Sunday, September 23, 2018

“Living in God’s Kingdom”

Luke 17:20-37

1. God’s kingdom is coming here now

* Luke 17:21 “in your midst.” = Where you are

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

* Psalm 32:10 “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” (NIV)

2. Those who live in God’s kingdom live by faith

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (NIV)

3. In God’s kingdom those who lose their life gain it

* The conversion of a young Islamic boy in Nepal

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is “God’s kingdom?”

2. Where is “God’s kingdom” coming to?

3. How do people who live in “God’s kingdom” live?

MCC English 20180923.mp3

Sunday, September 16, 2018

“The Blessing Gratitude Brings”

Luke 17:11-19

1. The plead of the ten men with leprosy

* Leviticus 13:2 “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.” (NIV)

* Leviticus 13:45-46 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” (NIV)

2. Jesus’ response

3. The response of one of the ten men

* Pleasure boat accident on Lake Michigan in 1860

Edward Spencer saved 17 people

* Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV)

* Luke 17:19 “well” = freed, made free, made healthy, made complete

* Experiment of an American psychologist

“People who are thankful can handle stress well.

They feel that others are more important than themselves.

They are filled with energy and don’t often get sick.

They make others around them happy.”

* Psalm 103:1-2 “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why weren’t nine of the ten men thankful?

2. Why did one man return to Jesus to thank Him?

3. Think about what good things are brought about by being thankful.

MCC English 20180916.mp3

Sunday, September 9, 2018

“Servants of God”

Luke 17:7-10

1. The attitude of a servant of God

* Luke 17:7 “servant” = “slave” (singular form)

* Luke 17:7 “comes here” = “come beside” “come next to”

* Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993) “Millions of thanks”

2. The motive of a servant of God

* 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)

3. The reward of a servant of God

* The story of a hotel manager and William Waldorf Astor

* Luke 12:37 “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.” (NIV)

* Matthew 25:21 & 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why should we serve God?

2. What should the attitude of our heart be when serving God?

3. What does God do for those who faithfully serve Him?

MCC English 20180909.mp3

Sunday, September 2, 2018

“Stumbling and Forgiveness”

Luke 17:1-6

1. The cause and countermeasures for stumbling

(1) “Stumbling” is something that occurs naturally

(2) “Stumbling” changes into judgment

(3) “Stumbling” becomes under the reign of the devil

2. The power and method of forgiveness

* “Love Never Fails” by John Deane

* An episode in the life of U.S. President Lincoln

* Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (NIV)

3. The responsibility of a person causing someone to stumble

* The reconciliation of Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton

* “Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption”

* Psalm 71:4 “Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Do you ever stumble over another person’s words or actions?

2. At that time how did you feel and act?

3. In those types of circumstances what does Jesus teach us to do?

4. Have you even made another person stumble?

5. What should you do if you make someone stumble?

MCC English 20180902.mp3

Sunday, August 26, 2018

“A Request of the Dead”

Luke 16:19-31

1. The lives of two contrasting people

2. What happened after the death of the two contrasting people

* Luke 16:22 “Abraham’s side” = paradise

3. The truth about death and the world after death

* Elisabeth Kübler-Ross “On Death and Dying”

* George Rodonaia

* Kenneth Ring’s research on near-death experiences

* Eben Alexander “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife”

* 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)

4. The dead are hoping for our salvation

* John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is the reason for contrasting worlds after death for the rich man and Lazarus?

2. What does the Bible teach about death and the world after death?

MCC English 20180826.mp3

Sunday, August 19, 2018

“God Looks at the Heart”

Luke 16:14-18

1. The differences in Jesus’ and the Pharisees’ values

* Luke 16:14 “sneering” = scornfully laugh

* 1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV)

* Isaiah 2:12 “The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled.” (NIV)

* Proverbs 16:5 “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (NIV)

* The faith of Masayuki Hoshina (Aizu Domain Leader)

2. Walk the length and breadth

* Romans 3:31 “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” (NIV)

* Deuteronomy 24:1 “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house...” (NIV)

“Something to be ashamed of” = The sin of adultery

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What impact does the fact that “God is looking at your heart” have on your way of life?

2. How is there harmony between obeying the “law” and walking “God’s grace?”

MCC20180819.mp3

Sunday, August 12, 2018

“Walk the Length and Breadth”

Genesis 13:14-18

1. Look around

* The reality of spreading the gospel in Japan

* Genesis 13:15 “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” (NIV)

* The faith of building the sanctuary and church at Minemachi Christ Church

* Genesis 13:16 “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.” (NIV)

2. Walk the length and breadth

* Don’t stop -- Go out

* Genesis 13:17 “Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” (NIV)

* Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (NIV)

* The reality that most people in Japan have never heard the gospel

* Romans 10:14 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (NIV)

3. The gospel flowing from trifle things

* The impact the gospel has had on society

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What grace has God bestowed on your life?

2. What can we the church do to spread the gospel?

3. How do you think Minemachi Christ Church will be 50 years from now?

23 11.15.mp3

Sunday, August 5, 2018

“The Faithful Manager”

Luke 16:1-13

1. The dishonest manager

* Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (NIV)

* Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” (NIV)

2. Making friends with fraudulent wealth

* Luke 16:9 “worldly wealth” = “indefinite wealth”

3. Faithful manager

* John 12:6 “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (NIV)

* Deuteronomy 8:11-19 (reference)

* Romans 8:17 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What about the “dishonest manager” was worthy of praise? What can we learn from this?

2. What is “worldly wealth”?

3. What does “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves” mean?

4. What does “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” mean?

MCC English 20180805.mp3

Sunday, July 29, 2018

“The Parable of the Good Heavenly Father”

Luke 15:25 - 32

1. The character of the three people in the passage

(1) The younger son

• Headstrong, self-centered, and can’t wait

• Lacks patience, rebellious, and lazy

• Doesn’t have ability to utilize the inheritance received

(2) The father

• Abundant in love and compassion

(3) The older son

• Legalistic and has no love

• Compulsory and restrained

• Completely doesn’t understand the heart of his father

• Is full of envy

2. The defining discrepancy of the older and younger brothers

* David:

Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” (NIV)

* Paul:

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV)

* John:

1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Who is the “heavenly Father” to you?

MCC English 20180729.mp3

Sunday, July 22, 2018

“Overflow”

1 Thessalonians 3:12

1. Overflow

* “Perisseuo” in Greek, meaning “leftover portion” or “extra”

2. The background of the Thessalonian church

* The original text of verse 12 includes the word “Lord,” but in the Japanese translation it is removed

“each other” = persecuted friends

“everyone else” = includes those persecuting

* Testimony of RIZE Orange Coast Church

* Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in the U.S.

* Bifocal vision = view of both near and far

3. How to live as a person waiting for the second coming

* 1 Thessalonians 3:13 “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. How full of God’s love are you today?

2. Who is the nearest and farthest person needing God’s love which is overflowing from you?

MCC English 20180722.mp3