Category: Sermon

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.

Psalm 84:1-7, Luke 18:9-14, and 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

 

It’s 2025, and there are only two months left. I visited a senior home and a hospital last week. This week, I met with the bereaved family who previously held a funeral. If you look at your calendar, you’ll see events scheduled for tomorrow, next week, a month from now, and even next year. We take it for granted. We assume that we will still be alive at that time. But on the other hand, nothing in this world is taken for granted. If God suddenly calls us today, it is the fate of human beings to have no choice but to respond to that fearful and trembling call. So, every morning, I pray to God: Bless the lives of our church members, be with them, and guide them. I hope that you will accomplish the things you have planned and hoped for in God over the remaining two months.

I began my sermon with a severe episode. The reason is this: because the heart of the author of today’s psalm and the heart of the tax collector in Jesus’ parable are deeply felt. Psalm 84 is full of beautiful expressions. “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty.” Of course, the Hebrews’ perception of God’s presence and of the temple differs from the thinking of our Reformed Church members today. Nevertheless, I can feel that the heart that longs for God and praises His existence is very pure. We can find God’s traces everywhere in His created order. Looking at the sky, mountains, lakes, birds, flowers, stars, and countless living things, I often acknowledge that there are things beyond human talent. Just step out into the fields a little from the heart of Central Alberta, and I feel just how small I am. On the contrary, it makes me meditate on how great God the Creator is. In this perception of God, God’s dwelling place could be a church, a home, or somewhere in nature. However, we can find that the psalmist greatly misses the temple in Jerusalem. As expressed in verse 5, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” The poet had a heart that longed for the living God and for the sanctuary where he believed the Creator dwelt. Some scholars believe the poem’s motif may have come from David, who was fleeing Jerusalem because of his son Absalom’s rebellion. So he wants to meditate on Mount Zion and worship God in the sanctuary.

Of course, God’s sanctuary and the church building are entirely different. But today, the beautiful building provides a precious space for us and our children to practice our faith and experience grace. How precious is this place? I also often meet Christians who were once churchgoers but no longer attend a particular church. Some people have found it challenging to participate in church since the COVID pandemic. However, some people really want to come to church but feel distant in their hearts. When I meet such diverse people, I feel very sad.

I hope that we can all long for God more deeply and live a life of faith together with the heart of the psalmist. Although they have been away from the church community for a while, I hope that they will be able to step back into the church. So, I pray that the Lord’s power will be the driving force in their lives. There are countless Christians who have crossed the Atlantic with a vision given by God. I hope that the faith and vision they possessed in God will be passed on to our children and grandchildren.

“As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs.” The Baka Valley is named after the abundance of baka trees. It is more familiar to us as a balsam tree and is said to have been abundant around Jerusalem. And at that time, people also called this balsam tree the weeping tree. The reason is that a lot of sap flowed out, so it was expressed as tears. Why did the poet mention the weeping trees of this valley of Baca? There were many other place names and meaningful places. But I feel that it is because the poet is currently passing through the valley of tears. At the same time, we know that there are times of tears and trials in human life. We know very well that it is the duty of believers to trust and rely on God, even in difficult times. And after passing through this valley of suffering, the pilgrim can enter the place of glory. The poet also confesses that God’s grace and exceptional help are provided for this purpose.

Baka Valley turns into a place of springs. It’s really fascinating how similar the Hebrew words for ‘springs’ and ‘blessings’ are, with only one vowel difference. It is a metaphorical expression that the valley of tears is transformed into a place of blessing. Autumn rain falls, cooling off the desert heat. The rain that many have been waiting for fills all the springs. The hardship turned into a blessing. The tearful prayers of our predecessors in faith have created us and the church community we are today. I dare say that Canada was also developed through those tearful prayers and God’s guidance.

However, the time we must live through from now on requires the heart of a tax collector rather than a Pharisee, as in Jesus’ parable. Verses 13 and 14. ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Lord, forgive me, a sinner, and have mercy on me. I am ashamed even to dare to ask the Lord. The form and attitude of faith are essential. At the same time, God knows very well the center of that faith, the sincerity of the heart. So, Jesus addresses the tax collector’s heart. “For those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Why is that? Because our Jesus showed us just that. God became human. He accepted the most shameful death on the cross. It was very scandalous and embarrassing, but Jesus went that way. He humbled himself in this way. We all want to be empowered by God through the humility of Jesus. God will lead us into a life of resurrection, faith, and power. Amen.

Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 121, and Luke 18:1-8

 

We sometimes hear news like this: someone makes a large sum of money dishonestly and then moves it to a tax haven to avoid paying taxes. That person fled abroad. In fact, what you hear more often than not is someone winning the lottery or the results of a game between the Blue Jays, Oilers, or Flames. The important thing here is that the distribution of inheritance is not an easy task, whether long ago or now. The problem of Jacob and Esau dividing and inheriting the legacy of faith, including their father’s blessing, was not one that could be easily resolved. Esau lost his right to the firstborn’s blessing and position to Jacob. From then on, he looked forward to the day of revenge against Jacob. But now his younger brother Jacob is returning to him with his family. The closer the relationship, the deeper the resentment when betrayed. Not to mention family. That very Jacob is coming. Esau is coming to Jacob with four hundred warriors under his command. Jacob must have been so afraid of Esau that he prayed earnestly to God. He asked for comfort so that Esau would not attack him and his family. He also divided his livestock and property into two to protect one from attack. And that’s not all. He sent significant gifts first to his brother Esau. The contents are as follows: “two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.”

I searched the approximate prices of these animals on a website called Kijiji, and here’s what I found: A goat costs anywhere from $600 to $750. Ewe sells for $300, ram sells for $500, adult female camel sells for $16,250, cow sells for $3,500, bull sells for $4,500, jenny donkey sells for $4,000, and male donkey sells for $1,500. In total, Jacob sent Esau gifts worth about $1 million at that time. In a time when livestock was more valuable than it is today, its value would have been much more beneficial than a million dollars. But even though he prepared such a great gift, he is now trembling with anxiety. He sent his wife, maidservants, and children away first, and was left alone, anxiously waiting for his brother’s response.

At this very moment, the Bible records: “A man wrestled with him till daybreak.” Even when the socket of Jacob’s hip was wrenched, Jacob desperately held on to the man. It’s a very unusual situation. He had a great fortune and was able to live comfortably. It is not normal for him to wrestle with an unknown person all night long, not even during the day. It’s very strange. The Hebrew word for Wrestle is abaq. This word is used when two people are fighting each other so fiercely that dust flies from the ground. Some theologians interpret this scene as Jacob’s desperate prayer. But since Jacob’s hip was indeed wrenched, we might think that it is more accurate to say that he wrestled with the angel of God. But we can see that this wrestling is not just a simple contest of strength. He must have been aware of the being that was with him. So, he asked repeatedly. He asked the man’s name and asked for his blessing. Who in that area could bless him for becoming so wealthy? He must have known clearly that there is no one in heaven but the Creator. In that most vulnerable moment of his life, he clung tenaciously to God. He pleaded. Even though his body was broken, he didn’t let go of the angel’s body.

However, the angel responds to Jacob’s earnest request for a blessing by giving him a new name. This is also an unusual situation. Why is that? If we look at Jacob’s past life, the answer lies there. The reason God asked Jacob his name through His angel was to ask him about his identity. The name Jacob means one who deceives others. His life was no different from his name. He lied to Isaac about the blessing of the firstborn and took away Esau’s right. He has made many mistakes due to his selfishness. He created animosity with those around him to the point that it was recorded in the Bible. Because of this, he suffered a lot. But God met him at the Jabbok River and gave him a new name, allowing him to live as a new being. This is a chance for new life and a blessing. Having changed his name to Israel, he can live with a new direction in life. His relationship with God has been restored. Next, the relationship with the world will be restored. He lives with a new name given to him by God the Father, rather than the name given to him by his father, Isaac. God is his father. He has a new identity. He called that place Peniel, and he looked up and saw the new sun rising with hope.

Next, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the widow and the judge. He said that our prayer and faith life is like this. The widow, who was suffering terribly because of her enemy, earnestly asked the judge to resolve the matter. This judge did not believe in God and was, instead, a very unjust man. But this widow was causing him great trouble, so he granted her request. Moreover, it is a fact that God in heaven will surely answer our continued prayers.

Dear friends, God hears our prayers. The Creator watches over our lives every day. Let us approach God through our faith and life. Let us pray earnestly to God and ask for His help. As children anticipate Christmas presents, let us ask for responses to our prayers with the same earnestness as children do for their parents or grandparents. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I believe these words will be your answer. “The Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Amen.