Christ Church Jerusalem

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

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/

24 February 2019 - To be saved is not just to have our sins forgiven, Rev. David Pileggi tells us. Being saved, receiving divine life, is being in union with the Messiah. Divine life gives out, is not self-preserving. Divine life comes through listening, meditating, digesting the words of Jesus so that we begin to imitate God in love, forgiveness, generosity, mercy. Discipleship is a relationship with Jesus where we're studying him, watching him, imitating him, but we cannot do this of our own strength. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to participate in the divine nature. This sanctification and transformation, this becoming like the Messiah takes time and discipline. Readings: Exodus 33:18-34:9; 2 Peter 1:1-10; Luke 6:27-38 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

17 Feb 2019 - Rev. David Pileggi looks at Luke's Sermon on the Plain, saying that the words of Jesus have healing power for our whole lives. Do we cherish the words of Jesus? Do we realized we will be judged by why Jesus taught? We must apply the teaching of Jesus to our lives. We also need to beware of the deceitfulness and brokenness of the human heart. When we listen to Jesus rather than the culture or the devil, we submit to Jesus as King. Submission to his kingship brings us to a place of flourishing. Let us listen to Jesus so that God's kingdom can grow inour lives. Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; Luke 6:17-26 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

10 February 2019 - Rev. David Pileggi, dedicating the sermon to the memory of Dwight Pryor, reminds us that holiness comes through discipleship. God calls us to be holy, but how does that look practically in our lives? By heeding Jesus' call to "Come and follow me" so that we can learn through intimacy and imitation. Discipleship is a process that takes effort, effort not to earn but to respond to God's grace. Readings: Isaiah 6:1-13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

3 February 2019 - Andrew McKain looks at the Jesus' sermon that so upset the people of Nazareth. Jesus preached a message of jubilee, of restoration, reversal of fortunes, healing for society, end of oppression. However, in delivering this message, Jesus crosses boundaries that made his neighbors uncomfortable. Jesus reaches out to the marginal and the outcast. Jesus announces himself as our jubilee. Instead of fixing what we think is wrong with the world, he first fixes us and frees us from our fear and bitterness so we can tear down the walls that separate us from others. Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:14-28

27 January 2019 - Rev. John Howanstine challenges us to see ourselves in Jesus' miracle of turning water in to wine. The first of the signs connects with all the rest of the signs of the God who comes in covenant faithfulness to the unfaithful. When we've shamefully fallen short, the Messiah, the Creator God, the Bridegroom comes to us and transforms us. Not only that, but he points us to the coming marriage feast of the Lamb. Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5–10; John 2:1–11

20 January 2019 - R. Steven Notley walks us through the details of Luke 4:14-21 which records Jesus' first sermon, given at his hometown synagogue. What is recorded tells us quite a bit about how Jesus was seen in the community and how first century synagogues worked. When Jesus says that the Isaiah passage he reads is fulfilled, he is telling his listeners that the passage is relevant to them. His reading Isaiah 61 through the lens of Isaiah 58 communicates to the people of Nazareth and to us that we must be careful about categorizing people into whom God loves and whom he doesn't love. It is not any of our business. Don't limit God's ability to redeem and restore those we deem outside our comfort zone. Instead, we should offer ourselves to God to be used by him as vessels of mercy. Readings: Isaiah 35; Isaiah 58:5-12; Luke 4:14-21

13 January 2018 - Sunday night, Rev. Aaron Eime took a closer look at the at the historical and religious context of baptism in first century Judaism. The baptism of Jesus is in the desert, where John the Baptist has been preparing the way of the Lord. John is calling for national repentance, and Jesus joins in. By doing so, Jesus identifies with Israel and with our humanity. In the middle of this, Jesus prays, the heavens open, and God speaks. How do we know it's God? Because God speaks his scriptures back to us. Aaron also looks at the Holy Spirit throughout the Hebrew scriptures. Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-24; Luke 3:15-23

13 Jan 2018 - What is your identity? It should be belonging to the family of Jesus, being a disciple of the Messiah. The Father affirms Jesus' identity, Rev. David Pileggi reminds us, at his baptism: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22 ESV). Jesus' response is loyal and faithful obedience to the Father. Through Messiah, we can be called sons of God, and the Father is well pleased with us, before we do anything. The proper response to this outpouring of love is a life dependent and obedient to God. Readings: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-24; Luke 3:15-23