[An audio recording will be uploaded here after the service.] Today we will read from the book of Joel. The theme for today is “the day of the Lord.” What will we reflect on is, in light of the end times, how should believers live? Firstly, the day of the Lord, as described in Joel, is a day when God will judge both the people of God as well as the people of all nations. Chapter 1 verse 4 describes that day like a swarm of locusts instantly devouring a bountiful harvest and causing devastation. Such dreadful things will happen on the day of the Lord. We will read chapters
The Nicene Creed and the Trinity (Part 1): Is God one or three persons?
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) One of the greatest mysteries in our faith is the Trinity. It is difficult to understand and difficult to explain. We say that we believe in one God. We also say that God is three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So is God one or three? How can he be both one God and three persons? Can’t we just simplify it and say “We believe in one God. That’s all.”? The purpose of my sermon today is not to explain the Trinity in a way that will fully satisfy you.
“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely” (Hosea 14:4)
(The audio recording of this sermon will be uploaded here after the Sunday service.) We read Hosea chapter 6 during my previous message. The theme was returning to the Lord. Hosea 6:1-3 says, “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us
Stations of the Cross (Mark 14:55-16:8)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Good morning, church. It is really good to be back at IBF and read God’s word with you. I have been preaching through Mark’s gospel for more than two years. Today is the last reading of Mark’s gospel, and it is about Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection. However, I will not be preaching a traditional sermon. Rather, today I wat to guide us through a quiet meditation on Scripture. This meditation is based on a popular Christian practice called Stations of the Cross. If you visit Jerusalem today, you could walk through a road
“Come, let us return to the Lord” (Hosea 6:1)
↓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