How To Start

If you want to walk The Way, you have to begin where Yahweh begins: with His Word. That means letting Scripture define the framework instead of trying to fit verses into a system you inherited from tradition. The Bible is not a collection of disconnected topics — it is the record of Yahweh’s covenant dealings with mankind and with Israel, moving toward the covenant to come.

A common mistake is starting in the New Testament as if it is the beginning of the story. It isn’t. The New Testament assumes you already understand the Torah and the Prophets. Yeshua, Paul, and the apostles constantly quote and rely on the Tanakh. If you start at Matthew without Genesis, you will almost automatically misunderstand what “sin,” “faith,” “covenant,” “righteousness,” and even “Messiah” mean.

The simplest and most reliable approach is this: read from Genesis to Revelation — slowly, repeatedly, and honestly — and let the text build its own definitions over time. Don’t rush past the Torah. Don’t skip the Prophets. Don’t treat the “Old Testament” as background information. That is where Yahweh defines His covenant, His standards, and His promises.

• Read with the goal of understanding, not defending a position.
• Track recurring themes: covenant, commandments, repentance, faithfulness, blessing, exile, restoration, and resurrection.
• When you hit “hard” passages, don’t explain them away — mark them and keep going. Clarity usually comes as the full story accumulates.

Key references: Deuteronomy 4:2 • Psalm 119:105 • Isaiah 8:20 • Luke 24:27 • Acts 24:14

Walking The Way does not start with information — it starts with repentance. In Scripture, repentance is not an emotion, a moment at an altar, or a vague feeling of regret. It is a concrete act of turning: turning away from disobedience and returning to Yahweh’s covenant instructions.

The prophets consistently describe repentance as a return. Israel is called to return to Yahweh, to return to His Torah, and to return to covenant faithfulness. The message does not change in the New Testament. John the Baptist, Yeshua, and the apostles all proclaim the same call — not to invent something new, but to come back to what was abandoned.

Repentance begins by honestly acknowledging where your beliefs and practices were shaped by tradition, culture, or religion rather than Scripture. This often means letting go of ideas that feel familiar or comforting but cannot be supported when the whole Bible is read in context.

• Confess sin directly to Yahweh, without excuses or theological workarounds.
• Identify practices that contradict Scripture and commit to leaving them behind.
• Begin aligning your life — step by step — with what Yahweh actually commands.

Key references: Deuteronomy 30:1–3 • 1 Kings 8:46–48 • Isaiah 55:6–7 • Ezekiel 18:21–23 • Matthew 4:17 • Acts 3:19

Torah is not a burden added later in history — it is the foundation of Yahweh’s covenant instruction. From Genesis forward, Yahweh defines what obedience looks like, how sin is measured, and what faithfulness requires. If Scripture is the starting point, then Torah is the framework that gives everything else meaning.

Learning Torah does not mean mastering every command immediately or attempting to reconstruct ancient Israelite life overnight. It means becoming familiar with Yahweh’s standards and allowing them to reshape your thinking, priorities, and daily habits over time.

Start with the basics — the commands that affect everyday life and clearly mark covenant loyalty. As you grow, your understanding will deepen naturally as Scripture begins to interpret Scripture.

• Learn what Yahweh defines as sin and obedience, rather than relying on religious definitions.
• Become familiar with the Sabbath, appointed times, and dietary instructions as covenant markers.
• Understand that Torah instruction is given in love, not as a means of earning salvation.

Key references: Genesis 26:5 • Deuteronomy 6:1–9 • Psalm 19:7–11 • Psalm 119:1–8 • Matthew 5:17–19 • Romans 3:31

Following Yeshua does not mean setting aside the Torah — it means learning how to live it as He taught and lived it. Yeshua did not present a new religion or a replacement system. He taught within the framework of the Torah and the Prophets, calling His disciples to a deeper, more faithful obedience rooted in the heart.

As Messiah, Yeshua fulfills the promises made to Israel, confirms the covenant, and demonstrates what perfect faithfulness looks like. He is not an exception to Yahweh’s commands but the clearest example of how to walk in them without hypocrisy or distortion.

To follow Yeshua means listening carefully to what He actually taught, paying attention to how He lived, and refusing interpretations that pit Him against the Torah or the Prophets. If an interpretation contradicts what Yahweh already revealed, it needs to be reexamined.

• Study Yeshua’s teachings in their historical and scriptural context.
• Observe how He honored the Torah while exposing man-made traditions.
• Understand discipleship as imitation — walking as He walked.

Key references: Matthew 5:17–20 • Matthew 23:1–3 • John 5:46–47 • John 14:15 • 1 John 2:3–6 • Hebrews 8:10

The Way was never meant to be walked in isolation. From the beginning, Yahweh calls His people into covenant communities — families, households, and assemblies centered on obedience, teaching, and mutual accountability. Scripture assumes believers gather, learn together, and bear one another’s burdens.

That said, finding a community aligned with Scripture is not always easy. Many who begin walking The Way discover that existing churches or assemblies do not share the same commitment to Torah and covenant faithfulness. If you cannot immediately find a community, start small and remain faithful where you are.

Community does not require a building, clergy, or formal structure. Two or three gathered around Scripture, prayer, and obedience are enough to begin. Over time, Yahweh brings connection, growth, and order.

• Seek others who are committed to Scripture before tradition.
• Be willing to meet in homes and focus on teaching rather than programs.
• If you are alone, establish consistent study and prayer while remaining open to future fellowship.

Key references: Deuteronomy 6:6–7 • Psalm 133:1 • Matthew 18:20 • Acts 2:42–47 • Hebrews 10:24–25

Choosing to walk The Way will not always be met with understanding or encouragement. Scripture consistently shows that obedience to Yahweh’s covenant often creates tension — not only with the world, but sometimes with religious systems that have moved away from the written Word.

The earliest followers of Yeshua experienced opposition from both Roman authorities and established religious leadership. That pattern has not disappeared. When you reject tradition in favor of Scripture, you may be misunderstood, criticized, or even isolated.

Faithfulness is not measured by comfort or approval, but by loyalty. Walking The Way means remaining committed when obedience becomes costly, trusting that Yahweh honors those who honor Him.

• Expect resistance when Scripture challenges long-held beliefs.
• Guard against bitterness or pride — obedience should produce humility.
• Remain patient and teachable as Yahweh continues to refine your understanding.

Key references: Joshua 24:15 • Psalm 119:157–160 • Matthew 7:13–14 • John 15:18–20 • Revelation 14:12