Sermon Tone Analysis

Our goal is to learn the basic STORY LINE of the bible - won’t happen well if you just go over it once on a Sunday morning… Next Sunday we are going to try and go through the whole thing at once! Show them where resources are to learn the story well —Why?

This story is rooted in human history and has impacted billions of people all over the world… It describes human nature perfectly and fits the unfolding events of human history like no other story... it would be a tragedy for you to not really know this story…that points to Jesus and God’s great love for you…

We need to learn this Story because it is the story that Jesus taught from, that He said was true, and that He used it to explain what he was accomplishing - the Good news, the gospel has a context - it is part of the larger story of God’s plan!

Without knowing the story it is very easy to have a distorted view of Jesus and why he is Good news!

We need to learn this story because we are living in it!

Without knowing the story you are a part of, it will be very difficult to make sense of who you are and why you are here in a world that is increasingly chaotic and complex.

So Let’s learn the story well - that Jesus told when he opened the minds and hearts of his disciples to the Scriptures.

For example: My family has been through some very traumatic events - I know that when we encounter disappointments, suffering, pain, tragedy, evil in this world - it directly challenges our faith in a good God, making it difficult to make sense of life, to live out God’s purposes for us, or hold on to any hope…

our family has been through some very traumatic events - I know that when we encounter disappointments, suffering, pain, tragedy, evil in this world - it directly challenges our faith in a good God, and make it difficult to make sense of life or hold on to any hope…

BUT Learning the story helps us tremendously - knowing that I’m living in this story, this overarching plan for humanity, and having some understanding of it and my part in it - gets me up in the morning, it gives my broken life significance, allows me to face the challenges of life with some confidence, it gives me a sense of direction helping me set priorities and make decisions, it opens my heart and mind to see more clearly, God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ and all that he has accomplished on our behalf…which fills my life with hope and an underlying Joy that is with me even in terrible circumstances!

BUT Learning the story helps us tremendously - knowing that I’m living in this story, this overarching plan for humanity, and having some understanding of it and my part in it - gets me up in the morning, allows me to face the challenges of life with some confidence, it helps me set priorities and make decisions, because it opens my heart and mind to see more clearly, who I am and why I’m here because of Jesus Christ and all that he has accomplished on our behalf, it opens my life up to a living hope that is ours through faith in him!

What we’ve been doing here is recreating the story Jesus told on the road to Emmaus - by listening to how the Apostles told the Story in the NT (they understood it because Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures)-

It is this story that Jesus used to open the minds and hearts of his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

What we’ve been doing here is recreating the story Jesus told on the road to Emmaus is by listening to how the Apostles told the Story in the NT (they understood it because Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures) .

All the stories of the bible really fit together into one story because they follow the story line of God’s plan.

- which is quite different from what Drake sings...

there is a prologue that sets up the story - which the Apostle John refers to in his writings

When Stephen and the other Apostles tell the story in Acts they begin with Abraham and God’s promise that reveals His overall plan that will shape human history.

The Apostles then move quickly to Moses and the covenant God made with Israel.

Because it fulfills the part of God’s promise to Make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation - The nation of Israel introduces God to the nations and prepares the way for a future time when God will change the hearts of his people and bring all the nations into his blessing.

Which makes the next major figure in the Story DAVID - Paul included David in the story when he tells the story in .

He describes the covenant God made with David by giving his own summary of Israel's history up to David and then focusing on the significance of the Covenant God made with DAVID.

The Apostles then move from Moses to speak of David and the prophets (like Paul does in ) - Which makes the next major figure in the Story DAVID -

Let’s pick the story up from where we left off last week, Moses has predicted that Israel will will experience all the curses outlined in the covenant - because they will not be able to obey the covenant - then he dies and Joshua is ready to lead the Israelites into the promised Land of Canaan…

Which makes the next major figure in the Story DAVID - Paul included David in the story when he tells the story in .

He describes the covenant God made with David by giving his own summary of Israel's history up to David and then focusing on the significance of the Covenant God made with DAVID.

The Story - Joshua to the Exile: The Davidic Covenant

Joshua then leads them across the JORDAN RIVER at flood stage (pull pant legs up) Right square in their way, was basically the capital of Canaan JERICO.

It had two huge walls around it, the inner wall thick enough you could drive chariots on it.

God gave a battle strategy to them, which Joshua obeyed, to march around the wall each day for six days and on the seventh day to blow their horns and the walls would fall down.

Archeologists have uncovered those very walls today, one section falling out and one section falling in.

You could say they had a ‘SMASHING SUCCESS’ (clap hands together and spread to sides).

Next they went 14 miles NW to a much smaller city called AI, but they were defeated.

Why?

Because ACHAN DE-FEAT (point to sore feet) --- Achan had disobeyed God’s specific instructions, so God allowed their defeat to expose his sin and call his people to trust and obey him --- Once the people dealt with Achan, they went on to win victories in the region of Gibeon.

Then Joshua takes his soldiers on a Southern campaign, and takes the South TOTALLY (two handed air boxing) as God commanded.

Then he turns north but only takes it PARTIALLY (onehanded air boxing).

The land is then divided into 12 parts – one province for each of the 12 tribes of Israel – which came from Jacob’s 12 sons.

After the land has been divided, God raises up JUDGES to rule the land.

Some judges were good and the people obeyed God; some were bad and the people disobeyed God.

Some of the judges were well known: DEBORAH is the only female Judge mentioned (adjust your hair), we know SAMSON because of his great strength (flex), and GIDEON was a judge as well as a warrior!

(Today, the Gideons are a world wide organization that distributes bibles so we call him the one with all the bibles – make a motion like passing out bibles).

This period was characterized by so many ups and downs we can call it ANARCHY (motion up’s and downs with hands in chopping motion) The people look around (look around pointing) and see that all the other nations have a king – so they want a king.

God tells them, you don’t want a king he will tax you and you will have to serve him.

But the people insist so God gives them a King like all the other nations – (hold up finger on left hand) - Saul.

Which you can read about in the book of 1Samuel.

But Saul’s heart is not for God so he is removed by God , and God has Samuel anoint a second king (add second finger) – DAVID.

He was a man after God’s own heart who’s appointment as king is told in the book of 2 Samuel.

God then further clarified his promise which he made with Abraham by promising David (in covenant form) that the coming king, who would bring in the kingdom, would come from his line, establishing David’s throne FOREVER.

As a result the third king was SOLOMON David’s Son.

You can read about him in the book of 1st Kings.

He was the one who built a temple for God.

David and Solomon wrote most of the WRITINGS – the third section of the Jewish scriptures – David wrote the Psalms, and Solomon wrote the wisdom literature: Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

The fourth king (add fourth finger) was REHOBOAM, Solomon’s son.

He wanted to be come richer than his father, so he taxed the people to death.

As a result the kingdom splits (blow-up your hands) 10 Tribes go north led by Jeroboam, a general from the north (point north) and 2 go south (point South) led by Rehoboam – the tribes in the North are called Israel – and the tribes in the south are called Judah.

Then God raises up prophets to try to shape up Israel and Judah but no one listens.

The writings of these prophets are called the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 Minor prophets) NOTE: The former prophets give the history of the kings (1&&2Kings).

But the people ignore the Prophets for 200 years so what does God do?

Just as he promised in his covenant and as Moses predicted at the second giving of the law he removes them from the land – he brings the ASSYRIANS from the north and takes the northern tribes captive.

The Assyrians are very CRUEL and were feared because they did things like ripping and filleting their prisoners while still alive and displaying piles of skills to celebrate their victories.

So the prophets in the south start warning and calling Judah to love and obey God before it is too late for them too - but they don’t listen for another 150 years.

So God brings in the BABYLONIANS (rock your baby) to take them captive for 70 years because they didn’t let the land rest every seventh year as commanded in the Law, (which was God’s plan for dealing with the poor and giving them a chance to start over).

So the people are exiled in the land of Babylon.

The Babylonians are EDUCATORS (tap your head with your finger).

Eventually an empire takes over the Babylonians – the MEDES and PERSIANS (this history is recorded in the book of Daniel) Then God allows Judah to come back to the land in three expeditions (hold up three fingers).

The land is ‘in rubble’ – and the first wave of exiles to return was led by ZERUBBABEL – he rebuilds the TEMPLE (roof with hands) – Second is led by EZRA and he rebuilds the HEARTS of the people renewing the covenant with them.

The third is led by ‘knee high miah” NEHEMIAH – and he rebuilds the city WALLS around Jerusalem.

God brings them back to the land but they are still under the rule of a foreign empire.

Then the Jewish scriptures come to a close and there is (make book with hands and close it) NO WORD FROM GOD for 400 years until Jesus is born…

Review the main points of the remainder of the OT story:

· Joshua leads them across (tiptoe and hold up pant legs) THE JORDAN RIVER to the capital city JERICO where they have (clap hands) SMASHING SUCCESS

· Then they went 14miles NW to the town of ‘AI’ where they suffer (grab foot) ACHAN DEFEAT

· After they deal with Achan, they take the South part of the land (air boxing with both hands) TOTALLY but the north part of the land only (air boxing with one hand) PARTIALLY

· Then they divide the land into (dividing motion with hands) 12 PARTS, one for each tribe of Israel

Last week we looked at how God fulfilled his promise to Abraham by making his descendants into an official nation by making a Covenant with them through Moses.

Now after they enter the land God continues to develop and carry out his Promise to Abraham by promising a King from the line of David, who would make it possible to for God to bless all the nations through Abraham’s descendants…

· The prominent rulers at this time were JUDGES: The famous female judge was (stroke hair) DEBORA, the strongman judge was (flex) SAMPSON, who was the judge with bibles named after him?

GIDEON

· This period was characterized by (up and down hand chopping motions) ANARCHY

· The people looked around (pointing around) and see that other nations have KINGS

· So God gives them a king, and the last Judge and first prophet SAMUEL anoints the first king (hold up pointer finger and keep it up) SAUL in 1Sam.

· The second king was (hold up a second finger) DAVID in 2Sam and God promised that his throne would last (spread arms wide apparat but keep two fingers up) FOREVER

· The third king was (hold up third finger) SOLOMON David’s son in 1kings

· The fourth king was (hold up fourth finger) Solomon’s son, REHOBOAM in 2Kings

· He wanted to be richer than his dad so he taxed the people to death and as a result the kingdom splits apart (blow up hands).

· Who went north? (hold left arm out and make hand blow up like a bomb) the general JEROBOAM

· Who went south? (hold out right arm and make hand blow up like a bomb) REHOBOAM

· How many tribes go to the northern kingdom called Israel? (Arms to the left hold up 10 fingers) 10

· How many tribes go to the southern kingdom called Judah? (right arm out hold up 2 fingers) 2

· Then God raises up prophets to shape up Israel and Judah, but no one listens for (hold up 2 fingers) 200years!

· So God brings a kingdom from the north to capture the northern kingdom of Israel… the (sign language ‘a’ with left hand) ASSYRIANS and they are (thumb down) CRUEL

· The prophets keep warning the Southern kingdom Judah, but no one listens.

so God sends in the BABYLONIANS (rock your baby) to take them captive.

What kind of people are they?

(tap your temple with one finger using right hand) EDUCATORS

· Judah is exiled from the land for 70years because they didn’t let the land (lay head on hands like you are going to sleep) REST like God told them to.

· Then a new empire takes over: the MEDES and PERSIANS and they let the Jews go back to their land in three expeditions ..(hold up three fingers)

o (say ‘the land was in rubble’) so The first was led by ZERUBBABEL who rebuilt the (make roof with hands) TEMPLE.

o The second was led by EZRA who rebuilt the (put hand on heart) HEARTS of the people