442 results for author: Pastor Young Chai


Go Help Smaller Churches

Some members are proud when their churches are growing. But a closer look often shows that there's no reason to be proud because their churches aren't truly growing, they're just getting fat: the increase in membership isn't coming from conversions but through people coming from other churches, people who already believe being attracted to good preaching or a strong education program. I know several churches whose Sunday attendance is in the thousands, but they baptize only a few people a year. The reason few people are coming to Christ at these churches is because so many people who are already followers of the way are joining these churches on ...

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Become Americans

Many of you may remember Dr. Kang Young Woo, Special Assistant to the President of the United States, who came to speak at our church last year. In his talk he mentioned that he was trying to invite as many influential U.S. officials as possible to Korea and introduce them to Korean leaders. I think he is doing a tremendous service for Korea, because a human connection is important in international affairs. Years ago the Korean President wanted to meet the U.S. President but could not get an invitation to the White House because there was no one who could exert influence and make such a visit possible. If there had been someone like Dr. Kang, things ...

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How To Experience Life Change Through Sermons

Our church members say that our church is reputed to be a place in Houston where people change. We thank God for that. The agent God uses to change people's lives is the Word of God. That's why Sunday sermons are so important. One of the reasons that some people don't change is that they don't know how to listen to sermons effectively. They hear sermons passively, vaguely expecting that the preacher will somehow move them and change them. Sometimes things do happen even to the most passive listeners, leading to life change, but that's rare. If we want to have our lives changed through sermons we must listen actively and aggressively. To experience ...

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Thank You Deacons

Last Thursday our deacons, ministry staff, and their wives threw a party to celebrate my 60th birthday. I was slightly embarrassed by the public party because Deacons Yoo, Ha, and Lee all recently celebrated their own 60th birthdays with small family celebrations. I can't believe that I'm 60 years old. Even though I now have a grandchild I still feel funny when children call me a grandfather at church. I'm still pleased when young parents say that they feel like I'm their brother and slightly offended when they say they feel like I'm their father or uncle. I still enjoy reading children's stories and romantic novels. I'm still in my twenties or ...

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Shepherds Need Parenting and Marriage Classes

Shepherds are required to take 5 core courses offered by our church in order to become bona fide shepherds. Until then, they are just deputy shepherds. However, in addition to these, I encourage shepherds to take the church classes on marriage and parenting. I recommend taking the marriage class because the major problem that house church members bring up at meetings relate to marriage. It is difficult and unwise for shepherds to give advice based on personal experience alone. They need to be familiar with Biblical principles about marriage. I recommend taking the parenting class because church leaders are required to be good parents. In his first ...

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Gullible Christians

It happened a long time ago. A female member of our church called me to discuss another member of the church. She said that the other sister showed signs of mental illness and that she was going to help. Her concern was touching and I thanked her profusely, saying that if there was anything I could do to help to let me know. Later, I happened to talk to the woman with the alleged mental problem. I very cautiously asked her how she was doing. In the course of conversation I realized that she was perfectly healthy. I was also able to guess why she could have seemed to have mental problems, but there were good reasons for her behavior. At that moment I ...

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Thoughts About South Korea

As a Korean American I cannot be indifferent to what is happening in South Korea. Some may criticize me for what am about to write, but Korea is still a country I love and I want to share my concern. The policies of the current administration seem to be based on three implicit assumptions. Many young people seem to accept these assumptions without thinking about them critically. The first assumption is that unification is the ultimate good. The second is that the U.S. is responsible for the division of Korea and has been hindering unification. The third is that past South Korean administrations were evil because they used anti-communism as a tool ...

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