Every Summer, the broad Messianic community tends to have many things taking place. This always tends to be the season when the latest sensationalism and hype bombards the market. Maybe this is due to the large number of "conferences" being held, or even people just not getting enough heat? Whatever the reason may be, Outreach Israel Ministries and TNN Online have produced a wide array of materials that will help you should you at all need a reasonable and stable voice. Don't let your brain be fried!

THE TOP TEN URBAN MYTHS OF TODAY'S MESSIANIC MOVEMENT

Over the past ten years (1997-2007), the Messianic movement has been able to grow in leaps and bounds. New people are coming to a revelation of their Hebraic Roots and congregations are budding. But the theology of the Messianic community and our Biblical studies have largely not been able to keep up with the growth. As a result, this has led to a significant number of concepts and ideas floating around that are not only non-scriptural, but also non-factual.

What are some things that have been permitted to circulate in the Messianic movement that classify as being non-factual, and at best someone’s opinion? What are some of the areas where we need to progress in order to become a mature and stable move of God? What are some of the challenges before us?

In a detailed yet pragmatic way, TNN Online editor J.K. McKee tackles the challenges of the “top ten” urban myths floating in our midst. He encourages a positive change on behalf of Messianic Believers so that we can all be empowered by the Lord to make a significant difference on our local communities and the world at large.

THE QUEST FOR CREDIBILITY
© 2007 TNN Press

Today's Messianic movement is reaching out to fill a need in the lives of people who desire renewal in their relationship with God. Many have been blessed as they have adopted a lifestyle of Torah obedience and in understanding the ministry of Yeshua from a First Century Jewish perspective. Yet as the Messianic community has grown, so have there appeared various obstacles to some of the objectives we believe that the Lord is desiring to see accomplished.

What three areas of teaching will seriously discredit the Messianic movement in the minds of those who are sincerely convicted about the message of Torah observance and the restoration of all Israel? TNN Online editor J.K. McKee addresses these three areas: (1) Denial of the Divinity of Yeshua the Messiah, (2) Denial of the Inspiration of the Greek New Testament, (3) Treating Christians with utter contempt and hatred.

How are we to become a force of positive change for the community of faith in the coming years? How will we be considered believable? These, and other pertinent questions, are asked in The Quest for Credibility.

WHEN WILL THE MESSIAH RETURN?

For almost two millennia, multiplied millions of Believers in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) have eagerly anticipated His return. Many theories, doctrines, and creeds have been produced concerning the Second Coming, as well as an entire score of books. In today’s world, many Christians believe that the Messiah can return at any moment in an event called the “pre-tribulation rapture.” Even among those who do not believe in this imminent rapture are those who still think that the final days of mankind are upon us. Are they? Is everything in place for the Messiah to return in the next decade or even in the next year? Is there anything that has been overlooked relating to the Messiah’s return?

Before Yeshua was taken into Heaven, the Apostles asked Him, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). The Apostles were eagerly awaiting the Messiah to restore Israel and the world to the fullness that God had promised in the Garden of Eden. But much work still had to be accomplished, as Yeshua commissioned them to go out and make disciples. That work still has not been completed today, especially with the advent of the modern-day Messianic movement.

A major part of the work that needs to be accomplished is that most Believers in Yeshua do not understand who the Lord is returning for. They consider themselves part of a separate “Church,” often with no connection to Israel. Because of this, it is believed that the Messiah can imminently come for “the Church,” to leave Israel behind to face the Tribulation and the antichrist. Is this a valid teaching? Are Israel and “the Church” separate entities? If they are not, how does our perception of the end-times change? Furthermore, if a Believer is a part of the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11-12), how does it effect what we believe will happen in the Last Days and when the beast system will arise?

184 pages
spiral bound

LOOKING AT THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
© 2008 TNN Press

How many of you have been bombarded with the idea that “the End” is certainly close, because of all the “unusual” geological and meteorological activities that seem to be occurring at a rate never seen before? How many of you have been told certain things about all of the earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, comets, and even blood red moons that are heralding certain doom?

It is said of all the scientists that it is the geologist who is the best suited to view the Earth in its entirety. This means that he or she will understand how this dynamic Earth on which we live is connected to the geological, climatological, and astronomical events we see all around us on the ground and in the sky, and help others understand. God has created an amazing place on which to place His Creation!

Margaret McKee Huey of Outreach Israel Ministries, a geologist, tackles some of the important signs of the End that are seen in the Holy Scriptures. This teaching, Looking at the Signs of the Times, addresses important end-time phenomenon from a scientifically minded perspective.

THE EFFECT OF MYSTICISM AND GNOSTICISM ON THE MESSIANIC MOVEMENT
© 2008 TNN Press

As today’s Messianic community strives to return to the First Century faith of the Disciples and Apostles, we will not just be facing “common problems” like adultery, idolatry, or even sins such as lying. We will also contend with some of the very specific religious problems that the First Century ekklēsia faced. Very few when examining Scripture, unfortunately, fail to consider it in its historical context. Many do not have an understanding of First Century Judaism, Greco-Roman religion, Second and Third Century Christianity, and the various mystery religions and cults that existed. Too many fail to consider the gross religious errors that were circulating throughout the First Century that affected the early Believers in Yeshua—and how some of these same errors are affecting Believers today.

Have you encountered any current Messianic teachings that relate to Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, numerology, Hebrew letter pictures, the Bible code, or the Gnostic Scriptures? Do you ever question where these things actually come from and where they are seen in religious history? Are you wondering if these things have any Biblical basis and true spiritual value? TNN Online editor J.K. McKee directly addresses the problem of mysticism and Gnosticism in the Messianic movement, and how we need to be aware that these things are being used by the enemy to draw many people away from the truth of the gospel and mission that God has for us.

SCRIPTURE UNDER SCRUTINY:
WAS THE NEW TESTAMENT REALLY WRITTEN IN HEBREW?

The Messianic movement today is wrestling with many issues that need to be addressed from a scholastic and detailed perspective. In many sectors of the Messianic community it is taught and strongly claimed that the Apostolic Scriptures (or the New Testament) were originally written in Hebrew. Is this true? Can this belief be legitimately supported with an understanding of Biblical history, textual criticism, and a sound ideology that has the salvation of the nations in mind? Or is this belief something based in anything but these factors?

If we examine each text of the Apostolic Scriptures, can we see that they were written in Hebrew—or in Greek? Are the Greek Scriptures nothing less than a shoddy amalgamation of texts, while the Hebrew Scriptures have been “perfectly preserved” since Mount Sinai? What role should the Greek Septuagint play in our exegesis of Scripture? These are some of the many questions that we should all be asking when critically examining the written origin of the Apostolic Scriptures and gospel message of Messiah Yeshua. After this study, you will not need to be confused by misinformation and speculative claims any more! You will have sound, secure, and researched answers to the questions being asked in our emerging movement.

130 pages
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Click here to read the Table of Contents and excerpts from Scripture Under Scrutiny (PDF)

part of the Messianic Helper Series

A SURVEY OF THE APOSTOLIC SCRIPTURES FOR THE PRACTICAL MESSIANIC
© 2006 TNN Press

As a Messianic Believer, do you have a problem reading the New Testament? When you read the Apostolic Scriptures, are you confused when you encounter the Gospels, Acts, or Epistles? Have you possibly been taught that the "New Testament" replaces the "Old Testament," and that there are contradictions between the two, only to be reconciled by the coming of Yeshua? Do you have difficulty reconciling the words of the Torah to Yeshua, Peter, Paul, John, and the other Apostles?

If you have ever asked any of these questions, it is time that you receive a re-introduction to the Apostolic Scriptures. These texts record the life story of Yeshua the Messiah, the history of the First Century Messianic community, and the challenges that the early Believers in Yeshua faced. These texts are not contrary to the Torah, but do continue God's progressive story that begins in Genesis. They have valuable lessons that every Messianic Believer and Messianic congregation must learn in this hour, as the Messianic community grows and matures.

A Survey of the Apostolic Scriptures for the Practical Messianic takes you on a journey through the New Testament from a distinct Messianic point of view. The student, in company with his or her study Bible, is asked to read through each text of the Aposta consistent basis.

134 pages
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REVISITING THE TWO-HOUSE TEACHING
© 2007 TNN Press

The Two-House teaching of Judah and Ephraim has become a lightning rod in much of the Messianic community. Many believe it is a claim to a person’s lost “birthright,” whereby all Believers should begin to take a stake in the Land of Israel and make aliyah. Many others also believe that the Two-House teaching is a form of racially-based salvation, with redemption only available to physical descendants of the Patriarchs. Is this really what the Two-House teaching is as defined by the prophecies of Scripture?

Those who recognize what the Two-House teaching actually is—a critical and often overlooked component in the end-time restoration of God’s Kingdom—are often sidelined from the extremism that commonly dominates the current discussions. Yet, an objective and moderate approach to the issue is absolutely imperative if all Israel is to be gathered together prior to the return of Yeshua.

In Revisiting the Two-House Teaching TNN Online editor J.K. McKee explains what the restoration of Israel is from the Scriptures, how Israel has a mandate from God to bless the entire world, and how Messianic Believers must change their approach to this topic in order to be effective in His service.

THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL: THE COMING RESTORATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
© 2008 TNN Press

The Messianic movement originally started in the 1960s as an evangelistic outreach of Jewish Believers in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) to their fellow Jews. As an unforeseen side effect, it has swelled considerably since the late 1990s with significant numbers of non-Jewish Believers embracing their Hebraic Roots. Why is this the case? Are such people just eager to know more about the Bible and experience greater spiritual fulfillment? Or is there more that needs to be considered for the future?

With a Messianic movement, whose majority of people are not Jewish, important questions about Israel have undoubtedly been asked. Are non-Jewish Messianics people who are beginning to reclaim their lost Jewish ancestry? Are they actually members of the scattered Northern Kingdom of Israel or the “Lost Tribes”? Or is it that the prophesied restoration of Israel as testified in the Scriptures is simply more involved and more comprehensive than exclusively including the Jewish people? These are all provocative questions that have been asked over the past decade, and have obviously stimulated a great amount of debate and controversy.

A diverse array of answers has arisen to these questions, with today’s Two-House Messianic movement often in the center of the discussion. Some of the answers offered are Biblically sound, and others are not. Some of the issues that have presented themselves have been conducted in an honest spirit of inquiry, and others have been forced because of sensationalism and opportunism. It is undeniable that a great deal of opposition to the basic Two-House message has come forth from both Messianic Judaism and evangelicalism, but also that various Two-House advocates have added outside teachings to the basic message of Israel’s restoration, perhaps compounding some confusion.

For a Messianic movement preparing to enter into the 2010s, TNN Online editor J.K. McKee takes a fresh and reasonable look at the Two-House teaching of Judah, scattered Ephraim, and the nations being brought together as one people in the Lord. The Two Houses of Israel: The Coming Restoration of the Kingdom of God examines the Biblical basis of the Two-House teaching, various objections that have arisen to it, required refinement and change that must take place among its advocates, and also the mission of what it means to be “Israel” often overlooked by most Messianics (Two-House or not). He offers a new style of looking at the Two-House teaching, especially for a broad Messianic movement that is trying to determine what its long term goals are to be—as we eagerly await the return of Yeshua and the establishment of His reign from Zion!

Click here to read the Table of Contents and excerpts from The Two Houses of Israel: The Coming Restoration of the Kingdom of God (PDF)

178 pages
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