family-worship-cross

Spiritual Family

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Mark 20:20-35 entitled “Spiritual Family”

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng spoke about the line Jesus draws when it comes to what a spiritual family is. Jesus is clear that a spiritual family is the one who does the will of the Father. It’s that Jesus himself is doing God’s Will, even though the Pharisee tried to accuse him of using the power of Beelzebub. However, it’s clear that all good things come from God, so the Lord performing miraculous signs is obviously from God.

Jesus’ physical family opposition is a bit different than the Jewish leaders, they simply think Jesus is “out of his mind”. This is the same accusation that many of us can get from our own families as we do God’s Will. It is because family values can clash against God’s Will. Family values may come from the world and Jesus draws a strict line, saying it’s only about doing God’s Will. Anything deviating from God’s Will is sinful and part of the world.

That being said, God did place us in our families, allowing us to be born into our families for a reason. Also, our families are blessed through us. Therefore, we must pray for our physical families to also be spiritual family as well. It is that the bond of the Holy Spirit is much more powerful than the bond of blood relations. Therefore, we must build our families to be united in the Holy Spirit to do God’s Will.

Also, we must remember that ultimately, we are building a spiritual family in the church. May we remember this live for God’s Kingdom together.

0
photo_2021-06-14_10-01-05

Acts 3 – Look At Us

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Acts 3:1-10 entitled “Look at us!”

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng examined the difference between the disciples and the crippled beggar in front of the temple. The crippled beggar is the one who looks at the hand, reliant on money, and whose very being is confined in the world. The disciples were exactly like the crippled beggar before, confined in the upper room in fear from the world.

However, the power of the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and their very being was shifted towards God’s Kingdom, no longer confined in the world. That is why they were able to say “Look at us!” to the crippled beggar. They were able to be like that through the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in their lives. While we are not individually strong, God has called us as a church to strengthen one another to be a part of God’s Kingdom.

May Gratia Church be full of the Holy Spirit as a body of Christ.

0
SS2018Q405

The Early Church

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Acts 2:42-47 entitled “The Early Church”.

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explained about the characteristics of the early church which started on Pentecost as the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples. Prior to Pentecost, the disciples were gripped in fear and locked in the upper room of Mark. It was the Holy Spirit which empowered the disciples to go out to the world.

The blessing of the Holy Spirit has come to us all through Jesus Christ. Prior to Jesus, the Holy Spirit was only with a few people very hundred years and also in the temple as well. After Jesus, we understand that we ourselves are God’s temple and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, dwells in the church, and dwells in the body of Christ. Therefore, the church is important because it is the place where the people of the Holy Spirit are gathered.

The characteristic of the early church is that they focused on the Word, had fellowship, prayed, and shared everything, overcoming possessions. Our church must be a church that focuses on the Word, which is why we focus on Bible Study. We also must have good fellowship, developing a holy culture, not a culture of the world. Also, we live praying and sharing with one another.

Finally, the Bible teaches us that the early church spent time together in the temple courts and in each other’s homes. Our church must be one who people center their lives and grow as people in community. We don’t live lonely by ourselves, but we live among others. From the outside, it may look strange as if church should just be one activity among many. But we see the original image of the early church where the disciples centered their lives around the church.

May Gratia Church also be a church that models itself after the early church and live for God’s Kingdom.

0
th (2)

When The Day of Pentecost Came

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Acts 2:1-41 entitled “When the day of Pentecost came”.

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng delivered a message in preparation for Pentecost, explicating the meaning of it. The Shavuot celebrates the barley harvest after the Passover, while the Pentecost literally means 50th and is the festival celebrating the first fruits of the wheat harvest. The deep meaning correlates with the Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross and then 50 days after Easter was the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down with wind and tongues of fire. The kernel of wheat that died, produced many seeds which finally ripened as a fruit, when the 120 disciples received the Holy Spirit.

In his sermon, Peter explains that the coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied since the Old Testament by the prophet Joel. Of course, the Holy Spirit existed in the Old Testament, but only a few prophets received it every hundred years. But through the precious blood of the Lord, he was resurrected and we all enjoy the Holy Spirit. The church started on the Pentecost with the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit.

We also must reflect on receiving the Holy Spirit in our lives and living for God’s Will. Coming to church is not just about staying the same, but it is about changing our lives to be fruits before God. As we approach the Pentecost, we must self-reflect deeply on receiving the Holy Spirit and being a fruit before God.

The Pentecost was amazing, because it showed the amazing power of resurrection and the Holy Spirit which came down. From the one who died for us all Jesus Christ, it became 120, and then 3000. It shows us that the power of the Holy Spirit works so powerfully and not just in a 1 to 1 way. If we are the kernel of wheat that also serves, loves, and self-sacrifices like the Lord, then God will help our church grow not just 1, 2, 3 people, but it will be 120 and 3000.

May we prepare our hearts for the Pentecost and truly rely on the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our church.

0
th (2)

I Have Seen The Lord

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on John 20:1-18 entitled “I have seen the Lord”.

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explained about the love of Mary, John, and Peter being a witness to the empty tomb. It speaks to our love of God that keeps us going and allows us even to overcome hard times in faith. Love overcomes death and is a witness to the miracle of the empty tomb.

That being said, it’s important for love to grow deeper and beyond the empty tomb, it must see the risen Lord. What teaches us about the risen Lord? John pointed towards the Scripture. When we become deeper in the word, it burns in our heart and begins to transform our life.

Mary’s love was soaked in the sorrow of death, but she had her tears wiped away while having a conversation with the resurrected Lord. Although she didn’t recognize him at first, her eyes opened to the Lord, her tears became joy and she shouted, “Rabonni!” Easter is about witnessing the resurrected Lord. Not only being a witness, but our lives being transformed as well.

Jesus told Mary to not hold on and then he spoke about returning back to the Father. The resurrection is closely connected with the ascension, which is a complete transcendent change. In our life, we should also experience this transcendent change of God taking us to unimaginable places for His Will and Kingdom.

Mary testified, “I have seen the Lord!” This Easter, may our lives be a witness to the Lord who resurrects in our life and may we transform more greatly for God’s glory.

0
th (1)

Easter Retreat Bible Study

by with No Comment Sermons

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30

0
Untitled-Design-31

Worship in Spirit as a Living Sacrifice(Romans 12)

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was from Romans 12:1-21 entitled “Worship in Spirit as a Living Sacrifice.”

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explicated Romans 12, exhorting members in practical aspects of the life of faith.  While the core of faith is receiving grace, it’s also important God’s love to overflow in us, transform us, and put the love into practice in our walk of faith.

In Romans 12, Paul explains the Biblical foundation for practical aspects of faith as us being living sacrifices.  The meaning of sacrifice in the Old Testament was never meant to be isolated rituals, but was always meant to point towards the heart of receiving forgiveness, repenting, and restoring our relationship with God.  

Finally, Jesus Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice, restoring our relationship with God once and for all.  Therefore, those of us who receive the Lord with faith, don’t need to give any more sacrifice, but instead our whole life is a living sacrifice, worshiping in spirit and truth.  

Paul also explains that it’s only when we actually walk the life of faith, can we begin to discern God’s Will for me.  It’s that God has all given us different spiritual gifts that should be used for the body of Christ.  The body, the church needs all its parts, so everyone is so important and precious in building God’s Kingdom.

Perhaps in Rome, like America today, there were many believers thinking of themselves to highly or despairing that they are lower.  We must remember that in the body of Christ, there is no higher or lower, but we are all serving by the irrevocable gifts and calling that God has blessed us with.

Romans 12 explains 7 spiritual gifts, 12 standards for living among brothers and sisters, and 12 standards for living with society.  In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explained each one by one, exhorting members to love one another, not take vengeance, and carry each other burdens.

In the New Year 2021, let us rely on God to help us walk with faith and reveal God’s glory and Kingdom in our church.

0
maxresdefault

New Wine into New Wineskins

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon was from Matthew 9:1-17 entitled, “New Wine into New Wineskins”.

In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng encouraged members to receive that unconditional grace and blessing of God to start off the New Year.  Even more than starting off the year “right” with New Year’s resolutions, it is about starting the New Year with righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.

In the main passage, we see two other groups referenced.  Among the Jews, the Pharisees were the most lawful, knowing and doing everything right.  Also among the Jews, John the Baptist and his disciples were the group most pointed in the direction of the Gospel, since they had a repentful heart.  Yet, the Pharisees and John the Baptist’s disciples were still limited.  

They followed the Law or had a repentful heart out of obligation.  Their life of faith was always focused on not making a mistake and being perfect and right.  They always lived under the specter of fear instead of the freedom of love.  

How were the disciples of Jesus?  The Lord came and brought unconditional love.  Unconditional love means that there is no expectation of payback.  Being together with the Lord is not out of obligation, but like a wedding banquet – full of celebration, peace, and joy that only comes from Jesus Christ.  Maturity in love is realizing that I follow moral Law, not out of obligation to pay back the Lord, but simply because I love the Lord so by that love, I love Good and follow His Will.  

Jesus further explained that like a new cloth on an old garment, nor can new wine be put in old wineskin.  It means that this new way of unconditional love can’t fit under the old way of obligation and old way of Law can’t hold in this vitality of the Gospel.  The two can’t be mixed.  New wine needs to go into new wineskin.  Our church must be a new wineskin full of overflowing vitality and love of the Gospel within us.

If we walked the 2020 out of obligation and Law, let us start off 2021 by receiving the amazing grace that comes only from the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  Through this, may our church be the place of the Kingdom.  

0
romans 2 circumcision

Romans 2 – Circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit

by with No Comment Sermons

Today’s sermon delivered by Pastor Tzeng was from Romans 2:1-29 entitled “Circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit.” The sermon encouraged church members spoke about categories of righteousness and goodness we create, but how we ultimately need to receive Jesus Christ through the circumcision of the heart.

Continuing from last week, we are looking at Romans 2, a chapter that pierced the hearts of the Jews in Rome. It also pierces our hearts in America today.

First, in Romans 2:1-11, Paul speaks deeply about the problem of our faith system. As a dogmatic Jewish Pharisee, he knew the problems. As Jesus told us, Pharisees prayed about the great faith acts they did before God in comparison with the tax collector who beat his breast. Pharisees, Romans, Americans all have the same problem – we have a self-righteous image drawing a circle around ourselves and categorize ourselves as “good” people. In our defined categories of “good”, we exclude others, and are gracious with ourselves, saying that God has mercy and forgives us “good” people. But our stubborn boundaries blind us to the truth that we are stuck circling around in my self-righteousness in my own shell of myself. God’s truth is not based on my categories of “good”, they are based on truth. God does not show favoritism and He does not judge based on my standards.

Next in Romans 2:12-27, we see that the Jews thought the Law would protect them, so they lose fear, and keep sinning. We think being a personally defined “good” person will protect me, but we must know that we will be judged even more. In America, we are so smug in that we are good people living a self-sufficient life – but will this protect me. The author of Hebrews says that we will all die once and face judgment. All my sins will be judged accordingly, big or little sin, all sin prevents us from going to heaven. Just because I think I’m generally a “good” person, that won’t protect me. Let’s not sugar-coat the reality of judgment, we must know there is an end and we must know our insufficiency that we cannot escape judgment on our own. Finally, in Romans 2:28-29, we see there is a way out of judgment and this way is not using outward things like circumcision. Just because we acknowledge a boundary of a “good” person, will God acknowledge it like we want? The Gospel is not for self-seeking ones filling up myself, but it’s for the ones with an empty heart. When I am humble, with an empty heart, I can accept from God above. What is faith? Faith is circumcision of the heart, about my heart opening to receive from God. Apostle Paul has deep self-reflection, breaking down and confessing that he is a sinner with problems. That honesty, the open heart, the circumcision of the heart is the starting point to faith. That the only way out of judgment from our sins is not my ways, but it is when I can receive Jesus Christ, his unconditional love and grace of salvation.

Let us pray to have our hearts circumcised and received from above. Rather than being the self-righteous ones by our own efforts, may we rely on Jesus Christ and the cross.

0