Christ Church Jerusalem

In our study of Acts, we arrive with Paul at Thessalonica and Berea. Rev. Aaron Eime continues to walk us through this mission trip that "upset the world."

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

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15 Sept 2019 - Rev. Aaron Eime reminds us that heaven rejoices when sinners repent. This is what we learn from the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Neither the lost sheep nor the lost coin are going to find themselves. They must be sought. One of the characteristics of God's heroes is that they have compassion for the lost ones. Jesus has compassion on a lost world. Do we mimic God's compassion? Are the lost precious to us?

Readings: Psalm 14; I Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

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8 Sept 2019 - Rev. David Pileggi walks us through the difficult passage of what Jesus requires of his disciples. What does Jesus mean when he says disciple must hate their families? What does it meant to count the cost? Jesus' words -- while they should not condemn us -- should make us feel uncomfortable and cause us to examine where our priorities and loyalties lie. Are we finding our security and identity in anything other than Messiah Jesus? Discipleship cannot be separated from the cross. We must have our identity in Christ; that identity is more important than our family name. This idea of hating family is a Jewish idea, a rhetorical device that says you must prefer the great Rabbi over anything or anyone else. As a rabbinical idea says, while our mother and father brought us into this life, Rabbi Jesus is the one who will take us into the next life.

Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 14:25-35

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Rev. Aaron Eime picks up the Acts story in Thyatira, where Paul and Silas have met a slave girl possessed with by spirit. When Paul casts out the spirit, the girl's owners bring charges against Paul and Silas. After the duo are beaten and jailed, a midnight worship session leads to an earthquake, cells being opened, and the jailer and his household coming to faith in the Lord Jesus.

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/

As we continue through Acts with Rev. Aaron Eime, we find Paul meeting Timothy in Lystra. As Paul continues preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit directs him and his team away from Asia and toward Europe, where he encounters a receptive merchant named Lydia. Soon thereafter, an exorcism from a slave girl get Paul and Silas in trouble with the authorities.

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/

1 Sept 2019 - Rev. John Howanstine reflects on the first part of Luke 14, when Jesus goes to a dinner where he watches others grasping in ambition for the better seats. God is wanting to write his heart into our hearts. Can we trust God to be in charge with the outcome of our lives so that we just walk humbly with him? Can we trust him enough to give to others without expecting a return?

Readings: Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14

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We pick up in the middle of an important section of Acts, where the primarily Jewish followers of Jesus Messiah consider how to integrate the increasing number of gentile followers. Rev. Aaron Eime continues where James is in the midst of giving his verdict on the issue. Then Paul and Barnabas discuss returning to their church plants but run into a problem.

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/

25 Aug 2019 - Rev. David Pileggi calls us to look closer at what seems a small story of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath. What do we see here? We see the Kingdom of Heaven breaking in. Jesus' central messages in his earthly ministry were the importance and centrality of the Kingdom of Heaven and what it means to be a disciple or a member of the Kingdom, his community. In this miracle, Jesus is showing us what liberation looks like.

Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom. Should we mimic him? Do we have the desire to see God, to participate with God in liberating more and more people. Liberation is more than "getting saved." God is not just concerned about our souls but also our bodies and our minds. When we pray for the kingdom of God to come, we are cheering God on to break into people's lives in healing and restoration. When we see a glimmer of the Kingdom, we are to respond in reverence and worship, repentance and loyalty.

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-22

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

We reach an important section of Acts, where the primarily Jewish followers of Jesus Messiah consider how to integrate the increasing number of gentile followers. Rev. Aaron Eime guides us through the first part of the chapter, where the controversy is raised in Jerusalem. We see testimony given by Peter, Paul and Barnabas, with James presiding.

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/

18 Aug 2019 - In Luke 12: 49-56, Jesus says, "“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!" Rev. David Pileggi walks us through this difficult passage. Jesus' message doesn't always bring peace but is often misunderstood and sometimes divides (We, though, should never generate the conflict nor the hostility). Jesus is urgently calling all of us in the world to make a decision, to choose life and healing. We need to recognize the days are evil and we must choose daily to repent and follow Jesus, to take advantage of God's offer of healing. Jesus is calling us to allow God's fire to refine us, perfect us, and bring us in to wholeness and maturity.

Readings: Jeremiah 23:23-29; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56

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