Sunday, February 26, 2017

“Jesus Passing By”

Mark 6:45-52

1. Headwind on the lake

* Ecclesiastes 7:14 “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” (NIV)

2. Jesus passing by

* Mark 6:48 “…walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them.” = “He was trying to pass by them” (direct translation)

* Mark 4:38 “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” (NIV)

3. “Take courage! It is I.”

* “Take courage” = “Be courageous” “Be joyful” (Japanese New Interconfessional Translation Bible)

= “I have come, so it is OK” “Be relieved”

“It is I.” = “Ego eimi” (I am)

* Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (NIV)

* “Silence” by Shusaku Endo

John 6:21 “Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” (NIV)

= “They tried to usher him in (wanted to put him in the boat)”

“and immediately” = “Euseosu” (immediately)

* “Kotoba no Shizuku” (A Drop of Words) by Tomihiro Hoshino

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Has there been a time when you wondered “Why isn’t God here or helping?”

2. Why does God have us encounter headwinds?

3. Please share how God’s Word has given you courage.

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Sunday, February 19, 2017

“Because You Say So”

Luke 5:1-11

1. Protect the heart from an environmental storm

* Proverbs 18:14 “The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (NIV)

* Proverbs 15:13 “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” (NIV)

2. Nourish the heart with God’s Word

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

3. Release faith from the heart

* The faith of Alexander H. Kerr

* Genesis 28:15 “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (NIV)

* Genesis 28:22 “… and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (NIV)

* Malachi 3:10 “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’” (NIV)

* Luke 5:10 “fish for people” = “Revive, restore, or provide life for humans”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. When your heart is attacked with fear and uncertainty, which Bible passages keep guard over your heart?

2. What Bible passage are you putting into practice in your faith life? How are the results?

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Sunday, February 12, 2017

“Jesus Christ’s Authoritative Word”

Luke 4:31-44

1. The liberation of the man possessed by a demon

* 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. The healing of Peter’s (Simon’s) mother-in-law

* 1 Corinthians 9:5 “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?” (NIV)

* Luke 4:40 “laying his hands” = an act of blessing (Reference: Genesis 48, Numbers 27)

* Matthew 14:19-21 “And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (NIV)

* Luke 4:40 “each one”

3. The expansion of Jesus’ mission

* Deborah Merkerson’s testimony (Georgia, USA)

* Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What do you think was the meaning of Jesus Christ’s act of expelling the demon?

2. Have you ever “laid hands” and prayed to heal someone’s illness? What was the result?

3. Is there a Bible verse that has considerably changed your life? What is it?

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Sunday, February 5, 2017

“Jesus in the Power of the Holy Spirit”

Luke 4:14-30

* “The Magic of Favorite Phrases That Can Change You” by Tomio Sato

1. The mission of Jesus in Galilee

* “Galilee” area

“The Military History of Judea” by Josephus Flavius

* Synagogues

2. The mission of Jesus in Nazareth

* Lee Strobel’s experience

3. The mission of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit

* 1 Corinthians 2:4 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (NIV)

* Revival in Indonesia: Pastor Merukio Tari’s testimony

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is your “favorite phrase?”

2. Why do you think Jesus began his mission in the area of Galilee?

3. Why wasn’t Jesus welcome in Nazareth? Have you had a similar experience?

4. Have you ever experienced “being full of the Holy Spirit?” What were the circumstances?

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Sunday, January 29, 2017

“Temptation in the Wilderness”

Luke 4:1-13

1. “Man shall not live on bread alone”

* Deuteronomy 8:3 “…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (NIV)

* Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (NIV)

* The faith of John D Rockefeller

2. “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only”

* Luke 4:5 “instant” = “in a flash”

* Luke 16:13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (NIV)

3. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”

* Deuteronomy 6:16 “Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

How is the temptation from the devil that Jesus experienced in the wilderness similar to the temptation from the devil that we experience today? Give it some thought.

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Sunday, January 22, 2017

“This is My Beloved Son”

Luke 3:21-38 (recitation: 3:21-23, 38)

1. Jesus’ baptism

* Matthew 3:14-15 “But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented.” (NIV)

* 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)

* Luke 20:13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’” (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)

* Romans 8:15 “…the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (NIV)

* Fumiko Takahashi, a Christian copper plate artist

* Isaiah 43:4 “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you...” (NIV)

2. Jesus’ genealogy

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why was sinless Jesus Christ baptized by John?

2. What is the relationship between prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit?

3. Do you have the awareness that you are a person loved by God?

Where does that awareness come from?

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Sunday, January 15, 2017

“God’s Word Came Down”

Luke 3:1-20

1. John the Baptist comes on the scene

* Luke 3:1 “…fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…”

Tiberius was the emperor after Augustus, and a renowned emperor “Fifteenth year” = 26AD

* Luke 3:1 “Pontius Pilate” = 5th generation governor general (26BC – 36AD)

* Luke 3:1 “Herod” = Herod Antipas, son of King Herod (King of Galilee) (4BC – 36AD)

* Deuteronomy 8:3 “…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (NIV)

* Lew Wallace (American author, soldier, New Mexico State Governor) “Ben-Hur” (“A Tale of the Christ”)

2. John the Baptist’s message

* Luke 3:3 “…a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” = a baptism of repentance leading to the forgiveness of sins

* Isaiah 4:4 “The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.” (NIV)

* Ezekiel 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (NIV)

* Kinya Kuwayama (chiropractor living in Yokohama City)

3. John the Baptist’s mission

* Matthew 11:11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist...” (NIV)

* Isaiah 43:21 “The people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” (NIV)

* Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works...” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What can we learn from John the Baptist’s way of life?

2. What is our mission? Let’s confirm.

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Sunday, January 8, 2017

“Jesus at Age Twelve”

Luke 2:39-52

1. Jesus’ wisdom

* Luke 2:41 “Festival of the Passover” (Refer to Exodus 23:14-17 and Deuteronomy 16:5-7)

* Luke 2:44 “company” = Caravan

* Luke 2:40 “filled with wisdom” = “Continuing to be filled with wisdom” (direct translation)

* Luke 2:52 “Jesus grew in wisdom” = “Jesus continued to progress in wisdom” (direct translation)

* Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” (NIV)

* Ephesians 1:17 “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.” (NIV)

* NHK special TV program “Journey of the Galaxy Odyssey”

2. Jesus’ self-understanding

* Luke 2:49 “Didn’t you know that it is obvious that I would be in my Father’s house?” (New Interconfessional Translation)

* John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

* Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

* Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

* Jennifer Rothschild (California, USA)

Hymn 520 “It is Well With My Soul”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Are you growing in “knowing God?” At what times do you realize that?

2. What kind of person does the Bible say you are? Confirm what is written in the Bible.

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Sunday, January 1, 2017

“The Victor of Life”

Luke 2:21-38

1. Walking believing in God’s Word

* Apollo 13 (April 11, 1970)

* 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (NIV)

2. Walking lead by the Holy Spirit

* Russia’s “Anti-evangelism Law” (July 6, 2016)

3. Walking without taking your eyes off Jesus

* 2 Timothy 2:7-8 “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What special Bible verse supports your faith?

2. What would you do if the “Anti-evangelism Law” was also enacted in Japan?

3. What do you think it means to “not take your eyes off Jesus?”

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Sunday, December 25, 2016

“Recovery of a Place”

Luke 2:8-20

1. Christ who had no place

* John 1:10-11 “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (NIV)

2. Christ who recovered a place

* Luke 2:9 “the glory of the Lord” = shekinah glory

* Matthew 9:13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV)

3. Making a place together

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kinds of things were brought about in your life by coming to know Christ?

2. What kind of place do you make for who? Think about this in detail.

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