Christ Church Jerusalem

The Community We All Long For The rebellion in the Garden not only affected our relationship with God but also our relationships with one another. Part of Jesus’ ministry is to restore relationships and re-establish community as God intended from the beginning. At times Jesus called this community the Kingdom of Heaven, and in the Gospel of Matthew we learn that it is comprised of the poor in spir...

Amos: The Lord Roars From Zion Chapter 1, The Lord roars from Zion. Throughout Israel there are schools of prophets. But God chose a shepherd breeder to see the vision of what God was going to do. Was the message something Israel wanted to hear? In his first vision, Amos saw that God would pour out his wrath on those nations that disobeyed. Perhaps at first this would be pleasing to hear for the p...

Location, Location, Location We usually don’t think too much about the geography of the Bible, but often it has an important theological message. Quoting from Isaiah, Matthew explains why the Son of God began his ministry in rural, insignificant Galilee. Isaiah tells us that the northern kingdom of Israel was dismantled by the Assyrians and the people were left in darkness, hopelessness and exile....

Behold the Lamb of God. How does a John the Baptist know to call Jesus the Lamb of God? And what should our response and our desire be to this declaration of truth? Readings for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-11 John 1:29-42 Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/ 
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Love and Sacrifice We learn from the biblical sacrificial system that love and intimacy with God are bound up with sacrifice. In the “Binding of Issac” God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son whom he loves. On the banks of the Jordan river, God presents His beloved Son to Israel, and the Father so loves the world that he gave his only begotten Son. We also, as beloved sons and daughters adopted int...

The Circumcision and the Naming of the Lord. The King of heaven possesses a Hebrew lineage and a Hebrew name, yet He is The King of all nations.

Christmas Day How much is the lamb related to Jesus and His birth? Bethlehem was the town where the Royal Lambs were raining shed and prepared for the Passover sacrifice. Jesus was our Passover spotless lamb who would shoulder the sins of the world. It was remarkable the similarities between Jesus and the lamb. Readings: Titus 2:11-14 Psalm 96 Luke 2:1-14-20 Blessed by our teachings? Consider sayi...

A Very Messy Christmas | Rev. David Pileggi Often It’s been noted that the story of Jesus’ birth begins with a genealogy of some ancestors who were “less than perfect” – liars, cheats, idol worshipers, and prostitutes – sinners who made a mess of their lives and the lives of others. The birth of Jesus can only be fully understood in the context of this story. “Fear not,” the angel said at His birt...

Take No Offense | Rev. David Pileggi On this third Sunday of Advent we recall the doubts that John the Baptist had about the Messiah-ship of Jesus. While recognizing Jesus as the Anointed One, John couldn't accept Jesus’ messianic agenda or the redemptive nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. In response, Jesus said “Blessed is the one not offended in me.” How many of us, like John the Baptist, have ex...

A Lifestyle of Repentance John the Baptist is one of the most enigmatic figures in the New Testament. The lack of detail often clouds his mission - which is more than just announcing the coming of Messiah. As foretold by the prophets – Isaiah in particular – it is that God will return to Zion with his people in glory to bring redemption to both Israel and the nations in an unprecedented way. Yet b...

Getting ready. This week we talk about what Jesus’ return means to us and how that might change our lives forever. We discuss how some things in our lives distract us from adding meaning to our lives and how finally even the suffering we encounter along the way will be turned in joy at his return. Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44. Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying...

Service of Thanksgiving

The Character of our King This Sunday is often referred to as “Christ the King” Sunday because of its theme of the reign of Christ. Instead of the more common subject of the “kingdom” Rev Neville Jones takes a different tack and looks at the character of the King. Using a number of bible passages he summarises the promises and prophecies for this divinely anointed ruler, and how Jesus is careful t...

Warning! When the disciples were marveling about the temple Jesus took that moment to warn them. It would soon be destroyed. Are we like them? Do we think our nation -economy-culture-education-family is too great to fail? His warnings to them are relevant for us today. In particular we examine the dangers of deception and how we can prevent falling prey to self deception and being led astray by ot...

Rev. David Pileggi | Their Days, Our Days and the End Days Paul's words of instruction and comfort to the church of Thessalonika have special relevance for us and the times in which we live. First, Paul thanks God for their faith and steadfastness in the midst of suffering, but he also warns them not to be deceived or get too excited or be deceived about the coming of the Lord. That will not happe...

Title - All Saints Day Description - If we live we live to the Lord, if we die we die to the Lord, so whether we live or die we are the Lords, how then shall we live? Readings: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 Luke 6:20-31 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: ww...

23 August 2022 | The Good Folks and the Sinners Our passage today is the story of Jesus calling to the tax collector in a sycamore tree while He was passing though Jericho. This story should be read along side the parable of the 2 men who went up to the temple to pray - a religious man (Pharisee) and a sinner (tax-collector). In both accounts we are not only confronted with the issue of self-right...

We Have Profaned Succot (Tabernacles) is not just a time for God’s people to rejoice, but is a holiday for all the nations. God desires to redeem the nations, not just individuals, but they are bound up in disobedience with idolatry is its chief expression. The people of God should be a "light to the nations” and model a clear alternative to idolatry. Holiness is not only a separation from evil, b...

A Table in the Wilderness? Succot, or Tabernacles, is a holy day where God’s people are commanded to rejoice. But when we look around at the situation in the world today, how can we celebrate? It will be helpful, in our anxiety and fear of what the future might bring, to look at the context of time and place of this holiday. First, it comes right after Yom Kippur when there has been repentance and...

Relationships and Wraiths. In this sermon we look at how Jesus communicates the enormity and practice of Forgiveness Readings: 17th Sunday after Pentecost - Lamentations 3:19-26 - Psalm 137 - Luke 17:3-10 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/c...

Love, the sacrifice we have to give away | Rev. Aaron Eime Our current western generation has been given everything except a reason to get up in the morning. We have a great reason, the immeasurable love of the Lord and the obligation to share that love unconditionally. Readings : 16th Sunday after Pentecost. Genesis 22:1-19 - 1 Timothy 6:6-19 - Luke 16:19-31 Blessed by our teachings? Consider say...

Risky Living | Rev. David Pileggi For centuries the Parable of the Dishonest Steward has puzzled Bible readers and commentators alike. But in light of contemporary Jewish sources we learn that this parable contains two technical terms used by the Essenes, “mammon of unrighteousness” and “sons of light.” It would seem that Jesus is critiquing the way this group attempted to protect their community...

Sunday 11th September 2022 The Path To Repentance And God's Faithfulness To Bring Us Back | Matthew David was a man after God's own heart. However, he sinned by committing adultery with Bethsheba and having Uriah killed. Nonetheless, when Man fails God does not. He's faithful to leave the 99 and go after the one lost sheep. Readings: Psalm 51:1-10, Hebrews 12: 1-8, Luke 15: 1-10 Blessed by our tea...

4th September 2022 13th Sunday after Pentecost. When considering discipleship we often fail to take into account the Jewish context of this practice. Young men would attach, or apprentice themselves to a teacher in order to be mentored in the ways of Torah. The goal was obedience leading to holiness. In the New Testament holiness comes through such apprenticeship to Jesus. But as attractive as hol...

28 August 2022 - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - For the third time in Luke, Jesus dined with the Pharisees and while there he healed a man and used the opportunity to teach. His instruction on how to behave at such events was not just good social advice for the times, but more essentially it's a challenge for his followers to live in such a way that reveals God’s generous nature with the undeservin...