SEMINARY - GRASPING THE BIG PICTURE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE 1

I. What is the Bible?

A. Theological History

1. The ways of God with His creation

B. Theological History Expressed In Diversity of Genres

1. One Author

2. One Message (The Meta-narrative)

a. Old Testament

· Historical

· Poetry

· Prophecy

· Law

· Prophets

· Writings

b. New Testament

· Gospels

· Acts

· Epistles

· Revelation

II. What is the Kingdom of God?

A. It is the Theological (Invisible) Rule and Reign of God

1. The Kingdom of God is the rule of God expressed in the loyal obedience of His people to His teaching and ethic

2. The Kingdom of God is invisible

a. It is invisible in the sense that there is no “visible” king on a visible throne

b. It is invisible because its space is the occupation of the hearts and minds of its subjects

3. The Kingdom of God is Theological because its expectations are God and Christ Centered, not man centered.

III. How does the Kingdom of God theme connect the Old and New Testaments?

A. It is the Unified Plan of God to Restore and Reconcile the World to Glory

1. The Seed of the Kingdom: The Old Testament as A Shadow

a. The Pattern of the Kingdom

b. The Perished Kingdom

c. The Promised Kingdom

d. The Partial Kingdom

e. The Prophesied Kingdom

2. The Flower of the Kingdom: The New Testament as the Reality

a. The Present Kingdom

b. The Proclaimed Kingdom

c. The Perfected Kingdom