Sermons on the story of Jesus

Matthew 18:21–35

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:30:00 +0000

ppt
Forgiving completely
Reading: Matthew 18:21–35

Jesus talked about forgiveness a lot.
Forgiving is important, because it would free people to live in God.
No matter how terrible sin we have committed, when we ask for forgiveness, God is forgiving us.
God is willing to do this over and over so that we may also live like God.

So, Peter tried to forgive people for awhile.
But it was not easy; being a person of getting easily excited one way or the other.
Forgiving seems difficult.
But Jesus taught that he could forgive others completely.
He could forgive others from his own heart completely.
Then, Peter was wondering how he could do this.

Sometimes, he also bothered some people.
He also made people mad at him.
He was just as imperfect as his friends were.
He made mistakes even though he didn’t mean to.
He needed to ask for their forgiveness.
But he forgot about all that at the moment, because he was upset about something and he needed to forgive the one who caused this.

Being a good student, Peter came to Jesus and asked him about it:
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive those who sin against me?
Seven seems to be a good number. Is seven times enough?”

Jesus was so glad that Peter was trying.
So, Jesus decided to show him how God is forgiving people from God’s own heart.

So, Jesus says, “Yeah, seven seems a good number. Why don’t you forgive seventy seven times?”
The Holy Spirit is going to work in him like this, so that he could forgive people from his heart, completely.

Then Jesus told this kind of story:

(1) There was a generous king.
People like to come to him and borrow money.
Many people have borrowed from him.
Since some people continually borrowing without paying back, this king asked them to pay back.
Then one day, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold came to him.
People were surprised by its number because it was about millions of dollars.
On the tope of that, this man was not ready to pay back even 1%.
After some conversation, the king ordered that he, his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

Then this man threw himself at the king’s feet and begged: “Be patient with me. I will pay it all back.”

Then the king felt compassion for him.
Then he canceled the debt and let him go.
The king was not pretending. He really has forgiven him.

(2) In this wonderful day, as this man coming out, he met his friend who owed him a hundred silver coins. That is about a few dollars.
Suddenly, he grabbed his friend and began to choke him.
He demanded, “When are you going to pay my money? Pay up. Now!”
His friend threw himself down and begged him, “Be patient with me. I will pay it all back.”

But he didn’t want to forgive him.
He wanted to do something bad to this friend.
He himself even wonder: Why do I think like this?
But he didn’t shake that thought off.
Then he looked like he was out of his mind.
Then he had his friend arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid.

(3) When other people saw this, they were speechless.
They couldn’t understand this. So, they make the king known about everything.

The king called the man in and said:
“How could you do that? Didn't it ever occur to you that you should have forgiven your friend at least for today?
I forgave the entire debt because you begged me to.
You were really glad about it.
Then at least for today, you should have forgiven your friend.
Then he could have been really glad like you.
I am so discouraged by your behavior.
I am afraid that other people may follow your example.
I don’t know to do with you since you don’t want to forgive your friend from your heart.

Then the king asked him to pay back all he owed as well.
Then, the king handed him over to the jailers to be tortured.
(5) Because this man couldn’t forgive his friend, he went back to jail.
Now, he put his friend and himself in jail.
This may be that what un-forgiveness can make us experience.

Listening to this story, Peter was able to visualize that God must have been doing for him. That is why Jesus was asking him to forgive without setting a limitation.

Everyone has an experience of being upset about someone.
Everyone has an experience of not being able to forgive someone.
These experiences may feel like putting ourselves in jail.
We experience some kind of spiritual bondage.
It may block us to think clearly with God.
When we forgive that person, we can freely live with God.

In this story, the king, or God is ready to forgive us, when we ask.
It is because God has compassion for people.
Then God is expecting us to be compassionate.
God is expecting us to forgive others just like that.
God expects us to be kind just like God is kind.
Knowing this kind of God, Jesus is asking Peter to forgive seventy-seven times: meaning, completely.

I wonder how God can forgive like that.
Was it easy to God to forgive?
It may be possible that God can forgive because God doesn’t really care.
But the Bible says that it was very difficult for God to forgive us.
The Bible says that it costs the only Son of God for God to forgive everyone completely.
God sent Jesus, so that God can forgive our sin.
Then Jesus sends his own Spirit so that we can also forgive like God. Sending the Holy Spirit, Jesus is placing forgiveness in the center of our calling.

But sometimes, we find that forgiveness is really difficult.
Sometimes, we want to forgive but we cannot. It is so painful.
So, in order to forgive, we ask the help of the Holy Spirit.
(6) In order to forgive, we need the power of the Holy Spirit.
You need the help of God.
We need to have the heart of Christ.
We need to have Jesus in our heart.
God needs to live in us.
Then we can live a life of peace and harmony.
Then we can live a life without enemy.
We can pray for our friends and forgive them completely.

But practically, what can we do to forgive others?
In the beginning, you may try this.
First of all, in your mind, try to see that person who needs forgiveness.
Then ask God to bless that person. “God, bless that person in the name of Jesus. May God abundantly bless you. May God bless you.”
Ask God to forgive that person in Jesus Christ.
Pray saying:
“May God bless you abundantly so that you may be able to live a life that didn’t require people to forgive you anymore.”
With everything you got, say these words:
“May God bless you with all the blessings of God. May God increase your happiness and wealth. May you have everything you desire. May you be able to serve God and have better afterlife, as well.”

God will listen to your prayer.
Then God will bless them.
Then God will also remember you as one of God’s friends.
Remember a blessed person is not someone whose enemy dies or goes away.
No, God’s blessed person is someone even whose enemy gets blessings.

So, we are called to give and forgive.
But sometimes, it may not be easy.
Sometimes, you may think you have forgiven someone.
But later, you find an old grudge within you.
You need to get rid of that.
How?
You need to pray again, “May God forgive you. May God bless you.”
You will experience the freedom of God, as you pray to forgive.
When you pray to forgive, you will think wisely and think well.
It is because your mind becomes free in God.
As you pray to forgive, you may realize your weakness and your shortcomings. You may realize you don’t know everything. You may realize why that person needs to be treated better as well.

But, without knowing, you may live unforgiving.
It is not because you don’t want to.
It is not because you didn’t try.
But you find some deep hurt within you.
You are not sure whether it is pride, fear, surprise, or hurt so deep.
Because of it, you may don’t like someone without no reason.
You know that they don’t deserve that kind of treatment.
But sometimes you see your refusal to have a good relationship with them.
Then it is time to invite God to help you.
You may need some kind of breakthroughs.
God needs to heal your heart so that you may live freely in Christ.

It is more difficult to forgive those who are close to us.
It is like a spiritual battle sometimes.
Sometimes, you need to get some space between you to forgive.
When you calm down, you may be able to forgive other person.
As the time passes, you may feel again the peace of God in your heart.
Then you may be able to think generously.

I hope one day when those who give you trouble come and ask your forgiveness, you may be able to say, “I have forgiven you a long time ago. If there was anything to forgive, I have forgiven. I also forgive anyone you forgive. I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)

Since we are imperfect like this, we cannot demand people to forgive us.
We can ask God to help our friends forgive us.
Pray that they may forgive you, just like God has forgiven you.
Pray that they would also bless you, as God is blessing you.

Also, we are called to bless those nations or a people group that we find difficult to love.
We are called to pray for those whom we are afraid of or those who make us fear.
Ask God to help you see them as God see them.
You may be able to see them with compassion.
Pray that they may use their gifts and talents well for others.
Pray that so that you may remove some darkness within that nation.
In this way, you may be able to serve God through your prayer and efforts.
You would become a blessable person.
God will speak to you more.
God will be able to share God’s love with the greater world.

Try this life. God will honor you.
You may experience more the power of God.
God may be able to use you more.
Jesus has done this.
Hope that we may follow him forgiving and blessing everyone.

Matthew 5:38-42

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:33:00 +0000

Reading: Matthew 5:38 – 42

Exodus 24:22-25 says:
“If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

At the time of Jesus, “Eye for eye and tooth for tooth” was one of justice concepts that people heard. Its intention was to warn people not to harm the other.

But Jesus is saying:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Since Jesus has come, Jesus is asking people not to sit on the judgment seat.
Don’t try to punish anyone. It is a time of grace. Jesus is trying to change people by being gracious to them.

So, Jesus is saying: don’t make a stand against someone.
Don’t make efforts in opposition.
Don’t tell them what you don’t like about them.
Instead, do even more good to them.
Pray for them.
Do good to them.
In this time of grace, Jesus is trying to change people by his grace, through us.

Carl Jung says: “What you resist persist.”
It is saying that “Do not resist what you don’t want. If you do, it may persist. You may give more energy to it by resisting it. Then people may say, “Oh since I do this, this guy is paying more attention to me. I better do more.” something like that. You may be fueling their bad behavior.

When Mother Teresa was invited to march against war, she said something like this, “I will come if you have a march for peace, instead.”
She didn’t want to use her energy resisting something.
She wants to use her energy for something.

Jesus says:
"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

This is how Jesus lived.
When the religious leaders took him to a court to take his ministry away, Jesus didn’t resist.
Jesus could have brought his angles to fight for him.
But instead, Jesus was beaten.
When they tried to kill him, Jesus lay down his life.
No resistance.

In this way, Jesus wishes to change people by grace.
Then Jesus may be asking:
Do you truly want to change your society?
Do not resist evil persons.
Can you think about these words of Jesus, when you want to get dirty and fight back?
Can you try to change your thoughts?
Try to pray for them.
Then, you may be able to walk with Jesus.
Take a step toward this everyday.

Hosea 6: 6

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

A development of theological understanding toward the divine compassion
Reading: Hosea 6: 6

The prophet Samuel emphasized that God desired obedience rather than sacrifice.
That was his main theology of obedience.
Obedience is the key.
We are called to wait on, listen to and obey God.
In order to obey, we need to hear.
In order to hear, we are to wait, worship and pray in the school of the Holy Spirit.

Hosea reinforced this teaching of Samuel by teaching what to obey.
Hosea said that God desires “steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.” (Hosea 6: 6)
Hosea introduces a theology of compassion.
God desires steadfast love, mercy, kindness, goodness and compassion.
God desires to see mercy, kindness and good will towards the miserable and the afflicted.
God desires to help them.

So, Hosea understood that the people of the Northern Kingdom was conquered and sent into exile, because of their lack of knowing and practicing the compassion and mercy.

Then Jesus introduces how to practice this theology of compassion.
At Mathew 9: 9-13 and Mathew 12: 1-8, Pharisees accused Jesus and his disciples, for not being religious decent.
So, they accuse Jesus:
1) Why do you eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’? (Matthew 9: 11)
2) Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath by picking some heads of grain and eating them. (Matthew 12: 1)

In both accusations Jesus responds with the theology of Hosea: God desires compassion, not sacrifice. (Hosea 6:6)

Because of this theology of compassion, Jesus eats with these “sinners” and heals the sick instead of holding on to some rules about “social association.”

Because of compassion, Jesus didn’t need to accuse his hungry disciples.
Because of this theology of compassion, Jesus seems to say that satisfying hunger is more important than satisfying regulations about the Sabbath.

So, Jesus did not teach people how to judge.
He taught how to practice compassion.
This compassion-driven ministry explains about Jesus.

Then Jesus became the Lamb of God in order to take away our sins.
Then God was able to show that God really loved this world.
So God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3: 16)

Because of this theology of compassion, Jesus warns Pharisees that they shouldn’t be too ‘religious’ or too righteous to practice compassion and forgiveness, toward each other.

If we discern right, we will be more loving, forgiving, flexible, and merciful as God is merciful.
Finding this compassion within our very heart, and experiencing it can be our salvation. Jesus even says to Pharisees that mercy is more important than even tithing. (Matthew 23:23)

So, the theology of Jesus is similar as Hosea says:
“God desires compassion, mercy and kindness.”
God has so much compassion for us.
We call it grace.

This theology explains God’s everlasting compassion and forgiveness and unconditional love.
Because of this steadfast love and compassion, Jesus doesn’t give up on sinners.
Jesus continuously teaches God’s children to return to God.
Jesus desires to teach and gives “sinners” another chance to return to God’s love.

If we understood this theology, we also would not judge others.
We would not accuse anyone.
We would rather love and forgive.
We would try to bless all people.
The Holy Spirit will be with us to do this.

Luke 6:12-16 (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

How does God work in our imagination
Reading: Luke 6:12-16

There were a great number of people following Jesus.
They want to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases.
Those troubled by impure spirits were cured.
The people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

So now, Jesus needs to choose leaders so that he could share his ministry.
In order to choose the leaders of disciples, he needed to be alone with God.
So, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray.
He spent the night praying to God.
At this time, he had a large crowd of disciples.
He needed to choose some of them as apostles/leaders.
He needed to choose next leaders.

In order to choose 12 out of the greater numbers of disciples, Jesus was struggling and ended up spending the whole night before God trying to make decisions.

Then in the morning, Jesus called his disciples and chose the twelve.
Then Jesus designated them as apostles:

Now, how do you think that Jesus made that decision?
How did Jesus discover who could be his apostles?
How did he make those decisions?

In various ways, Jesus would have discern and make decisions?
Let’s think about how Jesus might have made good decisions?

It was not difficult to choose Simon.
In fact, Jesus has already given him a new name: Peter/Rock.
Jesus might have named his brother Andrew so that he could help Peter.

But what about James, John, Philip, and so on?
Jesus might have done this way.
For example, Jesus might have wondered whether to include John in his leadership team.
In order to make this decision, Jesus has two options: either to choose him or not to choose him.

So, he might have entered into one option with his imagination.
He could have imagined what would happen if he chose John.
He could have noticed how he felt while imagining that.
He could have paid attention to his emotion and intuition which God has given him to discern.

After that, Jesus could have chosen another option: Meaning, not choosing him.
Then he could have imagined what would happen if he didn’t choose him.
Then he might have paid attention to how he felt about this option.
Did he feel like God was leading him to this direction?
Then Jesus might have asked himself:
Which option do I feel more peaceful?

Since God was already within him, Jesus might have felt more peaceful choosing John as his leader.
So, Jesus decided to have a go.

But at last, there was Judas Iscariot, who sold Jesus out.
Jesus might not have felt peaceful. So, he might have taken a long time.
Then eventually, he said yes, with a caution.
As the times goes, Jesus might have felt that something was not right.
Maybe then Jesus realized that Judas Iscariot would abandon him.

Anyway, how about you?
How do you make decisions?
Have you used this kind of method to make a choice using your heart, feeling and imagination?
Think about that before you make decisions.
Imagine and see how God is working in your imagination.

Or think about how God has been leading you.
Then you may be able to follow Christ more closely.

Matt 7: 7-12

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:44:00 +0000

ppt 1
ppt 2
Ask! Seek! Knock!
Reading: Matthew 7:7-12

Two thousand years ago, Jesus wants to introduce the faith to the poor.
In order to do so, Jesus became a friend to the uneducated.
Jesus became a friend to those who feel that living is just too difficult.
They felt tired and becoming forgotten.
Jesus came to those who didn’t even have enough hope left to ask God for help again.

(2) Looking at them, Jesus took courage and said:
“If you ask, you will receive.
If you seek, you will find.
If you knock, the door will be opened, because I have come to teach just that. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Your life will be changed according to your prayer.
It may not happen overnight.
But you will become what you are praying for.
As you start asking, seeking and knocking, you will start operating your faith.
Then you will find your hope.
You will change your future.”

(3) In Mark 11: 24, concerning faith, Jesus even said this:
“Pray. Then believe that you have received what you prayed. Then it will be yours.”

Pray and feel peaceful about it. Then it will show up in your life.
What you can pray in peaceful and humble faith is yours.
God will take action.
God will work through you.

In order to introduce this thought of faith, Jesus decides to show them how to live in faith. Jesus shows them how God manifests based on his hope and faith. Jesus shows them how to live a peaceful and purposeful life according to the will of God.

So, Jesus heals their sickness.
Then Jesus heals every person who comes to Jesus.
To some of them, Jesus said, “In this case, your faith has made you well.”
Jesus happily point out, “This is it!” when their faith start operating.
Jesus loves to work with these thoughts of faith and hope of them.
So, they tasted the eternal life.

Then ten lepers came to Jesus asking him to heal.
But Jesus wasn’t surprised, and didn’t worry.
He believed that God was able to heal the lepers.
So, he Jesus healed them through this faith.

When Jesus thinks somebody need to follow him and learn his way of life, he simply asks in faith, “Follow me!!!” then they follow him!
Faith says to him: “Have a go. If you think this is what God wants you to do, have a go. Some people are going to follow you simply because you ask. This is the will of God.”
Because Jesus had this mind of faith, Jesus was able to carry out his ministry.

Meditating on this Jesus, we experience change.
We learn to have a hope again.
We prayerize our worry and anxiety.
We believe that God wants to be with us, leading us and guiding us.

Humble faith convinces us saying God is still with you.
Humble faith says God has chosen you.
Thus humble faith asks us to share the story of Jesus so that more people can use their mind wisely and effectively for God.
This humble faith will lead you to those places where without faith no one can come.

What is humble faith?
Humble faith encourages you saying “You grow and mature through problems. Even through sufferings in life, God will help you to learn more of faith that really helps people.”

Now let’s think about Jesus again.
Jesus was a carpenter.
He grew up in a village where some people looked down upon.
Jesus didn’t have any prestige theological education.
He belonged to a people group that was treated badly in his own country.
Jesus didn’t know any powerful people who could help him to become the Messiah or the king.
The only person who believed in him was John the Baptist who lived in the wilderness.
But Jesus took the first step in faith.
Without knowing all the things that would happen, he just started his ministry.

But soon he realized that he had to die and rise again.
So, he mentioned about his death and resurrection, again and again to his students.

Then one day, Peter, one of his students, was sick and tired of hearing this. He was like “This is wrong. It was impossible. It is too dangerous. Nobody has done this. You don’t have to do that! We must have a better plan. Let’s find another way.”

(6) In faith he saw what Peter didn’t see.
Jesus thought that it was possible and trusted that he would not fail.
Of course, Jesus was scared of his painful death on the cross.
He was sacred of the humiliation and embarrassment.
But he knew he would rise again.
Faith helps Jesus to be sure of what he hopes for.
Faith says to him: “God knows and God is in control! You can do all things through God who strengthens you! God is for you. Who can be against you!” So, Jesus was sure of what was going to happen.

So, Jesus tried.
He was fearful. So he prayed even harder.
Then he went ahead to Jerusalem to be captured and dead.

Then after three days, Jesus rose from the death.
Then Jesus came to his students and said, “Peace be with you! Faith works! Look at my hands! Look at my feet!”

Then Jesus was peaceful, because Jesus took away the sin of the world.
Jesus chose this way because he thought that there was no another way for human beings to be forgiven inside out.
The love of God must manifest in this fashion.

Before coming of Jesus, God has tried to have a good relationship with the humans. But God failed many times.
Then God found the way after many failures.
God was able to express God’s love to us in showing how the obedient death of Jesus could produce the resurrection of Jesus.
Initially, the crucifixion itself might look like another failure.
Through the cross, God opened a door for us to come to God.
So now we can now talk with God freely.

God is forgiveness.
God is love!
God is compassion.
All God can do is love.
In Jesus, this love manifests in your life.

God loves you!
So, God is asking you: “What makes you peaceful? What moves you? What makes you smile? What frees you? What gives you new power? What is your prayer list? What are you asking God to do here and now?”
God wants you to live in peace, joy, righteousness.

(7) Encouraging people to pray, Jesus said: (Matthew 7:9-11) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are not good as God, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your God in heaven give good gifts to those who ask God!”

God is responsive, because God is generous.
God is willing to give you what is good.
God desires you to have a good health and a meaningful life.
God has a wonderful plan for you.
God desires you to live like a god on earth living out God’s heart and goodness.

I believe that Jesus has already planted good hopes within you.
So, I want to ask you again: What do you truly want? What is your true hope? What is your dream? What hopes that you cannot give up? What kind of hopes lives in you? How do you want to live that life? What is your calling in life and the purpose of your life? Think about it. Talk to God about it.

Allow God to give you good ideas, plans and awakening.
Allow yourself to walk on faith.
Many opportunities may be waiting for you.

(8) Then in order to tell people how to live in faith, in Matt 7:12, Jesus sums up the Bible in two sentences: What do you want people to treat you? Think about it. Then go and do it for them.

God asked God-self, what God wants people to do for God.
Then God decides to love patiently, and humbly.
So, when people knock doors of opportunity, God desires us to open it.
When people say, “There is no way,” God wants us to find another way for them. God answers our prayer, hoping that we will also respond to God, when God calls us.

God hopes that we love just like God loves.
God hopes that we become a giver and a helper, like God.
God hopes us to show kindness and try to reconcile between people.
So, God hopes that we be patient and endure those who may dislike us.

Your parents, children, and friends may require you to have a lot of patience.
“I am not going to be patient” “I am not going to feel pain because of you” means “I am not going to love.”
The more you love, the more you need to have patience.

(9) Jesus was able to live like this, because he lived thinking beautiful thoughts.
He thought those thoughts of faith.
In his mind, there is always hope, love and faith.

So, he didn’t remember someone’s wrong.
He didn’t get easily mad at something.

Then he is calling us to live like him.
Living like him has a spiral effect.
You give. God gives. You serve. God serve. You are patient. God is patient to you. In this way, the kingdom of God expands.
May you live like this serving many people.

Matthew 17:24-27

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:16:00 +0000

What does coincidence tell you?
Reading: Matthew 17:24-27

This is when Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum.
At that time, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

Peter replied: “Yes, he does.” Peter wasn’t sure what the will of Jesus was.
Thinking about these things, Peter came into the house.
But Jesus was the first to speak.
Jesus knew everything.
So, he asked, “What do you think, Simon (Not calling Peter which is the name that Jesus gave)? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

Peter might have thought that I have been thinking about this, and then Jesus is asking this. So, Peter answered: “From others.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the children are exempt. But since they may think we are weird, they may think that we are causing trouble, go to the lake and throw out your net. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Then Peter went on fishing and opened the mouth of the fish.
Then he found a four-drachma coin.
Then Jesus might have winked at him, saying, "Go ahead. I will be right here."

Peter was asked to do something.
Then he experience coincidence.
He may want to try out to see if it was true.
Then he found this confirmation.
Then he might have also felt peace and joy.

Jesus is communicating with Peter about who he is.
Jesus is speaking to Peter through what looks like coincidence.
Peter might have thought if Jesus knew all these, he could be a rich man, as well.
But Jesus only uses this ability to do what God desires.
Jesus only uses his power for love. This may not be easy.

Since Jesus made this world, he could do this.
But for Peter, the life of Jesus might be a full of mysteries.
Only in faith, he was following him.

Maybe, that is why you experience coincidence, too.
Jesus may want you to know something.
So, you experience coincidence, according to his purpose.

In this story, Jesus seems to read the mind of Peter.
Then, Jesus tries to give Peter something more to think about.
Jesus wants to guide him.

Like this, because Jesus knows everything, we want to pay attention, wait and try to listen what Jesus has said and what Jesus will be saying.
We want to know his will.
We want to know what is from God; what to obey; and what to accept in order to make the world better.
God become more real in your life, as you desire to live according to the will of Christ.
Then as you live an obedient life, you feel peaceful.

How might Jesus work today among us?
Sometimes, you may have a thought, out of blue.
Jesus may put that thought in your head.
It is like this.
You may suddenly have a certain thought.
Then later coincidently some opportunities may come to you.

Or, you talk about something with your friends.
Then things happen according to your conversation.
Some opportunities come to you.
You experience some good coincidences.
Then Jesus sends coincidences answering your thoughts, conversation and prayer.
Jesus wants to show that he was listening to your thoughts.

So, don’t be afraid.
Try out what Jesus is showing you.
Jesus may lead you through some coincidences.
Jesus may be winking at you, saying, "Go ahead. I am with you."

Luke 10:21

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:23:00 +0000

PPT

Joy in the Holy Spirit
Reading: Luke 10:21

This became famous awhile ago circulating in Facebook.

Someone had an interview with God.
He asked God:
God, what makes you surprise most about humankind?
God says:
When they were children, they said boring and boring. They rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
They lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.
By thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.
They live as if they will never die and die as though they had never lived.

This explains that we need to find joy now in our life.
In a different way, it encourages us to have and follow the heart of God.
When we follow our hearts, we may know that God may be speaking through our heart.
Then we experience good results.

But Jesus was a man of sorrow, because of the various burdens that he carries.
But there was also a joy because he was able to do what God desired.

Today’s Bible verse says:
After 77 students of Jesus learned spiritual secret, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, says this “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (Luke 10:21)

God wanted to honor the humble.
This was what excited Jesus the most.
For this reason, Jesus was following his humble heart.
For this reason, Jesus was ministering to the poor.

In the life of Jesus, God finds the highest joy.
God is really pleased with the way he thinks and wills.
Jesus is fully alive in the way that God imagines.

So, the Bible encourages us to take the good example of Jesus.
It encourages us to become like Jesus.

When the Bible says the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven, it means the nature of Jesus or Jesus himself.
So, then when we read Romans 14:17, it may means that Jesus is of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean?

When you trust in Christ Jesus, the God of hope will fill you with joy and peace.
Then because of this joy and this peace in the Holy Spirit, you will even welcome, believe and move forward with the message of Jesus in the midst of sufferings. (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
Then you will live in the hope and power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
May you be filled with joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52)

When you live according to the will of God, you find joy in God.
Then you can be creative.
Then you don’t need to compete with anyone.
You just need to live following your hearts that God has given, or to follow your peace leads.

When you find what the will of God is for you, and obey, what do you think you will feel? Because of that obedience, one day, you will feel coming alive again.

God asks you to obey, because that is what the universe truly needs.
As you obey your calling, other people will also find their callings and thus come alive.

It is not easy. But it is possible with the grace of God .
May this grace of God with you all.

Romans 14:17 (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Reading: Romans 14:17

What kind of feelings do you feel as you follow Christ?
Romans 14:17 says that we may feel peace and joy.

You may feel a deep awareness of grace, and a sense of awe.
You may feel being centered in God, whether you are busy or not.
You may feel “Not me, but God working through me.”
You may feel connected to your true self, Jesus and your neighbors.
Sometimes, you may feel “This is it!”
You may feel a deep joy.
Because you become humble, you may feel that things seem to go well and people don’t insist on their way.
You may feel like coming home.

Or following Jesus, you may also experience these feelings that Jesus felt.

Jesus also felt upset, when people were selling things 10 times overpriced at the temple.
Jesus felt a sense of burden, when his students didn’t understand the life of faith. He said, “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?”
Once, he felt sad looking at Jerusalem, because of its coming crisis.

On the cross, he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He said this because he felt moving away from God. He felt that he was separated from God.

As you follow Christ you may feel these, too.
Sometimes he was rejoicing.
Sometimes, he was struggling.
You may feel both feelings as you obey the desires of God.

God knows that you may feel these kinds of feelings.
So, God may use the change of emotions to communicate with you.

So, I am going to ask some questions today.
Answering these questions, you will think about what gives you a true life and a meaning in life.

What brings you peaceful?
What makes you smile?
What gives you joy?
What do you like to do in your free time?
When do you get inspired and get new ideas?
For what time or event today are you most grateful (thankful/happy)?
How did you show love today?
When do you feel a sense of freedom?
When do you feel fulfillment?
When do you experience faith, hope, love and divine gifts?
When do you realize that you can listen first, then plan and work?
When are you thankful for your life?
When were you able to give and receive love?
When you are creative?
What do people say, “You did well”?
When do you feel satisfaction?
When do you feel delight?

What are the things that you would do if you knew you are not going to fail?
When do you feel courage?
What do you hope?
Which choices do you think now and say, “That was a good choice”?
When do you feel moving toward God?
What do you want to learn about?
What kinds of talent, or gift do you have?
What skills have you developed throughout your life?
What activities make you feel the happiest?
After doing what did you feel better about yourself?

Based on your answers, try to do these things, when you feel sad and down.
Try to do these things, when you feel down or stressed out.
If you feel down and stressed, try to do those activities provide you a deep joy. Try to do those things that give you peace and joy for awhile.

For example, if you find some songs that make you peaceful, don’t forget them.
You may go back to those songs whenever you want to feel peaceful or even to be centered in God.

In order to live an exciting life, you need to know:
What energizes you?
What do you love to do?

Notice when you feel peace and joy in connection with a particular activity.
Write down activities that give you peace and joy.
These things may help you live a life of goodness.

What activities nurture your soul?
Which activities make you connect more deeply with God and serve others?
God may be present and active in your lives, through your emotions.
Make decisions, remembering these feelings.
In this way, you may be able to come closer to your calling.

May you feel joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2: 5-11

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Christ Hymn
Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11

This is a well-known ancient hymn.
It is called as “Christ Hymn” or “Song of Christ.”
It explains how humbly Jesus lives his life.
It says:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.
But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus voluntarily humbled himself.
He became a human.
As if it was not enough, Jesus became a servant.
As if it was not enough, Jesus was crucified by the mere humans.
At the same time, Jesus was the very God who created everything.
How can this be?

Watching all these, God is amazed by his humility, obedience, and love.
So, God honors Jesus to the highest place.
God is like, “You are the best! You are truly the wonderful king. There is no one like you. Who knows his people inside out better than you do! In the same time, you have shown, like no other, how humble God is. Wow!”

In Jesus, the all powerful God is defined by love and humility.
Jesus is the King who comes to serve.
Throwing away his pride, he lives out his true self.
Jesus throws his ego away, because pride or ego (Edging God Out) is a road block to true happiness and true calling.

When his students throw their pride away with him, they can be the person whom they truly want to be.
Jesus is saying, “Find your true self. Throw away your pride. Choose humility every day. Live out your call, no matter how humble you may feel at the moment. It will be beautiful. It will become beautiful. It may not look fancy now. But think long term. Think eternity."

Jesus lives thinking of eternity.
Jesus humbly takes his cross all the way to the Calvary thinking of eternity.
Therefore, for eternity, Jesus Christ is glorified.

Mark 14:32-42

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:44:00 +0000

Making decisions
Reading: Mark 14:32-42

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. (Probably because they thought this is just another prayer of Jesus)

He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Does Jesus ask them because it comforts him or because they learn to prepare their sufferings coming later? After this, the voice of Jesus saying Stay with me, remain here with me, watch and pray, watch and pray” might have lingering in this ears)

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus was a man of prayer and a man of principle.
Jesus went to this far, being faithful to his life of prayer.

Let’s think about his prayer life.
He used to get up early.
When the world wakes up, distractions abound.
So, he gets up to work while others are sleeping.
In order to focus on creating a new life, he needs to find the time to be silent and in solitude.
So, he wakes up before the sun.
Then eventually his body adjusted to his schedule.

In order to be the savior of the world, even Jesus maintains his prayer life.
The life of Jesus is the result of this deep prayer.
Again today, Jesus was about to carry out what he realized during the time of prayer.
Christ Jesus was creating various ministries out of his deep prayer, thoughts and rest.

Whenever he needs to make important decisions, make new teachings or parables, Jesus goes to lonely places and prays.
After prayer, he makes decisions: his decision making process.
He must have felt peaceful about it.
Out of his quiet time with God, he brings his confidence.

When Jesus prays, how did he use his body?
Did he pray in kneeling?
Did he stand up?
Did he sit down?
Did he walk around?

Today’s scripture says, “Jesus fell to the ground and prayed.”
This form is used when he has a serious request to God.
In order to make a final decision, he needs to relax his body and to be able to focus on God with his mind.

How about you?
When you need to make an important decision how do you use your body?
Do you fall to the ground, in order to worship God?

As for me, I am sitting down comfortably.
Why?
Because I need to listen to God.
I don’t want to be distracted by my energy, wishes or hopes.
I need to yield and listen to God.

Then God speaks to us in our mind.
God gives us a peaceful inspiration.
Then we can make a decision, feeling peace and joy.
Then we stand up and try out accordingly.

I hope you use this time to make decisions for your life, as well.
God may give you energy, joy and peace, as you move according to the will of God.
Then try out. Humbly try them out.

Or, in this time, think about when you get mad, worry or experience various emotions. Think about its reasons.
God may try to communicate with us through our emotions.

Like Jesus, we also cannot live without prayer.
Following Jesus means that we follow him into his prayer life.
This is what is like to follow Christ Jesus on earth.

John 15:26–27

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Jesus introduces Trinity
Reading: John 15:26–27

When the Holy Spirit comes to us, the Holy Spirit comes from the Father, because Jesus sent.
When Jesus finishes his works, the Spirit of truth goes out from the Father to testify about Jesus.
So, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to testify about himself.
If we have learned Jesus enough or experienced Christ, we can also join with the Holy Spirit in this work.

Let’s think about Trinity here.
How can we understand about Trinity?
How can we understand about these manifestations of one God?

Introducing God to us, Jesus cannot help but to introduce God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God is the Father in the relation to the Son.
God is the Son in the relation to the Father.
God is the Spirit who unites the Father to the Son and the Son to the Father.

So far, it is revealed that God’s being consists of this fellowship of three.
Three Persons exist in relationship with each other.
They are mutually benefiting each other in love.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mutually dependent.
These three persons are perfect in this union and oneness.
As a circle of loving relationship, God is truly alive.

These Persons are one because they exist by their relationships with each other.
They live as if they cannot live without each other.
They live as if they come alive when they are with each other.
So, love unites Father, Son and Holy Spirit to exist.

Jesus then comes to show us this love.
Jesus loves us, with the love that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In order to help us to experience this love of God, Jesus became a human.
Jesus loved his students with the love of God.
Jesus seeks the well-being of his students.
Jesus seeks good and healthy living of his students.
Jesus loves in respecting or taking good care of their identity, calling, and emotion.
But often times, Jesus didn’t receive this love back from them.
Jesus used to exist giving and receiving love in Trinity.
But now, Jesus has to give more than receiving.
It was different from how Trinity may practice their love.
So, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit, so that we may respond in love.

Before giving us the Holy Spirit, Jesus humbles himself, in order to love well.
He became poor.
He emptied himself.
He practices patience.
He practices self-control.
He practices long-suffering. (Matt 5, Philippians 2:5–11)
Obviously for Jesus, showing the love of God was more important than keeping his human life.

So, Jesus was continually protective of his students, like a nurturing Mother.
He works toward restoring everything according to God’s will.
Then after finishing his ministry as the Lamb of God to takes away the sins of the world, he sends the Holy Sprit.
The Holy Spirit is love.

Through this love, Jesus touches our hearts and heals our nature.
The love of Christ enables us to start love again.
The glory of God is shown when we begin to love like God loves.

So, the glory of God is shown when we wish other’s wellness.
The power of the Spirit is shown when we even love Jesus back in this practical way of love of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is sent so that we may live being inspired by this God Jesus.

May you live being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 13:1-9

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:50:00 +0000

The power of understanding
Reading: Matthew 13:1-9

Today, we have heard a parable that Jesus told.
At this time, there were many people gathered around him.
Jesus then got into a boat and sat in it.
All the people stood on the shore, listing to him.
Let’s think about this parable that Jesus told:

A farmer went out to sow his seed.
He was scattering the seed all over the places.

It means that Jesus is teaching people far and near.

First, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
What does it means?
Someone hears the message of Jesus and does not understand it.
Then, the evil one comes and does everything so that he or she may totally forget about it.
It is like that. They may have some kind of spiritual experience. But they don’t remember.

Second, some seeds fell on rocky places, where there was not much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
But the sun shined on them.
The plants were scorched and destroyed.
Then they withered because their roots were too weak or almost not there.

What does it mean?
Someone hears the words of Jesus and at once receives it with joy.
But he or she didn’t deeply understand.
So they could make it their own.
In other words, they have no root.
When trouble, problem, or persecution comes because of the words of Jesus, they quickly fall away.
They didn’t last long.

Third, other seed fell among thorns.
The thorns grew up and hindered these new plants, herbs or vegetables to grow.

What does it mean?
Someone hears the word of Jesus.
But then they allow the worries of this life and the untrue teachings of how to become rich twist the word of Jesus.
Because of it, they don’t make any good fruits.
He or she couldn’t understand the word of Jesus because they accept some wrong teachings of becoming rich and because they worry about their lives.

Fourth, still other seed fell on good soil.
These seeds produced a crop—a thirty, sixty or hundred times what was sown.

What does it mean?
Some people understand the word of Jesus enough, deeply enough.
Then they will produce many crops, naturally.

May you understand enough what Jesus is talking about.
Then you will produce fruits.

In other words, how do we know whether we understand enough?
If we understand it, we cannot help but to produce good fruits.
So, try to understand Jesus and his words: try to meditate on, pray about, practice, and share your understanding.

When you truly understand the message of Jesus, you cannot help but to endure until you produces fruits.
Then God will help us to endure long enough until you produce the fruits.

It is like this.
If you understand the right way to get there, how cannot you follow a wrong way?
If you taste God, you cannot satisfy with any other things.
If you understand God’s kindness, compassion, and unconditional love, you just don’t let go of it.
When you understand, you come back to God again and again.
Remembering that, you come back again and again to God.

Living like this, you produce a lot of crops for God.
This is a reality that Jesus taught.
May you understand and produce a lot of crops. Amen.

Luke 24: 46-49

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:30:00 +0000

The promise of Jesus
Reading: Luke 24: 46-49

Jesus says, “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised. So, stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus says:
I live out what the Messiah should live.
So, as my Father promised you, I am sending the Holy Spirit.
Stay here in the city until you receive the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, they wait.
They need to open their mind and actively wait.

Jesus is calling his students to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is asking his students to receive God’s power.
Why?
What will happen if they receive the power of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus says:
If you receive the Holy Spirit, you will be the evidence of my life in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1: 8)

When they receive the Holy Spirit, they can understand the life of Christ.
They can make Jesus known throughout the universe.

When they receive the Holy Spirit, they also can understand the mind of God.
Then being with God would feel comfortable for them.
Knowing this mind of God, we can communicate with God freely.

It is like this.
If we understand the mind of Jesus, we can guess what Jesus is doing today.
Then we can join with him.

Then how does God want?
God wants us to be free from sin.
So, it was very difficult for God to forgive us. But God did.
Then God asks us to forgive ourselves. Then, we please God.

If you understand the mind of God, you will understand Jesus and make him known.

As we work toward this, our prayer and hope will come true.
God will pour out God’s love into our hearts.
The Holy Spirit will come and free many people.

The story of Jesus is made with humans and for humans.
We need to let this be known.
We need to continually explain the story of Jesus.
Then people will understand the mind of God.

The mind of God is love.
That explains who God is.
The story of Jesus shows this love of God.

Also, Jesus shows us how Father, Son and Holy Spirit love each other; how they exist in friendship; and how they help each other to be in love.
Jesus came and expressed this love, through his teaching, his healing and his life.

Because Jesus loves us, he sends us the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit so that we may make known the power of God and the mind of God.
The Holy Spirit is now helping us to share this story of love of God.
Sharing this story of love of God, we can walk in freedom that God gives.

Today the Holy Spirit prays for us, so that we may have the imagination, sensitivity, character and discipline of Jesus.

Also, when we live with the Holy Spirit like this, we can help people understand Jesus.
May this joy of sharing and blessings of being able to share be with you all.

Matthew 17:14-20

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Reading: Matthew 17:14-20
Prop: mustard seed
Actors: the disciples, mother and a child with a stick.

One day, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray.
In the mean time, his disciples were just standing around.

Then one mother and a child came and said:
“Hello, is Jesus here?”

The disciples said: "He stepped out for a while. Maybe, we can help you.”

The mother said: “Well, it is my son. He needs healing. I heard that Jesus can heal.”

The disciples say: “We can handle that. We can do that as good as Jesus.”

So the disciples try to heal that boy.
One by one, disciples try to heal.
But their fancy techniques failed.

While they continue to try, Jesus returned.

Jesus says, “What do you guys doing?”
The disciples say, “Huh, we are just healing.”

Then Jesus sighs and says, “God loves you, son. “
Then Jesus heals him.

The mother said, “Thank you. Thank you. He is completely healed.”
Then they left.

The disciples said, “Hey, how come we couldn’t do that?”
Jesus said, “Because real healing takes faith.”

The disciples said, “Hey, I got tons of faith.”

Jesus said, “Maybe that is your problem. If you have faith like one of these mustard seeds, you could tell this table to move and it will obey you.”

Luke 2:41-52

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000

(A children sermon)

Hello.
This morning I want to show you the house of Jesus.
So, close your eyes.
When I say one, two, three, you open them, right?
One, two, three, open them.

Hehe. Well, this is the house of Jesus already.
And now, I have a question.
In this house, are there any objects that explain why Jesus came to this world?
Look around you.
Which object explains why Jesus is born?
(Let the children name various objects. You may give some explanation.)

(Walk up to the communion table.)
Do you see this table?
What is this?
Why is here?
Yes, this is the communion table.

Can this table explain why Jesus came here?
Jesus came to love and died for us.
So, we put the Bread over here.
We put the Grape Juice over there.
Then we remember that Jesus gave us his body (pointing the Bread) and blood (pointing the Grape Juice) so that we can eat and live forever.
It is a spiritual message.

Let's look at this.
What is this?
Yes, this is the pulpit.

What does a pastor do over here?
Yes, we tell everyone about God.
We tell people to love God and love people, because that is the teachings of Jesus.

We do these at this house of Jesus.
But Jesus is also your friend.
So, you can tell people, "This is the house that belongs to my friend." Right?
Alright.
I like this place. Do you?

Let's Pray: Jesus, this is your house. All around us, we see your signs of love for us. Help us to love you and do what you ask of us here. Amen.

Matt 1:18-25

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:32:00 +0000

A Children sermon
ppt

Prop: A baby doll. A crown.

How was your Christmas Eve?

I have a strange question for you today.
Do you know where God is?
Where is God?

Heaven? OK, God is in Heaven.
But then where else is God?
Everywhere? That's also right. God is everywhere.
God is also in your hearts.

Here's another question.
If God comes to us, what do you think God would look like?
Does God wear a crown?
Does God look like an elderly person?
Does God look like a big strong person?
What would God look like?

Well, I have a wonderful story for you.
Today, we learned that God comes to us, in the form of a baby.
We even know the name of the baby. His name is Jesus.

But how can God be a baby?
Think about it.
God is supposed to be up in heaven.
How can God be down here as a baby?
God is supposed to be everywhere.
How can God become a little baby who cannot go anywhere?
How can this be?

Well, that is what we celebrate on Christmas.
We celebrate that God who is in heaven; who is everywhere; and who is in our hearts, became one of us: humans.

You see when God is up in heaven all the time, it's hard for us to get to know God.
When God is everywhere all the time, it's hard for us to talk with God face to face.
When God is only in our hearts, we don’t know which voice is of God or of me?

But when God becomes a baby, we can get to know God.
We can talk to God; see God; and hug God.
So, God became the baby Jesus.
So, the more we know of Jesus, the more we know of God.

So, I would say: talk to Jesus and get to know him more.
Then you would know who you are and who God is.

Now Jesus is again in heaven, everywhere and in our hearts.
So, reading the Gospel we can know who Jesus is.
We can also get to know Jesus through the Holy Spirit. OK?

Let's pray: Thank you God for coming down and living with us and loving us. May we know of your love and kindness more and more. In your name we pray.

John 5:39-47

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:05:00 +0000

Ontology
Reading: John 5:39-47

Jesus says:
You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there.
But you miss the important thing while taking care of minor things.
These Scriptures are talking about me!
And here I am, standing right before you.
You aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
I'm not interested in crowd approval.
And do you know why?
Because I know you and your crowds.
I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your agenda.
I came with the authority of my Father.
But you either dismiss me or avoid me.
If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms.
How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time seeking position with nice benefit, ranking each other and ignoring God?
But do not think I'm going to accuse you before my Father.
Moses, in whom you put so much trust, is your accuser.
If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me.
Because he wrote of me.
If you are not taking seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?

Here Jesus is talking about something fundamental.
They were reading the bible, skipping parts where God talks about love, and not caring the glory of God.
Jesus is asking them to get rid of all the non-essential stuff.
Jesus is asking them to know God and follow God.

Let me explain in this way.
I don’t know whether you like to read some theological book.
When you read some theological book, you may see many weird words.
One of them may be "ontology."
Once I understand what it is, I like this word.
Let me explain why.

In a theological conversation, this word can be used like this. You may say, “I study about the ontology of God.”
It means that you study the essence, character and being of God.
So, you dig in order to know about the core essence of who God is.
In order to know that, you need to get rid of all the non-essential stuff which attaches to God even though it is not of God.
For example, a person can fear God and be afraid of God.
It means that he or she fear God and is afraid of God.
It does not necessarily means that God is like that.

So, we remove our presumption in order to know of God.
After that, you find to know what is left.

So, through this kind of ontological study, we learn that:
God is love.
God is compassion.
God is even willing to die for love and compassion if God has to.

Now let’s think about some ontological aspect of the Church.
What is the Church?
What is the core essence?
The Church is the body of Christ.
That is, the Church is called to think with the Christ and to make decisions seeking the will of Christ.
The Church is called to work with Christ on earth, not with our power but with the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is the ontological purpose of the Church.
For example, when we share our faith, we don’t do that with our intellectual nice footwork (our wisdom?), but with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Then what is the non essential part of the Church?
Since it is a human organization, there can be am understandable doctrine, tradition, policies and good politics, because we need to have peace.
But if we forgot to ask or misunderstand what Christ wants to do in our midst, we may miss our ontological calling.

So, God is ever calling the Church to be radically God’s.
Then when the Church does the will of Christ, something beautiful happens.
Through the Church, people become one with God.
Through the Church, God manifests God’s presence on earth.
The Church feels joy sharing the story of Jesus with the world.
The Church is even willing to die for Christ while sharing.

Now let's think about ourselves in this ontological way.
Who are we?
What is the core essence of who you are?
We may mistake thinking someone else is us.

What is the purpose of your existence?
When we squeeze orange, we get orange juice.
When life squeezes you, what does come out?
Pride or the character of God.
Here is an ontological question: What is the one thing that you may be even willing to die for?

Jesus seeks the will of God, forgiveness and the Kingdom of God.
The Lord’s Prayer explains what Jesus seeks.

Paul was ontological.
He says: I want to know nothing among you except the crucified Christ. (1 Cor. 2:2)
He lives to proclaim Christ in which all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. (Col. 2:3)

They want to know “what is our business” and “how is our business.”
What is your ontological calling?

As a church, we want to know Christ and want to explain Jesus to this world. This is an ontological calling of us.

May this grace of God with you all.

Matthew 2:13-23

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:27:00 +0000

ppt
God's Wild Plan
Reading: Matthew 2:13-23, Heb 2: 10-18

Jesus, the Son of God, is born.
He came to do the will of God.
He came to inform people about how God thinks.

But it is strange.
This Son of God didn’t use his authority and power.
When people did not want to listen to him, he just went to another town to preach.
When people didn’t accept his authority and didn’t stand against him, he was in danger.

Jesus didn’t believe in any form of violence.
Because that wasn’t the will of God.
The will of God for him was to cherish every single life.
Jesus was to love people and to take care of them.
He was to seek their happiness more than his own.
He was to love them patiently and even sacrificially.
Loving people like this, he was willing to be vulnerable.

It all started from his birth.
Mary giving birth to Jesus, was difficult but happy.
The scholars who came from the unknown country to see this baby Jesus was happy.
Joseph the husband was happy.

But the angel of God was waiting for them to get some sleep.
When they got enough sleep, the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the child and his mother and go to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod is trying to kill the baby.”
The King Herod would not allow Jesus to become the King of the Jews.
The Roman government would not wait for Jesus to build another kingdom there.

So, the journey began.
This family of Jesus had to flee to the foreign country, Egypt.
Traveling to Egypt, Mary knew that her baby boy was in danger.
The baby Jesus might have felt that his mother was anxious.
Jesus might not have remembered all that.
But from this moment on, he might have realized intuitively that if he wanted to become who God wanted him to be, he needs to pay a price eventually.

Then thirty years later, Jesus started his ministry, in the land of Israel.
Now some religious leaders are refusing to accept his teaching.
Jesus had a difficult time with them.
The more Jesus tried to remove their dark thoughts and enlighten their thought, the more they challenged his authority.
The more Jesus showed himself, they planed to get rid of him.
So, Jesus told this kind of story to them. (Matthew 21:33-46)

(2) Once upon a time, there was a rich and powerful man.
He built a nice-looking building.
Then he rented out every space in the building.

Then he hired some managers to take care of the building.
Then, he moved to another place.

After awhile, the owner sent three people to receive his portion of money.
But these managers beat them up, murdered, or threw stones at them.

But the owner sent more people.
But they got the same treatment.

Last of all, the owner sent his son, thinking, “Surely, they will respect my son.”

When they saw the son, they said, “This is the heir! Let’s take his inheritance.”
They threw him out of the building and killed him.

Now Jesus asked his listeners, “Now, when the owner comes back, what is he going to do to these people?”

People said: “He will kill these managers! He will hire other people who can give him his portion of money.”

Then Jesus said, "The Bible says: The masons threw out a stone. But now it became the cornerstone. You may hardly believe it but God works like that.”

In this way, Jesus preached about his life.
God, the owner of the world, sent prophets to the leaders of this world.
But they were not willing to listen to these prophets.
Like King Herod, they got rid of these prophets.

They didn’t know how to listen to God.
They didn’t know how to do the will of God.
They wanted to be the boss, the rich and powerful men.

Knowing all these, God sent the Son of God to this dangerous world.
Knowing all these, God sent the Son to be suffered.
What is God thinking?
It seems that God was hoping:
If God gives everything, people will someday hear the story of Jesus by giving everything to God. If Jesus gives everything, one day, people will give everything to God.

God sent Jesus hoping that the world would listen to him, eventually.
Jesus understood his life like this.
Understanding this thought of God, Jesus wanted to obey God.

If Jesus were a manager of the building, what kind of manager would he be?
Other managers didn’t obey God even when obeying God was good for them.
Or the other managers saying that they are living for God, they serve their pride rather than seeking God's benefit.
But Jesus didn’t try to live an ease and quiet life.
Instead, he chose to suffer with God.
The bible asks us: Can you understand this suffering Christ, this suffering God?
Jesus obeyed God even though it was difficult and dangerous.
Jesus desired to do the will of God, whether he lives or dies.
When some leaders did not accept him, he chose to obey God until he died.
Then mysteriously God was manifesting through his suffering and death.

What about us?
What kinds of managers are we?
I hope we should be the managers who say:
“This is not mine. That is not mine.
I am not going to own anything forever in this world. I am passing through.
Passing through, I have a chance to do the will of God, because I am belonging to God. Then Jesus is able to give you an unspeakable joy and peace. But if I make mistakes, I can ask Jesus to forgive me. Jesus will forgive me and give freedom. Then I can live a healthy life again. I will live a new life, hearing the voice of God. I live peacefully with God.
There I will praise God.
In Jesus I will understand God’s plan for my life.
Then God will be able to strengthen souls, and give them hope through me. I may be able to change a nation, through prayer.”

This Jesus is telling people and us not to give up.
Because when your life gets tough, Jesus will not run away.
When your life gets tough, Jesus will try to do the will of God for you, in you, among you and through you, regardless to what prices he needs to pay.
There, you will experience more of him.

Today, you may come to meet Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.
Keep on walking with him and see him resurrected.
God raises Jesus to new life.
God honors Jesus.
Therefore, when you believe in Jesus, Jesus will raise you up to the eternal life, as well.

(3) At the end of the story of managers, Jesus said something like this, “The kingdom of God will not be given to those who try to take something that is not theirs. The kingdom of God will be given to a people who will produce the fruit of the Kingdom of God.”

What is the fruit of the kingdom of God?
They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Producing these fruits, people show that God is working through them.
Producing these fruits, people help us to experience God.

Because God is with them, they can produce these.
They cannot produce these kinds of fruits alone.

So, we know people by what people produce.
Good tree bear good fruits and bad tree bear bad fruits.

In this Christmas session, may you obey God and produce the good fruits of God.
Then when we see Jesus face to face, may Jesus smiles at you and says, “You are such a good manager. Good Work! Thank you.”

Matthew 5:44

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Prop: a ball, a long string
ppt
The power of God in our prayer and thoughts
Reading: Matthew 5:44

Einstein discovers that light can bend because of a gravity pull of a star.
(Have a long string. Have a ball. Stretch your string. But then let it bend a little.
Then place the ball just above the string at the middle of the string.)
Let’s pretend that this string is a beam of light.
This light is bended because of the gravity pull of this ball.

Now let me explain about prayer.
This is what a prayer does.
What does prayer do?
By your thought and your prayer, you bend the path of your life and people’s life.
Through your good thought and prayers, you make the world move toward God.
Your prayer and your meditation have a gravity pull, so to speak.

It happens all the time.
Does it happen to you?
You thought about someone.
Then you got a call from him or her.

You thought about someone.
Then, you met her or him on the street.
Does it happen to you?
Why?
Your thoughts have a gravity pull.

That is why Jesus said, “Never curse but bless.”
That is why Jesus said, “You can sin just by thinking about it.”
That is why Jesus said, “Go to your brother or sister who may be against you and resolve your relationship with them immediately.”

By the thought you have, you may be able to make the world a better place to live in.
Be a gravity pull for God.
Let all the goodness of God shine.

A good prayer is a good thought.
A good thought brings out a good result.
While we pray, our thoughts are influenced and motivated by God’s thoughts.
So, while in prayer, we learn the divine mind, divine power and divine goodness.
While we pray, God gives us wonderful thoughts.
God inspires you.
God plants wonderful thoughts into your heart.
With those thoughts, we become a stronger gravity pull.

God gives wonderful ideas.
God plants wonderful gifts and talents in you.
God knows how you can be a blessing to the world and to yourself.
God made you.
God know you.

What kind of thought you have matters.
What kind of feeling you experience matters.
What kind of words you use matters.

What kind of thoughts do you have?
What kinds of emotion do you have?
That is why you need to make decisions while you feel peace and harmony.

That is why the Bible says, “Let your mind be the mind of Christ.” (Philippians 2: 5-11)
Work on your mind.
Always bless people.
Always pray for people.

Have a wonderful mind by having a wonderful prayer time.
Your life and many people’s lives depend on it.

The power of prayer is stronger than the power of mind.
Your thought is very powerful.
That is why one book can change your life.
But your prayer is more powerful.
That is why your one prayer can change your life.

That is why you should pray always.
That is why you should pray for your life.
There God is listening to you.
There you are listening to God.

There is an academic term called, “Ontology.”
It is a theological term as well.
Let me explain.
When you study the ontology of Jesus, you study who Jesus is.
Their questions are:
What is the core essence of who Jesus is?
Who is really, really Jesus?
What is Jesus?
Why is Jesus here?

Jesus is part of Trinity.
What is the core essence of who Jesus is?
Jesus is love.
Love, compassion and kindness are the core essences.
The ontology of Jesus is the cause.
The effect is the life of Jesus.

Ask God ontological questions.
Ask God, “Who are you?” "Who am I?"
Ontological questions are important, because everything is influenced by it.
Answering those questions, you would know how to answer:
“How should I live my life?”
“How should I use my life for Christ?”

So ask God.
Ask God how you should live.

Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
What is that means?
Become someone who you want to see in the world.
In other words, change yourself ontologically for God, then you can change the world.
Then you can be a gravity pull.
You can be a cause.
Then you can change the history of the world.

You may look at Gandhi’s different lifestyle.
But it is not the cause.
It is the effects.
The cause is the attitude of his mind.
The cause is the attitude of his heart.
It is the ontology of his heart.

How pure your thought is for your people?
How pure and genuine is your thought for your country?
This is an ontological question.

So, work on your heart.
Focus on working on your heart.
Empower yourself with good thoughts: the thought of freedom and the thought of liberty.
Then you become a strong gravity pull.

So the most important question is “Who are you?”
“Do you know who you are?”
If you can answer this question, you can be a gravity pull.
You find your answer through prayer and your relationship with God.
Then, you have a stronger gravity pull.
There God and you join in as a team.
It is unbeatable.
It is victorious.
That is what Jesus did.
That is who Jesus is.

This reality can happen in you, when you find who you are in Jesus.
When you find it, you feel peace.
You feel faith.
You feel confident.
It is a divine confidence.

Luke 18:1–8

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:38:00 +0000

What is your reason for being?
Read: Luke 18:1–8

What are your thoughts on prayer?
How do you pray?
Jesus told this story so that his students would not give up praying in any moment.

He said:
In a certain town there was a judge who doesn't care about anything.
He does not care about God.
He does not care about people.

But then there was a widow who kept on coming to him with her request.
For some time he refused.
But then he realized, “Even though I don't care about anything, I better see that she gets justice. Otherwise, this widow will keep on bothering me until she wears me out!"

Then Jesus said to his students:
Listen to what the unjust judge says.
Now think about this.
Will God bring about what is right for God’s chosen ones, who pray day and night?
Will God keep putting them off?
No, God will see that you quickly get what is right.
But I am wondering: when I come back, will I find this kind of faith on earth?
Will I find this kind of person who prays without giving up?

Jesus encourages us to pray.
Jesus informs us that this kind of faith is needed on earth.
The world needs someone pray without giving up.
The world needs someone who expresses his or her faith in prayer.

What are the things that you have been praying for, without giving up?
For what are the things that you have been praying again and again, knowing that God is listening to you?

Or what are the things that you give up praying for?
How much have you been praying for that?
Did you give up because you sense that you are not pray according to God’s will?
Or did you give up being discouraged?

Persistence is another word for faith.
By persistent prayer, we show our faith to God.
Persistent prayer makes us connected with God.
God will let us know what the will of God is for us.
Then God would slowly arrange the universe to make that happen.

Persistent prayer proclaims:
“God is good. God created a good world.
God is generous. God created a generous place.
God will give us what we ask for or even better things.
God is generous.”

Some may ask then:
If God is generous, why do we need to pray “persistently”?
I don’t know.
But it seems that while we pray persistently, we learn about us, too.
We listen to our prayer.
We learn to discover our true desire.
When we put an effort to it, we cannot help but to ask:
“Is this really the thing that I just cannot let go of?
Do I really need this? What if God has a better plan?
What is God’s better plan?
Maybe this is not the thing that I should focus on.
I should focus on Christ.”
Then you offer all to God.
Then something happens.

Is it your experience?
Is this a good way to pray?

When you like to pray until something happens, you learn something in this process.
You become in tune with God.
God shows what God desires you to do.

We become wiser.
Then we learn that we don’t really need anything except God.
Those who have God have everything.
Then we can start praying: “God, what do you truly want for me?
What do you desire for me? How should I live for Christ?”
This prayer will make all things happen.

So, have another look at your old prayer list.
If you feel like losing hope, pray one more time, knowing that God is listening to you.
God listens to your every prayer.

Also, think about who you are according to your prayer lists.
Do you want to pray those prayers again knowing what you know now?
Or does your prayer list need to be changed according to God’s will?

God asks us to pray persistently according to God’s will.
When we pray persistently, we know that it is not about you.
It is about God.
It is for everyone.

This world need someone who tries to moves according to God’s will.
We all need someone who pays attention to what God is doing.
People need to see this kind of faith on earth.
God wants to see this kind of faith on earth.
Jesus wants to see this kind of faith on earth.
May you also pray to God, without giving up.

Matthew 16:13-17

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:14:00 +0000

Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
Reading: Matthew 16:13-17

Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
This is the important question. Who is he?

We always answer this question.
We always answer this question with the way we live.

Even if we don’t want to, we even answer this question unconsciously.
So, now we want to think about this question in order to answer consciously.
Try to answer this question.

Brother Roger who found Taizé community answers like this:
“Jesus, you are the one who forgives and reconciles. Jesus is reconciliation. Jesus is forgiveness.”

Then he lived the rest of his life for praying for reconciliation and forgiveness: reconciliation between churches, and nations.

Working and praying for reconciliation, he understood and learned more about this reconciliation.
He also learned how much this word, reconciliation explain well the ministry of Jesus.

As he tried to find a new way to pursue this, he found many good advices of Jesus.

For example:
Jesus says in Matthew 5: 23-24:
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

He also found not judging others are important for forgiveness and reconciliation.

Because Jesus already this in Luke 6:37-38:
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Trying to obey these words of Jesus about not judging and forgiving, he experienced more of Jesus.

Now Taizé community is still working for reconciliation.
It is not easy.
Taizé, as a community, understand more and more about reconciliation and forgiveness.
Through Taizé, more and more people realize who important this reconciliation and forgiveness are.

Taizé community continually prays for Christian unity.
They also want to create a place where every Christian can come and pray and dialogue.

For this purpose, they made simple songs, a beautiful silence and a place where even young people come, learn and pray.

One of their songs says like this:
“God is forgiveness. Dare to forgive and God will be with you. Love and do not fear.”
Singing this song, they proclaim their faith.
They say, “In forgiveness, they experience the very Christ. We are Christian. We live by forgiveness.”

All this journey of forgiveness and reconciliation happened, because someone answered well the question of Jesus: “Who do you say that I am?”

Taizé is still saying: “Jesus, you are the one who forgives and reconciles. Jesus is forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Jesus also prays in John 17: 20:
“I pray for those who will believe in me, that all of them may be one, just as God is in me and I am in God.”

Listening to these words, brothers of Taizé still pray for reconciliation, work toward it, and pursue a true unity of the churches.

One way or the other, consciously or unconsciously, we answer this question of Jesus.
Jesus asks you and me today: “Who do you say that I am?”
Who is Jesus?
Think about it.
Pray about it.
Because you live according to your answer.

May God help you answer this question well.
May God help you live well according to your answer, proclaiming your faith.

Note: We can succeed in life with Jesus.

John 1:1-5

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:32:00 +0000

ppt
Why is Jesus love and life?
Reading: 1 Corinthians 13: 3-8, John 1:1-5, Psalms 139: 13-14, Proverbs 8:29-31, Job 34: 14-15

God thinks about Jesus a lot.
God was always with Jesus.

Then through Jesus, God start creating.
Because of Jesus, God decides to create.
Through Jesus, God shows that God is creative.

What does that mean?
Through Jesus, God marks the foundations of the earth.
Through Jesus, God created many things.
Through Jesus, God created you.
Through Jesus, God created everything about you.
Through Jesus, God shows how God thinks.
Through Jesus, God expresses/explains fully who God is.

John says Jesus was the mind of God.
This mind of God became a human and dwelled among us.
Jesus becomes a human to show how God lives if God becomes a human.
The story of Jesus contains the wisdom of God.
Jesus also shows how to live self-emptying.
The story of Jesus shows us the character of God.
Through the story of Jesus, we get to know the mind of God.
Through Jesus, we experience the mind of God
The mind of God also teaches us about humility and love.

Let’s see how the story of Jesus shows us God’s inner attitude.
Philippians 2:5-11 explains how Jesus lives out the inner of attitude of God. We also need to have this mind of God, that is, of Christ Jesus.

Jesus is God.
But Jesus did not ask people to treat him as God.
Instead, Jesus emptied himself and lived as if he was nothing.
Then he lived like a servant.
After becoming a human, Jesus lives like a human.
Then Jesus humbled himself more.
Then he allowed people to carry him to the cross!

This was the generous act of Jesus Christ.
Though he was rich, he became poor for our sakes.
Now by his poverty we became rich in the knowledge of God.

Then God put him at the highest place.
God gave him the name above every name.
God lets everyone in heaven and on earth bow down to Jesus.
God lets everyone call Jesus the Master, for the glory of God.

God was delight in the humility and self-emptying of Jesus.
So, God says clapping: “Jesus, Bravo, this is wonderful. This is beauty.”
God is rejoicing through Jesus.
Because Jesus shows people how God thinks and feels.
Jesus shows how much God is humble and self-emptying.

God lives self-emptying.
We see that in the life of Jesus.
That is why we call that the life of Jesus is our light.
This light shines and removes our dark thoughts.
Through Jesus we experience the grace and truth of God.
The more we know this life of Jesus, the more we know God.

Are you rich in Jesus?
Jesus takes pleasure making you live an abundant life.

Following Jesus, we also build a humble community.
This humble community teaches people to live a truly meaningful life.
God will be delighted in this.
God wants to bless this world through those who have humble faith.
God will love and use those who live in humble obedience to God.

God is love.
That means God is relational.
God exits for relationships.
God desires to have a humble relationship with you.
May you have a humble relationship with God.

How does this humble God love?
How does Jesus show us that?

Jesus lives like this, to show us who he is.
1 Corinthians 13: 3-8 tells us:

Jesus is patient.
Jesus is kind.
Jesus does not envy.
Jesus does not boast.
Jesus is not proud.
Jesus is not rude.
Jesus is not self-seeking.
Jesus is not easily angered.
Jesus keeps no record of wrongs.
Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Jesus always protects you, always trusts in you, always hopes in you, and always perseveres with this plan of love.
Jesus never fails in keeping us.

Jesus loves like this, because this way of loving introduces us God.
God love you humbly.
Jesus comes to explain this love.

God has a humble hope and dream for us.
But God does not just push us into it.
God loves you into it.
Because of God’s continual love, we cannot help but to accept our calling.

The love of God does not finish here.
Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is the builder of loving relationship.
When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we can truly love.
Because the Holy Spirit loves you and build you up.

The Holy Spirit proclaims, “You are special. You look just like your God.” (Mark 14: 36)
Then the Holy Spirit guides you to live just like God.

So, we need the Holy Spirit.
When the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, we can make something new and build up new people.
Do you notice to where the Holy Spirit is leading you?

For that, sometimes, you need to spend some boring times with the Holy Spirit, such as prayer.
Through prayer and meditation, you let the creative Spirit lives in you.
Then the Holy Spirit makes you creative.
Then you will think clearly and wisely.
You will have many creative ideas.
With creative ideas you will be able to build peace.
You will start hearing the voice of God clearly.
Then slowly you find yourself think like God.

God will be glad because God can think through you.
God rejoices because God can solve problems through you.
Through you, God will express who God is.

Then because God trusts in you, God lets you know what God is thinking at the moment.
Then your life will be a gift that is given to the world.
You will live a meaningful life.
You will rejoice because God has remembered you.

As you pray for people, God will answer you.
Jesus likes to keep other people safe through your prayer.
Then Jesus keeps you safe.
Jesus will help you have a good relationship with everyone.

This is what is in the mind of God.
May you taste the joy that the Holy Spirit brings.
May you get involved in God’s ministry.
May you forgive God and you are also forgiven.
May you get to know God through Jesus.
May you live humbly serving God, knowing that God is humble.

May these kind of works of God continually happen in your life.

Matthew 17:1-9

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:15:00 +0000

"What are you doing?"
Reading: Matthew 17:1-9

Peter saw Jesus standing with Moses and Elijah on the mountain.
Jesus was glowing.

All of sudden, Peter was shouting:
“Do something. Let's make some dwellings. Let's get to work! Let’s capture the moment. C'mon, guys, get some boards, hammers, nails. Let’s make dwelling places. James, John, don't just stand there. Get busy! Do something!”

Peter wanted to get busy with his own agenda.
Peter says, “Let’s build something.”
So, God has to say through the cloud:
"Quiet please! This is my son, my beloved! Listen to him! Listen to him.
Then you will know what you are called to do. Listen first. Then, you will know who you are.”

When we have some kind of spiritual experience, we need to digest first so that we would be able to produce what God truly desires.
You cannot just say:
“That is a good idea. Let’s do something. Get busy! Do this! Do that! Get to work! Produce! Achieve!”
This often interrupts the way of God.
So, it can be dangerous to you.

But Peter’s mission statement was: "Do something!"
He loves to do something.
It is so natural to him.
In fact, sometimes, he does stuff because he fears of doing nothing.
When people ask him, "What are you doing?" he hears “Why don’t you do something?”
Peter was so full of energy.
He needs to be busy.

So, it was very difficult for him when God says:
“Stop trying to do something! Instead, listen to Christ.
Stop doing things now so that you may later do something that is truly long lasting and meaningful. You want to produce something long-lasting by the power of God. So, at this time, you need to stand in awe and listen to him.”

Until Peter accepts the agenda of Jesus, God will continually say:
"This is my son, my beloved. Will you listen to him? I know you are a leader. But now don’t try to lead just yet. Listen first. Then you will be able to lead the people of God later.

Listen and find out who you are.
Then you can help others to do what they are supposed to do.
Then you can help others to find their calling and live it out.

God is asking Peter to be thoughtful, grounded and centered in Jesus.
Then he will be able to communicate gifts, grace, and freedom of Jesus Christ.
It is ok to simply stand before and in awe of the mystery of Jesus.
This may be the most powerful action you would ever do.
Then you can truly respond to what Jesus has said and done.

Right before this incidents when Jesus says "Take up your cross and follow me." Peter says: “We have another idea.” (Matthew 16:21-24)

So, now God is saying to Peter:
Pay attention. Listen to Jesus!
Then you will know whether you are moving into right directions or not.
Listen and remember what Jesus says.
Then you will know how to live.
Then you will know that you don’t have make dwellings.
Then you will know that you don’t need to do those things and get tired.

Once, an elderly carpenter and a young carpenter were walking through a mountain.
They saw a tall, huge, old, beautiful oak tree.
The elderly carpenter asked the younger:
Do you know why this is so tall, huge, old and beautiful?
The younger said: "No, why?"
The elderly carpenter said:
"I think it is because for a long time, no one wants to use this tree.
For such a long time, many people pass by.
But no one wants to cut down and make use of it.
No one wants to make tables and chairs out of this tree.
Because for awhile, it was useless, now it is fully grown.
Now it is so tall and so beautiful.
Now lets see sit in its shade and relax awhile.”

Sometimes, by not doing anything, we can prepare for better.
Sometimes, we need to grow spiritually without making ourselves useful.
Then we may be able to serve others better and longer in the way that God has planned.

That is what God is asking Peter.
God is asking Peter to move with the presence of God without taking forceful actions. His usefulness will come through knowing deeply what Jesus is saying. Then he can do something that is meaningful, purposeful, and sustainable.

So, sometimes, we need to learn to just be.
We need to learn to get really bored.
Sometimes, we need to listen for the voice of Jesus.
Then God's gracious love will move within us and then will give us an idea to do something.

In other words, in order to listen to God, we need to be lazy sometimes.
We need to think and ponder.
For some of you, it may sound like wasting times.
But it isn’t.

Here Peter has to let go of his needs to control.
At this moment, what he could do is to do not take the world seriously.
At this moment, what he could do is to do not take his calling and his work seriously.
At this moment, he needs to laugh at himself.
It is ok.
In other words, at this moment he doesn’t need to think about what his father, mother, and children would think about him.
He doesn’t need to think about his career, success or rewards.

He can just be thankful that Gracious God is doing something in his life.
He is God’s precious children, loved, forgiven.

Before working hard, we need to know what Jesus desires.
Before working hard for God, we need to stop and get quiet and contemplate.
Then as we listen to Jesus, we will be able to learn how the hands of God may work in our life.
We will learn how God is moving.
We will know what God is calling us to do and not do.

God knows what we are capable of.
God know how God can help us.

So, if we listen to Jesus, we can calmly make plans.
God speaks to us, when we are ready to do what God desires.
Then we can move toward the direction that God shows us.
We will know how God may use us.

So, let’s think about what Jesus says.
God sent Jesus Christ to do God's work in the world.
So, let’s stop and pay attention.
Let’s think about his words in the light of his suffering, and death on the cross.

Then we would know who we are.
Christ Jesus says we are the joy of God.
You are God's precious children.
God loves you and forgives you.
God is giving you new identity, new gifts and new calling.

So, allow yourself to meditate on the words of Jesus.
Learn of Christ.
When we live accordingly, our life will be meaningful.
Then God will create various opportunities for you to live out your calling.
Be willing to take up your cross, and enter into those opportunities.
Then you will build a community of faith.
You can carry out a mission.
You will learn to share through various opportunities for meaningful work and vocation and relationships.

May you live according to our identity that comes only from Christ.
May you remember your true identity and your calling so that your work may be meaningful.
May you be able to in the name of Christ and be sent to do your work.

John 1:29-42

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:25:00 +0000

ppt

The obedience of the Lamb
Reading: John 1:29-42 (1 Corinthians 1: 1-9)

Before Jesus started his ministry, he observed the ministry of John the Baptist.
John lived a very obedient life in God.
So, Jesus might have hesitated to start his ministry, because if he starts, there is no more need for John’s ministry.

But as for John, it didn’t matter, because he saw the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit came down as a dove from heaven and remained on Jesus.
He was waiting for this sign that God told him for so long.
When he saw this, he realized that Jesus is the Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

The Holy Spirit was coming down to start God’s ministry together with Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is ready to show everything that God has and who God is through Jesus.
John believed in Jesus because he saw the Holy Spirit.

So, John introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God to his followers.
So, two his students followed Jesus to find out more about Jesus.
They don’t have any questions to ask at this time.
They didn’t know what it means that Jesus is the Lamb of God.
They don’t know how to ask questions to find out that Jesus is the Lamb of God.
They just want to learn of Jesus.

But Jesus asked them, “What do you want?”
They said, “Teacher, (pause) where are you staying?”
Jesus said, “Then, come and see.”

Jesus simply invited them to come and see.
Then they were able to observe how Jesus used his words, wisdom and power. They saw how Jesus is answering people’s questions.
They smell the place where he was staying.
They touch what Jesus was touching.
They feel what is like to be with Jesus.
Then they realize how the Holy Spirit is working together with Jesus.
They sense the person of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus heals, and speaks words.
They sense God’s presence.
Then they believe in Jesus because the Holy Spirit is working through Jesus.
They believed him as the Messiah, the Christ.

So, Andrew, one of them found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus.
Looking at Simon, Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Peter which means Rock.”
Jesus called him Rock.
He proclaimed his faith, because Jesus saw Simon in the same way that God saw him.
This proclamation created a new kind of relationship between Jesus and Simon Peter.
Jesus knew what kind of role that Peter would play in his movement.
So, Jesus helped Peter to discover his calling and his new identity.
Then three years later Jesus baptized him with the Holy Spirit.
Then he was able to show the character of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Like this, God knows the reason why you are here.
Jesus knows what you are called to be.
The Holy Spirit often help you realizes that in a very gentle, subtle, mysterious or very natural way.
Like this, the Holy Spirit help you discovered in Christ.
The Spirit of God will also help you find who Jesus is.

When we spend time with Jesus, we know who God is.
But it is strange.
When we spend with Jesus, we also know who we are.
The more you know of Jesus, the more you know who you are.
The more you obey the words of Jesus, the more you discover your purpose in life.
The more you offer your life to Christ, the more you start to hear clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The more you live for God, the more God lives within you.
The more you get involved in what God is doing, the more you experience the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. It is like a spiritual fountain.

But in order to give us this kind of experience in the person of the Holy Spirit, Jesus needed to pay a price.

In order to give us the Holy Spirit, Jesus needed to experience some kind of birth pain.
When Jesus gives his life, he can take away the sins of the world. Then he was able to give the eternal life.

(3) Jesus is called the Lamb of God.
Like a lamb he was slaughtered and was offered.
Jesus was treated badly by some people.
It wasn’t easy to suffer and die like this.
But Jesus was a willing participant.
He was willing to suffer for the forgiveness of sin of others. (Isaiah 53:7)
He was able to bear this pain because he knew for what he was suffering.

But we need to remember one thing.
Jesus didn’t suffer because he didn’t have faith.
He suffered because he had faith.
Jesus suffered because he wanted to bring reconciliation.
Jesus suffered because he wanted to see the loving relationship between God and human beings.

When he was carrying his cross to Calvary, he said to those who didn’t understand the true meaning of his death and suffering, “Don’t weep for me. Rather, weep for yourselves and for your children..." (Luke 23:27-28)
He wanted them to know about their own future.
If they accept Jesus, they would have the eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
Jesus would save them so that they could truly live.

But, in the Bible, we see sometimes Jesus weeping because he felt the pain of someone else.
He was weeping out of compassion, knowing everything.
He wept because he could feel the pain of his loved ones.

Because he loved people like this, Jesus can become the Lamb of God.

The Bible said that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
What does it mean?
Sometimes continual sinning life drives us to death. This death is not a physical death but also a mental death where we lose the meaning of life.
Jesus wanted to save people from their death, because the human life is too precious for him.
So, Jesus wanted to save people from the consequences of sin.
In order to do that, Jesus wanted to become a human being.
He wanted to conquer the death, as a human.
Becoming the Lamb of God, he defeated the death.

Doing this, Jesus shows that love is a will and a determination.
That is why we can love our enemies. It is not easy.
So, the Holy Spirit gives us patience and self-control.
Patience and self-control make our love complete in Christ.

Love is obedience, a will, and a determination.
What does it mean in our spiritual life?
If you love Christ, you pray even when you don’t want to pray.
You love someone even when you don’t feel like it. (This someone may be yourself.)
You give thanks and praise for that person even though you don't feel like it.
Then we experience the stronger presence of God in our life.

When you love Jesus, you want to give everything and live for Christ.
So, some people give up their easy life and serve the poor.
So, some people leave their home countries and start living in a foreign country to share the love of God.
They just want to do the works that God is designing for them.

The Bible says that our relationship with Jesus is like a spiritual marriage.
If we love Jesus, we want to be with him, in good days and bad days.
We want to be with him when we feel peace and safety, when we feel sad and suffering.
We would want to be with Jesus through thick and thin.
We want to love Christ at all circumstances, just like God loves us.
We want to give thanks to Christ regardless to what happens to us.
We want to give thanks, when our life seems unbearable.
Thinking about Jesus, we rather comfort those who are suffering.
Following Jesus, getting inspired by Jesus, you get to know the Holy Spirit and experience the power of God.
Then people around you will also feel the power of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God through your life.

Question: Why does the Bible say Jesus is the Lamb of God?

Mark 12:31

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:42:00 +0000

Reading: Mark 12:31
Prop:

Jesus said, “Love your neighbors as you love yourself.”

Jesus was, of course, assuming that you love yourself.
Do you really love yourself?
In order to find out I want to have you say these words after me.
So, repeat after me, and tell me how you feel.

I love myself.
I love~ myself.
I love as I am.
I accept as I am.
I am wonderfully created.
I believe I can do all things in Christ.

How do you feel?

You can love others, as you love yourself.
If you know how to love yourself, you know how to love others.
If you know how to make you happy, you may know how to make others happy.

Why did Jesus talk about this love so much?
It is because “Love” is the answer.
Love is the great healing.
Love is the good medicine.

We all have weaknesses.
We make mistakes sometimes.
Sometimes we know we made mistakes.
Sometimes we don’t even know that we made mistakes.
But if we love God, you don’t need to take life too seriously.
If you love God, sometimes, you can laugh at yourself, because you know that God loves you and forgives you.

So, forgive yourself.
When you made a mistake, you know that God can make things better.
God can cover you and protect you.
God will help you forget it and move on.
If you need to make it right, ask God to help you make it right and move on.
You are wonderful made.
There are plenty of opportunities for you to do something good in this world.
So, love yourself and love others.
Love everyone including yourself. OK?

Let’s pray:
Jesus, help us to live and love everyone including ourselves.
We believe that your love is greater than ocean.
You think of us in your grace.
Help us to love you as you love us.
And give us power and energy to serve the world you created.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.