The emergence of Messianic Judaism into the American cultural milieu in the 1960s and 70s brought with it a distinct genre of sacred music with roots in Ashkenazi klezmer and traditional Jewish liturgy. Since then, Messianic music has come into its own, having been influenced by a wide variety of genres from wherever the Jewish people have been dispersed. Our guest today, Dr. Greg Silverman, has recently released a documentary called Pioneers of Messianic Worship that chronicles the humble beginnings of this now iconic sound and gives us a hint as to what’s in store for its future.

👉 Key Discussion Points:

► The Emergence of Messianic Worship: As Messianic congregations formed in the 1960s and 1970s, the founders of modern Messianic Judaism desired to create worship centers that looked and felt more like synagogues than churches. To accomplish this objective, early pioneers like Stuart Dauermann began writing new songs with Ashkenazi, Klezmer, and “Fiddler on the Roof” sounds to resonate authentically with the Jewish people they were trying to reach.

► The Corporate, God-Centered Nature of Messianic Music: A defining characteristic of Messianic Jewish worship is its emphasis on the corporate (“we”) experience rather than the individualistic (“I”) experience common in contemporary Christian music. This focus on a communal experience as a people group mirrors the language found in traditional Jewish prayer.

► Traditional Hebrew Liturgies: Messianic music frequently incorporates ancient Hebrew liturgical prayers and melodies into songs. This reinforces the connection with the historical prayers of the Jewish people. The beauty and spiritual discipline of these liturgies—which are often verses from the Bible put in a specific order—are seen as a way to direct the heart and mind toward God’s truth, helping believers stay focused and internalize God’s oneness, mercy, and faithfulness.

► The Global Impact of Paul Wilbur and the Passing of the Baton: Paul Wilbur stands out as one of the first and most successful artists to connect the Jewish roots of the faith with a worldwide Christian audience. Behind the grand success is a humble, genuine, wholehearted worshiper. The next generation of artists, like Joshua Aaron and Misha Goetz, is taking up the baton and ensuring a future for Messianic worship.

👉 Resources

► Watch the Documentary: Pioneers of Messianic Worship is available on YouTube.

► Greg Silverman’s Ministry: Find music, videos, recordings, and information on training for worship leaders at the Greg Silverman Ministry Website.

► Sheet Music Resource: Worship leaders can find chord charts and sheet music for Messianic songs.

► Social Media: Follow Greg Silverman on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

► Liberated Wailing Wall Article

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Our tagline here at Messiah Podcast is “Jesus is Jewish, and that changes everything.” But what exactly do we mean by that? What changes specifically? Our guest today, Messianic Jewish Rabbi Damian Eisner, is here for a conversation about what the Jewish Jesus means for Christians and for Jews, and how this seemingly simple historical fact opens up the world of the Bible like never before.

👉 Key Discussion Points:

• The Messiah Podcast Tagline: The present-tense phrasing, “Jesus is Jewish,” is critical, drawing a parallel to Jesus’ use of the present tense when referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to prove the resurrection (Matthew 22). It’s a reminder that his Jewish identity is ongoing.
• The Torah and the Commandments: Messianic Judaism sees Jesus not as a voice of opposition against Judaism but as an ultimate Jewish rabbi and Torah teacher.
• Reading the New Testament: Realizing Jesus is Jewish changes how the New Testament is read, adding an essential historical and cultural Jewish context.
• Impact on the Jewish Community: Seeing Jesus as a Jew and a Torah-loving rabbi changes the Jewish perspective on him from being disqualified as Messiah to being a candidate.

👉 Resources

• Book Recommendation: Yeshua Matters by Jacob Fronczak
• Topics: Messianic Judaism, Jesus’ Jewish identity, Torah, Law of Moses, New Testament Context, Replacement Theology, Corporate Salvation, Rosh HaShanah.

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

In the final episode of our series on the end of days, we delve into the age-old question: Are we living in the last generation? Join Jacob Fronczak and Daniel Lancaster as they explore historical and contemporary signs, from the ingathering of Israel’s exiles to the global technology revolution, that suggest we might be on the brink of a new era. Discover how eschatology drives discipleship and what it means to live with the expectation of the Messiah’s imminent return. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges our understanding of prophecy and the times we live in.

👉 Takeaways

► Historical Patterns of Expectation: Throughout history, many generations have believed they were living in the end times, often interpreting contemporary events as signs of the Messiah’s imminent return. This pattern highlights the enduring human tendency to seek meaning in current events through the lens of prophecy.
► Eight Reasons: Daniel Lancaster proposes eight reasons why this is the last generation that will see Messiah’s return. These reasons span the fulfillment of biblical prophecy to events taking place around the globe.
► Eschatology and Discipleship: The belief in the imminent return of the Messiah is not just a theological stance but a call to action, driving individuals to live with integrity, study scripture, and pursue wisdom as part of their discipleship journey.

🔖 Chapters

(0:00) Is This the Last Generation before Jesus’ Return?
(2:33) The Millerists and the Great Disappointment
(10:31) Jonah and the Nature of Prophecy
(12:52) Paul’s Reason for the Delayed Redemption
(18:39) Did We Miss It?
(29:11) Gnosticism: Contrasting Physical and Spiritual Worlds
(32:26) Reason 1: Ingathering of the Exiles
(35:22) Reason 2. Establishment of a Jewish State in Their Homeland
(36:55) Reason 3. God’s Miraculous War-time Interventions
(38:23) Reason 4. Global Technology Revolution
(40:01) Reason 5. Global Scope of Anti-Zionism and Jew Hate
(41:30) Reason 6. World Population Peak
(43:10) Reason 7. The Atomic Threat of Global Annihilation
(45:15) Reason 8. Culmination of Human History
(47:10)) Discipleship Internalizes “The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand”
(53:58) Preparing for His Return

👉 Resources

Torah Club
https://torahclub.org

End of Days: Torah Club Study Track
https://endofdays.org

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.