Sunday, April 5, 2020

“Jerusalem, the City of Peace”

Psalm 122

1. Jerusalem, the center of the world

* Ezekiel 5:5 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 2:2-3 “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (NIV)

* Jerusalem’s history

66 – 70 First Jewish War

132 – 135 Second Jewish War

313 Christianity was officially recognized by the Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire Era)

638 Muslim conquest of Jerusalem

1517 Ottoman Empire put Jerusalem under its control

1922 Ruled by England

1948 Israel becomes independent

2. Praying for peace in Jerusalem

* 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)

(Abraham’s covenant)

* The prosperity of 19th century England, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli

* Matthew 23:37-39 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. 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)

(Jewish people’s conversion and Jesus Christ’s second coming)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think is the meaning of “Jerusalem is the center of the world”?

2. What is “Abraham’s covenant”?

MCC English 20200405.mp3

Sunday, March 29, 2020

“Living Eternal Life”

Romans 6:23

1. The wages of sin is death

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

* The standard or sin in the Bible

* Yehiel De-Nur (a Jew who stood in court as a witness on the day of Adolf Eichmann’s judgment (person responsible for the Holocaust))

2. Living eternal life

* Romans 6:23B “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV) gift = present

* Eternal life in Jesus Christ starts now after death, but in life on earth

* Justin Bieber, a Canadian artist

3. What the hope of Heaven brings about

* What does the hope of Heaven after death bring about in our lives?

* Martin Luther King Jr. (commonly known as Pastor King)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Confirm about the salvation of the cross.

2. Have you ever experienced a recovery or healing in living out your eternal life in Jesus Christ?

3. What does the hope of Heaven bring about in our lives?

MCC English -20200329.mp3

Sunday, March 22, 2020

“Where Does My Help Come From?”

Psalm 121

1. The God who created heaven and earth

* Psalm 121:6 “sun” = Egyptians’ “sun god,” “moon” = Babylonians’ “moon god”

* “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” by Charles Darwin (1859)

* First editor of “Newton” by Hitoshi Takeuchi, (Geophysicist and Tokyo University Professor)

“The Mystery of Owl Butterflies”

2. The God who protects us

* Psalm 121:8 “coming and going” = going out and coming in (direct translation)

* “The Age of 8 Million People with Dementia, a Record of Care of a Mother and Son for 3,000 Days, NHK Special” NHK TV program Guest appearance: Yukio Wada

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of impact has believing in “Creator God” had on your life?

2. What do you think is the meaning of “the LORD will watch over your coming and going”?

3. At what times do you really feel that God is your Lord?

MCC English 20200322.mp3

Sunday, March 15, 2020

“The God Who Answers When Called”

Psalm 120

1. Confession of faith that is convinced of God’s help

* Psalm 120:1 “answers” = Experience of faith (other translation = conviction of faith)

2. Crying out for God’s retaliation

* Psalm 120:4 “sharp arrows” = fire arrows, “burning coals” = charcoal emitting extremely hot heat

* Psalm 120:5 “Meshek” = the son of Japheth, and his descendants were a violent people that lived near the Black Sea

“Kedar” = Ishamael’s second son, and his descendants were Arabs who were a cruel and ruthless people

3. The request for God’s peace

* Psalm 120:7 “I am for peace, but they are for war, and my voice goes unheeded in their councils.” (Living Bible)

* “The Strong and the Weak” by Paul Tournier

* “Brothers Karamazov” by Dostoevskii

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Have you ever been helped by God? Please share. What kind of impact did that experience have on your faith?

2. What do you think should be done about problems that cannot be resolved by human power or wisdom?

3. What is the meaning of “Shalom?”

english_MCC20200315.mp3

Sunday, March 8, 2020

“I Long For Your Salvation, LORD”

Psalm 119:169-176 (Taw)

* Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (NIV)

1. Human sin

* Psalm 119:176 “I have strayed like a lost sheep.” (NIV)

2. Eagerly desiring God

* 7 things the psalmist cries out: Psalm 119:169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 175x2)

* The artwork on the ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo’s “Creation of Heaven and Earth” work

3. God’s forgiveness and salvation

* Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast..” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why did you have a self-awareness that “you are sinful”?

2. Why do you think many people don’t have a self-awareness of their sin?

3. What kind of person is “Jesus Christ” to you?

4. What does Creator God (Father God) ask of us?

MCC English Sermon20200308.mp3

Sunday, March 1, 2020

“A Life With Abundant Peace”

Psalm 119:161-168 (Shin)

* Psalm 119:165 “Great peace”

“Great” = unlimited, large, deep

“peace” = Shalom, prosperity, health, satisfaction

* John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (NIV)

* 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)

1. You have something you can trust

2. You know the meaning and value of living

* “The Promise of a Pencil” by Adam Braun

“The reason why I, a top-class consultant, was able to start up 200 schools around the world.”

3. You live without fear of death

* The experience of Philip Yancy (Christian writer)

* Psalm 119:166 “wait” = Make careful preparation ahead of time and wait

* John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of peace is the “peace” that Jesus called “My peace”?

2. Do you have “Jesus’ peace?”

3. Why can you say so?

MCC English 20200301.mp3

Sunday, February 23, 2020

“Preserve My Life”

Psalm 119:153-160 (Resh)

* Psalm 119:154, 156, 159 “Preserve my life” = cheer up, revive, bring alive, give life

1 Live according to God’s Word

* Psalm 119:160 “all” = direct translation of “head” or “first”

* Rebellion against God: (1) Idol worship, (2) Atheism, materialism

2. Live according to God’s rule

* “God’s rule” means that humans reconcile with God

* Ernest Hemingway (American Nobel Prize writer)

* Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.” (NIV)

3. Live by God’s grace

* 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.” (NIV)

* Yumi Shibayama’s essay (temporary employment agency)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of impact do you think “idol worship” and “atheism” have on people’s lives?

2. What needs to be done in order to “reconcile” with Creator God? Refer to Ephesians 2:1-8.

MCC English20200223.mp3

Sunday, February 16, 2020

“I Rise Before Dawn”

Psalm 119:145-152 (Qoph)

1. The blessing of a life that calls out for God

* Psalm 119:147 “before dawn” = Help is requested urgently

* Psalm 119:145, 146, 147 “I call/cry” = Yelling out in a loud voice for help

* Matthew 14:29-30 “’Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me’.” (NIV)

2. The blessing of a life that is nourished by God’s Word

* Psalm 119:148 “meditate” = pay deep attention to, think about deeply, turn over in one’s mind, savor, lost in thought

* Franz Kafka (Jewish “absurd writer”)

3. The blessing of a life that is with God

* “Music is the Infrastructure” by Naoki Hayashida

* “The Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Have you ever desperately asked God for help? What happened?

2. Have you ever been encouraged by God’s Word?

3. When do you sense that God is with you?

english_MCC 20200216.mp3

Sunday, February 9, 2020

“Please Just Give Me a Word”

Matthew 5:5-13

1. Faith that desires and expects God’s Word

* The testimony of Cathy (Willow Creek Community Church member)

* Psalm 119:49 “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” (NIV)

* “The majority of the encouragement we receive when making extremely important decisions in our lives comes from the Holy Spirit bringing to mind Bible verses that we already know.”

(Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church)

* Psalm 107:20 “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” (NIV)

2. Two types of healing

* (1) Physical and psychological healing

Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (NIV)

* (2) Spiritual healing

1 Peter 2:24 “’He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (NIV)

Romans 7:24-25 “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!...” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why is it that it is easier for us to desire things other than God’s Word?

2. What does God’s Word bring about in you? Please share about what you have experienced.

MCC English Sermon 20200209.mp3

Sunday, February 2, 2020

“God’s Commands Are Delight”

Psalm 119:137-144 (Tsadhe)

1. God’s Word is truth

* Roman Emperor Diocletianus

* Voltaire (French free thinker)

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

* Psalm 119:140 “tested” = tried, investigated, analyzed

2. God’s righteousness is everlasting

* Romans 3:23-24 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

* Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (NIV)

* “Double Exposure” by Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. In history the Bible has been persecuted and criticized numerous times, but even still it is loved and believed by many people. Why do you think that is so?

2. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are said to be “justified.” What do you think this means?

3. What kind of impact does the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ have on you?

MCC English Sermon 20200202.mp3