It being in the middle of Golden Week, I was wondering whether some of you might not have been able to come to Chapel Noah to worship together. But this morning I am so glad and happy to see you all. I am sure it is Jesus who is the most pleased.

As we learned last week, we are here called together to become spiritually mature so that we can reach out to the people around us as a witness of what Jesus has done in our lives.

This morning we'd like to learn another golden rule. As you know, we people are living with a number of rules: traffic rules, school rules, constitutional rules, etc. And now we are at the golden rule of the Bible: Jesus told us, "Do what you want others to do for you."

Jesus also told us to love the Lord with all of our hearts, and with all of our souls, and minds.

And, in verse 39, Jesus gave us the great commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Last week, I had the chance to attend a certain conference for pastors. It is an annual gathering for all the pastors of our mission. Of course, for the gathering, we stayed in a hotel. This year, I had to stay with two other younger pastors; one is from Tokyo University, and the other is from Kyoto University. They were no doubt very intelligent and I was a little shy at first. But they were very casual and asked me several questions about Oita's famous cakes. They kindly explained to me how they had started and explained that they had something to do with the historical people of Oita. Now I know that I have to bring them some of those cakes, the next time we meet. (People laughed here).

In that conference, I met a pastor who once visited churches in the United States; searching for an ideal example of the church, where people loved and waited upon each other. He had found that his own church was cold and that there was no love in it. He had been very shocked and had left it to find a good example in the States. Finally, he found one there.

There are several kinds of churches in Japan [and in the world, too]; some are sent to social problems in the society, others are trying to only spread the Gospel.

Read Mt.25:31-46. Jesus is coming back, when we will be separated into two; the sheep and the goats. Those who are sheep won't remember having done good things for Jesus. But, actually, they have done good things to even the least of Jesus' family. And the goats did the contrary. Remember Mother Teresa. [She is such a good example for us, along with those who are following her.] She did exactly what the sheep in this parable did.

I know a Christian Japanese woman, named Eiko Stevens, who has been helping Jewish people return from many different places in the world to Israel. She belongs to an organization called "Bridge for Peace". She and her husband do anything they can to help Jewish people, for over 3,000 Jews are coming back to their land and there is such a little work to do and so hard to live. But, as you might know Jews hate protestant Christians, for they think for the sake of Christians, they are going through hardships now. [And they're right in a way] (Actually, St.Paul said that to save Gentiles God has hardened the hearts of His people, the Children of Abraham). So, this lady and her husband never preach, never mention anything about Christianity or Jesus. But, gradually, those Jews have started to be spiritually softened. And, some of them are Christians today. -For a message by Eiko Stevens click

Now, back to the pastor who went to find a perfect church in the States: he found one. It was a church that was full of praise, and beautiful songs sung to our Lord. It was a church that was standing in the presence of the Spirit.

Adults and children, together, came up to the front, and gave their worship with praise songs during the worshipping time on Sundays. They had a sharing time during their worship services; some ask for prayer, some give testimony on how God has been gracious, or others have come and confessed honestly how they felt about this church and asked for prayer.

Having found this wonderful church, this pastor is now trying to build up a new church with people and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Please read John 13:34,35. We would like to build up this kind of church.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
For all sermon indicies see: cHaPeL nOaH sErMoN iNdEx