Minemachi Christ Church Message English MINEMACHI CRIST CHURCH

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

Sunday, March 24, 2024
“He is Not Here. He Has Risen.”
Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

* The significance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection

1. Proof that Jesus Christ was the true God
* Matthew 16:21 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (NIV)
2. The reason for the dramatic change in Jesus Christ’s disciples
3. The certainty of the forgiveness of sins and resurrection of the body of those who believe in Jesus Christ
* 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. Paul said that Jesus Christ’s resurrection was truly the most important thing that happened.
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19) Why do you think he said that?
2. What impact has the resurrection of Jesus Christ had on your life?

MCC20240324.mp3

Sunday, March 17, 2024
“What We Did to Jesus…”
Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Learning from Pilate’s stance
* Pilate was sent from Rome to rule Judea from 26-36AD.
* Why did Pilate sentence Jesus to death knowing he was innocent?
* Testimony of a former liberation Chicago pastor
* Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (NIV)
2. As with Barabbas
* Mark 15:6 (See above)
* Luke 23:19 “Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)” (NIV)
* Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)
* The image of our salvation
3. The chief priests and the crowd
* The meaning incorporated in the "The Rise of Christ," by Rembrandt in 1634
* Ephesians 3:17-19 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:
1. What nature of our sins do we find in Pilate?
2. What aspects of salvation do we see in the image of Barabbas?
3. What do you find in the image of the great crowd of priests?

MCC20240317.mp3