LESSON 2 The Opportunity and the Obligation Did God have a missionary purpose for Israel, or did...

LESSON 2LESSON 2

The Opportunity and the The Opportunity and the ObligationObligation

Did God have a missionary purpose for Israel, or did that have to wait until the Messiah

came?

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TOP LINE? BOTTOM LINE?TOP LINE? BOTTOM LINE?

Definitions

What do we mean when we What do we mean when we say: ‘the bottom line is...’?say: ‘the bottom line is...’?

The decisive point

The ultimate goal

The ‘end result’

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What do we mean by the term What do we mean by the term top line?top line?

The means or process to get to the ‘bottom line’

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Watch Video

The Abraham ConnectionThe Abraham Connection

1. Explain how the top and bottom lines of the Abrahamic covenant complement each other in the outworking of God’s plan to bless all nations?

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VIDEO DISCUSSION


Abraham received blessings (top line) in order to pass the blessings on (bottom line)

We all have the responsibility to pass on God’s blessings

Luke 12:48b

Matthew 25:14-30

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2. Why did God repeat the Covenant to Abraham and his descendants throughout the rest of Genesis?

Emphasis and reinforcement - because it is important

Draw attention to it

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3. Name some of the Old Testament stories which show the “bottom line” at work. Which nations were touched with God’s blessing?

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Joseph - Egyptians

The Spies - Caananites

Naomi - Moabites

Esther - Persians

Moses - Midianites

Elijah - Phoenicians

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Maid - Syrians

Daniel - Babylonians

Jonah - Assyrians

David - Philistines

Solomon - Arabians Ezra & Nehemiah - Persians

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4. Does the validity and significance of the Abrahamic Covenant end with the Old Testament or does it apply to those of us who are Gentile believers as well? Discuss Galatians 3:29 in the light of this issue.

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““If you belong to Christ, then you If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”according to the promise.”

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The Abrahamic Covenant continues after the OT, and does apply to us!

As soon as we say YES to Jesus we take on the responsibility to pass on God’s blessing to others.

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The Abrahamic Covenant in the The Abrahamic Covenant in the Old TestamentOld Testament

Nations blessedNations blessed Nations blessedNations blessed

Isaac & Jacob

receive blessing & pass it on

Abraham receives

blessing & passes it on

God blesses Abraham & makes God blesses Abraham & makes a covenant with hima covenant with him

Isaac & Jacob Isaac & Jacob receive receive

blessing & blessing & pass it onpass it on

Did the Did the promise promise continue continue

throughout throughout the OTthe OT

Nations blessedNations blessed

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Israel’s Obligation

Israel’s Opportunity

Israel’s Disobedience

God’s Persistence

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Lesson 2 OverviewLesson 2 Overview

The Two ForcesThe Two Forces

CENTRIPETAL an attracting force

CENTRIFUGAL an expansive

force

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Two Methods of Evangelism Two Methods of Evangelism in the Old Testamentin the Old Testament

CENTRIFUGALEVANGELISM

Jonah

Joseph

Hebrew girl taken to Syria

Exile

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CENTRIPETALEVANGELISM

Queen of

Sheba

Ruth

Naaman

Two Methods of Evangelism Two Methods of Evangelism in the Old Testamentin the Old Testament

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Israel’s Obligation to Israel’s Obligation to be a Nation with a Missionbe a Nation with a Mission

Exodus 19:5-6Exodus 19:5-6 “ “Now if you obey me fully and Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my nations you will be my treasured treasured possessionpossession. Although the whole . Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priestskingdom of priests and and a holy a holy nationnation.”.”

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1.1. To be a To be a TREASURED TREASURED POSSESSIONPOSSESSION

(e.g. Jewels - Malachi 3:17)

Emphasises:Emphasises: The high value of PEOPLE The PORTABILITY of the message


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2.2. To be a To be a KINGDOM OF PRIESTSKINGDOM OF PRIESTS

Emphasises:Emphasises: To represent God to the nations To mediate on behalf of the nations


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3.3. To be a To be a HOLY NATIONHOLY NATION

Emphasises:Emphasises: To be wholly God’s To be set apart for His use


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1. Israel inherited the Abrahamic Covenant:

Israel’s Opportunities to Israel’s Opportunities to be a Nation with a Mission be a Nation with a Mission

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Genesis 12:1-3

Blessed to be a blessing

2. Exodus 8:16-19; 9:13-20; 12:33-39; 32:1-14


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God’s name declared greater than the Egyptian gods - power shown

God’s name known throughout nations


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– Egyptians feared the God of Israel (some gave possessions to Israel and some even went with Israel when they left!)

2. Exodus 8:16-19; 9:13-20; 12:33-39; 32:1-14

3. Proclaiming what God had done for them as a nation

Psalm 96:1-34. Land central to the nations and

trade routes Ezekiel 5:5 Deut 32:8-9


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5. The TEMPLE Leviticus 19:33-34

Israel was to treat her foreigners well

6. The TEMPLE 1 Kings 8:41-43

The Lord will hear the prayer of the foreigner for His name sake


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6. The TEMPLE Isaiah 56:1-8

Foreigners are acceptable before the Lord

There are 55 other passages There are 55 other passages which refer to Gods intentions which refer to Gods intentions that all peoples be blessed that all peoples be blessed through the blessings He was through the blessings He was to give Israel.to give Israel.

How well did Israel do in being How well did Israel do in being a blessing to the Nations?a blessing to the Nations?

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How did Israel Handle God’s How did Israel Handle God’s Message?Message?

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Israel’s DisobedienceIsrael’s Disobedience

Israel forgot her obligation and ignored her opportunities to proclaim God’s name

Intermingling

Religiously

– God became a ‘local deity’

– Solomon - 1 Kings 11:1-13

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Intermingling

Politically

God’s special relationship was replaced with a monarchy

1 Samuel 8:4-9


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Isolation

From the Nations (e.g. Jonah)

Israel became greedy & proud


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JONAHJONAH

GOD’S RELUCTANT MISSIONARY

KEY VERSE 4:2“…I knew that you are a gracious

and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love…”

JONAHJONAHGod’s Reluctant MissionaryGod’s Reluctant Missionary

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Where? Ninevah, capital of Assyria (pop

120,000) A city of wickedness

Compare todays cities of wickedness

SCENE 1“Go to the Great City of Ninevah”

(1:2, 3:2)


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(1:2, 3:2)


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Why?To save it - “…preach against it…”Reflecting God’s heart for the

unreached cities & peoples


(1:2, 3:2)

Willing? No! - Jonah goes in the

opposite direction


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SCENE 2“…a violent storm arose…”

Where is Jonah? Asleep, away from the action

JONAH JONAH God’s Reluctant MissionaryGod’s Reluctant Missionary

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SCENE 3“But the Lord provided a great fish…” (1:17)

Why? God hadn’t finished with Jonah yet! A “whale” of a place to

contemplate

JONAHJONAH God’s Reluctant MissionaryGod’s Reluctant Missionary

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SCENE 4Divine Intervention (ch 2)

The Revelation “Salvation comes from the Lord”

(2:9)


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SCENE 4Divine Intervention (ch 2)

The Irony The unmerciful Jonah pleads for

mercy Jonah’s rescue a picture of

God’s saving mercy


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SCENE 5“Go and proclaim…” (3:2)

“Proclaim”= kerygma : Judgement & Good News


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SCENE 6“Let everyone call urgently on God” (3:6)

Result? Sackcloth and ashes, even for the

king.


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SCENE 7“Jonah was greatly displeased...” (4:1)

Why? God didn’t fit into Jonah’s little

theological box!“Do you have a right to be so

angry?


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SCENE 8An object lesson

God’s Question: “Should I not be concerned about

that great city [of Ninevah]?”


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The book ends with the question never answered. God reached his goal for Ninevah, but did He reach Jonah


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Question: “Is God any less concerned for the

great cities of Tokyo, Mexico, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Peking…”


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Jonah is a picture of the church that is unfaithful to the Lord’s command to go with the gospel to the nations of the world.


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The Exile

The blessings taken away

Israel taken to the nations

Ezekiel 36:16-21

God’s PersistenceGod’s Persistence

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The Prophets Ezekiel 36:22-23 Daniel 9:15-19


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The Prophets: Isaiah 49:6The Prophets: Isaiah 49:6

The statement of Messiah’s mission

“Is it too small a thing (restoration of Israel) … I will also make you a light to the gentiles.”

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TOP LINE BLESSING

BOTTOM LINE

BLESSING


The Return from Exile God’s Faithfulness Emergence of Synagogues Jewish Missionaries

God still achieves His purposes (Isaiah 46:10-11)

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Israel’s Obligation

Israel’s Opportunity

Israel’s Disobedience

God’s Persistence

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Lesson ReviewLesson Review

How similar to Israel do

I or we treat the blessings God

gives today?

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ReflectionReflection

Nations blessedNations blessed Nations blessedNations blessed

Isaac & Jacob

receive blessing & pass it on

Abraham receives

blessing & passes it on



Nations blessedNations blessed

Israel inherits the promises

and is responsible to pass them on

God GlorifiedGod Glorified

TOP LINETOP LINE

BOTTOM LINEBOTTOM LINE

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Blessings given to US TOP LINE

BOTTOM LINE

Blessings given to other PEOPLES/NATIONSwhich ultimately Blesses and Glorifies GOD

Focusing on Top Line Blessings alone - receiving ONLY - is a COP OUT in regards to

the responsibility

Focusing on Bottom Line Blessings Focusing on Bottom Line Blessings alone - giving out ONLY - alone - giving out ONLY -

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BOTTOM LINEBOTTOM LINE

TOP LINETOP LINELAND, PROSPERITY & BLESSING

TO BE A BLESSING

This is God’s ultimate END RESULT: This is God’s ultimate END RESULT: that He and others are blessedthat He and others are blessed

God provides the MEANS to be a God provides the MEANS to be a blessingblessing

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For every blessing that we For every blessing that we receive from God there is a receive from God there is a

corresponding responsibility to corresponding responsibility to bless others!bless others!

QUESTIONBib

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House Keeping House Keeping Is your homework in the HOME

WORK box?Put your name tag in the NAME

TAG box?

Mission Sponsor

• Let the Nations be Glad!, John Piper

• Unveiled at Last, Bob Sjogren

• Wittnesses to all the World, Jim & Carol Plueddemann

Recommended BooksRecommended Books

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LESSON 2 The Opportunity and the Obligation Did God have a missionary purpose for Israel, or did...

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