1. THE BIG PICTURE

2. The Bible has 66 books, written over a period of 2000 years by 40 people. Over 3000 people mentioned. Many different literary genres: Narrative, Genealogy, Law, Prophetic, Poetic, Wisdom, Apocalyptic. How does it all fit together? Why is it important to see the Big Picture?

3. DISCUSS In pairs: List some of your Favourite OT Stories / Characters and discuss why they’re your favourite. 2 minutes to discuss. Do any of your Stories / Books / Characters speak of Christ? 2 minutes to discuss.

4. THE KINGDOM OF GOD Kingdom of God: “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule and blessing”.

5. THE PERFECT KINGDOM Genesis 1&2 : Life as it was meant to be. The Kingdom: God’s people – Adam and Eve. God’s place – Eden. God’s blessing – Perfect relationship with him, obedience to him. His rule and protection.

6. THE FALLEN KINGDOM Genesis 3: Man turning his back on God. The Kingdom: God’s people – No-one. God’s place – Nowhere. God’s blessing – Removed, curse given. Broken vertical relationship (to God) leading to broken horizontal relationships (with fellow man)

7. THE PROMISED KINGDOM Genesis 6 & 12: God makes some Covenants: “Covenants always involve God’s initiative, God’s promises and Human Response.” Christopher Wright Noahic Covenant (Gen 6) – God will never again destroy the creation with a flood. He will preserve the conditions on earth necessary for life. Response: God requires humanity to respect life and not to eat animals that still have their lifeblood.

8. THE PROMISED KINGDOM Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12) God will make Abraham and his descendants his people God will give Abraham and his descendants a land God will cause Abraham and his descendants to be a blessing to the whole world. Response: Circumcision and walking blamelessly before God.

9. THE PROMISED KINGDOM The Kingdom: God’s people: Abraham and his descendants God’s place: Canaan God’s blessing: Blessing for Israel and the nations

10. THE PARTIAL & THEN BROKEN KINGDOM Mosaic Covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19-24): God promises again all that he promised Abraham: Special relationship between God and Israel & gift of the Promised Land (See Exodus 6:6-8). Response: Total and exclusive loyalty to God (Yahweh), commitment to his law.

11. THE PARTIAL & THEN BROKEN KINGDOM God leads Israel into the Promised Land (Joshua 23) Israel pleads for a King to rule them instead of God (1 Sam 8) Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7, Psalm 72:17) – God will put offspring of David on the throne forever, all nations of the world will be blessed through him. Response: loyalty to God alone.

12. THE PROPHESIED KINGDOM Prophets emerge before, during and after exile of Israelites. They proclaim the judgement of God Also prophecy the hope of the Messiah, a new covenant, the perfected kingdom and return to know God. Prepared the way for Christ’s arrival.

13. THE KINGDOM PRESENT IN JESUS The Kingdom: God’s people: Jesus Christ – the new Adam, the new Israel God’s place: Jesus –Immanuel, God present on earth God’s blessing: New covenant, freedom from power and penalty of sin, made a way to know God as Father.

14. KINGDOM: NOW BUT NOT YET Living in the last days between his first and second coming. We have the Spirit of God within us. Seeking God’s will in heaven to come to this earth. Living in a tension – now and not yet.

15. KINGDOM: NOW BUT NOT YET The Kingdom: God’s people: The new Israel – Jew & Gentile believers in Christ – the church. God’s place: Dwelling by his Spirit in each believer and in the midst of the church. God’s blessing: New covenant, Holy Spirit.