The Last Words of Moses (Deuteronomy)

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 others.

Readings: Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost - Remembrance Sunday
Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19

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/christchurchjerusalem  

Listen to this sermon and more on our podcast. Search for Christ Church Jerusalem in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Sunday Sermons 2022

Warning!

Warning! | Rev. David Pileggi

When God first spoke to Benjamin, he was reading the newspaper. That was just the start of a wild journey that led two Orthodox brothers from the Bronx to a new life, a new homeland, a new lord and - above all - to each other. 

Growing up, Benjamin and Reuven Berger never imagined they'd be roommates well into their seventies. Nor did they imagine their lives would unfold as brothers in faith. But from their majestic home in the serene village of Ein Kerem, they reflect on an unusual, almost biblical, path that led them far apart and then back together. 

In the prologue, Mishy Harman tries to understand why - if an alien landed in Israel today - it would probably think that the word "achi" is a form of Hebrew punctuation. 

Act I, "The Berger Bros," is a tale of two brothers who are brothers in more than just one way. Joel Shupack brings us the story of Benjamin and Reuven Berger, the Bronx-born sons of European Jews who escaped the Nazis. Tumultuous years of doubts, revelations and risks led them from a muddy copy of "Peyton Place" all the way to Jerusalem's small community of Messianic Jews.  

Ari Jacob composed and performed the original music in "The Berger Bros." Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. Thanks to Dina Kraft for editorial help. Adam Milliner mixed the episode. The end song, November, is by Shaanan Streett, and features Selva de Mar. It was written in memory of Shaanan's sister, Tova.

Israel Story

Episode 48: "Achi"

Welcome to our Deuteronomy Bible study. Join Rev. Aaron Eime as we start to walk through the fifth book of the Torah, which makes commentary on the previous four. Deuteronomy is quoted or alluded to more than 100 times in the New Testament. reflecting its popularity during the second temple period. 

Moses is the traditional author of the Book on Deuteronomy, with an unknown author and redactor adding the account of the death of Moses and presumably other sections of the Torah. Jewish tradition says that the redactor of the Torah is Joshua. The Book is known as Sefer Devarim in Hebrew (the Book of Words), in Greek it is called Deuteronomy following a mistranslation in the Septuagint of ‘Mishneh Torah’ in Chapter 17vs18. The Book appears to be the longest monologue in the entire Bible, presented by Moses who at the start of his career complains to God that he can’t speak. Somewhere along the line Moses has become quite erudite indeed.

Notes for this study can be found at  http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

The Last Words of Moses

Bible study: Deuteronomy 1:1-8

Deuteronomy 1:1-8 - Bible study

Moses continues his lengthy monologue to the uncircumcised nomadic masses that assemble before him on the plains of Moab. He declares that the people are as numerous as the ‘Stars of Heaven,’ an allusion to God’s promise to the patriarch Abraham in the Book of Genesis. This is presented as a positive blessing from the Lord with the added invocation for a further increase in population, up to a thousand fold. 

In his retelling of the appointment of leaders to share the burden of command, specifically of settling judicial matters, Moses leaves out mentioning his father in-law, Jethro. Commentaries to Deuteronomy are divided as to whether this event is a retelling of Exodus 18, in which the impetus to appoint leaders from among the people comes from Jethro, the pagan priest of Midian, or of Numbers 11, qhere the elders will have the same Spirit as Moses and to bear the burden of the people with Moses (Numbers 11:17) but in which the Lord commands the appointing of leaders. 

Led by Rev. Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Deuteronomy 1:9-29 - Bible study

Moses admonishes the Israelites in their unwillingness and rebellion against the command to invade the Land of Canaan. Despite all that God had done for them during the Exodus, despite the witness of miracles and manna, and even His presence in the Mishkan, the Israelites conclude that because of Giants and powerful fortifications, the Lord actually hates them. What does this comment about us and our own hopes, dreams and trust in God for the future? Moses reminds them of God’s care by describing Him as a man who carries his son. This theological paradigm produces commentaries in the 2nd Temple Period that begin to call God ‘Father’, giving rise to Jewish prayers that begin ‘Our Father’ (see Amidah and Lord’s Prayer). Moses also declares that God will fight for Israel. This He has already done against Amalek in Exodus 17 and in Egypt with the plagues against the Egyptian gods and the drowning of Pharaohs army. Yet the people grumble causing the Lord to take an oath. 

Led by Rev. Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Deuteronomy 1:29-46 - Bible study

Standing on the plains of Moab, Moses continues recounting the wanderings of the people through the 38 years in the Wilderness. Moses notes how careful God was in directing Israel away from other nations. Israel was not a conquering army able to take whatever land they wanted. Instructed to tread carefully within the territory of Esau, Israel was also commanded to purchase supplies of food and water and pay for those services. Why? Why bother purchasing food when the Lord provides manna? Or why seek water when you receive water from the Rock that is, according to tradition, following you? 

Lead by Rev. Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Deuteronomy 2 - BIble study

Deuteronomy 2 - Bible study

While avoiding mention of Balaam the prophet of Moab (Numbers 22-24), Moses reiterates the victory over Og the King of Bashan. Traditionally Og is the brother of Sihon, and they are descendants of the fallen Angel Shemhazai. The repeated references to the Refaim shows that God can assist Israel to defeat this race of fearsome warriors. This part of sacred history is not pleasant for the modern reader. It records the slaughter and extinction no prisoners) of a race of peoples, men, women and children. Atheists like Richard Dawkins describe this event as genocide. Modern morality needs tempering through theological interpretation. A secular world can admit the existence of suffering but find no meaning for it, only faith and religion provide meaning to such events.

Led by Rev. Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Deuteronomy 3 - Bible study

Memory and Forgetfulness are central to the success or failure of the people of God. Responsibility falls on Israel to live in the present, counting themselves as being the generation who departed Egypt and received the Torah at Sinai. Theologically the past is the present! And this will prevent future success turning into arrogance and rejection from the Land of Inheritance. The Good Land before them is bountiful in agriculture, listed as the 7 species. When the people have eaten and are satisfied, they are instructed to bless the Lord, thus forming the tradition of saying grace after meals. During the 2nd Temple Period, blessings were added before and after meal occasions. The Brachot for bread and wine existed a generation prior to Jesus.

Led by Aaron Eime.

Notes for this study can be found at http://www.christchurchjerusalem.org/sermons/study-last-words-of-moses-deut/ ‎

Blessed by our teachings? Consider saying thank you with a small (or large) donation. www.christchurchjerusalem.org/donate/

Deuteronomy 8:9-20 - Bible study

Christ Church, founded 1849, is a center of prayer for all nations with worship reflecting the Jewish context of the gospel.

Are you blessed by the teaching found here? Prayerfully consider giving a practical thank you using the Donate link below.

Deuteronomy 8:9-20 - Bible study

Christ Church Jerusalem

Related tracks