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Rethinking the reason for the season
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RETHINKING the Reason for the Season The Mission of God for the glory of Christmas “But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all peoples” Luke 2:11
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Transcript of Rethinking the reason for the season
RETHINKING the Reason for the SeasonThe Mission of God for the glory of Christmas
“But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all peoples”
Luke 2:11
What is the Christmas Story?
What is the Christmas Story?
What is the Christmas Story?
“The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.” ~J.I. Packer
Defining the Story - metanarratives of scripture
The Incarnation"Word became flesh" in the Messiah. Everything leads up to this in the Bible, or from it.
The Christo-centric ApproachThe Christo-centric approach to the biblical metanarrative relates the entire Bible to Jesus.
Salvation HistoryThe Bible is the story of God's self-revelation to the world through a chosen people.
The Mission of GodThe Bible describes the mission of God to redeem the world.
The Kingdom of GodGod's mission to the world results in the reign of God.
The Bible is written with the belief that God loves the world (John 3:16, 1 John 4:16). It regards
Creation as an act of love, with God desiring to know and to be known.
Creation
Where God’s Story Begins
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” Genesis 1:26
God, the omniscient one, is the limit of our knowledge
Ontology:
Epistemology:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1
God, the self-existing one, is the beginning point of all things
the study of knowledge and justified belief.
the study of the nature of reality.
Teleology: reason for something in function of its purpose
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth” Genesis 1:28
God, the omnipresent one, defines our purpose for everything
Where our Story Begins
“Then the Lord God formed a man….” Genesis 2:7
God is a purposeful God
Theology:
Missiology:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing” Genesis 2:1
God is an active God the study of the movement of God
the study of the nature of God.
Anthropology:
the study of the condition of man “Adam and his wife were both naked” Genesis 2:25
Man is therefore dependent upon God
“For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
“and they hid from the LORD God” Genesis 3:8
Fall
God’s Mission Begins
A Promise to Abraham: “and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3
“and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:18
A Promise Confirmed to Abraham’s Offspring: To Isaac: “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed” Genesis 26:4
To Jacob: “A nation and a community of nations will come from you.” Genesis 35:11
To Joseph: “and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Genesis 49:10
God’s Mission Confirmed
Thru Moses: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine.” Exodus 19:5
Thru David: “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:24
Thru Isaiah: “In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4
Thru Daniel: “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14
God’s Mission Summarized
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, God;may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Psalm 67
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory….” John 1:14
Incarnation
God’s Mission Initiated
JESUS BAPTISED “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32JESUS CHOSEN“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him….In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:18,21
JESUS FOCUS“And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” Mark 11:17
God’s Mission Clarified
JESUS’ PRIORITY “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” Mark 13:10
JESUS’ MANDATE “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”
John 15:13
Redemption/Restoration
God’s Christmas GiftGOD’s GIFT OF THE SON: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
THE SON’s GIFT TO THE FATHER: "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” John 17:4
OUR GIFT TO THE SON: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
A GIFT TO GIVE
Give the gift that gives eternally!
Reaching The Nations
By ReachingOur Neighbors
Bless Your Neighbors with the Story of Jesus
Consummation
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before
the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9
He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,And wonders, wonders, of His love
That day is coming soon!
Creation Fall Incarnation Redemption Consummation
God’s Story Explained in 5 Steps
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations!”
Matthew 28:19
Genesis 1:1 Genesis 3:8 John 1:14 John 15:13 Revelations 7:9
