The final question, the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-44)

↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) I like to play a game with my baby called “Near, Far.” I bring her close to my face while saying “Near,” then move her away while saying “Far”. And I repeat this many times. I love to hear her giggle whenever I bring her near, so close that her nose is almost touching my nose. In the same way, I think God our heavenly Father loves for us to be near. And we, too, experience joy when we feel near to him. In today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus encounters a

“Mene mene tekel parsin” (Daniel 5:25)

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Today we will read from Daniel chapter 5. The passage shows a big difference between two kings: King Nebuchadnezzar who learned humility in chapter 4, and his son King Belshazzar. It’s truly a shame. A shame that the young king did not learn from the example of his great father. This chapter shows the failure of the proud young king, who could not respond the needs of his country or understand the situation he was in. With that, let us dive into Daniel chapter 5. Reading from verses 1 to 4: “King

“There is life after death” (Mark 12:18-27)

↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) As I was preparing this message, an elder from my home church passed away. Even though we were not close, he and his wife would invite me to eat in their home every time I visited Malaysia. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to lose a spouse that you love and have lived with for 4 or 5 decades. Even if you know that you’ll meet them again in heaven, I’m sure the grief is deep and may never go away—at least, not while you are on earth. With this in mind, today’s

“Those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37)

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) “Those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37) Today we will start reading the book of Daniel, chapter 4. Today’s theme is walking in humility. It is the humble who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Daniel 4:37 says, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” This is today’s theme: walking in humility. Let’s read chapter 4. Verses 2 and

Made in God’s Image (Mark 12:13-17)

↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) When people meet my daughters, they say, “She looks just like Dad!” or “Looks just like Mum!” I’m sure many of you have been told that you look like one of your parents or siblings. However, don’t you think it would be a great compliment if someone said, “You really remind me of Jesus”? Because, that is one goal of the Christian—to be like Christ Jesus. And since we believe Jesus is the Son of God, it implies that our goal is to resemble God, to reflect his image. This is my topic for

“Even if He does not deliver us” (Daniel 3:18)

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) During my last sermon we started reading the book of Daniel, which contains prophecies about our Savior, Jesus Christ. One of the prophecies was about a rock cut out of a mountain (2:45), which symbolized that the rule of the Romans and all other powers would be destroyed, and there would be a new kingdom. That rock which is stronger than anything is the Messiah. The Messiah to be born was Jesus, and the followers of this Messiah would spread throughout the world, going beyond national borders and eras of history. The

By Whose Authority? (Mark 11:27-12:12)

↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Each morning, I send my daughter to kindergarten. One day, another parent said, “Be careful. There’s an old man near the school who shouts at people walking by: ‘右歩け! Walk on the right side of the road!’” “Who does he think he is?!” she told me. Sure enough, I encountered this man. He shouted at me, “右歩け,ばかやろう! Walk on the right, you stupid idiot!” Now, it’s a different story if a police officer told us to walk on the right side of the road. We would probably obey the officer, even if there were