Jesus the Christ: Kingship

1 Samuel 8 | The people of Israel do not want what is given to them, 8:7. God had given them all of the leadership that they needed through the Judges and the Lord’s words to them. They in turn ask for what they think to be more, but is actually something far less than the good that God had given them. And this theme runs rampant in our lives. We reject what God has given us because we think that what we want is something better. And we see a similar rejection to the one in 1 Sam. take place with Jesus and His Kingship.

The Jews might have been insulted to think that Jesus, a                                                      carpenter’s son, could be their promised King.

– Sign of mockery on the Cross
-“Are you king of the Jews?”

Jesus’ triumphal entry demonstrates His Kingship in a very powerfully humble way. John 12:12 people laid down palm branches. A symbol triumph from the time of the Maccabees. (Trent’s favorite book of the Bible) But, to juxtapose this Jesus rode in not on a powerful steed but on a donkey. A lowly donkey. Jesus knew what He came to do, but once again the people did not understand.

What is the Biblical idea of a kingdom? Not so much a geographic region as much as it is a sphere of the Royalty’s influence. Once again, a very encouraging thing to understand as we work to see the Lord’s relationship and interaction with us. As God is omnipotent all is within His sphere of influence.

Christ’s Kingdom: Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. What does that mean for us? (Share any stories from last week. Examples of building the Kingdom.)

Mark 1:15 – Kingdom of God is near.

Mark 15:2 – Jesus tells us that He is the King.

We can experience the power of His reign as we obey Him. When Christ                            comes again we will see the Kingdom in full power.

God & Jesus: An Intimate Relationship

A look at divine community.  John 1:1-3. Use this lesson as an opportunity to know better the way that the Father and the Son interact with each other and then how we can live better in community.

Evidences for plurality when speaking of God OT:

– Genesis 1:26 – Let us make man in our own image, after Our likeness
– Genesis 3:22 – “Like one of Us”
– Genesis 11:7 – “Let Us go down”
– Isaiah 6:8 – “Who will go for Us?”

These are all beautiful examples of the openness of communication that                              exists between the Father and the Son and the Spirit. For right now,                          however, we are only focusing on the Father and the Son. There is a                                    consent between the Trinity about the actions that are taken. Isaiah 6:8                             clearly points to the unity which exists in Their desire for the Father’s                               glory.

We can be most unified when we are in agreement about working together                          in order to bring God more glory.

Evidences for plurality of Persons in the NT:

–1 Corinthians 8:4-6 – One God, and recognition of the Lordship of Jesus.
– Ephesians 4:3-6 – Again, pointing to oneness.
– James 2:19 – Same as above
– John 6:27 – Seeing the Father is God
– Matthew 9:4 – Jesus possessed traits only existent in God
– Matthew 28:18-20 – God’s traits displayed in the Great Commission.

Seeing the unique roles that are filled by the different Persons of the                                    Trinity.

Timothy Keller quote about the Trinity. And how does this apply to us and our   community relationships with each other? Common Goal, breaking bread, prayer, etc.

God & His Nature: Justice

What is justice, or the just? This question is highly problematic for anyone without a theistic worldview. And even for us it can be sometimes a difficult question to answer. However, as believers we know that our God is just, and that justice is something that He desires in us. Here are some passages:

2 Chronicles 12:6 He is just; Jeremiah 22:3 He desires justice from us; Deuteronomy 32:4 He is just; 2 Thessalonians as we know that our Lord is just we can rely on Him; Revelation 19:1-2 The glory of God’s justice that we see when all is finished.

So, we know that God is just and that He desires justice from us, and for us to act             in just ways. But what is this thing justice. Much like love, justice is best shown in its attributes rather than its definition. The Bible blesses us by giving us examples from which we might work.

Psalm 9:16 In the end the evil get what they worked for; 1 Kings 3:16-18 That the people get what is theirs; Isaiah 7:17 defending the oppressed; Isaiah 9:7 We see Christ’s role as being one Who is just. In some ways we can see that justice involves the way that we respond and help the poor and oppressed around us. What are some areas of social justice that we see as important for us to act on? God cares deeply about acting justly and He wants for us to also.

Our wonderful gift of justice through Christ on the Cross! It is important to realize that the only reason we can or should seek justice for the oppressed is that we have received eternal justification from Christ.

God & His Nature: Love

Examining the relationship between God and Love

• Love of God – God’s desiring for us to be fulfilled in Him and for His glory to be pronounced loudly.
• 1 John 4:8 – God is love. This phrase is not reversible.
• One of the really amazing parts of love to me is how it is so intricately connected to His other attributes i.e. grace, mercy, kindness, justice.
• Understanding what love is and how God is love helps better know how to act and behave. As well as provides us with the security of knowing that God acts out of towards us.

Focus on 1 John 4:7-21: Love is a tremendous gift from God. Only in God                              does love truly exist.

The Ahavah Initiative

Something incredibly radical takes place here in verses 10&11. This is so radical because it changes the way we might understand love. Love is not a kind of human outpouring of affection to God. But love first comes from God to us, then we might pass true love to others. Because, and only because of the Lord’s love to us are we capable of loving others and Him.

One of the most frustrating parts of love is that it is best defined by listing its attributes. And we see these listed in 1 Corinthians 13. (Read) It is much like identifying a painting in a museum. It is recognized by its attributes, i.e. a frame, brush strokes, etc. Love is similar in that we can see something and go “Ah, that is love.” How do we know? Because it fits what the Lord says about love here, here, and here. This love that God possesses is shown to us most perfectly through the atonement of our sins, paid by the blood of Christ on the Cross.

Q.) How do we know if we have acted in a way of love towards other people?
Q.) How do we know God’s love for us?

God & His Nature: Omni-Qualities

Introduction: What do we gain by studying these large, seemingly distant parts of God? Well, hopefully we will see how these HUGE aspects lead us to a deeper understanding of His intimate affections for us.

Omnipotence:

• Meaning that God is all powerful. That there is no thing which He cannot do unless it is contrary to His nature.
• In Scripture the only time that we see the word almighty used in when                 referring to God

Scripture references: Genesis 17:1-2 God refers to Himself as almighty. And what he says he will do He does 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

As with the other omni qualities of God that we will look at, we will see                            that they have an overarching effect on us. And display more clearly Who                               God is.

Omniscience:

Meaning: “That God knows everything, things actual and possible, effortlessly and equally well.” Ryrie

Acts 15:16-18, God is working out His plan that He has known for ages.

This aspect of God offers a great deal of security for us believers. There is nothing that can ever happen, or that we might do which would or could surprise God. We can rest in His knowledge and love. Ephesians and God’s “grand, cosmic, eternal plan”. 2:10 “Prepared in advance for us to do.” God has His plan for us and it cannot and will not be thwarted. God knows us better than we know ourselves. Psalm 139:1-6, Hebrews 4:13.

Omnipresence

Meaning that “God is everywhere present with His whole being at all                                 times.” Ryrie

For me, this concept is so very hard to grasp in a very wonderful way.  It is not that God is spread out throughout the entire universe like a sheet, if that were true that would mean that there was only a part of God in a particular place. Instead, God wholly exists everywhere. Further, this does not mean that God exists completely in atom-like areas to a seemingly infinite number. But rather, He wholly exists HERE  HERE and HERE .

We also wee that God’s immediacy differs in certain places. This concept is particularly wonderful as it pertains to us believers. Galations 2:20 It is another mystery of the Gospel that through the Cross Jesus Christ our Lord and savior dwells in us. Wonderful. & The Security of Immutability

In summation look at Psalm 77. (Have people read, same with above                                  verses) In the first 9vv David is deeply troubled and in despair. Notice verses 7-9 and the questions he asks. He asks if God’s promises have failed? “forgotten to be merciful?”

And look where he turns to remember Who his God is… “The                                            years of the right hand of the Most High.” David looks to Who God  has been in the past and he trusts that He will be the same in the future. That is faith in God’s immutability. Verses 16-20 are a poetic rendering of the Lord leading His people through the Red Sea. We look at Who God has been in the past and we can trust for Him to be the same for us always.

He is faithful and just to us.