❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) The new song to sing our will to the Lord (Psalm 145) Andy Nagahara 1. Features of this psalm  Today’s psalm is the 145th. The Psalms can be classified into several collections of songs, and Psalm 145 is the last of the collection known as the Davidic Psalms, which follows Psalm 138, because each psalm has the title “Psalm of David” at the beginning of it. In the Psalms of David, even within a single poem, there are often songs of hope along with despair, trust along with distrust, and praise along with lamentation, and as we read, we too feel a real sense of…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Jesus Reversed the Position of the Weak and the Strong Series “Theology of Interdependence and Disability,” Part 3 (John9:24-41) Mari Ikeda      This passage tells the story of Jesus healing the eyes of a man who was born blind so that he could see. In my previous reading of the first half of this story, I told you that Jesus loves us all equally, whereas we discriminate against people with disabilities.      Social conditions surrounding people with disabilities have improved considerably in modern times compared to the ancient times when Jesus lived. However, still, surprisingly and unfortunately, the discriminatory words and actions of…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) The Realities of Faith (Psalm 144) Andy Nagahara Today’s text is Psalm 14４. This psalm contains many quotations from other psalms, giving it the impression of a parquet. I think that even in the Japanese Bible it is clear that the content and the wording used in this psalm up to verse 11 and beyond are quite different. For example, the subject until verse 11 is “I” and after that it is “we”. The first half in particular is composed almost entirely of quotations, additions and revisions from earlier psalms, with many quotations from Psalm 18 in particular. 1. In what sense is faith a…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Jesus’ Desire (John8:48-59) Marri Ikeda      Today we return to our series on the Gospel of John and read the last part of chapter 8. The discussion between Jesus and the Jewish leaders comes to a climax and an end here. What is striking in today’s passage is the way Jesus does not give up on those who refuse to believe in Him, but continues to speak to them. I believe that Jesus did this because he had a desire for all of us. From today’s passage, we can see that Jesus’ desire can be expressed in three ways. Let’s read verses 48-51 first.…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) What we must do to pave the way for the future (Psalm 143) Andy Nagahara Today’s text is Psalm 143. It contains the secrets that will enable us to move forward into the future with hope, no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Let’s read with anticipation. 1. There is no one righteous (0-4) 0 A psalm of David.1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground;…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Racism and Church (Matthew 25:31-46 and others) Mari Ikeda      Today I would like to speak specially on the subject of “Racism and Church”. I will tell you later why I decided to do so. First, I would like to begin by reading the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 25:31-46. 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Jesus Healing the Blind Man and Our Society that Continues to Discriminate (Part I) Series “Theology of Interdependence and Disability,” Part 2 (John 9:1-23) Mari Ikeda      Last month we began a series on Kathy Black’s book, and today is the second in the series. In the first part, we read the first five verses of John 9 and talked about what Kathy Black calls “the theology of interdependence.” Today we will read the entire chapter 9, which is a continuation of that series, but since it is long, I decided to split it into two parts, one for today and the other for…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Lift up your voice to the LORD for mercy (Psalm 142) Andy Nagahara Today’s text is Psalm 142. It is a psalm written by the psalmist imagining David’s prayer about the events that occurred before he became king of Israel. Let’s read the whole thing first. 0 A of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.1 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) Efforts We Must Continue To Make To Avoid Repeating Our Mistakes (John8:31-47) Mari Ikeda      August is a time for Japan to recall memories of the war, but this year, due to the heat of the Paris Olympics, I have the impression that media coverage of war-related issues has been reduced compared to previous years. Last week, there were Peace Memorial Ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. Hiroshima did not invite the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus, and Nagasaki did not invite the ambassador of Israel in addition to those two countries.      The cover of today’s bulletin is a picture of the…

❖ Video ❖ Audio (Message) What to ask God to protect our heart (Psalm 141) Andy Nagahara We have been reading the Psalms together for several years, and we have now come to the last ten. Today’s text is 141. I have previously mentioned that the verses of the Psalms were basically sung as worship, and it is clear from their structure that this psalm is also typical of that. The basic attitude of worshippers is established in the first two verses and in the concluding verses 8-10, where they call out to God. And between them are placed the two main wishes that make this psalm unique. So, as…