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Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
Scott Broberg
197 episodes
1 week ago
In this second part of our study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—what I call the Parable of “Who Is My Neighbor?”—we slow down and walk carefully through the full passage of Luke 10:25–37. Too often, we read this story quickly and miss the powerful dialogue unfolding between Jesus and the Expert in the Law. Together, we’ll explore: - The initial question that sets the stage: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” - The follow-up challenge: “Who is my neighbor?” - The concluding exchange that reveals the Expert’s heart—and ours. This parable presses us to wrestle with one of the most fundamental issues of the human condition: Who am I required to show love to? - What about those we think don’t deserve it? - The people who frustrate, offend, or oppose us? - The neighbors who vote differently, live differently, or simply get under our skin? Jesus calls us to a higher vision of love—to see the humanity and divine image even in those we struggle to love most. Join me as we uncover how this parable invites us to live out the radical, restorative love of God in our world today. --------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/n-Et-5cKkWo Parable of the Good Samaritan Part 1: https://youtu.be/4qVhSfG_JxY Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_good_samaritan_lesson_outline.pdf My Notes on Luke 10:25-37: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_notes_to_good_samaritan_v2.pdf Article: All We Need Is Love, Right? https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_all_we_need_is_love_right_v2.pdf Article: The Broad Ways of Love's Action https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_the_ways_of_love.pdf Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below. Brad Young - The Parables - https://amzn.to/46tsKKc McArthur & Johnston - They Also Taught In Parables - https://amzn.to/48zrPsP Amy Jill Levine - Short Stories by Jesus - https://amzn.to/3Khmk8i
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Religion & Spirituality
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All content for Fig Tree Ministries Podcast is the property of Scott Broberg and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this second part of our study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—what I call the Parable of “Who Is My Neighbor?”—we slow down and walk carefully through the full passage of Luke 10:25–37. Too often, we read this story quickly and miss the powerful dialogue unfolding between Jesus and the Expert in the Law. Together, we’ll explore: - The initial question that sets the stage: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” - The follow-up challenge: “Who is my neighbor?” - The concluding exchange that reveals the Expert’s heart—and ours. This parable presses us to wrestle with one of the most fundamental issues of the human condition: Who am I required to show love to? - What about those we think don’t deserve it? - The people who frustrate, offend, or oppose us? - The neighbors who vote differently, live differently, or simply get under our skin? Jesus calls us to a higher vision of love—to see the humanity and divine image even in those we struggle to love most. Join me as we uncover how this parable invites us to live out the radical, restorative love of God in our world today. --------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/n-Et-5cKkWo Parable of the Good Samaritan Part 1: https://youtu.be/4qVhSfG_JxY Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_good_samaritan_lesson_outline.pdf My Notes on Luke 10:25-37: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_notes_to_good_samaritan_v2.pdf Article: All We Need Is Love, Right? https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_all_we_need_is_love_right_v2.pdf Article: The Broad Ways of Love's Action https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_the_ways_of_love.pdf Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below. Brad Young - The Parables - https://amzn.to/46tsKKc McArthur & Johnston - They Also Taught In Parables - https://amzn.to/48zrPsP Amy Jill Levine - Short Stories by Jesus - https://amzn.to/3Khmk8i
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Religion & Spirituality
Episodes (20/197)
Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#198 - The Good Samaritan Parable Explained - Who is My Neighbor? (Part 2 of 2)
In this second part of our study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—what I call the Parable of “Who Is My Neighbor?”—we slow down and walk carefully through the full passage of Luke 10:25–37. Too often, we read this story quickly and miss the powerful dialogue unfolding between Jesus and the Expert in the Law. Together, we’ll explore: - The initial question that sets the stage: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” - The follow-up challenge: “Who is my neighbor?” - The concluding exchange that reveals the Expert’s heart—and ours. This parable presses us to wrestle with one of the most fundamental issues of the human condition: Who am I required to show love to? - What about those we think don’t deserve it? - The people who frustrate, offend, or oppose us? - The neighbors who vote differently, live differently, or simply get under our skin? Jesus calls us to a higher vision of love—to see the humanity and divine image even in those we struggle to love most. Join me as we uncover how this parable invites us to live out the radical, restorative love of God in our world today. --------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/n-Et-5cKkWo Parable of the Good Samaritan Part 1: https://youtu.be/4qVhSfG_JxY Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_good_samaritan_lesson_outline.pdf My Notes on Luke 10:25-37: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_notes_to_good_samaritan_v2.pdf Article: All We Need Is Love, Right? https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_all_we_need_is_love_right_v2.pdf Article: The Broad Ways of Love's Action https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_the_ways_of_love.pdf Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below. Brad Young - The Parables - https://amzn.to/46tsKKc McArthur & Johnston - They Also Taught In Parables - https://amzn.to/48zrPsP Amy Jill Levine - Short Stories by Jesus - https://amzn.to/3Khmk8i
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1 week ago
58 minutes 56 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#197 - Who Is My Neighbor? Understanding the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Part 1)
In this first part of our two-part study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—what I’m calling the Parable of “Who Is My Neighbor?”—we explore how parables function as teaching tools in the first-century Jewish world. Too often, we pull this parable out of its surrounding dialogue and treat it as an isolated story, which leads to misunderstanding its original meaning. In this lesson, we’ll: - Unpack how parables worked for Jesus’ audience. - See why context matters by examining the four sections around the parable. - Discover how the parable directly answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Join me as we reframe one of Jesus’ most famous teachings within its historical and textual setting. By returning the parable to its dialogue, we gain a richer and more transformative understanding of Jesus’ challenge to love our neighbor. #ParableOfTheGoodSamaritan #WhoIsMyNeighbor #BiblicalContext #FigTreeMinistries ------------------------------------------------ www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/parable-of-the-good-samaritan-part-1 YouTube: https://youtu.be/4qVhSfG_JxY Article: All We Need Is Love, Right? https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_all_we_need_is_love_right_v2.pdf Article: The Broad Ways of Love's Action https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_the_ways_of_love.pdf Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below. Brad Young - The Parables - https://amzn.to/46tsKKc McArthur & Johnston - They Also Taught In Parables - https://amzn.to/48zrPsP Amy Jill Levine - Stort Stories by Jesus - https://amzn.to/3Khmk8i
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1 month ago
26 minutes 49 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#196 - Redeeming Nicodemus - Gospel of John (pt. 29d)
In this concluding lesson of our John 3 introduction series, we trace the remarkable journey of Nicodemus—one of the most overlooked redemption stories in the New Testament. Most readers know Nicodemus from John 3, where he comes to Jesus at night, symbolizing spiritual darkness. But John doesn’t leave him there. We next encounter Nicodemus in John 7, quietly defending Jesus against the other religious leaders—signaling a break from the collective “we” of the Pharisees. Finally, in John 19, we see Nicodemus fully transformed, stepping boldly into the light and bringing an outsized amount of myrrh—a burial and resurrection spice—for Jesus’ body. 📖 In this lesson, we explore: - How Nicodemus’ appearances in John 3, 7, and 19 tell a story of ongoing transformation - The symbolism of night and day, darkness and light, and the journey of faith - How Nicodemus embodies the process of redemption that John invites all of us into—moving from spiritual darkness to spiritual enlightenment Through Nicodemus’ journey, John shows us that redemption is not instantaneous but a process of courage, separation, and new devotion. 👉 This is the final lesson (Part 4 of 4) in our John 3 introduction series—“Redeeming Nicodemus”. --------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/breaking-free-of-literalism-in-johns-gospel YouTube: https://youtu.be/2jZaQg2c0NQ A Great Resource on Bethany as a leper colony Bargil Pixner - Paths of the Messiah https://amzn.to/4ggazL4 Article - Breaking Free From Literalism https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_john_breaking_free_from_literalism.pdf Article - Rethinking Grace https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf
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1 month ago
10 minutes 13 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#195 - Breaking Free of Literalism in John's Gospel - Gospel of John (pt. 29c)
In this third lesson of our John 3 introduction, we shift from John’s rhetorical device to the rich symbolism and character development woven throughout his Gospel. 📖 In this lesson, we cover: Major Symbolism in John’s Gospel – We explore recurring images such as light and darkness, water and Spirit, birth and new life, and how these themes shape John’s message about Jesus. Characters as Symbols – John intentionally crafts his characters so they embody themes and ideas, helping us grasp the deeper truths he is communicating. Each person we meet in John’s Gospel symbolically illuminates aspects of Jesus’ mission and the kingdom of God. By recognizing John’s symbols and his purposeful use of characters, we can move beyond surface-level reading and appreciate the theological depth of his narrative. 👉 This is Part 3 of 4 in our John 3 introduction. Stay tuned for Part 4 as we continue unlocking the layered meaning of John’s Gospel. ---------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/breaking-free-of-literalism-in-johns-gospel YouTube: https://youtu.be/YqL1MzYJ9IY A Great Resource on Bethany as a leper colony Bargil Pixner - Paths of the Messiah https://amzn.to/4ggazL4 Article - Breaking Free From Literalism https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_john_breaking_free_from_literalism.pdf Article - Rethinking Grace https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf
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2 months ago
11 minutes 33 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#194 - Breaking Free of Literalism in John's Gospel - Gospel of John (pt. 29b)
#194 - Breaking Free of Literalism in John's Gospel - Gospel of John (pt. 29b) by Scott Broberg
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2 months ago
12 minutes 56 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#193 - Inspiration, Rhetoric, & John 3 - Gospel of John (pt. 29a)
Before diving into John’s unique rhetorical device—where Jesus makes a statement, the listener misunderstands it literally, and then Jesus explains the deeper meaning—we first need to step back and ask: What do we mean by inspiration? For many modern Christians, the word “inspiration” often conjures the idea of God dictating word-for-word to the biblical authors. But scholars today do not understand the process that way. Instead, inspiration is seen as a dynamic partnership: God communicates an inspired message, while the author freely expresses it through his own personality, style, and cultural tools. This understanding allows us to appreciate how John shaped his Gospel with artistry and intent, using rhetorical devices and imagery his first-century audience would have recognized. By seeing John not just as a passive recorder but as an inspired communicator, we begin to notice the depth and brilliance behind the Gospel’s structure. 👉 Join us for this journey into John’s Gospel and prepare for Part 2, where we’ll see his rhetorical device in action! ----------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/inspiration-rhetoric-john-3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/F9sC7Ds32tY Article - Breaking Free From Literalism https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_john_breaking_free_from_literalism.pdf Article - Rethinking Grace https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf
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2 months ago
21 minutes 58 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#192 - Becoming the Offering: Zeal, Sacrifice, & Inner Change - Gospel of John (pt. 28b)
In Part 2 of our deep dive into John chapter 2, we explore the process of transformation—and why it’s so difficult. Transformation isn’t instant. It’s painful. And that’s why John frames his Gospel with a call to zeal—a passionate commitment that carries us through the soul-wrenching work of becoming who God calls us to be. In this lesson, we explore: ✅ The Hebrew word qorban (offering) and its root qarab, meaning “to come near” ✅ How offering something valuable is the way we draw close to God ✅ Paul’s teaching that we are the offering—a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) ✅ Why Paul uses Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection as metaphors for spiritual formation ✅ What it means to undergo an ego death—putting to death the parts of us that no longer serve the goal of abiding with God This teaching emphasizes a powerful principle: “The more difficult the commandment, the greater the sacrifice it demands—and the closer it draws you to God.” To love your neighbor, forgive those who’ve hurt you, and pray for your enemies—these are not easy tasks. They demand the death of pride, bitterness, and self-justification. But in surrendering those parts of ourselves, we step into the resurrected life of Christ. 📖 Join us as we journey deeper into the symbolic meaning of John 2 and discover what it truly means to offer ourselves in zeal and grace. ----------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/becoming-the-offering Article - Zeal, Grace, and Transformation: A Deeper Look at John 2 https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_zeal_grace_and_transformation_john_2.pdf Article - Rethinking Grace https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf YouTube: https://youtu.be/v1ji11lFcZ8 The Critical Journey: https://amzn.to/4lMwXNs Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: https://amzn.to/40YrnzW
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2 months ago
35 minutes 55 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
From the Deep
Music based on Genesis 1. God brings order and beauty From the Deep.
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2 months ago
3 minutes 31 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#191 - John 2 and the Mystery of Three: Blueprint for Spiritual Renewal - Gospel of John (pt. 28a)
In this first of a two-part series on John chapter 2, we uncover the brilliant literary and symbolic structure that John uses to communicate a deeper message—transformation through divine grace requires zeal. John brackets the chapter with key references to the number three, ritual, and zeal, guiding the reader toward the center of a chiastic structure where the heart of the message lies: God's grace transforms us from the inside out. In this episode, we explore: - The symbolic use of “three” in John’s structure and how it echoes a deeper spiritual journey - Two ancient Rabbinic sources that highlight the mystical and theological significance of the number three: Zohar Vol. II, 43: “These three are one... only through the perception of faith...” Talmud, Shabbat 88a: “Blessed is the Compassionate One who gave a threefold Torah to a threefold people...” - How Hosea 6:1–2 outlines the three-day spiritual arc of wounding, waiting, and rising—mirroring the journey of being separated from and restored to God's presence - Why zeal is necessary to remove inner barriers and participate in divine transformation Join us as we begin to unpack John 2's symbolic brilliance and the call it places on each of us to become vessels of God’s grace. 👉 Don’t forget to watch Part 2, where we dive into the cleansing of the Temple and the connection between grace, sacrifice, and inner renewal. ----------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/1x5yaQDYM1c Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/john-2-and-the-mystery-of-three Article - Zeal, Grace, and Transformation: A Deeper Look at John 2 https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_zeal_grace_and_transformation_john_2.pdf Article - Rethinking Grace https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf Jewish Annotated Apocrypha: https://amzn.to/45xBz3R Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: https://amzn.to/40YrnzW
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3 months ago
30 minutes 17 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#190 - Destroy This Temple and I will Raise It Up - Gospel of John (pt. 27b)
In the second half of our study of John chapter 2, we explore the Jewish expectation of a rebuilt Temple—one that would surpass even the glory of Solomon’s Temple. Throughout the Second Temple period, Jewish writings imagined different scenarios: Some believed God Himself would rebuild it. Others expected the Messiah to oversee its construction. We’ll walk through these ancient texts and discover how they shaped the hopes of Jesus’ generation. Then, we’ll unpack the shocking claim Jesus made: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In mystical Jewish thought, the “Original Adam” or “Heavenly Man” was seen as the cosmic body—the universe itself functioning as the Temple of God. The Apostle Paul draws from this imagery when he says we are members of one body and calls Jesus the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). If the universe is God’s Temple, and Jesus is its cornerstone, then His statement is far more than a metaphor—it’s a revelation of how heaven and earth meet in Him. Join us as we explore: - Jewish visions of the future Temple - The connection between the Temple and the Body of Christ - How Jesus fulfills—and redefines—centuries of expectation ----------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/hwIr6LZSJvk Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/destroy-this-temple-and-i-will-raise-it-up Soreg Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-dividing-wall-of-hostility Article - "Destroy This Temple" - The Messianic Promise of Rebuilding https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_article_background_to_john_2_18_19.pdf Jewish Annotated Apocrypha: https://amzn.to/45xBz3R Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: https://amzn.to/40YrnzW After: A Doctor Explores Near-Death Experiences: https://amzn.to/4m8HEe1
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3 months ago
30 minutes 44 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#189 - Dividing Wall of Hostility: Jesus, the Temple, and the Soreg - Gospel of John (pt. 27a)
In this lesson, we explore the dramatic moment in John chapter 2 when Jesus clears the Temple courts. What provoked such zeal from the Prince of Peace? One possible answer lies in something called the Soreg—a dividing wall in the Second Temple that separated Gentiles from the inner courts of worship. The penalty for crossing it? Death. In Jesus’ day, this physical barrier symbolized deeper religious and cultural divisions, born from centuries of foreign intrusion—Antiochus Epiphanes desecrating the sanctuary, Pompey entering the Holy of Holies, Pilate defiling the gates with Roman symbols. In response, the people erected barriers—both physical and spiritual. And in many ways, we do the same today. As secular culture presses in, some churches lock down, creating their own modern-day Soregs to protect what they believe is sacred. But in doing so, are we possibly excluding the very people God wants to welcome in? Join us as we examine: - The historical and religious meaning of the Soreg - How Jesus’ actions challenge a fortress mentality - Paul’s message in Ephesians 2 about tearing down the dividing wall of hostility This lesson will challenge us to reflect on our own attitudes and how we use Scripture: Do we build walls that divide—or doors that invite? --------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-dividing-wall-of-hostility Soreg Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-dividing-wall-of-hostility Article - "Destroy This Temple" - The Messianic Promise of Rebuilding https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_article_background_to_john_2_18_19.pdf YouTube: https://youtu.be/BifAsBGBO8E
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3 months ago
27 minutes 10 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#188 - Inner Essence of Man, Quantum, & Telepathy Tapes - Gospel of John (pt. 26b)
In Part 2 of our Rethinking Spirituality series, we explore the deep wisdom of the Hebrew Bible and the ancient rabbis on the nature of the human soul. Scripture uses three distinct Hebrew words to describe the inner essence of a person—each pointing to a different layer of our spiritual being. The rabbis liken the soul to a candle: - Nefesh connects us to the body—like the wick. - Ruach links soul to spirit—like the flame. - Neshamah is the divine spark—the projected light that illuminates the inner life. The goal? Increase your light. The more light you cultivate, the more aware you become of God’s presence that already surrounds and fills you. Then, we take a fascinating turn into the modern world of science—where a revolution is underway. Quantum mechanics is challenging the cold, materialistic worldview of classical science. At the quantum level, reality is strange, interconnected, and deeply mysterious—much closer to the spiritual intuition of the ancients than many realize. And into this conversation comes a stunning new podcast: The Telepathy Tapes. It documents the experiences of non-speaking autistic children who are now communicating through telepathy—offering profound insights into consciousness, awareness, and human connection. These children—once assumed to be disconnected—are revealing truths that are shaking the foundations of how we understand the mind and reality itself. Join us as we rethink what it means to be human, to be connected, and to be light in a world rediscovering its soul. ----------------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/soul-quantum-physics-the-telepathy-tapes Article - Rethinking Spirituality (PDF) https://www.figtreeteaching.com/fig-tree-articles.html YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Up7c33MHog The Telepathy Tapes: https://thetelepathytapes.com/ Telepathy Tapes Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-telepathy-tapes/id1766382649 Awakening From the Meaning Crisis - John Vervaeke and Christopher Mastropietro https://amzn.to/4lyY27h
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3 months ago
28 minutes 7 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#187 - The Kingdom Within - Why Our View of the Universe is Wrong - Gospel of John (pt. 26a)
In this two-part series, we begin by challenging the modern assumptions that shape how we think about spirituality, God, and the universe. In Part One, we explore the Greek word kosmos—a word that, to the ancient mind, signified an ordered, vibrant, and meaningful creation, infused with divine presence. But something changed. Following the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution, our view of the universe shifted. The kosmos became “the cosmos”—a cold, vast, mechanistic expanse governed by impersonal laws. This deeply affects not just how we think about the stars, but how we think about God. Enter the rise of Systematic Theology, which seeks to organize and categorize our understanding of God. While helpful in many ways, this method can unintentionally reduce the mystery and intimacy of the divine to a set of tidy doctrines. When we confine God to our systems, we risk shaping a God who is distant, detached, and out there rather than near, present, and within. But the biblical witness tells another story. Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God is within you. Elijah hears God not in the fire or earthquake but in a still, small voice. The Scriptures reveal a God who permeates creation, not one who abandons it. Join us as we rethink what it means to live in a sacred kosmos—a world alive with the presence of God, even when we aren’t aware of it. -------------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/T-jRSIzt-7g Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-kingdom-within Article - Rethinking Spirituality (PDF) https://www.figtreeteaching.com/fig-tree-articles.html Awakening From the Meaning Crisis - John Vervaeke and Christopher Mastropietro https://amzn.to/4lyY27h
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3 months ago
40 minutes

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
O Last Adam
[Verse 1] In the garden long ago Dust was shaped and breathed to life Adam stood with open eyes In the image of the Light But he reached for what was not his Turned away from holy flame And through one man came the shadow And the world was clothed in shame [Chorus] But You came O Last Adam Full of truth and endless grace You walked among the broken Love poured out in every place Where the first brought the darkness You brought the dawn anew O Last Adam You redeemed what we could never do [Verse 2] In the desert wild and barren You withstood the tempter’s lies Forty days of hunger Yet Your strength would not subside Where the first man faltered You stood firm You did not fall Through Your perfect sacrifice You answered the ancient call [Chorus] Yes You came O Last Adam Full of truth and endless grace You walked among the broken Love poured out in every place Where the first brought the darkness You brought the dawn anew O Last Adam You redeemed what we could never do [Bridge] The thorns became Your crown The cross Your final throne Through Your wounds We are healed Through Your death Life is known The stone rolled away Now the grave has no claim O Last Adam Forever we’ll sing Your name [Chorus] Oh You came O Last Adam Full of truth and endless grace You walked among the broken Love poured out in every place Where the first brought the darkness You brought the dawn anew O Last Adam You redeemed what we could never do https://sunoai.ai/music/13d7a179fa4545699cc9fb356a7c8aad
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4 months ago
3 minutes 44 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#186 - The Faith of God: Rethinking the Source of Our Faith - Gospel of John (pt. 25b)
In this lesson, we continue our exploration of the Hebrew concept of faith—one that goes far beyond mere intellectual assent to a set of beliefs. Biblical faith is not just believing that something is true; it is a movement of the soul into the living reality of God through Jesus. One of the more provocative insights in this teaching centers on the Greek genitive case—specifically in passages like Mark 11:22. Most English translations render Jesus’ words as, “Have faith in God.” But the Greek text reads: echō pistin theou—literally, “have faith of God.” The word “God” is in the genitive case, which usually denotes possession. This raises a powerful question: Whose faith is it? If the genitive is taken seriously, then the faith being referenced is God’s faith— not something we muster on our own, but something God possesses and shares with us. This reorients our entire understanding of faith. We are not the source; God is. Faith becomes a gift—a relational and reciprocal dynamic. As we turn toward God in trust, He supplies the very faith needed to continue walking with Him. This deeper reading appears in numerous New Testament passages, though it is often obscured in translation. Join us as we uncover this overlooked dimension of faith and rediscover it as a shared life between us and God. -------------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-faith-of-god-rethinking-the-source-of-our-faith Article - Rethinking Faith (PDF) https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_faith.pdf YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/tk3z2SkvRN0
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4 months ago
32 minutes 44 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#185 - Is Your Faith Just Belief? That’s Not Biblical - Gospel of John (pt. 25a)
Over the centuries, the word faith has accumulated layers of meaning—some helpful, others deeply misleading. In this first of two lessons, we begin to peel back those layers and rediscover what faith meant in the biblical world. Today, many view faith as blind belief or intellectual agreement with abstract propositions. But in the world of the Bible, faith was far more concrete. Rooted in the Hebrew verb ’aman—from which we get words like amen, truth, steadfast, and established—faith was about trust that leads to action. It was confidence in God’s character, not certainty in theological formulas. This lesson explores how the modern church’s language around faith has drifted from its biblical foundation, and why returning to the ancient understanding can radically transform our walk with God. We may say we “have faith” in Jesus as Messiah, but do we have the kind of faith that trusts him enough to forgive our enemies, love our neighbors, and walk in the ways that lead to the peace of God? Join us as we rethink what it really means to have faith—and how that rethinking can shape the way we live. -------------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/is-your-faith-just-belief-thats-not-biblical Article - Rethinking Faith (PDF) https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_faith.pdf YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8SDZ9VHqdCA
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4 months ago
24 minutes 27 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#184 - Eat My Flesh, Drink My Blood: Jesus or Dionysus? - Gospel of John (pt. 24c)
In this final installment of our three-part series on the Greek god Dionysus, we journey to the influential city of Ephesus—home to the community John was writing to—to examine just how prominent Dionysus worship was in the cultural fabric of this Greek world. John's audience knew Dionysus well. From there, we head north to Pergamum—one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation—where the Temple of Dionysus stood in connection with a grand 10,000-seat theater. Each year, worshipers would gather to celebrate Dionysus, the god of wine, transformation, and resurrection. We then explore one of the most striking elements of this worship: the ritual consumption of meat and wine—the symbolic flesh and blood of Dionysus—believed to unite the participant mystically with the god. This ritual provides a powerful backdrop to Jesus’ radical statement in John 6: “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” The Gospel of John presents Jesus turning water into wine—not as a random miracle, but as a deliberate theological claim: Jesus is greater than Dionysus. He offers the true transformation—the kind that leads us back to the image in which we were created. For those seeking authentic change, John points to the one who is the visible image of the invisible God. --------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/jesus-is-greater-than-dionysus The Roman Writer Plutarch commented that Jews Worship Dionysus: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/plutarch_on_jews_worshiping_dionysus.pdf Explore the first-century and historical context of the Seven Churches in Revelation: YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCaBz_NhYH3H__qY2EuB9HmLS05Copopj&si=o9GKZkQKWjIFik72 Fig Tree Website: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/seven-churches-of-revelation1.html More Photos of Ephesus: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/ephesus-asia-minor.html More Photos of Pergamum: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/pergamon-asia-minor.html
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4 months ago
25 minutes 47 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#183 - From Dionysus to Jesus: Who Offers the Real Transformation? - Gospel of John (pt. 24 b)
This lesson continues our exploration of the striking contrast between Jesus turning water into wine at Cana and the worship of the Greek god Dionysus. We begin by examining key passages from the Old Testament where the vine plays a central role—including Israel itself being portrayed as God's vine. From there, we turn to Greek symbolism, where wine is seen as a divine gift and the vine a sacred image. In Dionysian worship, wine was believed to bring about transformation and communion with the divine. Yet, as we will see, the transformation offered by Dionysus ultimately falls short—it is external, fleeting, and false. In contrast, the transformation Jesus offers is internal, enduring, and authentic. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus invites us into a process of becoming the image-bearers we were always created to be. --------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/jesus-is-greater-than-dionysus The Roman Writer Plutarch commented that Jews Worship Dionysus: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/plutarch_on_jews_worshiping_dionysus.pdf More Photos of Beit She'an: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/beit-shean.html
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4 months ago
25 minutes 16 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#182 - Water to Wine - Jesus is Greater Than Dionysus - Gospel of John (pt. 24a)
This is Part 1 of a series that will explore the Greek god Dionysus and how John's audience in Ephesus would have understood the Water to Wine miracle. Dionysus was well known in both Asia Minor, where John was writing, and in the land of Israel. The Greeks had brought Dionysus to Israel hundreds of years before Jesus was born, and he was a very popular agricultural god. The water-to-wine miracle in John 2 points directly to Dionysus, as he is the god of wine. In this short introduction, we explore the surprising cultural backdrop of Jesus' first sign—how the Greek god Dionysus, known for turning water into wine, had deeply influenced the land of Israel during the first century. We highlight: The mythological connection between Dionysus and the Decapolis city of Scythopolis, said to be founded by the god himself A quick recap of the Cana wedding story: grace precedes ritual, weddings belong to the “third day,” and resurrection imagery is built into the third day of Creation, when plants—symbols of yearly resurrection—were made Join us as we begin to uncover the rich layers behind Jesus’ first miracle and what it meant to those living in a world shaped by both Jewish tradition and Greco-Roman mythology. ------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Music: Adventurous Life by L-Ray Music - RIXCYIDXXQKRWW3A Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/jesus-is-greater-than-dionysus The Roman Writer Plutarch commented that Jews Worship Dionysus: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/plutarch_on_jews_worshiping_dionysus.pdf More Photos of Beit She'an: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/beit-shean.html
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4 months ago
16 minutes 49 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
#181 - The Hidden Connection in Jesus' Greatest Commandment
This lesson is a section of a teaching from 2021. Here is the original lesson: https://youtu.be/tgql4_1Qwko When asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus responds not with one—but two. He quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the Shema: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart…”—and then adds Leviticus 19:18: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Why two? And why does no one challenge him for it? In this lesson, we explore how Jesus uses a classic rabbinic technique called Gezerah Sheva, which links commandments that share the same words or ideas. By connecting “love” in both verses, Jesus makes a profound claim: loving your neighbor, who is made in God's image, is the very expression of loving God Himself. Join us as we uncover the deeper meaning behind Jesus’ answer, the cultural logic behind rabbinic interpretation, and how this teaching continues to challenge and inspire us today. --------------------------------------------------------------- Original Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/what-is-the-greatest-commandment www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI Music: Adventurous Life by L-Ray Music - RIXCYIDXXQKRWW3A
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5 months ago
15 minutes 38 seconds

Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
In this second part of our study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—what I call the Parable of “Who Is My Neighbor?”—we slow down and walk carefully through the full passage of Luke 10:25–37. Too often, we read this story quickly and miss the powerful dialogue unfolding between Jesus and the Expert in the Law. Together, we’ll explore: - The initial question that sets the stage: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” - The follow-up challenge: “Who is my neighbor?” - The concluding exchange that reveals the Expert’s heart—and ours. This parable presses us to wrestle with one of the most fundamental issues of the human condition: Who am I required to show love to? - What about those we think don’t deserve it? - The people who frustrate, offend, or oppose us? - The neighbors who vote differently, live differently, or simply get under our skin? Jesus calls us to a higher vision of love—to see the humanity and divine image even in those we struggle to love most. Join me as we uncover how this parable invites us to live out the radical, restorative love of God in our world today. --------------------------------------------- www.figtreeteaching.com Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html Support Fig Tree Ministries: https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal: https://amzn.to/3USMelI YouTube: https://youtu.be/n-Et-5cKkWo Parable of the Good Samaritan Part 1: https://youtu.be/4qVhSfG_JxY Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_good_samaritan_lesson_outline.pdf My Notes on Luke 10:25-37: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_notes_to_good_samaritan_v2.pdf Article: All We Need Is Love, Right? https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_all_we_need_is_love_right_v2.pdf Article: The Broad Ways of Love's Action https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_the_ways_of_love.pdf Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below. Brad Young - The Parables - https://amzn.to/46tsKKc McArthur & Johnston - They Also Taught In Parables - https://amzn.to/48zrPsP Amy Jill Levine - Short Stories by Jesus - https://amzn.to/3Khmk8i