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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
Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Saturday Mar 21, 2026
SOURCES
Shown below are the sources and references that I used that support this video lesson. Again, I don't teach my own opinion. These sources will provide you with a good initial start into each of the topics in the video.
And, remember, as we enter "The Coming Darkness" that we are more than conquerors as in Rom. 8:37. On top of that, as we are in the times of the end, Yeshua said He is always with us as in Matt. 28:20. So we go forward and know we are to be brave and courageous as the battle is not ours but the battle belongs to the Lord and with us is the remnant of disciples of Rav Yeshua all of us shining as lights to the world for all who are facing "The Coming Darkness" without a firm covenant relationship with the one true and only God.
Millennials and GenZers lack a Biblical Worldview
Only 2% of Millennials (1% for GenZers) hold a biblical worldview, the lowest among all adult generations, reflecting a significant, long-term shift away from traditional Christian, biblical, and moral principles toward secular or syncretic beliefs. This decline is driven by disillusionment with institutional church, cultural skepticism, and a preference for moralistic therapeutic deism.
Pastors Lack a Biblical Worldview
A significant portion of pastors lack formal theological training or, in some studies, hold a non-biblical, syncretic worldview (63%), leading to a neglect of deep scriptural study. Factors include prioritizing "relevant," topic-driven sermons over expository teaching, lack of preparation, and, in some cases, a lack of personal biblical conviction.
[1] https://www.mnnonline.org/news/62-of-pastors-worldwide-have-no-training/
[3] https://www.equippinghearts.com/blog/7-reasons-why-small-groups-become-big-gripes-for-pastors
[4] https://ehrmanblog.org/why-dont-pastors-teach-what-they-know-about-the-bible/
[5] https://drmsh.com/why-you-dont-learn-much-bible-in-church/
Key Trends in Global Christianity
Between 2010 and 2020, countries like the UK, Australia, and the U.S. shifted away from Christian majorities, with many people moving towards no religious affiliation. In the U.S., the Christian population dropped from 78% in 2007 to roughly 62% in 2025. By 2050, it is projected that nearly twice as many Christians will live in Africa as in Europe and North America combined. The number of religiously unaffiliated individuals (labeled the "NONES") is increasing, particularly in the West.
While Christianity declines in the West, Islam is growing faster, expected to nearly equal the number of Christians globally by 2050. Europe experienced a drop of approximately 17 million Christians in the five years leading to 2025. In the United States the decline has been rapid over the past decade, though some studies suggest it may be stabilizing. In Africa/Asia are seeing significant growth in Christian adherence, despite high risks of persecution in some areas.
[1] https://research.lifeway.com/2024/02/05/5-discouraging-trends-in-global-christianity/
[3] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/
[5] https://research.lifeway.com/2025/02/25/6-discouraging-trends-in-global-christianity-in-2025/
[6] https://research.lifeway.com/2025/02/11/9-encouraging-trends-for-global-christianity-in-2025/
What is a Biblical Worldview
A biblical worldview is a framework based on the Bible as absolute truth, viewing God as the sovereign Creator and sustainer of all things. Key characteristics include recognizing human sinfulness, finding redemption only through Jesus Christ, upholding objective moral values, and living with an eternal perspective focused on loving and serving God.
[1] https://libertychristian.org/blog/complete-guide-to-developing-a-christian-worldview
[3] https://homeschooladventure.com/what-is-a-biblical-worldview/
[4] https://www.liberty.edu/arts-sciences/history/biblical-worldview-principles/
[5] https://www.focusonthefamily.com/live-it-post/core-principles-of-the-christian-worldview/
[6] https://www.mhbs.org/resources/biblical-worldview.cfm
[7] https://www.scribd.com/document/131358587/Worldviews-Chart
What is Bible Literacy
It’s the ability to rightly READ and understand the Bible by using the proper tools of STUDY to become better acquainted with its essential nature and content and then apply discerned meaning to life. Bible reading is a must for any Christian; especialy daily. But, to be Bible LITERATE it means reading and study to attain Bible literacy. It requires personal interaction—and approaching the Bible for what it is: alive and active, God’s living Word (Heb. 4:12)
- https://www.crossway.org/articles/lets-talk-about-our-bible-literacy-problem/
- https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-literacy/
- https://www.gotquestions.org/study-to-show-yourself-approved.html
- https://www.realworldbiblestudy.com/bible-reading-vs-bible-study/
- https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/ask-ligonier/is-there-a-difference-between-studying-the-bible-and-reading-it-devotionally
- https://onedeterminedlife.com/reading-bible-and-studying-bible/
- https://www.gotquestions.org/why-read-Bible.html
- https://albertmohler.com/2016/01/20/the-scandal-of-biblical-illiteracy-its-our-problem-4
- Study is the Highest form of worship ...
RABBI ELIEZER
Repent the day before you will die
תְּנַן הָתָם, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: שׁוּב יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתֶךָ. שָׁאֲלוּ תַּלְמִידָיו אֶת רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: וְכִי אָדָם יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶהוּ יוֹם יָמוּת? אָמַר לָהֶן: וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן, יָשׁוּב הַיּוֹם, שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת לְמָחָר, וְנִמְצָא כׇּל יָמָיו בִּתְשׁוּבָה. וְאַף שְׁלֹמֹה אָמַר בְּחׇכְמָתוֹ: ״בְּכׇל עֵת יִהְיוּ בְגָדֶיךָ לְבָנִים וְשֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשְׁךָ אַל יֶחְסָר״.
We learned there in a mishna that Rabbi Eliezer says: Repent one day before your death. Rabbi Eliezer’s students asked him: But does a person know the day on which he will die? He said to them: All the more so this is a good piece of advice, and one should repent today lest he die tomorrow; and by following this advice one will spend his entire life in a state of repentance. (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 153a:5 - https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.153a.5?lang=bi)
For some Religion & Faith are not Important
The rise of the religious “nones” is continuing, according to new data, with the percentage of Americans who consider religion “very important” to their lives now dipping below 50%.
Newly published data from Gallup (Gallup article - https://news.gallup.com/poll/702572/americans-religious-engagement-holds-lower-levels.aspx) found that, in 2025, the share of U.S. adults who identified as “nones” — those with no religious affiliation at all — reached a record high of 24%, up from 21% and 22% the previous four years. Additionally, 28% said religion is “not very important” in their lives.
The just-released study showed less than half (47%) of American adults say religion is “very important” to their lives, while another 25% described it as “fairly important” to them.
(Accessible at https://cbn.com/news/us/staggering-new-data-reveals-decline-importance-faith-americans-lives)
What is a Disciple
Since receiving his Master's of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1976, Ray Vander Laan has been actively involved in studying and teaching Jewish culture using the methods of Jewish education. He founded That the World May Know Ministries in 1998. Ray has taken over 10,000 people with him on his study tours of Israel, Turkey and Egypt.
Ray's preaching and teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible in light of the historical and cultural context in which God placed it. This perspective on the Bible highlights God's call for His people to be a transforming influence on their culture. He uses research of the top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and Biblical study as tools to explore the Biblical text ever more deeply. His gifts, expertise, and calling are to link that cultural information and the Bible so that its message applies to our lives today in very practical ways.
Below are four audio lessons on what Jesus meant when He commanded the church to go and make disciples. There’s a lot more that can be found at the ministry’s – That the World May Know) website - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/
- Disciple 1 – https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/preview/1539
- Disciple 2 – https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/preview/1540
- Disciple 3 – https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/preview/1542
- A Disciple’s Passion - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/preview/1551
Churches abandoning Bible Study
Many churches are moving away from in-depth, systematic Bible studies in favor of topical preaching, often due to a lack of member interest, fear of addressing complex topics, and a preference for shorter, less demanding services. The lack of study contributes to a decline in believers' ability to understand or apply the Bible, creating a reliance on superficial teaching. Low engagement with the Bible has resulted in many young people, even those who attend church, having little understanding of the Bible.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl4aAMWo7Sc
[2] https://www.quora.com/Why-do-churches-rarely-offer-a-serious-Bible-study
[3] https://www.quora.com/Why-do-churches-rarely-offer-a-serious-Bible-study
[4] http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/?articleid=77516&columnid=5449
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVH1GEyIUxQ
[7] https://www.quora.com/Why-do-churches-rarely-offer-a-serious-Bible-study
[8] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-bible-study-doesnt-transform-us/
[9] https://www.quora.com/Why-do-churches-rarely-offer-a-serious-Bible-study
[10] https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-bible-study-isnt-enough/
[11] Study is the Highest form of worship ...
Antisemitism (Jew Hatred) increases dramatically
Antisemitic incidents in the United States have reached record-high levels in 2024, marking a consistent and rapid increase following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL - https://www.adl.org/audit-antisemitic-incidents) indicates a 5% increase in 2024 over the previous record-setting year of 2023, with over 9,354 incidents recorded—a 344% increase over the past five years and a 893% increase over the past ten years.
For the first time, a majority (56%) of American Jews reported changing their behavior out of fear, such as hiding their Jewish identity or avoiding public events.
The rise in antisemitism or Jew hatred is not isolated to the U.S. Preliminary data from the J7 Task Force—representing major Jewish communities in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Argentina—showed a continued, rapid rise in antisemitic incidents across all these nations.
[2] https://www.adl.org/audit-antisemitic-incidents
[4] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wkxv9d99vo
[5] https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5279327-antisemitic-harassment-rise/
[6] https://www.ajc.org/AntisemitismReport2024
[9] https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2024
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - somewhere in Timnah Park - site of the Tabernacle)
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
18 days ago
Great teaching John!