As Christians, We Need Community--Don't Navigate Life Alone! (Ecc. 4:7-12)

Image courtesy of facultyfocus.com

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Application

I remember when I was heading to South Korea for what I thought would be an experience of teaching and living in my own apartment for one year. Once I arrived and moved into my apartment, I was really excited. It was the first time I had ever lived by myself. The funny thing is that the school that I was going to work for hadn't been finished being built yet! I was in limbo for two weeks and living next door to an American guy who would be my coworker. However, after one week I was alone because I didn't have my family there and I didn't have a church yet. I was living in the city of Ulsan in 2003, where few people spoke English. I found out that my friend was raised a Christian, although he seemed like a nominal one at the time. I told him that if we don't find a church soon, then I am going to go crazy just because I feel so alone without any friends or a community. Thankfully, he went to a Korean church and found someone that spoke English and she told us there was an English service in the city! We started going to that church and the loneliness was gone!

Some people think they are street-smart and have the survival skills to endure the wilderness, go camping, and handle all of the wildlife. However, separating ourselves from the community is a sure way to fail. The wise author of Ecclesiastes (Solomon) said, "Two are better than one, because...one can help the other up" (4:9-10). Even with all of the messiness of sinners in the community, a Christ-honoring community is essential to thrive in life. We don't stand a chance against the trials and tribulations in this world if we try to tackle all of our problems on our own. Solomon said that someone who toils alone toils in vain (verse 8). Without community, we're more susceptible to danger (verses 11-12). The gift of a loving, Christ-focused community is one that not only provides encouragement but also gives us strength to thrive despite challenging situations. We need each other!

Reflect 

How can you commit to spending time with the family of believers? Who around you is isolated and in need? 

Pray

Father, thank you for the gift of community. We know that are are made to edify and encourage each other and not navigate this life alone.  Put it on my heart and let me know if there's someone that needs care right now. Maybe it's a phone call, a text, or asking if they need to get together for dinner. Please put this person in my heart. In your name, I pray, Amen.

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Jesus is Seeking You Even If You Fell Away From Him (Luke 15:1-7)

 

Photo Courtesy: Romo Aloysius Budi Purnomo Pr (http://www.sesawi.net)

Sermon: April 28, 2022 

 

Story: I remember as a kid playing with my little Hot Wheels cars. I played with about 10 or 20 cars at a time. And on occasion, one would roll under the couch or get lost. And what did I do? I got upset and I did whatever I could to find that car even though I still had a whole collection of Hot Wheels cars. And if I lost it completely at the beach or at the park, my mom might say, “Son, we can get you another one just like it.” But I would say to her, “But it’s not the same. That car was special to me.”

 

Well, this is very similar in the way that Jesus views us. He cares about us so much and is very concerned if one of us is far away from him or needs restoration with Him.

 

(Read text)

 

Text:

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

 

There are three principles we can take today that show how Jesus is concerned deeply for believers that have fallen away from him.

 

 

#1. You are God’s prized possession.

 

In Luke 15 verse 3, Jesus begins the parable, and He understands his audience. The house owner, who in that agrarian society would also be a farmer and owner of animals, is asked to compare himself or herself to a shepherd who has lost an animal. 

 

Sheep are always important to a shepherd, but when one is lost, its value is intensified. Money is always important to a person on a fixed income, but when a significant portion is lost, it is sorely missed.

 

Jesus says that in the parable, the farmer leaves the 99 sheep and put all of his attention into finding that one lost sheep. He didn’t say, “Oh it’s just one sheep. I still have enough. I have 99 left.” If you had 10 children and one of them was lost, wouldn’t you seek after that one child until he/she is found. Absolutely! That’s how God feels about us.

 

Story: I remember being lost at a swap meet one time when I was a child. I was panicking, crying, and had no idea where my mom was. I felt so helpless and was scared. But just imagine how my mom felt! The people at the swap meet called out on a loudspeaker and the whole place could hear the message. They said there was a lost child looking for his mom. I remember my mom coming over quickly, squeezing me so tight, and being so thankful to the people that worked there. She valued me so much. Just imagine how much Jesus values you!

 

What’s another way to know that Jesus is concerned for you if you fall away from him? #2 If just one of the people that he himself created strays away from him, he will seek that person until you decide to follow Him again.

 

 We don’t seek Jesus. He seeks us. In Luke 19:1-10, we see a chief tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus, who knew Jesus was passing through Jericho. But he was so short that he climbed a sycamore fig tree to get a better look at him. Jesus comes near the tree, tells Zacchaeus to come down and tells him that he must stay at his house. People began to mutter to themselves, “Why is he going to a sinner’s house?” Tax collectors were also lowly in society, yet Jesus didn’t care about his status.

 

 Zacchaeus welcomes him gladly to his home, tells Jesus he gave away half of his possessions, and if he cheated anyone, he would pay him pack 4 times the amount. The man is saved immediately, and Jesus confirms why in verse 10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Remember! Zacchaeus didn’t invite Jesus to his home first. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus first and told him that he had to go to his home. He saw that Zacchaeus was curious about him and realized his heart could be changed. 

 

Also, Jesus confirms how he seeks us shortly before his death. Jesus told his closest followers in John 15:16, during what is now down as the Last Supper, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide in me.

 

And this is a reminder for Christians. If you know someone that doesn’t know Jesus or has fallen away from God, you need to pray for them and do your best to seek them out. 

 

Story: When I was in elementary school, my grandma vowed that she would never become a Christian because her boss was a Christian and didn’t care about her employees very well. However, when I had my high school graduation, a pastor preached at my graduation and I remember my grandma saying, “He almost made me want to go to church.” A light bulb went off in my mind and I saw hope that I could get my grandma to attend one church service. I prayed about it and prayed about it and when I was in college, my grandma finally agreed to attend a service with me. But even more impressive was that she started attending a Bible study with my grandpa and she got saved! Just as Jesus never gives up on people, we also need to have hope and pray for those closest to us to know Jesus more.

 

What is another way to know that Jesus is concerned if you fall away from him? #3, When you do find him, Jesus has overflowing joy that he cannot contain by himself.

 

Looking at verse 7 it says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Verse 10 repeats this when it says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

Notice that in these verses we see that the farmer joyfully puts that sheep on his shoulders and goes home. But he is struck with so much joy that he has to release it somehow, so what does he do? He calls his friends and neighbors and tells them to rejoice with him since he found his lost sheep. Can you imagine how I felt when my grandma was saved? It was the best feeling in the world for me and I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and my mom. It’s still one of the best memories of my life.

 

Do you know someone that hasn’t been to church in a while or do you know someone that might be frustrated with their walk with Christ? Maybe that person is you and you just don’t want to be in church right now. Jesus is wanting you to come back to him. He wants that intimacy and relationship with you again and he wants you to be honest with your feelings. He will comfort you and restore you.

 

Satan doesn’t want you to restore that relationship with Jesus. He tried hard to get Job to disown God. He will deceive you to turn you against Jesus like he did to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But the Lord wants you to heal that relationship with Him and restore you like e did with Job.

 

If you are a Christian but haven’t had a relationship with the Lord in a long time, remember that Jesus loves you. Life can be difficult, but you need to cling to him because you can’t accomplish anything in this life without him. Maybe someone close to you has had failing health, maybe you’re having a hard time paying the bills, or you’re just overwhelmed with family issues. Don’t give up on the Lord. He knows how hard life is because he experienced ridicule, torture, and even death just for our sake. And he is waiting to put his arms around you and be full of joy when you come back to him. 

 

Later on in Luke 15, we see that the Prodigal Son abandoned his father to enjoy a life of indulgence and partying and wasted all his money on himself and got hungry. What did the son do? He went back to his father because he had nowhere to go. However, he planned to repent of what he did. In verses 18 and 19 it says, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” You can see the humility and guilt there. 

 

Did the father criticize or rebuke him? No. When he saw his son from a distance, he ran up to him and embraced him, kissed him, put the best robe on him, a ring on him, and put shoes on his feet. But not only that, the father got a fattened calf and celebrated his homecoming! That’s how Jesus will feel when you turn back to him. His arms are open wide for you!

 

I have a verse for you: Acts 3:19-21: ^“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

 

The Lord wants to refresh and restore you and wipe your sins clean again.

 

If you aren’t a Christian, it is still your decision to follow Jesus or not. He will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. You need to realize that Jesus loves you no matter what kind of person you are, what kind of sins you have committed, and what kinds of regrets you might have in your past. It can all be made clean today by committing your life to the one who is seeking you with all of his heart. If you make that commitment today, not only will Jesus be full of joy, but ALL of Heaven will be rejoicing, the angels will be singing, and you will be with Jesus in eternity. 

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

 

 

Be A Rock For Jesus! (Matthew 26:69-75)

Sermon: November 29, 2021

On the license plate frame of my car I have the saying "Smile, Jesus Loves You." Now, most of the time I'm a patient driver and I follow the traffic laws. However, I do occasionally get really annoyed and upset if I am driving behind a really slow driver as I'm trying to get to work on time. Then when I arrive at work 15 minutes early, I think to myself, "Why did I get upset?"

Not only am I setting a bad example as a Christian with that frame on my car, I'm also showing the Lord that I can't handle small inconveniences in life, which is bad if I'm supposed to become a missionary in the future!

Well today, I'm going to tell you how every Christian can become a ROCK for Jesus by avoiding THREE pitfalls.

In your Bibles, please turn to Matthew 26:69-75. Once again, Matthew 26:69-75.

This is a very well-known story of how Peter denied Jesus after Jesus had predicted it beforehand. This was the same night as the Last Supper and Jesus was arrested just before Peter denied him.

What's the first pitfall we do as Christians that caused Peter to deny Jesus?

1. We act impulsively and don't think before we act. Peter is well known for acting before thinking and also not praying before making wise decisions. Just prior to this, a high priest by the name of Malchus came to arrest Jesus. Jesus even refers to the man as "friend", so Jesus was calm despite the circumstances. What did Peter do? He took out his sword and cut the man's ear off. Jesus heals the ear of the high priest and tells Peter in the book of John, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" Jesus was following the will of the Father, but Peter didn't realize it because he acted impulsively and didn't understand the bigger plan. He also thought impulsively when he denied Jesus. He didn't think or pray about what he should do.

- In my past relationships, I rarely prayed about how to handle conflicts with girlfriends and if we argued, I would just give up. I'm still a person that hates confrontations and arguing especially if it's over petty things. I'm thankful to the Lord that He matured me, or I would be an easy candidate for divorce especially with divorce so rampant in my family.

- When I lived in South Korea, I lived in a smaller town in my first year and I was so desperate to get out of that smaller town to move to the capital of Korea (Seoul). What did I do? I took the first job opportunity that came my way and it was one of the worst jobs I had ever had. I worked at two different schools, had 6 classes a day with no breaks, the books were bad, and the school was disorganized. I was miserable. But why did I go through all of that? I didn't pray before taking the job and made a quick decision with my own effort.

When was the last time you were in a desperate situation but acted impulsively without taking it to God first?

What's the second pitfall we do that caused Peter to deny Jesus?

2. We underestimate our weaknesses. Earlier that night, Jesus asked his disciples to pray for him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew the hour was coming for Him to die on the cross and while Jesus was praying to the Father, He expected his disciples to pray for Him. Going back to verse 40 it says, "Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" Who was he talking to? PETER. He continues. "Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Peter underestimated his weakness and we all do that sometimes.

- Maybe you think you're a forgiving person, but maybe there's that one coworker or family member that you just can't forgive because you don't think they're worthy of it.

- It could be anger. Just as I have occasional road rage, how easily do you get upset over trivial things or how often do you get upset with your spouses when you're annoyed over something small?

We all have a weakness that we underestimate. What do you think is yours?

What's the third pitfall that caused Peter to deny Jesus?

3. We give into our fears. Not only did Peter deny Jesus three times, but each denial got stronger and stronger. Why? He knew Jesus was in trouble and he had a fear of getting arrested and being put into prison for knowing who Jesus was.

How do we give into our fears?

- We might have fear of failure. This is true for me. I want to do well in my Hebrew and Greek classes in seminary. I have fear that I won't be able to get past them!

- We might have a fear of the future. After attending the missionary conference, I immediately started wondering if I could handle being a missionary in the future!

What is one thing you're worried about in your own life because you're trying to manage it on your own strength and not giving it to the Lord?

But let me give you some hope. In Matthew 26, we see Peter denying Jesus, but what did Jesus say to Peter in 10 chapters before this in Matthew 16? He said, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this ROCK, I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." At this point, Jesus knew Peter would deny Him three times, yet he makes this bold statement knowing that Peter would be the pillar for the church. Why? Because He knew Peter had a repentant heart and would come back to Him.

So for us to be a ROCK for Jesus, let's #1- Pray before we make an important decision. #2- Humble ourselves and not overestimate our weaknesses. and #3- Not give into our fears.

I know many of us are going through some difficult circumstances in our lives. My challenge for you today is to think of something that is really worrying you and put it into the hands of the Lord. He understands what you're going through, He loves you, and He wants you to surrender that fear and worry to Him.

Eunhee and I are moving to Ontario, California (not Canada) in a couple of weeks. We're excited, but concerned because it's another transition moment in our lives. Just as I challenge you to surrender your fears and worries to Him, we must also do the same. We're all in the same boat together!

Scott Worden

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

What Am I Thankful For in 2019?

My favorite holiday in is coming up in a few weeks in the United States: Thanksgiving. Why? It reminds me of what God has done for me and what I should be thankful for. Here's a great verse to remember and it's in fact a famous Christian song: 1 Chronicles 16:34- "Give Thanks to the Lord. For He is good; his love endures forever".

So what am I thankful for?

1. My wife- She is fan-tas-tic! She knows everything about me and knows what I need. If I need time to rest, she gives it to me. If I need time to get out of the house and do something fun, she's right there with me. She is an amazing cook, never complains about doing housework, never complains about me snoring, and loves me more than I can imagine. I couldn't ask for a better wife.

2. My dad- I've lived in South Korea for 16 years and although he definitely wants me to come back to California, he still supports me no matter what. I'm thankful for his unconditional love.

3. My friends- Some of them are like family if not closer. We have group chats on our phones and we support each other through prayer. I'm blessed to have friends that I can share my problems and praises with.

4. My job- No job is perfect but I'm thankful to have been at Wall Street English for 11 years. I still like 95% of my students and I have some great coworkers and a supportive manager. Unfortunately, a lot of them will be leaving soon, but I might not be far behind them.

5. Living in Seoul- It's a great place to live in as an expat. It's safe, the public transportation is convenient, there are many choices of restaurants, many cultural activities, and it's modern and traditional at the same time.

6. My home- I live in a quiet neighborhood on a hill and near a children's playground. There are two local cafes run by very friendly people, the local market has people that are kind, and there's a small chicken store that is run by a kind older couple. I couldn't ask for a better neighborhood.

7. God's provision- While living in Korea, I haven't had to worry about major expenses and it has allowed my wife and I to save some money. That's a huge bonus.

8. An exciting future ahead- My wife and I plan to be missionaries within the next five years. I can only imagine where the Lord is taking us. I'm scared but thrilled at the same time!

9. My travel experiences- I could never imagine that I would be able to travel to 16 countries and still not have any debt. Jesus, you're amazing and I'm very thankful for that.

10. Cute nephews and nieces- I'm thankful that I have two nephews and two nieces on my side and one nephew on my wife's side. And you know what? They're all adorable and amazing!

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy



1 Thessalonians 5: 18- Give thanks in all circumstances. for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

God Knows What You're Going Through

Two weeks ago I sprained my left ankle coming out of a bathroom that had a high step. I forgot how high the step was to the platform outside the bathroom, so I fell down and rolled it. On top of that, it was the same ankle that I sprained two years ago as I was jogging down a hill. Due to that, I think this ankle has been healing at a slower rate.

Fast forward to two days ago. I was on my way to work at 6:00am (from Nakseongdae Station to Samseong Station on Line 2) and I had to stand because there weren't any seats available. One seat became available but it wasn't quite close enough to me and an older lady quickly took that seat. I was standing alone with my sore ankle and figured that if any seat opens up, I would be able to get it and rest my ankle. Once the subway stopped at Seocho Station, an older man in his late 60s stood next to me waiting for a seat. The subway continued to Kyodae Station and once it stopped there, the seat in front of me opened up. I really wanted to sit down because my ankle was aching a bit, but I couldn't sit and let the older man in his 60s stand, so I let him take the seat. But I was thinking, "Lord, my foot isn't feeling that good. Why can't I get a seat this morning?"

As Gangnam Station approached, an older man in his 50s who was sitting next to the older man in his 60s, got up and I immediately took that seat. What I didn't know is that he noticed that I had allowed the older man in his 60s to take my seat earlier and he seemed to appreciate it based on his body language. Then he asked me in Korean, "Which country are you from?" I said "USA". And he gave me a thumbs up sign and said "Good!" with a big smile on his face.

It made me realize that the Lord appreciated my gesture and he knew my pain. Don't ever think that God isn't watching out for you. He loves you and he knows everything you're going through. Don't ever forget that!

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

What Am I Thankful for in 2018?

Although Thanksgiving has passed, I can still be thankful because one of the most important holidays as a Christian is approaching: Christmas. Therefore, let me go over my list of things to be thankful for as 2018 comes closer to ending.

1. I am beyond thankful for my wife. She's amazing and does so much for me! She cleans the house so well, she irons my clothes, cooks wonderful meals, and she's so supportive. Most of all, she loves God and we can talk about meaningful and deep conversations. She also is very expressive towards me when she has problems that she wants to talk about. She's definitely my best friend. I love you sweetie!

2. I'm also thankful for our home. We almost moved in July but our landlord made a deal with us. We had gone on vacation to Vietnam and the plan was to move right as soon as we got back. That would have been extremely stressful. However, the Lord had other plans and I'm very thankful for that. Despite it being on a hill, it's in a quiet neighborhood, and our house has a good amount of space for a home in Seoul. I really can't complain!

3. I can't leave out the true friends that I have and you know who you are. These are friends that hold me accountable as a Christian, those that I can talk to when I have some problems, coworkers that are there when I'm frustrated with a student, and ones that just enjoy hanging out with me. I'm very happy to have each one of you as a friend. I'm truly blessed. I lost one friend out of greed (I'm thankful that God helped cut that friendship off) this year, but there are plenty of other good friends that have stuck by me. Thanks for your love and support guys!

4. Most people have a hard time being thankful for their boss or manager and I would have to say I would have been one of those people in 2017. Fortunately, 2018 was a different story. I have a manager that doesn't micro-manage, trusts his teachers, and has the same expectations for everyone- not just for a certain few. When I see him walk in, I'm genuinely happy to see him instead of dreading his presence like I did when a previous manager arrived at work.  Having a good manager makes work a lot easier to handle and I'm very blessed that I have had this blessing in 2018.

5. I'm thankful to have a place of worship. In some countries, proclaiming God's Word is a crime or seriously looked down upon. In some cities in Europe, people might not think you're that bright for believing in a God. Thankfully, South Korea is a wonderful place to express your love for Jesus. I sometimes forget to realize how important that it is, but it's huge.

6. I lost a friend this year (Ben Coyner), but I'm thankful that he's in Heaven with the Lord. He loved being on the praise team at church and I'm 100% certain that he's singing with the angels in Heaven. I miss you Ben, but I can't wait to see you again!

7. I'm thankful for my dad. He truly has unconditional love for me. I know that he and my brothers would love to have me move back to California, but my dad supports me no matter what. I do get a guilt trip once in awhile. On the other hand, my dad knows that my wife is amazing, so the guilt trips don't happen nearly as often as they used to. When we talk on Face Time on our I-Phones, we just continue where we left off in our previous conversations. Thank you very much for that Dad. I love you!

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy