Christ Church Jerusalem Christ Church Jerusalem

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 echoes throughout the New Testament. However, how often are we told by the world that forgiveness is contemptible? CS Lewis famously remarked, "it is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."

Turning to our Gospel reading in Matthew about the Unfaithful Servant, it is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. In this week's sermon, John Arnold highlights the stark difference between the world's view of forgiveness and that of God's view, linking it back to demonstrate how we can see the fingerprints of this dichotomy in the traditional Jonah readings for Yom Kippur.

Readings: Leviticus 23:26-32 •Isaiah 57:14-58:14 • Matthew 18:21-35

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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 these become our primary goals we are tested in the very things that we crave. Such testing should be welcomed as it enables us to deepen our discipleship and model Jesus' alternative to the world’s well meaning, desire for the good life.

Readings: Numbers 29:1-6 • Deuteronomy 8:7-18 • Luke 12:16-30.

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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 us.

Readings: Ezekiel 33:1-11 • Psalm 119:33-40 • Matthew 18:15-20.

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Suffering is something few of us want, too many of us boast about and, perhaps, not enough Christians are willing to face. Rather than grumbling and complaining over every difficult thing we face, Christians are called to be blameless and innocent–a light in a dark world. Jesus gives an example and call to his disciples to take up their cross and follow after him while Paul will tell us what our sacrifice should look like.

Readings: Romans 12:9-21 • Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45 • Matthew 16:13-28.

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Jesus will challenge us to confess who He is in a very dark and confused pagan environment, and declare that His kingdom will not be stopped, not even by Hell.

Readings: Exodus 1:8-2:10 • Isaiah 51:1-6 • Matthew 16:13-20.

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Many times in scripture God is revealed to us as full of compassion, plenteous in mercy and slow to anger. And while we are never able to earn His favor or repay His goodness, we are expected to respond aright. Too often, in receiving God’s mercy, many become proud and cheapen God’s overwhelming gift. Instead, as we see in today’s readings, our trust in and response to God’s character and providence requires patience, humility and mercy extended to others.

Readings: Genesis 45:1-15; Romans 11:1-2a, 25-36; Matthew 15:21-28.

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👉🏼 This sermon is also available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/christchurchjerusalem