The Bible's Ancient Context with David Wilber
The Bible is a collection of ancient books. It contains the oldest stories known to mankind, written in ancient languages by people who lived between 2000 and 4000 years ago and written to their contemporaries. If you can read more than one modern language, you are probably aware that it is next to impossible to understand any complex text written in a foreign language without knowing something about the culture into which it was written, their myths, religion, lifestyle, economy, and politics.
Add a few thousand years time gap, and this problem increases exponentially. Nobody on earth today lives in a culture quite like the ones in which the Biblical authors lived. That world doesn't exist anymore.
David Wilber is an author, Bible teacher, Messianic/Christian apologist, and joint CEO of Pronomian Publishing LLC. He has written several books and numerous theological articles. Additionally, David speaks at churches and conferences across the nation. He has served as a researcher and Bible teacher for ministries such as 119 Ministries, Founded in Truth Fellowship, Freedom Hill Community, and InspiringPhilosophy. David currently lives in Lake Wylie, SC, with his wife and two children.
David's most recent book is How Jesus Fulfilled the Law: A Pronomian Pocked Guide to Matthew 5:17-20 (https://amzn.to/4d0DK1E Amazon affiliate link), and his homepage is https://DavidWilber.com.
David recommended Craig Keener's work The IVP Bible Background Commentary, which you can get at https://amzn.to/3zeWo7V . (Amazon affiliate link! I earn a small commission if you buy through that link.)
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
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What Is Prophecy? with Tim Hillis
Prophecy is exciting. It brings the crowds, creates social media buzz, and piques everyone's curiosity. Most of the time, when we hear the word "prophecy", we think of revelations about the future. But is that really what prophecy is?
On August 20, Tim Hillis of Remnant Nation University joined Common Sense Bible Study for a conversation about the nature of prophecy. What is it? How can you recognize it? What's the difference between a true and false prophet?
From the Remnant Nation website ( https://remnantnation.org/ ) :
Tim is a dedicated and knowledgeable student of God's Word and His movement around the globe. As a leader called to do the work of an apostle, he fearlessly challenges the religiosity that has entrenched itself in the "church" culture and seeks to bring a fresh perspective on the First Century to the modern Body-Bride of Messiah. Through his articles, blogs, and messages, Tim boldly exposes the "takanot", a Hebrew word referring to the rules of religious leaders that have caused people to interpret scripture incorrectly.
Tim's journey in ministry has been an incredible adventure, full of challenges and opportunities for growth! After completing some of his education and serving in various positions within the Church of God, Tim felt called to a broader harvest field. He completed training in a "School of the Prophets" and then attended World Harvest Bible College.
Tim and his wife Naphtali are ordained by Christian International (Santa Rosa Beach, FL) under the vision of Dr. Bill Hamon. Tim completed his studies and successfully defended 2 theses for a PhD in Biblical Philosophy and Theology May 1st, 2017.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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Starting with You! with Sean Esposito
Yeshua said to go and make disciples from all the nations.
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
But if we're going to make disciples of other people, then we need to be good disciples ourselves. How are we supposed to teach others how to live, when we ourselves live as if we didn't care about our own lives?
There are tens of thousands of books about self-improvement. There's nothing wrong with working to become a better person, but the world's approach is fatally flawed by its focus on ME.
Make more money! Become famous! Be the boss! Get a better job!
None of which is necessarily bad in itself, if it serves a good purpose, but what is your purpose? Are you trying to be a better you and get that promotion because you think you'll feel better about yourself? That's probably never going to work.
Our goal--the ultimate self-improvement plan--is to become more like Yeshua. This is the plan that God has for us! See Romans 8:29.
In this video, Sean Esposito joined Common Sense Bible study to talk about a more Biblical approach to self-improvement.
Sean is a former atheist turned minister. He has worked with Tom Bradford at Seed of Abraham Ministries and currently teaches faith and character development through Simplicity Faith (SimplicityFaith.com).
He says, "My encouragement is very, very simple: character development into the image of God and Messiah--stirring people to realize their role in self-disciplined intentional character development unto the ways of God, for which we were all created."
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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Ancient Covenants with Daniel McGirr
A live conversation with Daniel McGirr of Ancient Covenant Ministries, hosted by the Common Sense Bible Study online community. This special event delved into the legal structure and meaning of ancient covenants, providing valuable insights into how these historical agreements shape our understanding of the Bible.
Daniel McGirr has been teaching the Ancient Covenantal context of the Messianic Faith since 2011 at Ancient Covenant Ministries, a resource for those looking to grow in relationship with the God of Abraham through investigating the cultures, languages, treaties, and archaeological evidence of Scripture. Daniel is also the host and founder of The Daily 302, a weekly intel and commentary on current world events.
You can find more about Ancient Covenant Ministries at https://www.hebraicworship.com/mcgirr2017/ and about The Daily 302 at https://daily302.com/.
This conversation is a rich and informative experience for anyone interested in biblical studies, theology, or ancient history. Whether you are a long-time member of the Common Sense Bible Study community or a newcomer, this event will provide you with a deeper appreciation for the complexities and significance of ancient covenants in biblical narratives.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and Daniel McGirr of Ancient Covenant Ministries.
Contact Daniel at mcgirrdaily302@gmail.com to request any of the resources he mentioned.
Amazon affiliate links for books mentioned:
Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, edited by John Wallace: https://amzn.to/3V7ZXE4
The Temple - Its Symbolism and Meaning Then and Now, by Joshua Berman: https://amzn.to/3Vd4jJQ
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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Leaving Egypt with Joe Aymond
Joe Aymond grew up in Port Barre, LA where his dad began teaching and exposing him to music at a very young age. In 1996, Joe joined together with 4 friends and formed a worship band. With the invaluable support and direction of their youth pastor, Chris Burney, Xtreme Faith traveled from Louisiana to Florida for the next 3 1/2 years leading worship for youth ministries, camps, and retreats. During this time, Joe felt the unmistakable call to ministry.
In 2000, Joe moved to DeRidder, Louisiana, where he traveled, singing and leading worship for Evangelist Kelly Hendren. In 2001, Joe became the Student Pastor at Grace in DeRidder. During his 14 years at Grace, Joe has preached, taught, and led worship all across the country.
In mid-2006, the Father began speaking to Joe and disturbing his peace. Joe began digging and studying everything he could to find out what the Father was teaching, where He was guiding him, and what direction he was to take. Joe and his little family studied and observed Torah personally for several years until the Father called them to step out from their church staff position in 2015. After taking time to seek the Father on what to do next, Out of Ashes Ministries was born. OAM continues to grow, being a bridge for those whom the Father is awakening, and providing a safe and healthy place to come together to learn and grow in The Way of Messiah Yeshua, the Torah.
Joe currently resides in Rosepine, LA with his beautiful wife Heather and four children: Gabriella, Genevieve, Josiah, and Asher.
You can read more about Joe and Out of Ashes Ministries at https://www.outofashesministries.org/.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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Leaving Egypt with Dr. Dinah Dye
Everyone has a story and almost everyone has experienced a moment in which everything changed. Maybe there was a long buildup or maybe it came like a flash flood, but there was a single event or realization that triggered a fundamental shift in world view. For believers in Yeshua, that moment might have been when we realized who he really is or when we realized that some major things we were taught about him and his ministry just weren't true. That's the moment when we began an exodus from our own personal Egypt.
Join the Common Sense Bible Study community at 7 PM CDT on April 4th for a live conversation with Dr. Dinah Dye about her Leaving Egypt experience. Only members of Common Sense Bible Study will be able to participate in this conversation, but membership is free!
Dr. Dye was raised in Ottawa, Canada, in a conservative Jewish home. She attended Hebrew school, celebrated the festivals with her family, and enjoyed summers at an Orthodox Jewish summer camp. Dinah spent her teen years and early twenties deeply involved in the New Age movement. During those years, she came to the belief that truth would be based on three things: it would be easy to understand, it would be for everyone, and it would be based on love. She met that truth in 1979 in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.
Dinah served in a number of teaching positions with Assemblies of God and was the Director of the Bible Institute for Foursquare International. She has also taught in a variety of media venues including GLC (God’s Learning Channel), Son Broadcasting in New Mexico, and BRAD TV in South Korea.
Dinah recognized the importance of connecting the Gospels and the Epistles to their foundation in the Torah (first five books of the Bible). That understanding led to the creation of her ministry, Foundations in Torah. Dr. Dye holds a DMIN in Hebraic Studies in Christianity and has been teaching the Hebraic foundation of the New Testament for nearly 40 years. Dinah’s teachings are available on her membership website in audio and video formats. She speaks regularly at conferences and for local congregations throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Currently, Dr. Dye hosts a radio show with author Jeff Morton called Returning to Eden, where the two discuss the language of the Kingdom of God from a Biblical and ancient Near Eastern perspective. She also has a weekly TV show on ITVN (Israel TV Network).
Dinah’s real passion is to help students of the Bible recognize the Hebraic nature of the New Testament Scriptures, as well as the ancient Near East world. Dr. Dye’s research revolves around the Temple which she suggests is the framework for understanding the entire Bible.
You can learn more about Dr. Dye at https://dinahdye.com/ and at https://foundationsintorah.com/. You can contact her at dinahdye@protonmail.com.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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117
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Prophetic Patterns in Revelation with Tony Robinson
In some respects, the entire Bible is prophecy, from the stories of the patriarchs to the least of the commandments. Some parts of the Bible--like Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation--are more directly prophetic and full of prophetic patterns, but every part depends on every other part. Revelation, for example, can't be understood without reference to the rest of the Bible, Genesis to Jude.
Tony Robinson of Restoration of Torah Ministries joined the Common Sense Bible Study community for a live conversation about the literary and thematic patterns that can help make sense of the Book of Revelation!.
Tony has a BS from the University of Illinois in chemistry and an MS from Kansas State University in Electroanalytical Chemistry. He received Yeshua as his Savior in 1980 and, soon after, began to lead a small group and congregational worship. From 1987 - 1997, Tony and his wife Tina helped plant three Vineyard Christian Fellowship congregations. From 1997 - 1999, he served as a Worship Pastor and lay elder at Steele Creek Church in Charlotte, NC, where Adonai graciously opened his eyes to His restoration through the Messianic movement. Since then, Tony, Tina, and their four children have developed a strong foundation for their faith in Yeshua by studying the Torah, including planting and pastoring a Messianic congregation, Beit Israel Hebraic Community in Chattanooga, TN, from 2013-2019.
In his ministry, "Restoration of Torah" ( https://www.restorationoftorah.org ), Tony uses an ancient Jewish Scripture study technique known as Thematic Analysis to understand and teach the Scriptures. He mainly focuses on 1) teaching the Torah as a foundational document for faith and practice, 2) helping people study the Bible thematically, and 3) discovering Messianic truth in the Old Testament pertaining to the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua in three days.
Tony continues to travel and teach at various congregations and has recently begun sharing what Adonai is showing him about the book of Revelation and end-time prophecy through the RTM SubStack page. He also teaches Honors and General Chemistry at McCallie High School in Chattanooga, TN.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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204
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Service-Oriented Missions with David & Molly Patterson
The Common Sense Bible Study community had a conversation with David and Molly Patterson about short-term and service-oriented missions around the world.
David and Molly Patterson have been married for 39 years. They have 2 children and 10 grandchildren. They have, together, been involved with and had a heart for Short Term Missions since young adults but their commitment to “coming alongside” missionaries in other countries began in 2004, with an eye opening trip to Germany. They have since been in India, Poland, Wales, Thailand, Ireland, and Guatemala. They are currently investing their time, energy and resources, as the LORD continues to direct, with some missionaries in El Salvador. They believe the best way they can be of help is through relationship.
Check out Torah Tube at https://tube.ttn.place/
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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115
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African Missions with Messianic Rabbi Mitch Chapman
The Common Sense Bible Study community had a live conversation with Rabbi Mitch Chapman about evangelism and discipleship in Africa.
Mitch is a Jewish believer in Yeshua and the Director of African Messianic Outreach (https://africanmessianicoutreach.org). The oldest child of Irwin and Mauna Chapman, Mitch was raised in Closter, New Jersey. He attended Temple Beth El, a Reform Synagogue, where he had his Bar Mitzvah. In May 1975 he graduated from Bryant College (now University) in Smithfield, Rhode Island, majoring in Accounting with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. On Shabbat, July 31, 1993, he accepted Yeshua as his Messiah and Redeemer.
Mitch is one of the original members of Kehilat Bet Avinu in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has served the Lord in various capacities since shortly after coming to faith in Yeshua. On February 11, 2017 God opened the door to establish African Messianic Outreach (AMO) when he was invited to give the Shabbat message via internet to a Messianic Jewish Congregation in Isebania, Kenya. On that day 35 people came to faith in Yeshua. The ministry of AMO encompasses mentoring, discipling, teaching, evangelism and leadership training as well as biblical counseling. AMO mentors and disciples numerous Congregational leaders located throughout equatorial Africa (primarily Uganda, but also Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, and others) as well as in India and the Philippines. Mitch spends part of each year in Africa where he engages in evangelism and leadership training and empowerment.
Through Mitch's disciples, more than 9,000+ people have become believers in Yeshua. These new believers live throughout Africa, including The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and Burundi. Approximately 4,000 are from a Jewish heritage/background with 3,000 plus immersed!
You can donate to Mitch's ministry through his home synagogue at https://kehilatbetavinu.org/donate/. Or you can donate through Zell using his phone number or email address: 9548508446, amo@africanmessianicoutreach.org.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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102
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Original Sin and Righteousness with Rob Vanhoff
Did we inherit guilt from Adam? Or just an evil inclination? What is sin? What is the remedy for sin and guilt and the evil inclination?
On December 6, 2023, the Common Sense Bible Study community was live with Rob Vanhoff to talk about Romans 5:12-21 and the doctrines of Original Sin. I say "doctrines" (plural), because there is significant disagreement among theologians about what this actually means. This was an amazing opportunity to have a conversation with a really smart guy with a deep understanding of the Scriptures and its ancient Jewish context.
A lifelong resident of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Rob loves Yeshua (Jesus) and teaches the Bible in many facets: cultural contexts, ancient languages and translation, interpretation history, and most importantly what it means to be a disciple of the Messiah today. His purpose is to bring accuracy and clarity to the articulation of the Gospel message within its “full Bible” framework. Rob has an MA in comparative religions and a BA in Near Eastern languages and civilizations.
Rob is currently an instructor for TorahResource Institute, where he teaches courses on the 2nd Temple Period, Rabbinic Literature, Judaism, Koine Greek, and Aramaic. He has also written articles and presented on ancient Jewish scribal tradition, the Masorah of the Hebrew Bible, and midrashic literature.
Links to some of Rob's online activities...
Messiah Matters video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MessiahMatters
Rob on the Rock, Rob's personal YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ontherock
TorahResource: https://torahresource.com/
Rob's homepage: https://robontherock.com/
Academic publications: https://washington.academia.edu/RobertVanhoff
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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113
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Biblical Leadership in the Public Sphere with Tony Tinderholt
Tony Tinderholt will be the first to tell you that he's made a lot of bad decisions in his life. Fortunately, you can learn a lot from mistakes if you're humble enough to admit them and determined not to repeat them.
Today, Tony is a Texas State Representative, teacher, combat veteran, business owner, father, and husband. He serves on the Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety as well as the Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs. He is the Chairman of the House Veterans Caucus and also serves as a Floor Leader for the House Republican Caucus.
Before his state service, Tony had a decorated military career. He entered active duty Air Force in 1988 as a Spanish Cryptologic Linguist, taking part in counter drug missions throughout South and Central America. Following 9/11, he re-entered military service, this time in the Army. He worked as a platoon leader, executive officer, detachment commander, and recruiting commander, and volunteered to deploy to multiple combat zones. In his 21 years in the armed forces, Major (Ret.) Tinderholt toured across several continents, earning awards that include the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge.
In civilian life, Tony served as a Spanish professor and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. He currently employs dozens of Texans as a business owner in the Dallas Metroplex.
The Common Sense Bible Study crew had a live conversation with Tony Tinderholt about what it takes to stand consistently for Biblical principles in a hostile political environment and to be a Biblical leader in the public sphere.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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93
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Biblical Leadership with Al McCarn
Al McCarn retired from the United States Army after 30 years. He is the executive director of B'ney Yosef North America, the proprietor of The Barking Fox blog, and the author of one book and contributor to several others. (See links below.)
In this conversation with the Common Sense Bible Study crew, we talked about the worldwide Torah awakening, the structure of a congregation and the qualifications for leadership, and what it takes to hold a community together.
Resources mentioned in this conversation...
The Barking Fox, https://thebarkingfox.com/
B'ney Yosef North America, http://bneyyosefna.com/
Founded in Truth Fellowship, https://foundedintruth.com/
Nations' 9th of Av (soon to be Ten from the Nations), https://9-av.com/
Fostering the Family, https://fosteringthefamily.org/
I Will Gather You Radio, https://iwillgatheryou.com/
Indigenous Messengers International, https://indigenousmessengers.com/
Firekeepers International, https://www.firekeepersinternational.org/
House of David (Barry Phillips), https://www.remnantofyisrael.com/
Books mentioned:
How I Love Your Law: Meditations on the Weekly Torah Portions, https://amzn.to/3QXjQwV
Give Me A Place Where I May Dwell: An Ephraimite Affirmation by Albert J. McCarn, https://amzn.to/3srn5m5
Ten From The Nations: Torah Awakening Among Non-Jews by Rivkah Lambert Adler, https://amzn.to/3qXdd33
Warfare By Honor by Qaumaniq and Suuqiina, https://amzn.to/3EljOY5
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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104
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Paul, the Pharisee - with Dr. Mark Nanos
Most Christians think of the Apostle Paul as the inventor of a new, non-Jewish religion, traveling around the Roman Empire driving a wedge between Jew and Gentile. But that's not how the Bible portrays his ministry! Paul was a Pharisee, a Torah-observant Jew until the day he died, and he traveled the Roman Empire announcing the arrival of the Jewish Messiah to an audience of both Jews and Gentiles!
This was a live conversation with Dr. Mark Nanos and the Common Sense Bible Study community about the Apostle Paul in the context of first century Judaism. We talked about how culture and language impacted Paul's writings and subsequent understanding (and misunderstanding!), the relationship between various groups of Jews and Gentiles, first century controversies around Paul and his mission, and much more!
Dr. Mark Nanos is a Jewish historian and a globally recognized scholar on the Apostle Paul and First Century Judaism. He has written several books on the topic, including The Mystery of Romans (1996 National Jewish Book Award for Christian-Jewish Relations), The Irony of Galatians, and Reading Paul within Judaism. He has a PhD from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature. His Jewish faith and his deep knowledge of first century Judaism and Paul's letters are sure to add nuance and perspective to our ongoing study of Romans that we would be unlikely to get from other sources. You can read more of Dr. Nanos' personal story and thoughts on Paul at his blog, https://marknanos.com..
Recommended reading with Amazon affiliate links:
Reading Paul within Judaism by Mark Nanos (https://amzn.to/3O9b2kD)
Reading Romans within Judaism by Mark Nanos (https://amzn.to/3KicUGG)
Paul, the Pagan's Apostle by Paula Fredriksen (https://amzn.to/44DfVJI)
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
186
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Introduction to Romans
Understanding who wrote a book of the Bible and why can really help you understand the book itself. In our first week looking at Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I talk about Paul's history up to this point and what was happening in his life and in Rome that prompted him to write.
This is from an online, interactive Bible study at Common Sense Bible Study on Thursday, July 13, 2023. We will be working our way through the entire book on Thursday nights. Participation is free (unless we start getting a bunch of trolls), but you have to be a member. You can join at https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com.
From Jay Carper at https://www.AmericanTorah.com.
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Today's Bible Translations with Tim Hegg
There are so many English Bible translations available today! It can be confusing to choose between them. Should you read this one casually and use that one for serious study? Why are they all so different in certain passages? Is one translation really better than another?
We're going to be live with Tim Hegg from TorahResource to talk about today's Bible translations, the best and the worst! Everyone has their favorite translations and this can be a sensitive topic. One of our goals at Common Sense Bible Study is to seek the truth and that means learning as much as we can from people who have dedicated their lives to understanding the Scriptures and serving God. You will really enjoy this conversation and learn a lot from it, but you're also likely to hear opinions you don't like.
Don't get mad, though! Ask questions, listen to the answers, and be open to opinions that are different from yours. That's one of the best ways to learn and grow.
Tim is a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather! He has a BA in Music and Bible from Cedarville University, a M.Div. and a Th.M., both from Northwest Baptist Seminary. He taught Biblical Hebrew and Hebrew Exegesis at Corban University School of Ministry for three years and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. He is the author of numerous Bible commentaries and currently teaches at TorahResource.com and TorahResourceInstitute.com and is an overseer and teacher at Beit Hallel, a Messianic congregation in Tacoma, Washington.
In this conversation, we talked about literal, dynamic, sectarian, and single-author translations, the Apocrypha, and many other topics.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com). Also participating: Carlos from the Conversations of the Way podcast (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1947624) and Heidi from Seeking Messiah (https://seekingmessiah.org/).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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The History of the Bible with Matt Nappier
At 27:00, Matt meant to say 1 & 2 Timothy and not 1 & 2 Peter.
Compiled from many scrolls written by even more authors, the Bible has a long and complex history. Matt Nappier joins the Common Sense Bible Study crew to talk about some of the twists and turns on the road from Moses to King James.
Matt is 21 year veteran and a pastor at Lighthouse Messianic Fellowship in Monroe, Louisiana. He has a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Amridge University and is currently working on a PhD in Hebrew Bible.
You can watch a much more detailed series from Matt on the history of the Bible at https://lighthousemessianicfellowship.com/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx041Rxbmhpr8RgwYi-HL9K2ptBOtOo4K.
Affiliate links to some of the books mentioned in our conversation...
How We Got the Bible by Neil R. Lightfoot
https://amzn.to/42SUYsQ
The Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible by Paul D. Wegner
https://amzn.to/3IdZgU6
A History of the Bible: The Story of the World's Most Influential Book by John Barton
https://amzn.to/3pJBs3Z
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
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Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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Apostacy, False Prophets, and the Gospel in Mathew 24
We are living in dark times. Churches are teaching anti-Christ doctrines, false prophets are multiplying, lawlessness is everywhere, and nobody seems to know what the Gospel is.
Our job is to keep preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (which might not be what you think!) and to persevere in faithful obedience until the end.
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12 ESV
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:12 ESV
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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The Spring Feasts with Ryan White
The Common Sense Bible Study crew had a conversation with Ryan White about the Biblical Spring Feasts: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Early FirstFruits, and Shavuot (aka Pentecost).
Ryan gave an introduction to the feasts and some aspects of the sacrificial system, then discussed the ambiguity in some of God's instructions and similarities to pagan religious practices. We also talked about the spiritual and prophetic symbolism of Passover and the other Spring Feasts and how they relate to the life and ministry of Yeshua (aka Jesus).
Some important questions considered:
How can we see the Messiah in the Feasts?
Does the Passover contain a prophecy of a future, Greater Exodus?
How did the first century Jews calculate the new month?
How can we convince Christians of the value of keeping the Feasts?
You can find more of Ryan White's teaching at https://FaithOfMessiah.com.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
Add me as a contact on MeWe at https://mewe.com/i/jaycarper
Follow me on Gab at https://gab.com/carper
Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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Honoring Your Parents with Jon Behrens
Correction: The end of the video says April 7 for the Ryan White event, but I meant to say April 9! Sorry about that!
The Common Sense Bible Study crew has a conversation with Jon Behrens, pastor of Restoration Messianic Fellowship in Boulder, Colorado, about the fifth commandment, "Honor your father and mother".
All of our cultural and national problems can, at least in part, be attributed to a breakdown of the parent-child relationship as God intended it. Jon offers us several pieces of advice on giving our children a better life and fighting the culture war.
1. Stay married. There's no substitute for having both mother and father in the home.
2. God's design for the male-female dynamic is fundamental to the structure of the universe and a healthy family.
3. Stay connected with your church, community, and family in order take advantage of their accumulated wisdom.
4. Be consistent in prayer as a family for revival and against unrighteousness.
5. Persist in sharing the Word and in standing against the degradation of culture and morals.
6. Encourage one another.
7. Discipline your children.
8. Don't be overly harsh with your children.
9. Parents, but especially fathers, read the Proverbs together with your children.
10. Learn to think about what you're thinking about. Be aware of your state of mind and how you got there.
You can visit Jon's ministry website at https://crimsonthread.com.
Books mentioned in this conversation:
All About Men by Joseph H. Peck. https://amzn.to/3nqSKSg
The Boy Crisis by Warren Farrell and John Gray. https://amzn.to/3M4kLcm
Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis. https://amzn.to/3FW7r64
From Jay Carper and Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com). and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
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Dishonoring Your Parents with James Carper of Prisoners of Hope Ministries
A conversation with James Carper, Sr., of Prisoners of Hope Ministries about broken relationships, disfunctional families, and how they contribute to bad behavior later in life. We talk about what goes wrong early in life, how the worst offenders can straighten their lives and be reconciled with family, and hope for lost loved ones.
James Carper has over 45 years experience in ministry and 30 years in prison and jail ministry. You can learn more about Prisoners of Hope Ministries at https://pohministries.org.
You can be part of future conversations ta Common Sense Bible Study by joining the community at https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com.
From Jay Carper at American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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Faith under Persecution with Tim Hillis
The spiritual culture of America has been going downhill fast for decades and shows few signs of slowing down. If you believe what the Bible says about marriage, parenting, and sin, you are likely to have some trouble getting a job or joining a club at school. In some rare cases, you might even get arrested for standing up for what's right and refusing to back down.
There isn't a lot of actual persecution of Christians in America like there is in Iran or China, but there are a lot of people in Washington and the legacy media who would really like to start. If--or when--that happens, it will be too late to prepare for it. We need to start asking ourselves some questions now. What does it take to be faithful, to spread the Gospel, and to connect with other believers under real persecution?
In this video, the Common Sense Bible Study crew has a conversation with Tim Hillis about his experiences in Beijing under an atheist government that discourages real faith and twists the scriptures to suit their political aims.
You can find more information about Tim Hillis and Remnant Nation University at remnantnation.org.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
Add me as a contact on MeWe at https://mewe.com/i/jaycarper
Follow me on Gab at https://gab.com/carper
Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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Faithful Resilience with Bryan Barnes
There are two kinds of believers: those who are experiencing tribulation now and those who will experience tribulation in the future. -Carlos
You may be small in your own eyes, but YHWH called you to be his sons and daughters and has anointed you for a mission. We don't operate from our own power, but from his power working through us. -Bryan Barnes
Whether your life seems completely uneventful or you are undergoing extreme hardship, every day brings opportunities for spiritual growth. The keys to overcoming trials and becoming who God already knows you to be are humility, prayer, worship, and actively looking for whatever needs to be done.
The Common Sense Bible Study crew (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) has a conversation with Bryan Barnes of Growing in Torah about faithful resilience and spiritual antifragility.
Learn more about Bryan's ministry at Safe Have Sustainable Farms (https://shfarms.org/) and Growing in Torah (https://growingintorah.com/).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
Add me as a contact on MeWe at https://mewe.com/i/jaycarper
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Sabbath History and Myths with Kelly McDonald
The Common Sense Bible Study crew has a conversation with Kelly McDonald, president of the Bible Sabbath Association about historical myths and realities of the weekly Sabbath.
When did Christians start calling the first day of the week "Sabbath" instead of the seventh day?
Who made this change and why?
Is there a Biblical basis for it?
When did Christians stop observing the seventh day?
What was Constantine's role?
The Bible Sabbath Association - https://biblesabbath.org
The Sabbath Sentinel Magazine https://sabbathsentinel.org
Defend My Faith - https://DefendMyFaith.org
Common Sense Bible Study - https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
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Being a Light in a Dark World with Rabbi Michael Schoening
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Yeshua
Matthew 5:14-16
What is light? Is the world really getting darker or are we just more aware of the darkness? What can we do in practical terms to shine God's light in the world?
The Common Sense Bible Study crew (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) have a conversation with Michael Schoening, a rabbi at The Olive Tree Messianic Synagogue in Colorado Springs and the author of The Unwind: 30 Evenings for the Entrepreneurial Mind, about being a light for God in a very dark world.
Rabbi Michael's Hanukkah message from 2020: https://youtu.be/jcMhNZOl1H0
The Olive Tree Messianic Synagogue:
https://theolivetreemessianics.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@theolivetreemessianicsynag9318
From Jay Carper at American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
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Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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Helping Families in Spiritual Transition - with Brian Serrano
I know that many of you have gone through major changes in your personal beliefs about God and how he wants us to live. Those changes frequently come with lots of conflict with your family, friends, and church, and that can be especially hard when your children get in the middle of it.
In this conversation at Common Sense Bible Study, Pastor Brian Serrano offers some advice and encouragement for families trying to work through these conflicts.
Brian Serrano is the senior pastor at Hebraic Family Fellowship in Dallas, Texas and is involved in several other ministries (links below!). Brian and his wife, Kim, have been in ministry for over 15 years with a focus on the growth and spiritual health of families and children.
Hebraic Family Fellowship: http://hff.church
Menorah Bible Fellowship: https://menorahbiblefellowship.org/
Messiah Texas: https://messiahtexas.com/
Undignified Ministries: https://undignifiedministries.org/
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
Add me as a contact on MeWe at https://mewe.com/i/jaycarper
Follow me on Gab at https://gab.com/carper
Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
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