Sermon Tone Analysis

The Gospel Project® for Adults

Leader Guide CSB, Unit 2, Session 1

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Edited by Rev. Lex DeLong, M.A., Oct. 2021.

God Makes a Promise

Summary and Goal

In the past few sessions, we have seen the tragic consequences of sin.

One brother murdered another out of jealousy.

Humanity became so wicked that God sent a flood of judgment.

And people stood in open rebellion against God, refusing to obey His command to spread out; instead, they built a tower to bring glory to themselves (Gen.

11).

But we have also seen God’s grace on display each step of the way.

God was patiently bringing about His plan to provide redemption to humanity.

Up to this point, God did this through His choosing of individuals like Adam, Abel, Enoch, and Noah.

In today’s study, we are going to see the Bible present a shift in the manner in which God deals with the nations of the world.

Through one man that God chose to be the Patriarch of a massive family, He established a nation of people He will used to focus His efforts on the nations of the world through, rather than just through individuals.

Thematically the Bible shifted through some very distinct periods of time that we have now seen evidence of.

The Bible refers to these as “ages,” or “dispensations.”

Although there is some debate over the details of these dispensations, there is general consensus in their overall identity, based on biblical evidence.

“There are four dispensations named or pointed out by the Apostle Paul in Scripture.

By taking note of and comparing their identifying characteristics, there are 3 others that are inferred in Scripture.

Four dispensations identified by the Apostle Paul:

1. Patriarchs (Abraham to Moses Eph.

3:5, 9)

2. Law (Moses to Church Gal.

3:17; 4:21-31)

3. Church (from Pentecost to Rapture Eph.

3:2, 9; 1 Thess.

4 + 5)

4. Kingdom (“fullness of times” Eph.

1:10)

The four mentioned by Paul are Patriarchs (Abraham to Moses Eph.

3:5, 9), Law (Moses to Church Gal.

3:17; 4:21-31), Church (from Pentecost to Rapture Eph.

3:2, 9; 1 Thess.

4 + 5), and Kingdom (“fullness of times” Eph.

1:10).

Each one recognized:

a change in God’s governing relationship with humanity

a change in man’s responsibility because of it

a corresponding Revelation necessary to understand the changes.

Using the identifying characteristics of these Four Paul referenced, there are then three other identifiable in Scripture.

Three other identifiable “ages/dispensations:”

Innocence (Before sin Gen. 1-3)

Conscience (Start of sin to Flood Gen. 4-8:14)

Civil Government (Flood to Promise Gen. 8:15-11:32)

The three others that are identifiable in Scripture are Innocence (Before sin Gen. 1-3), Conscience (Start of sin to Flood Gen. 4-8:14), and Civil Government (Flood to Promise Gen. 8:15-11:32).

Since the future Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom once established, the eternal state would remain as part of the kingdom administration.

The only period of time that remains (other than small transitional times in between) would be the Tribulation.

It is not a full return to Law since Christ has already fulfilled his sacrifice to secure the Covenants, but could be considered that transitional time from Law to the Kingdom.

It is also not a part of the church, since the church will be raptured out and the Tribulation is clearly described as Daniel’s 70th-Week for Israel (Dan.

9:24-27).

It alone does not seem to fit all of the other characteristics of the other clear dispensations.

Although not yet convinced, I am growing more comfortable that the Bible presents it as a transitional time during which God brings the reign of sin’s curse that is witnessed by the Law to a close in preparation for ushering in the Kingdom under Christ’s earthly rule.

In that, some would include it as part of the Law Age and others, the kingdom Age.

I’ll leave that up to you to decide for yourself.

The Seven “Ages/Dispensations” mentioned or evidenced in the Bible in Chronological order:

Innocence (Before sin Gen. 1-3)

Conscience (Start of sin to Flood Gen. 4-8:14)

Civil Government (Flood to Promise Gen. 8:15-11:32)

Patriarchs (Abraham to Moses Eph.

3:5, 9)

Law (Moses to Church Gal.

3:17; 4:21-31)

Church (from Pentecost to Rapture Eph.

3:2, 9; 1 Thess.

4 + 5)

Kingdom (“fullness of times” Eph.

1:10)

Question: In the flow of history we have been looking at in this chronological study along with what we are going to be reading about today, God and His promise to Abraham, which “age or dispensation” is ending and which one do you see us entering into in Gen. 12?

In this session we will see God’s plan take a sizeable step forward to this next Dispensation with the call of Abraham.

We will see that God works in ways that are different from ours and that He is wise—He knows the best possible means to bring His plan to pass.

Each dispensation acts as building blocks throughout time upon which the next dispensation is laid.

We will also see that God is not just trying to bring about what He has promised but that He is also working to produce faith and dependence in His people as well, for their good and His glory.

Session Outline

1. God’s covenant people are established with Abraham (Gen.

12:1-4).

2. God’s covenant people are to trust His promises (Gen.

15:1-6).

3. God’s covenant people are to be set apart for His glory (Gen.

17:1-10).

Main Point: God established a covenant people as a vehicle to bless the entire world.

Christ Connection

God promised Abraham that the world would be blessed through his descendants.

Jesus Christ is the promised descendant of Abraham through whom salvation flows to the rest of the world.

Next Slide: Missional Application

Because we have been made a part of God’s blessing that would come through Abraham’s family of faith through the receiving of the Bible and Jesus Christ, we live as people through whom God’s blessings may flow to the world.

What do these 4 people have in common?

Albert Einstein

Emily Dickinson

Walt Disney

Tony Gwynn

Introduction

Instruct: These were “ordinary” people who overcame to do the extraordinary.

· No one expected much from him.

After all, he couldn’t even speak fluently until he was nine years old, proving that he lacked perhaps even a normal mental capacity.

His later expulsion from school and rejected admittance into polytechnic school only furthered his fate to be ordinary.

But none of this stopped Albert Einstein from becoming one of the greatest scientists the world has ever seen on his way to winning the Nobel Prize. 1

· She was the quintessential struggling writer.

During her lifetime, she penned over 1,800 letters and poems, but less than twelve were published.

Surely this writer would drift away into obscurity.

But today, Emily Dickinson is one of the more beloved writers in the literary world. 2

· At the age of 22, he was fired from the newspaper where he worked for “not being creative enough,” and then one of his first attempts to make it on his own failed, going bankrupt.

Few, if anyone, would have expected Walt Disney to achieve any level of success, let alone winning thirty-two Academy Awards.

3

· As a college baseball player, this outfielder was considered to be an “extremely average” hitter by professional scouts, and the belief was that he would need to shift to the infield if he had any chance to make it.

Few would have expected Tony Gwynn to lead the league in batting eight times, win five Gold Gloves in the outfield, and be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

4

DDG (p.

66).

“There is something that draws us into stories of people who overcome all odds, even great failure, to defy all expectations and succeed.

We like the idea of “ordinary” people doing the extraordinary.

Perhaps because that is how most of us see ourselves, as an ordinary person longing to make a difference in the world.

Summarize: We can work hard and hope for a lucky break to make a difference, but perhaps there is another way, a way that is outside of ourselves.

In this session we will see that God works in ways that are different from ours and that He is wise—He knows the best possible means to bring His plan to pass.

“Greatness is not about what we can do in ourselves but a matter of faith and obedience to the call and promises of God to do in Him what is the impossible.”

Point 1: God’s covenant people are established with Abraham (Gen.