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

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Sunday Sermons 2022

Warning!

Warning! | Rev. David Pileggi

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). The text however doesn't tell us why we gather these plants, or what to do with them. 

We can learn from Jewish tradition that God asks us to worship him with all our senses. And over the years Jewish people have noticed that these four plants have either a taste or a smell, but not both. That is except for the Etrog. An interpretation was added to this observation showing how each of these different plants represented a type of disciple. In his sermon, Aaron takes us through from Sukkot, to the Parable of the Two Sons, and challenges us... what type of disciple are we? Do we smell AND taste like a follower of Jesus?

Readings:
Exodus 17:1-17
Psalm 72 
Matthew 21:23-32

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 2023

Sukkot And The Parable Of The Two Sons

The Two Disciples of Sukkot | Matthew 21:23-32| Rev. Aaron Eime

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"

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

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The Two Disciples of Sukkot | Matthew 21:23-32| Rev. Aaron Eime

Christ Church Jerusalem

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