The size shape and extent of the borders of ancient Israel have never been truly defined and agreed upon. Even here God says through Moses that when the territory of Israel’s conquest has been enlarged, without defining what extent that has been enlarged to, then certain dietary rules are to be enacted, notably those regarding the consuming of sacrificial and non-sacrificial meat! With no offence to vegetarians intended, God is sanctioning the eating of meat as He has done since the days of Noah. Animals that are intended for sacrifice to God must only be consumed in God’s Presence at the chosen place, initially Shiloh in the territory of Ephraim. While meat had become an accepted part of the human diet, blood was forbidden to be consumed. Life is in the blood and life was created by God, so it must be returned to God.

This was done by pouring the blood of the animal onto the ground to be soaked into the earth.

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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30 Aug 2020 - Rev. David Pileggi picks up where we left off last week and continues to expand on Jesus' favorite title, Son of Man. Who is the Son of Man? The Son of Man is someone who enters into human life and gets involved with humanity with all its problems. The Son of Man also suffers and, like Abel, dies unjustly but is vindicated by God. Jesus calls us to imitate him and get sacrificially involved with people and he calls us to be transformed into his likeness. It takes a lot of faith to believe in transformation, for ourselves and others. It takes the faith of Jesus for us persevere through pain and self-denial. However, when we trust God even unto death, God promises we will share in Jesus' glory and inheritance.

Readings: Daniel 7:1-14; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

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Moses sets before the Israelites clear instructions to follow the decrees and laws of God once they have possessed and inhabited the Land of Canaan. Israel is to follow the Torah in the Land. Interestingly the Torah calls for festivals to remember the Exodus from Egypt (Pesach) and the wandering in the wilderness (Sukkot) and the giving of the Torah (Shavuot). Yet there is no festival to remember the entering and conquest of the Land! While you inherit the Land you never celebrate the conquest of the Land. Rather you obey the Torah in the Land.

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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‘Do not do as we do today’ -- this verse seems to imply that, despite having the Tabernacle, a system of priests and Levite attendants with detailed laws governing sacrifices as well as a visible cloud appearance signifying God’s real presence within the Israelite camp, that each Israelite seems to have worshiped as they pleased. This might explain the context behind the rebellion of Korah! Real worship is not concerned with what pleases Man but with what pleases God. Modern worship can suffer from being overly self-focused with attention centred on personal experience. Worship should be God-focused.

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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Deuteronomy 11:13-21 contains the second portion the Sh’ma, again encouraging the believer to remain faithful to the faithful King of the Universe, to love God with both heart and soul. Should the believer do so then God promises to send rain from Heaven to nourish the Land. Future prosperity is dependent on the morality of the Israelites. It is a good thing to be dependent on the Lord. Dependency is a guard against pride. The blessing of God is success, but the danger of

success is idolatry.

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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23 Aug 2020 - Neville Jones has us consider Jesus' preferred title, Son of Man, and Peter's epiphany of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. In a place with a long history of idolatry, God the Father revealed to Peter the powerful truth on which God builds his community. Jesus very quickly affirms Peter's confession not far from a location dubbed the Gates of Hades. There, Jesus declares that the counsels and schemes of the enemy -- personified as death -- will not to prevail against his people. Instead Resurrection himself wins the victory.

Readings: Isaiah 51:1,6-8; Matthew 16:13-20

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

"Be holy as I am holy," God tells Israel. However, holiness and distinction are not the goal. Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that Israel's call to holiness is for the sake of the nations. God's intention for human society is mutual love and service. Instead, we tend to split into groups of us and them, which results in self-satisfaction, self-righteousness, and domination. Paul knows that when the community of God lives as one "us," we prove the validity of the Gospel of Jesus Messiah. In his letter to the divided church in Rome, Paul points to how God's mercy to Israel should instruct us so that we can live a life of united worship and obedience before our God.

Readings: Romans 11:1-2, 25-28; Matthew 15:10-28

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Love is not a matter left to impulse or feelings. Love is actually a commandment from God. We are to love God irrespective of personal emotional feelings that hinge on chemical reactions or human relationships. Love is a choice and not relegated to whether we had too much chocolate or had a fight with work colleagues. This command from the lips of Moses also reveals what God really wants from us: to love God and keep His requirements. He could have commanded countless other things from us, but for God the priority is love from His creation.

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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There are many things to fear in our time: disease, civil unrest, and a culture that would woo our children away from Jesus. Canon Daryl Fenton reminds us that cultivating trust in the Lord is the best rememdy for fear. Rather than allowing our present circumstances to spark fear, we must push through in faithfulness to the God we love and who loves us. Living a life of faithfulness and pray makes opportunity for our children and grandchildren to know Jesus.

Readings: 1 Kings 19:1-8; Romans 10:1-15; Matthew 14:22-33

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In this week's gospel portion, Jesus gives thanks for the bread and fish and then tells his disciples to feed the hungry crowd. Today, we often overlook the importance of food in the Bible. Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that food is an essential part of Biblical worship. Our sharing table fellowship builds Jesus-centered communities of compassion, mercy and forgiveness.

Readings: Genesis 32:22-31; Romans 9:1-16; Matthew 14:13-21

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