Podcast
Christ Church Jerusalem
Hosted by Christ Church Jerusalem · EN
Sermons, lectures and teachings from Christ Church Jerusalem, founded 1849 as a center of prayer for all nations with worship reflecting the Jewish context of the gospel.
35episodes
Episodes
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Kierkegaard, Dylan, and the Kotzker Rebbe - Rev. David Pileggi
4d ago00:36:09Tap to summarizeIs it wrong to expect divine recompense for obedience? Over the centuries many have been perplexed by the binding/sacrifice of Isaac. No matter how this event is understood, it is clear that there is reward for Abraham’s obedience. We tend to think that rewards are given in return for great acts of faith, but Jesus teaches something essential about God’s economy: even the smallest act of hospitality brings blessing. The reward can be in this life, in the life of our descendants, or in the World to Come. The key is that while we can expect recompense from God, it comes in His time and His way.
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The Fear that Sabotages - Rev. David Pileggi
3w ago00:41:05Tap to summarizeIn our readings today the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, along with that of Jesus calling his disciples, give us much to ponder. Because of that nagging (and all too natural) anxiety of committing our lives to God, we too, often circumvent His best for us. Although fear and the deceit of self-preservation can overwhelm us, God has provided a way to enable us to live faithfully.
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Subject to the King: Servants, Shepherds, and Sheep - Rev. John Arnold
4w ago00:35:30Tap to summarizeGod is a king who expects His subjects to have compassion and care for those who are sick and those who are wandering. In our hubris, we often do not completely subject ourselves before the almighty Lord and King. We may even think that the servant is above the master. God acts even when we don’t, caring for His sheep as well as bringing judgment on those who condemn and exploit those who are wandering and sick. But in Matthew 10, Jesus once again sends out shepherds with His authority to care for the sick and the wandering. There are those who will still oppose God (may we not be counted among them) and will battle against Him. If we truly are a subject of God, we may be hated—hard pressed and persecuted—but God has already won the battle.
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The Healing We All Need - Rev. David Pileggi
Jun 1500:40:00Tap to summarizeThe Lord has torn us, but after three days he will heal us", so declare the people of Israel in the book of Hosea. This hope is a good beginning for looking at the healing ministry of Jesus and the overlapping realities of impurity, repentance, and the rewards of a persistent faith.
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Fear and Pride Come Calling (Again) - Rev. David Pileggi
Jun 200:36:09Tap to summarizeSince the rebellion in the Garden, the human family has been afflicted by the sins of fear and pride. In rejecting what it means to be created in God’s image, we enter the AI age with fears of uncertainty and mortality, and along with the desire to be like gods we find ourselves on a dangerous precipice. We must respond by rejecting the false promises of technology and its dehumanization. The majesty of man is restored when we model our lives on King Jesus and put his teaching into practice.
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Free Refills? - Rev. David Pileggi
May 2800:28:54Tap to summarizeWhile the Spirit of God is given freely to all who come to faith, being regularly filled with His Spirit is another matter. Like water that always flows to the lowest place, the Holy Spirit keeps a home in those who live humbly, practice forgiveness, and strive for unity with their brothers and sisters. In today’s readings we see in the life of Moses (and more) the extraordinary power that these characteristics will bring in a believer’s life.
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Love and Intimacy / Then and Now - Rev. David Pileggi
May 1700:42:20Tap to summarizeThe command to love God with a whole heart raises some questions: How can love be commanded? Can love be without emotion? When we understand this love as more than a theological concept, how is it expressed? Not surprisingly, in the Scriptures we find a common thread of thought and practice stretching from Deuteronomy to the Gospel of John and beyond: Love motivates obedience, leading to intimacy, and brings Joy – which leads to more love, obedience, intimacy and a Joy that overflows. Praise the Lord !!!
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A Table in the Wilderness - Rev. David Pileggi
May 900:49:28Tap to summarizeThe shepherd imagery of Psalm 23 is well known and loved by many. What is not so well known is that this psalm is set in the barren Judean wilderness, not on the lush, green hills usually imagined. Yet God is able to provide abundantly despite scarcity and danger. And like this psalm, Isaiah 25 assures us that one day God will rescue and provide a feast for all peoples to celebrate His victory over this world’s enemies.
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Trust in God - Pastor Matthew Finch
May 700:43:49Tap to summarizeWe often find ourselves trusting in our own strength and zeal to live for God, only to end up unsuccessful. However, it is a trustworthy statement that when man fails, God does not. How do we become overcomers? How do we live completely sold out for Jesus? Living for God—and in some cases, dying for Him—comes through the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit.
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That Sense of Wonder - Rev. David Pileggi
Apr 2900:35:14Tap to summarizeLike the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we also can be confused and disappointed in how God is working through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But we can learn from the questions asked by the people on the day of Pentecost: What does this mean? What should we do? And we can rediscover that sense of wonder experienced by the disciples when meeting the risen Lord.
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