July 3rd, 2011 The DNA of the Bible Wk2-Abraham

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 Abraham.

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 ___________

July 3, 2011

The Bible has a DNA. If we step back and look at the big picture of the bible there are some clear and simple themes that run throughout.  They are a framework to help unlock the mystery of the bible, and put its ___________ accessibly into ________ hands.

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 Abraham….

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ Genesis 12:1–2

By leaving his father’s household, Abram was thus giving up his ____________ and his right to family property and the source of what society defined a good ___________.

Why would God ask so much?

So that within a covenant relationship, ______ could be those things for Abram-his _________ of identity, and security, and inheritance.

Later… God __________ a process with Abraham that demonstrates the incredible depth of relationship that God wants to have with his people.

“Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Genesis 15

The death of the animal represented that the people making the covenant were giving up part of themselves or _____________ their old identity. Then they would stand at opposite ends of the animals and walk between the pathway and end up on the other side, essentially changing places, representing the ______ identities becoming ______.

God also asked Abraham to come through with his side of the covenant, with the true ________ up of everything he had to be in relationship with God.  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering…” Genesis 22

That is terrifying.  But it was a demonstration of just how deep this covenant relationship between God and Abraham went, he trusted that God was_______ and God would _________.

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

 

Sometimes God will ask us to give up our dreams for him, to sacrifice our plans for him, to radically alter the direction of our life for him.  But that’s covenant relationship-we give up what we have to share  in everything he has.  As Jesus says, “take up your cross and follow me.” And the life of Abraham shows its worth it. In Isaiah 41:8 God calls Abraham “my __________.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download