Sunday, November 1, 2020

“God Responds When Called Upon”

Psalm 140 (Recitation of verses 1-8)

1. Prayer requesting deliverance

2. Prayer requesting judgment

* Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV)

Direct translation of “your cares”: “what is given to you”

Another translation of “your cares: “your future”

3. Prayer of trust

* Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Who do you ask for help when you have fallen into a predicament?

2. What kind of existence is the “LORD God” to you?

3. What do you think of the content of Psalm 55:22?

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Sunday, October 25, 2020

“God Leads the Way to Eternity”

Psalm 139:13-24

1. Omnipotent God

(1) God created both our hearts and bodies

(2) God designed our innermost being

(3) God planned our lives ahead of time

2. Trust in God

* Luke 10:27 “He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (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)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. The theory of evolution and theory of creation explain “the existence of humans.” What kind of impact do you think each theory has on a person’s view of life and values when they believe in it?

2. God is happy when a person “trusts in God” (has faith), but at what times is it difficult for you to trust in Him? Why do you think that is?

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Sunday, October 18, 2020

“What is the Meaning of Jesus’ Death?”

Romans 6:17-23

1. The problem of sin which we face

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

* Why is it that people don’t know they are a sinner?

* They are mistaking the object of comparison

* The difference in the standard of general sin and standard of Biblical sin

* What the result of sin brings about

(1) Lose eternity

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death” (NIV)

(2) Life falls apart

* The answer of Chesterton, a Christian writer

2. Jesus’ death on the cross

* The misery of the crucifixion

* The story of love of a mother and child

3. The result of the cross

* 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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)

* The importance of forgiveness

* The testimony of Josh McDowell, a Campus Crusades Evangelist

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Reflect on the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Why do you think forgiveness is necessary?

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Sunday, October 11, 2020

“God Knows Everything”

Psalm 139

1. Omniscient God

* Psalm 139:2 “when I sit and when I rise” = Expresses all action

“from afar” = Expresses temporal distance, meaning “from way long ago”

* Psalm 139:3 “my going out and my lying down” = Expresses all action in a day

2. Omnipresent God

* Psalm 139:8 “heavens” = The place where God is present

“depths” = The place where the dead go

* Psalm 139:9 “rise on the wings of the dawn” = Even if escaping at the speed of light

“settle on the far side of the sea” = Even if escaping to a place not on the map

* Ronald Biggs’ escape drama

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Are you “anxious” or “relieved” by the fact that “God knows everything”? Why?

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Sunday, October 4, 2020

“A Heart Pounding, Exciting, Thrilling Life”

Psalm 138

1. “Heart pounding” adventure from faith

* 1 Samuel 17:45 “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’” (NIV)

2. “Exciting” walk with God

* 2 Samuel 5:10 “And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.” (NIV)

3. “Thrilling” joy worshipping God

* 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)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Share your “heart pounding” “exciting” “thrilling” faith life experience with others.

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Sunday, September 27, 2020

“Babylonian Lamentations”

Psalm 137

1. Babylonian lamentations

* “People in Power Whom Only Attending Physicians Know” by Tania Crasnianski

* Psalm 137:3 “demanded” = to make fun of or for the purpose of enjoyment

* 586BC Babylonian Empire destroys Southern Judah

* 538BC Persian Empire King Cyrus destroys Babylon

2. Why do you think God give us trials?

(1) Trials are training in God’s love

(2) Trials deepen our faith

(3) Trials teach us very important things in life

(4) Trials lead us in the correct direction

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think about the fact that “all people have weaknesses”?

2. What positive meaning do life’s trials have?

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Sunday, September 20, 2020

“Who is Jesus?”

John 10:30-33

1. Is Jesus a historical figure?

* Jesus’ existence is notated in ancient documents written by people other than Christians

(Ex. Josephus’ “Ancient Jewish History” & Tacitus’s “Chronicles”

* Reliability of the New Testament

(1) There is little gap between the time when the original documents were written and the time of the manuscripts that have presently been found

(2) There are many copies of the manuscript

* The period of time Jesus was actually active and the period when the original documents were written is close

2. What kind of person was Jesus?

(1) The testimony of Jesus himself (John 6:35, John 4:14, Matthew 11:28)

* Jesus had the identity that He was God (Mark 2:5-7, John 10:30)

* The 3 possibilities of someone who says they are God

1) Liar 2) Insane 3) True God

(2) Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 7:12, Mark 12:31, Luke 6:27)

(3) Jesus’ work

* He poured out love on people who were inhibited in the present-day society

3. Proof that Jesus is God

(1) The fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies

(2) Jesus’ resurrection

* Hallucination theory

* Apparent death theory

* Theft theory

* Change in the disciples

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of person do you think Jesus Christ is?

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Sunday, September 13, 2020

“God’s Love Endures Forever”

Psalm 136

1. God, the creator

* Tasuku Honjo (2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner)

* Tim White (UCLA Professor)

* Genesis 1:1 “beginning” = time, “heaven” = space, “earth” = matter

2. God, the ruler of history

* Genesis 15:13-14

* Exodus 12:31-36

3. God, who recreates the hearts of people

* The experience of Mustafa (Egyptian former Muslim)

* The experience of Ting (Chinese former Shaman woman)

(A shaman is a practitioner of shamanism, a magico-religious practice involving animism, faith healing, spiritualism, spirituality and traditional medicine)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think about how scientists assert that “evolution is not science”?

2. Is there proof that the Lord God is ruling over history?

3. How and in what way did you come to believe Jesus Christ is your savior?

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Sunday, September 6, 2020

“Praise the Name of the LORD”

Psalm 135

* “for” = “Ki” in Hebrew = Conjunction that shows a reason

1. The depth of God’s mercy

* Psalm 135:3 “…for the LORD is good…”

2. The selection of God

* Psalm 135:8-12 Leaving Egypt

* John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (NIV)

3. The greatness of God

4. The eternity and love of God

* Psalm 135:14 “For the LORD will defend his people and love those servants.” (Different translation)

* “Mysterious Christianity” by Daisaburo Hashidsume & Masachi Osawa

(Modern book by Kodansha Ltd., Publishers)

* Psalm 135:1 & 3 “praise” = “Haalal” in Hebrew = Song of praise expressing joy unconcerned with one’s appearance

* Psalm 135:91, 20, 21 “praise” = “Paalaph” in Hebrew = Song of praise exalting God quietly kneeling down

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. How many reasons can you give to praise the LORD God?

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Sunday, August 30, 2020

“In the Strength You Have”

Judges 6:11-14

1. Mighty warrior

* Person whom the Lord is with

- Luke 1:28 “The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’” (NIV)

* The God who looks at a person’s potential

- John 1:42 “And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” (NIV)

2. In the strength you have

* (1) The strength you have now, your present status and capabilities

- 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (NIV)

“Such an insignificant man as this, had a woman who became cordial and helped him for 30 years

Such an insignificant man as this, had sons who called him father and cherished him

Such an insignificant man as this, had sisters who were genuinely concerned about him

Such an insignificant man as this, had students who called him teacher and followed him

Such an insignificant man as this, had friends who faithfully interacted with him

Such an insignificant man as this… hold on, wait

‘Insignificant’ is a word that humans choose

Even such a man as this, God used”

(by Toshiro Takahashi, former Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School Principal)

- Judges 7:2 “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’’” (NIV)

* (2) The power of the Holy Spirit

“May my moaning become my praise

May my painful breathing become confession of my faith

May my tears become my songs, songs which praise the Lord

May all of the breath that comes forth from my sick body,

all of my breathing difficulties, and coughing praise the Lord

May my fever, sweat and breath praise the Lord until the end”

(“My Worship” by Momoko Harasaki)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. At what kinds of times do we become “mighty warriors”?

2. Give thanks for “that strength” which you have.

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