Minemachi Christ Church Message English MINEMACHI CRIST CHURCH

Sunday, May 5, 2024
“When the Curtain was Torn”
Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Darkness came over the whole land
* Testimony of historians
* When darkness covered the whole land... The time for Jesus to experience harsh pain
2. The reason for quoting Psalm 22
* Why did Jesus quote Psalm 22 when he was experiencing pain on the cross?
(1) To express his current state of mind
(2) To proclaim that prophesy was being fulfilled right then
* Psalm 22:14 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.” (NIV)
* Psalm 22:18 “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” (NIV)
* Psalm 22:7-8 “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the LORD,’ they say, ‘let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’” (NIV)
(3) The words He cried out in place of us
(4) To proclaim that the pain of the cross didn’t end in pain, but in victory
3. The salvation of the centurion
* Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (NIV)
* Mark 15:38 (See above)
* Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)
* The salvation of the centurion: Foretelling that the time will come when the barrier between the two nations will disappear and the Gentiles will be able to be saved
* John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. How can we know that the whole land became dark is a fact?
2. What is the reason for Jesus quoting Psalm 22?
3. What kind of privileges have been given to you now?

MCC02040505.mp3

Sunday, April 28, 2024
“Today You Will be with Me in Paradise”
Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Those who insulted Jesus on the cross
* People passing by
* Chief priests and teachers of the law
* The criminals on crosses on both sides of Jesus
* “If you are the Son of God, save yourself!”
* Behind this was the work of Satan (the Devil)
2. The repentance of the robber
* Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” (NIV)
* Why was he led to repentance? Because he knew that through Jesus’ prayer, forgiveness was being offered to hm
* “Dead Man Walking” movie in 1995
3. Salvation through faith
* Luke 23:42 “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (NIV)
* Luke 23:43 “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV)
* He received salvation through faith in Jesus

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. Why did Satan try to cause obstruction with the cross?
2. Why did the robber repent?
3. Why did Jesus prepare a path of salvation based on faith and not works?

MCC20240428.mp3

Sunday, April 21, 2024
“Learning from Noah’s Faith”
Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. Noah coming out of the ark
2. Noah building an alter
3. God’s monologue
* Genesis 8:21 “curse” = handle lightly, make light of
* 2 Peter 3:6-7, 13 “By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly… But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. What can you learn from Noah’s faith?
2. Why did Noah first build an alter?
3. What will eventually happening to this present world?

MCC20240421.mp3

Sunday, April 14, 2024
“What is More Important Than Life”
Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The record of the flood
* Psalm 104:8 “they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys…” (NIV)
This seems to be referring to plate tectonics (movement of the continents)
* Genesis 8:4 The mountains of Ararat = The east end of Turkey, the border of Iran and Armenia (5,165m)
2. God was with Noah
* Genesis 8:1 “remembered” = took to heart
* Genesis 8:7 “it kept flying back and forth” = flying around
* Words of Tomohiro Hoshino
“When I thought that life was the most important thing, it became difficult to live.
The day I found out that there was something more important than life, I was glad I was alive.”

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. Through what sources can we see that there is proof that the flood of Noah is a historical fact?
2. Do you have something “more important than life?” What is it?

MCC20240414.mp3

Sunday, April 7, 2024
“Just Like Simon, the Man from Cyrene”
Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Jesus Christ the Redeemer (from the figure of the Roman soldiers) (Mark 15:16-20)
* Mark 15:17-19 (See above)
* “crown of thorns” = Genesis 3:18 “It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.” (NIV)
2. The person who will redeem our past (Simon, the man from Cyrene) (Mark 15:21-22)
* Via Dolorosa = The way of suffering/sorrow
* The reason why Jesus fell down on the way
* Mark 15:15 “…He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” (NIV)
* Mark 15:21 (See above)
* Romans 16:13 “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” (NIV)
* God turns the negatives in life into overwhelming positives
* The testimony of a man named Sagan with leprosy
3. The cross we bear
* Mark 8:34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. Have you experienced the redemption of past sorrow/suffering like Simon?
2. Why do we want to make sacrifices for Jesus?
3. What is the cross that you bear as a disciple of Jesus?

MCC20240407.mp3

Sunday, March 31, 2024
“Have I Not Risen?”
Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. What do we find the solution to death?
* What happens when we die?
* The world’s best selling book, the Bible
* All people are sinners.
* April 14-15, 1912: The sinking of the Titanic
2. The hope beyond death
* 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (NIV)
3. The joy of reuniting
* The meaning of Jesus Christ’s resurrection
* The testimony of American theologian Gary Habermas
* John 11:25 (See above)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. What do you think will happen after you die? What is the basis for that?
2. What can we believe in to be saved? Refer to 1 Corinthians 15.
3. Are there people you are looking forward to being reunited with in Heaven?

MCC20240331.mp3