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Number 2
This
page contains the main points from the Sermon given on the morning of
24th April
2005
. There are also BIBLE
STUDY questions for personal or group use as appropriate.
Sermon
Outline / Notes
Foundations
for
Mission
-
The Big Picture.
God’s
dealing with the human race.
God’s
good earth. — Creation.
-
“In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God saw that it
was good…”
-
Creation
reveals to us a unique God who is both personal and infinite.
-
People
created in God’s own image, meaning we have the ability to relate to God
The
Great Rebellion and its Consequences: -
The Fall
-
At
the heart of this temptation is the whole issue of weather or not Adam and
Eve trust God.
-
While
the reason for sin and sinning might be mysterious its consequences are not.
-
The
relationship with God is blighted.
-
Death
in all its horror is to descend on them.
The
Rescue Begins:
Jesus:
the Great Intervention: -
The incarnation
-
God
comes personally to this troubled earth.
-
Jesus
emphasised God’s holy demands and his gracious love.
-
God
does mission by incarnation.
History’s
Turning Point: - The
Resurrection
-
The
resurrection declares that Christ is vindicated by God. Christ is King - he
has conquered death, sin and Satan.
-
Hell’s
retreat bad really begun.
The
Unfinished Story: -
The Church
The
Final Victory: - The
Second Coming
-
Jesus
will come a second time and in glory.
-
The
judgement of all creation will take place.
-
A
new heaven and earth will follow.
These
images should encourage us in mission on the one hand and infuse us with a
degree of urgency on the other.
Some
say the Church has a mission. Some say that a Missionary God has a Church.
STUDY
GUIDE – Number 2
Intro:
Either
Take
a child’s jigsaw
(8 16 pieces or so) place it face down on
a table and see how long it take people to complete
it. Now do the
same thing only with the picture side up and the picture on the
lid visible. Why is it
so much easier when you can
see the picture?
Or
You
are going on
a touring holiday to a region you have never been before. Why
might you buy a map on the first day? What does the
map help you do? What does it
help you not to do?
Reading
: Eph. 1:3 -
2:13.
Remember
this is not a study about everything that this passage means but rather on
what it tells us about the relationship between
God and the human race over
time.
Q1
Read Eph. 1: 4 - 5 and 1: 9—11.
There
are two styles
of management; one is where events control us (“crisis management”) and
the other is
where we control events. From these verses how does
God control
the universe? What do we learn from these verses about
God’s power?
Q2
Read Eph.2: 1—3
What
does this passage say to those who believe that all that human beings need to
sort themselves out is therapy, wealth, relaxation or tender loving care?
According to this passage what do all of us deserve?
Q3
How many times is the name Christ or Jesus Christ used in the passage? What does
this suggest about the importance that Paul
gives to
him? Read Eph. 1: 7 and
2:13
. According to these verses, what were the results of
Jesus’ death for those who believe in him?
Q4
Read Eph. 2: 4—7. What is the significance of the resurrection for those who
believe in Jesus?
Q5
Read Eph. 1: 22—23. What do we learn here about the relationship between
Christ and God’s new people, the church?
Q6
Read Eph.
1: 13
— 14. According to this passage what is the purpose of the
Holy Spirit? Are you comfortable with this “guarantee”? Are you still overly
reliant on your own talents and abilities?
Q7
Read Eph. 1 9— 10. If the results of sin were rebellion and breakdown what is
the significance of Paul’s vision for the future here?
The
story of God’s rescue of a people is unfinished and you and I are part of it.
How does this responsibility challenge you?
Bearing
in mind the Big Picture how should Christians view those who are not (yet)
believers? The Church? The Future?
Prayer:
Please take time to pray for: The React Steering Group; Roger Murphy, Paul Hoey
and Paul Woodman. Pray that individually and as a church we would be bold for
God as we seek to spread the God News.
Witness:
How
might we let people know about REACT? What sort of PR is ‘needed? Discuss your
ides and pass them on to the React Steering Group.
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