FAQs
What is Kehillah B’nei Abraham?
We are a Messianic Jewish synagogue comprised of both Jew and Gentile. See “About Us” for more information.
What does Kehillah B’nei Abraham mean?
“Kehillah” can be translated as assembly, congregation, or even house. “B’nei” means sons (or children) of. Thus, Kehillah B’nei Abraham means “Congregation of the children of Abraham,” and reflects our vision of both Jew and Gentile coming together in unity to worship our eternal G-d.
What is a Messianic Jew?
A Messianic Jew is a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who has come to faith in Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel. See “What is Messianic Judaism” for more information.
What is a Messianic Jewish synagogue?
A Messianic Jewish synagogue is a community of Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) that express their faith and worship in a style that is distinctly Jewish.
What is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a modern term for the original faith of the First Century disciples. It is rooted in Biblical Judaism (as opposed to Rabbinic Judaism) and reflects our belief that Yeshua, having fulfilled the prophecies of the Tanakh, was indeed the promised Messiah of Israel. Our congregants come from a variety of different religious backgrounds, and through a journey of searching the Scriptures have come to understand that the Renewed Covenant was given in a Jewish context and therefore is best understood within that context. See “Messianic Judaism” for more information.
Why Messianic Judaism?
There were many Jewish believers (called Nazarenes) for several hundreds of years after Yeshua ascended to Heaven, but for a variety of reasons the numbers slowly diminished and disappeared, with Jewish believers becoming assimilated into the Christian church. A small number of these Jewish believers wanted to express their faith within Judaism and began meeting together in the late 19th century. They were known as Hebrew Christians, and while their services included some elements of Judaism, overall they looked more Christian than Jewish. Then, in the late 1960’s and early ‘70’s, after the nation of Israel reclaimed Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the movement exploded, leading to the formation of Messianic congregations and institutions that truly reflect the First Century Jewish form of worship as depicted in Scripture. See “Messianic Judaism” for more information.
We (both Jew and Gentile) worship as Messianic believers because Yeshua’s 12 apostles lived lives that were completely Jewish, as did all of His original followers and disciples. We see throughout the Apostolic writings that they continued to worship in the synagogue and uphold the Torah after coming to faith in Yeshua. Following their example, we at KBA believe the books of the Tanakh and Apostolic Scriptures are all G-d inspired and to be followed in their entirety to the best of our ability, including G-d’s Moedim (His Appointed Times), which are clearly ordained by G-d Himself in the Torah.
Beginning in Acts Chapter 10, we see G-d adding people from the nations (Gentiles, non-Jewish people) to the community of believers. Today, the Body of Messiah is a single community expressed in diverse forms within both the Jewish community and among the nations. Each of us is called to live a life dedicated to worship, service to others, and public testimony of Yeshua. Love of our fellow believers is also important, because as Yeshua said to His First Century disciples, “They will know you by your love.” (Jn. 13:35; Eph. 2:11-22)
I am a Gentile. Am I welcome?
ABSOLUTELY. Kehillah B’nei Abraham is a place where both Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile) believers meet to worship together as they did during apostolic times.
How should I dress for services?
Anything from professional work attire to business casual is appropriate. Dress comfortably, but modestly. Please see our Dress Code for more information.
Why do you use G-d instead of God?
It is a traditional Jewish way to show respect for the holy name of G-d. One of the primary reasons for doing this is because the designation “G-d” is used in place of the tetragrammaton, the Hebrew depiction of the sacred name, which contains no vowels.
Why are your services on Saturday instead of Sunday?
G-d gave His people Israel the seventh-day Sabbath as a perpetual observance (Ex. 31:16-17).
What do I bring if I attend a service?
The answer is simple: yourself. Men are welcome to bring a tallit or kippah if they like, but neither are required.
Are my children welcome?
Yes. People of all ages are always welcome.
Where is Kehillah B’nei Abraham located?
We meet at World Life Church, 495 S. Perry Street, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. We are also live streaming so that those who are unable to attend in person can participate.
Why do you believe Yeshua is the promised Messiah?
In order to fulfill that role, Yeshua had to observe the Torah (the Law of Moses) perfectly while on earth, which He did. Through His sacrifice, He became the unblemished and blameless Passover Lamb, taking away the curse of the Law (eternal damnation) and atoning for our sin. He fulfilled the numerous prophecies in the Tanakh, including Isaiah 53, and in fact has fulfilled more than 350 Old Testament prophecies, a few of which are: (1) being conceived of a virgin; (2) being born in Bethlehem prior to the destruction of the Temple in AD 70; (3) He descended from the line of David; (4) He performed miracles, such as restoring sight, hearing, and even raising the dead; (5) He was betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver; and (6) He died without having a bone broken, was resurrected, and ascended to Heaven. We therefore believe the evidence overwhelmingly confirms that Yeshua is the promised Messiah of Israel.
Why is the Torah still relevant today?
Although the word Torah is typically translated as law in most Bibles, a better translation is instruction because it is G-d’s instruction book to us about how to live our lives. It is also the foundation of the Bible and our faith. Without a good understanding of it, we are unable to understand and properly interpret the Prophets, Writings, and Apostolic Scriptures as they all hinge on the Torah. Additionally, the holiness and character of G-d is revealed in the Torah, and it shows us how we also can be holy.
Yeshua clearly tells us in Matt. 5:17-19 that He did not intend to nullify the Torah; instead, He validated it and gave us a better understanding of it. While we do not believe meticulous observance of Torah is required in order to be saved, we do believe we should strive to be good disciples of our Rabbi (teacher), Messiah Yeshua, and follow His example by keeping G-d’s commandments to the best of our ability–not in a legalistic or inflexible manner, but in a way that displays our love of both G-d and our neighbor. After all, Yeshua said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands,” and His commands are the same as His Father’s. (John 14:15)
The Torah also helps us better understand our sin and why it was necessary for the Messiah to die on our behalf, revealing how G-d wants us to worship Him and live our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to write the commandments onto our hearts.
Isn’t a Jewish person who accepts Yeshua now a Christian and no longer a Jew?
No. Physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob (known today as the Jewish people) continue to be Jewish according to the Scriptures even after placing their faith in Israel’s Messiah, Yeshua. (Rom. 2:28, 29)
I’m a Gentile. Do I need to become Jewish to worship in a Messianic Synagogue?
No. We do not practice ritual conversion, but instead believe, as taught by Rav Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul), that we are to remain in whatever condition we were in when we were called; specifically, if a person was Jewish, he remains Jewish. Gentiles do not become Jewish but are “grafted into” the Jewish olive tree of faith, becoming spiritual (not physical) sons and daughters of Abraham. (Rom. 11:17-20; Gal. 3:28, 29) We do, however, expect Gentiles who are called by G-d to be part of KBA to have a desire to live out their lives in a manner that reflects that calling.
I’m Jewish. Why do I have to accept Yeshua? Can’t obedience to the Torah save me?
No. Salvation has always been by faith. Only by placing our trust in Messiah and His sacrifice on our behalf can we be saved. Works of the law, or righteous acts, have never saved anyone, although they should be the natural byproduct of faith. (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 3:20-30, 4:1-7; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Heb. Chapter 11)
Does KBA practice water baptism (ritual immersion/mikvah) and observe communion/the Lord’s Supper?
Yes, and yes. Immersion in water is a very Jewish practice and is a sign of one’s commitment to follow Messiah. In Judaism, the term is mikvah, which means immersion in living water. Communion is a Christian term (also known as the Lord’s Supper). In Messianic Judaism, communion is observed during Pesach (Passover) as part of the Seder meal. See Messiah’s words “…do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me” (1 Cor. 11:25), which were stated as He celebrated His last Passover with His disciples.
Why do you incorporate dance as part of your praise and worship?
Dance has been part of Hebrew culture since the earliest of times. It was (and continues to be) an important part of the feasts, as well as everyday life and important events such as bar and bat mitvahs, weddings, births, etc., and has also become an important part of the Messianic Movement.
G-d created everything that exists, including dance. In Gen. 1, we are told that He pronounced everything He created as good. Rev. 4:11 further informs us that everything He created was for His pleasure. Taken together, we learn that dance was created by G-d for His pleasure and is good when used for its intended purpose. We also see its use in the unseen realm because the Bible tells us that the angels rejoice in Heaven. The English word “rejoice” can denote dancing; therefore, we have evidence that the angels also utilize dance as part of their worship of our mighty G-d.
Simply put, we dance as part of our praise and worship of our Creator, joining with the angels and dancing for His glory, because He created dance for His pleasure, and it is good.