September 7, 2025 Sunday Worship Service
Prelude
Call to Worship 1 Chronicles 17:26～27
Hymn JBC # 4 Come, Chr4istians, join to sing
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 321 Years I spent in vanity and pride
The Prayer Time
Testimony
Offering
Scripture Ats 6:1～7
Prayer
Sermon “The Ministry of the Word”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 506 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Doxology JBC #$ 673
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today's passage, Acts 6:1-7, contains much that challenges and instructs us as Christians and as the Christian church.
This passage clearly depicts the problems that arose within the early Christian church some 2,000 years ago.
The believers in the early Christian church were being persecuted by the Jewish authorities.
The twelve disciples of Christ, known as the apostles, beginning with Peter, began proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God and salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.
And the number of people who believed in them and became disciples of Christ grew.
In response, the Jewish priests, council members, and authorities tried to stop the apostles' missionary work. They imprisoned them, flogged them, and did everything they could to hinder their work.
Yet the apostles did not yield. In the passage immediately preceding today's passage, it is written that even after being flogged and forbidden to preach, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).
For the sake of Jesus Christ, they rejoiced that being persecuted for doing God's work meant drawing a little closer to the Lord Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of mankind.
This is a way of life that goes contrary to what this world values. In this life of faith, you find joy in being with Christ even amidst hardship and suffering.
It is also a way of life where, instead of hating or retaliating against those who persecuted them, they prayed even for their persecutors through Christ's love and mercy, desiring their salvation and continuing to proclaim the gospel.
Through the work of the apostles and other disciples, the number of disciples following Christ grew.
Today's passage describes how this increase in disciples led to a certain problem.
It says that as the number of disciples grew, problems arose not only from external persecution but also from within the church itself.
The Christian church is a gathering of people. Since no one is without sin, the church is also a gathering of sinful people.
Wherever people gather, problems, friction, and conflict inevitably arise. The Bible clearly states that this is unavoidable.
In today's passage, we encounter people referred to as “Hellenistic (*Greek-speaking) Jews” and “Hebraic (*Hebrew-speaking) Jews.”
Both were Jews, but the Greek-speaking Jews were those who had grown up outside Israel and had acquired Greek, the common language of the Mediterranean world at that time, as their mother tongue.
Historically, Israel had been ruled by the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, and in Jesus' time, the Roman Empire. This led many Jews to leave Israel and live abroad (or be forced to live abroad).
Among those scattered and living in foreign lands, some returned to the homeland of their ancestors, Israel. These were the Greek-speaking Jews and the people mentioned in today's passage.
On the other hand, the Hebrew-speaking Jews were those born and raised in the land of Israel, whose mother tongue was Hebrew. One might say they were, in a sense, the “pure” Jews.
Though they were both Jews, differences in their primary language, as well as the cultures and environments in which they were raised, apparently led to various problems between them.
Today's passage depicts how the widows (women who had lost their husbands) among the Greek-speaking Jews were being disadvantaged in the daily distribution of food.
It seems likely that the Hebrew-speaking Jews held a position of greater privilege.
Though they were all Jews, their attention may have been focused on their differences—their distinct native languages, cultures, and backgrounds. This likely became the root of the problems.
We too often find ourselves drawn to the differences between us, the parts that clash, rather than seeking common ground. This frequently leads to problems and friction with others.
May we build better relationships by finding common ground and discovering each other's strengths (rather than focusing on differences and condemning them).
However, as depicted in today's passage, voicing complaints is not always a bad thing.
If someone feels dissatisfaction or grievance, or is actually suffering harm, bringing these things to light is necessary for resolving the problem.
If there are dissatisfactions or questions within the church, yet people are unable to voice them and the powerless must continue to endure, that is never a good thing.
While mutual consideration and courtesy are always required, when problems exist, we should not hide them or pretend they don't exist. Instead, we should bring them to light, face them head-on, and aim for resolution. Thus we should strive to be a church that can pray together earnestly.
How did the disciples handle this problem? Let us hear the words spoken by the twelve disciples, the apostles.
Here are verses 2 and 3.
“It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The twelve apostles first reflected on what duty they themselves should prioritize.
And they came to the conclusion that the duty they must prioritize, the duty entrusted to the apostles by God and the church, was the ministry of the word of God, the ministry of prayer and the Word.
Distributing meals was also an important duty concerning the believers' lives. However, if the apostles devoted themselves to such duties and their most vital work—the ministry of prayer and the word—suffered as a result, it would not be good for the church as a whole.
God has given each of us different gifts. There is no superiority or inferiority among these gifts.
Both the ministry of prayer and the word, and the work of distributing food among the believers' gatherings, are precious works for the kingdom of God, as long as they are grounded in faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us all work to build up the Lord's church, recognizing and respecting the gifts given to one another, acknowledging that we cannot do everything alone, supporting each other, and allowing each other's gifts to be utilized.
In verse 2, it says, “The twelve apostles gathered all the disciples together.” When all the disciples gathered, it was like holding a church assembly in our church today.
Because the matter concerned the whole church and was important, all the disciples were gathered, and a discussion involving everyone took place.
Our church is a Baptist church. In Baptist churches, we place great importance on deciding matters vital to the church through prayer and discussion involving all members.
If we wanted to decide quickly, or make a more effective decision, it might be faster to have just a few capable individuals, or those with specialized knowledge on the matter, decide alone.
Listening to everyone's opinions, discussing them, and reconciling differing views is a process requiring great patience and takes time.
However, through such methods, we ensure that each person's thoughts and feelings are respected as much as possible, and we discover God's will through this process.
The apostles told the gathered disciples, “Choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.”
The whole group agreed to this proposal, and the disciples themselves selected seven men who were full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
The apostles prayed and laid their hands on these seven men. They prayed that the chosen seven would be able to faithfully fulfill the task entrusted to them with sincere faith.
I believe it wasn't a case of simply choosing them and then leaving them to it. Rather, the apostles prayed for those chosen, continued to encourage them afterward, and kept praying for them.
When I (Sakai) was appointed pastor of Beppu International Baptist Church, during the installation service, the congregation laid their hands on me and prayed.
That prayer expressed everyone’s desire that the Holy Spirit's guidance would be richly given to me in my pastoral duties—the work of conveying God's Word entrusted to me by the congregation—and that I could devote myself fully to that work.
Through today's passage, I vividly recall that moment when you all laid your hands on me and prayed.
I am reminded anew of the paramount importance of the pastor's primary duties: preaching the Word and prayer. I earnestly ask you all to pray that I may devote myself to proclaiming the Word.
As I mentioned earlier, wherever people gather—even in the church, or rather, precisely because it is the church—problems will always arise. But the absence of problems is not what matters.
What matters is how we face those problems when they arise. It is vital that each member of the church, united in faith, can pray for one another, show mutual consideration, and confront those problems with love.
In today's passage, seven men full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit were chosen to ensure fairness in the distribution of food.
Were they somehow special people, different from us? No. God also richly gives the Holy Spirit and wisdom to us today.
If we ask God to give us the Holy Spirit and wisdom, He will surely grant them to us abundantly.
As disciples of Christ, each of us has a specific duty to fulfill. Let us continually ask Jesus to enable us to be faithful in that duty.
Prayer and the Word—these two are the most vital ministries not only for apostles, or in today's terms pastors and evangelists, but for every Christian and the Christian church.
Prayer is opening our hearts to converse spiritually with God, and the Word is the Bible and the message preached during worship services.
Prayer and the Word are our true spiritual nourishment, and serving through prayer and the Word is the precious duty entrusted solely to the Christian church.
Let us continue to be a Christian church that cherishes these treasures and gifts—prayer and the Word—which are uniquely given to the Christian church, and that devotes itself to this duty, serving the Word.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Sunday Worship Service August 31, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Ecclesiastes 3:14
Hymn JBC # 618 Living for Jesus
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
Offering
Scripture Acts 5:27～42
Prayer
Sermon “If it is from God”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 520 My soul in sad exile
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
A Christian is one who follows Christ. Even if we cannot always live in accordance with Christ, a Christian is someone who has resolved to live in obedience to Christ, who is God.
We all live in obedience to something. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we live in obedience to some idea, our own experiences, our own hopes, or instructions and advice from others.
Christians certainly listen to their own thoughts and hopes, as well as advice from others.
However, Christians live with the teachings of Christ, who is God, and the words of the Bible as their most important guide and standard.
If their own guide or hope differs from what God says, Christians choose to live in obedience to God.
Christians should be resolved to do so. Yet this is not an easy thing.
In today's Scripture passage, Peter and the other disciples of Christ (the core members of the early church, called apostles) declare, “We must obey God rather than human beings” (verse 29).
From their figures, together today let’s think about what it means to live obeying God, to live seeking God's will.
In the passage preceding today's reading (the scene we heard in last week's worship message), the apostles had been arrested and put in prison.
They had been given strict orders not to speak in the name of Jesus Christ, yet they continued to preach the gospel of Christ, which is why they were arrested.
But an angel of the Lord came and opened the prison doors, leading them out. At that moment, the angel of the Lord said to them:
“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” (v.20)
Following that voice, the apostles were again teaching the people in the temple precincts (courts).
And they were arrested once more and brought before the Sanhedrin (the supreme court of Jewish society at that time)—this is today's Bible passage.
The Sanhedrin was arguably the highest authority and most powerful institution (organization) in Jewish society at that time.
The high priest said to the apostles:
28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (v.28)
Then Peter and the other apostles replied:
“We must obey God rather than human beings!
Even when questioned by the supreme court, which held considerable power and authority, and moreover by the high priest, the highest religious authority, Peter and the others were able to answer so boldly.
Was it their own strength that enabled Peter and the others to act so boldly? No, it was Jesus Christ, crucified (cross) and risen (resurrection).
Let us read verse 31. These are the words of Peter and the others.
31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.
This person (him) is Jesus Christ. Why did Christ die on the cross and then rise again?
Peter says it was to make all Israel, and ultimately all people, aware of their sin, to repent to God, so that people might be forgiven and saved.
That conviction gave Peter the strength to speak boldly even before the high priest.
Those saved by Christ crucified and risen become people who strive to live accordingly, with the conviction that “we must obey God rather than human beings.”
Obeying God rather than human beings does not mean disregarding or ignoring people. It means fearing the Lord, God, above all people.
The Bible commands us: “We must fear God alone, the source of our life and the Creator of all things in this world.”
I believe that when we possess the proper fear of God, we gradually become able to live a life of obeying God rather than human beings.
And when we learn to fear and revere God, we can also respect others besides ourselves, treating them as precious beings.
And when what God points us toward differs from what people or the society around us point us toward, we pray that as Christians we may be able to obey God.
We pray that each believer, and the church itself, may continually ponder the meaning of “obeying God rather than human beings” and put it into practice.
In today's passage, the members of the Sanhedrin, upon hearing the apostles' words, were furious and sought to kill them (verse 33).
But at that moment, help for the apostles came from a truly unexpected source (person).
It was none other than one of the members of the Sanhedrin himself who stood up within the council and called for calm judgment from all the council members.
He was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by the entire people and belonged to the Pharisee sect.
By all normal reasoning, he (Gamaliel) should have been on the side of the Sanhedrin members, in opposition to the apostles.
But unlike the high priest and the other Sanhedrin members, Gamaliel made a very fair and wise judgment, insisting, “consider carefully what you intend to do to these men (the apostles)”
Gamaliel reminded the council members of past events, urging them to learn from those lessons and make a calm judgment.
The first incident he mentioned was the uprising of a man named Theudas, who “claimed to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.”
He stated that Theudas was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
The second incident was the rebellion led by a Galilean named Judas. In the end, he too was destroyed, and all who followed him were scattered.
Then Gamaliel told the members of the Sanhedrin, “Leave these men alone. Do nothing to them.”
Let us hear his words in verses 38–39.
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
I believe Gamaliel was a remarkable man to have been able to make such a judgment.
It is safe to say that it was God Himself who gave Gamaliel this wise judgment and these words.
I believe Gamaliel's words contain several important teachings from God to us. I will share two that struck me.
First, the most important thing is to approach everything with caution, seeking God's will through prayer, and never making hasty judgments or taking impulsive action.
This means not acting solely driven by a sense of urgency—“I must do something!”—or by one's own emotions (such as anger).
The more important the matter, the more we should strive to make the best judgment possible—not through emotional decisions, but by praying, thinking, and seeking God's will.
The second is this: “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men”
Gamaliel may have believed Peter's work was from God.
In any case, he reasoned: “If it is of human origin, it will collapse on its own. It will never succeed. But if it is from God, no one can destroy them, for God is with them.”
It is surprising that such words of wisdom, such a calm and faith-filled judgment, came from someone who was supposedly opposed to the apostles.
At this moment, I believe it is fair to say that Peter and the other apostles were aided by their enemies. This too is one of God's wondrous works.
In this way, God sometimes advances His own plan by using various people. God speaks through many different individuals.
Therefore, let us treasure listening to the voices and opinions of others—those who hold different thoughts and views from our own—and to each other's voices.
Gamaliel's opinion was accepted, but before the apostles were released, they were flogged and again ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus.
Looking at verse 41, it says the disciples rejoiced that “they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name”.
And the passage ends with the description that they continued to proclaim the gospel about Jesus the Messiah (Savior) in the temple courts and from house to house.
The flogging must have been painful for them, and it must have been humiliating.
Yet, a joy surpassing the physical pain and humiliation was given to them. It was the joy of proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
For us today, who do not face such direct persecution, this passage may be difficult to grasp.
Yet even as modern believers, we may experience discomfort or unpleasant feelings—if not outright shame—when our Christian faith clashes with the prevailing trends and ideas of the society and world in which we live.
We pray for the society and world in which we live.
And we, saved by Christ, desire to value a faith-rooted way of life that cherishes what “comes from God” above the prevailing trends and common sense demanded by the world.
We today are alive because of the history of those early Christian believers—Peter and the other apostles—who, even amid persecution, continued proclaiming the gospel with God's help and the support of others.
Even when facing difficulties and hardships that come with having faith, even when we experience unpleasant feelings because of it, we desire to live out our faith with the hope and conviction that “if it is from God, you will not be able to stop.”
Prelude
Call to Worship Ecclesiastes 3:14
Hymn JBC # 618 Living for Jesus
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
Offering
Scripture Acts 5:27～42
Prayer
Sermon “If it is from God”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 520 My soul in sad exile
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
A Christian is one who follows Christ. Even if we cannot always live in accordance with Christ, a Christian is someone who has resolved to live in obedience to Christ, who is God.
We all live in obedience to something. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we live in obedience to some idea, our own experiences, our own hopes, or instructions and advice from others.
Christians certainly listen to their own thoughts and hopes, as well as advice from others.
However, Christians live with the teachings of Christ, who is God, and the words of the Bible as their most important guide and standard.
If their own guide or hope differs from what God says, Christians choose to live in obedience to God.
Christians should be resolved to do so. Yet this is not an easy thing.
In today's Scripture passage, Peter and the other disciples of Christ (the core members of the early church, called apostles) declare, “We must obey God rather than human beings” (verse 29).
From their figures, together today let’s think about what it means to live obeying God, to live seeking God's will.
In the passage preceding today's reading (the scene we heard in last week's worship message), the apostles had been arrested and put in prison.
They had been given strict orders not to speak in the name of Jesus Christ, yet they continued to preach the gospel of Christ, which is why they were arrested.
But an angel of the Lord came and opened the prison doors, leading them out. At that moment, the angel of the Lord said to them:
“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” (v.20)
Following that voice, the apostles were again teaching the people in the temple precincts (courts).
And they were arrested once more and brought before the Sanhedrin (the supreme court of Jewish society at that time)—this is today's Bible passage.
The Sanhedrin was arguably the highest authority and most powerful institution (organization) in Jewish society at that time.
The high priest said to the apostles:
28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (v.28)
Then Peter and the other apostles replied:
“We must obey God rather than human beings!
Even when questioned by the supreme court, which held considerable power and authority, and moreover by the high priest, the highest religious authority, Peter and the others were able to answer so boldly.
Was it their own strength that enabled Peter and the others to act so boldly? No, it was Jesus Christ, crucified (cross) and risen (resurrection).
Let us read verse 31. These are the words of Peter and the others.
31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.
This person (him) is Jesus Christ. Why did Christ die on the cross and then rise again?
Peter says it was to make all Israel, and ultimately all people, aware of their sin, to repent to God, so that people might be forgiven and saved.
That conviction gave Peter the strength to speak boldly even before the high priest.
Those saved by Christ crucified and risen become people who strive to live accordingly, with the conviction that “we must obey God rather than human beings.”
Obeying God rather than human beings does not mean disregarding or ignoring people. It means fearing the Lord, God, above all people.
The Bible commands us: “We must fear God alone, the source of our life and the Creator of all things in this world.”
I believe that when we possess the proper fear of God, we gradually become able to live a life of obeying God rather than human beings.
And when we learn to fear and revere God, we can also respect others besides ourselves, treating them as precious beings.
And when what God points us toward differs from what people or the society around us point us toward, we pray that as Christians we may be able to obey God.
We pray that each believer, and the church itself, may continually ponder the meaning of “obeying God rather than human beings” and put it into practice.
In today's passage, the members of the Sanhedrin, upon hearing the apostles' words, were furious and sought to kill them (verse 33).
But at that moment, help for the apostles came from a truly unexpected source (person).
It was none other than one of the members of the Sanhedrin himself who stood up within the council and called for calm judgment from all the council members.
He was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by the entire people and belonged to the Pharisee sect.
By all normal reasoning, he (Gamaliel) should have been on the side of the Sanhedrin members, in opposition to the apostles.
But unlike the high priest and the other Sanhedrin members, Gamaliel made a very fair and wise judgment, insisting, “consider carefully what you intend to do to these men (the apostles)”
Gamaliel reminded the council members of past events, urging them to learn from those lessons and make a calm judgment.
The first incident he mentioned was the uprising of a man named Theudas, who “claimed to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.”
He stated that Theudas was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
The second incident was the rebellion led by a Galilean named Judas. In the end, he too was destroyed, and all who followed him were scattered.
Then Gamaliel told the members of the Sanhedrin, “Leave these men alone. Do nothing to them.”
Let us hear his words in verses 38–39.
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
I believe Gamaliel was a remarkable man to have been able to make such a judgment.
It is safe to say that it was God Himself who gave Gamaliel this wise judgment and these words.
I believe Gamaliel's words contain several important teachings from God to us. I will share two that struck me.
First, the most important thing is to approach everything with caution, seeking God's will through prayer, and never making hasty judgments or taking impulsive action.
This means not acting solely driven by a sense of urgency—“I must do something!”—or by one's own emotions (such as anger).
The more important the matter, the more we should strive to make the best judgment possible—not through emotional decisions, but by praying, thinking, and seeking God's will.
The second is this: “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men”
Gamaliel may have believed Peter's work was from God.
In any case, he reasoned: “If it is of human origin, it will collapse on its own. It will never succeed. But if it is from God, no one can destroy them, for God is with them.”
It is surprising that such words of wisdom, such a calm and faith-filled judgment, came from someone who was supposedly opposed to the apostles.
At this moment, I believe it is fair to say that Peter and the other apostles were aided by their enemies. This too is one of God's wondrous works.
In this way, God sometimes advances His own plan by using various people. God speaks through many different individuals.
Therefore, let us treasure listening to the voices and opinions of others—those who hold different thoughts and views from our own—and to each other's voices.
Gamaliel's opinion was accepted, but before the apostles were released, they were flogged and again ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus.
Looking at verse 41, it says the disciples rejoiced that “they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name”.
And the passage ends with the description that they continued to proclaim the gospel about Jesus the Messiah (Savior) in the temple courts and from house to house.
The flogging must have been painful for them, and it must have been humiliating.
Yet, a joy surpassing the physical pain and humiliation was given to them. It was the joy of proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
For us today, who do not face such direct persecution, this passage may be difficult to grasp.
Yet even as modern believers, we may experience discomfort or unpleasant feelings—if not outright shame—when our Christian faith clashes with the prevailing trends and ideas of the society and world in which we live.
We pray for the society and world in which we live.
And we, saved by Christ, desire to value a faith-rooted way of life that cherishes what “comes from God” above the prevailing trends and common sense demanded by the world.
We today are alive because of the history of those early Christian believers—Peter and the other apostles—who, even amid persecution, continued proclaiming the gospel with God's help and the support of others.
Even when facing difficulties and hardships that come with having faith, even when we experience unpleasant feelings because of it, we desire to live out our faith with the hope and conviction that “if it is from God, you will not be able to stop.”
Saturday, August 23, 2025
August 24, 2025 Sunday Worship Service
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalms 33:6
Hymn JBC # 495 Thy way, not mine, O Lord
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC# 510 When we walk with the Lord
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 5:12~26
Prayer
Sermon Tell the people all about this new life.”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today's Bible passage begins with this sentence; “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.”
The disciples who were called apostles, who played a central role among Christ's disciples, performed many signs and wonders.
These included healing people's illnesses and casting out demons from those who were demon possessed.
Although the apostles performed such works, it was not their own power that made it possible.
It was the power of the Lord God.
And the fact that many signs and wonders were performed through the hands of the apostles was also evidence that God had answered their prayers.
They had prayed as follows in the passage preceding today's passage.
Acts 4:29～30
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
The apostles prayed that they would be able to boldly proclaim the word of God, even in the face of persecution from those who sought to hinder their evangelical work.
And even in difficult circumstances, they prayed that through the hand of God reaching out to them, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the sick would be healed and those in distress would be helped.
This was also the apostles' resolve: “May God's work be done. For this purpose, we dedicate ourselves and work as Your hands and feet.”
When we dedicate ourselves to God and pray, wishing “We will work for God,” God will surely answer our prayers.
Whether God hears our prayers depends on whether those who believe in Christ and pray make the decision to dedicate themselves to God.
Every time we dedicate ourselves and experience the faith that God's work is done through us, our faith is strengthened and grows.
We desire to accumulate such experiences of faith together, where we entrust ourselves to God, dedicate ourselves to Him, and see His work come to fruition.
In today's passage, it is also written that the apostles gathered together with one heart in Solomon’s Colonnade. Solomon's Colonnade was a long corridor outside the temple in Jerusalem.
Solomon's Colonnade was the place where Jesus once clearly told the Jews that he was the Messiah.
In John 10:22, it is written about the time when Jesus was walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)
Jesus answered: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, (John 10:25)
In today's passage, although Jesus was no longer physically present with the apostles, I imagine that they were recalling what Jesus had said to them in Solomon's Colonnade.
Jesus had declared in words that He was the Messiah (the Savior who redeems humanity from sin). That Jesus Christ is the Messiah was the very truth upon which the apostles stood.
Jesus also said, “There are those who do not believe, but the various works (deeds) that Jesus Himself performs will testify about Him.”
As the apostles recalled Jesus' those words and deeds, they likely hoped that God's glory would be revealed not only through their words but also through their actual works.
Their prayers and desires were heard by God. Through the various powerful works performed by the apostles, the kingdom of God was proclaimed to the people.
In the passage from verse 15 onward, it is written, “People would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them there so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
In verse 16, it is written that many sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits were brought to the apostles, and not one of them was left untreated.
“Not one of them was left untreated” means that everyone received what they truly desired.
From this, I was made to think that it would be wonderful if the current church could be a place where “everyone can receive what they truly desire.”
What is it that we truly desire?
I believe that each of us carries an unfulfilled heart. We have a longing for something to fill that unfulfilled heart.
It is a spiritual thirst and a desire of the soul. We try to fill it with various things.
However, the only One who can truly satisfy the thirst of our souls and spirits is the Lord God. Only the love of God revealed through Christ can fill our hearts.
In the church, I pray that each and every one of us who are connected to the church may be truly satisfied by God, who can truly satisfy our hearts and souls, and that we may all be healed without exception.
May each one of us be filled with the love of God, which is not temporary, but permanent, certain, and true. I sincerely pray that the church will always be filled with such love from God.
In the latter half of today's passage, it is written that jealousy arose among the high priest and his Sadducee toward the apostles. They arrested the apostles and put them in prison.
“Jealousy” is one of the most prominent characteristics of human sinfulness. The Bible states that it was the jealousy of the Jewish authorities that led to Jesus Christ being crucified.
For the high priest and the Sadducees, who formed the main sect of Judaism, it was unbearable that the apostles were performing powerful works and were being praised by the people.
The high priest and the Sadducees were supposed to be people who believe in God, convey God's will to the people, and encourage them to serve God.
If they had been truly faithful to their duties, there would have been no need for them to feel jealous of Christ's apostles, for God's work was being done through them.
However, rather than acknowledging the wonderful works being performed by the apostles, they felt jealous that the praise they believed they deserved was being directed toward the apostles, and this jealousy consumed their hearts.
And so they put the apostles in prison. But the Lord sent angels to rescue them.
We too may find ourselves in crisis situations. But even when we think there is no hope, the Lord God will send us the help and helpers we need, according to His plan.
After Jesus was crucified, died, and buried in the tomb, the women went to the tomb on the third day to anoint His body with spices. It was Easter morning.
The entrance to the tomb was covered with a large stone, but the women hurried to the tomb without knowing who would roll the stone away. (Mark 16) However, when the women arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled aside.
Just as the stone blocking the entrance to Christ's tomb—a major obstacle—had been moved, when we are confused and troubled, wondering, “What should we do?” God will surely provide help at that time.
God will surely give us the help and guidance we need according to His plan, so let us trust in God and continue to move forward, even if only little by little, even in the midst of difficulties.
The angel of the Lord opened the door of the prison where the apostles were being held, led them out, and said to them,
Verse 20: “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about (the words of) this new life.”
(In the NIV version, it is written “all about this new life”, but in the original Greek version, it is written “all about the words of this new life.”)
“Proclaim this word of life to all the people”—this is still the mission given to us as Christians today.
In the church, the word of God (the words of the Bible) is heard and shared. And the word of God is the word of life. For we humans are those who live by the word of God.
The word of God is not merely a word that is “useful for living, so it is better to hear it than not to hear it.” The word of God is the word of life for us to live.
God has ordained that this word be preserved by those who believe in it, by the church, heard, and transmitted to the world.
In today's passage, the Lord God sent an angel to assist the apostles, but it was not merely to save them at that time.
It was so that the word of life, that is, God's word, might be transmitted to many people and eventually to the whole world.
The work of hearing God's words, living by God's words, and spreading God's words to the world has been carried on continuously from the time of the first Christian church about 2,000 years ago to the present day.
“To speak all the words of life”—this is not something that can be accomplished by a single Christian, a single church, or a single era.
However, with the goal of accomplishing this, Christians continue to speak God's words without any omission. Through such work, we come to live and be sustained by the word of God.
God has given us His words of life through Jesus Christ.
We can never hide or lock away God's words of life just somewhere.
Let us listen to every word that Jesus Christ spoke throughout His life.
Let us be filled with God's words, share the overflowing grace with others, and proclaim it to the world.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalms 33:6
Hymn JBC # 495 Thy way, not mine, O Lord
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC# 510 When we walk with the Lord
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 5:12~26
Prayer
Sermon Tell the people all about this new life.”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today's Bible passage begins with this sentence; “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.”
The disciples who were called apostles, who played a central role among Christ's disciples, performed many signs and wonders.
These included healing people's illnesses and casting out demons from those who were demon possessed.
Although the apostles performed such works, it was not their own power that made it possible.
It was the power of the Lord God.
And the fact that many signs and wonders were performed through the hands of the apostles was also evidence that God had answered their prayers.
They had prayed as follows in the passage preceding today's passage.
Acts 4:29～30
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
The apostles prayed that they would be able to boldly proclaim the word of God, even in the face of persecution from those who sought to hinder their evangelical work.
And even in difficult circumstances, they prayed that through the hand of God reaching out to them, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the sick would be healed and those in distress would be helped.
This was also the apostles' resolve: “May God's work be done. For this purpose, we dedicate ourselves and work as Your hands and feet.”
When we dedicate ourselves to God and pray, wishing “We will work for God,” God will surely answer our prayers.
Whether God hears our prayers depends on whether those who believe in Christ and pray make the decision to dedicate themselves to God.
Every time we dedicate ourselves and experience the faith that God's work is done through us, our faith is strengthened and grows.
We desire to accumulate such experiences of faith together, where we entrust ourselves to God, dedicate ourselves to Him, and see His work come to fruition.
In today's passage, it is also written that the apostles gathered together with one heart in Solomon’s Colonnade. Solomon's Colonnade was a long corridor outside the temple in Jerusalem.
Solomon's Colonnade was the place where Jesus once clearly told the Jews that he was the Messiah.
In John 10:22, it is written about the time when Jesus was walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24)
Jesus answered: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, (John 10:25)
In today's passage, although Jesus was no longer physically present with the apostles, I imagine that they were recalling what Jesus had said to them in Solomon's Colonnade.
Jesus had declared in words that He was the Messiah (the Savior who redeems humanity from sin). That Jesus Christ is the Messiah was the very truth upon which the apostles stood.
Jesus also said, “There are those who do not believe, but the various works (deeds) that Jesus Himself performs will testify about Him.”
As the apostles recalled Jesus' those words and deeds, they likely hoped that God's glory would be revealed not only through their words but also through their actual works.
Their prayers and desires were heard by God. Through the various powerful works performed by the apostles, the kingdom of God was proclaimed to the people.
In the passage from verse 15 onward, it is written, “People would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them there so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
In verse 16, it is written that many sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits were brought to the apostles, and not one of them was left untreated.
“Not one of them was left untreated” means that everyone received what they truly desired.
From this, I was made to think that it would be wonderful if the current church could be a place where “everyone can receive what they truly desire.”
What is it that we truly desire?
I believe that each of us carries an unfulfilled heart. We have a longing for something to fill that unfulfilled heart.
It is a spiritual thirst and a desire of the soul. We try to fill it with various things.
However, the only One who can truly satisfy the thirst of our souls and spirits is the Lord God. Only the love of God revealed through Christ can fill our hearts.
In the church, I pray that each and every one of us who are connected to the church may be truly satisfied by God, who can truly satisfy our hearts and souls, and that we may all be healed without exception.
May each one of us be filled with the love of God, which is not temporary, but permanent, certain, and true. I sincerely pray that the church will always be filled with such love from God.
In the latter half of today's passage, it is written that jealousy arose among the high priest and his Sadducee toward the apostles. They arrested the apostles and put them in prison.
“Jealousy” is one of the most prominent characteristics of human sinfulness. The Bible states that it was the jealousy of the Jewish authorities that led to Jesus Christ being crucified.
For the high priest and the Sadducees, who formed the main sect of Judaism, it was unbearable that the apostles were performing powerful works and were being praised by the people.
The high priest and the Sadducees were supposed to be people who believe in God, convey God's will to the people, and encourage them to serve God.
If they had been truly faithful to their duties, there would have been no need for them to feel jealous of Christ's apostles, for God's work was being done through them.
However, rather than acknowledging the wonderful works being performed by the apostles, they felt jealous that the praise they believed they deserved was being directed toward the apostles, and this jealousy consumed their hearts.
And so they put the apostles in prison. But the Lord sent angels to rescue them.
We too may find ourselves in crisis situations. But even when we think there is no hope, the Lord God will send us the help and helpers we need, according to His plan.
After Jesus was crucified, died, and buried in the tomb, the women went to the tomb on the third day to anoint His body with spices. It was Easter morning.
The entrance to the tomb was covered with a large stone, but the women hurried to the tomb without knowing who would roll the stone away. (Mark 16) However, when the women arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled aside.
Just as the stone blocking the entrance to Christ's tomb—a major obstacle—had been moved, when we are confused and troubled, wondering, “What should we do?” God will surely provide help at that time.
God will surely give us the help and guidance we need according to His plan, so let us trust in God and continue to move forward, even if only little by little, even in the midst of difficulties.
The angel of the Lord opened the door of the prison where the apostles were being held, led them out, and said to them,
Verse 20: “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about (the words of) this new life.”
(In the NIV version, it is written “all about this new life”, but in the original Greek version, it is written “all about the words of this new life.”)
“Proclaim this word of life to all the people”—this is still the mission given to us as Christians today.
In the church, the word of God (the words of the Bible) is heard and shared. And the word of God is the word of life. For we humans are those who live by the word of God.
The word of God is not merely a word that is “useful for living, so it is better to hear it than not to hear it.” The word of God is the word of life for us to live.
God has ordained that this word be preserved by those who believe in it, by the church, heard, and transmitted to the world.
In today's passage, the Lord God sent an angel to assist the apostles, but it was not merely to save them at that time.
It was so that the word of life, that is, God's word, might be transmitted to many people and eventually to the whole world.
The work of hearing God's words, living by God's words, and spreading God's words to the world has been carried on continuously from the time of the first Christian church about 2,000 years ago to the present day.
“To speak all the words of life”—this is not something that can be accomplished by a single Christian, a single church, or a single era.
However, with the goal of accomplishing this, Christians continue to speak God's words without any omission. Through such work, we come to live and be sustained by the word of God.
God has given us His words of life through Jesus Christ.
We can never hide or lock away God's words of life just somewhere.
Let us listen to every word that Jesus Christ spoke throughout His life.
Let us be filled with God's words, share the overflowing grace with others, and proclaim it to the world.
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Sunday Worship Service for those who have passed on
Prelude
Call to Worship 2 Peter 1:3
Hymn JBC #240 Jesus Christ is risen today
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #510 When we walk the Lord
Offering
Remembering those who have passed on
Scripture Lamentations 3:22~33
Prayer
Sermon “The Lord’s great love never ceases”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 601 Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today, we are offering Sunday worship as a memorial service for those who have passed on.
In front of you are photographs of those who have passed away from our church. Earlier, I read out their names.
Those include members of our church, family members of church members, and even those who were not members of the church but with whose passing the church or pastor was involved, and for whom we held a funeral service at the church.
Among those with whom I had direct contact, there were some who were aware that their death was approaching and were preparing for it.
On the other hand, there were some who were unexpectedly called to heaven suddenly.
Death will inevitably come to us all. No one knows when or how death will come. Because we don't know it, death causes us anxiety.
And, losing a loved one brings us great sadness.
In addition to the sadness of losing a loved one, there are other painful events in our lives that cause us suffering, sadness, and sometimes even despair.
How should we deal with such sadness, or even despair? Let us listen to a passage from the Old Testament book of ‘Lamentations’, which is today's Bible reading.
Lamentations conveys the words of lamentation (weeping) of Jeremiah, a prophet (a person who received words from God and conveyed them to the people).
Jeremiah's prophetic words are recorded in the Book of ‘Jeremiah’, which precedes Lamentations.
In this Lamentations, Jeremiah mourns a single death. It was the death of his own country. His country (the Kingdom of Judah) was destroyed by the neighboring empire (the Babylonian Empire).
Why was his country destroyed? I believe that Jeremiah felt great doubt, sorrow, and suffering about this.
The Book of Jeremiah begins with an account of how Jeremiah was first called by God and appointed as a prophet.
Let us read Jeremiah 1:4-5.
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
This story takes place in what is now Israel, around the 7th to 6th centuries BC.
At that time, Israel was divided into Northern Israel and Southern Judah, and Northern Israel had already been destroyed by the Assyrian Empire.
Even when God told Jeremiah, “I chose you as a prophet before you were born,” Jeremiah hesitated to respond to God's call, saying, “I am only a young man. I do not know how to speak.”
However, God encouraged Jeremiah by saying, “Do not say that you are too young.”
God also said to Jeremiah, let me read from Jeremiah 1:9.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.
God promised Jeremiah, “I will give you the words to speak to the people, so you need not worry.”
And Jeremiah, as a prophet, continued to convey God's words to the people of Israel, calling on them to “believe in God, turn away from sin, and return to God.”
Was the prophet Jeremiah successful in his work as a prophet?
As I mentioned earlier, his country (the Kingdom of Judah) was eventually destroyed, the temple was demolished, and many of the Jewish people were taken captive to the Babylonian Empire, which had conquered them.
Witnessing the destruction of his country, Jeremiah must have felt disappointed, thinking that his work as a prophet had failed.
Jeremiah must have been in great pain and sorrow. His lamentations were recorded in the Book of Lamentations.
I think everyone experiences sadness in their lives. I think everyone experiences suffering in their lives. There is no such thing as a life without sadness or suffering.
The cause of Jeremiah's sorrow and suffering was that “even though he worked hard to convey God's words to the people of his country (Israel), many people did not listen to his words, and in the end, the country was destroyed.”
Jeremiah seemed to have lost hope in himself. “Everything I've done has been in vain. Was there any meaning to my life and work?” he must have thought.
Jeremiah certainly reached his own limits.
This can be understood from the first half of verse 18, which precedes today's passage.
So I say, “My splendor (*in Japanese “the power to live”) is gone
Jeremiah says, “My power to live is gone.” This means that it is no longer possible to live by his own strength.
However, when Jeremiah realized that “it is enough, impossible, I can do nothing on my own,” an important truth was revealed to him.
That is the message of today's Bible passage: “The Lord's mercy never ceases,” (NIV: “the Lord’s great love we are not consumed”), and “The Lord's compassions never fail.”
Jeremiah clearly recognized his own powerlessness, weakness, and helplessness, saying, “My splendor (strength) is gone.”
However, the mercy (love) of the Lord God is unending and never ceases, and the compassion of the Lord God will never run out for us. This was clearly shown to Jeremiah when he realized his own powerlessness.
The message conveyed throughout the Bible is that “even though the Israelites, God's chosen people, continued to disobey Him, God never gave up on His love for them.”
Jeremiah's words tell us that even though we continue to disobey God and are sinners, God will never completely abandon us.
Even if it seems like the country has fallen and there is no hope left, and even if you feel like you cannot survive on your own, it is actually at times like these that a new beginning awaits.
Christian churches hold weekly worship services. The focus of worship is Jesus Christ and the words of Jesus Christ, namely the words of the Bible.
The words of the Bible convey to us the hope that “the Lord's love never ceases, it is new every morning,” just as it is written in today's passage.
If we open our hearts, humble ourselves before the Lord God (acknowledging our own powerlessness), and face God's Word, then each time we do so, the words of the Bible will come to us with new resonance and power.
On the cross, Jesus Christ gave His life for us, and even now He continues to say to us, “I love you. I will never give up on you.”
The Lord's endless mercy (love) and compassion are revealed to us through the words of the Bible. Therefore, we continue to listen to the words of the Bible and continue to worship centered on the words of the Bible.
In the Bible, there is a story about Jesus Christ multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish through prayer and feeding thousands of people, leaving them all full. The great work of the miracle by Christ.
In this way, Christ continues to satisfy our spiritual, mental, and emotional hunger and thirst through the power of His Word, giving us the strength to live.
Even when our own strength fails us, when we surrender everything to God, we come to believe in the truth that “God's love never fails and never ceases.”
We sincerely wish to give thanks for the endless love of God, which we can always receive through His Word and worship.
Let's read verses 27-28 of today's passage.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
A yoke is a tool placed around the necks of cows and horses for agricultural work (plowing fields). When yoked, cows and horses are unable to move freely.
From this, we can see that the yoke is a metaphor for the burdens, hardships, and sufferings that we bear in our lives.
In everyone's life, there may be times when they are burdened with a heavy load, as if a yoke were placed around their neck. At such times, “let him sit alone in silence” does not mean “do nothing” or “just endure.”
It means, “Give up your own power and entrust yourself to the Lord. Return to God.”
Jesus Christ said the following.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28～30)
I think we all have to bear various kinds of “yokes” in our lives.
To us, Jesus says, “Come to me and take my (Christ's) yoke upon you, and you will find rest.”
Why is Jesus' yoke “easy to bear”? It is because Jesus bears that yoke with us.
Even the burdens we feel as if we are carrying it alone, in fact Jesus is with us and carries them with us.
Let us live our lives believing in Jesus Christ, who bears our burdens with us.
The departed souls we remember today must have each had their own burdens, sorrows, and hardships in their lives.
When you remember that suffering and sadness, some of your close friends and family members may still feel pain in their hearts and a wrenching pain in their chests.
However, we can believe that Jesus was with those who had passed away, sharing in their suffering and sorrow, and bearing their burdens with them.
And Jesus bears our burdens with us today too. Even if we cannot bear them on our own, we can live by entrusting them to Jesus, who bears them with us.
Living involves pain and sadness.
However, the Bible tells us that sorrow eventually leads us to know God, whose love never ends, and guides us to God.
No matter how much sorrow or suffering we experience, nothing can prevent us from worshipping God, praying, and praising Him (praising God, not humans).
In today's worship service, as we remember those who have passed away, let us reaffirm our belief that we are being kept alive each morning by the Lord's mercy, love, and compassion, and let us rejoice and give thanks for this, and resolve to walk forward in the days ahead.
Prelude
Call to Worship 2 Peter 1:3
Hymn JBC #240 Jesus Christ is risen today
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #510 When we walk the Lord
Offering
Remembering those who have passed on
Scripture Lamentations 3:22~33
Prayer
Sermon “The Lord’s great love never ceases”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 601 Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today, we are offering Sunday worship as a memorial service for those who have passed on.
In front of you are photographs of those who have passed away from our church. Earlier, I read out their names.
Those include members of our church, family members of church members, and even those who were not members of the church but with whose passing the church or pastor was involved, and for whom we held a funeral service at the church.
Among those with whom I had direct contact, there were some who were aware that their death was approaching and were preparing for it.
On the other hand, there were some who were unexpectedly called to heaven suddenly.
Death will inevitably come to us all. No one knows when or how death will come. Because we don't know it, death causes us anxiety.
And, losing a loved one brings us great sadness.
In addition to the sadness of losing a loved one, there are other painful events in our lives that cause us suffering, sadness, and sometimes even despair.
How should we deal with such sadness, or even despair? Let us listen to a passage from the Old Testament book of ‘Lamentations’, which is today's Bible reading.
Lamentations conveys the words of lamentation (weeping) of Jeremiah, a prophet (a person who received words from God and conveyed them to the people).
Jeremiah's prophetic words are recorded in the Book of ‘Jeremiah’, which precedes Lamentations.
In this Lamentations, Jeremiah mourns a single death. It was the death of his own country. His country (the Kingdom of Judah) was destroyed by the neighboring empire (the Babylonian Empire).
Why was his country destroyed? I believe that Jeremiah felt great doubt, sorrow, and suffering about this.
The Book of Jeremiah begins with an account of how Jeremiah was first called by God and appointed as a prophet.
Let us read Jeremiah 1:4-5.
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
This story takes place in what is now Israel, around the 7th to 6th centuries BC.
At that time, Israel was divided into Northern Israel and Southern Judah, and Northern Israel had already been destroyed by the Assyrian Empire.
Even when God told Jeremiah, “I chose you as a prophet before you were born,” Jeremiah hesitated to respond to God's call, saying, “I am only a young man. I do not know how to speak.”
However, God encouraged Jeremiah by saying, “Do not say that you are too young.”
God also said to Jeremiah, let me read from Jeremiah 1:9.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.
God promised Jeremiah, “I will give you the words to speak to the people, so you need not worry.”
And Jeremiah, as a prophet, continued to convey God's words to the people of Israel, calling on them to “believe in God, turn away from sin, and return to God.”
Was the prophet Jeremiah successful in his work as a prophet?
As I mentioned earlier, his country (the Kingdom of Judah) was eventually destroyed, the temple was demolished, and many of the Jewish people were taken captive to the Babylonian Empire, which had conquered them.
Witnessing the destruction of his country, Jeremiah must have felt disappointed, thinking that his work as a prophet had failed.
Jeremiah must have been in great pain and sorrow. His lamentations were recorded in the Book of Lamentations.
I think everyone experiences sadness in their lives. I think everyone experiences suffering in their lives. There is no such thing as a life without sadness or suffering.
The cause of Jeremiah's sorrow and suffering was that “even though he worked hard to convey God's words to the people of his country (Israel), many people did not listen to his words, and in the end, the country was destroyed.”
Jeremiah seemed to have lost hope in himself. “Everything I've done has been in vain. Was there any meaning to my life and work?” he must have thought.
Jeremiah certainly reached his own limits.
This can be understood from the first half of verse 18, which precedes today's passage.
So I say, “My splendor (*in Japanese “the power to live”) is gone
Jeremiah says, “My power to live is gone.” This means that it is no longer possible to live by his own strength.
However, when Jeremiah realized that “it is enough, impossible, I can do nothing on my own,” an important truth was revealed to him.
That is the message of today's Bible passage: “The Lord's mercy never ceases,” (NIV: “the Lord’s great love we are not consumed”), and “The Lord's compassions never fail.”
Jeremiah clearly recognized his own powerlessness, weakness, and helplessness, saying, “My splendor (strength) is gone.”
However, the mercy (love) of the Lord God is unending and never ceases, and the compassion of the Lord God will never run out for us. This was clearly shown to Jeremiah when he realized his own powerlessness.
The message conveyed throughout the Bible is that “even though the Israelites, God's chosen people, continued to disobey Him, God never gave up on His love for them.”
Jeremiah's words tell us that even though we continue to disobey God and are sinners, God will never completely abandon us.
Even if it seems like the country has fallen and there is no hope left, and even if you feel like you cannot survive on your own, it is actually at times like these that a new beginning awaits.
Christian churches hold weekly worship services. The focus of worship is Jesus Christ and the words of Jesus Christ, namely the words of the Bible.
The words of the Bible convey to us the hope that “the Lord's love never ceases, it is new every morning,” just as it is written in today's passage.
If we open our hearts, humble ourselves before the Lord God (acknowledging our own powerlessness), and face God's Word, then each time we do so, the words of the Bible will come to us with new resonance and power.
On the cross, Jesus Christ gave His life for us, and even now He continues to say to us, “I love you. I will never give up on you.”
The Lord's endless mercy (love) and compassion are revealed to us through the words of the Bible. Therefore, we continue to listen to the words of the Bible and continue to worship centered on the words of the Bible.
In the Bible, there is a story about Jesus Christ multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish through prayer and feeding thousands of people, leaving them all full. The great work of the miracle by Christ.
In this way, Christ continues to satisfy our spiritual, mental, and emotional hunger and thirst through the power of His Word, giving us the strength to live.
Even when our own strength fails us, when we surrender everything to God, we come to believe in the truth that “God's love never fails and never ceases.”
We sincerely wish to give thanks for the endless love of God, which we can always receive through His Word and worship.
Let's read verses 27-28 of today's passage.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
A yoke is a tool placed around the necks of cows and horses for agricultural work (plowing fields). When yoked, cows and horses are unable to move freely.
From this, we can see that the yoke is a metaphor for the burdens, hardships, and sufferings that we bear in our lives.
In everyone's life, there may be times when they are burdened with a heavy load, as if a yoke were placed around their neck. At such times, “let him sit alone in silence” does not mean “do nothing” or “just endure.”
It means, “Give up your own power and entrust yourself to the Lord. Return to God.”
Jesus Christ said the following.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28～30)
I think we all have to bear various kinds of “yokes” in our lives.
To us, Jesus says, “Come to me and take my (Christ's) yoke upon you, and you will find rest.”
Why is Jesus' yoke “easy to bear”? It is because Jesus bears that yoke with us.
Even the burdens we feel as if we are carrying it alone, in fact Jesus is with us and carries them with us.
Let us live our lives believing in Jesus Christ, who bears our burdens with us.
The departed souls we remember today must have each had their own burdens, sorrows, and hardships in their lives.
When you remember that suffering and sadness, some of your close friends and family members may still feel pain in their hearts and a wrenching pain in their chests.
However, we can believe that Jesus was with those who had passed away, sharing in their suffering and sorrow, and bearing their burdens with them.
And Jesus bears our burdens with us today too. Even if we cannot bear them on our own, we can live by entrusting them to Jesus, who bears them with us.
Living involves pain and sadness.
However, the Bible tells us that sorrow eventually leads us to know God, whose love never ends, and guides us to God.
No matter how much sorrow or suffering we experience, nothing can prevent us from worshipping God, praying, and praising Him (praising God, not humans).
In today's worship service, as we remember those who have passed away, let us reaffirm our belief that we are being kept alive each morning by the Lord's mercy, love, and compassion, and let us rejoice and give thanks for this, and resolve to walk forward in the days ahead.
Saturday, August 9, 2025
August 10, 2025 Sunday (Peace) Worship Service
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 36:9 (NIV)
Hymn JBC # 26 We praise You, O God, our Redeemer
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #510 When we walk with the Lord
Offering
Scripture Isaiah 2:1～5
Prayer
Sermon “Let us walk in the light of the Lord”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 330 Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today our service is dedicated to peace.
The last world war (World War Two) ended in August 1945 with Japan’s defeat, and for this reason our thoughts turn to peace particularly in August.
This year, 2025, marks the 80th year since the end of World War Two. However, even before then, since ancient times, there has always been war and conflict amongst mankind throughout history.
Even since the War there have been many conflicts and wars that have broken out throughout the world, and even now there are conflicts continuing in many regions.
This can make us want to give up on peace, wondering if peace can be achieved and if it’s even possible.
But today, looking at the words of the Bible that have been given to us, I would like us to turn out thoughts again to peace, and to consider together how the peace of God can be made a reality in our world, and in our immediate surroundings.
Today’s Bible passage is from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet in Old Testament times, and verse 1 in chapter 1 tells us that he was “Isaiah son of Amoz”.
Isaiah was a prophet who was active in the southern kingdom of Judah, during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (at that time Israel was divided into Israel to the north and Judah to the south).
This was in approximately the late 8th to early 7th centuries BC.
Prophets were people who bore the duty of receiving the word from God and sharing it with the people. There was not just one prophet, but many. Even during the same age, there were many who was chosen as prophets.
The word of God was not something that could be told through one single person.
God chose many people, and made it so that they used their various languages to spread the word of God in their different times and places.
Since I was appointed to work as the pastor here at Beppu International Baptist Church, I have taken on the responsibility where my main duty is to share the word of God through sermons.
There are many other people who have taken on the role of being pastors (within Japan and throughout the world), and there are many Christian churches.
Each church, each pastor, and each and every believer lives in the Word they have received and bears the duty of sharing the Word with others.
There is no one person, or one church, that is right and holds the truth.
If there are any pastors who say “Only what I say is the truth”, or any churches that say “Only what our church says is the truth”, please do not put your trust in those pastors or those churches.
So long as they are human, there is no way that any pastor or any church can be always and completely perfect.
No person or church can ever be perfect. No one can claim that “I alone am right”. Remembering this is essential on the path to peace.
Even so, we shouldn’t give up and think “I’m an imperfect human anyways, I don’t know anything about God”.
We may be imperfect, but our father God is perfect, and He has revealed Himself to us through His son, Jesus Christ.
And now, we don’t need to doubt in that we have received the Bible, the Word of the only true and perfect God.
There may be times when we misunderstand the word of God, and do not take its meaning correctly.
But, we can rest assured knowing that we have the God of Jesus Christ, who is perfect in righteousness and in absolute truth.
Through His Word, God has made it so that we can be in touch with God’s message and God’s truth.
Christ is always and forever with us, and we always have the words of the Bible that reveal Jesus to us.
In light of this, let us continue to listen together to God’s message, to the voice of God that is always available to us through the Bible.
In verse 2 of today’s passage, it says “In the last days”.
The words of today’s passage are about a vision seen by the prophet Isaiah. This was a vision that Isaiah saw of what would happen in the future, after his time.
The “last days” are a very important matter for Christianity. This is the time when God’s Kingdom is made complete.
In the Bible, in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 (at the very beginning of the Bible), it tells us that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
God first created the heavens, and created everything that’s in our world.
There are people who think that “There was no beginning, there is no end, the world exists by chance, humans are born by chance, and all we do is live and die.”
But the Bible clearly tells us that in the beginning God created the world. And even more than that, that God created this world with purpose and intent.
God created the world and saw that it was good. And God also appointed mankind as rulers over the good earth He had created (Genesis 1:28).
Ruling does not mean that we make use of nature and plants and animals as we please for only our own benefit and enjoyment.
Rather, it means we have been entrusted by God with the duty of being caretakers of this good world, maintaining harmony and peace in this world God created.
In order to fulfill this duty, we need to always heed the will and voice of our Creator God. This is the only way we are able to fulfill the role God has given us.
Let us humbly listen to the words of the Bible, the words of our Creator God who created us with a purpose, and make this our way of life.
The day will come when this world that was started by God’s creation will come to an end, the last days.
What will happen during the last days? Let’s look again at verses 2 and 3 of today’s passage.
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
It says that “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”
This means that all nations and many peoples will move towards the same landmark, the mountain of the Lord’s temple.
It is written that “On the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths”.
Perhaps the reason that our world is not at peace, or that peace has not been accomplished, is that nations and peoples are all heading in their own different directions.
Also, people claim that the path they are taking is right, that they are heading in the right direction, and judge one another, and I think this is why we have conflict surrounding us.
Are we able to come together and agree on what to do, and then walk that path together?
The path mentioned in Isaish’s vision, where it says, “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths”, this path is Jesus Christ.
When all nations and all people walk the one true path that is Jesus Christ, that is when we will see the world in true peace.
Why is this so? Because when we walk the true path that is Jesus Christ, that is when the following words of the prophecy in today’s passage will come to pass.
Let’s look at verse 4.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
It says that the Lord will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. It will not be us humans who judge, but God himself who is the Lord and true judge.
Because God is the One, who knows perfectly what is good and evil, and this means that our Lord God will settle the disputes between us.
The passage says that we will listen to the Word of the Lord earnestly, we will follow the teachings of the Lord, and when we interact with others, it will be like in the words of verse 4. Let’s read the second half of that verse together.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 36:9 (NIV)
Hymn JBC # 26 We praise You, O God, our Redeemer
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #510 When we walk with the Lord
Offering
Scripture Isaiah 2:1～5
Prayer
Sermon “Let us walk in the light of the Lord”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 330 Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today our service is dedicated to peace.
The last world war (World War Two) ended in August 1945 with Japan’s defeat, and for this reason our thoughts turn to peace particularly in August.
This year, 2025, marks the 80th year since the end of World War Two. However, even before then, since ancient times, there has always been war and conflict amongst mankind throughout history.
Even since the War there have been many conflicts and wars that have broken out throughout the world, and even now there are conflicts continuing in many regions.
This can make us want to give up on peace, wondering if peace can be achieved and if it’s even possible.
But today, looking at the words of the Bible that have been given to us, I would like us to turn out thoughts again to peace, and to consider together how the peace of God can be made a reality in our world, and in our immediate surroundings.
Today’s Bible passage is from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet in Old Testament times, and verse 1 in chapter 1 tells us that he was “Isaiah son of Amoz”.
Isaiah was a prophet who was active in the southern kingdom of Judah, during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (at that time Israel was divided into Israel to the north and Judah to the south).
This was in approximately the late 8th to early 7th centuries BC.
Prophets were people who bore the duty of receiving the word from God and sharing it with the people. There was not just one prophet, but many. Even during the same age, there were many who was chosen as prophets.
The word of God was not something that could be told through one single person.
God chose many people, and made it so that they used their various languages to spread the word of God in their different times and places.
Since I was appointed to work as the pastor here at Beppu International Baptist Church, I have taken on the responsibility where my main duty is to share the word of God through sermons.
There are many other people who have taken on the role of being pastors (within Japan and throughout the world), and there are many Christian churches.
Each church, each pastor, and each and every believer lives in the Word they have received and bears the duty of sharing the Word with others.
There is no one person, or one church, that is right and holds the truth.
If there are any pastors who say “Only what I say is the truth”, or any churches that say “Only what our church says is the truth”, please do not put your trust in those pastors or those churches.
So long as they are human, there is no way that any pastor or any church can be always and completely perfect.
No person or church can ever be perfect. No one can claim that “I alone am right”. Remembering this is essential on the path to peace.
Even so, we shouldn’t give up and think “I’m an imperfect human anyways, I don’t know anything about God”.
We may be imperfect, but our father God is perfect, and He has revealed Himself to us through His son, Jesus Christ.
And now, we don’t need to doubt in that we have received the Bible, the Word of the only true and perfect God.
There may be times when we misunderstand the word of God, and do not take its meaning correctly.
But, we can rest assured knowing that we have the God of Jesus Christ, who is perfect in righteousness and in absolute truth.
Through His Word, God has made it so that we can be in touch with God’s message and God’s truth.
Christ is always and forever with us, and we always have the words of the Bible that reveal Jesus to us.
In light of this, let us continue to listen together to God’s message, to the voice of God that is always available to us through the Bible.
In verse 2 of today’s passage, it says “In the last days”.
The words of today’s passage are about a vision seen by the prophet Isaiah. This was a vision that Isaiah saw of what would happen in the future, after his time.
The “last days” are a very important matter for Christianity. This is the time when God’s Kingdom is made complete.
In the Bible, in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 (at the very beginning of the Bible), it tells us that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
God first created the heavens, and created everything that’s in our world.
There are people who think that “There was no beginning, there is no end, the world exists by chance, humans are born by chance, and all we do is live and die.”
But the Bible clearly tells us that in the beginning God created the world. And even more than that, that God created this world with purpose and intent.
God created the world and saw that it was good. And God also appointed mankind as rulers over the good earth He had created (Genesis 1:28).
Ruling does not mean that we make use of nature and plants and animals as we please for only our own benefit and enjoyment.
Rather, it means we have been entrusted by God with the duty of being caretakers of this good world, maintaining harmony and peace in this world God created.
In order to fulfill this duty, we need to always heed the will and voice of our Creator God. This is the only way we are able to fulfill the role God has given us.
Let us humbly listen to the words of the Bible, the words of our Creator God who created us with a purpose, and make this our way of life.
The day will come when this world that was started by God’s creation will come to an end, the last days.
What will happen during the last days? Let’s look again at verses 2 and 3 of today’s passage.
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
It says that “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”
This means that all nations and many peoples will move towards the same landmark, the mountain of the Lord’s temple.
It is written that “On the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths”.
Perhaps the reason that our world is not at peace, or that peace has not been accomplished, is that nations and peoples are all heading in their own different directions.
Also, people claim that the path they are taking is right, that they are heading in the right direction, and judge one another, and I think this is why we have conflict surrounding us.
Are we able to come together and agree on what to do, and then walk that path together?
The path mentioned in Isaish’s vision, where it says, “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths”, this path is Jesus Christ.
When all nations and all people walk the one true path that is Jesus Christ, that is when we will see the world in true peace.
Why is this so? Because when we walk the true path that is Jesus Christ, that is when the following words of the prophecy in today’s passage will come to pass.
Let’s look at verse 4.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
It says that the Lord will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. It will not be us humans who judge, but God himself who is the Lord and true judge.
Because God is the One, who knows perfectly what is good and evil, and this means that our Lord God will settle the disputes between us.
The passage says that we will listen to the Word of the Lord earnestly, we will follow the teachings of the Lord, and when we interact with others, it will be like in the words of verse 4. Let’s read the second half of that verse together.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
The same materials (such as iron or wood) that can be made into weapons such as swords and spears to hurt others, these same materials can be turned into tools to harvest food for everyone to live together.
How is it that will be able to remake swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks?
To that end, we need remember what Jesus has already accomplished for us.
Christ took on the judgement (or punishment) that should have been ours, and went to the cross in our place.
In our place, our heavenly father God instead placed the judgement of the Cross on His only son Jesus Christ, who is perfectly without sin.
Jesus took all the hostility, hatred, jealousy, envy and contempt, everything that is in our hearts that is the cause of conflict between us as humans, He took all of that upon Himself on the cross.
In so doing, Jesus took upon Himself all evil, the very sinful nature we have as humans.
When we live in obedience to and heed Jesus’ words, when we remember what Jesus has done for us on the Cross, then we will surely be able to change our swords for plowshares, and our spears for pruning hooks.
This is because Jesus took everything on himself, the sinful nature of our hearts that oppose peace. This is the promise of the Bible.
Let’s look at the final words in today’s passage (the title of today’s message).
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
“The descendants of Jacob” (in the Japanese it says the “house of Jacob”) mean all the people of Israel, and also refers to all Christians today.
Let us not hide away in the darkness of our own sin, in the darkness of separation from God, but let us walk in the light of Jesus Christ, in the light of His Word.
This path is not one where people hurt each other, but one where people understand each other and help each other as we live together. It is the path of peace where we work together to gather the food we need and live together, the path that leads to the Kingdom of God.
And this is not a dream-like fantasy of a far-off future that will only happen well into the future.
Rather, we can be sure that this is something that is already happening now that Jesus Christ has come into the world once already to bring us salvation.
To close, I would like to read Psalm 36 verse 9.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
Let us continue to walk together in the light of Christ.
How is it that will be able to remake swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks?
To that end, we need remember what Jesus has already accomplished for us.
Christ took on the judgement (or punishment) that should have been ours, and went to the cross in our place.
In our place, our heavenly father God instead placed the judgement of the Cross on His only son Jesus Christ, who is perfectly without sin.
Jesus took all the hostility, hatred, jealousy, envy and contempt, everything that is in our hearts that is the cause of conflict between us as humans, He took all of that upon Himself on the cross.
In so doing, Jesus took upon Himself all evil, the very sinful nature we have as humans.
When we live in obedience to and heed Jesus’ words, when we remember what Jesus has done for us on the Cross, then we will surely be able to change our swords for plowshares, and our spears for pruning hooks.
This is because Jesus took everything on himself, the sinful nature of our hearts that oppose peace. This is the promise of the Bible.
Let’s look at the final words in today’s passage (the title of today’s message).
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
“The descendants of Jacob” (in the Japanese it says the “house of Jacob”) mean all the people of Israel, and also refers to all Christians today.
Let us not hide away in the darkness of our own sin, in the darkness of separation from God, but let us walk in the light of Jesus Christ, in the light of His Word.
This path is not one where people hurt each other, but one where people understand each other and help each other as we live together. It is the path of peace where we work together to gather the food we need and live together, the path that leads to the Kingdom of God.
And this is not a dream-like fantasy of a far-off future that will only happen well into the future.
Rather, we can be sure that this is something that is already happening now that Jesus Christ has come into the world once already to bring us salvation.
To close, I would like to read Psalm 36 verse 9.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
Let us continue to walk together in the light of Christ.
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Sunday Worship Service August 3, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Jeremiah 32:39
Hymn JBC# 27 Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, Our blessed Redeemer!
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:32~5:11
Prayer
Sermon “One in heart and mind”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 1234 Great is Thy faithfulness
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today’s bible passage begins with the statement [All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had]
After Jesus Christ has resurrected from death and ascended to heaven, the early Christian believers who received the power of the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of God, formed the flock of faith that way with one heart and mind.
What does it mean by [one heart and mind]?
It doesn’t mean that they shared the same opinion or perspective, or even their preferences agreed regarding anything.
Like us now, even the early Christians must have been a gathering of people with various opinions and different preferences, diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Our church (Beppu International Baptist Church) cherishes the fact [to rejoice in the richness found within diversity.] Particularly, people from various countries and regions gather at our church.
I hope that we will always keep in mind to recognize (find) the richness found in diversity where each one is different from one another, rejoice of that matter, and practice it in a faith-based way.
Although there are differences between us, we can agree through the same heart and mind, for there is One who makes that thing possible.
And that is Jesus Christ. Since He is with us, we are bonded together in unity of heart and mind through Christ.
Since we believe in the same God, Jesus Christ, and are guided by Him, we can say that we are one flock, a family of faith.
It is not because there is a wonderful, attractive leader or because the church is vigorously engaged in various activities that we are united as one.
It is Jesus Christ who unites us.
The believers that have experienced spiritual rebirth through the resurrected Christ were made to be children of God, one family through Christ. In such sense, certainly [we are one in Christ (the Lord)]
It is written in today’s passage that the flock of believers of the early church [shared everything they had]
It is also written that no one among them claimed that any of their possessions was their own.
We at present consider that the individual’s owning of things or property is one important right.
However, although a Christian owns various things as personal, it is taught in the Word of God not to get strong attachment on them.
If we are over strongly attached on something like “this is mine”, we become disappointed or even feel enraged when we lose it.
However, the Christian receives the faith that [all things are given from God]
In another passage of the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 4:7 is written as follows.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
We are urged by this word to try not to think too strongly [This is mine. I got this through my effort]
The various things that are given to us, abundant spiritual gifts, and even the good fortunes of being blessed with talents or various opportunities (chance) and others are all given to us from the Lord God.
If we think that it’s our own, we become conceited and arrogant. I wish that we always continue to stand in faith that blessings are all given from God.
In today’s passage, chap. 4:34～35 is written as follows.
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
What could have made the believers at that time help each other so that not even one person be in need as that?
The One who made them as people that support each other as such was the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ that they testified (proclaimed) as well.
They must have had the firm belief that “they are also made to live by the resurrected Christ”.
Christ gave up His life on the cross before He resurrected. That literally means that on the cross, Christ had given everything to us human beings.
The gratefulness and joy that [Christ had given everything to us] was their motivating power.
The joy and thankfulness to have received a new life through Christ and all things has made their way of living to support one another.
With one in mind, they have made that desire come true where everyone be filled with the love of Christ, that not even one be in poverty, all people’s life be supported and that everyone be prosperous.
It’s a wonderful figure of a family of faith, and I am made to think of the desire also for us to build such a faith community.
However, it’s pictured in today’s passage a cold hard truth that the flock of the early Christian believers was never a perfect community in terms of faith.
Reading through the story about Ananias and Sapphira from chap. 5:1 is a dreadful passage.
How should we listen to God’s message from the event that happened to the man and wife Ananias and Sapphira who cheated the amount of their offering?
Amid the fact that “those who believed sold their own properties and distributed to one another as they needed”, the man and wife Ananias and Sapphira submitted it to the apostles while they told lies concerning its amount.
We need to know here that with regards to offering, it was based on the believers’ free-will (was not compulsory) even in today’s passage.
Let’s look at Peter’s words in chap.5:4.
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?
As we can see from Peter’s remark, no one was compelled to sacrifice or financial offering. It is because what God wants to the believer is a voluntary and joyful offering.
However, Ananias talks it over with his wife Sapphira, probably says [this is the amount sold for our land], and submitted a price that was different from selling the land. And it wasn’t the truth.
Why have Ananias and Sapphira told such a lie that was different from the truth? They might have had the feeling of being concerned about how others see them and wanted to take pride in themselves.
Didn't they want to say, “We gave the total amount”?
We are prompted to reflect on ourselves amid such figures as Ananias and Sapphira.
Don’t we tend to care about people’s appraisal, how people perceive us, how others evaluate even our own faith?
However, faith is not something that is to be shown. It’s not even something that is to be evaluated.
Faith depends on how much we can acknowledge the spiritual gift and grace that we received from God. And on how spontaneously we are responding to that blessing is important.
If we say that we are not filled with God’s blessing, it is necessary that we reconnect with Jesus Christ who certainly fills us with grace and joy.
By honestly confronting our own heart (particularly the dark, sinful part within us) through God’s Word of the Bible, prayer, and personal fellowship with God, let us find again our self as one that is forgiven through Christ.
And let us be filled with the grace and joy of being forgiven by the Lord Christ.
Ananias and Sapphira were married man and wife. A man and wife can work for God by cooperating and in agreement through that intimate relationship.
However, just like today’s passage, we are taught that we can even deceive God through the intimacy (which should be a good thing) as man and wife.
Let us turn once again to Peter’s words in chap. 5:4.
You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
We don’t know whether Ananias and Sapphira were aware that they have “deceived God”. They probably must not have been aware to that extent until Peter pointed it out.
Maybe Ananias and Sapphira thought [this kind of matter should be allowed]
However, we should seriously take the message that what Ananias and Sapphira did (their way of life) in today’s passage is not deceiving man but have deceived God.
If we are dishonest towards people, that means we are also dishonest towards God and that is deceiving Him.
Don’t we think that little dishonesty can deceive people?
However, today’s passage tells us that if we think that our dishonesty can cheat even before God, it’s an extremely large critical problem.
If we deceive God (dishonest against God) who is the One that should never be deceived, we should seriously take (understand) the fact that it’s an issue that has to do with our life.
Why has God given us human beings freedom to this extent? Or should I say, even the “freedom to live deceiving God” (though hesitant to call it freedom) is given to us.
It’s to that extent that God desires to truly establish a personal relationship with us, live spontaneously and become one who joyfully dedicates himself voluntarily as a response to the love of God.
God created each one of us as such a person.
Each one of us is weak, greedy and dishonest man. I believe that such as we, are filled by the love of Christ, united in mind and heart, and by encouraging one another, we can grow little by little together to a sincere believer.
As we keep in mind the extremely strict message of today’s Bible passage, let us live justly embracing fear towards God who is the Ruler of life as we give thanks for the abundant spiritual gifts that are given to us from Him.
Prelude
Call to Worship Jeremiah 32:39
Hymn JBC# 27 Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, Our blessed Redeemer!
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 510 When we walk with the Lord
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:32~5:11
Prayer
Sermon “One in heart and mind”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 1234 Great is Thy faithfulness
Doxology JBC # 672
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Today’s bible passage begins with the statement [All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had]
After Jesus Christ has resurrected from death and ascended to heaven, the early Christian believers who received the power of the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of God, formed the flock of faith that way with one heart and mind.
What does it mean by [one heart and mind]?
It doesn’t mean that they shared the same opinion or perspective, or even their preferences agreed regarding anything.
Like us now, even the early Christians must have been a gathering of people with various opinions and different preferences, diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Our church (Beppu International Baptist Church) cherishes the fact [to rejoice in the richness found within diversity.] Particularly, people from various countries and regions gather at our church.
I hope that we will always keep in mind to recognize (find) the richness found in diversity where each one is different from one another, rejoice of that matter, and practice it in a faith-based way.
Although there are differences between us, we can agree through the same heart and mind, for there is One who makes that thing possible.
And that is Jesus Christ. Since He is with us, we are bonded together in unity of heart and mind through Christ.
Since we believe in the same God, Jesus Christ, and are guided by Him, we can say that we are one flock, a family of faith.
It is not because there is a wonderful, attractive leader or because the church is vigorously engaged in various activities that we are united as one.
It is Jesus Christ who unites us.
The believers that have experienced spiritual rebirth through the resurrected Christ were made to be children of God, one family through Christ. In such sense, certainly [we are one in Christ (the Lord)]
It is written in today’s passage that the flock of believers of the early church [shared everything they had]
It is also written that no one among them claimed that any of their possessions was their own.
We at present consider that the individual’s owning of things or property is one important right.
However, although a Christian owns various things as personal, it is taught in the Word of God not to get strong attachment on them.
If we are over strongly attached on something like “this is mine”, we become disappointed or even feel enraged when we lose it.
However, the Christian receives the faith that [all things are given from God]
In another passage of the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 4:7 is written as follows.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
We are urged by this word to try not to think too strongly [This is mine. I got this through my effort]
The various things that are given to us, abundant spiritual gifts, and even the good fortunes of being blessed with talents or various opportunities (chance) and others are all given to us from the Lord God.
If we think that it’s our own, we become conceited and arrogant. I wish that we always continue to stand in faith that blessings are all given from God.
In today’s passage, chap. 4:34～35 is written as follows.
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
What could have made the believers at that time help each other so that not even one person be in need as that?
The One who made them as people that support each other as such was the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ that they testified (proclaimed) as well.
They must have had the firm belief that “they are also made to live by the resurrected Christ”.
Christ gave up His life on the cross before He resurrected. That literally means that on the cross, Christ had given everything to us human beings.
The gratefulness and joy that [Christ had given everything to us] was their motivating power.
The joy and thankfulness to have received a new life through Christ and all things has made their way of living to support one another.
With one in mind, they have made that desire come true where everyone be filled with the love of Christ, that not even one be in poverty, all people’s life be supported and that everyone be prosperous.
It’s a wonderful figure of a family of faith, and I am made to think of the desire also for us to build such a faith community.
However, it’s pictured in today’s passage a cold hard truth that the flock of the early Christian believers was never a perfect community in terms of faith.
Reading through the story about Ananias and Sapphira from chap. 5:1 is a dreadful passage.
How should we listen to God’s message from the event that happened to the man and wife Ananias and Sapphira who cheated the amount of their offering?
Amid the fact that “those who believed sold their own properties and distributed to one another as they needed”, the man and wife Ananias and Sapphira submitted it to the apostles while they told lies concerning its amount.
We need to know here that with regards to offering, it was based on the believers’ free-will (was not compulsory) even in today’s passage.
Let’s look at Peter’s words in chap.5:4.
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?
As we can see from Peter’s remark, no one was compelled to sacrifice or financial offering. It is because what God wants to the believer is a voluntary and joyful offering.
However, Ananias talks it over with his wife Sapphira, probably says [this is the amount sold for our land], and submitted a price that was different from selling the land. And it wasn’t the truth.
Why have Ananias and Sapphira told such a lie that was different from the truth? They might have had the feeling of being concerned about how others see them and wanted to take pride in themselves.
Didn't they want to say, “We gave the total amount”?
We are prompted to reflect on ourselves amid such figures as Ananias and Sapphira.
Don’t we tend to care about people’s appraisal, how people perceive us, how others evaluate even our own faith?
However, faith is not something that is to be shown. It’s not even something that is to be evaluated.
Faith depends on how much we can acknowledge the spiritual gift and grace that we received from God. And on how spontaneously we are responding to that blessing is important.
If we say that we are not filled with God’s blessing, it is necessary that we reconnect with Jesus Christ who certainly fills us with grace and joy.
By honestly confronting our own heart (particularly the dark, sinful part within us) through God’s Word of the Bible, prayer, and personal fellowship with God, let us find again our self as one that is forgiven through Christ.
And let us be filled with the grace and joy of being forgiven by the Lord Christ.
Ananias and Sapphira were married man and wife. A man and wife can work for God by cooperating and in agreement through that intimate relationship.
However, just like today’s passage, we are taught that we can even deceive God through the intimacy (which should be a good thing) as man and wife.
Let us turn once again to Peter’s words in chap. 5:4.
You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
We don’t know whether Ananias and Sapphira were aware that they have “deceived God”. They probably must not have been aware to that extent until Peter pointed it out.
Maybe Ananias and Sapphira thought [this kind of matter should be allowed]
However, we should seriously take the message that what Ananias and Sapphira did (their way of life) in today’s passage is not deceiving man but have deceived God.
If we are dishonest towards people, that means we are also dishonest towards God and that is deceiving Him.
Don’t we think that little dishonesty can deceive people?
However, today’s passage tells us that if we think that our dishonesty can cheat even before God, it’s an extremely large critical problem.
If we deceive God (dishonest against God) who is the One that should never be deceived, we should seriously take (understand) the fact that it’s an issue that has to do with our life.
Why has God given us human beings freedom to this extent? Or should I say, even the “freedom to live deceiving God” (though hesitant to call it freedom) is given to us.
It’s to that extent that God desires to truly establish a personal relationship with us, live spontaneously and become one who joyfully dedicates himself voluntarily as a response to the love of God.
God created each one of us as such a person.
Each one of us is weak, greedy and dishonest man. I believe that such as we, are filled by the love of Christ, united in mind and heart, and by encouraging one another, we can grow little by little together to a sincere believer.
As we keep in mind the extremely strict message of today’s Bible passage, let us live justly embracing fear towards God who is the Ruler of life as we give thanks for the abundant spiritual gifts that are given to us from Him.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Sunday Worship Service July 27, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Isaiah 6:3～4
Hymn JBC # 538 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There is within my heart a melody
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:23-31
Prayer
Sermon Speaking God’s Word with Great Boldness
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Today's scripture just read now (“Acts” 4:23-31) reminds us once again that this is what the Christian church is like.
Today's passage begins with Peter and John being released and going (returning) to their friends.
After Jesus Christ's death on the cross, His resurrection, and His promise that the Holy Spirit will descend on His disciples and they will receive power, He (Jesus Christ) ascended into heaven.
Later, two of Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, healed a man who had been lame from birth in the temple in Jerusalem in the name of Jesus.
This led the Jewish authorities to arrest, imprison, and interrogate Peter and John.
Peter and John declared “the lame man was healed in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ was killed, but He rose again. And only in the name of Christ can one be saved," and they began to preach the salvation of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation in His name were unacceptable to the Jewish authorities (rulers, priests, elders, teachers of the law, etc.).
In the eyes of the Jewish authorities, the man Jesus was a blasphemer. That is why they brought Jesus to the Roman authorities and had him executed by crucifixion.
Let’s take another look at verse 23 from today’s passage.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Peter and John were released and went to their friends, meaning they had a place to return to.
They had somebody they could call “their own people.”
Let us regard our own church in the same way that Peter and John did, having gone to their own people first thing upon their release.
We, too, go about our daily lives, wherever that may be, and then return to church.
In church we meet God (we encounter Him through prayer and His Word), and we also meet our fellow believers face to face.
We can come back to the church when we are going through hard times in daily life. It is the church where we can meet our friends, our own people.
It is my hope that each one of you would consider the church a place you can always return to, a place where you can find friends and family.
When Peter and John returned to their own people, it is written that they spoke all that the chief priests and elders had said.
Peter and John told them all about how they had been strictly commanded by those in authority not to henceforth teach in the name of Jesus or say that Christ had risen from the dead.
They told their friends all about the harsh reality of the situation that had befallen them all and that they were all in danger of being persecuted.
So what did they do first?
Let’s read verse 24.
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
When they heard how dire their situation was, they first raised their voices to God in prayer together. They were entrusting their difficult situation to God first.
They were given the desire to pray first before rushing to come up with some kind of solution on their own.
We of course try to do our best on our own, but let’s strive for the kind of faith that says, “Let us pray first,” “Let us entrust the situation to God,” and "Let us seek God's will together.”
Then it is written that they raised their voices and prayed.
They may have all prayed aloud simultaneously, but it seems more likely that Peter or John was praying aloud on their behalf.
In the Christian church, we sometimes pray aloud so that others can hear us.
When someone prays on behalf of someone else, that person prays aloud, and others pray along with him or her.
Prayer can also be done privately from the heart. Prayer as an individual is also important.
However, by listening to the prayer of the one person, we can pray together about the same thing.
It is also very important that we all pray together in this way, and for this to happen, we must truly be united in our faith.
Jesus said the following in Matthew 18:19-20.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
We must now firmly believe in what Jesus says. Whatever we ask, if two of us agree about anything we ask for on earth, God our Heavenly Father will grant it.
Getting whatever we ask for is a tremendous promise. But we need to take seriously the part “if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for,.”
If two believers in Christ, brothers and sisters in the family of faith, come together and ask for something in agreement, God the Father will grant it.
Thus, it is easier said than done for us to be truly united in prayer (in faith) with others. Our desires, spiritual conditions, or opinions might not be the same.
Nevertheless, we must build up relationships grounded in faith that enable us to offer a united prayer in agreement with each other, especially when gathered in the same church.
Only then will our Father in Heaven grant us whatever we ask.
Let us build up relationships for being united in prayer so that Jesus’ promise would be fulfilled.
Let us look at the first words of the prayer in today's passage.
Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. (verse 24)
The God of the Bible created everything in the world.
Everything in the world and everything that lives in it was created by God, and God is the One who rules over everything.
The prayer in today's passage reminds us that we have the privilege of praying to such a God.
The words in this prayer urge us to pray to God with the confidence that there is nothing that such an amazing God cannot do, and that He knows everything.
Let us be convinced once again of the amazing grace of being able to pray to the true Creator, the Maker of all things in the world.
Let’s read verse 29.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
The threats from the chief priests and elders were very severe. It was truly a visitation of persecution. Preaching the name of Christ from now on would truly be a matter of life and death.
Peter and the others left the difficult situation to God. “Now, Lord, consider their threats“ is a statement of their confidence that even the threats of the authorities are all under God’s control.
They prayed that because the authorities are under God’s control, God would protect them so that they would not fear the authorities, no matter the threats that come.
And they prayed that God give them the strength to speak the Word boldly in the midst of difficulties and threats from the authorities.
They knew that the strength and courage to speak boldly in the midst of difficulties would not come from anywhere else but from God (not from within themselves).
Let us pray and ask God Himself to give us the power to speak the Word with boldness, to live according to the teachings of Jesus, and to live trusting in God as believers.
When the church speaks the Word with God-given boldness, the Word has the power to encourage and move people.
Let’s read verse 31, the last verse from today’s passage.
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
When they finished praying, the place where they had gathered was shaken.
The fact that the place where they were gathered was shaken could also mean that the hearts and faith of each and every one of those participating in the prayer were greatly shaken (moved).
They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness. They were united in their prayer-filled hearts, and their prayers were heard by God. And just as they had hoped, they began to speak the Word of God with boldness.
They would have received power and been sent out to many places. And in their respective places, they must have spoken (and continued to speak) the Word of God boldly.
In our daily lives and in our faith, we may face various crises.
In such times of crisis (or rather, it is precisely in such times of crisis) we should unite in prayer, support and encourage one another. Let us build such bonds of faith.
Let's live out our faith and pray that our church will be a place for meeting fellow believers with whom we can pray wholeheartedly, and that more such friends will be added to our number.
Prelude
Call to Worship Isaiah 6:3～4
Hymn JBC # 538 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There is within my heart a melody
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:23-31
Prayer
Sermon Speaking God’s Word with Great Boldness
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Today's scripture just read now (“Acts” 4:23-31) reminds us once again that this is what the Christian church is like.
Today's passage begins with Peter and John being released and going (returning) to their friends.
After Jesus Christ's death on the cross, His resurrection, and His promise that the Holy Spirit will descend on His disciples and they will receive power, He (Jesus Christ) ascended into heaven.
Later, two of Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, healed a man who had been lame from birth in the temple in Jerusalem in the name of Jesus.
This led the Jewish authorities to arrest, imprison, and interrogate Peter and John.
Peter and John declared “the lame man was healed in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ was killed, but He rose again. And only in the name of Christ can one be saved," and they began to preach the salvation of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation in His name were unacceptable to the Jewish authorities (rulers, priests, elders, teachers of the law, etc.).
In the eyes of the Jewish authorities, the man Jesus was a blasphemer. That is why they brought Jesus to the Roman authorities and had him executed by crucifixion.
Let’s take another look at verse 23 from today’s passage.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Peter and John were released and went to their friends, meaning they had a place to return to.
They had somebody they could call “their own people.”
Let us regard our own church in the same way that Peter and John did, having gone to their own people first thing upon their release.
We, too, go about our daily lives, wherever that may be, and then return to church.
In church we meet God (we encounter Him through prayer and His Word), and we also meet our fellow believers face to face.
We can come back to the church when we are going through hard times in daily life. It is the church where we can meet our friends, our own people.
It is my hope that each one of you would consider the church a place you can always return to, a place where you can find friends and family.
When Peter and John returned to their own people, it is written that they spoke all that the chief priests and elders had said.
Peter and John told them all about how they had been strictly commanded by those in authority not to henceforth teach in the name of Jesus or say that Christ had risen from the dead.
They told their friends all about the harsh reality of the situation that had befallen them all and that they were all in danger of being persecuted.
So what did they do first?
Let’s read verse 24.
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
When they heard how dire their situation was, they first raised their voices to God in prayer together. They were entrusting their difficult situation to God first.
They were given the desire to pray first before rushing to come up with some kind of solution on their own.
We of course try to do our best on our own, but let’s strive for the kind of faith that says, “Let us pray first,” “Let us entrust the situation to God,” and "Let us seek God's will together.”
Then it is written that they raised their voices and prayed.
They may have all prayed aloud simultaneously, but it seems more likely that Peter or John was praying aloud on their behalf.
In the Christian church, we sometimes pray aloud so that others can hear us.
When someone prays on behalf of someone else, that person prays aloud, and others pray along with him or her.
Prayer can also be done privately from the heart. Prayer as an individual is also important.
However, by listening to the prayer of the one person, we can pray together about the same thing.
It is also very important that we all pray together in this way, and for this to happen, we must truly be united in our faith.
Jesus said the following in Matthew 18:19-20.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
We must now firmly believe in what Jesus says. Whatever we ask, if two of us agree about anything we ask for on earth, God our Heavenly Father will grant it.
Getting whatever we ask for is a tremendous promise. But we need to take seriously the part “if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for,.”
If two believers in Christ, brothers and sisters in the family of faith, come together and ask for something in agreement, God the Father will grant it.
Thus, it is easier said than done for us to be truly united in prayer (in faith) with others. Our desires, spiritual conditions, or opinions might not be the same.
Nevertheless, we must build up relationships grounded in faith that enable us to offer a united prayer in agreement with each other, especially when gathered in the same church.
Only then will our Father in Heaven grant us whatever we ask.
Let us build up relationships for being united in prayer so that Jesus’ promise would be fulfilled.
Let us look at the first words of the prayer in today's passage.
Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. (verse 24)
The God of the Bible created everything in the world.
Everything in the world and everything that lives in it was created by God, and God is the One who rules over everything.
The prayer in today's passage reminds us that we have the privilege of praying to such a God.
The words in this prayer urge us to pray to God with the confidence that there is nothing that such an amazing God cannot do, and that He knows everything.
Let us be convinced once again of the amazing grace of being able to pray to the true Creator, the Maker of all things in the world.
Let’s read verse 29.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
The threats from the chief priests and elders were very severe. It was truly a visitation of persecution. Preaching the name of Christ from now on would truly be a matter of life and death.
Peter and the others left the difficult situation to God. “Now, Lord, consider their threats“ is a statement of their confidence that even the threats of the authorities are all under God’s control.
They prayed that because the authorities are under God’s control, God would protect them so that they would not fear the authorities, no matter the threats that come.
And they prayed that God give them the strength to speak the Word boldly in the midst of difficulties and threats from the authorities.
They knew that the strength and courage to speak boldly in the midst of difficulties would not come from anywhere else but from God (not from within themselves).
Let us pray and ask God Himself to give us the power to speak the Word with boldness, to live according to the teachings of Jesus, and to live trusting in God as believers.
When the church speaks the Word with God-given boldness, the Word has the power to encourage and move people.
Let’s read verse 31, the last verse from today’s passage.
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
When they finished praying, the place where they had gathered was shaken.
The fact that the place where they were gathered was shaken could also mean that the hearts and faith of each and every one of those participating in the prayer were greatly shaken (moved).
They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness. They were united in their prayer-filled hearts, and their prayers were heard by God. And just as they had hoped, they began to speak the Word of God with boldness.
They would have received power and been sent out to many places. And in their respective places, they must have spoken (and continued to speak) the Word of God boldly.
In our daily lives and in our faith, we may face various crises.
In such times of crisis (or rather, it is precisely in such times of crisis) we should unite in prayer, support and encourage one another. Let us build such bonds of faith.
Let's live out our faith and pray that our church will be a place for meeting fellow believers with whom we can pray wholeheartedly, and that more such friends will be added to our number.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
July 20, 2025 Sunday Worship Service
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 118:21
Hymn JBC# 513 Walking in sunlight, all of my journey
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC# 278 There’s within my heart a melody
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:1~22
Prayer
Sermon “The name by which we must be saved”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 81 God, our Father, we adore Thee!
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
In today’s Bible passage, we see Peter and John continuing to talk to the people.
There was a man who was lame from birth, who was always laid at the gate to the temple in order to receive alms. Peter healed him in the name of Jesus Christ.
Through this miracle, Peter showed the people gathered around that this man was made strong by the name of Jesus Christ.
They also explained to the people that Jesus Christ was killed by man, but also resurrected.
Peter said, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 3:15)
In order to atone for the sins of man, Christ died (was killed) on the cross. Therefore, each one of us crucified Christ.
But Peter said (in the verse immediately preceding today's passage) that God intended, by sending Jesus into the world as God's servant, that through him (Christ) each of us might receive blessings (3:26).
In Christ there is true blessing.
When good things happen, we celebrate together, rejoice and bless each other.
Whether it’s a birthday, getting accepted into a school, or when something we desired comes to pass, we bless each other.
It would be nice if situations where we could bless each other just constantly occurred, but it is not the case that only things we can celebrate always happen.
However, through Jesus Christ’s cross, death, and resurrection, God has given us His unconditional love.
Through Christ, it has been clearly known to us and proven that “you are loved” and that “you are so precious to me (God).”
God’s love and grace, as well as the forgiveness of sin are all communicated through Christ.
That grace and blessing is given to each one of us. God is always blessing us with Christ’s grace.
Through Christ we are shown that God’s love is unconditional (not dependent on our efforts or achievements) and that it is always being poured out upon us.
Therefore, those who have been shown the grace of Christ can live in joy and thanksgiving for Christ’s blessings. Let us be grateful that such a way of joy has been prepared.
In today’s passage, the priests, captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees come to capture and arrest Peter and John as they were talking to the people.
They were upset that Peter and John were evangelizing about Christ’s resurrection, so they arrested them.
Particularly the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection and therefore rejected that teaching.
The priests also likely felt angry that Peter and John were preaching that the man that they had executed on the cross had resurrected.
However, in verse 4 of today’s passage, we see that about 5,000 people believed after hearing Peter and John speak.
Peter and John were arrested and thrown into prison. They were robbed of their freedom. But through them speaking about Jesus Christ’s resurrection, many people’s hearts were drawn to belief in Christ and changed.
In this way the truth will spread without fail.
No matter how hard people may try to silence the word of God, God’s power is what truly gives people hope and strength, so the truth of the Word cannot be made powerless by the power or evil intent of man.
We can receive the same powerful word of God through the Bible now. Is this not reassuring?
Through the Word of the Bible, we can live while being strengthened in the midst of difficulties.
In verses 5-6, we see that the next day the rulers, elders, teachers of the law, as well as the family of the high priest gathered. It was a gathering of all the Jewish authorities.
Peter and John were standing in the middle of all these authority figures. I wonder if they were afraid.
They may have felt some fear being surrounded and questioned by all these authority figures. However, Peter had a powerful supporter.
Verse 8 states “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them”
In what would normally be a very frightening experience standing in the middle of many authority figures, God’s Holy Spirit filled Peter, giving him words to speak. The Holy Spirit was given to Peter as a powerful helper.
The resurrected Jesus told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8)
This promise is being fulfilled in today’s passage.
We also can receive help and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
In the midst of hardships, when we do not know what to do or what to say, the Holy Spirit will teach us what to do and say.
In order to receive this help from the Holy Spirit, let us familiarize ourselves with the words of the Bible, keep experiencing and have conviction that God is speaking to us even now and giving us power through His Word.
The Holy Spirit is working in the living word of God, and will surely strengthen us when we need it.
In verse 11, Peter cites the scriptures (a verse from Psalms 118:22).
Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”.
This is what it means.
The builders (people who build homes as a profession), viewed a stone as being useless as a cornerstone (a stone placed in the corner of a building’s foundation) and discarded it. Jesus Christ is being compared to this stone.
Just a stone that was thought to be unfit, Jesus was scorned, denied, ridiculed, and finally crucified by people.
However, Peter states that because He is such a person (and only in Him) people can find salvation. Our salvation is found in the One who was considered “useless” and abandoned by others.
This is because Jesus Christ, who died (was slain) on the cross, was the Son of God, the One equal to God, the One who was sent into the world to bear the sins of all of us human beings and to forgive us.
In the verse 12 in today’s scripture written is it.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (v.12)
It is by the name of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and who resurrected from the dead that we are saved. There is no other way.
On this truth (salvation is only in Christ) we Christians and the Christian Church can continue to stand. We will continue to speak this truth.
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached powerfully because he was confident in salvation in Christ. That power and boldness was enough to surprise the rulers, as stated in verse 13.
The rulers, priests, and teachers of the law that surrounded Peter and John were specialists in Judaism and religious authorities.
However, Peter’s words were far bolder and more powerful even than their (human’s) authority.
The resurrected Christ filled Peter’s heart through the Holy Spirit, strengthening him and giving him words to speak.
In the end, the rulers threatened Peter to “not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus from now.”
However, Peter had a surprising response to their threat.
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”(v.19～20)
This is a truly bold and Spirit-filled statement. It is also filled with the love of God.
Peter is not saying this to unilaterally defeat his opponent, but instead asks them if it is better to obey God or to obey them (people), and he leaves it up to them to decide.
Is it right before God to obey people (succumb to people’s threat) rather than obey God? Please think about that carefully.
Peter is showing consideration and respect to the people he is speaking to by asking them to think carefully, reflecting on their own conscience to make a decision on what is right.
Peter is not trying to defeat them (like the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law imprisoned Peter), but is calling out to them trusting in the truth, love, and power of Christ.
It is right for us to obey God, not people. That is the truth in today’s passage that believers should protect in faith.
However, faith that “obeying God is right” is not something that we can use to look down on others, exclude others, or force upon others in our way.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His great love and infinite patience, continually speaks to us whose heart is so stubborn.
Even now Jesus desires that we choose to live rightly before God.
However, in reality there are times (or often times) God shows us our own heart that we fail to obey God, live in a self-centered way, and we even try to get our own way at the cost of others.
For those of us who have received the tremendous sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, let us repent (return to God) each time we sin.
And let us resolve to walk with God, rejoicing and thanking Him for forgiving us.
Prelude
Call to Worship Psalm 118:21
Hymn JBC# 513 Walking in sunlight, all of my journey
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC# 278 There’s within my heart a melody
Offering
Scripture Acts 4:1~22
Prayer
Sermon “The name by which we must be saved”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 81 God, our Father, we adore Thee!
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
In today’s Bible passage, we see Peter and John continuing to talk to the people.
There was a man who was lame from birth, who was always laid at the gate to the temple in order to receive alms. Peter healed him in the name of Jesus Christ.
Through this miracle, Peter showed the people gathered around that this man was made strong by the name of Jesus Christ.
They also explained to the people that Jesus Christ was killed by man, but also resurrected.
Peter said, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 3:15)
In order to atone for the sins of man, Christ died (was killed) on the cross. Therefore, each one of us crucified Christ.
But Peter said (in the verse immediately preceding today's passage) that God intended, by sending Jesus into the world as God's servant, that through him (Christ) each of us might receive blessings (3:26).
In Christ there is true blessing.
When good things happen, we celebrate together, rejoice and bless each other.
Whether it’s a birthday, getting accepted into a school, or when something we desired comes to pass, we bless each other.
It would be nice if situations where we could bless each other just constantly occurred, but it is not the case that only things we can celebrate always happen.
However, through Jesus Christ’s cross, death, and resurrection, God has given us His unconditional love.
Through Christ, it has been clearly known to us and proven that “you are loved” and that “you are so precious to me (God).”
God’s love and grace, as well as the forgiveness of sin are all communicated through Christ.
That grace and blessing is given to each one of us. God is always blessing us with Christ’s grace.
Through Christ we are shown that God’s love is unconditional (not dependent on our efforts or achievements) and that it is always being poured out upon us.
Therefore, those who have been shown the grace of Christ can live in joy and thanksgiving for Christ’s blessings. Let us be grateful that such a way of joy has been prepared.
In today’s passage, the priests, captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees come to capture and arrest Peter and John as they were talking to the people.
They were upset that Peter and John were evangelizing about Christ’s resurrection, so they arrested them.
Particularly the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection and therefore rejected that teaching.
The priests also likely felt angry that Peter and John were preaching that the man that they had executed on the cross had resurrected.
However, in verse 4 of today’s passage, we see that about 5,000 people believed after hearing Peter and John speak.
Peter and John were arrested and thrown into prison. They were robbed of their freedom. But through them speaking about Jesus Christ’s resurrection, many people’s hearts were drawn to belief in Christ and changed.
In this way the truth will spread without fail.
No matter how hard people may try to silence the word of God, God’s power is what truly gives people hope and strength, so the truth of the Word cannot be made powerless by the power or evil intent of man.
We can receive the same powerful word of God through the Bible now. Is this not reassuring?
Through the Word of the Bible, we can live while being strengthened in the midst of difficulties.
In verses 5-6, we see that the next day the rulers, elders, teachers of the law, as well as the family of the high priest gathered. It was a gathering of all the Jewish authorities.
Peter and John were standing in the middle of all these authority figures. I wonder if they were afraid.
They may have felt some fear being surrounded and questioned by all these authority figures. However, Peter had a powerful supporter.
Verse 8 states “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them”
In what would normally be a very frightening experience standing in the middle of many authority figures, God’s Holy Spirit filled Peter, giving him words to speak. The Holy Spirit was given to Peter as a powerful helper.
The resurrected Jesus told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8)
This promise is being fulfilled in today’s passage.
We also can receive help and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
In the midst of hardships, when we do not know what to do or what to say, the Holy Spirit will teach us what to do and say.
In order to receive this help from the Holy Spirit, let us familiarize ourselves with the words of the Bible, keep experiencing and have conviction that God is speaking to us even now and giving us power through His Word.
The Holy Spirit is working in the living word of God, and will surely strengthen us when we need it.
In verse 11, Peter cites the scriptures (a verse from Psalms 118:22).
Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”.
This is what it means.
The builders (people who build homes as a profession), viewed a stone as being useless as a cornerstone (a stone placed in the corner of a building’s foundation) and discarded it. Jesus Christ is being compared to this stone.
Just a stone that was thought to be unfit, Jesus was scorned, denied, ridiculed, and finally crucified by people.
However, Peter states that because He is such a person (and only in Him) people can find salvation. Our salvation is found in the One who was considered “useless” and abandoned by others.
This is because Jesus Christ, who died (was slain) on the cross, was the Son of God, the One equal to God, the One who was sent into the world to bear the sins of all of us human beings and to forgive us.
In the verse 12 in today’s scripture written is it.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (v.12)
It is by the name of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and who resurrected from the dead that we are saved. There is no other way.
On this truth (salvation is only in Christ) we Christians and the Christian Church can continue to stand. We will continue to speak this truth.
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached powerfully because he was confident in salvation in Christ. That power and boldness was enough to surprise the rulers, as stated in verse 13.
The rulers, priests, and teachers of the law that surrounded Peter and John were specialists in Judaism and religious authorities.
However, Peter’s words were far bolder and more powerful even than their (human’s) authority.
The resurrected Christ filled Peter’s heart through the Holy Spirit, strengthening him and giving him words to speak.
In the end, the rulers threatened Peter to “not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus from now.”
However, Peter had a surprising response to their threat.
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”(v.19～20)
This is a truly bold and Spirit-filled statement. It is also filled with the love of God.
Peter is not saying this to unilaterally defeat his opponent, but instead asks them if it is better to obey God or to obey them (people), and he leaves it up to them to decide.
Is it right before God to obey people (succumb to people’s threat) rather than obey God? Please think about that carefully.
Peter is showing consideration and respect to the people he is speaking to by asking them to think carefully, reflecting on their own conscience to make a decision on what is right.
Peter is not trying to defeat them (like the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law imprisoned Peter), but is calling out to them trusting in the truth, love, and power of Christ.
It is right for us to obey God, not people. That is the truth in today’s passage that believers should protect in faith.
However, faith that “obeying God is right” is not something that we can use to look down on others, exclude others, or force upon others in our way.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His great love and infinite patience, continually speaks to us whose heart is so stubborn.
Even now Jesus desires that we choose to live rightly before God.
However, in reality there are times (or often times) God shows us our own heart that we fail to obey God, live in a self-centered way, and we even try to get our own way at the cost of others.
For those of us who have received the tremendous sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, let us repent (return to God) each time we sin.
And let us resolve to walk with God, rejoicing and thanking Him for forgiving us.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Sunday Worship Service July 13, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Nahum 1:7
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There’s within my heart a melody
Offering
Scripture Acts 3:17～26
Prayer
Sermon “To bless each of you”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 104 There shall be showers of blessing
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
In today's Bible passage, Peter, an apostle (disciple) of Christ, was speaking to the people.
In the scene preceding today's passage, a man who had been lame from birth was healed, stood up and leapt to his feet, even praising God.
The lame man who was always begging for alms at the temple had his leg healed and was able to stand up through the "name of Jesus Christ" that Peter spoke to him.
Those who had known the lame man since before assumed that Peter had healed him by his own power, but Peter clearly denied it.
Since it was Peter who had told the man the name of Jesus, he probably could have been a little proud of himself.
But Peter did not feel like to boast about the miracle that happened - a lame man who stood up and even leaped.
Peter told the people “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (verse 12).
What Peter clearly communicated there was that "what raised him up and strengthened him was the name of Jesus Christ, the power and grace of Christ."
Believers who believe in Christ and live by His power and grace know that the name of Christ is the true source of power.
And believers who live by the power and grace of Christ never boast themselves.
Because Christians want God's name to be glorified and only God's name to be exalted, for that is a blessing for Christians.
I hope that in our church too, God's name will be exalted so that our worship, praise, prayers, and faith will not boast in ourselves, but will glorify the Lord God of Jesus Christ and demonstrate our faith and gratitude to God.
In today's passage, Peter's message (sermon) goes to the heart of that - who Jesus Christ is and what He did.
Peter already said in the previous passage: "You killed him who was the Author of life (Christ), but God raised him up" (verse 15).
He says "You killed him who was the Author of life.”
When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times, saying, "I don't know that man," even though he is Jesus' first disciple.
So we can be sure that Peter included himself when he said, "whom you killed."
In the same way, today we are encouraged to accept the death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified, as something related to ourselves.
In today's passage, Peter says the following. Let's read the first verse of today's passage, verse 17.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Peter says, "In ignorance you (we) crucified Christ; you did these things because you did not know."
What didn't they know?
They did not know that Jesus Christ was sent from God.
They also did not know (or were unwilling to acknowledge) that they had deep sins within themselves that need to be forgiven.
Jesus Himself said this while on the cross when He was crucified:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Those who crucified Jesus, and actually all of us, did not know that in Him there is true life, that He is the one who can free us from the slavery of sin and make us free.
Because of such ignorance, not knowing this important truth, the people ended up crucifying Jesus.
But God transformed such evil in people into an amazing act of grace.
Let's read verse 18.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
Since the time of the Old Testament prophets (those who were entrusted with God's word), it has been said that the Messiah (Christ, Savior) would suffer.
The Old Testament Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53, describes in detail the "suffering and death of the servant of the Lord." It says that the servant of the Lord will suffer, bearing the sickness and pain of the people.
To understand why the Lord's Servant, Jesus Christ, had to be crucified and die, it is essential to listen to the Word of God from Isaiah chapter 53.
Today, I’d like to invite everyone to listen to Isaiah 53:4-5 together.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
I hope that each of you will take a moment to reflect upon the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and the cross of Christ.
Jesus died on the cross so that he could bear the sins of us all and our sicknesses and sufferings.
Our greatest ignorance is not knowing such a merciful and true God.
Or it is our stubbornness in refusing to acknowledge the true God even when it is made known to us, and in refusing to recognize God's sovereignty and authority.
And we cannot solve this stubbornness that refuses to acknowledge God's authority on our own.
Our sins of stubbornness and arrogance can only be changed by God.
In the Book of Ezekiel 11:19-20 of the Old Testament, God said through a prophet named Ezekiel:
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
These were the words spoken through Ezekiel to the people of Israel who had been driven out of their homeland and taken captive in Babylon.
God will eventually bring the people of Israel out of captivity and return them to their homeland, Israel, and at that time He will give them a new spirit, remove their stony heart (their hardened hearts) and give them a heart of flesh (presumably meaning a soft, loving heart).
When God gives us a new spirit, our hearts of stone (hardened hearts) are removed by the love of Christ, and a heart of flesh, a soft heart of love, is given to us by Christ.
By receiving Jesus Christ into our hearts and believing in Him, God will break our stubborn hearts, make us aware of our sins, and lead us to be thankful and rejoice that our sins have been forgiven by Christ.
Through Christ, we can have our hardened hearts of stone changed, be broken and humbled, and become God's people who keep His Word and live according to it.
We wish to keep in mind the blessing of receiving a new spirit through Christ, having our hearts changed, and becoming God's people.
"In your ignorance you did this (crucified Christ)," said Peter.
The people did not know that Christ was sent from God and did not know about their own sins.
And there is another thing that they did not know, that they were ignorant of, which is mentioned in today's passage.
Let's read verse 25. These are the words given to Abraham, who is said to be the father of the faith of the Israelites, in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’
Next, we will read verse 26, the last verse of today's passage.
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
These words show that God wants to bless us “all nations”, “each one”.
In verse 25, "your offspring” here refers to Christ, and in verse 26, "His Servant" also refers to Christ.
God has willed that through Christ all the nations of the earth may be blessed, and that "each one of you may be blessed."
God cares about each and every one of us, not “all together, all at once”, and the Bible tells us that we are precious before God.
God wants to bless each and every one of us. God is so pleased with our existence, our lives.
God's plan for each of us is to turn away from an evil state (of not knowing or acknowledging God) and to receive God's abundant blessings by acknowledging God and believing in Christ.
God is the Creator who created everything in the heavens and the earth. We can easily imagine how small an individual human being is in this vast world and in the universe.
However, when we realize that God wants to bless each and every one of us even though we are so small, we can find the strength and hope to live.
The following verse from the Bible is always true:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Let us receive God's abundant blessings through Christ. Let us rejoice with our lives that’s in God's blessings.
Let us be thankful that Christ bore (and still bears) our pain and suffering on the cross.
Let’s live a blessed life of faith, supported by Christ, believing in Christ and following Christ.
Prelude
Call to Worship Nahum 1:7
Hymn JBC # 134 Sing them over again to me
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There’s within my heart a melody
Offering
Scripture Acts 3:17～26
Prayer
Sermon “To bless each of you”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 104 There shall be showers of blessing
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
In today's Bible passage, Peter, an apostle (disciple) of Christ, was speaking to the people.
In the scene preceding today's passage, a man who had been lame from birth was healed, stood up and leapt to his feet, even praising God.
The lame man who was always begging for alms at the temple had his leg healed and was able to stand up through the "name of Jesus Christ" that Peter spoke to him.
Those who had known the lame man since before assumed that Peter had healed him by his own power, but Peter clearly denied it.
Since it was Peter who had told the man the name of Jesus, he probably could have been a little proud of himself.
But Peter did not feel like to boast about the miracle that happened - a lame man who stood up and even leaped.
Peter told the people “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (verse 12).
What Peter clearly communicated there was that "what raised him up and strengthened him was the name of Jesus Christ, the power and grace of Christ."
Believers who believe in Christ and live by His power and grace know that the name of Christ is the true source of power.
And believers who live by the power and grace of Christ never boast themselves.
Because Christians want God's name to be glorified and only God's name to be exalted, for that is a blessing for Christians.
I hope that in our church too, God's name will be exalted so that our worship, praise, prayers, and faith will not boast in ourselves, but will glorify the Lord God of Jesus Christ and demonstrate our faith and gratitude to God.
In today's passage, Peter's message (sermon) goes to the heart of that - who Jesus Christ is and what He did.
Peter already said in the previous passage: "You killed him who was the Author of life (Christ), but God raised him up" (verse 15).
He says "You killed him who was the Author of life.”
When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times, saying, "I don't know that man," even though he is Jesus' first disciple.
So we can be sure that Peter included himself when he said, "whom you killed."
In the same way, today we are encouraged to accept the death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified, as something related to ourselves.
In today's passage, Peter says the following. Let's read the first verse of today's passage, verse 17.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Peter says, "In ignorance you (we) crucified Christ; you did these things because you did not know."
What didn't they know?
They did not know that Jesus Christ was sent from God.
They also did not know (or were unwilling to acknowledge) that they had deep sins within themselves that need to be forgiven.
Jesus Himself said this while on the cross when He was crucified:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Those who crucified Jesus, and actually all of us, did not know that in Him there is true life, that He is the one who can free us from the slavery of sin and make us free.
Because of such ignorance, not knowing this important truth, the people ended up crucifying Jesus.
But God transformed such evil in people into an amazing act of grace.
Let's read verse 18.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
Since the time of the Old Testament prophets (those who were entrusted with God's word), it has been said that the Messiah (Christ, Savior) would suffer.
The Old Testament Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53, describes in detail the "suffering and death of the servant of the Lord." It says that the servant of the Lord will suffer, bearing the sickness and pain of the people.
To understand why the Lord's Servant, Jesus Christ, had to be crucified and die, it is essential to listen to the Word of God from Isaiah chapter 53.
Today, I’d like to invite everyone to listen to Isaiah 53:4-5 together.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
I hope that each of you will take a moment to reflect upon the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and the cross of Christ.
Jesus died on the cross so that he could bear the sins of us all and our sicknesses and sufferings.
Our greatest ignorance is not knowing such a merciful and true God.
Or it is our stubbornness in refusing to acknowledge the true God even when it is made known to us, and in refusing to recognize God's sovereignty and authority.
And we cannot solve this stubbornness that refuses to acknowledge God's authority on our own.
Our sins of stubbornness and arrogance can only be changed by God.
In the Book of Ezekiel 11:19-20 of the Old Testament, God said through a prophet named Ezekiel:
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
These were the words spoken through Ezekiel to the people of Israel who had been driven out of their homeland and taken captive in Babylon.
God will eventually bring the people of Israel out of captivity and return them to their homeland, Israel, and at that time He will give them a new spirit, remove their stony heart (their hardened hearts) and give them a heart of flesh (presumably meaning a soft, loving heart).
When God gives us a new spirit, our hearts of stone (hardened hearts) are removed by the love of Christ, and a heart of flesh, a soft heart of love, is given to us by Christ.
By receiving Jesus Christ into our hearts and believing in Him, God will break our stubborn hearts, make us aware of our sins, and lead us to be thankful and rejoice that our sins have been forgiven by Christ.
Through Christ, we can have our hardened hearts of stone changed, be broken and humbled, and become God's people who keep His Word and live according to it.
We wish to keep in mind the blessing of receiving a new spirit through Christ, having our hearts changed, and becoming God's people.
"In your ignorance you did this (crucified Christ)," said Peter.
The people did not know that Christ was sent from God and did not know about their own sins.
And there is another thing that they did not know, that they were ignorant of, which is mentioned in today's passage.
Let's read verse 25. These are the words given to Abraham, who is said to be the father of the faith of the Israelites, in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’
Next, we will read verse 26, the last verse of today's passage.
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
These words show that God wants to bless us “all nations”, “each one”.
In verse 25, "your offspring” here refers to Christ, and in verse 26, "His Servant" also refers to Christ.
God has willed that through Christ all the nations of the earth may be blessed, and that "each one of you may be blessed."
God cares about each and every one of us, not “all together, all at once”, and the Bible tells us that we are precious before God.
God wants to bless each and every one of us. God is so pleased with our existence, our lives.
God's plan for each of us is to turn away from an evil state (of not knowing or acknowledging God) and to receive God's abundant blessings by acknowledging God and believing in Christ.
God is the Creator who created everything in the heavens and the earth. We can easily imagine how small an individual human being is in this vast world and in the universe.
However, when we realize that God wants to bless each and every one of us even though we are so small, we can find the strength and hope to live.
The following verse from the Bible is always true:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Let us receive God's abundant blessings through Christ. Let us rejoice with our lives that’s in God's blessings.
Let us be thankful that Christ bore (and still bears) our pain and suffering on the cross.
Let’s live a blessed life of faith, supported by Christ, believing in Christ and following Christ.
2025年7月13日 主日礼拝
前奏
招詞 ナホム書1章7節
賛美 新生讃美歌 134番 生命のみことば たえにくすし
主の祈り
賛美 新生讃美歌 278番 わが心は歌わん
献金
聖句 使徒言行録3章17～26節
祈祷
宣教 「あなたがた一人一人を祝福にあずからせるために」
祈祷
賛美 新生讃美歌 104番 雨を降り注ぎ
頌栄 新生讃美歌671番
祝祷
後奏
歓迎・案内
今日の聖書箇所では、キリストの使徒（弟子）であったペトロが、人々に向かって話をしています。
今日の箇所の前までの場面で、生まれつき足の不自由だった人が癒されて、立ち上がり躍り上がって、神を賛美するようになりました。
神殿で、いつも人から施しを乞うていた、その足が不自由だった人は、ペトロから伝えられた“イエス・キリストの名”によって、足が癒されて立ちあがることができるようになりました。
その足の不自由な人を以前から知っていた人々は、まるでペトロが自分の力でその人を癒したかのように思いました。しかし、ペトロはそのことをはっきりと否定しました。
その人にイエス様の名を伝えたのは自分だったのですから、ペトロは、少しは自分を誇ろうと思えばできたかもしれません。
しかしペトロは、その足の不自由な人が立ち上がり、躍り上がるほどまでに変えられた出来事で、自分のことを誇ろうとはしませんでした。
ペトロは人々に“自分の力や人の信心が、その足の不自由だった人を立ち上がらせたのではない（なぜそのように、わたしたちを見つめるのですか）”、と言いました。（12節）
ペトロがそこではっきりと伝えたのは、“その人を立ち上がらせた、強くしたのは、イエス・キリストの名、キリストの力であり、恵みである”ということでした。
キリストを信じ、キリストの力と恵によって生きている信仰者は、キリストの名こそが、本当の力の源泉であることを知っています。
そしてキリストの力と恵みによって生きている信仰者は、決して自分を誇ろうとはしないのです。
キリスト者は、神の名が崇められ、神の名だけが高められることを願うからです。神の名が崇められることこそが、キリスト者にとっての幸いであるからです。
私たちの教会でも、神の名が高められるように、私たちの礼拝、賛美、祈りが、私たちの信仰が、自分自身を誇るものではなく、イエス・キリストの主なる神を崇め、神への信仰と感謝を表すものとなるようにと、私は願います。
今日の箇所で、ペトロのメッセージ（説教）はその核心部分へと入っていきます。イエス・キリストがどのようなお方で、何をなさったのか、について彼は語るのです。
ペトロは今日の前の箇所からすでに、「あなたがたは、命への導き手である方（キリスト）を殺してしまった（しかし、神はその方を復活させてくださった）」と言っています（15節）。
“命への導き手であり神であるお方を、あなたがたが殺した”、というのです。
ペトロは、イエス様が捕らえられた時、イエス様のことを“あんな人のことは知らない”と言って、イエス様の一番弟子でありながら、イエス様のことを三度も否定しました。
ですから、彼が言う“あなたがたが、そのお方を殺した”の中に、ペトロは自分自身のことも含めていたことは確かです。
そのように、今の私たちも、十字架にかけられて死んだイエス・キリストの死を、私たち自身のこととして受け止めていくようにと、促されます。
今日の箇所でペトロは次のように言っています。今日の箇所の最初の17節をお読みします。
17ところで、兄弟たち、あなたがたがあんなことをしてしまったのは、指導者たちと同様に無知のためであったと、わたしには分かっています。
“あなたがたが（わたしたちが）キリストを十字架につけたのは、無知のためであった。知らなかったから、あなたがたはあのようなことをしたのだ”、とペトロは言います。
彼らは何を知らなかったのでしょうか。
彼らは、イエス・キリストが神から遣わされたお方であったことを、知りませんでした。
そしてまた、彼ら自身の中に赦されねばならない深い罪がある、ということを知りませんでした（もしくは、それらを認めようとしませんでした）。
イエス様ご自身が、十字架につけられた時、十字架の上で、こうおっしゃいました。
「父よ、彼らをお赦しください。自分が何をしているのか知らないのです。」
（ルカ福音書23章34節）
イエス様を十字架につけた人たちは、また私たちすべての者は、そのお方にこそ真の命があり、そのお方こそが、私たちを罪の奴隷状態から解き放ち私たちを自由にしてくださるお方であることを、知りませんでした。
そのような無知のために、その大切なことを知らずにいたために、イエス様を人々は十字架につけてしまいました。
しかし、神は人のそのような悪をも、驚くほどの恵みの出来事へと変えてくださったのです。
１８節をお読みします。
18しかし、神はすべての預言者の口を通して予告しておられたメシアの苦しみを、このようにして実現なさったのです。
旧約聖書の預言者（神の言葉を預かり伝えた人たち）の時代から、“メシア（キリスト、救い主）は苦しみを受ける”、ということが言われていました。
旧約聖書『イザヤ書』53章には、”主の僕（しもべ）の苦難と死“について、詳しく書かれています。主の僕であるお方が、人々の病、痛みを背負って、苦しまれる、と言うのです。
なぜ主の僕であるお方、すなわちイエス・キリストが十字架にかけられて死なねばならなかったのか、について知るには、イザヤ書53章の言葉を聞くことが欠かせません。
今日ここでは、イザヤ５３章４～５節を共に聞きたいと思います。
彼が担ったのはわたしたちの病／彼が負ったのはわたしたちの痛みであったのに／わたしたちは思っていた／神の手にかかり、打たれたから／彼は苦しんでいるのだ、と。
彼が刺し貫かれたのは／わたしたちの背きのためであり／彼が打ち砕かれたのは／わたしたちの咎のためであった。彼の受けた懲らしめによって／わたしたちに平和が与えられ／彼の受けた傷によって、わたしたちはいやされた。
皆さんそれぞれ、イザヤ書53章全体の言葉と、キリストの十字架とを重ね合わせて、改めて心にとめる時を、持っていただきたいと私は願います。
イエス様が十字架にかかって死なれたのは、それは私たちすべての者の罪を背負い、また私たちの病と苦しみを、イエス様がその身に担ってくださるためでした。
私たちの最大の無知とは、そのような憐れみ深い真の神を知らない、ということです。
または真の神が知らされてもそれを認めようとしない、神の主権と権威を認めないという、私たちの頑なさです。
そして、私たちは、神の権威を認めようとしないその頑なさを、自分で解決することはできません。
わたしたちの頑なさ、傲慢さという罪は、神によって変えていただくしかしかないのです。
旧約聖書の『エゼキエル書』11章19～20節で、エゼキエルという預言者（神の言葉を預かる人）を通して、神が次のように告げました。
19わたしは彼らに一つの心を与え、彼らの中に新しい霊を授ける。わたしは彼らの肉から石の心を除き、肉の心を与える。
20彼らがわたしの掟に従って歩み、わたしの法を守り行うためである。こうして、彼らはわたしの民となり、わたしは彼らの神となる。
これは、自分たちの国を追われ、バビロンに捕囚となっていたイスラエルの民たちに、エゼキエルを通して語られた言葉です。
神がやがてイスラエルの民たちを、囚われの地から故国イスラエルへ連れ戻し、その時、神は彼らに新しい霊を授け、彼らの中から石の心（頑なな心）を除き、肉の心（やわらかい、愛の心という意味でしょう）を与える、と言うのです。
神が新しい霊を私たちに与えてくださる時、石の心（頑なな心）がキリストの御愛によって取り除かれ、肉の心、やわらかい愛の心がキリストによって私たちに与えられるのです。
イエス・キリストを心の中にお迎えし、キリストを信じることにより、神は私たちの頑なな心を砕き、自分の罪を自覚させ、キリストによって罪赦されたことを感謝し喜ぶように、導いてくださいます。
私たちはキリストによって、頑なな石の心を変えていただき、砕かれて謙虚になり、主の言葉を守り、御言葉に従って生きる神の民となることができるのです。
キリストによる新しい霊をいただき、心が変えられ、神の民となることができる幸いを私たちは覚えたいと願います。
“あなたがたは無知のために、あのようなことをした（キリストを十字架につけた）”とペトロは言いました。
人々は、キリストが神から遣わされた方であること、そして彼ら自身の罪について知りませんでした。
そしてもう一つ、今日の箇所で伝えられる、彼らが知らなかったこと、無知であったことがあります。
25節をお読みします。旧約聖書『創世記』の中で、イスラエル民族の信仰の父と言われたアブラハムに与えられた言葉です。
『地上のすべての民族は、あなたから生まれる者によって祝福を受ける』
続けて、今日の箇所最後の節の26節もお読みします。
26それで、神は御自分の僕を立て、まず、あなたがたのもとに遣わしてくださったのです。それは、あなたがた一人一人を悪から離れさせ、その祝福にあずからせるためでした。」
これらの言葉から分かることは、神が私たち“すべての民族に”、“あなたがた一人一人に”祝福を与えようとしてくださっている、ということです。
25節の「あなたから生まれる者」とはキリストのことであり、26節の「御自分の僕」と言われるお方も、キリストのことです。
神は、“キリストを通してこの地上のすべての民族が、祝福を受けるように、そして“あなたがた一人一人が祝福を受けるように”と願ってくださったのです。
神は、私たち一人一人のことを気にかけてくださっているお方です。”みんな一緒に、ざくっとまとめて“ではなく、私たち一人一人が神の前にかけがえのない存在とされていることを、聖書は伝えます。
神は私たち一人一人を祝福したいと願ってくださっています。私たちが生きていること、私たちの存在を神ご自身がそれほどまでに喜んでくださっている、ということです。
（神を知らない、認めない）悪の状態から離れさせ、神を認めて、キリストを信じることによって、神の豊かな祝福を頂くこと、それが神が私たち一人一人に持っておられるご計画です。
神は天地のすべてをお造りになった創造者です。この広い世界、また大宇宙の中で、人間一人がどれほど小さな存在であるかは、私たちは簡単に想像することができます。
しかし、そんなに小さな私たち一人一人を、神は祝福しようとしてくださっていることが分かれば、その時私たちを生きる力と希望を頂くことができます。
次の聖書の言葉は、常に真実です。
「神は、その独り子をお与えになったほどに、世を愛された。独り子を信じる者が一人も滅びないで、永遠の命を得るためである。」（ヨハネ福音書3章16節）
私たちは、キリストを通して、神の祝福を豊かにいただいていきましょう。神の祝福の中で、私たちの命を喜びましょう。
私たちの痛み、苦しみを、キリストが十字架の上で担ってくださった（今も担ってくださっていることを）私たちは感謝いたしましょう。
キリストによって支えられ、キリストを信じキリストに従う、祝福の信仰生活を私たちは送っていきたいと願います。
前奏
招詞 ナホム書1章7節
賛美 新生讃美歌 134番 生命のみことば たえにくすし
主の祈り
賛美 新生讃美歌 278番 わが心は歌わん
献金
聖句 使徒言行録3章17～26節
祈祷
宣教 「あなたがた一人一人を祝福にあずからせるために」
祈祷
賛美 新生讃美歌 104番 雨を降り注ぎ
頌栄 新生讃美歌671番
祝祷
後奏
歓迎・案内
今日の聖書箇所では、キリストの使徒（弟子）であったペトロが、人々に向かって話をしています。
今日の箇所の前までの場面で、生まれつき足の不自由だった人が癒されて、立ち上がり躍り上がって、神を賛美するようになりました。
神殿で、いつも人から施しを乞うていた、その足が不自由だった人は、ペトロから伝えられた“イエス・キリストの名”によって、足が癒されて立ちあがることができるようになりました。
その足の不自由な人を以前から知っていた人々は、まるでペトロが自分の力でその人を癒したかのように思いました。しかし、ペトロはそのことをはっきりと否定しました。
その人にイエス様の名を伝えたのは自分だったのですから、ペトロは、少しは自分を誇ろうと思えばできたかもしれません。
しかしペトロは、その足の不自由な人が立ち上がり、躍り上がるほどまでに変えられた出来事で、自分のことを誇ろうとはしませんでした。
ペトロは人々に“自分の力や人の信心が、その足の不自由だった人を立ち上がらせたのではない（なぜそのように、わたしたちを見つめるのですか）”、と言いました。（12節）
ペトロがそこではっきりと伝えたのは、“その人を立ち上がらせた、強くしたのは、イエス・キリストの名、キリストの力であり、恵みである”ということでした。
キリストを信じ、キリストの力と恵によって生きている信仰者は、キリストの名こそが、本当の力の源泉であることを知っています。
そしてキリストの力と恵みによって生きている信仰者は、決して自分を誇ろうとはしないのです。
キリスト者は、神の名が崇められ、神の名だけが高められることを願うからです。神の名が崇められることこそが、キリスト者にとっての幸いであるからです。
私たちの教会でも、神の名が高められるように、私たちの礼拝、賛美、祈りが、私たちの信仰が、自分自身を誇るものではなく、イエス・キリストの主なる神を崇め、神への信仰と感謝を表すものとなるようにと、私は願います。
今日の箇所で、ペトロのメッセージ（説教）はその核心部分へと入っていきます。イエス・キリストがどのようなお方で、何をなさったのか、について彼は語るのです。
ペトロは今日の前の箇所からすでに、「あなたがたは、命への導き手である方（キリスト）を殺してしまった（しかし、神はその方を復活させてくださった）」と言っています（15節）。
“命への導き手であり神であるお方を、あなたがたが殺した”、というのです。
ペトロは、イエス様が捕らえられた時、イエス様のことを“あんな人のことは知らない”と言って、イエス様の一番弟子でありながら、イエス様のことを三度も否定しました。
ですから、彼が言う“あなたがたが、そのお方を殺した”の中に、ペトロは自分自身のことも含めていたことは確かです。
そのように、今の私たちも、十字架にかけられて死んだイエス・キリストの死を、私たち自身のこととして受け止めていくようにと、促されます。
今日の箇所でペトロは次のように言っています。今日の箇所の最初の17節をお読みします。
17ところで、兄弟たち、あなたがたがあんなことをしてしまったのは、指導者たちと同様に無知のためであったと、わたしには分かっています。
“あなたがたが（わたしたちが）キリストを十字架につけたのは、無知のためであった。知らなかったから、あなたがたはあのようなことをしたのだ”、とペトロは言います。
彼らは何を知らなかったのでしょうか。
彼らは、イエス・キリストが神から遣わされたお方であったことを、知りませんでした。
そしてまた、彼ら自身の中に赦されねばならない深い罪がある、ということを知りませんでした（もしくは、それらを認めようとしませんでした）。
イエス様ご自身が、十字架につけられた時、十字架の上で、こうおっしゃいました。
「父よ、彼らをお赦しください。自分が何をしているのか知らないのです。」
（ルカ福音書23章34節）
イエス様を十字架につけた人たちは、また私たちすべての者は、そのお方にこそ真の命があり、そのお方こそが、私たちを罪の奴隷状態から解き放ち私たちを自由にしてくださるお方であることを、知りませんでした。
そのような無知のために、その大切なことを知らずにいたために、イエス様を人々は十字架につけてしまいました。
しかし、神は人のそのような悪をも、驚くほどの恵みの出来事へと変えてくださったのです。
１８節をお読みします。
18しかし、神はすべての預言者の口を通して予告しておられたメシアの苦しみを、このようにして実現なさったのです。
旧約聖書の預言者（神の言葉を預かり伝えた人たち）の時代から、“メシア（キリスト、救い主）は苦しみを受ける”、ということが言われていました。
旧約聖書『イザヤ書』53章には、”主の僕（しもべ）の苦難と死“について、詳しく書かれています。主の僕であるお方が、人々の病、痛みを背負って、苦しまれる、と言うのです。
なぜ主の僕であるお方、すなわちイエス・キリストが十字架にかけられて死なねばならなかったのか、について知るには、イザヤ書53章の言葉を聞くことが欠かせません。
今日ここでは、イザヤ５３章４～５節を共に聞きたいと思います。
彼が担ったのはわたしたちの病／彼が負ったのはわたしたちの痛みであったのに／わたしたちは思っていた／神の手にかかり、打たれたから／彼は苦しんでいるのだ、と。
彼が刺し貫かれたのは／わたしたちの背きのためであり／彼が打ち砕かれたのは／わたしたちの咎のためであった。彼の受けた懲らしめによって／わたしたちに平和が与えられ／彼の受けた傷によって、わたしたちはいやされた。
皆さんそれぞれ、イザヤ書53章全体の言葉と、キリストの十字架とを重ね合わせて、改めて心にとめる時を、持っていただきたいと私は願います。
イエス様が十字架にかかって死なれたのは、それは私たちすべての者の罪を背負い、また私たちの病と苦しみを、イエス様がその身に担ってくださるためでした。
私たちの最大の無知とは、そのような憐れみ深い真の神を知らない、ということです。
または真の神が知らされてもそれを認めようとしない、神の主権と権威を認めないという、私たちの頑なさです。
そして、私たちは、神の権威を認めようとしないその頑なさを、自分で解決することはできません。
わたしたちの頑なさ、傲慢さという罪は、神によって変えていただくしかしかないのです。
旧約聖書の『エゼキエル書』11章19～20節で、エゼキエルという預言者（神の言葉を預かる人）を通して、神が次のように告げました。
19わたしは彼らに一つの心を与え、彼らの中に新しい霊を授ける。わたしは彼らの肉から石の心を除き、肉の心を与える。
20彼らがわたしの掟に従って歩み、わたしの法を守り行うためである。こうして、彼らはわたしの民となり、わたしは彼らの神となる。
これは、自分たちの国を追われ、バビロンに捕囚となっていたイスラエルの民たちに、エゼキエルを通して語られた言葉です。
神がやがてイスラエルの民たちを、囚われの地から故国イスラエルへ連れ戻し、その時、神は彼らに新しい霊を授け、彼らの中から石の心（頑なな心）を除き、肉の心（やわらかい、愛の心という意味でしょう）を与える、と言うのです。
神が新しい霊を私たちに与えてくださる時、石の心（頑なな心）がキリストの御愛によって取り除かれ、肉の心、やわらかい愛の心がキリストによって私たちに与えられるのです。
イエス・キリストを心の中にお迎えし、キリストを信じることにより、神は私たちの頑なな心を砕き、自分の罪を自覚させ、キリストによって罪赦されたことを感謝し喜ぶように、導いてくださいます。
私たちはキリストによって、頑なな石の心を変えていただき、砕かれて謙虚になり、主の言葉を守り、御言葉に従って生きる神の民となることができるのです。
キリストによる新しい霊をいただき、心が変えられ、神の民となることができる幸いを私たちは覚えたいと願います。
“あなたがたは無知のために、あのようなことをした（キリストを十字架につけた）”とペトロは言いました。
人々は、キリストが神から遣わされた方であること、そして彼ら自身の罪について知りませんでした。
そしてもう一つ、今日の箇所で伝えられる、彼らが知らなかったこと、無知であったことがあります。
25節をお読みします。旧約聖書『創世記』の中で、イスラエル民族の信仰の父と言われたアブラハムに与えられた言葉です。
『地上のすべての民族は、あなたから生まれる者によって祝福を受ける』
続けて、今日の箇所最後の節の26節もお読みします。
26それで、神は御自分の僕を立て、まず、あなたがたのもとに遣わしてくださったのです。それは、あなたがた一人一人を悪から離れさせ、その祝福にあずからせるためでした。」
これらの言葉から分かることは、神が私たち“すべての民族に”、“あなたがた一人一人に”祝福を与えようとしてくださっている、ということです。
25節の「あなたから生まれる者」とはキリストのことであり、26節の「御自分の僕」と言われるお方も、キリストのことです。
神は、“キリストを通してこの地上のすべての民族が、祝福を受けるように、そして“あなたがた一人一人が祝福を受けるように”と願ってくださったのです。
神は、私たち一人一人のことを気にかけてくださっているお方です。”みんな一緒に、ざくっとまとめて“ではなく、私たち一人一人が神の前にかけがえのない存在とされていることを、聖書は伝えます。
神は私たち一人一人を祝福したいと願ってくださっています。私たちが生きていること、私たちの存在を神ご自身がそれほどまでに喜んでくださっている、ということです。
（神を知らない、認めない）悪の状態から離れさせ、神を認めて、キリストを信じることによって、神の豊かな祝福を頂くこと、それが神が私たち一人一人に持っておられるご計画です。
神は天地のすべてをお造りになった創造者です。この広い世界、また大宇宙の中で、人間一人がどれほど小さな存在であるかは、私たちは簡単に想像することができます。
しかし、そんなに小さな私たち一人一人を、神は祝福しようとしてくださっていることが分かれば、その時私たちを生きる力と希望を頂くことができます。
次の聖書の言葉は、常に真実です。
「神は、その独り子をお与えになったほどに、世を愛された。独り子を信じる者が一人も滅びないで、永遠の命を得るためである。」（ヨハネ福音書3章16節）
私たちは、キリストを通して、神の祝福を豊かにいただいていきましょう。神の祝福の中で、私たちの命を喜びましょう。
私たちの痛み、苦しみを、キリストが十字架の上で担ってくださった（今も担ってくださっていることを）私たちは感謝いたしましょう。
キリストによって支えられ、キリストを信じキリストに従う、祝福の信仰生活を私たちは送っていきたいと願います。
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Sunday Worship Service July 6, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship Malachi 4:2
Hymn JBC # 507 He leadeth me! O blessed tho’t!
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There’s within my heart a melody
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 3:1～16
Prayer
Sermon “Be glory to his servant Jesus”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 626 I gave My life for thee
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Today’s Bible passage starts with these words:
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. (v.11)
The place mentioned here was Jerusalem’s temple. Peter and John were direct disciples of Jesus Christ, two of the group of disciples called the Twelve Apostles.
They came to take up a central role amongst the group of believers (the church) after Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension to Heaven.
We first meet the man who was said to be “holding on to Peter and John” in the passage before today’s scripture reading.
This was the man who had been lame since birth, but was healed and became able to walk through his encounter with Peter and John.
This man was a beggar who, since he was born unable to walk, would always be carried and set down beside the temple gates where he would receive alms from passers-by.
He looked at Peter and John as they were going to enter the temple and, hoping to receive money, he begged them for alms. Peter told him this:
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (v.6)
Having said this, Peter took him by the right hand, and the man stood up. The man’s legs were healed, he stood up straight and began dancing and praising God.
This brings us back to today’s passage, where the man who had been lame was healed, and “held on to Peter and John”.
The expression “hold on to” is normally not a positive one very much. “Hold on to” means to grab on to and not let go.
Although the man would have known that it was “in the name of Jesus Christ” that his legs were healed, he may have upheld Peter and John, who spoke the name of Jesus to him, as people of special importance, and maybe even respected or revered them.
And so, he was clinging on to Peter and John and couldn’t leave their side, and was holding on to them.
Perhaps the man was thinking “If you (Peter and John) are always near me, then I will be okay from now on”.
Today’s passage starts from where Peter is talking to the crowd that has gathered around them.
Peter is starting to tell them about what made it possible for this man who was born lame to be healed, for his legs to become stronger and for him to stand up and be dancing around.
First off, Peter tells them “It was not our (Peter and John’s) power that healed this man.”
This is what people were thinking. They were thinking that Peter and John must have some special power, and that is how the man’s legs were healed.
This is why Peter tells them:
“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (v.12)
It is a wondrous thing, that a man who had been lame since birth was able to stand up, that he was freed from his long years of suffering.
But, Peter did not want people to focus solely on the fact that his legs were healed and that he could walk, or on the impression that they had healed him.
Peter tells them of the One who makes such things possible, of the One who they all must know.
That One is Jesus Christ. As is written in verse 16, it is “by faith in the name of Jesus”, and the “faith that comes through Him”.
It is the faith that Jesus gives us that makes wonderful miracles happen. It is never by the power of man.
And so, if there is anyone who we should “hold on to”, anyone that we must “cling on” to, that person is Jesus Christ.
Today’s passage teaches us that we should not depend on or cling to any outstanding person, thing or money, but it is the Lord Jesus Christ that we should depend on and cling to.
In verse 13 of today’s passage, Peter says:
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
The God who is made known to us through Jesus Christ is the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. The God of the Bible is the God who, throughout history, chose the Israelites and revealed Himself to them.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were names well known to the Jews as the names of their ancestors of faith.
Even for us now through the Bible (the Old Testament), we can see how God revealed Himself to Abraham and the ancestors of the Israelites.
It seems that some people have the impression that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are different gods, however the Bible tells us clearly that there is only one God.
The One who created Heaven, who created all the living things on earth, the One who revealed Himself to Abraham, to his son Isaac and to his son Jacob, is the same God as the One who revealed Himself as Jesus Christ, the one true God.
Let’s read verse 13 once more.
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
Here, Jesus is called “his servant Jesus”, meaning that Jesus Christ was God’s servant.
Jesus was equal with God. Jesus carried out many mighty works that only God could do.
Even so, at the same time as Jesus was God the Messiah (Lord and Savior), the memory of Jesus as God’s servant was still strong in the minds of the disciples.
Jesus did many mighty miraculous works, healing many people of their illnesses, driving out demons, calming storms and walking on water.
This shows the power of God, and power of Jesus as the Son of God.
And yet at the same time, Jesus had humbled himself and was always serving others, and this image of Jesus as a servant remained strongly imprinted in the minds of Peter and the disciples.
Peter is saying that even though our teacher, Jesus the Son of God, was the greatest of all, he was also God’s servant, and a servant to the point of serving others as well.
Peter must have also recalled Jesus’ teaching that they should be servants of one another also.
While Jesus was living amongst the disciples, He told them this (Mark 10:43~45):
whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
These were the words of Jesus. And these were not only words, but He Himself lived them out, living his life as a servant.,
The One who is God, who is King, the greatest One of all, made Himself a servant. The God of the Bible gave up his divine identity, becoming a servant of all and Himself serving others.
Believing in Jesus Christ is to welcome such a One into our hearts, as our God and as our Lord.
Since the One who humbled himself to be the lowest is our Lord and Savior, shall we not also strive to live as a servant on this earth, seeking to serve others?
Let’s read verse 16, the last verse in today’s passage.
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
This passage here tells us the truth that what saved this man who had always been unable to walk was the name of Jesus Christ, the faith that comes through Jesus Christ, the grace and power of Christ.
This is what all the people who were gathered there in the crowd needed to know.
Even the man whose legs were healed needed to rethink and know that what had made it possible for him to walk was the faith that comes through belief in the name of Jesus Christ (not through the power of man).
And so Peter made sure to repeatedly emphasize this point many times.
The name of Jesus Christ strengthens us. The faith given to us by Jesus gives us hope.
Each of us are faced with all kinds of troubles and suffering in our own lives.
In trying to solve our own difficult situations and escape from suffering, we often turn to all kinds of things or to other people to help save us.
Seeking help from other people is not a bad thing; in serving one another we also help one another.
But, the root cause of the serious problems that we are faced with on this earth is not something that can be solved by people or things (or even money).
The most fundamental problem we face is not knowing the Lord God and living our lives apart from Him.
In this world, we have pain, sadness and suffering. Even believing in God, sad things are still sad, painful things are still painful.
However, our faith that Jesus is with us, that the God of Immanuel (which means “God with us”) is with us, this gives us strength.
Even as we face pain and sorrow, we are able to live through the faith of hope that Jesus is with us.
In the same way that, in today’s passage, the name of Jesus Christ brought a man who had been lame to his feet, so too does Jesus surely give us the strength to keep rising to our feet in the midst of our troubles.
The Lord God, Jesus Christ, takes us by the hand, raises us to our feet, and walks alongside us.
And so, let us always believe in Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, and continue walking step by step on our life’s path with God and with our family in the faith.
Prelude
Call to Worship Malachi 4:2
Hymn JBC # 507 He leadeth me! O blessed tho’t!
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 278 There’s within my heart a melody
The Prayer Time
Offering
Scripture Acts 3:1～16
Prayer
Sermon “Be glory to his servant Jesus”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 626 I gave My life for thee
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
Postlude
Today’s Bible passage starts with these words:
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. (v.11)
The place mentioned here was Jerusalem’s temple. Peter and John were direct disciples of Jesus Christ, two of the group of disciples called the Twelve Apostles.
They came to take up a central role amongst the group of believers (the church) after Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension to Heaven.
We first meet the man who was said to be “holding on to Peter and John” in the passage before today’s scripture reading.
This was the man who had been lame since birth, but was healed and became able to walk through his encounter with Peter and John.
This man was a beggar who, since he was born unable to walk, would always be carried and set down beside the temple gates where he would receive alms from passers-by.
He looked at Peter and John as they were going to enter the temple and, hoping to receive money, he begged them for alms. Peter told him this:
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (v.6)
Having said this, Peter took him by the right hand, and the man stood up. The man’s legs were healed, he stood up straight and began dancing and praising God.
This brings us back to today’s passage, where the man who had been lame was healed, and “held on to Peter and John”.
The expression “hold on to” is normally not a positive one very much. “Hold on to” means to grab on to and not let go.
Although the man would have known that it was “in the name of Jesus Christ” that his legs were healed, he may have upheld Peter and John, who spoke the name of Jesus to him, as people of special importance, and maybe even respected or revered them.
And so, he was clinging on to Peter and John and couldn’t leave their side, and was holding on to them.
Perhaps the man was thinking “If you (Peter and John) are always near me, then I will be okay from now on”.
Today’s passage starts from where Peter is talking to the crowd that has gathered around them.
Peter is starting to tell them about what made it possible for this man who was born lame to be healed, for his legs to become stronger and for him to stand up and be dancing around.
First off, Peter tells them “It was not our (Peter and John’s) power that healed this man.”
This is what people were thinking. They were thinking that Peter and John must have some special power, and that is how the man’s legs were healed.
This is why Peter tells them:
“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (v.12)
It is a wondrous thing, that a man who had been lame since birth was able to stand up, that he was freed from his long years of suffering.
But, Peter did not want people to focus solely on the fact that his legs were healed and that he could walk, or on the impression that they had healed him.
Peter tells them of the One who makes such things possible, of the One who they all must know.
That One is Jesus Christ. As is written in verse 16, it is “by faith in the name of Jesus”, and the “faith that comes through Him”.
It is the faith that Jesus gives us that makes wonderful miracles happen. It is never by the power of man.
And so, if there is anyone who we should “hold on to”, anyone that we must “cling on” to, that person is Jesus Christ.
Today’s passage teaches us that we should not depend on or cling to any outstanding person, thing or money, but it is the Lord Jesus Christ that we should depend on and cling to.
In verse 13 of today’s passage, Peter says:
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
The God who is made known to us through Jesus Christ is the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. The God of the Bible is the God who, throughout history, chose the Israelites and revealed Himself to them.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were names well known to the Jews as the names of their ancestors of faith.
Even for us now through the Bible (the Old Testament), we can see how God revealed Himself to Abraham and the ancestors of the Israelites.
It seems that some people have the impression that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are different gods, however the Bible tells us clearly that there is only one God.
The One who created Heaven, who created all the living things on earth, the One who revealed Himself to Abraham, to his son Isaac and to his son Jacob, is the same God as the One who revealed Himself as Jesus Christ, the one true God.
Let’s read verse 13 once more.
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
Here, Jesus is called “his servant Jesus”, meaning that Jesus Christ was God’s servant.
Jesus was equal with God. Jesus carried out many mighty works that only God could do.
Even so, at the same time as Jesus was God the Messiah (Lord and Savior), the memory of Jesus as God’s servant was still strong in the minds of the disciples.
Jesus did many mighty miraculous works, healing many people of their illnesses, driving out demons, calming storms and walking on water.
This shows the power of God, and power of Jesus as the Son of God.
And yet at the same time, Jesus had humbled himself and was always serving others, and this image of Jesus as a servant remained strongly imprinted in the minds of Peter and the disciples.
Peter is saying that even though our teacher, Jesus the Son of God, was the greatest of all, he was also God’s servant, and a servant to the point of serving others as well.
Peter must have also recalled Jesus’ teaching that they should be servants of one another also.
While Jesus was living amongst the disciples, He told them this (Mark 10:43~45):
whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
These were the words of Jesus. And these were not only words, but He Himself lived them out, living his life as a servant.,
The One who is God, who is King, the greatest One of all, made Himself a servant. The God of the Bible gave up his divine identity, becoming a servant of all and Himself serving others.
Believing in Jesus Christ is to welcome such a One into our hearts, as our God and as our Lord.
Since the One who humbled himself to be the lowest is our Lord and Savior, shall we not also strive to live as a servant on this earth, seeking to serve others?
Let’s read verse 16, the last verse in today’s passage.
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
This passage here tells us the truth that what saved this man who had always been unable to walk was the name of Jesus Christ, the faith that comes through Jesus Christ, the grace and power of Christ.
This is what all the people who were gathered there in the crowd needed to know.
Even the man whose legs were healed needed to rethink and know that what had made it possible for him to walk was the faith that comes through belief in the name of Jesus Christ (not through the power of man).
And so Peter made sure to repeatedly emphasize this point many times.
The name of Jesus Christ strengthens us. The faith given to us by Jesus gives us hope.
Each of us are faced with all kinds of troubles and suffering in our own lives.
In trying to solve our own difficult situations and escape from suffering, we often turn to all kinds of things or to other people to help save us.
Seeking help from other people is not a bad thing; in serving one another we also help one another.
But, the root cause of the serious problems that we are faced with on this earth is not something that can be solved by people or things (or even money).
The most fundamental problem we face is not knowing the Lord God and living our lives apart from Him.
In this world, we have pain, sadness and suffering. Even believing in God, sad things are still sad, painful things are still painful.
However, our faith that Jesus is with us, that the God of Immanuel (which means “God with us”) is with us, this gives us strength.
Even as we face pain and sorrow, we are able to live through the faith of hope that Jesus is with us.
In the same way that, in today’s passage, the name of Jesus Christ brought a man who had been lame to his feet, so too does Jesus surely give us the strength to keep rising to our feet in the midst of our troubles.
The Lord God, Jesus Christ, takes us by the hand, raises us to our feet, and walks alongside us.
And so, let us always believe in Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, and continue walking step by step on our life’s path with God and with our family in the faith.
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