Sunday, January 3, 2021

“The God Who is Near”

Psalm 145 (Recitation verses 1-9)

1. Praise to the Lord, God

* Psalm 145:7 “abundant” = talk enthusiastically about

(That which is in one’s heart abundantly flows out from his/her mouth)

2. The Lord, God’s grace

* “The Voice of The Mission” The testimony of a person who escaped from North Korea

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Try to get a taste of the expressions of how David praised the Lord. (Verses 1, 2, 4, 6, 7)

2. What aspect of the Lord overwhelmed David’s heart? (Verses 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

3. What kind of being is the Lord, God? (Verses 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)

MCC English20210103.mp3

Friday, January 1, 2021

“Go Over to the Other Side”

Mark 4:35-41

1. The power of fear

* Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid?”

* (1) Fear limits our capabilities

(2) Fear distorts our character

2. Trust in Who is for certain

* Faith and trust

* The airplane boy

* Saksaq Waman (Peru)

* John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

3. Trust in God’s Word

* “Let us go over to the other side.”

* The airplane boy

* The Yabe missionary family’s calling

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. In what kinds of times do people experience fear?

2. Who should we trust in to be set free from all our fears?

3. How does God speak to us?

MCC English20210101.mp3

Sunday, December 27, 2020

“The God Who Trains my Fingers”

Psalm 144

1. David’s modesty and God’s victory

* Psalm 144:1 “train” = “teach”

* Psalm 144:3 “think of” = “visit”

* 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)

2. David’s worship and God’s blessing

* Psalm 103:1, 4B, 5 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name... and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (NIV)

* 1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (NIV)

* 1 Chronicles 29:28 “He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.” (NIV)

houghts to share at Mini Church:

1. What can you learn from David’ faith?

2. What can you learn from David’s worship?

MCC English20201227.mp3

Sunday, December 20, 2020

“He is the Messiah, the Lord”

Luke 2:11-12

* Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (NIV)

1. A baby lying in a manger

* Manger = A wooden container for feeding livestock

* Luke 2:11-12 = What the angels told the shepherds.

Shepherds were considered as one of the lowest beings in society at that time.

* Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest (Christ) 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)

2. God who comes into our fears

* Mary’s fear

* “Phahad” = Work meaning “fear” in Hebrew

If it is read backwards it becomes a work meaning “taking a great step forward”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why was Jesus born on earth?

2. What can we do when we are amidst fear and anxiety?

MCC English20201220.mp3

Sunday, December 13, 2020

“Jesus Christ Came to Seek and to Save the Lost”

Luke 19:10

* “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari

(Hebrew University of Jerusalem History Professor)

1. Lost people

* The story of Constantin Reliu, a Romanian

2. Jesus Christ who seeks and saves

* “Empty Cradles” by Margaret Humphreys

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of people are “lost people”?

2. Why has Christ come to seek “lost people”?

3. What is Christ’s “salvation”?

MCC English20201213.mp3

Sunday, December 6, 2020

“Hide Yourself in God”

Psalm 143 (Recitation verses 1-6)

* The interpretation of the Greek translation of the Bible by 70 people

“When His Son was Tracking Him”

1. Where is the source of pain?

* 2 Samuel 15

* “The Job of Garbage Collection: A Local Government that Thought About Riding in a Garbage Truck” by Seichiro Fujii (Daito Bunka University Professor)

2. Where is the resolution of pain?

* Emphatic forms of Hebrew verbs (Psalm 143:5, 6, 9, 10, 11)

* Isaiah 7:4 “Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’” (NIV)

* “keep calm” = hide yourself in God

* “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm” by Phillip Keller

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Where was the problem of David as a “father”?

2. What kind of relationship did David have with his father Jesse?

3. What kind of being is “Heavenly Father God” to you?

MCC English 20201206.mp3

Sunday, November 29, 2020

“My Soul Glorifies the Lord”

Luke 1:39-56

1. Mary’s faith

* Magnificat (The Song of Mary)

* Luke 1:38 “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.’” (NIV)

* Luke 1:45 “ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (NIV) (“completely believed” in a different translation)

* 1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’” (NIV)

* James 1:8 “Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (NIV)

2. Reason for praise

(1) Luke 1:48 “ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…”

servant girl = “tapeinos” in Greek = “to lower, humble” a verb in noun form

* 1 Peter 5:5 “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (NIV)

* Victor Hugo “Les Miserables”

(2) Luke 1:49 “ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

* Isaac Watts “Joy to the World”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is the foundation of our faith?

2. Why should we praise the Lord?

MCC English 20201129.mp3

Sunday, November 22, 2020

“David’s Confession of Faith”

Psalm 142

1. “It is you who watch over my way” (Psalm 142:3)

* Psalm 142:3 “my spirit grows faint” = State in which one’s willpower or vitality is lost

2. “You are my refuge” (Psalm 142:5)

* Psalm 142:4 “right” = The side on which the attorney stands

* The work Serenity Park Japan is doing

3. “Because of your goodness to me” (Psalm 142:7)

* John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What did you learn from “David’s faith”?

22.mp3

Sunday, November 15, 2020

“In Order to Have Assurance of Salvation”

Galatians 2:16

1. Be firmly rooted in the Word

* “Believe” Justification through faith: Aorist form (Past-perfective tense = Something that can only happen once)

* Why are works not necessary for being saved?

Because our sin is not something that can be redeemed by effort or works

* Matthew 18: The man forgiven for 10,000 talents

* John 19:30 “It is finished” = “Tetelestai” = “Payment of full amount is complete”

* Ephesians 2:8-9 “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)

* Pastor Carl Tuttle

2. We will be changed

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

* Most people experience that change gradually

* Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV)

* Ruth Graham’s gravesite

3. The motive for good works

* Joy, not fear

* Monsters, Inc.

* Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Do you have assurance that if you were to die right now you would go to Heaven?

2. What can you do to have assurance?

MCC English20201115.mp3

Sunday, November 8, 2020

“Take Refuge in God”

Psalm 141 (Recitation of verses 1-4)

* Psalm 119:71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (NIV)

* James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

1. Do not repay evil with evil

* Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” (NIV)

2. Listen to the advice of those with wisdom

* Proverbs 25:12 “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.” (NIV)

3. Believe and trust in God

* Psalm 141:8 “take refuge” = Do not call out, be quiet, be silent (direct translation)

* 1 Samuel 24 (Reference)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of attitude do you think you should have when faced with a trial, difficulty, or hardship?

(Refer to Psalm 119:71 and James 1:2-4)

2. What do you think would be good to do to allow a “trial” to become nourishment for growth?

MCC English 20201108.mp3