Graceway Hayward Christian Church

Graceway Hayward Christian Church Our primary calling is to the multi-generational, Asian American community and the Japanese-speaking community.

We are a gospel-centered community of discipleship for every generation
Founded by and building upon Japanese-speaking believers
Growing all people together in faith as one body in Christ

(We were formerly known as San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church) MISSION (WHAT WE DO)
San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church exists to bring all people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to disciple, equ

ip, and support believers for outreach to the world. We fulfill this mission through consistent biblical teaching, authentic worship, sincere prayer, and Christ-like lifestyles. VISION (WHO WE WANT TO BECOME)
San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church seeks to be a body of Christ followers committed to:

personal growth in faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ,
church growth,
church planting, and
world missions. CORE VALUES (HIGHEST PRIORITIES, GUIDING PRINCIPLES)
With Jesus Christ as our focus and for the glorification of God, San Lorenzo Japanese Christian Church is committed to:

Serve (2 Timothy 1:3)
Adore (2 Timothy 4:18)
Nurture (2 Timothy 4:2)
Learn (2 Timothy 1:13)
Outreach (2 Timothy 1:8)

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Unexpected circumstances, disappointments, strained relationships, and moments...
09/03/2026

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Unexpected circumstances, disappointments, strained relationships, and moments when things don’t turn out the way we hoped are life's detours. The Apostle Paul knew this well. His travel plans changed, and because of those changes, people questioned his character and leadership. Yet Paul shows us that God can use every detour for our spiritual growth. God’s detours are His unexpected lessons of sanctifying grace.

God uses detours to grow our character. Paul points us toward simplicity and sincerity—a holy and pure mind focused on Christ rather than the world. When circumstances become difficult, we can become consumed by what is happening around us. Instead, we are called to fix our minds on Christ and remember His abundant grace. God continually gives grace to stubborn and sinful people. Our detours can shape us to become more like Christ.

God uses detours to grow our conviction. Paul’s changed plans caused people to question whether they could trust him, but Paul reminds them that while people may disappoint us, Christ never does. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will never leave or forsake us. When health, work, relationships and more don’t go as expected, Christ remains our certainty, our “Amen,” and our all in all.

God uses detours to grow our compassion. Paul’s decision to delay another visit to Corinth was not cowardice - it was an act of mercy. He cared deeply for the church and was willing to endure pain himself rather than cause them greater pain. Sometimes mercy means creating space, forgiving, releasing bitterness, or lovingly addressing conflict. Relational detours can be especially difficult yet we are all imperfect people in need of Jesus. The gospel reminds us that Christ showed us mercy by taking the punishment we deserved. That same mercy should shape how we love others.

So when life takes an unexpected turn, don’t walk with your head down. Walk with the mind of Christ, strong conviction in the Lord, and the mercy of the Savior, trusting that God is using every detour to make us more like Him.

Today we're beginning a new sermon series through 2 Corinthians entitled "Treasures in Jars of Clay". It's funny becaus...
08/27/2026

Today we're beginning a new sermon series through 2 Corinthians entitled "Treasures in Jars of Clay". It's funny because we've already been talking about suffering in the "Cultivating a Culture of Care" sermon series that we just wrapped up but the first chapter of 2 Corinthians also opens with talking about suffering.

But it's important. Suffering is something none of us can escape. There is always someone in our church, community, or world who is hurting. Yet as Christians, suffering is uniquely different because of the cross.

Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, calls God the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort,” reminding us that God meets us in every affliction. Jesus understands our pain because He Himself suffered for us. His presence gives us strength when we are weak and hope when life feels overwhelming.

But the comfort we receive from Jesus is not meant to stop with us. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. Our own experiences of pain can help us come alongside someone walking through a similar valley. We may not have all the answers, but we can offer compassion, humility, sensitivity, prayer, and simply our presence.

Paul also reminds us that suffering can bring us to the end of our own strength. The familiar saying, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” is not what Scripture teaches. Sometimes life gives us more than we can handle. The good news is that God handles what we cannot. Our greatest moments of weakness can become opportunities to depend more deeply on Him.

Whatever suffering we are facing—broken relationships, marital struggles, physical pain, loss, or the burdens of the soul—God is calling us to draw near to Him and to one another. Even when we cannot understand why suffering comes, we can trust that the God who met us when we were dead in sin will continue to meet us in our suffering.

May the God of all comfort meet us in our affliction, deepen our dependence on Him, and enable us to bring that same comfort to others.

Have you heard the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child”? As parents, we know we can’t do it alone. We need fami...
08/21/2026

Have you heard the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child”? As parents, we know we can’t do it alone. We need family, friends, teachers, and others to help. The same is true for the church. The church is a spiritual village where we care for one another across generations. Parents and families provide primary care and discipleship, while the church becomes a blessing of spiritual aunties and uncles. Seniors offer wisdom and faithfulness, while kids and youth bring joy and life.

Paul shows us that God gives different people different roles and gifts to build up the body of Christ. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers all serve together. This is the priesthood of all believers: each person matters, each person has a role, and each person is called to serve. The goal is maturity—unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Maturity is not about agreeing on every preference; it is being united in Christ and growing in love for Jesus.

Our care helps one another become more like Christ. Maturity means moving beyond preferences and self-interest toward elevating Christ and serving others.

Our care guards one another from the lies of the enemy. We are no longer to be spiritual children tossed around by every influence. We must watch out for one another and help protect each other from sin and deception.

Our care speaks truth in love. Truth is not meant to beat someone down, but to help them grow. We are called to confess, teach, correct, reconcile, and lovingly point one another toward God’s best.

This kind of care takes humility, grace, courage, and honest love. Don’t let shame, hurt, or accommodation keep us from engaging with one another. Let the gospel propel us to take the first step. Ask God for help, invite accountability, and seek wise counsel.

It takes a village to raise a child—and it takes a village of care to become a mature, Christlike church.

As we come to the end of summer and reflect on the ways God has worked through our church community, we turn to the diff...
08/15/2026

As we come to the end of summer and reflect on the ways God has worked through our church community, we turn to the difficult topic of talking about sin. 1 John 1:5–10 reminds us that this conversation isn’t about judgment, punishment, or trying harder. It’s about walking in the light, experiencing fellowship, and receiving the freedom of forgiveness.

Sin fundamentally moves us away from God and others. It isolates, separates, and destroys fellowship. When we choose our own desires, comfort, pride, or judgment over God, we naturally recede from Him and from others. Sin is therefore not merely about breaking rules; it is relational and reveals the posture of our hearts.

Because sin moves us away, the gospel moves us toward God and others. Walking in the light isn’t about being morally superior or pretending to have it all together. It means embracing the truth that, despite our sin, Jesus has paid the price and brings sinners out of darkness and into fellowship. So when we talk about sin, the goal is not simply correction—it is restoration. We ask questions with curiosity and care, remember that we are fellow sinners, and seek God together as the gracious and forgiving Father He is.

John also warns that sin deceives us. Denying our sin can feel easier, but it keeps us from the very gospel we need. Jesus came to save sinners, so acknowledging our brokenness is not a prison—it is the pathway to freedom. When we confess, the focus shifts away from ourselves and onto God’s faithfulness, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing.

As a community of care, we refuse to let one another remain trapped in that deception. Confession is not burdening others, and lovingly walking alongside someone in their struggle is not condemnation. Together, we bring our brokenness to Jesus and proclaim His forgiveness and freedom over one another.

The invitation is simple: let’s offer one another the words of life, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom. Because in Christ, walking in the light means we don’t have to hide—we can come into His presence, into community, and into the cleansing grace of Jesus.

Suffering, hurt, and false accusations are realities that can touch every life. Paul knew this personally as his leaders...
08/08/2026

Suffering, hurt, and false accusations are realities that can touch every life. Paul knew this personally as his leadership and apostleship were questioned. Yet through his suffering, he discovered something we can all hold onto: God comforts us so we can comfort others with His care.

God is the source of comfort in every tribulation. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort—not merely some comfort, but comfort sufficient for every affliction. God may not always remove the suffering, but He provides a way through it by giving strength, care, and Himself. He is sufficient for every trial and every day.

There is also a purpose to our comfort. God can use our suffering and His comfort to help someone else. The pain we experience today may become encouragement for another person months or even years later. As we receive sympathy and comfort from those who have walked through suffering before us, we can offer that same care to others. Paul’s suffering plus God’s comfort becomes comfort for others.

Suffering can also deepen our love and understanding of Christ. As we experience pain, we can remember what Jesus endured—misunderstanding, rejection, ridicule, and ultimately the cross. Rather than allowing suffering to produce bitterness, anger, or hopelessness, we can allow it to draw us closer to our Savior and deepen our appreciation for His love.

Finally, there is certainty in God’s comfort. Our hope is secure because God is secure. When life feels uncertain, God remains our anchor and our rock. Our security rests in the Creator, not the created.

Graceway carries a long history of suffering, faith, and mutual care. Through generations, this church family has shared stories of hardship, healing, grief, provision, and victory. May that legacy continue as we hold one another up, pray for one another, and suffer together so we can comfort one another.

Psalm 130 reminds us that God gives a way to ascend from suffering through caring conversations. The psalm begins with a...
08/01/2026

Psalm 130 reminds us that God gives a way to ascend from suffering through caring conversations. The psalm begins with a desperate cry from the depths of despair and ends with confident hope in the redeeming Lord. It shows that suffering is real, but it never places us beyond God's reach.

The first step is to call out to God's character. Rather than hiding our pain, we are invited to bring it honestly before Him. God is merciful, forgiving, and attentive to the cries of His people. Jesus bore our iniquities on the cross so that we could stand forgiven and restored. Caring conversations begin with prayer and continue as we walk alongside one another in a Gospel-centered community, pointing each other to God's grace instead of trying to rescue one another ourselves.

The second step is to hope in God's promises. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but patient confidence in God's faithfulness. Like watchmen waiting for the morning, we actively trust that God will fulfill His Word. Lament honestly acknowledges the pain of today while clinging to God's promise to redeem and restore all things through Christ. Because Jesus is the fulfillment of God's Word, redemption, and steadfast love, we can endure suffering with confidence and invite others to hope alongside us.

As a church, we cultivate a culture of care by having caring conversations with God and with one another. When we begin with grace, mercy, and forgiveness, tense conversations can become caring conversations. Our suffering never defines God's love for us. The cross does. Even in the deepest valleys, God is present, God is working, and God is using every trial for His glory and our go od.

When life hurts, suffering often raises difficult questions: "Where is God? Does He see? Does He care?: While every per...
07/24/2026

When life hurts, suffering often raises difficult questions: "Where is God? Does He see? Does He care?: While every person's story of pain is unique, the gospel offers an unchanging source of hope. The central truth of Exodus 2:23–24 is this: The gospel reveals God's care in the midst of our suffering.

Suffering is deeply personal. Seasons of physical pain, illness, loss, fear, or hardship can shake our identity and leave us wondering why God allows such trials. Yet even in those moments, God is at work, teaching His people to depend on Him rather than themselves. Through suffering, His care is often experienced most deeply through His presence and through the love of His people.

Israel understood this kind of suffering. They endured more than 80 years of slavery before crying out to God. Their pain was so overwhelming that they could only groan. Though it may have seemed that God was absent, He had never stopped listening. Exodus tells us that God heard their cries and remembered His covenant—not because He had forgotten, but because He was acting faithfully according to His promises.

Those promises ultimately point to Jesus Christ. From Abraham to David to the cross, God faithfully fulfilled every covenant, sending His Son to bring salvation to the world. Jesus entered into human suffering, endured temptation, rejection, and death, and rose again so that all who trust in Him would have eternal hope and the assurance of God's presence today. Because Christ has suffered, He understands our pain and walks with us through every trial.

Though suffering may not end immediately, the gospel reminds us that God remains faithful. The same God who heard Israel's cries continues to hear His children today. Whatever pain lies ahead, believers can cry out to Him with confidence, knowing that He is present, He is faithful, and His care is fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

Effective care involves the whole body. In Psalm 133, David paints a picture of unity as the mark of a flourishing human...
07/11/2026

Effective care involves the whole body. In Psalm 133, David paints a picture of unity as the mark of a flourishing human life. At the center of that picture is the reality that we are both relational and physical beings.

Psalm 133 shows that our relationships matter. God created us for connection, not isolation. Genesis 2:18 says it is not good for man to be alone. Yet unity isn't about sameness; it's about togetherness across real differences. When the church models this—different people, different backgrounds, united in Christ—it preaches the Gospel without saying a word. Yet the Psalms are also honest about relational pain: enemies, betrayal, family disappointment. God doesn't shame us for broken relationships; He grieves them with us and invites us to extend the same grace we've received.

Psalm 133 also shows our bodies matter. David describes unity through sensory images: oil running down the head, dew falling on the mountains, reminding us that blessing was meant to be experienced physically, and together, not just believed privately. Scripture never pits body against soul. We are dust and breath, both formed intentionally by God. Culture pulls us toward two lies: that bodies are meaningless, or that bodies are everything. The Gospel corrects both by rooting our worth in our Creator, not our condition.

Finally, both threads meet in Jesus. He entered a real body and real relationships—betrayed, broken, crucified—and rose again, securing the restoration of both. That's why physical, in-person gatherings matters. It's why showing up in worship, in community, in Communion, is itself an act of care. Presence is how the Gospel is felt.

As we treasure both heart and body, we cultivate a church that doesn't just believe the Gospel, but lives it out in how we care for one another.

In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus contrasts two treasures, two views, and two masters. At the center of each contrast is our hea...
07/04/2026

In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus contrasts two treasures, two views, and two masters. At the center of each contrast is our heart.

First, Jesus contrasts treasures on earth with treasures in heaven. What we treasure reveals what our hearts value most. Our hearts are more than our emotions; they reflect our worldview—the filter through which we interpret life. Every day we are investing our time, talents, and treasures somewhere. We can invest in temporary things that serve ourselves or eternal things that glorify Christ. When we treasure Jesus and love God and our neighbors, we cultivate a Gospel-centered heart.

Second, Jesus contrasts light and darkness. The eye is the lamp of the body, representing how we see the world. A Gospel-centered heart brings clarity, purpose, hope, and light. Without the Gospel, life can feel dark and hopeless. The stresses of life—work, relationships, parenting, health, and loss—are filtered through our hearts. The Gospel reminds us that we are loved, forgiven, and saved by grace. We cultivate this heart through Scripture, worship, prayer, and service. God often uses life's challenges to deepen our dependence on Him.

Finally, Jesus contrasts two masters: God and money. Our hearts cannot serve both. Through Christ, we have a new Master, yet the struggle remains. That's why we need one another. A community of care invests time and effort in understanding each other's joys, worries, burdens, and struggles.

One of the simplest ways we can care for others is to **just show up**. Show up for church, small groups, family, friends, work, and school. You never know how God may use your presence, encouragement, or a caring conversation to strengthen someone else. Showing up isn't about what we get out of it; it's about what we bring to it.

As we treasure Jesus, see life through the Gospel, and serve one another in love, we cultivate both a Gospel-centered heart and a Gospel-centered community of care.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

＃SundaySermon ＃HeartCare ＃CultivatingACultureOfCare ＃SummerSeries

1 John 3 reminds us that the call to love one another is foundational to the Christian faith. As Christians, we don't ge...
06/25/2026

1 John 3 reminds us that the call to love one another is foundational to the Christian faith. As Christians, we don't get to pick who we love. We are called to love all our brothers and sisters in Christ—even when it costs us something.

John points us to Cain as a warning. Cain's jealousy of Abel grew into hatred because his heart was turned inward rather than toward God. The same can happen in our lives. Jealousy, resentment, and bitterness can quietly take root in our hearts and hinder our ability to love others well.

If we're going to love one another deeply, we first need to be honest about the condition of our own hearts. We need to recognize our need for God's grace and allow His sacrificial love to shape the way we care for those around us.

The question before us is simple: How is God calling us to love those around us today? May we learn to love as Jesus loved us—sacrificially, intentionally, and tangibly.

Address

354 B Street
Hayward, CA
94541

Opening Hours

10:30am - 11:45am

Telephone

+15104839455

Website

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