ppt
"What are you doing?"
Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
Christ Jesus says to his students that they are God's precious children.
They are the joy of God.
God loves them and forgives them.
God wants to teach them how to live meaningfully.
But God was able to do only through the cross of Jesus.
So, about this time, Jesus was trying to persuade his students to think about taking their cross and following him. Jesus told them again and again without taking his or her own cross, no one can follow him.
But Peter was thinking something else:
Peter was like, “No, I don’t want my Jesus to take his cross and carry his cross. I came here protecting my Jesus. No one touches my Jesus.”
Peter likes to protect and honor his leader.
It is because Peter didn’t really know who Jesus really is.
If he puts down his plan and takes his own cross, he may understand who Jesus is.
But at the moment, Peter was trying hard to execute his own plan. (Matthew 16:21-24) He knew some religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. So, he might have wanted to build some safe environment around him. He wanted to build some strong support from people so that Jesus wouldn’t even talk about the cross anymore. He wanted to help Jesus building a kingdom where they will all enjoy.
Peter might have thought like this:
“No one makes their future plan thinking about his or her own cross.
When he can perform miracles and cure people, free of charge, why does Jesus even need to take the cross?”
So, Peter liked to do something else forgetting about the cross.
Peter wanted to follow Jesus but didn’t allow Jesus to take his own cross.
But as for Jesus, this was a dangerous thought.
Jesus wants to say, “I have power to protect me, but I have the reason to take the cross. When I decided to carry my own cross, I have this deep peace and joy in my heart.”
But after many conversations, Jesus promised that he would show him some of his heavenly authority and glory first, in order to persuade Peter.
Then, six days later, Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain.
Then while Jesus was praying, suddenly his appearance changed.
Light poured out from his face.
His clothes were filled with light.
Even Moses and Elijah came to help Jesus convincing Peter about the cross.
Their only purpose here is to say:
"Take up your cross and follow Jesus."
Jesus brought Peter here to explain this one thing.
But Peter thought something totally else, “See, Jesus was glowing.
Jesus is this kind of person. Jesus doesn’t need to be crucified.” Then Peter was alone excited and wanted to make something to remember this.
Peter was like: "Jesus, this is a great moment! What would you think? Shall I build three houses here on the mountain? You live in one of them. Moses lives in the other. Elijah lives at the third. Then people can come, experience and remember this with us. Then nobody even think about crucifying you."
Peter rather wanted to work hard and get tired building monuments for Jesus.
So, God comes to persuade Peter so that he may pay attention to what he says and move into and walk into right directions.
God also wanted to explain that Jesus is taking his cross, not because God doesn’t love him.
God loves Jesus.
So, God whispered to Peter through the cloud.
God was like:
"What are you doing, Peter? Be Quiet. Listen to your Jesus.
This is my loving son.
Listen to him.
He needs to change your mind.
So, I am trying to change your thinking.
I agree with him and am so well pleased with his plan.
I thank his attitude toward life.
I am going to take my Cross, as Jesus is taking his.
As you take your cross, you will participate in our joy.”
Whenever he tries to serve God without taking his cross, God may say time to time and continually:
“Stop! That is not what you can do for Jesus!
Instead, listen to his words first.
Then you can do something truly meaningful.
If you obey Jesus, you can produce something long-lasting by the power of God.”
Maybe at this time, Jesus might have looked at Peter saying through his eyes, “Will you accept my method, Peter? Will you listen to me now?
I know you are a leader. I chose you for that. But you cannot lead others just yet. Listen to me first. Then you will be able to lead the people of God later.
First, through the cross, you find who you are.
Then, you can teach others what they are supposed to do.
Then, you can help others to find their calling and live it out.
You will be useful for us when you understand what I am saying.”
Through the cross, Jesus wants to show that leaders need to serve humbly laying down their own lives.
As a leader, Peter would know how to live, what to do, and what he is called to do and find who he is, through the way of cross.
Anyway, when God spoke to Peter through the cloud, the disciples terrified and fell facedown to the ground.
Then Jesus came and said, “That is ok. Don’t be afraid.
You don’t need to be afraid now.”
When they looked up, everybody was gone.
They saw only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus told them:
“Don’t tell anyone what you have seen here. Don’t tell anyone until you see me raised from the dead."
This time, they silently listen even though Jesus talks about his death.
At least, the disciples may sort of agree with Jesus taking his own cross.
Then later, Jesus literally was crucified on the cross.
God is producing something beautiful through the cross of Jesus.
But Peter couldn’t help but to feel so defeated.
It was too painful for him to see his Jesus lived in this thoughtless way.
“If he died like this, what come of us?”
This idea of cross is difficult to understand.
So, we may not find any meaning in the suffering death of Jesus.
So, we may not find the glory of God, when someone died humbly and patiently preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But God works through these.
What does the cross of Jesus mean?
It means humbling himself before his creatures.
It means being patient with his creatures.
It means allowing his creatures to do what they like on him.
In this way, God is seen.
God is seen by those who carry their own crosses willingly.
So, Peter cannot follow Jesus anymore, if he abandons this idea of cross.
What does the cross mean to Peter?
It means various things.
It may mean giving up control.
It may mean not defining in his own way how Jesus needs to succeed in life.
It may mean stop worrying about what his father, mother, and children would think of him. Because of them, he might not be able to take risk following Jesus like this.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, would Peter have understood or agreed with Jesus, Moses, Elijah and God?
At least, he might have thought time to time:
Am I trying to do what God wants me to do? Or am I going to interrupt God again? Am I trying to avoid my cross? Am I running away from my cross again?”
In fact, Jesus later asks Peter to carry this gospel of cross to some dangerous places. He couldn’t do that if he didn’t mix this idea of cross into his calling. Traditionally speaking, Peter also died literally on the cross.
How about us?
We come here to be blessed.
We come here to be consoled.
But God may say to us, “I have a just right cross for you. Would you like to see it? Do you want to try?”
What is your cross?
It can be various things.
As for Abraham Lincoln, his cross was coping with his depression.
He was afraid that he might commit suicide, because of his severe depression. Maybe that was why he was courageous to do what he did.
What is your cross?
What are the things that are difficult to do but if you do, you produce good fruits?
It is like this. Musicians need to practice their instrument.
They need to practice the same song over and over.
Then they may be able to make the sound that they really like to have. After some boring practices, this is possible.
What is your cross?
Your cross is related to your calling.
In order to follow your call, you may need to do something that you don’t like.
Doing so, you may later find new joy of living, because your life becomes meaningful.
Doing this, you can truly follow Christ.
God will work through you. Later, you will know it. And people will know it.
You may say, “Ask me do more works. But don’t ask me to be humble, patient, gentle, or kind. It is just not me.”
Maybe those are your cross.
It is like this.
When you drink water after working hard, you realize how tasty this water can be.
Likewise, after taking your own cross, you may discover true satisfaction.
Without carrying your cross, you may be not very fruitful.
You may not be satisfied by its result of fruits.
If you try to serve others, without taking your own cross, you may suffer more emotionally.
The way of cross is the direction that God shows us.
Taking our own cross, we may be able to do something that is meaningful and last forever. God may help us plan our life based on this cross.
Then God may use us more and well.
Then God will create various opportunities for you to live out your calling.
Be willing to take up your cross, and enter into those opportunities.
You will learn to share your life through your meaningful works.
Then together we may need to build this kind of community of the cross.
2.17.2012
2.13.2012
Luke 15:1-32
ppt
The joy of God (What happens when a person confesses their sin and returns to God, the love of God)
Reading: Luke 15:1-32 (Matthew 18:12-14)
Have you ever got lost somewhere?
Did you like that experience?
Of course not, right?
Today, we are going to have a look at three stories of Jesus.
It is about a person being lost but found.
There was a reason that Jesus tells these stories, two thousand years ago.
It was because there was a group of religious people who didn’t like Jesus hanging around with sinners.
But the more they complain about Jesus eating with sinners and social outcasts, the more Jesus welcomes sinners and had a good time with them.
Then to those who accused him, Jesus explained why.
He told these stories to explain how gracious God treats those who are disliked.
So, as you listen to these stories, think about the mind of Jesus.
In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus told this first story.
He said something like this:
(1) “There is a guy who has a hundred sheep.
When he loses one of them, he leaves the ninety-nine in the open field and goes after the lost sheep.
(2) And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and joyfully goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep.”
Then Jesus says, “Likewise, God rejoices more over one sinner who turns around, than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to change their lives.”
In the story, the guy who goes after his lost sheep is of course God.
God goes after those who lost their way.
But how do they get lost?
They might have been just pursuing some important goals in life.
They worked hard for what was before them.
But then later, they realized that they got lost.
Everything seems blurry and vague.
They tried to get back to God. But they don’t know how.
They couldn’t discern which way leads to God.
So, God goes after them.
God tries everything that God can do.
That is why God sent Jesus to help them see clearly.
Jesus stopped everything to come and find them.
But just for fun, let’s imagine what some of these ninety-nine sheep might have said about God? Remember they didn’t get lost.
Some might say, “Hey, God, what about us? Shouldn’t you also take care of us? If you go after the lost, who is going to take care of us?”
Or, some might say, “Oh boy, here God goes again.”
Or, some might pray that the lost would be found easily.
Some might start to take care of other sheep while God was away.
Anyway, through this story, Jesus is trying to explain that he has joined God in this search. In spiritual world, finding the lost is more important than taking care of the rest.
So, Jesus goes after the lost, knowing the heart of God.
Jesus guides and teaches them, because God desires to add them into God’s kingdom.
In, Jesus told another story to explain the heart of God. (Luke 15:8-10)
He says something like this:
(3) “There is a woman has ten silver coins.
When she loses one, she then lights a lamp, and starts to clean her house in order to find the lost silver.
(4) When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost coin.”
Likewise, God's angels throw a party like this.
It is every time when one person turns to God."
If you lose something so precious in your room, you probably clean your room searching carefully to find it, right?
For God, people are precious.
So, God searches for people who got lost in the house of God.
God wants to find them because God wants them to be valued.
God wants them to receive new appreciation from God.
God wants them to use their gifts instead of just being buried somewhere in the room.
God searches for them because God loves them.
In the same way, God loves you, too.
But sometimes, this reality is almost beyond imagination.
But when we let ourselves touched by God’s love, we hear God saying:
“You are precious to me. I love you.” (Isaiah 43:4)
When we realize this truth, we then can love others.
In this world many people don’t know that God loves them, because religious people didn’t teach/treat them that way. So, Jesus is sent to explain this simple truth.
So, one day, Jesus may invite you to search for the lost together with Jesus.
People need to know that God loves them.
So, Jesus may ask you to pray for the lost who are precious.
God is so emotional about this process.
So, when God finds the lost, God cannot hide God’s joy. God rejoices.
When God sees a human life being changed, God throws a party.
But most of us cannot see God rejoicing.
We don’t see God jumps for joy.
So, Jesus came to explain about that.
Jesus came to explain what makes God happy and what makes God sad.
Then you can imagine. You can meet God in your own imagination.
With this imagination, Jesus tries to reconcile between God and us.
Now, Jesus told this last story to help us imagine how God rejoices, when one of us realizes the kindness of God.
In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus said:
(6) “There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”
So, the father divided his property between them.
Soon, the younger son got all together, and set off for a distant country.
Then he wasted his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country.
So, he began to be in need.
(7) So, he hired himself out to a person, who sent him to feed pigs.
There he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he thought, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will go back to my father and say:
Practicing his confession speech, he went to his father.
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”
(8) But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his servants:
“Hurry! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Get a grain-fed heifer and roast it.
Let’s have a party and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
So, they began to have a wonderful time.
In the stories of the lost coin or the lost sheep, God was going after the lost.
But in this story, God didn’t go out to find the lost?
Why? Because the son left willingly.
The son is not lost by accident.
He wanted to live without God.
So, God didn’t coerce his son to come back.
This must have been very difficult for God because God knew that the son didn’t know how to handle money or manage finance.
So, God knew when this son left home, he was already dead inside.
So, God waited to give him the new life.
Spiritually, this son didn’t just left home and came back.
He was dead and came back to life.
So, God runs toward him when this child of God returns to God again.
When he is back, he is fully alive in God.
Now he knows what is like to live with God and without God.
He has learned that he can only live with God.
After having this experience now he can explain how good God is to him.
Here can you see God’s unwavering love for those who even wasted what God has given to them? This is how Jesus explains about the good God.
But of course, we don’t have to get lost in order to meet this God in this way.
We can simply read the story of Jesus at home.
There we can get to know the personality of God.
We can experience about the love of God.
We can learn that God wants to be our friend.
And when we get to know God, we become like God.
Your character and your personality become like that of God.
If then, you can share the love of God with the world naturally.
But now this prodigal son’s story didn’t finish here.
There was the older son. Remember?
At that time, he was in the field.
Then as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked “What is going on?”
The servant said, “Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast, barbecued beef, because he has him home safe and sound.”
(9) The older brother became angry and refused to join in.
So his father went out and pleaded with him.
But the older son said, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
But you never gave me even a young goat to have a party with my friends.
But when this son of yours who has wasted your property with prostitutes comes home, you go all out with a feast!”
The older son wants to stop God’s party, because he despises the one whom God is welcoming.
He insists that this younger brother does not deserve God’s party but God’s punishment, because he dishonored his father and family by his conducts.
So he is saying that he doesn’t have this kind of younger brother anymore.
He had no relation with him.
He was upset. He even felt that God could not be trusted anymore.
God’s love is very puzzling for him. He was confused.
Then all he could think of was why he didn’t have this kind of party with his old buddies.
But the father said, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because your brother was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
What do you think about the older son?
This older son never left home.
He does things for God, but he does not think or feel like God.
So, he cannot welcome the one whom God welcomes.
He didn’t agree with God.
So, he was not happy with this party.
Jesus told this story to explain how much God felt sad, when we used our religion to judge others. When we use our religion to accuse anyone, we are accusing ourselves before God. Instead of judging, we should invite our brothers and sisters to come back to life. We need to rejoice in it.
(9) So, Jesus wants to explain how much God feels joy when a person comes back to God again.
When God’s children come back, God rejoices and throws a best party.
God loves to see God’s children come alive.
As Jesus tells this story, he is asking three questions:
1. Can you understand this kind of God?
2. Can you join God looking for the lost?
3. Can you rejoice when God rejoices?
(8) If you have this heart of God, you would probably pray for those who need to know this love of God. You will pray for your parents, teachers and friends who need to understand God. You will pray that they may experience the Holy Spirit in their life.
So, let’s pray.
Note:
As you are ordained as a deacon, don't try to find out first what you can do inside the church.
Your ministry does not start here and end here.
You need to move out, seeking every chance to do so.
The joy of God (What happens when a person confesses their sin and returns to God, the love of God)
Reading: Luke 15:1-32 (Matthew 18:12-14)
Have you ever got lost somewhere?
Did you like that experience?
Of course not, right?
Today, we are going to have a look at three stories of Jesus.
It is about a person being lost but found.
There was a reason that Jesus tells these stories, two thousand years ago.
It was because there was a group of religious people who didn’t like Jesus hanging around with sinners.
But the more they complain about Jesus eating with sinners and social outcasts, the more Jesus welcomes sinners and had a good time with them.
Then to those who accused him, Jesus explained why.
He told these stories to explain how gracious God treats those who are disliked.
So, as you listen to these stories, think about the mind of Jesus.
In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus told this first story.
He said something like this:
(1) “There is a guy who has a hundred sheep.
When he loses one of them, he leaves the ninety-nine in the open field and goes after the lost sheep.
(2) And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and joyfully goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep.”
Then Jesus says, “Likewise, God rejoices more over one sinner who turns around, than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to change their lives.”
In the story, the guy who goes after his lost sheep is of course God.
God goes after those who lost their way.
But how do they get lost?
They might have been just pursuing some important goals in life.
They worked hard for what was before them.
But then later, they realized that they got lost.
Everything seems blurry and vague.
They tried to get back to God. But they don’t know how.
They couldn’t discern which way leads to God.
So, God goes after them.
God tries everything that God can do.
That is why God sent Jesus to help them see clearly.
Jesus stopped everything to come and find them.
But just for fun, let’s imagine what some of these ninety-nine sheep might have said about God? Remember they didn’t get lost.
Some might say, “Hey, God, what about us? Shouldn’t you also take care of us? If you go after the lost, who is going to take care of us?”
Or, some might say, “Oh boy, here God goes again.”
Or, some might pray that the lost would be found easily.
Some might start to take care of other sheep while God was away.
Anyway, through this story, Jesus is trying to explain that he has joined God in this search. In spiritual world, finding the lost is more important than taking care of the rest.
So, Jesus goes after the lost, knowing the heart of God.
Jesus guides and teaches them, because God desires to add them into God’s kingdom.
In, Jesus told another story to explain the heart of God. (Luke 15:8-10)
He says something like this:
(3) “There is a woman has ten silver coins.
When she loses one, she then lights a lamp, and starts to clean her house in order to find the lost silver.
(4) When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost coin.”
Likewise, God's angels throw a party like this.
It is every time when one person turns to God."
If you lose something so precious in your room, you probably clean your room searching carefully to find it, right?
For God, people are precious.
So, God searches for people who got lost in the house of God.
God wants to find them because God wants them to be valued.
God wants them to receive new appreciation from God.
God wants them to use their gifts instead of just being buried somewhere in the room.
God searches for them because God loves them.
In the same way, God loves you, too.
But sometimes, this reality is almost beyond imagination.
But when we let ourselves touched by God’s love, we hear God saying:
“You are precious to me. I love you.” (Isaiah 43:4)
When we realize this truth, we then can love others.
In this world many people don’t know that God loves them, because religious people didn’t teach/treat them that way. So, Jesus is sent to explain this simple truth.
So, one day, Jesus may invite you to search for the lost together with Jesus.
People need to know that God loves them.
So, Jesus may ask you to pray for the lost who are precious.
God is so emotional about this process.
So, when God finds the lost, God cannot hide God’s joy. God rejoices.
When God sees a human life being changed, God throws a party.
But most of us cannot see God rejoicing.
We don’t see God jumps for joy.
So, Jesus came to explain about that.
Jesus came to explain what makes God happy and what makes God sad.
Then you can imagine. You can meet God in your own imagination.
With this imagination, Jesus tries to reconcile between God and us.
Now, Jesus told this last story to help us imagine how God rejoices, when one of us realizes the kindness of God.
In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus said:
(6) “There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”
So, the father divided his property between them.
Soon, the younger son got all together, and set off for a distant country.
Then he wasted his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country.
So, he began to be in need.
(7) So, he hired himself out to a person, who sent him to feed pigs.
There he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he thought, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will go back to my father and say:
Practicing his confession speech, he went to his father.
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”
(8) But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his servants:
“Hurry! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Get a grain-fed heifer and roast it.
Let’s have a party and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
So, they began to have a wonderful time.
In the stories of the lost coin or the lost sheep, God was going after the lost.
But in this story, God didn’t go out to find the lost?
Why? Because the son left willingly.
The son is not lost by accident.
He wanted to live without God.
So, God didn’t coerce his son to come back.
This must have been very difficult for God because God knew that the son didn’t know how to handle money or manage finance.
So, God knew when this son left home, he was already dead inside.
So, God waited to give him the new life.
Spiritually, this son didn’t just left home and came back.
He was dead and came back to life.
So, God runs toward him when this child of God returns to God again.
When he is back, he is fully alive in God.
Now he knows what is like to live with God and without God.
He has learned that he can only live with God.
After having this experience now he can explain how good God is to him.
Here can you see God’s unwavering love for those who even wasted what God has given to them? This is how Jesus explains about the good God.
But of course, we don’t have to get lost in order to meet this God in this way.
We can simply read the story of Jesus at home.
There we can get to know the personality of God.
We can experience about the love of God.
We can learn that God wants to be our friend.
And when we get to know God, we become like God.
Your character and your personality become like that of God.
If then, you can share the love of God with the world naturally.
But now this prodigal son’s story didn’t finish here.
There was the older son. Remember?
At that time, he was in the field.
Then as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked “What is going on?”
The servant said, “Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast, barbecued beef, because he has him home safe and sound.”
(9) The older brother became angry and refused to join in.
So his father went out and pleaded with him.
But the older son said, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
But you never gave me even a young goat to have a party with my friends.
But when this son of yours who has wasted your property with prostitutes comes home, you go all out with a feast!”
The older son wants to stop God’s party, because he despises the one whom God is welcoming.
He insists that this younger brother does not deserve God’s party but God’s punishment, because he dishonored his father and family by his conducts.
So he is saying that he doesn’t have this kind of younger brother anymore.
He had no relation with him.
He was upset. He even felt that God could not be trusted anymore.
God’s love is very puzzling for him. He was confused.
Then all he could think of was why he didn’t have this kind of party with his old buddies.
But the father said, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because your brother was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
What do you think about the older son?
This older son never left home.
He does things for God, but he does not think or feel like God.
So, he cannot welcome the one whom God welcomes.
He didn’t agree with God.
So, he was not happy with this party.
Jesus told this story to explain how much God felt sad, when we used our religion to judge others. When we use our religion to accuse anyone, we are accusing ourselves before God. Instead of judging, we should invite our brothers and sisters to come back to life. We need to rejoice in it.
(9) So, Jesus wants to explain how much God feels joy when a person comes back to God again.
When God’s children come back, God rejoices and throws a best party.
God loves to see God’s children come alive.
As Jesus tells this story, he is asking three questions:
1. Can you understand this kind of God?
2. Can you join God looking for the lost?
3. Can you rejoice when God rejoices?
(8) If you have this heart of God, you would probably pray for those who need to know this love of God. You will pray for your parents, teachers and friends who need to understand God. You will pray that they may experience the Holy Spirit in their life.
So, let’s pray.
Note:
As you are ordained as a deacon, don't try to find out first what you can do inside the church.
Your ministry does not start here and end here.
You need to move out, seeking every chance to do so.
2.02.2012
John 12:1-8
Labels:
Sermon
ppt1
ppt2
“I appreciate You”
Reading: John 12:1-8
Additional reading: Luke 10:38-42, (Luke 7:36-50)
Hymns: 276, 369, 322
Have you heard this?
“Count your blessings. Count your blessings.”
Have you? What does that mean?
You may think that it asks you to find something you are grateful for and to think about what you are thankful for.
You may think that it may mean that you need to give thanks for who you are.
It is something more.
It asks you to give thanks to God because your name is written on the book of life, above anything else. When you are so thankful for something, it asks you to be more grateful that your name is written in the book of life. Why?
Because then you become in tune with God.
Then you may think and feel what God wants to think and feel.
You become a person whom God can bless.
You know how to live well and do good in Jesus.
There you may experience the abundant life that Jesus is talking about.
Now, I am gonna tell you a story. (Luke 10:38-42)
This story is about love and appreciation.
(1) One day, Jesus came to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
As usual, Jesus started teaching.
Mary sat quietly and listened to understand him more.
She was hungry for his teaching.
So, Mary paid attention to every word.
The words of Jesus gave her hope, faith, and new ideas. (John 6: 52-59)
As for her, Jesus was the bread of life that came down from God!
Listening to him, she felt like being prepared for her life.
Jesus helped her understand life.
Jesus explained the mindset that she could have in order to live like a child of God.
As Jesus talking, she felt a deep inner peace.
He seemed talking to her heart within, giving life in it.
She even felt like entering into the presence of God.
There she could rest in trust and quietness. (Isaiah 30:15)
In this presence of God, she experienced about God’s crazy love.
She understood that God was about to give the Son away to save the whole world. It was so shocking.
In the meantime, Martha, a sister of Mary, is preparing a dinner.
When a special guest comes, she likes to cook.
She likes to give an act of service.
But today, it was strange.
For some reason, she couldn’t focus on cooking.
Her mind was all over the places.
She was like:
“Why can’t I find my salt? Wait a minute. What was I cooking?
Oh, I don’t have enough vegetables. Do I have enough spices and Seasonings? Uhg!
Nothing is working today.”
She felt confused.
She also felt strange tensions in her body.
(At this time, listening might have been more important than preparing the dinner. When you cannot focus on doing something, think about having a quiet time with God first. Moreover, have a daily time with God before starting your day.)
But then she saw Mary, quietly sitting and peacefully listening to Jesus at his feet!
Oh, she looked so good and peaceful.
(2) Then, she wanted to blame them whatever she was felling.
In her feeling of anxiety and frustration, she was like:
“Are you kidding? Look at them.
I cannot believe this! Why don’t they come and help me?”
So, Martha marched on and came to Jesus and asked to send Mary to help her.
But, Jesus didn’t really care about eating at the moment.
Jesus was hungrier for someone to pay attention what he has to say.
Jesus could feel that Mary was not only listening but also understanding.
Mary was even digesting in her own way what he was saying.
What a great feeling as a teacher.
Jesus was like, “Look at her. She is getting what I am trying to explain! I feel like she is eating my words like, like a delicious food.”
So, Jesus explains more and more.
He even wants to test how far she can follow him.
Mary loves this and appreciates it.
Well, Jesus visited this house many times.
In another time, Jesus came to this house and raised Lazarus from the dead.
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Since then Jesus was more than their teacher, because he raised their brother from the dead.
Then seven days before his crucifixion, Jesus came to this house, again.
Jesus knew that he was about to die.
Again, Martha prepared a nice dinner for him.
But Mary knew something was up.
Mary knew that it was about to happen.
So, Mary wanted to show her gratitude before too late.
(3) Mary took out her expensive organic perfume.
Then, she came to Jesus with it.
She was thinking about how to show her gratitude with it.
Then she found herself looking at the feet of Jesus:
Hey, these feet brought Jesus to her house.
With these feet, Jesus came to her life again.
So, she poured her perfume on his feet.
Then she wiped his feet with her hair.
The whole house was filled with a nice smell. (John 12: 1-8)
Mary was having a quality time with Jesus.
Jesus realized how much she was appreciating him.
Right before his death, Jesus was so thankful.
Finally, someone expressed that he was special.
Jesus was amazed.
Jesus felt peaceful inside.
Jesus was also overwhelmed with gratitude.
Many people have been grateful for his miracles and healings.
But Jesus was more amazed and thankful because Mary captured the right moment.
As you know, Jesus was preparing his heart to give his life away.
Then at this right moment, Mary was saying with her action, “Thank you,” “I appreciate you,” and "I love you."
Judas Iscariot was there, too.
But he was a rational guy just like many of us.
He couldn’t understand this kind of language/attitude.
So, he was like:
“Hey, Mary, haven’t you heard what Jesus said. If you have been paying attention, you should have known that Jesus would have told you to sell this perfume and give money to the poor. That is what Jesus likes." (Mark 10:21)
But Jesus was like:
“Oh, no, no, no. Leave her alone. I know. You always have the poor with you. You will have enough chance to help the poor. However, you are not going to always have me. In fact, she bought this to use for my burial. She is simply giving me before I die. "
Then Jesus might have said something like this to Mary:
“Mary, it is not easy follow your call, the calling of your heart, isn’t it?
Some may say that it is a little odd to express your gratitude like that.
But I like it. I think it is very creative. I am grateful for you. I am grateful for who you are. It is a beautiful expression of faith. Since you have heard me enough, I hope that you live following your heart.”
Mary showed her appreciation and gratitude, in her own way.
Because of that, it satisfied Jesus.
Right before facing his humiliation and death, he needed this.
He needed someone to love him and encourage him.
How have you expressed your gratitude for the life of Jesus?
What are your own ways of expressing “Thank God; I appreciate you, God; I love you God”?
Think about how you have been expressed your appreciation about the fact that your name is written in the book of life.
This may help you to live well with Jesus.
Jesus also wants to be loved and appreciated.
It is the important inner needs of anyone.
God may desire your love and encouragement.
So, when you express your gratitude and thankfulness, God will not forget you. When you help God feel welcome and love, God will not forget you.
Then your love, appreciation and encouragement will return to you many times. God will appreciate your presence.
God will be thankful for you.
Think about how you would express your gratitude toward God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit this week.
ppt2
“I appreciate You”
Reading: John 12:1-8
Additional reading: Luke 10:38-42, (Luke 7:36-50)
Hymns: 276, 369, 322
Have you heard this?
“Count your blessings. Count your blessings.”
Have you? What does that mean?
You may think that it asks you to find something you are grateful for and to think about what you are thankful for.
You may think that it may mean that you need to give thanks for who you are.
It is something more.
It asks you to give thanks to God because your name is written on the book of life, above anything else. When you are so thankful for something, it asks you to be more grateful that your name is written in the book of life. Why?
Because then you become in tune with God.
Then you may think and feel what God wants to think and feel.
You become a person whom God can bless.
You know how to live well and do good in Jesus.
There you may experience the abundant life that Jesus is talking about.
Now, I am gonna tell you a story. (Luke 10:38-42)
This story is about love and appreciation.
(1) One day, Jesus came to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
As usual, Jesus started teaching.
Mary sat quietly and listened to understand him more.
She was hungry for his teaching.
So, Mary paid attention to every word.
The words of Jesus gave her hope, faith, and new ideas. (John 6: 52-59)
As for her, Jesus was the bread of life that came down from God!
Listening to him, she felt like being prepared for her life.
Jesus helped her understand life.
Jesus explained the mindset that she could have in order to live like a child of God.
As Jesus talking, she felt a deep inner peace.
He seemed talking to her heart within, giving life in it.
She even felt like entering into the presence of God.
There she could rest in trust and quietness. (Isaiah 30:15)
In this presence of God, she experienced about God’s crazy love.
She understood that God was about to give the Son away to save the whole world. It was so shocking.
In the meantime, Martha, a sister of Mary, is preparing a dinner.
When a special guest comes, she likes to cook.
She likes to give an act of service.
But today, it was strange.
For some reason, she couldn’t focus on cooking.
Her mind was all over the places.
She was like:
“Why can’t I find my salt? Wait a minute. What was I cooking?
Oh, I don’t have enough vegetables. Do I have enough spices and Seasonings? Uhg!
Nothing is working today.”
She felt confused.
She also felt strange tensions in her body.
(At this time, listening might have been more important than preparing the dinner. When you cannot focus on doing something, think about having a quiet time with God first. Moreover, have a daily time with God before starting your day.)
But then she saw Mary, quietly sitting and peacefully listening to Jesus at his feet!
Oh, she looked so good and peaceful.
(2) Then, she wanted to blame them whatever she was felling.
In her feeling of anxiety and frustration, she was like:
“Are you kidding? Look at them.
I cannot believe this! Why don’t they come and help me?”
So, Martha marched on and came to Jesus and asked to send Mary to help her.
But, Jesus didn’t really care about eating at the moment.
Jesus was hungrier for someone to pay attention what he has to say.
Jesus could feel that Mary was not only listening but also understanding.
Mary was even digesting in her own way what he was saying.
What a great feeling as a teacher.
Jesus was like, “Look at her. She is getting what I am trying to explain! I feel like she is eating my words like, like a delicious food.”
So, Jesus explains more and more.
He even wants to test how far she can follow him.
Mary loves this and appreciates it.
Well, Jesus visited this house many times.
In another time, Jesus came to this house and raised Lazarus from the dead.
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Since then Jesus was more than their teacher, because he raised their brother from the dead.
Then seven days before his crucifixion, Jesus came to this house, again.
Jesus knew that he was about to die.
Again, Martha prepared a nice dinner for him.
But Mary knew something was up.
Mary knew that it was about to happen.
So, Mary wanted to show her gratitude before too late.
(3) Mary took out her expensive organic perfume.
Then, she came to Jesus with it.
She was thinking about how to show her gratitude with it.
Then she found herself looking at the feet of Jesus:
Hey, these feet brought Jesus to her house.
With these feet, Jesus came to her life again.
So, she poured her perfume on his feet.
Then she wiped his feet with her hair.
The whole house was filled with a nice smell. (John 12: 1-8)
Mary was having a quality time with Jesus.
Jesus realized how much she was appreciating him.
Right before his death, Jesus was so thankful.
Finally, someone expressed that he was special.
Jesus was amazed.
Jesus felt peaceful inside.
Jesus was also overwhelmed with gratitude.
Many people have been grateful for his miracles and healings.
But Jesus was more amazed and thankful because Mary captured the right moment.
As you know, Jesus was preparing his heart to give his life away.
Then at this right moment, Mary was saying with her action, “Thank you,” “I appreciate you,” and "I love you."
Judas Iscariot was there, too.
But he was a rational guy just like many of us.
He couldn’t understand this kind of language/attitude.
So, he was like:
“Hey, Mary, haven’t you heard what Jesus said. If you have been paying attention, you should have known that Jesus would have told you to sell this perfume and give money to the poor. That is what Jesus likes." (Mark 10:21)
But Jesus was like:
“Oh, no, no, no. Leave her alone. I know. You always have the poor with you. You will have enough chance to help the poor. However, you are not going to always have me. In fact, she bought this to use for my burial. She is simply giving me before I die. "
Then Jesus might have said something like this to Mary:
“Mary, it is not easy follow your call, the calling of your heart, isn’t it?
Some may say that it is a little odd to express your gratitude like that.
But I like it. I think it is very creative. I am grateful for you. I am grateful for who you are. It is a beautiful expression of faith. Since you have heard me enough, I hope that you live following your heart.”
Mary showed her appreciation and gratitude, in her own way.
Because of that, it satisfied Jesus.
Right before facing his humiliation and death, he needed this.
He needed someone to love him and encourage him.
How have you expressed your gratitude for the life of Jesus?
What are your own ways of expressing “Thank God; I appreciate you, God; I love you God”?
Think about how you have been expressed your appreciation about the fact that your name is written in the book of life.
This may help you to live well with Jesus.
Jesus also wants to be loved and appreciated.
It is the important inner needs of anyone.
God may desire your love and encouragement.
So, when you express your gratitude and thankfulness, God will not forget you. When you help God feel welcome and love, God will not forget you.
Then your love, appreciation and encouragement will return to you many times. God will appreciate your presence.
God will be thankful for you.
Think about how you would express your gratitude toward God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit this week.
2.01.2012
Mark 1: 35-39
Labels:
Friday
Praying Jesus
Reading: Mark 1: 29-39
In Mark 1: 35-39, we see Jesus who begins his ministry.
The result is fantastic. (Mark 1: 29-34)
He heals many and casts out demons.
Then, very early in the morning, while it was still dark, when everybody sleeps, Jesus disappears. Jesus finds a solitary place and prays. (Mark 1:35)
Jesus spends sometimes praying and thinking what to do next.
This makes him the leader.
Jesus thinks over and prays over.
Then, Jesus senses the thoughts of the Holy Spirit and his Father.
This is how Jesus makes decisions.
Then he responds to what people think, say or need.
Without knowing this, Simon and his friends get up and find that their leader is gone.
They look for Jesus: (is it a prayer itself?)
When they find Jesus, they are puzzled and say: “Everyone is looking… by the way… What are you doing here?” (Mark 1:36-37)
The students do not understand about how Jesus makes decisions for his life.
Prayer is the important ministry of Jesus. In this way, he makes his life the result of his prayer.
But at this time, Jesus just makes them wonder about his prayer life.
Then, Jesus simply makes an announcement: “I got to go to the next village to preach.”
Later however, the students of Jesus understand how Jesus is making all those decisions. It is through his prayer and meditation.
When Jesus is ascended and goes back to his Father, the students of Jesus faithfully follow their Jesus by spending their time in prayer and meditation.
They realize prayer is the important ministry of their life.
How do you pray?
How do you make decisions?
As a leader when you make decisions, think about these questions:
• What brings them peace?
• What gives life?
• What makes people smile?
• What energizes them most?
• What excites them most?
• When did they have most fun?
Try to answer these.
Think about them.
Thinking is prayer.
They try to help them to live in peace with God.
Reading: Mark 1: 29-39
In Mark 1: 35-39, we see Jesus who begins his ministry.
The result is fantastic. (Mark 1: 29-34)
He heals many and casts out demons.
Then, very early in the morning, while it was still dark, when everybody sleeps, Jesus disappears. Jesus finds a solitary place and prays. (Mark 1:35)
Jesus spends sometimes praying and thinking what to do next.
This makes him the leader.
Jesus thinks over and prays over.
Then, Jesus senses the thoughts of the Holy Spirit and his Father.
This is how Jesus makes decisions.
Then he responds to what people think, say or need.
Without knowing this, Simon and his friends get up and find that their leader is gone.
They look for Jesus: (is it a prayer itself?)
When they find Jesus, they are puzzled and say: “Everyone is looking… by the way… What are you doing here?” (Mark 1:36-37)
The students do not understand about how Jesus makes decisions for his life.
Prayer is the important ministry of Jesus. In this way, he makes his life the result of his prayer.
But at this time, Jesus just makes them wonder about his prayer life.
Then, Jesus simply makes an announcement: “I got to go to the next village to preach.”
Later however, the students of Jesus understand how Jesus is making all those decisions. It is through his prayer and meditation.
When Jesus is ascended and goes back to his Father, the students of Jesus faithfully follow their Jesus by spending their time in prayer and meditation.
They realize prayer is the important ministry of their life.
How do you pray?
How do you make decisions?
As a leader when you make decisions, think about these questions:
• What brings them peace?
• What gives life?
• What makes people smile?
• What energizes them most?
• What excites them most?
• When did they have most fun?
Try to answer these.
Think about them.
Thinking is prayer.
They try to help them to live in peace with God.
1.30.2012
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
"The kingdom of God is"
Reading: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus told many stories
Especially, telling the stories saying “the kingdom of God was like this or like that” he explains about who he was.
Jesus could have just said, “I am the kingdom of God.”
But he couldn’t.
Because the kingdom of God appears within us based on your awareness of who Jesus is.
So, he said that the kingdom of God was not a location. “So, you could not say here it is or there it is. But it is within you.” (Luke 17:21)
When you can find the presence of Jesus within you, you experience the kingdom of God working within you.
So, in order to understand him, let us consider 5 short stories about the kingdom of God.
First, Jesus told this story:
“The kingdom of God is like a small mustard seed.
A person planted it in his field.
When it grows, it becomes bigger than any vegetables in the garden.
Then the birds come and build their nests in its branches.”
Jesus is this mustard seed.
When you plant him in your heart, you experience that the life of Jesus grows in you.
It is like this.
In the beginning, you only know a little bit of Jesus.
You cannot explain well who Jesus is.
But the more you ponder about his words in your hearts, and experience him in your life, the more you learn to identify who Jesus is and what Jesus is like.
Jesus lives within you asking you grow patiently.
You may sense his peaceful presence, which will help you when you make various decisions. When you make decisions, try to follow where his peaceful presence leads.
More and more you may be able to listen to God’s small voice.
You learn how to live like Jesus.
Your character may also change and become like that of Jesus.
It is like this. Sometimes, when you pray, you are not sure whether God hears your prayer or not.
But soon you see the result of your prayer. And you see your faith growing.
It is like this.
In the beginning, you may not understand why Jesus says, “Love your enemy.”
But once you hear this, you wonder about it.
Even if you want to try, you may find it difficult.
You may not be able to fully love your enemy but you keep on trying.
Then you discover the heart of God.
In some cases, you friend may not understand why you want to forgive, love and bless their enemy. They may feel like you are not loyal to them, by forgiving their enemy.
But anyway, you try to bless everyone and your friends. The later, you realize that you just have to bless and love your enemy in order to cleanse your minds and calm your hearts. In this way, you become a vessel of healing and reconciliation.
Then, God will let you know that God is approving your action, decision and obedience.
God’s protection will slowly show up in the life of people around you and in your own life.
You will be glad seeing many good results of your efforts and prayers.
Then you want to obey God more because you realize God can build something good and meaningful through you.
God likes to work behind the scene where no one notices.
But in the beginning stage, God may not be able to use you as a leader of people.
God will support you to humbly grow and produce more and better fruits.
Then you will start to see more fruits through your life.
Then later God may use you serve people as a servant leader, because it becomes easier for God to support you and work with you and through you.
So, today God is trying to plant a hope, faith, and love in you.
Let this hope, faith, and love of Jesus grows in you.
Through this hope, faith, love, God can abundantly God bless you and people around you.
Jesus told 2nd parable:
“The kingdom of God is like yeast.
A woman mixes it up into a lot of flour.
Then this yeast works all through the dough and makes it rise.”
The mind of Jesus is this yeast.
In the mind of Jesus, there is always hope, faith, love, compassion, patience, humility, gentleness and kindness.
Then it removes anxiety, defeatism, unbelief, worry and sarcasm.
God likes to mix this mind of Jesus into your mind.
When the mind of Jesus is gradually mixed into your mind, it will produce peace in your hearts.
Even your inner life becomes calmer.
Then you tend to listen well when the Holy Spirit whispers to you.
Then you will feel what God feels, in various situations.
You may feel pain when God feels pain.
You may feel joy when God feels joy.
You may think like God.
You will be patient, because God is patient.
The more the mind of Jesus operates in you like this, the more love and peace become more important in your hearts.
Then you don’t like violence.
You don’t want to watch violent game, drama and movie.
More and more you want to stay far away from any forms of sin.
Gradually, you will experience that Christ Jesus lives within you and through you.
People will sense the value of believing in God.
Then people around you will also feel God’s hand at work through your life.
Your words will have power.
You will be grateful.
Then one day you may be able say that God’s grace is sufficient for you.
Jesus also told 3rd story.
He says:
“The kingdom of God is like the treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again.
Then he sold all he had and bought that field in his joy.”
The treasure is the story of Jesus.
God values this more than anything in the world.
Then God hides the story of Jesus in the church, somewhere.
Each person need to find this treasure.
If you can calculate the value of the story of Jesus right, you may sell everything to buy it.
If you know the value of the story of Jesus, you may even sell your pride, your own agenda, your habits and your relationships, to buy the treasure of God.
If you know the value of having Jesus as your friend, you will care less about other things in this world or in this church.
Then you try to do something for this story.
When the time comes, God awakens our souls to see the value of this story.
Then through this story, you may help people to feel the love of God.
You may help people enlightened in the power of the Holy Spirit.
But how can we buy this treasure?
Obviously, you are buying this treasure by listening to the words of Jesus.
You are going to buy by obeying the words of Jesus.
You are going to buy by living a life of giving.
You discover the treasure as you pray for other people and help other people.
You discover the kingdom, by being grateful that your name is written in the book of life.
Jesus told 4th short story.
“The kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for beautiful pearls.
When he found one of great value, he sold everything he had and bought it.”
Some people sense that there is God.
They look for God and have a good relationship with God.
Then Jesus explains to them who God is.
Then, Jesus makes them more beautiful.
These people become beautiful pearls of great value.
Jesus is the “merchant” who is looking for these people.
Jesus thinks that they are of great value.
Jesus is willing to pay the price to have them enter into God’s kingdom.
In fact, Jesus gave his life to find these people of great value in this world.
But if you think of it, no one can explain why Jesus loves you.
You are not going to believe, if you know how much God loves you.
But we don’t find any other big and profound word than love.
So, we just say: God loves you.
It means that God values you more than anything in this world.
You are of great value in God’s eyes.
But if you think of it, there is no reason why God should love you like that.
God just does. So God is searching for you.
Now, let’s hear our last story that Jesus told:
“The kingdom of God is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
When the net was full, the fishermen pulled it up.
Then they collected the good fish into the basket, but threw the bad away."
Jesus is the net that is let down into the lake.
The story of Jesus is like the net that is let down into the world.
Many people heard about his life.
Many people get influenced by his messages.
Many people understand the value of his teachings.
This story says, God sent Jesus to catch all kind of fish.
At the end God will encourage, consol and honor the good fish.
The good fish are those who obey the message of Jesus.
The good fish are those who love people without reason.
The good fish are those who help people without seeking reward.
The good fish show who Jesus is, and how to live like Jesus.
At the end of the age, the angels will come and separate the bad fish from the good fish.
Then they will throw the bad fish - those who have done things without good intention -to where they may suffer without the help of God.
In conclusion, now we have heard the five stories about Jesus.
How about you?
Let’s think about our life.
What kind of hope, faith and love of God grow in you?
How does the life of Jesus grow in you?
Or do you think that the story of Jesus is important enough so that you can sell everything for it? Do you think it is important enough that you need to study at home? Is it important enough for you to sacrifice your free time?
Reading: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus told many stories
Especially, telling the stories saying “the kingdom of God was like this or like that” he explains about who he was.
Jesus could have just said, “I am the kingdom of God.”
But he couldn’t.
Because the kingdom of God appears within us based on your awareness of who Jesus is.
So, he said that the kingdom of God was not a location. “So, you could not say here it is or there it is. But it is within you.” (Luke 17:21)
When you can find the presence of Jesus within you, you experience the kingdom of God working within you.
So, in order to understand him, let us consider 5 short stories about the kingdom of God.
First, Jesus told this story:
“The kingdom of God is like a small mustard seed.
A person planted it in his field.
When it grows, it becomes bigger than any vegetables in the garden.
Then the birds come and build their nests in its branches.”
Jesus is this mustard seed.
When you plant him in your heart, you experience that the life of Jesus grows in you.
It is like this.
In the beginning, you only know a little bit of Jesus.
You cannot explain well who Jesus is.
But the more you ponder about his words in your hearts, and experience him in your life, the more you learn to identify who Jesus is and what Jesus is like.
Jesus lives within you asking you grow patiently.
You may sense his peaceful presence, which will help you when you make various decisions. When you make decisions, try to follow where his peaceful presence leads.
More and more you may be able to listen to God’s small voice.
You learn how to live like Jesus.
Your character may also change and become like that of Jesus.
It is like this. Sometimes, when you pray, you are not sure whether God hears your prayer or not.
But soon you see the result of your prayer. And you see your faith growing.
It is like this.
In the beginning, you may not understand why Jesus says, “Love your enemy.”
But once you hear this, you wonder about it.
Even if you want to try, you may find it difficult.
You may not be able to fully love your enemy but you keep on trying.
Then you discover the heart of God.
In some cases, you friend may not understand why you want to forgive, love and bless their enemy. They may feel like you are not loyal to them, by forgiving their enemy.
But anyway, you try to bless everyone and your friends. The later, you realize that you just have to bless and love your enemy in order to cleanse your minds and calm your hearts. In this way, you become a vessel of healing and reconciliation.
Then, God will let you know that God is approving your action, decision and obedience.
God’s protection will slowly show up in the life of people around you and in your own life.
You will be glad seeing many good results of your efforts and prayers.
Then you want to obey God more because you realize God can build something good and meaningful through you.
God likes to work behind the scene where no one notices.
But in the beginning stage, God may not be able to use you as a leader of people.
God will support you to humbly grow and produce more and better fruits.
Then you will start to see more fruits through your life.
Then later God may use you serve people as a servant leader, because it becomes easier for God to support you and work with you and through you.
So, today God is trying to plant a hope, faith, and love in you.
Let this hope, faith, and love of Jesus grows in you.
Through this hope, faith, love, God can abundantly God bless you and people around you.
Jesus told 2nd parable:
“The kingdom of God is like yeast.
A woman mixes it up into a lot of flour.
Then this yeast works all through the dough and makes it rise.”
The mind of Jesus is this yeast.
In the mind of Jesus, there is always hope, faith, love, compassion, patience, humility, gentleness and kindness.
Then it removes anxiety, defeatism, unbelief, worry and sarcasm.
God likes to mix this mind of Jesus into your mind.
When the mind of Jesus is gradually mixed into your mind, it will produce peace in your hearts.
Even your inner life becomes calmer.
Then you tend to listen well when the Holy Spirit whispers to you.
Then you will feel what God feels, in various situations.
You may feel pain when God feels pain.
You may feel joy when God feels joy.
You may think like God.
You will be patient, because God is patient.
The more the mind of Jesus operates in you like this, the more love and peace become more important in your hearts.
Then you don’t like violence.
You don’t want to watch violent game, drama and movie.
More and more you want to stay far away from any forms of sin.
Gradually, you will experience that Christ Jesus lives within you and through you.
People will sense the value of believing in God.
Then people around you will also feel God’s hand at work through your life.
Your words will have power.
You will be grateful.
Then one day you may be able say that God’s grace is sufficient for you.
Jesus also told 3rd story.
He says:
“The kingdom of God is like the treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again.
Then he sold all he had and bought that field in his joy.”
The treasure is the story of Jesus.
God values this more than anything in the world.
Then God hides the story of Jesus in the church, somewhere.
Each person need to find this treasure.
If you can calculate the value of the story of Jesus right, you may sell everything to buy it.
If you know the value of the story of Jesus, you may even sell your pride, your own agenda, your habits and your relationships, to buy the treasure of God.
If you know the value of having Jesus as your friend, you will care less about other things in this world or in this church.
Then you try to do something for this story.
When the time comes, God awakens our souls to see the value of this story.
Then through this story, you may help people to feel the love of God.
You may help people enlightened in the power of the Holy Spirit.
But how can we buy this treasure?
Obviously, you are buying this treasure by listening to the words of Jesus.
You are going to buy by obeying the words of Jesus.
You are going to buy by living a life of giving.
You discover the treasure as you pray for other people and help other people.
You discover the kingdom, by being grateful that your name is written in the book of life.
Jesus told 4th short story.
“The kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for beautiful pearls.
When he found one of great value, he sold everything he had and bought it.”
Some people sense that there is God.
They look for God and have a good relationship with God.
Then Jesus explains to them who God is.
Then, Jesus makes them more beautiful.
These people become beautiful pearls of great value.
Jesus is the “merchant” who is looking for these people.
Jesus thinks that they are of great value.
Jesus is willing to pay the price to have them enter into God’s kingdom.
In fact, Jesus gave his life to find these people of great value in this world.
But if you think of it, no one can explain why Jesus loves you.
You are not going to believe, if you know how much God loves you.
But we don’t find any other big and profound word than love.
So, we just say: God loves you.
It means that God values you more than anything in this world.
You are of great value in God’s eyes.
But if you think of it, there is no reason why God should love you like that.
God just does. So God is searching for you.
Now, let’s hear our last story that Jesus told:
“The kingdom of God is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
When the net was full, the fishermen pulled it up.
Then they collected the good fish into the basket, but threw the bad away."
Jesus is the net that is let down into the lake.
The story of Jesus is like the net that is let down into the world.
Many people heard about his life.
Many people get influenced by his messages.
Many people understand the value of his teachings.
This story says, God sent Jesus to catch all kind of fish.
At the end God will encourage, consol and honor the good fish.
The good fish are those who obey the message of Jesus.
The good fish are those who love people without reason.
The good fish are those who help people without seeking reward.
The good fish show who Jesus is, and how to live like Jesus.
At the end of the age, the angels will come and separate the bad fish from the good fish.
Then they will throw the bad fish - those who have done things without good intention -to where they may suffer without the help of God.
In conclusion, now we have heard the five stories about Jesus.
How about you?
Let’s think about our life.
What kind of hope, faith and love of God grow in you?
How does the life of Jesus grow in you?
Or do you think that the story of Jesus is important enough so that you can sell everything for it? Do you think it is important enough that you need to study at home? Is it important enough for you to sacrifice your free time?
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