Topical Studies

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the armor of G-d—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit is telling them to do agrees with Scripture or not.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the matter of atonement—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about being "under the law"—a "walk in the Word."  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about body, soul, and spirit—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

Let's begin this study with the body.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the matter of atonement—a "walk in the Word". As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

Scriptural quotations are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted. Bolded text or other emphases in the Scriptural references are mine.

Covenants are frequently mischaracterized as "contracts" between two individuals.  While there are some similarities, there are vast differences as well.  From all appearances in our modern culture, there is a profound lack of understanding of what a covenant is and is not.  This lack of knowledge has left many believers stranded in a limbo of inaction and confusion in their walk of faith or even in their own marriages.

The first time the Hebrew word for covenant [בְּרִית - brit] is recorded in Scripture is in the account of Noah in Genesis 6:18.

But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark-- you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.  And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.  Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.  As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.  Thus Noah did; according to all that G-d had commanded him, so he did.  (Genesis 6:18-22)

In our search for covenants in Scripture, G-d's covenant with Abram is not the first "Abrahamic" covenant we find.  Instead, we discover that Abram covenanting with others.

The very first mention of a covenant [בְּרִית - brit] involving Abram is found in the story of Lot's abduction during the sacking of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 14.

Like his father Abram before him, Scripture does not record G-d's covenant with Isaac first.  Instead, we are first told about another covenant.

Genesis chapter 26 gives us the next covenant described in Scripture.  The chapter relates the following story:

Abraham has died, and Isaac is living in the Land.  There was a famine in the Land, and Isaac went to the city of Gerar to Abimelech, king of the Philistines.  G-d tells Isaac not to go down to the land of Egypt. Instead, Isaac stays in Gerar, becomes rich, and establishes a "great household" (verse 14).  Abimelech sends Isaac away because he has become "too powerful" for the Philistines, so Isaac moves into the valley outside the city.  There Isaac's servants dig wells and quarrel with the herders of Gerar over who owns the water.  Afterward, Abimelech comes with his advisor and military commander and makes a covenant with Isaac.  They state, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you" (verse 28) and pursue a covenant with him.  This covenant with Abimelech is found next after G-d's covenant with Abram.

In a pattern consistent with his forebears, Scripture does not record G-d's covenant with Jacob first.  Instead, we are first told of another covenant: Jacob's covenant with Laban.  Genesis 31 relates the story of this covenant.

At Rebekah's prompting, Isaac sent his son Jacob away to her brother, Laban, to get a wife for himself.  Jacob traveled to Laban, served him for 20 years, and gained his treasured wife, Rachel, after being tricked into marrying Leah.  After Jacob flees from Laban with his family, servants, and animals, Laban overtakes Jacob's group and confronts them.

The Sinai Covenant—G-d's covenant with Israel established at Sinai—is one of Scripture's most significant and frequently referenced covenants.  Moreover, the concepts and principles it embodies serve as the foundation of legal systems throughout the Western world.  Sometimes called "The Law", the "Mosaic Law", or even "Moses", an understanding of this covenant requires a careful and thorough examination of the text.

The book of Deuteronomy begins with these words:

These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.  It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.  In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the LORD had commanded him to give to them, after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.  (Deuteronomy 1:1-4)

Deuteronomy chapter 29 begins the Covenant at Moab.

These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb.  And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.  Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.  I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.  You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the Lord your God."  (Deuteronomy 29:1-6)

Like others in this series, G-d's covenant with David is not the first "Davidic covenant" we find in Scripture.  Instead, the first "Davidic covenant" is David's covenant with Jonathan.  Chapter 18 of the book of 1 Samuel begins with these words:

Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.  Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  (1 Samuel 18:1-3)

Air.  Shelter.  Water.  Food.  In addition to being one of these "essentials for life", food is often at the heart of fellowship.  "Breaking bread" with other believers goes back to Acts 2 and earlier.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:46-47)

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the greatest commandment—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the great commission—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about G-d's appointed times and holy days—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about holiness—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about Messiah and the moedim (G-d's holy days)—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

The weekly Sabbath is a beautiful gift from our Creator.  It is a time of peace, serenity, tranquility, and security: a time of abiding in the presence of the Most High without the ordinary cares and concerns of the rest of the week.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

Let's be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and test our understanding of the Sabbath against Scripture.  We're taking a "walk in the Word" to see what it says on the subject, and it says a lot!

If you haven't done so already, you may want to read the introduction to this series.

This article starts at the beginning with Genesis to see what the Tanakh says about the Sabbath.

We're being like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and testing our understanding of the Sabbath against Scripture.  We're taking a "walk in the Word" to see what it says on the subject, and we've arrived at the Apostolic Writings.

If you haven't done so already, you may want to read the introduction to this series and part 2, which focuses on the Sabbath in the Tanakh.

Let's continue our journey and see what the Apostolic Writings say about the Sabbath.

We've been like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and tested our understanding of the Sabbath against Scripture.  We've "walked in the Word" to see what it says on the subject and arrived at our destination: a summary of the facts we've found along the way.

If you jumped straight here hoping for a short conclusion, you might be in for a shock.

Details about the Sabbath abound throughout Scripture.  Starting from the beginning of Scripture and examining every passage that uses the words in Hebrew or Greek translated as "Sabbath", we have compiled the following list of over 100 facts about the Sabbath day.  This list is intended to be exhaustive; however, please contact me if you know of another observation regarding the Sabbath that should be included.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

We've taken a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the Sabbath, and, using the observations gleaned in part 2 and part 3 of this series, I have answered the following questions regarding this subject.  If you have a question that is unanswered here, please get in touch with me.

The Scriptures describe the Creation (of the entire universe!) in one chapter of Genesis and then take most of three complete books (Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) to describe the construction of the Tabernacle and the sacrifices to be performed there.

Should we disregard a significant portion of G-d's Word because Messiah "fulfilled" the sacrifices or because the Temple no longer stands? Are the sacrifices irrelevant in the daily lives of modern believers?

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the sacrifices—a "walk in the Word". As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

G-d gave a revelation of the end of time to the Apostle John.  This information is recorded in the book called "Revelation," and in that book, it is written:

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.  And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.  Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.  Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.  And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of G-d;  (Revelation 4:2-5)

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about the soothing aroma of sacrifice—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about speaking in tongues—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about tithing—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

Tradition is often the topic of passionate debate and discussion among Messianic believers.  But, unfortunately, it is also often a point of unnecessary division.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

Tzitzit are one of the most visible expressions of Torah observance within Jewish and Messianic communities.  Consequently, the details of this commandment are often the topic of debate and discussion among Messianic believers.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.

I ask you to join me on a journey through Scripture to see what it says about when Yeshua was crucified—a "walk in the Word".  As we walk, let's speak, believe, and do what is right, be merciful in our speech and actions, and walk humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

Worship is a central part of the lives of believers.  In John chapter 4, Yeshua says those who worship G-d must worship Him "in spirit and truth."

What is worship?  How do we do it?  How often should we do it?  Are we confusing praise with worship or vice versa?

When we are asked by leaders in our congregations to do something or to believe something regarding Scripture, we should always be like the Bereans and test everything against Scripture itself (Acts 17:11)—the whole of Scripture.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  If a person feels "led by the spirit" to speak, behave, or believe a certain way, they should test that spirit (1 John 4:1) and see whether what that spirit tells them to do agrees with Scripture.