Sermons

An index on video sermons that I've preached over the years that I keep on hand for when someone asks me a theological question, and I want to quickly share a link to a presentation I've done on the topic.

Does God Need Our Prayer

Date: May 3, 2025

Location: Camarillo SDA Church

Summary:This sermon addresses the so-called "Classical Problem of Intercessory Prayer," i.e., why does an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient God say that He needs us to pray in order to do certain things?.

Chained, yet in Charge

Date: March 29, 2025

Location: Camarillo SDA Church

Summary:Throughout Jesus' trial process, He could have walked any time He wanted. He had to explicitly give permission to His captors to put Him to death.

When Hands Grow Weary

Date:August 24, 2024

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:A detailed narration of Exodus 17. Why did God only support Israel when Moses' arms were raised? My first real foray into using large 3D rendered animations and pixel art in a sermon.

Ladies First

Date:May 11, 2024

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:Jesus waited until "the fullness of time," because the 1st century AD was the first time that a culture would allow women could participate in the spreading of the gospel.

I AM the door

Date:February 10, 2024

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:The context of Jesus's "I AM the door" statement, and the personal experience of the man born blind.

How to be Thankful

Date:November 4, 2023

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:The story of my wife's recent near-fatal car accident, and the story of How God saved Paul from a shipwreck. God uses all situations to work together for good.

The Faith of Noah

Date:October 7, 2023

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:Noah couldn't see it, but there likely always was a rainbow around His ark during the long year's wait after the flood. He had to trust that God was there, protecting Him. First time exploring writing original songs to finish my sermon. Also made use of a number of 3D animations I did in Blender.

Ruth: Boaz the Redeemer

Date:June 21, 2023

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:Boaz was a type of Christ. Reading through the Old Testament's account of the moabites shows how "unredeemable" Ruth was. But Boaz was willing to become a nobody to save her.

Last Words of Jesus: I Thirst

Date:March 25, 2023

Location:The Place SDA Church, Newbury Park

Summary:Jesus didn't ask for something to drink because He needed water to continue living. He asked for something to drink to show that He was still very much alive. It was also an invitation to us to respond to the needs of others.

Do I Need the Ten Commandments to be Saved?

Date:February 11, 2023

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:The Ten Commandments are a natural consequence of our salvation, not a requirement.

The Gospel of Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Date:March 19, 2022

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Salvation requires blood, sweat, and tears--but not ours. It's God's blood, God's sweat, and God's tears.

Membership Retention in Abraham's Church

Date:January 22, 2022

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Why did Abraham ask God to spare the city for 50? Why did He stop at 10? It's because Abraham knew dozens of converts in that city.

Redeeming Time like Jesus

Date:January 1, 2022

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Biblical time management tips for the new year.

Why Membership Matters

Date:December 18, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:What is the point of having membership in a church if it doesn't save you?

Evangelistic APY

Date:December 4, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:The potential of ministry if we apply our tithes and offerings biblically

The Old Testament Local Church Budget

Date:November 13, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Why do we give offerings on top of the 10% we return in tithe?

On-Ramps to Jesus

Date:September 11, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Creative types of ministry in the Old Testament. Everybody has a ministry.

Faith That Works

Date:August 28, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:A study on a challenging chapter in James, that on the surface suggests that faith can't save us unless we work. But the chapter tells us how to correctly read this, by looking at an ancient person who considered human sacrifice and a prostitute

Tax Collectors and Sinners

Date:August 7, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Jesus' practical counsel on having difficult conversations

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Date:June 12, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Jesus' love for us doesn't vacillate between favorable and unfavorable. He is always committed to saving us. It is us that walk away.

No King in Israel

Date:February 6, 2021

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:A study on the challenging passages at the end of Judges. It's actually a foreshadowing on Christ, and a story of Jesus' persistent efforts to redeem Israel.

Systematic Benevolence in the SDA Church

Date:August 22, 2020

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Historical origin of tithes and offerings in the SDA church.

How Has God Been Good to You? Jonathan Wheeler's Personal Testimony

Date:April 4, 2020

Location:Mountain View Japanese SDA Church

Summary:Why I keep Sabbath, pay tithe, and other stories about why I live my life the way I do today.