I. ACT III – ISRAEL

 Israel created

 Israel enslaved and rescued

 The promised land

 The judges and the kings

 The divided kingdom

 The prophets

 The exile

 The return

 The silent years

II. THE KING, HIS KINGDOM AND HIS PEOPLE

 The King remains committed and active in redeeming all humanity and creates a people to live under his kingship and reflect his beauty and glory.

 His kingdom is a reality that he invites his people into and it is manifested in his presence with them. (Temple)

 His people are both unable and unwilling to live with God as their king which results in their captivity to other kings. Eventually they return to the land, reenact the law, and build a smallish temple to which God does not return!

III. AND NOW THEY WAIT…FOR ANOTHER EXODUS!

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 In your opinion, what seemed to be the biggest obstacle to Israel’s reflecting God’s beauty and glory to the world around them? Why do you think God chose to create a people (Israel) to image him to the world instead of just sending Jesus earlier?

 As God’s people today (the church), how do we differ from the ancient Israelites in how we relate to God and our mission?

FURTHER READING:

Bill Jackson

N.T. Wright

"...she took some and she ate it...and every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time..." Genesis 3 & 6

THE KING

 Adam & Eve choose to walk away from God's good rule in their lives and desire to become kings and queens over their own lives ‐ Genesis 3:6‐7

 Humanity is separated from the fullness of the presence of God ‐ Genesis 3:23‐24

HIS KINGDOM

 The kingdom of God is still a realm and reality, however humanity has chosen to walk away from his kingdom and his kingship.

 Humanity has chosen to live in a kingdom that is defined by autonomy, evil, sin, sickness, and death ‐ a kingdom outside of God's good rule.

HIS PEOPLE

 God's people forfeit their rightful place as God's co‐regents and turn over all of their responsibilities to their enemy ‐ Genesis 3:11‐24

 God's people are now governed and ruled by their own whims and desires and sinfulness.

 God devises a plan to redeem his people and restore them back to the people and mission he created them for ‐ Genesis 3:15

 God recommissions humanity ‐ Genesis 9

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 What do you think drove Adam and Eve to eat from the tree? Can you see glimpses of them in your own life?

 What does it say to you about God's nature that he chose to recommission humanity and allow them to try again?

 How does your understanding of God's original plan for humanity (in Genesis 1& 2) impact your understanding of Genesis 3 ‐ 11?

GOOD READS:

Bill Jackson

N.T. Wright

BACKGROUND: GENESIS 1 & 2 

 Cultural & historical context

THE KING ‐ Genesis 1

 The King creates and rules

 Genesis 1 & 2 intends to answer the question: Who is God?

HIS KINGDOM

 Kingdoms are monarchies that are established and ruled by kings

 God's Kingdom is the realm in which he rules and his will is done

 Genesis 1 & 2 intends to answer the question: What is this God doing in creation?

HIS PEOPLE ‐ Genesis 1:26 ‐ 2:25

 The King places an image of himself in his kingdom

 The King gives his image bearing creatures responsibility

 The King cares for his image bearing creatures

 The King dwells with his image bearing creatures

 There is complete harmony between the King and his creation all dwelling together in his Kingdom

 Genesis 1 & 2 intends to answer: What is the relationship between God, the creator and king, and his people like?

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 Prior to this weekends teaching, what was your understanding of the creation story? What did you understand God's role to be and humanities role to be?

 Based on Genesis 1 & 2, what would you say the role of humanity is in the creation narrative? How might this understanding of humanity's role differ from what you previously thought or were taught?

 How does our understanding of how the story of God begins actually impact our lives today?

 What might it look like to live our lives today under the Kingship of God as Adam and Eve experienced in Genesis 1 & 2?

GOOD READS:

John Walton

Bill Jackson

I. FIGHTING, FINISHING, KEEPING (2 Timothy 4:7)

A. The implications of fighting

B. The obstacles to finishing

1. 2 Corinthians 11:23‐29

C. The enemy of keeping faith

1. Corinthians 12:72.

2. Satan certainly has a target he is aiming for but God is able to take our situation and create his own target.

II. STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY (2 Corinthians 12:9‐10)

A. It’s all grace!

1. What is grace?

 It is not an ambiguous thing, it is a person!

2. How is it appropriated?

 In weakness we ask, embrace, and receive

B. No one makes the long journey in their own strength.

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 What kind of resistance have you found in trying to consistently live the kingdom life?

 What kind of obstacles, difficulties, or trials have you experienced that drove you to the edge of faith? How did you respond to those experiences?

 Have you ever been tempted to toss the whole kingdom life out?

 What has been your experience with the grace of God as given through the person of the Holy Spirit?

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

THE KINGDOM VIEW OF COMMUNITY

 Jesus' dream for kingdom community ‐ John 17:20‐23

 The future reality of kingdom community ‐ Revelation 5:9‐10

 The present reality of the kingdom community ‐ Acts 2

 The life of the resurrected Jesus fills his people ‐ Acts 2:4

 The result of people filled with the life of Jesus is people who make up a new humanity ‐ Ephesians 2:14‐16

 A people who are committed and devoted to one another ‐ Acts 2:42‐47

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY

 The enemy of community is individualism

 "The dream of Jesus never lets anyone dwell in solitude; the dream of Jesus never creates individualism. The dream of Jesus always creates kingdom community"‐ Scot McKnight ‐ One.Life

I. THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

• “Repent, the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ‐ Matthew 4:17

• “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” ‐ Mark 1:15

• Good news is preached, freedom is proclaimed, sight is restored, the oppressed are set free ‐ God has come to the planet, has set up shop and calling everyone to be part of his kingdom. ‐ Luke 4:18

II. THE MISSION OF JESUS

• Re‐establish God's kingdom on earth

• Overthrow the kingdom of darkness ‐ 1 John 3:8

• Redeem humanity and all of creation ‐ Colossians 1:15‐22

III. THE METHOD OF JESUS

• Use the kingdom of darkness against itself through allowing it to exercise its power over him ‐ Colossians 2:15

• Show the world the power of God's kingdom is revealed in submission, humility, giving, self‐sacrifice, power under

• In 33 AD, the method of Jesus to redeem the world was for his body to be broken and poured out for all of humanity ‐ John 15:13

• In 2012 AD, the method of Jesus to redeem the world is for his body to be broken and poured out for all of humanity ‐ John 15:13

GOOD READS:

Hugh Halter and Matt Smay

Rob Bell

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How is Jesus' message of the kingdom different than the message of “stop sinning so you can go to heaven”?

• Read 1 John 3:8b and discuss what it means to you for Jesus to have destroyed the devil's work. How did Jesus actually do this?

• Jesus chose to defeat evil, sin and death by allowing evil to exercise power over him. Inthis way, Jesus allowed himself to be broken and poured out so that all of the world maybe able to come to him. Throughout the NT, Paul refers to the church as the “Body of Christ.” What might be the implications for us as Jesus followers and his body, today?

• How might we, as followers of Jesus, need to realign our understanding of the church, the mission, and the call of Jesus in order to better prepare ourselves for making it as his followers for the long journey?

I. DOING VS. BECOMING

 For many following after Jesus has become about what I 'do' instead of who I am 'becoming.'

 A life of doing will lead to religiosity, boredom, angst, and anxiety.

 A life of becoming will lead to fulfillment.

II. THE STORY OF PAUL

 Kingship vs. Relationship ‐ Acts 9

 Discipline & Intentionality ‐ 1 Corinthians 9:24 ‐ 27 (c. 55 AD) Paul is determined through the power of the spirit to honor God with his lifebecause Jesus being his king is not optional.

 Perseverance ‐ Philippians 3:12 (c. 61 AD)

 Finishing Strong ‐ 2 Timothy 4:7 (c. 66 AD)

III. STRENGTHENING BY THE SPIRIT

 Do not grow weary ‐ Galatians 6:9

 Those who live by the Spirit will reap full life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

 How long have you been following Jesus' lead in your life?

 Has your life as a Christian been more about doing or being/becoming? Explain.

 What would you say the difference is between having a relationship with Jesusvs. making Jesus the King of your whole life?

 Are you weary in doing good and/or following Jesus? If so, invite someone inyour life to pray for you and with you.

I. STAND FIRM...REALLY? 1 PETER 5:12‐14

A. "...this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!"

1. Who we are.

2. Where we live.

3. What we do.

4. How we do it.

GOOD READS:

Hauerwas and Willimon

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 What has challenged you the most in this study of 1 Peter? How are you meeting those challenges?

 Has your idea of the "church" been altered in any way since studying Peter's letter? In what ways?

 What are the biggest challenges for the church in America or other Westernized, democratic and "free" nations? How do you think these challenges can be met? (Recall the statements from the talk; "Stop the consuming" and "Resists tribalization")

I. BEHIND ENEMY LINES…REALLY? (1 Peter 5:8‐11)

A. The source behind the source

B. Home‐field advantage (1 John 5:19)

C. Peter never apologizes for the existence of the malevolent force named Satan while modern thinkers largely dismiss him as medieval folklore.

D. A biblical injunction would be to neither ignore his existence, power, and intent nor be overly consumed with him.

II. LIVING BEHIND ENEMY LINES

A. Be alert…not distracted (v.8)

1. Distraction in the form of the worldly mundane, spiritual laziness, and too much caffeine!

B. Resist the devil (v.9)

1. He is likened to a lion seeking to devour us…without chewing!

2. He seeks to devour us through our…minds, appetites, and emotions

3. How to resist

 It only requires our will and the power of God

 “Shut up!” and “Stop it!” work pretty well!

C. And the God of all grace will give it to us! (v.10)

1. Some of heaven is already touching you here on earth; in the middle of the suffering and persecution for his name.

 Look for it…expect it!

GOOD READS:

Hauerwas and Willimon

N.T. Wright

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 Where do you land on the issues presented in this talk? Why do some deny the existence of a literal devil?

 If we (created in the image of God) have an ins