“Hey Allen, we’re doing the story of Noah in Kids’ Church. We’ve been reading the story. It’s terrible! All those people drowning, and animals too! We can’t tell that to the children! What are we missing?”
Continue reading “Is there any justice? (Genesis 6:5-22)”
Who corrupted God’s world? (Genesis 6:1-6)
Genesis 6:2 (NIV)
The sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
Who were the sons of God? Who were the daughters of humankind? Why did their intermarriage corrupt the world?
Continue reading “Who corrupted God’s world? (Genesis 6:1-6)”
Do you journal?
Do you keep a journal of your thoughts, feelings, prayers, hopes, disappointments, challenges, uncertainties, joys, tears, and your attempts to follow God’s promptings? Continue reading “Do you journal?”
Who will represent the sovereign? (Genesis 5)
We felt the despair of Cain’s version of humanity—away from YHWH’s presence, run by human power, offering greater violence as the answer to violence. We felt the contrast when Seth’s renewed humanity began calling on YHWH’s authority as their hope of survival. The narrator now leads us into this godly community. Continue reading “Who will represent the sovereign? (Genesis 5)”
How far does the kingdom of God extend? (Genesis 4:16-26)
For too long we have read Genesis 3 as a story about individuals, and Genesis 4 as a story about some other individuals. Genesis 3–4 is a communal story. It describes how human society sinks to something that is less than human when it resists God’s authority. Adam and Eve grasped power that belonged to God. Their son grasped power over his brother. The society Cain founds is a long way from God’s intentions for humanity. Continue reading “How far does the kingdom of God extend? (Genesis 4:16-26)”
What kind of world is God running? (Genesis 4:1-15)
It’s a shame we have chapter divisions. Genesis 4 belongs with Genesis 3. We saw how the wise sovereign spelled out the conflict his subjects would experience as a result of grasping his power. That’s exactly what happens. In conflict of the worst kind, Cain grasps power over his brother’s life.
If you read Genesis 3 as a story about our personal sin (our need for personal salvation), you missed the bigger picture. Continue reading “What kind of world is God running? (Genesis 4:1-15)”
What changed with the rebellion? (Genesis 3:15-24)
When humans attempted to oust God and decide good and evil for themselves, they could not have imagined the chain of conflict their rebellion would unleash. Genesis 3:9-19 is the transcript of the investigation of their crime. The sovereign’s words are presented in poetic form: it slows down the narration so we hear him.
By any measure, their sovereign is absurdly lenient with these rebels. His judgement is not so much a punishment as it is an explanation of the trouble (curse) they have brought on themselves. In each case, he explains what conflict/struggle they will face as a result of introducing rebellion into his realm: Continue reading “What changed with the rebellion? (Genesis 3:15-24)”
“Christianity Today” magazine
Update 2016-05-31: Today is the last day the free subscription accompanies this resource.
Christianity Today (CT) is one of the significant magazines discussing issues from an Evangelical perspective. You can read some articles on-line, while others require a subscription. Continue reading ““Christianity Today” magazine”
Who’s in charge now? (Genesis 3:1-14)
Genesis 3 is strange to our ears. Why is there a talking snake? Why is the creature called crafty? Why is the snake craftier than the other animals? Ultimately the story is all about who rules, but we need to deal with some of these issues so we can get to the main point.
A common response is to say, Continue reading “Who’s in charge now? (Genesis 3:1-14)”
What does it mean to be human? (Genesis 2:15-25)
Genesis 2 introduces such an intimate picture of the one who structured heaven and earth according to his command. We receive our identity from him. He sculpts the human from clay, and breathes his own life into him (2:7). In the grounds of his palace he cultivates a garden. From his own person flows the abundance that sustains life—the tree, and the river, and the riches (2:9-14).
The sovereign calls the human to participate in his reign. His task is to work and guard the palace grounds (2:15). The kingdom of God is a partnership: Continue reading “What does it mean to be human? (Genesis 2:15-25)”
Was Eden God’s palace? (Genesis 2:1-14)
Genesis 1 revealed who God is and who we are. Genesis 2 reveals how we were intended to live in his presence.
There was a place known as Eden. From the perspective of the people telling the story (Israel), it was to the east. The sovereign planted a garden there, “in Eden” (Gen 2:8). Does that suggest that Eden was something more than the garden?
Continue reading “Was Eden God’s palace? (Genesis 2:1-14)”
Who are we? (Genesis 1:20-31)
We saw that Genesis 1 reveals our sovereign establishing two realms: heaven and earth. The first half of this narrative (Days 1-3) culminated with the sovereign placing lights in the sky as signs that earth is under heaven’s rule. The second half (Days 4-6) also culminates with the sovereign installing images of his reign.
Continue reading “Who are we? (Genesis 1:20-31)”
Who is God? (Genesis 1:1-19)
The Bible is, first and foremost, the revelation of God. With this post, we’re starting at the beginning to hear its message about the kingdom of God. It begins with the God of the kingdom.
God is ruler of two realms that derive their existence from him: the heavens (his world) and the earth (our world). Our world lacked shape and significance until
Free course in Perth
Update 2021-02-07: old links removed.
If you’re in Perth, Western Australia, you’re invited to a course I’m teaching as part of Riverview’s Foundations 2 series: Continue reading “Free course in Perth”
Reading with a kingdom perspective
I’d really love to dive straight into some New Testament examples of how to read the Bible from a kingdom perspective, but we can’t start there. We acquire the perspective from the Jewish Scriptures, and then apply it to the Gospel stories. Continue reading “Reading with a kingdom perspective”
A present or future kingdom?
If there is an aspect of the kingdom that divides opinion, it is the question of when. Some (e.g. dispensationalists) have a strong commitment to a future kingdom (e.g. the millennium). Others perceive the kingdom as already here in the present—realized (or at least partly realized). The “when?” question Continue reading “A present or future kingdom?”
Free book (Logos)
From time to time, I’ll post about special offers from Logos Bible Software since that’s what I use for my research.
Each month they offer a free book, and a heavily discounted one. For May 2016, these are both by Alister McGrath: Continue reading “Free book (Logos)”
The “Aha” moment
It gradually dawned on me. I’d waded slowly and carefully through the Second Temple literature (Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Josephus) so as to see with their eyes, to gain their worldview. And there it was! The reason Jesus never defined the kingdom of God for his hearers was Continue reading “The “Aha” moment”
Why didn’t Jesus define the kingdom?
Jesus taught his followers to seek first the kingdom. And what he taught, he did. (There’s a book opportunity right there: if Jesus operated with integrity, how does his life explain his teaching, and how does his teaching explain his life?) Continue reading “Why didn’t Jesus define the kingdom?”
Questions
Here’s a quick quiz. No trick questions: just consider the words you would use to describe some of the central tenets of the Christian faith. Please take a moment to record your responses before reading on.
- Who was Jesus (his identity)?
- What did Jesus come to do (his mission)?
- What was the good news according to Jesus (his gospel), in one sentence?
There is no one right answer Continue reading “Questions”
Seeking the kingdom 