Christ Church Jerusalem

Chapter 22 covers a range of issues and commandments for the emerging Israelite society focusing on laws of kindness and community responsibility. Several of the laws also deal with various issues of separation. These rules were for the people of Israel in Canaan, so how would any of this have any bearing on Gentiles living in foreign lands today? Jewish exegesis of the Bible rests on the principle that all interpretations and use of the text are valid as long they do not break the is the literal meaning of the text. The Biblical text then becomes timeless, speaking to every generation and to the world.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

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20 December 2020 - When the angel Gabriel appeared with a shocking message, Miriam -- that is Mary in Hebrew -- humbly accepted the LORD's assignment. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, Canon Daryl Fenton says that a disciple's spiritual maturity is proportional to the disciple's capacity for obedience. In Mary the mother of Jesus, we have a model of faithfulness, obedience, and humility that all disciples of Jesus can learn from, so that our souls will magnify the Lord.

Readings: 2 Sam 7:1-11; Psalm 89; Luke 1:26-38

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

Christmas Medley Dubstep by Philip Rice

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6929-christmas-medley-dubstep

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

How much did the Maccabean revolt and the Hasmonean period influence the setting of the New Testament? In this lecture, Deacon Aaron Eime looks at the issues of martyrdom and messianism and how they created the backdrop for many of the themes we see in the New Testament. If we look at the text closely, we can see the themes of Hanukkah permeating the thinking of the Second Temple Period.

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Once again we encounter the troubling practice in the ancient world of multiple wives. Let us not superimpose present-day morality on the past. The Bible is not presenting multiple wives as the ideal (neither do we advocate polygamy). The issue being addressed by Moses is the concern for an unloved wife and the right of the firstborn. The firstborn held special honour in Biblical tradition. Exodus describes the firstborn males belonging to God and male children required redemption from the priests. All firstborn are beloved by God, however that does not mean He will call them to ministry as the majority of patriarchs and heroes of God are not firstborn.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

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

13 December 2020 - John came as the Voice. And now we are the voice, says Deacon Aaron Eime, pointing to the Light, to the Messiah. We are the voices that bring hope, faith, and goodness to a world that needs it. In a world in darkness and despair during this pandemic, the world truly needs the light of Christmas

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; Psalms 126; John 1:6-8,19-28

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

Music credit: Christmas Medley Dubstep by Philip Rice

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6929-christmas-medley-dubstep

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Photo credit: Samuele Ghilardi via Flickr (cc), colorized, cropped

The final two verses of Chapter 20 describe the rules of engagement in war regarding proper treatment of the Creation. Nature is not to become a victim in human warfare. Then in Chapter 21, having noted that blood pollutes the earth and has consequences, Moses introduces legislation for atonement for an unsolved murder. The ceremony includes the washing of hands, reflecting innocence of the crime, which we see again in the actions of Pilate during the trial of Jesus. Prayer also seems to have been an important part of the ritual.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

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6 December 2020 - As it is written in the Prophets, a voice cries out in the wilderness for us to repent in preparation for the coming of God into our midst, the God who restores and immerses us into fellowship with Himself. God’s heart speaks tenderly to our heart to repent and to walk faithfully with Him, to boldly lift our voice to declare his Name. The Rev. John Howanstine, on the second Sunday of Advent, reminds us that the time between the first advent of Jesus and his second advent is filled with his presence and not with his absence. We can expect him to come and speak comfort and encouragement in the midst our difficult wilderness seasons. We can also expect him to provide opportunities for us to speak his comfort and encouragement into the wilderness of others.

Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

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

Warrior gods were certainly not uncommon in the ancient world. Battle between nations held both theological and political implications for the peoples that adhered to those gods. Success or failure could induce a religious crisis and faithlessness in a particular deity. God had already fought for Israel during and after the Exodus. Israel was no stranger to the rigours of battle, having defeated the giant kings Og and Sihon and capturing the territory east of the Jordan. Moses now sets out the rules of engagement during warfare for the people of Israel. He begins by reminding the people that God Himself goes to war with them. The priests also will accompany the army into battle, once again demonstrating the lack of separation in politics and religion in the Bible.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

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

29 November 2020 - A troubled world searches for the reasons why trouble has come. Scripture regularly explains why troubles came in the past, are with us in the present, and will be with us in the future. The Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton, on the first Sunday of Advent, says today's scriptures give us answers to the questions of the minute.

Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-2,17-19; Mark 13:14-37

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

The Israelites will ultimately triumph in conquest over the peoples of Canaan. In establishing a society that will reflect the character of God to the nations, Moses instructs the Hebrews to allocate three cities as cities of refuge. The chapter begins with Moses declaring they should do this, ‘after the Lord your God has destroyed the nations of Canaan’. God is acknowledged as the victorious one, however this does not absolve Israel from engaging in the fight. Aside from Jericho, the Israelites will do the bulk of the fighting. The battle indeed belongs to the Lord, but this does not give us permission to remain passive in the work of the kingdom.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

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