Life's Big Questions
Tracing 6 Major Themes Through The Bible
Published on 17. December 2012
176 pages
978-1-84474-761-0 (ISBN)
Description
* Who rules the world?
* What does it mean to be human?
* Are perfect relationships possible?
* How should we view money and things?
* How does the Holy Spirit work in our world and our lives?
* What is God's plan for the world?
How can sixty-six books of the Bible have a single message for us today? What unites the vastly different accounts of God's work in the world? How do various genres of the Bible work together?
Vaughan Roberts believes that the Bible tells a single story for all time. He draws out the Bible's message of Jesus Christ, and God's redemption through him, in six big questions.
This companion volume to God's Big Picture will not only help you to answer the questions listed above, but will give you tools to transform your own Bible study in the light of the whole story of God.
* What does it mean to be human?
* Are perfect relationships possible?
* How should we view money and things?
* How does the Holy Spirit work in our world and our lives?
* What is God's plan for the world?
How can sixty-six books of the Bible have a single message for us today? What unites the vastly different accounts of God's work in the world? How do various genres of the Bible work together?
Vaughan Roberts believes that the Bible tells a single story for all time. He draws out the Bible's message of Jesus Christ, and God's redemption through him, in six big questions.
This companion volume to God's Big Picture will not only help you to answer the questions listed above, but will give you tools to transform your own Bible study in the light of the whole story of God.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Nottingham
United Kingdom
Product notice
Reflowable
ISBN-13
978-1-84474-761-0 (9781844747610)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2012
Inter-Varsity Press
€32.37
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Vaughan Roberts is Rector of St Ebbe's Church, Oxford and a popular speaker at Spring Harvest. He is also a founder member of '9.38' which encourages people to consider full-time gospel ministry, and is on the leadership team of The Proclamation Trust.
Content
- Intro
- Life's Big Questions
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 'You can make the Bible say whatever you want'
- The Bible is one book
- 1 | The once and future King Who rules the world?
- The Old Testament
- The New Testament
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - God is king of creation
- 2. The perished kingdom - God's rule is rejected
- 3. The promised kingdom - God will rule through a king
- 4. The partial kingdom - God establishes a monarchy in Israel
- 'In those days Israel had no king'
- A false start
- A king from Bethlehem
- The son of David
- Solomon: the pinnacle of Israel's history
- The divided kingdom
- 5. The prophesied kingdom - a new king will come
- Judgment must come
- A message of hope
- Son of David
- The suffering Servant
- Son of man
- 6. The present kingdom - God's King has come
- Son of David
- Son of Man
- The suffering Servant
- 7. The proclaimed kingdom - the King's mission
- The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20) - the problem of wastage
- The Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) - the problem of waiting
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-32) - the problem of weakness
- 8. The perfected kingdom - the Lamb on the throne
- How should we live now?
- Summary
- Bible Study
- Psalm 2
- 2 | Naked ape or divine image? Who am I?
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - the image of God
- God's creatures
- God's image
- God's stewards
- 2. The perished kingdom - the image of God marred
- Sin is original
- Sin is universal
- Sin is total
- Sin is fatal
- 3. The present kingdom - Jesus Christ, the perfect image
- Jesus Christ relived Adam's life
- Jesus died Adam's death
- Jesus fulfilled Adam's destiny
- 4. The proclaimed kingdom - the image restored in Christ
- We have died with Christ
- We have been raised with Christ
- 5. The perfected kingdom - the image glorified
- How should we live now?
- We should be holy people
- We should be hopeful people
- Summary
- Bible Study
- Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2:5-18
- Psalm 8
- Hebrews 2:5-18
- 3 | God's marriage Is a perfect relationship possible?
- Is a perfect marriage possible?
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - human intimacy with God in the Garden
- 2. The perished kingdom - human beings are banished from God's presence
- 3. The promised kingdom - 'I will be your God and you will be my people'
- 4. The partial kingdom - God's covenant relationship with Israel
- A marriage ceremony
- The marital home
- A jealous God
- Spiritual prostitution
- The king's marriage
- 5. The prophesied kingdom - God's marriage with his people will be renewed
- Hosea: a tale of two marriages
- Jeremiah: the new covenant
- Ezekiel: an ungrateful wife
- 6. The present kingdom - the bridegroom has come
- 7. The proclaimed kingdom - the betrothed is prepared for her wedding
- An invitation to a wedding banquet
- The betrothed people of God
- The marriage of Christ and his church
- 8. The perfected kingdom - the marriage of the Lamb
- The practical consequences of God's marriage with his people
- Implications for our relationship with God
- God's love is magnified
- Our sin is heightened
- Implications for human marriage
- Married couples should be faithful to one another
- Married couples should follow the model of Christ and his church
- Implications for singleness
- Summary
- Bible Study
- Ezekiel 16
- Undeserved love (verses 1-14)
- Rejected love (verses 15-34)
- Jealous love (verses 35-52)
- Forgiving love (verses 53-63)
- 4 | Wealth and possessions Your money or your life?
- Materialism and consumerism
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - money and possessions are good gifts from God
- We should be grateful
- We should be good stewards
- 2. The perished kingdom - money and possessions can be spiritually dangerous
- Idolatry
- Do not covet
- Do not hoard
- 3. The promised kingdom - a promise of material blessing
- 4. The partial kingdom - justice and prosperity in the land
- God's concern for justice
- Is prosperity a reward for obedience?
- Literary context
- Biblical context
- 5. The prophesied kingdom - God's concern for justice
- 6. The present kingdom - money and possessions will not last
- Is poverty a spiritual advantage?
- 'Moth and rust destroy'
- 7. The proclaimed kingdom - we should use our resources for this world and the next
- We should provide for ourselves and our families
- We should pay taxes
- We should provide for the needy
- We should support gospel work
- 8. The perfected kingdom - true prosperity for ever
- Summary
- Bible Study
- 1 Timothy 6:6-19
- verses 6-10
- verses 11-16
- verses 17-19
- 5 | The Holy Spirit What is his work?
- The work of the Spirit is the work of salvation
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - the Spirit is God's agent in creation
- 2. The perished kingdom - the Spirit's word is disobeyed
- 3. The promised kingdom - the gift of the Spirit is promised
- 4. The partial kingdom - the mighty wind of God
- The Spirit defeats God's enemies
- The Spirit establishes relationship with God
- 5. The prophesied kingdom - the Spirit-filled Messiah will come to bring salvation
- The Spirit will fill the Messiah
- The Spirit will be given to all God's people
- The Spirit will be agent of a new creation
- 6. The present kingdom - Jesus is the Spirit-filled Messiah
- John the Baptist
- God the Father
- The Lord Jesus himself
- A gift for the future
- 7. The proclaimed kingdom - the Spirit is given to all God's people
- The Spirit and Christ
- The Spirit replaces Jesus
- The Spirit points to Jesus
- The Spirit and conversion
- The Spirit convicts
- The Spirit enlightens
- The Spirit inspired the Word
- The Spirit equips us to proclaim the Word
- The Spirit illuminates the Word
- The Spirit regenerates
- The Spirit indwells
- The Spirit transforms
- The Spirit assures us
- The Spirit equips
- The Spirit secures
- 8. The perfected kingdom - the eternal Spirit
- Conclusion
- Do I have the Holy Spirit?
- Does the Holy Spirit have me?
- Summary
- Bible Study
- The Spirit in John's Gospel
- 6 | God and the nations What is God's plan for the world?
- 1. The pattern of the kingdom - the Creator of all peoples
- 2. The perished kingdom - the human race is divided from God and each other
- 3. The promised kingdom - God promises to bless the nations
- 4. The partial kingdom - some Gentiles are drawn to Israel's God
- Set apart
- Called to be different
- A kingdom of priests
- Israel's witness to the world
- 5. The prophesied kingdom - the nations will see God's glory
- Judgment and the nations
- Hope and the nations
- The nations will stream to Zion
- The nations rally to the Son of David
- The nations put their hope in God's Servant
- The nations receive God's salvation
- The nations will see God's glory
- 6. The present kingdom - the kingdom of Jesus is for all nations
- The mission of Jesus
- Jesus comes to Israel
- Israel rejects Jesus
- The kingdom of God is offered to the Gentiles
- The Great Commission
- 'All authority'
- 'All nations'
- 'Always'
- 7. The proclaimed kingdom - the gospel goes to the ends of the earth
- The book of Acts
- Pentecost
- The conversion of Paul
- The conversion of Cornelius
- Paul in Rome
- The epistles
- The church of Christ
- 'All Israel will be saved'
- 8. The perfected kingdom - God's multi-national family
- Conclusion
- Our part in God's mission to the Gentiles
- We should speak to God about people
- We should speak to people about Jesus
- Summary
- Bible Study
- Isaiah 66:18-24
- Conclusion
- Further reading
- 1. The once and future King
- 2. Naked ape or divine image?
- 3. God's marriage
- 4. Wealth and possessions
- 5. The Holy Spirit
- 6. God and the nations
- Notes
- Introduction
- 1. The once and future King
- 2. Naked ape or divine image?
- 3. God's marriage
- 4. Wealth and possessions
- 5. The Holy Spirit
- 6. God and the nations
