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What do a colt and palm branches have to do with a King? The cries of Hosanna heard around the world today started, not on Palm Sunday, but long before–from Israel’s oppression in Egypt and on through the Psalms and Prophets. The colt of a donkey and palm branches tell the story of a ruler who is both righteous and victorious. The expectations of I…
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Does God merely acknowledge holy spaces, or does He consecrate them Himself? Whether Sinai, Shiloh, Zion, or Moriah, holiness seems to be imprinted on these places based on God's dealings with His people at each of them. Between the end of Exodus's description of the Tabernacle and 1 Kings 7-8's description of the Temple we find a key similarity: G…
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In Jeremiah 31, God promises to establish a covenant with the people of Israel AND Judah, reconciling them both to each other as much as to Himself. This promise would find itself fulfilled in the person of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel and High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5). And not only would His saving work reconcile His fell…
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Paul's letter to the Ephesians bears a number of striking resemblances to John's Gospel: stark contrasts of light and dark, life and death, children whose works reveal which family they belong to. Themes like these help us understand the gospel message for all its severity: we were not merely sick, but dead in our transgressions–and likewise now ma…
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Why is money so difficult to talk about in churches? With no shortage of financial scandals in the Church, plus a history of global inflation, the modern world feels split between loud charlatans who raise too much and timid ministers who raise too little. Add to this our instinct to give toward a vision–sometimes rather than toward a need–and it's…
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When Jesus cleanses the Temple, he utters a confusing prophecy: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in 3 days" (John 2:19). This saying made little sense to his hearers at the time; but after his death, burial and resurrection, his disciples remembered it in light of his body. What lessons can we learn today from this prophetic act? The…
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Elijah, Moses, and Jesus all bear a striking resemblance to one another in several ways. They also differ drastically in others. From similar mountaintop experiences–including a shared one at Jesus's transfiguration–we see the role of the biblical prophet hitting key milestones in each of their stories. And we find, at these milestones, divine conf…
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During the season of Lent, we often choose to forego something that gives earthly pleasure to serve God. Many, however, do not have a choice in persecution and famine–or they have one choice–to follow God or deny Him. David, in Psalm 22, summarizes a question that will likely come up at least once in our lives, "My God, My God, why have you forsake…
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Mark provides us a unique lens through which to see the mission and trials of Jesus: one of war. For He has come not only to teach us a new way to live, but to wholly and decisively destroy the works of the Evil One. In preparation for this, Jesus is tested in the wilderness by the devil, an endeavor not too dissimilar from the tests that other bib…
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The event on the Mt. of Transfiguration is understood more fully when we consider Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. With the glory of God upon him, Moses reminds the people that they saw His mighty works of deliverance in Egypt, are in covenant/reciprocal agreement with Him, and now must listen to Him. When the disciples go up the mountain wi…
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Have you ever wondered about the purpose of studying the Bible? This sermon delves into the importance of understanding who God is and avoiding the pitfalls of creating Him in our own image. Psalm 111-112 uses rich Hebraic poetry to reveal the enduring greatness of God's works. By crafting such beautiful liturgical prayers, not only does the author…
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Nathaniel’s first encounter with the Messiah is arguably one of the most important passages in the Gospel of John. It is an invitation to “come and see” who it is that calls us into fellowship with Him. He is not only the Rabbi who calls us to follow him; He is the one who comes down from heaven and gives us permanent access to God and his divine n…
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For centuries the baptism of Jesus has mystified readers of the New Testament. Since Jesus was the sinless Son of Adam/Man, why would He need to heed John’s call to be immersed for the forgiveness of sins? As we survey John’s activities and his call for repentance as a necessary step for national redemption, we come to a better understanding of how…
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The Gospel of Mark jumps straight into the profound significance of the wilderness in Biblical prophecy and narrative. He does so intentionally to demonstrate that we are at war with the powers and principalities of this world. The war is ongoing, even though the outcome is certain. We can find joy and hope in God's mighty victory, but we should ac…
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Fearful? Apathetic? Fatalistic? Or just pre-occupied with personal issues? This is how we may be tempted to respond to the chaos and distress in which we live today. But Jesus’ teaching about the End of the Age can help us. While warning us of tribulation and persecution, He calls us to action – watch, pray, preach the Gospel and be found faithful.…
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Fear to Folly In the short story, The Parable of the Talents, Jesus warns us about being too fearful and cautious in using our gifts and resources in a creative, even risky way to advance His kingdom. He tells us that when we stand before the Judgement Seat we will have to give an account, not only of our deeds, but also of the things we failed to …
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Rev. David PileggiReadings: Third Sunday Before AdventAmos 5:18-24, Psalm 78:1-8Matthew 25:1-13Blessed 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/christchurchjerusalem Listen to this sermon and more on our po…
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Love in a Time of Crisis Loving God and our neighbor can appear to be insufficient in a time of chaos, fear and death. “Surely," we tell ourselves, "we must do something more.” Yet it is by putting this teaching of Jesus into practice that we demonstrate our confidence in His redemptive Kingship. This is how the world will see our hope that God has…
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Unless You Go With Us On Mount Sinai Moses asks God, 'Who will accompany us on the way to the Promised Land?' God says He will send an angel but Moses insists that the Lord must go with them. He argues that only He Himself, dwelling in the midst of Israel, will distinguish them from all the other nations. It is the same for us. It is not theology, …
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The Treason of Indifference |Rev. David PileggiToday, when so many events in the Middle East are being seen as the fulfillment of prophecy it can create a fatalism and passivity that stops many from intercession. The story of the Golden Calf powerfully highlights the character of God, the true nature of prophecy and the cost of effective intercessi…
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This week, all across Israel, families have been gathering in their Sukkas which are small booths, in order to mark the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. We hear of this festival in Leviticus 23, where it not only tells Israel to build booths, but to also gather plants. The four plants are Palm, Myrtle, Willow and an Etrog (a Yellow Citrus).…
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This week, our usual Sunday evening service coincided with the beginning of Yom Kippur, the biblical Day of Atonement. On this day, people across the Jewish world read from the Scroll of Jonah, reminding themselves of the centrality of repentance in their walk with God. This centrality of repentance is not only tangible throughout the BIble but ech…
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The parable of the rich farmer wanting to build bigger barns and Jesus’ teaching on worry and possessions resonates with one of the the main themes found in the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh HaShana holiday: God’s Kingship and the confrontation with idolatry. Surely, the idols of our age are the search for personal prosperity, peace and security. And when…
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Forgiveness and discipline might seem to be somewhat contradictory but they should both be a result of our love and care for one another. If we avoid warning people of their behavior we are not giving them the opportunity to feel the joy and relief of confession and the forgiveness God promises–forgiveness we are also called to give as God forgives…
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