Messianic Audio Teachings: Recent Episodes
Beth Immanuel
This feed offers Messianic Jewish audio teachings, including Torah commentaries and concepts in Messianic Judaism.
Yeshua says, "If you believed in Moses, you would believe in me." A closer look at this difficult saying of the Master unlocks John 5-6 with reference to the events of Exodus from Egypt: The Passover, the Seder Meal, the Crossing of the Sea, the Manna, and the Water from the Rock.
Was Yeshua of Nazareth a real person? Outside of the Bible, what evidence do we have for his existence? This teaching looks into the Testimony of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and discusses a recently discovered "lost version" of Josephus' account about Yeshua.
James the brother of Yeshua warns us about the demonic wisdom of this world. This audio teaching takes us into Parashat Shemot and the book of Exodus to reveal the common agenda behind anti-Semitism and the war against the unborn. This teaching is an excerpt from D. Thomas Lancaster's Torah Club Commentary: The Beginning of Wisdom, available from First Fruits of Zion.
Benjamin is stuck in the middle. The revelation of Joseph to his brothers teaches us about the revelation of Yeshua of Nazareth to the Jewish people, but who does the charcter of Benjamin represent? This teaching concludes the The Two Sisters teaching about the rivalry between Rachel and Leah and the distinction between Messiah son of David and Messiah son of Joseph.
What happened to the northern kingdom and the Messianic dynasty of the house of Joseph? This teaching explains how the deeds of the fathers are portents for the sons yet again when Jacob divides his family into "two camps" thinking, ""If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape" (Genesis 32:8). Part three of the series titled THE TWO SISTERS.
Is Yeshua of Nazareth the one who was to come, or should we expect another? This second teaching in the series titled THE TWO SISTERS reveals the origin of the concept of two Messiahs in the rivalry between Rachel and Leah and the tears of Rachel, weeping for her children.
From where do we derive the idea that there are two Messiahs? The story of Jacob and Esau and the story of Rachel and Leah are the stories of Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David. Part One of a Four Part Teaching.
Hanukkah is more than a holiday of oil and light—it’s a story of resilience, faith, and miracles that shaped Jewish history and identity. What does it mean to kindle light in the darkest time of year, and why is this holiday deeply connected to the Messianic hope? Discover how the courage of the Maccabees parallels the journey of modern Messianic Jews reclaiming their heritage. Explore prophetic allusions to Hanukkah hidden in the Torah and New Testament. Join us to uncover how this ancient celebration inspires renewed dedication in every generation.
Why is Yeshua appearing to Muslims in dreams and visions? This second teaching on the subject considers the history of missionary efforts to Muslims and the role that Messianic Judaism might have to play in bringing the gospel to the Muslim world. Listen to Part One: Revelation to Ishmael.
Yeshua is appearing to Muslims in dreams and visions, a phenomenon reminiscent of the story in Lech Lecha where an angel appears to Hagar in the wilderness and bestows prophecy and blessing on her unborn son, Ishmael. This teaching is part one of a two-part discussion on the revelation of Yeshua to Muslims. Listen to Part Two of this teaching, Ishmael's Destiny.
Does the Epistle of James contradict Paul's teachings about Faith and Works of the Law? This Green Room class from James 2:14-2:26 clears up the confusion and reconciles the apostles. This class has implicatons for how we read and understand Galatians, Romans, and Paul's theology. Also includes an interesting discussion on Rahab of Jericho. Download the handout from the 2011 class below.
If life is a test, how do you pass the test? What's the right answer? The Epistle of First Peter gives us the cheat sheet for passing life's trials, but it requires knowing something about the Day of the LORD and the Jewish apocalyptic worldview.
It's not about going to heaven when you die, its about leaving heaven to come back to life. 1 Peter 1:1-5 teaches us that disciples of Yeshua are being born again to an inperishable, undefiled, and unfading hope kept in heaven but made physical here on earth in the resurrection of the dead.
To whom is the Epistle of 1 Peter addressed, Jews or Gentiles? The answer mgiht surprise you. It has to do with being "born again." This teaching explores the divide between Peter and Paul and their respective ideas about Gentile identity in the Messiah Yeshua.
Drawing directly on the teaching of Yeshua, James warns us against showing partiality and he enjoins us to show mercy that we might receive mercy. This important teaching from the Epistle of James was recorded in the Beth Immanuel Green Room in the summer of 2011.
What is the perfect Torah of Liberity? Unedited audio from the July 2011 Green Room Class on the Epistle of James covers James 1:19-27.
An introduction to James, the brother of Yeshua and his epistle. This Green Room class on the Epistle of James was recorded on June 21, 2011.
In this final installment of the Entrance to the Eternal Kingdom series, we look at the purpose of creation: love of God. Learn what it means to love God and how to cultivate this love.
The apostle Paul says the whole Torah is contained in a single word: love your neighbor as yourself. Does that mean that we are exempt from the other 612 commandments? This teaching further explores the question, "Which commandments of the Torah apply to Gentile disciples of Yeshua?", and it continues the discussion from the teaching titled "When You're Strange."
It is important for us to improve ourselves personally, but to reach the kingdom, we have to grow closer as a community. Learn about the character trait of brotherly love as a step on the path to redemption.
Why does Peter refer to the readers of his first epistle as "Strangers" and "Aliens"? Answering this question provides insight into the rift between Peter and Paul, the controversy over Acts 15, and the Gentile disciple's obligations to the commandments of the Torah.
The Cup of Elijah that we pour at the Seder Meal is the Cup of Wrath poured out on the nations in the Day of the LORD. This teaching from Shabbat Hagadol explains the concept of the Day of the LORD in the Seder, in the Hallel, in the New Testament, and in the story of human history.Also find part one of this teaching here: Elijah's Cup.
Why do we pour a cup for Elijah at the Seder meal? It's not just a quaint tradtion, it's the most Messianic moment in Passover Seder meal. This teaching explores the history of the tradition and the pouring out of God's wrath upon the nations, revealing the coming of the Messiah and the Day of the LORD in the course of the Seder Meal.
Can Jews be "saved" even if they do not become Christians? In his famous Dialogue with Trypho, the second century apostolic father Justin Martyr reports a non-canonical saying of the Master which sheds significant light on the meaning of "salvation" in the New Testatment Era: "In whatsoever thngs I find you, "In whatsoever things I shall take you, in these I shall judge you."
Yeshua How can our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? Learn how the principle of chasidut enables one to enter the kingdom.
If the wages of sin are death, that means that death pays for sins. But what if the person who dies is sinless? This teaching, part two of a two-part discussion, presents the material from the article titled “The Suffering Tzadik: How Does the Death of the Messiah Bring Atonement?” in Messiah Journal 107 by D. T. Lancaster and Toby Janicki.
How does the death of Yeshua atone for sins? The New Testament assures us that it does without explaining how. This teaching, part one of a two-part discussion, presents the material from the article titled “The Suffering Tzadik: How Does the Death of the Messiah Bring Atonement?” in Messiah Journal 107 by D. T. Lancaster and Toby Janicki.
Where were all the Jewish believers in Yeshua between the first century and the 1970s? Listen in on a wide-ranging and epic-long conversation taking broad sweeps through church history and the strange, ever-morphing, relationship between the church and the Jewish believers as Ami Buckles and D. T. Lancaster fall down one rabbit hole after another. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
Why does Beth Immanuel need nearly half a million dollars to build a mikvah? Ami and Daniel discuss why a mikvah is mission critical to Beth Immanuel and should be a central concern for all of Messianic Judaism.
Learn more in this teaching titled THE BIG MIKVAH PROJECT.
Donate to the Beth Immanuel Mikvah Fund here: DONATE NOW
Why is Beth Immanuel the way that it is? Here's the mission and vision behind Beth Immanuel Messianic Synagogue to explain the Judaism part of Messianic Judaism.
What's going to happen in 2024 and the days to come? Here's a largely pessimistic assessment of the world as we stumble into the secular new year which makes the light of the hope of the coming kingdom shine all that much brighter for the darkness.
Continuing the Entrance to the Eternal Kingdom series, we learn the importance of perseverance for achieving the mission for which your soul was created.
The Festival of Hanukkah is called "the festival of lights," but it's actually a festival commemorating a war. In this teaching, we consider the biblical perspective on war. Is there such a thing as a just or ethical war?
What's the underlying spiritual agenda in the world-wide war against Israel? The story of Jacob dividing his family into two camps in preparation to meet Esau provides a clue that connects to the prophecies of Obadiah and a prophecy against all nations.
Jacob's vision of a ladder reaching to heaven upon which angels ascend and descend contains a hidden meaning about spiritual warfare, the exile of the Jewish people, and their inheritance in the land of Israel. This teaching connects the dots and reveals the mission of Yeshua to redeem the Jewish people from exile.
The Secular Progressive Left and Islamic Jihadists make for strange bedfellows. What's the real story behind their common cause in anti-Zionism and their hatred for the State of Israel?
The world has erupted with mass anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests. Open expressions of anti-Semitism not seen since the Nazi Reich are reported in Europe, America, and American college campuses. It does not bode well for Western Society or the disciples of Yeshua. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. This teaching reminds the disciples of Yeshua of who they are and how to prepare for the coming tribulation.
Does the Bible sanction the Zionist claim to a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land? What should a Bible-believing follower of the Jesus think about the Jewish people forming the Modern State of Israel. Here's an argument from a biblical and Messianic Jewish perspective.
A personal perspective on the Simchat Torah October 7 Massacre, the Gaza War, world events, and the coming day of wrath in light of parashat Noach.
In this continuation of the Pitchei Olam series, we will discuss the meaning of "self-control." A battle rages within every person. Our enemy, the evil inclination, wants to strip us of the image of God and turn us into any other animal. Learn how to seize control of the battlefield within your own heart and achieve your purpose to establish God's kingdom on earth.
An important story about Rosh Hashanah and the coming of the Messiah is hidden just beneath the surface of the story of David, Abigail, and Nabal. Here's the teaching for Rosh Hashanah 5784.
Along the path on our journey to the Kingdom, we must acquire knowledge. In this lesson we learn about the Jewish concept of knowledge, what it means to know God, and the steps involved in gaining knowledge.
What if you have been following the wrong Jesus? Do you think that the wrong Jesus can save you? This teaching discusses the problem with making correct theology a criteria for salvation.
Who is the Antichrist? A popular Jewish legend about Solomon and the prince of demons offers an uncanny insight into the nature and identity of Antichrist.
A great deception is coming. Or perhaps it's already here. Listen to a quick introduction to the shadowy character and end-times arch-villain called Antichrist. This teaching presents the "Man of Lawlessness" and "World Deceiver" in light of the Torah's warnings about false prophets.
Bartholomew did not change his clothes for 26 years. An old Christian tradition about the martyrdom of Bartholomew preserves a legend about the miraculous clothing worn by the apostles, pointing us to the hope of the resurrection from the dead.
Would it be so wrong if God were to make you wealthy? On Rosh Hashanah, your money for the coming year is determined. Here's a teaching about wealth, poverty, and wisdom based on Parashat Ekev and the words of King Solomon.
2 Peter 1:5 instructs us to add "virtue" or "excellence" to our faith. But what does that mean, exactly? Take a linguistic journey through the sources to find the Jewish heart at the core of this concept.
The first of three admonitions for the three weeks "between the narrows" comes from the first chapter of Jeremiah. This teaching rehearses the story of King Josiah, Torah Rediscovered, and the world of the biblical prophets in the days of Jeremiah.
The spies sent to spy out the land of Canaan saw giants and warned the people not to enter the land. The Torah says that the giants in Canaan were Nephilim. Here's the story of how Caleb and Joshua not only saw the giants in Canaan, they defeated them too.
Gender identity has never been a more polarizing issue than it is today, but here's a Beth Immanuel teaching from back in 2011 about the difference between boys and girls and the stuff they are made of. Despite our differences, we share the same high calling of our Master, the call to discipleship.
What is reality? It's not what you think. Or maybe it is what you think--and that's the problem. Here's a discussion on the nature of prophecy and how it relates to getting in touch with Absolute Reality.
Why do we read the book of Ruth on Shavuot? This inquiry into the origin of the custom takes us on an Indiana Jones style adventure to find the authentic tomb of King David.
The first commandment at Mount Sinai was "I am the LORD your God who took you out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). Why did God introduce himself this way instead of as the God "who Created of the Universe"? In this lecture we will explore the meaning of implications of faith (emunah) as the foundation of our life's journey to the Kingdom.
What did Maimonides say about Yeshua of Nazareth? In the uncensored version of Mishneh Torah, the Rambam states that Yeshua of Nazareth cannot be "the one promised in the Torah," but he remains conspicuously silent about the messianic prophecies in the books of the Prophets, particularly the prophecies about a suffering Messiah. In this episode, Ami Buckles argues from the deafening silence that Rambam considered that Yeshua might qualify as Mashiach ben Yosef, the suffering Messiah. Listen in on Ami's conversation with D. T. Lancaster.
Yeshua teaches in the Nazareth synagogue and proclaims "liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners" in reference to the Juibilee laws of Leviticus 25. This discussion on the mitzvah of redeeming captives considers the plight of "the infant taken captive and raised by strangers."
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To love God with all your soul means being willing to relinquish your soul for the sake of His name. Here's a sober discussion about martyrdom as an expression of the commandment to sanctify God's name: "You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel.” (Leviticus 22:32)
Explore the process of spiritual self-improvement as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-7, in light of Jewish thought. Learn how Jewish sources provide step-by-step outlines for personal growth, and delve into the importance of the pursuit of holiness and entrance to what Peter calls "the Eternal Kingdom."
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What's the real meaning behind the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, and Communion? This teaching offers a Messianic Jewish perspective on the ritual that goes beyond the Passover Seder context to unlock the significance of the Master's words, "Do this in remembrance of me."
Yeshua claims that he is the resurrection and the life. What does that mean, and do we really believe it? A teaching from the second day of Passover 2022 discusses the hope of the resurrection and the significance of Yeshua's claims.
The holiday we usually refer to as "Passover," the Torah refers to as "Chag Ha-Matzot," the Festival of Unleavened Bread. A holiday celebrating the exodus from Egypt makes sense, but how did flatbread end up stealing all the attention? Learn the deep symbolism of matzah and its leavened couterpart, chametz, as we prepare for the Passover holiday.
How does atonment work? This teaching for Shabbat Parah (The Sabbath of the Cow) and Shabbat Ki Tssa (story of the golden calf) upends most conventional ideas about how atonement was accomplished on the cross.
This class from Isaiah in the New Tetament takes you through Hezekiah's tunnel back to the days of Isaiah to discover the meaning behing the keys to the kingdom of heaven that Yeshua entrusts into the hands of his disciples. Download the PDF of the original handout below.
Some deep thoughts about the seven heavens derived from early Christian and Messianic Jewish sources including Irrenaeus, Epistle of Barnabas, Ascension of Isaiah, Clementine Homilies, and Gospel of Thomas.
Class three of Isaiah in the New Testament tackles Isaiah 1 and the significant Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 10-11. Get ready for a solid hour of intertextual Bible study taking you from 722 BCE to the Apostolic Era and all the way to final redemption. Download the orginal handout as a PDF below.
A significant teaching about the meaning of the book of Isaiah, King Hezekiah as the Messiah, and the true meaning of the prophecy of the virgin birth. Here's the real story behind some of the New Testament's best-known quotations of Isaiah. A real darama full of intrigue. Download the original class handout as a PDF below.
In this episode, the guys discuss Shabbos observance in their own lives, at Beth Immanuel, and in the larger Messianic Jewish movement.
Did God really want Isaiah to harden Israel's hearts, blind their eyes, and deafen their ears? This introduction to the book of Isaiah and study on Isaiah's vision in chapter 6 unlocks important ideas from the New Testament about the Jewish rejection of Yeshua's message. Join the Green Room class from February 2013 for the first lesson in the series "Isaiah in the New Testament." Download the original class handout as a PDF below.
Afraid to hope? Here's the antidote. Discover the secret to success and how to become a "water walker" in this live 2007 presentation on the story of the crossing of the Red Sea from Parashat Beshallach.
The prophet Malachi sets us up for the religious conflicts that define the gospels in the New Tesament Era. This teaching provides an overview of the book of Malachi and it's place in the history of the Second Temple Era in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.
The prophets Zechariah and Haggai worked together at the time of the building of the Second Temple. This teaching begins with Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret in the Temple, unlocks the meaning of the mysterious visions Zechariah, reveals the name of the Messiah, discusses the war of Gog and Magog, and reaches toward the kingdom.
Do you feel like you have a special calling in life? The Apostle Paul says, “Consider your calling.” Today’s teaching takes some time for those considerations and ascertains the calling the apostles had in mind.
Episode 4 of Am Yisrael Podcast takes a deep dive into the history behind the differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi tradition and considers how those differences play out in Messianic Judaism. Yisroel, Ami, and Shalom recorded this episode with special guest, Mattai, several weeks before Yisroel departed for the World of Truth.
Clement dispatched three elders, a beit din from the community in Rome, to serve his epistle to the assembly of disciples in Corinth. Turns out we have met one of them before in Paul's epistles to Corinth. With a few closing remarks, a blessing, and two more doxologies, we conclude the epistle of 1 Clement and discuss its reception among the churches in the second and third centuries. Download the PDF below for the original handout.
In this episode, Yisroel Nachum, Ami Buckles, and Shalom Wilson discuss the difference between Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism while making the argument that an Orthodox expression of Messianic Judaism makes the most sense. This episode was recorded in June 2022, a few weeks before Yisroel Nachum Amic passed into the World of Truth.
God is invisible. Human beings are not. But the person of faith chooses the fear of the invisible over the fear of the visible. The story of the birth of Moses, the slaying of the Egyptian, and his flight from Pharaoh told from three perspectives: Exodus 2, Acts 7, Hebrews 11.
What did the liturgy and prayers of the early disciples of Yeshua sound like? Clement's epistle to the Corinthians concludes with a majestic prayer with strong parallels to Jewish liturgy. This lesson and the contents of the prayer include material pertinent to the modern political divide as Clement teaches us how to pray for government officials. Download the oriignal class handout in the PDF attachment below.
Sometimes the sacrifice of peace is self-sacrifice. In 1 Clement 53-58, Clement urges the upstarts in Corinth to follow the examples of godly heroes of the past who did not hesitate to risk themselves and sacrifice their positions for the good of the community.
We have a commandment to love God and a commandment to love others. In his epistle to the Corinthians, Clement appeals to the authority of Yeshua's mandates about love to pose an argument against the ursurpers in Corinth. Listen in on this Green Room Class from 2013 on 1 Clement 47-52. Download a pdf of the original handout below.
The authentic Gospel of Peter is not the aporcryphal gospel known by that title. Instead, it's already in your Bible. In this teaching from Tevet 9, December 22, 2012, we take a look at the story behind the composition of the Gospel of Mark.
A teaching from parashat Bereishit about the merit of the righteous, cleaving to the righteous, and the concept of "Tzaddik Yesod Olam, the Righteous is the Foundation of the World" (Proverbs 10:25).
Spiritual stature is measured in the inverse. Esau and Jacob reflect two opposite mindsets, and being “small” like Jacob is the key to personal and spiritual success.
What's the real relationship between King Solomon and false messiah? That's the question behind this teaching on the haftarah for Chayei Sarah.
Biblical faith is a life of trust, belief, confidence, optimism, and certainty in God’s goodness. It accepts that the otherwise unseen and unknown things revealed by God’s prophets, by His Son, and by the apostles are all true and certain.
Some people have the custom of decorating their sukkah with a plaque with the words “Zeker LeAnanei HaKivod” -- “A Remembrance of the Clouds of Glory.” This teaching explores the relationship between the Sukkah, the clouds, and the coming of the Messiah.
Why is Sukkot called the Festival of Nations? It has something to do with Gog and Magog, Leviathan, Antichrist, and the End of Days.
Are you ready to hear the Messiah read the Torah? This Sukkot is the festival after the seventh year during which we are to hear the king read the Torah. The mitzvah of Hakhel (Deuteronomy 31:10-13) says that during the festival of Sukkot, at the end of a Shemitah year, everyone is supposed to assemble in Jerusalem to hear the Torah read aloud to the whole assembly by the king of Israel.
It's not difficult to get back on the path. The hard thing is staying on the path. Here's some advice for making your resultions stick and winning the fight with yourself.
Some practical advice for jumpstarting repentance during the forty days of teshuvah that culminate with Yom Kippur.
Why bother attending synagogue services? Take a look at the spiritual transactions taking place at Beth Immanuel. This discussion about the efficacy of prayer and attendance at a Messianic Jewish synagogue includes a discourse on the rock in the wilderness, the clouds of glory, and the manna as they relate to Miriam, Aaron, and Moses respectively and how these elements foreshadow the Messiah.
Yeshua identifies the weighty matters of the Torah as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. From where does he derive this triad? This teaching focuses in on Micah 6:8, offering context for the saying from the days of Isaiah and Hezekiah. Then we examine what it means "to walk humbly with your God" in light of Yeshua's teachings about the weighty matters of the Torah.
What does Messianic outreach look like in a Postmissionary Messianic Jewish congregation? Episode 2 of Beth Immanuel's Am Yisrael podcast discusses some of the implications.
The pilot episode of Am Yisrael, the new Beth Immanuel podcast, features a conversation between Israel Amic, Shalom Wilson, and Ami Buckles discussing the recent Beth Immanuel Shavuot conference and reflecting on their own personal experiences in synagogues and churches before finding their way to Beth Immanuel.
Why does Yeshua identify faithfulness as one of the weighty matters of the Torah, and what does that really mean? Aaron Eby takes a look at the meaning of justice, mercy, and faithfulness by comparing a similar discussion in the Talmud where the sages boil the 613 commandments down to the principle of living by faith. This teaching from the 2022 Shavuot conference takes you through an easy-to-understand path toward understanding what it means to live by faith.
Clement, the disciple of Peter, lays out the hierarchy of authority in the assembly of Messiah and lodges his complaint against those subverting that authority in Corinth. This fascinating time capsule takes a look at the inner workings of the early church and the apostolic tradition that undergirded its offices. Includes apostolic midrash on parashat Korach and a lost saying of Yeshua. Download the original handout from the 2013 class below.
In the popular presentation of the gospel, the teachings of Yeshua are irrelevant to the core message of salvation. Whether salvation by sacraments or salvation by faith, the teaching of Yeshua does not figure into the equation. This teaching reexamines the gospel message and reconsiders the weight we apply to Yeshua's teachings.
How should we be preparing for times of economic uncertainty? What does fincanical stewardship look like for disciple of Yeshua? A parable from Rabbi Bachya offers some perspective on Parahsaht Behar.
A short discussion on a few of the mystical implications of the Bible's ritual purity laws in Leviticus 12-15 (Tazria Metzora) and their significance in view of the journey of the soul and the resurrection of the dead.
Is unstructured worship more spiritual than formal types of worship? Many Christian teachers eschew formalism, protocol, and distinction in favor of universalism and homogenization which eliminates distinction, diversity, and protocol in the service of God. In this lesson from 1 Clement, Peter's number-one disciple weighs in on the discussion with an argument for maintaining boundaries within the body of Messiah. Here's where Clement stands on the debtate between One Law Theology and Distinction Theology.
Why doesn't God appear to us? Why can't we see God? Take a headlong dive into some deep Torah thoughts on parashat Shemini where the Glory of the LORD appears to Israel on the eighth day.
More deep thoughts, mystical ideas, quotations from no-longer extant sources, and beautiful Jewish exegesis from Clement of Rome. Lesson 6 in our study of The Holy Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians takes us from 1 Clement 28-34.
Clement makes an appeal to nature and the natural order of creation to argue for the resurrection of the dead and the order of authoirty in the assembly of Messiah. Listen in on this class on 1 Clement 20-27.
What do you think? The Torah says that the burnt offering atoned for the worshipper, but for what sins did it atone? The sages looked for answers in the book of Job. Here's a discussion based on parashat Vayikra about the meaning of the burnt offering in Jewish teaching.
Beginning with a lost saying of the Master, the Epistle of 1 Clement launches into a discourse on humility with examples from the lives of the great men of God. Hear Moses say, "I am only steam from a pot." Download a pdf of the original handout below.
If Moses already had a tent of meeting where God appeared to him and spoke to him face to face, for what did he need to spend forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the instructions for building a tent of meeting? If you’ve already got a tent of meeting, why build another one?
The Epistle of Clement preserves otherwise lost, authentic, apostolic teachings about the Torah rooted in forgotten teachings of Yeshua. As Irenaeus, the second-century Bishop of Lyons puts it, "Clement had seen the blessed apostles and conversed with them, their teaching was still ringing in his ears." This lesson looks at how the apostles taught the stories of Enoch, Abraham, Lot, and Rahab.
A word to Beth Immanuel members and community members in anticipation of First Fruits of Zion's Malchut 2022 conference in Dallas, TX and in anticipation of Shavuot 2022 in Hudson, WI. We discuss the significance of being part of the Beth Immanuel community and the privilege of being able to utilize the holy appointed place to meet with God at the holy times.
Clement of Rome briefly recaps the stories of the persecutions and trials endured by Peter and Paul and the disciples in the Neronic persecution and Circus Neronis. This lesson covers 1 Clement 5-8 and includes important Apostolic Era tradition, teachings on repentance, and the efficacious nature of the suffering of the Messiah for salvation in all generations.
An introduction to the Epistle of 1 Clement and discussion of 1 Clement 1-4 recorded in the Beth Immanuel Green Room, 2013.
How did an enlightened, educated, and morally developed culture like Germany of the 1930s perpetrate one of the greatest humanitarian crimes of all time? This lecture takes a look at the problem from the perspective of the Gospels and Dietrich Bonhoeffer and it offers a dire warning for the current trajectory of political and social discourse in America.
Unlike any other teaching you might have heard on "the armor of God," this final installment in our series on the Epistle to the Ephesians places the discussion on the armor of God in it's biblical and eschatological context: the final battle with the nations which is called Gog and Magog and the battle of Armageddon.
Stand against the schemes of the Devil and learn about spiritual warfare in Ephesus! Here's the real story behind the "Armor of God" in Ephesians 6 and the meaning of "the devil's schemes."
Apostolic directives for slaves and their owners in the Roman world have modern implications for discipleship today. This study from Ephesians 6 teaches us about Distinction Theology, discipleship, and the service of Hashem.
There’s no formula to guarantee that you will raise godly children. But here’s a few tips for mom and dad if you want to raise kids that stay in faith: A little parenting advice from Parashat Toldot and Ephesians 6.
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, but Hashem's plans never do. What do you do when youre plans don't work out as you had hoped? Here's a teaching about God's hidden ways.
Are you a servant of Yeshua? The apostles found inspiration and their own sense of identity in the story of Abraham sending his servant Eliezer on a mission to Haran.
The Abrahamic prophecies find their greatest fulfillment only in the Messiah and the universal sweep of the Messianic Kingdom. Take a fresh look at Genesis 12:1-5 in the light of the traditional Jewish interpretation and the revelation of Messiah.
Study is the highest form of worship. Here's a talk about Torah study for Shabbat Bereishit, encouraging us all to get more serious and more disciplined in our daily Bible studies.
A teaching of Yom Kippur 5762 (2021) about the impact of the cross on how believers understand and celebrate Yom Kippur.
Paul refers to marriage as a “profound mystery.” He does not mean that “men are from Mars and women are from Venus” or that “you can’t live with them and can’t live without them.” A “mystery” is “an esoteric secret” on the level of Sod. Let’s take a look at the profound mystery at the end of Ephesians 5.
Here's the story and testimony of teshuvah behind Beth Immanuel's Reb Yisroel Amic as he transitioned from a life of drugs and gangs to beard and payos and the inner transformation of the heart. A story for the month Elul.
The path of discipleship is a narrow one and the cost of discipleship is high. Before committing to the path, Yeshua tells us to count the cost. Here's a teaching about the conflict between our value system and that of the world around us that asks the question, "Why are you religious?"
"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.
There's a direct connection between the death of the Messiah and the destruction of the Temple. The story of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple gets to the heart of the meaning of the crucifixion of Yeshua. Listen to this unedited recording of a live presentation to a Beth Immanuel Green Room class on the afternoon of Tisha B'Av 2019.
A discourse by Paul Philip Levertoff on the subject of God's love through the Messiah as expressed in the Gospel of John. Excertped from Levertoff's book Love in the Messianic Age.See the attached PDF below for a print copy.
Time to take stock and determine who is still with us "after the plague."
Ask not, "What benefits do I get as a Beth Immanuel member." Ask, "What benefits does Beth Immanuel get from my membership?"
Then it came about after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation ..." (Numbers 26:1-2)
Why does Paul tell the Gentile disciples in Ephesus that they must no longer live as Gentiles? What's that supposed to mean? In what way are Gentile disciples of Yeshua supposed to live like Jews? The answer may surprise you.
The call to discipleship demands spiritual maturity. Here's how the commissioning of an Elite Spiritual Special Forces Unit of shlichim emmisaries for proclaiming the good news can help insultate us from assimilation and apostasy.
In this teaching from Ephesians, we take a tour through the book of Acts to discover how the Gift of the Holy Spirit was transmitted through the disciples of Yeshua, through the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, teachers, pastors, who first received it during the outpouring that took place on Shavuot.
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers," It's commonly taught that Ephesians 4:11 presents fivefold gifts of ministry for leadership and service in a congregation. But is that really what it means? A post-supersessionist perspective on the passage comes to a completely different conclusion.
An obscure Midrash about Moses is concealed behind Paul's cryptic allusion to Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4:9-10. Here's an apostolic teaching about the ascension of the Messiah which likens it to Moses ascended Mount Sinai.
"Why being born a Gentile is the most fantastic and amazing thing that ever happened to you." Yisroel Amic draws together themes from several different recent Beth Immanuel teachings to offer counsel for the non-Jews struggling to find their place in the Messianic Jewish synagogue.
How does a disciple of Yeshua live? Here's a quick introduction to the rules of mussar for the disciples of Yeshua as presented in the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians. In this teaching, we do a quick read-thru of the entire chapter, commenting along the way about the difference between the old life and the new life in Messiah.
There's deep Jewish mysticism at work in apostolic theology. In this teaching from Ephesians 3, Paul invites us for a swim in deep waters as he attempts to persuade the Gentile disciples in Ephesus to see themselves as more than "just Gentiles."
What does it mean to be a "fellow heir" with Israel and part of "the commonwealth of Israel"? There's a right way and a wrong way to interpret Paul's analogies. We've tried the wrong way before. Let's try the right way. Take a trip through Ephesians 3:1-13 to uncover the "Mystery of Christ" which was "hidden in God" for ages past.
What is God's purpose in saving you? Turns out that God had a plan all along. The Passover story and the good news of the kingdom contain God's plan for universal domination, a plan in which the nations play a critical part. The "mystery of the gospel" and the "eternal purpose of God" presented in Ephesians 3 reveal the meaning of the redemption and the significance of the Gentile disciples in the whole plan.
Christ has "abolished in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility" and "the law of commandments expressed in ordinances" in order to make Jew and Gentile into "one new man" built together into a "holy temple ... a dwelling place for God." There's a lot of room for misunderstanding Ephesians 2:14-15. Here's a teaching to clear it up and make sense of the passage without falling into the predictable patterns of Replacement Theology.
Lesson two in our read-thru of Ephesians. If we understood the full implication of our salvation through Yeshua, we would not be concerned with status, prestige, social class or caste, nationality or ancestry, because the exaltatio of Messiah transcends all of that.
A reading of Ephesians 1 focusing on the pronouns reveals a new persepctive on Paul's message to the Gentile community of Ephesus.
If salvation is not intended to get us into heaven, what's the point? This teaching introduces the concept of the exile of God' Dwelling Presence, and the objective of the commandment to build a sanctuary.
Taking a fresh look at salvation of the soul from the Jewish perspective reveals a completely different way of understanding the teaching of Yeshua and the message of the apostles.
What does "salvation" mean? This teaching introduces the broad range of ways the Bible uses the term salvation and considers problems with the conventional definition of the term among believers.
If we are living in the birth pangs of the Messiah, when will the Messiah arrive? A look at the story of the exodus from Egypt provides a clue and insights into salvation and redemption.
"A Mixed Multitude went up with them" (Exodus 12:38). Who is the mixed multitude that went up with Israel out of Egypt? This teaching looks into the identity of the Gentiles in the Exodus, but goes further, to explore the concept of mixed spaces in the Torah and the Kingdom.
How many agnostics does it take to change a light bulb? There's really no sure way to know for sure. Here's a teaching about agnosticism, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and the effects of revelation.
What's happening to the United States of America? Here's a teaching about the political divide, the change in presidential administrations, and the first Torah reading from the Book of Exodus.
Judaism’s doctrine of God’s theodicy says that nothing happens outside of God’s will, yet at the same time, Judaism teaches that men have free will to choose wrong or right, and that God will punish them for their misdeeds. How does that work?
Joseph's life reveals key principles for trusting God. This teaching about the virtue of bitachon (trust) draws on the story of Joseph's revearsal of fortune to illustrate the concept of the concealed good behind this world.
"How could I sin againt God," Joseph asks. This teaching zooms in on Joseph's God-centered optimistic persepctive and emphazises "bitachon," the art of trusting God for the good as we learn to walk with God.
Beth Immanuel is closed this Shabbat and for the rest of November! Covid-19 cases are surging!! The country is in turmoil and strife over the election results!!! No one knows fake news from real news anymore!!!! Everyone's got an ax to grind, a dog in the fight, and a horse in the race! Where is the TRUTH?
Pastor Lancaster says, "Be chill and Happy Thanksgiving."
The custom of eulogizing the deceased begins in this Torah portion when Abraham offers a eulogy over his beloved wife. This teaching reminds us why life is precious. Includes the eulogy Pastor Lancaster presented at the memorial service for his father, Robert George Lancaster (1925-2020).
How do you walk with God when life gets in the way. Learn from your father Abraham and discover the simple secret of keeping your connection with God.
An audio-book version of Brother Lawrence's seventeenth-century classic devotional, The Practice of the Presence of God. This audio-book project, read by D. Thomas Lancaster, will be updated as more chapters are added. Check back to this page for more content.
Sons and daughters of Abraham by faith follow in the faith of Abraham, and Abraham walked with God. This teaching reflects on Abraham's "friendship" with God and beckons us to follow his example.
The Torah says that "Noah walked with God." What does that mean? Obviously it's not literal, so how does one "walk with God"? This teaching kicks off a new series titled "Walking with God."
A new Sukkot teaching about how the mitzvah to rejoice during the festival of Sukkot opens the secret to inner joy and the spirit of the Messianic Era.
A story from the top of Jabal Muntar, the "Mount of the Watchman" where the Yom Kippur ceremony with the Azazel goat was carried out.
A teaching for Rosh Hashanah 5781 based upon Psalm 130 and the birth pangs of the Messiah.
Watch the video blog year in review here. Download the prayer, "Little Sister" below.
The month of Elul is a time of God's accessibility. But Tishrei is coming up: a season of evaluation and judgment. In this teaching, learn how the Selichot prayers will help you make the most of God's accessibility during Elul so that you arrive at the new year fully prepared to receive forgiveness, pardon, and atonement from God.
There is an island in the distance, and it is littered with the bones of the kings who have been deposed to that place before you. There is still time to do something about it. What will you do? A teaching for the season of repentance.
Why do we recite Psalm 27 during the month of Elul? This teaching reveals a few of the secrets hidden in this potent psalm as we weather through the Birth Pangs of the Messiah.
Israel may only appoint a king from among their brothers. That means that the Jewish people are brothers of Yeshua, our King Messiah. How well do you know Yeshua's brothers?
A parable based on Yeshua's teachings about forgiveness and the classic Chabad teaching about the efficacy of repentance in the month of Elul.
Beth Immanuel is on a mission from God. This message introduces a few of the ministries carrying out that mission and encourages you to support their efforts.
Why do we need our own mikvah at Beth Immanuel? This teaching revists the Beth Immanuel Mikvah Project, reviews the origin and meaning of the mikvah, it's relationship to baptism, and its application for both Jewish and Gentile disciples.
Yeshua said, "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again." This teaching goes deep into the meaning behind those words to reveal unmistakable correlations between Yeshua's death and resurrection and the Temple's destruction and ultimate restoration. Part two of the two-part teaching titled "Christmas in July."
Have you ever had a bad day? Sometimes God uses the worst days to bring about the best good. According to an old legend, the Messiah was born on Tisha B'Av, the day that the Temple was destroyed. Here's part one of a two part teaching on the Messianic significance of Tisha B'Av and the destruction of the Temple with correlations to Yeshua's birth, death, and resurrection.
The three weeks this year are illuminated by the light of Comet Neowise, the latest sign and portent of the birth pangs of the Messiah. Here's a teaching about the new comet and its significance in relation to the three weeks and the coming of the Messiah.
People with deep convictions can be characterized as "zealots," and zeal is a good thing ... sometimes. Here's another warning to disciples regarding the toxic social discourse and cultural divide tearing apart the United States of America with reference to the Fast of Tammuz and the three weeks.
If salt loses its saltiness, with what will it be salted? Here's a fourth of July message for disciples for the Fast of Tammuz on the significance of the fast days and the mission of the kingdom.
Rebooting Beth Immanuel after the Covid-19 shutdown, we come back together on Shabbat Korach and learn a lesson about our inner Moses and our inner Korah while working through the implications of Distinction theology in the synagogue service.
The story of Korah's rebellion helps us understand a passage from Paul's epistle to Titus about "worthless and unprofitable arguments about the Torah."
"Love is patient, love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13 wasn't written for the sake of flowery ornamental text inside a Hallmark wedding card. The original meaning of the passage within the context of Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts and revelations reveals new insights into the meaning of the famous love passge.
An international pandemic, riots in American cities, Chinse brinkmanship, rivers in Russia turn blood red, canibal rats in the streets, the American flag torn assunder, the Washington Monument struck by lightning--it's all in another week of the signs of the times during the birth pangs of Messiah.
Why do we eat dairy on Shavuot and stay up all night studying Torah? What's the connection between Pentecost and Shavuot? Here's a quick overview of the festival in the form of excerpts from an unpublished manuscript of the forthcoming First Fruits of Zion book The Holy Days.
A forgotten apostolic tradition about "the three camps" of Israel puts us on the trail of an ancient teaching about New Jerusalem and the World to Come. This teaching from just before Shavuot 2014 was the basis of the article that later appeared in Messiah Journal under the title "What No Eye Has Seen."
Coronavirus changes the way we celebrate Shavuot this year. Here's a teaching about the significance of Shavuot in Messianci Judaism and the importance of keeing it on the map.
Some thoughts on Ascension Day during Covid-19 and the significance of the ascension of Yeshua and his second coming. This teaching includes material from C. S. Lewis' book Miracles pertaining to the physicalisty of the resurrection, ascension, and return of Yeshua.
For what sin was Yeshua put to death? With what transgression was he charged? The answer is in the story of the blasphemer of Leviticus 24. This teaching takes a deep dive into the subject of blasphemy and, along the way, untangles the confusing passage about the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
The nineteenth-century Jewish convert to Christianity, Adolph (Aharon) Saphir, a man mighty in the scriptures, was a powerful preacher and prolific writer possessed with extraodinary depth of spiritual insight. His book The Hidden Life consists a series of sermons based on James 4:8, "Draw night to God, and He will draw nigh to you." Saphir's powerful and almost lyrical teachings take the reader on a journey through the pracitical aspects of experiencing the "life hidden with Messian in God" (Colossians 3:3). Read by D. Thomas Lancaster.
Read the full text of the original book on here Internet Archive.
Changes are coming. What will Beth Immanuel services be like after the Covid-19 shut downs? Here's a teaching about Jewish/Gentile identity confusion and the transition from the One Law Theology synagogue service to the Distinction Theology model.
Everyone agrees that we need effective Covid-19 testing so the world can get back to normal, but are you ready for the real Covid-19 test? Its a spiritual test, and if you pass it, you will never go back to being normal. This teaching for Shabbat Tazria-Metzora looks at the similarities between biblical leprosy and the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic.
On the last day of Passover we, remember the crossing of the Red Sea and celebrate the Meal of Messiah, a celebration of Messiah, his resurrection, and our hope in the coming kingdom. The chasidim teach that the last day of Passover brings spiritual insights and revelations about Messiah. Here's a teaching on the origin of the Meal of Messiah custom.
Are you in love with Yeshua, or is your relationship merely a formality based on dogmas and beliefs? On the Sabbath that falls during Passover, we read Solomon's Song of Songs. Use the opportunity to take your relationship with the Messiah to a deeper place.
The secret of what it means to be "born again" is contained in the story of the resurrection of Yeshua. This teaching from the second day of Passover 2019 unpacks the apostolic-era meaning of the term "born again" while urging us to take hold of "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading."
"Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." So what does it mean to be born again. This teaching from Passover 2019 explains how being "born again" is a Passover experience and why the festival of Passover is the born again festival. Part one of a two part teaching.
Signs of the times are mounting up during the Coronavirus epidemic. Are we in the birth pangs of the Messiah? Passover during the Coronavirus lockdowns urges us to engage with Messiah in joy and gratitude despite the end of the world. Here's a teaching to help you get the most of the Passover season this year while you wait for the arrival of Messiah.
Locust plague, pestilence and disease, a river of blood, earthquakes and storms -- the ten plauges on Egypt? No. It's the headlines from the news. This teaching for Parashat Vayikra looks at the current signs of the times and the "Birth Pangs of Messiah" and tries to place it all in context.
The birth pangs of the Messiah! So what now? Whether your quarentined, under mandatory lockdown, or just stuck at home for Shabbat, here's a teaching about how to make the best of the Shabbat at home experience.
Who are you really? Before we can begin to discuss the riddle of Jewish identity and Gentile identity in Messiah, we need a firm grasp on spiritual identity. This teaching from Shabbat Zachor removes the costume to reveal the real person inside you.
Concern over Covid-19 continues to grow. This teaching follows the origin of the disease in Wuhan, China up to the present. What's our response as disciples of Yeshua? How should we understand the disease, and how should we respond? Join us for a day of prayer and fasting on Monday March 9, the Fast of Esther. Download the Petition for Protection aginst the Plague below, and add it to your daily prayers.
What does the normal disciple of Messiah look like? Here's a challenging teaching on the difference between the average disciple of Yeshua and the normal disciple of Yeshua.
What does the normal disciples of Messiah like? He looks like Messiah. He looks like the Sermon on the Mount. He looks like the new life, the transformed life, the quickened life. That transformation, that new life that dwells within him, impacts everything he does, everything he says, everything he is, thought, speech, and action. The branches of his life are weighted down with the ripe fruit of the spirit.
This teaching is part two of "The Quick and the Dead."
What's the differences between "the quick and the dead"? With a chasidic spin on salvation, here's an important teaching about the soul of every human being and "The Quickening" that we seek as the disciples of the Messiah.
The teaching from the first day of Rosh Hashanah on the subject of a woman's obigation to pray, efficacy of her prayers, and the power of a praying mother.
Forget about the summer blockbuster actions movies, we've got The Fall of the Evil Empire and The Bug Apocalypse. Pop up some popcorn and let's study the minor prophets Nahum and Joel.
Download the PDF (below) for a copy of the original handout.
What is "the Day of the LORD" of which the prophets speak, and what's the strategy for surviving it?
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:20)
Study through the prophets Zephaniah and Obadiah for insights into the biblical prophecies about "the Day of the LORD's Wrath," that coming day when God intervenes in human affairs, and discover the Bible's survival strategy. Dowload the attached PDF file of the original class handout.
In Judaism, the word "missionary" carries a negative connotation, but in the Torah, Abraham was the first missionary. This teaching learns from Father Abraham how to influence your fellow human beings with the light of the revelation of God. Rediscover a heart for evangelism.
Why do we celebrate the birth of Yeshua on the first day of the festival of Sukkot, and why do we remember the day of the giving of his name on the eighth day of Sukkot? Listen to this teaching to learn about the literary evidence that points to early Jewish disciples of Yeshua celebrating the festival of Sukkot as the season of our Master's birth.
Before the destruction of the Temple, the people of Judea experienced a series of dire omens and warnings that pointed to the coming catastrophe. Listen to a fascinating class, recorded live in the Beth Immanuel Green Room on Tisha b'Av in the year 2012, that compiles a list of the omens from the Talmud, Josephus, the Gospels, and Jewish tradition to tell the story of the lead up to the darkest day. Download the original handout in the PDF below.
When humanity sinned and went off the rails, why didn't God just delete us and start over? Here's a quick look at the plan of redemption and the good news of obtaining eternal life through Yeshua.
God did not abandon the human race but summoned them at various times from error and folly into an understanding of truth, leading them from slavery and wickedness into freedom and piety, from iniquity into righteousness, from eternal death into everlasting life. (Apostolic Constitutions)
If you just want to fit in with everyone and go with the flow, discipleship probably is not going to work for you. Disciples of Yeshua are consistently part of the minority and outside the concensus of social norms. Why is that? Here's a quick teaching on the concept of "the Fear of the LORD" and how God punishes the wicked by water and fire.
Let him learn how God punished the wicked by water and fire and glorified the righteous in each generation: I mean Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and his kin, Melchizedek, Job, Moses, both Joshua and Caleb, Phinehas the priest, and the holy ones in each generation. (Apostolic Constitutions)
Why are human beings such a mess? When God decided to create Adam, the angels were not too enthusiastic about the idea. Here's the story behind humanity, the mission of your soul, and the reason for your split personality.
Why did God create the universe and why did he make man to be a citizen of the universe? In other words, "What is the meaning of life?" Here's a quick half-hour course in the subject of life, the universe, and everything.
Not every law in the Torah applies to everyone equally. There is a difference between Jewish and Gentile disciples and their respective obligations to the Torah. Here's a quick overview of Distinction Theology and the commandments in the Torah that apply to non-Jewish followers of Yeshua.
Predestination or Free Will? Is there such a thing as free choice, or are we all just acting out a script? And if God's in charge of everything, why does he let bad things happen? Here's a short introduction to Theodicy from a Messianic Jewish perspective.
What's the difference between this world and the World to Come? And why do bad things happen in this world? Get a better grip on reality by studying the order of distinctions of creation. Here's an important teaching about the fabric of this universe and its relationship to the World to Come.
For a text version of the teaching, download the PDF below.
Is there a difference between the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of Hashem"? Here's a quick overview on the meaning and significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a disciple of Yeshua of Nazareth.
Why is Yeshua called "the only begotten Son"? What do we mean when we say that he is "the Son of God"? And how does his death on a cross provide forgiveness for sins? Here's a quick crash-course on Messianic Christology, that is to say, Messiahology. Listen to the audio and/or download the PDF version of the teaching below.