Category: Sermon

Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, and Luke 4:21-30

 

Our church is conducting research with various churches under the coaching of the Center for Missional Leadership, a mission research institute of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. For this purpose, Sessions, the Board of Managers, and various group leaders meet regularly. We have a valuable opportunity to understand our church, region, and neighbors. We can also learn from the models of churches in other areas. We can look at our church’s missionary tasks in the region and organize our assets. During this process, I can meditate positively about the future of our church. I am also grateful that many leaders actively develop ideas for the ministry. Not only that but I am very impressed by the efforts they make to put this into practice. Soup ministry is the beginning. As we know, little drops of water and little sand grains make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. Starting this Sunday, we will share church news, mission news, and prayer requests with you on Sunday mornings. I am grateful to be able to do missionary work systematically with the denomination and to pray for others. I am glad to be able to share church news and participate in God’s kingdom ministry together.

Even if I am small and weak, God will use us for God’s Kingdom. Today’s verses that reveal this fact very well are verses 25 to 27 of the Gospel of Luke. “²⁵ I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” I want to draw attention here to place names and regions. When there was a famine in Israel for three and a half years, God sent Elijah to Sidon in northern Israel. The widow in Zarephath helped him. Many in Israel had leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet. But the only Naaman, the Syrian, was cleansed. What country is Syria? It is a country in the northeast of Israel. The kingdom of Aram was established here in the 11th to 8th centuries BC. Aram was a weak nation that paid tribute to Israel until the time of David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:6). However, when Israel was divided into North and South and weakened, they expanded their influence.

Aram frequently invaded northern Israel, and King Ahab of Israel was fatally wounded by an arrow fired by an Aramean soldier and died (1 Kings 22:34). Because of this, the hostility between Aram and Northern Israel reached its peak. Naaman was a war hero who saved the Syrian people. But today, Jesus is honoring Naaman more than the Israelites in front of them. Many people had leprosy, but only he was cured. This is an expression that makes the Israelites angry and upset. However, the area of this widow and Naaman happens to be outside the borders of Israel, the chosen people. Jesus expresses that salvation and the work of God happen to people outside of Israel who think of themselves as very holy and chosen. I find the word of God to be of great strength and comfort to us at this point.

Jesus changed the thinking of the Jews, who previously thought there was no salvation outside the land of Israel. Also, Gentiles who thought they were second or third-class citizens were given a new perspective on salvation. This is the beginning of greater love for all humankind and the beginning of a broader and more profound work of salvation. Why was it the widow and Naaman? One of them is a representative social underprivileged person. Another one is an enemy of the nation. Even the lowest people can know God’s deep love that saves them. We can witness the great embrace of God, who loves even our enemies. How difficult is it to forgive a friend who breaks a promise, a friend who doesn’t pay you back, or acknowledge a team that beat the ice hockey team you support? Of course, I’m holding off on choosing between the Oilers or Flames. So, my son also wears Flames pajamas and Oilers hoodies.

However, as 1 Corinthians said, I want to focus on love. We know God loved the world so much that the Creator sent us only begotten Son. We know that God opened the door of salvation to Israel and the Gentiles long before Jesus came. Well, what can we do? In answer to this question, the Apostle Paul tells us a significant confession. “¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Even if I do amazing things and leave outstanding achievements with God’s help, I am nothing if I do not have love.

The love story of Apostle Paul, who prides himself on being an apostle and disciple for Gentiles and creating the framework of modern Christianity, deeply moved my heart. So when there is no love, problems arise in the church, my life, and my family. So, beloved, “⁷ Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” I hope you live in the love of the Lord. And always perseveres. Don’t let anyone take that love away. I hope you maintain your love for others. The Lord of hope will guide us forever. Amen.

Luke 4:14-21, Psalm 19, and 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a

 

We are welcoming the new year and it is already the last Sunday of January. Did you have a plan you resolved at the beginning of the year? Also, are you still carrying out that plan? I used the cold as an excuse to neglect exercise, so I bought a Spin bike at a low price that the whole family could use. And for the first time in a very long time, I was able to ride my bike inside the house for an hour. Last Sunday evening, we had a Christian unity service hosted by PLURA at Gaetz Memorial United Church next to our church. I also attended and took some parts to read, and for the first time in a very long time, I was able to say the Lord’s Prayer in Korean in front of the congregation. I shared with a pastor in another area the news that several denominations had collaborated to hold worship services. The pastor was highly envious of this. I think it is a precious tradition and pride of Red Deer for different churches to unite and worship God. And I also feel that the contribution our church is making as a representative of the Presbyterian Church is very valuable.

The words we read today are from the Weekly Lectionary I always refer to. Coincidentally, I was very grateful because it gave me insight into things I’ve been thinking about for the past few weeks. I often meditate on the path our church will take. What do you think about our church’s future? This is about our faith community. You are doing well now. And I hope that in the future, we will all become a community where we are happy, sometimes comforted, and sometimes encouraged through faith. We need to pay more attention to education and religious training. I feel it necessary to visit and pay respect to the members who have dedicated themselves to the church community and created valuable Knox traditions. I hope that growing children will be given responsibility as beneficiaries of education and as members who serve and lead the church. So we are planning to make changes gradually.

We, all of us with different skin colors, hair shapes, and eyes, become one in Jesus Christ and serve our Knox church. We donate over 10% of our offerings to external sources for systematic missions and ministries. And this is being used to support necessary ministries at home and abroad and to spread the gospel. We work with several churches through our National Church Office to help various regions with long-term plans. If I had a wish, I would dream of a day when the number of attendees would increase to about 30 more, and we could donate 30% of our offerings to external sources.

The first Old Testament professor at the Korean seminary I graduated from was a Presbyterian Church in Canada missionary, and he graduated from Westminster Hall School, the predecessor of the Vancouver School of Theology. With your support, the Presbyterian Church in Korea now has 5.5 million members. Through the mission work of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Presbyterian Church has grown into the largest denomination in Taiwan. Thanks to your support, all of this has enabled the world church to come together as one body and come before the light of God.

Sometimes, we encounter large forest fires in North America during the summer and winter. In some cases, they are caused by human error, and in other cases, they are caused by spontaneous combustion. But what is clear is that after the fire passes, we will still be planting trees, repairing buildings, and helping to recover. Because modern politics and society are highly and complexly connected, it is sometimes challenging to distinguish between good and evil. It is difficult to differentiate between criminals and causes, and it is also complicated to eliminate drug distribution. However, despite this, our society is helping victims with good intentions and giving criminals a chance to get back on a good path.

All of this is a life we imitate as if we were given a new opportunity through the Savior Jesus Christ. We all followed the example of Jesus and built Canada and created a culture with that spirit. Although we all face many different problems, all of the difficulties and crises will be less than those of our ancestors who arrived on this land hundreds of years ago. Next to us is the world’s richest and most powerful country. We can sometimes compare, but Canada is also a beautiful and prosperous country. So, immigrants want to come here. We are helping refugees responsibly. Churches also play a key role in this.

Looking at verses 27-29 of the Corinthians it is as follows: “²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?” So, as Apostle Paul said, we must all respect the members next to us and cooperate to make the church’s traditions beautiful. Some serve in education, some in service, some in church maintenance and repairs, some in finances, some in missions and prayer, and some in praise and worship. Everyone is valuable and not less honorable or special honorable. Therefore, I hope that all of us will become more and more the body of Christ.

Furthermore, I hope we can live while paying attention to the purpose of Jesus Christ’s coming to this earth. Jesus said the reason in verses 18 and 19. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus Christ came to proclaim the gospel to the poor. Some scholars argue that this gospel is for the economically poor. Some scholars think it is the gospel for the psychologically and mentally poor. But I think both are true. Jesus came for those whose relationship with God was broken. We remember Jesus healing those who were physically ill. We know that Jesus performed the miracle of five loaves and two fish. He came to proclaim freedom to those who were imprisoned in sin, those who were imprisoned by the law, and those who were sometimes isolated and disconnected from society. We remember Jesus Christ, who came to build a new bridge between God and humans.

Thus, we should proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor like Jesus. We must declare God’s glory and the work of the Creator’s hands. In this way, I hope we become Jesus’ disciples who build the kingdom of God on this earth. I believe that it is through us that the gospel will be proclaimed, and God’s work will begin. Amen.

John 2:1-11, Psalm 36:5-10, and 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

 

Last Sunday, we reflected on the baptism of Jesus Christ. And this week, Jesus’ public service began in earnest. As the first event, we think of Jesus changing water into wine. When I think about this incident, I picture the characters in it. Jesus, his disciples, Jesus’ mother, servants, the master of the banquet, the bridegroom, and the guests. The wine at the wedding banquet was gone. What if we are having a church communion event, and there are too many people that day and the wine we prepared is not enough? Perhaps the elders and I will be embarrassed. Of course, even if we are embarrassed, I hope more believers will come than the wine we prepared. However, very mysteriously, wine runs out at Cana’s wedding banquet. This phenomenon can happen at any time. However, Jesus’ mother intervenes. “They have no more wine.” Mary did not make a direct request to Jesus. But she knew. Jesus can do anything. She might think that Jesus can help them in his way. From this point on, the phenomenon changes into an event. She told the servants to follow whatever Jesus told them. There are no specific records of her relationship with the groom. But she wanted this feast to go well. She didn’t want people to criticize the bride and groom for not having enough food, including wine. She would be eager to bless the beginning. Of course, it could be a closer relationship. It is crucial here that the servants also did what Jesus told them to do. This happened before the miracles and rumors of Jesus Christ spread. However, despite this, Mary knew the power of Jesus, and the banquet servants obeyed Jesus’ commands. These things cannot be understood by just looking at the phenomenon. Jesus’ mother had faith that Jesus would bring about change with water.

The servants also showed faith by silently following orders to fill the jar with water and deliver it to the banquet master. All of this came together, and a miracle occurred. The water changed into a higher quality wine than the first. If done wrong, the servant, Mary, and Jesus could all be humiliated. But a miracle occurred. Why is that so? Because they had belief. Even if I am lacking, even if I am weak, Jesus can do it. And even though He is now by God’s side, the Holy Spirit is with us.

Sometimes, things happen that we cannot understand with human knowledge. Miracles sometimes occur through God’s good stewards. But before this, I would like to draw attention to the gifts of the Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit, like the air, is always with us. He gives us gifts. They are just messages of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Here, Paul reveals that the Holy Spirit gives the gifts (verses 1-3). Remembering this is very important. No matter how many different gifts a person possesses, they can become arrogant if they forget this point. And such self-righteous people develop a sense of entitlement and discount the gifts of others. In the end, this attitude amounts to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the source of all gifts. Indeed, the Holy Spirit gives each person various gifts depending on their individuality and needs (verses 4-6, 11). Thus, some people have gifts related to the Word, others associated with the power of faith, and others related to speaking in tongues (verses 8-10).

However, these various gifts do not have different purposes; they have only one common purpose. It is to achieve the will of the Holy Spirit, the source of all gifts. Of course, the Holy Spirit intends to establish a common good (verse 7). In that sense, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are unified. Therefore, it is essential for those who have received these gifts to recognize the origin, purpose, and diversity of the gifts and use them appropriately for their purposes. In addition to the gifts introduced here, Romans 12:7, 8 presents the gifts of service, teaching, authority, relief, governance, and mercy. The gift of the Holy Spirit is also introduced in Ephesians 4:11. In fact, the gifts introduced in the text only refer to representative miraculous gifts. However, the gifts of the Holy Spirit have a variety of non-miraculous characteristics.

There is a feeling in the Korean church that attaches great importance to the experience of the gift. So, even though it is a Presbyterian Church, many believers believe that pastors and student ministers should speak in different kinds of tongues. As a student, I also went to VBS or retreats and prayed loudly a lot. But I know that there are many different prayer methods and traditions and that each person has their preferred style. So, there are people who pray like this and receive the gift, but there are also many who do not. Some pastors felt burdened by this church culture and prayed by memorizing the Lord’s prayer in Greek. However, I want to say that these gifts of Spirit are literally gifts. In verse 11, Paul writes: “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not ours alone. Also, they are not something we can get just because we want them. Therefore, we must believe that the Lord will give us what we need most at the most appropriate time. Gifts are not something we receive through our efforts. As soon as we forget this, even for a moment, we will fall into vain desires. Therefore, we must live a life of faith daily, looking forward to the Lord’s gifts.

When I lived in Vancouver, I logged their mileage whenever my kids washed dishes, cleaned the house, and contributed. And they exchanged it and got $1 each. And when they buy something they need, they deduct that money from their mileage. But even though my kids often behaved well, it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of the snacks, clothes, and gifts I bought them. But I still enjoy giving my children something under a certain amount as a gift. The heart of our Holy Spirit is richer and kinder than mine. “Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.” As the poet expressed, I bless you to live in the light of the Lord, in the love of God, with Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 8:14-17, Psalm 29, and Luke 3:15-22

 

Do you remember the first time you were baptized? There are probably many people who were baptized, some while they were students, others when they were adults. Baptism is one of two sacred ceremonies recognized in the Reformed Church tradition. The other Sacrament, as you well know, is Holy Communion. Many people are eager for baptism. To be baptized, you may have the opportunity to receive education and review the essential aspects of faith related to God, the Bible, and the church. Baptism, in our church tradition, basically means entering the church. So, as a confident believer, you become a church community member. Through this, you will have responsibility, service, and the right to participate in various events and church operations within the church. In this way, we become one faith community that serves God and does missionary work to the world.

When reading the Bible today, we can see two impressive scenes related to baptism. The first is the scene of Jesus being baptized in Luke. “As he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” These are lovely and impressive words. However, this verse happened much before John’s imprisonment in verse 20. Luke recorded the baptism of Jesus after recording John’s imprisonment because he intended to show that John the Baptist’s ministry was now over. Jesus’ public time was beginning in earnest. In Mark 1:10, which parallels the Gospel of Luke, the heaven being torn open is intentionally expressed to show God’s supernatural work. The Greek word for opening is significantly often used to express God’s power and revelation, such as Jesus healing the blind and opening their eyes (Matthew 9:30; 20:33), and the opening of the tombs when Jesus died. (Matthew 27:52), and was also used to describe the angel of the Lord opening the prison door when the apostles were imprisoned (Acts 5:19; 16:27). In this respect, Luke uses the fact that the heavens were opened in the text to foretell that God’s incredible power and new revelation will soon appear.

Also, when we compare Matthew 3:16 and Mark 1:10, parallel to this verse, we can see that the situation in which the heavens are opened is also described somewhat differently. Matthew and Mark express it like this: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.” On the other hand, Luke describes the heavens as opening when Jesus was baptized and prayed. The key difference is that Matthew and Mark do not record Jesus praying, and Luke does not record him coming by water. Through this, we can see that Luke is deeply interested in the ‘prayer’ offered by Jesus. In other words, Luke describes it as an event that directly connects prayer and the supernatural phenomenon of the heavens opening. God resumes revelation and communication with the Israelites, which had been cut off for about 400 years since the prophet Malachi, through the sight of opening the heavens. And Luke emphasizes the fact that this was possible because Jesus’ prayer preceded it. In this way, prayer breaks down barriers in relationships. It makes fellowship with God possible. That prayer sparks God’s revelation and salvation. And we are all saved through the prayers and mission of Jesus Christ. We were baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. So we can forgive those who cannot be forgiven and love those who are difficult to love. Even though we, too, may experience difficulties in life, we have the courage to help those who are less fortunate than us. All of this is because the Holy Spirit works in our hearts even when we are not aware of it. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can do great and marvelous things like Jesus. We have thus become new people, new personalities. And we live to remember the love of Christ and spread it to those who do not know it. But before we are baptized, we have inertia. So we all have no choice but to make an effort. Without this training, it is difficult to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I find it challenging to live by taking care of myself, and it is even harder to have the will to help others.

The mysterious thing is that there is a gift for those who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and try to live as new people. “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” God gives strength to His people who keep His laws and honor Him. God blesses his people with peace, too. Through his poetry, David expressed God’s children’s lives by glorifying God and wearing holy clothes. This is a good introduction to the life of a believer in the light of the gospel. People living in modern society gradually lose expressions of holiness, grace, and glory. However, according to the grace we received through Jesus Christ, we form a church community, serve each other with love, and have a mission for our neighbors. All of this is ‘Soli Deo gloria’, an essential aspect of a Christian who lives for the glory of God. This is the appearance of the people wearing holy clothes. Therefore, I boldly ask you for a moment. Close your eyes and remember the baptism you received. And let us meditate on the time when God invited us to live anew as His people. Also, let us live with new faith daily by confirming baptism again before the Lord. God’s grace will renew our lives and many souls.

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7. 10-14, and Ephesians 3:1-12

 

Epiphany is a day around January 6th every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ, and the baptism of Christ. As a Christian holiday, it is older than Christmas, it commemorates the wise men who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus in worship. Epiphany is celebrated on the 13th day after Christmas. “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphania, meaning appearance. Early Christians used this word to mean that light reveals itself in the darkness, that God reveals himself to Jesus, and that the glory of God is seen in Jesus. The three wise men from the east worshipped Jesus, and it was like a declaration announcing to the whole world that Jesus had come to this earth. So, on the first Sunday of the New Year, I encourage you to make this year that illuminates the world with the light of Christ.

Wars, incidents, and accidents continue to occur worldwide, which can be understood as dark. Nevertheless, God orders us to arise. Just as Jesus told the blind Bartimaeus to stand up, God tells us through the prophet to arise. The Lord asks us to arise from the situations and problems we face now. And God tells us to shine the glory and light of the Lord into the world.

As you all know, several issues have been recently in my home country. The president attempted a coup by breaking the law to keep his position. The National Assembly has impeached the president, and related trials are underway. Citizens resisted the president’s plan to mobilize the military, and demonstrations and law enforcement took place without major incidents. On the other hand, there was an airplane accident last week where an airplane exploded during landing due to a bird strike. Bad things happened one after another.

South Korea has a short history of democracy and, at the same time, a history of very rapid economic growth. So, things often happen that we don’t understand. However, in this cold winter, to support democracy and comfort the pain of the bereaved families, many people sent stoves, meals, coffee, heated buses, etc., for the bereaved families and protesters. Hundreds of young people were waving light sticks and supporting the farmers who came with tractors to participate in the protest all night. If they get cold, some people rent a bus and send them to a moving shelter to rest for a while to keep warm. Some people sent them portable batteries to charge their cell phones. Among those who could not go to the protest site, some people supported the protesters by paying for sandwiches and gimbap at a restaurant for hundreds of people.

Watching this process, I saw God created a history of empathy and solidarity among vulnerable humans. Yes. Even though I am weak and lacking, God has called us into a community of faith. All of us here at Knox Presbyterian Church are called to bring light to those who encounter a dark world. So, I ask that we all live as lights.

Let us live with God’s Marvelous Plan for salvation. Jesus Christ came to this world. The primary significance of His coming is the extension of salvation beyond Israel. God’s salvation plan extends to the Jewish and gentile faith communities. The distinction and discrimination that existed before between Jews and Gentiles will disappear. Through this, the universal church was born, initially a mystery and secret. For this matter, Paul confesses, as recorded in Ephesians: “⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.” Paul, who met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, belatedly joined God’s work. Like the Jews, we are also in the position of believers first rather than non-believers. Like the apostle Paul, who called himself an apostle to the Gentiles, we can also be messengers of the gospel to many non-believers. Gentiles and Jews join God’s salvation plan in Christ Jesus. Together, they complete an organic union. That is why Paul became an apostle to testify to the mystery of the church that he realized through the revelation he received. Also, because of his faith, he could carry out the Lord’s work boldly, even during the trials and tribulations that would follow later.

Dear friends, we are all messengers of God’s truth. We are heirs of revelation and gospel. Sometimes, I think how God brought us all together is really mysterious. God chose Paul, who had been hindering and persecuting the gospel 2,000 years ago, and used him as a messenger of the most amazing gospel. Sometimes, I am amazed at how God has allowed a person like me to study in Canada and to be called Red Deer. I dreamed of becoming a pastor, but I never imagined I would be pastoring in Red Deer. In fact, among the alumni of the Korean seminary where I graduated, I am the only pastor who does local ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. My fellow pastors in Korea are amazed, and my friends in Vancouver also find it very mysterious. It was something no one had ever attempted. However, God made this possible. Right through you. And today, God is calling us again to spread the mystery of the gospel throughout the world. Right here in Red Deer. Paul’s every step planted the glory of God here and there. Likewise, today, we also try to spread God’s love here and there. In particular, the Board of Managers is planning and praying for a needed soup-making ministry in the region. We are collaborating on this at the Session and planning what is required for our church and Red Deer.

As I watched our church members volunteer in the local community, I realized that our church was not a small church. Paul confessed this in verse 8: “Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” Boundless riches of Christ. This is truly a gracious word. Countless grace and love that transcends boundaries have led us to become the Lord’s children today. And we have used the grace we have received to brighten this region through our lives and service. I believe the light of God that has illuminated us so far will shine in the lives of many people in Red Deer. And I am convinced that God wants to use us in His work and plan. Let us live together in 2025 with the abundance of God’s grace and glory. The Lord will help and strengthen us through God the Holy Spirit. I hope that the blessings of God, who makes the impossible possible, will come to your entire family.