Sunday, May 23, 2021

“To the Church in Ephesus”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The church in Ephesus

* A church birthed by Paul’s mission (54AD - 57AD) * Acts 19 (Reference)

2. Praise

• Revelation 2:2 “hard work” = Completely use up all of one’s power right up to the limit and have nothing remaining afterward

• Revelation 2:2 & 3 “perseverance” = persistent mental strength, immovable endurance

• Acts 20:29-30 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples

after them.” (NIV)

• Revelation 2:6 “Nicolaitans” = people who taught that a mediator was necessary between God and

man and who thought they themselves were the speakers of the voice of God

3. Rebuke

• Revelation 2:4 “first” = No. 1, what should be given priority above all else

• Revelation 2:4 “forsaken” = abandoned, ignored

• Ephesians 1:15-16 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your

love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

(NIV)

4. Reward

• Genesis 3:22 “And the LORD God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’” (NIV)

• Revelation 22:2 “...down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (NIV)

• 1 John 5:5 “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What did you learn from the message to the church in Ephesus?

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Sunday, May 16, 2021

“The Place to Go Back to”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Jesus’ baptism (the meaning of Jesus’ baptism)

(a) To show that He came to bear the sins of humanity

* 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)

(b) To be an example

* Matthew 3:15 “Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.” (NIV)

* The meaning of John’s baptism

2. Temptation in the wilderness

(a) To change a stone into bread

(b) To throw himself down

(c) To receive all in return for worshipping Satan

* Temptation to try and see what would happen by doing the Messiah’s work in a manner other than the cross

3. The place we go back to

(a) God’s Word

* Isaiah 43:4 “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (NIV)

* Acts 24:16 “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.” (NIV)

* 13th century Roman Emperor Friedrich II

(b) The time of baptism (the meaning of present-day baptism)

* To know an internal change through experience

* Colossians 2:12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (NIV)

* Declaration

* The wedding anniversary of a couple

* Colossians 2:12 “…“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Reflect on the sermon and this week’s passage and how it applies to your life.

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Sunday, May 9, 2021

“The One to Prepare the Way”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Content

(a) Historical context and Old Testament prophesies

* Mark 1:2-3 (See above)

(b) The image and message of John the Baptist (camel’s hair, eating locusts and honey)

* Mark 1:15 “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (NIV)

* The meaning of John’s baptism

2. Application

(a) All people are awaiting a Savior

* April 10, 2019 Successfully filmed a “black hole”

* “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace, and American author

(b) As a person preparing the way for the Gospel

* The miracle that occurred in the Pollsmoor Prison, South Africa in the 1990’s

* Mark 10:27 “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Is Jesus Christ necessary for all people?

2. What kind of “preparing the way” can you do?

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Sunday, May 2, 2021

“The Glorious Christ John Saw”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The image of glorious Christ

* Revelation 1:12 “seven golden lampstands” = What?

Revelation 1:20 “seven golden lampstands are the seven churches”

* Revelation 1:13 “son of man” = title of the Messiah

* Daniel 7:9-10 “As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.’” (NIV)

* Daniel 10:5-6 & 8-9 “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude… So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.” (NIV)

2. The self-revelation of Jesus Christ

* Revelation 1:17 “I am the First and the Last” = Expresses Christ’s eternal reign

* Revelation 1:18 “I was dead” = (active voice) Expresses voluntary death

* Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (NIV)

* Revelation 1:18 “I hold the keys” = owner, person of authority

3. Outline of Revelatio “What you have seen” (Revelation 1:10-18)

* “What is now” (Revelation 2 - 3)

* “What will take place later” (Revelation 4 -22)

Revelation 1:19 “What is going to occur” = will definitely occur, will surely occur, will certainly occur

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What kind of person do you perceive Jesus Christ to be based on the image of glorious Christ?

2. Confirm about the outline of Revelation.

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Sunday, April 25, 2021

“John, in the Spirit”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. Self-introduction of John

* Martyr Justin (100-165)

“Dialogue with Jewish Trifan”

* Revelation 1:9 “endurance” = “Hypomeneo” = “Stay firm”

* Revelation 1:9 “island of Patmos” = Small island floating in the Aegean Sea

90km awa from land, north-south 15km, east-west 9km igneous rock island

2. John’s experience of the “Lord’s Day”

* Revelation 1:10 “Lord’s Day” = Special day when the Lord’s glory shines forth

* Revelation 1:10 “in the Spirit” = Filled with the Spirit

* Target: Gentiles

* Characteristics: Power and simplicity

3. The significance of studying the Revelation of John

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What was the background of the era in which “Revelation” was written?

2. What is the “Lord’s Day”?

3. What should be learned from “Revelation”?

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Sunday, April 18, 2021

“Who was Mark?”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The character of Mark

* Relationships with family and friends

* Mother Mary

* Teacher-apprentice relationship with Apostle Peter (Referred to as “my son (child)” in 1 Peter 5:13)

2. Era it was written and its background

* Era it was written: around 55-59AD

* Target: Gentiles

* Characteristics: Power and simplicity

3. Mark’s failures and successes

* Acts 13 Mark’s setback

* About 10 years later

* Evaluation of Mark by Paul:

Colossians 4:10 “as does Mark” (he was with Mark)

Philemon 1:24 “fellow worker”

2 Timothy 4:11 “he is helpful to me in my ministry”

* Barnabas, who assisted Mark in Mark’s growth

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

Education = Bringing about potential and abilities

* Jesus’ gaze upon the disciples

* The youth who bought a little bird at a tourist spot

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What are the characteristics of the Gospel according to Mark?

2. Give thought to the perspective of Barnabas, who led Mark’s growth

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Sunday, April 11, 2021

“The One Who Gives Grace and Peace”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The historical background of “Revelation”

* The First Jewish War

* The Roman Empire

- Nero (54-68)

- Galba (June 10, 68 - January 15, 69)

- Otho (January 16, 69 - April 15, 69)

- Aulus Vitellius (April 16, 69 - December 22, 69)

- Vespasian (July 1, 69 - June 23, 79)

- Titus (June 24, 79 - September 13, 81)

- Domitian (September 13, 81 - September 18, 96)

2. The One who gives “grace and peace”

* Revelation 1:4 “Father God”

* Revelation 1:4 “spirits”

* Revelation 1:5-8 “Jesus Christ”

(1) “the faithful witness”

(2) “the firstborn from the dead”

(3) “the ruler of the kings of the earth”

(4) “who freed us from our sins”

(5) “who is to come”

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Please gain an understanding of the historical background in which “Revelation” was written.

2. What kind of person was “Jesus Christ” introduced as?

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Sunday, April 4, 2021

“Hope for Heaven”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The resolution of the problem of sin: Salvation through the cross

* Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV)

* All people are sinners

* Mountain fire damage

* February 1, 1974 Sao Paulo, Brazil: The miracle of the Joelma Building Fire

2. Believing in the resurrection

* Proof of the resurrection:

- The first witnesses of Jesus Christ’s resurrection were women

- Hallucination theory

- Asphyxia theory (fabricated death theory)

- Theft theory

- Change in disciples

* John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’” (NIV)

3. The hope of reunion in Heaven

* Paul Tournier, a Swiss psychiatrist, and his wife

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Do you think you have sin?

2. What can a person do to be saved?

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Sunday, March 28, 2021

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The reason why “Revelation” seems difficult to understand

(1) Because much symbolism is used

(2) Because we don’t understand the Bible in its entirety

(3) Because we read it with flawed doctrine

2. What “Revelation” clearly aims to portray

* “Revelation” = “Apocalypse” in Greek

Removing a veil and showing what is underneath

Clarifying something that was hidden until now

(1) About Jesus Christ

(2) What is about to happen immediately

Revelation 1:1 “soon” = quickly after something starts going, immediately when the time comes

3. What people who receive “Revelation” should do

* Revelation 1:3 “who reads aloud” (singular form)

“who take it to heart” (plural form)

“the time” = “Chairos” in Greek (situational time)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What is the reason that many people think that “Revelation” is difficult to understand?

2. What are you expecting to get out of this new series on “Revelation”?

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Sunday, March 21, 2021

“What is the Work of the Holy Spirit?

Pastor Joey Anjiki

* John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” (NIV)

“another” = Allos = One who is exactly the same

“advocate” = Parakletos = One is called to be by your side to help

1. The work of the Holy Spirit for individuals

(1) Helps us with praying

- Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

(2) Helps us with understanding God’s Word

- John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (NIV)

(3) Releases and frees us

- 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV)

(a) Materialism

(b) Freedom of sexuality

(4) Pours out God’s love

- Romans 5:5 “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (NIV)

- Testimony of Philip Yancey

- 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (NIV)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church

(1) Maintaining unity in the Church

- Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (NIV)

(2) Encouraging the expansion of missions

- Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

(3) Revitalization of gifts

- 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (NIV)

- Perot Systems

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Have you experienced the work of the Holy Spirit mentioned today?

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