Today Pastor Choi talks about offering to the Lord, its history and attributes: it is to the Lord, the Lord remembers our giving to Him and rewards us with heavenly treasures. He also urges the believers to take up the divine challenge of “Tithing” in Malachi 3.
Text: Hebrews 13:3
Today Pastor Choi talks about persecutions against Christians: examples, cause, nature, and proper attitudes toward persecution.
Text: Ephesians 6:10-18
Today Pastor Choi talks about how to be victorious in our spiritual battle against the spiritual forces of wickedness. He exhorts God’s people to get into the Word of God daily, to receive “Rema” the spoken word of God and wield it against the schemes of the devil, deception and accusation.
Texts: Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 4:23
Today Pastor Choi talks about the heart: three kinds of heart, what’s happening in the heart, and how to take good care of the heart.
Today is Laity Sunday. Our guest speaker, Pauline McShea (lay leader), invites everyone to be involved in ministry.
Text: Luke 22:14-23
Today is World Communion Sunday. Pastor Choi explains the meaning of Communion (that is, why we do it, and what’s happening in each Communion). He also explains the proper ways to partake in the Lord’s Supper (that is, right ways to receive the Lord’s blessing).
Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Today Pastor Choi talks about contentment: its definition, benefits, the choices we make, and the consequences we live with afterwards. He exhorts people of God to choose Christ over the love of money.
Text: Luke 12:13-21
Today Pastor Choi talks about Jesus’ warning against greed. He also draws a distinction between two Greek words both of which are translated into the same English word “life.” The first Greek word is ‘ζωη’ (zoe) (e.g. English name–Zoe) and the other one is ‘βιος’ (bios)—e.g. biology, biochemistry,…. Finally, he explains the meaning of being poor (and rich) in the sight of God.
Text: Exodus 20:1-5a
Today Pastor Choi explains what is worship all about. It is ‘to fall prostrate’ or ‘to bow down’ before God. We are created to worship (Ephesians 2:10) and are to choose the Only True God to worship, not idols. Pastor also explains why the LORD God gets jealous when His people turn their hearts to other gods.
Text: 2 Peter 3:1-15
Today Pastor Choi talks about Jesus’ Second Coming (Parousia). He encourages the congregation to carefully examine Peter’s explanation of the delay of Parousia threefold: The Lord is faithful to keep His promise. The Lord is patient to give a chance to everyone to come to repentance. The Lord expects us to stay alert in prayer, spotless and blameless while we await Jesus’ Second Coming.
Text: Mark 4:1-9, 13-20.
Today Pastor Choi talks about four types of soil where the seed is sown. Soil represents human heart and the seed represents God’s Word, both proclaimed and read. He explains the following four types of heart conditions: roadside (no chance), rocky (no root), thorny (no fruit), and good soil (fruitful). He exhorts the congregation to be the good soil so that they may be fruitful by accepting God’s Word in their hearts.
Texts: Matthew 6:29, Genesis 39:2
Today Pastor Choi talks about true success in the eyes of God that has nothing to do with money or power. True success points to God for glory and honor. It also brings us closer to God.
Texts: Ephesians 5:1, Matthew 5:48
Today Pastor Choi talks about God’s universal plan for God’s children: to make us ‘perfect.’ To achieve His goal, as long as we let Him do His job, He will not rest until He exhausts every means available in His hands. It may be painful at times, but when we trust in His good will, and work with Him, and, in the end, we will be transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Texts: 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Kings 5:1-14
Summary: Today Pastor Choi talks about the importance of faith for divine healing. That faith comes from hearing of God’s Word. God’s Word heals. He also reminds the congregation of the proper attitudes in their requests for healing: humility, obedience, and perseverance.
Text: Revelation 21:1-4
Today Pastor Choi explains what is Heaven, who is going to be there and who’s not, what is going to be there and what’s not, what we are going to do in Heaven, and so forth. Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), the eternal home of God and the saints in Christ.
Text: Psalm 24
Today’s sermon comes from John Parker, guest preacher.
Psalm 24 is called a royal Psalm because it talks about the return of the King of Glory. It begins with the creed that God is the creator of all things and everything belongs to Him. Since we belong to Him, God deserves our worship and can expect our obedience. But who is qualified to come into the presence of the King? Only those with clean hands and a pure heart. Thankfully we are washed clean by the blood of the Perfect Lamb of God. Today we understand Psalm 24 as a prophetic Psalm pointing to the the return of Jesus as the victorious Messiah. Because of His sacrifice we can now be with Him, worship Him, and give Him the glory He deserves. Praise be to God Almighty!
Texts: Psalm 12:6, 18:30
Today Pastor Choi expounds on the meaning of “the Word of God is tried/tested” in two ways: 1. It has been tested by God’s people for 3,500 years and proved strong, true, dependable, and relevant. 2. It also tests our hearts and refines our character.
Text: Luke 9:23-27
Today Pastor Choi talks about the meaning of discipleship in three ways: reality check, the nature of discipleship, and the marks of Christ’s disciple. He concludes his message with Christ’s own reminder: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter (Matthew 7:21, New American Standard Bible).
Text: Ephesians 6:4
Today Pastor Choi talks about God’s command for fathers: do not provoke your children to anger (Ephesians 6:4). Pointing out the reality in America, he exhorts both children and fathers to reconcile with each other not by feelings but by will. He recommends a two step reconciliation process: Be determined to forgive. Be proactive in Love.
Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Summary: Pastor Choi gives three pieces of advice to young believers (confirmands) in Christ. If they practice his advice, they will lay out the foundation of their faith in Christ and harvest and enjoy the fruit thereof. 1. Take God’s Word seriously: Read God’s Word daily. 2. Keep the Sabbath holy: Worship the Lord weekly. 3. Do tithing: Give tithing to the Lord monthly. And, they will be secure and content in the Lord.
Text: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Today, Pastor Choi talks about the nature of prophecy in the following ways: who is a prophet, what is their role, do we still have prophets in the 21st century, can anyone be a prophet of God, and ways to tell true and false prophets.
Text: Ephesians 5:15-21
Today, Pastor Choi talks about the meaning of being filled with the Holy Spirit. He explains what it means to be filled with the Spirit, how we can be filled with the Spirit, the signs of the Spirit-filled life, and what keeps us from being filled with the Spirit.
Text: Exodus 20:1-17
Today Pastor Choi talks about Torah-God’s Law. He states that the spirit of Torah is the 10 Commandments. The spirit of the 10 Commandments is the love of God and the love of neighbors. He exhorts the people of God to keep obeying the 10 Commandments until Christ comes.
Text: Genesis 3:20, Matthew 15:21-28
Today Pastor Choi talks about three things we all owe to our mothers: life, nurturing, and prayers. He exhorts the mothers to pray fervently on behalf of their children for their salvation, protection, and deliverance.
Text: Matthew 5:1-12
Pastor Choi defines the biblical understanding of blessings: Blessing is anything, any event, or any person that brings us closer to God and vice versa. He exhorts God’s people to see blessings as God does in an eternal perspective such as the Beatitudes.
Texts: Genesis 1:28, Romans 8:19-22
Pastor Choi talks about Creation care. He points out that sin of the inhabitants of land causes the whole creation to groan and suffer. The creation waits eagerly for the children of God who would take good care of them as God would. By being faithful to God, merciful and forgiving to each other, we can be a true steward of God’s creation.
Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Today’s sermon provides a brief overview of Bible’s history both on the Old and the New Testament (covenant). Pastor Choi exhorts God’s people to get into God’s Word by pointing out that the God of Bible still speaks to God’s people today through His written Word.
Text: Luke 24:1-12
Today, talking about Christ’s physical resurrection, Pastor Choi points out that God provides no other means but His angels and human witnesses for us to proclaim and believe in it. We believe in His resurrection because of the witnesses’ accounts based on their integrity. We believe in Jesus’ physical resurrection because of Jesus’ own integrity. We also believe in Christ’s body resurrection because it withstood the fiery trials for centuries sealed with the blood of martyrs. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Text: Mark 11:1-11
Today Pastor Choi talks about the meaning of Palm Sunday: two thousand years ago another prophecy on Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus as He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He showed the true quality of Messiah—humility. We also await His second coming as the Judge of the world.
Text: Ephesians 6:10-18
Today Pastor Choi concludes his sermon series on prayer: Prayer is a reclaim on our hearts, on our victory posts, and on our loved ones. He calls the saints to devote themselves to prayer.
Text: Matthew 11:28-30
Today, pastor Choi talks about prayer as a rest in God. He points out that both God and Jesus needed rest. How much more do we need rest? We can find rest in Jesus by two ways: first, coming to Him in prayer. Next, by taking His yoke and learn from Him.
Today’s text: Philippians 4:6-7
Today Pastor Choi continues his sermon series on prayer: Prayer Is a Request (an act of asking).
First of all, asking for God’s favor is a command, not a suggestion: Ask, and it will be given (Matthew 7:7). Next, we must practice with requests over and over again. Learn from mistakes and ask again. Ask, Learn, and Repeat. Finally, there are five ways to ask: a. Ask in Jesus’ name (John 14:14). b. Ask with faith (Mark 11:24). c. Ask without worries (Philippians 4:6). d. Ask with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). e. Ask with persistence (Luke 18:1).
Text: Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus Walks on the Water)
Today Pastor Choi talks about another nature of prayer: it is God’s response to our heart-cry for help in times of need. Most of the time, we pray in silence or in a soft voice, yet, sometimes, we ought to cry aloud onto God for His deliverance (Jeremiah 33:3). Pastor Choi urges the parents of children who are under the bondage of addiction, sin, and death to keep crying out onto the Lord.
Text: Matthew 26:36-42
Today Pastor Choi talks about the basic nature of prayer: it is not a requirement as some of us believe. Rather, it is a privilege and constant communion with God in every moment. It is a relationship where we meet and talk with our loving Heavenly Father.
Today Pastor Choi talks about love as an investment: giving self on behalf of others. He points out two roadblocks to a successful marriage: unrealistic expectations and negligence on each other. He exhorts the audience to take initiative in investing themselves in Christ-like love for their loved ones.
Today, Pastor Choi explains three reasons why we can trust the Bible as truth: 1. It stands stronger than ever after three millennia of fires and persecutions. Only truth can last forever. 2. We can trust the Bible because of the integrity of authors and witnesses. 3. We trust in the Bible because it calls a spade a spade.
Text: 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Today Pastor Choi talks about two types of wisdom: wisdom of the world and wisdom of God. These two clash in our lives and vie for our attention and loyalty. Which one would you choose? You cannot have the both. Listen to his sermon below.
Using Genesis 3:1-7, Pastor Choi expounds on the nature of temptation and considers ways to ward off temptations in life. The tempter: he is a deceiver; his motive is never for us, rather for his own gain; he is also a liar.
The tempted (the one who is tempted): beware of the attack that always comes upon the weakest link in your life.
Ways to ward off temptations: 1. The fear of the Lord 2. God’s Word in heart 3. Knowing your boundaries 4. Learn to be content.
In today’s sermon, Pastor Choi points out four things that pervert justice: they are partiality, bribes, corrupt witnesses, and the desire to please the crowd than the Lord. At the end of his message, he exhorts the people of God to live out justice day in day out where they are.
Today Pastor Choi designates 2018 to be the Year of the Bible encouraging all the members of congregation to get into God’s Word for the following three reasons: 1. God’s Word is indispensable for salvation. 2. It is indispensable for life’s journey. 3. It is also indispensable for sanctification.
Guest Preacher: John Parker
For those who thirst after God, He has promised an eternity beyond belief. Creation will be made new and perfect. There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more death. We will be made pure and all things will be made new. In Revelation 21 the Apostle John records the appearance of the new heaven and the new earth and the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven. In this holy city, God will be with us and we will be His children. In 2018, let’s resolve to thirst after God.
At Christmas Eve service, after sharing his own story of celebrating Christmas, Pastor Choi invites the congregation to accept Christ.
Today Pastor Choi points out in his sermon the connection between Christmas and love. Christmas is about God’s love that sent God’s own Son to the cross to save humanity from their sins. Pastor Choi also connects the Christmas spirit with Jesus’ teaching on the great commandment: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40).
Manahawkin UMC offered a Quiet Christmas service for those who needed quiet peace of God during this Christmas season. Following is the recording of the service. May God touch your heart with Christ’s peace and grace.
Today Pastor Choi talks about faith in Jesus Christ. Expounding Hebrews 11:6, he points out the importance of believing that God is and that God rewards those who seek Him.
Pastor Choi talks about Christ the hope of the world in the following ways: 1. Christ is the hope of the world. There’s no other. 2. The same Christ is also the hope in our daily struggles. 3. The hope we need is found in God’s Word.
Christmas is fast approaching. Christmas is all about Christ’s birth. Behind the birth story, we see the love of God who sent His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. Pastor Choi explains three aspects of forgiveness: 1. Forgiveness is reciprocal. 2. Forgiveness is divine. 3. Forgiveness is about initiative.
Pastor Choi talks about contentment and shares its secret: 1. Make Christ as your ultimate goal, not contentment itself. 2. The secret does lie in God, not in yourself. 3. Trust in God’s good will in all circumstances.
Based on the story of Luke 21:1-4, Pastor Choi talks about aspects of giving: Giving is to the Lord, Giving is a matter of priority and heart, Give cheerfully and sacrificially. At the end of the sermon, he presents a divine challenge to all believers in Christ: Tithing (Malachi 3:10).
Today Pastor Choi walks the congregation through Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers regarding the practice of the Lord’s Supper. He reminds of the congregation to examine themselves against the Word of God before they partake in the Communion. Well taken with clear conscience, the Communion can bring strength, health, and life to the partakers.
Pastor Choi shares three important lessons from Paul’s second letter to Timothy in preparation of persecutions: 1. No Christian can suffer for the gospel without the power of God. 2. No Christian can suffer for the gospel without a heavenly calling. 3. No Christian can suffer for the gospel without trust in the Lord and His good will.
Today Pastor Choi expounds on Proverbs 6:16-19: seven things which the LORD hates. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.