↓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
“Holy people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27)
↓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 7. This chapter is about a vision Daniel saw and what it means. The book of Daniel is considered apocalyptic literature. Let’s find out what Daniel’s vision reveals and how it relates to God’s great plan of salvation. Last week we read about Daniel’s experience of being protected in the lions’ den by God, the one who rescues and saves. Seeing this, King Darius learned about the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom will never fall. Its reign will last forever. We will see a clearer
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