Christ Church Jerusalem

12 January 2020 - On the Feast of the Baptist of Jesus, Rev. David Pileggi tells us that renewal and redemption are connected to repentance. John the Baptist was encouraging the people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah by showing individual and national repentance by washing. Why does sinless Jesus go to be baptized? To stand with his people. As Jesus is baptized, he's anointed by the Holy Spirit, affirming Jesus' identity, and his intimate status before the Father, even before he's done any ministry. He's loved and he's done nothing. The enemy and world try to make us doubt our identity. We get our identity in the voice of God heard in our heart and affirmed by the Scriptures.

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

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Acts 26 opens with Paul standing before the man whose great grandfather had tried to kill the infant Jesus. And whose father had martyred the apostle James in Acts 12. How will this Herodian treat the message of Messiah and the Jesus movement? Paul has his third occasion to give his personal testimony. Each time he shares his story he adapts it for his audience. In this account Paul reveals that though born in Tarsus, he actually grew up in Jerusalem in a Pharisaical family, later studying under Gamaliel. His defense before King Agrippa centres around the hope of the resurrection of both Messiah and the Dead as found in the Torah, Writings and Prophets.

Notes for this study can me found at Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-acts-of-the-holy-spirit/

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5 Jan 2020 - Rev. David Pileggi, on the Sunday before Epiphany, has us consider the magi. These foreign astrologers follow a star across the Middle East. Why? To worship. What a mystery that these gentiles worship Messiah without fully understanding who Jesus is, who God is. Throughout Matthew's gospels, Jesus is worshipped not for doing something but simply for who he is. How are we responding to Jesus, son of David?

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

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29 Dec 2019 - On the first Sunday after Christmas, Rev. David Pileggi considers Jesus' suffering the human experience, from fleeing a murderous king as an infant to his death on the cross. The Messiah can sympathize and identify with us in our mourning, our joy, our boredom, our delight. Jesus lived our life. He now expects us to live his life.

Readings: Isaiah 63:7-14; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23

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In Acts 25, Porcius Festus arrives to replace his incompetent predecessor Felix as Governor of the Province of Judea. Jerusalem has not forgotten Paul, despite his two years incarceration at Caesarea, and the Jerusalem leadership press new charges against Paul. Led by Rev. Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can me found at Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-acts-of-the-holy-spirit/

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Rev. Aaron Eime speaks on the New Testament significance of the Hanukkah story. Introduction by Rev. David Pileggi.

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22 December 2019 - Rev. Aaron Eime has us look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, at her faithfulness and how we can honor this most highly favored lady, by obeying her son.

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

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Now in Caesarea, Paul is presented before his accusers under the auspices of the Roman Governor Felix. Claudius Marcus Antonius Felix was a former slave who had risen in Roman society to take the role of Procurator of Judea. Known for cruelty and licentiousness, with a penchant for brides, he somehow had wooed Drusilla the Jewess, daughter of Herod Agrippa, as his second wife. Ananias the High Priest, whose name means Grace of God and yet displays none of that quality, appears in person with a trial lawyer named Tertullus.

Notes for this study can me found at Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-acts-of-the-holy-spirit/

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16 Dec 2019 - On the third Sunday of Advent, Rev. David Pileggi has us look at John the Baptist as he was in prison. John seems to be doubting that Jesus is the Anointed One. When he sends a message to Jesus, John is asking, Are you the Messiah according to my theology? Are we doubting Jesus because we've imagined him within our cultural context? Are we disappointed because Jesus doesn't look like we expect him? Is our disappointment coming from a hurt or an attack? When we are desperate and doubting, let us pray and dig into the Word as we ask God to reveal his true self in the Scriptures.

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11

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Aaron Eime picks up in Acts 22, where Paul’s Roman citizenship begins to have an effect on his future. Claudius Lysias does not understand the charges against Paul and so convenes the Sanhedrin to gather information. Once Paul knows he will not receive a fair hearing, he changes tactics for confusion and exploitation. Following the uproar in the Sanhedrin, Paul is confined to quarters and is visited by the Lord Himself in the night.

Notes for this study can me found at Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-acts-of-the-holy-spirit/

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