↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) A few months ago, Park-sensei preached on 1 Corinthians 6, about the idea that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. He mentioned the story of Jesus chasing out merchants from the temple of Jerusalem. Park-sensei asked us to imagine that if our hearts are a temple, then what needs to be cleared out and cleansed? Today’s sermon is about the story of Jesus clearing the temple in the Gospel of Mark. Before we read it, let’s pray. [Read Mark 11:12-25] The fig tree and the temple We read about two events:
“Shame and honor, cost and reward” (Mark 10:28-45)
[An audio recording of this sermon will be uploaded here after the worship service.] In Japan, there is a saying, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” This is similar to a Chinese saying, “A bird that pokes its head out gets shot.” When we act differently from how society expects, we may be criticized and shamed. Do you remember what the Japanese government did a few years ago to control the spread of Covid-19? One of the methods was the threat of shame. Travelers who entered or re-entered Japan were supposed to isolate themselves for awhile. If they were caught being outside unnecessarily, the government threatened to publicize
“Let the children come” (Mark 10:13-27)
[An audio recording of this sermon will be uploaded here after the worship service.] Recently, I was taken by surprise when my daughter, who is almost 5 years old, asked me, “Daddy, when can I be baptized?” As you may know, different churches have different answers to this question. After this I started reading many articles about child baptism as well as infant baptism. Coincidentally, at this time, I was also preparing for today’s sermon. In our passage for today, Jesus talks about children and about entering the kingdom of God. So, let’s hear what Jesus says about children from Mark chapter 10, and at the end I’ll return to
“Divorce and Marriage” (Mark 10:1-12)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Today’s passage in the Gospel of Mark deals with a tough and controversial subject: divorce. Christians hold different views about divorce. Regardless, from reading the Bible we can see that it elevates the status of women in times when they were often considered the property of men. Before reading from Mark, let’s pray. [Read Mark 10:1-12] The Pharisees’ debate on divorce Back then, the Pharisees were caught in a debate about when divorce was permissible. The Law of Moses had only one reference to divorce, in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. It’s quite long, so I’ll summarize
“Mountaintop experiences” (Mark 9: The Transfiguration)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Among English-speaking Christians there is this phrase called “mountaintop experience.” It means a memorable and high moment in a person’s spiritual life. Usually, it’s an event that caused you to feel unusually close to God. Or receive a significant insight from God. Today’s passage in Mark 9 is about a mountaintop experience for three of Jesus’ closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. They had already seen amazing miracles, but what they see here is another level. Besides thinking about this event through their eyes, I want to think about the question, “Why doesn’t God
“They do not know what they do.”(Luke 23:32-37)
↓Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
“Costly discipleship and preparing for Jesus’ return” (Mark 8:27-9:1)
↓ Audio link to the sermon: (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Today, my message is not a traditional Christmas sermon that focuses on the birth of Jesus and the theme of joy. Instead, it is the continuation of our series on Mark’s gospel. Our passage today is actually about a heavy topic about the cost of discipleship. It is easy to talk about the blessings that Jesus brings to those who believe in him. But the life of a disciple of Jesus is also challenging. We need the full picture of what to expect: both the joy and the hardship. I believe this topic