Audio Series: Shabbat beShabbato

God created the word in six days and rested on the seventh, thereby instituing the Sabbath day. But that's just "In the Beginning." There's a lot more to the Sabbath after that.

The theme of the Sabbath rest runs through the whole Torah and all the scriptures. It's a central part of our identity as Yeshua-followers and Bible-believers, and Sabbath is the most defining institution of Messianic Jewish practice. The Sabbath provides a foretaste of the Kingdom and the World to Come. This series of teachings examines each portion of the Torah for themes and insights into the LORD's Holy Day. Study the weekly Torah portion with us from Sabbath to Sabbath (Shabbat beShabbato) to discover the Sabbath in the Torah.

From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath (Shabbat beShabbato), all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 66:23)

1 Oneg Shabbat Recorded 10/25/2015

On Shabbat Bereishit, we read about how God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.In this teaching from from Shabbat Bereishit, Pastor Lancaster introduces the new Oneg Shabbat campaign, a new initiative to focus attention on better observing the LORD's holy day and propogating awareness of the Sabbath.

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oneg_shabbat.mp3

2 Noach Noach Recorded 10/17/2015

Did Noah keep the Sabbath? This simple question opens a discourse on the Sabbath in parashat Noach which explores the idea of Sabbatarianism before the flood and before Mount Sinai. The teachings covers a broad range of ideas related to the Sabbath including the concept of Shabbat Menuchah (Sabbath Rest), the Sabbath as a covenant sign, and discussion on the seven laws of Noah and the Sabbath day.

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noach_noach.mp3

3 Abraham and the Sabbath Recorded 10/24/2015

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

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abram_and_the_sabbath.mp3

4 The Prophet's Reward Recorded 11/05/2015

The hospitality of Abraham and Sarah provides the basis for a teaching of Yeshua in Matthew 10. Find out what it means to receive a prophet's reward and a righteous person's reward. Showing hospitality to guests is a mitzvah for which a person receives a reward in this world but the principle remains intact for the world to come.

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the_prophets_reward.mp3

6 Holy Light Recorded 12/10/2015

Should I light a Hanukiah? What about Shabbat candles? Discover the connection between kindling the Sabbath lamps and the Chanukah lamps? Find out how the lighting of the Chanukah light brings holiness into this world and teaches us an important lesson about the value of the Sabbath. This teaching from Chanukah 2015 on Parashat Vayeshev includes reference to the San Bernadino terrorist attack.

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holy_light.mp3

7 Inheritance of Jacob Recorded 12/10/2016

The Sabbath Keeper is promised to "feed on the heritage of Jacob your father" (Isaiah 58:14). What is the "heritage of Jacob" and what is the relationship to Sabbath keeping? This teaching, a discussion of Isaiah 58:13-14 from Shabbat Vayeitzei 5777, wanders like a strange dream in many directions.

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inheritance_of_jacob.mp3

25 Shabbat Shalom Recorded 03/26/2016

It's more than just a greeting. When we say "Shabbat Shalom," we are actually conferring a blessing for peace upon one another. This audio teaching, tangentially related to parashat Tzav, explores the concept of the Sabbath peace with reference to Yeshua's instructions:

When you come to the house, ask of it’s shalom. It will be that if the house is worthy, your shalom will come upon it, and if it is not worthy, your shalom will return to you. (Matthew 10:12)

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shabbat_shalom.mp3

33 The Land I will Remember Recorded 06/04/2016

I have three questions about Leviticus 26:42:

Why are the names of the forefathers presented in reverse order in Leviticus 26:42?
Why is Jacob's name spelled with an vav?
And why does it say HaShem will remember his covenant with Abraham and Jacob, but regarding Isaac, the Hebrew does not use the word "remember."

This teaching demonstrates how the land of Israel is an important part of the final redemption and the coming of the kingdom. The blessings in Bechukotai are prophetic descriptions of the land of Israel in the Messianic Era.

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remember_the_land.mp3

46 The Good Portion Recorded 08/08/2015

Yeshua said that Miryam chose the good portion and it would not be taken away from her. What is the "good portion" that Miryam chose? In this teaching from Parashat Ekev, the Mitzvah of saying the grace after meals opens a discussion about the story of Miryam and Marta in Luke 10 and the importance of speaking words of Torah and the words of the Master at the Sabbath table. An important reminder about the distractions of materialsim.

Yeshua answered and said to her, "Marta, Marta, you are worried and alarmed about many things. Nothing is necessary except one thing, and Miryam has chosen the good portion that will not be taken from her." (Lukas 10:42-43, DHE)

This teaching was originally presented to the community of Beth Immanuel on Shabbat Ekev, August 8, 2015 / Av 23, 5775.

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the_good_portion.mp3

47 Good Intentions Recorded 08/15/2015

Life is full of good intentions: "One of these days, I'm going to start exercising and eating healthy." "One of these days, I'm going to get my life back on track." Have you ever noticed that "one of these days" never comes? This teaching about the Sabbath and God's Holy Days demonstrates how HaShem's appointed times are designed to interrupt our routine and provide opportunities for self-improvement, increasing godliness, and drawing nearer to God. We call this the "cycle of sanctification." We learn about how, just as Israel was commanded to sacrifice only at the place God chose to put his name, likewise, God's holy days function as "sanctuaries in time," chosen by God for all his people's participation. The forty days of repentence before the high holy days are an ideal time to get life back on track with renewed focus on repentance, prayer, and charity.

This teaching was originally presented to the community of Beth Immanuel on Rosh Chodesh Elul, Shabbat Re'eh, August 15, 2015 / Av 30, 5775, at the beginning of the forty days of repentance.