Image by 愚木混株 Cdd20  on Pixabay ❖ Video ❖ Audio Captivated by Jesus The Series on the Book of Romans #12 Romans 6:15-23 Mari Ikeda Do you all think you are captivated by Jesus? Today we’re going to read the second half of chapter 6 in the Book of Romans, which exhorts us to become slaves of God, but I pondered if there was some better word than “slave,” because “slave” means a forced labor, which is neither what God demands us nor what Paul wanted to say. Then the word “captive” came to my mind. Because to be a captive originally means to be in captivity or be a…

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash ❖ Video ❖ Audio Praise the LORD, O my soul Sermon Series “Praise the LORD, O my soul” (Psalm 103 & 104) 1 Psalm 103:1-10 Andy Nagahara Starting today, I will be speaking over 4 or 5 Sundays on Psalms 103 and 104. Both of these psalms begin and end with the exhortation: “ Praise the LORD, O my soul.” Today, we will read through chapter 103 verse 10. Let’s start by reading this entire section. 0 Of David.1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his…

❖ Video ❖ Audio We’re No Longer Ruled by Sin, but Under the Reign of Go Romans 6:1-14 Mari Ikeda      Today we will be reading the first half of chapter 6 in the Book of Romans. The first half and the second half of chapter 6 and the first half of chapter 7 are all speaking of a same content but from three different angles, which may give us an impression of it as a little persistent. The reason for this persistence is that Paul, who wrote this letter, was often misunderstood by both the Jew and the Gentile and that he needed to clear up the misunderstanding.…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Pour Out Your Lament Before the LORD Psalm 102 Andy Nagahara 1. A lament is also a prayer (0-11) 0 A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.5 Because of my loud groaning I…

❖ Video ❖ Audio From Adam to Christ: From the Cycle of Sin to the Cycle of Grace Sermon Series on Paul’s Letter to the Romans #10 Romans 5:12-21 Mari Ikeda (This message borrows heavily from Professor Takeshi Nagata’s final lecture at International Christian University on 2/12/2013 titled, “Adam and Christ in the the Book of Romans: The Arrival of the New Man”) From Adam to Christ: From the Cycle of Sin to the Cycle of Grace      Today, we will be reading the second half of chapter 5 in the Romans, but let me make a point before we start. As I prepared today’s message, I borrowed heavily…