↓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
“This man speaks the truth” (Acts 27:22-26)
↓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. [Acts 27] 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for
“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
“He rescues and he saves” (Daniel 6:27)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) “He rescues and he saves, he has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:27) Today we will read Daniel chapter 6. But first, let’s briefly recall what we have learned so far. There was a prophecy about a rock cut out of the mountain that would destroy nations and a new kingdom would be established; and this took place during the time of the Romans (Daniel 2:44, 45). This rock was the Savior, whose birth brought the kingdom of heaven to earth. Through the book of Daniel we also
Words Have Power (Proverbs 16:24)
↓Audio link to the sermon:(Sunday worship recording) (If you can’t listen on your iPhone, please update your iOS) Let me begin by asking a question. What do you think people live by? Tolstoy argues in his short novel titled “What people live by” that people live “by love.” Do you agree? A Japanese novelist Yoshino Kenzaburo also wrote a book titled, “How will you live?” I also wrote a book titled “How Do I Live as a Christian?” This kind of a question seems to be a profound, philosophical and even ontological question. Therefore, it’s not easy to answer this question. But let me ask you once again. What do
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