St Timothy Presbyterian Church

Scripture Passage Romans 8:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Spiritual and Worldly Life In today's passage, we see a clear contrast between the life according to the Spirit and the life according to the flesh. The spiritual life and the worldly life. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5) What does it mean to set the mind on the flesh? Does this mean to live morally sinful life? Does this mean breaking the law? Does this mean violating cultural norms? The most common understanding of the difference between the spiritual life and worldly life is. Spiritual life is living a moral and religious life and the worldly life is living a secular life. We think of it as something that you do or not do. Just a lifestyle on the surface. In today's passage, I think Paul is talking about something deeper than that. What is this flesh? The flesh is yourself. But a

Scripture Passage Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Unresponsive Numbness In just a few days, the City of Toronto will install a new mayor. This election was a milestone. The three leading candidates were immigrants or children of immigrants. Two of them were people of colour. For the first time in Toronto's history, we will have a mayor who is a racialized person of colour and an immigrant. It's a historic moment. It signifies the kind of place Toronto has become – as a city that draws people from all over the world It was also an important election because there are so many issues in the city: Acts of random violence have increased. The problem of homelessness and lack of shelters has grown. Our transportation system is facing issues. Cost of housing is through the roof. But when I think about it, I don't think any of this really mattered much to a lot of people. For most people, this news, if it even registered, was met with a collective shrug. Voter turnout wasn't terribl

Scripture Passage Romans 6:12-13 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Sin Sin – it is not a popular topic. We don't want to think about it or talk about it. We want to just sweep it under the rug. What is sin? Sin is breaking rules. But it is more than that. SIN IS A DARK FORCE THAT ENSLAVES US TO ITS POWER. That's why St. Paul often uses the language of SLAVERY AND FREEDOM when he talks about sin. Sin makes us feel powerless. This powerlessness is well expressed in Paul's letter to Romans. I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I th

Scripture Passage Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script The Beginning Recognizing that I need help is the beginning of everything. It is the beginning of change. It is the beginning of healing. It is the beginning of becoming righteous. It is a very simple statement and simple attitude that we can have. And yet the result is powerful. The woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years experienced healing. She had nothing to show for and she did nothing to deserve healing. The only thing she had was this attitude. I need help. The result was phenomenal. She was not just physically healed. She became free from social isolation. During Jesus' time, woman's bleeding was considered dirty. So once a month, women had to go through the humiliation of feeling dirty. It was not a good thing to do to a human being. But this woman with haemorrhages had to live with it not just once a month but every day of her life. Sometimes our culture can be cruel and quite oppressive. If o

Scripture Passage Matthew 28:16-20 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Together in Partnership I told you last week that there is a project of translating the Bible in their tribal languages. It has been translated into two languages and they will do two more translation in the future. Each translation project costs U$100,000. One person donated U$100,000 and U$300,000 were raised. The Rev. Ohm said he would donate again. There are a lot of good and generous people in the world. People in Madagascar couldn't do this alone. We need a partnership. This world is deeply connected. It is not that western countries do the mission for the developing countries. The attitude of colonial mission should not be the model we should follow any more. We work together in partnership, using each other's strengths and resources. People in Madagascar are doing much better in terms of mission than those who live in North America. But they need financial resources. So we help them and enable them to do what they do well.

Scripture Passage Acts 1:8 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script The Ends of the Earth Acts of Apostles was written by Luke. When Luke wrote this book, there was no such thing as Christians. They were all Jews. But they were different from the majority of other Jews. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. So, we call them Messianic Jews. They were a very small group. After Jesus died, only 120 people gathered together to pray. A very small, insignificant group. But Luke had a great vision. He had a vision that there will be God's witnesses not only in Jerusalem but to the ends of the earth. He believed in what Jesus said. This was what Jesus said. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) What Jesus said came true. There were witnesses who went to the ends of the earth. What started with prayers of 120 people changed the whole world. Starting

Scripture Passage 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Fiery Ordeal Our passage today begins with this verse: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12) Peter's community is going through something very difficult. To grasp what that is, we need to unpack the context a little bit. Peter is writing to a community of mostly Gentiles. Before they became Christians, they used to be a part of their communities. They lived the same way as them. They were insiders in the culture and community. But everything changed after they met Christ. After meeting Christ, they found their reason for living. The way they thought changed. The way they behaved changed. The people they hung out with changed. When people change, it disturbs those around them. It disrupts the equilibrium. It is unsettling. Their change attracted hostility. It aroused suspicion. They became marginalized in t

Scripture Passage John 14:15-21 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script An Anchor Happy Mother's Day. In our church, we celebrate our parents once a year, so I will say, Happy Parents' Day . We celebrate parents because they are anchors for their children. It is not so much what you do for them that matters. It is your presence. Your presence is the anchor for your children as they grow up. Your presence allows them to grow securely into who they are supposed to be. Your presence is the safe space in which they blossom. Your presence is the place from which they venture out into the world. Your presence is their anchor. That is the greatest thing you can do for your children – be an anchor for them through your presence. An anchor keeps a boat securely moored. It keeps the boat safe at harbour when storms hit. It keeps it from drifting out to sea and getting lost. It keeps the boat calm and steady so it can get ready to sail. Just like a parent, Jesus was the anchor for his disciples. They left everythin

Scripture Passage John 14:1-14 Worship Video Worship Audio The worship audio will be available at a later time. Thank you for your patience! Sermon Script Uncertainty Last few weeks, I have encountered many deaths. It is sad to witness the passings of people with whom I have had a close relationship. Not only that, I also have heard from people who are going through illness that makes their future very uncertain. I received a Kakao message from a person I haven't seen some time. He asked for prayer. He was diagnosed with cancer and asked me to pray for him. To all of us, life is very uncertain. More uncertain, especially for those who are going through a difficult time. But my friends, the truth is our life has been always uncertain. We always lived with the uncertainty. We don't know our future. That is what life is. God made it that way. Proverbs said, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1) James said, Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to

Scripture Passage John 10:1-10 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Abundant Life Life is about giving. It is not about taking. Good life is a life of giving. There is a joy in giving. There is a secret of happiness hidden in the life of giving. This is what Jesus said. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) He gave us the abundant life. Abundant life is a life of giving. Your life is so filled with God's blessings that it overflows. That overflowing is giving. You don't give from scarcity. You give from the abundance. Abundance is not necessarily the abundance of material. That is not what Jesus is talking about. Those who followed Jesus did not become rich materially. But they had the abundant life. Abundance is the quality of your heart. It is the quality of your existence. This is what St. Paul said. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In

Scripture Passage Matthew 28:1-10 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Dawning Matthew chapter 28 describes the scene of the resurrection. Listen to the first verse. After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. (Matthew 28:1) These words catch my eyes. After the sabbath The first day of the week Dawning The first creation ended with the Sabbath. Now there is a new beginning. The first day of the week was dawning. It is the language of a new beginning. The resurrection is the new beginning. That's why Luke started another book, called the Acts of the Apostles. The resurrection of Jesus started a new movement. He recorded what this new movement looked like. All four gospel writers experienced the resurrection and that prompted them to write their gospel. And they all believed that Jesus' resurrection opened a new era, a new beginning, and a new world. So Mark started with this. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, th

Scripture Passage Matthew 27:11-26 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script He Was Silent When I read today's passage, two words come to my mind. SILENCE and NOISE There is a silence of Jesus and a noise of people The only thing Jesus said was this. You say so. (Matthew 27:11) This was when Pilate asked Jesus whether he was the King of the Jews. That was it. After that, Jesus didn't say anything. Until Pilate handed him over to be crucified, he said nothing. He was completely silent. When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not say anything. when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. (Matthew 27:12) He did not defend himself. He was silent. Pilate was frustrated and told Jesus this. Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you? (Matthew 27:13) He wanted to break Jesus' silence and make him say something. Say something to defend himself. But Jesus did not say a word. Total silence! he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the

Scripture Passage John 11:1-45 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Grace and Miracles Life is full of miracles. Miracles are not just supernatural events. Miracles are events where you experience God's grace. Sun rises in the morning. Babies are born. As you lie down, you get a good sleep. People learn to cope with unbearable suffering. People overcome incredible challenges to live happy lives. These are all miracles we see. We all experience God's grace. If you don't believe in miracles, you miss a big part of your life. Why do people choose to serve instead of being served? Why do people choose to love instead of hating? Why do people choose to forgive instead of staying angry? They are all miracles to me. They do that because they see God's grace in their lives. Experiencing miracles and experiencing God's grace: They go together. Last 7 weeks, we did a series of Knowing Christ from the 4 Gospels. It was a long journey for me. At first, I was very uncertain about this series. I was thinking about t

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Scripture Passage John 9:1-41 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script But Now I See Salvation is seeing. It is very much being able to see. Through Jesus, our eyes are open. Now we can see hope in despair. Healing in sickness. Life in death. In today's Scripture, the born blind man was healed by Jesus and he was able to see. This was what he said. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25) We are familiar with this phrase. I was blind but now I see. We heard that in our favourite hymn, Amazing Grace. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. What happened to the man in today's story was more than a physical healing. At first, he didn't really know who healed him. He simply said, the man called Jesus healed me. The Pharisees kept asking him who healed him. And he said he was a prophet. Then finally after he was kicked out from the community, Jesus came to him. When he met Jesus again, he finally rea

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Scripture Passage Romans 5:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Rootless The Bible provides an image of the kind of people we should be: They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1:3) What a beautiful image of life. The word that comes to mind for me is rooted . People who bear fruit and prosper have strong roots and are firmly planted. Life today often seems to be the opposite. It seems rootless. So many things are out of our control. So many changes happen around us. So many things happen to us. We don't know what to root ourselves in. St. Paul Today's passage is written by St. Paul. As a young man, he rooted himself deep in his Jewish identity. This is what he says about his previous life: If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as

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Scripture Passage Genesis 12:1-4 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Immigrant Life Life is a combination of settlement and journey. We cannot always live out of a suitcase. We need to be settled. That's why immigrant life is difficult. You are uprooted all of a sudden and have to survive in a totally strange land. Too much change all at once. Too many unknown variables. Abraham was also an immigrant. He immigrated twice. His original home town was Ur. He went to Haran. And from there, he immigrated again. He left the place where he was well settled. It wasn't just his decision. He felt that it was God's calling. He was called to take the journey. So you can see his life was a mix of settlement and journey. That is what life is. A good harmony of settlement and journey. The question is when to take a journey and when to settle. How do you know that? The settlement gives us a sense of rootedness. It gives us a feeling of being grounded and we feel stable. You are quite comfortable when you are settled.

Scripture Passage Matthew 4:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Temptation We are in the middle of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days, commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before his ministry. Even though we may reflect on Jesus' suffering, it doesn't have to be always dark and gloomy. In Eastern Orthodox, it is known as the season of Bright Sadness. Bright Sadness. I like that. It is sad but it is not hopeless sadness. At the end of DARKNESS, there is a light waiting for us. At the end of TEMPTATION, there is a victory. At the end of DEATH, there is resurrection. Life is not always good but life is not always bad either. Life is not always bright. There are times when life can be gloomy. But there are times when things are good too. The secret is how we deal with each situation with graciousness, graciousness to yourself and to others. There are valleys and hills in life. Count Basie, American Jazz pianist said. Learn to deal with the valleys and the hills will take care