TWIG - The Word Is Grace is brought to you by The Carpenter's Shop, located at 1201 East Elmore Street in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Our Sabbath services begin at 3:30 every Saturday afternoon. Listen with us as Bible teachers Jim Denman and Tim Terry examine our faith in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus), with a Hebraic perspective. What did Jesus eat? How did He dress? Is the Torah still valid to believers today? Did He really say that there are only two laws that we have to follow now? Did God change His requirements for salvation after the cross? Is the Sabbath on Sunday or Saturday; was it changed? Join us as we seek answers to these questions, with balance and a humble reverence for God's Word.
The Carpenters Shop Website
Home / About Us / Teachings / Biblical Holidays / Contact UsCategories
generalpodcasts
Archives
MayJune
July
August
September
October
November
Study on the gospel of John (archives are on the right sidebar, toward the bottom)
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | |||||
Syndication
Find us here too!
Podcast Alley
iTunes
TWIG Tracker
Tue, 24 November 2009  Isn't God awesome? When I wake up in the morning, I can't help but think, "He is actually letting me do this again!" For some reason, our God - the God of Israel, still allows me to wake up each morning and continue to serve Him, regardless of how bad my past was. In spite of all of the terrible things that I did before I knew Him; and I am forever grateful. I was a scumbag before I came to Christ, yet He allowed me into His Kingdom; Bless His Name! He forgave my sins and breathed new life into me.Praise the Lord for the grace that He has shown us today! Praise His Name for allowing people like us come to Him and be forgiven. Even mess-up like me can accept the free gift that He has given, bless His name! (Click here to read James ch 4:11-17) May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Direct download: I_am_a_scumbag_barush_Hashem_-_James_4_11-17.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:27 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 This week, James (click here to read Jas 4:1-10) encourages us to go somewhere with him. In chapter four, verses seven through ten, James tells his audience to submit to God. he tells us that if we will simply draw near to God, He will draw near to us - then he gives us instructions on how to do it. Check out what James tells us next: "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." Are you up for going there?Our Messiah wants to lead us to a place where we can fully serve Him with all of out hearts. When we've come to that place; when we've humbled ourselves, and we're at the foot of Messiah, and we mourn and we weep and we know what we are, and we're broken completely down... then He can lift us up. ...But we have to take that step. In order to take the free gift that He has offered us, we must lay everything down - everything. We all need to look at what we were, and what He has done for us. When we get hold of the enormity of it all, it is easy to see where the mourning, weeping and lamenting comes in, isn't it? We owe Him everything ...and we don't deserve anything. May we all make it a point to truly evaluate the situation we are in. We are heirs to the Throne. He has conquered the world. We have been given the greatest gift ever known to mankind, and all we have to do is accept it. Are you ready to take that step? May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Direct download: when_were_broken_completely_down_-_James_4_1-10.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:54 PM Comments[0] |
Tue, 3 November 2009 Toward the end of James chapter three, (Jas 3:11-18) James asks, "Who is wise and understanding among you?" If that question was posed to your congregation today, who would come to your mind? James had a specific type of person in mind when he used the words "wise and understanding." James, being a Torah observant Jew would only equate the idea of true wisdom with Torah understanding and observance. James was in essence asking, "Who among you knows Torah, and is living these things?" In contrast, he goes on to tell us that if we have bitterness and self-seeking in our hearts, the wisdom we claim to have is earthly and sensual - coming from below rather than from heaven above - a different kind of wisdom altogether. The latter being a self seeking wisdom full of confusion and evil.What about you? If James wrote a letter to your church asking for those who have wisdom and understanding among you to be named, would you make the list? How can you be sure? James gives us a way to check. He, along with Paul (Galatians 5:22-23) tells us that if we are indeed living these things, that we should be exhibiting fruit that is evident in our lives; also known as the "fruit of the spirit." Let's take the time this week to check the fruit of our lives. Does it line up with the fruit of the Spirit, edifying and building up those around us, or does it court our own desires and wants, causing division? Our LORD says that we will be "known by our fruit" (Matt 12:33-37)! How do we want to be known? Is it time to check the fruit that we are putting on display? It would be wise for all of us to take the time this week to evaluate the fruit we are producing. After all, those around us are! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Direct download: a_different_kind_of_wisdom_altogether_-_jas_3_11-18.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:41 AM Comments[0] |
Sun, 25 October 2009 Welcome back to The Word Is Grace.We have gone through a lot this last two weeks. My main hard drive took a dive, and we had a death in the family, so I have been late in posting. This week, we pick up where we left off, starting in James chapter three. James makes it clear that we should not rush to become teachers, because there is a more strict judgment for them. In James' day, there were many people who were trying to gain social prominence by becoming leaders in the Messianic community - much like there is today, unfortunately. We should take the teaching of God's Word with the utmost seriousness. James goes on to tell us how damaging that our speech can be. How many of us have not experienced this to be true? We have all been on the receiving end of bad speech - and most of us have been on the other end as well, if we are honest. A spark arrestor on a weed-eater can keep a forest fire from starting in dry climate - I know from personal experience that sometimes I could all use a spark arrestor for my tongue. How about you? Have you ever caused damage with the words that you spoke? If so, you are not alone. May we all make it a priority to keep out tongues in check! May we repent of the "evil speech" and begin to be cautious of what we say; after all, we want our speech to be worthy of his Name, don't we? May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Direct download: Sometimes_Our_Mouths_Need_A_Spark_Arrestor-_James_3_1-10.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 7:48 PM Comments[0] |
Wed, 7 October 2009  Thanks for stopping by The Word Is Grace! I apologize for not getting around to posting a message about Sukkot sooner; it has been a busy (yet joyful) week. We are right in the midst of the Festival of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. During this joyous holiday, we are reminded of the fact that we are, as humans, temporary. The Word says that our lives are short, and Sukkot reminds that though our days are short, the same God who brought Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand and provided for them in the wilderness has also saved us with a mighty hand and He alone is our provider. What an awesome God we have, that He actually commands us to be Joyful! If you would like to learn more about this Festival, click here. We will not be posting a message this week, due to the holiday. We'll be back on Shabbat, with either the beginning of chapter three of James, or a Sukkot message... we haven't really decided yet. Please leave a comment to let us know what you think about our podcast! The feedback is very helpful. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Chag Sameach! (Joyous Festival!) Comments[0] |
Sun, 27 September 2009 Welcome back! Thanks for joining us at The Word Is Grace. This week, we are back in the book of James, chapter 2:14-26.Most of us are aware of the supposed conflict between the book of James and the writings of Paul, namely Galatians. Paul tells us in Gal 2:16 that we are justified by faith in Messiah and not the works of the Law. James asks in James 2:21, "was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?" What do we do with this? It seems that there is a contradiction! Before we go any further, let me say that there are no contradictions in God's perfect Word. Any time there appears to be a discrepancy, the first place to look for problems is in the mirror - usually it is a misinterpretation or a bad "filter" that needs checking (for more information on Christian "filters" click the link to read Tim Terry's teaching titled "Christians... Check Your Filter!!). There are no contradictions in God's Word. The answer to the rift between James and Paul is nothing more than a matter of perspective. When Paul refers to "works" he is speaking of the act of performing a Torah commandment. When James refers to "works" he is speaking of the natural result of true faith - a manifestation of faith that shows up in the actions of the believer. Do the people we come in contact with every day know who we serve? Is it evident by out "good works" that we are subjects of the King of kings and Lord of lords? LORD, may we, as believers in Your Son, be aware of the responsibility that we have to the people You have placed us with! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Comments[0] |
Sun, 20 September 2009 We will not be posting a podcast for this week, as we are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. This Festival goes by a few different names, including "Yom ha-Zikaron (the "Day of Remembrance), Yom HaMachiac (Day of the King) and Coronation Day.This holiday is special, because it starts a ten day period of repentance and self examination for the believer. It is a time for making things right with the LORD - be it your relationship with Him, or your relationship with others, now is the time to get it right. The ten days end with Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, closely followed by Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Please click on the links to read more about these appointed times (moedim). We will back in the book of James next week, continuing on with the second half of chapter 2. Thanks for stopping by! L'Shanah Tovah and Chag Same'ach! (Happy New Year and Good Holiday!) Comments[0] |
Sun, 13 September 2009 This week, as we go through James 2:1-13 we learn that not only is James telling his readers to obey Torah, but he calls it the "Law of Liberty," or Freedom. Haven't we been taught in the past though that the Law was bondage? Didn't Paul say that we were "no longer under the Law?" How can James equate the Law with freedom?The answer is simple; because that is exactly what it is - instructions for true freedom. First Century Jewish thought was that obedience to the Torah was walking on the "King's Highway" referred to in Numbers 20:14-17. There is no safer place to be then walking soundly within the confines of the King's Highway; there is no truer freedom. How do you view the Law of God? Does the very thought of it carry negative undertones? If so, then you might like to reexamine the way God's most notable servants viewed it. King David called it his "delight," as did Solomon. Paul called it "holy and just and good." , and Moses, well, Moses gave the orders for each of God's people to "...teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Do we have a proper view of the Royal Law today? I encourage each of you to get into the Word of God today and find out how His people viewed His Word. You will be surprised at what you discover! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Direct download: James_Tells_Us_to_Obey_Torah_-_ch2_1-13.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 11:05 PM Comments[1] |
Sat, 5 September 2009 When we first become believers in Yeshua, it is easy to be think that the whole world wants to hear the message that saved us. Most of us are a little taken back when we are not received with joyful words of encouragement, and completely startled when our audience rejects our message.Today, we see the church as a whole taking steps to "remedy" this issue. The "remedy" for the negative response to the message of the Gospel, unfortunately, has been to water down the message; make it more palatable to the listener. This is the reason that the "Emergent Church" is growing so rapidly today - those who adhere to it's message are not challenged by the Word of Truth, which brings us to the book of James. James tells us,"Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures (Jas 1:17-19)." We should be growing into the character of Messiah. As a sort of "First Fruits" of His creation, we should not expect the world to accept us with open arms - to the contrary, Jesus tells us in John 15:19 that "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." Did you read what our Master just said? We are going to be hated by the world. Not a pleasant thought is it? The hard truth of the statement is the very reason that the church of today, with it's exceptions, is making the message "easier to hear." Let's all reevaluate our walk with Messiah today. May the LORD give us strength and boldness to present the Word of Truth to those around us. May we all have the wisdom to not just look at ourselves in the mirror of Torah; but to actively take steps toward becoming more like our Savior, Yeshua. This will require repentance on our part, and a call to those around us to do the same... and the world will hate you for it; but be of good cheer, because we have a risen Savior who has overcome the world! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Comments[0] |
Sat, 29 August 2009 James barely gets two verses into his epistle before he says something that sounds a little hard to swallow. James says that we are to, "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." How are we to count our trials as joy? The next verse tells us; "let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" That is the goal - that is how we are to count them as joy; our perseverance in trials produces patience in us, and when that patience matures, we will lack nothing. Isn't that what we want? to lack nothing? James uses this letter to tell us how are we to live our every day lives. How many times do we find ourselves completely surrounded by trials? How do we stand fast during those times? James tells us that we are going to need wisdom, and that we are to ask for it. Then, he promises that God will give it to us if we do not doubt in Him. Paul had some things to say to the Philippians about this. Paul, in Philippians 3:12-13 told them, "...one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." If we, as believers, continue to look at the failures of the past, we will do nothing but stumble. We are called to try to finish the race, not just to finish, but to be the winner. In order to run the race to win, we must not look at the failures of yesterday. We too, must "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. I spent the greater part of my early walk dwelling on the past. I was nothing less than scum, and it was hard to shake the mistakes I had made (and in some cases was still making; click here to learn more).If you are haunted today by yesterday's failures, look toward Yeshua. Start today. He wants your whole heart! You have a race to run, and you want to finish first! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Shabbat shalom! Comments[0] |
powered by
