❖ Video ❖ Audio Thank you, God! Psalm 104:10-23 Andy Nagahara 1. The blessing of water (10-13) 10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. 11 They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. 13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.  2. The good things God gives (15-18) 14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate– bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens the…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Curse of “Needing to Be Loved” Romans 7:1-6 Mari Ikeda   When you hear this title of the message today, some of you may feel it is not your matter of concern. I’m aware of myself being in this curse of “needing to be loved,” but I guess not everyone feels such curse. However, although it depends on the person how much he or she is affected by this curse, we can learn from the Bible that we all as human beings of all ages can easily fall into this curse. Today, I’d like to read the whole text of the today’s Bible passage. Romans…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Who Destroyed Nature? Psalm 104:1-9 Andy Nagahara Today’s sermon is the third in our series, “Praise the LORD, O My Soul” from Psalm 103 and 104. We will be focusing on chapter 104 verse one to nine.Let’s start by reading the whole passage. 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.2-3 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Kingdom of God and Social Welfare Luke 17:20-21; Mark 4:26-29, 30-32 Mari Ikeda Today, I would like to pause the series on the Book of Romans one time. It’s because I have been thinking recently that I want to share with you all what I’ve been feeling at a welfare institution I work three times a week from 8 years ago. Sorry for this sudden pause, but I’d like to talk about it today. First, let’s read the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17. 20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Like a flower of the field Sermon Series “Praise the LORD, O my soul” (Psalm 103 & 104) #2 Psalm 103:11-22, Luke 12:27-31 Andy Nagahara Today, we will read Psalms 103 and 104, the second in the series, “Praise the Lord, O my soul,” from verses 11-22 of 103. First, let’s read the whole passage. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD…

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…