Volume 6: In the Dust of the Rabbi Plot
During his ministry in Israel, Jesus called and trained disciples, His "talmidim." Their job would eventually be to bring His message of redemption to all the nations, Jew and Gentile. What would happen when they began to make disciples of their own and the gospel began to spread to a Greek and Roman world, to cultures completely unfamiliar with the God of the Jews? Follow the rabbi through Israel and Turkey as you explore what it meant to be the message of Jesus to all nations.
That the World May Know Volume 6: In the Dust of the Rabbi aired on January 1st, 2005.
Volume 6: In the Dust of the Rabbi Episodes
1. When the Rabbi Says "Come"
For a first century Jew, to follow a rabbi meant to "be covered with the dust of his feet." When Jesus called His disciples, it was implied that they would begin this process of becoming like Him by following closely in His footsteps. Travel through the Galilee with these followers of Jesus, and allow the dust to cover your feet as well. Scripture References: Leviticus 19:18, Luke 6:4, Matthew 11:30 Locations: Bethsaida, Israel, Korazin, Israel, Scythopolis
2. When the Rabbi Says "Go"
Most of Jesus' ministry was spent in Jewish communities, proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom to the people of Israel. His greater intention, though, was for His Jewish followers to bring this message to the Gentile world around them, a world that had not yet bowed its knee to the God of Israel. In this lesson, unpack this process of becoming the message of the gospel to an unfamiliar world with the early disciples. Scripture References: 1 John 2:6, Mark 6:45, Mark 6:48, Mark 12:17, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 14:29, Matthew 22:16-17 Locations: Eremos Topos, Israel, Omrit, Israel, Scythopolis
3. The Presence of God: A Countercultural Community
When the believers began to bring the message of the gospel to the world of the Gentiles, they quickly realized that their faith made them extremely countercultural. How would they explain the good news in places where they couldn't engage in the mainstream culture? Journey through the Greco-Roman city of Priene with the early believers and discover what it means to be countercultural in your own world. Scripture References: Galatians 6:10, Matthew 12:48, Zechariah 4:6 Locations: Priene, Turkey
4. Living Stones
When questioned about his message, Paul tells the Athenians that the one and only God "does not live in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24). Naturally, anyone who was curious about Jesus in the Greco-Roman world would ask the early believers, "Well, then where does your god live?" Visit the magnificent temple of Athena in Priene and discover with a Gentile world where the spirit of the living God dwells today. Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Peter 2:4-5, Acts 17:24, Exodus 23:25, Isaiah 51:1-2, Jeremiah 23:29, Mark 12:28-34 Locations: Priene, Turkey
5. The Very Words of God
In ancient times, people craved words of counsel and knowledge from their gods. The city of Didyma in what is now modern-day Turkey functioned as one of three main oracles, places where ordinary people would travel to hear advice and predictions of the future from their gods. In this lesson, explore the mystery of this ancient phenomenon and consider: how far would you go to hear a word from God? Scripture References: Leviticus 19:32, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 28:19-20 Locations: Didyma, Turkey