Christ Church Jerusalem

1 Aug 2021 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - The multiplication of the loaves and fishes points to the God of life who brings blessing. Jesus, the Bread from Heaven, comes to give us eternal life and blessing in this life and the next. Rev David Pileggi challenges with the question: Do we believe Jesus does satisfy, or do our undisciplined desires convince us that what God provides is not enough?

Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; John 6:24-35

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

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Having made the case that the Galatians are indeed heirs of the promise to Abraham, along with the Jewish people, Paul now urges them to ‘be like him’. This raises the question, should Paul not have pointed to Jesus rather than to himself? Paul is not sinless nor without his faults, unlike the Messiah. While it is true that we should all endeavor to keep and promote others to keep, our eyes on the Lord, in following the Lord we also become role models to those who watch us, a sobering thought.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎

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25 July 2021 - Ninth Sunday After Pentecost - The writer of John tells us that Passover was near when Jesus sat on a mountain to teach and then feed the 5,000. John puts Jesus squarely in the context of Sinai and the Exodus, connecting Jesus with the Prophet Like Moses. God, in the Exodus, moves Israel from death to life so that he can dwell with his people. Likewise, Jesus performs miracles to show that the Kingdom of God is breaking in on earth, moving those who trust in him from death to life and into relationship with God the Father.

Readings: Ephesians 3:14-21; Psalm 145:10-18; John 6:1-21

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This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: https://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.

A text taken out of context is a pretext, and I can do all things through a text taken out of context. Much commentary and discussion around Paul's epistle to the Galatians has been continually removed from the context. And I will continue to refer back to the contextual issues that face the Galatians believers. The issue is not, and I repeat, not that they doubt Jesus is the Messiah. No one is telling them that! The issue is social boundaries within the Jesus movement, that is the standing and relationship that Jews and Gentiles have, particularly towards the application of the Torah. Paul has argued that Gentiles are of equal standing as Jewish people in the Messiah, as are all people, whether they be male or female or of any socio economic status.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎

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18 July 2021 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost - On Tisha b'Av, Deacon Aaron Eime has us consider God's promise to David. David desired to build a house for God, but God instead promises to build David into a house, a dynasty. This house would bring forth the Messiah, the one who will accomplish God's desire to dwell not just among Israel but all humanity.

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-14; Psalm 89:20-37; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

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

A version of this sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: https://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.

According to the Torah, God had promised Abraham that through his descendants all the nations (the Gentiles) of the world would be blessed. The physical Torah itself appeared later in history to Moses and was given specifically to the people of Israel. Israel were instructed to be a distinct people that would bring light to the nations. As people were drawn to the monotheistic faith of Israel, they would come into contact with the teaching and instruction (the Torah) of God. Now that the promised Messiah had indeed arrived and ascended to Heaven, what role does the Torah play in the life of the believer and was the Torah actually in opposition to the good news of the redeemer? The answer to which Paul replies - absolutely not!

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎

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

11 July 2021 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - God the Creator is above his creation, and so is worthy of worship by his creatures. When God created the world, he did so to enter into relationship with his creatures. This has never changed. Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that it is only in holiness can we draw near to God. Holiness is not only refraining from evil, but it is also pursuing good. Right worship includes living a generous and moral life so we can reflect to the world the goodness of God.

Readings: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14

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: https://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.

Paul has made his argument that righteousness is imputed by God to Gentiles as well as to Jewish people and that it is not earned through the ‘works of the Law’ that create distinctions, boundaries and social standings between them. A new reality has been formed with the resurrection of the Messiah which Paul can see clearly now, yet others (his antagonists) are unable to at the present time. Jews and Gentiles are of equal value, infinitely loved by God who created all things and sustains all things, God has plans for all of humanity, and the Torah proves it!

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎

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

4 July 2021 - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - To be a disciple is to be sent. We are sent out to preach repentance, confront evil, and heal the hurting. Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that to be successful in our call, we must be radically dependent on God. It is God's gifts of repentance, courage, and compassion that enable us to minister to those around us.

Readings: Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

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: https://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.

Once again our discussion centered around the Torah, its meaning and relationship to the Mosaic covenant, and also to Paul's use of the phrase the 'works of the Law'. Once again it has to be stated that there is a difference between the Torah (also known as nomos in Greek), the Mosaic covenant, and the phrase ‘works of the Law’. Also once again it must be stated that you must never take a passage of scripture away from its context.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎

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