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Shameless Self-Promotion

By D. Thomas Lancaster | Comments
May 8, 2012

The New Testament (Apostolic Scriptures) can be compared to a pile of laundry. Some pieces are socks, some are shirts, some are pants, and so forth. Imagine you open your closet door and see this pile of clean laundry on the floor. You fish around in it looking for something to wear, and with a little bit of effort, you can put together an outfit. It might be wrinkled and mismatched, but the system works, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

Now imagine opening your closet door and seeing all the same laundry neatly folded on shelves or hanging from hangers. You have no difficulty selecting a suitable outfit for the day, and everything makes sense, in its appropriate place. The whole wardrobe functions together. The shirts are pressed, the socks are matched, and so forth.

For the last seven months, I have been working on a narrative-style commentary/history of the apostolic era: Torah Club Volume Six: Chronicles of the Apostles. It is a sequel to Volume Four: Chronicles of the Messiah, which was, itself, a year-long study on the life of Yeshua from a Messianic perspective. Chronicles of the Apostles picks up the story at the beginning of the book of Acts and carries it through to the beginning of the second century.

For me, this has been the dream project. The writing so far has been an education, far more extensive than I anticipated, but the thing that surprises me the most is how it has put the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament) together for me. I grew up in a Christian home, a pastor's son, going to church every week and Bible study every Wednesday. As a literature student, I specialized in Biblical Literature. I'm a Bible teacher and have been teaching Bible for two decades. So I thought I knew my New Testament literature fairly well. In reality, although I did not realize it, I was using it more like a laundry pile. I could fish around in it and find what I needed.

Torah Club Volume Six has organized the epistles, placed them in their historical context, and brought them to life in ways that I never saw before, revealed new stories, new combinations and insights. It's like that organized closet. It's the same laundry, but the experience is completely different.

OK, that might not be the best analogy, but it's the best I can do right now. Here's what I'm trying to say. Everyone who has any interest in understanding the book of Acts, the epistles, or the Apostolic Era should get a copy of Torah Club Volume Six and study it.

The Proverbs say, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips" (Proverbs 27:2). In this case, please allow me an exception. In fact, from now on, I am going to engage in shameless self-promotion regarding the Chronicles. I am going to be absolutely shameless in promoting both Chronicles of the Messiah (Volume Four on the Gospels) and Chronicles of the Apostles (Volume Six on the Apostles).

I am going to be shameless about promoting the Chronicles because these two works have revolutionized my own concept of Yeshua, the Bible, the New Testament, and my religion. As far as I know, this is the first time all this material has ever been assembled in one place with commentary from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

As of today, I have begun writing about the situation in Jerusalem in the year 66 CE/AD, the year the first Jewish revolt against Rome began, so I still have a long way to go if I am going to make it to the end of the Bar Kokbah revolt by the end of this summer. But looking back over the story so far, I am blown away by the epic, epic, epic tale of the apostles. It is astonishing to me that this story has remained so obscure and rarely told in the church.

I realize Torah Club is expensive, but if you are serious about wanting to know Yeshua better and wanting to rewind your religion to that of the first century believers, Torah Club Four and Six are worth every penny.

D. Thomas Lancaster
16 Iyar 5772
Omer 31

About the Author: D. Thomas Lancaster is Director of Education at First Fruits of Zion, the author of the Torah Club programs and several books and study programs. He is also the pastor of Beth Immanuel Sabbath Fellowship in Hudson, WI (www.bethimmanuel.org).

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We just finished reading Biblically Kosher late last week and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The material is easy to follow and very thorough, yet not in a way that makes you feel as if you're drowning in facts and foreign words. We also appreciated that no matter what your kashrut observance, there is no condemnation for the reader. We're very thankful for this resource in our small and growing community.

Sara | August 1, 2012 8:35 PM

I am so excited about Torah Club 6. I just knew this was the one that was going to put it all together for me.

Previously I have considered myself allergic to Paul. But Torah Club 6 is making him come to life for me. I never really realized the chronology of his life and how it affects what he tried, what he wrote, to whom about what and why.

I laughed in sympathy as D. Thomas Lancaster described the fiasco where he is preaching in the marketplace and thinks he's really getting somewhere and suddenly realizes they are trying to sacrifice to him because they thought he was a god. Yes, I've heard it before, but the way Lancaster writes, YOU ARE THERE! And then realizing the attempt to argue with the Greeks on Mars Hill, on their own turf and with their own weapon (debate, which he was good at) was just not a good tactic (what with the language and cultural barrier, not to mention the "laughable" message). It brings new meaning to the verse, which I now hear in my mind's ear as perhaps having been said in exasperation, "I decided to deal with only one subject-Jesus Christ, who was crucified." [God's Word Translation].

I now see Paul as a ground-breaker, trying this, trying that, coming to the conclusion it isn't about tactics, it is about Messiah. The historical background is fascinating! All the political intrigue and family relationships and how they intersect with the happenings of Paul and the disciples just keeps me so interested I've already finished the last pack that was sent. I'm about a month ahead! I'll be looking eagerly for the next shipment. In the meantime I'll read some of the FFOZ published books I've ordered recently. Thanks for doing this!

Carrie Micko | June 11, 2012 10:20 PM

I have bought every book you have written and have completed Torah Club 4 and am working on Torah Club 6 - all great! I love that you pour through all the boring stuff and pull the nuggets out for me!! I tried to read Josepheus and found it to be too tedious a task. I do not understand the complaints I've read about Chronicles of The Apostles. Some are upset that you have taken material from somewhere other than Scripture to give us a clearer picture of The Apostles. That view is not a scholarly viewpoint - inquiring minds want to know! Thanks for another great study.I'm awaiting the next one

Rhonda Thompson | June 11, 2012 7:06 AM

Love the analogy...I can relate to dirty laundry and messy closets...being the organization nut that I am. This is a difficult and often winding journey with many ideas that seem very random, at times. I am excited to get Torah Club 6...waiting to get the full volume set at once. You are an amazing teacher...and I am a grateful student!

Michelle | May 30, 2012 5:07 PM

Rock on!

Steve Petersen | May 14, 2012 9:15 PM

I'm part of a big group at Church of the Messiah in Dayton, Ohio, that has been meeting weekly to discuss Chronicles of the Apostles. We love this study and appreciate your efforts in developing it. In particular, we appreciate (1) seeing where the epistles fit into the chronology; (2) becoming more familiar with Josephus and Eusebius; (3) learning about ancient "Christian fiction" like the Clementine Recognitions and the Apocryphal Acts. Many thanks!

Doug Ward | May 14, 2012 4:34 PM

Chronicles of the Apostles might be expensive, but it's also expansive. I've enjoyed the entire study and am eager to continue. The audio lessons have been particularly revealing. TCV6 ties together Christianity and Judaism in a unique way, looking at the foundations of both. Anyone who wants to understand the nascent Body of Messiah needs to go through this study. I have especially understood Paul in a way that I've never understood—or appreciated—him before.

Mike Miller | May 9, 2012 2:55 PM

You've done it again Mr. Lancaster! Yeshua used mainly agricultural parables. You have hit the nail on the head with laundry basket analogy. Every man, woman and child in the 21 century can relate and understand this. (maybe the sock monster is the "birds of the air" that take away understanding??) No shame seen on the self promotion. Love what I read all the time. I always need more study material.

Brian | May 8, 2012 5:34 PM

Thank you D. Thomas Lancaster. TC v6 has been an unprecedented study and as you have said above, made my understanding of our holy scriptures a little more like an organized pile of laundry. I am overwhelmed by the humanity of the apostolic story that is so easily missed. I enjoy watching the apostolic mission unfold week to week as if it were an epic novel. Yet I know, this is not just a great story, but the tale of the roots of our faith in Yeshua. My Jewish brethren have the Torah, and more specifically the book of Exodus to say "those were my ancestors in this story that were brought out of exile into freedom." As a gentile in the faith, I now realize I can trace my redemptive heritage to the Apostolic scriptures, and more specifically the book of Acts, and proudly proclaim "those were my ancestors in this story that were brought out of exile into freedom." Grace and peace to you as you proclaim this awesome story of our Master! It has been faith changing!

AJ Maynard | May 8, 2012 12:56 PM

After reading quite a bit of D. Thomas Lancaster's work, I absolutely believe that I will be as excited as he is about these new studies. He is my favorite author to date concerning Messianic faith commentary on the history of 1st century faith and its real implications for today's 21st century disciple. I eagerly anticipate hearing his lectures coming up at the 2012 First Fruits of Zion 20th Anniversary Shavuot National Conference.

Lynn Job | May 8, 2012 12:35 PM

I love Chronicles of Messiah and you are absolutely correct that it is worth every penny. It is worth making a few sacrifices to obtain this incredible material. It is my plan, G-d Willing, to study Volume 6 when I have completed my commitment to Volume 4.

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