Category: Sermon

John 17:20-26, Psalm 97, and Acts 16:16-34

 

I would like to share with you a missionary story that took place in a small rural area in Asia approximately 130 years ago. Missionary William Leander Swallen (1865-1954), a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, visited Korea during that time. He came to the Seoul Mission Station with his wife, Sallie W. Swallen, as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. After learning Korean there, Swallen was appointed as a pioneer missionary to Pyongyang and the western provinces in January 1893, along with Samuel A. Maffett and Graham Lee (1861-1916). Sometimes they went on missions to the east with the Reverend James Scarth Gale, whom the Presbyterian Church in Canada sent.

One day, he and his wife, Sallie, were diligently preaching the gospel in An-ak County, below Pyongyang. Sallie handed out posters of the Bible Conference Movement at the market. William preached revival conferences and baptized many people. At that time, a very famous gangster in the area received the advertisement that Sallie had delivered. He blew his nose as soon as he received it. She warned him, “You’re going to get a sore nose” for carelessly handling the piece of paper with the Bible on it. Strangely, the fearless young man took her words very seriously. Then he attended a revival conference with Pastor William Swallen, and that day, his life changed. He repented, graduated from Joseon’s first seminary, and became a student minister. His name is Ik-du Kim.

After that, when Ik-du Kim was passing through various villages to preach the gospel, a drunk man beat the pastor for no reason. But Pastor Kim, who was a famous gangster and was still strong and tall, did not move and was hit. Then he said, “I believe in Jesus, but you received the blessing. Later, he became a famous revivalist, and the man who had beaten him became an elder of that church. Through the efforts of Presbyterian missionaries from Canada, the United States, and Australia, Korea has become a country where many Presbyterians practice their faith.

Today’s Acts 16 concisely shows us the many experiences that believers have. Saul, who persecuted those who believed in Jesus, became Paul. He casts out demons and performs many miracles, but is persecuted by others. Sometimes they are severely beaten and suffer hardships. He was also imprisoned. But Paul was a man who could not be beaten for no reason. As a Roman citizen, he could not be imprisoned without a trial. Nevertheless, he obediently waited for God’s guidance. He waits in anticipation for what God will do, and we see the results in verses 25 and 26. “²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

But Paul and Silas didn’t run away. Instead, he stopped the jailer from committing suicide because of this incident. Because of this, the jailer accepted the gospel and was saved. Not only that, but Paul and Silas invited everyone to their home, including their family, and they heard the gospel and were baptized.

The work of preaching the gospel can be challenging at times. Results may not appear immediately. When we preach the gospel, they persecute us. We may be persecuted like Paul and Silas. There are many upsetting moments, such as when Sallie W. Swallen first met a gangster named Ik-doo Kim and shared the gospel with him. We may experience rejection again. And yet, God works. The Lord saved prisoners and their families through the ministry of Paul and Silas. God transformed gangsters into pastors through the Swallen couple. And he preached the gospel to tens of thousands of people. Through the above two episodes, I see the image of God in me, and I am in God.

Next, John 17 is about Jesus praying before he was arrested. Before parting with his disciples, he asks God for help in the many hardships they will face. Every single phrase is a very precious and touching prayer. “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” This is a lovely Lord’s Prayer.

In fact, how anxious must Jesus have been towards his disciples? I find this hard to imagine. When I first came to Canada, I was very nervous about sending my two children to school and daycare, even though they didn’t know the alphabet. However, I suppose Jesus was much more concerned than I was. But we all know. We know that God is in us and loves us very much. Though the world does not know God, we know the Creator, and they know that we are Christians. So we will continue to make God known so that the love God has for us may be in them and that we may be in them.”

Dear beloved, the Lord reigns over this world, and all peoples see the glory. Let us rejoice in the Lord. When we proclaim His name and glorify Her to the world, God rejoices. When we are united in love, the Holy Spirit within us will work in every place we walk. May you be blessed in the love of the Lord this week. Amen.

Luke 24:44-53; Psalm 47 and Ephesians 1:15-23

 

Today is Ascension Sunday. These Bible verses allow us to meditate on Jesus Christ and his disciples. Several characters appear in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles: Jesus Christ, the disciples, Paul, and the Ephesians.

First, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appears to the eleven disciples and says many things. He says of himself that all things must be fulfilled that are written about Jesus Christ. “Then he opened disciples’ minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Jesus once explained the Scriptures in detail to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As a result, their hearts became warm. There are several conditions to realize spiritual truth. First, we must understand the Bible, and second, we must have an open mind. Here, the original biblical meaning of open means to help achieve complete understanding. That is, Jesus completely opened the closed spiritual and cognitive abilities of the disciples so that they could understand. So, the disciples could understand the meaning of the prophecy in the Bible. They experienced dramatic moments of understanding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus ultimately emphasizes repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is the word of Jeremiah 31:34: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” The promise made through the prophet is now being fulfilled as the procession of repentance and salvation spreads worldwide.

Chapter 24 thus concludes the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. So, Jesus says that the repentance and gospel of forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed from Jerusalem to all nations. Because it is our mission, the disciples’ mission, to spread the gospel. The emphasis here is on “preaching in his name to all nations” rather than “beginning at Jerusalem.” This is a declaration that denies the exclusive sense of chosen people that the Jews had at that time. He proclaimed human salvation, including all humankind. In the subsequent book of Acts, missions to all nations soon become the theme.

Dear friends, we are witnesses of all these things. Witnesses testify to what they see and hear. We are responsible for sharing the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit that we have experienced with the world. However, spreading the gospel is not easy in modern society. Non-believers find this uncomfortable. So we need to be wiser. We must pray that God will help us in all these things. Evangelizing to family and friends is challenging. Many people profess God, but whose faith stagnates there. We must encourage them to actively attend worship services and work together to build a community of faith and a missionary community. We are called to all this. When we faithfully complete all these things, God will give us greater grace and bolder faith than before. So, when the disciples saw Jesus being taken up into heaven, they were no longer sad. Instead, they began to do Jesus’ ministry with great joy. They always praised God. I hope this joy will fill your lives.

Next, we are all the body of the Lord. The Apostle Paul writes a prayer letter with the Ephesians in mind. He explains God’s plan and the history of salvation through Jesus. He emphasizes the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit toward each member. In this process, Paul is thankful that the saints receive wisdom and revelation, their hearts’ eyes are opened, and they experience God’s grace. But going further, he wanted church members to know God more deeply. He proclaims the excellence of Christ, the head of the church. He proclaims the omnipotent power of God to explain the reality of the power God has bestowed upon the saints. It means that Christ became the head of the church and the saved saints became the body of Christ, all by the same power of God’s resurrection.

Therefore, all of us, as the church itself, the body of the Lord, must stand firm on faith, hope, and love. Just as the Apostle Paul heard about our faith and love from hundreds of kilometers away, we hope that our Knox members will also become a church known for love. In this regard, we are grateful that our church can lovingly serve the Korean Presbyterian Church and River Lutheran Church, which worship together in one sanctuary. The denomination of River Church is Church of the Lutheran Brethren Canada. Interestingly enough, Lutheran churches are also diverse, with Lutheran churches of various denominations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Missouri Synod, Asia, and Africa. Among them, the denomination to which River Church belongs has been very active in missionary work in the Asian and African regions. So, as you often see, on Sunday evenings, you can meet a lot of Christians from Africa. And for their needs, we are now gathering household items, mostly kitchen items, that are needed to settle down. I am pleased that church members are joining us to share our love and mission within our capacity and resources. In addition, two weeks ago, members of the Korean Presbyterian church who worshiped in the afternoon went on a two-week mission trip to Europe with their senior pastor. But since not everyone can attend, a few church members attend worship on Sunday, and they asked me to preach in Korean. So, for the first time in a long time, I could worship in Korean and deliver a sermon with joy. I am so grateful that all of us can volunteer and donate in this way.

We are now in a time when our missionary capacity is the smallest in several decades. But we are reviving and growing again, both externally and internally. As each of us grows, we bring about the church’s growth. Our church also expands as my faith, hope, and love expand. God tells us through the Apostle Paul that we are the body of Christ. And our head is Jesus Christ. We need to think and act like Jesus. From small acts of service to extensive missionary work, let us dream and pray together and live in hope until Jesus returns. The abundant grace of Jesus Christ will fill our lives. Amen.

 

John 13:31-35; Psalm 148, and Acts 11:1-18

 

As we read the passage from the Acts today, we learn about Jewish Christians’ relationship with Gentiles. Here are three groups from the 1st century AD. One group is Orthodox Jews. Another group is Jewish Christians who have just begun to believe in Jesus. Finally, there are foreigners from outside Israel. We learn from verses 2 and 3 that there was tension between them. “² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him ³ and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

We see disciples judging others by the standards they think are right. They even harshly criticized Peter, a disciple and apostle of Jesus. They kept the law well and believed in Jesus as the Messiah, but at the same time, they still considered the law important. So, uncircumcised Gentiles are still second-class citizens to them. Perhaps they thought that they would not be saved, because from the Jewish point of view, they were unclean people who did not keep the law. Orthodox Jews criticize them for not keeping the law correctly. But now they criticize other people by the same standards. The laws of purity were still important to them, and they could not sit at the same table as the uncircumcised. Even though Jesus completed the imperfect provisions of this law on the cross, they are still slaves to the law. They have been living a religious life not independent of existing Judaism.

We can see that the gospel has crossed Jerusalem’s threshold. It breaks out of Jerusalem’s limited geographical framework and begins to expand throughout Palestine and beyond. Today’s message records that this mission was officially recognized by the Jerusalem church. In this way, the gospel is alive and expanding for the salvation of humankind.

There is some debate about sharing the gospel through eating and socializing with strangers. Peter tells the apostles and disciples in Judea about the vision he had seen. He heard a voice from heaven saying: ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ He also saw the Holy Spirit descending on the Gentiles. They also received the same gifts and words of the Holy Spirit that the disciples, including Peter, had received. So the leaders of the church in Jerusalem also realized that they had received life-giving repentance.

The disciples go beyond the law. The gospel goes beyond the specific region and people of Jerusalem and Israel. At the same time, through the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus gave us a new commandment. ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus died to save us, even at the cost of his own life. The depth of that love is great and deep. The path of love Jesus showed us is not easy because He loved us so much. Is there someone you would like to protect even at the cost of your life? Jesus commands us to love as He has loved us. This is a very challenging statement. But this commandment is the fulfillment of all the previous laws. Why is that? Because when you love, you understand, and when you know, you can embrace that person.

Today, many churches, regardless of the number of members, are experiencing conflict. There is no church without problems. There is no church without wounds because we are all different beings. Because we are diverse beings. To understand that person, you must try to tune in to that person completely, like tuning into a radio frequency. To understand the church, we must focus on its members. We need to look at their lives. We must try to learn about their culture. Still, it is difficult for us to know everything. Even though they are immigrants, their backgrounds are different. They say that the tendencies are different depending on the area where they settle. For example, immigrants who settled in Vancouver, immigrants who settled in Toronto, and immigrants who settled in Alberta have very different personalities. When looking at Korean immigrants, those who settled in Alberta or Ontario are evaluated as more independent than those who settled in British Columbia.

Peter and several disciples are carrying on Jesus’ ministry. And we practice the life of a disciple by obeying Jesus’ command. Love is sometimes easy, but sometimes it’s tough. When Jesus emphasized this was a new commandment, Jewish believers took it very seriously. Because we all know the history of Israel, where they were judged and suffered when they broke the commandments recorded in the Old Testament. When someone breaks a commandment, some lose their life. For the disciples who knew this well, Jesus’ words, “Love one another,” had the status of a law that took precedence over any other commandment.

So let us make our way clear. Through the disciples’ actions today, we can clearly see our path. It is the way to go beyond the law and perfect it. It is the work of spreading the gospel and practicing love. It is about repentance that leads to life, and inviting my neighbors to do the same. Can I forgive someone who hurt me? It is not easy, but it is the path we must walk. This is the way Jesus commanded. Because it was difficult for us to do so, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. Let us begin this work together with the Holy Spirit in the community where we live. I believe that God, who has great and strong arms, will accomplish all these things thoroughly and perfectly, even though I am lacking and sometimes weak. I hope we are used as precious disciples in the Lord’s ministry. Amen.

John 10:22-30, Psalm 23, and Acts 9:36-43

 

The book of Acts deals with the story of Peter’s ministry. God sent the Holy Spirit on his behalf after Jesus Christ was resurrected and stayed with his disciples. Today, Peter is boldly telling the story of Jesus. Joppa, the setting of the Word, is a coastal city called Jaffa in modern Israel. Tel Aviv is a 60 km drive northwest of Jerusalem, which serves as the economic capital. Joppa is the place that Jonah supposedly used in the past to escape from God. Peter came here to preach the gospel. However, there was a female disciple here named Dorcas. This may not be strange to you, but to conservative church members, it is a good example of what is recorded in the Bible about female disciples and female leaders in the church.

She was always doing good and helping the poor. I believe that the apostles recognized her good deeds enough to call her a disciple. Through this service, she gained respect and love from those around her. Also, seeing as she uses the Aramaic name Tabitha and her Greek name, I guess she was probably a Greek Jew. This name means Gazelle, and when people at the time saw a gazelle, it symbolized grace or beauty because it could run fast and had dignity. So, Dorcas, as her name suggests, was a beautiful woman passionate about good deeds and charity. She became sick and died. Then the other disciples, who had heard of Peter’s presence in nearby Lydda, implored him to visit Dorcas of Joppa. When he visits, she is already dead and is lying in the Upper Room. And the widows surround her, weeping mournfully and reporting her good deeds to Peter. Widows were very weak in ancient societies where the economic foundation and social status depended on their husbands. For them, Dorcas was very dedicated to helping. The NIV version translates it as robes and other clothing, but the Greek original records not only outer clothing and undergarments, but also a covering called a himatia. And this was an expensive robe suitable for blocking the hot sun of the Middle East and could be used as collateral when money was needed. Perhaps Dorcas was like a mother to these people. At this point, I see two points of the disciples’ ministry. That is Dorcas’ ministry and Peter’s ministry.

When I first prepared the sermon, my focus was on Peter. However, the more I read, the more I am convinced that her good deeds and relief through Dorcas touched many people. The 1st century was when Christianity was not yet recognized as a completely independent religion from Judaism. So, it is time for the disciples to be threatened by traditional Jewish believers like Saul. At that time, the disciples who followed Jesus did good deeds and charity and cared for the weak in society. On the one hand, it was hazardous. These were things that could be threatened at any time by the powerful, including Jewish leaders. This is because they were disciples who not only did good deeds and charity but also shared the gospel of Christ. Nevertheless, as the disciples gathered in Joppa say in John 27-28, “²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” They heard the Lord’s voice and trusted. They decided to live a life of following Jesus. And they go on to eternal life. This is the path of dedication.

Next is Peter’s ministry. Peter goes up to the upper room, sends those who are crying out, and prays. “Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.”

We’ve heard stories like this before. As you all know, when Lazarus became sick and died, Jesus raised him again. This is what Peter, now a disciple, did the same thing. The hearts of Peter who performed the miracle and the disciples who called him are also very impressive. Washing Dorcas’ body, preparing it for funeral, and at the same time laying it down in the attic are actions that anticipate the works of the Old Testament prophets. Many disciples believed and prepared that God’s special grace would be bestowed on her because of her devotion. Peter’s belief that the resurrected Jesus would bring her back to life, and Peter responded and became an instrument in the Lord’s ministry. We can see the disciples’ earnest faith and expectations. At the same time, we can all confirm God’s merciful response.

Dear everyone, Some of us may do things like Peter in charismatic ministry. On the one hand, like Dorcas, we can share good deeds, charity, and the Word. In this way, we as disciples can do what the Lord did today, 2,000 years later. Lastly, we remember Dorcas, who became the mother of widows with great and deep love, and we support the countless women and mothers in this land. May the grace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

John 21:1-19 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20); Psalm 30;

 

Today’s message is so impressive that I am moved every time I read it. The more I read this, the more mysterious I feel. In particular, the words of John 21 invite us to read them repeatedly.

It is about 200km from Jerusalem to Galilee, the setting of today’s sermon. The distance an adult walks per hour is estimated to be 4-6 km. Assuming we walk 5km per hour, we must walk continuously for at least 40 hours to get there. Of course, we do not know when Jesus appeared in Jerusalem and went to Galilee after the resurrection. The Greek word for afterward is also meta tauta, which refers to the passage of some time. However, the critical point is that 7 of the disciples who would later be called apostles were in Galilee. Of course, some of them may have run away because they were scared. Others may have heard the story of Thomas encountering the resurrected Jesus in Jerusalem. Others may have remembered the words written in Matthew 26:32: “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” So maybe he thought he would wait in Galilee. They may have felt ashamed, afraid, and nervous.

What was Galilee like for Jesus and his disciples? It is the place where the disciples first met Jesus and where many episodes take place. They experienced many miracles here. They also gained great enlightenment through Jesus’ words. This is where they decided to follow Jesus, even if it meant giving up their jobs. That is the stage for today.

Why did Jesus choose this location? I think there is an answer to Jesus’ question in John verses 15 to 19. Jesus asks Peter. “Do you love me?” As Jesus asks this question three times, I remember Peter’s actions after Jesus said in Matthew 26:32 that he would go to Galilee after the resurrection. Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” ³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”(Mt 26:33-34)

As we all know, Peter denied Jesus 3 times. The most trusted disciple committed the greatest betrayal. How deeply was Jesus disappointed with him? And how deeply frustrated was Peter? Jesus came to His disciples. And then he asked Peter a question. “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”(15) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”(16) The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”(17)

Peter must have felt very sorry upon hearing this question. “Lord, I was wrong. I denied you. I failed your expectations. I’m sorry to disappoint you. But Jesus, I love you. You know that I love you.” Through these three questions and answers, Peter is called again to be a disciple. He now restores his trust and love for the Lord. Just as when Jesus called his disciples three years ago, and they dropped everything and followed him, Peter and the disciples made a decision here and now. As Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(15)“Take care of my sheep.”(16)“Feed my sheep.”(17) Can you feel the rising tension and determination here, like a drama? Do you love Me? Well, let’s start small. Feed My Lambs Do you love me? Then take care of my sheep. Do you love me? Feed my sheep. Gradually, Jesus raises him with an incredible calling.

Today, Jesus came to Peter, who had no choice but to live with a broken heart. He comforted him and gave him what he most needed. Jesus met Peter, who had no choice but to be criticized and insulted by many people, including his disciples. Jesus gave him a mission in front of other people. He expressed trust in him.

In the past, when I experienced a crisis in the field of ministry, it was when I lacked love within myself. It was challenging to minister when faith in God and love for neighbors were lacking. I believe that Jesus created a way for Peter to return to the Lord. Jesus invites him again to express his firm trust in the Lord. Peter, who had the meaning of a rock, is now re-established to stand on the rock of faith. I am convinced that these amazing and touching words are Jesus’ invitation to all of us.

Next, Jesus comes to visit Saul. He made murderous threats to Jesus’ disciples. After receiving permission from the high priest, he captured Jesus’ disciples. He tormented Jesus’ disciples so terribly that his name became very famous. He went from Jerusalem to Galilee and continued to Damascus in Syria, where he arrested Jesus’ disciples. However, Jesus calls Saul again. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”(4) “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(6) How did those with Saul respond? Although they had eyes, they did not see the Lord, and although they had ears, they could not properly discern the voice of Jesus.

However, Jesus speaks to Ananias in a vision. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street.” Ananias obeyed Jesus’ words. This is someone who may be a threat to him. But in the Lord he trusted. He eventually met Saul and prayed for him. “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (17) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (19)

This is Saul, who was at the scene of The Stoning of Stephen, the first martyrdom after Jesus’ crucifixion. He considered murder as a means for the sake of Judaism. Jesus made the fearless young leader of Judaism fall to the ground. The Lord chose Saul. “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”(15) He is my chosen instrument for the Gentiles. Jesus gave Saul a new opportunity. Jesus also foretells Saul’s suffering to comfort his disciples. ^“ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(16)

Dear friends, Jesus raises Saul. The Lord, who raised Peter and Saul again and gave them opportunities, raises us in the same way today. God gives us strength and invites us to a life full of the Holy Spirit. Let us live together with faith and love. In hope, let us express the Lord’s love to the world this week like the disciples. Amen.