Christ Church Jerusalem

The tradition of the first Sunday of Lent is that we begin to think about the death and resurrection of Jesus and his journey to Jerusalem and his temptation in the wilderness. The temptations that Jesus faced are very often the very things that we ourselves have to endure and the challenges we face in our discipleship and walk with the Lord, challenges that parallel those of Adam and Eve in the garden and of Israel in the wilderness. Rev. David Pileggi expounds, showing us that what happened in the garden is still happening to us today. Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Moses continues his lengthy monologue to the uncircumcised nomadic masses that assemble before him on the plains of Moab. He declares that the people are as numerous as the ‘Stars of Heaven,’ an allusion to God’s promise to the patriarch Abraham in the Book of Genesis. This is presented as a positive blessing from the Lord with the added invocation for a further increase in population, up to a thousand fold. In his retelling of the appointment of leaders to share the burden of command, specifically of settling judicial matters, Moses leaves out mentioning his father in-law, Jethro. Commentaries to Deuteronomy are divided as to whether this event is a retelling of Exodus 18, in which the impetus to appoint leaders from among the people comes from Jethro, the pagan priest of Midian, or of Numbers 11, qhere the elders will have the same Spirit as Moses and to bear the burden of the people with Moses (Numbers 11:17) but in which the Lord commands the appointing of leaders. Led by Rev. Aaron Eime. Notes for t

23 February 2019 - Liturgically, on the last Sunday before Lent, we read the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. This is an important transition in the life of Jesus as it is from this point that He begins to talk in terms of “I must go to Jerusalem, be crucified and be raised from the dead.” For Jesus, it is seen as God’s way or reassuring him that in the face of death, He will not be left to rot in the grave. We can then ask the question, “What has this to do with us?” Rev. David Pileggi explains that we are also invited to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to listen to his transforming voice. Collect: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings: Exodus 34:4-7, 29-

Welcome to our Deuteronomy Bible study. Join Rev. Aaron Eime as we start to walk through the fifth book of the Torah, which makes commentary on the previous four. Deuteronomy is quoted or alluded to more than 100 times in the New Testament. reflecting its popularity during the second temple period. Moses is the traditional author of the Book on Deuteronomy, with an unknown author and redactor adding the account of the death of Moses and presumably other sections of the Torah. Jewish tradition says that the redactor of the Torah is Joshua. The Book is known as Sefer Devarim in Hebrew (the Book of Words), in Greek it is called Deuteronomy following a mistranslation in the Septuagint of ‘Mishneh Torah’ in Chapter 17vs18. The Book appears to be the longest monologue in the entire Bible, presented by Moses who at the start of his career complains to God that he can’t speak. Somewhere along the line Moses has become quite erudite indeed. Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/

16 Feb 2020 - Last week David Pileggi touched on holiness in the context of the Sermon on the Mount. As we study the Bible we see that not only is God holy, but holiness gives life and is very attractive. It empowers each one of us and yet is mysterious at the same time. There is a certain paradox about holiness. It is described in the scriptures as being like a fire. Holiness is good and also dangerous and like fire. It should fascinate us. Readings: Leviticus 19:1-19; Matthew 5:21-48 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

One last study session, lead by Aaron Eime, to wrap up the Acts of the Holy Spirit study. 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/

9 February 2020 - Rev. David Pileggi has us consider the place of Torah in the life of the believer. Jesus says he hasn't come to cancel Torah (God's instruction) but to interpret it for us. The Torah is good, but Jesus wants to take us beyond the Torah. Jesus is offering us transformation. The intention of God's word is to make us holy. How do we talk toward transformation? By being honest with Jesus about our moral bankruptcy and then following Jesus and imitating him. A sermon dedicated to the memory of Dwight Pryor. Readings: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Psalm 112; Matthew 5:13-20 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

As prophesied by Paul, without losing a man, the crew and companions are washed ashore on the island of Malta. When Paul is bitten by a viper, he miraculously fails to fall ill and die, as would befit most snake victims. The incident catches the attention of a Roman official, for whom God, through Paul, performs a healing miracle. The community then brings all their sick for healing. Led by Rev. Aaron Eime. There will be one more session in which Aaron will give a finally overview of Acts. 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/

2 February 2020 - Rev. Aaron Eime, on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, has us consider how tradition can guard us and how Jesus identifies with our poverty. Mary and Joseph, following the traditions of second-temple Judaism, take Jesus to the temple 40 days after he is born. There Jesus' identity as the Anointed One is affirmed by two prophetic voices who had been faithfully waiting for God's promised light to the gentiles and the glory of Israel. Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Luke 2:22-40 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

26 January 2019 - Neville Jones has us look at Matthew 4 and it's relation to Isaiah 9. Two of the Gospel of Matthew's themes are how Jesus fulfills scriptural prophecies and the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom. We may sometimes pray for God's Kingdom to come, looking forward to the future. However, the Kingdom is also breaking in now. Let us pray for God's Kingdom to break into our lives today. Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-13; Matthew 4:12-23 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

19 January 2020 - What was the role of John the Baptist? Matthew Dalling says John is like a traffic cop speeding ahead to announce the coming of an important person. John announces the coming of Jesus Messiah. How do we respond? Are we exploring to find out more about who Jesus is? Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:19-42 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Acts 27 narrates Paul's being sent off to Rome. Why, Rev. Aaron Eime asks, is the travel account so very detailed? Why is such detail required by Luke? To whom would these details be useful? Perhaps to reveal the character of Paul to his accusers in Rome. The ‘We’ passages resume in the narrative, indicating Luke now as an eyewitness to much of the events described. 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/

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

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

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

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

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

Rev. Aaron Eime speaks on the New Testament significance of the Hanukkah story. Introduction by Rev. David Pileggi. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

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

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