Podcasts about st timothy presbyterian church

Scripture Passage John 13:31-35 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Jesus said, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. (John 13:34) Jesus said he gave them a new commandment. But it was not a new commandment. Already, in the […] The post Love One Another appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Revelation 7:9-17 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script You have one life to live. Therefore, I think you should pursue the best things in life. Don't chase the things that don't matter. Don't waste your time on trivial things. Pursue the best things. That's what makes life worth living, isn't it? The thing […] The post Pursue The Best Things appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage John 21:1-19 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Feeling guilty is a common response of all human beings. We are not perfect. We all make mistakes. We don't always follow the good we aspire; we follow the evil we despise, sometimes. We don't always stand up for what is right. We compromise with […] The post Guilt Hides Hope Within It appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Isaiah 65:17-25 Worship Video Worship Audio The Sermon Audio will be available soon! Thank you for your patience. Sermon Script Today's message begins with this. For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17) Isaiah […] The post Resurrection: New Heavens and A New Earth appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Isaiah 50:4-9 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Our mission team is in Cuba right now. For their trip, we asked for support from all of you. The response was incredible. Many backpacks and items. And cash amounts that exceeded what we asked for: almost $30,000. I reflected on what that means. The […] The post Take On Your Righteous Suffering appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Philippians 3:4b-14 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script What do people value the most? A recent Reuters poll says that American people value time the most. Then career , success , and money come in as close seconds. I think that is so true. What good is money when you have no time to spend it? What good is all the power and success when no time is left for you. It is like a parable of a rich fool that our Lord Jesus taught us. Then he told them a parable: The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops? Then he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? (Luke 12:16-21) He had all the riches but he didn't have time. What's the use? Time is the most valuable, the most important, and the most practical. So, appreciate your time. Cherish it. Don't waste it away. It is free but priceless. Once you have lost it you can never get it back. There are different ways of thinking of time. Different aspects of time. The Past, the Present, and the Future. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Of these three, I think the future is the most important. If there is no future, our past and present become meaningless. You reflect on your past to make a better future. You work hard today so that you can have a good tomorrow. So your past and your present should ultimately work for your future. Because your future is the most important. The interesting thing is: The future is not here yet but it is the most important. In our hands, we don't have the future yet, but it is what determines the quality of your life. When you have no future, you will be devastated. So life is very interesting and strange in that way. What we don't have, what we don't see, what has not happened yet, – that controls and determines the quality of our life. So don't tell me that I can accept only thing that I can see, I can touch, and I can feel. You are controlled by what is not here yet. Your future. The future – It is interesting. People have different attitudes about their future. I don't think many people are comfortable with their future. Is your future your friend or your enemy? Do you love to think about your future or you try to avoid your future as much as possible? The future can be scary because it is unknown. It is uncertain. These days, the uncertainty of our future has become very real. Because of US policy, the whole world is wondering what their future may be. Uncertain, unknown, unpredictable. The future is not just uncertain and unknown – It is uncontrollable. The future is not in your control. You don't know what tomorrow holds for you. In Myanmar, close to 3,000 people died because of earthquake. Nobody knew that it was coming. Recently in LA, and also in Korea, so many people lost their homes because of fire. Nobody expected that. The future just comes without warning. What are human responses to the very nature of the future? Worries and anxieties. That is what a lot of people have about the future. University students – What if I can't get into the program I want. People who are working, especially in the auto industry – What if I get laid off because of this new tariff. Old people – What if I get sick, who will take care of me? Worries and Anxieties – A very common attitude towards their future. Another human response is – You become helpless and hopeless. You can do nothing about your future. So, just passively receive your future. Que sera sera – whatever will be, will be. The future is not ours to see. But Paul showed a different attitude towards the future today. but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13) He didn't worry about his future. He didn't just passively take whatever future that came to him. He strained forward to what lied ahead. He put away his past. He didn't dwell on it. Our past can be a good teacher for us. But at the same time, our past can haunt us. Our past can drag us down. Not just your painful past but even your glorious past can drag you down. What good is your glorious moment in the past? It's gone. No use. You have to cut it off. St. Paul considered his past as rubbish. Rubbish is a very toned down translation. The Greek word Paul used, skubalon – means “dung,” “excrement,” or “refuse . He cut it off. Forgetting what lies behind me, I will strain forward to what lies ahead. A very future oriented mentality. How could he have this very strong future-oriented mentality? Because he saw what most of us don't see. He clearly saw what was ahead of him. He clearly saw the end. He was able to see the goal. Verse 14. I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) What do you see in your future? Do you see only dark, gloomy, and ominous clouds? In the same letter St. Paul said this. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) What does he see in his future? The good work that God began will be completed. The good work God began in you will be completed. He saw what was in his future with the eyes of faith. He saw the power that moved and propelled him into the future. He did not just wait passively for the future to come to him. He entered into the future with boldness. There was power within him and this power propelled him into the future. His attitude towards future is very different from most common attitudes of people: like worries and anxieties, or hopeless submission. He knew that his future was not in his hands. BUT He believed that his future was in God's hands. He believed that death is not the final station of his train. My friends, death is not the final station of your train. Don't get off there. St. Paul believed that the resurrection is his final station. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10, 11) The power of the resurrection was what propelled him to take on his future. The resurrection was what he saw in his future. Even suffering could not stop that future. Death could not stop that future. If somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:11) What do you see in your future? Believe in your future. When faith dances with the future, it becomes hope. Live with hope. Believe in your future. At the end of your journey, there is the resurrection. See that. And boldly take the challenges that come to you. And build your beautiful future. The post Look To the Future appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Philippians 3:4b-14 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script What do people value the most? A recent Reuters poll says that American people value "time" the most. Then "career", "success", and "money" come in as close seconds. I think that is so true. What good is money when you have no time to spend […] The post Look To the Future appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script This is a very famous story. I am sure most of you have heard about this story and are very familiar with it. This is one of the most famous parables Jesus left behind for us to remember. What we read today is the […] The post Pain of Letting Go appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script This is a very famous story. I am sure most of you have heard about this story and are very familiar with it. This is one of the most famous parables Jesus left behind for us to remember. What we read today is the last one of three stories. All three stories have the same theme. The first one is about a shepherd searching for one lost sheep, leaving 99 in the wilderness. The second one is about a woman searching for one lost coin. And today's story is the last one about a father who lost a son. All three parables are about losing something and finding it back. But the third story has its unique message that is not in the first two. The shepherd and the woman were actively searching for their lost one. The shepherd went out and went through all the troubles to find the lost sheep. The woman lit a lamp and swept through the whole house to find the lost coin. But the father didn't do anything to find the lost son. He didn't go out to search for him. He didn't send people to find his son. Was it because the father did not love the son? Was it because he was upset at the son? Or was it because he didn't care? I don't think so. I see two images of God in these three stories. The first one is the image of God who actively goes out to search for the lost. The second one is the image of God who waits. The lost sheep and the lost coin could not come back on their own. That's why the shepherd and the woman actively searched for it. But the son – he was different. He chose to go out. He didn't want to stay home. The Scripture doesn't tell us why he wanted to leave the house. Maybe because of his self-righteous brother? Maybe because he felt stuffy at home? Maybe because he wanted to see the bigger world? Maybe because he simply wanted freedom? We don't know why. But he wanted to leave home. He wanted his inheritance. The father didn't die yet. But he wanted his portion anyway. That doesn't sound nice. But strangely, the father was silent. He just gave it to him. The father let him go. He didn't tell him to stay. He didn't tell him to reconsider. He didn't threaten him not to give him his portion. He simply divided his property between two sons and gave his portion. The father might have been disappointed. The father might have been angry. The father might have been concerned. But the Scripture doesn't express any of his emotions. The silence of the father speaks volumes. The father knew exactly that his son needed to do that. He needed to leave the house. He needed to go out and experience the world. He needed to find his own life. He needed freedom even though the father knew that freedom was costly. That is the kind of God we have. God allows us to go. God allows us to have freedom. God allows us to have our own choice. You have many young children. Now they are cute and adorable. But there will be a time when they want to leave you and leave home. They want to make their own choices. They want to have their own freedom. Letting them go is hard. There is pain in letting go. Sometimes going out and actively searching for them is easier. But human beings are not like a sheep or a coin. The image of God this parable portrays to us is the pain of God who lets his son go. The pain of God who lets his son reject him. Asking for his inheritance while the father was alive was the greatest insult and disrespect. And yet the father doesn't say anything. His silence delivers his pain. That is the kind of love Jesus showed. Jesus allowed people to reject him. I could see that very clearly in his last supper. He knew that Judas would soon reject him. And yet he gave the bread to him. Then he said, Do quickly what you are going to do. (John 13:27) John described the scene in this way. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he (Judas) immediately went out. And it was night. (John 13:30) And it was night. This was a symbolic expression. He left Jesus who is the light and entered into darkness. Jesus allowed Judas to betray him. Jesus allowed Peter to deny him. Listen to this conversation. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.' Jesus answered, Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. (John 13:37, 38) Jesus allowed Judas to betray him and Peter to deny him. Jesus allowed people to reject him. That is the message of the cross. Today's story shows the agony of the father who allows the son to reject him, disrespect him, and leave him. But that is not the end. The story also shows the image of God who is waiting. The father let him go even though it was painful but deep inside, he was hoping that he would come back. This is well captured in verse 20. So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20) I have an African Bible. It is in English but there are commentaries about how Africans may read a particular passage. On this passage, it says, African elders will never run. Same with older Korean custom. They never run. While he was still far off, the father could recognize his son. It gives me the image that he was waiting every day for the son to return. That is the kind of God we have. Not only he allows son to go but he waits for the son who rejected him, insulted him, and left him. That is the gospel. That is the good news. Waiting is much more difficult than doing something for your son. Waiting is much more difficult than searching. The third parable is the climax of God's love. It shows the epitome of God's love. My friends, our God is not God who forces you to stay home. Our God is not God who justifies his righteousness by punishing us. I told you so is not God's attitude towards us. Our God is not God who is forcing you to follow his command so that he could claim his authority and ownership. Our God is God who wants you to be free and experience the world. Our God is God who even allows you to reject him and leave him. But our God is God who waits for you and is always ready to embrace you when you return. This new image of God is what Jesus showed to all of us. This new image of God is what St. Paul discovered. This is the image Pharisees did not understand and could not accept. So they rejected Jesus. My friends, God is always waiting for you. Come home! The post Pain of Letting Go appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Have you had a personal experience of meeting God? Meeting God is a wonderful experience. When you meet God, everything is good. You feel embraced by God's love. Your burdens are lifted. You feel that everything is going to be alright. Many of you have experienced this kind of wonderful encounter with God. This is what it was like when the Corinthians received the gospel. Meeting God instills a core belief: that everything will be alright. In God's hands, all will be good. In Christian faith, we call that hope. Everything might not be alright now, but they will be. Hope is at the core of Christian faith. Hope is what the resurrection is all about. No matter how bad things are now, in the end, God will be victorious. The writer of Revelation articulates a beautiful vision of this good ending: See, the home of God is among mortals.He will dwell with them;they will be his peoples,and God himself will be with them and be their God;he will wipe every tear from their eyes.Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4) That is the promise of our hope. Our whole Christian faith is built on the promise that no matter how bad things are right now, in the end they will be alright. Because of that hope, how you live now changes. You live based on the promise that is to come. That's what happened to the Corinthians when they met God. Christ was coming soon, and that all would be well. Based on that belief, they made radical changes to their lives. They created a new community that crossed social and economic lines. Relationships that would never have been formed were created. It was a beautiful new kind of humanity and community. When you meet God, that hope seems so real and alive. It is a beautiful thing. But what happens when that hope doesn't manifest? What if there is a never ending delay to that promise? What if things don't really get better? Things don't change or even get worse? When the promise of a better future doesn't become real, two questions arise in the heart: What's the point?What difference does it make? What's the point of holding onto faith when nothing changes? What difference does it make to keep trying? Your belief in the promise of a better future erodes. You lose hope. That is the situation that Paul is addressing. Christ did not come as they expected. Their problems remained. They were losing hope. In today's passage, Paul is warning them using examples from the past. The examples he uses are from the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt. They experienced the mighty hand of God in leading them out and providing for them. This is how Paul describes this: I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) God had led them out with a mighty hand. God promised that he would lead his people into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. But then they got stuck in the wilderness. People grew restless. They began to lose hope in the promise. Paul describes what happened: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:5) They lost hope and fell away from God. Paul has a few warnings based on what happened to them in the wilderness: Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play. (1 Corinthians 10:7) This is based on the golden calf. Moses went up to Mt Sinai to receive the commandments from God. But he took so long. The people got tired of waiting. They demanded a god they could see. So Moses' brother Aaron created a golden calf. They held a festival where they ate, drank and played. God makes a promise that all will be good. But when things don't seem to get better, people easily turn to other things. Where do you really turn to to feel safe and secure? What do you trust to make your life better? We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. (1 Corinthians 10:8) At another point during their time in the wilderness, they settled at a place in Moab. The men began to sleep with Moabite women. Not only that, they began to offer sacrifices to Moabite gods. They forgot about God's promise. They lost hope they would ever get to the Promised Land. So they focused on pleasure for that moment. Many people say: just focus on the present. We should enjoy each moment, yes. (Olivia tanned from vacation – jealous!) But when you only focus on the present and ignore the future, if all you look forward to is pleasure, it could be a sign of lost hope for the future. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. (1 Corinthians 10:9) When God's promise does not come to fruition, people question God. When I see people, they don't turn to God or places like the Bible for wisdom, guidance and answers. They turn to experts online, influencers, people who sound intelligent. Anywhere but God. When I mention the word Bible , many times I sense an immediate aversion. It's almost like: God can't exist when there's all this mess – prove to me that God exists . Even after all that God had done, many people in the wilderness questioned God himself. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10:9) People complained and grumbled to Moses the whole time. They even asked why he had brought them out of Egypt. At least there they had food to eat! Grumbling, complaining, being a victim – these are not marks of trust in God and his promises. Paul uses these examples to identify pitfalls to faith. Things that take your eyes away from the promise we build our lives on. What is the Christian journey? It is living in that gap between God's promise and its fulfillment. That's what it means to follow Jesus. The Christian life exists in tension between the messy reality that's now and what will be. That's why it can be so difficult. That's why so many people fall away. Christian life is not for the faint of heart. It's not for those seeking a simple, easy life. It is living with that gap that sometimes seems like a chasm. The main ingredient for life in this gap is faith: trusting in the promises of God, even when they seem so far away. Trusting the one who makes the promises. When faith goes, so does hope. There are so many reasons to lose belief in God's promises. We have our Sioux Valley info session today. So many challenges – drug epidemic among youth. Grave concern among elders and leaders for youth. Legacies of history and residential schools is tragic – breakdown of family life where love is experienced. Message from broken family and outside world: you are not loveable. Questions: what's the point? What difference does it make? Lost hope – no belief that future can be different, better. It seems more difficult than ever to hold onto hope in God's promises. But I hold onto God's promises. Why? First, because life with no hope is no life. I don't want to have nothing to live for! Secondly, because of what I've experienced and because of people's living testimonies of faith. I've seen the living testimonies of faith in you and places like Sioux Valley. I've seen people get through so many challenges and difficulties with faith in God's promises. They don't lose hope. I've seen the power of faith that moves mountains and overcomes all manner of tribulations. They assure me that God's promises are real and true. My friends, it is worth it to hold onto the promises of God. The rewards of the promise are great. They are life. They are joy. They are fullness. Living with faith in that promise has its rich rewards now. It brings peace, joy, community. That is what we are: a community that holds onto the promises of God. Paul gives this assurance to us: No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) We face many tests of our faith. But God will not let them overcome you. God will give you strength. God will give you a way out! God will hold up your hope. Hold onto hope. Do not give up. Find rest in the promises of God. The post Hold Fast, Do Not Give Up appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Have you had a personal experience of meeting God? Meeting God is a wonderful experience. When you meet God, everything is good. You feel embraced by God's love. Your burdens are lifted. You feel that everything is going to be alright. Many of you […] The post Hold Fast, Do Not Give Up appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Psalm 27 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script We've been studying David at our Winter Fridays. The psalm we read today was written by him. Around 73 of the 150 psalms are attributed to David. That is almost half of the entire book. He was a talented poet. He had the sensitivity of an artist and the insight of a theologian. When I look at David's life, I see a common theme. It is that God was always with him. He lived his life with this understanding, in all circumstances. God was never separate from or outside the reality of his life. God was intimately involved in his life. We can see this at the beginning of today's psalm The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The LORD is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) Even in danger, David never lost his confidence. Knowing that God was with him gave him strength. It gave him the courage to face Goliath when no one else wanted to. It gave him the wisdom to spare Saul's life even when it was to his advantage. It made him the spiritual rock that he was. What does it mean to know that God is always with us? What did it mean for David? I asked myself that question. This is something that we hear often. But what is implied in that expression? To know that God is with us is to know that we are LOVED. There is no difference. They are very much connected. That we are loved reveals itself in the way God cares for us. Knowing this is the foundation of our faith. It is the source of our confidence in the midst of trouble. David knew that he was loved. It was not head knowledge. He experienced God's love surrounding him all throughout his life. Not only in his successes and victories, but especially in situations that seemed impossible and life-threatening. He was saved numerous times from Saul's attempts to kill him. He was pulled back from the frontlines just as he thought he had to go to war against his own people. When he was lost and unsure of what to do, David saw God's hand rescuing him like a ray of light piercing through the darkness. God's steadfast love became real to him in those moments. We don't know the exact context or background of today's psalm. It is obvious that he is in some kind of danger. People are against him and they want his life. Yet, he does not easily waver in his confidence. He knows that he is loved and God will take care of him. For he will hide me in his shelterin the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will set me high on a rock. (Psalm 27:5) If my father and mother forsake me,the LORD will take me up. (Psalm 27:10) Whenever difficulties come, the first thing we do is panic. We become fearful. We lose perspective and get overwhelmed. We look for solutions to get rid of our problems quickly. We make rash and impulsive decisions. We end up complicating our situations even more. We feel more powerless and helpless than before. All this comes from believing that we are alone. That is why we ask ourselves, Why is this happening to me? We feel totally isolated. Is God really with me? In other words, we are asking Am I loved by God? That was Saul. He lived in constant fear. It stemmed from his belief that he was totally alone. Unlike David, God was not a part of his reality. Only himself. His life became all about him trying to deal with his problems. But it didn't better his situation. It only led him further and further into darkness. It ultimately destroyed him. In that sense, dealing with the challenges of life is not so much a question of what to do, but WHO WE ARE. It is not a matter of finding effective solutions, but our IDENTITY. When the storms come, what gets rattled is our sense of self. Everything else in our life feels shaky as a result. If our identity is firmly rooted, we can withstand the storm. If our identity is fragile, we will be knocked down by the storm. That is what our Hi-C students reflected on at their retreat last weekend. The theme was, Be Who You Are . To be a rock, we need to cultivate a healthy and strong identity. Adolescence is perhaps the most formative time for that. Cultivating a healthy sense of self begins with hearing who God says that we are. The first thing God tells us is that we are loved as Jesus heard at his baptism And a voice came from the heavens, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. (Mark 1:11) We are not loved because of anything we have done. It is because that is who God is. God is love. We were loved even before we were born. Our very existence is the evidence of God's love. To know that we are loved is where everything starts. It is the bedrock of our life and identity. Do you know that you are loved? Do you believe that? Remind yourself daily of this truth. I AM LOVED. Every morning. During the day. At the end of the night. I think it can be a good spiritual practice for Lent. When we rest in God's love, the power of fear will lose its grip over us. It will no longer control or dictate the way we live. The most visible indication of the absence of love in our life is the presence of fear. From there comes hatred and anger, envy and jealousy. Where love is present, fear cannot exercise its power. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) Whether you feel it or not, God's love always surrounds you. That will never change. There is never a moment when you are away or apart from God. His love will accompany you through all the stages of your life. David said Where can I go from your spirit?Or where can I flee from your presence?If I ascend to heaven, you are there;if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.If I take the wings of the morningand settle at the farthest limits of the sea,even there your hand shall lead me,and your right hand shall hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10) Hearing this, I also thought of what St. Paul said. Like David, he lived with the deep understanding that he was loved. He knew that nothing could separate him from God. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39) UNCERTAINTY seems to be the word that captures the mood of today. Not that our life was more certain before. But what is happening around us seems to amplify the feeling of uncertainty even more. People are stressed and on edge. They are struggling not just financially, but mentally as well. They seem burdened and down. In some ways, this feels like the next big challenge that we are facing since the pandemic. How we choose to go through this period will be very important. Even though our circumstances may tell us otherwise, remember that you are loved. You don't have to do anything. First, simply rest in God's love. Find refuge in God. Be still and look to him. Be strong and courageous, as David said Wait for the LORD;be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14) You are not alone. God is always with you. God will stretch out his hand and deliver you. God's goodness will surround you and follow you. God will help you come out of the storm stronger than before. This is the time for us to be shaped into a ROCK. The post Know You Are Loved appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Psalm 27 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script We've been studying David at our Winter Fridays. The psalm we read today was written by him. Around 73 of the 150 psalms are attributed to David. That is almost half of the entire book. He was a talented poet. He had the sensitivity of […] The post Know You Are Loved appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When I think about people today, there's a word that comes to my mind: overwhelmed. I sense that people are just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the demands placed on them. Their time. Energy. Attention. It is true, our senses are overwhelmed, our brains are overwhelmed. We can't even sit still: our phones demand our attention. But I think there's a deeper force that leads people to feel overwhelmed. It's that the anchors people rely on are crumbling. In Canada, we're going through a huge change. For our entire lifetimes, the United States was our anchor. Our identity as Canadians was closely tied to the United States, whether we like it or not. We liked to say that we're not Americans, but even saying that reveals just how closely tied we were to them. They were our economic anchor. They were our security anchor. We could live safely, peacefully and prosperously because we had a strong, rich, friendly neighbour to the south. But all that has changed in just two months. Canada is very alone and vulnerable right now. We cannot rely exclusively on the United States for our economy. But it will take time to diversify our trading relationships. Even geographically we are isolated – the only neighbour we have is the United States. I have concerns about the future; I don't know what will happen. Today's passage is the final speech of Moses to the Israelites. It begins this way: When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 26:1) They are still in the wilderness. In the wilderness, the Israelites had no anchor. Their only thing they knew before freedom was their life in slavery. That's why even though they were free in the wilderness, many times the people complained to Moses. They would say that at least in Egypt we had food to eat! In the wilderness, they had absolutely no anchors but God. They had to learn how to trust completely in God. They trusted God for everything: food, water, shelter and where to go. It took a whole generation. Over 40 years. The first generation all died in the wilderness. A new generation was born. But finally, by the end, they knew their anchor was God. They became God's people. Our identity is always in connection with something or someone else. I am not just Simon. Even my name is not from me – it was given to me by my parents. I am their son. I am Joonie and Abby's dad. I am a pastor of St. Timothy. I am always someone in relation to someone or something else. For me, the most important part of my identity is that I am a child of God. God is the unchanging anchor that I pin my identity to. That was the main outcome of the Israelites in the wilderness: they became God's people by pinning their identity to God. They and God became one. My friends, in these times, we feel no true anchor in this world. Anything can change. And that can be overwhelming. But we HAVE an unchanging anchor. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is steadfast, unchanging and forever faithful. That is who we pin our identity on. If your identity as God's child is clear, steadfast and unchanging, then you can get through ANYTHING in life! That's how important your identity is. You are a child of God. You are God's. If you know who you are, if you know whose you are, then you will withstand anything that comes your way. Moses' main concern was whether the people would maintain their identity. Their time in the wilderness was coming to an end. A whole generation had passed away, and a new one emerged. They would enter a new environment filled with new challenges. Would they remain attached to God, or would they attach themselves to other things? That was the great question and concern in Moses' mind. Who would they be? That's the question for us. In today's passage, Moses institutes spiritual practices so that people would maintain their identity as God's people. That is what today's passage is all about: how the people maintain their identity as the people of God in new and changing environments. Those practices are just as relevant for us today. When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' (Deuteronomy 26:1-2) Moses instituted the first fruit offering. This is where we get our practice of tithing from. Give to God before you take anything for yourself What does this achieve? It affirms your connection to God. It acknowledges who gave you this fruit in the first place. You may have been the one to harvest the land, but it was God who gave you the land in the first place. There's an old Korean custom I learned growing up. When you start a new job, you give your first paycheque to your parents. It's an acknowledgement of their hard work and sacrifice to help you get to where you are. It's affirming your relationship with them. I think it's a beautiful custom. Giving your first fruit to God: that is affirming your identity as a child of God. That is something that was instilled deeply in the first generation. During COVID, when we could not meet in person, people would deliver their offering envelopes in person. When they miss a week at church, the next week they bring two weeks of offering. We need to learn from these things. Giving of your first fruit is a tangible, concrete expression of your relationship with God. When presenting the first fruit, the people were to say this: Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' (Deuteronomy 26:1-2) After that, this was his instruction: When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.' (Deuteronomy 26:4-10) While giving their offering, they remember all that God has done. Not just that, but especially how God came in their darkest moments and helped them. My friends, we are here because God has been with us. God has helped you. All of you have faced great challenges. Overcome great difficulties. Many of you still are dealing with great challenges. But God has been with you. God has brought you to this point. God is carrying you now. Sometimes when we look back, we don't know how we made it. But we realize that it was God who did. When I really look back, there were so many dark, difficult moments. I don't know why or how God helped me. But somehow, God did. I am so blessed now – I don't deserve any of them. When I think of how God has been with me, it brings tears to my eyes. In that sense, it is nothing to give the first fruits to God. Of course God deserves that first portion. God was everything when I was nothing. That's the attitude we bring to offering. By reciting the past, God once again becomes center in the present. You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 26:10) Our offering song was simple and beautiful. We fall down, we lay our crowns, at the feet of Jesus. We cry Holy Holy Holy is the lamb! That is our worship. With thanksgiving, we give to God and fall down in worship. That is what we do. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. (Deuteronomy 26:11) After worship and thanksgiving, there is a celebration! Levites were the priests. Aliens are the strangers in their midst. So with the pastors and people from all over, we celebrate! That's what happens in our Fellowship Hall. I know it can seem intimidating to go into a hall full of people. It's hard for introverts. But from a spiritual perspective, our fellowship time is a great celebration of the God who has been with us. Everyone is a part of that celebration. These were practices that Moses left so that Israel could affirm its identity as God's children. This is not just a one-time thing. God has given us the gift of the Sabbath. A weekly rhythm of rest and making life blessed again. Sabbath is a day of rest. But rest is not doing nothing. Rest is recentering your identity. Coming back to who you really are. Coming back to God and resting in God's presence. On the Sabbath day, we worship God and affirm once again who we are – beloved children of God. You are God's children. We have an unshakeable anchor in God. No matter how much the world changes, our God does not. How wonderful that is! Know who you are. Know whose you are. That identity be your anchor to get you through anything that life throws your way. The post Know Who You Are appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When I think about people today, there's a word that comes to my mind: overwhelmed. I sense that people are just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the demands placed on them. Their time. Energy. Attention. It is true, our senses are overwhelmed, our brains are overwhelmed. We […] The post Know Who You Are appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 9:28-36 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Today's passage gives us a wonderful scene. A glorious scene! While Jesus was praying, his face changed. His clothes became dazzling. Two dead people appeared. They were not just dead people. They were like pillars of the Old Testament. Moses represented the Law. Elijah represented the Prophet. So the Law and the Prophet, the core tradition of the Old Testament. What a glorious scene! It's a miracle. It was out-of-this-world experience. I need that these days. The reality is so harsh that I need something out of this world. The world we live in is a very difficult world. Especially for those who are weak and powerless, this world becomes more and more difficult to survive. Yesterday was 3.1. It is a special day for Koreans. They protested against Japanese occupation. The powerless fought against the powerful. Many Christians participated in this movement. But now the powerless has no place to stand. Our reality is harsh; I need fantasy. The Scripture tells us about a few wonderful out-of-this-world experiences people had. It is the intervention of God. It is God's way of entering into this world. It is God's special touch. On the road to Damascus, Paul had this intervention of God. He was going to arrest Christians, imprison them and kill them. He was exercising his power and authority on the weak and the vulnerable. But on the way, he experienced the bright light shining around him. And he heard Jesus talking to him. By then, Jesus was already dead. And Paul knew that. He heard the voice of Jesus telling him, Saul, Saul, (His Hebrew name) why do you persecute me? Why are you doing this to my powerless people? Persecuting those who are weak and vulnerable is persecuting me. Out-of-this-world experience! It happened to Isaiah too. He was in the temple. He described his experience in this way. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory.' (Isaiah 6:1-3) Out-of-this-world Experience! Elijah also had this kind of experience. He (God) said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, What are you doing here, Elijah?' (1 Kings 19:11-13) Out of this world Experience! I discover one common thing of all those who had this wonderful glorious moment. They were all facing their harsh reality. They were all going through hard times before this happened. Isaiah was struggling with his own inadequacy and sinfulness, living in a sinful surroundings. This was what he said. Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6:5) Elijah was so deeply depressed that he wanted to die. This was what he said. He asked that he might die: It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors. (1 Kings 19:4) Even in Jesus' case, this was what he said just before he experienced the transfiguration on the mountain. The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Luke 9:22) Jesus was facing his own death. Sometimes God intervenes in our life. God shows his grace in a special way. Not necessarily only through the forms of miracles and supernatural experiences. But there are times when God specially touches you, awakens you, and inspires you. These are glorious moments. This happens when you are going through difficult times. When life is difficult, God appears to you and makes his presence evident. God's presence empowers you, transforms you, and lets you experience glorious moment. But my friends, God gives you this wonderful experience not just to console you and comfort you but to PREPARE you. To prepare you to take the challenges ahead of you. God prepared Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. How about Isaiah? After this experience, God said this. Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? (Isaiah 6:8) Isaiah said, Here am I; send me! (Isaiah 6:8) Elijah too. Elijah said this. I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away. (1 Kings 19:14) To Elijah, God said this. I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18) And go and do what you have to do. God gives us this wonderful divine experience so that we are ready to take our challenges. When you carefully read today's passage, you see that the central message is not the divine experience but the central message is what was coming ahead. Let me read it for you. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30, 31) What departure? Jesus' Death. The Cross. They were talking about Jesus' death. They were talking about what Jesus was about to do. The glorious moment you experience with God is to prepare you to deal with your harsh reality. Every Sunday, you come and worship God. It is a wonderful experience. Thank you all for making this worship service very special. But we should not just feel good about experiencing God's inspiration. This is to prepare you to deal with challenges you face every day from tomorrow. Tomorrow you have challenges ahead of you. There are problems you have to face. That was what Jesus did right after the transfiguration. The very next day, this happened. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.' Jesus answered, You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.' While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:37-43) Yes, the very next day, Jesus had to deal with the darkness, the evil power, and the poor victims in his life. Tomorrow, from Monday, you have to deal with challenges in your life. Relationship problems. Health problems. Financial problems. Deal with evils around you. God will be with you. God will strengthen you. God will show you the power to deal with your challenges. There will be God's intervention. The post A Glorious Moment in Difficult Times appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 9:28-36 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Today's passage gives us a wonderful scene. A glorious scene! While Jesus was praying, his face changed. His clothes became dazzling. Two dead people appeared. They were not just dead people. They were like pillars of the Old Testament. Moses represented the Law. Elijah represented […] The post A Glorious Moment in Difficult Times appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 6:27-38 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Jesus is our Lord. But Jesus was also a flesh and blood human being. His ministry took place among flesh and blood human beings. Jesus' message to them was that the kingdom of God was at hand. Something new was being born. What was the main point about the kingdom of God? Put simply, it was this: you are not merely a victim of your circumstances, but you are empowered to live a better way. Today's passage is the first lesson Jesus gives to his listeners. Love your enemies. Why did he begin with this? He was addressing a critical issue for his audience. His listeners were not people living comfortably, there for a good and entertaining lecture. They were desperate, poor, struggling peasants and commoners in the countryside and small villages. Life had become very difficult for commoners in Galilee. They were forced into debt. They lost their land. They were left behind economically, politically, socially. When things get difficult, the first thing to get affected is unity. The hardships they faced eroded the bonds that held them together. Their difficult circumstances made former friends enemies. Former neighbours adversaries. Hatred and mistreatment grew among people. They were victims of forces and decisions beyond their control. But Jesus is saying: don't be victims of your circumstances. If you react to hate; If you curse those who curse you; If you mistreat those who mistreat you; Aren't you merely a victim of your circumstances? You don't have control over their actions or behaviours. But you allow those behaviours to shape yours. The behaviours and actions of others take control over you. Offering your other cheek; Giving your shirt after they've already taken your coat; Are these signs of weakness? No. They are signs of an empowered person. One who is making their own choice. Jesus' message is that you have agency. You have the power to live a different way. You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can change how you live. The kingdom of God is this: people who live a new way despite present circumstances. A new way defined by God's will that goes against present circumstances. Jesus came to show that a new way is possible. The kingdom of God is not something that takes place in the afterlife. It is something that is present now. Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, Look, here it is!' or There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you. (Luke 17:20-21) This is a radical message for life. You can live a different way from your circumstances or environment. I don't want to underestimate our circumstances. They have a huge effect on your life. Sometimes they are so difficult to deal with. I know some people are dealing with health issues. Others are dealing with financial challenges or finding a job. Others are very anxious by the political uncertainties in the world. Difficult circumstances instill fear, uncertainty, anxiety. Our circumstances are so powerful. They are powerful because they become so much larger than us. Last Sunday, our sanctuary was quite empty because of all the snow. We had no control over nature. We were at its mercy. Circumstances are like that. Because they are so large, they influence us deeply. They affect how you feel. How you think. But what Jesus is saying is that yes, they are powerful and real, but still, you do not need to become a slave to your circumstances. Human beings are very adaptable. We've learned to adapt and survive in all sorts of environments. It is an important skill. But if all you do is adapt and survive, then you will not be free. You will continue to be a slave to your circumstances. You will be absorbed by your circumstances. Sometimes, we need to fight against the circumstances and work to change them. When things are unfair or unjust, we should speak truth and resist. If your health is not great, then you should seek the best medical help and do everything you can to improve your health. But more important is your attitude and thinking. Do not let your circumstances dictate how you think, feel and behave. Circumstances will come and be beyond your control. But do not let them control your thinking. Don't just react to them with your emotions. If you do, then you are just a victim of your circumstances. The people listening to Jesus had adapted to the hostility around them. They began to think like those in a hostile environment. They began to feel like them. Talk like them. They all became part of that environment and perpetuated it. Jesus came to break that cycle. He came to break the grip that circumstances in this world have on you. Jesus came to bring freedom and the possibility of a new start. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Freedom to live the right way. Freedom to do the right thing. Freedom to live by the golden rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31) If you are not free, you cannot treat others as you would have them treat you. If you're not free, how you treat others will depend on how your circumstances are affecting you. You will not be consistent. Jesus came to bring freedom. But freedom comes with a cost. You have to struggle for it. You have to fight for it. Many Canadians are uneasy by all this talk about becoming the 51st state. I don't know how serious they are. But if they are, and we want to maintain our freedom and independence, it will come at a cost. St. Paul's core belief is that we have been rescued from the bondage of our sins. Sins no longer have dominion over us. We are free in Christ. But that freedom came at a cost. The cost of his life and blood on the cross. Jesus was not a victim of his circumstance. He lived an empowered life, filled with the Holy Spirit. He loved his enemies. He did good to those who hated him. He blessed those who cursed him. He prayed for those who mistreated him. He allowed himself to be hung on the cross. Those of us who follow Jesus are not mere victims of circumstance. We are empowered by his Spirit of freedom. We may not control our circumstances. We may have no say in what happens around us. But we will not let them have control over us. Today's passage reminds me of the Freedom Movement in the 1960's. Martin Luther King Jr articulated a new response to their situation: nonviolent resistance. In a society filled with hatred and violence, they resisted it with nonviolence. They met hatred with love. When they were struck, they offered the other cheek. The real power of the movement lay in the change that occurred in millions of black people across the country. They discovered that they were no longer mere victims of their circumstance. Before, they were mere victims of racism, hatred and evil. They lived in fear of violence and hatred. They allowed themselves to accept their inferior status. They allowed themselves to be treated with less dignity. But now they realized that they were not mere victims. They were somebodies. They had a say in how they lived. They could react differently to the hatred and violence of others. In responding to violence with nonviolence, they became an empowered people. The kingdom of God was alive among them. Their example inspired millions of people around the world. They fueled global movements for change and justice. We need that spirit to come alive today. We need empowered people who live differently than our environment and circumstances dictate. Our context today is very challenging. The issues are so much more complex. It's hard to know what's right from what's wrong. It's hard to know what to fight for, and what to fight against. It's easy to give up and withdraw from caring. Jesus gave us gift to be empowered: the gift of prayer. Prayer is our access and lifeline to the empowering Spirit of Jesus. When circumstances overwhelm us and drown us, prayer is the boat that keeps us above waters. Prayer gives us the strength we need to carry on our own path in the midst of difficult circumstances. Prayer keeps us from being passive victims of these complex and overwhelming circumstances. When circumstances threaten to overwhelm you; When they tire your spirit; Come to Jesus in prayer. He will grant you his Spirit to live an empowered life in the kingdom of God. The post Don't Be A Victim, Be Empowered appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 6:27-38 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Jesus is our Lord. But Jesus was also a flesh and blood human being. His ministry took place among flesh and blood human beings. Jesus' message to them was that the kingdom of God was at hand. Something new was being born. What was the […] The post Don’t Be A Victim, Be Empowered appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When does a person deteriorate? What I means is When does a person become weak, frail, dark, and negative? When does a person become overly critical, not happy, gloomy, and feel hopeless? I think that happens when your thinking is deteriorated. The other day, I was talking with a person who just retired. I asked, How is your retired life? He said, Good. I do a lot of things. When I do a lot of things, I don't think about death too much. That was interesting, I thought when I heard it. But I think he is right. There is wisdom in what he said. If you think about death all the time, definitely, you will soon become deteriorated. I visit many people at the hospital. I realized that after they were diagnosed, they became much more quickly deteriorated. It is all to do with your thinking. That was what happened at the church in Corinth. When they first heard the message from St. Paul, they were ecstatic. They received the message of the good news. First time, they heard about the message of resurrection. When Paul preached that in Athens which is very close to Corinth, this was people's reaction. May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means. (Acts 17:19-20) Corinthian people also found it strange but soon they were able to receive the message of resurrection. When they believed the message, they experienced the power of the resurrection. They were filled with joy and eternal hope. But soon, their thinking became deteriorated. They focused more on day to day living. They worried about what to eat, what to wear. They worried about their businesses. They worried about their children. They worried about their own death. Their thinking became weak. When their thinking became weak, everything fell apart. There were sexual corruptions. They created factions and fought with each other. They became very divisive. They neglected the poor around them. Their spirituality became very self-focused. Their spiritual gifts made them proud and arrogant. When their thinking became weak, their life became dark. Morality, principles, spirituality – everything went down the drain. Ultimately, they doubted about their own resurrection. Their belief deteriorated. That was why Paul raised this question. Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:12) They didn't raise this doubt when they first received the message from St. Paul. That's why it was possible that the church was established in Corinth. But now some people at the church could not accept the resurrection. When their thinking became weak, their belief became frail. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the core belief that we Christians hold unto. If there is no belief in the resurrection, there is no Christianity. On resurrection, Christianity is established. If the cross were the end, then there is no point in believing. If the cross were the end, then the evil won. God is defeated by the evil, the darkness, and the death. There is no hope for us. The whole theology and all Christian thinking depend on the truth that there is resurrection. Death is not the end. There is resurrection after the death. Death did not win. Life defeated death. That's what we believe. Jesus exemplified what our destiny would be. He created the path to the eternal life for us. As God raised Jesus from the dead, he will raise us from the dead. People who were martyred died with the hope of resurrection. If there is no resurrection, their death is in vain. That was what St. Paul firmly reiterated in today's passage. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14) All my life, I have been in ministry. All my life, I have preached about the resurrection. If there is no resurrection, I have lived all my life for nothing. I can feel what Paul was saying today. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:17-19) Belief in the resurrection is tough. The resurrection is not something that you can prove theoretically or empirically. That is the nature of belief. Belief is different from knowing. Knowing is intellectually convinced or convicted. Belief is spiritually accepting the truth. Knowing is in your limited capacity. You can only know what you can intellectually understand. But belief is accepting what is much bigger than yourself. The good will win over the evil. The truth shall set you free. It's hard to believe these days but ultimately justice will prevail. That is all in the realm of belief. These are things you can accept only through your belief. There is no logical necessity that the good will win over the evil. But we believe that. And we live by that belief. Jesus said to Martha. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25, 26) Jesus didn't say, Do you know this or do you understand this. Jesus said, Do you believe this? Because it is realm of belief. Belief is not about being intellectually convinced. Belief is accepting the world of truth that is much bigger than my world. Much bigger than what we can process with our intellectual understanding. So, I realized that belief is not something that I do with my brain but I practice to accept the truth that came to me. Belief is about practicing it. You practice to believe. Daily you practice to believe. After practicing it, see what happens. When your thinking deteriorates, your belief deteriorates. You become small. You become locked up in your own small world. Life – you have to live with belief, not with knowledge. When you live with belief, your life becomes bigger. You become a bigger person. If you are waiting for the tangible proof of resurrection, you will never get it. Don't even wait. How long are you gonna live in a limbo? You can accept the resurrection only through your belief. Then you will see that our world is full of resurrection. Every morning, you wake up, you see that the new day is the resurrection. Whenever you get defeated, you can overcome your failure and rise again. That is the resurrection. Even in your hopeless situation, you don't give up. You fight. You pursue what is ahead. That is the resurrection. It is a little long passage but I can see Paul's thinking about the resurrection quite well. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14) That is the attitude of a person who believes in the resurrection. Don't let your thinking deteriorate. Be strong. Practice your belief. Think about the resurrection. Think about it all the time. Don't think about death; think about life. Steve Jobs said, Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Let me tell you a better way. Think about that you will be alive every day. Your day will be brightened up. The post Think About Being Alive Every Day appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When does a person deteriorate? What I means is... When does a person become weak, frail, dark, and negative? When does a person become overly critical, not happy, gloomy, and feel hopeless? I think that happens when your thinking is deteriorated. The other day, […] The post Think About Being Alive Every Day appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 5:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Life is about more than fish. Focus on God, not the fish. God will provide all that you need and unlock what you really want. Do you know what it is that you WANT? What if what you THINK you want is not REALLY what you want? We often confuse what we WANT with what we NEED. What we THINK we want is often really what we NEED. Because it's hard to get what we need, we think that's what we want. It's very hard to make money. Especially if you don't have much to begin with. Young people are having a hard time getting a job. It's getting harder and harder to keep a job. So yes, it takes a lot of work to get what we need. But when you get what you need, you're not satisfied. Getting what you NEED can never satisfy. Money, love, acceptance- these are things we need. Even pleasure and leisure – we need these things. Human beings are not animals meant to only work. But the things that we need cannot satisfy. We need something, so we get it, but then we're not satisfied. You need MORE than that. Only getting what you WANT can satisfy. Simon was a fisherman. He needed fish. That was his livelihood. The fact that he owned a boat meant that he had a fishing business. It was a hard business. That very night, he fished all night but caught nothing. Catching fish is what he thought he wanted. But Jesus came and told him to put his net out into deep water. He had fished all night and caught nothing, yet Jesus was telling him to go again. Simon was probably skeptical, but he listened to Jesus. The result was pretty crazy: When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:6,7) It was the biggest catch of his life! He had more fish than he needed. But instead of being so happy, we see an interesting response. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus's knees, saying, Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man! (Luke 5:8) I am a sinful man! Simon received everything he thought he had wanted. But in that moment, he saw something clearly. He saw that his focus had been on fish, not God. Simon was a member of the synagogue. Every Sabbath he would have heard the Word being taught. For Jews, from the time they were born, they were imprinted with this commandment: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) The most important commandment was to love God. It was to seep into their whole existence. It didn't come out of nowhere. It was forged from their experience in the wilderness. In the wilderness, there was nothing. No food, no water. But there, they experienced God's presence in a powerful way. God provided everything they needed. God sent manna from heaven. God sent quails for meat. God made water flow from the rock. In the wilderness, they learned to love God and trust God completely. God created human beings to live in relationship with him. God blessed Adam and Eve with everything in the Garden of Eden. We were to enjoy all this abundance in relationship with God. But sin began when they turned their focus away from God. When they lost trust in God. When they hid and turned away from God. Sin begins when we turn our orientation and focus to the things we NEED and AWAY from GOD. When we become preoccupied with what we need, we turn away from God. The worries and anxieties of what we need take over our thoughts. Sin is separation from God. When we put what we NEED at the centre, we separate ourselves from God. And in focusing on what we NEED, we lose touch with what we WANT. In the presence of Jesus, Simon saw how much he had turned away from loving God at centre. God knows what we need. He knows that we need money, food, clothing. Love, acceptance, and validation. God doesn't want us to be blind to our needs. We need to work hard. We need to use our brains that God gave us. But they cannot be our center. Our love, loyalty and devotion need to be to God alone. Our complete trust must be in God. Jesus said: Therefore do not worry, saying, What will we eat?' or What will we drink?' or What will we wear?' For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33) Trust God. Love God first and with all your heart. And God will provide all that you need. That's what Peter experienced in the presence of Jesus. He saw how far he had gone away from God in his focus on fish. After Simon's confession, this is what Jesus said to him: Then Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people. (Luke 5:10) Jesus provided everything Simon needed. But now he unlocked what Simon really WANTED. What Simon wanted was not fish. Fish was merely what he needed to live. What he WANTED was a bigger purpose. A life that was drawn toward the divine will. A calling that connected him a bigger life. Jesus unlocked this deeper desire that had been HIDDEN. A deeper desire hidden and buried underneath his pursuit of fish. My friends, what do you really WANT? Have you been able to ask yourself that? Or have you been so focused on what you NEED? God wants to give you an abundant life. That is what Jesus came to give. God's desire is for you to live for what you WANT. When you're connected with God, you get in touch with what you WANT. God will take care of your needs. God will free you from your fear and preoccupation so you can live for what you WANT. Living for what you want – that is a life of joy, purpose, significance. That is a life worth living for! Simon Peter found that after meeting Jesus. Finding what he wanted was worth more than all the fish he could ask for. That's why he left everything – all of his fish – and followed Jesus. My friends, we need fish to live. I love fish. I've loved fish and chips since the time I was a child. I love mackerel ( ) and . I love sushi – sushi boats with sashimi and rolls, yum! I love salmon chirashi. I love McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. I love fish. But life is more than fish. Fish can satisfy my taste buds and appetite. But fish can never satisfy my soul. Only Jesus can. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35) We're living in a very unsettling time. Everyday there's something new. Most recently, we've had a scare with the tariffs. Something about this has shaken Canadians to the core. Donald Trump threatened to take away our fish. I thought we were friends! How are you doing me like that? You tryna take my fish? You may take all of my fish, but I gonna take some of yo fish. Keep yo hands off my fish! We ain't friends no more. We don't know what's in store. But more than ever, fix your eyes firmly on God. Stand more rooted on the solid rock of Jesus. Love God with all your heart and put all your trust in him. God will provide all the fish you need. God will reveal what you really want. God will lead you to green and abundant pastures. The post More Than Fish appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 5:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Life is about more than fish. Focus on God, not the fish. God will provide all that you need and unlock what you really want. Do you know what it is that you WANT? What if what you THINK you want is not REALLY what […] The post More Than Fish appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage1 Corinthians 13:1-13Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon ScriptLove never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:8)This phrase catches my eyes.There is so much in this passage. I can talk about so many things about love.But this phrase stands out for me.Love Never Ends.Love is eternal. The eternal quality is intrinsic in Love.But that's not what we experience about love in this world.People fall in love and easily fall out of love. Today they go crazy about each other and tomorrow they go separate ways.We don't experience the eternal quality of love.That's what celebrities always experience. People are crazy about them and they say how much they love them. But once their popularity goes down, nobody really cares for them.Loving your neighbours is what we have learned from our Lord Jesus.We try to practice that and we also expect that from our neighbours. But all of a sudden, they tell us that we have to pay 25% tariff.We feel betrayed. Once we were neighbours and now we feel like we are strangers.That is the kind of love we experience in this world.Today we are a friend, but tomorrow, we become a stranger.We don't experience the long lasting quality of love in this world. So, people don't trust love. They sing What's love got to do with it.Love we experience is a very momentary thing.It doesn't give us security and confidence. It is just feeling you feel for the moment.And it doesn't last too long.That's what feeling is. Feeling is never eternal.To many people, love is just feeling. It comes and goes. One day you feel very close. The next day you feel indifferent.But Paul boldly proclaims that love never ends.Everything else comes to an end. But love never ends.He said,But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:8)But love we experience is a very small fraction of the true love that is eternal. We feel that love but only momentarily.Then what is love that never ends? Where does it come from?This was what John said.God is love. (1 John 4:16)God is love and love is God. That's where love comes from.We don't feel God but we feel love that is God. We don't experience God but we experience love that is God.Love is God's essential attribute. God is made up of love.So that's why John didn't say that God HAS love. He simply said God IS love.Love we experience is God's love.But only the fraction of it. Only momentarily. Even that momentary experience is heavenly bliss.Love is God's gift for us, for the humanity. This love created the world.When God's love is materialized, that is creation. The birth of a child is God's gift of love for the parents.The abundance we enjoy in our lives is God's gift of love. The breath that makes us alive is God's gift of love.This love sent his son to the world to save it.For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)Because we have love that never ends, we have no fear.We have dark time coming ahead of us. We are not clear how this relationship with US will affect us.But because we have love that never ends, we don't fear. It is time to pray for Canada.We should be united, not divided.Because we have love, we don't fear judgment. Because we have love, we are not afraid of death.So, John said,Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:17-19)The last sentence.We love because he first loved us.We don't have love on our own.The love we have is imperfect. The love we have is not complete.We love because God first loved us. We love because God gave us love.Love is God's greatest gift to us.Faith is also God's gift. Hope is also God's gift. But love is the greatest gift.And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)When you love, you participate in the most profound and marvellous realm, sphere of God's world. You enter into the most holy and sacred space.When you love, you enter into the eternity.When you love, you will be able to see the great mystery of God.Your eyes will be open and you will be able to see the true purpose and meaning of life.For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)My friends, let us enjoy God's greatest gift to us.This gift will enliven our lives. This gift of love will make our lives abundant and meaningful.If there is no love, everything will become useless and everything will end in nothing. Our life will end in nothing.That was what Paul eloquently articulated in the beginning.If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)What good is it if you are the most powerful person in the world? What good is it if you have everything people desire?If you have no love, it means nothing.When everything becomes nothing, the only thing that remains is love.Love never ends.And nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God. That was what Paul experienced.And that is the good news. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that never ends.Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)God loves you! He loves you eternally!Love others as God has loved you. That is how to live eternal life.The post Love Never Ends appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:8) This phrase catches my eyes. There is so much in this passage. I can talk about so many things about love. But this phrase stands out for me. Love Never Ends. Love is eternal. The eternal quality is […] The post Love Never Ends appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage1 Corinthians 12:12-31aWorship Video Worship Audio Sermon ScriptWhen St. Paul met Christ, he became a new person.So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! (2 Corinthians 5:17)Yes, when we meet Christ, we become a new person.But St. Paul was not only talking about himself as a person. He was thinking beyond just himself.He was thinking about our existence as people.In Christ, our whole existence becomes new. How we live together is new.Today's passage that we read is a concrete metaphor for the new kind of community that is created in Christ.He describes it as a new humanity:For he (Christ) is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two (Ephesians 2:15-16)A new community, a new humanity – that is what we become in Christ.In this new community, everyone belongs.You are valued for who you are. You are treated with respect and honour. You are valued for the unique contributions you bring.Differences are valued and appreciated and embraced.This community belongs to everyone, and everyone belongs to it.It wasn't always this way for St. Paul.Before he met Christ, belonging meant something different.Belonging was an exclusive possession. Belonging was conditional on meeting the right requirements.Before he met Christ, he belonged to the chosen people of the Jews. This is how he described his belonging as a Jew:Circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:5-6)He belonged to the exclusive community of God's chosen people because he met the requirements.In the old way of thinking, there is a high barrier to entry for belonging. It is an exclusive club. It is a closed belonging.If you belong, then you're in. If not, then you're out.If you're on the inside, you get the benefits of belonging. If you're on the outside, you're left out.Everyone tries so hard to belong, because we need to belong somewhere to survive.Human beings need to belong.We need to belong to a company or organization that will provide a living. We need to belong to friend groups that meets our social needs. We need to belong to a family that provides love and support.But even when you belong, you don't necessarily have it easy.You have to continue to meet the requirements. If you start slipping on the basic requirements, then your standing becomes more tenuous.I see this in our kids sports teams.If you're a good performer, then all is good. You're valued for your personality. He's a funny guy, a great character.But all of that won't matter if you're not good and producing.In this kind of community, you belong to survive, not thrive.There is pressure. There is fear of losing your standing.In this kind of community, what's valued is what will make that community strong.It's not about you. It's not about the unique gifts that you can offer. It's whether you offer the right gifts that the group needs.Uniqueness and diversity of gifts don't matter. It's about having the right gifts. Offer the right gifts, then you belong.In this kind of community, there is a clear pecking order. Honour and respect are given in that order. There is a hierarchy of value.In this kind of community, belonging is often defined by who you're against.Sometimes, belonging means you don't really know what you're for, but you definitely know what you're against.You prove that you belong by how strongly you're against those who don't belong. The stronger you're against those who don't belong, the more you belong.For Paul, belonging to the Jews also meant opposing and persecuting the church. More zeal for persecuting them meant he belonged even more.All of this changed after he met Christ.After meeting Christ, his understanding of belonging changed.In Christ, belonging changed from closed belonging to open belonging.Whereas in the old world, belonging was closed and exclusive, in Christ, belonging is open and inclusive.All belong. All are sinners. All are forgiven. All are invited into the kingdom of God.It is not about having the right gifts, it is about discovering your unique gifts. Your unique gifts and personality are what will bless the group.Honour and respect are not given according to the pecking order. Rather, everyone, especially the weak, are given honour and respect.No one is considered dispensable.St. Paul saw this very clearly:The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, whereas our more respectable members do not need this. (1 Corinthians 12:21-24)The end result of this kind of community is unity and harmony.But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)This is a very different kind of community than the one we see in the world.In the old world, exclusive belonging creates competition, rivalry and division. It stirs up jealousy, hatred and animosity.In the new humanity, no one is left behind. Everyone is cared for.What Paul is describing in today's passage is the church.Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)The church is the body of Christ. The church is the new community, the new humanity.In this new humanity, we are one body comprised of many members; many members yet one body.We are unified as a community but only in our diversity, not through uniformity. We are diverse and different, yet unified as one.Everyone belongs and is welcome. There is enough room at the banqueting table for all that.God provides. We may have only five loaves and two fish, but God will provide an abundance for all.That is the nature of the new community in Christ.The people of Corinth found new life in Christ when Paul came and proclaimed the gospel.The church began with great joy and enthusiasm. But they were still living in the old world.The values and ways of the old world kept creeping into this new community.Paul was teaching them how to live as a new community in Christ.This is the church today: we live in the old world, but we live together as a new community, a new humanity that's not of the world.We live as a new community that's set apart from the old world.People of St. Timothy: you belong to the new humanity!Do you believe that?That is your calling, that is our mission.The church exists for mission. Our mission is to be the new humanity in this world.To live a new way that's different from the old way. To model a new way of treating one another. A new way of living with one another.You belong to this new humanity. You are the new creation.You have something valuable to contribute. Not necessarily by what you do, but by who you are.(Joy of discovering unique quirks and personalities of congregation)You don't need to be something other than who you are. There is no one who has nothing valuable to contribute.If the foot would say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. (1 Corinthians 12:15-16)If you're a foot, an ear, a hand or an eye, it doesn't matter.Each one of you is needed. Each one of you is a part of the body.But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:18-20)To be part of the new humanity, offer yourself for this community.Don't hide yourself.You will bless this community, and you will be blessed as you discover gifts you didn't know about.There are many demands these days that make commitment such a challenge. This world pulls us in so many different directions.It is so difficult to exist as a new community. The church is going against the ethos of the world.But the world needs the new community.But to be the new humanity in this world, we must continually be shaped into it. We must be shaped as Christ's body.That requires consistency.Consistency in worship. Consistency in being rooted in the Word and teachings of the Word. Consistency in practicing life as a new community.In our consistency, Christ will shape us and form us as a new community.This is why the Christian journey cannot take place apart from the community. It's a fallacy that you can cultivate faith on your own.Christ shapes us together in our journey together. Christ shapes us into the new humanity for this world.One body, many members. You belong to this body.We are called to be a light for this new way to live.This year more than ever, let us be a new humanity that welcomes others.A new humanity that shows there is a different way to live. Different way to be a community.The post You Belong appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When St. Paul met Christ, he became a new person. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Yes, when we meet Christ, we become a […] The post You Belong appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Isaiah 62:1-5 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script God never forsakes you. God never abandons you. God never deserts you. But, even though God never forsakes you, sometimes you feel forsaken, abandoned, and deserted. Even our Lord, Jesus, experienced the feeling of abandonment on the cross. He cried out, my God, my God, […] The post Not Forsaken appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture PassageIsaiah 62:1-5Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon ScriptGod never forsakes you. God never abandons you. God never deserts you.But, even though God never forsakes you, sometimes you feel forsaken, abandoned, and deserted.Even our Lord, Jesus, experienced the feeling of abandonment on the cross. He cried out, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?St. Paul also experienced the feeling of abandonment.We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world right up to this moment. (1 Corinthians 4:13)That was what Israelites experienced when they lost their home. They experienced the abandonment when they were exiled.Korean people experienced this kind of abandonment when they lost their country. Many of your parents experienced that when they lived under Japanese occupation. They felt abandoned.When you lose everything, you feel forsaken.That was what Palestinians and also Israelites experienced last 15 months. They lost so much. They lost their loved ones.Finally there is a cease-fire agreement with a tinge of uncertainty. We need to pray for them.Also, this is what people in LA experience right now.They lost everything. They lost their homes. Many people do not have an insurance because the insurance company does not accept it because of frequent fire.Feeling of abandonment.(Last Sunday, elder Min told me that her friend lost her house and down the road, her son also lost his house. She gave elder Min money to treat our Wednesday Bible study.)I am sure people in southern Tibet feel the same way after the earthquake.Feeling of abandonment is what we experience in life.Your experiences may not be as dramatic as war, fire, and earthquake, but you experience different kinds of abandonment in your own way.When life is difficult, we feel lost. We feel that nobody really cares.The world is getting more and more selfish and self-centred.Me first has become our philosophy.We used to say me first is not a good attitude. Now it is our way of living. Very different from Jesus' teaching.We don't even know how to feel others' suffering and hardships. As long as nothing happens to me, everything else doesn't matter.When the world becomes selfish and self-centred, what will be the result?We get the feeling of abandonment. People will feel neglected, forsaken, and abandoned.We become an invisible man and woman, like the book invisible man by Ralph Ellison.Ralph Ellison said in the book, I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. That is a big reason for us to go to Sioux Valley every year.Indigenous people in this country experienced the greatest abandonment.When their children were taken away against their wish, they felt so abandoned.Children also felt abandoned when they had to leave their homes and their parents and live in a foreign place.We just want to tell them that we care. You are not alone.That was what Gord Downie, the Tragically Hip's frontman wanted to do. He wanted people to remember them. He wanted to tell them that they are not alone.That is why we are starting a new project with Cuba.They were isolated especially because of the US embargo. They were an island isolated from the rest of the world.They are not an island just physically; they are an island politically, economically, and psychologically.We want to go and see what is going on there. Because we care.Also, this year, we want to reach out to Evangel Hall who is doing the work for the homeless people in the city.We used to be heavily involved in the Evangel Hall mission but since Covid, we have lost touch with them. We want to renew our commitment to their work.Homeless people all felt abandoned. We used to go out on Boxing Day with sandwiches and went to homeless people on the street.Feeling of abandonment is probably the worst human emotion.When you are abandoned, you lose hope, joy, and motivation to live.When the Israelites were in exile, they lost the desire to sing.This is well captured in the psalm.By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down and there we weptwhen we remembered Zion.On the willows therewe hung up our harps.For there our captorsasked us for songs,and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion!'How could we sing the Lord's songin a foreign land?If I forget you, O Jerusalem,let my right hand wither!Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,if I do not remember you,if I do not set Jerusalemabove my highest joy. (Psalm 137:1-6)It captures the feeling of Israelites feeling abandoned in a foreign land.A famous Korean song, Arirang, captures the Han of Korean people.Han is a special Korean word which captures complex emotions of grief, anger, resentment, and regret.Han is what you have when you are abandoned.The word became a very important word for Korean theologians. .If you leave and forsake me, my own,Ere three miles you go, lame you'll have grown.It captures grief, anger, resentment, and everything when you feel abandoned. This song captures Han of Koreans.To Israelites who experienced abandonment, God gave these words.You shall no more be termed Forsaken,and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you,and your land shall be married. (Isaiah 62:4)In the world, you may experience abandonment. You may experience life's tragedies.You may experience rejection and alienation by the powerful evil system. You may experience hurt and pain by your loved ones, by your family, by your friends.Sometimes, you may feel like you are a motherless child.That was what indigenous children in residential schools felt. That was what many black sisters and brother felt in America. That was what many Tibetans felt under Chinese occupation.There are many old people who live in isolation. They feel useless and unwanted. They feel abandoned.But my friends, you are not alone. You will never be alone.God never forsakes you. God never abandons you. God never deserts you.God will lift you up. God will crown you with honor.This is what Isaiah said.You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Isaiah 62:3)God will wipe your tears. God will take away your shame.God will restore you. God will bring honor to you.You are like a precious child to God. Will God ever abandon his precious child? No. He won't.You are people of God's promise. You are in God's good hand.When you know this, you will not live any more feeling abandoned by the world.Even though the world may still treat you in that way, you will be strong.You know that you are a precious child of God and God honours you. So, you can handle the abandonment of the world.It's Ok not to be invited to the Inauguration of Trump like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Shou Chew.The post Not Forsaken appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage1 Peter 2:4-10Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon ScriptI hope that you are having a great start to 2025.Before we get too far into the new year, it's important to reflect on important things.What kind of person do you want to be in 2025?Let me share a great vision with you today: Be the rock that others stand on.Isn't that a great thing to aspire to? It's something we can all do.In 2025, we should strive to be a rock on which others stand.It brings such a nice image to me. Someone who is solid. Not easily shaken. Someone whom others can stand on.In Chevrolet truck commercials, they are built like a rock. The most dependable, longest lasting trucks on the road like a rock.We're not trucks, but we too should be dependable and lasting like a rock. Maybe good trucks, we can rely on.It's so hard to find people like that, isn't it? Whom can you really rely upon?But wouldn't it be so good to have people like a rock? People you can rely upon, depend on.I think the best kind of person we can be is to be a rock for others.When times are difficult, when things are turbulent, the best thing you can be is a rock that others can stand on. You will be a great blessing to others if you can be that.Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock.And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)Jesus said Peter would be the rock. But at that time, he was not the rock.When Jesus was captured by the authorities, he ran away. He deserted Jesus. He even denied knowing him.Peter was the most passionate disciple. He spent three years with Jesus. He loved him. He left everything to follow him.But at Jesus' most vulnerable moment, he was not the rock he needed.After Jesus was crucified, Peter was devastated by his flimsiness. He had been exposed for who he was: a coward who lacked courage.Jesus was gone. Everything he had given up came to nothing. In that moment, it seemed like his failure would haunt him for the rest of his life.But that didn't happen. Peter did eventually become the rock. What changed?After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to Peter. That encounter was described by John.When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. A second time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Tend my sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go. (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, Follow me. (John 21:15-19)Jesus forgave him. He gave him another chance.Even though he denied Jesus and ran away, he still believed in him. He still chose Peter to carry on what he started.That changed Peter. It transformed him. He became the rock of the church.How can you be the rock?Be someone who forgives and gives others a second chance.You're not blind to the flaws of others. But you can accept them. You don't define them by their flaws.You are the rock on which others can stand.This world is a merciless place. One mistake and the world piles on you. It shuns you. Cancels you. Destroys you.Can you be the safe rock on which others can stand? When everyone else has condemned them, be the safe harbour that shelters them from the world's judgment?Peter says in the passage today:Like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5)What is a spiritual house?It is a house of mercy. A house of grace.A house where people are not judged by their sins but given the chance to become someone new.A house where people who have been given a second chance gather together.Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10)We are God's people. We are those who have received mercy. That is the church.Peter became the rock of this church. But the rock that Peter stood on was Jesus Christ.Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight. (1 Peter 2:4)Rev. Kim spoke last week about living life based on principle. That is how you be the rock.The greatest principle is love.Jesus lived his life with the principle of love.In all that he did, he loved God and he loved people. He healed others. He taught people.But the greatest love was shown on the cross.How?Through forgiveness.On the cross, Jesus bore the sins of others and forgave them.Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)On the cross, he forgave them. He forgave us. He gave us a second chance. He still believed in us.That is the power of the cross. The power to bear the sins of others.The power to forgive. The power to give a second chance.When you get hurt and disappointed, that hurt and disappointment can take on a life of their own.They grow in power. They take control of your thoughts and actions.Even if you want to be free from those emotions, it is so hard.The power of the cross releases you from the grip of hurt and disappointment.Instead of the power of anger or resentment, the cross gives you the power of forgiveness.Forgiving those who have hurt you, overlooking the sins they've inflicted on you, giving these people a second chance: that is the most difficult thing to do.It takes enormous power to overcome the desire for vengeance. To overcome the negative energy these emotions give you.Being able to forgive others, to still believe in them and give them another chance: that is the greatest spiritual superpower. That is what Christ showed on the cross.Jesus was the true human being. The one who reflected the image of God in all its fullness right on that cross.The blood of Jesus washes away our sins. But it also washes away the sins of others.It washes away the effect the sins of others leaves on your heart. It heals you from the damage and imprint they leave.That is the power of the blood of Jesus.That is the power that changed Peter. That is how become the rock.I had an old friend from university days. We went through many things together.A close and loyal friend but I could see some deep flaws. Especially when drinking. I would be the responsible one.But it got to point where I couldn't do it anymore. I felt disrespected. So I cut him off.This is one of my real regrets. I wish I gave him another chance. It would have helped him. It would have blessed me.Peter asked Jesus this question:Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)Be a rock who is not shaken by the sins of others. Be a rock who doesn't crumble because you get hurt by others. Be a rock who can forgive and give another chance.You will change lives by being a rock.God will give you the power to forgive and give others another chance.In 2025, ask God to make you a rock.The post Be The Rock That Others Stand On appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Peter 2:4-10 Worship Video Worship Audio The sermon audio will be available at a later time. Thank you for your patience! Sermon Script I hope that you are having a great start to 2025. Before we get too far into the new year, it's important to reflect on important things. What kind […] The post Be The Rock That Others Stand On appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Peter 2:4-10 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Happy New Year! May God's blessings be upon you and your family! God has been good in 2024. God will be also good in 2025. Let us trust God. Everything will work out for good. Even though there may be difficult times, God will give you the strength and the wisdom to deal with difficulties. Not only that, he will work out everything for good for you. This year's theme is Be the Rock. I would like to focus on two things. One: Being a Rock. Second: How to live as a Rock. In today's passage, Peter said this. like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5) He said, Let yourself be Being the Rock is about who you are, not about what you do. You are the Rock. Nothing can shake that away. That's who you are. God made you be the rock. Your understanding of who you are is the foundation on which you can build your life. If you think you are the rock, then you will live like the rock. You will have the firm foundation for your life. If you think you are chaff, then you will be easily scattered. That was what the Psalmist said. The whole book of psalms begins with the statement about two kinds of life. Life like the rock that is deeply rooted. And life like the chaff that is easily scattered. First, life like a rock They are like treesplanted (rooted) by streams of water,which yield their fruit in its season,and their leaves do not wither.In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1:3) Life like chaff (they) are like chaff that the wind drives away. (Psalm 1:4) If your understanding of who you are is not clear, you cannot have an authentic existence. You cannot be firmly rooted. See – You can only be who you are. You don't have to pretend to be who you are not. Not only your identity, but your understanding of your identity is very important. Everything flows from your understanding of who you are. Don't let others tell you who you are. You don't need to be so concerned with what they say about you. Do they really know you? No, they don't. They judge you with their limited knowledge they have about you. And many times, their limited knowledge is filled with their own prejudices. Jesus did not let others dictate his life. He was rejected by people and that was Ok with him. Because he knew who he was. Peter knew about this very well and so he said. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight (1 Peter 2:4) Chosen and precious in God's sight Rejection was a part of Jesus' life in this world. When he was born, there was no happy birthday Herod tried to kill him. Unfortunately, so many innocent babies were killed instead. He was rejected by Herod. During his life time, his life was full of rejections. They even accused Jesus of being demon possessed. The cross was the ultimate rejection of Jesus Christ. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. (John 1:11) So even if you feel rejected, not understood, and abandoned, don't ever doubt yourself. You are chosen and precious in God's sight. This is what Peter proclaimed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people (1 Peter 2:9) That's who you are. A chosen race. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. God's own people. To be honest, Peter himself was not like a rock. He was flaky and flimsy. He made a commitment that he could not keep. He denied Jesus even three times because he was scared of people's rejection. But Jesus chose him and told him that he would be the rock. He used to be Simon. But Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, which means the Rock. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18, 19) What a wonderful proclamation about a person. Peter was not that great yet. He didn't have a solid understanding of who he was or who Jesus was. He didn't even know what he wanted. Right after Jesus' proclamation about Peter, there is a strange interaction between Jesus and Peter. From that time on, (after Jesus' proclamation of Peter) Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.' (Matthew 16:21-23) Can you believe it? Right after Jesus said that Peter would be the rock on which he would build his church and he would give him the key of authority, Jesus said this. You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. (Matthew 16:23) That's life. There is no hero. There is no one who is so great that he or she is flawless. You are not that strong. You are not flawless. You are not a superman or a Wonder Woman. You are as flimsy and flaky as Peter was. When Jesus said to Simon, you will be the rock. What he meant was I WOULD MAKE YOU the rock. God will make YOU a rock on which God will build a beautiful life. Don't doubt yourself. No matter what people may say, you are a precious living stone. So, the first point is about your identity. The second point is about how to live as the Rock. You will face many difficult challenges in 2025 as you did in 2024. You may encounter storms in your life. Your circumstances may not be so kind to you. Don't be so easily influenced by your circumstances. When things are going well, you feel loved by God. You will be thankful. But when things are not going as well, you will doubt God's love. You will be filled with fear. And you will do things that you shouldn't because of fear. We are going to study that soon in February. When you look at king Saul, the biggest problem he had was not that he was not smart or capable. His critical problem was that he let his circumstances absolutely influence him and dictate his decisions. He tried to deal with his situations with his own wisdom and strength. In the end, he went mad. Be a man and a woman of principle. You have to have principles if you want to live a good life. Principles you have are your backbone. That is the rock for you. They are the skeleton of your life. It's a life philosophy. Life is not just about doing well in your jobs and making money. Life is not just about enjoying good things in life. There has to be a life philosophy. The greatest principle that we hold is Love. Love God, love yourself, and love others. Always remember that. No matter how hard life may be, how challenging people may be, always remember this: LOVE. That's all you can do. In all circumstances, trust in God and simply practice your love. Always go back to that. Trust and Love. That's how you become the Rock. The post Be the Rock appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Peter 2:4-10 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Happy New Year! May God's blessings be upon you and your family! God has been good in 2024. God will be also good in 2025. Let us trust God. Everything will work out for good. Even though there may be difficult times, God will […] The post Be the Rock appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Colossians 3:12-17 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Last week, we talked about humility. I said, humility is not just accepting your weaknesses and shortcomings. Humility is trusting in God's power and looking to God in all your circumstances, even in an impossible situation. That was what Mary did when she said, Let it be so. Humble people always look to God in all circumstances and leave their situations in God's hand. That's why they experience the peace of God. Every problem, every challenge, every difficulty – They all leave it in God's hands instead of worrying about it. And God grants peace to those who are humble. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7) Memory Card – today's passage too. Humble people are comfortable with themselves. Because they don't have to prove to the world how great they are. Because they don't have to control others as they wish. The opposite of humility is pride. Pride is the root of all our sins. It destroys peace within us. C. S. Lewis said, in his book, Mere Christianity According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil. All the great Christians in history warned us against pride. Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestants, all of them warned us against pride. Pride is poison to our soul. Proud people can never please God. God resists the proud. God opposes the proud,but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5) Do you know why pride is so bad? Pride does not allow forgiveness. Proud people cannot forgive themselves either and also others. Pride and forgiveness don't go together. In today's passage, St. Paul advised us to do this. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13) This – proud people cannot do. Pride dismantles our ability to receive and give forgiveness. That's why it is the greatest sin. It immobilizes the power to forgive. Our spiritual discipline is to turn pride into humility. In humility, we can receive true forgiveness. Our humility can kill our pride. The greatest message Jesus brought to this world is Forgiveness. The cross is all about forgiveness. He took our sins upon himself and forgave us. Isaiah saw that very clearly. But he was wounded for our transgressions,crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole,and by his bruises we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus was humble to take on all that suffering. To let us go free, he took our punishment upon himself. THAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF HUMILITY. Pride will never do that. Will never be able to do that. Forgiveness comes from this kind of humility. This is unthinkable in this ego-filled world. This is not possible in those who live their lives with the entitlement attitude. This world lost the ability to be compassionate, kind, meek, and patient which are hall marks of being a good Christian. Being a good human being. As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12) Jesus was humble and that's why he was able to take our punishment upon himself. He was meek and gentle. He took our burdens upon himself and now we can have true rest in Jesus. Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) And this he told us to do. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15) Jesus had the power to forgive because he was humble. Jesus gave you the power to forgive. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:22, 23) We are living in the world of division, separation, and animosity. People are polarized. There are so many hurts, pain, and sadness. We don't see peace around us. Hurt, anger, disappointment, and hatred – These are like poison. They poison our soul. They cause division, separation, violence, and many heartaches. We know how divided we are. We are divided by our cultures, races, ideologies, and politics. We are divided because we have hurt each other. We live in the broken and dysfunctional relationships. Let us put down our pride and clothe ourselves with humility. Let us bear one another. Let us be peace makers. Power can never bring peace. It brings more division, more fights, more violence, more sadness, and more victims. Humility brings peace to the world. Listen to the prayer of St. Francis. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. We dream of the world where there is peace. That was what John saw. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:1, 4) Today is the last Sunday of 2024. Do not get stuck in your old baggage. Send away your anger, disappointment, hatred, and animosity. In humility, clothe yourself with love. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. (Colossians 3:14, 15) The post Humility and Forgiveness appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Colossians 3:12-17 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Last week, we talked about humility. I said, humility is not just accepting your weaknesses and shortcomings. Humility is trusting in God's power and looking to God in all your circumstances, even in an impossible situation. That was what Mary did when she said, "Let […] The post Humility and Forgiveness appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 1:46-55 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Merry Christmas! We are celebrating today as Christmas Sunday even though it is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Today, we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. His birth changed the way we think about our life. His birth gave us hope. His birth showed God's desire for this world. What was God's desire for the world? What did God want us to do? What message did he want to get across through the birth of Jesus? I think that message is this. Be humble! That is the Christmas message this year. God became a human being. That is the message of being humble. The king became a servant. How much more humble can you get? St. Paul clearly understood this when he said this. though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited,but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form,he humbled himselfand became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8) Jesus – even though he was God, he humbled himself to be human – not only human but the form of a slave. He was not born in a royal family. He was not born to a powerful king. He was not born in rich and influential parents. He himself did not enjoy the privilege of the power of this world. He was not a partner in a big accounting company. He was not an investment banker. He was not an MP. He was not a doctor. He was not a lawyer. Pharisee, a scribe, a priest – they are the ones who held the high position in their society. Jesus was none of that. He was nobody in the eyes of the world. He was humble in every sense. His birth, his life, and his death – they all point to the humility. But the irony is: the humble Jesus revealed most clearly, the power of God. A very strange dynamic! He had no power but he changed the world. He defeated all the powers of this world. He destroyed the Roman kingdom. That is the power of humility. St. Paul talked about Jesus' humility and immediately after that he said this. This captures that power very clearly. Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) Everyone will worship him – That is what we do now. When St. Paul wrote this passage, he didn't see that yet. Jesus was not a world famous figure. The universal recognition of Jesus was not yet the historical reality. But somehow Paul saw that. It was his prophecy. Mary captured this sentiment very well when she found out that she had a baby. She expressed her own humility first. he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. (Luke 1:48) She was very conscious and aware of her humble status. Why me? I am nobody. I am just a poor peasant girl. Then the message came to her. He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,and lifted up the lowly;he has filled the hungry with good things,and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:51-53) She was not just impregnated with a baby physically. She was impregnated with the message. She was impregnated with God's desire for the world. God's desire for the world is this. Be humble! Lack of humility brings disaster to you. Herod lacked humility and that's why he killed so many babies because of the birth of Jesus. He was scared because his kingship was threatened. People who built the Babel tower lacked humility and that's why they built the tower high. They were scared to be drowned from the flood. The king Saul lacked humility and that's why he tried to kill David. He was scared and threatened. Lack of humility is very much to do with your fear. Humility is the acknowledgment of God's power. It is not just the acknowledgment of your weaknesses. But it is the acknowledgment of God's power. So humility is always accompanied by trust in God. Even in impossible situations, even in helpless situations, we trust in God's power. The news of having a baby for a little girl was too much to take. Who can handle such a devastating news? That was an impossible situation. Mary could have wished that it was somebody else who was chosen to do what was given to her. And yet, at the end, she said, let it be so. I don't have power. I don't have power to run away. I don't have power to handle the scandal. I don't have power to control my future. I may be stoned to death. I may be rejected by Joseph. I may be kicked out from home. I have no power to control my situations. But let it be so. That's what humility is. In her humility, she recognized the power of God. That's why humility is powerful. Humility is not just seeing who you are. Humility is seeing what God can do. In humility, we trust God. In humility, we will experience the power of God as Mary experienced it. Because of her humility, Mary was able to go through even the most difficult time of seeing his son being crucified. Even after Jesus died, she did not give up. When 120 gathered together in Mark's upper room, Mary was there, praying with others. Because she believed in the power of God. Humble people don't give up. Humble people don't fear their impossible situations. Humble people always look to God. Humble people do not focus on their lowliness but on God's greatness. My friends, God wants us to be humble. Because God can only work through humble people. Through humble people, God's power is manifested. Through humble people, God's love is shared. Humble people will see that it is God who has exalted them, not themselves. That's why they have deep joy. They know clearly that salvation belongs to God, not to them. You don't have to save yourself. You don't have to worry about what is in store for you. You don't have to create a path for yourself. God saves you. God knows what you need. God takes care of your future. God creates a path for you. That is the Christmas message. Be humble and trust in God's power. The post Be Humble appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 1:46-55 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Merry Christmas! We are celebrating today as Christmas Sunday even though it is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Today, we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. His birth changed the way we think about our life. His birth gave us hope. His […] The post Be Humble appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage John 1:1-14 Worship Video Sermon Script HOW EACH GOSPEL SAW THE BIRTH OF JESUS Merry Christmas! On Christmas we celebrate birth of Jesus. We celebrate because it has meaning. How did the gospel writers in the Bible view the birth of Jesus? Mark: taken for granted, focused on life of adult Jesus Matthew […] The post The Light Shines in the Darkness appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 3:7-18 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script INTRODUCTION Do you know what you were born to do? Many people don't. Some do – John the Baptist was one of them. What he was born to do was foretold even before his birth. Zechariah and Elizabeth – righteous but no children. Promise to […] The post Prepare the Way appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 1:68-79 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script INTRODUCTION I enjoy buffets. There is a sequence, method. Purpose of first round: whet the appetite, get me going for the main courses and proteins. Luke is about Jesus – the main course. But Luke 1 is about things that take place before Jesus is […] The post A Tender Voice in the Night appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Luke 1:68-79 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script INTRODUCTION I enjoy buffets. There is a sequence, method. Purpose of first round: whet the appetite, get me going for the main courses and proteins. Luke is about Jesus – the main course. But Luke 1 is about things that take place before Jesus is born. The set-up to what God does through Jesus. Central character in chapter 1 is Zechariah. Today's passage – Benedictus. Last part of chapter 1. Chapter 1 begins with Zechariah and ends with him. Luke is communicating something important. Zechariah is a set-up story for the main course of Jesus. It's a substantial appetizer – so much good material. God has something amazing to say through story of Zechariah. MOVEMENT 1: ZECHARIAH'S ISSUE – BARRENNESS Luke's introduction of Zechariah and Elizabeth: In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. (Luke 1:5-6) Zechariah and wife Elizabeth descended from Aaron. Bloodline survived the whole history of Israel up to now. Faithful to that heritage, faithful to God. Righteous, blameless. But Luke introduces issue: But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. (Luke 1:7) Barrenness. Whole future is in doubt. Rich past coming to an end. No future. God makes promise to Zechariah through angel: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (Luke 1:15) Not only that, but great purpose through this promise: Even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:15-17) Stories of barrenness are a common starting point for God's action. Abraham and Sarah. Hannah. God gives promise that addresses the barren situation. But something different in Luke's story of Zechariah: He goes silent upon receiving the promise. When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. (Luke 1:22) MOVEMENT 2: THE REAL ISSUE – ZECHARIAH'S SILENCE Zechariah became silent. An alternate title to this sermon was Zechariah's Silence . He remained silent until the prophecy we read as today's passage. What made him go silent, and what does this silence represent? Last thing that Zechariah said: How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years. (Luke 1:18) Angel's response: I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur. (Luke 1:19-20) Many scholars believe this is punishment for Zechariah's lack of belief. This may be true, but I believe there's a lot more here. When the angel communicated God's promise, it brought to the surface the pain he had been feeling for years. He stated the facts as he experienced it: I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years. These were irrefutable facts. These facts were his reality. The gap between that reality and God's promise was so vast. It was a wide chasm. There was nothing more that Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted than a child. In their younger years, they probably prayed very fervently for one. They probably kept hope for many years. But as each year went on, that hope slipped away. Their prayers probably stopped. They resigned themselves to the facts as they were. The promise reminded Zechariah of the wide chasm between what he really wanted and the reality he experienced. That gap was so painful. The pain silenced him. More than the pain, it was his loss of hope that silenced him. Hopeless pain makes one silent. The wide chasm between your heart's desire and facts that are the complete opposite leaks hope. The longer this chasm remains, the more hope dissipates. The chasm hangs in the air like a great weight. The weight squeezes out hope. It silences prayers and cries of the heart. Hopelessness renders you mute, silent and unable to move. It makes you resigned to reality as it is. Zechariah and Elizabeth resigned themselves to life as a barren couple. They remained faithful, righteous and blameless in their actions. But underneath those actions were empty hearts. They were empty of joy. Empty of purpose. They had no future to live for. I wonder how many people today live like this. No future to live for. No hope that fuels them. Human beings are born to dream. We're born with desires that are unique to our hearts. But the facts on the ground often make that desire seem impossible. At first, we hold on with hope. We try what we can. But in the end, we resign ourselves to reality as it is. We come to believe that this is as good as it gets. So we try to make the best of life as it is. We try to enjoy what we can. We forget about the pain of unfulfilled promises. The pain of the gap between promise and reality becomes more and more silent over time. Do you truly believe that your life right now is as good as it gets? Do you believe your situation is the final conclusion? MOVEMENT 3: GOD MOVES IN THE SILENT HOPELESSNESS Zechariah went home. We don't know what else we did. But the scene in chapter 1 shifts from Zechariah to other things. Luke makes clear that while Zechariah is silent in hopelessness, God is on the move. God makes Elizabeth conceive. God speaks to Mary that she will give birth to the Saviour of the world. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's baby leaps in her womb. Things are happening. Finally, a son is born, and he is named John. Zechariah is able to speak again at this point. Luke's message is clear: even in our silent hopelessness, God is on the move. More accurately: it is especially in our silent hopelessness that God moves. While Zechariah was silent, God began his plan of salvation for the world. How many of you have experienced hopelessness, and somehow came out of it for reasons that had nothing to do with you? That has been my experience. Post-articling experience. Until then, charmed life. Things went well on the surface. But underneath, always a tightrope. Tricky balance between doing what I felt I needed to do, and what I really wanted to do. That tightrope broke, things came to a head. Not hired back – only one in my class. Darkness of next 8 months. Look back: period of silence. Nothing positive, no good lessons learned, no real growth. Just sheer silence and darkness. Didn't grit it out and fight my way out of it. How did I come out of it? Very random. Partner from old firm. No reason for her to really. Didn't solve things – many ordeals to come. But it stirred me out of the darkness. Put me back on my feet to get moving again. MOVEMENT 4: ADVENT AND LUKE 1 REAWAKEN HOPE Advent: beginning of new Church year. Meaning: arrival or coming. Lectionary passage for this season: Luke 1. Purpose: to stir the heart, reawaken the hope that has been lost. Appetizer: stirring up of hope, so we can wait eagerly for the main course – what God will do for you. As the people sat in darkness, they began to await the arrival of a Saviour. That happens in chapter 2 of Luke. When hope is stirred, it transforms the pain. From silent pain to pain that cries out. Pain retrieves its voice – it cries out to God. It seeks God. It waits for God. CONCLUSION: HEAR THE TENDER VOICE OF GOD IN THE NIGHT When the Israelites were exiled in Babylon, during their darkest time when all hope seemed lost, God pierced through the silence through the prophet Isaiah: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2) These are the opening words of Handel's Messiah. These words stirred up hope in the people. It made them open to what God might do. It made them look once again to God. During this Advent season, open your ears to the tender voice of God in the night. The final words of Zechariah are the final words of chapter 1 before Jesus is born: Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79) Press these words on your heart. Let them awaken hope in you. Lift up your heads and wait for what God is about to do for you. The post A Tender Voice in the Night appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage John 18:33-37 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script I don't like the term, king or queen. The image of king or queen – it doesn't mean much to me. It rather gives me a negative image. Power, Privilege, Entitlement, Domination, and even Corruption. These are not the words I am not so attracted […] The post Who Is Jesus? appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage John 18:33-37 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script I don't like the term, king or queen. The image of king or queen – it doesn't mean much to me. It rather gives me a negative image. Power, Privilege, Entitlement, Domination, and even Corruption. These are not the words I am not so attracted to. Especially when they use this term for Jesus whom I love, I feel uncomfortable. King is a political language. Isn't there a better word than king to describe Jesus? But when you read today's passage, Jesus clearly said he was the king. You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world (John 18:37) This statement is so strange. Because we all know that Jesus was never the king while he was on earth. He didn't become the king. He was simply a carpenter. And he became an itinerant preacher. Then he died as a criminal. Never the king. Why did he say that he was born to be a king. And for this he came into the world? That was exactly what they wanted Jesus to say. They wanted to frame Jesus by saying that he acted like he was a king. They wanted to charge him with a treason. It could be a very dangerous statement for Jesus. That was why the first question Pilate asked Jesus was this: Are you the King of the Jews? (John 18:33) The only real king to Pilate was Tiberius, the Roman Emperor. The most powerful man in the world at that time. That was the image of a king Pilate knew of. No Power, No King. Tiberius sacrificed everything to have the power. Including his wife. Tiberius had a wife whom he loved. He lived a happy life. But to be the emperor, he was forced to divorce his wife. Why? Because Tiberius was not his blood line of the previous emperor and he Octavius wanted to have his blood line in the next emperor. So Tiberius had to divorce his wife and marry Julia, the daughter of the first emperor. He wasn't happy about it. But he did it to be the emperor. He did it to have the power. That is the kind of king Pilate knew. Jesus did not look like a king to Pilate. He had no power in the eyes of Pilate. Just an innocent poor man who was caught up in the political turmoil. That's why after meeting Jesus, he said, he went out to the Jews again and told them, I find no case against him.' (John 18:38) Why did Jesus say that he was the king? Jesus' kingdom was different from Pilate's kingdom. Pilate's kingdom was defined by the power. Controlled by the power. Jesus' kingdom was not Pilate's kingdom. This was what Jesus said. My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. (John 18:36) Jesus' kingdom is the kingdom of the truth. Jesus came to testify the truth. Jesus came to proclaim the truth. Jesus came to make us people of the truth. Because only the truth will set us free. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32) To Pilate, that was a foreign concept. So he asked Jesus, What is truth? (John 18:38) His question is this: What's the truth got to do with anything? The kingdom is all power; nothing but the power. The truth has nothing to do with the power. To have the power, lies are permitted. Sometimes, lies are much more effective and efficient. You can lie through your teeth if that gets you the power. I see that a lot these days. Truth can be inconvenient. That is very different from Jesus' idea of kingdom. In Jesus' kingdom, we are free. In his kingdom, Pilate was not free. Pilate met Jesus again. That comes out in chapter 19. He believed that Jesus was innocent for sure but the crowd shouted to crucify him. So, he came back to Jesus and asked him. Where are you from? (John 19:9) Jesus didn't answer this time. And he said, Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you? (John 19:10) THEN Jesus said, You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above. (John 19:11) Pilate did not have the power to release innocent Jesus. Jesus knew that clearly. Pilate wanted to free Jesus but he couldn't. He was not free to do what he believed. Only the truth can set you free. Not the power. Pilate lived in that kind of kingdom. The kingdom that doesn't make sense. The kingdom that benefits only those who are powerful and privileged. The kingdom where the powerless and the voiceless were ignored, rejected, and abandoned. The kingdom where the prejudices control human thinking. The kingdom where selfishness dictates and overpowers justice and humanity. The kingdom where there is no eternal life but only destruction in the end. That is not Jesus' kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is the kingdom where everyone is respected, honored, and loved. The kingdom where the truth dictates and the justice is upheld. The kingdom where humility takes priority over bragging and pride. The kingdom where there is eternal life. Jesus came to be like us. He denied even his divinity. He emptied all his power to be even like a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death. Who lifted him up? Not Jesus. Who lifted him up? God lifted him up. Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) He became the king not in a palace through grand coronation. He became the king on the cross. Ironically it was done by Pilate. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.' Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews , but, This man said, I am King of the Jews. ' Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.' (John 19:19-22) What kind of kingdom do you live in? The Kingdom of Power? Or The Kingdom of Truth? We are IN this world but we are NOT OF this world. Who is Jesus to you? I hope that Jesus is your king. I want to have Jesus kind of king. That is my true king. The post Who Is Jesus? appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script The sermon script is currently unavailable. We are sorry for the inconvenience! The post Waiting and Prayer appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script The sermon script is currently unavailable. We are sorry for the inconvenience! The post Waiting and Prayer appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Mark 13:1-8 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Nowadays we use GPS, before we used to look to the stars. Stars that orient you. The terrain changes, but you know where you're going. We have foundational things that anchor our lives and give direction. They give shape and direction to day to day […] The post Everything's Gonna Be Alright appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Mark 13:1-8 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Nowadays we use GPS, before we used to look to the stars. Stars that orient you. The terrain changes, but you know where you're going. We have foundational things that anchor our lives and give direction. They give shape and direction to day to day life. We don't even have to really think. For me, it is my kids, church, family. Seasons, details change, but the general shape of my life doesn't. What happens when any of these things are taken away? There are foundational changes taking place in the congregation. Aging parents, looming loss of loved ones. Some are already grieving the loss of loved ones. Retirement and loss of anchor that gave shape to life for years and decades. Transition from school and anchored life to new routines. Your own health. If stars you relied on for direction were to disappear, you would feel lost, disoriented. We wouldn't know what to do or where to go. Likewise, when these things that anchor our lives change, we feel lost and disoriented. For Jews in Jesus' time, the Temple was the anchor of Jewish life. They had the Temple and they had the Law. The temple was the visible and tangible anchor. It set the routine for Jewish life. It was where God resided. Hence there was admiration. But Jesus was saying it will be destroyed. This was very concerning. The disciples wanted to know when this would happen. If something like this is going to happen, you want to know when and what the signs will be. You want to prepare. But Jesus doesn't say when. Instead, he gives warning. Then Jesus began to say to them, Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, I am he!' and they will lead many astray. (13:5-6) Why did he say this? When that anchor is gone, you feel lost. Being lost and not knowing where to go is an uneasy feeling. Staying still makes you feel vulnerable. Our tendency is to want to move and do something. When you are lost, that is when you're most vulnerable to being led astray. You're most vulnerable to listening to the wrong voices. Because you want to do something and will listen to someone who sounds convincing and confident. There are so many voices out there. I am off of social media because there are too many voices. Too many influencers, too many experts. Too many people trying to gain a following by saying I am he! or I am she! Everyone nowadays is an expert. Everyone has an opinion. Many people gain a following by tapping into people's fears and sense of being lost. They say follow me and everything will be alright. But many of these are false promises. Many of these leaders and influencers' true agenda is not to help you. It's to gain a following. It's more for themselves, not for you. Led astray: be deceived. Main deception: destination will be great, journey will be easy. Leave out the difficulties in that journey. Don't be led astray. When the stars you relied upon for direction disappear, you are tempted to just start moving. But if you get lost in the forest, that's the wrong thing to do. You feel like you're doing something by walking. You just end up walking in circles and you end up in the same place. If you're lost, you need to take time to be still. You need to attune yourself to other things in your surroundings. Before, all you needed to do was look at those stars you relied upon. But now you need to notice other things. Notice other stars in the sky. Notice the landscape around you. Become familiar with other things that can guide you: rivers, hills, rocks. Slowly, you will become familiar with the new landscape. There will be other things to guide you and give you direction. All of this is becoming in tune. Reflected on this on Friday. Need to be in tune, connected. With yourself: Be aware of how these changes are affecting you. Find space to process these changes. Give yourself room to mourn, think, reflect. Be in tune with your life: Be aware of changes that are happening. Notice what's going on in your life. These are all part of noticing things in the landscape that you didn't before. But most importantly, know which voice to listen to. Jesus called himself the good shepherd. This is what he says: The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:2-5) We need to be spiritually in tune. We need to learn to listen to the voice of God. It is not easy to do that. You are here in church today to listen to the Word of God. To hear what God has to say. Preparing sermons is so difficult because it's not about information or data. I am trying to be in tune with what God wants to say. To say words that our good shepherd wants to say to help you navigate this often treacherous terrain of life. Be in tune with yourself. Be in tune with your life. Be in tune with God. Then you will know which way to go. Jesus is our good shepherd because he cares for us. We follow him because we can trust him. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15) All those people trying to gain your following? They are hired hands. They will abandon you at the first sign of trouble to save their own skin. Jesus is the good shepherd. He cares for you. He lays his life down for you. Foundational changes are not easy to deal with. Wars, famines, earthquakes: these are things that shake up the foundations of life. They disrupt the routines of life. They are scary. We cannot avoid them. That is what Jesus is saying. These changes are a part of life. But what he also says is that they are not the end. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. (Mark 13:7) Painful and scary as they may be, rather than destroying you, these changes will be the beginning of something new. Jesus tells us not to be alarmed. When your foundations are shaken, he will guide you through these things. Like sheep, we will have to go through treacherous terrain. To get to pastures, they have to travel across rocky ledges and high mountains. There are all sorts of dangers along the way. The journey is not easy. That's why it's often a slow journey. So that you don't fall off a cliff. To tenderly navigate you through dangerous paths. Sheep follow their shepherd's voice. They trust the shepherd. They don't panic, but calmly travel along the path laid out by the shepherd. When big changes come, don't be led astray. Be in tune with yourself, with your life, and most importantly, with God. Big changes will continue to come, but everything will be alright. The post Everything's Gonna Be Alright appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Mark 12:38-44 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When life is not on your terms, how do you respond? That's an important question we must ask ourselves. It has implications for your life and those around you. We all try to do our best to make a good life. We understand the rules of the game and work hard to do well within them. But sometimes, even if you follow all the rules, things don't turn out the way you expect. Sometimes, life is not on your terms. No one likes that. No one wants to lose control over the terms of your life. Jesus makes a contrast between the rich people and the poor widow. He sees the rich people put in large sums of money into the treasury. He then sees the poor widow put in two copper coins. He says this in response to what he saw: Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:43-44) Jesus is not criticizing the rich people. But he's pointing out a crucial difference between the rich people and the poor widow. What was that difference? The rich people lived life by their own terms. Life was in their control. Yes, they gave large sums, but it was on their terms. That money came from their surplus. Life was in their control. The poor widow, on the other hand, did not live life on her own terms. All she had was two copper coins. That amounts to 1/32 of a day's wage. In today's minimum wage, that would come out to about $5. You can barely buy a cheeseburger from McDonald's with that amount. No one would choose to have so little to live on. Life for the poor widow was not on her terms. Not all widows were poor in Jesus' time. Some were wealthy. They were allowed to own property. But they were nonetheless very vulnerable. If they didn't have a wealthy or powerful family to protect them, they were susceptible to abuse and exploitation. Widows and orphans were the most vulnerable people. This is why the Law paid special attention to them. It provided special protection for widows and orphans. James says this about the perfect religion: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27) As the early church began to grow, the first issue was how to take care of the widows in their community. The community and the religious system built around the Law was supposed to protect vulnerable people like widows. But in reality, the system was often broken. They were victims of the community that was supposed to take care of them. Religious leaders often took advantage of widows for their own gain. Experts in the Law often used their knowledge to cheat or take more from widows. This is what Jesus was implying when he criticizes the scribes: Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. (Luke 12:38-40) The poor widow was likely the victim of this abuse. Life was not on her own terms. She could barely survive day to day. Life was precarious and uncertain. Life today feels like that for many people. Very precarious. Very uncertain. It used to be that if you did all the right things, things would turn out okay. If you studied hard enough, you would get a good, steady job. That job would allow you to afford a house. You could then live a good middle class life. That situation is harder and harder to come by. Getting a good job is so competitive now. Even if you do get a good job, they're often not steady like they used to be. There is constant pressure. More work is contract or gig based. So there's less stability and predictability. Even if you do get a good job, owning a home is out of reach for so many people. Everything is so expensive. Our dollar doesn't go as far so we feel more poor. Eating out seems like a luxury. Life is less and less on your own terms. When life is not on your own terms, it creates uneasiness. It creates frustration. When things seem out of control, it makes you anxious. It creates fear. Fear is the most primal emotion for human beings. It activates our brain the fastest. It propels us to move fast (Joonie as toddler getting chased by dog). It helps us survive. But if fear is not managed, it can morph into other things. Fear can become anger. Fear breeds suspicion. Anger and suspicion lead you to look for people to blame. Fear divides. It points the finger at others for the difficulties you face. It creates walls so that you can feel safe. The world is absorbing the result of the US election this past week. Donald Trump won because he was able to tap into the sense that things are out of control. He was able to convince people that with him as President, they will be able to once again live life on their own terms. Whether that is true, or whether it creates more chaos and division, we will have to see. Fear takes on a life of its own. It's a natural emotion but it can create so many problems. This is why so much of the Bible addresses fear. Whenever God speaks to people in the Bible, the first words are often do not fear or do not be afraid . The first thing God does is bring peace to ease your fear. When things seem out of control, the most important thing is to experience peace. The poor widow's life was not on her terms. Life was not in her control. But what she did was remarkable. She gave everything she had to God. She didn't cling onto the two coins she had. She put in everything she had. In other words, she surrendered herself completely to God. She placed her total trust in God. For her survival. For her life. We don't know anything about this poor widow, but we see her faith. Not just a meek faith, but a tenacious faith. A faith that believes and fights against all odds. It's remarkable! That is what she put into the treasury – her tenacious faith and trust in God. The rich people didn't put in faith. They put in their surplus on their own terms. Faith is not on our own terms. That's what we learned on Friday at our Bible study. Faith is not on your own terms. It is on God's terms. To have faith is to live by God's terms. It is to place yourself in surrender to God's terms. That's how Jesus lived. He lived completely by God's terms. Accepting the cross was his complete surrender to God's terms. That is what the widow did. Surrendering yourself is not easy. Faith doesn't shield you from life's problems. So it brings testing. The problems make you doubt God's presence. They shake your trust in God. They tempt you to take matters into your own hands. I'm sure the poor widow was afraid and worried about how she would survive. Tomorrow was uncertain. Where would her money and bread come from? But she had a relentless, tenacious faith. A faith that would not be deterred. No matter what my situation is, I will give to God. Whatever my situation, I will trust in God. That's how she was able to give even her last penny. Life was not on her terms, but she gave everything to God. The poor widow gave all she had because giving was baked into who she was. No matter what her situation, she would give to God. Worship was a habit built into her. Trusting God was baked into her. It's what gave her a tenacious faith. Worship is a habit. Every week, worship needs to be a habit. A habit where you come and give everything to God: your fears, your worries, your anxieties, your money, your future. Where you hear what God has to say to you. Through the discipline and habit of worship, you will build a tenacious faith that withstands what life throws at you. This is what James says: My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4) My friends, build up a tenacious faith. When your faith is tested, persevere. When life is not on your terms, don't let fear and anxiety take over your life. Rather, bring everything to God in prayer. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) When life is not going your way, when life is not on your terms, give everything to God. God will give you a tenacious faith. God's peace will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. God will take care of you. The post When Life Is Not on Your Terms appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Mark 12:38-44 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When life is not on your terms, how do you respond? That's an important question we must ask ourselves. It has implications for your life and those around you. We all try to do our best to make a good life. We understand the rules […] The post When Life Is Not on Your Terms appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Scripture Passage Mark 12:28-34 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script When I was in University, Mother Teresa once came to U of T to speak. It was outdoor and so many people came. Like Zacchaeus, I tried to go near to the front and so I could see her. With excitement, I was waiting for […] The post Restore Love That Is Lost appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.