Christ Church Jerusalem

22 November 2020 - On Christ the King Sunday, Deacon Aaron Eime tells us that the good shepherd is both king and judge. Judgment is a part of the messianic age in which all things that are wrong will be made right, and we are not excluded from that process. Our obligation to God is be holy like him, to imitate His character and behavior. We are not excluded from the coming judgment. The good news, however, is that we have a good judge. The Good Shepherd is also the Good Judge.

Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46

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Moses has been the teacher, guider and lawgiver of Israel since the Exodus from Egypt. The Israelites have known no other leader. Moses however, will not be joining Israel as they cross the Jordan, and the people of Israel may have expressed anxiety as to their future rulers. God has indicated that He will chose future kings over Israel, and He has already chosen priests. Now Moses says that the Lord will also chose prophets for the people. God will raise up a prophet like

Moses. This verse has several levels of meaning. There will be a prophet for each generation and, like Moses, they will speak God’s word and be a guide and balance for the people and the king.

Each king had his own prophet. The relationship between prophet and king, both appointed by God, was often a tense one.

While the concept of democracy is not to be found in Scripture, God does not put power in the hands of the king alone. Three offices are chosen by the Lord: prophet, priest and king. Eventually those roles are combined in the figure of the messianic redeemer, as hinted at by Moses.

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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15 November 2020 - Rev. John Howanstine reminds us that the Church proclaims in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed that Messiah Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. We rejoice that He has placed his Cross between His judgment and our souls. Now redeemed from sin and death and made heirs in Him of everlasting life, when He comes again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold His appearing. By daily seeking to know Him, His character and His faithfulness as revealed in Scripture, we are strengthened for greater faithfulness so that we may bear fruit that glorifies Him and expands His Kingdom.

Readings: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-3

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The tribe of Levi was given no territorial allotment, except several cities of refuge spread throughout the Land of Israel and across the Jordan. With limited access to farming land, the refuge cities will produce some light industry and some agriculture but not much. The Levites must be sustained by their fellow Israelites. How will this be done? Through the tithe paid by the other tribes, as noted in Numbers 18. This tithe was not considered sacred, thus the Levites could take it home with them, It did not have to remain in the sanctuaries of Shiloh or Jerusalem.

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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8 November 2020 - The eternal perspective is an anchor of the Christian worldview, says Canon Daryl Fenton. A disciple of Jesus lives in that eternal perspective, knowing that there will be an end to moral time. For those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, our mortal journey is about learning to be like him and accomplishing his purposes on earth. We are to be his hands and feet, bringing justice and healing and witnessing his love to the hurting world around us, ever ready for the day Jesus returns.

Readings: Amos 5:13-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

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

As Sir Winston Churchill once said of democracy, 'Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or allwise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.… ‘ and as Mark Twain would quip, ‘If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.’ Suffice to state that the Bible is not democratic. Moses has not been freely elected and his successor Joshua will not be subject to a mandate of the masses. How then should the people of God set up governance of the just, compassionate and righteous society required by God as a light to the nations? With a king!

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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1 November 2020 - The Feast of All Saints is the perfect opportunity to be reminded of the biblical nature of holiness, vindicating some points of both Roman Catholic and Protestant views. This feast day, says Rev. David Pileggi, also allows us to express our gratitude for those who have gone before us and have shown us how to live faithfully in troubled times – in war, persecution, epidemics, or even in the everyday routines of life. Of course, we must remember that those who have died in faith are not really dead. They are very much alive as that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on to the finish line.

Readings: Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

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

Idolatry was the ancient bugbear that constantly vexed the people of Israel. In Israel’s sacred history they had left Mesopotamia (the great eastern empire) and its gods, through the family of Abraham, and they had left Egypt(the great western empire)and its gods, guided by Moses. Israel is placed in the centre of these two great powers, revealing the true monotheistic God of the Universe to the Gentiles. Establishing a just society reflecting God’s character remains the high priority for Moses. Separation from idolatry was therefore essential to the fabric of Israelite society as a theological witness to the nations surrounding them. As a people of God, divine punishment

for idolatry could threaten the entire nation of Israel and its tenure in the Land of Canaan.

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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25 October 2020 - The severe critique that Jesus unleashes on the Pharisees in Matthew 23 is often seen out of context, says Rev. David Pileggi. Jesus himself was close to world of the Pharisees, following many of their customs. (He was an itinerant teacher, raised up disciples, was obedient to Torah, believed in eternal life, and more.) We forget, or may not realize, that this discourse was an internal Jewish debate, and we should view his criticism in that light and not weaponize his words against the Jewish people. Instead, we should take His words as a warning and ask ourselves how we (as religious people) may be guilty of the same offenses or hypocrisy.

Readings: Micah 3:5-12; Matthew 23:1-12

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18 October 2020 - The world is full of images and false advertising. Much of what is presented to us through the media, film and television is rarely accurate. So what of the image of God? Is the image that the world has of God a true reflection of His character? Rev. Aaron Eime reminds us we are called to follow the Lord and to imitate Him. The role of the believer is to present the true character of God by reflecting His nature.

Readings: Exodus 33:12-33; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

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