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The study of the Bible in its historical context - with a focus on the archaeology, history, geography, customs , culture, and even the languages of the ancient Middle East. WE ask what did they understand THEN - the original intent of the Lord - so that we can expand and enrich our understanding NOW and thus become true disciples of Adonai Yeshua as in John 8:31-32.
Episodes
43 minutes ago
43 minutes ago
TRUTH NUGGET 28
Lesson 2 Part 2
Disciples and Apostles?
This is lesson 2 Part 2 in this 4 part video series. If you have not watched lesson 1 parts 1 & 2 or Lesson 2 part 1 we urge you to do so. This lesson depends upon the content of lesson 1. Shown below are the links for the previous lessons for your convenience.
Lesson 1 Part 1 –
https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/
Lesson 1 Part 2 –
Lesson 2 Part 1 -
https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-2-part-1-disciples-and-apostles/
In part 2 we study His word in a deeper way. We need to see other examples of what it was like to be a disciple of a rabbi in Jesus’ day. Moreover, what is it like to be a disciple of Jesus! He’s God. How can we be like HIM?
But, then there’s disciples who are called apostles – one’s sent out. Jesus says to us since the Father has sent Him so too Jesus sends us. YES!! That is being a disciple of a rabbi. Jesus was sent so we are sent. But, not all are sent. Most disciples need to stay and be ready. Whether you are a disciple who stays or one sent out, we need to be ready to do the impossible when Jesus asks.
I highly recommend you also access the lessons of Ray Vander Laan at his website www.ThattheWorldMayKnow.com. I will link you to his article on the Rabbis and Talmideem (Rabbis and Disciples). I thank Ray so much for being my teacher and being the one who has inspired me to study this concept in a deeper and more expansive way. Also, at his website, click LEARN and look up his AUDIO lessons and rabbis and disciples. You will not be disappointed. Here’s links to key places on Ray’s website.
Article on Rabbi & Talmid (a must read)
https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim
Audio lessons (listen to all audio with the word disciple or rabbi or talmid)
https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/category/Audio
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
2 days ago
2 days ago
TRUTH NUGGET 28
Lesson 2 Part 1
Disciples and Apostles?
This is lesson 2 in this 4 part video series. If you have not watched lesson 1 parts 1 & 2 we urge you to do so. This lesson depends upon the content of lesson 1. Shown below are the links for Lesson Part 1 and Part 2 for your convenience.
Lesson 1 Part 1 –
https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/
Lesson 1 Part 2 –
In this lesson we again put the Bible into its historical context; we reconnect to the Jewish roots of our faith. We ask ourselves is the church made up of converts and disciples and apostles. If so what is the difference? Aren’t disciples ones who believe that Jesus is Lord and are saved by grace? Are pastors then apostles? In Jesus’ day the concept of what was a disciple and what was an apostle was clear. We need to study what those first disciples understood. We need to grasp what they saw and what they heard and what they experienced. Once we do our understanding will become so enriched and expanded. We will see what Jesus wants of them THEN and this means what He wants of us NOW.
I highly recommend you also access the lessons of Ray Vander Laan at his website www.ThattheWorldMayKnow.com. I will link you to his article on the Rabbis and Talmideem (Rabbis and Disciples). I thank Ray so much for being my teacher and being the one who has inspired me to study this concept in a deeper and more expansive way. Also, at his website, click LEARN and look up his AUDIO lessons and rabbis and disciples. You will not be disappointed. Here’s links to key places on Ray’s website.
Article on Rabbi & Talmid (a must read)
https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim
Audio lessons (listen to all audio with the word disciple or rabbi or talmid)
https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/category/Audio
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
2 days ago
2 days ago
TRUTH NUGGET 28
LESSON 1 PART 2
If you have not watched part 1 here’s the link. You must watch part 1 – it is the background study that gets us to the redemption of Adonai and what He needs to complete. So please watch part 1 to understand part 2.
Link to part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/
In part 2 we get to the gospel that would make sense to those first disciples. For them something was not working. It is probable that in Jesus’ day there was a debate as to how one’s INTENTIONAL sin was cleansed and forgiven. The answer was not in the Torah, the main five books of the Bible in Jesus’ day. That the Torah was missing something is understood by the great scholars of Judaism and the writer of the book of Hebrews, more than likely a deeply religious Jewish disciple of Jesus.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
3 days ago
3 days ago
TRUTH NUGGET 28
LESSON 1 PART 1
What is the Gospel? Oh sure anyone of us can write up the definition. But, what did it mean to the disciples - the first ones with Jesus? Did it mean the same thing? Again, let's study His word in its historical and cultural context. As we do we will try and hear as the first hearers heard and saw and understood. Then, our understanding of the word of the Lord and the gospel will be enriched. Our minds will see the amazing foundation this gospel has once placed back into its Jewish roots.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
4 days ago
4 days ago
LESSON 49 PART 2
GOD’S NEW LAWS ON SLAVERY
I mentioned in the audio lesson about a number of links I’d provide that will enhance and add to your study. These links are shown below.
Great article on slavery as found in the Bible – a must read for all of you serious about your understanding of God’s word -
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/slavery-in-judaism
Another awesome article reviewing slavery in the Bible – discussing that God was setting up conditions to eliminate slavery once and for all -
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-treatment-of-non-israelite-slaves-from-moses-to-moses
Here’s a third article reviewing slavery Biblical slavery – these three articles are a great way to get a detailed view of what God’s word with His people 3400 year ago to be a witness to all the surrounding pagan nations as to who God is and His special and unique view of all men and women - https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/slavery-in-the-hebrew-bible/
In this podcast we will see how non-Hebrew slaves were to be treated by the Hebrews then, in the 15th century B.C. For example, check out Lev. 19:18 and 34.
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Lev 19:18)
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. (Lev 19:34)
Here in the Torah, God’s instruction, the Lord is telling the Hebrews 3400 years ago that 1) to love your neighbor as yourself and 2) to love the stranger as yourself (Hebrew word translated as stranger means then one living close to you, not a Hebrew, and a pagan – it does not exclude the non-Hebrew slave who is a resident stranger, non-Hebrew, living among you – slaves are included). Thus, it is clear the Lord is telling them then and us now that the stranger among us, one who is not like us, one who is not even part of our religion, are to be loved by us as our neighbor. We notice that slaves are included in these laws. Why? Because God does not say that slaves, Hebrew and non-Hebrew slaves, are excluded from these laws. This would’ve been explosive in the ancient Near East back then when slaves were looked down upon as almost not human in some cases. But, our God, the only God, the true God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, and the God of Israel, as we shall see in this lesson, is saying to all of us that we are made in His image, plus that all men and women are equal in the eyes of the Lord, and all men and women are to be treated as if almost as if they were family. When we sit back and stop to listen as they heard God’s word then, we see that our God is totally awesome and has given us a perspective for us today of how we as His people should treat and love others. Jesus said it be when we read about a question He was asked in the Temple Courts …
One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend (the Greek word translates a Hebrew word meaning “crucified.” WOW!! Is Jesus giving us a picture that the Written and the Living Word a day or two later were crucified together?) the whole Law and the Prophets." (Mat 22:35-40)
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
5 days ago
5 days ago
LESSON 49 PART 1
GOD AGAINST SLAVERY
I mentioned in the audio lesson about a number of links I’d provide that will enhance and add to your study. These links are shown below.
Article reviewing slavery in the USA leading to the Civil War - Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/african/journey-in-chains/
Article reviewing slavery in the USA leading to the Civil War - History Channel
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery
Article reviewing slavery in the USA leading to the Civil War - American Heritage
https://www.americanheritage.com/stolen-slavery
Article on child trafficking - Save the Children
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/child-trafficking-myths-vs-facts
STATE DEPARTMENT OF USA – Child Trafficking
https://www.state.gov/humantrafficking-about-human-trafficking/
Definition of Slavery - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/slavery_1.shtml
ARTICLE ON DISCIPLESHIP IN JESUS’ DAY - Research Gate
ARTICLE ON SLAVERY IN ISRAEL OF A NON-HEBREW - Hebraic Thought
https://hebraicthought.org/examining-ancient-israelite-slave-law-leviticus/
ARTICLE ON FREE WILL – WE’RE NOT SLAVES - Got Questions
https://www.gotquestions.org/free-will.html
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRTANNICA – what is slavery
https://www.britannica.com/topic/slavery-sociology
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
6 days ago
6 days ago
LESSON 48 PART 2
In part 2 of lesson 48 we learn that the Lord implies to all Israel that they need to be in His word; they need to remember His awesomeness, His power, His absolute greatness, and that He is God and God alone, the only God who does and will judge and punish sin. He suggests this by saying His people need to remember what the Lord showed them and what they SAW at Sinai. God said this was to prove Himself so that Israel would remember and thus be prevented from sin and turning from the Lord.
So, for us, this seems to suggest we need to emphasize His written word. We too need to remember His awesomeness, His power, His absolute greatness, and that He is God and God alone, the only God who does and will judge and punish sin. We need His written word to shows us the goal, the target, the whole purpose of His written word, and that is JESUS!
But, you are not going to understand this if you just read the Bible. There is a Bible you can buy called the ONE YEAR BIBLE. Link to the One Year Bible - https://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Bible-NLT/dp/1414302045 and here's a link to the website where you can simply download the reading plan and use your own Bible - https://oneyearbibleonline.com/?version=51&startmmdd=0101 The reading schedule gives you scriptures to read daily. If you follow the schedule you will read the entire Bible in one year. This is an awesome tool.
But, just reading the Bible will NOT answer the big questions. In the Bible there is NO scripture that says Jesus is God. You will not find it anywhere. Also, since all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures in Jesus' day, the Old Testament, one asks what is the GOSPEL? What is the good news? By reading the Bible only, again which is a very good thing, it will not give you the deeper and more expanded idea of what the gospel really is.
It is like asking where in the Bible does is say abortion is a sin? It doesn't! No where. But it does!! God said this ...
"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
(Deu 12:29-32)
God said don't do what the pagans do! What did the pagans do? They practiced sex outside of marriage. It was part of their temple rituals to their gods. God said don't do what they do. So, God just condemned pre-marital sex! Also, the pagans practiced abortion. Yes, many pagan nations did child sacrifice but I am specifically talking about abortion. The Ancient Greeks said abortion was legal. Rome as well. And an ancient Egyptian papyrus was found dated to the 15th century B.C., at least 100 years before the Exodus, which was a medical book. In that medical book it specified specific techniques for abortion. Imagine, the Hebrews were in Egypt for all those years in a culture that practiced abortion. And, what did God say? He said don't do what these pagans do. They did abortion. So, God is saying abortion is a major sin, an abomination. You'll only get this from Bible study and not just reading the Bible. We need both. But you can't have one without the other.
Here are two links to read about that Egyptian papyrus and that Egypt did practice abortion prior to Moses' day.
Link 1 - https://muvs.org/en/topics/termination-of-pregnancy/abortion-in-antiquity-en/
Link 2 - https://ancientegyptianfacts.com/ancient-egypt-abortion.html#google_vignette
Everyone in those days had gods and rituals and temples and a worldview. Pagan religion had altars to sacrifice to their gods. The Lord, Adonai (His name is יהוה probably pronounced YAH VAY not YAH WAY since there is no "W" sound in Hebrew) probably knew that His people would want to also use altars as part of their praise and thanksgiving to Adonai. So, the Lord gives specific directions on ho altars to be used for Him are to be built. Amazingly archaeology gives us insights into why the Lord gave these detailed specific instructions. Once again it has to do with all the pagan nations around the Hebrews. Once again God is saying DON'T BE LIKE THEM and separate yourselves from them and what they do. God's instructions for altars separates His people from the ancient pagans. But, that is for us as well. Paul is only being a good Torah teacher when he wrote ...
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; (Eph 5:1-7)
Just as the Lord instructed His chosen so does the Lord instruct us, His chosen in Yeshua, in Messiah, in Christ, not to do what the pagans do. It is right there in front of us. And you do not learn this by simply reading the Bible. Study. Study. Study. May His word be absorbed by you BODY and MIND and SPIRIT since God's word is His bread of life as we read in Deut. 8:3.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - somewhere on the Nile near Luxor)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
7 days ago
7 days ago
Lesson 48 Part 1
Adonai, the Lord, His name is probably pronounced Yahvay (there is NO "W" sound in Hebrew), has just completed giving the words of His Covenant (see Exod. 34:28) in Hebrew עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים Aseret HaDevarim or the Ten Statements or Words. We know them as the Ten Commandments (NOTE: the phrase the Ten Commandments is not in the Bible only עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים Aseret HaDevarim). It was an amazing event but the Lord now makes known to all of us that this event was beyond amazing, beyond miraculous. It was incomprehensible. It was beyond understanding. There is more to this event at Mt. Sinai than we imagined. I t had to do to what they saw the day God came to give them the words of the covenant. What did they see?
More than that God shows us that the giving of the Ten Commandments is tied to His feast we read about in Acts 2. It seems related to what the Hebrews SAW when God gave them the Ten Commandments. In Acts 2 all the religious Jews, the Gentile converts to Judaism called proselytes, and other Gentiles who believed in the Jewish God and were called God Fearers, were celebrating God’s “appointed time” of Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. In Greek it is named Pentecost. It is so awesome to see that the words God inspired Moses to write in Exod. 20:18-26 and the words God inspired Luke to write in Acts 2 suggest a connection between Sinai and Jerusalem. We missed of course since few of us have had Bible studies that focus on the Jewish culture in 1446 B.C., in 30 A.D. or studies that help us understand the Greek and the Hebrew. But, the good news is that the Lord will not let this continue. Today He is moving to bring us tools and teachers to take us deeper into His word.
In this lesson I mentioned a number of articles that sadly discuss that many Christian churches today neglect to teach the word of God. It is one this to read the Bible but quite another to understand it. An example is you read the Bible and you believe that Jesus is God. OK, the Bible never uses the phrase, “Jesus is God” or Jesus never says “I am God.” OK, so you read the Bible. Big deal. You now need a teacher to help get at how the Bible shows that Jesus is God. So, one just can’t read the Bible. It needs to be taught. Both are critical for all Christians. And yet, many churches have given up on teaching the Bible. Check out the superb articles at the links below.
https://www.gotquestions.org/purpose-church.html
https://albertmohler.com/2014/05/14/why-so-many-churches-hear-so-little-of-the-bible
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2015/02/17/whatever-happened-to-teaching-in-the-churches/
https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/my-church-doesnt-teach-the-bible
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - at the ancient temple built by Herod to honr Augustus Caesar in Omrit Israel)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
We now focus on the 10th Commandment …
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exo 20:17)
Some say “covet” is the same as lust or craving or desire. It can’t be since there is no law against craving, desire, or lust. In this podcast Bible study we will find that COVET (the Hebrew is תחמד or Tachmod) is an obsessive mental focus on getting by whatever means something that belongs to one’s neighbor. COVET or coveting is “forbidden thought” that if followed through results in an evil action. There are two operatives here – thought and action. When you take this definition it is seemingly the cause for murder, committing adultery, stealing and lying. Jesus seems to teach this when He said …
"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Mat 15:19-20)
In Jesus’ day the word “heart” was used as a picture to represent the mind. Jesus is saying our mind gives rise to “evil thoughts” and this seems to connect to COVET as an obsessive mental focus on getting by whatever means what we are craving or lusting.
I ended this session on the Ten Commandments by suggesting you watch the 5-minute Bible study video episode 9 in the series, “Five Small Stones.” It is entitled “It Is Finished.” This video is a teaching about the “missing piece” in the Sinai Covenant that is recognized by Jewish non-Christian scholars, the writer of the book of Hebrews, and Paul. The link to this video is …
https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-9-rom-104-it-is-finished/
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - Timnah Park north of Eilat Israel)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link -https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Jesus teaches His disciples that they are the BRANCHES and He is the TRUE VINE. On top of that these branches are "clean" because of what they learned from their rabbi, Rabbi Jesus. Clean? You mean somehow Jesus' words gave them a bath? Huh?
He was teaching Jews in Israel about 2000 years ago. We are so disconnected from those days that much of what Jesus taught simply escapes us. So, if you thought you understood everything in John 15:1-11 wait till you watch this vidcast! The church has abandoned understanding the Bible in its ancient historical and cultural context. There are so many misconceptions that we are taught mistakenly and without the knowledge of the teacher. It is time once again to reconnect to those days and study His word in context and grasp the original intended meaning by the Lord. Ready? Let's go.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret ... taking a break in Jerusalem)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0