The Glorious Gospel in the Hebrew Scriptures

Zohar Gonen will be sharing the series titled “The Glorious Gospel In The Hebrew Scriptures”

The Gospel stands as the cornerstone for our faith, establishing the only path to salvation. It’s no wonder, therefore, that sharing the Gospel of Yeshua to non-believers is the most crucial step towards salvation.

The Israelis we meet are, likewise, in a desperate need of the same Gospel, so in order to share with Israelis in a way that they understand, we need to draw out the glorious Gospel from the Old Testament.

Why the Old Testament you may ask?

1. Since Jewish people, for the most part, believe in the future coming of the Messiah, it is very helpful to go deeper into the Old Testament and explain the prophecies about this Messiah - pointing to Yeshua of Nazareth.
2. The Old Testament contains the history of the Jewish people, so it’s easier for Israelis to connect with it.
3. The Old Testament which is written in Hebrew, is considered a Jewish book, so Jewish people treat it with reverence.
4. Jewish people are familiar with the Old Testament but have no clue about the New Testament and what it is all about.

Okay, so we understand why the Jewish people are in need of the Gospel, and especially how they resonate with the Old Testament, but what does this have to do with Gentile Kiwis?

The Gospel For Believers

For many years after I was saved, I was under the impression that the Gospel is for the unbelievers. My assumption was that once you get saved, you don’t go back to explore the Gospel, rather you move on to deeper and greater things.

Little did I know that there isn't any deeper and greater thing than the Gospel in its full glory. The Gospel has the power to transform our lives when we truly grasp its width and depth.

So, in order to go that wide and that deep, one must delve into both:  the rich tapestry of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), and into the New Testament, where Messiah is revealed. The Gospel, in its entirety, is a narrative that unfolds across both testaments, unfolding the divine plan for humanity from Genesis to Revelation.

The Old Testament foreshadows the Gospel, providing a foundation that enhances and enriches our comprehension of God's redemptive work. The prophecies, symbols, and typologies found in the Old Testament serve as a prelude to the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Yeshua the Messiah.

Appreciating Redemption's Cost

The Gospel in its fullness prompts believers to reflect deeply on the cost of redemption. The Old Testament's sacrificial system, with its offerings and rituals, underscores the gravity of sin and the need for atonement. Messiah’s sacrificial death, fulfilling the Old Testament requirement (Leviticus 17:11), magnifies the immense price paid for humanity's redemption. The deeper the understanding and appreciation of the Gospel we have, the more impact it will have on our lives in morphing us into the likeness of God’s Son.

NOTE CONFERENCE TIME:  The Conference will start after dinner on Friday evening and finish at noon on Monday.

For bookings, please contact Ailene at admin@celebratemessiah.co.nz or 027 273 4446.

The cost for the weekend will be $260 per person in a shared room. This covers the conference costs, accommodation for three nights and meals. You will need to provide your own meal on Friday night. Please bring some fruit or baking for morning tea/ afternoon tea/ supper.

For day visitors, the cost will be $190 per person. Please let us know what meals you would like to join us for.

This is the possible plan. We will finalise this soon.

Friday 31st May

7:30 pm - 8:15 pm Worship, welcome (Michael) and possibly introduction (Zohar). Or just a relaxed evening getting to know each other over supper?

Saturday 1 June

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

8:45-9.00 worship

9:00-9:45 Session 1 - Zohar

5-minute break

9:50-9:55 Song

9:55-10:40 Session 2 - Zohar

10:40-11:10 morning tea

11:10-12:10 pm Session 3 - Michael

12:30- 4pm  Freetime - Suggested activities - Visit to Foxton - 7-minute drive (plenty of cafes)

• Dutch Windmill tour $5
• Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom - Maori, Dutch and Pioneering Museum (The Dutch museum is amazing)
• Foxton Flax Stripper Museum
• Foxton Beach
• Foxton Wildlife Trust $5.50

5.30 Seder with full dinner

Sunday 2 June

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

8:45-9.00 worship

9:00-9:45 Session 4 - Zohar

5-minute break

9:50-9:55 Song

9:55-10:40 Session 5 - Zohar

10:40-11:10 morning tea

11:10-12:10 Session 6 - Michael

12:30- 4pm  Freetime - suggested activities - Visit to Sanson - 17-minute drive (plenty of cafes)

• Woolshed Cafe and Heritage Walk, Sanson $20 (7 houses throughout the decades - allow 1 ½ hrs)
• Himatangi Beach
• Waireka Honey Centre

5:30-6:30  Dinner

7.00-8.30  Relaxed evening together with fun activities

Monday 3 June

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

8:45-9.00 worship

9:00-9:45 Session 7 - Zohar

5-minute break

9:50-9:55 Song

9:55-10:40 Session 8 - Michael

10:40 morning tea

11:00 - Clean up and home