Covenant & Conflict

Are modern Christians missing the gift of the Sabbath?In a world addicted to productivity, burnout, and constant noise, what if the Fourth Commandment isn’t a burden, but an invitation?In this episode of Covenant & Conflict, we sit down with Michael Hirsh, author of Pressing Pause: A Guide to Sabbath Rest for Modern Believers, to explore how rediscovering Shabbat transformed his faith, marriage, and ministry.Michael shares his radical conversion story from growing up without faith in Michigan to leaving the dream of baseball behind to pursue Jesus. But the real turning point came years later in Jerusalem, during a Shabbat dinner that he describes as a “Damascus moment.” What he discovered about the command to “Remember the Sabbath” changed everything.This episode unpacks:What the Fourth Commandment really meansWhy Sabbath is not legalismThe burnout epidemic in modern ChristianityHow Shabbat restores identity and communion with GodPractical steps to start observing Sabbath todayIf you are a pastor, leader, high achiever, or simply exhausted… this conversation may be exactly what your soul needs.

What is the theological foundation of the Messianic Jewish movement? Should Jewish believers in Jesus remain Jewish? And why does replacement theology continue to distort how the Church reads Scripture?In this deeply important conversation, Preston Benjamin sits down with Dr. Dan Juster, founding member of numerous Messianic Jewish assemblies, unions, and congregations. Today, we explore the history, theology, and future of the Messianic Jewish Movement.Drawing from decades of leadership and scholarship, Dr. Juster shares his personal journey from training as a Presbyterian pastor to helping pioneer the modern Messianic Jewish movement. What began as scholarly research into early Jewish faith within the Church became a lifelong conviction that Jewish followers of Yeshua are called to maintain their Jewish identity and covenantal responsibility within the New Covenant.We discuss:The historical roots of Messianic JudaismWhy Jewish believers in Jesus are called to live as Jews• The founding vision behind the UMJC in 1979What “Jewish life in a concrete historical community” truly meansThe principle of mutual blessing between Jews and GentilesThe theological dangers of the One Law movementThe global effort to repudiate replacement theologyPractical steps churches can take to align with God’s covenant purposes for IsraelDr. Juster makes a compelling biblical case that the Messianic Jewish movement is not a fringe expression of Christianity but a necessary restoration within the body of Messiah. He argues that Jewish continuity in Yeshua is essential to God’s redemptive plan and that the Church must move beyond supersessionism to faithfully understand Scripture.If you care about Israel, covenant theology, Jewish identity in Christ, or the future relationship between the Church and the Jewish people, this episode will challenge and equip you.This is not merely a historical discussion. It is a conversation about God’s ongoing covenant faithfulness and what obedience looks like today.Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of theology, Israel, and the Church.FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:• https://instagram.com/CenterForIsrael• https://www.facebook.com/CenterForIsrael• https://twitter.com/CenterForIsrael• https://www.linkedin.com/company/gateway-center-for-israelLEARNING RESOURCES:• Getting Started — Israel 101: https://centerforisrael.com/getting-started• Israel Prayer Guide: https://centerforisrael.com/israel-prayer-guide• Perspective Papers: https://centerforisrael.com/papers

In this powerful conversation, David Blease sits down with Nathaniel Buzolic (known to many as “Nate Buzz”) to trace his extraordinary journey from Hollywood fame to radical faith, and from personal brokenness to becoming one of the most outspoken Christian advocates for Israel today.After moving to the United States in his early twenties, years of rejection in Hollywood finally led to a breakout role on The Vampire Diaries, but success did not bring peace.Choosing to follow Jesus publicly strained his career, complicated relationships on set, and forced him to confront what it truly means to surrender everything to God.After experiencing deep betrayal and heartache, Nathaniel desired to give up on life, left Hollywood, and traveled to Iraq during the Syrian civil war, volunteering with humanitarian efforts on the ground. In a moment of total surrender, he gave his life fully to God, leading him to read the entire Bible in 28 days and igniting a life-altering calling tied directly to Israel.Since then, Nathaniel has led countless believers through the Holy Land, helping Christians understand the Jewish foundations of their faith. After the October 7 Hamas attacks, he returned to Israel to document survivor stories, stand with the Jewish people, and speak truth in the midst of global confusion.In May 2024, Nathaniel made history as the first non-Israeli, non-Jewish person ever invited to light the torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, exactly seven years after his first visit to the land.This episode also tackles:God’s covenant with IsraelWhy replacement theology fails biblicallyThe rebirth of Israel in 1948 fulfilled prophecyWhy Christians cannot understand Scripture without IsraelWhat it means to live out “promise made, promise kept.”Whether you’re wrestling with faith, Israel, end-times theology, or what it truly costs to follow Jesus, this episode will challenge and inspire you.0:00 – From Poverty to Hollywood8:35 – Landing Vampire Diaries14:15 – The Moment Jesus Became Real22:11 – Betrayal & Rock Bottom25:29 – Iraq, ISIS & Surrender32:28 – Reading the Bible in 28 Days34:39 – God Said “Go” to Israel43:10 – October 7th & The Spiritual War48:34 – Lighting Israel’s Independence Torch

What does biblical unity between Jewish and Gentile believers actually look like in practice, not just theology, but lived relationships?In this episode, Micah and Abby Mahoney of Heartcry of David share their powerful journey into a ministry centered on reconciliation, worship, and covenantal unity. With backgrounds spanning Christian, Pentecostal, and Messianic Jewish spaces, they describe how God led them to confront a deep disconnect within the Body of Messiah and to pursue a vision rooted in Scripture, humility, and love.Heartcry of David was born out of a conviction that King David understood something profound about the Messiah and Jew-Gentile unity, and that this revelation still matters today. What began in 2015–2016 as an audacious, underfunded international worship project has since grown into multiple collaborative efforts across Israel, the UK, and Italy, bringing believers together through worship, Scripture, and shared spiritual inheritance.Rather than transactional encounters or one-directional ministry, Micah and Abby emphasize genuine, bilateral relationships; recognizing that Israeli believers are not just recipients of ministry, but are also called to minister to the nations. Throughout the conversation, they offer practical wisdom for believers who want to engage God’s heart for Israel in a healthy, biblical way: through prayer, teaching, and real relationships.This episode is a compelling invitation to rethink unity, calling, and what it means to walk faithfully in God’s redemptive story.Learn more about Heart Cry of David:  https://heartcryvedavid.comFind them on YouTube & Spotify

In this gripping episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Matheus Guimarães, a Messianic Jewish leader from Brazil, to uncover one of the most tragic, and least told chapters of Jewish history: the Sephardic Jews and the Spanish & Portuguese Inquisition.Through his own family’s astonishing testimony, Rabbi Matheus reveals how millions of Jews were forcibly converted, hunted, silenced, and yet somehow survived, preserving Jewish faith, identity, and memory in secret. We explore the rise of Messianic Judaism in Brazil and the creation of a groundbreaking museum housing 500 years of preserved documents, artifacts, and testimonies that expose how Jews carried their faith underground and across the Atlantic.In this episode, we explore:The roots of the Sephardic Jewish Communities in Spain & PortugalThe “Golden Age” of Jewish learning—and how it fueled the European RenaissanceWhy Portugal’s forced conversions were even more brutal than Spain’sThe Inquisition’s relentless targeting of the Anusim (the forced-ones)The expulsions of 1492 and the forced baptisms of 1497How Jewish families escaped to Brazil and rebuilt their faith in secretThe explosive growth of Messianic Jewish congregations in Brazil todayWhy understanding our Jewish foundation is essential for the ChurchHow modern antisemitism mirrors Spain, Portugal, and pre-WWII EuropeThis conversation is historical, prophetic, and deeply personal, a sobering reminder that the past is never truly past, and that Jewish identity has always endured, even in the darkest hours.If you care about Jewish history, the Inquisition, Sephardic Jews, Messianic Judaism, Jewish-Christian relations, Brazil’s hidden Jewish roots, or the rise of antisemitism today, this episode is essential viewing.

In this powerful episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, we sit down with Shilo Ben Hod, founder of SOLU Israel, for a deeply moving conversation about worship, identity, obedience, and the move of God unfolding in Israel today.Shilo shares his extraordinary journey of encountering Yeshua, surrendering his life, and stepping into a calling that would lead him into Hebrew worship, desert gatherings, and full-time ministry in the Judean Desert. From prophetic confirmation to learning how to live in God’s presence, not performance, this testimony will stir anyone longing to walk faithfully in their God-given calling.We explore the heart behind Hebrew worship, the story of the Hebrew Gospels, and what it means to truly live in alignment with the name and identity God gives you. Shilo opens up about hearing God’s voice, resisting comparison and fear, and saying “yes” when obedience costs everything.If you’re passionate about Israel, worship, biblical identity, prophetic calling, or Messianic Jewish testimony, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and encourage you to walk boldly in obedience.– Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of Scripture, Israel, and the gospel. – Share this episode with someone seeking clarity in their calling.

What is the true name of God? In this episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, Nehemia Gordon explores the history, meaning, and pronunciation of YHWH, including Yahweh vs Jehovah, through ancient Hebrew manuscripts, the Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls, and early Christian sources.We discuss why God’s name appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible, why it stopped being spoken, how Jewish and Christian traditions diverged, and how Jesus and the New Testament reference the divine name. This conversation breaks down common misconceptions and examines what the name actually means: He was, He is, and He will be.If you’re interested in biblical Hebrew, the name of God, YHWH pronunciation, Jesus’ Hebrew roots, or Scripture’s original context, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Covenant and Conflict, Pastor Ryan Warren sits down with Israeli Knesset member Ohad Tal for a deep and honest conversation about faith, identity, and Israel’s role in today’s world. Ohad shares his journey into politics, the importance of Jewish and Christian partnership, and how Israel is working with Muslim leaders throughout the Middle East. He addresses common misconceptions about Zionism, apartheid, and colonialism, while explaining why the Israel–America alliance is strategically and spiritually significant.They also discuss the cultural and spiritual challenges facing both nations, the need to protect Judeo-Christian values, and how genuine dialogue can bridge division in an increasingly polarized world. If you’re seeking clarity on Israel, the Middle East, or the purpose behind the growing unity between Jews and Christians, this episode offers valuable insight.

In this profoundly moving episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, host David Blease sits down with Rocket Rudolph, a Torah-observant Jewish follower of Yeshua, to share his remarkable journey of faith from Orthodox Judaism to a life-changing encounter with the Living God sparked by the television series "The Chosen."In this episode, Rocket shares his experience growing up Jewish, his early encounters with Jesus-believers, and years of faithful Torah observance, living immersed in Orthodox Judaism in London and New York.Rocket shares his pain, loss, and spiritual emptiness that led him to a breaking point in Brazil. His journey took an unexpected turn when he was encouraged to watch "The Chosen," and his life mirrored a scene between a man and Yeshua (Jesus).Hear how Rocket now interprets living a Torah-Observant life as a Jewish Man following Yeshua Messiah.This is an incredible story of identity, redemption, and restoration, which is proof that God still meets us in the most unexpected places.Subscribe for more conversations on faith, Israel, and the unity of Jew and Gentile in Messiah.

The Bible’s teaching on Hell can be challenging. Much of our knowledge about Hell comes from the words of Jesus himself, but what did his Jewish audience understand at the time? In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Dan Call, Chair of the Department of Doctoral Studies and Professor of Practical Theology, to explore these questions.In the Hebrew Scriptures and in Jewish thought, “Hell” was less about eternal damnation and more about purification or temporary separation. Jesus speaks about both immediate and long-term consequences of our choices, urging people to recognize him as the Son of Man and Messiah.Scholars continue to debate whether Hell represents eternal punishment or ultimate annihilation. Still, the greater emphasis of the New Testament is not on Hell itself but on the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers. But is the opposite of eternal life, endless torment? Or separation from God?If you are seeking a deeper understanding of the biblical view of Hell, the different scholarly perspectives, and the tension between Jewish and Christian theologies on eternal punishment, check out this episode.#BibleStudy #EternalLife #HellInTheBible #JewishThought #JesusTeaching #HeavenAndHell #ChristianTheology #MessianicFaith

Welcome back to Covenant and Conflict, the podcast from the Gateway Center for Israel where faith meets one of the world’s most complex conversations.In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Morton, whose journey into this topic began when she noticed how “pro-Israel” our church was. While she deeply understood the theology and biblical priority of Israel and the Jewish people, she began asking a bold and uncomfortable question: Is our love for Isaac unintentionally leaving Ishmael in the corner?Hannah shares how her upbringing near Native American reservations shaped her heart for empathy and tension—an invaluable perspective when looking at the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Together, we wrestle with questions at the intersection of biblical theology and real-world conflict:• How do we honor God’s covenant with Israel while embracing His image in all people?• What happens when our passion for one group causes us to overlook another?• Why is humility and a refusal to oversimplify vital for this conversation?This is not an easy dialogue—but it’s an essential one. If you’ve ever wondered how to faithfully navigate the tension between God’s covenant promises and the messiness of global conflict, this episode is for you.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay updated on every episode of Covenant and Conflict.#Israel #Christianity #Podcast #GatewayCenterForIsrael #CovenantAndConflict----FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:https://instagram.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://www.facebook.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://twitter.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/gateway-center-for-israelLEARNING RESOURCES:Getting Started — Israel 101: https://centerforisrael.com/getting-startedIsrael Prayer Guide: https://centerforisrael.com/israel-prayer-guidePerspective Papers: https://centerforisrael.com/papers

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:https://instagram.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://www.facebook.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://twitter.com/CenterForIsraelhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/gateway-center-for-israelLEARNING RESOURCES:Getting Started — Israel 101: https://centerforisrael.com/getting-startedIsrael Prayer Guide: https://centerforisrael.com/israel-prayer-guidePerspective Papers: https://centerforisrael.com/papers

In this thought-provoking episode, David Blease sits down with Nehemia Gordon—renowned Hebrew scholar and former Orthodox Jew turned Karaite—to explore the profound differences between Rabbinic Judaism and Karaite Judaism.Nehemia shares his journey of faith and scholarship, revealing why Karaites choose to follow the Hebrew Bible alone, wrestling with the later Rabbinic traditions like the Talmud. Together, we trace the historical roots of the Karaite movement and examine its implications for Jewish identity and biblical interpretation today.But that’s not all—we also dive into the fascinating world of ancient manuscripts as Nehemia walks us through the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew. How does it differ from the more commonly known Greek versions? What might this tell us about Yeshua (Jesus) 's original words? This conversation challenges assumptions and offers fresh perspectives on Scripture, history, and faith.📚 Discover more of Nehemia’s work and get all his books at: https://www.nehemiaswall.comAmazon Link to Nehemia’s Books Here: https://tinyurl.com/47pbwe62

Believers across denominations are asking deeper questions about Communion—the Eucharist. In this episode, we explore what Jesus meant when He instituted it at Passover, whether we receive His actual body and blood, and how the Church can faithfully recover God’s heart for the Table.

In this powerful interview, Michael Mistretta, a Messianic leader and long-time friend of CFI shares his journey of following Yeshua in Israel, the challenges Messianic Jews face, and the new doors God is opening in the midst of conflict. Learn how FIRM is impacting lives across Israel and how you can pray and get involved: firmisrael.org.

What happens when church history and Jewish heritage collide? In this compelling conversation with Dr. Jen Rosner, we explore the tension between Christian tradition and Jewish roots, confronting the flaws of early church councils while honoring the beauty and complexity of both faith traditions.

What happens when a Christian pastor sits down with two Orthodox rabbis from Israel to discuss faith, theology, and the future of the Jewish-Christian relationships? This powerful episode of Covenant and Conflict dives deep into one of the most pressing spiritual conversations of our time.In today's episode we explore:The complex tension between particularity and universalism in God’s covenantal planThe challenges and theological consequences of replacement theologyHow humility and historical honesty can bridge centuries of misunderstandingThe impact of modern events in Israel on Jewish-Christian unityA raw look at antisemitism, identity, and the growing alliance between Jews and Christians in a post-October 7th worldThis isn’t just a theological discussion—it’s a call to seek truth with open hearts, to embrace our shared biblical foundations, and to foster genuine understanding in a divided world.FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:/ gateway-center-for-israel/ centerforisrael/ centerforisrael/ centerforisraelLEARNING RESOURCES:Getting Started - Israel 101: https://centerforisrael.com/getting-s...Israel Prayer Guide: https://centerforisrael.com/israel-pr...Perspective Papers: https://centerforisrael.com/papers#Christianity #Judaism #Israel #Faith #Theology #ReplacementTheology #JewishChristianRelations #CovenantAndConflict #Humility #BibleStudy

Join David Blease and Preston Benjamin as they unpack the four types of seekers in the Jewish-Christian space—authenticity, conspiracy, curiosity, and identity—offering insight and practical guidance on leading people toward a deeper faith and avoiding many common pitfalls.This video is a must-watch for anyone who feels led to the Jewish foundations of our faith.

In this episode of Covenant & Conflict, David Blease and Matthew Hernandez explore the transformative practice of the Sabbath, emphasizing its significance as a time for rest and connection with God and family. Matthew shares insights from his own journey, including meaningful traditions his family has embraced and flexible ways to incorporate Sabbath into busy lives. Join us to discover how this sacred practice can bring healing and awareness of God's presence into your everyday routine!

In this episode, David Blease sits down with Preston Benjamin, an expert in Messianic Jewish understanding with a Master's in Biblical Theology. Preston breaks down Acts 15, the historical roots of the Evangelical Church, and whether the Church should return to the Acts model. The early church faced a major challenge in integrating Gentile believers who wanted to follow the God of Israel, but were not commanded by God to adopt Jewish identity and practices. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church decided that Gentiles could be adopted into the family of Abraham through faith in Jesus without needing to be circumcised or fully convert to Judaism.This allowed the church to remain rooted in its Jewish foundations while welcoming Gentiles. The relationship between the church and Israel has often been complex and contentious throughout history, with the church sometimes falling into a theology of replacement or supersessionism.However, there is a growing understanding that the church and Israel are not separate but instead represent the ongoing people of God, with both Jewish and Gentile believers having a vital role to play.As the church seeks to reconnect with its biblical roots, it must do so in a way that honors the unique identity and calling of both Jewish and Gentile believers.