In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Dan Sered, Chief Operating Officer of Jews for Jesus and Lausanne Catalyst for Jewish Evangelism, shares his remarkable journey from a secular Jewish home in Israel to discovering Jesus as Messiah while studying in New York City. Jason and Dan explore the meaning of Messianic Jewish identity, how the gospel can be shared in culturally meaningful ways with Jewish people, and why peacemaking—not political partisanship—is the calling of every follower of Jesus.
Dan also offers profound reflections on the Israel–Palestine conflict, the Church’s responsibility during times of polarization, and how Jewish and Gentile believers can together bear witness to the hope of the gospel.
🔑 Main Points — Key Takeaways
Dan’s Journey to Faith: How discovering Yeshua (Jesus) through Old Testament prophecies transformed his life, calling, and understanding of Jewish identity.Messianic Identity Explained: The difference between Jewish ethnicity and Judaism as a religion, and why following Jesus does not erase Jewish identity.Contextualized Evangelism: Why Jews for Jesus prioritizes cultural understanding, deep relationships, and addressing the felt needs of each community they serve.Discipleship Begins Before Belief: Dan emphasizes that discipleship starts with presence, hospitality, and community—not after someone says “yes” to Jesus.What Messianic Jews Offer the Global Church: Insight into the Jewish roots of Christian faith, the “one new humanity,” and a renewed passion for evangelism.Responding to the Israel–Palestine Conflict: Dan urges Christians not to pick political sides but to embody Jesus’ way of peacemaking, compassion, and prayer for all who suffer—Israelis and Palestinians alike.Hope Amid Crisis: Despite devastation following October 7th, Dan shares surprising signs of gospel openness and why the Church must pray for salvation among both Jewish and Palestinian communities.👉 Call to Action
If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone interested in global mission, Jewish–Christian dialogue, or peacemaking.
🎧 Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive – Related Episodes
1. The Ministry of Reconciliation: Bridging Divides between Israelis and Palestinians — Salim Munayer
👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-ministry-of-reconciliation-bridging-divides-between-israelis-and-palestinians-with-salim-munayer
2. Arab Women Transforming Theological Education — Grace Al-Zoughbi Arteen
👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/arab-women-transforming-theological-education-with-grace-al-zoughbi-arteen
3. The Art of Preaching in Times of Crisis — Anne Zaki
👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-preaching-in-times-of-crisis-anne-zaki-on-sharing-the-hope-of-christ-when-it-matters-most
🔗 Links & Resources
Jews for Jesus- https://jewsforjesus.org
Lausanne Jewish Evangelism Network (LCJE) - https://www.lcje.net/
Lausanne Movement – Jewish Evangelism Issue Network - https://lausanne.org/network/jewish-evangelism
Articles by Dan Sered on Jewish Festivalshttps://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-yom-kippurhttp://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-rosh-hashanahDan Sered Bio:
Born in Israel and raised in a secular Jewish home, Dan Sered came to faith in Jesus as a university student in the U.S. He and his wife Dinah joined Jews for Jesus and later returned to Israel to serve in ministry. Dan now serves as COO and Global Director of Jews for Jesus and is president of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism.