(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
“A Time for Everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1~6)
↓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 share with you a message about “timing.” As we go through life, we all realize that timing is so important. In fact, we could even say, “Timing is everything.” No matter how hard we try, if it is not the right time, we cannot see fruit. No matter how much effort we put in, if the timing is not right, it will not succeed. That is how crucial timing is. The Roman philosopher Seneca (around 4 B.C.–A.D. 65) once said: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets
“What does it mean to believe?” (Luke 7:1-10)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Sorry, this post is no translate, only available in Japanese. [Luke 7:1-10] 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our
“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
“For true happiness is promised to you.” Luke 6:20-26
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Sorry, this post is no translate, only available in Japanese. [Luke 6:20-26] 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great
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.