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Is there such a thing as a "Messianic Jew?" Does Jewish identity still matter, or do Jews become Christians, embracing a new religion, when they accept Jesus? Nic Lesmeister, Executive Director of the Gateway Center for Israel, states why GCFI embraces the biblical concept that Jewish believers in Jesus are still Jewish in this episode of"Responding to Viewers Comments."

When non-Jews join the family of God through faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, does that mean we become Jewish? Aren't we "grafted in" to the tree of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Well, yes...and no.

In this first episode of our new series: "Responding to Viewer Comments", Gateway Center for Israel Executive Director Nic Lesmeister examines whether or not Paul disavowed Judaism because of the Gospel opposition he encountered from the Pharisees and Sadducees. Nic uses examples of how Jesus Himself responded to this same Jewish leadership opposition to formulate his conclusion.

Unfortunately, for many Christians, the honest answer would be NO. Dr. Wayne Wilks, Gateway Center for Israel Executive Pastor of Church and Jewish Relations, outlines why this is, and discusses the importance God places on Christians becoming attentive and concerned about Jewish people.

If Jesus was Jewish and celebrated what many call the "biblical feasts," shouldn't we, as Gentile believers in Jesus, also celebrate them? Using Acts 15, Nic Lesmeister, director of the Gateway Center for Israel, answers this question by explaining why it is important for Jewish and Gentile believers to maintain their God-given distinctions through mutual love and respect.

Does the fact that Jesus was born Jewish only serve as a historical footnote? Or should it hold a deeper meaning for the Church today? To answer this question, Gateway Center for Israel Teaching Pastor David Blease hosts a fascinating in-depth conversation with Messianic Jewish author David Hoffbrand, author of The Jewish Jesus and 52 Sabbaths. Together they unpack the importance of believers reconnecting with the authentic Jewish Jesus.

For decades, world leaders have searched for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nothing seems to work, as the conflict rages on. Most Christians care about this conflict, but are intimidated and confused on what to believe, what to say, and what to do about it. Speaking at the Gateway Church Shabbat service in June 2023, Pastor Nic Lesmeister provides the "why" behind this conflict, and offers a simple framework for how Christians can navigate this complicated issue.

How can we take all that we've learned in the Israel Masterclass and put it to practical use in our daily lives? Nic Lesmeister wraps up this ninth and final session by explaining how to grasp - and then discuss with understanding - the very complicated issues surrounding Israel & the Jewish people today.

David Blease poses some hard questions in this session of the Israel Masterclass, such as "What about the Palestinians? Aren't they the true indigenous people of the region and the Jewish immigrants just colonialists?" Using biblical accounts, and historical and archaeological records, he examines the timeline and details of arguably the most intense geopolitical controversy in history.

We know Jesus WAS Jewish. But does it matter that He is STILL Jewish? In this Israel Masterclass session, Jewish believer David Hoffbrand teaches the importance of the Church reconnecting with the authentic Jewish Jesus. He explains (while sharing his personal story) why viewing Him through this cultural lens is still very central to our spiritual walk and full understanding of the Gospel.

All four Gospel writers, from Matthew to John, felt it necessary to mention the Jewish genealogy of Jesus. Why? Is the Gospel itself Jewish? In this session of the Israel Masterclass, Dr. David Rudolph explains why the Church needs to rediscover the essential Jewish emphasis of the Gospel message. Using the writings of Isaiah, the Apostle Paul, Mark, and Matthew, Dr. Rudolph gives us a framework for understanding how the Gospel message was intended first for the Jewish people and then for the nations.

In this Israel Masterclass session about antisemitism, David Blease examines God's heart for the Jewish people as revealed in Scripture. He also details the surprising number of documented atrocities committed against Jewish people (many sadly at the hands of self-proclaimed Christians) spanning the centuries up until today. David concludes with a challenge to the Church today to examine our hearts towards God's chosen people and not repeat the same mistakes of the past.

Few words can stir up both negative and positive reactions more than the term Zionism. This phrase has been a lightning rod on a global scale since the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel. There are many forms of Zionism: religious, secular, Christian, and even Islamic (yep). It can be defined simply as the national movement of Jewish people returning to and establishing self-autonomy (or self-rule) in their ancestral homeland, Israel. But what exactly does the Bible say? Did Jesus ever speak about Zionism?

Are Jewish believers and Christians, the natural and grafted-in branches of God's family tree, truly connecting in the loving, unified manner He desires? Ezra Benjamin digs into the various aspects of this mutual relationship in the third session of the Israel Masterclass.

In this Israel Masterclass session, Gateway Center for Israel Teaching Pastor David Blease defines the widely-held (yet incorrect) theology rooted in 1700 years of Christian tradition -- replacement theology. Using history and Scripture, David helps us identify this faulty belief (that the Church has replaced Israel in God's covenant promises), describes why it is so dangerous, and explains the four negative consequences that will result from embracing this error as truth.

On October 7, 2023, the most horrific attack against Jewish people since the Holocaust 80 years before was carried out by Hamas. But, instead of empathy, the world has responded to this atrocity by being offended by Israel's self-defense. Unfortunately, the Church as a whole has been rather silent as a violent war of words has been unleashed against the Jewish people. Exactly how should the Church be biblically responding to this global offense toward Israel?

When, why, and how did Gateway Church embrace the importance of having a biblical, sincere love for Israel & the Jewish people? In this introductory session of the Israel Masterclass, Nic Lesmeister sits down with Dr. Wayne Wilks and Dr. Greg Stone to talk about this fascinating history.