Christ Church Jerusalem

God is the master of time. He exists outside of it and dwells within it. His involvement in His creation occurs at specific times, and God has provided a sacred calendar to record sacred time. Moses, however, focuses his speech to Israel towards the three pilgrimage festivals, seemly downplaying the other Feasts of the Lord. In this portion Moses expounds on Shavuot (Weeks/Pentacost) and Sukkot (Booths/Tabernacles). One primary aspect of his oration on the festivals is the involvement of the whole community of Israel, including the strangers (non-Jews) and the weak members of society and the Levitical priests. The clergy must be involved in the life cycle of Israel. They are not to be distant nor removed from the public mind.

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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11 Oct 2020 - The Bible often uses the imagery of a feast or banquet to describe God's care and provision for His people. However, in the texts assigned tor this Sunday, we see that God not only wants to bless us, but He invites us into an inter-active relationship of trust and transformation. And that requires a response to His goodness. Sermon by Rev. David Pileggi.

Readings: Exodus 32:1-14, Isaiah 25:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14

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

Moses describes the three pilgrim festivals, all rooted in the agricultural cycle, that required travelling to the Temple. It appears that these pilgrimage festivals were of more importance to the ancient Israelites, perhaps because of the actual existence of a physical Temple. Moses does not mention the other four feasts of the Lord. In discussion we mentioned that one reason could be that these feasts are particular representations of the Messiah.

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/

4 October 2020 - The Torah commands the people of Israel to celebrate the Feasts of the Lord. Tabernacles, like the other two pilgrimage Feasts, is to be celebrated in holiness: no work, going to the Temple, and bringing gifts to the Lord. However, at Tabernacles God also commands His people to be joyful, says Rev. David Pileggi. Do we find it difficult to be joyful? Are we afraid of joy or perhaps even feel that God owes us more than we have? Gratitude is not an abstract feeling but an act of the will, and Hebrews 13 helps illustrate how we can put gratitude into practice. (Hat tip to Lesley Gore.)

Readings: Leviticus 23:33-44, Hebrews 13:1-20

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

Sukkot is the last of the three pilgrimage festivals. In Leviticus 23:42-43 God commands: "You shall live in booths for seven days ... so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt." God's redeeming power is shown in the Passover. His provision and covenant are celebrated at Shavuot. Sukkot is the culmination of redemption. Our the attitude is to be one of thanksgiving, and the response of gratitude to the redeeming God is true obedience.

Led by Aaron Eime.

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Slavery was common practice in antiquity and is an unfortunate practice that continues to this day, with an estimated 40 million people suffering under the condition of slavery. The national history of the Jewish people involves being a nation of slaves to the Pharaohs of Egypt. With our present day morality and abhorrence of the concept of slaves, we ask the question why does the

Bible not abolish slavery?

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/

27 Sept 2020 - The Judean exiles in Babylon complained that God was not fair since they were being punished for the sins of their fathers. But God rejects this notion. Through Ezekiel He makes it clear that they are reaping the consequences of their own sin, which ultimately brings death. In order to live, repentance is required. Not surprisingly, in the chaos of the world that we find ourselves in today, many of us make the same excuses. “It's not my fault!” we complain and we look to blame others – the press, the corporations, politics, our families and more. Jesus’ parable about the two sons asked to work in their father’s vineyard warns us not to make excuses or just give lip service to Him, but each of us is to take appropriate action beginning with repentance.

Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

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

Rituals, Atonements, Forgiveness and Repentance.

If Jesus is our atoning sacrifice, why did the Messiah come at Passover and not on the Day of Atonement? Yom Kippur is called the most sacred of days in Jewish tradition. In the Bible it is named as Yom HaKippurim; it's in plural, literally the Day of Atonements. How many atonements are there? Join Aaron Eime for a discussion on these questions and more as we ponder the meanings behind what God calls ‘a lasting ordinance for all generations.’

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The forgiveness and cancelling of debts was common and widespread in the Ancient Middle East but was almost exclusively the prerogative of the ruling monarch. In preparation for a just society reflecting the character of the God, Moses takes that exclusive power away from kings and puts it in the hands of everyone. The notion being, if this is important to God, it is now important to you.

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/

20 Sept 2020 - Is God fair? Jesus tells us the Parable of the Vineyard Workers to clarify the matter for us. Join Rev. David Pileggi as he explores this short story about God's grace and how we should respond to it.

Readings: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Matthew 20:1-16

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