Neither/Nor | Podcast in RSS.com

Neither/Nor

di Kenji Nitta

Miglioramento personale Salute mentale

The Destruction of Five Sandcastles

Sermon starts at 7:26. Are you building your life on rock or on sand? Jesus ended His longest recorded sermon with that exact question, and the answer has everything to do with where you are looking for meaning, happiness, and fulfillment. In this message, we walk through five common foundations that our culture offers as substitutes for genuine obedience to Jesus. These are what we call sandcastles, and they include mood management, living on autopilot, finding identity through blame, substituting being right for being righteous, and the popular but misleading pursuit of self-improvement. Each of these sandcastles looks reasonable on the surface. But none of them can hold up when the storms of life arrive. Jesus did not come to be your therapist, your life coach, or your self-improvement program. He came to save people who were lost. And through His death on the cross, He made a way for real transformation, not just a better version of you, but a new creation empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you have been waiting to feel motivated before you obey, or if you have been chasing happiness without finding it, this message is for you. We also walk through practical life application questions to help you identify which sandcastle you are most tempted to build on and what one step of obedience might look like for you this week. Topics covered include the Sermon on the Mount, building your life on a firm foundation, the dangers of emotional-driven decision making, Christian marriage and relationships, the difference between self-improvement and repentance, the meaning of the cross, and how to pursue holiness over happiness. Whether you are new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, this message offers a clear and honest look at what it means to actually build your life on the rock of obedience to Christ.

When the World is on Fire

When life falls apart, our instinct is to lash out or over-explain, but neither response brings real peace. Psalm 46 offers something far better: a declaration that God is our refuge and strength, even when everything around us is shaking. The God who made a covenant with a flawed schemer like Jacob is the same God who moved first toward us through Jesus Christ, proving His love at the cross. Because He already suffered for us, we can trust Him completely. Building that trust before a crisis arrives makes all the difference. Organize your life around what truly matters, lean on your community, and refuse to let fear drive your decisions. God has already proven He is enough. This sermon was preached in response to wildfires which devastated parts of Spokane, WA.

Q&A-Answering Questions About Faith on the Spot

Some of the most important conversations about faith happen when people feel free to ask the questions they have been holding onto. From the puzzling passage about the sons of God in Genesis 6 to the nature of the Trinity, Scripture invites honest engagement rather than avoidance. On topics like the violence in the Old Testament, the betrayal of Judas, and what it means to share the gospel without forcing your beliefs on others, the Bible does not always give simple answers, but it gives enough to move forward with wisdom and humility. Christians have historically disagreed on questions like eternal security and the nature of hell, and both sides of those conversations remain within the family of faith. What both sides agree on is that following Jesus faithfully is the answer, regardless of which theological camp a person lands in. Growing in discernment, understanding the Trinity, and learning how to be all things to all people the way Paul was are not just intellectual exercises. They are deeply practical. Paul adapted his approach without changing his message, and he did not care about his reputation or status. All he cared about was reaching one more person for Christ. That same posture is available to every believer today. Faith is not meant to be passive. It grows when it is tested, questioned, and pursued with an open Bible and a willing heart. The depths of God have not been reached, and that is not a problem. It is an invitation to keep going.

A sermon from Jonah chapter 4.

Jonah knew God's character better than almost anyone, yet he ran from his calling not out of fear, but because he did not want God to show mercy to people he despised. When the entire city of Nineveh repented, Jonah was furious. God responded not with argument but with a question: is it right for you to be angry? The story exposes a dangerous gap that can exist between knowing the truth about God and actually living it out. It is possible to have good theology and a hard heart at the same time. God loves His enemies, and He pursued a city full of people who did not know Him just to give them a chance to turn around. The same God is reaching for people today who feel just as far away. The real question is not whether you are smart about your faith, but whether you are good.

Jonah Chapter One

The book of Jonah provides one of Scripture's clearest illustrations of what it means to follow God's will versus pursuing our own desires. When God gave Jonah crystal clear instructions to go to Nineveh and announce judgment against the city, there was no ambiguity in the command. Yet Jonah chose to run in the exact opposite direction, boarding a ship to Tarshish - essentially fleeing to the edge of the known world to escape God's call. God's response demonstrates both His power over creation and His determination to accomplish His purposes. He hurled a violent storm that threatened to destroy the ship, while Jonah slept peacefully below deck, remaining passive even in the crisis his disobedience had caused. Remarkably, the pagan sailors consistently acted with integrity throughout the ordeal - praying to their gods, working to save the ship, casting lots impartially to find the source of trouble, and even refusing to throw Jonah overboard until they had exhausted every other option. This story reveals how we often overcomplicate the Christian life with theological debates, religious activities, and cultural issues while missing the fundamental call to simply hear and obey God's voice. The core of faith never gets more complex than daily conversation with God, surrendering our will to His when conflicts arise, and obeying the commands we already know from Scripture. True Christian living requires mature community for accountability and starts with faithfulness in small things before God reveals larger aspects of His plan.

A Conversation about Jonah and stuff

In this episode, Pastor Manny and Pastor Kenji discuss biblical interpretation, focusing primarily on the Book of Jonah. They explore whether Jonah should be understood as a literal historical account or as a fable with theological truth, emphasizing that "everything in the Bible is true and some of it actually happened." The conversation examines different literary genres within Scripture—poetry, law, genealogy, parable, and prophecy—and offers guidance on how readers can discern literary style by comparing texts to the genres and language of their historical period. Additional topics include: - The historical resurrection of Jesus and key reasons for believing it as a factual event, including the radical transformation of His followers and family. - Practical approaches to preaching and personal Bible reading, advocating for flexibility, the use of audiobooks, and selecting passages that engage the reader rather than rigid plans. - Church history, noting that many early Christian communities thrived with only portions of Scripture, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit beyond the written text. - The influence of market economics on modern Bible accessibility and translations. The core theological focus centers on Jonah’s central message: Can you love a God who loves your enemies? The pastors discuss the practical challenge of creating a personal list of individuals or groups one dislikes or resents, then meditating on God’s love for them. Both share candid personal experiences with this exercise, addressing the difficulties of overcoming resentment, tribalism, social media influence, and the human tendency to dehumanize others. This episode blends thoughtful biblical scholarship, pastoral wisdom, and honest spiritual reflection on grace, obedience, and relational transformation.

Concerning Grief

Death remains humanity's greatest unsolved problem, one that no technological advancement can overcome. Despite our incredible progress in science and medicine, the death rate continues at 100%, leaving us feeling helpless when we lose those we love. This overwhelming sense of permanence and loss confronts us with life's greatest mystery. The Bible reveals why death feels so wrong - because it truly is wrong. Death wasn't part of God's original design for creation. In the beginning, everything God made was declared good, and paradise included no death. People could live indefinitely in perfect relationship with their Creator. Death entered as an intrusion through sin, representing separation from God, the source of all life. This separation manifests in smaller ways throughout our lives - when we drift from God, we experience spiritual emptiness, addiction, and despair. Jesus conquered death through His resurrection, demonstrating power that goes far beyond the gentle image we often hold. Even demons fell before Him in terror, and when He spoke to the temple guards, His words knocked them to the ground. Though He allowed Himself to be crucified, He made clear that no one took His life - He laid it down by His own authority. Three days later, He emerged victorious from the tomb, conquering the one thing that defeats all human wisdom and technology. This victory transforms how we approach grief and loss, allowing us to grieve with hope rather than despair, knowing that Jesus' ultimate victory is certain.

Introducing Jonah: More Than a Story About Whale

The story of Jonah reveals a challenging truth about God's character that goes far beyond a children's tale about a whale. Jonah didn't flee from God's command because he was afraid of the Assyrians - he ran because he knew God would show mercy to his enemies if they repented. When Nineveh did repent and God relented from judgment, Jonah became angry, revealing our human tendency to want grace for ourselves but justice for others. This ancient story forces us to confront a difficult question: Can we love a God who loves our enemies? The book ends with God's question unanswered, leaving each of us to wrestle with whether we can align our hearts with God's heart for all people.

A sermon from James 5:7-20.

In our instant-gratification culture, finding genuine peace seems impossible. James teaches us that biblical patience means waiting without agitationt. The key difference between peace and anxiety lies in prayer versus grumbling - taking our concerns to God rather than complaining to others. James emphasizes living authentically without manipulation or false personas, trusting God's grace enough to simply be ourselves. True peace comes from seeing others as human beings worthy of love rather than obstacles to our happiness. Through Jesus' perfect example of patient love, we can live with contentment and hope, knowing God is working all things for good. This sermon was preached at Timberview church in Mead, WA on 5/3/2026.

Warnings about Wealth from James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6 warns against trusting wealth as our ultimate security. Like Howard Hughes, who died isolated despite his billions, we often build protective armor around ourselves through money, relationships, or success. But these false securities become prisons, cutting us off from authentic life and genuine relationships. When we organize our lives around anything other than God, we end up using people instead of loving them. True security comes from trusting Christ as our only mediator, not from accumulating possessions or achievements that can be taken away.

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