❖ 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,…

❖ Video ❖ Audio A Church Where the Adults Sing Enthusiastically Psalm 96 Andy Nagahara 1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.  7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Whether or Not You’re a Christian” is Not Important Romans 2:1-16 Mari Ikeda A. A misguided sense of superiority in being a Christian (1-5) 1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Rock Psalm 65 Andy Nagahara 1. Our unshakable rock (1-7a) 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;7 for he…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Let’s Read the Bible From Jesus’ Perspective Romans 1:18-32 Mari Ikeda (English translation by Raffael Eboku) Today we will be reading from Romans 1:18-32. I think this passage teaches us more about how to read the Bible than the content itself. Before we start, let me clarify a few things. The Bible is the Word of God, spoken through human languages. Since it is through human beings, it is subject to the limitations of time, culture, and the writer’s personal values and prejudices. And because we, as readers, have the same limitations, it can happen that the writer’s errors are compounded by further misinterpretations. So it…

❖ Video ❖ Audio God Who Avenges? Psalm 94 Andy Nagahara 1. Human misunderstanding a. The Israelites’ misunderstanding (1-4) O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.  b. The enemy’s misunderstanding (5-7) They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Jesus Nudges Us Forward Into the World Romans 1:8-17 Mari Ikeda A. To believe in Jesus means to live in various relationships with others 1. Helping each other course correct (8-12) 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Gospel of God: The Power to Overcome Division Romans 1:1-7 Mari Ikeda 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Who is Your King? Psalm 92 Andy Nagahara 1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea– the LORD on high is mighty.5 Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD. 1. The…