Gregory Bishop : Associate Pastor

Gregory Bishop : Associate Pastor

Summary: Gregory Bishop is an Associate Pastor at CongregaciΓ³n LeΓ³n de JudΓ‘ since 1998. He has a degree in history from Amherst College and a degree in Biblical Studies from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Before joining CLJ, he served with college students and men in recovery. As an Associate Pastor, he focuses on spiritual formation, pastoral care, and outreach ministries. He also shepherds the English ministry. He is married to Kennis Akemi and has two children, Noah Jonathan and Charis Megumi.

Gregory Bishop often refers to himself as an β€œAdopted Gringo” who has served here at CongregaciΓ³n LeΓ³n de JudΓ‘ as Associate Pastor since 1998. He feels called to impact lives with the reality of Jesus Christ by shepherding in a multi-ethnic setting.

Before coming on staff at CLJ, Greg studied history at Amherst College (BA, 1990), and Biblical Studies at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1997). He served with college students through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Williams College and with men in recovery through Youth Challenge Christian rehab ministries in Hartford CT. He also spent 15 months traveling throughout Latin America under the Parish Pulpit Scholarship, granted through Gordon Conwell.

As Associate Pastor, Greg has focused his efforts on the spiritual formation and pastoral care of God’s people. He designed our Discipleship curriculum, and helped to develop our children’s ministries, both now pastored by others. He has also developed outreach ministries for men in recovery, and provides pastoral care through counsel and visitation. Most recently, Greg has shepherded our fledgling English ministry, now attended by a wide diversity of people from various national, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

His wife, Kennis Akemi, works as a Speech Pathologist in a hospital context, and ministers with children and through worship dance. They have a son, Noah Jonathan (b. 2007), and a daughter, Charis Megumi (b. 2009).

Publications

Transforming Lives, Transforming the City (isaiah 61:1-4)

The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a temple being rebuilt in the last days, with a river flowing out of it that brings life to everything it touches. This river represents the Holy Spirit of God that

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Love Awaits Everything

The sermon focuses on the concept of love waiting for everything, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. The preacher confesses to having wished for the opposing baseball team to lose, highlighting how oft

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God Is Not Tarrying (exodus 13:17)

God is never late, even though it may seem like it. He sometimes guides us on a detour or a longer path to avoid bigger problems. Quality work takes time, and God wants quality Christians. He may solv

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Isaiah 43:18

The speaker draws from Isaiah 43 and Ezekiel 47 to remind listeners that God can make all things new, even in the desert places of our lives. He asks if we are swamps or streams, and encourages us to

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Isaiah 43:18 - I Do New Things

God is the God of new beginnings and can make all things new. In Ezekiel 47, God shows the prophet a vision of a river flowing from the temple of God, bringing new life wherever it flows. God challeng

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Letting Yourself Be Conquered by God

The pastor discusses the importance of surrendering to God and being obedient to His commands, rather than trying to use God to justify our own desires. He uses the story of Joshua encountering the pr

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The Rich, Young Man

In this passage, a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments, and the man claims to have kept them all since he was young. Jesus then tel

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The Rich Young Ruler - Mark 10:17

This sermon is about the story of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. The young man is not a bad person, but he thinks he is good because he has obeyed the comma

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The Pioneering Spirit

The pioneering spirit is the willingness to go where one has never gone before and take risks in the name of God. It requires walking by faith and not by sight, being willing to fail, and breaking fro

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The Eyes of Jesus

In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the different looks of Jesus in the Bible, emphasizing that every look is a look of love, although not always a soft or gentle one. The speaker notes that God's

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Gideon

The Book of Judges is about a time when the people of Israel were living in the land, but were surrounded by pagan nations who worshiped idols and demons. They would often adopt the idols of their nei

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It Is All About God - Not About You

The process of God changing us is a long one, but he is committed to it. We often think that we need to change ourselves, but it is about God doing a full makeover in our lives. The Bible is full of s

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Jacob the Hustler

The story of Jacob in Genesis 25 is about a person who needed to be smacked up tight on the head a few times by God. Jacob was a supplanter, always trying to take someone else's place, and he even tri

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Ephesians 3:1-13

The Apostle Paul goes on a tangent in his letter to the Ephesians, explaining why he is in jail and how he has been given a special grace from God for the gentiles. He talks about a mystery of Christ

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Univision : the Path of Faith - Part 1

The UnivisiΓ³n series "El sendero de la fe" explores the growing number of Hispanics who are turning to Christianity, either through the Catholic charismatic movement or in one of the growing Latino, P

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Full Time Christians

The parable in Matthew 21 tells of a man with two sons. The first son initially refused to work in his father's vineyard, but later repented and went to work. The second son said he would work, but di

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What Do You Think of Yourself?

In Romans 12:3, we are reminded not to think of ourselves more highly than we should. We must have a sane view of ourselves and our abilities. This is important because pride can prevent us from worki

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John 11 - Tears of Hope

This sermon is based on John 11 and the story of Lazarus. The speaker talks about how Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus, and how Jesus delayed for two days when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The s

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Ephesians 5 - Submit to One Another

The governing principle of Ephesians 5:22 is to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. The Apostle Paul provides three examples of how to apply this principle in different areas of life: t

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When God Doesn'T Do What We Want

The Christian life is full of surprises, both good and bad. The story of Joseph in Genesis 48 shows how God can surprise us with unexpected blessings, like when Jacob blessed Joseph's younger son Ephr

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Called to Be an Armor Bearer

The passage from Acts 4 introduces a man named Joseph, also known as Barnabas, who is referred to as the "son of encouragement". Encouragement is defined as inspiring with courage, spirit, or hope, an

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What Do You Do When You'Re Sinking?

The pastor preached about Jesus walking on water and how God lets us go through tests before rescuing us. The focus is on Peter's fall when he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water. The messa

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When They Try to Trick You

In Joshua chapter 9, the Israelites were living in victory after conquering Jericho and Ai. However, they were deceived by a group of neighboring tribes who came pretending to be ambassadors and offer

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The Importance of Listening Well

In Acts 10, we see the example of how the Apostle Peter learned to hear from God in different ways. Listening is a learned skill, and Peter learned through experiences such as the miraculous catch of

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Come to the Party and Enjoy God’s Love

The parable of the lost son in Luke 15 is often seen as a story about a wayward son who comes back to his father and is welcomed with open arms. However, the true focus of the parable is on the older

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Who Knows Christ Is Different as Before

The text talks about the transformation that occurs when someone accepts Christ. The process of sanctification, becoming more like Jesus, is a long process and cannot be achieved by willpower alone. I

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The Gift of Tongues (part 2)

The pastor continues his series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and focuses on the gift of tongues. He shares a personal experience of witnessing the gift of tongues as a teenager and how it transform

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Psalm 1 Is the Personal Mission of Every Christian

Psalm 1 is the personal mission of every man and woman of God who wants to finish their career with success and glory. The psalm states that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of evil

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Crowned with Glory and Honor

The speaker begins by reading Psalm 8 and reflecting on how majestic God's creation is. He recalls a conversation with an atheist about the beauty of nature and how it points to God's existence. The s

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Are You in God'S Place and Time?

The message is about keeping our appointments with God and being in the right place at the right time. The story of Jacob's dream and the Apostles waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit show that Go

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What Do You Want?

The speaker shares a testimony about his two-year-old son learning the word "I want" and then asks the audience what they want from God. He reads from Isaiah 61 about the good news that Jesus brings a

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Hidden Stars

The desert is the perfect school of faith, where God calls and forms his servants. In Deuteronomy 8, God reminds us that he called Israel into the desert to test and afflict them, to know what was in

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The Fatherly Heart of Jesus

The speaker reflects on the paternal heart of Jesus, who was a single man with no biological children, but demonstrated a special kind of love towards people. The speaker notes that Jesus called peopl

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Jehovah Is My Shepherd

In this sermon, the speaker reflects on Psalm 23 and emphasizes the personal relationship between God and the individual. He notes that God is not just a pastor, but MY pastor, who knows every detail

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The Rest of the Lord

The message is about the invitation to rest in the presence of God, which is often denied by people. The people of Israel, who God brought out of slavery in Egypt, fell under God's judgment and wander

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Do Not Reject the Gift of God

The gifts of God often come in unattractive packages, but we should not reject them because of this. We must discern the divine content in these packages and be humble enough to receive them. The Apos

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Do Not Reject God'S Gift

The gifts of God often come in imperfect vessels, and we need to be humble enough to receive them in whatever form they come. We should not reject the move of God just because it is manifesting itself

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There Was Gossip...

The text from Acts 6 talks about the growing pains of the early church, where as the church grew, there were administrative and organizational issues that arose. These issues, like neglecting widows,

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Blood of Christ

The power of the blood of Jesus is the key to our faith. The Apostle Paul emphasized that the center of our faith is based on blood, the blood of Jesus, which is the basis of the power that we live as

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Genuine Worship

The Lion of Judah congregation's fundamental calling is to praise and worship God. The Christmas story highlights the theme of praise and adoration, from the angels appearing to Zacharias during congr

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True Worship

The name Judah means praise, and as the Lion of Judah, our church is called to spiritual warfare through praise and worship. Throughout the Christmas story, worship is a recurring theme. The Magi came

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Shine the Glory of God

In this sermon, the speaker discusses the difference between making New Year's resolutions and experiencing a revolutionary transformation in one's life through the power of the Holy Spirit. He emphas

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Reflecting the Glory of God

The Bible talks about a revolutionary transformation that comes from God's Holy Spirit power rather than human resolutions. When we turn our lives to Jesus, a veil is removed from our eyes and we beho

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Everything You Do Has Spiritual Effects

The physical world and the spiritual world are connected, and our physical actions can have spiritual effects. We are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and worship Him with our

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Living Joyfully - Living with Jesus

In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of being genuine Christians and being aware of deceptions that come. He warns against those who preach a false gospel and emphasizes that C

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The Simplicity of Knowing That Jehovah Is My Shepherd

The speaker reflects on Psalm 23 and the simplicity of knowing that God is our shepherd. He emphasizes the importance of listening to the voice of Jesus and trusting in His provision. The speaker also

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A Journey of Spiritual Growth

The life of Abraham is a journey of faith, both geographically and spiritually. God called him to leave everything and go to an unknown place, promising to bless and protect him if he trusted in Him.

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Three Stages in the Realization of Each Vision - Edify, Affirm and Enrich

In these days, the speaker has been giving "horizontal sermons" that deal with the practical implications of the Gospel for everyday life. The focus is on turning dreams and visions into reality by ta

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The 3 Stages of Implementing a Vision - Build, Affirm and Enhance

The speaker discusses the challenge of translating big dreams into concrete actions in order to make them a reality. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and sticking to the vision in spite of

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The King'S Heart Is in the Hand of Jehovah

The book of Esther is a chronicle of how prayer and spiritual processes prevail over human processes and governmental processes. Christians have always bent their knees as a community to ask for God's

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The King’s Heart Is in the Hand of the Lord

The Book of Esther shows how the spiritual movement of God prevails over political and governmental power. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us that the king's heart is in the hands of the Lord, and He directs it

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The Contented Heart Has a Continuous Banquet

Gratitude is the key to a happy heart and a continuous banquet. The Word of God says that all the days of the afflicted are difficult, but the contented heart has a continuous feast. Thanksgiving is l

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In This Building Every Stone Is Important

In First Peter chapter 2, the construction of a spiritual building is discussed, which is being built by God using living stones, which are the people who have accepted God's mercy. Each person is an

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Love Is Kind

In this sermon, the speaker talks about the importance of love in the Christian community, using First Corinthians 13 as a basis for discussion. They focus on the second sentence of verse 4, which sta

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Put Down Deep Roots

Psalm 1 is the introduction and basis for all the other Psalms. The Psalm talks about the blessedness of the person who meditates on the law of the Lord and does not follow the advice of evil, the way

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Love Does Nothing Wrong

Love does nothing wrong and is not rude or disrespectful. Courtesy should come from the heart and be based on respect for the human being in front of us, recognizing their value and dignity. People ar

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Conflicts in the Church

In this sermon, the speaker discusses conflicts in the Church by looking at the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over whether to bring John Mark on a missionary trip. He emphasizes that conflict

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Wisdom Is Looking for You

In this sermon, the speaker discusses how life can be complicated and challenging, but God's wisdom is available to those who seek it. God speaks through the Bible and can provide guidance and blessin

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Living a Life Waiting for the Master

The passage in 1 Peter 1:13-21 calls on Christians to be alert and focused on the things of God, especially in a world where sin and temptation are increasing. The phrase "gird up the loins of your mi

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You Have to Hate What God Hates

The book of Revelation is important for us today because it reveals the spiritual reality behind the physical world. The Lord revealed himself to John as the exalted and glorified Christ. The churches

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We Have to Take Up the Cross

The second letter in the book of Revelation is addressed to the church in Smyrna, which was undergoing persecution and suffering for their faith in Christ. The message to the church is that despite th

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How Can We Resist the Seduction of the Devil?

The letter to the church in Pergamum in the book of Revelation emphasizes the importance of being a winning church in the face of spiritual warfare. Pergamum was a major city in the Roman empire and a

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False Prophets

In the letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus addresses the issue of a false prophetess named Jezebel who was sowing deceit and leading the Christians in that church to participate in sinful activiti

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Giving Thanks

The pastor speaks about the tradition of bringing a special offering to the Lord during the Thanksgiving weekend, as a way of expressing gratitude for the abundance and provision that the harvest seas

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Giving Thanks

The Thanksgiving service is a tradition where we come together to give thanks to God for His provision and care, similar to the ancient Hebrews who came before God periodically to give offerings of th

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The Temptation of Success

The letter to the church in Sardis warns against the danger of being satisfied with human success and settling for it, instead of seeking more of God's spirit. The church had a reputation for being al

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The Gift of Christmas - Glory, Peace and Joy to All the World

In this sermon, the speaker discusses two passages of Scripture, one from Isaiah and the other from Luke, that describe the birth of Jesus Christ. Both passages point to the divine nature of Jesus, hi

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The Gift of Christmas - Glory, Peace and Joy for All the World

In this sermon, the pastor discusses the prophecies in Isaiah 9 and the fulfillment of those prophecies in Luke 2. He highlights five qualities of God revealed in these passages: a glorious God, a God

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The Year of the Door Opened by God

The Letter of Jesus to the Church of Philadelphia is relevant to the Congregation Lion of Judah on New Year's Day. The enemy has plans to neutralize the Church of Jesus Christ, but the good news is th

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The Year of the Open Door for God

The letter in Revelations 3:7-13 is addressed to the Church in Philadelphia, which had been excluded from the synagogue and had little strength. The devil has a plan to neutralize the Church, and he o

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Lukewarmness - the Very Effective Temptation of the Devil

In the final message to the churches in Revelation 3, Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea, a self-sufficient church in a wealthy city known for its fine clothing and medical schools. However, they

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The God Who Tests Us

The story of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, teaches us that God tests us to prepare and train us, to strengthen our faith, and to show us what is in our hearts. Just like silver and gold are tes

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Serving Jesus Without Jesus Is Torture

The pastor speaks about the filling of the Holy Spirit and the need for each person to be a vehicle for the Holy Spirit. The Book of Judges shows how the Lord puts his spirit on his people to fight ag

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Each One Has the Measure of the Holy Spirit That He Desires.

The Holy Spirit is a person who can be grieved by our actions, and our level of fullness of the Spirit depends on what we do. Ephesians is a letter about spiritual warfare, and Christians have been gr

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There Are Good Works Prepared for You

In this sermon, the speaker discusses how Christians are called to be a supernatural people and inhabit the spiritual environment around them. He uses the example of the Book of Ephesians, which was w

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You Can'T Shine Alone

In Ephesians 2, we see that God breaks down the enmity between Jews and non-Jews to create a new humanity, a new people. The Church is a prophetic example of this new Kingdom on Earth, where people fr

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The Gift of a Tender Heart Towards Others

The Book of Ephesians begins by saying that we are blessed in the spiritual, heavenly, and supernatural environment, but also ends by saying that we have a call to be a supernatural people and to walk

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A Life That Shines

The book of Ephesians reminds us that we are a blessed people, with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are spiritually alive and exalted, called to live a new life in Chri

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Love and Respect in Marriage

We are discussing Ephesians 5 and the importance of living a life filled with the Holy Spirit. This includes purposefully seeking God with a spirit of worship and thanksgiving, as well as submitting t

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