Christ Church Jerusalem

THE GENERATIONS | Malachi 1.1–2.7 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

AND HE LEFT | Hosea 11.7–14.10 with Phil Morrow by Christ Church Jerusalem

AND HE SENT | Obadiah 1.1 - 21 with Aaron Eime by Christ Church Jerusalem

AND HE SETTLED | Zechariah 2.14–4.7 with Krystal White by Christ Church Jerusalem

The Treason of Indifference |Rev. David Pileggi

Today, when so many events in the Middle East are being seen as the fulfillment of prophecy it can create a fatalism and passivity that stops many from intercession. The story of the Golden Calf powerfully highlights the character of God, the true nature of prophecy and the cost of effective intercession. Along with the events of unfaithfulness at Sinai we consider Jesus’ parable about those who rejected the king’s invitation to the wedding of his son - both nothing less than an act of treason.

Readings for Sunday

Exodus 32:1-14

Isaiah 25:1-9

Matthew 22:1-14

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This week, all across Israel, families have been gathering in their Sukkas which are small booths, in order to mark the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. We hear of this festival in Leviticus 23, where it not only tells Israel to build booths, but to also gather plants. The four plants are Palm, Myrtle, Willow and an Etrog (a Yellow Citrus). The text however doesn't tell us why we gather these plants, or what to do with them. 

We can learn from Jewish tradition that God asks us to worship him with all our senses. And over the years Jewish people have noticed that these four plants have either a taste or a smell, but not both. That is except for the Etrog. An interpretation was added to this observation showing how each of these different plants represented a type of disciple. In his sermon, Aaron takes us through from Sukkot, to the Parable of the Two Sons, and challenges us... what type of disciple are we? Do we smell AND taste like a follower of Jesus?

Readings:

Exodus 17:1-17

Psalm 72

Matthew 21:23-32

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This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem


Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

This week, our usual Sunday evening service coincided with the beginning of Yom Kippur, the biblical Day of Atonement. On this day, people across the Jewish world read from the Scroll of Jonah, reminding themselves of the centrality of repentance in their walk with God. This centrality of repentance is not only tangible throughout the BIble but echoes throughout the New Testament. However, how often are we told by the world that forgiveness is contemptible? CS Lewis famously remarked, "it is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."

Turning to our Gospel reading in Matthew about the Unfaithful Servant, it is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. In this week's sermon, John Arnold highlights the stark difference between the world's view of forgiveness and that of God's view, linking it back to demonstrate how we can see the fingerprints of this dichotomy in the traditional Jonah readings for Yom Kippur.

Readings: Leviticus 23:26-32 •Isaiah 57:14-58:14 • Matthew 18:21-35

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The parable of the rich farmer wanting to build bigger barns and Jesus’ teaching on worry and possessions resonates with one of the the main themes found in the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh HaShana holiday: God’s Kingship and the confrontation with idolatry. Surely, the idols of our age are the search for personal prosperity, peace and security. And when these become our primary goals we are tested in the very things that we crave. Such testing should be welcomed as it enables us to deepen our discipleship and model Jesus' alternative to the world’s well meaning, desire for the good life.

Readings: Numbers 29:1-6 • Deuteronomy 8:7-18 • Luke 12:16-30.

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Forgiveness and discipline might seem to be somewhat contradictory but they should both be a result of our love and care for one another. If we avoid warning people of their behavior we are not giving them the opportunity to feel the joy and relief of confession and the forgiveness God promises–forgiveness we are also called to give as God forgives us.

Readings: Ezekiel 33:1-11 • Psalm 119:33-40 • Matthew 18:15-20.

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Suffering is something few of us want, too many of us boast about and, perhaps, not enough Christians are willing to face. Rather than grumbling and complaining over every difficult thing we face, Christians are called to be blameless and innocent–a light in a dark world. Jesus gives an example and call to his disciples to take up their cross and follow after him while Paul will tell us what our sacrifice should look like.

Readings: Romans 12:9-21 • Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45 • Matthew 16:13-28.

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👉🏼 This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem