↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) My last sermon was on Hosea 3:2. The passage was about God’s work of redemption. Let me briefly summarize it. Hosea 3:2 says, “So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about one-and-a-half homer of barley.” The northern kingdom of Israel was captivated by idol worship and bowed down to Baal; they were unfaithful to God, but God redeemed and saved them. Fifteen shekels of silver was actually only half the price of one slave. That is how unworthy the people of Israel were when God redeemed them. But in
“How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled”? (Daniel 12:6)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) We have been reading from the Book of Daniel for the past few months. Among the prophecies in Daniel, we have focused on the coming of the Messiah and what he will do. In chapter 3, we read about how King Nebuchadnezzar threw Daniel’s three friends into a fiery furnace because they would not bow to his statue. If you were here during that message, I’m sure you remember the story. God miraculously protected Daniel’s three friends and rescued them. As the king said in 3:25, “Look! I see four men walking
“Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him” (Daniel 11:45)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) During my last message, we read Daniel chapter 9. It was about a prayer of Daniel. He prayed, “Lord, look with favor on your sanctuary.” His prayer was on target and understood the essence of true worship. He sought for true worship to be restored at the Temple. And God answered Daniel’s prayer. God’s answer was a revelation, a promise of the coming of Jesus Christ and his work. As for us today, we do not need to have Temple worship. Because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, our
Jesus’ Betrayal (Mark 14:27-72)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) King David of the Bible would say: it is worse to be betrayed by a friend than attacked by an enemy. He wrote in Psalm 55 verse 12-13: “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.” Have you ever been let down by a friend? By a family member? By your company, or a group you belong to? They were supposed to
The extravagant gift (Mark 14:1-25)
What is the most extravagant gift you have ever received? Take a few moments to think about it. Who gave it to you, and what did you do with it? Today’s Bible reading is about extravagant gifts: one that Jesus received and one that Jesus gave. We’ll read the first half of Mark chapter 14. It’s about what happens just before Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. First, let’s pray. [Read Mark 14:1-25] An extravagant gift to Jesus Our story starts with an unnamed woman pouring out expensive perfume on Jesus’ head. It was so expensive that some people grumbled in verse 5, “Why this waste of perfume? It could
“Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” (Daniel 8:25,)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) This is the fifth week that we are reading the book of Daniel. So far, I wonder which words or stories from this book spoke to your heart. For me, it was Daniel’s attitude in prayer. In chapter 6 verse 10, it says, “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” I was challenged to pray three times a day, just briefly, to tell God my desires and give thanks to him. I was also greatly encouraged
Waiting for Jesus’ return (Mark 13)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Today, we will read Mark chapter 13, and my message is about waiting for Jesus’ return. Speaking of waiting, I recently had an unpleasant experience waiting for my visa to be renewed. It used to take 4 to 8 weeks. This time, it took 5 months. I finally received my new visa 2 months after the old one expired. It was a long, difficult wait that ended with huge relief. Praise God that, with this visa, I can stay in Japan for another 3 years. The Bible tells us that waiting for Jesus’ return