Sunday, February 3, 2019

“Do Not Be Deceived”

Luke 21:5-9

1. The prophesy of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple

* The temple of King Solomon (10th century B.C.) “1st Temple”

* The temple of Zerubbabel (516 B.C.) “2nd Temple”

* Destruction by the Roman army (70 A.D.)

* Founding of Israel (May 14, 1948)

* Deuteronomy 30:3-4 “Then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 43:5-6 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

* Ezekiel 36:24,28 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land…Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” (NIV)

2. Jesus’ warning

* Luke 21:8 “Watch out that you are not deceived.” (NIV)

* Luke 21:9 “Do not be frightened.” (NIV)]

* Luke 21:35-36 “For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. The Jerusalem temple was destroyed two times, but what was the common cause?

2. What does the Bible prophesize about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple (70 A.D.) and the founding of Israel (1948 A.D.)? What did you learn from these things?

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Sunday, January 27, 2019

“Pretend Faith and True Faith”

Luke 20:45-21:4

1. The pretend faith of the teachers of the law

* 1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (NIV)

* 1 Timothy 2:9-10 “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (NIV)

2. The true faith of the widow

* Luke 21:3 (different translation) “I tell you the truth” (NIV)

* The story of Anne Sullivan

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is different about things that are “true” and things that “look true”?

2. Are there any cases in which present day Christians fall into “pretend faith,” just as the teachers of the law did? If so, at what times do you think this would happen?

3. In order to maintain “true faith,” what do you think you should do?

20190127MCC eng.mp3

Sunday, January 20, 2019

“Who is Jesus?”

Luke 20:41-44

* John Douglas (FBI primary psychological analysis officer)

“Words reflect one’s character”

1. Jesus’ action

* Luke 11:20 “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (NIV)

2. Jesus’ words

* Luke 20:41-44

3. Jesus changes people’s lives

* The testimony of Louis S. Lapides

(Pastor of the Jewish Beth Ariel Fellowship Church)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Who do you think “Jesus of Nazareth” is?

2. Why do you think so?

3. What is a valid reason for believing so?

MCC English 20190120.mp3

Sunday, January 13, 2019

“The God of the Living”

Luke 20:27-40

1. The Sadducees’ question

* Levirate (a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow) (Refer to Deuteronomy 25)

2. Jesus’ response

* Mark 12:24 “Jesus replied, ‘Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?’” (NIV)

* “The power of God” (Luke 20:34-36)

* “The Bible” (Luke 20:37-38)

* Exodus 3:6 “Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (NIV)

3. Live with the hope of the resurrection

* Philippians 1:21-23 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (NIV)

* 2 Corinthians 12:2 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows.” (NIV)

* Amos 4:12B “…Prepare to meet your God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Please summarize the content Jesus taught about the “Power of God” and the “Bible.”

2. Why did Paul envy Heaven?

3. What happens to believers of Jesus Christ after their physical death?

MCC English 20190113.mp3

Sunday, January 6, 2019

“The Joy of A Life That is God’s”

Luke 20:20-26

1. The spies’ question

* Matthew 22:15-16 “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.’” (NIV)

* Pharisees: Jews who emphasized that they were God’s chosen people, were ashamed to be under Roman rule, and did not approve of paying taxes to Rome

* Herodians: People following in the lineage of King Herod’s family, who wanted to somehow recover Herod’s rule, and for that purpose maintained close relations with Rome, cooperating proactively with tax collection for Rome

2. Jesus’ response

3. Give back to God what is God’s

* Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (NIV)

* The testimony of Raymond

(Lives in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, USA)

* The testimony of Catherine Marshall

(Christian essayist)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think “Give back to God what is God’s” means?

2. How do you think someone who “belongs to God” should live?

3. Have you ever had an experience where you were self-aware that you “belong to God?”

MCC English 20190106.mp3

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

“Turn Hardships Into Praise”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

1. The triple dose of hardships bestowed upon Paul

* “Physical hardships”

2 Corinthians 12:7 “a thorn” = a large post

* “Mental hardships”

* “Spiritual hardships”

2. The three forms of grace bestowed upon Paul

* God’s grace to “be humbled”

* God’s grace to “change everything into good”

* God’s grace to “work in weakness”

2 Corinthians 12:10 “…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

MCC English 20190101.mp3

Sunday, December 30, 2018

“In Order to Beat Goliath”

1 Samuel 17:2-11, 45-49

1. Goliath

* Goliaths in our lives

(1) Low level self-image

(2) Past failures & guilt

(3) Dependence on habits

(4) Negative legacy from family

2. David

* 1 Samuel 17:37 “’The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.’” (NIV)

* 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)

* “One Night With the King” by Aretha Franklin

“One night with the king changes everything

One day in his courts did forever change my course

One moment in his presence and I've never been the same

One night with the king changes everything”

3. God, who changes our weakness into strength

* Being a “shepherd” was a symbol of David’s weakness

* God used that shepherd’s staff and slingshot to defeat Goliath

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is a Goliath for you? Please share.

2. What did you learn from David’s faith today?

MCC English 20181230.mp3

Sunday, December 23, 2018

“Living Under What Authority”

Luke 20:1-19

1. Q&A regarding authority

* Luke 20:1 (Different translation) “They stood together facing Jesus and said”

“stand facing” = a stance which challenges another person

* Luke 20:2 “what authority” = what kind (characteristic) of authority

2. The parable of the bad farmers

“Vineyard owner” = Father God

“Vineyard” = People of Israel

“Farmers” = Leaders of Israel

“Servants” = Prophets

“Beloved son” = Jesus Christ

3. Jesus, the cornerstone (keystone)

* The death poem of Hideyoshi Daiko

“Dew falls and dew disappears. Even my difficulties are just dreams of dreams.

* A miracle on Christmas Eve

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What authority are you living under? What kind of impact does that have on your everyday life?

2. Why did the Jewish leaders of the times oppose Jesus while they were to be used by God?

3. Why is Jesus Christ the “cornerstone”?

MCC English 20181223.mp3

Sunday, December 16, 2018

“The Time of God’s Coming”

Luke 19:36-48

1. Jesus’ tears

* Luke 19:41 “wept” = Cry out in a loud voice

* Luke 18:42 “Eternal peace was within your reach and you turned it down,” he wept, “and now it is too late.” (Living Bible) “the way to peace” = believing in Jesus

2. Jesus’ anger

3. Jesus’ joy

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. At what times in your life so far have you experienced “Jesus’ tears,” “Jesus’ anger,” and “Jesus’ joy”? Please share.

MCC English 20181216.mp3

Sunday, December 9, 2018

“The Lord Needs It”

Luke 19:28-35

1. Jesus is the ruler of all things

* Luke 19:32 “just as he had told them”

* Matthew 21:1-3 “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” (NIV)

2. Jesus is a meek king

* Matthew 21:4 “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet.” (NIV)

* Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NIV)

3. Our response to Jesus

* Job 1:21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (NIV)

* The faith of Pastor Billy Graham

* The faith of Toyoko Yabe

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of person do you think Jesus is based on today’s passage?

2. Why did Jesus ride in on a donkey?

3. What does “I am a donkey that Jesus is riding” mean?

MCC English 20181209.mp3