the big picture. the bible has 66 books, written over a period of 2000 years by 40 people. over 3000...
TRANSCRIPT
THE BIG PICTURE
THE BIG PICTURE
• The Bible has 66 books, written over a period of 2000 years by 40 people. Over 3000 people mentioned.
• Many different literary genres: Narrative, Genealogy, Law, Prophetic, Poetic, Wisdom, Apocalyptic.
• How does it all fit together? Why is it important to see the Big Picture?
DISCUSS
• In pairs: List some of your Favourite OT Stories / Characters and discuss why they’re your favourite. 2 minutes to discuss.
• Do any of your Stories / Books / Characters speak of Christ? 2 minutes to discuss.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Kingdom of God: “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule and blessing”.
THE PERFECT KINGDOM
• Genesis 1&2 : Life as it was meant to be.
• The Kingdom:
God’s people – Adam and Eve.God’s place – Eden.God’s blessing – Perfect relationship with him,
obedience to him. His rule and protection.
THE FALLEN KINGDOM
• Genesis 3: Man turning his back on God.
• The Kingdom:
God’s people – No-one.God’s place – Nowhere.God’s blessing – Removed, curse given. Broken
vertical relationship (to God) leading to broken horizontal relationships (with fellow man)
THE PROMISED KINGDOM
• Genesis 6 & 12: God makes some Covenants:
“Covenants always involve God’s initiative, God’s promises and Human Response.” Christopher Wright
• Noahic Covenant (Gen 6) – God will never again destroy the creation with a flood. He will preserve the conditions on earth necessary for life.
• Response: God requires humanity to respect life and not to eat animals that still have their lifeblood.
THE PROMISED KINGDOM
• Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12)
• God will make Abraham and his descendants his people
• God will give Abraham and his descendants a land• God will cause Abraham and his descendants to be
a blessing to the whole world.
• Response: Circumcision and walking blamelessly before God.
THE PROMISED KINGDOM
• The Kingdom:
God’s people: Abraham and his descendantsGod’s place: CanaanGod’s blessing: Blessing for Israel and the nations
THE PARTIAL & THEN BROKEN KINGDOM
• Mosaic Covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19-24):
• God promises again all that he promised Abraham:
• Special relationship between God and Israel & gift of the Promised Land (See Exodus 6:6-8).
• Response: Total and exclusive loyalty to God (Yahweh), commitment to his law.
THE PARTIAL & THEN BROKEN KINGDOM
• God leads Israel into the Promised Land (Joshua 23)
• Israel pleads for a King to rule them instead of God (1 Sam 8)
• Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7, Psalm 72:17) –
• God will put offspring of David on the throne forever, all nations of the world will be blessed through him. Response: loyalty to God alone.
THE PROPHESIED KINGDOM
• Prophets emerge before, during and after exile of Israelites.
• They proclaim the judgement of God
• Also prophecy the hope of the Messiah, a new covenant, the perfected kingdom and return to know God.
• Prepared the way for Christ’s arrival.
THE KINGDOM PRESENT IN JESUS
• The Kingdom:
God’s people: Jesus Christ – the new Adam, the new Israel
God’s place: Jesus –Immanuel, God present on earth
God’s blessing: New covenant, freedom from power and penalty of sin, made a way to know God as Father.
KINGDOM: NOW BUT NOT YET
• Living in the last days between his first and second coming.
• We have the Spirit of God within us. Seeking God’s will in heaven to come to this earth.
• Living in a tension – now and not yet.
KINGDOM: NOW BUT NOT YET
• The Kingdom:
God’s people: The new Israel – Jew & Gentile believers in Christ – the church.
God’s place: Dwelling by his Spirit in each believer and in the midst of the church.
God’s blessing: New covenant, Holy Spirit.