キリストにあって　エペソ 1:1-14

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Today, I would like to talk about the phrase “in Christ.” In today’s passage, the expression “in Christ” appears many times. Do you know how many times? About eight times. Why does it appear eight times? Because it is very important, that’s why it is repeated so often. In Greek, the phrase “in Christ” is “en Christo.” In Paul’s letters, the phrase en Christō is used 64 times. It shows how significant this concept is. “In Christ” means that we who believe in Jesus are in Christ—that is, we belong to Jesus.

“Draw Near to God” James 4:8

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double‑minded.”(James 4:8) As we all know, we Japanese don’t like to strictly follow just one religion. When I say “we Japanese,” it means “typical Japanese people.” Rather than strictly following a single religion, we Japanese choose different religious practices depending on the situation(or season). For example, in January, here in Japan we Japanese visit a Shinto shrine(初詣) to pray for health and safety in the coming year. In the summer, we

Luke 5:27-32, “The Gaze of the Lord Jesus”.

↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

“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