Christ Church Jerusalem

31 Mar 2019 - Rev. John Howanstine, on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, looks at the love of the Father as displayed in Jesus' parables of the two sons, of the lost sheep, and of the lost coin .

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

Readings: Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15: 11-32

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In the middle of Acts 2, Peter is conducting his defense of the events occurring in the Temple on Pentecost/Shavuot. He declares that Jesus was a man proved by God through miracles and signs, this same Jesus was resurrected by God. What sort of body does Jesus have? His own body. Resurrection is the sign/proof that God has made Jesus the Messiah.

Death cannot hold the Messiah. Death is not part of the original creation; it was introduced to the creation following the Fall of Adam. Throughout Peter's defense ,he reminds the people of what they have seen and heard, Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10vs17). The Kingdom of Heaven continues to advance through the verbal proclamation of the Gospel and the visible signs of the Spirits power and activity.

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

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25 Mar 2019 - Rev. David Pileggi. Third Sunday in Lent

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

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Rev. Aaron Eime walks us through Acts 1:15-26, where Peter stands up and takes the lead among the disciples, numbering around 120 including males and females. Peter declares that the Holy Spirit spoke through David. Does the Holy Spirit speak through other people? Peter also calls for them to replace Judas among the leadership of the twelve. Aaron notes that a hierarchy has been established with the inner group of twelve.

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

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17 March 2019 - We began Lent with a reminder that God hates nothing he has made. Rev. John Howanstine calls us to respond to merciful God by asking him to give us contrite hearts. God's glory is to always have mercy. The door is still open to repentance. Let us not only think of repentance as feeling bad for our sins but as a turning that makes us run back to him so we can be gathered into his loving embrace.

Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke: 13:31-35

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Rev. Aaron Eime walks us through Acts 1:4-14, where Jesus commands his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a gift from God. The Holy Spirit is a Gift. Not something purchased, borrowed, bargained, nor deserved and certainly not a right. Promise of the Holy Spirit comes with Power. What does it mean to have power? Jesus says the purpose of the Power is to be a witness of Jesus to the ends of the world. Aaron also looks at Jesus' ascension to heaven and angels.

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

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10 March 2019 - On the First Sunday in Lent, Rev. David Pileggi has us consider how the Temptation of Jesus in the desert is relevant to us. God's boot camp, his seminary is the desert, where he teaches us humility, dependence on him, and seperation from the world and its distractions. In the desert he also teaches us to resist the lies of the devil. The devil has been defeated by the cross and the resurrection, and we must be willing to see through the devil's lies and must have the will to say no to his shortcuts and say yes to obeying and being faithful to God.

Readings: Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Luke 4:1-13

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Rev. Aaron Eime looks at what the Holy Spirit does, where he shows up in Scripture and how Jewish theology of the Holy Spirit developed in the Second Temple period. Then Aaron jumps into the text of Acts, looking at chapter 1, versus 1-3.

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

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3 March 2019 - Rev. Aaron Eime walks us through the Transfiguration, how it echos Sinai yet points to Jesus kingship and his Kingdom. Jesus is revealed in all his majesty and glory, yet he is prepared for suffering at Calvary. We are called to live a lifestyle of listening to God that follows Jesus' glory even as we pick up our crosses.

Readings: Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; Luke 9:28-36

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Rev. Aaron Eime and Neville Jones will be leading us through a study of the Book of Acts. In this first session, they will look at how to read Acts as sacred history, the possible purposes of the book of Acts, the identity of the author Luke, and the how Acts mentions the Holy Spirit more times than any other book of the Bible.

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

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