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.