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Transcript
Between the Trees Tonight: 1. The Bible as God’s Story. 2. What was God doing before Creation? 3. Why did God Create the Universe? Tonight: We don’t usually think of the Bible as story… as having a protagonist, and antagonist, a problem that needs to be solved, a goal that the protagonist is trying to reach. So tonight we focus on how the Bible is story… not that it isn’t true, but that it has those elements of story that make it incredibly interesting. What were the Father and Son doing prior to creation? What was in God’s mind when He created all this? Next week: What went wrong? Gen. 2:9 “…The tree of life in the midst of the garden…” Rev. 22:2 “…On either side of the river was the tree of life…” Between the Trees 1. The Bible is the Book Where God Tells His Story Wing Wing Antagonist Protagonist, Hero Goal Journey, Quest, Mission Motivation, passion Passion Inciting incident, complication(s) Motivation Mission The Protagonist Satan is the Antagonist, the Saboteur Passion satisfied, purpose achieved, obstacles overcome: God completes his mission Goal Plot line: Quest, Mission Motivation & passion What passions motivate God? Why does God do what God does? What complications will arise to sabotage God’s Mission? What is the Protagonist’s passion and motivation? The Protagonist Goal The Bible as Story Motivation & passion Perhaps the single most important question in Bible study is this: What passions motivate God? Passion is produced by a thing… …that brings pleasure …that is valued or prized …that generates zeal …that one cannot be indifferent about 1. Passion is produced by that which brings pleasure, is valued, generates zeal, and cannot be viewed with indifference. 2. Possessing passion gives one purpose. Passion Purpose 3. Purposefulness results in action. Passion Purpose Action 4. We call purposeful actions “mission.” Passion Purpose Action = Mission Ex. 20:5 – “…For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” (Dt. 4:24; 5:9; 6:15) Ex. 34:14 – “…For the LORD, whose name is ‘Jealous’, is a jealous God…” Ezek. 39:25 – “…And I shall be jealous for My holy name.” John 2:17 (Jesus speaking) “…Zeal for Your house will consume me.” ‘There are things about which God cannot be indifferent’ Discussion: 1. Describe to your group the customary way you read the Bible. 2. Does reading the Bible as God’s story offer a different paradigm for you? 3. What implications are there in looking for the “Protagonist’s” passion/motivation as you read the Bible? 1. The Bible is the Book Where God Tells His Story 2. God’s Story Began Before Genesis 1:1 Genesis Revelation The Hero of His own story Achieving his passion means God’s mission is complete God, Protagonist Goal Journey, Quest, Mission What will be the story of God’s quest as He pursues His passion? Desire, passion What passions motivate God? What was God doing before creation? Father Eternal Heavenly Temple Son Spirit Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwelt in shalom in this temple. Heb. 8:1-2, 5; 9:11-12, 23-24; 12:23-25 What was God doing in His heavenly temple before he created the heavens and the earth? John 17:5 – “…Glorify me together with yourself with the glory I had with you .” John 17:24 – “…You loved me .” I Peter 1:20– “…He was known about .” What was God doing in His heavenly temple before he created the heavens and the earth? Mt. 13:35 – “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.’” Mt. 25:34 – “…Enter the kingdom prepared for you .” Eph. 1:4 – “…Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world…” What was God doing in His heavenly temple before he created the heavens and the earth? The Protagonist Flashback “Before the world was…before the foundation of the world…” Goal Jesus & the Apostles John 17:5 John 17:24 Motivation & passion These are the passions that motivate God. Mt. 13:34; 25:34; Eph. 1:4; I Pet. 1:20 1. The Bible is the Book Where God Tells His Story 2. God’s Story Began Before Genesis 1:! 3. The Creation Account in Genesis 1-2 is a Continuation of God’s Story The Bible as Story Genesis Revelation God is the Hero of His own story Satisfying his passion marks the climax of God’s story God, Protagonist Goal Journey, Quest, Mission What will God’s story look like as He pursues His passion? Desire, passion What passions motivate God? God’s General Purpose in Creating Is Clear “…All the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.” (Num. 14:21; Psa. 72:19; Isa. 6:3) “…The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9/Hab. 2:14) Genesis 1-2 Revelation 21-22 New heaven & new earth – 1:1 New heaven & new earth – 21:1, 5 Light – 1:3 Light – 21:23, 24; 22:5 Work for God – 2:15 Work for God – 22:3 Blessing – 1:22, 28; 2:3 No more curse – 22:3 God walks with man – 3:8 God tabernacles with man – 21:3, 22 Garden – 2:8 Garden – 22:2 Tree of life – 2:9 Tree of life – 22:2, 14, 19 Rivers – 2:10-14 River – 22:1 Marriage – 2:24 Marriage – 21:2, 9; 22:17 Creation blessing • “God blessed them” (Days 5, 6) • “God blessed the seventh day” Jn. 1:3 - All things came into being … 10 …the world was made … Col. 1:16 - For were all things created… all things were made all things and … 17 He is things, and all things hold together. Rom. 11:36 - For and and are all things things… Heb. 1:2 - …Whom He appointed heir of all all things, also He made the world. things Heb. 2:10 - For it was fitting for Him, all allare things all things things and are all It was his overflowing love for the Son that motivated the Father to create, and creation is his gift to his Son. The Father makes his Son the inheritor. And so the Son is not only the motivating origin of creation: he is its goal. -- Michael Reeves God’s Mission: Before Creation 1. To fill the heavenly temple with His Son’s glory 2. The Trinity enjoying and loving one another 3. The Son’s fame spreading before the watching angels. God’s Mission: In Creation – Genesis 1-2 1. To create an amazing universe for His Son 2. To populate that universe with creatures made in the Son’s image 3. For the Son to show those creatures His glory and to love them 4. For those creatures to reciprocate in worship and love Between the Trees Gen. 2:9 “…The tree of life in the midst of the garden…” Rev. 22:2 “…On either side of the river was the tree of life …”