Messianic Audio Teachings

Recorded 01/05/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 2 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews and who were those Hebrews to whom the epistle was sent? Why did the early church nearly exclude Hebrews from the canon. This teaching provides a quick introduction to the book of Hebrews addressing the questions of what, who, to whom, when, where, and why. We look for clues in introduction and subscription of the epistle and we speculate about the possible authorship of the epistle, the intended audience, the occasion that might have inspired its the composition, and the overall genre of the piece.

I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. (Hebrews 13:22)

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)

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a_word_of_exhortation.mp3

Repentance from Dead Works II

Recorded 06/08/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 19 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Does repentance mean to change your mind or to turn from sin?

More thoughts on repentance from dead works as an essential part of the gospel and one of the elementary teachings of Yeshua. Evangelism is not like making toast. Discipleship and evangelism entail an ongoing process. This teaching includes excerpts from a blog in which an Evangelical pastor explains why he does not preach repentance.

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The Blood of Bulls and Goats

Recorded 12/21/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 35 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

What were the sacrifices supposed to accomplish? The writer of the book of Hebrews maintains that the animal sacrifices offered in the Temple cannot grant forgiveness for the world to come or the reward of eternal life. If so, why did God command the Israelites to offer sacrifices?

The contents of this discussion contributed to the First Fruits of Zion audio-teaching What About the Sacrifices?.

This sermon marks one year in Beth Immanuel's study of the epistle to the Hebrews, so it features a brief review of the first eight chapters of the book.

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the_blood_of_bulls_and_goats.mp3

Solomon's Porch

Recorded 01/12/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 3 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Where did the first Christians go to church? Our third teaching on the book of Hebrews takes a look at the Jewish believers and their relationship to the Temple and Levitical worship system in the first century and looks for the possible occasion that inspired the writing of the epistle. Learn about the sacred place of assembly where the Jerusalem community of disciples used to gather daily for prayer.

And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. (Act 5:12)

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solomons_porch.mp3

Faith toward God

Recorded 06/15/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 20 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

The second elementary teaching of the Messiah in Hebrews 6:12 is called faith toward God, but how does “faith towards God” function as a distinctive, unique, hallmark of first century Messianic Judaism? All sects of Judaism believed in God. Even the Sadducees believed in God. Find out how Yeshua transformed the faith of his followers, and get a fresh handle on what it means to believe in Jesus and to be born again. This teaching includes a discussion on the relationship between Messianic Judaism and the rest of the Jewish people in the form of the parable of the man with two daughters.

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Mediator of the New Covenant

Recorded 12/28/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 36 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Anyone can pray, and God knows the thoughts of every creature. The difference between this world and the world of the divine is artificial, and God pervades all things, and all things are in him, so why would anyone need a mediator?
In the New Covenant, Yeshua acts as priest, sacrifice, and mediator.
Installment 36 in the Beth Immanuel Hebrews series finishes Hebrews chapter 9 with a discussion on Hebrews 9:15-28 and the Messiah's role as a mediator between Israel and God.

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Sundry Times and Divers Manners

Recorded 01/19/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 4 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

How does Yeshua and the message of Messiah stack up against the patriarchs and the prophets? Our fourth teaching on the book of Hebrews considers the first two verses of the epistle:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. (Hebrews 1:1-2).

This teaching identifies the thesis statement behind the book of Hebrews with reference to Yalkut Shimoni and Midrash Tanchuma on Isaiah 52:13.

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalte (Isaiah 52:13)

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Instructions About Washings

Recorded 06/22/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 21 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Hebrews 6:1-3 identifies instructions about washings as one out of six fundamental, elementary teachings about the Messiah. Does this refer to baptism? Are these instructions about how to baptize? Learn about the Jewish practice of immersion in a mikvah and discover evidence of early, apostolic-era catechism prior to immersion. This teaching includes a short introduction to the Didache.

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A Body You Have Prepared

Recorded 01/04/2014 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 37 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Do the sacrifices take away sins or not? The Torah seems to indicate that they do, but the writer of the book of Hebrews says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Dive into Hebrews 10 with an entertaining, fast-paced discussion of an apostolic midrash on Psalm 40 and it's appearance in the argument regarding the suffering of the Messiah as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

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Radiance of Glory

Recorded 01/26/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 5 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

What role in the creation of all things did the Son play? From where did the apostles derive their high view of Messiah in His divinity? This teaching explores early apsotolic mysticism. Take a quick immersion into the Christology of the apostles and the writer of the book of Hebrews based on the prologue to the book of Hebrews.

...His Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:2-3).

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Laying on of Hands

Recorded 06/29/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 22 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Why do we "lay hands" on the sick? What does the ceremony of laying on of hands actually mean?

The writer of the book of Hebrews lists the laying on of hands as one of the elementary teachings of the Messiah. What is the laying on of hands and what did it signify to the early believers? Listen to a rapidly moving Bible study on the subject of semichah in the apostolic era.

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Single Sacrifice for Sin

Recorded 01/11/2014 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 38 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Hebrews 10:10-18 presents the death of Yeshua of Nazareth as the single sacrifice for sin, but does that make Yeshua a sin offering like those once offered in the Temple? In what sense is Yeshua a sacrifice? How can he be a sacrifice when his death does not accord with the Levitical laws for the sacrificial services whatsoever? This teaching, based on the final chapter of Pastor Lancaster's booklet What about the Sacrifices? answers the difficult question of how the death of the Messiah provides atonement for sin.

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single_sacrifice_for_sin.mp3

Ten Testimonies

Recorded 02/02/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 6 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

In the first two chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the writer of the epistle employs ten proof texts drawn from the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings to make his case that Messiah is more exalted than angels. In this teaching, D. Thomas Lancaster connects the dots between the ten passages to reveal the larger message.

A fast-paced, crash course weaving all over the Bible as we follow an apostolic midrash. This is a fun exploration of New Testament Era methods of Bible interpretation.

Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. (Hebrews 2:5)

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Spoken by Angels

Recorded 02/09/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 7 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

The writer of the book of Hebrews indicates that the Torah was spoken by angels. In this teaching, D. Thomas Lancaster takes a look at first-century angelology to understand the apostolic concept of the Torah being delivered by angels and what role that concept plays in the argument in Hebrews 2.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (Hebrews 2:1-3)

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The Initiation

Recorded 07/06/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 23 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

The elementary principles include the subject of baptism and instructions regarding immersions. In this teaching, we look at the evidence from early Christian documents. Find out how the second-century Christians welcomed new converts into the body of Messiah. This teaching contains quotations from Justin Martyr's First Apology, from the Didache, and from the Apostolic Constitutions. The quotations are available in the PDF document below titled Initiation Texts.

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the_initiation.mp3

Full Assurance of Faith

Recorded 01/18/2014 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 39 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

I'm not perfect, just forgiven. I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a sinner saved by grace. Something has gone terribly wrong with our thinking if we believe that the only difference between a believer and a non-believer is that the believer is forgiven and assured of eternal life. That idea is not worthy of the name Christian or the name of Messiah, and it sullies the reputation of our holy Master. Hebrews 10:18-31 contains a stern warning and exhortation to the upward call of discipleship and the demands of new-covenant living.

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The Partisans

Recorded 02/16/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 8 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

The kingdom of heaven prior to the final redemption can be likened to a partisan movement, such as Robin Hood and his men or the European freedom fighters that fought in Nazi occupied territory. The Partisans is a teaching on Hebrews 2 in light of Psalm 8 and the parable of the ten minas in Luke 19 concerning all things in subjection to the Son and the revelation of the kingdom.

We have this common goal, this common purpose. We have received the dispatch. The king is on the throne, and he is on the way here. If we will be loyal to him now, we are part of his kingdom. But he has not yet arrived. There is another king on the throne, who holds the power of death, and we are the resistance movement, loyal to the incoming king because we know that, even though this enemy and pretender, this contender for the throne still holds power, his rule is over, he has lost his authority, and his time is quickly coming to an end.

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Our Hope is not in Heaven

Recorded 07/27/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 24 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

The Evangelical gospel asks, "Are you certain you are going to go to heaven when you die?" The Christian objective seems to be to secure a place in heaven, but the Bible says very little about heaven. Find out why most passages about heaven are actually not about heaven at all in this installment on the basic teachings of the Messiah from Hebrews 6.

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Ani Ma'amin (I believe)

Recorded 01/25/2014 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 40 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

What do Maimonides and the book of Hebrews have in common? Find out how the Talmud and the book of Hebrews intersect when it comes to the question of faith in Messiah.
The book of Hebrews continues with a call to hold fast to faith in the coming of the Messiah.

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The Family of God

Recorded 03/02/2013 • Posted 09/07/2015

Number 9 in the series Holy Epistle to the Hebrews

Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, but the Messiah has the status of Son over the household. Hebrews 3:1-6 contrasts and compares the respective stations of Moses and Messiah in the household of God. This teaching considers the familial language the Yeshua and the apostles applied to the believers, and it discusses the concept of family loyalty and our obligations to one another within the body of Messiah.

How do we know that the Messiah will be more worthy of honor than Moses? The Holy One Blessed be He spoke of Moses saying, “My servant Moses is faithful in all my house,” but He spoke regarding the Son of David saying, “He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” Now who is greater, the servant over the household, or the Son of the household? Surely the Son is more worthy of honor than the Servant. Now the builder of the household has more honor than the household, just as the Creator has more honor than the creation. So the Son has more honor than the servant.