This Sunday we jump back into Genesis 17 to consider seven crucial implications concerning the relationship between circumcision with regeneration and baptism in the New Covenant. 1) Circumcision Anticipated Regeneration, 2) the New Covenant consists of only the regenerate, 3) New Covenant members are identified by baptism, 4) Baptism is only for those with credible professions, 5) if you profess, be baptized, 6) If you’re baptized, join a local church, and 7) if you’re baptized, share in the covenant meal.

In Genesis 17, as a formal way to mark off God’s covenant people from the world, God gives Abraham the covenant sign of circumcision. Circumcision positively symbolizes the removal of sin and consecration to God and negatively a threat of judgement and disinheritance. In the New Covenant God also has marked off the church from the world as his new covenant people. It is our responsiblity to help one another be who God has called us to be. In this sermon we walk through this narrative in four parts: 1) God’s covenant-promises (1-8), 2) God’s covenant-stipulation (9-14), 3) God’s covenant-son (15-21), 4) Abraham’s covenant-obedience (23-27).

It is possible to want something good so badly that you are willing to sin against God and others to get it or keep it. This is exactly what we find Sarah and Abraham in Genesis 16. God made wonderful promises to Abraham and Sarah and yet they hijack God’s promises by attempting to secure them through a sinful arrangement with Hagar. The main idea here is that no matter how much of a mess we make in our sin, God remains merciful. This story can be broken up into two parts: 1) the mess of sin and 2) the mercy of God.

This Sunday, we take a break from our Genesis series as Mike Komatsu preaches from Matthew 2.1-12. We need to remember that only true faith leads us to Jesus. In this text we really find three types of faith: 1) The unstoppable faith of the wise men, 2) The indifferent faith of God’s people, and 3) the rejection of faith by King Herod. This text makes it clear that true faith always results in humble service and God-glorifying service.

Today we jumped back into our Genesis series. In Genesis 15, God formalizes his covenant through a covenant ceremony, specifically through covenant sanctions. God’s covenant with Abraham doesn’t come together all at once but rather over the course of several chapters. Genesis 12: the initiation of the covenant through promises, Genesis 15: the formalization of the covenant through ceremony, Genesis 17: the signification of the covenant through circumcision. Genesis 15 can be broken down into two major guarantees: 1) God guarantees the promised seed (1-6) and 2) God guarantees the promised land (7-21).

E kala mai, last week’s sermon on Genesis 14 was not recorded. This week we take a break from Genesis as Pastor Kenny preaches from Psalm 63. Here the main idea is that Christians must cling to God. There are four things that in the soul that clings to God: 1) desperate, 2) worships, 3) satisfied, and 4) upheld.

As we continue our Genesis series, we come to Genesis 13. In this text we find the exemplary faith of Abraham. Abraham’s faith is in no way perfect, it’s weak and unimpressive, but it’s real and grounded in the promises of God. Abraham’s faith is worth imitating. In this text we find that Abraham’s faith is expressed in three ways: 1) repentance, 2) selflessness, and 3) worship. And Abraham’s faith is also contrasted with Lot’s compromise.

As we begin the new year, we return to our Genesis series. There is no more important resolve to make in 2025 than to commit to growing more and more in the love of God. In Genesis 12 we find the covenantal-love of God demonstrated towards Abraham in three specific ways: 1) the Call of Abraham, 2) the Faith of Abraham, and 3) the Folly Abraham.

Pastor Josh concludes our Advent series by preaching from 1 Thessalonians 5.12-14. In this text Paul continues to encourage the church to live in anticipation of Christ’s return. The certainty of Christ’s return should shape how we live today. In this text, we’re specifically called to three duties: 1) to respect and honor our leaders, 2) to live in peace with one another, and 3) to actively care for those struggling in the faith.

This Sunday we look at 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 as we continue our Advent series. This December we’re specifically thinking about the final or last advent. Just as the OT saints looked forward in anticipation of Christ’s first coming, the church should be looking forward to Christ second coming, and advent is a reminder that Jesus will come back for his church. In our text we find two ways that the church can prepare for the final advent: 1) we need to continue growing in spiritual discernment and 2) we need to continue growing in spiritual sobriety.

For the rest of December we’ll take a break to focus on Advent, specifically the second advent of Christ. Here in 1 Thessalonians 4.15-18, we consider three important aspects of the final advent: 1) the return of the king, 2) the resurrection of the dead, and 3) the reward of the saints. It’s the kuleana of every Christian to help others live in anticipation of this final advent.

In Genesis 11.10-32 we consider the mo’oku’auhau (genealogy) of Shem. Here we find three reasons we should celebrate this advent season with renewed hope, gratitude, and joy: 1) the Line of Promise (10-26), 2) the Idolatry of Abraham (27-29), and 3) the Barrenness of Sarah (30-32).

Today we took a break from Genesis. Uncle Mike preached from Colossians 3.16-17.

E KALA MAI: we continue to have recording issues and last week’s sermon on Genesis 9 was not recorded. Today we covered Genesis 10-11.9. Throughout history there have always been powerful and influential kingdoms and empires but just as nations rise, nations will also fall. The one constant eternal unchanging supreme ruler is God. God is Lord over the nations. There are two main ideas that help us to see this in our text: 1) The Table of Nations (Genesis 10) and 2) The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11.1-19).

E kala mai our sermon (Pt.1) from last week on Genesis 6.9 - Genesis 8 wasn’t recorded. Last week, we looked at 8 scenes that made up the flood narrative. Today we went back to Genesis 6-8 to consider how the flood points us forward to greater things to come. Through Genesis 6-8 we learn that the flood helps us to anticipate: 1) a New Covenant, 2) a New Creation, 3) A New Adam, 4) A New Humanity, and 5) a New Baptism.

In Acts 1.12-26, Pastor Dan Wong (Hawaii Kai Church) helps us see a beautiful picture of the people of God who would make up the early christian community. Here he we see 4 vital characteristics of this community: 1) a commitment to obedience even in difficulty, 2) a devotion to prayer as a community, 3) the primacy of the word of God even in the midst of scandal, 4) a humble deferential submission to God in choosing leaders.

E kala mai, last week’s sermon on Genesis 5 was not recorded. Today in Genesis 6.1-8, we see that great wickedness was spreading across the earth. And in the midst of this great wickedness, we find the grace of God coming to sinners. Anytime we see mercy in judgment, we should be floored and astounded. There are two big themes we find here: 1) the corruption of the earth (1-5) and 2) the response of God (6-8).

In Hebrews 12, Pastor Jay Haynes (Kahului Baptist Church) helps us to see three important realities about the Discipline of God: 1) The Blessing of God’s Discipline, 2) the Purpose of God’s Discipline, and 3) the Result of God’s Discipline.

We take a break from our Genesis series to meditate on 1 Peter 5.1-11. Here we see how pastors and church members should be relating to one another. Pastors must shepherd faithfully and church members must receive shepherding faithfully. In verses 1-4 we find five encouragements for faithful pastors. Then in verses 5-11, we find two encouragements for faithful members.

Pastor Todd Morikawa preached from Acts 20.17-37 at our elder ordination service on September 29. This was a historic moment for our church as it was the first time we had ever raised up and affirmed pastors to serve at WCC. Pastor Todd gave several encouragements from Acts 20 both for the pastors and the congregation.