This Sabbath brought our fellowship together around two closely connected calls: to awaken at the sound of God’s appointed alarm and to practice careful spiritual discernment. From the morning study of Yom Teruah to Rienne Deering’s message on Christian belief and Islam, the day encouraged us to remain grounded in Scripture while speaking to others with honesty, humility, and love.

Service at a Glance

Fellowship of the Word Online

The Day of the Awakening Blast

Led by Michael Deering

Beginning with Numbers 29:1, Michael examined Yom Teruah as one of Yahweh Elohim’s holy appointed times. Yom means “day,” while teruah can describe a loud cry, an alarm, or the sounding of a shofar. The observance is therefore often described as the Day of the Awakening Blast—a day marked in Scripture by sounding and shouting.

The appointed feasts were considered within the larger plan of redemption and restoration: humanity being brought back into the presence of God through the promised Deliverer, who first came as the Lamb. Michael connected the biblical harvest seasons with Yeshua’s words in John 4:34–38. The Father has sown the seed of salvation, and His people are called to enter the labor, water with the Word, and participate faithfully in the gathering of the harvest.

The trumpet is both a summons and a warning: awaken, assemble, consecrate yourselves, and prepare to meet the King.

Exodus 19:10–19 shows Israel consecrating themselves before entering God’s holy presence as the mountain trembled and the trumpet sounded. Moses served as a deliverer in that moment, pointing ahead to the greater work of redemption through which mankind may be cleansed and restored to God’s presence.

The Biblical Sound of the Shofar

Throughout Scripture, the ram’s horn was used:

• to sound an alarm or warn the people (Ezekiel 33:3);
• to call the congregation to assemble;
• to proclaim liberty in the Jubilee year;
• to signal battle;
• to accompany temple worship and praise; and
• to honor Yahweh as King over all (Psalm 98:6).

A Faithful Witness in the Sky

The first visible crescent marked the beginning of a biblical month and helped establish the timing of the appointed feasts. Created as the lesser light to rule the night (Genesis 1:16), the moon reflects the dependable order of God’s creation. Psalm 89:37 calls it a “faithful witness in the sky,” pointing to the certainty of God’s promises.

The study concluded by turning to prophecy. Isaiah 27:13 speaks of a great trumpet, while Matthew 24:3–14 records the disciples asking about the sign of Yeshua’s coming and the end of the age. His first warning was clear: “See that no one deceives you.” The Feast of Trumpets therefore calls believers not merely to watch events, but to remain consecrated, alert, faithful, and prepared.

Main Message • Rienne Deering

Conviction, Discernment & Loving Dialogue

A Christian examination of important differences between biblical faith and Islam

Rienne began with the command, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7), together with Yeshua’s words in Matthew 4:10. As a child, she thought this command would always be simple. As an adult, she has learned to ask a harder personal question: Have we blurred important truths in the name of agreement, or accepted claims about God without first testing them against Scripture?

Her interest was personal as well as theological. Rienne shared that she was raised in part by a Pakistani family whom she deeply loved. That relationship inspired a lasting appreciation for their family and culture and a desire to understand Islamic belief more carefully. Her purpose was not to attack people, but to examine whether Christianity and Islam make the same claims about God, revelation, Yeshua, redemption, and the end of the age.

Why the Differences Matter

Rienne compared the foundational texts of the faiths. Judaism is grounded in the Tanakh. Christians receive the Torah and the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures while also receiving the New Testament. Islam regards the Qur’an as its final revelation and the hadith—reports concerning Muhammad’s words and actions—as a major source of religious guidance. While the traditions share names, narratives, and moral practices, their teachings are not interchangeable.

The central Christian distinction concerns Yeshua. The New Testament proclaims His unique identity, His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His promised return. Rienne emphasized that similarities cannot erase opposing claims about these foundational truths. She urged the congregation to test every spiritual claim, drawing from 1 John 4:1–3, John 8:42, 58, and Mark 14:61–62.

She also outlined Islam’s five pillars—profession of faith, ritual prayer, charitable giving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca. These practices can appear disciplined and beautiful from the outside. Yet shared practices such as prayer and fasting do not by themselves establish shared theology. Discernment requires us to look beyond outward resemblance and ask what each faith teaches about God, sin, salvation, Scripture, and the Messiah.

Historical Context

To help listeners understand Islam in its own historical setting, Rienne reviewed its emergence in seventh-century Arabia, Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Yathrib—later called Medina—in 622, the formation of the early Muslim community, the return to Mecca in 630, and the rapid expansion that followed his death in 632. She also discussed the Kaaba, pre-Islamic Arabian worship, later Islamic tradition, and the early disputes over leadership that contributed to distinct Muslim communities.

This history was presented as context for examining religious claims. As with any historical or theological subject, individual sources and interpretations should be checked carefully. The goal is not to reduce a vast and diverse global population to a single description, but to understand what the faith teaches and why its claims differ from the gospel proclaimed in Scripture.

Truth Without Fear

Rienne cautioned that love does not require Christians to set aside their convictions, but conviction never gives permission for cruelty. Believers may respectfully disagree with a religion while loving the people who practice it. Many are born into a faith and culture long before they are old enough to examine its claims for themselves.

She encouraged the congregation to ask sincere questions and to listen well. The best teachers often ask the most thoughtful questions. An open conversation does not mean surrendering one’s beliefs; it may create space for everyone involved to reflect more deeply on what they believe and why. We are not appointed to pronounce the final salvation of another person. Our calling is to bear faithful witness, refuse deception, and speak the truth in love.

Christian love is neither fear nor compromise. It is the courage to remain faithful to God while treating every person with dignity.

The message closed with the certainty of the believer’s hope. Rienne used the imagery of a Galilean wedding to reflect on Yeshua preparing a place for His people and the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. Scripture gives believers not panic, but a promise: our Bridegroom will return. We are called to be joyful, watchful, and ready.

Worship

Songs of Praise

Children’s Ministry

Learning Through Service

Devan worked with the children on blocking and preparation for their upcoming skit. We are thankful for everyone who helps our young people learn Scripture, develop confidence, and discover how their gifts can serve the Body.

Caring for One Another

Prayer & Praise

We give thanks for encouraging reports of healing, safe returns home, and recovery following recent medical emergencies. Please continue to pray for families dealing with illness, those healing after hospitalization or surgery, and members carrying private family, emotional, and financial burdens.

Yahweh knows every name and every need, including the requests that are too personal to share publicly. May our fellowship remain faithful in prayer and practical care throughout the coming week.

This Week’s Reflection

Are we awake to God’s call, grounded enough to recognize deception, and loving enough to speak truth without fear or hostility?

May we remain consecrated, discerning, joyful, and ready for the return of our King.