Ancient Words, Modern Message

‘A man’s gotta’ do what a man’s gotta do’ : Ezekiel, Episode One

Though all of the Old Testament prophets could aptly be described as “colorful,” arguably the one who stands out as the most “colorful,” or even the most “eccentric,” would be Ezekiel.
 
Long before the actor John Wayne displayed “true grit” in the 1969 movie by that name, this young priest, exiled from his beloved homeland to far-off Mesopotamia, boldly carried out God’s instructions to proclaim, in some very unusual ways, a message to his fellow exiles and many generations to follow, a message of judgment and of deliverance.
 
So now, let’s begin with an introduction to this fascinating man and his relevant message in the first of six parts in a series entitled;  “True Grit, Great Glory.”  With a Bible open to the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel, welcome to an episode entitled, “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.
If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Bagel-side Chat #6: The Summer Before the Shout

In today’s edition of “Ancient Words, Modern Message” you are invited to join Roger Wambold for his sixth “Bagel-side Chat” as he draws our attention to the cycle of special days on the Jewish calendar commanded by God in Leviticus 23.  You may be surprised to learn that the observance of these times has a much deeper meaning than just the religious traditions of the Jewish people.
 
In fact, as this edition of the podcast is scheduled to launch the week before summer officially begins we will be reminded that this seasonal lull in special days on the Jewish religious calendar is actually a call for God’s people to be working hard and looking up.
 
So. . .with a Bible in one hand and a bagel in the other, let’s consider “The Feasts of Israel” in an episode entitled, “The Summer Before the Shout.” 

Sifted, but Not Discarded

In God’s economy, great privilege demands great responsibility.
 
The Scriptures make it clear that the Jewish people are greatly privilege to be identified as “the Chosen People,” but with that great privilege has come great responsibility.
 
There are those who say that Israel’s failure to act responsibly, even to the point of not accepting Jesus as their Messiah, has resulted in their rejection by God and removal from His plan for them as a nation.
 
However, throughout the writings of the Old Testament Prophets it is clear that God is NOT finished with Israel, but in fact has a plan for their future in fulfillment of His many promises to them.
 
This message is powerfully pronounced by the prophet Amos as we will see in this sixth and final study of the book in a series entitled, “Amos:  Simple Man, Profound Message.”
 
So, let’s open the Bible to the book of Amos, chapter nine in a study entitled, “Sifted, but Not Discarded.”

What God REALLY Wants

Years ago there was an ad used by distributors of Coca-Cola based on the premise that their competitors were producing beverages which were false imitations of America’s favorite soft drink.  The ad referenced the prevalence of “phoniness” in the commercial world, popularizing the phrase:  “Coke:  It’s the REAL thing!”
Without a doubt, there is a great deal of “phoniness” all around us, including in the world of religious activity.
Over 2700 years ago this same “phoniness” abounded in the days of Amos, God’s prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but it was especially obvious in the false religiosity of his day among his fellow Jews.  
It was in this setting that Amos courageously confronted his society by declaring the message that God hates phoniness, in general, and phony religiosity, in particular, and that what God REALLY wants is the REAL thing!”
We’ll consider the prophet’s message in this fifth episode in the series, “Amos:  Simple Man, Profound Message,” an episode entitled “What God REALLY Wants.”
But first, allow me to mention again that we would be delighted to send a complete set of the printed notes for all six of the episodes in this study of the Book of Amos without charge upon request, available by contacting us through e-mail at HCF1033@aol.com, by phoning our office at 215-256-4500, or by dropping us a line at:  Hebrew Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 245, Harleysville, PA   19438.
With the Bible open to Amos 4 and 5, let’s consider these ancient words with a modern message to us today!

More Than Matzo!

Each year in the springtime nearly every Jewish family in the world gathers in their homes to celebrate Passover which begins with the traditional evening meal called the Seder.  Though there is great diversity within the Jewish community regarding their level of religious practice, Passover is one time when they are unified, moving together through the various components of the traditional Seder, as has generation after generation of their ancestors, with virtually no variation.
 
Using a guidebook, a haggadah, Hebrew for “the telling,” written in whatever language they are most comfortable with, they move through “the telling” of the story of the first passover in Egypt 3500 years ago when their forefathers were released from centuries of slavery in Egypt through a series of plagues.
 
But the Seder has an even deeper meaning and an even more important message for the Jewish people.  It’s not just about family, friends, and remembering Egypt.
 
In this episode of” Ancient Words, Modern Message,” in his fifth “Bagel-side Chat,” the Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship, Roger Wambold, shares some thoughts about the amazing symbolism of the broken matzo at the Seder table.
 
So let’s settle in with a cup of coffee, and maybe a bagel, for this episode called, “It’s More Than Matzo.”

Profile in Courage

In 1956 a young senator from Massachusetts named John F. Kennedy and co-author Ted Sorenson published a book entitled Profiles in Courage featuring the biographies of eight U. S. senators who demonstrated remarkable courage in standing for what they believed was right at crucial periods in United States history.  The book became an immediate bestseller and ultimately was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
In 760 B.C. a simple man who worked as a shepherd and a farmer in  the Southern Kingdom of Israel was called by God to be a prophet to carry God’s message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  The Old Testament book which bears his name and records his message is indeed a profile in courage.
We will read of the courage of this man, Amos, in today’s study of three sections of the book, the fourth study in this series entitled:  “Amos:  Simple Man, Profound Message,” an episode we call simply “Profile in Courage.”
Before we turn to the study, allow me to mention that we would be happy to send a complete set of the printed notes for all six of the episodes in this study of the Book of Amos without charge upon request.  If you would like to receive the set, contact us by e-mail at HCF1033@aol.com, by phoning our office at 215-256-4500, or drop us a line at: Hebrew Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 245, Harleysville, PA 19438.  We would be delighted to hear from you.
And now, let’s open the Bible to the book of Amos for this “Profile in Courage."

The Power of Prophetic Poetry

We don’t normally think of a farmer as one who writes poetry, which is why it is so surprising to learn that Amos,  the 8th century B.C. shepherd and farmer from Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, presented his entire prophetic announcement to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in poetic form.
 
In this third study in the series, “Amos:  Simple Man, Profound Message,” Roger Wambold discusses the uniqueness of Hebrew poetry and the prophet’s usage of it in an episode entitled, “The Power of Prophetic Poetry.”
 
So. . .let’s open our Bible to Amos Chapter 3, roll up our sleeves, and dig into this challenging, but rewarding portion of God’s Inspired Word.

Great Privilege, Great Responsibility

While a careful study of the Old Testament prophetic scriptures can sometimes appear to be a very daunting prospect, the richness of truth and relevance to us today make such a study well worth the time and effort.  So it is with this series of studies in the Old Testament book of Amos.  
 
It has often been said that with privilege comes responsibility, and that is certainly evident in the Holy Spirit-inspired words of the eighth century B.C. prophet Amos.  With an open Bible turned to Amos 2, verses 4 through 16, let’s dive into this second study in the series, “Amos:  Simple Man, Profound Message,” an episode entitled, “Great Privilege, Great Responsibility.”

Simple Man, Profound Message

In 2014 the Wambolds, Roger and Phyllis, began an informational and teaching ministry called “Shmooze, News, and Views.”  Over the years, “Shmooze” (as it is affectionately known) has grown numerically and in popularity, with over twenty churches represented in attendance.
 
Each session of Shmooze includes a Bible study, with most of the studies drawn from the Old Testament, including little known and seldom taught sections of the Old Testament Prophets.
 
Since 2014 Roger has taught each of the twelve Minor Prophets, from Hosea through Malachi.
 
We invite you now to step into the sessions of “Shmooze, News, and Views” as we consider one of the least known books of the Old Testament, the prophet Amos, in a series we call:
 
“Simple Man, Profound Message.”  We’ve entitled this first study of the book, “Amos:  The Man and His Message.”
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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.
If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.
 

Meaningful Memories

In our vast collection of personal memories, each one of us has some which are particularly meaningful for a variety of reasons.
 
In this Bagel-side Chat #4 Roger Wambold recalls two particularly meaningful memories of his many times spent in Israel, their relevance to the founding of the mission which he directs, and to the situation in which the Jewish people find themselves today.
 
Join us as Roger reflects on the past, with an eye toward the present and the future in this episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message,” an episode we call simply “Meaningful Memories.”
 
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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.
If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.
Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.