Jesus was Jewish. The disciples were Jewish. Everyone in the earliest Christian community was Jewish. When God opened the door for all people to be included in the Church, non-Jews began pouring in. Since then, though, many of us have lost touch with the roots of our faith, forgetting basic theological ideas that Jesus and his disciples would have taken for granted.
In this series, we’re going to cover all the things you didn’t know you didn’t know. We’ll touch on history, theology, and numerology, as well as diving into the Judaism of Jesus’ time. You’ll get a Q&A session with both a Rabbi and a Messianic Rabbi. In the end, we hope to deepen your appreciation of our faith by studying the faith of Jesus.
You may register for one session, more than one, or the whole series. Register online at wumc.com, or fill this out and return it to the church office. We ask a $5 donation per session.
Wednesday night sessions: 6:30-8pm, RSVP required
All are welcome
In this series, we’re going to cover all the things you didn’t know you didn’t know. We’ll touch on history, theology, and numerology, as well as diving into the Judaism of Jesus’ time. You’ll get a Q&A session with both a Rabbi and a Messianic Rabbi. In the end, we hope to deepen your appreciation of our faith by studying the faith of Jesus.
You may register for one session, more than one, or the whole series. Register online at wumc.com, or fill this out and return it to the church office. We ask a $5 donation per session.
Wednesday night sessions: 6:30-8pm, RSVP required
All are welcome
THE WEDNESDAY SERIES
August 28: A Brief History of Judaism
In this session, we’ll give a brief historical overview of Judaism to provide a birds-eye view of the history, culture, and faith.
In this session, we’ll give a brief historical overview of Judaism to provide a birds-eye view of the history, culture, and faith.
September 4: What Did Jesus Believe? Jewish Theology in the Second Temple Period
HCU Professor of Classics and Biblical Studies, Seth Ehorn, will cover basic beliefs that Jews in Jesus’ time period would have taken for granted. This will include the particular groups mentioned in the New Testament (Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, etc.), and a very broad overview of Jewish faith in general.
HCU Professor of Classics and Biblical Studies, Seth Ehorn, will cover basic beliefs that Jews in Jesus’ time period would have taken for granted. This will include the particular groups mentioned in the New Testament (Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, etc.), and a very broad overview of Jewish faith in general.
September 11: What's in a Number? An Introduction to Jewish Theology
Numbers were very important to the biblical writers. While it’s important to avoid reading the Bible as a kind of “secret code,” it is also true that understanding the symbolism behind the numbers deepens our understanding of the passage significantly. You will gain tools to do your own research when you encounter numbers. We’ll also hear some history of interpretation of numerology.
Numbers were very important to the biblical writers. While it’s important to avoid reading the Bible as a kind of “secret code,” it is also true that understanding the symbolism behind the numbers deepens our understanding of the passage significantly. You will gain tools to do your own research when you encounter numbers. We’ll also hear some history of interpretation of numerology.
September 18: How to Read The Bible in a Way That Isn't Anti-Semitic
Christians and Jews have a history fraught with violence and prejudice, often because Christians have tried to erase Judaism from the Bible. In this session, HCU Chair of the Department of Theology and Associate Professor of Early Christianity, Dr. Paul Sloan, will help us seek to understand theologically the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, and the implications for how we understand our Bibles.
Christians and Jews have a history fraught with violence and prejudice, often because Christians have tried to erase Judaism from the Bible. In this session, HCU Chair of the Department of Theology and Associate Professor of Early Christianity, Dr. Paul Sloan, will help us seek to understand theologically the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, and the implications for how we understand our Bibles.
September 25: Ask a Rabbi
Bring your questions! In this session, Rabbi Gross (Senior Rabbi at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism) will give us a brief overview of modern Judaism, the different groups of Jewish communities and how they practice their faith, and then answer questions from the group.
Bring your questions! In this session, Rabbi Gross (Senior Rabbi at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism) will give us a brief overview of modern Judaism, the different groups of Jewish communities and how they practice their faith, and then answer questions from the group.
October 2: Ask a Messianic Rabbi
Bring your questions! In this session we will get a brief overview Messianic Judaism, how our guest Rabbi came to faith in Jesus, and then answer questions from the group.
Bring your questions! In this session we will get a brief overview Messianic Judaism, how our guest Rabbi came to faith in Jesus, and then answer questions from the group.