Christ Church Jerusalem

Jesus ends his challenging discourse on discipleship (Matthew 10) by assuring us that we will be rewarded for even the smallest act of kindness (cup of cold water) to another disciple. We often miss the challenges in what we consider to be “easy" acts of obedience. Yet what appears to be relatively simple commands that come with little personal cost may be just as challenging as facing persecution or taking up our cross. Equally, we often fail to see the benefits and blessings that come by doing seemingly small and insignificant acts of hospitality and loving kindness. Readings: Genesis 22:1-19; Galatians 6:1-10; Matthew 10:40-42.

The essence of discipleship is attachment, and discipleship to Jesus involves transferring our primary loyalty from family, ethnic group or nation to Jesus Himself. Such changes can be difficult and costly as we see clearly in the life of Abraham. He was called to surrender his past and was prepared to give up his future (sacrifice of Isaac) and struggled in the present while waiting for God to fulfill his promises. Tempted by his fears, Abraham took short cuts that had long-lasting repercussions. Despite his many difficulties Abraham matured and his story should encourage us to address our own fears and lack of faith that hinders our allegiance to Jesus. Readings: Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39.

Paul concludes his instructions on how to Walk Worthy of the Lord by focusing on three things. First, Paul urges the Colossians to be watchful in prayer and in thanksgiving. While others may be vulnerable you should be praying for them and keep the watch in the night. Secondly, Paul urges his readers to pray for the opportunity to speak the mystery of Christ. And when those opportunities come, to be found walking in wisdom and speaking graciously but also "seasoned with salt", knowing how to speak to each person we meet. Finally, to walk worthy of the Lord, we do not walk alone.

Today compassion is considered to be a fundamental value in our society yet it is often confused with doing symbolic acts that cost us little. In contrast, the ministry of Jesus was motivated by a costly compassion which he expected his disciples to emulate. Jesus not only models the compassion that God has for his fallen creation but surely learned from the example of his earthly father Joseph. When sending out the Twelve Apostles, Jesus gives them authority to bring his redemptive presence into the lives of the sick, oppressed, ostracized and those without direction. The Twelve learn empathy and compassion by living with and depending on those to whom they are sent to help. Readings: Ezekiel 34:1-16; Mathew 9:35-10:23.

Paul encourages the Colossians to “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”. Does this give us permission to do as we like, as long as it is in the name of Jesus? Drive out the infidels! … in the name of Jesus. Do as I say, woman! … in the name of Jesus. Absolutely not, we are to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient. Wives and Husbands, children and parents, even bond-servants and masters are all to bear with one another, love one another, forgive one another, even as–and this is where it gets difficult to do things in the name of, or in the authority of Jesus–even as the Lord has forgiven you. If we truly want our families and societies to thrive, perhaps we should start by following these commands.

The word believe also means trust in Hebrew. We are all called to trust the Lord and take courage to walk that calling in faithfulness. Faith is more than believing in something, it’s also something you do. Readings: Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Matthew 9:9-13,18-26. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

If we are alive in the Messiah, we should walk worthy of our Lord. This means putting away things that are wrong, such as sexual immorality, greed, and covetousness. It also means living a life worthy of the Lord in our mind, heart, and tongue, even when it comes to our neighbours who are culturally, economically, politically, or socially different from us. In the time of Paul, the Colossians were no different from much of the Greek world. They did not follow the same moral rules and laws that God declared to be right and good. But, as the Colossians saw God treat all people the same, they were all called to walk in the same way, worthy of the Lord–whether Greek or Jew; slave or free; male or female.

The command to go and make disciples provides the perfect end to Matthew's gospel. The 1st Century context of Matthew's story includes the Jewish practice of discipleship. More than a set of doctrines or practicing spiritual disciplines, discipleship is attachment to a person. As Paul reminds us, a good way to become a disciple of Jesus is by imitating others who model His life for us. All who seek to make disciples must first be discipled themselves Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Daniel 7:9-13; Matthew 28:16-20. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Walk in the Lord! There are many paths to walk in this world but so many are empty. It is the Messiah who was raised from the dead. It is the Messiah who triumphed, who is God, who is above all and is head of the Church. And it is through the Messiah that we can be full, not full of ourselves, mind you, but full of life (as we also have been raised from the dead of our trespasses). And yet, too often, we go back to what is empty.

This week, Reuven Doron leads us from Genesis through Revelation. While Pentecost is the day we remember God fulfilling His promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is, and always has been, God. And the whole breadth of Scripture declares that the Holy Spirit has been, and will always be, involved with God’s creation and people. Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Numbers 11:24-30; John 7:37-39. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem
 Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Paul continues to speak of the Colossians' inclusion in the Saints and asks them to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. He turns their attention to the head of the Church–Jesus. Jesus, the creator of all, reconciled the Colossians to God. They were reconciled not because of their greatness or piety, but because of Jesus' blood. Through Jesus, they can be presented to God as holy and blameless. The Colossians were not taught by the great apostles or disciples of Jesus. Neither were they rich or pious. Paul, an Apostle, became a deacon for the Colossians. He shared what he could and encouraged them but it was God who called them and Jesus was their head. Although it mustn’t be forgotten that through a relatively unknown man, Epaphras, they heard the gospel preached and turned to God.

The ascension of the Lord is the majorly transitional point in the human story. Jesus has done all His work and now it is up to the Church to take the good news from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Daniel 7:9-14; Luke 24:44-53. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem
 Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

The Epistles are generally written to address an issue in a Church. The Epistle of Colossians never directly addresses what Paul is may be trying to correct, but as we study Colossians we might be able to deduce something of the problem he is addressing. Meanwhile, Paul is grateful that the gospel going around the world has resulted in bearing fruit. Faith has brought results that are visible and tangible, for in the Hebraic context faith is something you can see, not something locked inside your head. In keeping with this metaphor of ‘bearing fruit’ Paul urges his readers to be filled with the knowledge of the will of God as well as to possess wisdom and spiritual understanding. Gaining these attributes: knowledge, wisdom and understanding, which appear to be on the surface as aspects of the academic realm, actually prompt the believer to a ‘walk worthy of the Lord’ producing good work. Knowledge (etc) leads to changed lives.

A Place For You | Rev. David Pilegg Jesus told his disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you." We have a tendency to spiritualize these words, so we assume that Jesus is only talking about the world to come. Yet throughout the Hebrew Bible we see God’s provision of a place for His people that we only enter through love and obedience. Jesus invites us to that place where we can fully participate in the relationship He has with Father - – a.k.a. eternal life. Readings: SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER I John 3: 1-3, 11-24 Psalm 116 John 14:15-21 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem
 Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

The Way, the Truth and the Life | Martin Lifer John 14:1-14 and Acts 7:55-60 give us the Good News of how to live, pray, and go even through death fully trusting in Jesus as The Way, The Truth, and The Life Jesus is not as simply another rabbi or visionary pointing to God. Jesus is God’s Son Who is One with the Father. In his death, resurrection & ascension, our Lord & Savior prepared a place for his believers to be with Him in his Father’s House forever. Jesus is El-Emet (God, The Truth) of Psalm 31:5, so we can pray in His Name, ask anything in His Name, and commit our spirit to Him. In Acts 7:59-60, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, does so: committing his spirit to the ascended Lord and asking Him not to hold the acts of the persecutors (including Saul) against them. Readings: Acts 7: 55-60; Psalm 31; John 14:1-14 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
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Salvation & Abundant Life | Rev. David Pileggi Today our Gospel reading is John 10, Jesus the Good Shepherd. The context is John 9, the account of a blind man who was thrown out of the community, a victim of crude theology (which some of us may retain in part). It was in this situation that Jesus responded, “I am the Good Shepherd … I came to give life to the full.” The benefits of salvation are found in the flock that Jesus shepherds, in His community. (Acts 2: 42-47). Readings: Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23, John 10:1-10 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem
 Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Amos Chapter 9 Judgment and compassion, exile and restoration. We so often focus on a single subject, but the prophets so often mention hope when speaking of God’s punishment as well as obedience and judgment when speaking of promise. While Amos 9 might seem to be divided into two different subjects, it’s good to hear the whole of God’s promises.

Third Sunday of Easter The Big Why! | Rev. Sandra Matthews In this podcast we hear Rev'd Sandra expounding the dialogue between the two disciples leaving Jerusalem (for Emmaus) and Jesus. She reminds us that Jesus seeks the lost and confused and His desire is to answer our questions of WHY — but we need to be open to listen, hear, and receive Him. Third Sunday of Easter Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem
 Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Holy Week 2023 Devotional | The God that suffers God isn't simply with us when we suffer, although He is with us. God doesn't simply see our affliction and save us from it, although He both see us and redeems us. God also suffers, He knows suffering, grief, pain. And by His stripes we are healed. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Holy Week 2023 Devotionals God told Israel to tell their children of the night of their redemption, when God spared all who put blood on their doorposts. But Israel hadn’t yet put blood on their doorposts. To tell of their redemption Israel had to actually obey God. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.