Episode 13 - Feasting with God

Rituals give life meaning.  No, I don't mean things we do that have lost all sense of substance and purpose... I'm talking about holidays that draw us into beautiful community with others, cause us to be thankful to God for what He has done for us in the past and grow closer to Him.  God gave instructions for His people to observe seven different feasts during each year.  While these were designed for the Jewish people, every one of these holy occasions pointed to the future hope of the messiah Jesus.  As the church, we have been "grafted in" to God's chosen people (we haven't replaced them).  Since Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi, it would make a lot of sense that we would investigate and consider celebrating these holy occasions.  We certainly don't have to do this, but we have the freedom to partake in them.  Here is a list of the events in the Jewish calendar given by God to observe:   Spring:   - Passover - celebrating God's provision of a lamb (Jesus) so we escape death - The Feast of Unleavened Bread - Pointing to a sinless savior, Jesus - The Festival of First Fruits - occurred on the same day Jesus rose from the dead (Paul calls Jesus the first fruits of resurrection)  - The Feast of Weeks - 49 days after Passover, ending with Pentecost (when God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church)  Fall:  - Feast of Trumpets - the Jewish new year, beginning the 10 days of awe, foreshadows Jesus second coming with a trumpet blast - The Day of Atonement - 10 days after the Feast of Trumpets begins, celebrating the forgiveness of sins because of shed blood - The Feast of Tabernacles - looks forward to Jesus' return, where He will "tabernacle" (live) with His people You can hear the sermon about Feasting with God from 4/10/22 (YouTube) You can hear the sermon about feasting with God from 4/10/22 (Podcast) I also preached a sermon about the importance of eating together from Jesus' life... You can hear the sermon about the Rhythms of the Table from 4/03/22 (YouTube) You can hear the sermon about feasting with God from 4/10/22 (Podcast)