The Friends of Israel Today

What does truly God-honoring ministry look like? Here’s a hint: It involves less speaking and more doing! When Moses ordained Aaron and his sons to serve as the high priests of Israel, God directed him to place the blood of the ram sacrifice on their ears, thumbs, and toes. Through this instruction, God taught Aaron and his sons that ministering by listening, serving, and walking in obedience open...

The Rapture is one of God’s greatest scriptural promises to us. Yet, some Christians reject the comforting truth that He will rescue believers from the trials of the coming seven-year Tribulation. But we can be certain that God will deliver us, just like He promised! Vice President of International Ministries Mike Stallard joins our show this week to share insight from his most recent article in I...

The Jewish people have faced antisemitism for thousands of years, and this shapeshifting prejudice has taken many faces throughout history. In the conclusion of our 3-part series, we examine national antisemitism: the hatred of the Jewish people simply because of the existence of the Jewish State of Israel. Believers in Jesus must boldly stand with God’s Chosen People, seeking to protect them agai...

Last week, we analyzed religious antisemitism—the hatred of Jewish people for their religious practices and beliefs. This week, we’re taking a look at another evil form of Jewish hatred: racial antisemitism. Chris shares an excellent explanation of this deadly sin that antagonizes the Jewish race. While the Holocaust provides the most poignant example of racial antisemitism, Jewish people are stil...

For thousands of years, humanity has fallen prey to a deadly sin: antisemitism. This hatred of the Jewish people takes many forms. This week, we’ll study religious antisemitism, which many carry out because they believe Jewish practices and beliefs prevent peace and progress. But no matter who you are or what background you come from, you can stand against this surging tide of antisemitism! Learn...

We have some exciting news! The Friends of Israel (FOI) has a new executive director: The Friends of Israel Today’s very own Steve Conover! After 30 years of service with our ministry, Steve has been appointed to succeed his beloved predecessor, Dr. Jim Showers. Steve and Jim join Chris to discuss how they will continue to serve together moving forward, the impact of FOI’s important new tagline, a...

Evangelism is growing throughout the world, but many Christians don’t care about Israel and the Jewish people. They don’t understand God’s love for His Chosen People and the responsibility we have to love them too. God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 shows us exactly why we need to have a biblical love for Israel and why we’ll be blessed for doing so. Discover the significance of this promis...

Abraham’s covenant with God included promises of a special land and countless descendants for Abraham. But it also included a promise of blessing for the whole world. And we enjoy that blessing today! In this week’s episode on the Abrahamic Covenant, you’ll find how God’s words to Abraham have extended thousands of years for our benefit today and how we in turn can bless the Jewish people. Whether...

God’s eternal covenant with Abraham included a miraculous guarantee: Abraham would have a son in his old age, and descendants as countless as the stars in the sky would follow in his line. This promise was part of God’s glorious plan to send a redeemer: the Messiah. We explore God’s promise of Abraham’s offspring; and you’ll find your own love for these descendants, the Jewish people, growing as y...

Why is the land of Israel so important to God? Because of His eternal covenant with Abraham! Chris digs into the incomparable land of Israel promised to Abraham’s descendants in our series on the Abrahamic Covenant. This Holy Land guarantees Israel’s bright future in God’s plan of redemption, as Jesus will reign from here when He comes again. In the meantime, we should follow God’s command in the...

Jewish cartoonist Bob Mankoff once remarked, “I know everybody wants humor to be subversive and speak truth to power. I don’t think power has been listening.” Such was the case for John the Baptist. As the forerunner to Jesus the Messiah, John preached a challenging message of repentance to the hostile Jewish religious leaders. Cameron Joyner joins the show this week to share an in-depth look at h...

What is a Christian’s responsibility? In the conclusion of our series on Colossians, we learn that God wants us not to sit back idly but to actively participate in our faith after we receive His gift of salvation by grace through faith. We are called to clothe ourselves with God’s character and nature—His love, compassion, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. May we follow this command as we fix our...

Surrounded by a litany of beliefs about the world, the Colossian believers needed a clear understanding of God’s Word. So, the apostle Paul provided it by writing an epistle filled with doctrine for them. This week, in part 3 of our series on the book of Colossians, we’ll see how Paul taught the Colossians to fix their eyes on Christ and heavenly things. Listen to these lessons from Colossians to...

The apostle Paul’s message to the Colossians rings true for Christians even today: Beware of false teaching! In part 2 of our series on the book of Colossians, Chris teaches about Paul’s concern for the Colossian church’s spiritual well-being. While many religions and philosophies vied for the Colossians’ attention, Paul reminded these believers that their identity should be found in the supremacy...

Like a station wagon with a racecar engine, Jesus outwardly looked like an ordinary man to others who encountered Him on Earth. In reality, He was and is the image of God, and He is the Creator of and Lord over all! This week we begin a four-part series on the book of Colossians by examining Christ’s supremacy over creation. Chris’s teaching on Paul’s epistle will comfort you this week, knowing yo...

It’s never too early to celebrate Christmas by studying Jesus’ First Advent! This year, add The Friends of Israel’s new devotional Finding Messiah in Christmas to your Christmas traditions, and discover how Christ’s birth fulfills the ancient promises of Scripture with transformative present application. Enjoy Chris’s teaching on the cherished birth of our Savior, the long-expected Jewish Messiah,...

Do you take God’s Word for granted? If you feel like one of many Christians who do, you should take notes on the Jewish people’s approach to Scripture: They dedicate a holiday to celebrating it each year! They sing and dance and read the Scripture publicly on Simchat Torah, the special holiday of rejoicing over the Law, or the Torah. Chris teaches us about this joyous celebration on this week’s br...

After contemplating the solemn Day of Atonement last week, we’re studying the festive Feast of Tabernacles this week! Also known as Sukkot, this holiday originates in Leviticus 23 as a reminder of Israel’s wilderness wanderings and a celebration of God’s provision and guidance for His people. Though this feast is a poignant reminder of God’s relationship to the Jewish people, Christians can benefi...

Last weekend, Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon attacked Israel on Yom Kippur, disturbing what should have been a quiet, somber day of reflection—one with which Christians should be familiar. On this day, God instructed the Israelites to offer sacrifices to cover their sins, but they could not remove their sin on their own. Thankfully, as believers in Jesus and His finished work of shedding His bloo...

Israel is surrounded by enemies attacking relentlessly from many sides. Antisemitism is running rampant toward both the Jewish nation and Jewish people around the world. But God’s Word is clear: There will always be hope for Israel! God’s unconditional promise to Abraham reminds us that yesterday, today, and forevermore, God will never abandon His Chosen People. God is using people like Rabbi Shmu...

Life in Israel has changed significantly since Hamas’s massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. To provide support and demonstrate solidarity in these dark days, many Friends of Israel leaders recently traveled to Israel during significant war escalation with Hezbollah in the north. This week, we are treated to a series of messages from members of our beloved partners in Israel, including the Jerusa...

What is a ketubah? What’s the purpose of a year-long betrothal? And do Jewish weddings today follow the same customs they did long ago? On this week’s show, The Friends of Israel’s resident Jewish sage, Steve Herzig, offers an expert look at the purpose of marriage, the wonderfully unique world of Jewish wedding traditions, and how they enhance our understanding of Scripture and prepare us for the...

Sin nature has corrupted all of humanity—except for one Person: Jesus Christ. Being fully God and fully man, Jesus could take on human flesh without sinning. That’s why the term Son of Man, literally meaning “human being,” can rightfully describe the Lord Jesus. As we wrap up our 3-part series on this name, you’ll find new meaning in the name when you read it in Scripture, anticipating the day whe...

The world is consumed by the chase for power. People pursue it for many reasons—prestige, privilege, dominance, riches. Yet Jesus taught a completely different way to think of power. And how we understand His teaching of power helps us understand why He is called not only “King” and “Lord” but also a name as lowly as “Son of Man.” Discover in part 2 of our 3-part series on the Son of Man how Jesus...

Which of the many names of Jesus is your favorite? King of Kings? Messiah? High Priest? This week you’re encouraged to consider one you may have heard many times without knowing its significance: Son of Man. Despite the name’s lowly roots, it’s used to describe our majestic Lord and Savior, Jesus. Found in different contexts in the Old and New Testaments, this title ultimately gives us a valuable...