Video Index

20210109 Parashat Shemot Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon covers the parashat Shemot, it starts at the beginning of the Exodus of the Jewish people from their slavery in Egypt. It starts with Moses fleeing to Midian and his encounter with a burning bush, and he asked God a couple of questions. His second question being who are you? To which God responded “I am who I will be”. Another question is “Who am I” which indicates his own uncertainty about the tasks he was given. It can also be a question about identity. He started his new role at eighty years old, and he was doubtful that the Hebrew people would recognize them as one of their own. Another of his concerns was that he stuttered through his words because his Hebrew was poor. 

20211225 Parashat Shemot Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Birth of the Redeemer" it covers Exodus chapters 2:1-10. The name Exodus means exit, which starts the beginning of the story about the Jews exit from their slavery in Egypt. But, the sermon talks about the birth of Yeashua, the ultimate deliverer. The birth of Yeshua did not happen on December 25th, but people theorize that he was born in the spring. The first thing to look into is the year that Yeshua was born in. Starting with Herod the great the king at the time, which allows us to conclude Yeshua was born some time 6 BCE. The next date that is being looked at is the date of his crucifixion which is placed around the spring festivals. 

20230114 Parashat Shemot Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon covers the parashat Shemot, it roughly translates to the english word “names”. God uses the phrase I am, he does not need any more explanation, however we need to fill in that third word. Dig deep and ask the hard questions that allow God to define you. The plan that God has for us tomorrow requires us to be better than who we are today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

20240106 Parashat Shemot Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Burning Bush” it covers Exodus chapters 1:1-6:1. The Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt for about 100 years. Moses was schooled in all of the learning of the Egyptian people, but fled to Midian due to beating up an Egyptian. One thing we can learn from Moses' story is that God has a passion for us. God has a new possession for us. God has a new perspective for us. God doesn’t ever do the irrational thing, everything has its purpose it just may be beyond our understanding. God wants to partner with us. God calls us to participate in the deliverance of the lost, he often calls us into tasks that we cannot do by ourselves. 

20260110 Parashat Shemot - God Had A Plan Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “God has a Plan” it covers Exodus chapters 1:1-6:1. Moses was called by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, but Moses was doubtful. There were three classes of enslavement : chattel slaves which were often prisoners of war, bonded labor which were like indentured servants, the final one is forced labor. The Israelites fell into the forced labor category, but their tasks were harsher and it was a way to control their population. God had a plan long before Moses talked to the burning bush, as seen by how he was taken in by an Egyptian princess. God’s plan started at the very beginning in the Garden of Eden and continues on to be fulfilled through the birth and crucifixion of his son. God had a plan for our salvation and he has a plan for each one of us.

20210116 Parashat Va'era Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon covers the parashat Va’era which is part of the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. As they were trying to convince Pharoah to let them leave, their labor kept increasing, which caused them to doubt Moses and Arrons’s leadership. Pharoah kept turning down Moses and Arrons’ requests so much so that Moses started to get frustrated with God. Leadership even by the highest order is often marked by failure. The sign of good leadership is continuing even when things are extremely difficult, despite the overwhelming urge to stop.

20220101 Parashat Va'era Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “7 Promises of Adoni” it covers Exodus chapters 6:2-9:35. These promises were made to the Israelite people, the first one is separation from Egyptian rule. The second one is freedom from bondage, the third is redemption from the slave holders of Egypt, the fourth is selection, he selected them as his chosen people, the fifth is admission into the promised land. The sixth is a clear title for their group for people and their land. The most important one is that he will give them a relationship with himself. 

20230121 Parashat Va'era Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Fighting for Opportunities" it covers Exodus chapters 6-9. What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity, your attitude, This ties into the scripture reading as it talks about Moes and his attitude towards the task God gave him. God is a covent making and covent keeping God. God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that they are his chosen people and that we will deliver them from Epygt. God will do powerful things through people who are not powerful enough to do them themselves. 

20240113 Parashat Va'era Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “El Shaddai-More Than Enough” it covers Exodus chapters 6:2-9:35. El Shaddai is translated as God Almighty, the God that is more than enough. There is a hunger in people's spirits that can only be satisfied by God, and he is more than enough. There was a trial between the prophets of Baal and the Israelite leaders. The prophets of Baal got no response from their god, meanwhile Elijah poured water on the firewood and the surrounding area, and God still brought upon a fire onto the wood. God executed many miracles that were otherwise impossible to do without God intervening. 

20260117 Parashat Va'era - Gotta Serve Somebody Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Gotta Serve Somebody” it covers Exodus chapters 6:2-9:25. This passage covers the four expressions of redemption and the first seven of the ten plagues that God released upon Egypt. The word worship in Hebrew is Abuda which is also the word for service or labor. Moses demands Pharaoh to let God’s people go so that they can worship God, rather than Pharaoh. Everybody serves somebody, the only question is who. The devil does not ask to be worshiped directly, rather he tries to distract us from what God has for us, falsely directed worship results in bongage. Through Yeashua we can be free from that so that we can worship the one true God. Salvation belongs to our God, the one who sits on the throne.

20210123 Parashat Bo Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is over the parashat Bo, it covers Exodus chapters 6:2-9:25. The first reason God is showing everyone who he is to tell a story.  He goes on to talk about several U.S monuments and the stories behind them, and what they tell us about their political and moral culture. The Israelites are similar to the early Americans. Both parties wanted to leave a country that didn’t allow them to worship their God. This leads into the story of Passover and the story behind it. It is a continual story that is told to honor God, and a reminder of all that he has done for us. 

20220108 Parashat Bo Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is over that parashat Bo, which means come or go, it covers Exodus. It’s about the story of the Exodus and Moses asking Pharoah to let his people go. It concludes the story of the ten plagues and the last one being the slaying of the first born, and their exodus from Egypt. The story of passover has differing weight and meaning depending on the religion, or denomination. The lamb's blood on the door protected all those who put it on from having their first born killed. While the Egyptians were weeping the Israelites were gathering their items as they knew they were free. The Jews look at the passover lamb as a fact, the messianic Jews and Christians look at the lamb a bit differently. The passover lamb separated those who believed in Isaac and Jacob.  

20260128 Parashat Bo Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Darkness into Light” It covers Exodus chapters 10:21-29. This sermon looks into the plague that God sends upon Egypt following every time Phoarah refuses to let his people go. This sermon focuses on the plague of darkness that occurred after the plague of locusts. It was so dark that people could not leave their house for three days, which was an anomaly in Egypt. This particular plague defected their sun God Ra, which was also believed to be embodied by their Pharaoh. After this plague Pharaoh offered to let them leave but they had to leave their animals behind, and Moses said nope. The following plague was the death of the first born. It was during that plague that the spirit of God did his work, which scared the Egyptians and was the final straw that broke the pharaoh. The next important darkness came when Moses went on Mt. Sinai and brought back the Torah. The last important one is the darkness that came during the crucifixion. 

20240120 Parashat Bo Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Lamb of God” it covers Exodus chapters 10:1-13:16. There is a tie between Passover and Easter. There are eight parallels between Passover and Easter, the first being that the lamb must be chosen. It must be tested to make sure it was perfect in every way. The lamb must be without blemish. It must be slain in twilight., and that is when Yueusha was crucified. The lamb’s body must be unbroken. The blood of the lamb must be applied. The chosen lamb must be applied. The blood of the lamb was the only protection from death and judgment.

20260124 Parashat Bo - Redeeming the First Born Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Redeeming the First Born” it covers Exodus chapters 6:2-9:35. This was a long debate between Pharaoh and Moses about who has authority over the Isteralites. During the passover preparations that God required them to mark their doorways with blood, that they could work their way back up into a right relationship with him. Pharaoh tried to reason with Moses saying they can make their sacrifices there, but Moses rebuttals that their sacrifices would be considered an abomination to them. Each plague corresponded to one of their major Egyptian deities, and the Israelites feared God more than the Egyptians. Israel has always belonged to God, but that redemption of the first born proved it further. 

20210130 Parashat Beshalach Tree of Life Houston Shabbot Service

• This sermon is titled “When He Sent” it covers the events that happened after the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt. One of the interesting things is that they left Egypt armed, and Moses knew that the more direct routes went through the land of the Philistines, who were known fighters. God guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, which guided and provided protection and warmth. You have to trust that God has the best plan for us even when we don’t know how we're going to get there. 

20220115 Parashat Beshalach Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Presence of God Never Departs” it covers Exodus chapters 13:17-17:16. This sermon goes over the beginning of the Israelites journey after being freed from Egypt. It goes over their first battle, and the provisions that God provided them as they wandered. God guided them away from the land of the Philistines as he knew that if they saw war they were more likely to flee back to Egypt. God decided to lead them towards the red sea instead. God provided them food on their journey, with mana and quail they had to gather everyday except for Friday they gather double portions. God provided them clean water by having Moses strike a rock with his staff and out came clean water. 

20240127 Parashat Beshalach Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

20260131 Parashat Beshalach - Three Postures of Faith Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Three Postures of Faith” it covers Exodus chapters 13:17-17:16. The three postures are, stand still, move forward and rise up. Faith is looking forwards not looking backwards. God’s promises are more solid than our circumstances. This picks up with the Israelites panicking because Pharaoh sent an army of 600 after them and they were trapped with a sea in front of them. Stand still when fear arises, the enemy seems stronger, and when you cannot see the path. Moving forward is the posture of obedience, the Israelites moved forward after they stood still. 

20210206 Parashat Yitro Tree of Life Houston Shabbot Service

• This sermon goes over parashat Yitro, which covers Exodus chapters 18:1-20:23. The Israelites traveled across the Red Sea and made their way to Mount Sinai where Moses climbed up to receive God’s orders and he relayed them back to the Israelites. God told Moses to tell them if they follow his orders God will make them his people. One topic is Tzim Tzum, which is that God is not limited to time or space. God is beyond our idea of time and space, which is why without God nothing would exist, but also God threatens the very existence of anything apart from him. Holiness is to humanity what Tzim Tuzm is to God. 

20220122 Parashat Yitro Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon goes over the parashapt Yitro, which covers the story of Jethro visiting the Israelite camp, and the receiving of the ten commandments. This sermon focuses on the ten commandments and the language surrounding them. Many scholars believe that the ten commandments are a Suzerain treaty. The nation of Israel was forbidden from forming relationships with other foreign deities. As he knew that would turn their minds away from him.  Besides it being a Suzerain treaty, there was a different relationship there, it was more familial than legal. God wanted to enter into a convent with Israel; it is a contractual relationship between the two. In this case it resembled marriage, as God reminded them how he brought the people out of Egypt. 

20230211 Parashat Yitro, Jethro Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Caring for Others” it covers Exodus chapters 18:1-20:23. This story begins with Moses and his father-in-law Jethro who was a Midian priest. Moses was serving as the only judge, and Jethro advised him to develop a council of judges. This leads up to the story of Moses receiving the ten commandments from God, but first a covenant must be made. So God gave them the ten commandments as part of their upholding of the covenant so that his chosen people would be set apart from that of the world.  The law of Moses is not dead, it is still alive and applicable and should not be discarded. 

20240203 Parashat Yitro Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Eagle’s Wings” it covers Exodus chapters 18:1-20:23. The bible says as the eagle so does the lord. As the eagle builds so the Lord builds, both the Lord and the eagle find the best place to build with tender love and care. God builds his community and works on his children. As the eagle breaks so does the Lord, they make it so that their children can go out and survive and thrive without their help. God anoints us and equips us for the job that he calls us to do. 

20260207 Parashat Yitro - Listening to the Voice of God Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Listening to the voice of God” it covers Exodus chapters 18:1-20:23. Jethro, Moses’s father in law, most likely visited him after Moses received the ten commandments. Mount Saini is in what is Saudi Arabia today, God and Moses spoke to each other on this mountain. Moses made a convert with God on behalf of the people and it was the creation of the ten commandments. God asked them to remain clean and prepare for him to come down from the mountain at the sound of the shoftar. Another story is that of the prophet Elijiah and his experience with listening to the voice of God, he fled to the Mountain of Horeb, Mount Saini. God spoke to him and asked him why he was there, Elijah responded that people had turned against God and he was being chased down. God told him to step out and listen for his voice, and he heard it from the fire. God worked through some ordinary men to do great works for his people.

20210213 Parashat Mishpatim Tree of Life Houston Shabbot Service

• This sermon goes over parashat Mishpatim, which translates to judgements or commandments, it covers Exodus chapters 21-24. Adonai prepares the way for us, and Adonai has a long term vision for our spiritual growth. This sermon continues the story of the Israelites as they are prepared to move into the land that God had promised them. However, this takes much longer than they had hoped because they were not prepared to overthrow the Canaanites. God prepared the way for his people by sending hornets to help pull the enemy away so that his people could move through there more safely. God’s definition of success is different from our definition of success. 

20220129 Parashat Mishpatim Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Under Law or Under Grace” it covers Exodus chapters 21-24:18. This sermon starts with discussing whether the covenant was both a Suzerian contract, but also a marriage contract between God and his people. The Torah is an ancient legal code, and while some in this day and age believe it’s obsolete it is quite the opposite. The Torah upheld higher standards and respect for women who were captured in war, and there were higher standards for how they were to treat their slaves too. God put men and women on a more even playing field than any other nation at the time. There was a difference after Chirst died, because people were no longer required to be Jews to be saved. Grace is God’s free gift of salvation through his son, law is his loving instruction for how his people should live.  

20230218 Parashat Mishpatim Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled  “Slave of the Messiah” it covers Exodus chapters 21-24. Israel chose Torah before they knew what the contents were, and after they were told what it was they decided to obey and do what was asked.  Slaves were treated differently in Israel, they were allowed to work until  debts were paid, and they could also decide to remain a slave if they were treated in a manner in which was appropriate. The Torah had specific instructions to make sure slaves were treated with dignity. To be a slave of the Messiah is to have a great love for your master, it is willingly done rather than forced. Being a slave of the Messiah is not a difficult task when you consider all that he has done for us. Our service should be inspired by the love for our master. 

20240210 Parashat Mishpatim Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “I’m Sending an Angel” it covers Exodus chapters 21-24:18. There was an angel that God told the Israelites would go before them. This angel would guide them on their path, guard them and guarantee their destination. He will guide us on our daily path, God has an advance party even before that step foot on the path. The Angel of Adonai encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. If we live by the Ruach let us also walk by the Ruach. 

20260214 Parashat Mishpatim - When the Crowd is Wrong Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “When in the Wrong Crowd” it covers Exodus chapters 12:1-24:28. The book of the covenant doesn’t bend to the majority opinion rather, the people bend to the covenant. This is needed because people are easily swayed if they see that their point of view is the common consensus. Aaron was a peaceful person, but this peace often caused him to be easily swayed for the sake of peace rather than upholding the law. You cannot follow the worldly desires and God at the same time. Exodus 23:2 is not just a commandment it is a calling, it is a calling to courage, to integrity, and it’s a calling to the covenant of faithfulness. 

20210220 Parashat Terumah Tree of Life Houston Shabbot Service

• This sermon is titled “You Shall Command” it covers Exodus chapters 25:1-27:19. Three keys to a humble heart: obedient tithing, willing offering, and generous living. Tithing is important but it must be willing to be given up, it is not meant to be flashy but is done in obedience to God. The act of giving to God is to recognize that he is above us and that we are lifting our offerings up to him. The building of the tabernacle gave the people a place to worship, but more importantly it gave God a place to dwell with his people. 

20220205 Parashat Terumah Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Uninterrupted Service” it covers Exodus chapters 27:20-30:10. That part of the Torah looks into the priesthood, and the building of the tabernacle. The priests were required to wear special garments since they would be entering the holy space. They were required to bring the cleanest olive oil into the tabernacle, it was the fuel for the candlestand inside.There were daily offerings and there were annuals, the Menorah was one that needed regular care. We are called to be constant in our worship to the Lord.

20230225 Parashat Terumah Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Cost of Commitment” it covers Exodus chapters 25-27:19. The building of the tabernacle happens after the golden calf incident. So God asked Moses to ask the Israelites for donations to build the tabernacle, and they gave freely without reservation. When they fled from Egypt God had ordered them to plunder the Egyptians, and the Egyptians willingly gave it to them. Is there a cost of commitment? There is a story of David where there was a cost of commitment to God, when there was someone that was after him. There were three things he could choose from, he chose three days of pestilence which killed roughly 70,000 men. David stopped the pestilence early, God called him to set up an altar at Araunah’s threshing floor, God accepted the burnt offerings and held off the pestilence. The discipleship to which Yeshua calls us means a life of surrender to God’s will and sacrifice to his cause. 

20240217 Parashat Terumah Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “A Place to Dwell” it covers Exodus chapters 25-27:19. God gave them order to build a moveable structure that they would build as a place of worship, and a place of dwelling for God. This structure had to be just exact to replicate the divine tabernacle up in heaven. The tabernacle was created to be a copy and a shadow of heavenly things. God had a special relationship with people, however because of the fall of man a schism between the two was formed. Despite this God still wanted to walk and talk with his prized creation. God asked them to contribute to the building of his dwelling place so they would understand the cost that it took, they willingly gave to the point where Moses had to tell them to stop.

20260221 Parashat Terumah What We Build vs. What We Give Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “What We Build vs What We Give” it covers Exodus chapters 25:1-27:19. God gave Moses plans to construct a building in which they may worship and where he would dwell. God values behind the offer more than the magnitude of what we build. The first building was the tabernacle, and later on during Solomon rule he built a temple for God to dwell in. The difference between the building of the tabernacle and the temple is that people were drafted to build the temple, while the tabernacle was willingly built. God’s presence depends not on the extravaganza of the student but the obedience of the people. 

20230304 Parashat Tetzaveh Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Trust and Obey” it covers Exodus chapters 27:20-30:10. What does it look like to trust and obey the Lord? God gave King Saul the order to destroy the Amalekites, they were descendants of Esau, and they wanted to destroy the nation of Israel. God calls us to trust him, however oftentimes it is hard for us to do because we live in a fallen world where trust is easily broken. However, God has not given us a reason not to trust him; he is constant. Saul did not end up utterly destroying the Amalekites, he kept the nice stuff and only destroyed the worn out items. Saul became disobedient to God’s words, and Samuel was appalled that the rumors he had heard were true. You can deceive others, you can deceive yourself, but you can never deceive God. 

20240224 Parashat Tetzaveh Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Memories” it covers Exodus chapters 27:20-30:10. This torah potion continues to narrate the institution for the priesthood, it mainly focuses on the garments that the presets are required to wear. The word that is looked into deeper is reminder, God gave Arron reminders that were embedded into his priestly garments. He calls us to remember how he brought us out of Egypt, and the provision he provided in the desert. We are called to have his word in our hearts and on our minds.Remember what is good and true about a person. The festivals that are celebrated cause us to remember the goodness of God. 

20220219 Parashat Ki Tisa Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled "Separating Sacred from the Profane” and covers Exodus chapters 30:11-34:35. This sermon starts by talking about the separation with taking a census, the separation between of the half shekel, and the separation of the washed and unwashed. The Levites were required to live by a separate standard because they were the tribe that were called to be priests. They were called to use specific olive oil, and there were very certain instructions to create the incense and anointing oil, and it was to be used only in the temple. Another well known separation is the separation of the Sabbath, it is to be a day of rest. 

20240302 Parashat Ki Tisa Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The God of Second Chances” it covers Exodus chapters 30:11-34:33. This sermon starts by discussing the story of the golden calf and the devastating consequences that followed. God gave Israel a second chance, he asked Moses to take two stone tablets and write down ten commandments that they were to follow. The Lord reinstated his covenant to his people and that was forged through those two stone tablets. The next story that shows that God gives second chances is the story of Jonah, but more importantly the city of Nineveh. Jonah did not want to go and preach there because it was dangerous, but also he did not want them to repent and turn to God. So he fled and was swallowed up by a whale where he prayed to him, and repented from his actions, which resulted in God asking the fish to throw him up on land. He went to preach in Nineveh and the people repented and turned to God. 

20240309 Parashat Vayak'hel Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “Planting a Seed” it covers Exodus chapters 35:1-38:20. This portion of the Torah describes how the assembly of Israel gathered to construct the Tabernacle. One part of it came from the Egyptians since they were trying to get rid of the Israelites, and then it was constructed with Acacia trees. In our spiritual lives weeds are very detrimental one to the first ones is the worries of the world. The second weed is the weed of riches. The third weed is unrighteous desire for other things. To prepare the seed properly you must add the correct nutrients, one of them being the word of God. You also have to have the right environment and resources for it. We need to be wise and sensitive when presenting the gospel to lost folks around us. 

20220305 Parashat Pekudei Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Body and Me” it covers Exodus chapters 38:21-40:38. We are called to be people of integrity. Moses is a strong example for this, as he received the money for building the tabernacle and properly allocated it where it needed to go. As he knew his ability to delegate it would reflect back on God. Integrity is not how we conduct ourselves with the big things, but the little things too. Another place we are called to exercise integrity is the work place. We also must use good discretion and integrity with our friendships. 

20240316 Parashat Pekudei Tree of Life Houston Shabbat Service

• This sermon is titled “The Glory of the Lord” it covers Exodus chapters 38:21-40:38. The cloud of Adoni covered the tabernacle and guided them on whether it was time to move and it guided them towards where they needed to move. This sermon talks about the word glory, and the Hebrew word stems from a root word that means weight, it can mean glory, honor, respect, distinction, or importance. Once we encounter the majesty of God we can’t help but respond with reverential worship. The glory of God filled the tabernacle, it appeared as a thick fog that was impenetrable. Nowadays his presence is something that we can feel spiritual but we are unable to see a physical manifestation of it.