Category: Sermon

Psalm 96:10-13, Matthew 22:15-22, and 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

 

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica. Thessalonika is now in the Thessaloniki region of northern Greece. Although North Macedonia and Greece are currently separated, 2,000 years ago Thessaloniki was the capital of Macedonia and a large city with over 200,000 inhabitants. Thessaloniki was an important transit point for travel from the Roman Empire to eastern Turkey and Asia. As a result, it became a center of trade and an administrative capital. Paul established a church here after Philippi. Many people accepted the gospel through Paul’s preaching. However, the majority of the existing Jews persecuted him, and he could not stay here for long and left. The Jews were so aggressive at the time that Paul and his companions had to flee to Athens, 500 km away. Ultimately, Paul saw the beginning of the church community, but he did not see it grow or become stable. I can imagine how worried he must have been. He must have been anxious. He was very curious about the church in Thessalonica. However, despite the hardships, there was also good news about the Thessalonian church. So, Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to encourage the church members and promote their spiritual growth. He then moved to the Corinthian region and preached the gospel. Later, Timothy came to Paul and brought news about the Thessalonian church. Paul was deeply moved upon hearing the news from Timothy. So he wrote this letter to encourage the members of the Thessalonian church. If you look at the content, it praises various excellent aspects. Unlike Paul’s concerns, they worked by faith, laboured in love, and endured in hope. Faith and love were abundant, and they spent a difficult day in hope while waiting for Jesus to come again. Their steadfast faith grew amid the tribulation.

Beloved, as I read the letters, many passages challenge me and bring me joy. The members of the Thessalonian church received the gospel powerfully through the Holy Spirit, with deep conviction. Meditating on the situation of many churches in North America today challenges me. Rural areas no longer require a large workforce. Many places in the Prairie now cultivate and harvest several times more crops than previous generations did, using a small workforce with combine harvesters, tractors, and trucks. As a result, it is no longer easy for many churches in rural areas to operate. With major shifts in labour, population migration, and culture, the acceptance of the Gospel has changed. The younger generation acknowledges God’s existence, but the intensity of their faith in the Creator has weakened. A generation has emerged that asks AI search engines like ChatGPT or Gemini rather than God, and trusts them even more. Although the environment is not easy, I am grateful that our church continues to try new things. If various requests arise in the Sunday School and Youth Group, the elders and teachers respond accordingly. The board manager, who oversees the church building, wisely plans and completes financial matters. The Cardmaking Group and the Pastoral Care Team visit church members and continue to show love and care. The Mission Committee supports local and global needs through cooperation within the church. The Worship and Music Support Team organizes bell choirs and musicians, including our pianist, to deliver abundant grace. Most church members actively participate in various church events and provide support, including the coffee fellowship. So, I am grateful, and I am grateful again.

These are the words of verses 7 and 8: “So you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

The phrase that you become models for others and that the news spreads everywhere gives me great motivation. I want to be that kind of person to someone, and I want our church to receive such evaluation and praise. Furthermore, I hope that the Knox congregation will continue to grow with stronger faith and hope, just like the Thessalonian congregation.

I know that it is not easy. Being a model of faith in the church, at home, and at work is not simple. When I was ministering in Korea, pastors often said things like this to each other. “Pastor’s kids are usually either angels or troublemakers; there’s no in-between.” Although no one in our church is like that, I can understand if you make the same mistake with me five or ten times. However, there are many times when I cannot easily tolerate my child making the same mistake even if they do it only three times. Perhaps I may be a generous pastor, but I still lack as a generous father. So, I have a long way to go to become a model father. Conversely, someone might be excellent at church but receive a harsh evaluation at work. This could be because of the nature of the work or the environment. The Pharisees’ tax question in the Gospel of Matthew, which puts Jesus in a difficult position, poses an even greater stumbling block for modern Christians. Of course, in Canada, the federal and provincial governments take a very transparent and large portion of the tax collection. However, in countries where this is not the case, it causes conflict for believers. How much tax is honest to pay? Also, how much is an appropriate offering to give at church? Should you pay tithes based on pre-tax earnings or offerings based on after-tax income? There is no right answer. I invite you to pray and decide what you can live joyfully on, based on your faith and living conditions. However, as a pastor, I always want you to receive the Good News with joy in the Lord. I also hope that you will be praised when Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.

Psalm 65, Luke 17:11-19, and 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 

Sometimes I reflect on important virtues as I live my life of faith. Sometimes, humility, sincerity, courage, consideration, generosity, zeal, and gratitude are never missing. Among them, designating and celebrating Thanksgiving Sunday during the harvest season is a precious tradition of ours. Harvest simultaneously makes me think of the time when I sowed seeds. Likewise, at the beginning of 2026, we made resolutions and planned what we needed for our lives. On the one hand, I think these resolutions have planted something in our lives.

I intended to do my best in ministry this year, but I believe I need to put in more effort. Actually, the air in Alberta was really good this summer because there were no wildfires. I believe God has given Alberta’s residents and farmers a precious gift. I was very worried because church attendance dropped during the summer. Of course, this is also a cultural result of Canada’s long winters. So, looking at my own religious life, I planted hope and zeal this spring, and planted worry this summer. In autumn, I am planting gratitude.

I thank God for granting church members more time of life despite their health issues, both big and small. Quite a few things have happened inside and outside the church this year, but I am grateful for them as well. My permanent residency has had many twists and turns, but I am grateful for them, too. I have felt the need to learn the language and culture, but I am grateful to feel more at peace than I did in my first year of ministry. Every day I come to confess how grateful I am to have a place to rest and a ministry to care for. It is also a great joy for me to look at the faces of the church members and pray whenever I start work in the office. So this autumn, although I have concerns, I am planting gratitude that transcends them.

Beloved, an episode in Scripture appears only in the Gospel of Luke. Ten men with leprosy come to Jesus. Because the medical system at the time was very poor, they were religiously and socially driven out. It is similar to when humanity suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s, when people were quarantined and lost their lives due to the lack of proper medicine. However, in addition to this, people with such diseases were considered impure, so they were religiously judged and could not receive food or medical treatment. Jesus met these people. This was an unconventional act within Judaism at the time. Under the purity laws, they were considered impure together. It would have made the disciples tremble even more when they faced it. Today in Canada, it is a very rare situation with fewer than 15 cases of Hansen’s disease per year, and the infectivity can be suppressed within a few days through drug treatment. However, such treatment was not available in Israel 2,000 years ago. It was a droplet-transmitted disease and, above all, frightening because its cause was unknown. However, Jesus speaks to ten lepers in a way that is somewhat difficult to understand. “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” These are the people the Priests do not want to meet. And they themselves are not happy to meet the priests. This is because the very people who turned their backs on lepers and expelled them from society were those very priests. But surprisingly, they went to the priests, as Jesus said. Jesus commanded them not to understand, but to obey. And they were cleansed. A miracle happened. Why did Jesus send them to the priests? This symbolic act restored their status. He gave them the chance to show their cleansed bodies to the priest and live in the community again. Now, they can meet the family they miss. They can now have jobs and buy whatever they want to eat. Instead of spending the night under a tree in the meadow exposed to sandstorms, they can sleep in a warm house. They can also gather in the synagogue to participate in religious ceremonies and worship God. Jesus gave them a great turning point in their lives.

However, one thing is worth noting. Of those ten, only one returned to Jesus to express gratitude and give glory to God. He was even a Samaritan. He was a person who was always regarded as a second-class citizen by the Israelites. People from this region suffered immense damage under occupation by other great powers, so they should have been pitied; instead, they were criticized as a disgrace to the nation. However, that one person came to Jesus with more gratitude than the others. Jesus’ generous love brought about a miracle. Even a person treated as a stranger and despised by his own people gives glory to God and remains a proud protagonist to this day, 2,000 years later. Jesus even praises this miracle, saying He is not the main character, but that the person with leprosy created it. “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Beloved, I hope that we plant generosity in our lives today. I also want you to remember the things you are grateful for more often. Let us spend Thanksgiving Sunday remembering God’s love, who gives abundant grace. Therefore, we hope that through us, miraculous things will happen every day, and that the families, neighbours, and local people we meet today will give glory to God and give thanks. Amen.

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 80:7-15 and Matthew 21:33-46

 

God gave ten standards to the people living on this earth. They are like guidebooks for our lives. The first four commandments define the relationship between God and humans. God commands us to serve the Creator with a sincere heart and to keep the Sabbath. The remaining six commandments are the lessons that humans must observe in their lives. They guide us to honour our parents, not to murder, not to steal, not to bear false witness, and not to commit sexual violence. These ten commandments are timeless lessons that remain valid today, thousands of years later. Conversely, why did God go out of His way to give these ten commandments to humans? It is very simple. Because the Creator knew humans would not keep those commandments well. Today, many people are needed to live faithfully and with a sincere heart. It is difficult even to mention all the numerous wars waged by the leaders of countries that claimed to be Christian nations, while disregarding the commandment not to kill.

I want to introduce you to a shameful part of my country’s history. Originally, during Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century, the church grew most in the Pyongyang region of North Korea. However, when Japan was defeated in World War II and Korea gained independence, turmoil followed. At the time, the Soviet Union wanted to establish a communist state in the North, while the United States and the West wanted to maintain a democratic state in at least South Korea. Consequently, Japanese influence persisted in South Korea, and those who collaborated with Japan became the new power holders, harassing those who had striven for independence. Also, at that time, many Christians were persecuted by communists in North Korea and came down to South Korea. They were separated from their families and driven out, leaving their property behind in North Korea. Filled with hostility toward communism, they suppressed people with socialist or leftist ideologies. So, around the time of the Korean War, there was an incident in which right-wing Christians massacred about 30,000 people. It was 10% of the population living on Jeju Island, a large island in southern Korea. Even among the victims, there was rampant madness of violence and retaliatory massacres, even though some were not socialists. And this violence was encouraged by the pastor of the largest Presbyterian church in Seoul at the time, and the young people of that church actively participated in it. I share this shameful history with you because of human imperfection. Humans make mistakes, and throughout history, we must live wisely today. God has appointed us Christians as stewards of this era. Through the Ten Commandments, we can learn to judge right from wrong, protect the weak, not covet our neighbour’s property, and not bear false witness. Through this, we will experience the Kingdom of God, just as the people of Israel were transferred from the land of slavery to the land the Lord is giving them.

The second lesson is how to live as a people who produce fruit. Jesus explains the Kingdom of God through the parable of the vineyard. It means that the one who cultivates the entrusted vineyard well, bears abundant fruit, and offers a share of the crop to the vineyard owner will receive an opportunity. Conversely, those who harbour evil greed and covet only the desire to possess the vineyard, while failing to fulfill their rightful duties, are deprived even of the right to work. Furthermore, they even receive severe punishment. They lose their lives, and even the Kingdom of God is taken away.

Beloved, this message poses a very daunting challenge even to me as a pastor. The Knox church God entrusted to me is a vineyard. At the same time, Red Deer, a little more broadly Alberta, even more broadly Canada and the world are the vineyard. I have a responsibility to make this a fruitful place, including the church. I have been called to create a dynamic community where life is revived. I want to become a servant praised by the Lord, but I am still just an inadequate servant. However, by relying on God’s mercy and grace, which continue to give us opportunities, we can start again. Today, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, we will remember and meditate on Jesus, the Word made flesh. Let us live as good and faithful servants of God, just like Jesus, who gave everything to us, symbolizing the bread of life and His precious blood as wine. The Kingdom of God will be yours. Amen.

Psalm 18:7-14, Zachariah 8:16-17, and Matthew 5:1-11, 17-18

 

Last Thursday, the National Church Office hosted a webinar. It focused on residential schools and Colonization. In fact, Residential Schools were a result of Canadian churches complying with government policy at the time, and a tragedy occurred within a limited budget. Out of a total of 139 Indigenous residential schools, Catholics operated 64, Anglicans 36, United Churches 15, and Presbyterian Churches 12. Some people also had good intentions. At the same time, there were also groups with white supremacy. So, the government and the church forced cultural assimilation on Indigenous people. This happened a long time ago, and some of you here may not have a direct connection to them. However, the instructor claims. “All that was a long time ago, but it still continues. The wounds are still open.” In fact, Colonization issues, including residential schools, can be easily found on downtown streets today. And this was not the first time such a problem had occurred in Christian history. As European empires expanded, Christian theology and missionary activities justified colonial rule. The discovery of the North American continent, including the Doctrine of Discovery, and the invasion of Africa and Asia with armed force are a disgrace to the world Christian church. Therefore, most churches today have revised their mission policies from sending conquering and aggressive missionaries to sending collaborators to local churches and institutions. In fact, this uncomfortable reality is not easy to face. So the instructor also says that facing uncomfortable facts is not necessarily a bad thing. This is because, even though current children have not committed any grave wrongs, it is difficult to open up a better future without understanding the pain of the indigenous people living on this land. The fact that the life expectancy of many Indigenous people is 10 to 15 years shorter than that of Non-Indigenous people is a social problem and a future that we will continue to have to deal with. “Yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend, and today’s friend is tomorrow’s enemy.” Currently, the region below Canada was a friend to many countries in the past, but is now the most threatening. If Jesus were to come in this era, what would He tell us?

I tend to avoid sermons that make the audience feel guilty as much as possible. So, when I prepare a sermon or make eye contact with you while delivering the sermon, I try to avoid giving the impression that I am criticizing or attacking you. I am convinced that if Jesus comes to Red Deer in 2026, His priority will be the weakest. We will become followers of Jesus and follow Him. However, I expect that Jesus will go to the drug addicts on the streets, those struggling with identity confusion, and the countless Indigenous youths wandering after leaving the reserve. However, this ministry is truly not easy. This is because having the right direction and thoughts doesn’t mean the results will always be good. However, I would like to gain some insights from the words of Jesus.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Some people mourn due to material and mental distress. It is not easy for us to help them completely, but God will comfort them. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Perhaps this message sounds like a message directed at us. When you maintain gentleness, you will obtain a dwelling place in the Kingdom of God. However, maintaining meekness in life is not easy. Various factors disturb our peace of mind, such as encountering aggressive drivers on the road, seeing church buildings disrespected, receiving scam calls, losing our money and accounts to scam emails, news including next month’s referendum vote and USA tariffs, and so on. However, Jesus exhorts us. Be merciful, and you will be shown mercy.

Beloved brothers and sisters, unlike usual, I addressed political and social issues extensively in today’s sermon. If you felt any discomfort while listening, you are receiving the sermon well. The Gospel is inherently uncomfortable. Living like Christ is uncomfortable. How painful is it to take up the cross? How difficult is it to accept the Refuge and sometimes meet uncomfortable friends or acquaintances? It is also difficult to make altruistic decisions for our community, even if it means I suffer a loss.

But you, children of God, you know. When we strive for peace, God is proud of us. God will be pleased with all acts of bringing harmony to families, supporting the precious lives of those met on the street, caring for and restoring those who were once the masters of this land but have now been deprived of their status, and supporting decisions that bring peace in various political matters. I hope that you will continue to live as peacemakers in the coming week. May God bless all of us. Amen.

Psalm 145.1-8, Matthew 20:1-16, and Philippians 1:21-30

 

Heaven is like a vineyard owner going out to find workers. There is a generous landlord there. Also, workers are promised a reward whenever they come to the vineyard and work. Anyone can come to the vineyard. Instead, they must be called by the master. It is a place you must go to, even if it is very late. If you look closely at Jesus’ parable, the vineyard owner recruits workers and sends them to the vineyard early in the morning, at 9 AM, Noon, 3 PM, 5 PM, and in the evening. We can think of our lives this way, too. Some people start a life of faith at birth, in elementary school, as young adults, in their 40s or 60s, and even past 80. When I was a student minister, a teacher asked me this question. “Pastor, if someone who has attended church since childhood and someone who believed in Jesus right before they died both go to heaven equally, isn’t that unfair?” That is correct. If you think about it with human reason, you might consider it unfair. However, whether that person goes to heaven or not is a matter for God to decide. I am not a judge. Instead, one fact remains. The earlier we start our life of faith, the more spiritual training we undergo. Sometimes, you may have to go through more sacrifice, service, and conflict. However, they can be thankful for grace and rest because they believe in God. Christians who attended church from a very young age can simultaneously enjoy the privilege of living with the hope of heaven from that time on. They live acknowledging God’s existence. They live with a perspective on the created world God made. The belief that the Almighty is with them gives them the strength to rise again when they encounter the rough waves of life.

The same is true of the words in the Gospel of Matthew. In some ways, the person who came when the vineyard owner hired workers earliest in the morning would have worked for a very long time. From this worker’s perspective, it may seem unfair that he, who has worked since morning, and the worker hired in the evening receive the same pay. However, the worker hired early in the morning enjoyed a salary plus the sense of security of being chosen all day long. The worker who has been working since morning gained peace of mind knowing that he can support his family through his work today. Conversely, the worker hired in the evening would have been trembling with anxiety all day. If he cannot find work and therefore cannot even earn money to buy groceries, his family will suffer from hunger. It is hard enough to go hungry alone, but it is even harder to watch my family go hungry. However, the vineyard owner is very generous and gives all the workers the same wages to live on. However, the worker who came to the vineyard early in the morning is envious. That is correct. In this world, faith comes with responsibility, and envy and jealousy sometimes follow. Other people’s lives may seem smooth, and in some ways, someone might feel that donating to the church is a waste. There may be people who envy those who use that money to increase their wealth and do not participate in a communal religious life, only to confess their faith right before death. But God knows. He will judge, and perhaps we cannot remember everything, but we have already received much. It is something very simple but very precious. It is Jesus Christ. My heart feels warm when I think of Jesus’ love. As I meditate on His devotion toward me, I am also challenged and motivated to live an altruistic life like Jesus. Therefore, beloved, let us all live with Jesus’ love and the generosity God shows.

Secondly, let us conduct ourselves in a manner of the Gospel. Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi regarding the life of the saints. He expresses his hope for progress in faith and, at the same time, for joy in the faith. Philippi was a Roman colony where many Roman citizens lived. Therefore, emperor worship and pride in the empire were strong there. Because it was like a small Rome, the church in Philippi continued to suffer persecution and exclusion. Within the church, too, the division intensified because of conflicts among the leaders. The church faced many issues both inside and outside. It was an environment of double and triple persecution from the Romans. However, even amid the crisis, they supported Paul, who was imprisoned in a Roman prison, and soothed their worries. Even though he was facing a life-threatening situation, he was actually more worried about the church and believers he first pioneered, and he was reassuring them. “For to me, to live is Christ. To die is gain.” I think it is a very beautiful and bold confession. “Christ lives within me.” I hope that we can all make this confession. I pray that as my children look at my life, they will want to see Christ, and that my friends will look at me and hope to become Christians. In fact, humans are very imperfect. So sometimes they make mistakes with their words, and sometimes they speak ill of others. I have one thought that I have had for a long time. The point is that it would be good if Christians used more positive language about the church and its members when they are with their children or acquaintances. This is because I have sometimes seen it become a major stumbling block for non-believers when they go to church or start a life of faith. Therefore, I believe that the more mature a person is in their faith and the more grace they have received, the more carefully they should speak. This is because it is living in a manner worthy of the Gospel. I hope you become a people who encourage our neighbours and lift our members. I hope that your very existence will be good news. Therefore, I pray that we become a Knox congregation where faith grows every day and we share the joy of the life of faith. Amen.