Category: Sermon

Psalm 122, Matthew 24:36-44, and Romans 13:11-14

 

Through today’s sermon, I would like to meditate on the present and future events. Jesus Christ is our hope. How do you feel when you hear this? The Lord is our hope. His coming to this earth allows us to dream of heaven. His coming to this earth gave us a new vision of the afterlife. His coming to this earth will enable us to trust in God’s promises, for Jesus Christ is the proof of those promises. From today until Christmas, we will meditate on hope, peace, joy, and love. What is the hope that Christ shows us? It is a record of hope written in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is a journey that has raised the lives of those who were broken because they could not dream. It is a journey of light that leads people living in despair to a life of hope. It is the hope that liberates those who feel guilty and say, “I am a sinner,” because they failed to keep the numerous provisions of the law. It is the hope that lets me know that I, too, can be saved. Jesus Christ is hope itself.

Jesus foretold his death to his disciples in Matthew 24. At the same time, he told them that he would return after these tribulations. Jesus, who died on the cross and was resurrected, came to visit his disciples. And the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven. However, through the Gospel of Matthew and the Book of Romans, we have hopeful anticipation of Jesus’ return. You can have hope for that salvation. Can we know the time of that salvation? No, it isn’t. Perhaps it’s impossible. There have been countless heresies throughout history that claimed to know this, but it’s impossible. Although we may not realize it at that time, we can see that it has come close to our lives. Some might ask, as the Apostle Paul said, “If it came close two thousand years ago, how much closer must it be?” But here we must understand the concept and philosophy of time in the kingdom of God, which goes beyond the scientific concept of time.

When the ancient Greeks thought about time, they used two terms: chronos and kairos. Chronos refers to the concept of 24 hours in a day, which are physical and given to everyone equally. It’s the same time for everyone. However, Kairos is a concept of time that is given a subjective and special meaning. So, even though it is the same hour for everyone, when we pray, some people feel it is long, while others think it is short. It also means the time when God’s time is fulfilled. What is important is that when the Apostle Paul says in Romans that the time of God, the time of salvation, is near, he is applying the concept of kairos. We have to prepare. It is to put on the armour of light, to clothe ourselves only with the Lord Jesus Christ, and to meditate on heavenly things.

Dear friends, let us therefore hope for salvation in the future. It will happen soon. Over the tens of thousands of years of Earth’s and the galaxy’s history, the time we humans have lived on this Earth is very short. But in that short time, if we dream of Jesus Christ and hope for his life, it is a historic time. This is the time when God comes into our lives. At the same time, it is a moment when we participate in God’s holy history. At this very moment of worship, some people may be working or spending time in other aspects of their lives. But the time given to us now is a time to embrace Jesus Christ in our hearts. It is a time to wait for him and remember the love of God who sent him to us. We will have communion shortly. Let us deeply meditate on Jesus, who came to this earth for us, through our Communion. Let us reveal to the world the blood he shed and the life he gave me. Let us live out that ministry today. Let us share his will and love with our neighbours. And here at Knox, let us sing of hope that transcends past, present, and future. With the Lord! Amen.

Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 46, and Luke 23:33-43

 

Sometimes I am shocked and saddened by the passing of close friends, family, and church members. Among them, the news of acquaintances who passed away without being prepared for the separation leaves a deep scar. In these times, today’s Bible lectionary provides passages that prepare for the end of the world before Advent, the church calendar that prepares for the birth of Jesus.

What image does the end of the world have for you? After coming to Canada, I discovered that each region has its own unique residential culture. While in Vancouver, I discovered a house style called the Vancouver Special, which was popular from 1965 to 1985. According to CBC creator Uytae Lee, the population was growing, but there were strict regulations on building houses. The limitation is the amount of square footage the first floor can occupy. But basements were not included in that calculation, and architect Cudney took advantage of this by building his first floor 18 inches below the ground — just enough for it to qualify as a ‘basement.’

This allowed people to build bigger houses, with the so-called basement becoming a separate unit of housing, enabling two separate families to live under one roof.

Thus, the Vancouver Special was perfect for many aspiring homeowners: immigrants could house extended family on the other floor, and working-class residents could rent out that floor and use the income to pay their mortgage.

As more and more Vancouver Specials were built, it became easier to build them. The materials became standard in the construction industry, and city staff began to recognize the design and approve it for construction more quickly. But by 1988, the city officially made it illegal to build them.

The Kelowna Special: In 2018, the city of Kelowna held a competition for designs that could fit multiple housing units on properties within single-family neighbourhoods. The winning designs for a quadplex were given a fast-track approval process, from over a year to just two to three weeks. However, people began to describe its architecture as bland, ugly and far too familiar.

Coming to Alberta, I was introduced to the Farmhouse and Craftsman styles, which were new to me. Just as there are houses for different purposes, humans have houses to live in while living on this land. And as time goes by, there is a house that should move to. Some people don’t believe in it. But we Christians believe in its existence. In the Scripture today, we read that Jesus went to be crucified at a place called the Skull. There were two criminals there, one on the left and one on the right. At that time, a criminal asked Jesus. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

I meditate on one aspect of faith in this scene: faith is believing in situations where faith is impossible. There was a man whom many thought was the Messiah. He performed countless miracles. He is called a prophet with the ability to bring even the dead back to life. Even when he entered Jerusalem, a great crowd welcomed him as if he were a king. But that prophet is being crucified right in front of me. In this situation, I cannot rationally understand the prisoner’s request. Everyone is pointing fingers at Jesus and denying his existence. Two thousand years later, we can confess Jesus as the Messiah because we know his entire life and his resurrection.

But now, Jesus, who is before the prisoners’ eyes, is being slandered by the rulers, soldiers, and even the prisoners. Where in this image can we confirm the existence of the Messiah? What can we see that will make us believe in Jesus? It’s not rational. Instead, it is close to impossible. But it is at this very point that we see faith begin. To the criminal who asked Jesus for his afterlife, Jesus promised paradise. This prisoner must have believed Jesus’ words. I also declare that when we trust this, we will receive it.

Yes, the prisoner’s confession of faith led him to paradise. His faith helped him discover Jesus as the Messiah. This belief is soon a miracle. It is a miracle that makes the incomprehensible understandable and the impossible possible. How else can we explain the fact that we are here today if not by a miracle? Dear friends, just as we met in Red Deer, I believe that in the distant future we will all live together in paradise where Jesus resides. We will obtain that world by faith.

Second, I hope to spend the last days of 2025 meditating more on Jehovah. The image of God, as confirmed in the Psalms and the Book of Jeremiah, is diverse. Through the book of Jeremiah we read today, we can see that God is the Righteous Saviour. He warns the leaders of society and religion and is concerned about the lives of the people. God understands our needs and struggles, and He conveys His will through Jeremiah, promising to send a great leader.

In Psalm 46, God shows another expression. God is our refuge and an ever-present help in trouble. Difficulties and hardships, big and small, will continue to arise as we live. But in all our problems, God is with us. It may not respond in the way I want. The important thing is that God is with us. So, when the world sees it, even during tribulation, the saints can keep their faith. Even if you have financial difficulties, you will not lose sight of God. Even when life’s significant wounds and trials come, you can rise again because we know what the Lord has done.

We need to know, confess, and worship that God is the Creator. At the beginning of this winter, I want to meditate on God’s actions and, together, praise Him for helping us this year as well. You meditate on the Lord’s guidance. I hope that your family will draw closer to God. Therefore, when Jesus comes into his Kingdom, I bless you and your whole family to be saved and rejoice greatly.

Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 98, and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

 

It’s really exciting to be a role model for others. There are some giants of faith whom I would like to imitate. One person introduced Korea to several critical methods of theological study. Of course, when the pastor introduced that methodology, he was heavily criticized by seminaries and churches. At that time, the atmosphere in churches and seminaries was such that introducing critical methods to the Bible was taboo. This caused the denomination to split and even led to the creation of a new denomination. Of course, I don’t have the same academic passion or resilience as he does. So, I prefer to avoid conflict and mediate whenever possible. Another person was a good colleague of this pastor. With his help, the pastor could build a seminary. He generously supported the professor so the pastor could teach theology freely. So, he was a great co-worker in the establishment and operation of the seminary. When I look at these two people, I often reflect on the importance of pastors and their fellow members.

The letter to the Thessalonians reminds me of people who were like models to me. This is verse 9. “We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.”

At that time, some Thessalonian believers had an incorrect eschatological view and believed that the second coming of Jesus Christ would occur tomorrow. There were quite a few people who were so obsessed with this fanaticism that they gave up their livelihoods and lived in idleness. Paul wanted to be a model for them and correct their wrong view of the end of the world. Now in the text, he exhorts us to live a model life as saints.

In fact, Paul had a right to claim the expenses necessary for his ministry. But he didn’t use all of those rights. Rather, by giving up this right, he had to work hard day and night. But here was his purpose and intention. It was intended to present his life to the congregation, encouraging them to work faithfully in society and actively participate in their religious life. Paul’s life is a good model not only for those who are hearing the gospel for the first time, but also for those living in the end times.

It is right to abandon bad lifestyle habits after accepting the gospel. However, some people say they met Jesus, but instead show regression in their lives. I often encounter people who are devoted to their religious life but are, on the contrary, unfaithful at home, at work, and at school. This is not just something that happens today. There were people in the first-century church who said they had experienced the Holy Spirit and believed in Jesus, but then left their families, and there are still people today who do the same.

The changes people experience are natural because they have decided to believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus, saving, and using that money to meet the needs of the church and society is a valuable transition. Experiencing the Holy Spirit and donating some of my time to those in need are signs of responsible stewardship. Missionaries are not just those who go abroad to help; all who undertake this ministry are stewards and missionaries living within the urban cultural sphere.

The important thing is persistence. As we serve our community with limited time and resources, we may sometimes feel disappointed and frustrated. Sometimes we may not be able to come up with an excellent solution. But remember the following encouragement from the Apostle Paul: “As for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” Let us do what we can and humbly await the judgment of our Lord. Then, all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

When we look at the reasons why believers first believed in God, we often find that it was due to the influence of those who believed first. It may be because of differences in their own lifestyles, but ultimately, they come to church because of the love shown by believers. So, among believers who come to church for the first time, there are cases where they get hurt because they misunderstand that the church is always a place overflowing with love. But the church is clearly a community of love and a place of rich fellowship. Thus, we must be models wherever our feet turn. It is to follow Jesus Christ and become his model.

The world these models face is different than before. The Bible calls these new heavens and a new earth. This new space that God is creating is a blessing for our lives and a prophecy of the end times. This new world is for God’s faithful stewards to enjoy. “They will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” (23) As we receive the vision of the new heavens and the new earth, we can expect grace that goes beyond mere material blessings. There we can rejoice with God. “The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.” (19) Those who possess this vision and those who do not live together on this earth. But they have very different worldviews. Those who have this vision can be courageous even in the face of great disasters on this earth. They can maintain peace of mind, whether in prosperity or poverty. These stewards can remember to be thankful and meditate on God’s grace even in times of trouble. Finally, they will be distinguished from the world. Furthermore, people will look to them as models and want to be like them. I hope that we all have this vision and become models for the world. Our Lord will lead us. Let us live by responding with Amen.

 

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, and Luke 20:27-38

 

I recently read a book titled “Creating a Culture of Invitation in Your Church.” I went to a local church pastor’s meeting, and they lent me that book. I ordered the book because I thought it was meaningful. When this book arrives, I hope you read it from the bookshelf in the Centennial Room. There are times when it’s not comfortable to invite friends or family to church. The author analyzes and explains several reasons why people do not invite their acquaintances to church. Moreover, today, more people than in the past believe that salvation can be found outside of religion. Also, many people think that they don’t need to go to church because they are spiritual, even though they are not religious. Many people do not believe in heaven, hell, or resurrection. Some argue that heaven and hell are simply inventions of the 13th-century Italian writer Dante Alighieri in his book “The Divine Comedy.” Are the concepts of heaven, hell, and resurrection really just human creations?

Today, the Sadducees appear in the Gospel of Luke. They denied the existence of resurrection. So, they discussed allowing the younger brothers to marry the older brother’s wife and continue the family line when the older brother died, according to the Law of Moses. If there is a resurrection, then whose wife will she be when she is resurrected? At first glance, it seems like a very reasonable question. But this  [rӕʃənǽləti]rationality is not suitable for conversations about worlds of different dimensions. Because what we think is rational now may not be rational in other cultures and times. For example, when we look at dishwashing culture, Australia and Canada are very different, even though they are both Commonwealth countries. In Australia, a common practice is to soak dishes in detergent-dissolved in water, then take them out and dry them on a drying rack without rinsing. It is common practice to finish by wiping with a towel after the foam has dried to some extent, and this is a reasonable practice in Australia. Conversely, this approach is not sensible in Canada. Most of us have a dishwasher and prefer to use it. I love my dishwasher too. These differences in perception stem from differences in awareness of water conservation and detergent residue. In this way, the differences in perception and rationality vary from era to era and region to region.

The rationality of the Sadducees was thus inadequate in its perception of the times and circumstances. So, there was a lack of knowledge and understanding of the world after death. The world in which the children of the resurrected Lord live is different from the world we live in today. Jesus explains to them that there will be no marriage or death, and that there will be no such needs or desires. Furthermore, verse 38 explains as follows: “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” In this way, the world after death goes beyond the limits of our perception. And God is the God of all the living, and before God, “All are alive.”

These are truly mysterious words. I apply this to my life: I don’t remember the date my great-grandfather died, but I commemorate the death of Jesus. I don’t know if my great-grandfather is resurrected or in heaven, but I celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every year. I do not commemorate the death and resurrection of my great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, who lived a hundred years ago. But I remember Jesus who died and was resurrected two thousand years ago. And through that act of remembering, I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Also, the resurrected Jesus exists in my heart now.

Likewise, the Canadian armed forces have played a very significant role in peacekeeping operations, including during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. In this matter, the veteran members of our church responded with noble sacrifice. We will remember those names and call them later. They are with God now, but they live on in our consciousness because we remember them. They will remain in our memories as long as our church exists. Memories like this will be passed down through generations. Furthermore, it will be resurrected with living meaning for our descendants. Through their dedication and sacrifice, we have gained democracy and religious freedom. I hope that God will hear their sincere prayers and cries, and that, like David. God will protect them and use Canada for His ministries.

Isaiah 1:10-18, Psalm 32, and Luke 19:1-10

 

How can you become wealthy and stable in Canada today? Is it to become a hockey player? Or to become a Blue Jays player? I looked it up and found out that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a player on the national basketball team, earns $60 million a year. The Blue Jays will pay Vladimir Guerrero Jr. $35 million. Among ice hockey players, Oilers’ Connor McDavid earns $12.5 million. It’s probably the kind of money I’ll never touch in my lifetime. I sometimes worry about whether it would be a blessing to be given this money. For those who don’t know how to manage money, life after winning the lottery isn’t happy. I wasn’t really ready.

Today’s Gospel from Luke tells the story of the chief tax collector of Jesus’ time. His name is Zacchaeus, whom we all know well. At that time, tax collectors were people who could easily get rich by exploiting the law. They gave some of the money to the Roman Empire, and the rest they collected became their own. People in this profession usually get rich easily. Scholars say many tax collectors owned two or three houses. So the Israelites considered tax collectors who worked for the colonial powers to be unjust.

People criticized Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose name, ironically, meant righteous. The more unjust and dishonest a society is, the more difficult it is for honest and sincere workers to advance. When some people work hard to collect extra money from others and give it to their superiors, it becomes easier to get promoted. His life as a chief tax collector, considered a legitimate thief in society at the time, reveals much about him, so his name is likely different from his actual name. He became rich, but was accused of being a sinner. To reach the top, he had to beat many competitors. Did he ever have a true friend? He must have been very conflicted. As his health deteriorated and he grew older, he may have become more concerned about the afterlife.

Jericho, where he worked, was the gateway to Jerusalem. The chief tax collector there was in a perfect position to gather not only money but also various information and rumors. Unlike those who hated him, he would have heard about Jesus healing the sick and meeting with sinners, which were considered unclean by the Jewish law. He believed that Jesus had the power to forgive sinners. At this very time, Jesus Christ stopped in Jericho before going to Jerusalem.

But Zacchaeus was short and had difficulty seeing or meeting Jesus in the crowd. He climbed a sycamore-fig tree. It would have been noticeable that a fully grown adult was climbing the tree. At the same time, he was wealthy, so he wore very nice clothes, and others around him would not have gone to him because he was a sinner. A very short rich man is waiting for Jesus in a tree. Jesus could easily find him.

Before he even invites Jesus, Jesus tells him that he will stay at his house today. Jesus chooses him among countless people and approaches him warmly. Jesus further says that he will stay at Zacchaeus’ house. Jesus’ concern deeply moved him. He thinks, “Everyone calls me a sinner, but Jesus has transformed the homes of sinners into homes of the righteous, like my name. Ah, now I am forgiven. I can dwell where my ancestor Abraham rests.’ Now he can sleep peacefully tonight.

Of course, you’re probably familiar with the challenging part of the rich young ruler’s story in Luke 18. Jesus said it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The story of Zacchaeus appears in chapter 19. One difference is that Zacchaeus declared that he would share half of his wealth with the poor and live an honest life. This scene was very shocking to the existing Jews. The Jews considered Zacchaeus, who mingled well with the pagans of Rome, a religious and social sinner. They thought that anyone who associated with sinners was unclean. However, Jesus transcended their thoughts and religious laws. He transcends the limitations and shackles set by humans. The Jewish leaders did not act like Jesus. They did not visit the sinner’s house. For them, the law always took precedence over love. But for Jesus, the lost were his top priority. Jesus did his best for their salvation and liberation. It was Jesus’ mission to find them and save them. Dear friends, we too want to emulate the heart of Jesus. We, as disciples, hope to carry out Jesus’ mission in this age. How many lives will be lost in 2025! Let us ponder and pray for a way for them to return to the Lord. Let’s share the teachings of Christ together and transform Red Deer and Alberta.

Let us also become a bridge for those like Zacchaeus to return to the Lord. He resolved to change and confront all circumstances and situations that led him away from God. Let us also pray boldly to the Lord. Let us pray like David, seeking the Lord’s mercy and interceding for God to be a refuge for the lost in times of trouble. Sometimes we too may drift away from the Lord for a moment. And we can turn away from God by committing social or religious sins. It could be me or it could be someone I know. But the important truth is as Isaiah 18 says, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. These words penetrate Zacchaeus’s faith and hope: God forgives the guilt of my sin, no matter how severe it may be.

David found great joy in trusting in the Lord. Zacchaeus, who approached Jesus with good desires, experienced the joy of salvation. Isaiah warns us to do good, seek justice, and help those in need. All these words are God’s words to us, the stewards. Let us live this week, caring for our families and the world with the heart of Jesus Christ. The Lord will guide you with a strong arm. Amen.