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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

How Old Testament sacrifices and Messiah’s teachings fit together in one big story (Leviticus 1–7; Malachi 3; Luke 6)

The Bible’s offerings are oftentimes jarring visual lessons about the high cost moving humanity from “far away” from God’s presence to “near.” This study walks through the what and the why of the burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt offerings in Leviticus 1–7. We see how Malachi 3 warns against tired, careless worship. And we explore how Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) uses parables in Luke 6 (blind guides, good fruit, two builders) to bring the same themes into daily life — integrity, repentance and true peace with God and others.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Can I really change inside? What the Bible says about a new heart and clean conscience (Leviticus 3; James 1)

The peace offering in Leviticus 3 is a powerful picture of how God restores relationship with humanity. So why does Scripture talk about kidneys, heart, liver, fat and “inward parts”? In this study, we explore how the Bible uses these to describe our conscience, desires, and inner struggles — and how the offerings, from peace to sin to Yom Kippur, point to Yeshua (Jesus), Who brings true peace with God.

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30: Hungry to get close to God?

We don’t have to go to Heaven ourselves to learn God’s Law; we don’t have to die to keep it. God’s Law is so close to us, we can taste it. That’s a key lesson in the dual Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20) and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“he went,” Deuteronomy 31:1–30).

The book of Deuteronomy applies to us, regardless of where we come from, whether we are born Israelites or grafted into Israel (Romans 11).

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 29: Agape-love the LORD with all your heart, soul, strength

We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That love is to be an agape, selfless love, not a selfish “feeling” kind of love.

Those who “follow their hearts” against God’s Torah are running headlong into stubbornness and rebellion and will reap a curse.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 8:19-56 part 2: Four soils of the sower and the Shema; four real-life examples

The story of the woman who had suffered with a hemorrhage for 12 years is woven beautifully into the story of the suffering, death and resurrection of the 12 year old girl.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 8:19-56 part 1: Four soils of the sower and the Shema; four real-life examples

Accounts in the gospels often are arranged more based on theme than chronology. It seems the four accounts in Luke 8 following the parable of the sower are those lessons lived out in Yeshua’s life.