❖ Video ❖ Audio Becoming a Church That Pleases God 1Peter 2:3-5, 1Samuel15:22, Proverbs 21:3, Hebrew 12:28 Andy Nagahara 1. What pleases God? But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.  2.  What is a church? now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– you…

❖ Video ❖ Audio What it Means to Love One Another Luke 10:25-37 Mari Ikeda A. Our love is limited 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Shepherds Who Found Jesus Christmas message Advent 4-Luke 2:8-20 Andy Nagahara And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Friendship of Mary and Elizabeth ADVENT 3-Luke 1:26-56 Mari Ikeda We have entered the third week of advent. Today, from Luke 1, we will read the story of Mary, who became the mother of Jesus, and Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Mary and Elisabeth were relatives. We don’t know exactly how old they were, but we can say that they were at least as far apart as grandchildren and grandmothers in the sense of that time. Today, through their relationship, I would like to talk about how God gives us friends who look up to Him and walk with us. It’s a little…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Not a Religious, a Revolutionary, a Politician, but a Friend ADVENT 2- Isaiah 11:1-5, 42:1-4 Andy Nagahara A. The Arrival of the Prophesied Savior (Messiah) (Isaiah 11:1-5) 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD–3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Joseph’s Solitude ADVENT 1- Matthew 1:18-25 Mari Ikeda Today Advent just started to wait for Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus’ birth, but I don’t think it’s that easy to celebrate with all of our hearts. The most important meaning of Christmas is Immanuel, that God is with us. But don’t we find ourselves searching for God rather than feeling safe knowing God is with us more often? I think there are times when we know that God is with us, but we can’t feel it. That’s something all people would repeat throughout their lives, and it was the same with the people 2000 years ago…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Foolishness of Asking: Does the Bible say that  ____   is a sin? Luke 15:11-32, John 8:7-11, 31,32 14:6 Andy Nagahara A. How does the Bible define sin? 1. Sin as a violation of the law 2. Sin in the early church B. How did Jesus view sin? 1. How did Jesus view the law? 2. How has the church defined sin? 3. The right question is “What is sin?” rather than “Is ______ a sin?” Summary We are not under Old Testament law. We also do not follow all of Paul’s teachings from the New Testament. Some people believe that the Bible identifies certain actions…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Mystery of God’s Choice (Part 2) Romans 9:14-29 Mari Ikeda Continuing from last time, today we will continue with the theme of what God’s choice is and why some are chosen, and some are not. As usual, we will read the second half of Romans 9, verses 14-29, bit by bit. First, verses 14-16. A. God has mercy on whom he has mercy and hardens whom he hardens  1. God’s choice is God’s mercy (14-16) 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will…

❖ Video ❖ Audio A Steadfast Heart in the Midst of Suffering Psalm 108 Andy Nagahara 0 A song. A psalm of David.1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. 6 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Mystery of God’s Choice (Part 1) Romans 9:1-13 Mari Ikeda A. The reality that the people chosen by God are rejecting God (1-5, Deuteronomy 7:6-8) 1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship…