Opening Question

What is the most difficult obligation you’ve ever faced?

Introduction

What a wonder that the God who created everything we know would also want to be personally invested in the lives of people who didn’t even know Him yet. The covenant He makes with Israel places His law in the center of their congregation and at the front of their daily lives. Is it any wonder that they became so focused on actions, on “doing” what they thought might gain them credit in heaven?

Election: Deuteronomy 7 and Romans 9-11

The election of Israel—God’s choice—was not because of Israel’s amazing characteristics, but ...

Opening Question

Why might it be necessary renew a promise previously made?

Introduction

Israel’s redemption from Egyptian slavery presents the quintessential “mighty act of God” the is referred to throughout the prophets and the Psalms. God brings His newly freed people to Mt. Sinai and there proclaims His covenant to them. But it’s really a reiteration of the covenant to Abraham. This covenant is based in God being their God and they as His people.

Ransom Theology?

The lesson notes the idea of Israel being redeemed or ransomed. This concept is used by Jesus as well in the gospels (see Mat 20:28 and Mar ...

Opening Question

What is your ethnic heritage and how significant is that background in your daily life?

Introduction

God’s plan and purpose for Israel was far-reaching. And without question, their ethnicity comes into the story. But it certainly isn’t the only feature. In fact, Israelites were a “mixed race” from the start. They had no reason for ethnic pride as far as their spiritual election was concerned. This has far-reaching consequences for Christians of all people-groups today. God’s covenant wasn’t dependent on Israel’s pedigree, but in His selection.

Ezekiel 16:1-16

Read through this amazing passage. This chapter in Ezekiel is meant to show how ...

Opening Question

Why do we hesitate to enter into agreements that seem imbalanced or “unfair” to one party or the other?

Introduction

One of the greatest divisions in protestant Christianity is between dispensationalists (many Baptists, non-denominational and Pentecostal churches) who read all the promises in the Old Testament as if they will be fulfilled literally to ethnic Jewish people at some time in the future, and covenant congregations who believe that the Jews in the Old Testament were God’s covenant people but the group expands in Christ to accept Gentile believers as well. Which is it?

If we can understand the promises made ...

Opening Question

How do you feel when someone keeps their promise to you? What about when they let you down?

Introduction

God’s covenant with Abraham forms the foundation of the world’s three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The setting for the covenant is God’s call to Abraham to leave the country of his family—Ur in what would become Babylonia—and resettle in Canaan. God’s relationship with Abraham is deep, complicated, and challenging to study.

The Name of God

Scripture identifies the deity who contacts Abraham. The quarterly notes the meaning of the four-letter name of God (Hebrew: yod-he-vav-he), usually spelled Yahweh in English. It ...

Opening Question

What was the most meaningful promise someone ever made to you?

Introduction

Our lesson this week examines Genesis 6-9 in detail, the story of the flood and God’s covenant with Noah. Regarding the covenant itself, three main sections of the story appear:

God’s covenant with Noah in a corrupt generation, to save him out of it

God’s fulfillment of His covenant promise, saving Noah in the Ark

God’s universal New Covenant with Noah and his descendants after the flood

Genesis 6-9

The condition of the earth is described in ch. 6:5, 11-13. Evil thoughts, corruption, continual violence; these are broad terms for ...

Opening Question:

Why do we make legal agreements with each other?

Introduction

The study this week summarizes some of the major covenant experiences throughout Scripture, which later lessons will focus on more specifically. For our purposes here, we’ll summarize these covenant experiences, then ask some broad questions about covenant, examining how the Bible paints the broad strokes.

Covenants Throughout the Bible

Some covenant theologians would see a covenant in Genesis with the creation of humankind, a sort of covenant with Adam, Eve, and even the Serpent, after the fall, and then with Cain after he murders his brother. But actual terms for “covenant aren’t ...

Opening Question: How are humans like God?

Introduction to Lesson 1

It seems each quarterly that takes a theological topic begins with Genesis. While this is often appropriate, the lessons often feel like nearly an exact repeat of previous quarters. From a covenant perspective, it becomes important to frame human existence by its similarity to the Creator. We are beings who live in interdependence with each other. This was intended by the Creator who also wishes to live in association with us; in fact, He would rather die than live without us!

Created in God’s Image: Genesis 1-2

Genesis 1:27-29 is the center ...

Relevant Bible Verses: Isaiah 65-66

Leading Question: What are the main differences between Isaiah’s vision of the New Earth and the one in Revelation?

Probably the most significant difference between Isaiah’s vision of the New Earth and the one in Revelation 21-22 is that Isaiah’s points to the gradual end of evil instead of the sudden one portrayed in Revelation.

Probably nothing in the Bible is more divisive than the topic of eschatology (= “the study of last things.”) In today’s Christian world, there are four major perspectives on eschatology. These are briefly summarized below. The first one on the list, historicism, ...

Relevant Bible Verses: Isaiah 59-61

Leading Question: Is Isaiah clear about salvation, or do we need the New Testament?

Isaiah 59 opens with a question about Yahweh’s ability to save. The response? “The Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God. . . .” The chapter continues with a strong rebuke. A succinct summary of the contents of Isaiah 59 is as follows:

Isaiah 59:1-8 Rebuke

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