In this year’s Beha’alotcha teaching, David asks the question, “Is it inevitable that when God raises us up, we have to fall? How do we avoid falling from that high place?” A second main topic is how we can approach the mid-journey “doldrums.” Additional topics include the two 7-month journeys in the year, what the […]
In the Naso teaching, David first places the portion in the flow of the calendar, finding lessons particularly for the adolescent or anyone stepping up to a higher level of authority and responsibility. Later topics include why one might take a Nazirite vow and three progressions in the portion that help us to see how […]
In this year’s Shavuot teaching, David first runs through the basics of Shavuot before placing this important mo’ed in the “flow” of God’s yearly curriculum. Topics include how God’s work in salvation is reflected by man’s work in salvation, the growth phase of adolescence, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the salvation process. […]
The main topic in this year’s Bamidbar teaching concerns the ranking of tribes apparent in the organization of the wilderness camp – some tribes given higher places than others. What are the criteria for ordering them, and what lessons can we draw from the fact that God does this ranking? Other topics include how we […]
This week, David looks at how coming to Behar-Bechukotai is like reaching the top of a mountain. Topics here include the goal of rest, the new perspective that comes with the Jubilee commandment, the “ruthlessness” of the world and our increasing need to stand apart from it, and a glimpse into God’s perspective on how […]
In this year’s Emor teaching, David first quickly reviews recent Torah portions using the portion titles. He then discusses the “holiness code” section of Leviticus before turning to Emor, placing the portion in the flow of the calendar. Topics here include education, the mo’edim, and what Yeshua’s post-resurrection actions teach us about the Counting of […]
How do the three topics of Shemini – Aaron beginning the Tabernacle service, the deaths of his two sons, and the food laws – fit into the spiritual calendar? Topics in this year’s Shemini teaching include the numbers “7” and “8,” working on the nephesh during the Omer, and “misplaced zeal.” Shemini 2023 (David): Vimeo | YouTube […]
In this year’s Passover teaching, David strings together many of the most important themes of the Passover season before adding a new perspective. Passover 2023 (David): Vimeo | YouTube To download resources, right-click the PDF file and save. Parsha Outline: Spiritual Seasons-Passover-2023-Outline.pdf Discussion Guide: Passover 2023-Discussion Guide.pdf
In this week’s teaching, David explains the concept of the “salvation pattern” and applies the pattern to the sacrificial system, including several details from parsha Tzav. Tzav (David): Vimeo | YouTube To download resources, right-click the PDF file and save. Parsha Outline: Spiritual Seasons-Tzav-Outline.pdf
This week, David applies the clothing of the priests to the “Priesthood of Believers,” and he applies Haman to a particular voice in our modern world. Tetzaveh and Purim (David): Vimeo | YouTube To download resources, right-click the PDF file and save. Parsha Outline: Spiritual Seasons-Tetzaveh_and_Purim-Outline.pdf
In parsha Beshalach, David explores the sending out of missionaries, the need to know when to get moving, leaps of faith, the great power God makes available to us, unity through song, and Tu BiSh’vat (the new year for trees). Beshalach (David): Vimeo | YouTube To download resources, right-click the PDF file and save. Parsha […]
After reviewing an insight from a previous teaching on this parshah, we put forward a thought about Moses and then the idea that the ending of the Torah really doesn’t feel like the end of the story. Israel stands on the cusp of the Land, ready to enter…and the Torah cycle returns to B’reisheet, Genesis. […]
Consisting mostly of the Song of Moses, this week’s portion begins with the instruction to listen (or “give ear”) and contains the beginning of Moses’ farewell speech to the Israelites. He has come to the end of his days, and he leaves his people with a song that expresses in poetic form the relationship between […]
In this week’s teaching video, we first recall an insight from Grant in which he compares life to a high-wire act. We then share insights from Vayelech regarding leadership and “passing the torch” to the next generation. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, right-click the PDF file and save. Discussion Guide: Vayelech 2022-guide.pdf Medios Visuales:
This life is short. It goes by much more quickly than you might think. One minute you’re in the wilderness–and it feels like it’s taking forever–the next minute you’re about to enter the Land. Are you ready? Have you used your time wisely? Have you turned back to God? In this portion, read just before […]
Ki Tavo begins with commands about bringing firstfruits to the central Sanctuary and allocating various tithes. Next is the reminder of what the covenant is: a mutual pledge between the people and God. Next are the features of ancient covenants: the blessing and curses that will follow faithfulness or disobedience. Finally, Moses summons the people […]
Containing 74 mitzvot (or 72, depending on who you ask) – the most of any portion in the Torah – Ki Teitzei is packed with commands. They include laws about family dysfunctions, moral and legal obligations towards neighbors and fellow citizens, sexual misdemeanors, moral behavior in relation to financial matters, and other rules of social responsibility. […]
Here are some overarching thoughts to keep in mind while reading parsha Shoftim: Torah often links the qualities of truth (emet) and lovingkindness (chesed). This reminds us that truth must be tempered with love. Paul’s well-known exhortation is a clear example: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into […]
In Chapter 11 leading up to this week’s Torah portion, Moses speaks to the Israelites whereby he emphasizes the importance of the people to observe the commands to love and obey Adonai. Our Torah portion begins in verse 26, which focuses on the blessing(s) if they obey and the curse(s) if they disobey. This sets […]
Parshah Eikev is filled with warnings and assurances, blessings and curses, all of which is summarized in the second paragraph of the Shema found in 11:13-21. Israel’s fate depends on Israel’s faith. The main topics discussed here are memory, love, education, humility, and gratitude–all within the context of the Land. Here, as in most places, […]
Va’Etchanan is an exceptionally rich portion. Not only does it contain the words of the Shema (6:4-9) but the reprise of the Ten Commandments (5:6-18). It also continues Moses’ exhortation to Israel, with special emphasis on God’s goodness and on Israel’s uniquely intimate relationship with this good and great God. Topping it off, we find […]
In this week’s Torah portion, Devarim, Moses begins his repetition of the Torah (“mishneh Torah”, or “deutero-nomy”), and he recounts some of the more poignant events in their history before speaking to Joshua, who will take the people into the Land and lead them in battle. The portion leads us to ask ourselves about our […]
In portions Matot and Masei, we come to the end of the book of Numbers and, in a sense, to the end of the Torah since Deuteronomy is a kind of repetition of the Torah. It is a momentous combined Torah portion containing laws regarding vows, God’s instruction to take vengeance on Midian, the acquiescence […]
In this week’s teaching, Tim reviews important points from former teachings before bringing new insights connecting Joshua’s commissioning, the Hebrew word “natan” (“to give”), and Yeshua. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, right-click the PDF file and save. Discussion Guide: Pinchas 2022-guide.pdf Medios Visuales:
In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, we see how God can use a spiritual man of low character to bless His people. We also review what we’ve learned from past teachings, make connections between Yeshua’s donkey and Balaam’s donkey, and consider how seeing and listening lead to doing. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, […]
In portion Chukat, we consider the value and power of the chukkim, decrees whose reasons have not been given, and we touch on why the Israelites were given the decree of the parah adumah (the red heifer), a law of purification that might have been better off in Leviticus with all the other purification legislation. […]
In this parsha Shelach conversation, we focus on fear, faith, the process of growing up spiritually, and making this world into God’s dwelling place. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, right-click the PDF file and save. Visuals: Shelach 2022.pdf Medios Visuales: Shelaj 2022.pdf
Once again we are treated to a Torah portion discussion between Grant and Tim Pell. Topics include the pitfalls of taking a census, the balance of uniformity and individuality as seen through the twelve tribes, and the Aaronic Blessing, including a look into the Hebrew of this important prayer. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download […]
This week Tim Pell and Grant discuss parsha Bechukotai. Much of the discussion is centered on the word often translated as “contrary” in Lev. 26:21, the Hebrew word “keri,” which is perhaps better translated “indifference.” Other topics include the idea of “chokim,” creating a home for God, and insights regarding reward and punishment. Video: Vimeo […]
We begin this week with a difficult question: we are told to not associate with certain types of people caught in the web of weighty sin, but what do we do if a family member is such a person? After applying a passage from the portion to this difficult question, we turn our focus to […]
After five chapters have elapsed from the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, curiously, the text snaps back to what God told Moses after that tragedy. Why insert these five chapters into the narrative? In discussing this question, we dip into the topic of “chukot,” commandments that evade our understanding. Later in the teaching we look […]
Skin colors, hair colors, shaving and quarantine – what can we learn from the Torah’s many laws related to “tzaraat,” often translated as “leprosy?” The importance of this discussion is indicated by the placement of these portions – near the middle of Leviticus, which, itself, is the middle of the Torah. Join us as we […]
In Leviticus chapters 9 & 10, we see the fire of the Lord doing two seemingly very different actions: 1) going out to burn up the Tabernacle’s inaugural sacrifice and 2) going out to consume Nadav and Avihu, two sons of Aaron. In this year’s Shemini teaching, we consider these two expressions of God’s fire. […]
We begin this year’s Tzav teaching with a focus on Purim and the concept of “hiddenness,” examining three Hebrew words that express this idea. We then review the daily continual (Tamid) offerings at the Temple, connecting them to Yeshua. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, right-click the PDF file and save. Visuals: Tzav 2022.pdf Medios […]
This year’s Vayakhel teaching is all about two words and their associated Hebrew letters: fire and water, shin and mem. We think of fire and water as opposites and say, “fire and water don’t mix;” in the natural, this is true, but our God is supernatural, and He calls us to live beyond nature, as […]
What makes God “God”? Blending Christian and Hebraic perspectives, we begin answering this question in this year’s Ki Tisa teaching. Other topics include “chochmah-binah-da’at,” insights into the three gifts the wise men brought to the Messiah, attitudes of worship, and Sabbath rest. Video: Vimeo | YouTube To download visuals, right-click the PDF file and save. […]
This week’s teaching is all about the Tabernacle. Hidden in the many details and voluminous verses of these portions is the “picture section” of the Torah – God’s own house which He designed for relationship with mankind. Join us as we explore within the three sections of the Tabernacle, finding insights into our own makeup […]
After the exhilaration of the giving of the Torah in the previous portion, we run into a long list of specific mitzvot in parsha Mishpatim, mostly regarding relating to and living with others. Why this portion at this point? In exploring this question, we read from a commentary by R’ Avigdor Miller. Along with addressing […]
We begin this year’s Yitro teaching by investigating the first Bible characters to say, “Baruch Hashem!” and what they have in common. Moving on, from Moses’ interaction with his father-in-law, we extract 8 traits of a godly leader. Other topics in the teaching include men and women of valor, 3 instances of the long blast […]
Why does the Torah wait until the drowning of the Egyptian army to announce that Israel was saved? Why not make this announcement at the moment of the Passover? We tackle this question in this year’s Beshalach teaching. Other topics include insights from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks regarding three Torah illustrations of maturing in God, […]
What does God mean when He says the patriarchs did not know Him by His personal name? This question is our first topic in this year’s teaching on Va’eira. Other topics include the Four Cups of the Passover seder, causes of spiritual deafness, frustration as an indicator of Pharaoh in our lives, and the “organized […]
“Shemot” means “names,” and we look at the Hebrew for several names in this week’s teaching. Before we do so, we ask the question, “Why did Israel have to go down to Egypt?” Other topics include four uses of the phrase “on the stones” and the “deep” subject of four men who meet four women […]
In this year’s parsha Vayechi teaching, we dig into a couple of peculiarities of the text, including a verse regarding the death of Rachel and a description of Joseph from Jacob’s blessing of his twelve sons. Particularly with this second passage, we see both the difficulties of translating from the Hebrew, and we see the […]
One of the most dramatic Torah portions, parsha Vayigash witnesses Joseph reveal himself to his brothers. In this week’s teaching, we puzzle through Joseph’s strange treatment of his brothers leading up to this revelation, we look at secrets connecting the Tetragrammaton to the names “Judah” and “David,” we hear several fascinating quotes from rabbis regarding […]
The number of parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Yeshua the Messiah is remarkable! In this teaching, we look at a few of these important connections, beginning with Joseph’s two dreams about his future rise to authority. As we continue, we look at the birth of the second set of twins […]
We start out this cycle’s parsha Vayishlach teaching by “putting our glasses back on,” reading through a passage in Isaiah that has the ability to powerfully re-center us. From that place of reset, we examine Jacob’s wrestlings with Esau and with God. As a final point, we ponder the curious fact that though Jacob’s name […]
What is the root message of Jacob’s dream of the ladder? What are the deeper purposes behind Jacob’s struggles with Esau and Laban? In answering these questions, we dig to the root of God’s purposes for our entire physical context, including the pain we experience here. In our exploring, we examine four “beholds” in the […]
We start out this multi-parsha teaching by pondering two questions related to Abraham…before deciding neither is the right question to be asking! This leads us to a deeper insight into and connection with our first spiritual father. Moving on, we see Abraham’s journey through the lens of the Garden of Eden. Lastly, we look at […]
We explore two main ideas this year in parsha Noach: the wonderfully interconnected web of the Torah and the concept of grace. Via our first topic, we briefly compare such topics as the Ark and the Tower, Nimrod and the Antichrist, and the 70 nations and the 70 “apostles” mentioned in Luke. In addressing the […]
In this final Torah portion of the cycle, we look at Jacob’s 12 sons in 6 pairs- a perspective suggested by Moses’ blessing of the tribes- drawing out life lessons from this diverse group that makes up the body of Israel. Being in the middle of Sukkot, we also carry over our thoughts regarding the […]
Prayer Time: 9:30 am
Morning Study: 11:00 am
Afternoon Oneg: 12:00 pm
Beth Tikkun Messianic Fellowship