Christ Church Jerusalem

Believer vs Disciple | Bro. Eyal Friedman by Christ Church Jerusalem

Kings, Prayer, or God? | Rev. John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

IF YOU OBEY | Isaiah 49:14-51:3 with Aaron Eime and John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

"The Church on Earth," otherwise known as "The Church Militant," is the historic idea of God's own people, spiritually prepared and armed, who will resist and eventually overcome evil. We find early instructions for Israel to live this reality in Moses' parting speech in Deuteronomy 4. Ephesians sees righteous living as a manifestation of these same promises for God to empower His people against d...

Not to be confused with the biblical book, this haftarah pairs with the parasha of Torah known as Shoftim//Judges. This haftarah of consolation is a window into the world of those who receive hope when they need it most.

TRIBES AND MARCHES | Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

Belief, in modern minds, can be relegated to the realm of simple thought. But when Jesus commands belief, He means obedience–a kind of holistic behavior that reveals underlying belief. So when self-professed "believers" in Jesus pick and choose when to obey Him, they stir up in themselves the beginnings of eventual treachery. Even Judas' infamous betrayal of Jesus began as nothing more than a simp...

Christians believe that the Kingdom of God–which the prophets envision and proclaim in their own writings–is both already here and also not-yet here among us. We feel this tension in Isaiah's comfort over Jerusalem and discuss the tension we feel in our own hearts between the Already and the Not-Yet.

Is it comforting to consider the vast differences between our fallen nature and God's perfection? Sometimes it can be, other times, it isn't. This week, we look at the blessed role of comfort in the lives of those who would willingly see their imperfections against the light of God's perfect love.

What do we do when even the most heartfelt repentance won't spare us the natural consequences of our sin? Is it possible to truly repent while also preoccupied with avoiding punishment? This week, we look at Isaiah's condemnation of Israel and Judah amidst the seemingly unstoppable punishment coming from the nations of Assyria and Babylon.

Greek has two common words for “life.” Day-to-day, living organisms all exhibit “bios” (where we get the words “biology” and “biography”). But humans especially were made to experience something more fulfilling–a rich and unending kind of life that Jesus calls “Zoē” (later adapted as a common girl’s name). The “life” that Jesus offers us is the latter kind, and good it is for us to find it in his...

The speech of Jesus in John 6 contains many shocking statements, including the perplexing promise and warning: "No one can come to me unless the Father first draws him" (6:44). No one likes to be told they can’t, and yet that’s Jesus’ response to the grumbling crowd. However as we move past what appears at first to be insulting we find in his words the love, grace and sheer beauty of God our Savio...

Our gospel portion this week shares just a snippet of a conversation–one that will infamously end with many of Jesus' disciples abandoning him in the Galilee. What led to this eventual split was not a simple misunderstanding of his words, or fears over cannibalism, but an intentional rejection of the concept that Jesus Himself could be better than the gifts He gives. Readings: Exodus 16:2–15; Psal...

Contrary to God’s will the people of Israel clamored for a king. They were desperate for security, especially from the Philistines, but were forewarned by Samuel the prophet that the burden of kingship would be crushing. Even David, the most ideal of rulers ended up abusing his power as seen in rape and murder (Bathsheba/Uriah). And when Jesus feeds the 5.000 the people want to seize him and make...

Instead of connecting thematically to the Parashah this week, our Haftarah begins the first of 3 weeks of "Affliction," commemorating the period of fasting between 17 Tammuz and 9 of Av in the Hebrew calendar. Marked as the saddest part of the Jewish year, we commiserate with the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah.

BALAK | Micah 5:6-6:8 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

THE RITUAL LAW | Judges 11:1-33 with Krystal White by Christ Church Jerusalem

In one of the Old Testaments most famous stories of rebellion and destruction, we investigate the particular sin of Korah and see how the prophet Samuel (himself a descendent of Korah) would have seen his own history intertwined with his ancestor's sin.

"Is there a God in Heaven?" Many of us are quick to answer, "Yes!" and wait expectantly to see our God face to face when we join Him there. But another question presses our day-to-day faith: "Is there a God on Earth?" This second question forces us to remember that we cannot (re)create God in our own image. Clearly, His sovereignty defies our expectations and demands that we earnestly look for His...

Spying and lying may seem counterintuitive for the people of God, but the story of Rahab requires a context more complicated than some modern paradigms of morality. There is a righteousness to her behavior, and this week we discuss what that is.

Like clouds and waves at sea, doubts often leave us disoriented, unsure of where to go or whether we even began going the right way. Rather than avoid them with shame, we can embrace them as defining moments: opportunities to rid ourselves of false assurances and better engage reality as it is. As Christians, we can always look to the living example of Jesus in those moments, and entrust our futur...

The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth is not inherently a Jewish rejection of the Messiah's teachings–his followers would go on to other Jewish towns that received that same message. The call of discipleship is holistic and thus it demands a humble approach to the one in whose pattern a disciple would be molded. Where that humility (otherwise seen in action as faith) was absent in Nazareth, it abound...

The Menorah is the most ancient and unique symbol of the Jewish people, and it is central to Zechariah's (puzzling) vision detailed in chapters 2–4. This week, we look at the symbolism and significance of the Menorah in early Israelite worship to see Zechariah's own messianic hope on full display.

In Mark 5, we are faced with two accounts of healing: that of a woman with an emission of blood, and the raising of a young girl from the dead. Both are examples of life-restoration. The latter story is more obvious, but the former story also deals directly with death (as "the life is in the blood," Leviticus 17:11). Jesus, then, is God-at-war with death–rescuing us from the inevitable consequence...

When thinking and speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, we often imagine it as unimaginable–totally alien to this broken world. But Jesus' many parables help us to consider it in familiar terms. And something about it–a Kingdom we have yet to experience in its fullness–begins to feel like home. Readings: Ezekiel 31:1–14; Psalm 92; 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Mark 4:26–34