Foundations with Mandy and Robbo

Very few people get excited when reading the book of Leviticus, because it’s a long list of laws and rules and consequences. However, what makes God’s Law so unique and distinct from the rest of the ancient world, was the equality that God’s Law demanded of His people. No separate rules for the wealthy and elite. That’s our focus today on Foundations.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever studied different cultures in the ancient world, you learn pretty quickly that when it came to the law, there were different standards and consequences depending on who was being tried. The wealthy, connected and elite often got away with things, or were given lenient sentences when compared to the common fold. In ancient Israel, God’s Law was different, it was a level playing field and social status was irrelevant. In God’s eyes, the Law applies equally to all. That’s the real treasure from Mt Sinai.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Foundations today we’ll keep looking at the idea that God can forget our sins, even though we know God doesn’t have a bad memory and nothing is impossible for Him. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love the idea that when God forgives us of our sins that He doesn’t remember them anymore. After all, who wants to be reminded of every terrible thing they’ve ever said, done or thought! But, if God knows everything, how can He forget what we’ve done? Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time we looked at a peculiar word in the ancient Hebrew text of the Bible, that is actually untranslatable and we’re going to continue the conversation to see if we can discover what it means. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever read a word in the Bible you didn’t understand and simply skip over it? That’s pretty normal really, but what do you do about a word that’s untranslatable and so is dropped from the Bible altogether? We’re going to look at such a word today on Foundations.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We began a conversation last time regarding human beings being cracked pots, broken because of sin. Fortunately for us, our God specialises in repairing cracked pots and it’s a good thing to remind ourselves that He and He alone deserves the glory for every life He rescues and restores.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Usually referring to someone as a crackpot, means you think they’re crazy, but the Bible talks about human beings as earthen vessels, pots made of clay from God’s hand of creation. Because of sin we’re broken?kind of like cracked pots. That the topic of conversation today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we read the Bible, it’s easy to become confused about some things that are said, but that doesn’t mean what’s said is wrong. Context and culture are really important. Jesus also said some things that can be confusing and we’re going to continue our previous conversation about that very thing.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we read through the Gospels, sometimes we can become confused about some of the things Jesus said. Usually, it’s confusion because we’re missing the cultural context. That’s what we’ll take a look at on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going to continue our conversation about orphans, and what it meant to be an orphan adopted into a Roman family during the days of the Roman Empire, and what that means for us as believers today.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul described those of us who don’t know Christ, especially Gentile’s, as orphans, and that when we come to faith in Christ, we’re adopted in the family of God and therefore, are no longer orphans. What did that mean in the ancient Roman Empire world? That’s what we’ll take a look at on Foundations.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making vows is serious business as far as the Bible is concerned. Making vows to people is serious and making vows to God is even more serious and we’re going to continue that conversation on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many ancient Middle Eastern traditions that we don’t know about or understand, and one of them is the tradition of corban?making vows. That’s what we’ll take a look at on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time we looked at the curious description the Bible has of human beings being like sheep. We also have a God who is described as being our Shepherd. We’ll continue that conversation on Foundations.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody wants to be described as an animal, however, the Bible describes human beings as being like sheep, and with good reason. We tend to behave just like them in so many ways. We also know that sheep desperately need a shepherd to look after them. We have a God who is called the Good Shepherd and that’s what we’ll be learning about on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going to continue our conversation on knowing who our King is, and also on how we should approach our King. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s quite a bit of confusion about not only knowing who our King is, but how we’re supposed to approach our King. Because the Bible says we can come boldly to the throne of God, does that mean we can come flippantly, or casually? These are questions we’ll be tackling on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going to conclude our conversation about the meaning of the name Christ, and why it’s so significant.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Foundations we’re going to look at the meaning of the name ’Christ’. Too many people, Christ is Jesus’ surname, and nothing could be further from the truth. In Jewish culture, names have meaning and the name Christ, or the Hebrew equivalent, is really significant. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll continue our conversation on Foundations about how our God, unlike other gods and mythical deities, is beyond definition. He cannot be defined or contained with any kind of human constraints. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s human to want definitive definitions about who God is and what He’s like. However, the more we learn about God, the more we learn that we don’t know much about Him at all. Unlike the gods of the ancient world who were defined specifically for their individual roles, our God is beyond human definition and understanding. He’s too vast, too lofty and too undefinable. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll be continuing our conversation today about the return of Christ and when this momentous event might take place. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the greatest doctrines of the Christian faith is the return of Christ, His second coming. Many have tried to predict when His coming will be, and just as many have failed in their predictions. The Bible says that no one knows the hour or the day, but can we know approximately when He’s coming back? That’s our conversation today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people read the New Covenant and conclude that Jesus just loved everyone to bits. Others read the Bible and conclude He was incredibly judgmental and harsh. Which of these views is correct? We’ll be looking today on Foundations about whether Jesus was loving or a severe judge.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Foundations today we’ll wrap up our look at the western industrialised worldview that has wrongly viewed and interpreted the Bible from that vantage point. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard the term, ’Clash of Cultures’ many times, and in truth, this clash of cultures can make it very hard for Christians in the west to understand the Bible, which is from the east?the Middle East to be exact and to the Middle Eastern mind, that makes the west a bit weird.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jewish history and culture is confusing to most in the west, and that’s primarily because an eastern mindset is foreign to us. It’s weird, but in our program today we’ll be looking at a different definition of weird and it’s based on western ideology.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many Christians, reading the Old Covenant rules and regulations is very confusing, and often times seems like foolishness. Everything however was for good reason, and today we’ll be looking at the prohibition of mixing wool with linen. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terrorism came solidly into the west with the attack on 9/11. Terrorism was very prevalent in the ancient world and many critics of the Bible have condemned God as being something of a terrorist. But we’ve been learning about what God’s Word actually says and that’s what our focus is today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unfortunately, terrorism has become far too much a part of our lives in recent years, for the most part, something we’ve been unused to. But terrorism has been around for millennia and we’ll be looking into the Torah to see what God has to say about it. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We finish our time together on Foundations learning about the tassels worn by Jewish men. The symbolism is rich and significant, but now we learn what it means for us who believe in Jesus. Are they for us or not? Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Foundations today we’re continuing our look at the wearing of tassels on the garments of all Jewish men, and in particular the symbolism of authority associated with the hem of a man’s garment. A garment that even Jesus wore.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of laws in the Old Covenant that seems strange to the modern, western mind, one of those laws is the requiring of Jewish men to wear tassels on the corners of the garments. In fact, religious Jews wear them to this day. What do they mean? That’s what we’ll begin learning about today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Foundations, we’ll wrap up our series on the characters in the Nativity story with a series of questions asking is it possible? At the end, you can draw your own conclusions. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God had promised to send a Messiah for His people, but for the Messiah to come, He needed human parents to raise and protect Him. Joseph and Mary were God’s chosen and they were a remarkable yet simple and humble couple. Today on Foundations we’ll learn about this wonderful pair. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone involved in the Christmas story are important, and quite often the Shepherds are seen as background characters, but we’ll discover today why the Shepherds were actually crucial players in this story. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re in the lead up to Christmas and we’re learning each day about the different people who played crucial roles in the narrative. Today we’ll learn about the priesthood. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the program today we’re going to look at the characters of Herod the Great and the Romans who governed in Jerusalem and how they reacted to the news of a new born King of the Jews. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Foundations today, as we lead up to Christmas, we’ll look some more at the role of Daniel and the Magi and how their knowledge of the heavens led them to believe their Messiah had finally arrived. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our program today we’re going to begin looking at all the characters who make the Christmas story so rich in meaning. Specifically today we’ll look at the role of the Magi, and how Daniel and his friends may have had more to do with them than we may have realised. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even though Hanukkah isn’t a mandatory feast, even this annual celebration is a picture of Jesus, who is the Light of the world. That’s what we’ll be learning about during today’s program. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Foundations today we’ll continue to learn about Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and the miracle that took place centuries ago during the rededication of the Temple. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Feast of Hanukkah isn’t one of the Mandatory Feasts of the Lord, but it is an annual celebration that even Jesus participate in. The New Covenant calls it the Festival of Lights. It’s to commemorate the rededication of the Temple. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ancient Jewish practice of rabbis was to look for commonalities or connections between passages when a word or phrase was repeated. In this way, they’d be able to connect those words or events, and deepen the meaning and richness of God’s Word, revealing multi-levels of understanding. This process is termed ’stringing pearls’ and that’s what we’ll be looking at on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s program, we’ll spend some time in Isaiah 53, a chapter that describes great suffering and sorrow by the person we know as Messiah. Why did He suffer and who did He suffer for?and who was He? That’s what we’ll try to determine today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Foundations looks at how Jesus used an unclean item in one of His parables, an unclean item He declared priceless. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God often declared certain things to be unclean, and yet, a simple sprinkling of blood or the ashes of a sacrifice could transform the unclean thing into something clean and acceptable. How can that be? That’s the focus on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Apostle Paul taught us to pray without ceasing, a difficult and high calling to be sure. While we might look negatively upon Jewish traditions, they have developed the habit of praying to God in all situations throughout their day, no matter how mundane. It’s a curious thought, but something we can learn from.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all customs and traditions are bad, and some of the customs and traditions within Jewish prayer are lovely, rich and full of meaning. That’s what we’ll begin learning about today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.