“The Two Quakes” Matthew 27:57–66; 28:1–10 Kobe Union Church April 5, 2026 Preacher: Rev. Mark Bartsch History is defined by the movement of the earth. We build our cities and our lives on the assumption that the ground is solid, but we know better. In the Gospel of Matthew, two moments shook the world more than any others. They weren't just geological events; they were spiritual declarations. To understand them, we have to look at the week that led to the ground splitting op

“Deliver us from Evil – Lord's Prayer 8” Ephesians 6:10-17 & Matthew 12:38-45 Preacher: Rev. Mark Bartsch Kobe Union Church March 1, 2026 When Jesus teaches us to pray, “ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ” ( Matthew 6:13 ), He is teaching us to be honest about the terrain we walk every day. For many of us, the concept of "evil"  has been sterilized. I personally grew up in environments where "evil" was synonymous only with personal mistakes, the inter

“The Courage to Forgive” Matthew 18:21–35  &  Romans 12:9-19 Rev. Mark Bartsch Kobe Union Church 15 February 2026 One of the traps Christians often fall into is what I call the “Nice Guy” trap. This shows up most often around the topic of forgiveness. To be clear, I want you to be kind. (I want to be a kind person) I want you to be a nice guy. Many of us know the Christian song from the 70s: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” That is a fundamental truth. Kindne

We have been found guilty in the sight of a pure and righteous God, yet His son paid the ultimate price for our sins. He bore our transgressions and provided grace when we didn’t deserve it. Our debt has been cleared You are no longer burdened. Live with the knowledge that you have been redeemed!