2015.3.29 礼拝

182nd Life Church Service was joined by a team of six from Willowbrook Baptist Church, Alabama. The message was delivered by Pastor John Stone from Willowbrook Baptist Church. A special event for children was held simaltaneously in English with the visiting team. After the service, most of the attendees moved to Inokashira Park to enjoy the cherry blossoms and games. This provided a good opportunity for those who came to church for the first time.
Message: 1 Peter 3:13-16 “Be Ready”
The two commands of Jesus:
Mark 12:30-31 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
Jesus commanded his disciples to pray for the workers to gather in the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). We must pray that will be more people to harvest. It is also said that “a man reaps what he sows.” In other words, we need to plant seed – the word of God – in order to be able to reap.
Hebrew 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. He wants us to pray for the world and also to go out. Plant church and share with people how to have real peace.
In the Bible, Paul uses the expression “grace and peace” with “grace” always mentioned first before “peace.” Peace comes from grace and there is no real peace unless we know the prince of peace.
Unless we tell the story of Jesus, there would be people who would not come to know God at all. And unless we let them know, they would not have the chance to respond.
1) 1 Peter 3:13-14 – Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” Suffer for our faith and rejoice for suffering because of Jesus. There are a lot of people who lose their life because of their faith in Jesus.
1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Establish Jesus as your boss and follow his commands. If he says ‘go’, you go; and if he says ‘come’, you come. We should love our enemies and forgive even those who are hard to forgive. These are what we should want to do if Christ is set in our hearts.
2) 1 Peter 3:15 – Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Need to be courageous and give a statement, not only on Sundays or when people are watching. Share the words of God with as many people as possible.
3) 1 Peter 3:15-16 – But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Be a humble example and note that we are saved by the grace of God, nor are we better than anyone else. We cannot judge others but only point to the cross so that people may get to know about Christ. Do this with gentleness and respect.
If you do these three things, people would want to hear about Jesus and you could give them love and give them Jesus.