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James 4:13-17

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Happy New Year to all of you! 

How did you feel when you heard our text for this morning? Were you encouraged about the new year? What is James saying? It sounds like making business plans is foolish.  Is it also foolish to make New Year’s resolutions? If our lives are nothing more than a mist….are they without value?  How should we understand these words this morning? Let’s dig into this text together…

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

What’s happening here?

1. Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain town.
2. We will stay there for a set amount of time (a year)
3. We will engage in business
4. We will make a profit

If we were going to engage in any kind of business this would be a MINIMUM kind of plan that must be in place in order for us to succeed.  So what’s missing? What’s wrong?

First, what is missing is a proper view of our life.

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

• Planning ahead is normal.  But don’t forget, your life IS LIKE A MIST!  (What do you feel when you hear this word?   Loneliness, worthlessness?)
• James is not here speaking about the content of our lives, but is referring to the length of our lives.
• From the day we are born until the day we die, we are not in control.  We didn’t decide when we would be born and we don’t decide when we will die.  James is saying YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR OWN DESTINY. 
• It’s true that we can take our own lives. But this never actually represents control, but instead a recognition that we are totally unable to change ourselves. It is a sign of hopelessness.

I am aging just like the rest of you. I see this in my body and health more than anything else. I hurt, I don’t move as easily. I can’t see without my glasses.  I am coming to see that my life is on the declining slope! It is because our lives are so short and unpredictable while on earth that we must be careful to have a proper understanding of the content and value of our lives.

In Psalm 90, verses 9,10,12, and 17 we have the following:

All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years– or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands.

When we truly understand that our lives here are temporal, short, like a mist, we will be able to accurately count our days and make wise decisions.  Knowing that our lives are like a mist will change our lifestyle, our decisions, and our priorities.

Secondly, what is missing is a correct view of God.

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

• If the Lord wills, we will live.    

Here we recognize that God is in fact the one who gave us life and sustains that life. He is the one who knows us better than anyone, who wishes to give us all good things. He is the one who controls our birthing and dying. He decides where and when we are born and how long we will live on this earth.  He controls the length of our lives.

• If the Lord wills, we will do this or that.  

Here we recognize that even the things we do and accomplish are in God’s hands. Of course we are free to do many things that are wrong and hurtful. We are free to sin and we cannot claim that these are God’s plans.  But if we accomplish anything of value or good it is to the extent that God has allowed it and gifted us to do it.  Again, we look to God for his help.  He controls all of our accomplishments in life.

What difference does this make?   

It means that we plan boldly…but with humility. We place our lives and our plans in God’s hands!

16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

Here we see that to not understand these things is arrogance and pride.  These are what the Bible calls sin.  To believe that we are here because of our own work and effort, that we can control our lives…..this is what James calls arrogance.  And so James is today telling us to humble ourselves before God.

A similar passage from Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

James 4:17

17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

James concludes with the statement that to understand these things and not act on them is sin. It is our old sin of pride and “get by on my own.”

This week, let’s pause to consider:

1. Our lives are like a mist (and therefore precious!)
2. Humbly submit our lives to Him 
3. Humbly submit our plans and dreams and New Year’s Resolutions to Him.

This is a teaching about the necessary balance in our lives that is required when “planning”.  But the same could be understood in our lives of “prayer”.

Pray for everything, ask for whatever you want, don’t be afraid of asking inappropriately!

But, remember Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane….   “Father, this is what I want….. but, in the end, it’s not my will but YOUR will that I desire.”

(the above is a summary of the message shared during our worship on January 4, 2026.)

John 15:12-17

¹²“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

In the first section of this chapter, Jesus likens himself to the main branch of a grape plant, and God the Father to a vine grower. He likens us to the branches that grow from the main trunk. It is God’s intent to make each of the branches as fruitful as possible.

Jesus further talks about how unless one is attached to the main branch, one cannot be fruitful. The only way we can be fruitful is to abide in Christ. As Jesus abided in the Father’s love by keeping the Father’s commandments, we are to abide in Jesus’ love by keeping His commandments. And the result of abiding in Jesus’ love is joy. Quoting Jesus from v. 11 – “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Then Jesus proceeds to tell us what His command for us is in verse 12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” And the greatest expression of this love, according to verse 13, is to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.

Jesus explains that masters do not divulge to their servants what they are doing. Jesus chooses to tell us what He and His Father are all about, treating us not as mere servants, but as if we are His friends.

Through Jesus’ teachings and the rest of the New Testament, we know what God’s plan for humanity is. Not being able to save ourselves, due to our sinful nature, God sent His Son to the cross to pay for our sins. By accepting this fact and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are saved. We are saved so that we can be witnesses for Jesus until we either die or Jesus comes back again.

The interesting thing about verse 15 is that although we might think that we chose Jesus, the truth is that He chose us. He chose us to work for Him and to bear much fruit. We do not know why He chose us, but we do know what He chose us for. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” We should consider it an honor that He chose us for this work.

There are also those out there that are not aware of the fact that they have been chosen, and part of our work is to point people to Christ, so that they too can fulfill the role God has chosen for them.

Jesus uses growing grapes as an example, and since I know nothing about that, I looked it up. There needs to be one woody branch that is going to be the main branch, and give it support so that it will grow tall and sturdy. Then you use a structure to “train” the vines to spread out. For it to be as fruitful as possible, many of the branches must be pruned. If they are not pruned, then you get lots of leaves and few grapes. Now, it is true that there are uses for grape leaves, but most people who grow grapes do so for the fruit, and not for the leaves.

It probably is not a pleasant thing for the grape plant to have a bunch of vines pruned, but it is necessary for it to be fruitful.

It is similar for us. For us to be as fruitful as possible, things need to be pruned. It might be dealing with sins in our lives. It might be mending relationships. It might mean letting go of some money or belongings. It might mean giving up some precious time doing what we like to do. It might mean instead of going to our favorite vacation spot, going somewhere where we can help in Kingdom work.

Probably, we will not be called upon to do what Jesus considers the greatest act of love – to lay down our lives for our friends. But if we are willing to do that, as Jesus commands, then we should be able to show love to others in less drastic ways.

As I look back on the year 2025, I can think of all the time and energy I used in doing Kingdom work – Preparing to teach from the Bible, preparing for sermons, preparing to play on a worship team, help put together the liturgy to be used on Sunday morning, etc. Then I am reminded of Jesus’ conclusion that the widow who contributed two pennies gave more than the wealthy who put in more. His reasoning is that the widow gave all she had and left nothing for herself, while the wealthy kept much for themselves. Jesus is consistent in His teachings in that what he considers the greatest act of love is to lay one’s life for a friend – not keeping anything for oneself.

Using this accounting method, in 2025, I kept much more time and resources for myself, compared to what I did for the Kingdom. I could have done much more. Maybe it is the same for some of you.

But there is no reason to beat yourselves about this, since there is nothing we can do to change the past. However, we can use it as a catalyst to be willing to do a little more for the Kingdom in 2026, to show love to others. Be willing to be more fruitful, even if it means that we go through a little pain in being pruned by our Lord.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano during our worship on December 28, 2025.)

Luke 1:39-56

³⁹In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴²and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”⁴⁶And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. ⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; ⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” ⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Earlier in the chapter, Gabriel, the angel, appeared to Zechariah and announced that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to John the Baptist. This was going to be a miracle child, since both were well advanced in age, and Elizabeth was barren – just like it was for Abram and Sarai in Genesis.

Six months later, Gabriel announced another miracle birth. He appeared to Mary and told her that she would give virgin birth to Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah.

The twelve tribes of Israel existed as a confederation of tribes until around 1020 BCE, when it became a united kingdom under Saul. Then in 930 BCE, 90 years later, it split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

In 722 BCE the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and ceased to exist. Then in 597 BCE the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon and was under their rule for about 60 years, until the Persians defeated Babylon. After that, Judah was under Persian rule for about 200 years. Then came the Greeks, who ruled them for 165 years.

They won their independence in 140 BCE, which lasted for about 77 years, until the Romans took over, about 60 years before Christ was born.

After Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, but while Judah was still independent, the prophet Micah wrote, “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” This was interpreted to be a prophesy of the coming messiah and his eternal rule.

The remaining remnant of the united kingdom of Israel was tired of being under gentile rule and was hoping that the promised Messiah would arrive soon, so that they could be freed from Roman rule and become an independent and strong nation again. The prophecies about the Messiah said that he would establish his rule and that it would last forever. It is understandable that any news of the arrival of the messiah would be welcomed with joy.

There is much joy in Zechariah and Elizabeth’s household when the pregnant Mary arrives for a visit. John, still in the womb, recognizes Jesus’ presence in Mary’s womb and leaps for joy. Through this, Elizabeth is made aware that the child inside Mary’s womb is the long-awaited Messiah.

Mary is joyful of being chosen for her role in giving birth to the Messiah. There is much wonder, anticipation and joy.

However, at this point in time, they had no idea how God’s plans would play out. They could not anticipate that John would be beheaded by Herod or that Jesus would be executed on the cross. Nor could they have guessed that even though the Messiah did arrive, the establishment of His eternal kingdom on earth would still not have arrived some two thousand years in the future.

For the disciples and others that believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they welcomed Him with joy with the anticipation of a revival of the nation of Israel. But that did not happen. Many of them ended up dying for their faith. The world continued on without a visible kingdom of Israel with the Messiah on the throne.

After His resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven but told them that He would come back to rule for eternity at the end of this age.

We now know that the reason the Messiah came to earth the first time was to bring salvation to all of mankind. By dying on the cross to take the penalty that we all should pay for our sins, all we have to do to be saved is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And if we do this, then we can wait for His Second Coming, not with fear that this world is ending, but with joy that our redemption is drawing near.

The Christmas season is a magical one – a joyous celebration. Family gatherings, Christmas carols, candlelight services, gift exchanges, children opening their presents with delight. But for some, it is a difficult and lonely time. They might be missing loved ones or having no one with whom to celebrate. Or they may have lost their jobs or houses or found out that they have a serious disease.

Many people dread the Christmas season, because they know that their experience will not match the expectations of a magical season. Why is that? Christmas has become a secular celebration. It has become a reason for spending money on presents and gathering as friends and families. Even though it started out as a celebration of Christ’s birth, now….even those who dislike Christ and Christians celebrate it with great joy. People often celebrate Christmas, rather than Christ’s birth.

If we think back on memories of past Christmas gatherings with family and friends, we might find that time spent on the topic of Christ’s birth is miniscule compared to the time we spend catching up, opening presents, talking about past gatherings, future plans, etc. We may also have fallen into celebrating Christmas, rather than celebrating Christ’s birth.

However, even though the joy and the hope that Elizabeth, Mary and the disciples had for the eternal reign of the Messiah did not materialize, the birth of Jesus is worthy of a celebration. It is the only recorded time in history that humans witnessed the heavenly hosts celebrating.

Instead of the nation of Israel coming back to life as an independent state, through Jesus Christ, God had given humanity, not just for Israel, but for all of humanity, a chance to be part of God’s kingdom. Through what Jesus did on the cross, our sins can be forgiven and our eternity assured.

The Bible teaches us that we live in the period before the end, and we have been saved so that we can continue to be witnesses for Jesus until our time on earth is done. We who have been saved have experienced the joy that God gives us. In turn, we have the responsibility to point others to that joy. Even though this life is not easy and it has its hard parts, especially as we get older, there is still joy and hope, all because Jesus was born in Bethlehem, some two thousand years ago. So go celebrate Christmas with friends and family. Or celebrate it in a quiet way. But let us not just celebrate the holiday of Christmas but actually celebrate the birth of Christ. And offer true joy to those who do not yet have the joy of God in their lives by telling them about Christ and the meaning of his birth!

(The above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano at our worship on December 14, 2025.)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:5-6

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:6-9

We are in our 2^nd week of Advent. As we learned last Sunday, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation.  What are we waiting for?

• The arrival of Jesus, the true light of the world!

Each year, Advent involves consideration of a Past, Present, and Future arrival of Jesus.

• We remember his first arrival 2,000 years ago, as a human baby
• We wait for his coming NOW, today, in a new and fresh way, into our broken world.
• Finally, we look forward to his 2^nd coming, a future arrival of the King!

So Advent is a time of hopeful and expectant WAITING. But we don’t JUST wait…. This is also a time of preparation. We are preparing for his arrival. But, how do we do that?

Our theme for this year is “Prepare Him Room”

Last week, we talked about preparing room by “clearing things out…making space”

That may involve getting rid of unnecessary items, or quitting bad habits that waste time and distract us. It may mean sweeping out the dirt, or in spiritual terms – returning to God’s Word and prayer, confessing our sins, etc.  In short, making space and time for God.

This week we are challenged to prepare room for Jesus by using an image of “setting the table.” What does this mean?

Consider the following examples:

The Grandmother’s Table

A grandmother always set the table hours before the family arrived for holiday meals. The house could still be messy—presents unwrapped, dishes in the sink—but the table was always ready. She said, “The table reminds me who I’m expecting. If the table is set, my heart is set.” One year a winter storm threatened to cancel the gathering. But she still put out the good plates and the candles. When asked why—knowing the family might not even make it—she smiled and said,  “Setting the table is an act of faith. It means I’m expecting someone I love.” That evening the storm cleared, and the family arrived to a glowing table of welcome. Advent invites us to “set the table” for Jesus—not when everything is perfect, not when the house of our life is spotless, but as an act of faith, expectation, and love.

The Restaurant Before Opening

Before a restaurant opens each day, there is a quiet ritual called “front-of-house prep.” Servers wipe tables, fold napkins, polish glasses, light candles, and place every chair with intention. The chef prepares ingredients long before anyone orders a meal. They prepare the space before the guests arrive. The careful setting of the table is a sign that hospitality is coming, that someone valued is expected. Advent calls us into that same rhythm. We prepare the “front-of-house” of our soul. We arrange our priorities. We soften our hearts. We intentionally make room because the Guest we’re expecting is the King.

In our scripture texts for today, we read about two different tables that have been prepared for us.

The Psalmist sings of the table prepared for us by God. “You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Then in Revelation John describes a final feast – a final table around which we will all gather. This too has been prepared for us. “9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”  

In the gospels, there are many stories of Jesus, sitting around a table, sometimes with Pharisees, sometimes with tax collectors. And of course, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus himself prepared a table for his 12 disciples. A special Passover feast.

We set the table for Jesus, because he first set the table for us.

And then there’s the verse we shared last week: Rev. 3:20  “Behold I stand at the door and knock…..if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.”

Yes, we’re waiting for Jesus to arrive. And we’re waiting to share this wonderful meal together. And if that’s true, we want to set the table, make preparations.

How will you set the table for Jesus this Advent season? What table-setting step is God inviting you to take this week? 

If “clearing out space” was a quick, big motion – “setting the table” may involve some smaller, more precise, yet important steps. Here are a few possibilities:

• Reordering our priorities
• A conversation of forgiveness 
• A quiet space for prayer
• A return to Scripture
• A restored relationship
• A simple act of kindness or hospitality

All of these may be ways in which we prepare the table for our welcoming of Jesus. Can you think of others?

(the above is a summary of the message shared during our worship on December 7, 2025.)

Isaiah 64:1-9

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means to come…..and it is the season of waiting for the coming of God into our world. Of course, we celebrate this each year while remembering that first Christmas, when God arrived in our world in the form of a little baby! But we also pray for today….that God would once again come afresh into our lives, into our broken world. And finally, it is a season when we pray “Come, Lord Jesus” as we await his second coming.

Last week I decided to clean out our garage. I have been putting that task off for at least a year and a half. Boxes were stacked all over. There were lots of items that weren’t even mine; junk that had been left from the previous owners when we moved in 5 years ago. There were old, half-filled paint cans of an unknown color, as well as broken items.  There were also lots of good and valuable items – like tools – that I could never find when I needed them because things were so cluttered and disorganized. Anyway, although I did not finish the task yet, I’ve made some good progress and feel encouraged to continue.

Why did I suddenly decide to take on this task now?  The truth is that I would probably continue procrastinating indefinitely except for the fact that we want to do something new with the garage. We’re considering adding a second floor, or maybe  even tearing it all down and building something new in its place. The point is that we can’t proceed with any new plans until we first clear out all the junk.

Our theme for this year’s advent is “Prepare Him Room.”  Before we can welcome Christ into our world, into our hearts, into our “room”, we need to prepare that room. How should we do that?

Just like our garage was filled with all sorts of junk and things that we don’t need, our lives and homes are also filled with items that are not only unnecessary but may actually keep us from fully welcoming Jesus.

• Possessions that take up our time
• Bad habits that steal our strength and waste our time
• Distractions that keep us from seeking Jesus, that keep us from prayer and God’s word.

Our text that we read earlier was from Isaiah chapter 64. This text is usually understood to be the cry of the people of Israel. It is thought to be Israelites who have finally returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. They had come with high hopes. But instead found a city still in ruin, poverty, lack of hope for the future, and discouragement on all sides. Their expectations and the reality they encountered were so different.

• So they cry out to God in verses 1-3.

“O, that you would rend the heavens and come down! Please come down and help us!”  

We, too, are crying out to God. We see our world in shambles, war, and famine. We see our nation torn apart. “God, please come into our world!”

• Next, in verses 4-7 they admit their sin.

They wonder if God is hiding His face from them.  In verse 5 we read “But when we continued to sin against you, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”

Advent invites us, too, to admit our sins, and to seek God’s forgiveness.

• Finally, in verses 8-9 they remember who God is.

“You are the potter, and we are the clay. we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.”

Our hope is not in ourselves…..but in God’s character.

So in Isaiah we see that we are like the people of Israel:

• We cry out to God to come down!
• We confess our sins and seek healing.
• We recognize that we are God’s…that he is the potter, we are the clay, and that we are all his people.

In light of that, how can we prepare our room today? How can we clear space? How can we make room?

• What are the things in your life that keep you from completely welcoming Jesus in?
• What are the things that need to change?
• What are the items that need to be jettisoned?
• What junk needs to be thrown out?

I love the verse in Revelation 3:20, with the invitation from Jesus himself:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in, and I will eat with them, and they with me.”

Wouldn’t it be a shame if we heard Jesus’ voice…and opened the door, only to realize that he couldn’t come in because there were so many boxes and so much junk stacked up inside that he couldn’t enter?? Or worse yet, that we couldn’t even hear his voice because of all the junk and unnecessary stuff cluttering our home?

We can experience a fresh presence and coming of Jesus this Advent! Let’s make room for Him….by clearing out space!

(the above is a summary of the message shared during our worship on November 30, 2025.)

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John 14:1-7

¹“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Judas has left to go betray Jesus. Peter confesses his willingness to die for Christ, and yet, Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the sunrise. Now Jesus knows that the apostles’ hearts are troubled and wants to give them assurance that things will be all right.

Jesus tells them that there are places for them in eternity, and although He will be leaving soon, He will personally come back for them. They cannot follow Him now, but later, they will all be together. Jesus tells them that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

The apostles are a bit troubled. After Jesus sets an example of how to love one another by washing their feet, Jesus tells them that one of them is going to betray Him. Then when Peter asks Jesus where He is going, Jesus tells them that where He is going, they cannot follow Him, at least not for now.

Since Jesus had talked in the past about being arrested and dying, the apostles are starting to feel apprehensive about what is about to happen, and it feels like whatever is going to happen, it will happen soon.

When we are troubled by something, especially about people leaving us or dying, and we are told, “not to worry” or “do not let your hearts be troubled”, it rarely helps – We still worry, and are troubled by it, even if we try not to show it.

It is a tough situation for the apostles. They really do not know what is going to happen. After all, this is before Jesus’ resurrection, and before the Holy Spirit was given to them. The only assurance they had was Jesus telling them not to worry and that there is a place for them in eternity.

For us, we have the completed New Testament so that we know that Jesus will be arrested, tried and crucified. But we also know that He will be resurrected and will teach His followers for forty days on what it all means. We also know that Jesus returns to His Father but promises to come back.

Through the writings of Luke, Paul, Peter and John, we know how the church started and that until Jesus comes back, we are to be witnesses for the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. We are to preach the good news of the cross and the kingdom of God.

We are to proclaim what Jesus told the apostles – That Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is not a way, but the only way to the Father. Jesus is not a truth, but the only truth. Jesus is the life — Real life that lasts forever with God and His people.

There are many people who believe that there are many paths to heaven – Many paths to God. But that is not what our Bible teaches us.

Do you believe that Jesus is the way? If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you should, since this is what Jesus is telling us. And if we believe this, then we cannot help but be anxious about those around us who have not yet believed.

We do not have to be anxious about our lives or about our ultimate future, but we are to care what happens to those around us who are not believers. When we get together for the upcoming holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s – There will be opportunities for us to share what the Bible teaches us. Not to argue that they are wrong, but to let them know of the Good News of Jesus Christ. There is a place in eternity for them – If they believe and accept Jesus Christ into their hearts.

I cannot remember which Washington coastal beach it was – Shi Shi Beach, Second Beach or Third Beach – One of those. There is a lower trail that is very scenic, but the danger is that if you are at certain parts of the trail when the tide comes in, you can get stuck there for hours. They always advise that you have a tide chart so you know when the tide will be coming in, to make sure that you do not get stuck.

If you are at one of these beaches and you see people about to take the lower trail, but you know they cannot get back before the tide comes in, you would tell them to take the higher trail if they do not want to get stuck.

All people start out on the more dangerous trail. If they continue, it is not just about getting stuck until the next low tide. It is about where they end up in eternity.

Now that we know that Jesus is the only way to safety, we need to be sure to be on the safe path ourselves. We also need to point out to others the way, the truth, and the life – Jesus Christ.

In this world, there are many things that can trouble us. Conflicts, earthquakes, wildfires, storms, drought, politics, health, getting older, finances, decisions we must make that affect our futures, passing of family and friends, etc. In many ways, what the apostles were facing was worse. They left the lives they knew to follow Jesus, who they believed was the Messiah. But now, Jesus is telling them that one of them is going to betray Him and that He must go away and that they cannot follow Him. Their future seems uncertain, and they do not know how they will continue if Jesus is not going to be there with them. They are confused and anxious.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me”, is what Jesus tells the apostles. He is telling us the same thing. Whatever problems, troubles and worries we are carrying, remember that Jesus is with us through His Holy Spirit. And there is a place for us in eternity with Him and other followers. Because of this, we can seek first the Kingdom of God and boldly witness for the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world – That Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano at our worship on November 9, 2025.)

Luke 19:1-10

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.'” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Today we have the short story about a short man – Zacchaeus. Jesus is passing through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. It says that there is a man there, by the name of Zacchaeus who is both a chief tax collector and is very rich. (probably deeply disliked and marginalized by others) He has evidently heard about this Jesus and wishes to see him. Maybe he has heard about Jesus through other tax collectors, or other neighbors, but he appears to be very curious.

The problem is that he is short and can’t see Jesus because of the crowd. He runs ahead and climbs a sycamore-fig tree to get a look. When Jesus reaches the spot, he looks up in the tree at Zacchaeus and says simply, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

How did Jesus know Zacchaeus’s name? It doesn’t say. Was Zacchaeus surprised? We don’t know, but we can assume that he was surprised and thrilled as he happily came down and welcomed Jesus. The crowd grumbled, “He’s gone to be the guest of a sinner. Why does he hang out with the worst types?”

This is not the first time that Jesus is accused of spending time “with sinners”. Back in Luke 15:2 it says, “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'” And directly following those complaints, Jesus tells three stories: The lost sheep; The lost coin; The lost (prodigal) son. In each case, it is a story of God, seeking and saving the lost….rejoicing over every one that is found!

Zacchaeus announces to Jesus, “I’ll give half of my wealth to the poor, and if I’ve cheated anyone, I’ll repay them fourfold.” Perhaps there was a sudden change in Zacchaeus’s heart – deeply moved by Jesus’ visit to his home. Something about Jesus’ presence brought about a profound change in Zacchaeus.

Jesus then states at the end of this episode “Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

What did Jesus mean? How can we understand this account?

• Zacchaeus wishes to “see” Jesus, he “seeks for” a glimpse of Jesus. But He is surprised to find that it is actually Jesus who is seeking (wishing to stay at his home) him. This fits well with Jesus’ final words in verse 10.
• This mirrors our experience as well. When we finally “meet Jesus”, begin a relationship with God, we realize that it all started much earlier, that there is a bigger context. It’s actually God…who created us, gave us breath, and created us with a longing for relationship. When we seek and find God, we soon find that it was God who was seeking a relationship with us first.
• What is salvation? We often think that it is understanding and believing in God, or knowing about the Bible, or believing the right doctrines.  But actually, in Zacchaeus’s case, it was
  • Welcoming Jesus himself into his home. For us too, that is what salvation means – not just knowing and believing correct things, but welcoming Jesus himself into our hearts and lives. Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In Rev. 3:20 Jesus describes his presence in our lives in this way: “I stand at the door and knock.” He is always near and seeking a friendship with us.
  • Choosing correct priorities. Jesus said in Luke 12:31 “But seek His kingdom (rather than always worrying about what to eat, drink, and wear) Make your relationship with God No. 1! Then other needs will be taken care of.” In Zacchaeus’s case, he turned from a life of grasping wealth, to a life of giving and sharing. He no longer had earthly treasure as his goal, but heavenly rewards as his priority.

Zacchaeus is saved when

• He welcomes Jesus into his home
• His life / priorities are changed

How about us?

• Welcome Jesus today into your heart and home.
• Seek first a relationship with Jesus / God….make this our #1 priority! (not storing up earthly treasures….or constantly worrying about what we lack! But instead, seeking the true treasure… friendship with God!)

(The above is a summary and outline of the message shared in worship on November 2, 2025.)

John 13:31-35

³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 
³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John tells us in the beginning of this chapter that Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world. He wants to teach His disciples how to live after He is gone. He leaves them the example of washing His disciples’ feet.

Then Jesus announces that one of them will betray Him. After Judas leaves to betray Him, Jesus then gives the disciples the new commandment – To love one another, just as Jesus loved them. They are to love one another in a very visible way that others are going to be able to identify them as Christians by their love for one another.

The fact that Jesus left foot washing as a model of how to treat each other, lets us know that He was not talking about the emotion of love, but the act of love.

In the last section of this chapter, when Jesus tells Peter that he cannot follow Jesus where He is headed, Peter gets emotional. Peter wants to be with Jesus, and he declares that he is willing to lay down his life for Jesus. But we know that emotion of love can fade due to time, familiarity, fear, etc. It is only a few more hours until Peter denies Jesus when he is simply asked, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?”

Washing the dirty feet before a meal was a servant’s task. We do not see any of the disciples scurrying to wash Jesus’ feet, and certainly not each other’s feet. That was reserved for the one with the lowest status. Apparently, no one felt that their status was low enough that they should wash other’s feet. But when they saw Jesus getting up and washing their feet and hearing His explanation, they understood what Jesus was teaching them. They are to treat others as better than themselves. Foot-washing is a way to show love and respect through action. It would be easier if we felt a deep love and respect for those whose feet we are to wash, but even if we do not feel it, we are to act in love.

Other passages in the New Testament also teach the same concept. An example of this is where Paul writes in Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.”

In the gospel according to Luke, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was robbed and beaten half dead. A priest and a Levite both did nothing, fearing that it might be a trap. It also could prevent them from doing their duties if they touched the man and the man died later. It is presumed that the beaten man is a Jew, since there is no mention that the priest and the Levite were withholding aid because the man was a Gentile. The Jews considered Samaritans as enemies, and the feeling was mutual – Samaritans considered Jews as enemies. This was due to historical events that happened and built-up animosity between the two peoples.

Yet, the Samaritan who saw the beaten man acted in compassion. He bound up the man’s wounds, put him on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he gave two days’ worth of money to the innkeeper to take care of the man, promising that if the innkeeper ended up spending more money to take care of the man, that he will repay it when he comes back.

In today’s numbers, average two days’ pay in the U.S. would be about $525. Not only was the Samaritan willing to pay the money (and more, if needed), he was willing to take a chance that the robbers had set a trap for him. This was not due to emotional attachment, since the Samaritan did not know the man except that he was an enemy. This is another example of how to act in love.

This morning’s passage specifically talks about love for one another, meaning other followers. However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This is even harder than loving one another.

It would be great if the Holy Spirit would guide our emotions to feel a great love for our enemies and those around us and they feel a great love for us. But this is not how it works. In Luke 6:32 Jesus said, “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.”

If we are to follow Jesus’ command to pray for those who persecute you, how would we pray? That those who are persecuting us might see the error of their ways and stop? That kind of prayer would imply that we are in the right, and they are in the wrong, which is not exactly a posture of humility – It might even border on pride that we are right.

The example Jesus left us is to get up and wash everyone’s dirty feet. He knows that He is the Messiah and yet He chooses to take the lower position to serve His followers. If we are to follow His example, then it does not matter what we think or feel about the other person – We are to humble ourselves and treat the other with love and respect.

How does it make us feel when we are treated with respect? It is much more pleasant than being treated with disrespect, and we are more inclined to put forward our best selves. Imagine how well it would go in our homes and churches if everyone felt loved and respected.

But Jesus is not just telling how to get along with one another.  He also said the world is going to know that we are His followers by our love for one another. How we treat each other with love and respect is going to witness to the world about Jesus Christ.

God the Father showed His love for us by sending His Son to the cross to die for our sins, so that we can be saved simply by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us an example of how to love one another. We are in turn to treat others with humble love, so that others will see the love we have for one another and turn to Christ.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano during our worship on October 26, 2025.)

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