Sunday, December 18, 2016

“Light That Shines in the Darkness”

Luke 2:8-15

1. The darkness of “despair”

* Lopez Lomong (athlete)

(American originally from South Sudan, Africa)

2. The darkness of “sin”

* A sense of sin makes one lose confidence

* A sense of sin breaks human relationships

* A sense of sin ties one to the past

3. The darkness of “death”

* John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of darkness have you been freed from through coming to know Christ?

Please share.

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Sunday, December 11, 2016

“The Birth of the Savior”

Luke 2:1-7

1. Place importance on an enriched heart

* O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”

* 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)

2. Receive the work from God

* Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (NIV)

* (1) Emperor Augustus

“Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavius” (Ruled from 27BC – 14AD)

* (2) Cornelius

“Publius Sulpicius Cornelius”

Tacitus’s “Annals”

Strabon’s “Geographika”

Dio Cassius’s “History of Rome”

* Pagans incorporated in God’s plan

*Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon)

*Cyrus (King of Persia)

*Emperor Augustus

*Hitler

*Arab countries of Iran, Syria, etc.

*Anti-Christ

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of impact do the words of “John 3:16” have on your life?

2. What kind of instance was there in your life in which you think the Lord God intervened?

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Sunday, December 4, 2016

“Zechariah’s Prophesy”

Luke 1:67-80

1. God’s salvation

* John 1:68 “concern” = visit

* Exodus 4:31 “And they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” (NIV)

* Genesis 22:17-18 “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (NIV)

* Olav V (King of Norway) and John’s promise

2. John’s mission

* Psalm 139:13-16 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” (Living Bible)

3. Jesus Christ’s second coming

* Malachi 4:2 “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays…” (NIV)

* The testimony of Mitsuo Sasaki (international lawyer)

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What kind of content is written in the Old Testament concerning Jesus Christ?

2. Try to think of the content of Psalm 139:13-16 as being written about you.

3. Jesus Christ is the “light of the world.” What kind of light has He shed on your life?

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Sunday, November 27, 2016

“His Name is John”

Luke 1:57-66

1. God’s compassion

* Exodus 34:6 “…The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (NIV)

* Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (NIV)

* Fern McBee (lives in New Jersey, USA)

* Ephesians 2:4-6 “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. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

2. God’s Word

* “Circumcision” ritual (refer to Genesis 17)

* The testimony of Lee Gyuozi (Chinese house church pastor)

3. God’s recovery

* The testimony of Kim Hajun (Onnuri Christ Church elder & previous diplomat)

“God’s Ambassador – The Person of the Holy Spirit”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. In what way is God’s “mercy” given to us?

2. Which of God’s Words provide support to your heart? Please share.

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Sunday, November 20, 2016

“The Lord’s Words Always Come to Pass”

Luke 1:39-56

1. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth

* Luke 1:39 “hill country of Judea” = Ein Karem (a place 180km from Nazareth”

* Evangelist Keiichi Hiraide’s “Keiichi Hiraide’s Autobiography: The Lord’s Unending Mercy”

2. Elizabeth’s congratulatory address

* The mistake of faith in Mary: “Immaculate conception”

3. Mary’s song of praise

* Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s song of praise

“glorifies” = in Latin is “Magnificat”

* Luke 1:49 “holy” = in Hebrew is “Kadoshu” meaning “Far superior than anything else”

* Movie: “The Blind Side”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. In what way do you think Mary’s faith is superior?

2. What types of the Lord God’s character are expressed in “Mary’s song of praise?”

3. At what kind of times have you felt the “God who takes notice of you?”

20161120.mp3

Sunday, November 13, 2016

“The Announcement of Jesus’ Birth”

Luke 1:26-38

1. Jewish-style weddings

(1) The groom’s father searches for a woman to become his son’s bride

(2) If there was a good young woman, the groom’s father would put pressure on her father

(3) If an official consensus was made, he would pay a bridal fee to the bride’s father

(4) The groom would write up a letter of consent and the engagement relationship would become official

(5) Legally this would establish the marriage relationship, but living together would begin one year later

(6) If the bride had any relations with another man, then that would mean she committed adultery

(7) Breaking off the engagement relationship was only possible through an official divorce

2. Calling out to Mary

* Luke 1:28 “Greetings” = in Greek is “karay,” meaning “be happy”

* Luke 1:34 “How will this be?” = “In what way will that occur?”

* Kamal Saleem’s “One Terrorist’s Conversion”

3. Mary’s response

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Is there something that you believe God is calling you to do, but you haven’t taken action on yet?

Why are you hesitating?

2. What can you learn from Mary’s faith?

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Sunday, November 6, 2016

“The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold”

Luke 1:5-25

* Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (NIV)

1. The God who answers prayers

* Luke 1:5 “Herod king of Judea” = King Herod (37BC – 4BC)

“division of Abijah” = The 8th of 24 divisions which had about 750 priests affiliated with it

* Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (NIV)

* Luke 1:13 “John” = meaning “the Lord is compassionate” “the Lord was merciful”

2. The God who likes adventure

* Hebrews 11:6 “And without (the adventure of) faith it is impossible to please God…” (NIV)

3. The God who takes notice of you

* Ayako Miura’s “Unforgettable Words”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. What is a prayer that you once gave up on but now is on your heart?

Would you consider bringing that prayer before the Lord once more?

2. What does the “adventure of faith” mean to you?

3. At what kind of times have you felt the “God who takes notice of you?”

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Sunday, October 30, 2016

“I Want You To Know”

Luke 1:1-4

1. Who was the author?

* References: Acts 16:10-17, Acts 20:5-15, Acts 21:1-18, Acts 27:1-28:16

* 2 Timothy 4:9-10 “Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me.” (NIV)

2. Who was “Theophilus?”

* Luke 1:3 “write and orderly account” = dedicate

3. The purpose of writing the Gospel of Luke

* Luke 1:1-2 “confirmed” = fulfilled, realized

* Luke 1:4 “so that you may know” = “so that you may understand more deeply and more clearly”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Why do you know that Luke is the author of the “Gospel of Luke?”

2. What was the purpose for writing the “Gospel of Luke?”

3. What frame of mind do you think we should have when we read the “Gospel of Luke?”

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

“The Sacrifice of Praise”

Hebrews 13:10-16

1. Spiritual sacrifice

* 1 Peter 2:5 “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

* Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (NIV)

2. Active sacrifice

* Hebrews 13:13 “Let us, then, go to him outside the camp”

* Hebrews 13:15 “Sacrifice of praise” = “The fruit of one’s lips”

“fruit” = fruit of a plant, result of a decision or effort, action appearing outwardly

* Hebrews 13:13 “Bearing the disgrace he bore”

“disgrace” = abuse, blame, shame

* Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus” = by a “cause directly worked on in order to perform an action”

3. The key to offering a sacrifice of praise (viewpoint)

* Nagasaki 26 Martyring of Saints

* Makoto Iwabuchi (Gospel singer & songwriter)

4. Praise is entrusting

* Margaret F Powers (Author of “Footprints”)

“Entrust everything to the Lord”

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. In order to offer an “active sacrifice,” what do you think you should do?

2. What is your viewpoint on praise?

3. Have you ever entrusted something to God through praise? How was your heart at that time?

20161023.mp3

Sunday, October 16, 2016

“Blessed are Those Who Fear the Lord”

Psalm 112

1. Walking as the light

* Matthew 5:14 & 16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden... In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

* Two people in the 18th century: Max Jukes and Jonathan Edwards and their descendants

2. Strength to overcome trials

* October 3, 2006 shooting at West Nickel Mines School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

3. Faith that stands firm for eternity

* The faith of those martyred on Mt. Chorudu in Seoul, Korea

Thoughts to share at Mini Church:

1. Who is your faith passed down from? How will you pass it on to the next generation?

2. How did your faith grow during a trial in your life?

3. When do you feel that your daily actions will be connected with eternity?

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