What inspired a famous Christian songwriter to adopt a Messianic Jewish perspective? Aaron Shust, best known for his hit song “My Savior My God,” joins Messiah Podcast to tell the story of his journey from mainstream Christian music artist to Torah Club Student. Learn how God prepared Aaron’s heart for this journey, how his first trip to Israel changed his perspective, and how honoring the Sabbath with his family has strengthened his walk of faith.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast with your Season 2 hosts, Damian Eisner and Jacob Fronczak.
(4:45) The journey from singing for church offertories to composing and writing radio hits.
(11:40) Musical inspirations with a music listening calendar. 
(14:03) Collaborations with Joshua Aaron.
(18:34) The first trip to Israel that birthed a new perspective and a new passion.
(24:30) The story behind the song “Zion.”
(28:13) “The Sabbath is the best thing that has happened to our family in the past five years.”
(32:18) Creating a day of Shabbat Shalom. 
(34:37) Torah Club Is like a diamond.
(38:13) The music industry’s reaction.
(41:16) Singing what’s true: The heart behind the music.
(44:56) Rapid fire: What the people want to know.
(48:51) Damian and Jacob share their impressions and takeaways.

–  Resources –

Aaron Shust

Shust Home Devos

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Have Christians lost the original meaning and intention of first-century baptism? The New Testament treats it as an “elementary principle,” but its purpose and method have been anything but elementary in most of Christian history. A look at the Jewish perspective will cast some important insights on this biblical ritual. This edition of Messiah Podcast features a select article from Messiah Magazine issue 26 by D. Thomas Lancaster, Education Director of First Fruits of Zion.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast!
(6:55) Under the Water, An exposé on the meaning and method of baptism in Messianic Judaism.
(21:06) Damian and Ruben offer their takeaways.

– Resources –

Messiah Article: Under the Water

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Yeshua came proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, but what exactly is the kingdom? What happened to the message of the kingdom? Why did the church lose that hope? Could it have been because the kingdom is too Jewish? This edition of Messiah Podcast features a select lecture by D. Thomas Lancaster, Education Director of First Fruits of Zion.

–  Chapter –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast!
(2:08) Introduction to “The Lost Kingdom”
(6:33) What is the kingdom? Is it too Jewish?
(16:36) When is the kingdom? An exploration of eschatology
(22:24) The history of how and why Christianity abandoned the kingdom
(44:56) Why understanding the kingdom is important
(50:31) Damian and Ruben offer their takeaways

–  Resources –

Malchut Lectures on Messiah Watch

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Spinning tops and fried potato pancakes are great, but what is the real meaning of Hanukkah? Aaron Eby, First Fruits of Zion Senior Educator, joins Messiah Podcast to share the little-known history of this famous holiday. What happened to make Hanukkah such an enduring holiday? Why did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah? And why should his followers celebrate it today? Hint: It involves much more than dreidels, jelly-filled donuts, the menorah, or even a military victory.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast!
(6:14) Happy Hanukkah to Aaron Eby
(9:34) The Children’s Story of Hanukkah Seems Incomplete
(13:46) The Real Hanukkah Story Starting from Israel’s Golden Era
(20:21) The Plot Thickens
(32:45) The Rise of the Maccabees
(39:53) Rededication and the Meaning of the Miracle of the Oil
(43:24) The War of Culture and Identity, Ideas and Values
(49:18) Applications for Messianic Judaism
(51:12) Damian and Ruben Offer Their Takeaways

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

A deeply entrenched doctrine of Christianity states that all people are born with a sin nature and, by virtue of being a descendent of Adam, are inherently skewed toward evil and damned to hell from birth. Is this a biblical truth? While the concept of an evil inclination is present within Judaism, the two ideas are very different. Should Messianic Judaism follow the rest of Judaism in rejecting the Christian doctrine of original sin?This edition of Messiah Podcast features a select reading from Messiah Magazine.

– Resources –

Messiah Magazine Article: Conceived In Sin

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Orthodox Jews and Messianic Jews may have significant differences. However, both groups have growing initiatives seeking to help Christians properly relate to the Torah in recent times. Our guest on Messiah Podcast is David Nekrutman, an Orthodox Jewish theologian who authored a new book entitled "Your Sabbath Invitation." The discussion centers on David's experience as an Orthodox Jew who graduated from an evangelical, pentecostal university and what that taught him about Jewish-Christian relations.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast!
(3:38) Introducing David Nekrutman
(18:25) An Orthodox Jew at Oral Roberts University?
(32:29) The Newer Testament Bible translation
(36:38) Perspectives behind "Your Sabbath Invitation"
(39:52) Why gentiles have traditionally been discouraged from engaging the Sabbath.
(50:59) Practical advice
(1:09:20) Ruben and Ryan wrap-up

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Why are Baptists turning to Torah Club to know Jesus better? Why are Christians worldwide seeking Torah as a fundamental component for discipleship today? Baptists are long known for their love of Israel and diligence in reading the Word of God, but many of them are finding new meaning and richness from a Jewish reading of the Bible. Southern Baptist Pastor Keith Price joins Messiah Podcast to discuss his own journey of discovery and how he came to lead a growing and thriving Torah Club in California. 

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast! Ruben and Ryan recovered from Covid.
(7:55) Introducing Keith Price.
(9:54) The personal journey of a Baptist Pastor into Torah.
(25:48) The secrets to avoiding accusations of Judaising or legalism?
(33:48) Why are Baptists in particular positive toward Israel and Messianic Jewish teaching?
(40:40) Interfacing with other leaders within the Southern Baptist Conversion?
(44:15) An answer for Christians who are reluctant to acknowledge the role and value of the Torah.
(48:33) Are we witnessing a prophetic trend when Christians turn to Torah?
(52:29) The College student Torah Club is having a nationwide impact.
(1:01:09) Impacting a local Church body as a teaching elder.
(1:08:34) Ryan & Ruben Wrapup.

–  Resources –

Torah Club: Torah Club is a small-group Bible study where disciples learn the Bible from a Jewish perspective through in-depth discussions and good fellowship.

HaYesod: HaYesod is a complete discipleship course that respectfully explores the Jewish foundation of Christianity, the Sabbath, and the Festivals. Lessons are carefully developed to build an understanding of the Bible and ignite the believer's relationship to the Land, the People, and the Scriptures of Israel.

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Was Luke Jewish? And does the gospel of Luke affirm or deny the ongoing role of the Torah, the Jewish people, and the city of Jerusalem in God’s redemptive plan? Messianic Jewish Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer joins the show to discuss the authorship of the Gospel of Luke and the perspective the author brings to the Gospel.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) Welcome to Messiah Podcast! Who is Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer?
(7:55) Can a case be made that Luke was Jewish and is that important?
(17:25) How is Luke and Acts typically interpreted to perpetuate replacement theology?
(25:20) What is the Gospel Message according to the author of Luke and Acts?
(32:09) Have the people of Israel been replaced by the Church?
(38:12) What does Torah observance look like for the author of Luke and Acts?
(47:16) What is Luke’s view of the connections between Yeshua and Jerusalem? 
(55:22) What is Society for Post Supersessionis Theology?
(1:00:09) What is Yachad B’Yeshua?
(1:07:02) The backstory of Dr. Kinzer’s new book with Rabbi Russ Resnick “Besorah”
(1:10:44) Ryan Lambert & Damian Eisner discuss their key takeaways from the conversation.

–  Resources  – 

Besorah: The Resurrection of Jerusalem and the Healing of a Fractured Gospel

Jerusalem Crucified, Jerusalem Risen: The Resurrected Messiah, the Jewish People, and the Land of Promise

Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People

N. T. Wright and Mark Kinzer: A Debate on the Meaning of Israel

Society for Post Supersessionist Theology

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Should the disciples of Jesus celebrate the holy days of the Bible? Or would that be a step backwards in how we express our faithfulness to Jesus? On this episode of Messiah Podcast, we are joined by First Fruits of Zion Director of Education, D. Thomas Lancaster, to discuss why the holidays of the Bible are important for all disciples of Jesus.

–  Resources –

The Holy Days, Returning the Biblical Festivals to the Disciples of Jesus.

Restoration, Returning the Torah of Moses to the Disciples of Jesus

HaYesod, The Festivals

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Isaiah said that a day would come when the Torah would go forth from Zion. How is that prophetic vision beginning to unfold in the world, and how can you be part of it? First Fruits of Zion founder and director Boaz Michael joins Messiah Podcast to share the miraculous story of the origin of First Fruits of Zion and how the organization has grown and matured through the years from a publisher of commentaries to an international network of Bible study groups that are nurturing disciples of the Jewish Jesus.

–  Chapters –

(0:00) What is compelling and encouraging about the founding of First Fruits of Zion?
(2:36) On the road for the sixteen-week Shalom Tour.
(3:52) The historical context behind the emergence of Messianic Judaism
(19:15) How First Fruits of Zion came to be
(37:15) Torah Rediscovered: A maturing stage
(44:03) Torah Club: Growth and Expansion
(54:12) Future impact and growth of Torah Club
(1:03:37) Ryan & Ruben discuss their takeaways from Boaz’s story

–  Resources –

Messianic Luminary Series from Vine of David

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.