Sermons

Through the parable of the mustard seed and the storm on the sea, this passage deals with the nature and growth of faith. It explains what faith is that looks like a small mustard seed yet can grow into a great tree, and how that faith leads the expansion of the kingdom of God. Through the fear and failure the disciples went through, it also shows that faith can grow by the power of the Holy Spirit even in suffering.

The sermon stresses that the doubts and worries that come when faith is weak are in fact tests for spiritual growth. Rather than turning away from the Word as Judas Iscariot did, the disciples gained assurance of the truth through suffering, repented and grew; through them it leads us to reflect on where our faith is rooted now. It also points out that we need the mission of lifting up the lamp to light the darkness, and the attitude of trusting the Lord's presence and facing things calmly even in the storm.

We consider how the small faith we have can grow into a great tree, and how we can grow in spiritual discernment through suffering.

Through the parable of the seed that fell on the ground, which Jesus told by the sea, and the parable of the weeds, this passage explains how the state of the listener's heart affects spiritual fruit. The seed the farmer sows falls on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns and on good soil, and this pictures how hard or shallow the listeners' hearts are, and how blocked they are by the worries and desires of the world. In particular, a heart like rocky ground looks zealous at first but easily collapses in the face of hardship or testing, while the thorns stand for a state that has life but cannot grow.

The sermon stresses that we must go beyond simply hearing the Word: we must apply it to our lives, persevere and bear fruit. It points out that many people neglect to plough up their own hearts and clear away the world's thorns before they ask for God's grace. Through the parable of the weeds it also notes that the weeds sown by the evil one grow together with the wheat until the harvest but are finally separated on the day of judgment, and it conveys the need for believers to keep their faith and persevere to the end. This means living a life that is not swayed by one's own feelings or circumstances, but serves God as Lord and gives him glory.

The sermon asks the reader to reflect on whether their heart is now like the hard path that cannot receive the Word, like shallow rocky ground whose passion is only for a moment, or like the thorns, blocked and unable to grow. It also leads us to think deeply about how we must first make an effort and devote ourselves to overcome these states of heart, and how we must persevere to the end and hold on to God's promises.

This passage deals with the life and tragic death of Josiah, regarded as the most faithful king in the history of Judah. Josiah came to the throne at a young age, repaired the temple, tore down the idols and brought about a remarkable spiritual reform that turned the whole nation back to God. God promised that if he completed this reform he would not see disaster and would die in peace. Yet, despite a warning from the king of Egypt, he went out to war, was struck by an arrow and was killed.

The sermon points out that Josiah's death should be understood within God's mysterious providence rather than as the result of a mistake seen from the viewpoint of retribution. The 'knowing' of God that the Bible speaks of is not mere information but a deep personal relationship and union. God's providence therefore works in ways people cannot understand and goes beyond our expectations and common sense. Josiah's death looks like a tragedy on the surface, but God rescued him from the disaster of the coming judgment and led him into 'shalom', a state of complete rest.

The sermon urges believers, when they face the hardships of life and situations they cannot understand, to trust the God who rules over the situation rather than the results they can see. It stresses that God knows our weakness and our groaning and is the one who takes responsibility for us to the end. Through this sermon the reader is led to think about what the difficulties in their own life mean within God's love and providence, and how to look at their situation from a transcendent point of view.

This passage deals with the difficulty Jesus faced from his family's unbelief even while he was proclaiming the truth, when his mother and brothers accused him of being out of his mind and tried to take him away by force. When the scribes accused Jesus of acting by the power of Beelzebul, Jesus pointed out, by reasoning that Satan cannot cast out Satan, that their words were a contradiction that fell short of common sense.

The sermon points out specifically what the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is. It warns that slandering pastors and teachers, setting people against one another and hindering the church, as well as complaining constantly even while serving, amount to the sin of resisting the Holy Spirit. Using the examples of the king of Tyre and the fallen angel, it also explains that when people oppose God in pride amid his special grace and abundance, they are judged in the end. Because Satan has no mercy and tempts people and drags them into darkness, believers must give up their own righteousness and humbly depend on the Holy Spirit.

The sermon declares that those who do God's will, rather than blood relations, are true family. Because Satan is watching for an opening to divide the church, believers must bear with one another, love one another and not give Satan a gap to attack. It asks what kind of heart we must have to be believers who put Satan to shame, giving thanks for the grace God has given and keeping an unchanging faith in a lowly place.

Today's passage deals with the spiritual attitude and way of life the apostle Paul requires of church leaders. Paul defines office in the church not as mere honour or rank but as a mission entrusted by God, and he describes the spiritual clothing that officers must put on. This means becoming like Christ in character, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, rather than relying on education or ability.

The sermon stresses that the church is not simply an administrative organization but a community that shares one destiny, and it says that bearing with one another, forgiving each other and adding love is the bond that ties the community together. It also points out that officers should not try to build the church by their own ideas, but should be people in whom the word of Christ dwells richly, keeping watch in the Word and in prayer. Without such faithfulness and character, however great one's ability, the church cannot be built up; it makes clear that what God looks for is not impressive achievements but faithfulness to the end.

As we think deeply about the mission and character officers must carry and the nature of the relationships a community builds together, it asks whether we can truly remain faithful by looking to God's faithfulness rather than to our own shortcomings.

Today's passage describes how Jesus called his disciples, lived with them, and appointed them as preachers and as apostles with authority. At the time, the Pharisees were fixated on the formal keeping of the Law and ignored love and mercy, the true meaning of the Sabbath; they condemned Jesus' good deeds and looked for a chance to kill him. But Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, declared that it is right to do good and save life, and broke through their stubborn preconceptions.

Jesus appointed the disciples so that they would be with him, so that he could send them into the world to preach the gospel, and so that he could give them authority to drive out demons. Peter and Judas Iscariot were both called as apostles, yet because of their own greed and fear they came to completely different ends. Peter went through deep repentance after his failure and became a foundation of the church, but Judas did not repent and in the end fell from his place of mission. This shows how important humble faith and obedience to the truth are, rather than position or power.

We need to ask ourselves whether we are trapped in our own thoughts and feelings and turning away from the truth, and whether we fall to Satan's temptations and easily throw away what is precious. As the lives of Peter and Judas Iscariot warn us, we must not forget that the choices we make now determine eternal outcomes. Today's passage asks how we should set our hearts so that we can live as believers who stay with Jesus and boldly proclaim the gospel.

This passage tells how Josiah, king of the southern kingdom of Judah, read the Book of the Law that had been found by chance while the temple was being repaired, and tore his heart and wept before God. Josiah grew up surrounded by widespread idolatry and spiritual corruption, yet he remembered God's grace and lived humbly before the Word. He shows that true restoration begins with rediscovering the Word that had been lost, and emphasizes that the Word must stand at the center of life, not outward religious routine.

The sermon points to how Josiah responded when he heard the Word: without excuses or rationalizing, he confessed his sin and wept. God's word can make us uncomfortable by exposing our sin and hypocrisy, but that is evidence of a living spirit responding. Josiah did not despair at the word of judgment but sought God's will, and he received God's heart through Huldah, an ordinary prophetess. Even in the midst of judgment on all of Judah, God did not turn away from Josiah's broken spirit and contrite heart.

We must admit that we are not perfect people but sinners, and come to the grace of the cross. What is the secret to becoming that one person who humbles themselves and tears their heart before God's word, and so brings life to their family and church?

This passage covers Jesus healing a paralyzed man, calling Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to be his disciple, and his conflict with the Pharisees. It shows that seeing miracles or hearing the Word is not enough; a true relationship is decided by a person's own choice and decision. In particular, Jesus came to the sick and to sinners, and opened the way of salvation through their repentance and faith.

The sermon warns against hypocritical faith and formalism, and emphasizes a sincere faith that truly worships God. It points out that fasting and religious practices must not become a source of pride or a mere habit, but are only for deep fellowship with God. It also urges us to prepare new wineskins that can hold the life of the gospel, rather than a faith trapped in old traditions and forms.

As those who have been set free from the chains of sin and saved, how should we carry out the mission of seeking out sinners who cannot repent and sharing the gospel with them? We also need to think about what concrete attitudes will let us live as people of faith built on the word of truth, not bound by form and tradition.

Today's passage says that just as life grows in nature, our faith too must mature more and more in God. The apostle Peter lays out a journey of becoming like Christ by adding to faith, one after another, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Even though we are not perfect from the start, God builds us up again through our failures and makes us grow.

Growth in faith is not a special ability or a miracle, but concrete attitudes toward life that show at home and at work. In particular, the first thing to build on faith is not mere good manners but ‘moral excellence’, a good way of living before God. As the vessel that holds faith, it must show itself in honesty and consideration in small everyday moments, and it is a process of encouraging and holding one another up and growing together in the community.

Peter completes the fruit of faith with love, stressing that Jesus' heart for embracing people matters more than great knowledge or ability. God is shaping us not into people the world thinks impressive, but into people who reveal his good character. Through this time today, can we entrust ourselves to him so that the fruit of love grows in our serving of one another and our fellowship?

This passage shows Jesus calling disciples by the Sea of Galilee and meeting a man possessed by a demon in the synagogue in Capernaum. Peter, who had caught nothing all night, obeys Jesus' word, experiences a miracle, and confesses him as Lord; this is set against the demon, which knows who Jesus is and fears him, yet opposes him to the end.

The sermon points out that Satan does not rule people by force; he exercises spiritual control by slowly deceiving people's hearts and persuading them to push God away. It also warns that false spiritual phenomena such as past lives or fortune-telling are nothing but Satan's tricks, imitating God to lead people astray, and that faith can be shaken if we cannot discern the truth. It stresses that believers must not give in to Satan's threats and lies but stand firm in the Word and in faith, and wash their unclean hearts clean through repentance.

How should we obey the Word and fight the spiritual battle, so that we can be free from Satan's attacks and enjoy the life of the kingdom of heaven?

This passage tells of Manasseh, king of the southern kingdom of Judah, who over a long reign of 55 years made the nation stable and prosperous, yet whom God judged a ‘very wicked king’. By staying loyal to the great power of Assyria he brought political stability and material abundance, and the people probably regarded him as a fine king. But under his rule idolatry and sin spread, until the people no longer listened to God's word at all.

The world values success, influence, and stability, but God looks only at whether we obey. Today we are living in the last days, when deception is rampant because of advances in technology, fake news, and cult leaders. The world brainwashes people into believing they can live well without God, and leads each person to live by their own standards. In such surroundings, what matters most is that believers are not dazzled by the world's prosperity but keep a faith that obeys God's word.

When Manasseh humbly repented in a hopeless situation, God forgave and restored him. This shows that God's concern is not judgment but salvation. What Jesus looks for in the last days is not success or many accomplishments, but people who have kept the faith to the end. We must not let our hearts be carried off in a confused world, but be faithful to death and become people who obey God.

Today's passage covers how Jesus, after being baptized by John, was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and tempted by Satan. Jesus was baptized in order to bear the sins of humanity and become the atoning sacrifice, and this is the starting point that leads to suffering and the cross. John the Baptist knew that his mission was to transfer sin onto Jesus, yet seeing Jesus' holiness, he did not want to baptize him. But Jesus said that he must do this in order to fulfill all righteousness, and he was baptized.

Afterward, when the Holy Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness, Satan set three temptations before him: making bread, putting on a miracle, and the offer of the glory of all the kingdoms of the world. Satan tried to use Jesus' identity to put God to the test, demanded a miracle to draw people's attention, and tried to make him covet worldly power. But Jesus drove off every temptation with God's word, and made clear that God alone is to be worshiped and served. This shows that the heart of salvation is a relationship with God and following the truth, more than miracles or worldly glory.

We must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and worship in spirit and truth, not be deceived by Satan's cunning temptations, and obey the Word. Take time to reflect deeply on what it means to drive back evil spirits with the boldness the Holy Spirit gives, and to live relying on the truth rather than on what can be seen.