BIBLE 9 1st Semester

Unit 1 – The Big Story of Redemptive History

Unit 2 – The Equipment and Calling of Every Disciple

Unit 3 – The Strategic Implementation of Mission into Every Sphere of Life

Unit 1 – The Big Story of Redemptive History

Objectives

The student will:1. Understand and articulate the five parts of the BIG STORY 2. Compare and contrast the biblical interpretation of history and purpose with non-biblical interpretations.3. Create a biblical definition for the word disciple.

1

In his Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong, William Kilpatrick writes:The same impulse that makes us want our books to have a plot makes us want our lives to have a plot. We need to feel that we are getting somewhere, making progress. There is something in us that is not satisfied with a merely psychological explanation of our lives. It doesn’t do justice to our conviction that we are on some kind of journey or quest, that there must be some deeper meaning to our lives than whether we feel good about ourselves. Only people who have lost the sense of adventure, mystery, and romance worry about their self-esteem. And at that point what they need is not a good therapist but a good story. Or more precisely, the central question for us should not be, ‘What personality dynamics explain my behavior?’ but rather, ‘What sort of story am I in?’

2

Notes:

Overview I. Creation and the Pre-Fallen World

II. The Fall and Its Consequences - History of Sin- Definition of Sin- Sinful Condition of All Persons- Prevalence of Sin- Consequences of Sin

III. The Jesus-Centered Response of God - Immediate Response- Incarnation- Sacrificial Death of Jesus- Perfect Life of Jesus- Resurrection - Ascension and Exaltation- 2nd Coming of Jesus

IV. The Present Mission of All Disciples - The Initiation of the Mission - Equipment for and Dedication to the Mission - Strategy for the Mission: Evangelize Unbelievers and Disciple Believers

V. The Eternal Realm

3

 GOD’S BIG STORYI. Creation and the Pre-Fallen World After God brought time, space, and matter into existence, he eventually created Adam and Eve.  In Genesis 1, it states (26-28):

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

4

Notes:

II. The Fall and Its ConsequencesHistory of Sin In Romans 5, Paul writes, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (12).   

Definition of Sin

1.

2.

3.

5

Notes:

Sinful Condition of All Persons The Bible affirms that Adam and Eve’s posterity are born with a _____________________ condition.  Persons are not born with a morally good or morally neutral nature; rather, they are born with an inclination against their Maker. 

The Psalmist David writes, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (51:5).  The Lord “looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God . . . All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (14:2-3). 

Because of our imprisoned condition, Paul concludes that humans are “slaves to unrighteousness” (Romans 6:9).  In Matthew 7, Jesus emphasizes that a “bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (18).  This teaching is empirically obvious to the honest parent.  Parents do not need to teach a child how to be bad; it comes naturally.  Rather, they need to teach children how to rely on God’s grace in order to counter their natural inclinations.

Prevalence of Sin

6

Notes:

1

Consequences of Sin

1 In today’s culture, many people justify certain sinful behaviors because these actions seem to come natural. Most secularists would offer the following syllogism:

Premiss 1: A behavior that comes natural and that is generally approved of by culture is morally acceptable.Premiss 2: X (any given behavior) comes natural and is generally approved of by culture.Conclusion: X is morally acceptable.

The Christian readily acknowledges that many debatable inclinations seemingly come natural to persons. However, the Bible, as stated above, teaches that what comes natural is not good, for the “heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). Therefore, the “natural test” is not a warranted method to determine whether a motive or action is good or unholy.

7

Notes:

III. The Jesus-Centered Response of God Jesus Restores the StoryEverything that Jesus did, does, and will do glorifies God and restores the story between God and the human populace.   Jesus wrote himself into “His-story.”

Immediate ResponseAfter the Fall in the garden, God addresses the serpent, the woman, and the man.  Before God informs Adam and Eve of the temporal consequences that will come because of their transgression, He says the following to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head , and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).   Immediately after God’s image bearers rebelled against him, the LORD demonstrated his great mercy by initiating His redemptive plan; Jesus will come to crush the head of Satan. This account in known as the _________________________.2

The Coming of Jesus (Incarnation) John 1:12-14 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 The “first gospel.”

8

Notes:

The Sacrificial Death of Jesus SUBSTITUTION

Isaiah 53:5-6 – But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.Hebrews 9:26 – He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

RECONCILIATION2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

9

Notes:

Notes:

The Perfect Life and Righteousness of JesusPhilippians 3:9 – not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Romans 5:19 – by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

10

__ +

Notes:

The Resurrection of JesusMark 16:1-2 – Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.  2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

11

Notes:

3 The Ascension and Exaltation of JesusActs 1:4-5,9 – On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he (Jesus) gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” … ”After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (9).

During Peter’s Sermon in Acts 2, he writes, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (32-33).

3 How does the resurrection help to restore God’s Big Story? 1. The resurrection validates the work and person of Jesus Christ. The Jews crucified Jesus Christ because they believed that He committed blasphemy when he said that he was the Son of God, making Himself equal to the Father. The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates the truth that JESUS is who He said He was. In Romans 1:4, Paul states, “and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.” 2. Salvation depends on the resurrection. The Bible calls Jesus the “first fruits.” Jesus’ resurrection ensures the resurrection of life to those who accept him. Romans 10:9 declares, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14 reads, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” 3. The resurrection is a demonstration of the power of God that enters the Christian after the “new birth” experience. Ephesians 1:18-21 states, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

12

Notes:

The Second Coming of JesusWhile on Patmos, John writes the following in his opening doxology (1:5-8):

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”  and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”;  and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”, t

III. The Present Mission of All Disciples The Initiation of the Mission Matthew 28:16-20 – Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Equipment for and Dedication to the Mission

13

Notes:

In Acts 1, Jesus preaches about the Kingdom of God and tells His disciples to wait “for the gift my Father promised” (1:5). Acts 2, the power of the Spirit falls, people speak in languages that communicate truth to various observers, Peter preaches the message of Jesus, and 3,000 are saved.  After the church is empowered, it is then functional.  In Acts 2 (42-47), Luke records the following:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Strategy for the Mission: Evangelize Unbelievers and Disciple Believers Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 10:9-10 – If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Mark 12:28-31 – One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

14

Notes:

IV. The Eternal Realm Revelation 22:1-5 – Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

15

Notes:

16