Use and The Lord’s Purpose | Rev. Pearse M. Frazier

Use and The Lord’s Purpose | Rev. Pearse M. Frazier

In what is commonly called the Sermon on the Plain, we hear an example of what the Lord taught as He traveled from town to town during His three years of preaching. Near the end, in what we might call the crescendo of the sermon, He tells His disciples and the crowd, “A good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” (Luke 6:43). What did they think He meant? The Lord wasn't simply teaching them how to judge others. He was inviting each person to examine the fruit of his or her own life. Readings: Luke 6: 39-49 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/luke/6/], Psalm 127 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/psalms/127/], Divine Love and Wisdom 329 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/divine-love-and-wisdom-dole/contents/3290]-330 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/divine-love-and-wisdom-dole/contents/3300] Minister: Rev. Pearse M. Frazier Delivered July 19th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA. The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org [http://brynathynchurch.org/].

In the World, Not of the World | Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith

We are told that Obadiah “feared the Lord greatly” (1 Kings 18:3), and yet he managed the house and palace of Ahab, who was the worst king up until that point. For our part, how can we continue working with the Lord when our efforts seem fruitless, or when it feels like people around us are going in the opposite direction? Readings: 1 Kings 16 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/1-kings/16/], 18 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/1-kings/18/], 19 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/1-kings/19/] (selections); New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Teachings 126 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/new-jerusalem-and-heavenly-doctrine-chadwick/contents/1260], 128 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/heavenly-city-woofenden/contents/1280] Minister: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith Delivered July 12th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA. The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org [http://brynathynchurch.org/].

250 Years of Freedom | Rev. Jeremy F. Simons

On June 19th we celebrated the freedom given to us by the victory of the Lord on the white horse over the forces of evil 256 years ago. On July 4th this year, we will be celebrating 250 years of freedom in our country since we declared our independence 250 years ago. Why are these events so important? Readings: Revelation 19:11-21 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/revelation/19/], True Christianity 815 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/true-christian-religion-rose/contents/8150]  Minister: Rev. Jeremy F. Simons Delivered July 5th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA.  The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org [http://brynathynchurch.org/].

Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament | Rev. Malcolm G. Smith

After His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, the Lord showed two of His disciples that the whole Old Testament was about Him. “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). This Sunday we will begin a series of sermons in which we attempt, with the help of the teachings for the New Church, to see what those disciples got to see.  Readings: Numbers 24:15-17 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/numbers/24/], Luke 24:13-32 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/luke/24/], Arcana Coelestia 5620:14 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/secrets-of-heaven-nce/gen-43/56200], True Christian Religion 231 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/true-christian-religion-rose/contents/2310] Minister: Rev. Malcolm G. Smith Delivered June 28th, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA. The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org [http://brynathynchurch.org/].

Why Do We Celebrate June 19th? | Rev. Steven P. Gunther

Every year we have a big celebration of “New Church Day” on June 19, but why is that day so special? We may have heard that it is the church’s birthday, but what does that mean and what can it inspire us to do in our lives? Readings: Revelation 22:12-17 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/bible/kempton-lite/revelation/22/], True Christian Religion 791 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/true-christian-religion-chadwick/contents/7910], Apocalypse Revealed 956 [https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/apocalypse-revealed-rogers/contents/9560] Minister: Rev. Steven P. Gunther Delivered June 21st, 2026 at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA. The Bryn Athyn Church is a congregation of the General Church of the New Jerusalem, located in Bryn Athyn, PA. We are committed to helping each other draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ through lives of love and useful service, guided by the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church (contained in the theological works of Emanuel Swedenborg). Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings; services and times can be found at brynathynchurch.org [http://brynathynchurch.org/].