Covenant & Conflict

Gateway Center for Israel
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Religion
  • Biweekly

"Covenant & Conflict" is a thought-provoking podcast produced by the “Gateway Center for Israel” and hosted by Nic Lesmeister and David Blease, where ancient biblical truths meet contemporary issues head-on. Each episode offers a deep dive into complex and often divisive topics with subject matter experts, aiming to explore the intersection of covenantal values and modern debates. Instead of fostering division, this podcast seeks to model respectful engagement and peaceful discourse amidst conflict.

  1. 1d ago

    Why Gen Z Struggles with Israel

    When Nic graduated high school, nobody asked him what his stance was on Israel. Today, every teenager feels they need to take a position. Who can they trust to portray a balanced view? On this episode of Covenant & Conflict, Nic and his wife Tabatha talk about why Israel has become a stumbling block for Gen Z Christians, and why antisemitism tends to surface when a society is in distress. Nic says he never expected to hear pre-Holocaust rhetoric go mainstream this early in his life. They also raise a harder question: what happens to a young believer’s faith when they turn against the land that makes the Bible concrete? What we cover in this episode: Lost trust, loneliness, and the pressures on young adults todayThe political horseshoe theory and where the far left and far right meetHow extreme voices validate your pain and then hand you an enemyAntisemitism as a symptom of a culture in declineAnswering a false story with the Gospel rooted in God’s covenant with AbrahamOne question you can ask someone that blames the Jewish people CHAPTERS:00:00 Why Israel trips up Gen Z 01:34 Welcome and why young adulthood is hard 09:51 Israel as a stumbling block 11:14 Why young people drift toward extremes 21:55 The blame trap and the victim mindset 29:24 Antisemitism as a symptom of decline 32:56 Answering a story with a better story

  2. Oct 14

    How to talk with your kids about Israel

    The gospel outline most of us learned jumps from creation straight to Jesus in the New Testament. Our kids inherit the missing storyline in the Bible and it shapes how they see Israel.On this episode of Covenant & Conflict, Nic sits down with his wife Tabatha, who holds a master’s in practical theology with a concentration in the land of the Bible. Their advice for parents starts before any theology: bring your kids into the story of Scripture, where Abraham’s family is at the center, Jesus was and still is Jewish, and Jewish people brought the gospel to us. They also name the small habits that keep the blind spot alive, like calling it the “Old” Testament.What we cover in this episode:• What a 14-year-old is hearing from classmates at a Christian schoolIsrael and the nations, and why we are the nations• The family language the Bible uses and the institutional language we use• Jeremiah 31, Romans 11, Ephesians 3, and Psalm 83 to read together• What “Zionist” and “Israel” mean when your kids hear them at school• Staying caring, curious, and committed to God’s word in the conversation00:00 Identity is formed in the story01:18 Meet Tabatha and why this conversation matters09:11 Start with Israel and the nations14:33 The blind spot we pass down28:01 Scriptures to read with your kids45:41 What “Zionist” and “Israel” actually mean52:43 Closing thoughts and prayer

  3. Aug 12

    Why Israel is Key to Reaching the World

    In 1999, Wayne Wilks had a vision in a Budapest hotel room. Seventeen years later, on a balcony in that same city, he had another one... and it became Gateway Center for Israel. Nic Lesmeister sits down with Wayne to trace the whole story: an altar in Amarillo where a missions call turned into a lifelong love for the Jewish people, a festival in Odessa that filled a new Bible institute with purpose, and a moment in Ethiopia that quietly pointed toward who'd carry it all forward. They walk through decades of open doors, prophetic words, and one visa that cleared as the plane was boarding. What we cover in this episode: Wayne's 1982 altar moment in Amarillo and the Ezekiel study that reframed "to the Jew first"The 1996 Odessa festival and the Isaiah 37 visa storyEthiopia's ancient Jewish community and Zimbabwe's Lemba tribeThe Ethiopia courtyard moment that pointed toward NickThe Budapest balcony vision and the founding of Gateway Center for Israel Chapters 0:00 Why Israel Is Key to Reaching the Nations4:54 Wayne’s Call to Missions9:31 A New Revelation About Israel16:52 The Calling That Led to Ukraine32:17 A Life-Changing Encounter in Ethiopia48:47 The Birth of Gateway Center for Israel59:03 What’s Next for the Church and Israel

  4. Jul 29

    What Happens when Your Family Rejects Your Faith

    "If you walk out those doors, you're not coming back home." She walked out anyway, and that was only the beginning. On Covenant and Conflict, Trysten Tice tells David how a secular Jewish teenager from South Florida ended up asked to leave home for believing in Jesus, and what it cost her to keep going. She traces the years of persecution, the questions across the kitchen table, and the slow way her own family's hearts began to turn. What we cover in this episode: • Growing up culturally Reform Jewish, with faith as identity rather than belief • The church service where she wept and couldn't explain why • Praying "if Jesus is the truth, answer me" and watching her desires change • Being told to leave home, and the friends who took her in • Canceling her own baptism to honor her mother, then baptized in the Jordan River Chapters 00:00 From Jewish to Following Jesus 01:55 Growing Up Jewish Without Knowing God 04:20 The Church Service That Changed Everything 09:41 How Reading the Bible Changed My Life 13:54 Kicked Out for Following Jesus 20:25 Baptized in the Jordan River 26:39 How My Entire Family Found Jesus

  5. Jul 1

    Everything Wrong with Dispensational Theology

    Does God still have a covenant with Israel? Is the Church the "new Israel"? And is every Christian who supports Israel automatically a dispensationalist?In this episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, Nicholas Lesmeister and David unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in modern Christian theology. They explain what dispensational theology actually teaches, how it differs from Olive Tree theology, and why these distinctions matter for understanding Scripture.The conversation also explores the resurgence of antisemitism after October 7, the relationship between Israel and the Church, Romans 11, replacement theology, and why the Bible's story doesn't end with Israel being replaced—it ends with all nations being grafted into God's redemptive plan through Jesus.Whether you've wrestled with covenant theology, end-times prophecy, or simply want a more biblical framework for understanding Israel, this episode offers a thoughtful, nuanced conversation rooted in Scripture.Chapters:00:00 The Israel Test02:06 Why Antisemitism Is Rising Again15:07 What Is Dispensational Theology?26:26 Does God Still Have a Covenant with Israel?39:30 The Israel Test Explained43:45 Why Israel Changes Everything53:48 Why This Conversation Matters

  6. May 13

    A Roadmap to Joy: Finding God in Pain, Purpose, and the Unexpected

    What if joy wasn’t the absence of pain, but something deeper, stronger, and always available? In this powerful episode of Covenant & Conflict, David Blease sits down with author and missionary Bonnie Saul Wilkes to explore a lifetime journey of calling, sacrifice, and discovering what true joy really is. From growing up with a Jewish last name in a Christian home… to encountering antisemitism that sparked a lifelong calling… to living on a kibbutz in Israel and eventually moving to the former Soviet Union to disciple thousands. Bonnie’s story is marked by bold obedience and unexpected turns. But what stands out most isn’t just the mission… it’s the joy she found along the way. In this conversation, Bonnie unpacks: Why joy is not the same as happinessHow joy can coexist with suffering, loss, and uncertaintyThe difference between joy, peace, and pleasureWhy gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual practicesAnd how God leads us into joy through obedience, not comfortEven through cancer diagnoses in her family, hardship in missions, and seasons of deep pain, she discovered that joy isn’t something you stumble into… It’s something you walk into. Her new book, A Roadmap to Joy, is the result of decades of journaling, poetry, and real-life encounters with God, and every story somehow leads back to one truth: Joy is always available in His presence. Watch now and discover what it means to walk the pathway of joy. 00:00 – Intro: A Life Marked by Calling 02:15 – From Antisemitism to a Calling for the Jewish People 08:00 – Leaving Everything for the Nations (Soviet Union Missions) 13:11 – The Unexpected Theme: Why Every Story Led to Joy 19:50 – Joy vs Happiness: What Most People Get Wrong 30:55 – The Counterfeits of Joy (Pleasure, Success, Isolation) 35:15 – Joy vs Peace: How to “Soar Over the Chaos” 41:10 – A Final Prayer: Walking the Pathway of Joy

  7. May 6

    Torah, Jesus, and Identity: The Tension No One Talks About

    What happens when a Jewish man finds Yeshua, but refuses to stop being Jewish? In this powerful episode of Covenant & Conflict, we sit down again with Rocket Rudolph, a Torah-observant Jewish follower of Jesus, to wrestle through one of the most misunderstood tensions in Christianity: Can you follow Jesus and still remain Jewish?What does “Torah observant” actually mean today?Did the early Church unintentionally create division in Acts 15?And why does the word “Christ” feel complicated for many Jewish followers of Yeshua.This conversation goes far beyond theology, it’s about identity, calling, and the deeper story most believers have never been told. From the meaning of Israel (“to wrestle with God”) to the real implications of Torah, exile, and Messiah, this episode challenges both Gentile Christians and Jewish believers to rethink what faithfulness really looks like. Along the way, we unpack: Why being “chosen” might not mean what you thinkThe difference between Jewish and Greek ways of thinkingHow the gospel is often told… and what’s missingWhy antisemitism is ultimately a spiritual issueAnd what it really means to live “through” Messiah 00:00 – Intro: The Jewish Wrestle Begins Again02:15 – What Does It Mean to Be “Chosen”? (It’s Not What You Think)08:10 – Torah Observance: Law, Identity, or Something Deeper?15:30 – Acts 15: The Decision That Changed Everything24:50 – “Christ” vs “Messiah”: Did Translation Shift Theology?34:10 – Why Antisemitism Is More Than Political (It’s Spiritual)45:20 – The Gospel We Preach vs The Gospel in Scripture55:00 – Final Thought: Don’t Stop Wrestling

  8. Apr 29

    Is Israel Breaking International Law? The Truth About Genocide, the UN, and Gaza with Andrew Tucker

    In this long-awaited episode of Covenant & Conflict, we sit down with international lawyer Andrew Tucker to unpack one of the most misunderstood and controversial topics in the world today: Israel and international law.From accusations of genocide to debates over occupation, settlements, and the United Nations, this conversation brings clarity to the legal language dominating headlines and social media.If you’ve ever wondered: What international law actually isWhether Israel is committing genocideWhy the UN constantly targets IsraelWhat “occupation” and “settlements” really meanOr how the modern conflict connects to biblical themes…this episode will help you think clearly and respond intelligently.Andrew Tucker serves with a legal think tank focused on Israel and international law, advising at the highest levels—including the UN. He brings both legal expertise and a deep understanding of the spiritual and historical dimensions behind the conflict.This is not just a political conversation. It’s about truth, clarity, and understanding one of the most important issues of our time.⸻Chapters00:00 – Why Israel Is So Controversial Right Now00:02:10 – Biblical vs Political Israel: Why It’s So Complex00:13:52 – What Is “International Law” (Really)?00:24:59 – Are Israeli Settlements Illegal?00:45:19 – What Is Genocide? (Legal Definition Explained)00:50:54 – Is Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza?01:03:59 – Who Owns the West Bank? (Legal Breakdown)01:06:04 – Why a Two-State Solution Keeps Failing

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

"Covenant & Conflict" is a thought-provoking podcast produced by the “Gateway Center for Israel” and hosted by Nic Lesmeister and David Blease, where ancient biblical truths meet contemporary issues head-on. Each episode offers a deep dive into complex and often divisive topics with subject matter experts, aiming to explore the intersection of covenantal values and modern debates. Instead of fostering division, this podcast seeks to model respectful engagement and peaceful discourse amidst conflict.

Information

  • Creator
    Gateway Center for Israel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gateway Center for Israel
  • Show Website
    Covenant & Conflict

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