer already clearly expresses God's desire that the Lord God's grace would extend to gentiles too, over the people of Israel, foreigners (from the Jew’s perspective), and all peoples.
King Solomon prayed, “May the name of the Lord be widely proclaimed, and may the Gentiles who have come to believe in God also be able to come to this temple. And when they pray, may You also hear their prayers.”
Solomon offered a prayer here, envisioning a temple where all peoples from various nations and regions would gather.
Solomon offered his prayer here, envisioning a temple where all the people would gather, pray together, and offer worship, a temple based on that very dream (vision).
Here in Beppu, where people from many countries and regions gather, we at Beppu International Baptist Church have been granted a vision for mission and permitted to stand as a Christian church. It is here that people from many nations come together.
What binds us together in this way is not the work of human hands or our desires. It is the grace of Jesus Christ, the power of the gospel of Christ.
Jesus died on the cross for me. Christians are kept alive by that grace. As an expression of gratitude and response to that grace, we gather in church.
The precious grace of Jesus Christ, Christ's grace alone, binds us together as one.
And the solidarity among us, being forged by the grace of Jesus Christ, solidarity among Christians, solidarity among churches transforms us into those who pray for one another.
The Lord God uses us, bound together by His grace and made to pray for each other, for the work of His gospel ministry.
At the recent our church’s organization anniversary service, we took time to reflect on our church's journey and history thus far.
In the past, the prayers of our spiritual forebears, along with earnest prayers and generous offerings from overseas, particularly from Baptist churches in America were given to us.
We know that missionaries were sent all the way to Japan to carry out the work of evangelism in Japan.
We wish to remember and give thanks once more for the believers who, in an era when traveling overseas was far from easy as it is today, concretely envisioned and prayed for the gospel mission in distant Japan, sent out missionaries, and offered precious donations.
And we desire to pass on the grace we have received, that very grace, to others who need the gospel of the Lord.
We desire to serve in the gospel ministry within the community where we live, and let us remember and support with prayer and offerings for those workers serving in the gospel ministry in distant lands.
Let us rejoice that we may share in the work of being sustained by the gospel of Christ and proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Sunday Worship Service November 16, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
Hymn JBC# 105 There is sunshine in my soul today
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
Offering
Scripture Acts 9:1~19a
Prayer
Sermon "You will be told what you must do"
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 339 The church’s one foundation
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Since the beginning of this year, we have been reading the New Testament book of Acts as our bible passage in worship service. Today, we will be reading from Chapter 9.
Today's passage describes the dramatic conversion of Saul (later known as Paul), in which he was transformed from a persecutor who violently persecuted those who followed Christ into a believer in Christ and a zealous evangelist who spread the word about Christ.
Every Christian has had a conversion experience, a change from not believing in Christ to believing in Christ.
Some people may have Christian family members or guardians and have been attending church since childhood.
In such cases, the change (circumstances) that led to faith in Christ may not necessarily be clear (or at least, there may not be much awareness of it).
However, in our Baptist church in particular, we place great importance on the practice of publicly confessing one's faith and being baptized to become a Christian based on one's own clear desire and decision.
Baptism is not just a ritual (a formality), but a very significant event in that it represents a believer's new birth (conversion).
In my case, I was baptized 26 years ago.
I was not born and raised in a Christian home.
When people hear that I became a Christian and even became a pastor, they often ask me, "What was the trigger that led you to become a Christian and even to become a pastor?"
The initial trigger was when I met my current wife, who was a Christian. She invited me to church, encouraged me to read the Bible, and prayed fervently for me.
In addition, so many people from the church prayed for me.
Through being led into the fellowship of the church, being exposed to the words of the Bible, and having many people pray for me, I was led to the decision to believe in Christ.
In my case, it was not a dramatic (instant) event, as described in today's passage, where a light suddenly shone from heaven and I heard the voice of the resurrected Jesus directly.
However, in my case too, I believe it was a major turning point, a conversion, in the sense that it changed (changed direction) my way of life, which had been self-centered, and I (at the very least) decided to live my life with Jesus, rather than myself, at the center of my life.
The reason I was able to make this decision was because God had already performed the gracious act of having Jesus Christ die on the cross to atone for my sins, forgive me, and give me eternal life and hope through his resurrection.
Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the way for our salvation has already been prepared.
We believe this and want to be grateful for the blessing of being able to walk the path of salvation prepared by God, the path of hope that leads to eternal life.
In today's passage, Saul was planning to find "anyone who followed the Way, whether male or female, and bring them bound to Jerusalem." He received permission to do so from the high priest.
"Those who belong to the Way" refers to those who believe in Jesus Christ and walk the path of Christ (those who practice their faith).
Saul was never going to show any mercy to anyone as long as they believed in Christ.
That's how thorough Saul's attitude towards persecution was.
To Saul, anyone who claimed to be a follower of Christ was intolerable, regardless of who they actually were.
Anyone who followed this path, who said he was following Christ, was his enemy.
When people are driven by anger and resentment, they are unable to focus on the existence of each actual (living) person, their individuality and character, just as Saul did when he viewed all Christians as the enemy.
Excessive feelings of anger and resentment thus rob us of sound judgment.
I hope that we can cherish the ability to care for the existence of each and every person and the heart of each and every person we meet.
As Saul hurried along the road to Damascus, excited and ready to arrest and persecute anyone who followed the way of Christ, a light shone from heaven.
Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice speaking to him.
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
The voice was that of the Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke to Saul by name, "Saul, Saul."
To Saul, all Christians were his enemies, enemies to be persecuted, and it didn't matter to him that they all had names.
The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ called out to Saul by his name, "Saul, Saul." Calling someone by their name means acknowledging and respecting their character.
Our Lord God is the one who calls each of us by name. He calls us by name and recognizes each of us as a special person before Him.
God calls each of us by name, and He knows everything about us, even our innermost hearts. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are known and treasured by such a God.
The voice of the Lord told Saul, "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (verse 6).
I have chosen the Lord's words, "You will be told what you must do," as the title of today's message.
Up until then, Saul had been violently persecuting Christians out of his own volition and anger, and he may even have thought that this was righteous before God.
However, I believe that in today's passage, the Lord is telling Saul, "Stop living your life based on your own thoughts and beliefs, and live by listening to and obeying the voice from outside that is shown to you, the voice of God."
This is a message that is also directed at us: we should not be self-centered, but rather seek out what God wants for us, what God's will is as revealed to us by God and through the people around us, and listen to and live in obedience to it.
A Christian is someone who has decided to stop putting oneself at the center of themselves.
We want to be people who are not self-centered, but who allow God to enter the center of our hearts and live according to what God shows us.
At that time, Saul was on his way to Damascus, where a disciple of Christ named Ananias was, and the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him to go to the house where Saul was.
To Ananias (and not just to Ananias, but to many Christians), Saul was a horrible man.
It was widely known that Saul was a violent persecutor of the followers of Christ, and Ananias was certainly aware of this.
I believe that Ananias' words in verses 13-14 express his feelings that he absolutely did not want to go to such a man.
But the Lord said of Saul, "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
This word "instrument" is also very important. We are instruments chosen by God. We are instruments to receive God's Word, God's love, and the Gospel, and to share the Gospel with others.
God uses us as instruments (vessel) to spread His gospel.
As God's "vessels," God expects us to live by surrendering control to God, who uses those vessels.
Are we ready to live as such a "vessel"? Are we ready to live in obedience to God as a vessel through which God can use us to spread His gospel, His good news?
Or will we cling to ourselves and continue to live self-centered lives?
We are created by God. As created by God, we can live our truest lives when we live according to God's plan and as vessels serving the great purpose that God has ordained.
Therefore, let us renew our resolve and determination to become believers who live as God's "vessels."
Ananias obeyed the voice of the Lord and went to Saul's house as instructed by the Lord. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and he called out to him, "Brother Saul."
Unless Ananias had been led by the Lord to meet Saul, for Ananias, Saul was not someone he could call “brother” (a fellow believer).
However, Saul, whom the Lord had brought together with Ananias, was now his “brother.” We too call each other “brothers and sisters,” especially those in the family of faith (friends) whom God has brought together with us.
How fortunate we are that we believe in the same God, that God has brought us together, that we are a family of faith, and that we can call each other "brothers and sisters."
First, I talked about the trigger that led each of us to become a Christian. In my case, as I mentioned, the first direct trigger was meeting my wife.
From then on, I was accepted, supported, and loved at the church I was led to, and the people of the church poured out their fervent prayers on me, even though I was selfish and cheeky.
God has put me in contact with so many people who pray for me.
I believe that their prayers and wishes led to my decision to live by faith in Christ and to serve as a pastor.
Prayer is a great blessing (gift) that we as a church have received from God, and at the same time, it is also an important responsibility.
We can pray to the true God, and we can remember and pray for one another, and it is our Christian responsibility to do so.
In today's passage, Saul experiences a dramatic conversion, but Ananias, who placed his hands on him and prayed, would continue to be a special person to Saul and a friend in faith.
Let us each have friends in faith, and as we become new friends in faith, let us pray for others and live in relationships of prayer for one another.
We can live in joy as members of God's family, relating to one another, calling one another by name, and praying together in encounters of faith.
Let’s live such a blessed faith.
Prelude
Call to Worship Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
Hymn JBC# 105 There is sunshine in my soul today
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
Offering
Scripture Acts 9:1~19a
Prayer
Sermon "You will be told what you must do"
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 339 The church’s one foundation
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Since the beginning of this year, we have been reading the New Testament book of Acts as our bible passage in worship service. Today, we will be reading from Chapter 9.
Today's passage describes the dramatic conversion of Saul (later known as Paul), in which he was transformed from a persecutor who violently persecuted those who followed Christ into a believer in Christ and a zealous evangelist who spread the word about Christ.
Every Christian has had a conversion experience, a change from not believing in Christ to believing in Christ.
Some people may have Christian family members or guardians and have been attending church since childhood.
In such cases, the change (circumstances) that led to faith in Christ may not necessarily be clear (or at least, there may not be much awareness of it).
However, in our Baptist church in particular, we place great importance on the practice of publicly confessing one's faith and being baptized to become a Christian based on one's own clear desire and decision.
Baptism is not just a ritual (a formality), but a very significant event in that it represents a believer's new birth (conversion).
In my case, I was baptized 26 years ago.
I was not born and raised in a Christian home.
When people hear that I became a Christian and even became a pastor, they often ask me, "What was the trigger that led you to become a Christian and even to become a pastor?"
The initial trigger was when I met my current wife, who was a Christian. She invited me to church, encouraged me to read the Bible, and prayed fervently for me.
In addition, so many people from the church prayed for me.
Through being led into the fellowship of the church, being exposed to the words of the Bible, and having many people pray for me, I was led to the decision to believe in Christ.
In my case, it was not a dramatic (instant) event, as described in today's passage, where a light suddenly shone from heaven and I heard the voice of the resurrected Jesus directly.
However, in my case too, I believe it was a major turning point, a conversion, in the sense that it changed (changed direction) my way of life, which had been self-centered, and I (at the very least) decided to live my life with Jesus, rather than myself, at the center of my life.
The reason I was able to make this decision was because God had already performed the gracious act of having Jesus Christ die on the cross to atone for my sins, forgive me, and give me eternal life and hope through his resurrection.
Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the way for our salvation has already been prepared.
We believe this and want to be grateful for the blessing of being able to walk the path of salvation prepared by God, the path of hope that leads to eternal life.
In today's passage, Saul was planning to find "anyone who followed the Way, whether male or female, and bring them bound to Jerusalem." He received permission to do so from the high priest.
"Those who belong to the Way" refers to those who believe in Jesus Christ and walk the path of Christ (those who practice their faith).
Saul was never going to show any mercy to anyone as long as they believed in Christ.
That's how thorough Saul's attitude towards persecution was.
To Saul, anyone who claimed to be a follower of Christ was intolerable, regardless of who they actually were.
Anyone who followed this path, who said he was following Christ, was his enemy.
When people are driven by anger and resentment, they are unable to focus on the existence of each actual (living) person, their individuality and character, just as Saul did when he viewed all Christians as the enemy.
Excessive feelings of anger and resentment thus rob us of sound judgment.
I hope that we can cherish the ability to care for the existence of each and every person and the heart of each and every person we meet.
As Saul hurried along the road to Damascus, excited and ready to arrest and persecute anyone who followed the way of Christ, a light shone from heaven.
Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice speaking to him.
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
The voice was that of the Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke to Saul by name, "Saul, Saul."
To Saul, all Christians were his enemies, enemies to be persecuted, and it didn't matter to him that they all had names.
The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ called out to Saul by his name, "Saul, Saul." Calling someone by their name means acknowledging and respecting their character.
Our Lord God is the one who calls each of us by name. He calls us by name and recognizes each of us as a special person before Him.
God calls each of us by name, and He knows everything about us, even our innermost hearts. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are known and treasured by such a God.
The voice of the Lord told Saul, "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (verse 6).
I have chosen the Lord's words, "You will be told what you must do," as the title of today's message.
Up until then, Saul had been violently persecuting Christians out of his own volition and anger, and he may even have thought that this was righteous before God.
However, I believe that in today's passage, the Lord is telling Saul, "Stop living your life based on your own thoughts and beliefs, and live by listening to and obeying the voice from outside that is shown to you, the voice of God."
This is a message that is also directed at us: we should not be self-centered, but rather seek out what God wants for us, what God's will is as revealed to us by God and through the people around us, and listen to and live in obedience to it.
A Christian is someone who has decided to stop putting oneself at the center of themselves.
We want to be people who are not self-centered, but who allow God to enter the center of our hearts and live according to what God shows us.
At that time, Saul was on his way to Damascus, where a disciple of Christ named Ananias was, and the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him to go to the house where Saul was.
To Ananias (and not just to Ananias, but to many Christians), Saul was a horrible man.
It was widely known that Saul was a violent persecutor of the followers of Christ, and Ananias was certainly aware of this.
I believe that Ananias' words in verses 13-14 express his feelings that he absolutely did not want to go to such a man.
But the Lord said of Saul, "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
This word "instrument" is also very important. We are instruments chosen by God. We are instruments to receive God's Word, God's love, and the Gospel, and to share the Gospel with others.
God uses us as instruments (vessel) to spread His gospel.
As God's "vessels," God expects us to live by surrendering control to God, who uses those vessels.
Are we ready to live as such a "vessel"? Are we ready to live in obedience to God as a vessel through which God can use us to spread His gospel, His good news?
Or will we cling to ourselves and continue to live self-centered lives?
We are created by God. As created by God, we can live our truest lives when we live according to God's plan and as vessels serving the great purpose that God has ordained.
Therefore, let us renew our resolve and determination to become believers who live as God's "vessels."
Ananias obeyed the voice of the Lord and went to Saul's house as instructed by the Lord. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and he called out to him, "Brother Saul."
Unless Ananias had been led by the Lord to meet Saul, for Ananias, Saul was not someone he could call “brother” (a fellow believer).
However, Saul, whom the Lord had brought together with Ananias, was now his “brother.” We too call each other “brothers and sisters,” especially those in the family of faith (friends) whom God has brought together with us.
How fortunate we are that we believe in the same God, that God has brought us together, that we are a family of faith, and that we can call each other "brothers and sisters."
First, I talked about the trigger that led each of us to become a Christian. In my case, as I mentioned, the first direct trigger was meeting my wife.
From then on, I was accepted, supported, and loved at the church I was led to, and the people of the church poured out their fervent prayers on me, even though I was selfish and cheeky.
God has put me in contact with so many people who pray for me.
I believe that their prayers and wishes led to my decision to live by faith in Christ and to serve as a pastor.
Prayer is a great blessing (gift) that we as a church have received from God, and at the same time, it is also an important responsibility.
We can pray to the true God, and we can remember and pray for one another, and it is our Christian responsibility to do so.
In today's passage, Saul experiences a dramatic conversion, but Ananias, who placed his hands on him and prayed, would continue to be a special person to Saul and a friend in faith.
Let us each have friends in faith, and as we become new friends in faith, let us pray for others and live in relationships of prayer for one another.
We can live in joy as members of God's family, relating to one another, calling one another by name, and praying together in encounters of faith.
Let’s live such a blessed faith.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Sunday Worship Service November 9, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 121:7~8
Hymn JBC # 125
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554
Offering
Thanksgiving to our church anniversary
Special Hymn
Scripture John 14:6
Prayer
Sermon “Step on me and Go”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 534
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 121:7~8
Hymn JBC # 125
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554
Offering
Thanksgiving to our church anniversary
Special Hymn
Scripture John 14:6
Prayer
Sermon “Step on me and Go”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 534
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
*No sermon script posted today.
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Sunday Worship Service November 2, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 96:3
Hymn JBC # 61 Morning has broken like the first morning
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 8:26~40
Prayer
Sermon “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
In today's Bible passage, the angel of the Lord appeared to Philip and said, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Philip was a Christ preacher and he was one of the seven men chosen to oversee the “fair distribution of food,” an issue that had arisen within the Jerusalem church.
This was about 2000 years ago. It was after Jesus Christ had been crucified, died, risen, and ascended into heaven.
Jesus no longer lived on earth as a human being. He was no longer physically present with His disciples.
However, the disciples received the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God, the Helper whom Jesus promised to send to them.
Through these disciples who received the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of God (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) began to be proclaimed to many people.
Even now, we in the Christian church and each individual Christian connected to the church continue this work as bearers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is a great joy for us to believe in Christ, to be kept alive by the gospel of Christ, and to be able to serve in the work of proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
We are kept alive by the grace of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.
Believing and rejoicing in this, we desire to serve joyfully in the work of sharing this good news with others.
As I mentioned at the beginning, in today's passage Philip hears the voice of the Lord's angel. The Lord's angel is a being who conveys God's message to people.
Believing in God is not merely acknowledging God's existence intellectually in one's mind.
Believing in God means following God's voice and walking the path God shows.
However, while Philip clearly heard the Lord's (angel's) voice, I believe it is not common for us today to hear God's voice clearly with our ears—though it is not entirely impossible.
Yet, when we pray seeking the path God shows us and look for answers within the words of Scripture, God conveys His voice to us.
Moreover, when we pray together with fellow believers, our spiritual family, seeking the path God shows us, the way forward may be revealed.
Therefore, being part of a community of faith is very important.
It is a great joy for us to be members of this community of faith, to be a spiritual family praying together, seeking the voice of God speaking to us.
We desire to love and cherish our church, which is such a community of faith.
The road shown to Philip in today's passage is described as “the road from Jerusalem down to Gaza,” and it is written that it was a “desert road.”
As you all know, the places named Jerusalem and Gaza are precisely where intense, tragic conflict and fighting are currently taking place.
We hear that many people are suffering there, and precious lives are being lost.
We pray without ceasing, hoping that the cycle of hatred and conflict will end, and that precious lives will be protected.
Philip was directed by the Lord to proceed along that “desert road” leading from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Since it was a desert road, it was likely a path few people desired to take—a lonely, deserted road (place).
Philip himself may have preferred not to go down such a desolate road. Yet he obeyed the voice of the Lord (God).
There may be times when the path we are called to walk—the path shown by God—leads us to a place that feels less than desirable or joyful to us.
Yet, if God has given us this direction, we desire to be believers who can move forward in that direction.
For beyond it may lie wonderful encounters and events prepared by God—far beyond what we could ever think or imagine.
What unfolds in today's passage was precisely such an encounter.
An Ethiopian eunuch appears—a high official (a person of high rank) of Queen Candace of Ethiopia who managed all her possessions.
A “eunuch” was typically a castrated man serving as a high official in the royal court of that time.
Since this man managed all the queen's property, he could be called the kingdom's treasurer. That was a position of considerable high rank.
Even such a man of high standing, and he was an Ethiopian—a foreigner and a Gentile from the Jewish perspective—had come to Jerusalem to worship the true God.
No matter how high his position, no matter how much social status or fame he possessed, this man had been given a heart that sought the true God.
This eunuch had finished his worship in Jerusalem and was returning home by chariot. And in his chariot, he was reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah (one of the books of the Old Testament).
According to verse 29, the Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” When Philip ran up, he heard the eunuch reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah.
Philip then asked the eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
What Philip said could be interpreted as quite a rude remark.
It was essentially asking, “You seem very enthusiastic about reading the Scriptures, but do you actually understand what you're reading?”
However, from the eunuch's fervent reading of Isaiah, Philip could sense his earnest desire to seek God's word and his genuine longing to hear God's message from it.
So Philip intuitively sensed that “now is the time” and seized the opportunity to tell God's word (to share God's message) by asking, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The eunuch replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”
The eunuch's answer is remarkably honest. He confesses, “I cannot understand the meaning of what is written here (in the Scriptures) on my own.”
Admitting what we don't know is quite difficult for us. This is because we have pride.
Doesn't pride get in the way, preventing us from saying (or making us unwilling to say), “I can't do it,” or “I don't know”?
Yet in reality, we don't know many things—most things. It is crucial to humbly admit we don't know most important matters and seek instruction from others.
In this sense, Philip and the eunuch engage in a remarkably candid, open-hearted conversation (dialogue) in today's passage. Such dialogue is also vital for us.
We can read the words of the Bible alone.
Yet, at the same time, when we read the Bible together with other believers, teaching each other its contents and listening to others' understanding and interpretations, we can grasp the deep meaning of God's Word in Scripture—meaning we would never discover (or notice) reading alone.
As mature believers who delight in hearing and teaching the words of Scripture together, let each one of us grow within the church.
Philip explained the gospel about Jesus Christ to the eunuch, starting from the passage of Isaiah 53 he was reading.
That passage in Isaiah 53 reads as follows (today's verses 32-33):
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
This passage from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah prophesies how Christ would bear the sins of humanity and be crucified—how Christ would accept this mission without resistance, remaining silent.
Philip explained to the eunuch that these prophetic words from Isaiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ—that Christ truly came into the world, bore the sins of humanity, and died on the cross.
The words of Scripture throughout the Old and New Testaments point to Jesus Christ.
The messages proclaimed in church through the preacher (pastor) are also founded on the Bible, and their central theme is Jesus Christ.
My earnest desire as a preacher and evangelist is that through the weekly worship service and the biblical message shared there, each of you may encounter Jesus Christ anew.
When you leave the church after worship, I hope each and every one of you will think, “Through today's words of Scripture, I met Jesus.”
As Philip and the eunuch continued on their way, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they came to a place where there was water (verse 36).
It is said that this was a “desert road,” meaning a location like a wilderness. Being a wilderness, water was likely extremely scarce there.
In a place where finding water would normally be difficult, Philip and the eunuch, who were sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, came to a place where there was water.
Then the eunuch said,
“Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
The eunuch believed, “Now is the time,” and “I now understand what the Scriptures say. It is the grace of Christ.”
Moreover, there was water there. The eunuch was given the conviction: “Now is the time for me to believe in Christ and be baptized as a sign of that faith.”
This remarkable encounter between the two men, and the fact that they found water in a place where it is usually hard to find along the road they were traveling, both show that these were instances of God's (the Holy Spirit's) guidance.
It was the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit, who led Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in today’ scene. Human encounters are truly mysterious events. We can believe that God's providence is at work there.
We gather weekly in church for worship. We always hear God's word together in this way.
I believe that even this seemingly ordinary event—our shared worship, too—is itself a miraculous act of grace, brought about by the guidance of God's Spirit.
Each time we acknowledge the immeasurable grace of God's Word, give thanks, hear His Word, and share it together—each time we worship—let us be granted a fresh encounter with Jesus.
And shall we resolve to believe in Christ and live anew?
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 96:3
Hymn JBC # 61 Morning has broken like the first morning
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 554 All the way my Saviour leads me
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 8:26~40
Prayer
Sermon “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
Doxology JBC # 676
Benediction
Postlude
In today's Bible passage, the angel of the Lord appeared to Philip and said, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Philip was a Christ preacher and he was one of the seven men chosen to oversee the “fair distribution of food,” an issue that had arisen within the Jerusalem church.
This was about 2000 years ago. It was after Jesus Christ had been crucified, died, risen, and ascended into heaven.
Jesus no longer lived on earth as a human being. He was no longer physically present with His disciples.
However, the disciples received the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God, the Helper whom Jesus promised to send to them.
Through these disciples who received the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of God (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) began to be proclaimed to many people.
Even now, we in the Christian church and each individual Christian connected to the church continue this work as bearers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is a great joy for us to believe in Christ, to be kept alive by the gospel of Christ, and to be able to serve in the work of proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
We are kept alive by the grace of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.
Believing and rejoicing in this, we desire to serve joyfully in the work of sharing this good news with others.
As I mentioned at the beginning, in today's passage Philip hears the voice of the Lord's angel. The Lord's angel is a being who conveys God's message to people.
Believing in God is not merely acknowledging God's existence intellectually in one's mind.
Believing in God means following God's voice and walking the path God shows.
However, while Philip clearly heard the Lord's (angel's) voice, I believe it is not common for us today to hear God's voice clearly with our ears—though it is not entirely impossible.
Yet, when we pray seeking the path God shows us and look for answers within the words of Scripture, God conveys His voice to us.
Moreover, when we pray together with fellow believers, our spiritual family, seeking the path God shows us, the way forward may be revealed.
Therefore, being part of a community of faith is very important.
It is a great joy for us to be members of this community of faith, to be a spiritual family praying together, seeking the voice of God speaking to us.
We desire to love and cherish our church, which is such a community of faith.
The road shown to Philip in today's passage is described as “the road from Jerusalem down to Gaza,” and it is written that it was a “desert road.”
As you all know, the places named Jerusalem and Gaza are precisely where intense, tragic conflict and fighting are currently taking place.
We hear that many people are suffering there, and precious lives are being lost.
We pray without ceasing, hoping that the cycle of hatred and conflict will end, and that precious lives will be protected.
Philip was directed by the Lord to proceed along that “desert road” leading from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Since it was a desert road, it was likely a path few people desired to take—a lonely, deserted road (place).
Philip himself may have preferred not to go down such a desolate road. Yet he obeyed the voice of the Lord (God).
There may be times when the path we are called to walk—the path shown by God—leads us to a place that feels less than desirable or joyful to us.
Yet, if God has given us this direction, we desire to be believers who can move forward in that direction.
For beyond it may lie wonderful encounters and events prepared by God—far beyond what we could ever think or imagine.
What unfolds in today's passage was precisely such an encounter.
An Ethiopian eunuch appears—a high official (a person of high rank) of Queen Candace of Ethiopia who managed all her possessions.
A “eunuch” was typically a castrated man serving as a high official in the royal court of that time.
Since this man managed all the queen's property, he could be called the kingdom's treasurer. That was a position of considerable high rank.
Even such a man of high standing, and he was an Ethiopian—a foreigner and a Gentile from the Jewish perspective—had come to Jerusalem to worship the true God.
No matter how high his position, no matter how much social status or fame he possessed, this man had been given a heart that sought the true God.
This eunuch had finished his worship in Jerusalem and was returning home by chariot. And in his chariot, he was reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah (one of the books of the Old Testament).
According to verse 29, the Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” When Philip ran up, he heard the eunuch reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah.
Philip then asked the eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
What Philip said could be interpreted as quite a rude remark.
It was essentially asking, “You seem very enthusiastic about reading the Scriptures, but do you actually understand what you're reading?”
However, from the eunuch's fervent reading of Isaiah, Philip could sense his earnest desire to seek God's word and his genuine longing to hear God's message from it.
So Philip intuitively sensed that “now is the time” and seized the opportunity to tell God's word (to share God's message) by asking, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The eunuch replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”
The eunuch's answer is remarkably honest. He confesses, “I cannot understand the meaning of what is written here (in the Scriptures) on my own.”
Admitting what we don't know is quite difficult for us. This is because we have pride.
Doesn't pride get in the way, preventing us from saying (or making us unwilling to say), “I can't do it,” or “I don't know”?
Yet in reality, we don't know many things—most things. It is crucial to humbly admit we don't know most important matters and seek instruction from others.
In this sense, Philip and the eunuch engage in a remarkably candid, open-hearted conversation (dialogue) in today's passage. Such dialogue is also vital for us.
We can read the words of the Bible alone.
Yet, at the same time, when we read the Bible together with other believers, teaching each other its contents and listening to others' understanding and interpretations, we can grasp the deep meaning of God's Word in Scripture—meaning we would never discover (or notice) reading alone.
As mature believers who delight in hearing and teaching the words of Scripture together, let each one of us grow within the church.
Philip explained the gospel about Jesus Christ to the eunuch, starting from the passage of Isaiah 53 he was reading.
That passage in Isaiah 53 reads as follows (today's verses 32-33):
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
This passage from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah prophesies how Christ would bear the sins of humanity and be crucified—how Christ would accept this mission without resistance, remaining silent.
Philip explained to the eunuch that these prophetic words from Isaiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ—that Christ truly came into the world, bore the sins of humanity, and died on the cross.
The words of Scripture throughout the Old and New Testaments point to Jesus Christ.
The messages proclaimed in church through the preacher (pastor) are also founded on the Bible, and their central theme is Jesus Christ.
My earnest desire as a preacher and evangelist is that through the weekly worship service and the biblical message shared there, each of you may encounter Jesus Christ anew.
When you leave the church after worship, I hope each and every one of you will think, “Through today's words of Scripture, I met Jesus.”
As Philip and the eunuch continued on their way, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they came to a place where there was water (verse 36).
It is said that this was a “desert road,” meaning a location like a wilderness. Being a wilderness, water was likely extremely scarce there.
In a place where finding water would normally be difficult, Philip and the eunuch, who were sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, came to a place where there was water.
Then the eunuch said,
“Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
The eunuch believed, “Now is the time,” and “I now understand what the Scriptures say. It is the grace of Christ.”
Moreover, there was water there. The eunuch was given the conviction: “Now is the time for me to believe in Christ and be baptized as a sign of that faith.”
This remarkable encounter between the two men, and the fact that they found water in a place where it is usually hard to find along the road they were traveling, both show that these were instances of God's (the Holy Spirit's) guidance.
It was the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit, who led Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in today’ scene. Human encounters are truly mysterious events. We can believe that God's providence is at work there.
We gather weekly in church for worship. We always hear God's word together in this way.
I believe that even this seemingly ordinary event—our shared worship, too—is itself a miraculous act of grace, brought about by the guidance of God's Spirit.
Each time we acknowledge the immeasurable grace of God's Word, give thanks, hear His Word, and share it together—each time we worship—let us be granted a fresh encounter with Jesus.
And shall we resolve to believe in Christ and live anew?
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Sunday Worship Service October 26, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
Hymn JBC #650 Serve the Lord with gladness
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 8:1~25
Prayer
Sermon “Mission in Samaria”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 549 Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today’s bible passage begins with the sentence [And Saul approved of their killing him]
The Stephen that was killed refers to Stephen who was told to be the first martyr in Christianity.
In the book of Acts chap. 7 prior to today’s passage was depicted a scene where Stephen was interrogated at the Jewish Supreme Court with the suspicion of blasphemy.
Stephen did not defend himself but by speaking the story of God that was conveyed in the bible, he confronted those that accused him and tried to proclaim the news about the True God.
Eventually, however, Stephen was killed through sentence of stoning by the people that were consumed by anger.
We heard in the worship message last week that Stephen’s last words were [Lord, do not hold this sin against them] (chap. 7: 60)
Saul who was written to have consented the killing of Stephen at that time was a zealous Jewish person. He detested and severely persecuted those who proclaimed and believed the man called Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord.
Later, Saul is named Paul. Paul having encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ, was dramatically transformed, had a major transformation from Christ’s persecutor to becoming a zealous evangelist of Christ.
The bible clearly mentions that, that Paul consented to Stephen’s killing.
Through it, the bible teaches that no human being is perfectly pure, righteous and has never committed a sin.
Starting with Paul, the bible never depicts any human being a heroic figure.
The bible consistently tells the truth that all people have weakness, imperfections and bear a sin that he himself can never wash away.
To carry such weakness and imperfections that we bear, and to forgive our sins, one Man who is perfectly pure, Jesus Christ the Son of God came to the world.
And the bible tells that Jesus has completed our salvation on the cross.
Saul (Paul) was listening nearby as Stephen faced those that stoned him and cried with a loud voice, [Lord, do not hold this sin against them]
We can only imagine what thought was going through Saul’s mind as he listened to Stephen’s voice since it is not written in the bible.
Perhaps, Saul may have been touched by those Stephen’s words (cry). Or maybe, he was just stubbornly nurturing his hatred for Stephen.
Stephen’s cry [Lord, do not hold this sin against them] is also the words of cry that Jesus prays to the heavenly Father God about us even now.
Let us keep in mind and be grateful that Jesus prays for us and carries our sins, and once again be determined to continue listening to God’s Word and live in obedience to Him.
It is written in today’s passage (latter half of chap. 8:1) [On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria]
Was it due to Stephen’s punishment. A great persecution broke out in the church of Jerusalem (a gathering of Christ believers)
[All except the apostles] were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. I don’t know the reason why the apostles (central figures of Christ’s disciples) stayed in Jerusalem。
Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was crucified and killed, on top of that, it was the place where the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples.
Jerusalem was a place to be considered the central area of faith. Therefore, though many Christians were scattered to various places, the apostles being the core (leaders of faith) may have continued to stay at that central place of faith.
The apostles may have continued to stay in Jerusalem as a place where those who were scattered could eventually return.
Even our present church carries the role and responsibility as a central area of faith where we can come back.
It is not us that protect the church; it is God who protects and guides it.
As we hope relying on God, let us treasure the place of faith that is given to us, the church which is the place where the family of faith gather.
Reading from verse 4 onward, the people were scattered due to persecution, however, they walked around [ while proclaiming the gospel]
The people were scattered because of persecution, but as a result, that matter served as an opportunity to convey the gospel of Christ even to distant regions and nations.
According to verse 5, a man named Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ.
The fact that Philip went to the city of Samaria, there proclaimed Christ, and as the crowd saw the signs he performed, they listened to him, was a surprising matter.
It’s because to the Jews, the region of Samaria was the former kingdom of North Israel, overthrown by the Assyrian Empire and a region of mixed heritage with the Gentiles that have migrated there.
To the Jews that value racial purity, the people of Samaria having mixed race with the Gentiles were object of contempt.
Triggered by persecution, the news about Jesus Christ being made known to the region where the people of Samaria who were at odds against the Jews lived was also one of God’s mysterious divine works.
In verse 9 onward, a man named Simon appears. This man was one who [proclaimed himself a great man, amazing the people of Samaria using sorcery]
I don’t know what this thing called “sorcery” was like.
In any case, that sorcery was like something that captivated the heart, astonished people, moreover, the people gave him (Simon) their attention.
To Simon, the fact that [he can perform sorcery] seemed to be a basis for him to think [I am a great man]
And the people were captivated by the amazing sorcery that he performed more than Simon’s personality himself or his inner being.
In other words, could it be that Simon was unable to build a deep personal feelings relationship with the people.
In that sense, I think we can say that Simon who could only connect with others through external condition called sorcery and knew his own value only through that matter was a pitiable person before God.
The people of Samaria believed Philip who proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
If we look at verses 12～13、probably many people believed and were baptized.
And it is written that Simon also believed and was baptized, followed Philip everywhere and was astonished as he saw the signs and miracles (driving away evil spirit, healing diseases) done by Philip.
Let’s look at verse 14 onward.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
The apostles in Jerusalem sent the two, Peter and John to Samaria as representatives maybe to ascertain that even the people of Samaria believed God.
Peter and John came down to Samaria and prayed for the people that they “might receive the Holy Spirit”. (v.15)
Let me read verses 16～17.
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
I’m not clearly sure about what it means by [the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus]
That is, so to speak, could it be that basing on a single piece of knowledge “the name of the Lord Jesus”, the people of Samaria were baptized depending on one’s thoughts, but still haven’t sincerely changed heart or repented to God by the leading of the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit).
Therefore, desiring that they may have the faith to believe the Lord Jesus, faith to entrust oneself to the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) with sincere change of heart, Peter and John placed their hands on them and prayed.
As written (verse 17), then the people received the Holy Spirit.
Simon was watching that situation. And guess what, when he saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said [Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit]
Let’s look at Peter’s first words on that matter.
[May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!]
Simon thought he could buy the ability to give the Holy Spirit (the ability to astonish people) in exchange for what he has, so called money.
However, the gift that God gives is not something that is received in exchange for something we have.
God has already given us numerous wonderful gifts, all for free. To know God is for us to realize that matter.
What we have gained on our own, everything that we possess and others (even if we think so) are nothing at all.
Simon must have been completely consumed by the thought that “he can buy anything with money” or “he can only obtain something by offering up something he has as payment for it”.
I was made to think that even we now have the way of thinking as Simon.
God says (through Peter’s words) to such Simon and to us.
[The things that you have, what you have in your hands are all gifts, free gifts from Me, the Lord God], [You have nothing of your own, nothing you've earned yourselves.]
God says [Live believing God who gives all things, believe the leading of the Holy Spirit, be thankful and rely on Him]
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the message that God has paid all the price and sacrifice by Himself for our salvation.
Such message is that Jesus was crucified.
Let us acknowledge with the eyes of faith that we receive all things, the fact that we abundantly receive good things as gifts and let us walk the blessed days guided by the Holy Spirit.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
Hymn JBC #650 Serve the Lord with gladness
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 8:1~25
Prayer
Sermon “Mission in Samaria”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 549 Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today’s bible passage begins with the sentence [And Saul approved of their killing him]
The Stephen that was killed refers to Stephen who was told to be the first martyr in Christianity.
In the book of Acts chap. 7 prior to today’s passage was depicted a scene where Stephen was interrogated at the Jewish Supreme Court with the suspicion of blasphemy.
Stephen did not defend himself but by speaking the story of God that was conveyed in the bible, he confronted those that accused him and tried to proclaim the news about the True God.
Eventually, however, Stephen was killed through sentence of stoning by the people that were consumed by anger.
We heard in the worship message last week that Stephen’s last words were [Lord, do not hold this sin against them] (chap. 7: 60)
Saul who was written to have consented the killing of Stephen at that time was a zealous Jewish person. He detested and severely persecuted those who proclaimed and believed the man called Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord.
Later, Saul is named Paul. Paul having encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ, was dramatically transformed, had a major transformation from Christ’s persecutor to becoming a zealous evangelist of Christ.
The bible clearly mentions that, that Paul consented to Stephen’s killing.
Through it, the bible teaches that no human being is perfectly pure, righteous and has never committed a sin.
Starting with Paul, the bible never depicts any human being a heroic figure.
The bible consistently tells the truth that all people have weakness, imperfections and bear a sin that he himself can never wash away.
To carry such weakness and imperfections that we bear, and to forgive our sins, one Man who is perfectly pure, Jesus Christ the Son of God came to the world.
And the bible tells that Jesus has completed our salvation on the cross.
Saul (Paul) was listening nearby as Stephen faced those that stoned him and cried with a loud voice, [Lord, do not hold this sin against them]
We can only imagine what thought was going through Saul’s mind as he listened to Stephen’s voice since it is not written in the bible.
Perhaps, Saul may have been touched by those Stephen’s words (cry). Or maybe, he was just stubbornly nurturing his hatred for Stephen.
Stephen’s cry [Lord, do not hold this sin against them] is also the words of cry that Jesus prays to the heavenly Father God about us even now.
Let us keep in mind and be grateful that Jesus prays for us and carries our sins, and once again be determined to continue listening to God’s Word and live in obedience to Him.
It is written in today’s passage (latter half of chap. 8:1) [On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria]
Was it due to Stephen’s punishment. A great persecution broke out in the church of Jerusalem (a gathering of Christ believers)
[All except the apostles] were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. I don’t know the reason why the apostles (central figures of Christ’s disciples) stayed in Jerusalem。
Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was crucified and killed, on top of that, it was the place where the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples.
Jerusalem was a place to be considered the central area of faith. Therefore, though many Christians were scattered to various places, the apostles being the core (leaders of faith) may have continued to stay at that central place of faith.
The apostles may have continued to stay in Jerusalem as a place where those who were scattered could eventually return.
Even our present church carries the role and responsibility as a central area of faith where we can come back.
It is not us that protect the church; it is God who protects and guides it.
As we hope relying on God, let us treasure the place of faith that is given to us, the church which is the place where the family of faith gather.
Reading from verse 4 onward, the people were scattered due to persecution, however, they walked around [ while proclaiming the gospel]
The people were scattered because of persecution, but as a result, that matter served as an opportunity to convey the gospel of Christ even to distant regions and nations.
According to verse 5, a man named Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ.
The fact that Philip went to the city of Samaria, there proclaimed Christ, and as the crowd saw the signs he performed, they listened to him, was a surprising matter.
It’s because to the Jews, the region of Samaria was the former kingdom of North Israel, overthrown by the Assyrian Empire and a region of mixed heritage with the Gentiles that have migrated there.
To the Jews that value racial purity, the people of Samaria having mixed race with the Gentiles were object of contempt.
Triggered by persecution, the news about Jesus Christ being made known to the region where the people of Samaria who were at odds against the Jews lived was also one of God’s mysterious divine works.
In verse 9 onward, a man named Simon appears. This man was one who [proclaimed himself a great man, amazing the people of Samaria using sorcery]
I don’t know what this thing called “sorcery” was like.
In any case, that sorcery was like something that captivated the heart, astonished people, moreover, the people gave him (Simon) their attention.
To Simon, the fact that [he can perform sorcery] seemed to be a basis for him to think [I am a great man]
And the people were captivated by the amazing sorcery that he performed more than Simon’s personality himself or his inner being.
In other words, could it be that Simon was unable to build a deep personal feelings relationship with the people.
In that sense, I think we can say that Simon who could only connect with others through external condition called sorcery and knew his own value only through that matter was a pitiable person before God.
The people of Samaria believed Philip who proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
If we look at verses 12～13、probably many people believed and were baptized.
And it is written that Simon also believed and was baptized, followed Philip everywhere and was astonished as he saw the signs and miracles (driving away evil spirit, healing diseases) done by Philip.
Let’s look at verse 14 onward.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
The apostles in Jerusalem sent the two, Peter and John to Samaria as representatives maybe to ascertain that even the people of Samaria believed God.
Peter and John came down to Samaria and prayed for the people that they “might receive the Holy Spirit”. (v.15)
Let me read verses 16～17.
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
I’m not clearly sure about what it means by [the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus]
That is, so to speak, could it be that basing on a single piece of knowledge “the name of the Lord Jesus”, the people of Samaria were baptized depending on one’s thoughts, but still haven’t sincerely changed heart or repented to God by the leading of the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit).
Therefore, desiring that they may have the faith to believe the Lord Jesus, faith to entrust oneself to the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) with sincere change of heart, Peter and John placed their hands on them and prayed.
As written (verse 17), then the people received the Holy Spirit.
Simon was watching that situation. And guess what, when he saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said [Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit]
Let’s look at Peter’s first words on that matter.
[May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!]
Simon thought he could buy the ability to give the Holy Spirit (the ability to astonish people) in exchange for what he has, so called money.
However, the gift that God gives is not something that is received in exchange for something we have.
God has already given us numerous wonderful gifts, all for free. To know God is for us to realize that matter.
What we have gained on our own, everything that we possess and others (even if we think so) are nothing at all.
Simon must have been completely consumed by the thought that “he can buy anything with money” or “he can only obtain something by offering up something he has as payment for it”.
I was made to think that even we now have the way of thinking as Simon.
God says (through Peter’s words) to such Simon and to us.
[The things that you have, what you have in your hands are all gifts, free gifts from Me, the Lord God], [You have nothing of your own, nothing you've earned yourselves.]
God says [Live believing God who gives all things, believe the leading of the Holy Spirit, be thankful and rely on Him]
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the message that God has paid all the price and sacrifice by Himself for our salvation.
Such message is that Jesus was crucified.
Let us acknowledge with the eyes of faith that we receive all things, the fact that we abundantly receive good things as gifts and let us walk the blessed days guided by the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Sundy Worship Service October 19, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 31:5 (NIV)
Hymn JBC #327 Lead on, O King eternal
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
Offering
Scripture Acts 7:51~60
Prayer
Sermon “Look up the Glory of God”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 21 Worthy of worship
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today's Scripture passage is the final section of the scene in Acts chapter 7 of the New Testament, where Stephen, a preacher of Christ, is accused before the Jewish Sanhedrin (high court) of “blaspheming God.”
Stephen is said to be the first Christian martyr—that is, the first person who believed in Christ, preached His teachings, and was persecuted and killed for it.
In today's passage, Stephen is martyred. Stoned by the people (the Jews), he died. We can say Stephen met a tragic end, suffering immense pain and agony.
In today's passage, let us hear God's message through the words Stephen spoke, the words he spoke just before his death, and his figure at that moment.
In the first verse of today's passage, verse 51, Stephen says to those accusing him (the members of the Sanhedrin), “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.”
He then continues, “You always resist the Holy Spirit!” The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, used here as the same meaning as God Himself.
What does it mean to be “stiff-necked, with uncircumcised hearts and ears”?
Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin, held profound significance for the Israelites.
Circumcision was commanded by God to Abraham, who is called the “father of faith” for the Israelite people.
In Genesis chapter 17 of the Old Testament, it is written that Abraham received the commandment (order) concerning circumcision from God.
At that time, Abraham received the promise from God: “You will become the father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you the father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:4-6)
This passage in Genesis depicts God establishing an eternal covenant with the people of Israel through Abraham.
At that time, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male child (on the eighth day after birth) as a sign that the people of Israel were God's chosen, special people.
Circumcision was the visible sign that the Israelite nation was God's specially chosen people, and that the eternal covenant and blessings given through their forefather Abraham had been bestowed upon them.
But Stephen says: "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You always resist the Holy Spirit!"
Stephen pointed out the essence of the faith of the members of the Sanhedrin (the priests and scribes).
Even though they diligently observed circumcision and other religious rituals and regulations in form, Stephen pointed out the state of their hearts.
Among the people of Israel, especially those in privileged positions like priests and scribes, there were likely those who took pride in being specially chosen simply because they were circumcised—that is, because they were Israelites (Jews).
They began to look down on other nations and Gentiles outside the Israelite people, or even fellow Israelites who, like them, could not strictly observe the religious rules.
However, circumcision and other religious rules must be accompanied by faith in God within the heart and by actually living according to God's teachings—faith in the heart.
The meaninglessness of circumcision performed merely as a formality had already been stated repeatedly, long before the New Testament era, during the Old Testament era (the time of the prophets).
In the Old Testament, Jeremiah 6:10, it is written as the word of God:
To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed (uncircumcised)
so they cannot hear.
The word of the Lord is offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.
Even if one appears to observe religious rules in name only, without opening one's heart and ears to the Lord God, without humbling oneself before Him, one cannot receive the Holy Spirit's guidance.
There are times when we do not know what God's will is, or how the Holy Spirit's guidance is given.
At such times, we may need to examine whether it is because of our own stubborn hearts, whether we ourselves have closed the ears of our hearts, preventing us from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.
We are stubborn people. We are those who only want to hear what we want to hear, see what we want to see, and believe only what we want to believe.
In such times, we desire to be those who humbly listen to the voice addressed to us: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.”
And we desire to pray to God: that He would open our hearts, the eyes and ears of our hearts; that we would listen to His word, which is stern yet true; that we would recognize our own sin of turning away from God; and that He would turn us back to Himself.
Stephen tells the council members, “Just as your ancestors persecuted the prophets, you have killed the Saviour, (the Righteous One in verse 52).”
“You have a faith that is only skin deep, and in your hearts you always resist the Holy Spirit, who is God's Spirit. You have killed the true Savior.” Who could remain calm hearing such words?
The people who heard Stephen say this were filled with rage. It is written that they gnashed their teeth at him (verse 54). They were like wild beasts, ready to pounce on Stephen.
The anger of the people (the Jewish council members, the authorities) had reached its peak. How did Stephen respond to this?
Let us read verses 55-56.
55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Stephen's example teaches us that even in the face of terrifying human anger, hostility, malice, and even murderous intent, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, who is God's Spirit.
And instead of responding to the hostility and anger directed at him with hostility and anger of his own, Stephen fixed his eyes on heaven.
Stephen looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus (Jesus Christ) standing at the right hand of God.
On this earth, people hurl malice at one another, hating and quarreling. Even when people and nations deeply wound one another, if we lift our eyes to heaven with the eyes of faith, we can see God's glory and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
There is Jesus, who was crucified for us, who now sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and who intercedes for us.
Those accusing Stephen shouted loudly, covering their ears (refusing to hear Stephen's voice), and rushed at him, dragging him out of the city.
Verse 58 states that a young man named Saul was there, and the people laid their clothes at his feet.
Saul later became Paul. Paul initially persecuted Christians fiercely, but after encountering the resurrected Jesus Christ, he was transformed into a passionate preacher of Christ.
The fact that Saul, who would later do great work for Christ, was present at Stephen's martyrdom and witnessed it, can be said to have profoundly influenced Saul's subsequent life (faith).
It can be said that Stephen, even as he died, left an invaluable legacy of faith to many people, including Saul (Paul).
Let us listen to the two statements Stephen made just before his death, as recorded in today's passage, while being stoned by the people.
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Stephen was convinced to the very end that there was One who would receive his soul. That One is the Lord Jesus Christ.
No matter how dire, miserable, or painful his circumstances became, Stephen was certain that Jesus would never abandon him, but would love and receive him.
That assurance of faith is given to us today as well. If we open our hearts and ears and receive the Lord Jesus Christ, He will receive our souls just as He received Stephen's soul.
And so Stephen was able to say at the end, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He could pray this way for the very people who accused him, who continued to stone him, and who killed him.
These were also the words spoken by Jesus from the cross. When Jesus was flogged, nailed to the cross, and hung there, He said the following:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed to God the Father in heaven for us human beings, saying these words.
So why was Stephen, a mere human, able to pray like that? Why could Stephen pray at the very end, “Do not hold this sin against them”?
I believe it was because Stephen himself was certain that his sins had been forgiven through Jesus, and he was overflowing with gratitude for that.
The conviction that he had been forgiven of his sins through Christ, that he was therefore kept alive, and that he was deeply loved by God—this conviction enabled Stephen to pray for others in that way at the very end.
Such divine love, such power of forgiveness from Jesus, is also given to us.
Let us reflect on ourselves as believers living in the present, receiving the power of God's love and forgiveness conveyed to us through the life and words of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 31:5 (NIV)
Hymn JBC #327 Lead on, O King eternal
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
Offering
Scripture Acts 7:51~60
Prayer
Sermon “Look up the Glory of God”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 21 Worthy of worship
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today's Scripture passage is the final section of the scene in Acts chapter 7 of the New Testament, where Stephen, a preacher of Christ, is accused before the Jewish Sanhedrin (high court) of “blaspheming God.”
Stephen is said to be the first Christian martyr—that is, the first person who believed in Christ, preached His teachings, and was persecuted and killed for it.
In today's passage, Stephen is martyred. Stoned by the people (the Jews), he died. We can say Stephen met a tragic end, suffering immense pain and agony.
In today's passage, let us hear God's message through the words Stephen spoke, the words he spoke just before his death, and his figure at that moment.
In the first verse of today's passage, verse 51, Stephen says to those accusing him (the members of the Sanhedrin), “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.”
He then continues, “You always resist the Holy Spirit!” The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, used here as the same meaning as God Himself.
What does it mean to be “stiff-necked, with uncircumcised hearts and ears”?
Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin, held profound significance for the Israelites.
Circumcision was commanded by God to Abraham, who is called the “father of faith” for the Israelite people.
In Genesis chapter 17 of the Old Testament, it is written that Abraham received the commandment (order) concerning circumcision from God.
At that time, Abraham received the promise from God: “You will become the father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you the father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:4-6)
This passage in Genesis depicts God establishing an eternal covenant with the people of Israel through Abraham.
At that time, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male child (on the eighth day after birth) as a sign that the people of Israel were God's chosen, special people.
Circumcision was the visible sign that the Israelite nation was God's specially chosen people, and that the eternal covenant and blessings given through their forefather Abraham had been bestowed upon them.
But Stephen says: "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You always resist the Holy Spirit!"
Stephen pointed out the essence of the faith of the members of the Sanhedrin (the priests and scribes).
Even though they diligently observed circumcision and other religious rituals and regulations in form, Stephen pointed out the state of their hearts.
Among the people of Israel, especially those in privileged positions like priests and scribes, there were likely those who took pride in being specially chosen simply because they were circumcised—that is, because they were Israelites (Jews).
They began to look down on other nations and Gentiles outside the Israelite people, or even fellow Israelites who, like them, could not strictly observe the religious rules.
However, circumcision and other religious rules must be accompanied by faith in God within the heart and by actually living according to God's teachings—faith in the heart.
The meaninglessness of circumcision performed merely as a formality had already been stated repeatedly, long before the New Testament era, during the Old Testament era (the time of the prophets).
In the Old Testament, Jeremiah 6:10, it is written as the word of God:
To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed (uncircumcised)
so they cannot hear.
The word of the Lord is offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.
Even if one appears to observe religious rules in name only, without opening one's heart and ears to the Lord God, without humbling oneself before Him, one cannot receive the Holy Spirit's guidance.
There are times when we do not know what God's will is, or how the Holy Spirit's guidance is given.
At such times, we may need to examine whether it is because of our own stubborn hearts, whether we ourselves have closed the ears of our hearts, preventing us from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.
We are stubborn people. We are those who only want to hear what we want to hear, see what we want to see, and believe only what we want to believe.
In such times, we desire to be those who humbly listen to the voice addressed to us: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.”
And we desire to pray to God: that He would open our hearts, the eyes and ears of our hearts; that we would listen to His word, which is stern yet true; that we would recognize our own sin of turning away from God; and that He would turn us back to Himself.
Stephen tells the council members, “Just as your ancestors persecuted the prophets, you have killed the Saviour, (the Righteous One in verse 52).”
“You have a faith that is only skin deep, and in your hearts you always resist the Holy Spirit, who is God's Spirit. You have killed the true Savior.” Who could remain calm hearing such words?
The people who heard Stephen say this were filled with rage. It is written that they gnashed their teeth at him (verse 54). They were like wild beasts, ready to pounce on Stephen.
The anger of the people (the Jewish council members, the authorities) had reached its peak. How did Stephen respond to this?
Let us read verses 55-56.
55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Stephen's example teaches us that even in the face of terrifying human anger, hostility, malice, and even murderous intent, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, who is God's Spirit.
And instead of responding to the hostility and anger directed at him with hostility and anger of his own, Stephen fixed his eyes on heaven.
Stephen looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus (Jesus Christ) standing at the right hand of God.
On this earth, people hurl malice at one another, hating and quarreling. Even when people and nations deeply wound one another, if we lift our eyes to heaven with the eyes of faith, we can see God's glory and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
There is Jesus, who was crucified for us, who now sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and who intercedes for us.
Those accusing Stephen shouted loudly, covering their ears (refusing to hear Stephen's voice), and rushed at him, dragging him out of the city.
Verse 58 states that a young man named Saul was there, and the people laid their clothes at his feet.
Saul later became Paul. Paul initially persecuted Christians fiercely, but after encountering the resurrected Jesus Christ, he was transformed into a passionate preacher of Christ.
The fact that Saul, who would later do great work for Christ, was present at Stephen's martyrdom and witnessed it, can be said to have profoundly influenced Saul's subsequent life (faith).
It can be said that Stephen, even as he died, left an invaluable legacy of faith to many people, including Saul (Paul).
Let us listen to the two statements Stephen made just before his death, as recorded in today's passage, while being stoned by the people.
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Stephen was convinced to the very end that there was One who would receive his soul. That One is the Lord Jesus Christ.
No matter how dire, miserable, or painful his circumstances became, Stephen was certain that Jesus would never abandon him, but would love and receive him.
That assurance of faith is given to us today as well. If we open our hearts and ears and receive the Lord Jesus Christ, He will receive our souls just as He received Stephen's soul.
And so Stephen was able to say at the end, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He could pray this way for the very people who accused him, who continued to stone him, and who killed him.
These were also the words spoken by Jesus from the cross. When Jesus was flogged, nailed to the cross, and hung there, He said the following:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed to God the Father in heaven for us human beings, saying these words.
So why was Stephen, a mere human, able to pray like that? Why could Stephen pray at the very end, “Do not hold this sin against them”?
I believe it was because Stephen himself was certain that his sins had been forgiven through Jesus, and he was overflowing with gratitude for that.
The conviction that he had been forgiven of his sins through Christ, that he was therefore kept alive, and that he was deeply loved by God—this conviction enabled Stephen to pray for others in that way at the very end.
Such divine love, such power of forgiveness from Jesus, is also given to us.
Let us reflect on ourselves as believers living in the present, receiving the power of God's love and forgiveness conveyed to us through the life and words of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Sundy Worship Service October 12, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Leviticus 18:5
Hymn JBC # 268 There’s within my heart a melody
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
Offering
Scripture Acts 7:37~50
Prayer
Sermon “Receiving Living Words to Pass on”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 521 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
We continue reading the scene from Acts chapter 7 in the New Testament, where the evangelist Stephen is being interrogated before the Sanhedrin (the court) on charges of “blaspheming God.”
Stephen begins his discourse with Abraham, called the “father of faith” for the Jews, and proclaims how God chose the Israelite people and revealed His salvation through them.
In today's passage, Stephen continues his account concerning Moses, who delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
At the beginning of today's passage, Stephen quotes Moses as saying the following:
37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’
Through Moses, God told the people of Israel He will raise up a prophet like Moses for them.
This is God's promise recorded in Deuteronomy 18 of the Old Testament.
The phrase “a prophet like me” here also refers to the other Old Testament prophets who followed Moses.
However, now that Jesus Christ has already come into the world as a human being, died on the cross for the redemption of human sin, and was resurrected, Stephen here asserts that the prophet spoken of by Moses is Jesus Christ.
Through the Scriptures, we can believe that God had been continually revealing—from before the creation of the heavens and the earth, and also through Abraham and Moses—that Jesus Christ would come and speak God's word, and that Jesus Christ would come into the world and redeem humanity's sins.
Stephen quoted Moses' words because he desperately wanted to convey to the Jews accusing him that Christ is the Prophet spoken of by Moses, and He is the Savior.
Verse 38 from today’s passage states the following:
38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
Here, “He” refers to Moses. Yet even here, through Moses, Jesus Christ who was to come and what Christ would do are prophesied.
That is, to receive the word of life and convey it to us. Prophets like Moses received God's word on behalf of the people and conveyed it to them.
In that sense, pastors today also have the role of prophets. But human prophets are not perfect. Human prophets make mistakes and sometimes speak incorrectly.
But Jesus Christ is the perfect prophet. He never erred; He was completely correct, conveying God's life-giving word to people. Jesus Christ Himself was the Word of life.
Word of life means the word that truly gives us life.
Words truly have power. Even words devised by humans can possess the power to greatly encourage or comfort people.
All the more so, God's word possesses such power that it can be called life itself. Thus, we live by God's word.
The most crucial aspect of Moses' work was receiving the words of life and conveying them to the people. Having received the words of life—that is, God's Word—from God, Moses conveyed them to the people of Israel.
The words of life, the words of the Bible, are passed on to others by those who receive them and believe.
The words of life that give us life are not something humans devised or created. Humans are incapable of such a thing. God's words of life are given to us as His gift.
And after this word of life was fully revealed to the world through Jesus Christ, it began to spread as it was passed from person to person.
Receiving and passing on the word of life—this is the mission of the church, those who believe in God, are forgiven of their sins by God, and are saved.
Let us be used as vessels for this purpose: to receive abundantly the life-giving word and pass it on to others
In verse 39, it is recorded that the ancestors (the Israelites in Moses' time) refused to obey Moses and said to Aaron, Moses' brother, as follows.
I will read verses 39-40.
39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!
This story is based on the account found in Exodus chapter 32 of the Old Testament.
There, Moses had ascended Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments from God.
God commanded Moses to convey the commandments he had received to the people of Israel.
It is said Moses remained on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights at that time. And the Israelites grew increasingly impatient as Moses did not come down.
Having lost patience, the people pleaded with Aaron, Moses' brother, saying, “We don't know what has happened to Moses. Make us gods to go before us.”
Aaron then responded to the Israelites by fashioning a golden calf, which they worshipped as their god.
To us, it seems utterly foolish that the Israelites, unable to wait for Moses to come down from the mountain, turned to worship something that was not God—something made by human hands—engaging in idolatry.
Yet, are there not times when we too struggle to wait patiently, seeking God's will?
We too may find ourselves unable to wait, or so eager to solve a problem quickly or break through a situation that we hastily make our own judgment and easily decide, “This must be God's will.”
We humans find it difficult to wait. There are times when we struggle to be still and pray, to listen humbly to God's word, His guidance, and the opinions and advice of others.
We must remember that we are fully capable of committing the same mistake the Israelites made—worshipping things made by human hands as if they were God.
I pray that we are able to cultivate our faith daily, that we are able to remain calm and humble as we listen attentively to God and others, so that we avoid repeating such mistakes.
Let’s read verse 44.
44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
The Tabernacle of Testimony, or simply the Tabernacle, was a portable tent sanctuary erected for the Israelites to worship in during their journey through the wilderness.
God instructed Moses, Aaron, and the priests to construct the “Tabernacle” so that the Israelites could worship and hear God's word even while moving through the wilderness. He thus provided them with a place for worship.
Eventually, the Israelites settled in the land of Canaan, and David became king over all Israel.
David desired to build a temple for God—not a tent-like tabernacle, but a temple with a solid foundation and base—a place for worship.
By God's command, it was David's son, King Solomon, who actually completed the temple.
The completed temple surely served as a spiritual and faith-based anchor for the people of Israel. For us today, too, the church is a place of profound spiritual importance.
The church is where we gather and worship together.
Still, let us look closely at what Stephen has to say in today’s passage.
Let’s read verses 48-50.
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
The temple, or what we now call our church, becomes a special place when people moved by God gather there and offer worship in spirit and truth from their hearts.
Yet at the same time, we must always be careful not to become arrogant. Stephen warns us in today’s passage.
It is not we humans who build a dwelling place for God. That is something we could never do.
It is not we who create anything for God; rather, God prepares everything we need.
God creates everything necessary for us—physical space, the church, everything.
By God's permission, mercy, and grace, we are given a variety of things through which we can create even more.
However, we cannot create anything out of nothing, not a single thing.
Yet, if we are not careful, we can easily become proud of our own strength or even our faith as we boast that “We are doing all this for God.”
All good things are created and given by the God who created heaven and earth.
And that faith also gives us hope and peace, assuring us that God will surely provide us with all that is good and necessary, and that God sustains us with the word of life.
Let us live out our faith daily in humility and gratitude, remembering that every blessing, and the word of life that sustains us, is given to us from God
Prelude
Call to Worship Leviticus 18:5
Hymn JBC # 268 There’s within my heart a melody
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 146 Thou didst leave Thy throne
Offering
Scripture Acts 7:37~50
Prayer
Sermon “Receiving Living Words to Pass on”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 521 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Doxology JBC # 674
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
We continue reading the scene from Acts chapter 7 in the New Testament, where the evangelist Stephen is being interrogated before the Sanhedrin (the court) on charges of “blaspheming God.”
Stephen begins his discourse with Abraham, called the “father of faith” for the Jews, and proclaims how God chose the Israelite people and revealed His salvation through them.
In today's passage, Stephen continues his account concerning Moses, who delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
At the beginning of today's passage, Stephen quotes Moses as saying the following:
37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’
Through Moses, God told the people of Israel He will raise up a prophet like Moses for them.
This is God's promise recorded in Deuteronomy 18 of the Old Testament.
The phrase “a prophet like me” here also refers to the other Old Testament prophets who followed Moses.
However, now that Jesus Christ has already come into the world as a human being, died on the cross for the redemption of human sin, and was resurrected, Stephen here asserts that the prophet spoken of by Moses is Jesus Christ.
Through the Scriptures, we can believe that God had been continually revealing—from before the creation of the heavens and the earth, and also through Abraham and Moses—that Jesus Christ would come and speak God's word, and that Jesus Christ would come into the world and redeem humanity's sins.
Stephen quoted Moses' words because he desperately wanted to convey to the Jews accusing him that Christ is the Prophet spoken of by Moses, and He is the Savior.
Verse 38 from today’s passage states the following:
38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
Here, “He” refers to Moses. Yet even here, through Moses, Jesus Christ who was to come and what Christ would do are prophesied.
That is, to receive the word of life and convey it to us. Prophets like Moses received God's word on behalf of the people and conveyed it to them.
In that sense, pastors today also have the role of prophets. But human prophets are not perfect. Human prophets make mistakes and sometimes speak incorrectly.
But Jesus Christ is the perfect prophet. He never erred; He was completely correct, conveying God's life-giving word to people. Jesus Christ Himself was the Word of life.
Word of life means the word that truly gives us life.
Words truly have power. Even words devised by humans can possess the power to greatly encourage or comfort people.
All the more so, God's word possesses such power that it can be called life itself. Thus, we live by God's word.
The most crucial aspect of Moses' work was receiving the words of life and conveying them to the people. Having received the words of life—that is, God's Word—from God, Moses conveyed them to the people of Israel.
The words of life, the words of the Bible, are passed on to others by those who receive them and believe.
The words of life that give us life are not something humans devised or created. Humans are incapable of such a thing. God's words of life are given to us as His gift.
And after this word of life was fully revealed to the world through Jesus Christ, it began to spread as it was passed from person to person.
Receiving and passing on the word of life—this is the mission of the church, those who believe in God, are forgiven of their sins by God, and are saved.
Let us be used as vessels for this purpose: to receive abundantly the life-giving word and pass it on to others
In verse 39, it is recorded that the ancestors (the Israelites in Moses' time) refused to obey Moses and said to Aaron, Moses' brother, as follows.
I will read verses 39-40.
39 “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!
This story is based on the account found in Exodus chapter 32 of the Old Testament.
There, Moses had ascended Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments from God.
God commanded Moses to convey the commandments he had received to the people of Israel.
It is said Moses remained on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights at that time. And the Israelites grew increasingly impatient as Moses did not come down.
Having lost patience, the people pleaded with Aaron, Moses' brother, saying, “We don't know what has happened to Moses. Make us gods to go before us.”
Aaron then responded to the Israelites by fashioning a golden calf, which they worshipped as their god.
To us, it seems utterly foolish that the Israelites, unable to wait for Moses to come down from the mountain, turned to worship something that was not God—something made by human hands—engaging in idolatry.
Yet, are there not times when we too struggle to wait patiently, seeking God's will?
We too may find ourselves unable to wait, or so eager to solve a problem quickly or break through a situation that we hastily make our own judgment and easily decide, “This must be God's will.”
We humans find it difficult to wait. There are times when we struggle to be still and pray, to listen humbly to God's word, His guidance, and the opinions and advice of others.
We must remember that we are fully capable of committing the same mistake the Israelites made—worshipping things made by human hands as if they were God.
I pray that we are able to cultivate our faith daily, that we are able to remain calm and humble as we listen attentively to God and others, so that we avoid repeating such mistakes.
Let’s read verse 44.
44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
The Tabernacle of Testimony, or simply the Tabernacle, was a portable tent sanctuary erected for the Israelites to worship in during their journey through the wilderness.
God instructed Moses, Aaron, and the priests to construct the “Tabernacle” so that the Israelites could worship and hear God's word even while moving through the wilderness. He thus provided them with a place for worship.
Eventually, the Israelites settled in the land of Canaan, and David became king over all Israel.
David desired to build a temple for God—not a tent-like tabernacle, but a temple with a solid foundation and base—a place for worship.
By God's command, it was David's son, King Solomon, who actually completed the temple.
The completed temple surely served as a spiritual and faith-based anchor for the people of Israel. For us today, too, the church is a place of profound spiritual importance.
The church is where we gather and worship together.
Still, let us look closely at what Stephen has to say in today’s passage.
Let’s read verses 48-50.
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
The temple, or what we now call our church, becomes a special place when people moved by God gather there and offer worship in spirit and truth from their hearts.
Yet at the same time, we must always be careful not to become arrogant. Stephen warns us in today’s passage.
It is not we humans who build a dwelling place for God. That is something we could never do.
It is not we who create anything for God; rather, God prepares everything we need.
God creates everything necessary for us—physical space, the church, everything.
By God's permission, mercy, and grace, we are given a variety of things through which we can create even more.
However, we cannot create anything out of nothing, not a single thing.
Yet, if we are not careful, we can easily become proud of our own strength or even our faith as we boast that “We are doing all this for God.”
All good things are created and given by the God who created heaven and earth.
And that faith also gives us hope and peace, assuring us that God will surely provide us with all that is good and necessary, and that God sustains us with the word of life.
Let us live out our faith daily in humility and gratitude, remembering that every blessing, and the word of life that sustains us, is given to us from God
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