September 28, 2025 Sunday Worship Service

Prelude
Call to Worship Psalms 105:7
Hymn JBC # 507 He leadeth me! O blessed tho’t!
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC # 321 Years I spent in vanity and pride
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 7:1~16
Prayer
Sermon “Our Father Abraham”
Prayer
Hymn JBC # 255 Face to face with Christ, my Saviour
Doxology JBC #$ 673
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements


Ancient people believed that the Earth was the center of the universe, and that other stars and objects in space revolved around us. This is known as the geocentric theory.
Thanks to the results of scientific research and discoveries, we no longer believe the geocentric theory. Instead, we believe the heliocentric theory (the idea that the earth revolves around the sun) to be true.
However, I believe our way of life still reflects belief in geocentric theory (that the world revolves around us) or that we believe it should be that way.
We normally view things that happen to ourselves from our own perspective. In other words, we judge our surroundings using ourselves as a standard based on what we desire (or what we believe to be right).

However, if we know (acknowledge) that we are not the center of the universe, I think the way we view what happens in the world around us, the people around us, and how we interact with people will change greatly.
If we are not the center of the universe or the things, then what is?
The Bible teaches that this world was created with a particular goal by the One.
If that is the case, then it is natural to think that God, the Creator of the world, is the center of the universe.
The Bible teaches that God, the Creator of the universe, was born as a man and came to this world. Jesus Christ is the man who God came as.

Since we had sinned and become separated from God (God’s purpose), Jesus Christ came to show us who God is (and what His purpose is).
Christ came to this world so that through Him we can know how deep God’s love is. To know God’s love is one of the major purposes of our life.
The Bible teaches us that the world is actually centered around God, and invites us to accept that God became man as Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ is God and God is love.
When we learn to see the circumstances around us and the world not from our own perspective, but with God at the center, a change occurs.
This is that, no matter what type of situation, even if it is disadvantageous or dangerous, it can be used for a better (God’s) purpose.

Today’s Bible passage is in the beginning of Acts Chapter 7. Stephen is being tried by the Jewish high officials for believing in and evangelizing about Christ.
From today's passage, we are made to know the figure of a man who live in God's hope, even in situations that are critical and disadvantageous for them, and even when surrounded by many enemies.
Let’s listen to the words of God spoken through Stephen in today’s Bible passage.
The high priest asked Stephen if the charges against him were true. The Jews had charged Stephen with blaspheming God.
The Jews accused Stephen of blaspheming God, the great prophet Moses, and God’s holy place (the temple) and law (the words of Scripture).
However, these were false testimonies (lies). They were baseless accusations. The Jews merely hated Stephen, and so brought false charges against him in order to make him be found guilty.
To Stephen this was a dangerous situation. If he did not prove his innocence, his life was in danger.

However, when Stephen was asked if the charges against him were true, how did he respond? Stephen did not even to attempt to defend himself in the slightest.
　Stephen merely thought of this dangerous situation as a perfect opportunity to share about God.
Stephen must have had conviction that God was with him. Therefore, (even more than his own desires) Stephen wanted to speak what God wanted him to speak.
To the high priest and others who brought charges against him, Stephen called out, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!”
Rather than seeing those who brought charges against him as enemies, Stephen called them his brothers and fathers.
　In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I wonder we would assume if such a thing is even possible (surely it is impossible).

However, we can see a believer who truly lived out Jesus’ words in Stephen in today’s passage.
Stephen was able to call the very people who were after his own life, through faith in Jesus Christ, his brothers and fathers.
Stephen’s words and actions show that, through faith, other people, and even enemies can become family in God.
If you are suddenly told to love your enemies, you might be taken aback. However, it is well that we believe that believers who have actually lived these words out truly existed, and even now they exist.
I also believe that there are at least efforts we can make even now to become just a little more like these people.

Stephen begins by sharing about God’s story in Scripture, describing how God has continually chosen and saved Israel by talking about Abraham’s story in the Old Testament in ‘Genesis’.
The Lord’s first words (command) to Abraham, who was known as the father of the faith to the Jews, was to “leave his homeland and family and go to the place that He commanded”.
In Genesis 12, it is written that God appeared to Abraham and spoke to him as such.
The Lord had said to Abraham, “Go from your familiar country, your familiar people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
Life is certainly like going on a journey without being able to see what is ahead. There are times where you have to leave the places and family that you are accustomed to.
However, even if we do not know what will happen from now on or where we are headed, God who guides us is with us.
That is the promise God gave Abraham, as well as to those of us who believe in the same God.

As we read (or hear) the words of the Bible, pray, and open our hearts to God in faith, let us trust that God is with us and will show us where we need to go.
　Verse 9 speaks about Abraham’s grandson, Joseph.
Many chapters in Genesis are about Joseph’s story.
　Joseph was doted on (loved too much) by his father, Jacob, and because of this was shunned by his brothers (Joseph also did things himself that caused him to be shunned by his brothers). In verse 9, “the patriarchs” refers to Joseph’s brothers.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Through this action of selling their brother into slavery, it is clear to see how much Joseph’s brothers hated him.
However, God never left Joseph, and he came to be used by the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, eventually rising to be the minister of all of the kingdom of Egypt.
Joseph’s story is clearly detailed in ‘Genesis’, so I encourage all of you to read it.
Joseph’s immaturity and arrogance in personality and action also played part in making his brothers jealous of him.
However, just as written in verse 9, God never left Joseph.
In the same way the God of the Bible, the Creator of heaven and Earth is a God who will never leave us or abandon us. Jesus Christ, our God, is God who is with us.
Because God is with us, even if we are in suffering, difficulties, or worry, we can live in peace.

The God who is with us is greater than any suffering, difficulty, or worry, so we can trust in Him, God who created the world and us with his purpose and we can be at peace.
Joseph is eventually reunited with his father Jacob and his brothers. His father, brothers and other family all come to live in Egypt from Canaan.
However, when his father Jacob dies, Joseph’s brothers were afraid. They were afraid that Joseph was still upset that they had sold him to slavery and was planning to get revenge on them.
　However, this is what Joseph said to his fearful brothers.

　Genesis 50:19～20
“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

　If he were only thinking about himself, Joseph was in a place where he could take revenge on his brothers, and would even be justified in doing so.
However, more than thinking of himself, Joseph was able to see that what happened between him and his brothers, in God’s great plan, was for good, and even the evil things that people do can be changed for good.
Joseph realized that his brothers selling him into slavery, as well as his own actions that played part in causing that, were all used by God so that many people’s lives would be saved.
Joseph became able to see his own life, his brothers, and the world through God’s perspective, rather than his own self-centered one.
Jesus Christ came to the world to tell people about how God saves man (the gospel). However, people crucified Christ and killed him out of jealousy and resentment.
However, God can change even that human evil into something good. Christ’s cross saved us from our sin.
Stephen spoke of how God’s plan for salvation for man had begun long before they were born, tracing it back even to the time of Abraham, the father of their faith.

Even now we are in that plan of salvation.
There are times where we experience very painful and difficult things.
However, no matter what happens, the God of salvation is with us, and we can trust that He will continue to save us.
Even if you cannot believe it clearly now, times will surely come when you look back on those times through Jesus Christ, you will see that God is with us and is protecting us.
Let us give thanks and trust in God who gives us this protection and grace.