❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) How We Know Jesus (John 5:31-47) Mari Ikeda Today we continue in the Gospel of John, reading 5:31-47. In this passage, Jesus speaks to the Jews who were trying to kill Him. Jesus tells them why they could not believe in Him and what it means to believe in Him, which I think is important for us. How did we, who already have faith, have faith? And what are the reasons why we sometimes lose sight of Jesus and doubt? I also hope that those of you who do not yet have faith, or are confused about your faith, will know through today’s content what…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) From “My Faith” to “Our Faith” (Psalm 122) Andy Nagahara Today’s text is Psalm 122. This psalm has a different feel than the ones we have read so far, in that the psalmist refers to his companions, his friends, and his siblings with joy.Lately, when it comes to others, only those who persecute or oppose him have appeared, and it has been a heavy feeling, but I am relieved here to see that the psalmist also have friends who can be called “us”. Now, let’s think about the importance of thinking from the perspective of “we” rather than “me” and “our God” rather than “my…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) The LORD watches over you (Psalm 121) Andy Nagahara Today’s text is Psalm 121. Let’s read the entire text first, and then take in two verses at a time. The psalmist begins by declaring, “God is the one who watches over and helps me” (1,2) and calls us, “The one who also watches over you and helps you” (3-8). 0 A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber; 4…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) What Is The “Life” God Gives Us? (John 5:19-30) Mari Ikeda Last Wednesday, Kazu, one of the members of this church, passed away. Yesterday was his funeral. His battle with cancer had already begun when he first came to this church 10 years ago, but perhaps what we all remember in common is that he was always calm and smiling. Sometimes he made us laugh with his humor, and many times he brought us delicious food. I also remember the expression on his face when he quietly said “thank you” after we prayed together. Over the past year, he has had many bad days, so…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) שָׁלוֹם・平和・Peace (Psalm 120) Andy Nagahara In the Japanese Bible, these 15 psalms, from today’s 120 to 134, are titled “A song of ascents” The original word simply means “to go up,” as the English Bible translates it, and so the word has been interpreted in various ways: for example, to go to Jerusalem, the city of the temple; to go up to the temple; to go up the 15 steps in the temple, and so on. But it is not possible to say for sure which one it is.However, all the theories agree that going up means getting closer to God. It is a sincere…