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[11/13/24, 10:21:58 AM] John Arnold: The readings today should remind us of true generosity. However, if we aspire to be hospitable and generous, both in our thanksgiving to God and our love towards our neighbours, we must also understand our own hypocrisy.
[11/13/24, 10:22:11 AM] John Arnold: Maybe? -
In a day and age when sainthood seems impossible we must not lose sight of our ongoing relationships with those faithful Christians who have gone before us. While we do not venerate or pray to saints, those who died in Christ are still very much alive and their faithfulness continues to show us how it is possible to finish the race that is set before each one of us. This reality is strengthened when we remember that when the Church gathers we join them as they continually worship around God’s throne.
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Fehlende Folgen?
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The road of recovery, whether personal or corporate, is not easy. Yet, the end result is well worth the sacrifice and the hardships we endure.
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Many of us think of joy as a spontaneous emotion, and perhaps some of us recognize that it’s the mature fruit of the Spirit. Yet God commands all His people to be joyful during the Feast of Tabernacles as they remember His provision in the wilderness. Psychologists and therapists now recognize that joy comes to the grateful, something the Hebrew Bible has been teaching for millennia in the most practical of ways, showing us what it means to be made in God’s image.
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The encounter between Jesus and a rich young man often causes Christians a good deal of distress. Over the centuries we have found ways to interpret this text so that it doesn’t apply to us. Whether we are rich, not so rich, or poor, the words of Jesus are a warning about those things that would hinder us from entering the Kingdom of God. Just as Jesus honestly but lovingly spoke to that young man, we also must allow Him to address us in the same way so that we can truly repent and fully enter that place where God can rule and reign over us.
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The Lord Will Provide | Rev. John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem
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The Feast of Michael and All Angels highlights the spiritual warfare that Satan continues to wage upon the earth. His goal is not only to create chaos in “the world” but also among the saints. Never before in history have we been so bombarded by lies, fake news and deception that even we can become confused, demoralized and inactive. Let us not fall for this trickery but remember that God has given us all we need to resist the devil, live the truth, and bring Him glory.
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More than any other gospel writer Mark writes that Jesus was a teacher, yet unlike the others he records very little teaching. But what Jesus was teaching and how He taught can be recovered once we begin to understand the principles that guided First Century Jewish discipleship. That context is more than just historically interesting and remains relevant for Jesus followers today.
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Believer vs Disciple | Bro. Eyal Friedman by Christ Church Jerusalem
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Kings, Prayer, or God? | Rev. John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem
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IF YOU OBEY | Isaiah 49:14-51:3 with Aaron Eime and John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem
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"The Church on Earth," otherwise known as "The Church Militant," is the historic idea of God's own people, spiritually prepared and armed, who will resist and eventually overcome evil. We find early instructions for Israel to live this reality in Moses' parting speech in Deuteronomy 4. Ephesians sees righteous living as a manifestation of these same promises for God to empower His people against demonic forces of evil. And Jesus Himself embodies that power that routinely overcomes evil through His healing ministry as well as His Passion. For us today facing these same forces of evil, there is nothing stronger than offering prayer in the Spirit with fervor and faith. May we find these examples and exhortations encouraging in our lifelong struggle against evil.
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-9; Psalm 15; Ephesians 6:10-20; Mark 7:1-23 -
Not to be confused with the biblical book, this haftarah pairs with the parasha of Torah known as Shoftim//Judges. This haftarah of consolation is a window into the world of those who receive hope when they need it most.
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TRIBES AND MARCHES | Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem
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Belief, in modern minds, can be relegated to the realm of simple thought. But when Jesus commands belief, He means obedience–a kind of holistic behavior that reveals underlying belief. So when self-professed "believers" in Jesus pick and choose when to obey Him, they stir up in themselves the beginnings of eventual treachery. Even Judas' infamous betrayal of Jesus began as nothing more than a simple turning away from Jesus. May we ever prepare our hearts to repent of our own budding treacheries.
Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; John 6:56-71 -
Christians believe that the Kingdom of God–which the prophets envision and proclaim in their own writings–is both already here and also not-yet here among us. We feel this tension in Isaiah's comfort over Jerusalem and discuss the tension we feel in our own hearts between the Already and the Not-Yet.
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Is it comforting to consider the vast differences between our fallen nature and God's perfection? Sometimes it can be, other times, it isn't. This week, we look at the blessed role of comfort in the lives of those who would willingly see their imperfections against the light of God's perfect love.
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What do we do when even the most heartfelt repentance won't spare us the natural consequences of our sin? Is it possible to truly repent while also preoccupied with avoiding punishment? This week, we look at Isaiah's condemnation of Israel and Judah amidst the seemingly unstoppable punishment coming from the nations of Assyria and Babylon.
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Greek has two common words for “life.” Day-to-day, living organisms all exhibit “bios” (where we get the words “biology” and “biography”). But humans especially were made to experience something more fulfilling–a rich and unending kind of life that Jesus calls “Zoē” (later adapted as a common girl’s name). The “life” that Jesus offers us is the latter kind, and good it is for us to find it in his own self-giving love!
Readings: Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 -
The speech of Jesus in John 6 contains many shocking statements, including the perplexing promise and warning: "No one can come to me unless the Father first draws him" (6:44).
No one likes to be told they can’t, and yet that’s Jesus’ response to the grumbling crowd. However as we move past what appears at first to be insulting we find in his words the love, grace and sheer beauty of God our Saviour.
Readings: Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25–5:2; John 6:35, 41–51 - Mehr anzeigen
