May 5, 2013 Sermon Summary
Hebrew 13:7-9
The strength of a believer is in their realization that God’s grace is the one that allows them to live.◆“Grace” is something that God one-sidedly gives to us. We can also call it “an unconditional love”. It is not a conditional love where God will love us back only if we love him first. Even way before we love him, God has always loved us. It’s not because of what “we did” but because God loves us unconditionally. And that is grace.◆All of us are not saved by our action, but by God’s grace. We mustn’t forget that. We must not be tricked into thinking that we can live in our own strength.◆he Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12: 9 NIV).◆Whenever you feel down and troubled by your own weaknesses, let’s remember that verse. And then ask God so that you may be strengthened by his grace.
Dear Lord, our God, you have opened the path of salvation for us sinners, by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we thank you and praise you from our hearts for that amazing grace.
We are weak and small. We are like a bowl with many faults, but please use us so that your grace may flow abundantly from us so the world can see.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Prayer Requests
Earthquakes frequently occured around the world.The damage of the earthquake that occurred again in China Sichuan is serious. Let us pray for the people affected by the disaster. Also, we need to prepare for an emergency in a daily life. The "Tsunami Hazard Map" which Beppu created is put up for the entrance hall. Let's check your nearist evacuation place.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Let‘s Pursue
April 28, 2013 Sermon Summary
Hebrew 12:14-15
Having “peace with all people” and living in “holiness” are the two things that Christians should “pursue”.◆To live in holiness, we don’t need to make any wall around us. Instead, having “God as Number One” in our hearts, we should become a testimony and spread this lifestyle to the people around us.◆Just as it’s written, “Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV), we must live putting God’s affairs first, and by so doing, people around us will come to know the Lord God.◆I believe that by living in holiness, in other words, by putting God as the God of our life, we can bring true peace into this world, into human relationships. And the opposite is true, too. There is no holiness in a life that does not pursue peace among people.
Lord God,We occasionally have to make decisions.We face troubles like choosing between God or man, the church or the neighborhood.And there is distress also in trying to have “peace with all people”.May we then become Your witnesses through our decisions and attitudes.Please use us as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Amen.
Hebrew 12:14-15
Having “peace with all people” and living in “holiness” are the two things that Christians should “pursue”.◆To live in holiness, we don’t need to make any wall around us. Instead, having “God as Number One” in our hearts, we should become a testimony and spread this lifestyle to the people around us.◆Just as it’s written, “Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV), we must live putting God’s affairs first, and by so doing, people around us will come to know the Lord God.◆I believe that by living in holiness, in other words, by putting God as the God of our life, we can bring true peace into this world, into human relationships. And the opposite is true, too. There is no holiness in a life that does not pursue peace among people.
Lord God,We occasionally have to make decisions.We face troubles like choosing between God or man, the church or the neighborhood.And there is distress also in trying to have “peace with all people”.May we then become Your witnesses through our decisions and attitudes.Please use us as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Amen.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Run Through the Path Faith
April 21, 2013 Sermon Summary
Hebrew 12:1-3
The life of faith is often likened to track and field. There is a respective stage in life and sometimes there is hurdle that needs to be jumped over. And we have to do something to overcome it. ◆It is found in chapter 12 verse 1[As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us] These [large crowd of witnesses] refer to the pioneers of faith that are written in chapter 11 of this book. They were people that came through each one’s life [by faith] And even now, they cheer us up by the roadside of our life’s path as they wave the banner saying [Hang in there! Go for it! Run through by faith!]. Let us picture such a scene in our mind. ◆We are impressed as we watch a runner running through 42.195 kilometers. As such, the figure of a believer that can run through surpassing even any hurdle by his faith in Jesus touches the people around.◆ Please give attention to verse 1 [let us run with determination the race that lies before us] It is not just a matter of [me] nor [you] but [us]. It concerns the church. By faith we run with Jesus but right there is our fellow Christian running along with us. It is not to compete with each other but to encourage one another. It is because we experience the same suffering that we are partners encouraging one another. In doing so, we exist to encourage each other that we may complete together the run of the life of faith. Let us run through together the road of faith.
Hebrew 12:1-3
The life of faith is often likened to track and field. There is a respective stage in life and sometimes there is hurdle that needs to be jumped over. And we have to do something to overcome it. ◆It is found in chapter 12 verse 1[As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us] These [large crowd of witnesses] refer to the pioneers of faith that are written in chapter 11 of this book. They were people that came through each one’s life [by faith] And even now, they cheer us up by the roadside of our life’s path as they wave the banner saying [Hang in there! Go for it! Run through by faith!]. Let us picture such a scene in our mind. ◆We are impressed as we watch a runner running through 42.195 kilometers. As such, the figure of a believer that can run through surpassing even any hurdle by his faith in Jesus touches the people around.◆ Please give attention to verse 1 [let us run with determination the race that lies before us] It is not just a matter of [me] nor [you] but [us]. It concerns the church. By faith we run with Jesus but right there is our fellow Christian running along with us. It is not to compete with each other but to encourage one another. It is because we experience the same suffering that we are partners encouraging one another. In doing so, we exist to encourage each other that we may complete together the run of the life of faith. Let us run through together the road of faith.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Remain and Live in Faith
April 14, 2013 Sunday’s Sermon Summary
Hebrew 10:32-11:1
Suffering is part of life in this world, even for Christians. This may include being spiritual battles such as being misunderstood by those around you. Or it may be other forms of suffering which humans experience on earth. This includes sickness and natural disasters. It includes accidents.It may be good to pass through life without encountering this but through these hardships we learn many things.◆As long as we are living in this world, there will be hardship. We experience physical and mental fatigue but this is different from the issue of our soul. The greatest problem we need to resolve is the salvation of the soul, the issue of eternal life, and salvation in this world.◆“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (11:1). “Faith” is not a method we use to reach a culmination of our human desires. “What we hope for” is the salvation of souls. The Great Priest Jesus is the eternal atonement of sin. And this leads to eternal life. “What we do not see” refers to the future return of Christ and the promise of the completion of God’s kingdom. ◆The important thing is to have trust in that person, Jesus Christ. That is true salvation. We should not ask in fear, “Is this really okay?” On the other hand, we should have assurance and faith saying, “It is okay! The Lord is with us.”
Hebrew 10:32-11:1
Suffering is part of life in this world, even for Christians. This may include being spiritual battles such as being misunderstood by those around you. Or it may be other forms of suffering which humans experience on earth. This includes sickness and natural disasters. It includes accidents.It may be good to pass through life without encountering this but through these hardships we learn many things.◆As long as we are living in this world, there will be hardship. We experience physical and mental fatigue but this is different from the issue of our soul. The greatest problem we need to resolve is the salvation of the soul, the issue of eternal life, and salvation in this world.◆“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (11:1). “Faith” is not a method we use to reach a culmination of our human desires. “What we hope for” is the salvation of souls. The Great Priest Jesus is the eternal atonement of sin. And this leads to eternal life. “What we do not see” refers to the future return of Christ and the promise of the completion of God’s kingdom. ◆The important thing is to have trust in that person, Jesus Christ. That is true salvation. We should not ask in fear, “Is this really okay?” On the other hand, we should have assurance and faith saying, “It is okay! The Lord is with us.”
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Center on Worship ~ Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart
April 7,2013 Sermon Summary
Hebrew 10:19-22
When I say “worship”, I think all of you will think of the “Sabbath Worship” which is held as we gather in this church. That, in a sense, is correct. There are two kinds of worships. The one we practice in our personal space (home, workplace, etc.) is called “Personal Worship” and the one held on a fixed day when people gather in a church is called “Public Worship”.◆Both are equally important for one’s religious life, but above all else, trying to always attend the “Public Worship” is a big training for every believer.◆The time and content of personal worship can be adjusted according to one’s schedule and convenience. “I woke up late today so I’m skipping the morning prayer. Tonight, I’ll do the night prayer as well as the morning prayer.” is a bit extreme for an example, but such thing is possible with personal worship.◆But we can’t do that with public worship. We can’t just adjust the public worship at our convenience, for example “Please start the worship today at 11:15.”, because public worship is not held in your own place but in a public place. You must adjust yourself with others, no, with the church, nope— with God. ◆"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). We should, in every circumstance, try our hardest to live as people who choose God as our first priority. ◆The life of people who choose the First Priority to be their first priority will certainly enjoy abundant blessings from God. This is for real. This is the truth. ◆We must not give up meeting together, because we have to say goodbye to our “self-centeredness”. Consecrate Sundays by coming to church, protecting our time with God, attending the worship service with a sincere heart is the most basic of basics when we live a life that is God-centered.
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