Sunday, September 18, 2022

“The God Who Draws Even Those Far Away”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Grace given to people far from salvation as well

* Selection of Israelites (Jews)

* Genesis 12:1-3 “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV)

* The distance between Pharisees and gentiles in Jesus’ time

* People for whom it is thought to believe that Jesus Christ is the savior is difficult

(1) Jews

(2) Islamic extremist terrorists

(3) Scientists

(4) Family & friends

2. God uses disciples

* Mark 8:6 (See above)

(1) Jews

(2) Islamic extremist terrorists

(3) Scientists

(4) Family & friends

3. Aligning with Jesus’ heart

* Mark 8:2 “have compassion for” = “splanchnizomai”

* The prayer of Henri Nouwen

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What kind of people does God lead to salvation?

2. Who are you being sent to tell about Jesus?

MCC20.mp3

Sunday, September 11, 2022

“The Heart of Jesus”

Pastor Kenichi Osumi

* Matthew 22:40 “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)

1. Do not judge

* Change from “don’t do” to “do”

* Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (NIV)

2. Ask

* Who do you ask?

* Matthew 7:11 (See above)

* James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NIV)

3. Do to others what you would have them do to you

* Similar and Different Teachings: Confucius

* Prophetic Christians who declared victory over COVID-19 (Cindy Jacobs & Kenneth Copeland)

* The last message from the late Tadashi Kosaka

* Staying at the center of the Gospel

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What is the heart of Jesus, unchanging in all eras

MCC 20220911.mp3

Sunday, September 4, 2022

“Generous God”

Pastor Shion Osumi

1. God’s image

* John 3:16-17 “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (NIV)

2. Generous God

* Matthew 20:15 “Or are you envious because I am generous?” = “I am good, so are your eyes evil?”

* Schadenfreude = Other people's misfortune tastes like honey

* Generous = The state of being able to give and share in excess, in abundance. Also meaning a person with deep sympathy.

3. What God wants

* Galatians 3:2-3 “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Is the God that you believe in a generous God? Or a stingy one?

2. What is God asking of you?

MCC20220904.mp3

Sunday, August 28, 2022

“The One Who Sees, Touches, and Heals You”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Jesus’ attentive care

* Mark 7:33 “After he took him aside, away from the crowd…” (NIV)

*Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears

*Jesus spit on his fingers, opened the man’s mouth, and touched his tongue

*Jesus prayed looking up toward Heaven

*Jesus sighed deeply

* God sees each and every one of us as the main character

* Isaiah 44:2 “This is what the Lord says - he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you…” (NIV)

2. Healing of the man’s ears and mouth

* Isaiah 35:6 “Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” (NIV)

* The testimony of Pastor Mike MacIntosh of Horizon Christian Fellowship

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. How does Jesus see each and every one of us?

2. After believing in Jesus, have you experienced the healing of your ears and mouth? Please share.

MCC20220828.mp3

Sunday, August 21, 2022

“The Bowls of Wrath (#6-7)”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The 6th bowl of wrath

* Revelation 16:12 “from the East” = Mesopotamian area

* Revelation 16:13 “out of the mouth” = false message

* Revelation 16:16 “Armageddon” = “Ar” (hill, mountain) + “maged” (massacre, demolish)

It is located in the plains of Israel at the intersection of the “ocean’s road” and “forefathers’ road”

* Matthew 23:39 “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (NIV)

2. The 7th bowl of wrath

* Revelation 16:17 “poured out his bowl into the air”

* Ephesians 2:2 “in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (NIV)

* In between the 6th and 7th bowls of wrath, at least 6 incidents occur (Revelation 17-19)

* Revelation 16:18 “earthquake”

* Zechariah 14:4 “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” (NIV)

* Revelation 16:21 “a hundred pounds” = about 34kg

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. The book of Revelation is said to be a “Book of Warning” as well as a “Book of Salvation.” What kind of book is it to you?

MCC20220821.mp3

Sunday, August 14, 2022

“Amazing Grace”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. In order to be acceptable to God

* Canaanites and Israelites had a hostile relationship

* Something people wonder about when trying to draw close to God: “Will God accept me as I am now?"

* Salvation by works

2. What Jesus asked of the woman

* Matthew 15:22 The meaning of crying out, “Son of David”

* Mark 7:28 The meaning of crying out, “Lord”

* She realized that Jesus is the one who blesses not only Jews, but also Gentiles

* Salvation by faith

* 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (NIV)

3. Why is that salvation is not possible by works?

* Matthew 18: The parable of the man who owed the king 10,000 talents

* Salvation is grace: It is given as a one-sided gift

* A story about Jenny

* Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Why is it that people desire salvation by works?

2. Why is it that God prepared salvation by faith?

MCC20220814.mp3

Sunday, August 7, 2022

“The Bowls of Wrath (#1-5)”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The 1st bowl of wrath

* Revelation 16:2 “ugly, festering sores” = severe skin disease

2. The 2nd bowl of wrath

* Already (Revelation 8:8-9) in the judgment of the 2nd trumpet, 1/3 of the sea turned to blood and 1/3 of the living creatures in the sea died, so in this passage, the remaining 2/3 were destroyed

3. The 3rd bowl of wrath

* Already (Revelation 8:10-11) in the judgment of the 3rd trumpet, 1/3 of the water sources became contaminated, but here all of the water sources become contaminated, turning to blood

4. The 4th bowl of wrath

* Revelation 16:8 “people” = people who follow the anti-Christ

5. The 5th bowl of wrath

* Exodus 10:22-23 “So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” (NIV)

* Matthew 27:45 “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.” (NIV)

* “Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words;

Be careful of your words, for your words become your deeds;

Be careful of your deeds, for your words become your habits;

Be careful of your habits, for your words become your character;

Be careful of your character, for your words become your destiny.”

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Why do the people who follow the anti-Christ not try to make any effort to repent even though God’s wrath is being poured out on them?

MCC 20.mp3

Sunday, July 31, 2022

“The Joy in the World & the Joy in the Lord”

Pastor Hisashi Ishitobi

1. The joy inside of Paul

* Philippians 1:17-18 “The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (NIV)

2. Rejoice in the Lord

* Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” (NIV)

* Philippians 4:5 A gentle heart

* Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry, be thankful, pray

* Philippians 4:7 The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

3. The mission of those who know the joy in the Lord

* Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What happens if you measure “joy” with the ruler of this world?

2. Who will you share the “joy in the Lord” with as a citizen of Heaven?

MCC20220804.mp3

Sunday, July 24, 2022

“Time is Limited”

Pastor Kenichi Osumi

1. People are destined to die

* Words of Somerset Maugham

* Words of Hidehiko Hori

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

2. The end will suddenly come

* Genesis 7:16 “The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.” (NIV)

* Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (NIV)

3. The time is near

* Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (NIV)

* 2 Peter 3:3-4 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’” (NIV)

* Akira Hatori “I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel”

(1974 Kyushu General Mobilization Evangelism Christian Retreat)

* 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (NIV)

* 1 Timothy 2:4 “God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Have you ever felt that “time is limited?”

2. If “time is limited,” then what should we be focusing on?

MCC20220724.mp3

Sunday, July 17, 2022

“Not External to Internal, but Internal to External”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Pharisees: External to internal approach

* Mark 7:5 (See above)

* The Pharisees made an issue out of “religious uncleanliness,” not “hygienic uncleanliness”

* The Oral Torah (Mishnah) that was added to the Mosaic Law

* An example of the Mishnah breaking the Mosaic Law (Korban Regulations)

* A Bible college in the south in the USA in the later half of the 1960’s

2. Jesus’ perspective: Internal to external approach

* Mark 7:18 (See above)

* Mark 7:20-23 (See above)

* An incident that occurred at the Pollsmoor Prison in South Africa in the 1990’s

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Why were the hearts of the Pharisees distanced from God?

2. What do rules and regulations sometimes bring about in our faith?

3. What can people do to change?

MCC20220717.mp3