For this month, we added electronic drums to sing to the Lord [the drums have been generously loaned to us by one of our young students who is practicing drums, and he was playing for us today, as a member of Angel Kids], which is a personal joy to me.

I believe that we; the Church, Melting Pot and Angel Kids, have been much blessed in so many ways. There's a certain place in England, which is a very small village, where God's work is remarkably shown. One of the features of the revival in that village is seen in the children's praise to the Lord. Of course, they have a band for singing praises that consists of children only. The children there are so blessed that they regularly attend most of the church gather ings, and quite a few grown-ups have experienced salvation through them -- I dream of this work of God happening in Oita too!

Talking of our church, our church downtown, Grace Chapel, is located in a very good place for people to reach from the main train station . However, though it is so close to Oita-eki [Oita train station] getting to the church from the station is a different story; you have to buy a 160 yen ticket to pass through the station, under the train tracks in order to reach the church behind and several meters to the left. Giving directions there can be confusing, I've heard that less than 50% of people who ask for directions can successfully find their destinations from the instructions they hear. But, here's the point, if the person who gives you the directions walks with you to that place, what do you think would happen? Yes, you can easily reach the place you are looking for. This is like our Lord, Jesus!

See John 14:6. Except through Jesus Himself we can't get to the place of our salvation. We should all remember how much Jesus waited on us; starting from His birth in some humble stable[, not even a place for people to live in], and ending on a cross in our place. He ended His life by willingly taking our places in suffering the embarrassment of being beaten up [and laughed at] by strangers, and getting dirty, and being forsaken -- this was part of the path we were to take. But, Jesus took this over for us. We didn't and don't have to because He has already done it. Yes, Jesus is the way for us to find our way to the place we are searching for [; Heaven].

Consider these words: "Jesus is the Way." This also means that we are to go out, stepping on the Way. Paul said in this part that to the Jews, he became as a Jew. In other words, Paul used the language [and thinking] of the Jews in order to go to the Jews. To the Greek, he entered their place with their language. He walked into them. It's much easier for us to stay in one place than it is to go out into the world. But, we are called to go out -- to those who are in need. We are to walk with them. [See Shido's message on contextualization

Do you remember what Rev. Kawano preached a few months ago? He said Jesus has seven personalities: the Light, the Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Vine, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He changes and just according to the people in their various needs, He answers.

There are several ways to get "Salvation". I came to know Jesus through the English program of a missionary from South Africa. Some have received salvation through music -- well, right now, we have a gathering of "singing Gospels" at Grace Chapel. Through some other way than "Singing Gospels", they probably wouldn't be there. It should be "Singing Gospels". Probably they (most of them) don't know what they are singing about. But, this is a bridge for us to reach out to them. For other kinds of people, there should be other ways. Some may be interested in counselling, some like cooking, and even others are in need of good help in raising their children.

Look at John 15:16. Jesus Himself chose us through different people so that we could reach different people. "By the name of Christ" if we pray, we can receive what we ask for. First, we are to pray, then we are to go walking out on the Way.

Sermon 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