Christ Church Jerusalem
690 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsSermons, 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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Sukkot: Remember God’s Gifts & Respond
September 21, 2018 00:00 - 25.3 MB23 Sept 2018 - The holidays are for us to remember God's salvation and his provision. Concerning the Feast of Booths, Rev. David Pileggi says that while it brings great blessing, the challenge for us Christians is to approach this holiday in a mature way. Otherwise we will have confusion and division. Readings: Deuteronomy 16:13-17; Nehemiah 8
Rosh Hashanah: Wake Up Call!
September 07, 2018 00:00 - 25.4 MB9 Sept 2018 - On the morning before Rosh Hashanah, Rev. David Pileggi tells us how in this spiritual new year, it is time for us to take stock, to examine ourselves for those things that offend God and our neighbor, to seek reconciliation, to humble ourselves and repent. The sound of the shofar (ram's horn) is to wake us from our slumber, to warn us to stay awake. What is staying awake? Being careful how we live before God, especially as we live under the great pressure of this world. Readin...
Mark 7: What defiles us or makes us holy?
September 01, 2018 00:00 - 24.8 MB2 Sept. 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi walks us closer to the Pharisees so we can understand better where they were coming from and why the were attracted to Jesus but also why they argue with him. In Mark 7, it's not that Jesus disagrees with the Torah but with the Pharisee's interpretation. Jesus is not overturning the commandments. The issue is what makes us holy and what defiles us. What does defile us? The disobedience of the human heart. Readings: Psalm 15, Mark 7:1-23
John 6: 'To whom shall we go?'
August 25, 2018 00:00 - 19.6 MB26 Aug 2018 - Rev. John Howanstine ask us how we react when Jesus asks us to do something we don't understand? Do we humbly sit under his teaching or do we walk away in disgust and pride? Scripture readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
John 6: The bread of salvation
August 18, 2018 00:00 - 23.1 MB19 August 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that Jesus promises us -- even in the sinful, broken world we live in -- we can share in the eternal, divine life that the Father gives the Son. This is not just some legal standing. This is about relationship. How are relationships in the Bible cemented? With the sharing of food. Why does Jesus go beyond the language of abiding and clinging on to eating in John 6? Jesus is referencing the rich biblical connection of food and intimate relationshi...
John 6: Our Daily Living Bread
August 12, 2018 00:00 - 21.7 MB12 Aug 2018 - As the lectionary has us linger a bit longer on John 6, Rev. David Pileggi delves into the implications of Jesus identifying himself as the Bread of Heaven. Believing in the Gospel of John is a commitment. Believing in Jesus is committing to a relationship with him. Are you feeding on God's manna daily? Readings: Exodus 16:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51
John 6: The Bread of Heaven
August 04, 2018 00:00 - 19 MB5 August 2018 - Rev. John Howanstine reminds us that we do not live by bread alone. After Jesus fed the 5,000, the crowds returned to have their bellies filled again. Jesus instead declares himself the Bread of Heaven, calling us to feed on him. For those of us who long for intimacy with Jesus, the Communion Table is a trysting place where the LORD has ordained for us to meet him. Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; John 6:24-35
John 6: Lift up your hearts
July 30, 2018 00:00 - 19.4 MB29 July 2018 - Rev. John Howanstine says that Jesus knows we are weak but he calls us to take heart, to be strengthened, to have courage. He wants to transform us from dimly burning wicks into great lights in the world by giving us his own strength. Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-19, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21
2 Samuel 11: Beware the seeds of sin within
July 23, 2018 00:00 - 14.6 MB22 July 2018 - Matthew Dalling looks at the story of David and Bathsheba, in which King David breaks several of the 10 Commandments. The seeds of the most terrible deeds reside deep in our hearts, even in the heart in the "best" of us, even those of us close to God. This episode shows us the power of sin, the inescapable consequences of sin, the shrewdness of grace, and the assurance of God's pardon. Readings: 2 Samuel 11:1-16; 2 Samuel 12:1-14; Psalm 14
Mark 6: Lessons from Herod & John
July 15, 2018 00:00 - 19.7 MB15 July 2018 - Rev. Aaron Eime looks at the circumstances around the execution of John the Baptist and what the two main characters can teach us. Herod liked John but wavered on whether to let him go. That indecision led Herod to do evil. Do not delay in doing good lest we are tricked into doing the wrong thing. John was a holy man, an attribute acknowledged by his contemporaries. So why did he die? The beheading of John reminds us that there is suffering in this world. The kingdom suffers v...
Mark 6: 'Is not this the carpenter?'
July 08, 2018 00:00 - 21.5 MB8 July 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that our devotion to Jesus -- which must take priority -- may create friction with family and friends, but warns us not to hide behind theology to neglect unforgiveness. David also discusses Jesus' ministry model and why it's still relevant today.
Mark 5: Jesus' Touch of LIfe
July 01, 2018 00:00 - 20 MB1 July 2018 - Jesus the Son of God comes to bring life, Rev. David Pileggi reminds us. God is a God of Life. He takes it upon himself to deal with sin through the life and death of Jesus. For the people of Israel who, according to Leviticus, are to be holy, God provided sacrifices and the ritual immersion bath. Concerning the issue of purity, it is no sin to become impure, but it is sin is to remain in impurity. God is more powerful than death and has provided a solution for his people. Jesus...
Mark 4: The King is with you. Act like it.
June 23, 2018 00:00 - 18.2 MB24 June 2018 - Rev. Aaron Eime reminds us that God's orders to us are no different to those given to Adam -- we are to work to expand the Kingdom of God. We serve in kingdom of mystery and paradox. The Servant King calls us sinners to be saints. The King of the Universe sends us into the storm sometimes. Suffering and blessing go hand in hand. He, however, does not send us into the storm alone. He is with us even in the most harrowing moments, so persevere and do not stop. Readings: Job 38:1...
Mark 3: Doing the will of the Lord
June 10, 2018 00:00 - 21.4 MB10 June 2018 - The first opposition to the ministry of Jesus was ‘very close to home,’ Rev. Aaron Eime reminds us. We are called to serve even when the going gets tough. The religious leaders are next to oppose Him, and they challenge Him at the source, saying he has a demon. God is life, and there is no death in God. They can’t control Jesus, and so they accuse Him. Perhaps the unforgivable sin is to look at the good works coming through the Messiah and to say it is a work of a demon. Jesus ...
Shabbat: Echo of Eternity
June 06, 2018 00:00 - 23.7 MB3 Jun 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi expounds further on the depths of the meaning behind the Shabbat for Israel and us today in the Sunday evening Sermon.
On Shabbat & Identity
May 31, 2018 00:00 - 24.1 MB3 June 2018 - If we love Jesus we will keep his commandments, reminds us Rev. David Pileggi, so it behooves us to know his life and teaching. There are disputes over the interpretation of the sabbath rules. In Jesus' day there were great debates and discussions. In no way does Jesus minimise the keeping of the sabbath. God himself rested on the seventh day; the sabbath celebrates redemption; it is about creation and redemption, a taste or down payment of the rest that is to come in eternity. ...
Matthew 28: Trinitarian Life
May 26, 2018 00:00 - 21.6 MB27 May 2018 - It is not by accident that Trinity Sunday comes a week after Pentecost. When we talk about the Trinity, it is abstract, intellectual and embarrassing. How do you defend and explain it? In many ways, it should be left a mystery. The context is that after the resurrection Jesus is sending his disciples out; he wants them to go into all the world. Jesus is seen to have authority, raising up students who became disciples, who reflect the character of the teacher. Jesus is greater th...
Shavuot: Gifts of grace, family, identity
May 20, 2018 00:00 - 22.7 MB20 May 2018 - On the day of Pentecost -- the Feast of Weeks -- Rev. David Pileggi, explains how this feast 50 days after Passover came to be associated with the giving of the Torah. Acts tells us the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Feast of Weeks. The holiday is not a contrast of the giving of the Law versus the giving of the Spirit. These two events are in fact similar and tell us about the character and grace of God, who gives us the unearned gift of sonship, belonging, and family . Rea...
The Tragedy of the House of Herzl
May 12, 2018 00:00 - 18.4 MBDavid Pileggi lectures of the tragic lives of Theodor Herzl's family. Herzl died young in the midst of his Zionist project, leaving his widow and children penniless. His children never found stability, and all died awfully young. We ask for grace for the audio quality as there were many birds chirping where this lecture was given.
Luke 24: Our D-Day
May 11, 2018 00:00 - 31.2 MB13 May 2018 - The season between the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the Ascension presents us with the tension that exists in what is happening here on earth and in heaven. If God is good, why are all these things happening? The story begins in the Garden; Jesus' message is the Kingdom. The deity of Jesus is right there in front of us as demonstrated in the period of time from the Resurrection and Ascension. The ruler of this world is judged. The cross and resurrection were our D-Day; eve...
John 15: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
May 05, 2018 00:00 - 19.8 MB6 May 2018 - The gospel of John clearly demonstrates what friendship is all about, says Rev. David Pileggi. There is an invitation to come and investigate. The friendship that Jesus is offering us is modelled on his relationship with the Father. The basis of biblical friendship is the way the Father loves the Son. Jesus is found in the bosom of the Father. In order for there to be friendship there has to be relationship. Readings: Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17
John 15: Abide in Resurrection Reality
April 29, 2018 00:00 - 19.6 MB29 April 2018 - God is looking for a people to inhabit and to indwell. So what difference does the resurrection make in our lives. What is our witness? Resurrection reality is life and victory. From the beginning God gives us a choice: choose life or choose death, be obedient, guard and cultivate the garden. The Gospel of John is written to disciples. “Abide” is to stay in, to stay with me, to dwell with me. How does this produce life? In understanding the relationship that Jesus has with the...
John 10: The True Shepherd of Israel
April 22, 2018 00:00 - 29.2 MB22 April 2018 - Here in the Middle East rain is a blessing, reminds us Michael Kerem, and it is also a blessing in the prophetic scripture as it speaks about one central event that has taken place, the restoration of Israel to their homeland. Reflected in today’s readings, the shepherd and the sheep, is a theme that runs through the scriptures, This also speaks of God’s regathering of his ancient people. The 70th year is important as it signifies the Shabbat rest of the land. We are still wai...
Reconciling Israel and the Nations
April 18, 2018 17:41 - 43.1 MBAs Israel celebrates 70 years of statehood, we offer this teaching by David Pileggi on Israel's calling to be a blessing to the nations. Many in the Middle East are drawn by Jesus' command to "love your enemy," but most say that it is an impossible ideal. David shows us how God, in the Trinity, models relationship for us. David then updates us on how the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of Israel's predominately Muslim neighbors, bringing forth the first fruits of the Father's promise in...
Luke 26 : Behold my hands and my feet!
April 14, 2018 00:00 - 20.9 MB15 April 2018 - Jesus will bear the marks of the cross for eternity, Rev. David Pileggi reminds us. They are not the marks of defeat but are a mark of his triumph. What comes out of these wounds and suffering? He has empathy with our pain; He has entered into all of those human experiences; He has passed through all of these things. When He says “Go and be my witnesses,” we are also the broken. What does that allow us to do? It allows us to do as Jesus has done; we can empathise with others w...
Holocaust: Predictable, Avoidable, Repeatable
April 11, 2018 00:00 - 51.2 MBAs we mark Yom HaShoah -- Holocaust Remembrance Day -- we offer this lecture by David Pileggi challenging us to investigate the causes of the Holocaust, to learn how atrocities were perpetrated by ordinary people, and to cry out humbling to God for grace lest we fail to do right in the face of such evil. Thanks to the Center for Judaic-Christian Studies for allowing us to share this teaching with you.
John 20: Resurrection community of grace
April 07, 2018 00:00 - 25.6 MB8 April 2018 - The resurrection creates a community. The summary of community life is that it has one heart and soul. God is always looking for a people to inhabit and to glorify Himself through. In our passage the disciples hid for fear of the Jews, but no Jews were after them! They had locked the door, and Jesus walked in saying, “Peace to you! Shalom!” This peace is a divine revelation. We don’t have to live in fear. Sin destroys the witness of the resurrection. Jesus is very compassionate...
Mark 16: I Am the Resurrection
March 31, 2018 00:00 - 18.8 MB1 April 2018 - In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is tested in a way that we find in no other gospel. He is tested in the wilderness, by the religious and civil authorities, internally in the Garden of Gethsemane, but also by his own disciples who are slow to believe. The testing is to bring Him to maturity. We also will be tested, so that we know what is in our hearts and as a way of discipline to keep us on the narrow way. This is evidence that God loves us. The reality of the resurrection must b...
Mark 11: In remembrance of Me
March 24, 2018 00:00 - 20.8 MB26 March 2018 - Rev. Aaron Eime takes a look at the early origins of Easter and encourages us to celebrate it because on it God did something amazing. God does amazing things and intervenes in the earth and these things are worth remembering. The first thing he did was to say, “Go make a calendar … make sure you celebrate Passover! I don’t want you to forget, so every year, retell the story;” reminding us of the story we already know. How do we remember? By doing …. retelling the story. At t...
Jeremiah 31: The Angel of the Covenant
March 18, 2018 00:00 - 21.2 MB18 March 2018 - Guest speaker Alex Jacob, director of CMJ UK, looks at some of the historical aspects of CMJ. For New Testament writers this passage is vey significant. Jeremiah 31 is one of the most important passages that leads people to faith, although often the journey to faith is not straightforward. CMJ founder Joseph Samuel Levi became a believer through this passage saying, “These words, I have never heard before. This man and the reading he shared made a deep and lasting impression ...
John 3: God so loved
March 11, 2018 00:00 - 23.1 MB11 March 2018 - John 3:16 could be said to be “The gospel in miniature,” if our interpretation of the verse is correct. Rev. David Pileggi has us consider this in the context of what it is to give a gift, in the biblical sense. Is a gift is given with no strings attached? This is not something that the Bible knows. Gifts were given in the expectation of response and to form relationships. One may not have earned the gift but one must still respond. God, out of his love, gives life. He does no...
John 2: Zeal for God's dwelling among us
March 02, 2018 00:00 - 25.1 MB4 March 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi looks at the cleansing of the temple. After turning water into wine, Jesus enters the temple demanding holiness and passion for God. This ultimately gets Him killed. The cleansing is mentioned in all four gospels, but we should note that there is a difference in John’s account. In John, Jesus is not coming to confront religious corruption and abuse. The issue here is about buying and selling; the temple has been turned into a marketplace. For the temple to wo...
Mark 8: Clash of Expectations
February 25, 2018 00:00 - 23.4 MB25 Feb 2018 - The idea of Lent comes from the 40-day fast of Jesus. Fasting was already a part of the Jewish world, Deacon Aaron Eime tells us. Jesus is preaching a message of the Kingdom of Heaven but changes his direction and now focuses on death and resurrection; we have a clash of expectations! We have a tendency to reject the idea of suffering …however it does produce patience and character. The concept of discipleship comes also from the Jewish tradition. The idea is to look like the m...
Lecture: The Ironies Of Esther
February 20, 2018 00:00 - 50.2 MB21 Feb 2018 - Sharon Buth Alley spoke on the ironies in the book of Esther. David Pileggi followed with a response on the dangers of anti-Semitism then and now. Sharon Buth Alley, born and raised in Africa, came to Israel after high school, attending the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she completed her first and second degrees in Hebrew Bible. She is currently the Director of Academic and Student Affairs at the Institute of Biblical Languages and Translation. She and her husband live...
Mark 1: Passing the Test
February 18, 2018 00:00 - 27.2 MB18 Feb 2018 - We can learn a lot, as we face our own struggles, from the temptations of Jesus. Rev. David Pileggi points to two things to be noted from Mark’s account. 1. Jesus is being baptised and the Spirit comes down, the heavens are opened and he is affirmed by God’s voice 2. The same Spirit drives him into the wilderness and he is with the wild animals. The wilderness is a place of testing and danger that biblical men and women seem to fear. It is romanticised as a cool place to have so...
Mark 9: The Way of Glory
February 11, 2018 00:00 - 23.3 MB11 Feb 2018 - This is a Sunday of transitions, says Rev. David Pileggi. Jesus calls us to imitate Him, taking up our cross daily. Lent became the tradition to prepare us for this and to be more intentional about our discipleship. It is about training and disciplining ourselves. The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. This takes training. Lent is there to help us train. The way of the cross is in self-denial. Jesus asks the question, “Who do men say that I am?” Jesus begin to teach ...
Luke 2: Jesus, Offering to God
January 31, 2018 00:00 - 27.4 MB4 Feb 2018 - This week Rev. David Pileggi looks at the family of Jesus and the nature of sacrifice. The presentation of Jesus in the temple was a significant event. Jesus was revealed to Israel, and now He is presented in the temple. This passage reminds us that Jesus is a Jew. Some of the leadership may have rejected Him but He did not reject Judaism. This shows up the family in which he was raised. His family loved God and followed His commandments. Mary, His mother was the first disciple, ...
Mark 1: Deliver us from evil
January 28, 2018 00:00 - 20.9 MB28 Jan 2018 - This week Deacon Aaron Eime very sensitively tackles the topic of demonology. Mark is a fast-paced gospel. When reading we should ask 1. What does this tell me about Jesus? 2. How can I be a better disciple? The first miracle in Mark is the healing of a demon possessed man in a synagogue. The community recognised the authority with which Jesus taught, finding him worth listening to. The spirit identifies Jesus as the Holy One of God. What was the purpose of Jesus meeting this...
Mark 1: Good news about God, from God
January 19, 2018 00:00 - 26.1 MB21 Jan 2018 - Rev. David Pileggi calls our attention to the first century Jewish concepts of the Kingdom of God and discipleship. If we want to get to the heart of these subjects we need to understand them in this context. John the Baptist was at one time a very popular figure in the Jewish world, in calling the nation to repent and to choose either a holocaust or a pentecost. Jesus comes preaching good news saying the Kingdom is at hand. This is the Gospel of God. It is about who God is and ...
John 1: Transforming Revelation
January 13, 2018 00:00 - 25.3 MB14 Jan 2018 - In this season of Epiphany, we see Jesus revealed. We saw John preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus hears a voice which calls him the “Beloved Son”, an affirmation of Jesus himself. He then begins his public ministry. These words also apply to us, Rev. David Pileggi reminds us, in that we should properly understand both his and our own identity. If we know who we are in Christ many of our problems would be resolved. There is a line that goes right from the baptism to the cr...
Mark 1: Identity Sunday
January 07, 2018 00:00 - 23.8 MB7 Jan 2018 - According to the textual evidence, the baptism of Jesus is of great importance, says Rev. David Pileggi, and the four gospels have a different angle on John the Baptist. Mark’s gospel gets straight to the point, that the ministry of John and the coming of Jesus were foretold by the prophets. Mark writes as a Jew, very sensitive to the grammar and so the divine is often revealed in the detail. ‘Preparing the way of the Lord’ calls Israel to repentance, as individuals and also as a...
John 1 : Our great hope
December 31, 2017 00:00 - 17.3 MB31 Dec 2017 - Guest speaker Scott Morgan talks about ‘Plan B’. It is best to be prepared; thus the need for alternative plans. As humans it is always good to have a back up plan. God however is always in control. Jesus was with the Father from the beginning. He was (is) the Living Word at the moment of creation. The eternal existence of Jesus was from and in the beginning. The same Word has now appeared as man. Jesus remains our focus of hope in the midst of the suffering in the world. He is...
Luke 1: Here I am, Lord!
December 23, 2017 00:00 - 26.7 MB24 Dec 2017 - Guest speaker Sandy Shoshani speaks on the women who have made a difference in history. What makes us somebody is the Holy Spirit in our heart, as we look at Mary we see humility and willingness to obey. Will we let God use us with humility? The Luke account is organised and give eye witness accounts and facts so we may know the truth of the words. These are real people with real hearts, desires and passions. The story is in the context of the pregnancy of Elizabeth who was ca...
John 1: Witness of the Light
December 16, 2017 00:00 - 15.6 MB17 Dec 2017 - The first two weeks of Advent prepare us for the coming of the Messiah; this week focuses on the ministry of John the Baptist. Rev. Aaron Eime tells us that worship is multi-sensory and illustrates this by use of an icon showing the Baptism of Jesus by John, being the prophet sent by God. John came to testify to the Light. Natural light does not distinguish between the good and evil, but in creation God separated light from darkness. Light guarded the Israelites in Egypt and mov...
Talk: Be'ad Chaim (Pro-Life)
December 11, 2017 00:00 - 35.3 MB11 Dec 2017 - Sandi Shoshani, director of Be'ad Chaim (Pro-Life), speaks on how her organization offers help and new hope for women in crisis pregnancies by providing counseling, education, and practical provision. Be'ad Chaim is dedicated to help the men and women of Israel to choose LIFE. This lecture was hosted by the Christ Church Mercy Fund.
Mark 1: Preparing for the Advent
December 10, 2017 00:00 - 25.6 MB10 Dec 2017 - The warnings of last week’s sermon are overlapped today; Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that we are to be watching and waiting patiently, not being deceived whilst we wait for the coming of the Lord. We will all stand, one day before the Lord. In waiting we should not be discouraged or give up. There will be a time when many false prophets and false messiahs will arise. Today’s message is about being prepared. Most wise people prepare for the end of their lives: writing a will...
Mark 13: The Advent
December 02, 2017 00:00 - 22.2 MB3 Dec. 2017 - During the advent season we think of the first and second comings of Jesus. Rev. David Pileggi says we have a textual problem in Mark 13 in that the words were received as three different blocks of teachings which were somehow woven together. Firstly, He comes to Jerusalem to warn the nation. Second is the teaching of the coming of the Son of Man. Thirdly, there is a teaching that concerns itself with persecution. We are to interpret scripture correctly so that we can correctly ...
Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats
November 26, 2017 00:00 - 24.2 MB26 Nov 2017 - Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that the emphasis of the ministry of Jesus is the Kingdom of God, and so is our gospel passage. As Jesus comes to the end of his ministry he is warning us to be prepared for judgement. There are often surprises for us in these passages. Keeping the context of the gospel, the best way to understand this is that good trees produce good fruit, judgement brings out something that has been there all along. By their fruit you will recognise them. What are...
Matthew 25: The Day of The Lord
November 17, 2017 00:00 - 27.2 MB19 Nov 2017 - The world is spiralling into sin and where is God in all of this? We await the day of the Lord when God comes with his action of pouring out his holiness. The wrath of the world is not to be equated with the holy wrath of God. Rev. John Howanstine touches on the Advent collect, noting that we are to rejoice in Jesus' coming and put his passion, cross and death between our souls and death. The Gospel is one of recruitment. Now is the time to thank the Lord for His being slow in ...
Matthew 25: Get Ready!
November 12, 2017 00:00 - 16 MB12 Nov 2017 - Rev. Aaron Eime puts today’s gospel passage in context concluding that no one -- including Jesus -- knows the time of his coming and the end of the age. The parable of the ten virgins touches on a very sensitive subject for the church -- eschatology, the end of all things. This very revelation should cause us to fall on our knees, a wake up call for the church saying, “Get ready!” The world needs us to be ready and prepared because when it gets dark we are going to need to help ...