Omc: Family Chapel

After Naomi hears about God's provision of food in Bethlehem, she decides to leave Moab and return home. But having lost everything, she has become bitter. Nevertheless, we see that a genuine faith in God can be marked by overwhelming bitterness towards God. A bitter faith is still a genuine faith, and a faith that God accepts. Naomi is able to maintain genuine faith despite her bitterness because of the commitment that Ruth makes to her. Our faith is sustained in the midst of bitterness through faithful and faith-filled friends.

The book of Ruth takes place during a very chaotic time in Israel's history and it focuses in on a family that faces great tragedy. But in the midst of tragedy, we see God's sovereignty and God's steadfast love at work. Whether leading us out of suffering or into suffering, God exercises his divine sovereignty and steadfast love. As such, God's sovereignty and steadfast love are to serve as the foundation for our lives, especially when suffering rips everything else apart. That's the only way we can truly live consecrated lives.

The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to live with eternity in mind because this will shape our values, help us to stay on mission, and fill us with hope and anticipation.

A consecrated life is not meant to be lived alone, but rather is lived within the context of community. Community consecrates us as it provides opportunities to live out the Gospel in our relationships with one another. We are consecrated in community by humbly serving one another, as we wage war against sin together, and through caring for the lost and vulnerable among us.

Consecration does not end with just purification and sanctification. God consecrates his people for purpose and mission so that we may be faithful vessels of his Spirit and power. Therefore, as God consecrates our lives and our church, we must be ready to live with boldness and urgency for His glory.

Our theme for 2026 is "A Consecrated Life" - to faithfully live a life set apart by God's grace on God's mission for God's glory. We will have a two week sermon series introducing this theme and vision for 2026. For this Sunday, I will be focusing on the Holiness of God and how that becomes the basis and strength for our own sanctification. Peter mentions in his epistle: "You shall be holy, for I am holy." Our consecration begins with beholding our Holy God and understanding the depths of his grace to make us into a holy nation, called out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Even as we, as second generation Asian-Americans, are settling into where God is leading us, God still desires for us to seek the renewal of the next generation. God deeply cares about the next generation and commands His people to lay the foundations of faith for them. The renewal of the next generation is built upon our obedience, modeled through our testimonies, and requires our consecration.

God desires to redeem a people for himself from all peoples. As such, our role as a local church in seeking the renewal of the nations is to make disciples of all nations. We can faithfully carry out that Great Commission as we pray for the nations, support the work of global missions, and go to the ends of the earth!

Rather than isolating from our neighbors or assimilating to our neighbors, God calls us to seek the comprehensive renewal of our neighbors. We should genuinely desire and actively help our neighbors to experience a thriving life. One of the primary (and often overlooked and underrated) ways we can do that is through our work. When we work with excellence, we bring glory to God and good to our neighbors.

The gospel is the good news of God's plan of salvation for the redemption of His people and for the renewal of all things. While the gospel is primarily about what Christ has done, the gospel should radically shape how we live our lives. In living out the gospel, we engage in worship, community, discipleship, and witness.

This Sunday, we will go over the first part of that statement: "To build a thriving family of Christ in Los Angeles..." We will unpack some of the pitfalls, misconceptions and obstacles to the modern understanding of family. In contrast, the biblical concept of family calls us to a new identity, purpose and commitment as brothers and sisters in Christ. This means that we must pursue a unified effort and focus for greater intentionality in discipleship as well as greater responsibility for one another's growth and sanctification.

To the church in Laodicea, Jesus presents himself as the only true source that guarantees the good life. He then calls out his church for attempting to secure the good life with their own resources. As such, Jesus exhorts his church to receive from him the resources they need for the good life. Lastly, Jesus reassures his church that they will truly live the good life as they enjoy rich fellowship with him.

To the church in Philadelphia, Jesus presents himself as the faithful doorkeeper to God's kingdom. He then commends his church for their active faithfulness despite their apparent weakness. As such, Jesus exhorts his church to remain faithful until he returns. Lastly, Jesus reassures his church that they have a permanent place of honor in God's kingdom.

Jesus declares himself as one with full power and authority and declares that the church in Sardis, though having the reputation of being alive, was actually dead. It had become a church where it was just going through the motions with no fight left in them. They had no significance to God's Kingdom, no threat to Satan and the enemy, and no signs of life. But yet, Jesus still does not give up on them and exhorts them to wake up, repent, and remember the truth of God's words. Even in a dire condition as this, Jesus recognizes that there will be some who will remain faithful. He promises swift judgment upon those who remain in their deadened state. But for those who remain faithful, Jesus gives the assurance of recognition and eternal life.

To the church in Thyatira, Jesus presents himself as the holy king who is worthy of total allegiance from his church. He then calls out his church for embracing worldliness especially through tolerating sin. As such, Jesus exhorts his church to carry out church discipline. Lastly, Jesus reassures his church that instead of being overcome by the world, they will overcome the world.

To the church in Smyrna, Jesus presents himself as the righteous judge who authoritatively speaks the truth to his church. He then warns his church against compromising the truth by entertaining false teachers. As such, Jesus exhorts his church to turn away from false teachers and to return to the truth of God's Word. Lastly, Jesus reassures his church that the truth will set them free for a flourishing life.