WEEK 1 : Dedication to Theophilus

1. SCRIPTURE

1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have fulfilled among us.
1:2 Just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Lord.
1:3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.
1:4 So that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV) Other versions ...

Here's a sneak preview of the latest batch of questions sent to our clever "messianic rabbis". The answers should be published by the end of December. If you have any burning questions of your own, why not email them to steve@saltshakers.com

1. Should believers keep kosher? Isn’t it down to a misunderstanding of scripture and promoted by the Talmud, which surely Christians should not put on par with Holy Scripture?

"Watching Over Zion" (The CFI News Report & Prayer Update)

~ Thursday 26th November 2009 ~
Compiled by David Soakell Tel: 01323 410810
E-mail david@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk

The Word: "And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the enemy has said of you, 'Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,' " ' "therefore prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you are taken up by the lips of talkers and slandered by the people"-- therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the cities that have been forsaken, which became plunder and mockery to the rest of the nations all around-- therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I have spoken in My burning jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who gave My land to themselves as a possession, with whole-hearted joy and spiteful minds, in order to plunder its open country." '

A new sermon brought to you every week from the Tree of Life Messianic fellowship, East London, UK.

THIS WEEK Stephen Gutmann speaking on Our Identity (46 minutes)

Are we Messianic or Christian? Stephen (one of our 'messianic rabbis') asks the question and urges us not to 'throw out the baby with the bathwater'

Listen now | Download | VISIT STEPHEN'S WEBSITE

Yesterday I was privileged (particularly as I only got in at the last moment due to someone else dropping out) to attend the Men's conference for the Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust in Ashford, UK. I am happy to report that there is good to come out of the USA, in the form of the excellent speakers, Paul Washer and Justin Peters - compensating for the prosperity preachers and "prophets" and "apostles" that have invaded our shores from our "cousins" over recent years and given the secular world "a right old laugh" with all their nonsense!

Here are the questions for this month, as answered by our wonderful panel of "messianic rabbis".

1. Who was Melchizedek? Click here ...
2. When was communion introduced and what were the disciples doing when they met daily and broke bread together? Click here ...
3. Is it possible to know who now carries Israelite ancestry? Although greatly watered down, there must be large numbers of people in the world who are related by blood to the Jewish people or to the 10 lost tribes. Following on from that thought is the question of whether it matters? Click here ...
4. What are your views on Kaballah? Is the God of Scripture also the god of the Kaballah? How should messianic believers view it? Click here ...
5. What do you see as the major differences in teaching between Messianic teachers versus popular Evangelical teachers like Chuck Swindoll, Woodrow Kroll, John McArthur, or other acclaimed respected teachers? Click here ...
6. Can man change Gods mind? As in the conversation between Moses and GOD on Mt. Sinai after the golden calf incident. Click here ...
7. Why would God want to kill Moses when He told Moses to go to Egypt? (Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass on the way to the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.) Click here ...
8. At a Church I heard several people give testimony of speaking to a Prophet who spoke into their lives. Are there still prophets in our time as I was taught that prophets only existed during the times of the first apostles. Click here ...
9. My question is regarding the blue threads in the tzitzit. I was told that because the blue dye came from snails, people should not wear the tzitzit as snails are an abomination. What do the rabbis think? Click here ...
10. What are the correct Hebrew names for Jesus and God? Click here ...

Here are the previous questions answered:

Here is the brand new weekly radio programme from Julia Fisher, brought to you every Thursday. What is God doing in Israel and the Palestinian areas today? In this unique programme you will hear news and testimonies from Jewish believers and Palestinian Christians.

THIS WEEK : Julia talks to Labib Madinat, a Jordanian, Palestinian Christian Arab living in a Jewish area of Jerusalem. He explains what reconciliation really means to him. (13 minutes)

Listen now | Download
VISIT THE OLIVE TREE RECONCILIATION FUND WEBSITE

"Watching Over Zion" (The CFI News Report & Prayer Update)

~ Thursday 19th November 2009 ~

Compiled by David Soakell Tel: 01323 410810 E-mail david@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk

The Word: This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families... from Ekron to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages; Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages--as far as the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea with its coastline. And in the mountain country: Shamir, Jattir, Sochoh, Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which is Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages... Hebron and Zior... In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six cities with their villages. (From Joshua 15: 20, 46 - 53, 61 - 62) To read full list see verses 20-62.

Here's a talk I gave last week at the Cornerstone Bookshop in Clapham, London. As they took the trouble to record it, then here it is in all its glory (and rough edges) ...

I looked at the history of the Church up to the Middle Ages, examining what effect Greek thinking has had. It's also what I am currently writing in my next book, "How the Church lost The Truth ...". All feedback would be most welcome.

Listen now | Download

A new sermon brought to you every week from the Tree of Life Messianic fellowship, East London, UK.

THIS WEEK Richard Gibson speaking on Sanctification (37 minutes)

Pastor of Leeds Messianic Fellowship and author of "The Unusual Suspects" shows how we can reflect God's true glory

Listen now | Download | VISIT RICHARD'S WEBSITE