http://ffoz.org/blogs/ Timely updates, teaching, videos and inside information about what's happening at First Fruits, written by staff members and guest contributors. en Copyright 2010 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:45:45 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.25 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss As I drudge through the writings of the ancient Church, I find many exciting details about the Apostles, Yeshua, and the early believers not found in the four canonical Gospels or the book of Acts. (It goes without saying that some--if not most--of it is simply fabrication and baseless legend). These stories can be found mostly in the apocryphal Acts of the Holy Apostles. Each Apostle is attributed a work... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/02/legends_of_the_apostles_fact_o.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/02/legends_of_the_apostles_fact_o.html Guest Authors Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:45:45 -0600 As we begin to explore the study and lifestyle of the Torah, many passages come to mind throughout the Gospels and Apostolic Scriptures that appear to speak against the Torah and its observance. In these blog posts we will explore some of these objections and try to answer them. The Torah opens with the phrase "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This passage is alluded to... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/common_objections_john_117.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/common_objections_john_117.html Teaching Team Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0600 Lately I am often asked the question, "Now that you guys are done with HaYesod what are you working on?" The answer is HaYesod. In all seriousness although the materials have been fully completed and groups are up and running, we have more "HaYesod" work than ever before. The task of managing all the different leaders and taking care of their personal needs is so large, that most of us... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/taking_torah_to_the_nations.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/taking_torah_to_the_nations.html Teaching Team Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:58:11 -0600 In the last episode of Mishlei Musings we learned the value of speaking in love. We saw that it is often difficult to control the tone of our voices in times of emotion. In addition to speaking in love, controlling our appetites and desires is also essential to our spiritual growth in life. Those appetites as well as our personal character traits are God-given and His desire is for us... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/the_appetite_of_the_wise.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/the_appetite_of_the_wise.html Mishlei Musings Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:49:07 -0600 Being free is a wonderful thing. We like having free time--time when we can do whatever we desire. We enjoy living in a free country--a place where we can choose our way of life and pursue happiness. But have you ever heard the phrases "free in Christ" or "free from the law"? What does that mean? At first glance, it might seem like being spiritually free would mean that we... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/free_from_the_law.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/free_from_the_law.html Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:16:05 -0600 In Jewish tradition, when a manuscript or item contains God's name and/or passages from the Bible it is treated with the utmost respect. It is never placed on the ground or brought into a bathroom. When it is no longer usable it is buried underground in much the same way a person would be. Although typically this is only done with Hebrew materials, it can be a worthwhile practice for... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/burying_a_bible.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/burying_a_bible.html Teaching Team Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:25:00 -0600 In this video blog, Daniel and Steven Lancaster join together to give you a glimpse into the holy land of Israel. Archaeology, geography, geology, along with the language and cultural history of the Land and the People of Israel make the words of the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophets - the Scriptures of Israel - come alive. In this video blog you'll get a raw peak into the experience... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/tel_arad_josiahs_reformation.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/tel_arad_josiahs_reformation.html Lessons from the Land Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:04:15 -0600 Thursday evening, January 14, begins the 29th of Tevet which is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri. Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri (born in 1898 in Baghdad) was a Sephardic Orthodox rabbi and Jewish mystic. As a Torah prodigy Kaduri began his studies in Jewish mysticism while still in his teens. His studies were conducted under the famed Sephardic Rabbi, Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai. Having moved to Israel... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/yartzeit_of_rabbi_yitzchak_kad_1.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/yartzeit_of_rabbi_yitzchak_kad_1.html Teaching Team Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:40:21 -0600 Anti-missionaries have questions. We have answers. Judaism has objections. We have solutions. At Vine of David and First Fruits of Zion, we are going to begin utilizing our blog post space for answering Judaism's arguments against faith in Messiah. This is not our first foray into the battle for faith. In 2007, First Fruits of Zion offered a conference dedicated to answering anti-missionary arguments. The conference was a response to... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/to_whom_shall_we_go_1.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/to_whom_shall_we_go_1.html Teaching Team Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:18:02 -0600 The church is broken, increasingly ineffective, and in some ways self-serving. As men we tend to see the broken state of the church and quietly rejoice in her brokenness because it gives us an excuse to pull back and withdraw. The cycle will continue to spiral downward until the church's complete destruction--and we, a gang of male revelers--will rejoice in its destruction ... b-e-c-a-u-s-e that means we will be free... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/my_wife--my_life.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2010/01/my_wife--my_life.html Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:45:30 -0600 HaYesod is a great resource for teaching and learning about Christianity's Jewish foundation. But how important is that Jewish foundation? One might think that learning about the Jewish worldview fills in some details, but the basics are already well understood. But instead, you will find that the even the most central concepts of the Gospel are grasped better from a Jewish perspective. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/true_love.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/true_love.html Teaching Team Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:25:34 -0600 Friday evening, December 25, begins the 9th of Tevet which, according to Jewish tradition, is the anniversary of the death of Simon Peter. Simon Peter holds a special place in the hearts of many believers. We find camaraderie and consolation in a man who could sail from the highest points of discipleship to the lows of denying his Master. His struggles are our struggles; his challenges are our challenges, and,... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/the_ninth_of_tevet_simon_peter.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/the_ninth_of_tevet_simon_peter.html Teaching Team Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:37:01 -0600 Archaeologists in Nazareth announced the discovery of the remains of a house dating back to the time of our Master. The first-century-era house is the only one dating to the days of Yeshua discovered in Nazareth. Read about the discovery here. Nazareth was a small Jewish community probably pioneered by descendants of the royal line of David. Villages tended to be large extended families. Children rarely left home. Families built... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/first_century_nazareth_house.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/first_century_nazareth_house.html Teaching Team Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:38:38 -0600 During the Christmas season, the majority of our brothers and sisters in Messiah honor His birth. Even for those of us who are keeping Chanukkah, the Christmas season inevitably turns one's mind back to the nativity stories as we hear strains of carols come drifting through the air: "Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy Infant, so tender and mild." I have often wondered exactly what a "round yon virgin"... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/christmas_and_the_virgin_birth.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/christmas_and_the_virgin_birth.html Teaching Team Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:06:02 -0600 The HaYesod discipleship program is now complete, but how do you know if the program is right for you and your flock? The program is now available for free-online preview by pastors, congregational leaders, and potential group leaders. The HaYesod discipleship program is designed to work hand-in-hand with churches and established Messianic congregations to help build up your community and establish your work. HaYesod will strength and unify your community.... http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/free_hayesod_preview.html http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/12/free_hayesod_preview.html Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:47:05 -0600