❖ Video ❖ Audio A Gift from God to All People Romans 3:21-31 Mari Ikeda Today, we will be reading from Romans 3:21-31. The content reads as if Romans chapter 2 is beginning here. What Paul was trying to say is condensed here as the first introduction to a new content. And the core of our faith is also condensed in it. We should not forget that our faith is not based on whether we believe or not believe but it’s rather a gift that God wants to offer us. We will read bit by bit. First Verses 21-24 A. A gift from God 1. God’s desire is to save…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Sing Your Thanks! Sing Your Hopes! Psalm 98 Andy Nagahara The coronavirus continues to spread, and we have not been able to hold Sunday services as usual for over a year now. However, this is a good opportunity given by God. In what sense was it a good opportunity? First of all, we were able to realize that the worship services that we had gathered and offered as a matter of course were actually offered by being protected by God’s grace. The other thing is that we realized that we can worship together even if we can’t be in the same place at the same time.…

❖ 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…