Sunday, February 19, 2023

“Breaking Away From Sin”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Things that cause one to stumble

* Mark 9:42 “little ones” = ???

* Cause for stumbling blocks = sin

* An episode of Gandhi

2. Removing stumbling blocks

* Sin comes with pleasure

* The nature of justifying sin

* Romans 6:15 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!” (NIV)

* Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (NIV)

3. Walking as the salt of the earth

* Mark 9:49 “Everyone will be salted with fire.” (NIV)

* Leviticus 2:13 “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” (NIV)

* What does it mean to go through fire? = involves pain, go through trials or difficulties

* The testimony of John Newton

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Why is it difficult to break away from sin?

2. Break away from sin and walk by relying on the Holy Spirit.

MCC20230219.mp3

Sunday, February 12, 2023

“A New Heaven & A New Earth”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. I saw “a new heaven and a new earth”

* Revelation 21:1 “first” = the first, the former

* Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (NIV)

* Matthew 24:35 “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (NIV)

* 2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (NIV)

* Revelation 21:1 “new” = “kainos” in Greek = quantitatively completely new

2. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven

3. I heard a loud voice from the throne

* Revelation 21:3 “loud voice” = the voice of an angel

* 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (NIV)

4. I heard the voice of he who was seated on the throne

* Revelation 21:5 “he who was seating on the throne” = the Lord, Jesus Christ

* Revelation 21:5 “make new” = build anew

* Revelation 21:6 “It is done.” = non-negotiable decision (prophetic perfect form)

5. The two types of inheritance

* Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Reconfirm what John “saw” and “heard.”

2. What do you think about the goal of our lives?

MCC20230212.mp3

Sunday, February 5, 2023

“The Great White Thrown Judgment”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The rebellion of Satan

* Revelation 20:7 “prison” = the abyss

2. The Great White Thrown Judgment

* Revelation 20:11 “great white thrown” = the last seat of judgment

* Revelation 20:11 “great” = indicating the seriousness or solemness of a matter

* Revelation 20:11 “white” = the seat of the final judge

* Revelation 20:11 “him who was seated on it” = the Son, Jesus Christ

* John 5:22 “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…” (NIV)

* 2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (NIV)

* Revelation 20:12 “the dead” = the unbelievers of all eras

* Revelation 20:12 “great and small” = all people (Hebrew phrase)

* Revelation 20:12 “book of life”

* Revelation 20:12 “the books”

* 1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (NIV)

* Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What kind of judgment is the “last judgment”?

2. Who is this judgment for?

3. What kind of expressions does the Bible use to convey the certainty of this “judgment”?

MCC20230205.mp3

Sunday, January 29, 2023

“Living in a Way that is Unaffected by the Evaluation of People”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. What was ruling the hearts of the disciples

* Mark 9:38 (See above)

* Various denominations exist in Japan

* Division within the church

2. Freedom from bitterness

(1) Awareness as the body of Christ

* Mark 9:39 (See above)

* How to perceive denominations

(2) How God sees us

* The testimony of professional golfer, Tsuneyuki Nakajima

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Have you ever compared yourself to someone and been depressed over that?

2. How can you walk forward in life without worrying about how other people evaluate you?

3. Reconfirm about how it is that God sees you.

MCC20230129.mp3

Sunday, January 22, 2023

“The Millennial Kingdom”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

* There is a preparation period of 75 days from Jesus’ return until the “millennial kingdom” begins (Daniel 12:11-12)

- Post-war cleanup from the battle of Armageddon

- Removal of the statue of the anti-Christ from the temple in Jerusalem

- Judgment for the survivors of the Great Tribulation (separation of the sheep and goats)

- Capture of the anti-Christ and false prophet and throwing into Gehenna (hell), the “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 19:20)

- Resurrection of the saints from the Old Testament era (Isaiah 26:18-19)

- Wedding banquet for Christ and the Church

1. Seizing and binding of Satan

* 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV)

2. Those who rule with Christ in the millennial kingdom

* 1 Corinthians 6:2 “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” (NIV)

* Revelation 20:4 The martyrs of the Great Tribulation are also resurrected into glorious bodies, governing with the Church

3. The state of the millennial kingdom

* Realization of world peace

Isaiah 2:4 “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (NIV)

* Beautiful restoration of nature: Isaiah 30:23,35:1-2 (reference)

* Change in animal world: Isaiah 11:6-9 (reference)

* Eradication of all diseases: Isaiah 35:5-6 (reference)

Romans 8:23 “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What impact does the promise of the “millennial kingdom” have on your present way of life?

cMCC20230122.mp3

Sunday, January 15, 2023

“Walking in a Manner Appropriate for a Disciple”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The disciple’s values

* Mark 9:34 (See above)

* Jewish social values at that time

* Present day values

* Rapper ZORN

2. Becoming a servant

* Mark 9:35 (See above)

* The testimony of Dr. Jürgen Trogisch

3. Being conformed into the image of Jesus

* Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!” (NIV)

* Ephesians 4:13 “…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV)

* A testimony from Calvary Chapel

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What kind of way of living enriches one’s life?

2. Share about how you have been blessed by serving.

MCC20.mp3

Sunday, January 8, 2023

“Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to Earth”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

* “Nineteen Eighty-Four” novel by George Orwell (1949)

1. The appearance of Jesus Christ in the second coming

* Matthew 24:30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (NIV)

* Revelation 19:11 “war” = the battle of Armageddon

* Revelation 19:12 “crown” = “diadema” in Greek = a crown a king would wear

* Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 63:1-3 “ Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? ‘It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.’ Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ‘I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.” (NIV)

* Revelation 19:15 “sharp sword” = metaphor for “God’s Word”

* 2 Thessalonians 2:8 “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” (NIV)

* Revelation 19:14 “armies” = plural format = (1) armies of angels & (2) armies of Christians

2. The battle of Armageddon

* The 8 steps of the battle of Armageddon

(1) The Antichrist’s army gathers in Armageddon

(2) The Antichrist’s empire’s capital, Babylon, falls

(3) The Antichrist’s army attacks Jerusalem

(4) The Antichrist’s army invades Bozrah

(5) Israel’s national conversion

(6) Jesus Christ returns to Bozrah (Refer to Isaiah 34:1-7, 63:1-6)

(7) The Antichrist’s army is destroyed in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kedron) (Refer to Rev. 14:20)

(8) The returned Jesus Christ stands on the Mount of Olives (Refer to Zechariah 14:4-5)

3. The result of the battle of Armageddon

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What do you think about Edward Young’s statement that “Whether you can believe the Bible doesn’t depend on how smart you are, but whether or not you are born again”?

MCC20230108.mp3

Sunday, January 1, 2023

“I Have Many People”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Paul’s exhaustion

* 1 Corinthians 2:3 “ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.” (NIV)

* COVID-19 and the Unification Church problems

2. Do not be afraid; keep on speaking

* Acts 18:9 “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” (NIV)

* The reasons we don’t need to fear

(1) “I am with you”

- Livingston

(2) “I have many people in this city”

3. Stay

* Acts 18:11 “So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” (NIV)

* 1964: The year Minemachi Christ Church was built by missionaries from Sweden

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What are things that may make people hesitant to proclaim the Gospel?

2. Why is it that we can continue to proclaim it without fear?

mcc20230101.mp3

Sunday, December 25, 2022

“News of Great Joy”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. God is one who is with us

2. God is the one who is our Savior

* “Sin” = “amartia” in Greek = to miss the mark

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What was the purpose of Jesus Christ’s birth?

2. Who is Jesus Christ to you?

MCC20221225.mp3

Sunday, December 18, 2022

“The God Who Came to Earth”

Pastor Kenichi Osumi

1. To know the thoughts of people

* Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.” (NIV)

* Father Damien

2. To give His blood and die

* Hebrews 9:27-28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28?so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (NIV)

* John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)

* Hebrews 9:22 “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (NIV)

* 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)

* Hebrews 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (NIV)

3. To enable us to be givers

* Acts 20:34-35 “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (NIV)

* The example of missionaries

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Why was Jesus Christ born? What can you learn from the Lord’s birth?

MCC20221218.mp3