❖ Video ❖ Audio The Value of Being a “Christian” Romans 3:1-20 Mari Ikeda 1. We can prove that God will never forsake us even if we betray him (1-4) 1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Rejoice! Psalm 97 Andy Nagahara 　　 (Translated by Raffael Eboku) Hey Smile! When told to do that in a group photo, there will be some people with slightly distorted smiles. Even people who have reservations on whether someone can really smile under such circumstances, still (force) a smile anyway.  However, it is not possible to rejoice when told to do so. Joy is from the heart and cannot be made up by (mere) facial expressions. So, when the Bible says, “Rejoice,” it is not a command, it means you have the material to rejoice. It is not the kind of “joy” that the world can give.…

❖ Video ❖ Audio A Joyful Morning Has Come Psalm 30 Mari Ikeda A. Jesus was risen from the dead (1-5) 1 I will exalt you, LORD,for you lifted me out of the depthsand did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me. 3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit. 4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night,but rejoicing comes in…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Meditations for Passion Week 2021 Andy Nagahara From today, we begin the Passion Week, which is the most important week of the year for followers of Jesus. I hope that you too will spend this week in a meaningful way. So, I will be taking a break from the series this week and next week to give a message for the Passion Week and resurrection. This week I will be sharing my message for Passion Week and what I would like you to do with me this week. That is to have time for meditation. Meditation as the (Chinese) kanji characters depict, means spending time together…

❖ Video ❖ Audio A Church Where the Adults Sing Enthusiastically Romans 2:17-29 Mari Ikeda A. Faith is not morality (17-24) 17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others,…