Messianic Torah Observant Israel

How does your behavior relate to Darkness and Light? This is the theme as Rabbi Steve Berkson takes you into 1 Peter chapter two, the letter from Peter to the “Strangers of the Dispersion.” • Who are these “Strangers of the Dispersion”? (1 Peter 1:1-2) • What did the apostle mean when he called them, “set apart by the Spirit unto obedience”, and “newborn babes”? • What is the “unadulterated milk o...

Some of the topics covered are: • Learning how to respond and not react to people or situations • Love Languages • Opinion Poll or counsel – dealing with leadership • Why doesn’t MTOI have a Statement of Faith on their website? • My emotional state is my choice?! • Don’t push the button! • How do I know if I’m holding my leadership in “the highest regard”? … and much more! Afterburn: also known in...

• Is there anything bad or wrong about eschatology or being concerned about the end time? • What does the concern about the end time have to do with darkness and light? As we read what the apostle Shaul, or Paul, wrote to the congregation of Messianic believers in his letter to the Thessalonians, in chapter five, Rabbi Steve Berkson points out that Shaul was doing some damage control regarding the...

Some of the topics covered are: • Managing the chaos of life • What is it that needs to be “restored” in Heaven? • Who’s mind is in you? By who or what are you influenced? • Are apostles and prophets for today? • Was the Law/Torah nailed to the cross? … and much more! Related Teachings can be found here: • INfocus: You’re Still Wrong https://youtu.be/V9SU20AM5B8 • Discovering Your Identity https:/...

In the 1970’s the singer Bob Dylan sang “you gotta serve somebody.” He pretty much echoed the words from the Bible which has the same message from cover to cover and it’s your choice as to whom you will serve. In this teaching, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us to another of the apostle Paul’s writings, known as the Book of Colossians. Beginning in chapter one, Paul addresses his letter to the “set-apa...

Some of the topics covered are: • Grieving the Set-Apart (Holy) Spirit • Don’t let the sun go down on your anger… • How do I identify those of the Five-Fold Ministry that I should follow? • Can the roles in Ephesians 4:11 be filled by men and women? … and much more! Related Teachings can be found here: • INfocus: What About Jewish Traditions? Afterburn: also known in the world of fitness as the “a...

Continuing the theme of how Darkness and Light relate to the authority structure of the Body of Messiah, Rabbi Steve Berkson starts this episode in Ephesians chapter four. At the beginning of this chapter the apostle Paul calls himself a “prisoner of the Master.” Rabbi Berkson stops at this to slow down and look at why Paul would refer to himself in that way. In the same verse Paul uses the phrase...

Some of the topics covered are: • What things does one look for when finding and deciding on their teacher? • Rabbi’s instruction on posting in social media and how we should interact with each other • If you were in my situation, what would you do? • How does one “grieve the Holy Spirit”? • Was Messiah Yeshua a sacrifice or an offering? • Where in scripture does it say we should have only one tea...

What does it mean to be in darkness? How does one know if they are in light? Rabbi Steve Berkson continues in the topic of Darkness & Light and how it relates to submission; in darkness being under no authority or wrong authority, and in light being under Yah’s authority. First we are taken to the letter to the Romans, chapter 2, verse 17 as we see the apostle Paul call out his brothers for be...

Some of the topics covered are: • Why are there going to be people who are “weeping and gnashing their teeth”? • What verse in John 12 could be advocating for suicide? Why or why not? • When confronted with trials/testing, do you pray to be taken out or go through? • Why do we battle with depression, anxiety, bad behavior, etc.? • Boy, I did a lot of dumb things in my life! What can I learn from t...

In this episode of Darkness & Light, Rabbi Steve Berkson continues in the Gospel of John, the twelfth chapter, where “certain Greeks” wanted to see Yeshua. • Who were these “Greeks”? What did they want with Yeshua? From this event Rabbi Berkson makes the point that Messiah Yeshua was beginning to draw those of the nations (Gentiles) to Himself, fulfilling the purpose for which He was sent. • I...

Some of the topics covered are: • How can we understand the entity we know of as Elohim? • Is there such a thing as “Predestination”? • What does the term “called and chosen” mean? • Messiah Yeshua is still the Light of the World, right? • Like a baby in the womb, can there be protection in darkness? … and much more! Afterburn: also known in the world of fitness as the “afterburn effect”, simply p...

As he starts this episode in the Gospel of John chapter 1, verse 1, Rabbi Steve Berkson enlightens us with an interesting observation about Messiah Yeshua and the relationship that he has with his Father. This observation flies in the face of any other doctrine that is out there regarding “oneness”, or the “Trinity”, etc. • What role did Messiah Yeshua have in the creation account? • In what way d...

Some of the topics covered are: • My Bible translation has problems?! • How do I open my eyes and ears to Yah’s word? • What is the “Acceptable Year of Yah”? • Can I break bread with them? • Is Messiah Yeshua against the Talmud? … and much more! Related Teachings can be found here: • Do You Know the Father and the Son? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1kbbHXKq6I&list=PLf9HOA0P9oX85eE0WcFyzM6xq...

Diving right in to this teaching, Rabbi Steve Berkson starts us in Matthew 15:1 where we see the Scribes and Pharisees confronting Yeshua about how his disciples did not observe one of the “traditions of the elders”–the ceremonial washing of hands before eating food. • For what purpose did the religious authority of the First Century continually confront Yeshua? • What did the Pharisees do that Ye...

Some of the topics covered are: • How do we balance Matthew 6:31, “Take no thought…” with how we interact with the environment, climate change and using the Earth’s resources responsibly? • Walking in darkness, but thinking you’re walking in the Light • What are you willing to do to get where Yah wants you to be? • How can we know we’re not engaged in Trivial Pursuits? • Husbands and wives providi...

After a brief refreshing of the last four parts Rabbi Steve Berkson continues in Matthew 6:24, making the point that there are those who would start a teaching at this verse. He states that when other teachers skip ahead in this chapter some of the meaning of what Yehsua was getting across to his followers would be lost without the context of the previous twenty-three verses. Matthew 6:24 states a...

Some of the topics covered are: • What does it really mean to “honor your parents”? • What are miracles for? • How husbands and wives should relate struggles with each other • How to help someone without enabling to be codependent • Forgiveness … and much more! Afterburn: also known in the world of fitness as the “afterburn effect”, simply put; The more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your b...

As he finishes the Tanakh portion of Darkness & Light, Rabbi Steve Berkson takes you to Proverbs 6:20-25 and makes the comparison of parental instruction and instruction from the Eternal Father. The way the author worded phrases in Proverbs was as a father talking to his son, but should be interpreted for you today as your heavenly Father talking to you. Rabbi Berkson also points out that the...

Some of the topics covered are: • How do we know if we are walking in darkness? Is it up to us to find out or Abba to reveal? • Should you try to convince someone that they should obey more than the Ten Commandments? • Messiah Yeshua showed us what discipline looks like • Is the immoral strange woman spoken of in Proverbs referring to a false religion? • Proverbs 2:9 says “every good path”–is ther...

Could there be those who are walking in varying degrees of darkness? How would they know? Is it possible that they think they’re walking in light, but are not? What would be your role in interacting with them? How do you get to the place where you trust anyone to teach you how to walk out your faith? Are there out there those who are anointed and appointed by the Creator with the ability to help y...

This is the same song as the older version.

• Can people go back into Darkness once they’ve been in the Light? (Isaiah 59:1-10) • What does it mean to “speak falsehood”? • How do “works” provide, or not provide, a “covering”? (Isaiah 59:6) • What are the two types of Darkness? • What is “thick” darkness? • How does the Light work in us toward others around us? • What does the phrase “In Your light we see light” mean? • Are there those who c...

Some of the topics covered are: • Should you try to determine if others are living in darkness or light? • How did Noah know which animals were clean and unclean? • What about the Shekinah of Yahweh? How is it related to this teaching? • Is “staying in the light” keeping oneself from worldly interests, i.e. drinking, movies, entertainment, etc? • Like Israel at the Jordan ready to cross over, wher...