Sunday, September 8, 2019

“Be Filled With the Holy Spirit”

Acts 7:54-60

1. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit & the filling of the Holy Spirit

* John 20:22 “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (NIV)

* Acts 2:2-4 “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (NIV)

* Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (NIV)

2. What does it mean to be “filled with the Holy Spirit?”

* Pastor Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel)

* 1 Corinthians 12:8 “To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit.” (NIV)

* 1 Corinthians 12:11 “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (NIV)

* 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

3. Look to Heaven

* Pastor Sundar Singh (Indian evangelist)

* Martyrdom of twenty-six saints (Nagasaki)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Is the “indwelling of the Holy Spirit” and “filling of the Holy Spirit” the same thing?

2. What needs to be done to be filled by the Holy Spirit?

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Sunday, September 1, 2019

“The Power of the Gospel That Changed the World”

Romans 1:16

* What is the gospel?

* The present status of the mission in Japan

1. Do not be ashamed of the gospel

* Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel.” (NIV)

* 1 Corinthians 1:23 “…but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentile.” (NIV)

2. The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation

* Romans 1:16 (See above) “power” = dunamis in Greek (source of word “dynamite”)

* The gospel that spread from the Roman Empire to the world

* From the small window being a church

* 2004 Ukrainian Orange Revolution

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is the gospel?

2. Have you ever not shared the gospel, of been hesitant to tell someone that you are a Christian? Why?

3. Confirm the power of the gospel that changed the world.

MCC English 20190901.mp3

Sunday, August 25, 2019

“Invitation to the People in All Nations”

Psalm 117

1. “Praise the LORD, all you nations.”

* Romans 15:8-11 “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” (NIV)

* Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (NIV)

2. “For great is his love toward us”

* Psalm 117:2 “great” = overflowing, increasing, overwhelming,

becomes dominant, becomes strong, abundant

* Romans 5:20 “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (NIV)

* “The testimony of a Jew who believed in Jesus”

(A Holocaust survivor’s son found the Messiah)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. How did the awareness of “gentiles” differ between the Old Testament Jews and the Jews in Jesus’ time?

2. Where does it say in the Bible that Christ’s salvation is not only for the Jews, but also extending to the gentiles?

3. Why do you think it is difficult for Jews today to believe in Jesus Christ?

4. What is God’s plan for the Jewish people?

MCC English 20190825.mp3

Sunday, August 18, 2019

“The Lord Your God is Within You”

Psalm 116

1. Thankfulness for recovery from the deathbed

* 2 Kings 20:1-3 “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, ‘Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 38:10 “I said, ‘In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?’” (NIV)

* James 4:14-15 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (NIV)

2. Resolutions after recovery from the deathbed

* The 4 resolutions of the writer:

(1) Psalm 116:9, (2) Psalm 116:13 & 17, (3) Psalm 116:17, (4) Psalm 116:14 & 18

* The testimony of Yoshitaro Kouchi

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. How did King Hezekiah feel when death was proclaimed over him?

2. If you were in Hezekiah’s position, what would you do?

3. What do you think should be the motive of serving the Lord Jesus? Why?

MCC English 20190818.mp3

Sunday, August 11, 2019

“The Lord Your God is Within You”

Zephaniah 3:9, 3:16-17

1. The message of Zephaniah, the prophet

* Repent and be purified

* Everyone is to call upon the name of the Lord, and be used by the Lord as one

2. Purification process

* Silversmith story: Burn off impurities

* Orange Cost Church testimony

* It is not essential that our circumstances change, but that we can be changed

3. The Lord is within you

* Zephaniah 3:14-15 “Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.’” (NIV)

* The Lord is in your _____.

* What goes in the _____? Jesus has come in there.

* Everyone is to call upon the name of the Lord, and be used by the Lord as one

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What percentage of God’s image do you think is reflected in your life? 100%? 75%? 30%?

In order to more clearly show God’s image, what do you think needs to be submitted?

2. By being certain that God is definitely in your _____, how does that change your perspective of the situation?

MCC English20190811.mp3

Sunday, August 4, 2019

“Blessings Come from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth”

Psalm 115

1. The futility of idol worship

* Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)

JJ “Jesus, help”

SDG “For the glory of God alone”

* Nehemiah 2:18-20 “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’ I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’” (NIV)

2. Trust in the Lord God

3. The ever-increasing blessings of the Lord

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why is idol worship futile?

2. What is the difference between an “idol god” and the “Lord God”?

3. How is the “Lord God” increasing blessings in your life?

MCC English 20190804.mp3

Sunday, July 28, 2019

“The God Who Turns Hard Rocks Into Springs”

Psalm 114

1. The God who chose Israel

* Exodus 19:4-6 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (NIV)

* 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (NIV)

* 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)

* Ephesians 1:4 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (NIV)

2. The God who intervened in Israel’s history

* Psalm 114:7 “tremble” = “twist” “shake”

3. The God who bestows grace

* Psalm 114:8 “turned” = completely change a situation suddenly

* Deuteronomy 23:5 “However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.” (NIV)

* Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” (NIV)

* Jeremiah 31:13 “Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think about “God’s selection”? How does that impact your faith life?

2. How does God intervene in your life?

3. What is a miracle God has done in your life?

MCC English20190728.mp3

Sunday, July 21, 2019

“Praise the Name of the Lord”

Psalm 113

1. Praise the glory of God

* Psalm 113:1 “Hallelujah” = “Praise the Lord”

* Psalm 113:2 “be praised” = “will be praised” = “As has been, and as will continue to be, the Lord is to be praised eternally”

* John Newton “Amazing Grace”

“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’d first begun.”

* Job 37:18 “…can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?” (NIV)

2. Praise the compassion of God

* Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” (NIV)

* Isaiah 57:15 “For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (NIV)

* Movie: “Miracles from Heaven”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why should God “be praised?”

2. When do you, and for what reason do you praise God?

3. Why do you think it is necessary to praise God?

MCC English20190721.mp3

Sunday, July 14, 2019

“From Jerusalem to all Nations”

Luke 24:44-53

1. Correctly understanding the Bible as a whole

* Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (NIV)

* 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (NIV) “By the inspiration of God” = “By the breath of God”

* Luke 24:45 “mind” = “Nus” in Greek Meaning: Intelligence, reason

* Ephesians 1:17-19 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.” (NIV)

2. Becoming a witness of Jesus’ resurrection

* Acts 4:33 “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” (NIV)

3. Being clothed by the power of the Holy Spirit

* Luke 44:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. There are three elements necessary for growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

(1) Continuous study of the Bible

(2) Fellowship with the resurrected Christ

(3) Being filled by the Holy Spirit

How are you implementing these things in your faith life? Please share.

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Sunday, July 7, 2019

“Jesus’ Resurrection and Our Resurrection”

Luke 24:33-43

1. Jesus, who appeared physically

* 1 Corinthians 15:4-7 “that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (NIV)

* Luke 23:34 “appeared to Simon” = words expressing Jesus’ proactive initiative

* Folklore on Cleopas

2. The resurrection of Jesus with a physical body

* 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (NIV)

* 1 Corinthians 15:43 “It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.” (NIV)

* 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Jesus Christ had a physical body when he was resurrected. What kind of physical body was it?

2. What happens to people who believe in Jesus Christ after their physical death?

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