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What can the final words of Moses teach Christians about God, His Torah, covenant faithfulness, and following Yeshua? In Episode 15 of Christians Follow Torah Too? — Part 7 of our Deuteronomy series, Sabbath Lounge continues our verse-by-verse journey through Deuteronomy 32–34, the final chapters of Moses' life and the conclusion of the book of Deuteronomy. These chapters contain some of the most powerful and prophetic words in the Torah—including the Song of Moses, God's warnings about Israel's future, Moses' final blessing, the commissioning of Joshua, and the death of Moses. But there's an important question behind these chapters: If Moses' final instructions came from God, what do they mean for people who follow Yeshua today? Could Deuteronomy 32–34 help us better understand the relationship between Torah, covenant, obedience, faith, and Christianity? In this Bible study, we examine the text carefully and compare what we find in Deuteronomy with the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus) and the rest of Scripture.  

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-eighth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

As we continue our journey through the Book of Revelation, we are moving into one of the most dramatic transitions in the entire prophetic narrative. The first four trumpets have progressively affected the created order—the earth, the sea, the rivers and waters, and the heavenly bodies. But when we arrive at the fifth and sixth trumpets, something fundamentally changes. The judgments are no longer primarily directed against creation. They are directed against humanity itself. And even more significantly, Revelation begins to pull back the veil and show us what lies behind the rebellion of humanity: a supernatural kingdom of darkness, a counterfeit kingdom that seeks to imitate, corrupt and ultimately replace the Kingdom of God. We saw how trumpets one to four struck creation – the trees, the seas, the rivers and the darkening of the sun and the moon and the stars. And now the fifth trumpet releases supernatural powers that torment humanity. Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only to harm those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads – they had no authority to kill those people, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days those people will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. THE FIFTH TRUMPET — THE ABYSS IS OPENED Then the fifth Trumpet sounds. John says: I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth. And to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. He says “to him.” The star is a personal being identified as Abaddon, in Hebrew, or Apollyon, in Greek. Both names mean Destroyer. This is therefore a supernatural ruler of the abyss. The abyss is opened, and smoke rises from it like the smoke of a great furnace. Then something terrifying emerges. Locust-like beings appear. But John repeatedly says they are “like” something. They have human-like faces. They have hair like women's hair. They have teeth like lions. They have breastplates like iron. Their wings sound like an enormous army. And they have tails like scorpions. The picture is deliberately unnatural and chilling. These are supernatural demonic powers released from the abyss, a demonic army under the authority of Apollyon/the destroyer. But what is extraordinarily important is that God remains sovereign, and the demons are not given unlimited authority. They are told what they may do and not do. They cannot destroy the vegetation. They cannot harm those who possess the seal of God. And their period of torment is limited. They are given five months. This does not necessarily mean that believers experience no challenge of suffering, but it tells us that God's people are never outside His protective care. The five-month period is significant - 150 days the same as the 150 days during which the floodwaters prevailed in the days of Noah and God's people were preserved. The days of Noah were characterised by corruption and judgment, but God preserved Noah and his household. And Revelation here again presents humanity facing a world of escalating judgment while God continues to preserve those who belong to Him – It's Psalm 91 again. And next is the sixth trumpet - unleashing an unprecedented force of destruction in which one-third of humanity dies. Then, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, Revelation chapter 10 gives us a remarkable prophetic prelude to what will happen in the Tribulation. John is shown that God's apparent and puzzling delay in revealing the enigma of the history of the world is coming to an end. The history of mankind while blessed with the goodness of God is a confusing and often unhinged narrative of human disasters. But the mystery of God in all this is approaching its unveiling and fulfillment. And finally, with the seventh trumpet, the great declaration is made: The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. So Revelation 9–10 is not simply a catalogue of frightening events. It is a movement toward the final confrontation between two kingdoms—the counterfeit kingdom of Satan and the true Kingdom of God. THE UNVEILING OF THE SATANIC KINGDOM To understand Revelation 9, we must understand the biblical story of human rebellion. Behind the visible structures of human civilisation lies a deeper spiritual conflict, describing the development of what can be called the satanic kingdom—a kingdom born from Lucifer's rebellious ambition. The rebellion is therefore not merely evil behaviour. It is usurpation/overthrow. And that same ambition eventually appears here in Revelation in its fullest form to construct a counterfeit of God's Kingdom. The biblical picture becomes almost like a dark mirror. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The satanic kingdom is portrayed through the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet. The Dragon represents Satan. The Beast receives worship. The False Prophet directs humanity toward that worship. The result is a counterfeit kingdom with a counterfeit ruler, counterfeit worship and counterfeit authority. This is a counterfeit trinity, with the Beast receiving the worship that belongs to Christ and the False Prophet directing humanity toward worship of the Beast and global economic control. This is why Revelation is so concerned with worship. The final conflict is therefore spiritual before it is political. FROM TORMENT TO DEATH — THE SIXTH TRUMPET So the fifth trumpet brought all that torment without death. Now the sixth trumpet brings death on an unprecedented scale. Four angels are released at the Euphrates. The Euphrates is not an arbitrary detail. It represented the boundary of the land promised to Abraham. It was associated historically with the great enemies of God's people, and the Euphrates also becomes significant because of its association with the ancient world of Genesis and the traditions surrounding the angelic watchers and the Nephilim giants, and the Mesopotamian traditions represented by the Epic of Gilgamesh. GILGAMESH, THE NEPHILIM AND THE ANCIENT REBELLION This brings us to a fascinating theological connection. There is a Biblical account in Genesis ch. 6 that speaks about angels coming down and procreating with women in the earth. Genesis 6:4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. This is also mentioned in Jude And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6). The Bible records this as ‘evil crossing divinely established boundaries' which led ultimately to the corruption of humanity and the judgement of the flood of Noah. But another reality reverses that claim and establishes a deliberate and deceptive ancient Mesopotamian worldview of surrounding nations in the Middle East that were not only corrupted by these angels, but who admired and eventually recognised them as demi-gods. The ancient Mesopotamian world produced stories of supernatural beings, superheroes and angelic-human interaction. One of these superheroes named Gilgamesh was praised in a document called ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh' which presents Gilgamesh as an extraordinary figure, described in Mesopotamian tradition as partly divine and partly human. This occultic worldview is being adopted by many in today's culture. Documents and scrolls have been found that draw upon the Book of Giants traditions associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls, where Gilgamesh and Humbaba are identified in connection with the Nephilim tradition. The tomb of Gilgamesh has become a place of real interest and artifacts have been taken from the area surrounding his tomb and the US government officially handed it back to Iraqi authorities during a repatriation ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September 2021. It is interesting that there has been a rise in occultic practices and satanic rituals being practised globally in recent times but as these things get called out and exposed the hearts of the people involved in these things are becoming even more hardened. This is what is called theological inversion. Mesopotamian culture celebrated supernatural heroes and beings as the bringers of wisdom, civilisation and political power, and magical crafts. They were traditionally viewed as supernatural semi-divine philosophers and sages. But what humanity celebrated as greatness actually represented Satanic rebellion against God. But the Bible in Genesis 6 presents what the ancient world calls “divine wisdom” as corrupted supernatural knowledge, and what is celebrated as heroic power was actually part of humanity's descent into violence and corruption that brought on Noah's flood. This provides an important backdrop for Revelation. The final conflict is not simply about modern politics. It reaches back into the ancient spiritual rebellion and overcomes it, and Revelation presents that rebellion and its final expression. THE TWO HUNDRED MILLION John then sees an army of extraordinary magnitude. Two hundred million. Humanity is confronted with a force of unprecedented destructive power. One-third of humanity is killed. First, creation is struck. Then humanity is tormented. Then humanity is killed on a massive scale. So the judgments are escalating. But then comes one of the most sobering statements in the entire passage. The survivors do not repent. After everything they have witnessed, they continue worshipping demons and idols. They continue in murders. They continue in sorceries. They continue in sexual immorality. They continue in theft. This teaches us something profound about judgment. Judgment does not automatically produce repentance. Pain does not necessarily soften the human heart. Fear does not necessarily create faith. Even witnessing supernatural intervention does not guarantee surrender to God. The human heart can become so hardened that even catastrophe becomes an opportunity for further rebellion – the great warning of Revelation. The problem is not simply that humanity needs better circumstances. The problem is that humanity needs redemption. REVELATION 10 — WHEN HEAVEN ANNOUNCES THAT THE DELAY IS ENDING After the sixth trumpet, before the seventh, John sees another mighty angel. The angel is clothed with a cloud. A rainbow is upon his head. His face is like the sun. His feet are like pillars of fire. The imagery is majestic and Christ-like. Yet John calls him another mighty angel, so the emphasis is that he functions as a heavenly representative of divine authority rather than being identified directly as Jesus. And then John hears seven thunders speak and is about to write what they say. But heaven tells him: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.” There are things God reveals. And there are things God deliberately does not reveal. Revelation means unveiling—but even Revelation contains mysteries that remain sealed. We do not know everything. We do not need to know everything. God remains God. THE LITTLE SCROLL — SWEET IN THE MOUTH, BITTER IN THE STOMACH Then John is commanded to take the little scroll and eat it. It is sweet in his mouth but it becomes bitter in his stomach. The Word of God is sweet because it reveals God's purposes. It is sweet because God's Kingdom is coming, and because Christ will triumph and because evil will not have the final word. But the message is also bitter because before the Kingdom comes, judgment must unfold, and before restoration, rebellion must be exposed, and before the final triumph, the darkness must be confronted. So the prophet has to carry both dimensions. Sweetness and bitterness, Hope and warning. Judgment and restoration. The Gospel is good news, but it is good news precisely because the powers that oppose God will ultimately be defeated. THE MYSTERY OF GOD Then we come to one of the most important statements in Revelation 10: “In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished.” What is this mystery? It is a remarkable collection of biblical mysteries converging toward the final consummation. Mystery of Marriage: The union between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32). Mystery of Babylon: The condemnation of the "great prostitute" and the Beast (Revelation 17). Mystery of Iniquity/Lawlessness: The working of Satan and the revelation of the "man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Mystery of the Gospel: The shared life with Jesus to be understood by all (Ephesians 6:19). Mystery of Israel: The partial hardening of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Romans 11:25). Mystery of the Resurrection: The instantaneous change of the living and the dead at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51). Mystery of Godliness: God manifested in the flesh and preached among nations (1 Timothy 3:16). Mystery of the Kingdom: Truths given to believers but hidden in parables from those outside (Mark 4:11). These themes are not isolated. They converge because the story that began in Genesis is moving toward its finality and the rebellion that began in the heavenly realm moves toward its final confrontation. The covenant purposes of God move toward fulfilment and the Gospel moves toward its universal proclamation and victory. The Bride moves toward her wedding while Babylon moves toward judgment. The Beast moves toward destruction and the Dragon moves toward defeat. And Christ moves toward His Kingdom - His victory is not just the destruction of His enemies. It is the restoration of God's order. JUDGMENT AND RESTORATION This is why we should not read Revelation simply as a book of catastrophe. Running underneath the judgments is a deeper biblical theme: sifting and restoration. God is exposing what cannot remain and bringing hidden rebellion into the light. He is exposing the counterfeit and separating truth from deception. He is judging the powers that have corrupted humanity and is ultimately restoring what was lost. The final Kingdom is therefore not merely about the end of something - It is about the beginning of something. The end of Satan's counterfeit kingdom becomes the beginning of the visible reign of Christ. So as we move forward in our study of Revelation, we need to understand what Revelation 9 and 10 are really showing us. It is God's victory over the satanic kingdom and human rebellion — from Genesis to Revelation God's purpose: God desired a human family on earth to love Him and be loved by Him. And He appointed angels to serve and minister to humanity (Ezek. 28; Heb. 1:14). Rebellion 1 — Lucifer and Eden: Lucifer rebelled against God and beguiled Eve, drawing humanity into rebellion through Adam and Eve. God declared that the seed of the woman would ultimately crush the serpent's seed (Gen. 3:15). Rebellion 2 — Genesis 6: Other rebellious heavenly beings violated the boundary between heaven and earth, taking human women and producing the Nephilim. Their rebellion contributed to the corruption of humanity and the spread of violence and evil, resulting in the Flood. The particular angels involved were subsequently judged and imprisoned (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). But Gilgamesh mythology praises the fallen angels' progeny as great demigods as explained before. Rebellion 3 — Babel and the nations: God restarted humanity through Noah, but the human heart remained rebellious. At Babel, humanity again resisted God's command to fill the earth. God confused their languages and scattered the nations. Deuteronomy 32:8–9 describes the nations being allotted according to the sons of God - lesser divine beings. These angels subsequently rebelled and became associated with the nations' idolatry and corruption (Ps. 82). God's response — Abraham and Israel: God called Abraham to become the father of a covenant people through whom He would reclaim the nations. Israel was brought out of Egypt and into Canaan, where it confronted nations associated with idolatry and, in some cases, the Nephilim/Anakim (Num. 13:33; Deut. 2–3). The preservation of Abraham's seed was central to God's redemptive purpose, ultimately bringing forth Jesus through Mary. Christ reverses Babel: Jesus sent out seventy disciples to announce the kingdom and confront the powers of darkness (Luke 10:1, 17–20). Through His death and resurrection, Christ defeated the powers and reconciled humanity to God (2 Cor. 5:14–19). At Pentecost, the Gospel was heard by people from many nations in their own languages (Acts 2)—a powerful reversal of Babel's division. Rebellion 4 — Revelation 9: In the final period of judgment, those previous demonic powers are released from the Euphrates and unleashed against humanity (Rev. 9). Their rebellion reaches its climax, but Christ ultimately defeats them and consigns the rebellious powers to an awaiting final judgment. Rebellion 5 — after the Millennium: After the thousand years, Satan is released once more and deceives the nations into one final assault against God's people. God intervenes with fire from heaven, decisively ending the rebellion (Rev. 20:7–10). The story is therefore not simply the history of humanity's rebellion. It is the story of God progressively defeating every rebellion—human and angelic—and ultimately reclaiming the nations for His Son. And then they show us something even greater and the delay is ending. The mystery is approaching completion. The prophetic Word must be proclaimed. And the seventh trumpet is waiting to be sounded (Revelation 11:15), and as Revelation unfolds from chapter 9 toward chapter 10 and beyond, we are watching the collapse of the counterfeit and the emergence of the true. The darkness becomes darker, the rebellion becomes more open, the judgments intensify, but the purpose of God becomes clearer. History is not spiralling out of control – it is simply the worldly kingdoms being shaken. And ultimately, the declaration of heaven will proclaim The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ—and He shall reign forever and ever. Amen.

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-seventh episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

Jonah wasn't swallowed by a fish because he made a mistake. He was running from God's mercy. In this Bible Study Weekend sermon, we take a deep dive into the book of Jonah and discover that it's about far more than a prophet and a fish. Jonah is one of the most dramatic, rebellious, stubborn, and relatable figures in Scripture, and his story reveals something powerful about God's heart. As we explore the historical background of Nineveh, the Assyrian Empire, and Jonah's prophetic ministry, we uncover why Jonah fled from God's call and why he was so angry when Nineveh repented. Along the way, we'll see that Jonah's struggle is often our struggle: wrestling with God's will, holding onto resentment, and struggling to extend mercy to people we don't think deserve it. Most importantly, we'll discover the central truth of Jonah: Nothing is beyond God's mercy. Not your worst enemy. Not your worst mistake. Not even your worst day. This message also points us to Jesus, the "Greater Jonah," who didn't run from sinners but came to save them, giving His life so that all who trust in Him could experience God's grace and forgiveness. Scriptures Referenced: Jonah 1-4 2 Kings 14:23-27 Matthew 12:40-41 Luke 11:29-32 Key Takeaways: - Why Jonah ran from Nineveh - The historical context of Assyria and Israel - God's mercy for both Nineveh and Jonah - What Jonah reveals about our own hearts - How Jesus fulfills and surpasses Jonah's story

This is one of the more challenging Sundays of the year, and its texts all press toward the same difficult question: who is inside God's people, and by what authority is the boundary drawn?The Gospel gives us the story of the Canaanite woman — a scene that has troubled Christian readers for centuries because Jesus appears, at first, to refuse her request and to compare her people to dogs. What she does with his answer, and what he does with hers, is one of the most striking moments in Matthew. We will handle the passage with care and honesty about how difficult it is.The Old Testament tracks lead toward the Gospel from complementary angles. Track One brings us the moment of reconciliation in Genesis — Joseph revealing himself to the brothers who sold him — paired with Psalm 133's famous celebration of kindred living together in unity. Track Two brings us Isaiah's expansive invitation to foreigners to join themselves to the Lord, paired with Psalm 67's prayer for God's blessing to reach all nations. The Epistle continues in Romans 11 with what may be Paul's clearest word against the church's later attempts to replace or displace Israel: God has not rejected his people, and the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.For preachers continuing a series: the Matthew arc is now on the threshold of Peter's great confession at Caesarea Philippi, which comes next week. But before Jesus arrives there, the Gospel takes him first through a challenging encounter with a Gentile woman who insists on being heard.The ReadingsGenesis 45:1–15First Reading (Track One) — Joseph Reveals HimselfSummaryThe Joseph story reaches its most tender turning point. Joseph has been elevated in Egypt. His brothers, driven by famine, have come to Egypt to buy grain, not knowing that the powerful Egyptian official standing in front of them is the brother they sold into slavery decades ago. Joseph has tested them, wept privately more than once, and now can hold back no longer. He sends the Egyptians away so that he can weep in private with his family. And then he tells them: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. They are speechless with fear. He reassures them, kisses them, and weeps again.Key Ideas for Preaching* This scene has been prepared by pages of pain. The reconciliation does not happen quickly, and it does not happen because the brothers deserve it. Where in your congregation are people carrying the pain that comes before reconciliation, and how might this text steady them without pretending the timeline is short?* Joseph names what happened plainly — I am Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. He does not paper over the wrong. But he also does not turn the naming into a weapon. What does it look like to preach a reconciliation that tells the truth about what happened without weaponizing it?* Joseph's theological interpretation — that God sent him ahead of the brothers to preserve life — has been misused throughout Christian history as a formula for “God used the bad thing for good.” Read within the story, it is Joseph's hard-won meaning, offered to his brothers as a gift so they can live with what they did. Where in your congregation has “God used it for good” been forced on people prematurely, and how might Joseph's own timing correct that?* The reconciliation happens through tears, not explanation. Joseph weeps three times in this scene. How might your sermon honor the role of grief in real reconciliation — the weeping that has to happen before the family can eat together again?Significant Cautions* “God sent me before you to preserve life” is Joseph's interpretation of his own experience. It should not be handed to any suffering person as an explanation of what God is doing in their life. Joseph earned that meaning through years of hardship; no one else should have to earn a lecture on it.* The reconciliation is real but incomplete. The brothers remain afraid. Jacob will hear the news and be transformed. The years of harm have consequences that this scene does not undo. Do not preach reconciliation as if it erases the past.* The trafficking of Joseph, which we read about two weeks ago, is not made good by his elevation. Do not use his rise to soften the reality of what was done to him.Psalm 133The Psalm (Track One) — How Very Good and PleasantSummaryOne of the shortest psalms in the Bible, and one of the most quoted. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. The psalm reaches for two vivid images — oil running down Aaron's head onto his beard and clothing, and dew falling on the mountains — to describe what such unity is like. The psalm closes with the observation that this is where the Lord commanded blessing.Photo courtesy of the Catholic ScotKey Ideas for Preaching* The psalm's images are surprisingly bodily — oil on the head, running down the beard, falling on the collar; dew on mountains. Unity, for the psalmist, is something felt and touched, not just theorized. Where has your congregation reduced unity to an idea that can be agreed on, when the psalm imagines something more embodied?* Read alongside today's Genesis reading, the psalm's celebration of kindred in unity comes at the cost of what preceded it in Joseph's story. Unity is real, and it is also the fruit of long, painful work. How might your sermon hold both together?Significant Cautions* Do not preach unity as the suppression of difference. The psalm celebrates kindred living together, not kindred pretending to be identical.* “Kindred” can be read narrowly — only our people, only our tribe. In light of today's Isaiah and Matthew readings, the wider point of the day is that God's kindred is larger than we thought.Isaiah 56:1, 6–8First Reading (Track Two) — A House of Prayer for All PeoplesSummaryThe prophet speaks a word from God that extends the covenant beyond the boundaries of ethnic Israel. The verses selected for today focus on foreigners who have joined themselves to the Lord — they are welcomed to the holy mountain, their offerings will be accepted, and God's house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. God declares plainly: I will gather still others besides those already gathered. (The verses between 1 and 6, not included in the reading, extend the same welcome to eunuchs — a striking expansion for its time.)Key Ideas for Preaching* The prophet is naming a widening of the people of God that many in the community would have resisted. Foreigners are welcomed. God's house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Where in your congregation is this widening still contested, and how might Isaiah's word speak to it?* The verses skipped by the lectionary include the equally striking welcome of eunuchs — people who could not have children and were, in the ancient world, excluded from full covenant standing. The wider prophetic vision includes people whose bodies and identities the community had already written off. What might it look like to name that omitted section in your sermon, so that its welcome is not left silent?* “I will gather still others besides those already gathered.” That is God's own commitment to keep expanding the people. Where has your congregation quietly assumed that the gathering is complete?Significant Cautions* Do not use this text to bless or condemn any modern political program — the prophet is speaking about God's covenant people, not about state immigration policy.* “House of prayer for all peoples” was quoted by Jesus in the temple. That connection is worth naming, but be careful not to use the connection to displace the original Jewish audience of the prophet.Psalm 67The Psalm (Track Two) — Let All the Peoples Praise YouSummaryA short psalm that opens with the language of the priestly blessing — may God be gracious to us and bless us — but extends outward almost immediately. The whole point of God's blessing on this people is that God's saving power might be known among all nations. “Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.” The psalm closes with the harvest and God's blessing reaching to the ends of the earth.Key Ideas for Preaching* The blessing on this people, in this psalm, is for the sake of all peoples. God's grace does not stop with those who first receive it. Where has your congregation received God's grace as if it were for their consumption, and how might this psalm turn it outward?* The refrain “let all the peoples praise you” is repeated for emphasis. It is not a decorative flourish; it is the psalm's central conviction. What might your sermon do with the specific vision of every people praising God?Significant Cautions* Do not read “all the peoples” as a program for religious conquest. The psalm imagines every people praising God, not becoming absorbed into any one particular tradition.Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32The Epistle — The Irrevocable GiftsSummaryPaul asks the direct question: has God rejected his people, Israel? His answer is emphatic: by no means. He himself is a Jew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, and God has not rejected the people God foreknew. The lectionary jumps ahead to Paul's summary: the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. All — Jews and Gentiles both — have been disobedient in various ways, and God has bound all to disobedience so that God may have mercy on all.Key Ideas for Preaching* Paul, a Jew writing to Gentile Christians, is at pains to insist that God has not abandoned Israel. In a Christian tradition that has too often taught the opposite, Paul's word is worth reading slowly and letting land. What does it look like to preach this text in a way that names, and refuses, the church's long anti-Jewish history?* “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That is one of the most beautiful sentences Paul ever wrote. God does not take back what God has given. Where in your congregation are people afraid that God has taken back what God once gave them — a calling, a gift, an assurance — and how might Paul steady them?* “God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that God may be merciful to all.” That is a startling formulation. The mercy is the point; the disobedience is the honest naming of what has to be met by mercy. How might your sermon land the “so that God may be merciful to all” without softening or hurrying?Significant Cautions* This passage is one of the clearest arguments in Scripture against the church's later teaching that Christianity has replaced Judaism. Preach it against that teaching plainly, without softening. Paul is not saying God has moved on from Israel — he is saying explicitly the opposite.* “God has imprisoned all in disobedience” has been misread as a claim that God causes sin. Paul is describing a spiritual condition, not authoring it. Handle the language carefully.* The universal reach of God's mercy in this text — “mercy on all” — has sparked long debates. Do not try to settle those debates on the pulpit. Let Paul's language stand.Matthew 15:(10–20), 21–28The Gospel — The Canaanite WomanSummaryTwo scenes here, though many preachers focus on the second. In the first (verses 10–20, optional), Jesus teaches that what defiles a person is not what enters the body but what comes out of it — out of the heart. The teaching pushes against the ritual purity system that separated people. Then the second scene: Jesus withdraws to the region of Tyre and Sidon — Gentile territory. A Canaanite woman comes out to him, crying for mercy — her daughter is tormented. Jesus does not answer her. The disciples urge him to send her away. He says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She kneels before him: “Lord, help me.” He says, “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” Her answer is one of the most famous lines in the Gospels: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Jesus responds: “Woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you wish.” Her daughter is healed instantly.Key Ideas for Preaching* This is one of the hardest passages in the Gospels. Jesus's initial response to the Canaanite woman is not kind. He ignores her, then he says his mission is not to her people, then he uses language that compares her people to dogs. Preachers have handled this text in a dozen different ways over the centuries, and there is no scholarly consensus about what to make of Jesus's behavior. Be honest with your congregation about the difficulty rather than pretending it resolves neatly.* What the passage clearly does is present a Gentile woman as faithful, quick-witted, and correct. She wins the argument. Her faith is what Jesus praises. Where in your congregation has faith been imagined as something that agrees with authority quietly, and how might this woman's persistent, argumentative faith rewrite that picture?* Jesus's ministry visibly expands in this scene. Whatever the initial exchange means, the ending is that a Gentile woman's daughter is healed by the same Jesus whose ministry has, until now, focused on Israel. Something has widened. How might your sermon honor the widening without smoothing over what came before it?* The woman does not accept the terms of the exchange. She does not say, “You're right, I don't deserve it.” She reframes the metaphor and turns it back on Jesus with a wit and dignity that carry the whole scene. What might your people learn from her about the faithfulness of persistent asking — even, sometimes, of talking back?* The word “Canaanite” is Matthew's specific choice (Mark calls her Syrophoenician). Matthew is deliberately reaching back to the ancient enemies of Israel — the Canaanites — and making a point about how far God's welcome now extends. Take a moment to name this if you have space; it deepens the scene considerably.* Read alongside Isaiah 56 and Romans 11, this scene is part of a day whose whole shape is the widening of God's people. The Gospel is the hardest text of the day, but it does not stand alone. How might your sermon set it inside the day's larger movement rather than reading it in isolation?Significant Cautions* Do not paper over Jesus's initial words. He calls the woman's people, in effect, dogs — a real slur in the ancient world. Sermons that pretend the language is not shocking miss what the passage is doing.* Different faithful readers make different sense of Jesus's initial response. Some read it as testing the woman. Some read it as Jesus giving voice to the prejudice of his time so that his final answer breaks it. Some read it as Jesus's own limited understanding being challenged and changed. Do not preach as if the question has been settled. Faithful readings differ.* Whatever you make of Jesus's initial response, be clear that the woman is not being taught a lesson about her place. The passage is not endorsing Jesus's opening line. The woman's answer, and Jesus's praise of her faith, together indicate that her side of the exchange is the right side.* “Great is your faith” has sometimes been used to shame people whose prayers are not answered — as if the woman got what she asked for because she believed hard enough, and anyone who has not received healing lacks her faith. Preach against that misuse plainly.* The optional verses (10–20) about what defiles a person are worth including if you have time. They set up the second scene: Jesus has just said that ritual purity does not determine who is close to God. The Canaanite woman is the immediate test case.Thematic ConnectionsThe Gospel is the natural center for the day, and it is one of the most difficult passages the year hands us. The whole day pushes toward the same question: who is inside God's people, and by what authority is that boundary drawn?On Track One, Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers gives us a picture of unity that has been earned through long grief. The reunion is real, and it is also incomplete — the brothers remain afraid, and the years cannot be undone. Psalm 133 celebrates unity, but the Genesis story has already shown us how much labor unity actually takes. Preachers on Track One can hold the difficulty of the Gospel alongside the fact that the widening of God's family has never been quick or clean.On Track Two, the connection to the Gospel is more direct. Isaiah 56 announces that foreigners will be welcomed to the holy mountain and that God's house will be a house of prayer for all peoples. Psalm 67 celebrates the ways God's blessing on this people is for the sake of all peoples. Read alongside the Canaanite woman's story, the track prepares the ear for the widening that is happening in the Gospel scene, however uncomfortable the way in.Romans 11 sits inside the day as the most direct word for preachers who have followed the Romans arc across the summer. God has not rejected God's people. The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God's mercy is extended to all. This is Paul's answer to the anti-Jewish readings of Romans 9–10 that have plagued Christian history. If you have preached those chapters, this is the Sunday to name plainly where Paul actually lands.For preachers continuing a series: the Matthew arc is now on the edge of Peter's great confession at Caesarea Philippi, which comes next week. But before Jesus arrives there, he has this encounter that widens his ministry beyond Israel. The Gospel is preparing us to hear Peter's confession as an answer to a question that has been growing more urgent throughout these summer weeks: who is this Jesus, and who is he for? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionarypro.substack.com/subscribe

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-sixth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

Has God's purpose for Israel changed? In this episode, Rabbi reveals God's unique perspective of Israel, and how we shouldn't feel threatened by Israel's past and present role in His plan of redemption. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner   **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -  https://djj.show/dbeb18 

Most of us recognize Israel's importance in the Old Testament Scriptures, but we often fail to recognize Israel's importance in God's plans for today. In today's episode, discover how God intends to use His covenant people in the here and now. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner   **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -   https://djj.show/gl5 

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-fifth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-fourth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-third episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-second episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

Most of us recognize Israel's importance in the Old Testament Scriptures, but we often fail to recognize Israel's importance in God's plans for today. In today's episode, discover how God intends to use His covenant people in the here and now. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner   **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -   https://djj.show/gl5 

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and forty-first episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and fortieth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Grab your Hosea Scripture Journal right now. Have you become calloused to sin? Our text today is Hosea 7:1-3: when I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face. By their evil they make the king glad, and the princes by their treachery. — Hosea 7:1-3 God begins with hope. "When I would heal Israel…" God's desire was not first to destroy, but to restore. He was ready to heal, ready to renew, ready to bring his people back. But every time healing approached, more sin surfaced. "The iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria…" This is what sin does when it is left unchecked. It does not stay hidden. It rises. It spreads. It multiplies. What was once private becomes public. What was once occasional becomes habitual. What was once shameful becomes acceptable. This is what happens when sin becomes normal. Hosea describes a culture built on deception. They deal falsely. Theft happens indoors. Violence happens outdoors. Corruption reaches the palace itself. Even worse, leaders were not restraining evil—they were rewarding it. And that is always the mark of deep decline. When evil is celebrated, when truth is mocked, when leaders profit from corruption, and when people stop blushing at sin, a society is in trouble. Israel was in trouble. And if we are honest, our nation is in trouble, too. But this is not only about nations. It is about you. The drift begins in the human heart, then rises, spreads, and multiplies. A compromise you once resisted becomes something you manage. A habit you once confessed becomes something you excuse. A conviction you once felt strongly becomes strangely quiet. That is how a heart hardens. Then God drops a dose of reality into their culture of sin: "They do not consider that I remember all their evil." God has a long memory. He sees what we normalize. He remembers what we rename. Yet even here, there is mercy for Israel and for us. The God who exposes sin is still the God who says, "When I would heal…" He reveals in order to restore. Do not wait until sin becomes your new normal. Do not keep living in sin while trying to hide it from God. When sin becomes normal, healing feels unnecessary. Let truth break in today. Let God expose you. Call it what it is—sin. Confess it quickly and specifically. Turn from it fully. Because what you normalize today will rule you tomorrow. Don't be ruled by sin. Be ruled by God. DO THIS: Identify one sin, compromise, or habit you have started excusing. Name it honestly before God and take one step to remove it today. ASK THIS: What sin has become too normal in my life? Where has my conviction grown quiet? Am I resisting the healing God is trying to bring? PRAY THIS: God, keep my heart sensitive to what offends you. Expose what I have normalized, and heal what I am willing to surrender. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lord, Have Mercy"

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-+episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-eighth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-seventh episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-sixth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

Greetings saints of the Most High. In this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer, I offer a needed clarification regarding Israel, the Jewish people, and the broader discussion from this teaching series, "What the Torah Can and Cannot Do for Us." In this episode, I examine what Scripture says about Yah's everlasting covenant with Israel, Paul's teaching that God has not rejected His people, and the reality that we as non-Jewish believers are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel rather than replacing it. I also address the misuse of passages such as "neither Jew nor Greek" and explain why Torah can never be used as a justification for contempt, condemnation, or arrogance toward our Jewish cousins.   If you have ever wrestled with the relationship between Torah, covenant, Israel, grace, and the calling of Gentile believers in Messiah, this teaching will help ground that discussion in the plain witness of Scripture. My prayer is that this message leads us all toward covenant humility, truth, prayer, and love rather than pride or hostility. Key themes in this teaching include: Yah's everlasting covenant with Israel God has not rejected His people Grafted into the commonwealth of Israel The meaning of "neither Jew nor Greek" in context The oracles of God entrusted to Israel Why Torah does not sanction contempt  

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-fifth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people. It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him. We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted. In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA Questions: Genesis 50:15-26DiscoverWhy were the brothers scared?What is significant about Joseph's response?Why are Joseph's instructions regarding his bones recorded in Hebrews 11? NurtureWhat do you use to avoid needing grace?How does Joseph shadow Jesus?How does this story connect to the good news of Hebrews 7:25? ActWhat would it look like for you to live in His grace and kindness this week practically?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people. It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him. We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted. In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA Questions: Genesis 50:15-26DiscoverWhy were the brothers scared?What is significant about Joseph's response?Why are Joseph's instructions regarding his bones recorded in Hebrews 11? NurtureWhat do you use to avoid needing grace?How does Joseph shadow Jesus?How does this story connect to the good news of Hebrews 7:25? ActWhat would it look like for you to live in His grace and kindness this week practically?

By: Dr E. Allen Griffith. This is the two hundred and thirty-fourth episode of By the Book! Listening to this could change your life! New episodes every Friday!

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA QuestionsDiscover:What strikes you the most about Jacob's blessing upon his sons?Why is it important that Jacob be buried where his father and grandfather were buried?From the text, is their "grievous mourning" a good thing?Nurture:What blessing of the gospel most comforts and strengthens you?How does the gospel inform the way we handle death?How does the gospel inform the way we grieve?Act:What is one way you could actively seek to bless those closest to you?Consider something that you have lost or that has changed and what it would mean to process that.

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA QuestionsDiscover:What strikes you the most about Jacob's blessing upon his sons?Why is it important that Jacob be buried where his father and grandfather were buried?From the text, is their "grievous mourning" a good thing?Nurture:What blessing of the gospel most comforts and strengthens you?How does the gospel inform the way we handle death?How does the gospel inform the way we grieve?Act:What is one way you could actively seek to bless those closest to you?Consider something that you have lost or that has changed and what it would mean to process that.

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA QuestionsDiscover What is the significance of Jacob claiming Ephraim and Manasseh?What do we learn from Jacob's blessing to Joseph?What does Jacob mean when he responds to Joseph with: "I know, my son, I know"?NurtureHow does God's fruit producing work in us parallel that of Jacob and Joseph?What shadows of the gospel is Jacob giving to Joseph?Why is it good news for us that God accomplishes all His purposes despite our efforts to accomplish our own?ActWhat does it look like for you to bless someone?Is there someone in your life whom you are exhorting to believe God regularly?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA QuestionsDiscover What is the significance of Jacob claiming Ephraim and Manasseh?What do we learn from Jacob's blessing to Joseph?What does Jacob mean when he responds to Joseph with: "I know, my son, I know"?NurtureHow does God's fruit producing work in us parallel that of Jacob and Joseph?What shadows of the gospel is Jacob giving to Joseph?Why is it good news for us that God accomplishes all His purposes despite our efforts to accomplish our own?ActWhat does it look like for you to bless someone?Is there someone in your life whom you are exhorting to believe God regularly?

Message from Jay Mosser on May 3, 2026

In this passage, the Apostle Paul addresses a deep question:

Sunday Morning Bible StudyApril 26, 2026Rev. David BuchsGrace Lutheran Church, Little Rock, Arkansas

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people. It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him. We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted. In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA QuestionsDiscoverHow do you define success? Has that definition changed over the years? Do you put much thought into your future? If so, how and why? If not, why not? How would you describe a “sojourner”? Nurture What person has been the greatest blessing in your life? How?How does being a disciple of Christ Jesus affect your view of success? The future? Act As a disciple of Jesus Christ, how can you uniquely be a blessing to those around you?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people. It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him. We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted. In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good.DNA QuestionsDiscoverHow do you define success? Has that definition changed over the years? Do you put much thought into your future? If so, how and why? If not, why not? How would you describe a “sojourner”? Nurture What person has been the greatest blessing in your life? How?How does being a disciple of Christ Jesus affect your view of success? The future? Act As a disciple of Jesus Christ, how can you uniquely be a blessing to those around you?

Sign Up Free Mini E-Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Mini Courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Up for Prayer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Orbis Prayer Ministry Network – Receive prayer for healing, prophecy, inner healing and deliverance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give - Orbis Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Ken Fish addresses the rise of global antisemitism and answers a key question for believers:What does the Bible actually say about Israel and the Jewish people?Rather than approaching the topic politically, this episode builds a purely biblical case—walking through covenant, prophecy, and New Testament theology to explain why Israel still matters in God's plan.Ken outlines 10 scriptural reasons why Christians should love Israel, emphasizing that God's promises are ongoing, not obsolete. From Abraham's covenant to the role of Israel in bringing forth the Messiah, the episode challenges modern assumptions and calls believers to align their perspective with Scripture.The core message:God's covenant with Israel is still active—and understanding it correctly shapes how we see history, theology, and the future.

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions - Genesis 46DiscoverWhy did God need to tell Jacob not to be afraid?What is the significance of all the names?Why is it important that they were shepherds?NurtureWhen was the last time you stepped out in obedience to God?When was the last time you experienced God coming through for you?How does the gospel empower you to be the truest version of yourself?ActWhat would it look like for you to build an "altar" in your home, work, and play?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions - Genesis 46DiscoverWhy did God need to tell Jacob not to be afraid?What is the significance of all the names?Why is it important that they were shepherds?NurtureWhen was the last time you stepped out in obedience to God?When was the last time you experienced God coming through for you?How does the gospel empower you to be the truest version of yourself?ActWhat would it look like for you to build an "altar" in your home, work, and play?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions - Genesis 45DiscoverWhy would it have been emotional for Joseph to reveal himself to his brothers?Why is it important for Joseph to tell his brothers that God sent him?What does Jacob mean when he says "It is enough"?NurtureHow do your emotions impact your close relationships?What most interferes with your ability to be present with people?How does the gospel empower us to extend and actually receive grace?ActWhat is one thing you could do to be more present with those you love?What grace do you need to extend this week and what grace do you need to receive?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions - Genesis 45DiscoverWhy would it have been emotional for Joseph to reveal himself to his brothers?Why is it important for Joseph to tell his brothers that God sent him?What does Jacob mean when he says "It is enough"?NurtureHow do your emotions impact your close relationships?What most interferes with your ability to be present with people?How does the gospel empower us to extend and actually receive grace?ActWhat is one thing you could do to be more present with those you love?What grace do you need to extend this week and what grace do you need to receive?

Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: John, email (2:47) - Has Israel ever possessed the entirety of the land described in Numbers 34? Jose, email (6:28) - Is modern Israel God's chosen people? Robert, OR (10:53) - Can you explain Romans 9 verses 6 and 7? Who is the Israel of God in Galatians 6 verse 16? Victor, NJ (19:38) - Where were we before we were born? How long did it take God to create the Earth? Was Jesus aware of who He was from when He was a baby? Geraldine, NY (25:52) - Will people that get saved after the Rapture but before the Tribulation go to heaven when they die? Ed, VA (35:31) - Why did God make us, knowing how the world would be? Stephanie, NJ (39:54) - Am I wrong to want to stay at my church instead of going to a new church with my husband? Susan, NY (42:54) - Can you explain John 14 verses 1 to 4? Why do we need to wait for heaven, if the Holy Spirit is already in us? Rita, NY (49:48) - Is there anywhere in the New Testament that says how much we should tithe? Eric, NJ (53:27) - How was Jesus able to be calm during Judas's betrayal? Ask Your Questions: Call: 888-712-7434 Email: Answers@bbtlive.org

Pastor Jeff Schwarzentraub proclaims that God keeps His word—or nothing else matters—especially His everlasting covenant with Israel, as vivid in Jeremiah 31:35-37: as long as sun, moon, and stars endure, Israel remains His nation. He unpacks scriptures like Hebrews 8, Galatians 3, and Romans 11, refuting claims God rejected or replaced Israel. God's sovereign promises to Abraham stand firm, uniting Jew and Gentile in Christ's new covenant while preserving Israel's future salvation. Trust His authoritative voice today. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions Discover:- Why does Joseph plant the cup in Benjamin's sack?- What is significant about Judah's statement: "God has found out the guilt of your servants..."?- What do we learn about Judah's heart by the end of the chapter?Nurture:- Is it possible that God's love for us is similar to Jacob's love for Benjamin?- In what ways does this story lead us to the gospel of Jesus?- How does the gospel break down walls of hostility?Act:- Believing the gospel, is there anything you could do in moving towards someone in forgiveness and reconciliation?

The story of Joseph continues the lineage of the people of Israel - God's chosen people.  It is clear from beginning to end that God is more faithful to His people than they are to Him.  We will see, in the life and times of Joseph, that in God's sovereign plan nothing is wasted.  In the end, our lives, like Joseph's, will prove our great need for God's salvation and that his plans and purposes for our lives are good. DNA Questions Discover:- Why does Joseph plant the cup in Benjamin's sack?- What is significant about Judah's statement: "God has found out the guilt of your servants..."?- What do we learn about Judah's heart by the end of the chapter?Nurture:- Is it possible that God's love for us is similar to Jacob's love for Benjamin?- In what ways does this story lead us to the gospel of Jesus?- How does the gospel break down walls of hostility?Act:- Believing the gospel, is there anything you could do in moving towards someone in forgiveness and reconciliation?

Is the modern nation of Israel the people of God today? In this episode, Pastor George Sayour examines one of the most debated questions in Christian theology: Who is the true Israel?From a historic Reformed perspective, this teaching explores the biblical relationship between Israel and the Church and how the New Testament interprets the promises made to God’s people. Looking at key passages from both the Old and New Testaments, Pastor Sayour explains the covenantal view that the Church is the fulfillment of Israel, and what that means for how Christians should understand God’s promises, prophecy, and the identity of the people of God.This episode offers a clear and biblical framework for thinking about Israel, the Church, and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan. Topics include:Is modern Israel the covenant people of God?What does the Bible mean by “true Israel”?How the New Testament interprets Old Testament promisesThe Reformed understanding of Israel and the ChurchIf you’re trying to understand the biblical relationship between Israel and the Church, this discussion provides a thoughtful Reformed explanation rooted in Scripture.

Is the modern nation of Israel the people of God today? In this episode, Pastor George Sayour examines one of the most debated questions in Christian theology: Who is the true Israel?From a historic Reformed perspective, this teaching explores the biblical relationship between Israel and the Church and how the New Testament interprets the promises made to God's people. Looking at key passages from both the Old and New Testaments, Pastor Sayour explains the covenantal view that the Church is the fulfillment of Israel, and what that means for how Christians should understand God's promises, prophecy, and the identity of the people of God.This episode offers a clear and biblical framework for thinking about Israel, the Church, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. Topics include:Is modern Israel the covenant people of God?What does the Bible mean by “true Israel”?How the New Testament interprets Old Testament promisesThe Reformed understanding of Israel and the ChurchIf you're trying to understand the biblical relationship between Israel and the Church, this discussion provides a thoughtful Reformed explanation rooted in Scripture.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

"Your Old Nature & Your New Nature"Genesis 33The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, GodPastor Nate ClarkeMarch 15, 2026Join us Easter Sunday at our new church building April 5th7339 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville VAVirginia's proposed Constitutional amendments on Abortion & Marriage - How to VOTE BIBLICALLY: https://youtu.be/Y8z8xTFsOn8How should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? https://youtu.be/2OJUIM9YRwASERMON NOTES:- Genesis 33:1-4- Genesis 33:12-20- Your old nature & your new nature - Encounters with God will bear the fruit of transformation- Jacob: “heel grabber”   Israel: “God rules / prevails”- 2 Corinthians 5:17- Signs of a transformed Jacob:    - He now goes ahead to meet Esau. New courage.- Genesis 33:3    - He humbles himself by bowing 7X. Surrendered humility.- Genesis 33:3- Sanctification (discipleship) doesn't happen at one time, but over time.- From Genesis 33-50, “Jacob” is used 45x and “Israel” is used 23x- Signs of doubt and struggle for Jacob:    - He ordered his people based on emotional priorities.- Genesis 33:6-7    - He insisted Esau receive his gifts- Genesis 33:8-11    - He settled short of where God called him- Genesis 33:18- Matthew 7:15-20- If your name is Israel, how long are you going to live like your name is Jacob?- Hebrews 5:11-14- Philippians 2:12-13- Ephesians 4:22-24- Romans 12:2- It only takes 1 day to obey God, but disobedience can delay you for years.Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Mechanicsville outside Richmond in Central Virginia.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/Website: https://oasischurch.online

Have you ever wondered why God's heart beats so strongly for Israel? Through an unbreakable covenant, God chose Israel not for their greatness, but to display His faithfulness to all nations. Pastor Jeff unpacks how God initiated, secured, and promises to restore His relationship with Israel—a relationship as eternal as the stars in the sky. For Christians today, standing with Israel isn't political; it's biblical. Through Israel came our Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. Discover God's unchanging love for His chosen people in this enlightening message. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

MILLENNIAL TAPROOT: The LORD God of Israel = God the Son by Daniel D. LeLong M.S. https://www.amazon.com/MILLENNIAL-TAPROOT-LORD-God-Israel-ebook/dp/B0FPYVRGV6 Methylfolate-graymatternutrigenomic.com/ Early praise for Millennial Taproot: “I found it to be concise and intelligent… It is a book I will continue to keep on my bookshelf and enjoy.”- Elder Howard Jeffers, East Moorefield (West Virginia) Seventh-Day Adventist Church “An insightful assessment of present day culture, yet the abiding assurance of Chris’s sovereignty.” -Pastor Rick Waltz, Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, Lycoming County Pennsylvania “It is written at a high level.” -K.V. Rathnam Author Bio: Daniel D. Lelong is an eight generation Believer in the LORD Jesus Christ, a Mensan, and an archer. He holds a bachelor's degree in physchology, and a quantitative master's degree in administrative science. He attended and studied Messianic congregations for ten years, and actively evangelizes. He rejoices in systemic theology due righteousness, teaching youths and adults, praise and worship, and anabolization of true leadership.

“Why are you crying?” The question was asked by a volunteer for a Christian relief ministry helping those whose homes had been destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The woman (who had burst into tears in the previous moment) replied, “I’m not crying because I lost everything. I’m crying because love just showed up.” God’s heart shows itself in His desire that we help those in need. When Moses gave the people of Israel God’s instructions before they entered the land He’d promised them, he told them, “Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted” toward the poor. “Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). Their hearts toward the poor were to reflect God’s own: “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart” (15:10). Whether in disaster situations or everyday life, when we give to those in need out of the blessings God has kindly given us, we make evident the love of His Son, who came “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In fact, God promises He “will bless” those who share His unselfishness with others (Deuteronomy 15:10), both in this life and the next (see Luke 14:14). We can’t see God yet, but others may catch a glimpse of Him when we emulate His compassion for them. May His love show up as kindness through us today.