J.K. McKee of goes through some of the significant reasons, from both the Tanach (OT) and Apostolic Writings (NT), of why God’s people need to consider the ongoing importance and relevance of the Torah for their spiritual instruction and direction.
Shabbat School
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the study questions for Ch 2 in the Messianic Beginnings workbook:
1. Do you think that it is significant that while many Jewish people have come to faith in Messiah Yeshua, many non-Jewish Believers have developed an interest in the Torah? Why or why not?
2. How was Ancient Israel to be blessed? Does this same principle apply to Believers today?
3. How did a return to the study of the Torah benefit the Jews who returned to the Land of Israel from the Babylonian exile?
4. How could studying the Torah portions on a weekly basis give you a newfound richness to your walk with the Lord?
5. Do you want to study the Torah? Why or why not?
Perhaps the most shocking trend present today in the Messianic movement, is witnessing a return of many evangelical Believers to the foundations of our faith. This is best exemplified by many individuals studying the Torah on a consistent basis. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, also commonly called the Law of Moses or Pentateuch.
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the study questions for Ch 1 in the Messianic Beginnings workbook:
1. Explain some of the reasons why Believers should study the Tanakh, the Scriptures of Israel.
2. What does being a Hebrew or Ivri mean? What are some spiritual applications of this?
3. In what context were the Patriarchs “Hebrews”? What did Biblical characters such as Abraham, Moses, and David do to make them “Hebrews”?
4. Explain some of the similarities and differences between the Jewish book and verse order of the Tanakh, versus that of the Christian Old Testament. Do you think these are significant? Why or why not?
5. Explain how Hebrew is an action-oriented language. Look up several passages in the Tanakh and how they might reflect our relationship to God.
6. Using the examples discussed in the chapter, how reverent were the people when the Torah was read publicly? What are some applications that can be drawn?
7. Have you ever been taught in your denominational tradition that Yeshua (Jesus) was a Torah obedient Jew, or that He at least followed some of the Old Testament commands? How might this change your perception of what you have been taught in the past?
8. Have you ever been taught that the Disciples and Apostles were Torah obedient, First Century Jews? How might this change your perception of what you have been taught in the past?
9. Using the examples given in the chapter, why do you think so many people believe that the Apostle Paul opposed the Torah? What challenges relating to Paul’s letters do you foresee when reading them?
10. How do you think that more consciously studying the Tanakh, the Scriptures of Israel, will change various aspects of your spiritual walk?
Mark Huey of Outreach Israel Ministries discusses the great significance of how increasing numbers of Believers in the Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus), who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are studying more and more about the ancient origins of their faith in the Scriptures of Israel. Something is happening among people as the Bible is being reexamined to dig for truths which have often been overlooked by the masses of Christianity. Thousands are being encouraged to return to the foundations of our faith in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and it is deepening their walk and commitment to the Lord.
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the six study questions for Unit Six in The Messianic Walk workbook:
1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “theology”? How important is it going to be, in your Messianic experience, to have a more developed approach to various issues and subjects?
2. What specific areas of Messianic theology have you seen discussed or debated in a fellowship setting? Describe your experience. What do you think needs to be investigated or explored further?
3. What guidelines or methods have you followed, for studying the Bible in the past? How have these methods been useful? What are some immediate areas where you know you need to make improvement?
4. How have different Bible studies been conducted at your Messianic congregation or fellowship? Has the teacher been responsible with the text, or is it clear that various corners have been cut? Elaborate.
5. What do you think the next big phase of Messianic theological and spiritual development is likely to involve?
6. How do you think today’s Messianic Believers should truly learn to be Bereans, in their approach to studying Scripture or investigating various theological issues?
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics reviews a number of familiar, but also not so familiar, topics affecting the future of Messianic theology.
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the six study questions for Unit Five in The Messianic Walk workbook:
1. What do you, and/or your family, expect to get out of being a part of a Messianic congregation? Have you fully considered all, or at least most, of the dynamics of what it means to be involved in the restoration of Israel?
2. What might be some of the similarities, but also differences, between a Messianic Jewish congregation, and (a) a Jewish synagogue, (b) an evangelical Protestant church? Speculate if necessary.
3. Are you concerned at the presence of false teachings within the Messianic movement? How might this affect your involvement in a Messianic assembly? (If necessary, describe your experience.)
4. Do you have the perseverance and fortitude to truly see your involvement with the Messianic movement through, to whatever God has intended for it?
5. In your estimation, how important is it for the Body of Messiah to experience unity? Why do you think people have a tendency to divide over what are ultimately minor issues?
6. While Jewish and non-Jewish Believers do have their differences—do you think it is useful for Messianic congregations to focus on differences first, or common faith first? Which approach do you think will encourage unity, mutual honor and respect, and a pooling of gifts and talents?
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the six study questions for Unit Four in The Messianic Walk workbook:
1. How have you been involved in declaring the good news to your friends and neighbors? Why do you think that Jewish evangelism might be somewhat different than reaching other people groups?
2. Why are some of the standard religious terms, used by contemporary Christianity, rather offensive to Jewish people? Have you ever consciously considered how other people might be turned off to the good news, by a word or term that you have used?
3. What are some of the significant ways that you can reach out to your Jewish friends and neighbors with the good news of Messiah? How much do you understand the Jewish struggle in history? How much do you need to improve your understanding of the Jewish experience?
4. In your own words, summarize the importance of Jewish outreach and evangelism. How important is this to your local assembly? How important is it to you, personally?
5. Are you aware of the various non-Jewish movements, associated with the term “Messianic” in some way? Have you ever encountered them? If so, describe your experience.
6. What do you think might be the major problem involved with the various non-Jewish movements associating as “Messianic” or “Hebrew Roots”? Do you think they are facilitating the legitimate purposes of the Messianic mission? Why or why not?
J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the six study questions for Unit Three in The Messianic Walk workbook:
1. Have you ever been taught that it is only one’s internal heart condition that is important, and that external actions or deeds do not matter? Describe some of your experiences.
2. What external areas of Torah adherence are you most familiar with? What external areas of Torah adherence will you need to study and investigate further?
3. What are some of the challenges that today’s Messianic people often have with eating a kosher style of diet? How many of them are theological, and how many of them involve deep family traditions?
4. What is some of the variance one may witness at a Messianic congregation, in terms of how the Torah’s dietary laws are honored?
5. Why can there be various controversies associated with external forms of Torah adherence? How much do they relate to an individual’s or family’s interpretation and application of various instructions?
6. What are the kinds of Torah-based practices that you think require an individual or family to consult with congregational leadership? Why do you think some people are more divisive than others, in matters of Torah keeping?