More about Circumcision

"Who is a Jew?" Its a controversial question within both mainstream Judaism and within Messianic Judaism. But if we can't answer the question, "Who is a Jew?", we can't really answer the question, "Who is a Gentile?", nor can we define the Messianic Jewish movement as authentically Jewish. Here's an hour long teaching that takes a deep-dive into the subject with some practical guidance for navigating Jewish identity at Beth Immanuel and in the broader Messianic Jewish movement.

Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael

Does Hagar represent the Jews in slavery under the law while Sarah represents the Christians in freedom under grace? That's the conventional interpretation of Paul's parable in Galatians 4:22, but this teaching turns over that common interpretation by revealing the Jewish background to the story.

Curse of the Law

Has anyone ever warned you that you might be placing yourself under a curse by keeping the Torah? Paul says, "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse" (Galatians 3:10). What's the "curse of the law" and how does it apply?

Through the Law I Died to the Law

Paul says, "Through the Law I Died to the Law." What is that supposed to mean? Take a look at the mystical implications of Paul's death to the law as a death to relying on Jewish identity for salvation.

The King of Adiabene

What was Paul writing against in the epistle to the Galatians? Against the Torah? Against Legalism? Against Judaism? This teaching offers an introduction to the circumcision agenda of "Influencers" through a retelling of the conversion of King Izates, his mother Queen Helena, and the royal house of Adiabene.

What Advantage? (Revisited)

If Gentile believers receive the a share in the kingdom and the world to come and also enjoy the blessings promised to Abraham, what advantage does a Jewish believer have? What's the point of being a Jew at all? Does the inclusion of the Gentiles negate Jewish identity and priority? These are the questions that the Apostle Paul takes up in the much-misunderstood and often-misinterpreted ninth chapter of the book of Romans.

Abraham and the Sabbath

Abraham did not keep the Sabbath because he believed in God; he believed in God because he kept the Sabbath. That's the premise of this teaching about the Sabbath in Parashat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12-17). Find out how the Sabbath testifies, even today, that God is exists and God is One. Discover how Abraham's relationship with the Sabbath encourages the Sabbath-keeping Messianic Gentile today. Great inspiration for the Sabbath Fellowship House vision.