Sep 21, 2025

The body of Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22 ESV
[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— [12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.2.11-22.ESV

Rev. Kyuboem Lee 

Remember who you are

We are part of the family of God. Good has adopted and welcomed us in. To both gentiles and Jews, Paul calls us acknowledge that we are on equal footing in each other. Neither group has superior position. It does not matter what you have done, your racial background, your cultural background. We are the people of God because of what God has done. 

Remember your story 

Much like the Jews, Asians stood out. We were very different from those around us and sometimes picked on for those differences. Have we sought to be successful, as our parents instructed, and often erased our cultural differences in order to succeed. But have we gone too far? We are not called to ignore our history. We are to see this as part of how God has made us. Our culture is part of how we can be a good witness. The church doesn't need to be white majority culture. We are to meet each other where we are. For majority culture, have we leaned in and sought to learn about brothers and sisters culture and background. For monitor culture have you taken another look at your history and considered things that were never taught in history books.

Become God's new household

Jesus is taking people for disparate places and cultures and making a new extended family. With all those conflicts, mismatching, and miscommunication, he seeks to reconcile all of us. We have familia responsibility to reach others as the church. We are not called to be isolated groups within the church. We should reach out across groups. College students, young adults, young parents, older adults... Reconciled by the cross. We are called to that same work, not to simply pass by each other, but to engage each other with love, following in Jesus' footsteps.






Feb 9, 2025

Deuteronomy: Gleaning Laws

“You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.24.17-22.ESV

Rev. Kyu 

Gleaning is contrary to the gospel of greed of today

We are a culture that accepts greed and the maximization of profit. Don't reap to the edges of the field? What CEO would promote such a thing? We are God's people. We are to use the land and resources that God has given us for the sojourner, the widow, the poor. This is the kingdom that good desires. 

Gleaning is justice

Gleaning is the right of the poor. We are given resources by God not simply for ourselves. We need to find edges of our time, our budget,... and give to the organizations that care for the poor, the migrants.

Gleaning is not charity, it is an opportunity

Gleaning is not about a handout. It is an opportunity. Ruth did not get grain delivered to her door. She went with her mother in law and gathered grain from Boaz's field. She worked to survive. 

The gleaning laws are a glimpse of God's desire

God wants to build a community. He wants a community that resolves conflicts peacefully. One where people care for one another. This is the good life that God calls us to. 

In contrast, we have the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Big houses, sports cars, and travel to exotic places. We save and scrape in order to get this sort of lifestyle, but is this what God desires for us?

Doing good is not because we are good. We are called to do this because God first served and gave to us. God gave land to the Israelites. God saved us by the blood of Jesus. This is why we serve. In an age where cruelty, stinginess, and selfishness seem to be the way, we, as God's people, are called to be generous, kind, and loving. We are to bear witness to what God has done for us.

Jan 26, 2025

Deuteronomy: Judges and Kings

Deuteronomy 15:1-9,16:19-20,17:14-20

This book is a book of transitions. Our church is also in transition: considering senior pastors, particularizition, etc. While these passages speak of leaders of those times, this is still applicable for leadership. This is God's consideration for leaders.

What do leaders do

For the Israelites, we hear of the jobs of judges and kings. Judges handle disputes between parties. But there's a fair amount of overlap. Kings were seen as military leaders. There was a hierarchy to these leaders. 

What qualifies a leader

Leaders need to be experienced and are to be impartial. They need to see both rich and poor equally. They are not to take bribes. But not just that, they need to pursue justice only. Not fame, not power, nothing else should distract. Not wives, not horses... In other words, not political power, not military power.

These are not qualities God desires: It is not charisma, not ministry success, not giftings, and not worldly qualifications. God desires character. But this isn't just a way to beat up our leaders. Do we value character over charisma? Do we want someone to lead with love, care, and a heart after God? 

How to become qualified

You must understand and be captivated by the love of God for us. Such a Sunday school answer, right? But how does someone ignore the power of the powerful, the riches of the rich? It is by knowing that God is the most powerful, richest and He approves of us. We don't need the influence of the world's riches or power. In a hundred years, we'll all be dead. We'll be with Jesus. And the place where we will be will have streets paved with gold. How can someone with an inheritance bigger than Elon Musk be bribed? They cannot.

Addison Frank

Jan 19, 2025

Generosity from God's generosity


[1] “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. [2] And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed. [3] Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. [4] But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— [5] if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. [6] For the Lord your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. [7] “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, [8] but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. [9] Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. [10] You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. [11] For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ [12] “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. [13] And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. [14] You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. [15] You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. [16] But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, [17] then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female slave you shall do the same. [18] It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.

Deuteronomy 15:1-18 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.15.1-18.ESV

Being generous

We have modern banking in the control of the elite. They lend us money to buy houses and cars.
 But in the ancient Middle East, it was different. There was a more democratic system. People could set interest rates and lend to whomever they wanted. Everyone in Israel had land that was parceled out to each tribe. This was given out and done to the rememberable of God giving these things to Israel. God didn't just bless the elite; it was for all those in Israel. It wasn't for just a subset. Everyone was expected to be generous because everyone was given to generously by God. 

Why generosity

For is the explanation or cause of something. There are four for clauses. 
God says there should be no poor in the nation of Israel. But things happen, disaster, poor financial planning, and other issues. So those who had excess had enough to meet those who were lacking or in need. There was enough for everyone in the nation of Israel. 
God said that he would bless Israel so that it would bless other nations. God's generosity to Israel was the way for them to be a blessing to the nations. It was how God enabled Israel to fulfill the promise. 
Slavery or servanthood was different from chattel slavery. Those who choose to stay forever with their masters would join the masters family with the inherent protections. They were not commodities or resources to be used as simple tools. Every seven years, these people were to be given their freedom regardless of how much debt had been paid. And not simply sent away, but sent away with goods from the master's house. 

What is generosity

When Jesus came, he forgave sins and also fed the poor. It was holistic. We are to be generous with our resources to give them a taste of the kingdom of God. We are to pray with them, have a conversation, and meet their physical needs. 

Rev. Hansoo Jin