Christ Church Jerusalem

The Epistles are generally written to address an issue in a Church. The Epistle of Colossians never directly addresses what Paul is may be trying to correct, but as we study Colossians we might be able to deduce something of the problem he is addressing. Meanwhile, Paul is grateful that the gospel going around the world has resulted in bearing fruit. Faith has brought results that are visible and tangible, for in the Hebraic context faith is something you can see, not something locked inside your head. In keeping with this metaphor of ‘bearing fruit’ Paul urges his readers to be filled with the knowledge of the will of God as well as to possess wisdom and spiritual understanding. Gaining these attributes: knowledge, wisdom and understanding, which appear to be on the surface as aspects of the academic realm, actually prompt the believer to a ‘walk worthy of the Lord’ producing good work. Knowledge (etc) leads to changed lives.

A Place For You | Rev. David Pilegg

Jesus told his disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you." We have a tendency to spiritualize these words, so we assume that Jesus is only talking about the world to come. Yet throughout the Hebrew Bible we see God’s provision of a place for His people that we only enter through love and obedience. Jesus invites us to that place where we can fully participate in the relationship He has with Father - – a.k.a. eternal life.

Readings:

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

I John 3: 1-3, 11-24

Psalm 116

John 14:15-21

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/


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.

The Way, the Truth and the Life | Martin Lifer

John 14:1-14 and Acts 7:55-60 give us the Good News of how to live, pray, and go even through death fully trusting in Jesus as The Way, The Truth, and The Life Jesus is not as simply another rabbi or visionary pointing to God. Jesus is God’s Son Who is One with the Father. In his death, resurrection & ascension, our Lord & Savior prepared a place for his believers to be with Him in his Father’s House forever.

Jesus is El-Emet (God, The Truth) of Psalm 31:5, so we can pray in His Name, ask anything in His Name, and commit our spirit to Him. In Acts 7:59-60, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, does so: committing his spirit to the ascended Lord and asking Him not to hold the acts of the persecutors (including Saul) against them.

Readings: Acts 7: 55-60; Psalm 31; John 14:1-14

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/


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.

Salvation & Abundant Life | Rev. David Pileggi

Today our Gospel reading is John 10, Jesus the Good Shepherd. The context is John 9, the account of a blind man who was thrown out of the community, a victim of crude theology (which some of us may retain in part). It was in this situation that Jesus responded, “I am the Good Shepherd … I came to give life to the full.” The benefits of salvation are found in the flock that Jesus shepherds, in His community. (Acts 2: 42-47).

Readings: Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23, John 10:1-10

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/


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.

Amos Chapter 9

Judgment and compassion, exile and restoration. We so often focus on a single subject, but the prophets so often mention hope when speaking of God’s punishment as well as obedience and judgment when speaking of promise. While Amos 9 might seem to be divided into two different subjects, it’s good to hear the whole of God’s promises.

Third Sunday of Easter

The Big Why! | Rev. Sandra Matthews

In this podcast we hear Rev'd Sandra expounding the dialogue between the two disciples leaving Jerusalem (for Emmaus) and Jesus.

She reminds us that Jesus seeks the lost and confused and His desire is to answer our questions of WHY — but we need to be open to listen, hear, and receive Him.

Third Sunday of Easter

Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19

1 Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/


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.

Holy Week 2023 Devotional | Redeemer And Redemption

Passover is the celebration of the founding of a holy people through an act of redemption. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 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.

2. Holy Week 2023 Devotional | Redeemer And Redemption

Passover is the celebration of the founding of a holy people through an act of redemption.

3. Holy Week 2023 Devotional | Teach Your Children; But First Do!

God told Israel to tell their children of the night of their redemption, when God spared all who put blood on their doorposts. But Israel hadn’t yet put blood on their doorposts. To tell of their redemption Israel had to actually obey God.

4. Holy Week 2023 Devotional | Saved by The God We Did Not Know

Exodus is the story of identity. God reveals who He is, a nation is formed in the act of redemption and the response to Gods generosity is our obedience.

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 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.

Holy Week 2023 Devotionals

Holy Week 2023 Devotionals

God told Israel to tell their children of the night of their redemption, when God spared all who put blood on their doorposts. But Israel hadn’t yet put blood on their doorposts. To tell of their redemption Israel had to actually obey God.

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 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.

Holy Week 2023 Devotional | The God that suffers

God isn't simply with us when we suffer, although He is with us. God doesn't simply see our affliction and save us from it, although He both see us and redeems us. God also suffers, He knows suffering, grief, pain. And by His stripes we are healed.

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 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.