August 7th, 2011 The DNA of the Bible Wk6-The Church

How would you describe the bible (Honestly!)? Intimidating? Confusing? Irrelevant? What if you had a lens that helped unlock the power in every passage? In this series we will be exploring the DNA of the Bible; the two simple, interwoven threads that carry God’s message throughout the bible from start to finish: Covenant and Kingdom-this week in the life of the Church.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

The DNA of the Bible: Covenant and Kingdom in the life of ___________

August 7, 2011

The two grand themes that are like tightly woven, interconnected threads that carry the message of God throughout the whole bible are: Covenant and Kingdom.

Covenant has to do with:

  • ___________: Above all else, we are made for _________ with God
  • ___________: Who are you in _______ _______?

Kingdom has to do with:

  • _____________: What are you called to do?
  • _____________: How do you ____________ the Father and King?

Covenant and Kingdom in the life of Jesus…

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”   Luke 22:19-20        

What is the new covenant?

If you remember back to the covenant that God made with Abraham, the covenant ceremony symbolized that each person was giving themselves up, ____________ their old person in order to take on a new ____________ in which they were united with this other person and everything you used to have as your own, you now _______.

The death of the animals symbolizes this was truly the ______ of an old life taking place and a new life was being forged.  All of that was pointing to Jesus.

Paul reflects on the new covenant in 2 Corinthians 5:14–21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become right with God.   2 Cor 5:21

Jesus takes on everything we have, (our sin) and gave up everything he has, (his life in our place), so that we might become one with him (in relationship).

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.                                                                                                        2 Cor 5:16

A true covenant is made when both sides give up ___________ they have for each other. So if we really _______ that he gave up everything he had to share with us everything that is his, then we are going to give up everything we have to experience all that He is and he has.

As we talk about oneness with Jesus, it is incredible with how deeply personal and intimate the relationship God wants to have with you, but its _____  just for ______.

God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body.  Ephesians 1:23

In the new covenant there is a corporate oneness so ____________ that as Paul is grasping to put it into words he calls it a body.

The church isn’t a separate entity that forms something ____ Christ, we form something ______ Christ. He is the head of something that we all form the rest of together with Him.

As a church we’ve been purchased by Jesus to become a well functioning body that experiences the joy of ____________ life together (with love and peace and humility, and hope, and forgiveness and trust and deep relationship, etc) and then also moves out into God’s __________ in the world.

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