Welcome
to The Carpenter's Shop
Thank you for taking the time to check out our website. We are a Messiah-centered, Torah-based community, studying the scriptures with a Hebraic perspective.
We are located at 1201 East Elmore Street in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Our Sabbath services begin at 3:30 every Saturday afternoon.
Would you like to learn more about the Hebrew Roots of our Christian faith? Have a question? Click here and ask a Bible teacher today, or feel free to check out the latest podcasts below.
Just scroll through the last five podcast episodes, and click on the one you want to hear. You will be redirected to that post on our podcast site, "www.thewordisgrace.com" Thanks!
Returning to Our Roots
Is there a disconnect between the faith practice of the Early Church of the first century and modern Christianity? Many Christians, today, sense that indeed something is askew.
The Protestant Reformation of 500 years ago did a lot to restore our Faith. However, did they go far enough?
The Bible is a thoroughly Hebrew book, from Genesis to Revelation. The New Testament may have been written in greek, but the authors were Jews or converts to Judaism. They had a hebraic mindset, understanding and lifestyle. Their faith and scriptures were firmly rooted in the Old Testament and Hebrew culture. Too many times we attempt to interpret the scriptures from our western-greek mindset and sadly miss out on it's original intent. This has caused centuries of errant theologies, doctrines and division in the body of Christ.
We know that God does everything purposefully. He chose the Hebrew culture to bring us His eternal and perfect Word. His Salvation is given freely to the world through His Hebrew Son.
If we really want to understand the message of the Bible we must check our filters and study it from this God-chosen Hebraic perspective.
Are you a Greek
or a Hebrew Thinker
| Greek Thought | Hebrew Thought |
|---|---|
| The existence of God must be proved. | Assumes the existence of God |
| Wisdom and truth is discovered through reason. | God is the source and revealer of wisdom and truth. |
| Belief is intellectual and requires proof. | What you believe is not as important as what you do. |
| Knowledge of truth through reason is power. | God's Truth is power. Wisdom is the application of Truth |
| A disciple knows what his mentor knows and does not have to be like him. | A disciple's sole responsibility is to do as his rabbi does and become like him. |
| Faith is what is believed. | Faith is an action. |
| Believes understanding is essential. | Accepts much cannot be understood. |
| The Kingdom of God is separate from this world and time. | The Kingdom of God begins in this world and time. |
| Eternal life happens after death, if at all. | Eternal life begins now and is about our relationship with God. |
Paul, speaking to a mixture of Jew and Gentile believers in Rome-
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NASB
Consider the Olive Tree
Speaking to Israel-
The LORD called your name, "A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form..." Jeremiah 11:16a NASB
Paul speaking to nonJews in Rome-
"...you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree" Romans 11:17b NASB
"For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree,..." Romans 11:24a NASB
To what mind shall we be renewed? To that of the Greeks or to the one cultivated by God Himself, the Hebrews?