Christ Church Jerusalem

What does the sound of the Shofar signify? How should we relate to this feast as Christians? Join Aaron Eime and discover the biblical roots of the Feast of Trumpets. Unlike all other feasts, the Feast of Trumpets has no explanation in the Bible. Come learn how we understand the importance of this feast despite the lack of divine instruction.

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Moses knows idolatry will be a temptation as the people of Israel transition from the nomadic desert life to settled agrarian life. The pagan customs of the Canaanites will tempt Israel, and Moses is knows that morality and ethics could collapse when they move from a place of weakness to a place of power.

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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13 Sept 2020 - The apostle Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should we forgive?” The answer came in a simple but dramatic parable about a servant who received much mercy but refused to extend it to another. Why is it essential to imitate God in His goodness from the heart? What are the barriers that keep us from growing into His likeness?

Readings: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35

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

Moses spends a great deal of this chapter on dietary rules of clean and unclean foods. "Clean" and "unclean" are not the best translations of tahor and tahmeh. A better rendering would be "pure" and "impure." To put this discussion in context, for most of the ancient cultures of the world, eating had both a social and a religious significance and meaning. Ancient cultures dwelt on mythologies of how the animals came to be, which ones were sacred and which ones could be consumed as food and even how they should be eaten. The sacred cow in India is prime example. Pure and Impure classifications of animals existed pre-flood in Genesis when animals were not consumed as food.

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 Sept 2020 - How the followers of Jesus address sin within the Christian community affects people inside and outside the Church. Deacon Aaron Eime tell us that, when the Church properly addresses sin, it publicly reflects the holiness of God to the outside world and inwardly restores purity and defends the Church against sin. If we truly believe that God is present within the Christian community, we will take sin seriously, seeking to address the issue with love, humility and charity. While this is undoubtedly a difficult subject, it is a vital one as properly addressing sin enables God’s Church to be healthy, vibrant, and outwardly focused.

Readings: Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20

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

Moses continues to spell out in detail the different ways the Israelites might be enticed to worship other gods. Because Idolatry threatened the very existence of Israel, it had to be totally purged from the community. Idolatry was already ingrained in the national story of Israel since the Exodus from Egypt. The 10 Commandments explicitly forbids the worship of any god other

than God. The nation had previously engaged in Avodah Zara (strange worship) with the Golden Calf. Further in the past of the patriarchs, Rachel had stolen the idols of her father Laban. When Jacob was commanded by God to remove idolatry from his household, Rachel died. Perhaps Rachel was Jacob's idol for it is actually Leah who produces Judah and the line of Davidic kings and ultimately 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/ ‎

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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/ ‎

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

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

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/ ‎

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

‘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/ ‎

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