Christ Church Jerusalem

Finishing Leviticus 4, the discussion about intentional and unintentional sins continues. Led by Aaron Eime. Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/leviticus-and-god-called/ Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

10 October 2021 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost - The lie of the Devil is that we can have the good life without God. Jesus exposed this lie by his faithful obedience. Rev. David Pileggi tells us that we also expose Satan's lie when we live like Jesus. Jesus called us to give to the poor and needy. When we do, we not only combat the Devil but we proclaim the merciful, generous character of God. We also invest in our eternal future. Jesus called the Rich Young Ruler to radically trust God with...

Moses introduces the first sacrifice for sin; these sins are unintentional or committed in ignorance. This chapter details mandatory atonement for unintentional sins, confession of sins, forgiveness of sins, and cleansing from defilement. The chapter details four types of people who bring a sacrifice for sin: the priest, elders of the community, those in leadership positions, and the common people. We note again that these sins are unintentional and the later prophets of Israel argue against...

3 Oct 2021 - 19th Sunday after Pentecost - In the beginning God created couples: Heaven and Earth, Light and Darkness, Male and Female. Each of these couples is in a relationship and it is difficult to understand one without the other. Marriage is also a relationship, but not all relationships are a marriage. We are all in relationships of one sort or another. We are in relationships with each other and with the Living God. All relationships need work and broken ones even more so. God never...

In Leviticus 3, the peace offering. Led by Aaron Eime. Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/leviticus-and-god-called/ Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

26 Sept 2021 - 18th Sunday after Pentecost - Sukkot - As we celebrate the Feast of Michael and All the Angels, we reconsider the fundamental nature of the spiritual conflict that believers face. The devil is first and foremost a deceiver and has convinced many in our generation that God is nothing more than a pious myth and that the message of Jesus is irrelevant. By holding to the "testimony of Jesus", we expose such lies not only by our words but also through committed discipleship that...

Leviticus 2 talks about a bloodless grain offering given as an option for the poor. Only this offering has a portion called "most holy." The LORD makes a way for all -- rich or poor -- to have relationship with him, and God highly values the poor among us. Led by Aaron Eime. Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/leviticus-and-god-called/ Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation....

19 Sept 2021 - 17th Sunday after Pentecost - Sukkot - In Leviticus 23, God commanded the people of Israel to live in booths for one week every year in order that they may “know” that I brought them out of Egypt. How does enacting a ritual lead to the knowledge of the Lord? Rev. David Pileggi tell us that, among other important lessons, Sukkot teaches us the importance of making sure that our rituals are based on truth. Readings: Leviticus 23/Deuteronomy 16; Zechariah 14:16-19; Revelation...

We continue our study on the ordinances and rules surrounding the ‘olah’, the sacrifice known as the burnt offering. The first recorded ‘olah’ in the Bible is Noah in Genesis following the flood. The ‘olah’ is burnt entirely on the altar We recall that the ‘olah’ has a freewill component implied by the conditional question ‘if ’. God does not compel obedience nor worship. Leviticus is a calling and we can choose to answer that call and partake in a relationship with the Lord. Led by Aaron...

12 Sept 2021 - 16th Sunday after Pentecost - As the Day of Atonement approaches, religious Jews around the world will exchange the greeting “Gmar Chatima Tova", “…may your name be inscribed”, that is may your name be written and sealed in the Book of Life. In the Hebrew calendar, we are currently in the Days of Awe, a time of reflection, repentance, and making amends before the great fast day of Yom Kippur. The purpose of this period is not unlike that of Christian Lent, but the intensity...

We begin a new study through the book of Leviticus. Led by Aaron Eime. Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/leviticus-and-god-called/ Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

5 Sept 2021 - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Rosh Hashana - The biblical Feast of Trumpets, which occurs just before Yom Kippur and Sukkot, has evolved into a two-day holiday called Rosh HaShana, that is New Year. It is a time when the shofar is blown 100 times as a wake-up call before Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Rev. David Pileggi looks at three biblical uses of blowing the ram’s horn -- as a warning, a celebration, and at a king’s coronation -- and practical implications for us today....

We finish up our Galatians study with a look at the variant readings of Galatians 6:13 and consider the identity of the agitators pushing circumcision in the Galatian community. Led by Aaron Eime. Notes for this study can be found at https://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/bible-studies/letter-to-the-galatians/ ‎ Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

29 August 2021 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Our tongues have the power to change the world and to defile us. Rev. Aaron Eime reminds us that we should use our tongues to love God and one another. God is ever calling to us, and our attention should be fixed on him. We must know the voice of the Beloved so we can respond to him and so understand what it is we are to do and what to say. Readings: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; James 1:17-29; Mark 7:1-23 Blessed by our teachings? Consider...

Freedom in Christ does not mean that you can do whatever you want. Freedom is not and never will be a state of lawlessness. In the next few verses, Paul presents some practical instructions on walking out our ‘freedom in Christ’. Walking out our freedom, essentially Christian halacha, is described by Paul as those who are living by the Spirit. Paul instructs the community to restore gently those found in unnamed sin. The tone is not judgmental; being overtaken by sin does not imply that the...

22 August 2021 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - The purpose of the Temple was to eat, drink and rejoice, says Rev. David Pileggi. God builds relationship with his people through food, much as we build friendship, family and culture around the meals we share. Food creates identity and tells us who we are. Jesus invites us to abide in him, to know and commit to him, lest we die. Readings: Psalm 78:1-8 & 17-30; John 6:56-69 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small...

We have all been called to freedom, both Jews and Gentiles. As part of sacred history, the Jewish people were called from Egypt to be a nation before the Lord. And Gentiles, too, were not to remain in bondage to elemental principles and the demonic forever. Where there used to be a separation between Jews and Gentiles in worship, places in the Temple, with table fellowship and prohibitions to inter-marry, now both receive redemption in the Messiah and freedom from those constraints. Now that...

15 Aug 2021 - 12th Sunday After Pentecost - Rev. David Pileggi continues to lead us in contemplating the beautiful, confusing, controversial words of John 6. After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus invites us to be fed by him. God desires to provide for us in abundance as we encounter his life-giving presence. The best, most Christ-centered place to meet God and have him meet our needs is at the table he sets for us with bread and wine. Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; John 6:51-58...

Gentile pagan culture was infused with idolatry and immorality, all wrapped in the presence of demonic elemental principles. The Messiah of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, had set free both Jews and Gentiles to no longer be ‘yoked to slavery’. The slavery mentioned here is the bondage to sin. Gentiles had been in defenceless bondage to elemental principles without God and Jews had had the ‘yoke of the Torah’ to guard against sin. Now through the Messiah everyone has access to the ‘yoke of the...

8 August 2021 - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - Continuing in John 6, Rev. David Pileggi explains how the Gospel of John sees eternal life as a present reality as well as a future hope. We are nourished into eternal life through relationship with Jesus the Messiah by consuming to the Word of God. This involves obedience, not motivated by fear of punishment but by love Readings: Isaiah 55:1-13; Amos: 8:4-13; John 6:35, 41-51 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or...